Wynwood
The buildings and walls of the Wynwood district in Miami, Florida are covered in street art and tell a story of revival in this former warehouse district. I love driving and walking the streets of the area and was looking forward to my visit to Osme Perfumery, located in the heart of Wynwood.
Street Art
The street art did not disappoint in its boldness and beauty, ranging from vibrant colors to the tropical blue waves at the entrance to the open mall where the perfumery is tucked away. I was a bit early and followed the hand-lettered sign to Osme Perfumery where I peeked through the glass walls to enjoy the flowing patterns on the walls around and behind beautifully arranged perfume bottles. The transition from art outside to art inside is seamless and fits right into the neighborhood.
Maurice Locke and Bhavika Mistry of Osme
Maurice Locke and Bhavika Mistry soon arrived and welcomed me into the shop. The 700 square feet of space seemed just right, open and welcoming with stylized birds on the floor and flowing colors on the walls.Bhavika soon welcomed the first customers of the day, giving personal attention to a couple of wandering tourists. Maurice and I took a few moments to get acquainted while he told me of his and Bhavika’s early interest in niche perfumery going back 14 years amid travels between Florida and New York.
Welcome Sign at Osme Perfumery
They spent time at MiN New York, read books on fragrance, and generally educated themselves wherever they could including online. They found that the brands they enjoyed most had history and a story to tell. Both collectors, they still remember their first—Bhavika’s first gourmand was New Haarlem Bond No. 9 and for Maurice his first leather was Knize 10.
Nicolai Parfumeur center at Osme Perfumery
When they opened their store in December 2016 they knew niche perfumes and they knew they wanted to be in the Wynwood area where people come looking for the unusual and the artisan. In the diversity that is Miami, they have also found their place telling the stories of perfumes and the houses that create them. I asked them about their approach to customers after I had watched Bhavika out of the corner of my eye as she spent at least half an hour with the customers at the central table.
Scent Strips at the Center Table at Osme Perfumery (Ormonde Jayne Nawab of Oudh Bottle)
Both said they generally begin with a few perfumes and scent strips to figure out where the customer’s interest lies. Along the way, if the experience is similar to mine, they will tell stories of the house or describe the different types of perfume whether gourmand or chypre, leathery or musky. Then it’s down to the skin and up to 4 different fragrances to wear for a while and see what appeals.
Histoires de Parfums display at Osme Perfumery
Maurice read me pretty quickly as he walked me through their offerings, asking if I preferred the dangerous and weird or possibly something more like pistachio ice cream. I remember the dangerous and weird—Coven by Andrea Maack—an eerily lovely take on dark woods and witchiness. I kept going back to that one! And don’t ask about the pistachio ice cream because I don’t remember, being distracted by the dangerous and weird. We worked our way through Ormonde Jayne’s Nawab of Oudh and Incense Oud from Parfums de Nicolai with a bit of Imaginary Authors, Daniel Josier, and Roja Parfums in between. There is so much more that I must go back for another trip.
Imaginary Authors
Bhavika and Maurice told me two stories from very different sides of the perfume spectrum and I enjoyed the way they wove both their voices into the two tales. They obviously enjoy telling the stories and bringing their customers into the perfume world in this fashion.
Eight and Bob display
The first was the history of Eight and Bob. Frenchman Albert Fouquet was an aristocrat who loved blending fragrances and would throw parties where he would surprise guests with his beautiful creations. While vacationing on the Côte d’Azur he met the young John F. Kennedy who was fascinated by the fragrance that Albert was wearing. Being the charming young man he was, John asked for and received a sample. He later sent a letter from the States requesting eight samples for his friends who were delighted with the fragrance plus one for Bob. Albert sent the immaculately packaged samples and labeled them “Eight & Bob”. Being a child of the 60’s I remember President Kennedy well and was intrigued at being able to get a sniff of the fragrance he loved. Eight and Bob is one of the three top-sellers at Osme Perfumery along with Ormonde Jayne Sampaquita (a top 5 “most worn scent” of our Editor-in-Chief) and Room 1015 Holly Rose.
Sulékó bottles at Osme Perfumery
The second story is from a very different place and origin. The fragrance is called Baba Yaga, composed by Cécile Zarokian for the perfume house Sulékó, based on the Russian story of a nasty old witch. Dark and complex with hints of spice, the perfume is intriguing and dangerous and yet evolves into beauty.
Baba Yaga Book
Equally as good is the story that Maurice told me of presenting a performance that incorporated visual art, dance, and poetry as an interpretation of the perfume. It was performed at the worldwide art event, Art Basel, in Miami during the 2017 show. Osme’s connection with Art Basel goes back to their opening during the week of the prestigious art show in 2016.
Entrance to the Wynwood mall in the muggy heat just before the rain
Osme Perfumery brings in a melting pot of people, and I’m not just referring to the heat which you can almost see shimmering in the air around the beautiful entrance to their shop. Tourists and locals come, which means they get people from around the world.
Back Entrance Murals at Wynwood Mall
Because it is Miami, many are from a variety of Latin countries and united by an appreciation of smelling good. Men want to smell good for the ladies and the ladies like to put on a spritz every day. Taste in perfume is a variable as the people that come through the door and Maurice has found that even in the heat of summer there are folks that want to wear the heavier oud perfumes, of which he has a large collection.
Mendittorosa Bottles
As we wrap up our conversation we come back to the experience of Osme Perfumery. Maurice and Bhavika came to Wynwood specifically for the aesthetic and the art that surrounds them.
Bird design on the floor
They decorated their store with colors and movement and shape to echo the street art outside, and they have filled it with scented goodness. The highest compliment they can get is that a customer had an experience that they will remember. I will remember and I will be back to walk upon their lovely floor and listen to more stories
Elise Pearlstine, Editor and owner of Tambela Perfumes (all photos by Elise©)
Note: Each perfume line in this article has been reviewed extensively at CaFleureBon; one of the reason’s WE LOVE THIS STORE! Osme is the 12th American niche perfume boutique we have feature in our series. If you are a small retailer anywhere in the world with niche perfumes please contact us.
Osme Perfumery is at 50 NW 24th Street, #111, Miami, FL 33127
Phone: 786-409-4732
Osme is open seven days a week from 11am to 7pm
Website: www.osmeperfumery.com.
Thanks to co-owners Maurice Locke and Bhavika Mistry we have a $50 Gift Card to Osme Perfumery for a registered US reader. To be eligible please leave a comment with what you enjoyed about Elise’s tour of Osme Perfumery, if you have heard of the store previously and what you would use your EC or GC to buy should you win. Draw closes 7/5/2018
If you want your entry to count twice Like CaFleureBon and Osme Perfumery on Facebook or follow us on Instagram @cafleurebon and @osmeperfumery. Please be sure to leave that in your comment
We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our Blog Feed option…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume