This Perfumery’s Latest Locale Offers A Serene Escape

Xinú is a Mexican perfumery with shops in Mérida and San Miguel de Allende. For its latest boutique, in Mexico City, the company tapped local firms and frequent collaborators Cadena Concepts and Esrawe Studio for a radically new concept: a store that doubles as a sanctuary in the middle of the busy metropolis. “The spark came from the vision of gifting a garden to Juarez,” Héctor Esrawe says of the hip neighborhood. The production of the overall experience was a joint venture, with Esrawe in charge of construction and architectural details and Ignacio Cadena developing storytelling and displays.

Translating to nose from Otomi, a tonal Mexican language, Xinú is inspired by the aromatic botany of the Americas. The store, in turn, immerses customers in a multisensory journey literally wrapped in nature. The 2,500-square-foot circular pavilion is made of laminated tornillo wood sourced from FSC–certified Peruvian forests, supporting the brand’s commitment to sustainability—even its bottles are composed of responsibly grown walnut and locally blown glass. Vertical louvres, which open entirely to the elements, support shelving and vitrines, while the shop’s round configuration allows visitors to meander, connecting with both the garden and the products—perfumes, home scents, incense—blurring the line between public space and retail experience. “It showcases a synergy,” Cadena adds, “between handmade luxury, the natural world, and the olfactory arts.”