Founded and co-designed by Chad Murawczyk and Mindy Yang in 1999, MiN New York Apothecary & Atelier is the ultimate library of perfume and a wonderland for the senses. Having originally started with men’s products & grooming curated by artisans, it evolved into the production of a collection of scarves as a wearable art featuring Chad’s custom photography as well as a limited edition candle collection inspired by speakeasies- burned exclusively at The Jade Hotel. Described by The NY Times as ‘A place of mystery and elixirs’, it is the perfect destination for refined, timeless luxury products, offering a curated exclusive product line along with an impressive and extensive online and store selection. Curated all over the world, MiN’s modern, minimal, and clean aesthetic shows through.
Our visit was extremely insightful not to mention visually beautiful and magical. From dark wood decor to decorative touches, vintage candles and chandeliers, to an endless array of colorful and transparent bottles, the atmosphere instantly provides for an unforgettable experience for the senses. Stylish, distinct, and strong in its presence, MiN’s enchanting display of perfume bottles filled with delicious concoctions, candles and apothecary items are all exquisitely packaged and presented. It is like entering a magic land of hidden little treasures, the smells are incomparable to anything you’ve ever experienced. With interesting visceral names such as Dune Road, The Botanist, Shaman, Momento, and captivating note touches of citrus, spice, wood, flowers, and blends of sea-salt among many others.
It’s easy to get disoriented by such an immense selection, but fortunately they have a highly professional staff to guide you through the process and instruct you on properly choosing the perfect scent. Their approach is individualized, leading visitors on a completely custom scent journey. Our olfactory guide, Olya, was a delight. She showed us around the store and described each product’s distinct quality with a precise knowledge. Each perfume transports you to a different place and time, building familiar memories and associations, as if you are traveling to the exact place of its origin. It is like your very own travel in a bottle. Every scent is unpredictable, yet captivating- polarizing, overwhelming, lingering… Spraying and sensing each one of them felt like having part of a unique memory worn on your skin, creating fireworks for your nose and moving through your brain, until you find a natural inclination for a particular scent.
“MiN New York has launched Scent Stories, Volume 1 alongside the unveiling of its Members Vault in the honor of celebrating the Art Of Living. Consisting of eleven abstract, yet wearable Eau de Parfums, Scent Stories is MiN New York’s debut fragrance collection. Inspired by moments that transcend time and space, each scent is a potion and an olfactory work of art. Like a captivating book, each chapter will provide wearers a direct, subconscious passageway to their own personal memory and emotions. Like a fine spirit, these visceral vignettes are made from only a single batch of the finest ingredients in the world, and are extremely limited in quantity.”
This rare and exclusive collection is now available to the public, accepting only 1,000 members for it’s first year! Private tours of the experience are $200 prepaid and run daily at 1pm, or by appointment only on Saturday and Sunday. Guests will receive the experience for up to 4 people with a guide, courtesy beverages, and a limited edition bottle of their choice. The guide will assist you in suggesting scents selected for you personally, based on the specific questionnaire that serves as a test in a way to understand the client’s individuality and preference. This special customer approach involves paying specific attention to client’s comments and reactions, starting with a calmer palette and transitioning into a deeper one, all while creating an emotional understanding and scent profile. As you walk through the store and the scent wears off a little, it begins to attain a smell of its own, connecting with your chemistry and blending with the skin, like a chameleon. The best part is, you don’t really feel like you’re shopping, instead it’s more like strolling through a gallery of beautiful things, looking for a one of a kind scent. The experience was certainly worthwhile. We left the store smelling amazingly refreshed and satisfied with a bag of delicious samples uniquely chosen and generously presented to us.
We simply adore this shop and will definitely be returning for another enchanting olfactory experience! A Beautiful Escape.
MiN New York Apothecary & Atelier Store 117 Crosby St (between Prince & Jersey St)
Story by Viktoria Yahalnitskaya