Tacuba 13
Calle de Tacuba 13-C, Centro Histórico de la Cdad. de México, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06000 Ciudad de México, CDMX
55 5510 1815
http://www.tacuba13.com.mx
The art of seducing the sense of smell has been a revered human activity since antiquity, the word perfume comes from the Latin “per fumus” (“through smoke”), and the ability to combine different aromas found in nature in order to create a scent that was pleasing was first recorded in Mesopotamia, first being practiced by a powerful woman in government named Tapputi, some 1200 years B.C., she was not only the first perfumer but also the first recorded chemist, and devised several techniques to extract those delicious aromas from nature, and refining her technique by using solvents. The practice of making perfumes was further refined by the Romans, the Persians, and the Arabs.
The art of making perfume has of course become a multi-million dollar industry around the world, but customers are still sometimes on the hunt for a scent that fits their own identity, a bespoke perfume made almost exclusively for them. And along with the increase of the massive perfume brands of the world, there has been a market for these kinds of smaller perfumers. In Mexico City, there’s a small mom-and-pop type of establishment that caters to these kinds of customers. The Perfumería Tacuba 13, located on famed Tacuba street in the historic center of Mexico City has been around for 89 years and its trademark are the personalized perfumes one can concoct, with the assistance of a master perfumer of course, out of: argan oil, sandalwood, tea tree, agave, Mexican flowers, coconut, and a long etcetera. And bring everything into a final beautiful mixture with the help of a fixative. It’s all then poured into a vessel made of glass.
Perfumería Tacuba 13 is open from Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and is a couple of blocks away from the Palacio de Bellas Artes and its corresponding Metro Station.
The knowledgeable staff helps customers pick out their scents and craft the perfume that’s perfect just for them, many customers come in looking for a unique smell that will distinguish them from the rest or want to recreate a perfume that contains a particular scent they experienced long ago, and maybe even reminds them of someone. Their long history and reputation have brought in celebrities in the past like Maria Felix, to have a particular scent crafted just for them. Perfumería Tacuba 13 defines the old traditions that were once a common part of daily life, their passion for their craft has been keeping them in business for close to 90 years, and relevant with the people of Mexico City.
