Officine Universelle Buly
During the many years of my visits to Paris, little did I know that there is a shop so beautiful with a history that long. And only thanks to my friend’s daughter, we arrived there one day, being only the third ones in the queue (the day before, the queue was 20 people long). It seemed that there was something special behind that door, and there was, indeed. A world of 200-year-old history, aromas, smells, gold and wood in the interior, all mixed in one big bubble of fragrance so unique to Officine Universelle Buly.
Found in 1803 in Paris, this shop, although clearly renovated to fit the standards of these days, has kept the historical touch in every way. For a moment, I felt like I was in a time when carriages took people to places instead of cars and scooters. It seemed like time had stopped there.
I took the first round around the shop (no, it is not a big one, not at all) to get myself acquainted with what they offered. Various types of brushes, toothpaste, soap, cream, and fragrance. And I stopped at the latter as that was why we came here. I opened the bottles before me, inhaling different aromas, from vegetal and floral to musky, more dense and masculine. I knew I would get something here without a doubt, but the question was what? Or — which aroma? Orange blossom water or rose. Or maybe something sweeter. I took my time, as one has to while here. My friend did too, when 20 minutes later, with the calligrapher neatly writing my name on the package, we left the shop of history so generous that you should read it yourself (here). Better before arriving there.