The Avery Perfumery Opens in New Orleans

The Avery Perfumery  -  527 St. Joseph Street, New Orleans

Lots of hoopla in New Orleans tonight. It's the annual gallery prowl in the arts district called 'White Linen Night", where the streets will be awash in thousands of people strolling in ethereal white garments.

A newcomer has arrived to the art filled neighborhood, The Avery Perfumery which is celebrating its grand opening tonight in conjunction with "White Linen Night".

It is fitting that this international brand would choose to settle in New Orleans, with shops in the UK, Italy, and New York. And what better place for a place that considers perfume making an art form than to choose a location in the arts district for its newest location.

The Avery Perfumery New Orleans is housed in a fantastic ground floor loft space. It is the warehouse and shipping point of sales in the USA. An exquisite retail boutique has been created by interior designer Lilian Dreissen, who flew in from her home in Italy to oversee the design of the new shop.

Wallpaper custom designed by Lilian Dreissen for Aviary

Lilian explains that  the bird metaphor has played into her concept for the New Orleans store, as well as the London and Modena, Italy locations.

"An aviary is a metaphor for perfume, so every store is based on an aviary where birds live, and birds are free spirits," she says. "We like the idea of perfumes being something flighted, and we also like to acknowledge the mysterious part of creating perfume."

The fantastic wallpaper installed in New Orleans - I chose the goose taxidermy for them from object and art dealer extraordinaire David Katz 504 458-1196 - I helped with the interior design of the work/office space portion of the loft

The design for the New Orleans location does differ in some ways from the other shops, specifically, using more salvaged local items as an homage to New Orleans' past.

"Because of the flooding, there is a lot of salvage - I saved doors, locks, details and some of the metal wear which is so recognizable," Lilian says. "I incorporated the balconies into the shop as well. The spirit of the old town is still in here, attached to the perfumes."

Old  salvaged doors and New Orleans artifacts used as interior decoration in The Aviary Perfumery

Avery does not carry any brand that you will see in a department store or any other commercial seller of perfumes. They seek out small boutique makers of perfumes. When you choose something from Avery, you will not smell it coming and going on other fashionistas who love scent.

Avery's perfumes range in price from $70 for a solid balm to $850 for a perfume and include brands like Carthusia, Nasomatto, Nez a Nez, Czech & Speake and Profumi Del Forte.

The Avery customer is well-traveled, curious and artistic - traits embodied by many New Orleanians, which is why New Orleans is the international perfumery's third location.  The soul of the concept of Avery is very close to the soul of the city of New Orleans. The ingredient of art is in the creation of the perfume, and it is a perfect fit for New Orleans, one of the most artistic cities in the world.

Local girl, Shannon Drake is the director of sales and marketing for Intertrade Europe who operates the Aviary franchises.  She heads up the New Orleans Aviary branch. She launched the very successful Aviary Perfumery at The Limelight Marketplace in New York. But it was her dream to come home and bring Aviary with her.

Stop by and say hello to her, and enjoy this fabulous new addition to the New Orleans fashion and art scene. You never know what celebs might show up, as witnessed at the New York opening of Aviary. Tell her The Vamp sent you!

The red carpet for Avairy Perfunery opening in New York

Celebrity sniffer at Avery Perfumery in New York - Come and see whatc elebs will show up tonight in New Orleans!

Shannon says: "Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6. There will be a lot of sniffing and sharing of the air conditioning (for people) on their way to the Contemporary Art Center," says Shannon Drake, director of sales and marketing for Intertrade Europe. "We'll have wine and beer sponsored by Saint Marie. It's just a big celebration."

The Avery Perfumery
527 St. Joseph Street, New Orleans
(504) 522-7102

Online shop to coming soon, in the meantimne keep uo with them on Facebook HERE 

Thanks to Missy Wilkinson of CUE for additional research for this post