The Parlor by MUSE Review: NYC's Most Memorable Fragrance Experience
If you're looking for one of New York City's most memorable fragrance experiences, book a private consultation with Kimberly Waters at The Parlor by MUSE. Hidden on the parlor floor inside her Harlem brownstone just steps from historic Striver's Row, Modern Urban Sensory Experiences (MUSE) feels less like a perfume boutique and more like being welcomed into the home of a well-traveled friend who just happens to be close with some of the world’s most talented perfumers.
Kimberly started MUSE in 2017 with just a few brands from perfumers she personally believed in and who believed in her. She immersed herself in the fragrance community and attended events like Sniffapalooza and Elements showcase, building relationships and deep industry knowledge that eventually shaped MUSE’s unique and global collection and how each fragrance is presented to guests.
While MUSE offers all the information you'd expect from a traditional perfume store - notes, accords and bottle sizes - the focus of each session is a guided sensory journey. Kimberly introduces each fragrance through the perfumer's brand story and creative inspiration, helping you distill the experience into something personal—how the scent makes you feel, when you'd wear it and where it naturally fits into your lifestyle.
I arrive and Kimberly greets me with the warmth of someone welcoming an old friend. From the moment I ascend those 10 stoop steps and enter MUSE, I am instantly in awe of the beautifully striking artwork, scored by melodic R&B and jazz. After a quick friendly chat, we get down to business, with Kimberly bringing out a curated selection of 7 bottles for me to try. Ordinarily, if I had booked a discovery session, she’d have had me fill out a mini questionnaire to get a better idea of my note and scent profile preferences. Instead, given that I’m here to learn about the experience, Kimberly pulls fragrances that each represent a different aspect of MUSE’s mission or a milestone in MUSE’s evolution. I quickly learn she has a penchant for storytelling that takes you on a trip across the globe, from the comfort of your parlor seat.
We start with the award winning Aethi Opum by Maya Njie, not simply because it's a beautiful scent, but because it represents one of the independent perfumers she championed long before the brand became widely recognized in the U.S. We then try R&B by Zernell Gillie and Delta of Venus by Eris Perfumes, two fragrances that highlight MUSE’s selection of US based indie and niche perfumes and personal friends Kimberly has made along her fragrance journey, with Barbara Harmon, founder of Eris Perfumes, based in NYC and Zernell based in LA.
Next, we move onto my personal favorites from the session - FANM by Coco de Mer and Vanille Mafonja by Reserve en Afrique 1934. These two (now on my full bottle list) showcases MUSE’s selection of unique, innovative and refined luxury fragrance houses that are based in Africa. FANM is a light and airy fruity floral, featuring coco de mer, a fruit native to Seychelles and Vanille Mafonja, my favorite of the day (I’m a vanilla girlie, what can I say?) is a masterpiece from Senegal.
We finish with two fragrances that represent another side of MUSE's philosophy - classic compositions from established niche houses whose quality has stood the test of time. We try The Musc by Essential Parfums, an airy and aromatic musk, and Narcotic V by Nasomatto, an elegant and alluring tuberose. Once again, Kimberly effortlessly shifts between discussing the fragrance itself and sharing personal stories about its creator, making each bottle feel less like a product and more like a personal introduction.
Throughout the session, Kimberly also weaves in brief, but powerful history lessons that draw clear parallels between the black women of Harlem whose influence helped shape the experience we are presently enjoying. Stories so interesting, that for a moment, you begin to feel like one of the cultural tastemakers she’s describing, gathered in a brownstone parlor to experience the latest luxury creations from around the world.
I learn of A’Leila Walker, daughter of Madame CJ Walker, who was a socialite and a big patron of the arts during the Harlem Renaissance, having hosted the likes of Langston Hughes in her legendary social salon, Dark Tower. I also learn of Rose Meta Morgan, a Chicago transplant that went on to own and operate Rose Meta House of Beauty in Harlem. At the time, it was one the largest beauty parlors in the world for African American women, offering high-end personal care, skin treatments and empowerment. From the decor to ambiance and lessons, MUSE truly is a modern homage to the creative energy, hospitality and cultural exchange that defined the Harlem Renaissance.
It’s Kimberly’s birthday weekend and she has generously squeezed our session in between her planned festivities. We are at least 15 minutes over our hour session, when I realize the time and muster the courage to ask if I can quickly purchase a few samples. She willingly obliges and spends another 20 minutes showing me MUSE’s fully stocked display cabinet of fragrances from around the globe.
I get my samples (in a cute branded MUSE tote bag) and am on my way. I have to physically force myself to leave, as I could absolutely spend a few more hours exploring and chatting in this elevated, yet relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. It’s not like sniffing around your favorite fragrance counter in a department store or even visiting your favorite niche fragrance boutique. Even the most welcoming retail experience feels transactional, with the unspoken understanding that a service is being provided with the ultimate goal of making a sale.
At MUSE, it feels more like your most effortlessly cool friend is back from another round of world travels and brought you some new fragrances from across the globe to try - all catered to your preferences. The fragrances are exceptional, but they're almost secondary. What Kimberly has created is a space where perfume becomes a vehicle for conversation, history, travel, and community. I arrived expecting to discover new fragrances. I left feeling like I'd discovered a new way to experience them.
And that’s the beauty of the Parlor by MUSE, my new favorite fragrance experience in NYC.
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The Vibe: Spending the afternoon with your globe-trotting friend who just returned from traveling the world with a suitcase full of perfumes. Smooth and mellow music and lite bites while you sniff your way through a curated set of fragrances, hand-selected for your enjoyment and experience.
What Makes It Unique: The warm and relaxed environment coupled with the unique and luxury curated scent exploration.
Don't Miss: Taking a photo in the full-length mirror by the entrance to commemorate your visit. I was so excited that I regrettably did forget.
Who Should Visit: All fragrance lovers, especially those looking for a more immersive fragrance experience that focuses less on notes and more on the story behind and vibe of each fragrance.
Location: 66 Edgecomb Avenue (near 138th St)
Appointment Required? Yes
Price of Consultation? Free 45 min browse session; $150 for a 75 min personalized session for 1; $250 for a 90 min personalized session for up to 4 people. Personalized sessions include up to (3) 2ml samples and 10% off a full bottle)
Can You Buy Samples? Complimentary samples are available for select scents when you book a personalized session
Can You Buy Full Bottles? Yes
Website: www.museexperiences.com