Ann Onusko doesn’t leave the house without first putting on some perfume. “I’ve always been a perfumista,” she says. When she travels with her husband to his native Holland, she hits the perfumeries. “When we go there, the first thing I do is search out the local shops. Same when I go to LA or New York. But Cleveland doesn’t have any perfumeries.”

The fact that Cleveland lacks a perfume shop with scents by small, artisan companies got Onusko thinking. After working as a nurse for 10 years, and then 20 years as general manager of a special events and floral design company, Onusko decided it was time to bring a perfumery to Cleveland.

On October 15, Onusko opened Indigo Perfumery in an historic building in Lakewood. The shop features fragrances not found in department stores. “Most often, when I’m placing an order, I’m talking to the person making perfume,” she says. “They’re very careful about where they want to sell.”

Onusko carries 120 perfumes in a variety of price ranges --from Cleveland’s own Yates Apothecary to Paris’ Jul et Mad. “I like these scents more because they have more character, more passion,” Onusko explains.

Onusko works with her customers to find the right scent for their styles and body chemistries. She also sells samples for $1. “I want people to take it with them and see how they like it,” she explains. “Two or three hours later it’s a different scent again.”

Onusko also sells scented candles and plans on hosting fragrance workshops and opportunities to meet the perfumers. She is in the process of hiring two additional perfumistas.

Source: Ann Onusko
Writer: Karin Connelly