What does Berlin smell like? Well, according to KaDeWe, it's citrusy, with notes of bergamot and cardamom over a cedar wood base, and the scent of water lilies to round the whole thing out.
KaDeWe has just teamed up with trendy Berlin perfumery Frau Tonis Parfum to create limited edition fragrances named after three major German cities: Berlin, Hamburg and Munich. The perfumes, which are available in editions of 50ml, are designed to evoke the particular personality of each city, with Berlin described as 'spirited and shimmering'.
So, does the Berlin fragrance match up to its urban namesake? Its light, floral scent at first doesn't seem to have much in common with the cold, grey city, but it's a good reminder that - difficult as it is to believe - spring is just around the corner, and Berlin will soon be green again. And the fragrance isn't all sweetness and light: over time, further notes reveal themselves, with the warm, rich cedar proving the most lasting. A perfume is, in many ways, the perfect metaphor for Berlin: it takes time to discover everything that it has to offer, but all its varied parts somehow come together to produce a coherent and many-layered whole.
The other scents, which will be sold in Hamburg's Alsterhaus luxury department store and in Munich's Oberpollinger, reveal just as much about their cities. Hamburg is 'cool and elegant', alluding to the city's shipping history and featuring mint and iris notes, while Munich is a heavier, darker scent with a base of amber and musk. While loyalty to our city compels Berlin&I to recommend the Berlin fragrance, perfume creator Stefanie Hanssen says that the richness of Munich makes it a personal favourite. Whichever you choose, however, the scent is bound to be as unforgettable as the city itself. - Thea Bradbury
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