Did you know that smell is the strongest of our five senses? So strong that just a whiff of something special can bring us right back to moments from our past. That’s what Lit Lab founder Mallory Chen is working with. The Ohio native creates scented candles that are as individual as her customers, reconstructing aromas from treasured memories. In her fragrance library, you can smell your way through classic scents like jasmine and lavender, as well as more unusual options like birthday cake or driftwood, creating your own personal candle (with traditional top, heart and base notes) from soy wax. The highlight: they’re housed in stunning concrete holders handmade by Mallory herself and designed to be refilled again and again. Her creations have become popular, being sold at the likes of Merci in Paris. In the Berlin shop meanwhile you can have your own scented candle put together and choose from the most popular house mixes, while the workshops introduce you to Mallory’s olfactory world – nostalgia included. (Text: Hanna Komornitzyk / Photos: Lit Lab & The Razos)

Lit Lab Berlin, Oranienburger Str.32, Höfe 2, 10117 Berlin–Mitte; map
Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri 12–19h, Sat 11h30–19h, Sun 14–17h
Workshops every Wednesday 19h and Sunday 15h
@litlab.berlin

Have you ever had a Taiwanese breakfast? For those who are curious and up for culinary expeditions, I would highly recommend Daheim Manufaktur, the eco-friendly cuisine and event space where you really feel at home. Founder Julia Hammond, who used to work in design and product development, discovered that there are hardly any small, affordable production facilities for food startups in Berlin. So in 2016 she opened her own kitchen which smaller food manufacturers and caterers can rent out and where international chefs can share their dishes and family recipes through classes and workshops. I recently found myself in the Daheim Manufaktur kitchen myself and learned how to prepare Taiwanese Scallion Pancakes with RitaKahn Chen from Rice Studio Berlin. Kneading, folding and rolling the dough proved a challenge, but the result was worth it: a hearty, incredibly delicious spring onion pancake, reminiscent of puff pastry. It was immediately devoured in the sun alongside other Taiwanese treats. (Text: Katie Burton / Photos: Johanna Rademacher-Flesland)

Daheim Manufaktur, Dieffenbachstr.68,10967 Berlin–Kreuzberg; map
The next Taiwanese Breakfast Workshop will take place on 20.10.2019. You can find more workshops and events on Facebook. The space can also be rented for events of up to 14 people.
@daheimmanufaktur