Two years ago, I traveled to Japan for the first time. What still evokes the strongest memories for me today isn’t a photo or a souvenir, but the sweet scent of osmanthus drifting through the streets in the Japanese late summer. It takes me back to the first morning in my accommodation. To this day, it carries the feeling of arrival, of my first walk through the small neighborhood, reminding me of the neighbor who started every day with his turtle on the doorstep. At the end of my trip, friends gifted me an osmanthus fragrance. I rarely wear it because it’s so special to me: it brings me back to that one moment when Japan was still completely unfamiliar to me. I think everyone has particular associations with certain scents, and sometimes it’s hard to put them into words, especially without knowing exactly what you’re looking for. If you decide to go on that search, I wholeheartedly recommend Parfums Lubner by Mathias Bauch. There, you’ll find over 50 exclusive niche brands with many extraordinary fragrances, created not to appeal to everyone, but to be discovered by those seeking something truly special. Some of the fragrances are conceptual, rethinking the world of scent. Others rely on decades of tradition or aim to impress with timelessness. Some are understated, both in their bottles and their content, while others are bold, adorned with rhinestones and jewels, reflecting trends.

Many of the brands I encountered for the first time, which can make exploring the selection a bit overwhelming. That’s where the wonderful team comes in, guiding you expertly through any question or search without being intrusive. You’re invited to share your stories, explain your preferences, try new scents, and never feel pressured to decide on the spot if you’re unsure. You can also explore the range on your own, as many fragrances come with brief introductions tos the founders, scent notes, and the concept behind them. Once you have an idea of the direction you want to take, a personal consultation is still, for me, essential. I’ve rarely met people with such deep knowledge and passion for fragrance as the team on site. If I ever run out of my osmanthus bottle from Japan, I know exactly where I’ll go in search of a new fragrance that feels just as familiar.

Text & Photos: Robyn Steffen

Parfums Lubner, Münzstr. 16, 10178 Berlin–Mitte; map

@parfums.lubner

While Wedding has been touted as “the next big thing” for decades, Moabit has quietly, almost effortlessly, gone ahead and become exactly that. Picturesque streets, old buildings shaded by mighty plane trees, small shops and cafés. Right in the middle of it all, I discover Chapters, the new English-language bookstore founded by publisher and literary agent Sharmaine Lovegrove. Sharmaine is no stranger to Berlin. I first met her in 2009, when the London-born Jamaican opened her first bookstore, Dialogue Books, in Mitte. In the back room of a café on Christinenstraße, her personal book universe offered new perspectives on international literature. Sixteen years later, with Chapters, she is opening a new chapter of her own — a space where international perspectives meet the local neighborhood. Chapters embodies this spirit, as Berlin has always been a place of new beginnings and creative risk-taking for both long-time residents and newcomers alike.

The idea behind it is simple: bring people together and spark their curiosity for stories that transcend linguistic, intellectual, and geographical boundaries. Sharmaine puts it succinctly: “Come curious and leave with a discovery”. Around 3,200 carefully selected titles, arranged thematically, fill the store and immediately invite you to explore further. Lives & Times, Romance & Ruinous, Dreams & Disruption, Power & Resistance, Grow & Wonder, and more. Each theme forms a small, curated universe that brings classics and contemporary works into conversation. In the future, Chapters will host literary salons with international authors, book presentations, and a biennial literature festival. It all began with a talk by Antiguian-American writer and literature professor Jamaica Kincaid. We look forward to seeing what the next chapter has in store.

Text: Milena Kalojanov / Photos: Ruby Watt

Chapters, Wilsnackerstr.60, 10559 Berlin–Moabit; map

Find the curated program here. In December, Chapters invites you to Gifts & Mulled Wine. Every Thursday, there’s mulled wine and 10% off all books.

@chapters_berlin