The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Spyros Drosopoulos created Berlin Im Winter in 2015 as a sensory portrait of the German capital during its coldest, grayest months. Rather than reaching for obvious winter references like pine or spice, he chose mastiha and blackcurrant to capture the sharp clarity of a Berlin January, when the city's architecture feels most honest and its atmosphere most distinctive. The mastiha note carries both aromatic weight and psychological resonance, grounding the fragrance in Mediterranean tradition while speaking directly to the Baltic cool of its subject.
The mastiha in Berlin Im Winter carries both aromatic weight and psychological resonance. Drosopoulos pairs it with blackcurrant because together they create a bittersweet quality that Western perfumery rarely achieves. The coffee adds roasted bitterness while the plum provides softening fruit without sweetness. This combination produces a fragrance that avoids the typical incense-heavy winter route and also sidesteps sweetness. It is cooler, more restrained, almost architectural in its precision. That suits Baruti's philosophy of treating scent as neuroscience applied to emotion rather than ingredient stacking.
The evolution
The fragrance makes a deliberate choice not to behave like a traditional perfume. All notes appear together from the start, creating a simultaneous chord rather than a linear progression. Blackcurrant and coffee establish the opening energy, immediately reinforced by mastiha and myrrh. Plum and leather arrive early, preventing any single element from dominating. The heart deepens steadily as oud assumes its role without fanfare. By the drydown, leather and rose hold the composition together while amber adds warmth that never becomes sweetness. The mastiha persists alongside amber as the lasting impression, with blackcurrant and plum transitioning into something dry and mineral rather than fruity.
Cultural impact
Since its 2015 debut, Berlin Im Winter has been hailed as the house’s charismatic rebel, a winter staple praised for its bold coffee‑oud core. Wearers note its strong sillage and 8‑10 hour longevity, making it a favorite for cold‑weather evenings and underground gatherings where its smoky warmth stands out among more conventional orientals.
