The First Metropoliten Advent Calendar
In an exclusive, limited edition of only 10 pieces, Metropoliten has created its first Advent calendar Cabinet des Sens featuring 25 secret compartments filled with 25 fragrant surprises from brands you already love or are yet to discover in our perfumeries.
Originating in 19th-century Protestant Germany, the Advent calendar began as a tradition of marking the four weeks before Christmas. Families would count down the days by drawing chalk crosses on their doors or lighting one of 25 prepared candles each day. Then, in the early 20th century, an enterprising printer created a calendar for children with small windows that revealed 25 images depicting biblical scenes related to the birth of Christ. His “Advent calendar” became popular and widely accepted, and after World War I, versions with chocolates behind the windows began to appear. By the mid-20th century, Advent calendars filled with 25 small gifts had entered secular society, stripped of religious iconography, becoming delightful boxes of daily surprises.
For years, Metropoliten has offered Advent calendars from its partner brands, most often Diptyque, but this December, after 19 years of work, we have created our very own. As with all our projects, we approached it with the same care and attention to detail, thoughtfully selecting artists and collaborators for its design and production. We were equally meticulous in curating 25 products from different brands represented in Metropoliten perfumeries, chosen to fill the box and delight our clients whose refined taste we’ve come to know so well over the years.
Cabinet des Sens, as we named our first calendar, was designed and handcrafted by Mina Miladinović from Koko Daš studio, with illustrations by Becha. The design we adopted, and instantly fell in love with, is a box adorned with intricate, multilayered black-and-white illustrations accented with gold.
The box features traditional windows hiding 25 little joys for 25 days in true Metropoliten style: miniature perfumes, scented sticks, body care, hand and lip products... And beneath the sleeping eye at the top of the cabinet lies a full-size perfume - beloved and specially chosen in the holiday spirit - waiting to awaken last and bring joy on the day that marks a new beginning for you.
Cabinet des Sens is available at Metropoliten perfumeries in Dorćol, Vračar, New Belgrade, Novi Sad, and the Bristol Hotel.
