Love Story in a Bottle: The Perfect Mother’s Day Gift from Krigler

Outfit Details:
Maison Margiela Jeans | Khaite Beige Cardigan | Khaite Bralette | Chanel Sandals | Chanel Tote Bag

Makeup by: @vesagashi_mua

A love story told in scent.

I recently had dinner at Tre Dita with my dear friend Anita, and she smelled divine. Now, I’m incredibly particular when it comes to scents, and often allergic to most perfumes. But what Anita was wearing intrigued me. It reminded me of the sophisticated, whisper-soft perfumes worn by my girlfriends in Europe. I couldn’t resist, I leaned in and asked, “What are you wearing?”

She smiled and said, “Monika, it’s from the perfumer at The Peninsula.”

The next day, still enchanted by the fragrance, I found myself walking into the Krigler Boutique tucked inside the Peninsula Hotel in Chicago and stepping into a world where scent and storytelling meet.

I learned that in the early 1900s, Albert Krigler, a German chemist and perfumer, created a fragrance as a wedding gift for his beloved fiancée. That perfume, Pleasure Gardenia 79, crafted in 1879 was a gardenia-laced love letter. It became one of Krigler’s most iconic scents and marked the beginning of Maison Krigler, officially founded in 1904 in St. Petersburg, before the house made its way to Berlin, Monte Carlo, Paris, and eventually New York.

But what makes Krigler truly special is the romance woven into every bottle. Each number on the label isn’t just a code, it tells a story.

  • Château Krigler 12 was worn by Grace Kelly, capturing her regal charm and elegance.

  • English Promenade 19 was a favorite of Audrey Hepburn, echoing her classic, floral grace.

  • Lovely Patchouli 55 became the signature scent of Jackie Kennedy, refined and sensual.

  • Extraordinaire Camelia 209, delicate and modern, is said to be worn by Kate Middleton.

Even the stories behind the scents read like old love letters. One was commissioned by a French aristocrat, another crafted as a gift for a ballerina, each fragrance, a whisper of a past romance, a private moment, a memory in bloom.

And now? With Mother’s Day around the corner, I can’t help but think of how perfect this experience would be as a gift.

Imagine this: a calming spa date at The Peninsula, followed by high tea or lunch in the light-filled lobby, and then just as your mom thinks the day couldn’t be more special you lead her to the Krigler boutique! There, among glass cloches and gold-trimmed bottles, you surprise her with a fragrance uniquely hers. A scent with a story. A gift she’ll wear and remember.

Photo courtesy of @thepeninsulachi

Because sometimes, the most unforgettable presents aren’t just things. They are stories wrapped in silk ribbons, sealed in crystal bottles, and worn close to the skin.

Xo,
Monika

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