PARIS — After a national flag and a national anthem, there’s a national fragrance.
The Scent of Lithuania — for at-home use — has been given to foreign ambassadors residing in the country’s capital, Vilnius, and to its troops in Afghanistan.
It’s “one of the good examples, when innovative, [a] private project can sound Lithuania’s name in the world,” stated Audronius Ažubalis, Lithuania’s minister of foreign affairs.
Created by LT Kvapai with Galimard perfumers, the juice includes top notes of bergamot, wild flower bouquet, raspberry, red berries and grapefruit. Middle notes of lily of the valley, lilac and rose are meant to recall the country’s history. While amber, tree moss, cedar, patchouli, musk and tree smoke comprise its base notes and were chosen to give a nod to other facets of Lithuania, such as its pagan past.
A number of olfactive ingredients are indigenous to Lithuania.
The Scent of Lithuania is also available online at scent.lt, at Kaunas International Airport and in some of Vilnius’ souvenir shops. A 25-ml. bottle sells for 28.67 euros, or $40.12 at current exchange.