Lifestyle briefs

Oct 13, 2011, 3:06 GMT

Creative French parfumiers turning to ever more unusual scents

Paris (dpa) - Parfumiers in Paris are thinking up ever-more unusual scents, including creations that smell of vegetables, tar and freshly lit tobacco and which go under the respective names of 'I love les carottes' (I love carrots), 'Tar' and 'Jasmin et Cigarette.' However, it takes particular bravery to wear 'Muscs Koublai Khan' that is meant to resemble male sweat or 'Secretions magnifiques,' a scent resembling the odour of sperm. The eccentric perfumes don't come cheap, however, with a 50 millilitre bottle costing up to 100 euros (134 dollars). Internet: www.etatlibredorange.com/fr/index.html, www.sergelutens.com, www.honoredespres.com.

Underground restaurants enjoy boom in Paris

Paris (dpa) - They may not be in any restaurant guide and don't have official menus or bills but so-called underground restaurants are currently all the rage in Paris. The underground kitchens are mainly run by ambitious amateurs, who are bored only cooking for friends and acquaintances. Instead, they turn their home into a restaurant at short notice on a particular evening in the month. The dates are mostly spread by word of mouth, social networking sites and text messages. The cooks avoid trouble with the authorities by listing the event as a private function even though an evening meal can cost up to 70 euros.

Hotspot Bratislava earning the name 'Partyslava'

Bratislava (dpa) - Bratislava is rapidly earning a reputation as another European city with an alternative nightlife scene and up-and-coming bars and pubs. The city's New Year's Eve celebrations go by the slogan 'Welcome to Partyslava' but the Slovak capital is getting more popular all year round. In the October edition of Neon magazine, fashion blogger Marika Majorova recommends Cafe Shtoor, Verne bar in the basement of the art academy and Nu Spirit club. Bratislava isn't swamped by tourists to the same degree as Prague or Krakow and is easier to get to than other popular locations such as Tirana and Istanbul.