I stumbled upon the store Taleoo while traveling in Germany. Apartments in the heart of downtown Stuttgart are historic and quaint, which allows for an authentic cultural experience. However, the old architecture doesn't allow for much air flow in the rooms and our charming little apartment sometimes felt stuffy and stale. I went on a search for something to freshen up the flat and thought an aromatic room spray might help. After several aisles of standard commercial plug-ins and sprays (I'm allergic to most of these) at the regular grocers, I was delighted to come across Taleoo — a precious little wellness store in the midst of many chain retailers. I bought two room sprays from the German natural products company, Primavera — one titled Ganz Entspannt, which translates to very relaxed and one titled In Balance (this one was written in English for some reason). I was delighted to find these products and was excited to use them for Stoßlüften.
Stoßlüften is a national German custom where for about five minutes everyday, all the windows are opened, allowing a cross breeze and an exchange of air, enhancing room ventilation. Literally, Stoß means “shock” and lüften means “ventilating.” Therefore, Stoßlüften translates to “shock ventilation.” The custom is something of a national obsession and many Germans open their windows multiple times a day, even in the middle of winter.
This custom was very familiar to me since I practiced this little ritual all the time in my tiny little New York City apartment. So naturally, I was on board, often opening up the windows twice a day. During this time, I use my room sprays and suddenly all the rooms felt refreshed and came alive! The aromas brighten and lifted my mood and why yes, I did feel very relaxed and in balance. Primavera seems to be a local brand and I'm not sure whether or not it's available in the U.S. but if you find yourself in Stuttgart looking for a room refresher, you may want to check out this little spot of serenity. I can't wait to try some of their other products!