Free Drops Since the 1920s – The Story of the Dropper

History

For nearly a century, the dropper has been inseparably linked to HARRY LEHMANN. What began as a small invention by Harry Lehmann himself became a well-known Berlin attraction and, after a long hiatus, a surprise discovery in the cellar.

Jutta Dallmann, seit 1958 bei HARRY LEHMANN, erinnert sich an den Tropfer

In the shop on Kantstraße, it hangs once again in plain sight: the dropper. An object made of metal and chrome that dispenses fragrance drop by drop. Visitors stop in front of it, look curiously, ask questions. Some still remember it, others are discovering it for the first time. The dropper tells a story almost as old as the perfumery itself.

The Invention and Its Idea

It was Harry Lehmann himself who invented the dropper. As early as the 1920s, shortly after the perfumery was founded, a first version of this invention hung on the exterior façade of the first shop at Potsdamer Brücke. The idea behind it was as simple as it was generous: fragrance should be accessible and experienceable. And that, before entering a shop. The fragrance of the day was filled into the upper vessel, which then slowly dripped down by gravity. The perfume was collected in the lower vessel so it could be reused. Simple, elegant and ingenious.

Passers-by could simply hold their hand or a cloth underneath as they walked past and catch a free drop of the day's fragrance. No sales pitch, no obligation, just a small luxury, gifted to the city.

The dropper quickly became more than just a practical invention. It became a landmark, an attraction in Berlin's streetscape. People stopped, tried, sniffed. Many of them later returned as customers. The dropper turned fragrance into an encounter.

Through War and Decades

The first version did not survive the Second World War. But as early as 1952, a new version of the dropper hung in front of the shop on Joachimsthaler Straße "Am Zoo" and once again received special attention. Now the press also honored this special Berlin invention. The dropper became known throughout the city, a symbol of the perfumery and its special way of bringing fragrance into the world.

Until well into the 1970s and 1980s, the fragrance of the day dripped in front of the shop – then at Kantstraße 106 – into the hands of curious Berliners. Jutta Dallmann, who has worked at the perfumery since 1958 and still comes to the shop several times a week today, remembers that time well. Once, she recalls, a customer held not her hand under the dropper but an entire glass and wanted to fill it. Many others held their handkerchiefs underneath to try out and get to know the fragrance.

In the 1980s, the dropper broke. It disappeared into the cellar, where it lay for many years, a forgotten piece of company history.

  • Eine Frau probiert den Duft auf ihrem Taschentuch aus.

  • Ein Straßenbahnfahrer lässt Tropfen in seinen Hut fallen.

  • Neugierige Passantinnen und Passanten vor dem Laden.

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Rediscovery and New Life

After the takeover in 2023, the rediscovery of the dropper was a genuine surprise. During the careful processing of the premises and the rich history of the house, we came across this special object in the cellar. A find that raised questions and told stories. It quickly became clear: the dropper belongs to HARRY LEHMANN like the apothecary bottles and Harry Lehmann's own desk.

The dropper was extensively restored. Through professional refurbishment, the old metal was polished to shine again and the mechanics and lighting were repaired. After initial attempts, it became apparent that the vessels were heavily soiled and cleaning was not sufficient. The inner workings of the dropper were reworked in-house and also electrified. A small, internal pump now brings the perfume back up to the upper vessel at the push of a button. The old idea and the old functionality remain unchanged; only the refilling is now easier to manage.

The dropper no longer hangs outside in front of the shop today, but it has found its place clearly visible in the shop, and with it a piece of Berlin history.

Anyone wishing to experience the dropper in action is cordially invited to visit the shop at Kantstraße 106. It no longer drips on the street, but the idea that Harry Lehmann had almost a hundred years ago lives on: to make fragrance experienceable and to invite visitors to try the fragrance of the day.

  • Der restaurierte Tropfer im Ladengeschäft in der Kantstr. 106

  • Elektrifizierung des Tropfers für eine einfache Bedienung.

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