Let the spirit of the group take you to new discoveries and getting to know new ambitious women and maybe, to lifetime friendships. For sure, you’ll have a lot of material for your Instagram and Social Media.
Who hasn’t wished for girlfriends like Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda? Who hasn’t dreamed of exploring the city like those extraordinary women? Well, six girls will live that dream as Six & the City takes in the best the city of Munich and surroundings have to offer. Six & the City will be leaving Carrie and her friends way behind!
Six & the City will invoke the power of 6 to bring you an unforgettable Six & the City boutique experience. You will enjoy this green city, known for its beautiful lush parks and gardens, many museums, and beautiful palaces and extraordinary 18th-Century architecture. But it’s a modern city too, a place of great contrasts and surprises, always stylish.
You’ll enjoy fine dining together, great bars and extraordinary entertainment, in places known only to locals with a fine sense of the best … and the most fun! Before you all need to say goodbye you’ll also take a day trip to the magnificent Lake Tegernsee at the foothills of the Bavarian Alps.
Kathrin, founder of Six & the City
I am Kathrin Di Lauro, founder of Six & the City, a long weekend insider experience based in and around Munich. In time we will offer other European cities too. We want to inspire women to embrace and enjoy female solo travel to the full. I’ve traveled the world, mostly solo, for more than 20 years (yes, I started early). I’ve loved every minute of it. Making good friends all over this planet has given me a powerful, positive view of everything around me and of everyone in my life. Now, through Six & the City, I’m sharing that power, strength, and confidence with other women too.
If you have a taste for all things wonderful, enjoy good service, want to get lost in a refreshing ambiance and you appreciate high quality without spending a fortune, then join me and you’ll be in good company.
My passion for Bavaria and Munich, the Bavarian capital city, means you’ll experience the best of both through the eyes of an insider. My love of travel brings the knowledge and creativity to ensure your time in my company will be an exceptional experience. You will never be anywhere as unusual and unique as the Munich you’ll enjoy with me.
What is the trip to Munich about?
Six & the City is an insider experience in Munich, my hometown. It’s a unique and exclusive offering for women who travel solo and want to meet up and enjoy five days together with like-minded female traveling companions.
We take in all the highlights and the very best the Bavarian capital has to offer but the casual tourists rarely discover. We also take a full day trip to the fairytale Schloss Neuschwanstein and visit the magnificent Lake Tegernsee at the foothills of the Bavarian Alps. Our program is a five-day experience, based at a beautiful 4-star boutique hotel in the heart of the old town. Our days are filled with lunches and dinners in authentic and delicious bars and restaurants, including the world-renowned ‘Hofbräuhaus’. There are private tours of the city and castle tours, private transportation by a chauffeur and so much more….and there’s still time for everyone to quietly stroll around my beautiful city or rest in the privacy of their own luxurious rooms.
What are the Six & the City trips about?
Six & the City is a community for independent women who want to be out there and discover the world through solo female travel … but travel in style! The focus is always a niche quality and great service.
I often hear women saying they’d never do what I’m doing by themselves; they’re worried about feeling lonely or encountering circumstances they’d not feel at ease with. Six & the City is a great way to break out of this anxiety, it gives women the opportunity to travel alone, without the need of waiting for a friend to come along. It offers a safe and exciting opportunity to join like-minded travel companions. We aim to enrich our fellows through a safe and trustworthy ambiance, where we can all grow and overcome limiting beliefs and behavior patterns. Through a shared appreciation of what makes us all great individuals and remarkable women, we create an atmosphere of acceptance instead of judgment. At Six & the City, we’re creating a space for trust, good company and maybe lifetime friendships.
How do you organize a trip?
My talent is an organization, especially when it comes to travel. All my trips are planned intricately to take in the best of every place I visit. I’m a loyal guest of Four Seasons Hotels worldwide and find their concierge service exceptional. This high standard has inspired me to focus first on the quality and service we offer our Six & the City guests.
I plan every Six & the City event with excitement and attention to detail as if it were my first. I want the best without being overly luxurious or expensive, not so scheduled that there’s no time to chill or stroll. Recognizing that our clients want to feel cared for, without hassles or concerns, we offer private chauffeured transportation and reservations at high-quality restaurants and cafes, combined with time to laze in an excellent hotel room that meets the needs of experienced travelers who appreciate the best things in life.
Do you join your trips as well?
Yes, I do! I’m there to make sure five women have a wonderful experience. I’m there to make sure they don’t miss the best by wasting time on the lesser things. I’m there to build companionship. That’s the best part of it, five women and me. Let the fun begin!
What is the one message you would like to convey to travelers?
A very famous, but rather ancient Roman has said it already:
“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking”.
Marcus Aurelius
Nothing is more important for personal growth than travel. Through leaving your comfort zone you enter the unknown, you widen your horizons and your old and maybe outgrown beliefs and behavior patterns. Treading the familiar path is a great way to stay stuck in a rut. Focus on acceptance and curiosity and you will be empowered.
How do you deal with fewer good days?
I am the creator of my mood; therefore, I am the creator of my day.
I understand the universe as a sequence of waves, sometimes you are on top of the wave, sometimes you are on the bottom. So it is with everyday life! When I am on the bottom, I prepare for the next wave to put me on top again. I allow myself those negative feelings we all have from time to time. I know these shall pass. Ultimately, we are in charge of our thoughts, so we should consciously, deliberately, choose the ones that make us feel good. When I feel heavy, sad, worried or down I align with a positive thought, as little as it might be, pushing me out of depression or self-pity, I consciously decide not to be a victim of my thoughts.
How do you balance work and life?
Passion! I love my work. But when time becomes a pressure, then I find time to meditate. I always find time for meditation whenever I need to restore my mental equilibrium.
Advice for other entrepreneurs who want to get started or are just starting out?
To every woman out there who feels the calling to do something on your own, but your ideas are not yet quite clear, join our community and become a host in your hometown. We are looking for entrepreneurs who want to be part of the Six & the City network. Drop us a mail to hello@kathrindilauro.com
This is an opportunity to try out something new, exciting and personally rewarding without needing to invest. I’m here to help – who knows, maybe you will find your soul calling though our beginning this adventure together.
Thank you in advance for supporting Six & the City!
What is your secret to being an effective director in terms of managing the company you lead?
There is no secret. Only values. All those values I apply in my personal life I apply in my business life too. I put the greatest emphasis on being myself and walking my own path. I put honesty, equity, loyalty, moderation and respect above all things.
I consider my work and Six & the City like any other aspect of my life, it is a part of me, it comes from my innermost self, from my soul and heart. The success of Sex & the City matters to me, but never to the exclusion of my personal values.
I am not trying to be like someone else, I want to be the best version of myself, day by day, through personal growth.
Where do you get your inspiration from daily?
My inspiration is my life experience, both, through travel and personal growth.
I started traveling alone when I was at school. Even then, my urge for freedom overcame my worries and fears.
Solo travel builds confidence, broadens the mind and promotes tolerance, cultural awareness and a love for diversity. We all strive for perfection and we find fragments of it in every corner of the world.
Four Seasons Hotels inspires me for all these same values. Their pursuit of perfection is grounded in their global integration and adoption of humanity’s best qualities.
My greatest inspiration? My husband. He inspires me every day through his unshakeable love … and we’ve been married a long time!
![From Music to Perfume: How did your background as a music teacher influence your transition into perfumery, and how do you incorporate your musical sensibilities into creating fragrances? I’ve always thought in terms of metaphors, and music has many that can be related to perfumery! Beyond just thinking in terms of top, middle and base notes [soprano/alto/tenor in choir], I approach each fragrant idea as a composition. When documenting my ideas, song structures often come to mind. As the scent brief is visited, I meditate on what the fragrance should convey - do I want to create an accord or a “chord” of fragrance note combinations? Do I want an a capella soloist (a particular ingredient to stand out more than others?) Many of my thoughts regarding song composition transfers to my scent formulation process, with me treating each note as an intentional soliloquy at some point.
Brand Origin: What inspired you to start Pink MahogHany in 2005, and how has your vision for the brand evolved since its inception?
An avid lover of all things pleasantly scented (with slight modesty), looking back in retrospect, it’s no huge surprise that I’ve created an indie perfume house with just an idea to provide unique options for those who may be sensitive to unnecessary pungency. Initially, I just wanted to evaluate various blends to note their aroma profiles when “played” together…it wasn’t until I had friends and family asking if I knew of brands that catered to those who may be on the more olfactory sensitive side, that I really began to take my research more seriously. In the almost 20 years that Pink MahogHany has been in existence, our micro visions for the brand have evolved to larger territory. Where Pink MahogHany used to only be a personal brand, we are now also a bespoke formulation service provider to other indie brands seeking unique fragrance offerings for their products. These products range from (but are not limited to) perfumes, candles, body butters and lip balms. Ingredient Transparency: You emphasize transparency and the use of desirable ingredients in your products. How do you select your ingredients, and what challenges have you faced in maintaining this standard?
Being an indie brand often comes with a set of assumptions and misconceptions - one of them being more negative than positive as it relates to ingredients used. There is a lot of “fluff” in the industry with labeling falsification. Because fragrance formulas are a trade secret, not every molecular breakdown of a material has to be noted on the ingredient label (it would be incredibly long), but we at Pink MahogHany™️ adhere strongly to the IFRA [International Fragrance Regulatory Association] regulations that state for common and potential allergens to be listed on our ingredient label. We’ve taken this a step further to also include these ingredients listed on our website to promote further transparency, all while protecting our intellectual property. Unfortunately, we’ve had companies to unethically sell lesser expensive “dupes” of our artisan perfumes, so as a way to create a better authenticity stamp, we make it our duty to be honest about our claims. If our perfume says “Rose Bulgaria”, it is in fact just that and not a component of rose being passed off as the source material. Collaborations and Custom Scents: Can you share more about your work with private label clients? What excites you most about creating custom scent solutions for other indie brands? I could easily sum this up in one word and say “Funding.” True, there is money out there, but I’m always thinking outside the box. Having a program that has an “Each One Fund One” mentality doesn’t exist (that I’ve been made aware of). Bootstrapping can be quite the challenge, even when you’ve reached the 6-figure mark annually. Competition to be seen and set apart is extremely high, so having quality packaging and branding is a must. There are lots of factors to consider, though when desiring to make upgrades. If there were a unique, tier-geared funding operation available, it would help perfume brands offset packaging and bulk material costs in the beginning stages.
Industry Challenges: What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an independent fragrance house, and how have you overcome them to grow your brand? As the brand continues on the path of organic growth, I would like to expand our reach into schools, offering perfumery as an arts elective for middle and high school. I’d love to partner with botanists, farmers and horticulturists directly to grow and source raw materials for the students to work with in the creation of tinctures. My passion is getting back to nature as best as possible, as nature was my first “scent experience” as a child. We would also love to witness our fragrance creations being used to scent model homes, our focus diffuser blends being used in automobile dealerships as well as partner with Air Bnb and boutique hotels that specialize in highlighting minority, indie brands. Personal Journey: How has your personal experience, particularly as a divorced mother and someone who has experienced the loss of a child, shaped your approach to life and your work in perfumery?
Because I homeschool my twin sons, we are together a lot more than most, so one thing we all do is have moments of sharing where a neutral “floor” is laid to converse about anything. Though they are quite communicative by nature, I realize that sometimes I can be in work mode so much that it spills over into what should be our quality time. My sons see the authentic me and learn how to communicate through seeing authenticity. I’ve learned not to feel as if I have to be the epitome of perfection but allow them to see my imperfections vulnerably but with discernment. Having had two traumatic experiences pretty close together has taught me how to truly slow down and enjoy the simplicities of life - igniting a spiritual aspect that I’ve always carried but never fully explored…until Kenji’s sudden passing (2018.) Grief has a way of catapulting us into a quest for more meaningfulness in both life and business. After Kenji’s passing and my processing through the initial stages of grief, I was able to incorporate our spiritual bond into Pink MahogHany by way of essential oil diffuser blends for both focus and sleep and most recently aromatic perfume elixirs. It’s been quite the process channeling the void of his physical presence, but I also have peace knowing he can be honored in a great way through scent. I noticed once I began to be more open and receptive to spiritual signs, synchs and “winks”, more ideas began to flow. It’s been this way since his transition. Emotional Expression: Fragrance is often tied to memories and emotions. How does your personal life influence the fragrances you create, and do you have a particular scent that holds special meaning to you? My creative process is much more alchemic now, and I include Kenji by talking out loud to him, believe it or not. I’m a firm believer that when our loved ones transition from the physical plane, they are still present - just in another form. I choose to keep his memory alive by not pretending he never existed (even if for a brief period of time). I am working (slowly) on a book and accompanying fragrance, but I know it will require me to revisit some memories I’m not quite ready for, so until then, his big brothers will launch their debut fragrance, The Peaceful Tiger (they chose the name.) I’ve learned that even in what we consider “small things”, our transitioned loved ones want to be recognized and acknowledged. When the twins and I designed their fragrance label (with a designer out of the country that didn’t know anything about me personally), we had issues with the graphic - so much so that the designer asked if they could rework the design. When they sent the proof for approval, the Tiger was not only younger but sleeping, with an uncanny, angelic resemblance to baby Kenji! Becoming more aware and being more sensitive to my intention for launching a fragrance has definitely made room for more divine situations like these to occur. Healing Through Scent: In what ways has creating fragrances been a form of healing or expression for you, especially after the loss of your son, Kenji Mwamba? I know my sons may not necessarily want to be perfumers, but they definitely have an entrepreneurial heart. My desire is that whatever they decide to pursue (acting, script-writing, music or architecture), they know that anything is possible with the right amount of determination, grit, belief and immersion. One reason I chose to homeschool is so they could enjoy learning without restraint and have ample time to devote to their own separate passions and it still be fun. They know Pink MahogHany is theirs if they want it (many, many years from now - lol), and we are already discussing business structures for whatever they choose their role to be once I retire. Work-Life Balance: How do you find balance between your professional responsibilities and personal well-being, and what self-care practices do you prioritize? I’m not just a perfumer; I’m also a consumer, and self-care is huge for me. I often take salt baths to reset my energy and clear my mind after being around large groups of people or free a long day. I’m a habitual perfume sampler, and I have so many to choose from to wear as my “nightcap.” Even if just for 10-15 minutes, I cherish each moment I’m able to have some “me-time.” When time and co-parenting schedules permit, I’m definitely on a flight somewhere to indulge in some delicious food and mouth-watering mocktails!](https://www.womenontopp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_3812-1200x720.jpeg)
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