Behind the Box: Creating a Scent Experience for DABBL
Some projects start with a product.
This one started with a feeling.
When DABBL reached out, they wanted a thoughtful way to thank the people who had supported their launch. They had always loved the branding and fragrances from Nineteen Eighty Three, but they weren't looking for a candle. Instead, they wanted something a little different.
That challenge immediately excited me.
Starting with Scent
After a few conversations, we landed on the idea of scent stones paired with a mini fragrance dropper and one of the founder's favourite scents in an ’83 Everywhere diffuser.
The goal wasn't simply to create something people would open and forget. It was to create something they would experience.
Something beautiful, useful, and memorable.
With timing tight, I sourced the scent stones rather than having them custom made, but the idea instantly clicked. In fact, I loved them so much that I reached out to my ceramic artist shortly afterwards and we're now working on creating our own.
The Details Are My Favourite Part
While the fragrance itself is important, I've always believed the little details are what people remember.
Every thank you note and instruction card was typed by hand on my typewriter.
Tiny paper clips held the notes in place.
Layers were added to create moments of discovery.
Even the front of each box was hand typed.
None of those things were required.
But those are often the pieces that turn an object into an experience.
More Than How Something Smells
Fragrance has a way of connecting itself to memories.
That's what I love most about creating with scent.
It's never just about making something smell good.
It's about creating a mood.
A memory.
A moment.
Whether it's a candle, a diffuser, or something entirely new, I'm always drawn to projects that help people slow down and experience something thoughtfully.
Thank You, DABBL
I'm grateful to the DABBL team for trusting me with this project and giving me the freedom to bring a few ideas to life.
Collaborations like this remind me why I started Nineteen Eighty Three in the first place.
Not just to create fragrance.
But to create experiences through scent.
Have an idea that doesn't quite fit inside a box?
Those are usually my favourite kinds of projects.
I'd love to hear about it.