Designing Smells: The New Frontier of Olfactory Design
The article explores the emerging field of olfactory design, where designers are increasingly incorporating scent into objects and spaces. Major design brands like Kartell, Tom Dixon, and Moooi have launched ambient fragrance products, while Philippe Starck introduced three fragrances under Starck Paris in collaboration with Perfumes & Diseño. Pioneers such as Marcin Rusak distill scents from rose retailers, Amy Radcliffe created a "camera degli odori" at Central Saint Martins, and Sissel Tolaas has synthesized over 7,000 odors at her Re_Search Lab in Berlin, including a mustard gas scent for a 2014 exhibition at the Military History Museum in Dresden. Daniele Bortotto designed Silicon Diffusers for focus or sleep, Alexandra Stück created linen scarves infused with therapeutic herbal extracts, and Gigi Barker's A Body of Skin collection uses pheromones to simulate human scent.
Key facts
- Kartell Fragrances designed by Ferruccio Laviani in 2015
- Philippe Starck launched Peau de Soie, Peau de Pierre, Peau d'Ailleurs under Starck Paris with Perfumes & Diseño
- Marcin Rusak's Flowering Transition, Fragrance project distills scents from floral designers, florists, and supermarkets
- Amy Radcliffe's Madeleine project at Central Saint Martins synthesizes aromas of objects under a glass dome
- Sissel Tolaas founded Re_Search Lab in Berlin, has synthesized over 7,000 odors
- Tolaas created a mustard gas scent for a 2014 exhibition at the Military History Museum in Dresden
- Daniele Bortotto's Silicon Diffusers emit scents for concentration, sleep, or fresh air
- Alexandra Stück's linen scarves release therapeutic herbal extracts for six months when activated by body heat or movement
- Gigi Barker's A Body of Skin collection uses pheromones and aftershave to simulate human scent
Entities
Artists
- Ferruccio Laviani
- Tom Dixon
- Philippe Starck
- Marcin Rusak
- Amy Radcliffe
- Sissel Tolaas
- Daniele Bortotto
- Alexandra Stück
- Gigi Barker
Institutions
- Kartell
- Moooi
- Starck Paris
- Perfumes & Diseño
- Central Saint Martins
- Re_Search Lab
- Military History Museum of Dresden
Locations
- Berlin
- Germany
- Dresden
- London
- United Kingdom