Scent of Stay.
Meet the Design Hotels™ Exclusive Fragrance Collection.
Project Overview: Scent of Stay
Design Hotels™ Exclusive Fragrance Collection
Project Background
"Memories of travel are completed by scent."
This project aims to extend the brand experience of Design Hotels™, known for curating original and unique hotels worldwide. Beyond visual aesthetics and spatial experiences, this fragrance collection allows travelers to possess the moment of "True Rest" felt at their destination through "Scent"—the most powerful medium for memory.
Brand Connection
Originality & Narrative:
Reflects the Design Hotels™ philosophy of valuing the unique stories and Locality of each property, rather than standardized chain hotels.
Curated Experience:
Proposes perfume not merely as a souvenir, but as an objet d'art that showcases the sophisticated taste curated by Design Hotels.
The Hotels
The Spectrum of Rest
I began with a fundamental question:
"Where does true rest come from?"
From the extensive Design Hotels™ portfolio, I selected three properties that represent the most primordial yet contrasting forms of rest that humans can experience in nature.
El Vicenç de la Mar
(Mallorca, Spain)
The Cōmodo
(Bad Gastein, Austria)
El Vicenç de la Mar
'Infinite Liberation' facing the endless Mediterranean horizon in Spain.
The Cōmodo
'Cozy Isolation' felt amidst the freezing Alpine ranges of Austria.
Hotel Sevilla
'Static Immersion' provided by an ancient colonial house deep within the lush Yucatan jungle of Mexico.
These three hotels perfectly embody the distinct physical properties of nature:
Ocean, Mountain, and Jungle
completing the full spectrum of rest that travelers crave.
Hotel Sevilla
(Mérida, Mexico)
Concept
"Scent of Stay"
The core of this project is to connect the experience of a "Hotel Stay" to "Daily Inspiration." It ensures the journey doesn't end at checkout; the moment the scent is sprayed, it transports the user back to the sense of relaxation felt in the hotel lobby, pool, or bedroom.
Keywords
Rest, Memory, Genus Loci (Spirit of Place)
Marketing Point
"Not just a perfume you wear,
but a scent where you wear the space."
Product Lineup
A collection of three scents, each embodying a different persona of rest.
El Vicenç de la Mar
Color & Package: Deep Teal Blue. Watercolor illustration of the deep Mediterranean Sea and a yacht.
Theme: The depths and shimmering ripples of the Mediterranean. The overwhelming freedom and coolness faced at a cliff's edge.
Scent: Aquatic Mineral & Woody (Juniper Berry, Driftwood)
The Cōmodo
Color & Package: Terracotta Red. Watercolor illustration of a warm-toned room with a fireplace.
Theme: The cozy warmth of an Alpine lodge. Mid-century modern interiors and the heat of a crackling fire.
Scent: Woody Spicy & Amber (Palo Santo, Red Clay)
Hotel Sevilla
Color & Package: Sage Green. Watercolor illustration of lush tropical plants and a peaceful courtyard pool.
Theme: A 16th-century colonial garden hidden in the Yucatan jungle. Lazy afternoon sunlight and the vitality of nature.
Scent: Tropical Green & Smoky Resin (Bitter Orange, Copal Incense)
Packaging Design
The packaging serves as a medium that visually and tactilely conveys the unique atmosphere (Genus Loci) of each hotel's location.
Visual Narrative (Watercolor Illustration)
Expresses iconic spaces (lobbies, pools, rooms) and natural landscapes using a dreamy Watercolor technique.
The bleeding colors and textures visualize hazy "fragments of memory," providing space for users to project their own reminiscences.
Box
Uses textured, uncoated paper to maximize the watercolor aesthetic and emphasize an eco-friendly image.
Dimensions: 52mm (W) x 100mm (H) – An elongated rectangular prism designed to perfectly house the slender bottle.
Materiality & Tactility
Bottle
A matte, Earth-tone body devoid of excessive decoration offers a calm and comfortable grip.
Dimensions
46mm (W) x 90mm (H) – A tall, slender silhouette with an approximate 1:2 aspect ratio.
Volume
50ml
Cap
Uses natural Wood caps to add natural texture and warmth; distinct wood grains give uniqueness to each product.
Visual Identity System: Typography & Color
Applies a restrained 'Inter' font and minimal layout to maintain the modern, sophisticated Design Hotels™ brand image.
Designed to focus on the emotional mood rather than information delivery by utilizing negative space.
Typography Architecture
Primary Typeface
Cormorant Garamond Bold
Used for headlines and main titles to convey elegance and heritage.
Secondary Typeface
Inter Medium
A clean, modern sans-serif was selected for body text and UI elements to
ensure high legibility and contrast against the serif headers.
Product Color Palette
The color system is directly derived from the product packaging,
establishing a strong visual link between the scent and the brand identity.
El Vicenç de la Mar
Deep Teal (#265B62)
The Cōmodo
Terracotta (#9C4B38)
Hotel Sevilla
Sage Green (#6E7F70)
1. El Vicenç de la Mar
"Azure Waters Beneath the Tramuntana Cliffs"
Perched where the dramatic Tramuntana mountains plunge into the Mediterranean Sea, El Vicenç de la Mar embodies the luminous spirit of a Mallorcan summer. The scent opens with the blinding brightness of sun-drenched white rocks and the saline kiss of the sea breeze. It travels through the coastal groves, carrying the aroma of wild rosemary and ripe citrus, finally settling into the clean, woody scent of driftwood drying on the shore. A tribute to the crystalline light and deep blue waters of the Balearic coast.
Color
Terracotta Red
Scent Vibe
Woody Spicy & Amber
Note Breakdown
Top: Mountain Pine, Cold Air Accord, Pink Pepper
Heart: Mineral Water Accord, Juniper Berry, Iris
Base: Warm Oak, Smoked Amber, Worn Leather
Key Ingredients: Palo Santo & Red Clay Accord
Palo Santo offers a smoky, spiritual woodiness, blended with a dry, dusty Red Clay accord to create a deep, atmospheric warmth that mirrors the hotel's grounded, earthy interior palette.
El Vicenç de la Mar
Location
El Vicenç de la Mar
Carrer Cala Molins 6
Cala Sant Vicenç 07469
Spain
Scent of Stay.
2. The Cōmodo
"Alpine Mist & Mid-Century Warmth"
Deep in the Austrian Alps, where the mist clings to the pine forests of Bad Gastein, lies a former clinic reborn as a sanctuary of design. The Cōmodo captures the duality of this mountain retreat: the bracing chill of the high-altitude air outside, contrasting with the nostalgic warmth of a mid-century modern interior. It is the scent of healing mineral waters and wet conifers, softened by the dry, smoky comfort of an open fireplace and vintage leather furniture. A modern interpretation of an alpine escape.
Color
Terracotta Red
Scent Vibe
Woody Spicy & Amber
Note Breakdown
Top: Mountain Pine, Cold Air Accord, Pink Pepper
Heart: Mineral Water Accord, Juniper Berry, Iris
Base: Warm Oak, Smoked Amber, Worn Leather
Key Ingredients: Palo Santo & Red Clay Accord
Palo Santo offers a smoky, spiritual woodiness, blended with a dry, dusty Red Clay accord to create a deep, atmospheric warmth that mirrors the hotel's grounded, earthy interior palette.
The Cōmodo
Location
Kaiserhofstraße 18
Bad Gastein 5640
Austria
Scent of Stay.
3. Hotel Sevilla
"A Colonial Sanctuary in the Yucatan Jungle"
Behind heavy wooden doors in the heart of Mérida, a 16th-century colonial haven awaits. Hotel Sevilla captures the sacred humidity of the Yucatan. Step into the shadowed patio where time stands still; crumbling limestone walls are reclaimed by lush tropical overgrowth. The air is thick and heady, filled with the sharp zest of native Sour Oranges (Naranja Agria) and the mystical, smoky trail of Mayan Copal burning in the distance. A raw, verdant scent that bridges the gap between colonial history and the wild jungle.
Color
Sage Green
Scent Vibe
Tropical Green & Smoky Resin
Note Breakdown
Top: Bitter Orange (Naranja Agria), Lime Zest, Rainwater Accord
Heart: Agave Leaf, Tuberose, Wet Stone (Petrichor)
Base: Copal Resin, Vetiver, Dark Mahogany Wood
Key Ingredients: Sour Orange & Copal Resin
Sour Orange captures the unique, zesty bitterness essential to Yucatecan culture, while Copal Resin adds a mystical, smoky, and earthy depth that grounds the scent in the region's ancient Mayan heritage.
Hotel Sevilla
Location
62nd Street 511
Mérida 97000
Mexico
Scent of Stay.
Expected Effect
Brand Loyalty
Leaves a lingering brand impression on guests, encouraging revisits and forming brand attachment.
Revenue Stream
Creates value as a unique retail product beyond standard room amenities.
Sensory Branding
Completes a differentiated luxury experience unique to Design Hotels™ through
the synesthetic branding of sight (packaging) and smell (scent).
USED TOOLS