Scent of Stay.
An independent fragrance collection concept inspired by Design Hotels.
Concept Development · Visual Identity · Packaging Design · Art Direction
Scent of Stay is an independent fragrance branding concept inspired by three Design Hotels properties. The project translates each destination's atmosphere into a coordinated system of scent concepts, watercolor packaging, and product imagery—exploring how the memory of a stay can continue beyond checkout.
Product Lineup
Three fragrances, each inspired by a different expression of rest.
1. El Vicenç de la Mar
Theme: The Mediterranean's depths and shimmering ripples. The overwhelming freedom and coolness felt at a cliff's edge.
Scent: Aquatic Mineral & Woody (Juniper Berry, Driftwood)
2. The Cōmodo
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 Accord)
3. Hotel Sevilla Theme: The stillness of a shaded courtyard in Mérida, expressed through warm stone, tropical greenery, and afternoon light. Scent: Tropical Green & Smoky Resin (Bitter Orange, Copal Incense)
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
'Infinite Liberation' facing the endless Mediterranean horizon in Spain.
The Cōmodo
Bad Gastein, Austria
'Cozy Isolation' felt amidst the freezing Alpine ranges of Austria.
Hotel Sevilla
Mérida, México
Courtyard Stillness—a quiet retreat in Mérida’s historic center.
Coast, Mountains, and Courtyard.
Completing the full spectrum of rest that travelers crave.
Brand Connection
Originality & Narrative:
Reflects the Design Hotels’ philosophy of valuing each property's unique stories and locality, rather than standardized chain hotels.
Curated Experience:
Proposes perfume not merely as a souvenir, but as an objet d'art that showcases Design Hotels' sophisticated taste.
Keywords
Rest, Memory, Genius loci (Spirit of Place)
Marketing Point
“Carry the feeling of a place.”
64 x 64 x 112 mm
64 x 64 x 112 mm
64 x 64 x 112 mm
Packaging Design
The packaging translates each hotel’s sense of place—its genius loci—into watercolor imagery, color, and texture.
Visual Narrative (Watercolor Illustration)
Depicts iconic spaces (lobbies, pools, rooms) and natural landscapes in a dreamy watercolor style.
The bleeding colors and textures visualize hazy "fragments of memory," providing space for users to project their own reminiscences.
Box Dimensions 64 W × 64 D × 112 H mm A compact carton proportioned around the 50 ml bottle.
Proposed Materials & Finishes
Bottle A matte finish in a distinct color for each fragrance. Box Textured, uncoated paper selected to complement the watercolor artwork. Cap A natural wood cap proposed to introduce warmth and tactile contrast. Bottle Dimensions Ø55 × H99 mm Volume 50 ml Eau de Parfum Label Dimensions 30 × 32 mm Box Dimensions 64 W × 64 D × 112 H mm
Visual Identity System: Typography & Color
Cormorant Garamond Bold gives each hotel name a distinctive presence, while Helvetica Neue provides a consistent voice for the collection wordmark and supporting label information. Generous spacing balances the expressive illustrations with clear, readable typography.
A familiar name, reimagined for fragrance.
For this fragrance collection concept, I retained the Design Hotels name and reinterpreted its wordmark in Helvetica Neue.
The understated signature creates a consistent identity across all three scents, while Cormorant Garamond Bold gives each hotel name a distinctive presence. Together, the two typefaces balance character and clarity across the labels and packaging.
Typography Architecture
Primary Typeface: Cormorant Garamond Bold
Used for headlines and main titles to convey elegance and heritage.
Secondary Typeface: Helvetica Neue
Wordmark, fragrance descriptors, and packaging information
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)
Bottle Deep Teal (#265B62)
PackageSky Blue (#E1E7E1)
The Cōmodo
Terracotta (#9C4B38)
Bottle Terracotta (#9C4B38)
PackageBurgundy (#722623)
Hotel Sevilla
Sage Green (#6E7F70)
Bottle Sage Green (#6E7F70)
PackageSunshine Yellow (#F9F0CD)
Campaign Art Direction
Carry the feeling of a place.
The campaign translates each fragrance concept into a moment of rest: coastal light, Alpine warmth, and courtyard stillness. Natural textures, directional light, and intimate human moments connect the bottles to each destination's atmosphere. Still imagery and short films extend the packaging identity into a visual story of travel and memory.
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 sea breeze's saline kiss.
It travels through coastal groves, carrying the aroma of wild rosemary and ripe citrus, then settles into the clean, woody scent of driftwood drying on the shore. A tribute to the Balearic coast's crystalline light and deep blue waters.
Color
Deep Teal Blue
Scent Vibe
Aquatic Mineral & Woody (Juniper Berry, Driftwood)
Proposed Scent Notes Top: Mallorcan Lemon, Sea Salt, Bergamot Heart: Juniper Berry, Cypress, Wild Rosemary, Neroli Base: Driftwood, White Musk, Cedar
Key Notes: Juniper Berry & Driftwood
Juniper berry suggests an aromatic sharpness, while a driftwood accord adds a dry, woody impression of the coast.
El Vicenç de la Mar
Location
El Vicenç de la Mar
Carrer Cala Molins 6
Cala Sant Vicenç 07469
Spain
Coastal Light Open horizons, weathered wood, and sunlit skin express the clarity and freedom of a Mediterranean escape.
"Alpine Mist & Mid-Century Warmth"
Deep in the Austrian Alps, where mist clings to the pine forests of Bad Gastein, a former clinic has been reborn as a design sanctuary. 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 smells 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.
The Cōmodo
Color
Terracotta Red
Scent Vibe
Woody Spicy & Amber
Proposed Scent Notes Top: Mountain Pine, Cold Air Accord, Pink Pepper Heart: Mineral Water Accord, Juniper Berry, Iris Base: Palo Santo, Red Clay Accord, Warm Oak, Smoked Amber, Worn Leather
Key Notes: 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
Alpine Warmth Warm interiors and tactile close-ups contrast with the cold mountain landscape, expressing the comfort of retreating indoors.
Hotel Sevilla
Courtyard Stillness in the Heart of Mérida Inspired by Hotel Sevilla’s historic setting in Mérida, this fragrance concept explores the contrast between sun-warmed stone and the cool shade of a planted courtyard. Bitter orange, green foliage, and copal resin suggest a quiet afternoon shaped by the textures and atmosphere of the Yucatán.
Color
Sage Green
Scent Vibe
Tropical Green & Smoky Resin
Proposed Scent Notes
Top: Bitter Orange (Naranja Agria), Lime Zest, Rainwater Accord
Heart: Agave Leaf, Tuberose, Wet Stone (Petrichor)
Base: Copal Resin, Vetiver, Dark Mahogany Wood
Key Notes: Bitter 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
Courtyard Stillness Shaded greenery, warm stone, and unhurried gestures evoke the quiet intimacy of a courtyard retreat in Mérida.
Intended Brand Value
1. Lasting Connection Extend the memory of a hotel stay into an everyday ritual. 2. Retail Potential Explore fragrance as a collectible product beyond the stay. 3. Sensory Identity Connect place, packaging, and a proposed scent direction within one collection.
USED TOOLS
Adobe Photoshop
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Adobe Illustrator
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Google Gemini (Nano Banana)
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Grok Imagine
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ChatGPT
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Adobe Photoshop • Adobe Illustrator • Google Gemini (Nano Banana) • Grok Imagine • ChatGPT •