Disclaimer: This work is not affiliated with Diptyque Paris. These are not real products, just a design I did for fun and practice.
Project overview
Diptyque’s City Candles collection condenses the unique atmospheres of a number of major cities around the world into luxury candle fragrances. I love the design decisions made in this series, and thought it was a missed opportunity to not include any from Scandinavia, given the growing interest in the lifestyle and aesthetics of this region from all around the world.
Concept
I designed the packaging boxes for candles special to Stockholm, Oslo, and Copenhagen, drawing inspiration from each city. As a fragrance lover myself, I used my own bloodhound nose to concoct a hypothetical fragrance unique to each capital to help guide some of my visual inspiration.
Stockholm stands out as the city that best captures the feeling of Scandinavian summer that we long for: blue skies, gentle breezes, and cruises down the river Söderström. The theme of blues and white capture the sky and clouds. The floral patterns (inspired by two flowers native to the area) draws from dainty wallpaper prints found in classic apartments and nearby country houses alike, pottery, and a relaxed but sophisticated air that the locals carry about them.
Top notes:
Strawberries, lemon, almond
Mid notes:
Honeysuckle, Artemisia, aquatic accord
Base notes:
European white water lily (Soedermanland), Arctic starflower (Uppland) (Stockholm runs between these two provinces)
Oslo is the greenest of the three. Its residents are known to embrace the stunning nature found just a stone’s throw outside the city center, as well as the easily accessible parks dotted around the metropolitan area. The blue-grey palette reflects the feeling of a snow-lit winter eve and the metalwork found along my buildings in neighborhoods like Gamlebyen and Frogner gilded in frost when the temperatures plummet. Norwegians enjoy the right to roam, and on treks it’s not uncommon to pick berries along the way, a favorite being black berries.
The hand-painted details are inspired by the traditional painting styles of rosemaling and looseness of Munch to illustrate simple delights the city has to offer while honoring its history as an artistic muse.
Top notes:
Blackberry, blackcurrant leaf, red seaweed
Mid notes:
Jasmine, white musk, ylang-ylang
Base notes:
Cedar, vetiver, cardamom
Copenhagen has captivated the world with its contemporary design scene, dimly lit cafes and wine bars, bold fabrics, and welcoming city planning, combining historic architectural landmarks with colorful apartment buildings. The spoked geometric print reflects the adored cobblestone streets and are reminiscent of bicycle wheels, which is the preferred method of transportation among locals and visitors alike.
Top notes:
Benzoin, ginger, cloves
Mid notes:
Amber rum, orange, osmanthus
Base notes:
Sandalwood, patchouli, wood smoke