DRIP

Hand Carved Wood, Wool String, Birch Wood Beads Infused with Essential Oils

The Drip scented sculpture’s ideation stems from the accelerating pace of the disconnect to nature in the developing world. We have created environments and experiences that rely heavily on our visual sense while suppressing our other senses. This problem is escalating with the onset of mask culture as our noses are covered now more than ever. Our sense of smell is a great gateway to help us bring harmony back to the human experience as the olfactory system bypasses our thinking brain and goes directly to areas of the brain that is associated with awareness, memories and mood regulation.

Drip embraces the constraint of replicating scent as it is found in nature without the use of combustion, chemicals or electricity to create an aromatic atmosphere in the home. Potpourri has been used for centuries to perfume environments utilizing simple natural oils and ingredients found in the natural environment. Extracting the traditional process from potpourri making led to the concept of marinating aromatic wood beads with oil. The wood beads are robust enough (unlike traditional flower petal potpourri) to regenerate with scented oils extending the life cycle of the object. The versatility of beads allows for the potpourri to be transformed from a bowl laying on a flat surface to being presented in a way that is beautiful at eye level which also means at nose level. 

The design is intended to create a gentle sensory drip effect as a reminder to our connection to nature influencing our cognitive well being in the home. The sculpture’s form provides the stimulus of an organic shape to the visual cortex to support the conscious experience of the scent. While on an unconscious level the natural scent in the atmosphere is activating the olfactory system. The selection of natural materials and the biodegradable life cycle carries the narrative of the connection to nature. Even as brief of an experience a drip might be the repetition over time can create positive changes in and out of the home.