Kodo
2024, coconut wax, essential oils
Kodo is a set of ten colourless wax crayons infused with natural essential oils, challenging the oculocentric nature of modern design. The scent palette is grounded in scientific research identifying ten primary olfactory categories, with each crayon representing a distinct fundamental note.
Named after the Japanese tradition of incense appreciation (Kōdō), the project invites users to shift their perception from seeing to feeling. Each element bears a unique tactile symbol for identification, allowing for an intuitive selection process. Conceptually, these individual markings are fragments of a larger whole, uniting to form a single, complete symbol on the packaging.
Kodo serves as a unique medium to record emotions and intuition through smell - a sense deeply rooted in memory. Scents can be layered to form new compositions, allowing users to create "invisible images" where fragrance takes the place of colour. The project can be used independently or as a sensory layer added to existing drawings, expanding the artistic experience beyond the visible spectrum.