Visual Scent Gallery
Visual Scent Gallery
The Private Language Of Scent
In the world of perfumery, we often hear that perfume is both an art and a craft. While the "making" is an art and a science, I believe the "experiencing" leans heavily toward art. How we "see" a scent is enigmatic and subjective. It is what philosophers call qualia—an experience that belongs only to you and cannot be fully translated for someone else.
Even with something as simple as the aroma of coffee, the way it feels to you cannot be measured or documented. It is a private feeling that emerges from within. This hidden, internal world is what fascinates me most about scent.
I create perfumes that are meant to be worn as sanctuaries. While a perfume might have a "sillage," we experience it as a personal space.
What Is It Like To Be A Bat?
Years ago, I read a paper by Thomas Nagel titled "What Is It Like To Be A Bat?" He argued that even if we could map every physical part of a bat’s brain, we could still never truly know how it feels to be a bat. We are limited by our own points of view.
My olfactory art projects often explore this very question: How do we experience the world? I use scent as a medium to represent these internal experiences.
In a recent art project, I imagined what salmon might smell as they journey from river to ocean. In another, I created a scented journey to a physical place.
When I compose, I feel it in my body—sometimes a harsh note feels like it’s standing outside of me; other times, a scent feels like it needs to be "pulled up" from my feet.
It is this qualia that I wish to translate as best as I can.
The Visual Scent Gallery Project
I remember a day from my childhood in India. After the rain, there was a bloom of wildflowers, and suddenly one day hundreds of yellow butterflies emerged. I was walking home from school and felt a desperate urge to stop every stranger, to hold them by their shoulders and ask, "Do you see? Do you see?"
This is why I like to present visual art as an additional sensory input to the experience of the perfume I create. I want to translate the inspiration behind my perfumes into a visual medium for everyone to see.
Every perfume I create has a specific visual counterpart. I have begun commissioning artists to create original works, or licensing existing pieces, to act as a visual doorway into the fragrance.
I call this the Visual Scent Gallery—an ongoing project to present art in diverse styles that helps tell the story of the scent.
Artists Gallery
Hemraj Bhabor
Hemraj lives in Bhopal, India, and belongs to the Bhil indigenous community. Bhil art is a vibrant, ancient art form from Central Indian region characterized by colorful, dotted patterns painted on walls, floors, and cloth.
Art for Tiger Bright. Read more...
Sanika Dhanorkar
Sanika spent her childhood in the ancestral home of her great-grandfather Shri. L. N. Tasker (principal of Sir J. J. School of Art, Mumbai, 1898-1937). Art is in her family so pursuing it came naturally.
Art for Monsoon Madness. Read more...
Anasuya Nandi
Anasuya Nandi was born and raised in Kolkata, India. She has worked as an art teacher at Pratt Memorial School, Kolkata, since 2004. Art is not just her profession, but a deep passion.
Chris Loud
Chris Loud is a self-taught abstract painter working primarily with acrylic paint and mixed media. He began painting in 2020 after being inspired by the art and artists...
Art for Iconic Island. Read more...
Jessica Flores
Jessica has a Bachelor's degree in Studio Art and English from Indiana Wesleyan University, and her work has been represented by many galleries and boutiques...
Art for Under The Mango Tree. Read more...
Sylvia Baba
Sylvia Baba is a San Francisco Bay Area-based artist, designer, maker, and musician and lifelong fragrance enthusiast.
Shivi Rastogi
Shivi is a digital illustrator based in Bellevue, WA, drawing inspiration from the lush, green landscapes of the Pacific Northwest. Her work blends gentle realism with nature‑infused warmth, creating imagery rooted in comfort, connection, and quiet storytelling.
Shiva Maharjan
Shiva is based in Kathmandu, Nepal, and is the owner of Swayambhu Art Gallery. His works reflect the rich cultural heritage and scenic beauty of Nepal. He is affiliated with the Himalayan Artistry Co. on Etsy.
Art for Himalayan Dawn. Read more...
Made With Love
Artisanal Perfumes
Handcrafted, unique perfumes, made in small batches on Bainbridge Island, WA.