My thesis project tells a story, while transcending the limits of visual communication through the olfactory senses– thus Tran’scent’ence. Tran’scent’ence is centered around a fragrance that I created, ‘Psithurism’, that leads the audience into a fantastical forest that is both mysterious and surreal, an uncanny hike into the unknown. I created a brand identity in the form of a brand book for this fragrance as a foundational skeleton for the world-building around this product and to truly bring the story to life. For the installation, besides showcasing the fragrance, I am displaying three different impression panels painted in varying color schemes to record the reactions of the audience after experiencing the fragrance. Participants place their tester papers in front of whichever board best resonated with how they felt the fragrance most embodied in essence and ambience.

My goal with this product is to add an immersive element to the imaginative process in our minds when we receive a story description. Scents and colors are elements that people have very personal sentiment and associations with, and my project taps into that personal point of sensory experience in visualization beyond our optic vision. I love how the human experience is so nuanced and distinct for every person, and Tran’scent’ence as a whole observes and appreciates that intimate aspect to which we as humans all individually perceive the world uniquely.