Submitted by Jieling Xiao, 2025
Location
41 Dover Street, London, UK
Designer
Antonino Cardillo
Year
26 April 2015–12 April 2017
Visual Credit
Antonino Cardilllo
Description
Unlike traditional shop design, Cardillo transformed the space into a minimalist grotto, emphasizing texture and light to create an environment where scent becomes the primary focus. The walls are coated with a rough plaster made from volcanic ash from Mount Vesuvius mixed with lime putty, reminiscent of ancient Roman construction techniques. This choice not only provides a tactile backdrop but also enhances the acoustics and diffuses light, creating a serene atmosphere.
Highlights
Central to the installation is ‘Scent Suspended,’ a semicircular arrangement of 37 hand-blown glass vessels, each containing a different fragrance. These vessels hang at varying heights from thin black cords, allowing visitors to engage with each scent individually by removing the cork stoppers. This method isolates each aroma, preventing cross-contamination and enabling a pure olfactory experience.
Scent characteristics
The gallery’s neutral grey tones and absence of visual distractions direct attention solely to the scents. The space is designed to be free from volatile molecules, ensuring that each fragrance remains untainted until intentionally released by a visitor. This approach allows for an intuitive and personal exploration of the fragrances, likened to ‘invisible colours revealed only by the nose.’
Reference / Acknowledgement
Antonino Cardillo. 2021. Colour as a narrative. https://www.antoninocardillo.com/en/works/colour-as-a-narrative/ (accessed on 21st May 2025)
Smellscape Catalogue: 