INTERVIEW

Discover an unprecedented sensory experience

In Bangkok, Thailand, Copenn, a niche fragrance brand, is quietly emerging. Four designers with rich imagination have opened up a new exploration of smell through design thinking. In the fiercely competitive fragrance market, we have successfully created an impressive brand image based on the cold industrial style and strong artistic vision.

Since the birth of Copenn in 2021, the brand has quickly become a favorite among niche brand enthusiasts with its low-key and mysterious brand vision. Sensory Journal had the pleasure of interviewing Copenn's team. We discussed the challenges faced by brands in their early stages of entrepreneurship and how they cleverly carved out their own unique path in the highly competitive fragrance market.

How did Copenn get started?

C: Many people who just met us think that we are related to "Copenhagen" (laughs), but in fact, Copenn is

The abbreviation of "Creation of Perception with Endless New Narratives" refers to the creation of infinite stories through the senses.

Our four founders are all designers who attended the same university but come from different design backgrounds including graphic, product, fashion and interior design.

Due to the impact of the epidemic, we started to work from home and spent more time at home. We happened to live in the same area of ​​Bangkok, which gave us the idea to create a Bangkok-specific design brand.

As lovers of fragrance, this enthusiasm prompted us to develop the brand's first product - fragrance alcohol spray. At first we only made it for friends around us. Unexpectedly, as more and more people got to know us, the demand gradually increased. This brought us a lot of opportunities and possibilities, so we started to develop more series of fragrance-related products.

What was the process of co-founding a brand with a designer friend like?

C: Having a design background is really an advantage on many levels. In the process of brand CI design and product development, we each focus on our areas of expertise and build the brand into a character with a distinctive personality and soul. Although we encountered different challenges along the way, we always knew the common goal, so it was really important to respect each other and adjust appropriately.

What is the key to Copenn standing out from the crowd of fragrance brands?

C: We attach great importance to telling stories through sensory experience and artistic visuals. The visual presentation of the brand is like the shell of a building, attracting people to explore closer. When you walk into Copenn’s space, you will gradually open up all your senses and feel Discover the unique taste, sound, light and touch of Copenn's woody tobacco blends. Emotional experience is also an important part of the brand.

Design and craftsmanship are the core of Copenn. It is not only a fragrance brand, but more like a design concept store. Whether it is the production of display vessels, the packaging design of recycled materials, or the creation and interior design installations in collaboration with local craftsmen, every detail has been carefully considered, hoping to leave a unique and deep impression in the minds of consumers.

How to create a fragrance that belongs to Copenn?

C: We are a team with rich imagination. We often conceive a story first and then adjust the fragrance according to the environmental background of the story. Sometimes, conveying the story accurately is even more difficult than the fragrance itself.

Just like making a movie, we will first imagine the appearance, sounds, and objects of the environment. In the process of creating the story, we will know what kind of fragrance to use to interpret it, such as "False Awakening", which was inspired by Wandering in a fresh, green herb garden in a dream, wandering between virtuality and reality.

At present, the brand is expanding steadily. The four of us do many things by ourselves. The person in the image video is me (laughs). We are still in the stage of directing and acting our own marketing materials, and can integrate the characteristics of the brand into the products and visual tone. Sex is very important to us.

How to find inspiration in the busy work rhythm?

C: Travel is the best way for us to acquire new information and stimulate creativity. When delving into diverse cultures and trying new things, whether it is observing subtle changes in nature or experiencing people's lifestyles in various situations, these sensory immersions and discoveries will become nutrients for our design and creation.

Copenn has become a must-visit store for Taiwanese travelers to Bangkok. What items would you recommend to first-time customers?

C: Taiwanese customers are particularly meaningful to us. The first group of customers after the opening of our physical store came from Taiwan. If you are traveling to Bangkok, I would recommend choosing lighter items, such as hand cream, incense sticks or diffuser stone fragrance bags. These are great souvenirs.

However, Copenn’s most iconic product is actually the stainless steel diffuser bottle, whose outer cover is handmade by a local blacksmith in Bangkok. I have known them since I was a full-time interior designer. It is actually difficult to ask them to make small objects, but we believe that the sentimental value of handmade products is irreplaceable and each finished product is unique.

Does Copenn have any plans to look forward to in the near future?

C: We have recently moved to a larger office and warehouse space and are preparing to prepare a more complete team. I can tell you a little bit, before the end of this year we will launch the long-awaited perfume series, and next year we will add a new physical store in Bangkok. If Taiwanese friends have the opportunity to travel, you are welcome to visit our store and experience it for yourself Copenn's unique charm.