INTERVIEW

Explore unprecedented sensory experiences

In Bangkok, Thailand, a niche fragrance brand Copenn is quietly rising. Four imaginative designers have opened up a new olfactory exploration through design thinking. In the fiercely competitive fragrance market, they have successfully created an impressive brand image with a cold industrial style as the base and a strong artistic vision.

Since its launch in 2021, Copenn has quickly become a favorite among niche brand enthusiasts with its low-key and mysterious brand vision. Sensory Journal had the honor of interviewing the Copenn team. We discussed the challenges faced by the brand in its early days and how they cleverly paved a unique path of their own in the fiercely competitive fragrance market.

How did Copenn start?

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 creating endless stories through the senses.

The four of us 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 working from home and spent more time at home. Coincidentally, we all lived in the same area of ​​Bangkok, which gave us the idea of ​​creating a design brand for Bangkok.

As fragrance lovers, this passion prompted us to develop the brand's first product - fragrance alcohol spray. Initially, we only made it for our friends, but as more and more people got to know us, the demand gradually increased, which brought us many opportunities and possibilities, so we began to develop more fragrance-related product series.

What was the process like co-founding a brand with your designer friends?

C: Having a design background is an advantage in many ways. During the brand CI design and product development process, we each focused on our own areas of expertise and built the brand into a character with a distinct personality and soul. Although we encountered different challenges in the process, we always knew our common goals, so mutual respect and appropriate adjustments were really important.

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

C: We pay great attention 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 further. When you enter the space of Copenn, you will gradually open up all your senses and feel the unique taste, sound, light and touch of Copenn's wood-blended tobacco. Emotional experience is also an important part of the brand.

Design and craftsmanship are at the core of Copenn. It is not only a fragrance brand, but also a design concept store. Whether it is the production of display utensils, the packaging design of recycled materials, or the creation and interior design installations in collaboration with local craftsmen, every detail has been carefully considered in the hope of leaving 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 blend perfume according to the background of the story. Sometimes, the difficulty of accurately conveying the story is even greater than the perfume 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. For example, "False Awakening" is inspired by the fantasy of walking in a fresh, green herb garden in a dream, wandering between reality and illusion.

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

How to find inspiration in a busy work pace?

C: Traveling is the best way for us to absorb new information and inspire creativity. When we delve into diverse cultures and try new things, whether it is observing the 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 very meaningful to us. The first group of customers after the opening of our physical store were from Taiwan. If you are visiting Bangkok, I would recommend choosing lighter items, such as hand cream, scented string or diffuser stone fragrance bags, which are great souvenirs.

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

Are there any plans from Copenn worth looking forward to in the near future?

C: We have recently moved to a larger office and storage space to prepare a more complete team. I can reveal that we will launch the long-awaited perfume series before the end of this year, and we will also open a new physical store in Bangkok next year. If Taiwanese friends have the opportunity to travel here, you are welcome to visit our store and experience the unique charm of Copenn in person.