You will design a complete fragrance brand identity, including logo design, packaging, and a custom scent blend
using essential oils. This project combines digital design skills, branding principles, and sensory creativity.
Week 1
Day 1: Branding research & inspiration (handout provided)
Days 2-3: Brand concept development & sketching
Days 4-5: logo design
Week 2
Days 6-7: Box template design & layout
Days 8-9: Essential oil blending & scent creation
Days 10: Final presentations & brand portfolio
Week 1:
Complete brand concept worksheet (1 pt)
Research 5+ existing fragrance brands
Create mood board/ inspiration collection (1 pt)
Sketch 5+ logo concepts (1 pt)
Select best logo concept
Begin logo design
Create color palette (1 pt)
Week 2:
Finalize digital logo (2+ versions)
Design box template with all elements
Choose & measure essential oils
Create scent blend (document ratios)
Let scent cure for 24-48 hours
Test & refine scent if needed
Prepare presentation
Present to class!
Study These Professional Brands:
Use these brands and ideas to help you fill out your worksheet.
Luxury Fragrances (High-end positioning):
Chanel No. 5 — minimalist, classic, timeless
Dior Sauvage — modern, bold, masculine
Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire — elegant, playful, feminine
Tom Ford Black Orchid — sophisticated, dark, mysterious
Indie/Niche Fragrances (Creative positioning):
Byredo — minimalist Scandinavian aesthetic
Maison Margiela — experimental, artistic
Jo Malone — clean, fresh, layerable concept
Atelier Cologne — bright, citrus-forward identity
Key Branding Elements to Analyze:
Color choices — What emotions do they evoke?
Typography — Serif vs. sans-serif? Modern vs. classic?
Imagery — Floral, geometric, abstract, or minimalist?
Packaging materials — Glass, cardboard, luxury finishes?
Brand voice — Playful, serious, mysterious, fresh?
Target market — Age, gender, lifestyle, values?
Download this, if you were not in class, and complete it.
Brand name & Story behind it
Target audience description
Brand personality (3-5 adjectives)
Brand values & mission statement
Color palette with hex codes & justification
Download this, and fill it out using Procreate.
Main logo (color & black/white)
Logo variations (horizontal, icon-only, etc.)
Saved in multiple file formats
Professional, scalable design
Front, back, and side panel designs
Includes: brand name, scent notes, ingredients, net weight, barcode (fake is fine)
Consistent with brand identity
Print-ready at actual size
Click here to access box design (this one does not have any text on it)
This is just a template for where to put things
Top Notes (Head) — Smelled first, last 5-15 minutes
Bright, fresh, zesty
Examples: Lemon, bergamot, grapefruit, peppermint, lavender
Middle Notes (Heart) — Develops after 15 min, lasts 30-60 min
Floral, fruity, spicy
Examples: Rose, jasmine, ylang ylang, cinnamon, clove, geranium
Base Notes (Foundation) — Emerges after 1+ hour, lasts 2-6+ hours
Warm, rich, grounding
Examples: Vanilla, sandalwood, cedarwood, patchouli, frankincense
Classic Formula:
50% Base Notes (14g)
30% Heart Notes (8.4g)
20% Top Notes (5.6g)
Fresh/Citrus Blend:
40% Base (11.2g)
35% Heart (9.8g)
25% Top (7g)
Floral/Romantic Blend:
45% Base (12.6g)
40% Heart (11.2g)
15% Top (4.2g)
Each 10% = 1 drop of oil
For Example for the classic formula you can do 5 drops of base, 3 drops of heart, and 2 drops of top.
Choose your scent profile — What emotion/story are you creating?
Select oils — Pick 1-2 from each note category
Measure carefully — Use small measuring spoons or droppers
Mix in base first — Pour base notes into bottle
Add heart notes — Stir gently
Top with top notes — Add last for brightness
Let it rest — 24-48 hours for scents to marry
Test & adjust — Refine as needed
Safety Guidelines:
⚠️ Never apply directly to skin — Always dilute in carrier oil (coconut, jojoba)
⚠️ Avoid ingestion — Essential oils are NOT for eating
⚠️ Good ventilation — Work in well-ventilated space
⚠️ Label everything — Mark bottles clearly
⚠️ Store properly — Keep in cool, dark place
Digital portfolio or physical display
Brand story pitch (2-3 minutes)
Scent experience (students smell each other's creations)
Reflection on design choices