Smell This AK
Elevating an artisan candle brand through thoughtful design
Deliverables:
Display Signs
Business Cards
Website Design
Online Store
Product Photos
Packaging Design
Outcome:
Elevated the artisan’s candle brand, enhancing both its visual appeal and market presence
Scented Business Cards
During our discussions, the client mentioned a recurring issue of customers often sniffing her paper business cards because her business name, Smell This, naturally evoked the curiosity to sniff them.
To solve this, I suggested creating wooden business cards that could be infused with her signature candle fragrances. This not only aligned with her wood wicks and beautiful scents, but also gave customers a memorable and sensory experience with each interaction.
Engaging Display Signage
Another challenge my client had was getting customers to pick up and smell the candles. To address this, I designed playful and inviting display signage, printed on wood to match her business cards and align with her wooden wicks. These signs featured clever candle puns, creating a fun atmosphere that made customers feel comfortable engaging with the products.
Elevating the Online Presence
We then focused to her online presence, specifically redesigning her Square website. I wanted to create a digital experience that was as carefully crafted as her candles. Through hand-drawn graphics and curated imagery, the new design told her brand’s story and highlighted what made her products special. The result was an online space that felt authentic, hand-crafted, and professional.
To help her leave Etsy and open her own online store, I organized a product photoshoot. We styled each candle with props that represented the key ingredients or scents, creating visuals that went beyond the product itself.
The goal was to evoke a sensational connection—allowing customers to almost smell the candles through their screens.
The photos have received enthusiastic comments like “I want to eat this photo!” and “Love the graphic!”
Before:
Upgrading the Packaging
Finally, I redesigned the labels across all her products, from candles to wax melts and linen sprays.
The main focus of this redesign was nearly 100 custom hand-illustrated graphics, each one tailored to reflect the essence of the respective scent.
These illustrations brought the labels to life, making the products stand out on the shelf and creating a strong visual identity.
The clean, scientific-inspired layout ensured that all the essential details were organized and easy to read, perfectly complementing the precision of her candle-making process.
The Outcome
My design approach transformed the artisan’s candle brand from good to exceptional, creating a cohesive experience across her booth, website, and product packaging.
Supported by custom illustrations and curated photography, the updated branding resonates with her target audience. As a result, customer feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and the brand now has a stronger connection with both existing and potential customers.
"Working with Brianna truly took my small business to the next level. Sometimes I look at what she’s done for Smell This and I am still blown away with her work. Our website is so beautiful and user friendly, the labels she designed took our products from cute to artisanal, the new business cards are memorable and stand out among the rest. I can’t thank Brianna enough for her work. Her vision for my small business often exceeded my own imagination and it’s now growing faster than ever before!"
Denise Serino
Owner, Smell This AK
