Ann Ringstrand’s Design Scents

A few weeks ago, Interior Monologue had the pleasure of attending the New York launch of Ann Ringstrand’s latest collection of scents for the body and home. For the one-night exhibition that took place at Lindsey Adelman’s wonderful Soho showroom, Ann teamed up with long-time friend and collaborator Maria Moya to create a number of one-of-a-kind scent diffusors made of porcelain, stoneware, and earthenware clay, to show alongside her new collection.

It was so lovely to meet both women, who both spoke so passionately about their collaborative and respective work. This is because for Ann, the launch of her new eponymous lifestyle line is about more than just fashion. After co-founding the Stockholm-based fashion line HOPE, Ann found herself too wrapped up in the fast-paced world of fashion. With a family of her own, and a life to get back to, she began embarking on a practice of mindfulness, which is a way of getting back to the here and now of our daily lives.

As she progressed through her mindfulness journey, she began researching different essential oils and fragrances that are often used to aid one’s practice. After not finding scents or diffusers that fit into her personal and home aesthetic—something she’d been crafting for years—she decided to embark on another journey to create them for herself and others.

And thus a new type a scent was born. The three fragrances in the collection are all based on the body and the senses, are both unisex, and come in essential oil or spray, creating a cyclical link between the body and home. They are hand crafted in France, using all natural ingredients (save for a few synthetics to take the place of animal by-products). The line also includes jewelry and “studio wear,” a line of comfortable, casual, but utterly chic clothing perfect for being mindful in.

Maria’s work also works in conjunction with Ann’s mindfulness ethos by creating a new way to diffuse the scents. These beautiful, sculptural objects work by having the oils rubbed into the porous surface of the clay, which then release the scent naturally and subtly throughout the room. They are both functional, and aesthetically pleasing, which is always a plus!

It was so wonderful to see this collaboration come to life via sculpture, fragrance, jewelry, sketches, and of course, the women who made them. This collection is so inspiring, not just because of the beauty, or lovely scents, but because of what they inspire: a way for women (and men) to reconnect to their lives in a meaningful and thoughtful way. With all of the daily pressures we face, it so important to take time and appreciate the lives we’ve built, the good we’ve done, and the people we love. I know right now I can use some mindfulness myself, and will definiltey be looking to these calming fragrances to aid in my own personal journey.