2021
Yearly, Scentsy will release a bar only available in Mexico to celebrate Mexican Independence Day on September 6th. For the 2021 collection I was inspired by the vibrant colors and design of papel picado; a Mexican folk craft created by cutting detailed designs into sheets of tissue paper.
The fragrance notes for A-Peeling apple are apple, pear, and sweet pea. The fragrance notes for Flor De Pepino are lime, cucumber flower and orchid.
2022
In 2022 I was asked to create the design for the new Mexico Independence Day bar. I was given complete creative freedom and I was thrilled to take the opportunity. I've always been incredibly inspired by the outfits of ballet folklorico, a collective term for the traditional dances of Mexico. I'm so inspired by the details of the costumes and the movement of the dresses and worked to create something that would capture that well. The scent of the wax "Viva!" is hibiscus, clementine, lime, and a hint of pomegranate.
Some pencil studies of Folklorico dancers
A digital art study of a Folklorico dancer
I made sure to take plenty of time to study videos of performances and study photography to make sure that I would capture this in the best way possible. This project was a bit of an excuse to explore something I've always been inspired by and I was thrilled to be able to sink my teeth into this research material. Considering this bar is meant to represent Mexico as a country for their independence day but being designed by a white American designer, I didn't want to shirk my homework and give them something shallow or ignorant.
While every state in Mexico has their own particular costume, I opted for a dress styled for the state of Jalisco. This particular style of dress is the most recognizable and associated with Ballet Folklorico. There is only so much you can fit on the label of a bar but I'm incredibly proud and pleased with the result.
My partner is Mexican-American and I've been very blessed to be able to get a glimpse into the rich heritage that Mexico has and the beauty of it's people. I'm looking forward to digging deeper and continuing to be exposed to all the beauty that Mexican culture has to offer.