Scent, Social Empowerment, Art, and Beyond: Unveiling Sana Jardin’s Gifting Collection in partnership with Aigana Gali
Amidst Moroccan flower fields, Amy Christiansen discovered the social power of fragrance. Pioneering sustainable and socially conscious luxury, Sana Jardin's scents are crafted by Master Perfumer Carlos Benaim, paying tribute to the work of Moroccan female harvesters.
For this gifting season, the Maison ventured into new artistic realms, partnering with artist Aigana Gali, who joins us with Amy in a conversation unveiling their creative collaboration and their distinctive approach to connecting through fragrance, culture, and art.
How did you come across Aigana's artwork, and how did it inspire you to envision a collaboration for Sana Jardin?
AMY: I discovered Aigana's artwork through a friend. Her unique and captivating representation of energy, and the way she translates the essence of nature into art resonated with Sana Jardin's ethos. Aigana's work inspired me to envision a collaboration that would bring together the worlds of art and fragrance, creating beautiful packaging that speaks beyond scent.
How did you select the scents within the seasonal collection from Sana Jardin's olfactive range created with Master Perfumer Carlos Benaim?
SANA: The selection process was a careful curation of Sana Jardin's bestselling scents. When I launched the brand, I worked closely with Master Perfumer Carlos Benaim to curate a collection of perfumes that blend a high percentage of natural ingredients to boost the wearer’s mood and energy. I imagine each set as a collection of potions, helping you through the somewhat chaotic holiday season.
How do the Mystical Spray Trio
and Celestial Rollerball Duo sets
differ in use in emphasizing and
inspiring a sense of well-being?
AMY: Perfume gives you the power to control your surroundings and in a busy holiday season, your general wellbeing can often be overlooked.
Each of our fragrances harness the healing life force of plants with a high concentration of naturally perfumed essential oils (15-20%.) They’re designed to uplift, reassure and empower.
The Mystical Spray Trio offers three of our bestselling enchanting scents in handy 5ml sprays – perfect for your purse or handbag. These three perfumes exude multifaceted scent profiles, to invigorate the senses and boost your mood, no matter the time of day or year.
The Celestial Duo contains two of our bestselling rollerballs for a more subtle application. Tiger By Her Side and Sandalwood Temple are the ultimate empowering duo thanks to their warm, earthy, rich and spicy undertones.
As a socially conscious brand, how do you see art intertwined with fragrance, sustainability, and social empowerment?
AMY: Sustainability is embedded in our practices, ensuring that our impact on the environment is minimal. Through social impact programs, we aim to uplift and support the communities involved in the production of our fragrances, thus creating a holistic approach to luxury. Art can serve as a visual expression of these values, reminding us of nature’s power, and why it must be protected. In a similar way, fragrance provides a tangible form of those values. Both works of art rich in origin – something to carry with you – like a story passed on.
Which results or achievements of Sana Jardin's unique business model are you particularly proud of so far?
AMY: I am particularly proud of the positive impact we have had on the lives of the women in the flower harvest communities in Morocco. I want to inspire other businesses to engage in a language of Beyond SustainabilityTM, by looking at ways they can be creative with their use of waste in the supply chain, whilst giving back to their low-income employees. Our unique social impact model has empowered the floral harvesters by providing them with financial resilience, education, and opportunities for personal and professional growth. In 2022, the women saw a 128% increase to their annual income. We have an exciting partnership in the works to help scale our work in this area – watch this space for 2024.
AIGANA GALI is a multidisciplinary artist who draws inspiration from her rich Eurasian Steppe roots. Trained in painting and dance since childhood, her artistic sensibility was fine-tuned to the rhythmic character of the place and the vibrational quality of light. Weaving together cultural heritage through the universal language of colour and form, we discover more about her creative involvement in Sana Jardin’s Conscious Gifting Seasonal Collection.
How did you discover Sana Jardin, and how did their socially conscious unique ethos inspire you for this collaboration?
AIGANA: I met Amy a while ago at an event so was aware of the great work Sana Jardin does. When they approached me about using one of my paintings ‘Ornek’ for their Christmas collection, I found it fascinating and mysterious. Amy chose a painting that tells a story of bees, in particular, the sacred dance they perform while pollinating flowers.
This is exactly what makes each collaboration so meaningful for me. I feel that we are all working on one project, and we have a chance to connect the dots by collaborating!
How does your multicultural background reflect in this creative collaboration?
AIGANA: My multicultural background plays a significant role in my artistic perspective. Drawing from diverse cultural influences allows me to create art that transcends boundaries and resonates with a global audience. In a similar way, Sana Jardin draws inspiration and ingredients from all over the world, creating a universal connection through the power of plants.
The artwork for the seasonal collection is stunning! As you were drawing on the healing powers of botanicals, which fragrance botanicals captured your artistic vision?
AIGANA: I find the healing powers of botanicals fascinating. And without a doubt, nature is the most important factor for my well-being and strength. I come from an ancient nomadic culture that sees no separation between man and nature. In the Tengri philosophy, nature, and our connection to it is all there is. Nature is my best calibrator.
Finally, we'd love to know from both of you: which scents and aromas will be prominent in your homes and creative studios/offices throughout the festive season?
AMY: During the festive season, I personally gravitate towards warm and inviting scents such as spicy notes of cinnamon, rich vanilla, and the comforting aroma of sandalwood. Sana Jardin’s Tiger By Her Side and Sandalwood Temple create a cosy and festive ambience that complements the holiday spirit.
AIGANA: This year my home and studio will be filled with pine, eucalyptus and citrus, something which I really missed whilst living in the tropics this year. Now that I am back in Europe I cannot get enough of these!