To which point can we use raw materials to resolve smell problems?

Stilfs - A scented tree on your desk.

Francesco Lorenzani

Stilfs was created from a single block of larch wood, hollowed out and carved. Its purpose is, through innovative design and a unique approach, to accommodate everything that can be useful on a desk. Stilfs, whose name is meant to honour the Vinschgau Valley, home to thousands of larch trees, finds its place in this project thanks to its strong distinctive scent and its natural defence against external odours. The narrow veins of this high-altitude tree and its dense, persistent resin are in fact allies of Stilfs, as they do not allow external odours to be easily absorbed, despite the naturalness of the product.

Stilfs is unique, natural. It is not perfect, but in its imperfection it returns to the nature from which it comes.

A project made in the course

Unveiling Scents. Designing With, Through, and For Smell.

While visual, acoustic, and tactile impressions often take center stage in design education, olfactory perception has received relatively little attention in design practice. Yet, most of our experiences are accompanied by a scent, even if we are not consciously aware of it. Among all our senses, none is as deeply connected to personal memories, and emotions - both positive and negative - as the sense of smell. Shouldn’t this dimension receive at least as much focus and appreciation in design education as the more established media of contemporary design?
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