Cosone Group · CLIENT: Cosone Group
Dramanote Illusion Perfume is a limited edition perfume packaging design produced in 999 units. The set holds two bottles that stand as separate figures and form one image when placed together. Each bottle is made from recycled glass, then shaped and finished by polishing, electroplating, hot stamping and matte coating. The label is die cut from offcuts of traditional Xuan paper and applied by hand. The outer box is inspired by a revolving scene lantern, and four characters shift as the box is turned. The box measures 75 by 75 by 130 millimeters.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Dramanote Illusion Perfume is a limited edition of 999 bottles, created with renowned Chinese dance theater director Zhao Liang and inspired by his masterpiece The Tea Spell. Guided by theatrical aesthetics, the design fuses a unique bottle form, interactive packaging, and olfactory narrative to create an immersive drama miniature. Here, the abstract Zen philosophy of the drama becomes intuitive visuals and scents, turning the product into an art piece with theatrical and philosophical depth.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Box: Width 75mm*Width 75mm*Height 130mm
- Tags
- Theatrical Perfume, Theatrical Aesthetics, Eastern Zen philosophy, Collaborative Design, Sensory Integration, Immersive Experience, Traditional Revolving Scene Lantern
- Production Technology
- Each bottle starts with recycled glass, melted, reshaped, and refined through polishing, electroplating, hot stamping, and matte coating. The label uses offcuts of traditional heritage Xuan paper. After die cutting, it is hand applied to the bottle, merging sustainability with artisanal ingenuity. Both the bottle and the cap are independently molded to ensure originality. Each contour and surface reflects two years of refinement, crafted with the exacting artistry of haute couture.
- Design Challenge
- The key challenge was translating the fluid movements of a dance drama into static objects and flat surfaces. Instead of literal storytelling, the designer infused the packaging with the very essence of The Tea Spell, a vision of existence as an illusion. Fragmented yet combinable twin bottles, an outer box that plays with presence and absence like a revolving scene lantern, and contrasts of stillness and motion converge to embody the Buddhist idea that all conditioned phenomena are impermanent.
- Project Duration
- Dramanote is an experimental theatrical perfume brand born in London in 2019 and shaped in Shanghai by 2024. Between 2022 and 2024, it held a sensory art exhibition each October at the Wuzhen Theatre Festival, drawing nearly ten thousand visitors, including celebrities, artists, theater performers, and and key opinion leaders. Today, Dramanote becomes a defining new force in the Chinese fragrance landscape. It is not merely a brand, but a stage where every scent tells a unique story.
- Operation Flow
- Unboxing the perfume begins a quiet performance. The outer box draws inspiration from theater lanterns. Turn it, and four characters shift like figures on a traditional revolving scene lantern. When still, they remain present yet out of reach, echoing the subtle distance between audience and performers. Separately, the two bottles stand as distinct figures. Together, they reveal an ethereal Buddha. No longer just watching, you step into the drama, guided by a scent that feels like an illusion.
- Research
- An analysis of data from three annual sensory exhibitions at the Wuzhen Theatre Festival revealed that the unique bottle design and visual interaction intuitively guided users to perceive the dramatic tension and Zen philosophy within each scent. This multisensory priming through sight and touch effectively evoked emotional resonance, strengthened the recognition of theatrical aesthetics inherent in Dramanote, and deeply immersed people in the theatrical soul of the perfume.
- Inspiration
- The bottle design draws on the Eastern Smile of a mutilated Northern Wei Buddha statue and the Western sculpture Sleeping Muse. Together, the twin bottles conjure an ethereal Buddha, revealing realms of being, knowing, and doing. This symbolizes inner awakening and selflessness. Straight lines echo classical theater stone seats, and a deep black finish evokes the quiet poise of a dancer in shadow, echoing the theatrical essence: life is like a drama, and every watcher is part of the performance.
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