Steven Pauwels, Author at Scent&Sense

About the collection

February 18, 2020 by Steven Pauwels Leave a Comment

“100% made out of nature’s purest ingredients, without any compromise.”

When I went to India for the first time, I did not exactly know what I was going to create. My aim was to create practical serving products and make them as natural as possible, without compromise.

I selected bamboo, organic cotton & clay as potential ingredients & booked a ticket to Delhi. To ease my mind, I connected with a virtual assistant in Bangalore to make me a list of potential suppliers.

And so my journey began…

I left the comfort of my usual surroundings and started with my exploration. I designed plates & cups, bathrobes & towels but each time I encountered some form of dishonesty and couldn’t finish what I had started. I wanted the products to be as pure & natural as possible & traced all ingredients down to their origin.

As I thought about the “practical and daily serving”-aspect of my intentions, I touched upon my needs as a human being and transformed them into the design guidelines for the collection.

Several trips and “failures” later, I came across the perfect ingredient that reflects one of the most precious characteristics of our human being; “we are all incomparably unique.”

This most unique element is “antique” teak wood. Of the highest quality, it was reclaimed out of old houses in India and already went through the test of time. Reclaiming & incarnating this wood, in line with the Indian culture, was a technical adventure on its own.

Each creation is wrapped in an organic cotton bag, herbally dyed with medicinal flowers.

I was fortunate to stumble upon a company in Ahmedabad, founded by Mr. Gandhi. They make paper out of recycled cotton and flower petals. To represent and remember my need to give and receive from my heart, I created a beautiful giftbox, out of this beautiful “paper”.

The whole collection is created around a set of specific design guidelines, representing our human needs, including our need for meaning in the form of engraved mantra’s.

” May each creation of this collection serve as a practical reminder, a reminder to truly take care of our needs and our nature” .

Steven Pauwels, founder of Scent&Sense.

The becoming of a tree

February 15, 2020 by Steven Pauwels Leave a Comment

The first leaf on a tree represents the advent of change, a new beginning. It is the first sign of what kind of tree is about to become. It is an early sign of the trees’ fullest expression of its being.

The becoming of a tree is neither driven by any need nor want. It is not a matter of choice, nor its upbringing. All the information needed to make it to its full potential is already present in its seed. All the tree needs are fertile soil and nature’s care.

The tree becomes by rooting into the ground. The growing as we call it is a result of that. The stronger the roots, the better the tree withstands the turbulences of its surroundings. But the tree only reaches its full potential by one principle: its most natural capacity to let go.

As reflected by nature, every human being can manifest the most authentic expression of their being. We call it our potential.

But unlike a tree, we are over-informed, and what manifests isn’t always our potential. We focus on the outside, whereas nature shows us that becoming requires our attention inside. The ground in which the tree roots reflects the unknown or our unconsciousness.

This First Leaf collection stands for a new choice. A choice to inform ourselves about the fundamental understanding of human nature. A decision to shift our attention & re-acquaint ourselves with our natural ability to let go.

The first leaf represents the advent of change, a new beginning. The beginning to see life as an adventure to manifest the most authentic expression of our being, aka our potential. Isn’t that what we wish upon the ones we love? Don’t we forget ourselves too often in this equation?

Steven Pauwels
Founder of Scent&Sense

The blooming of a lotus flower

February 15, 2020 by Steven Pauwels Leave a Comment

Down, at the bottom of the waters, is where the lotus roots. It is only by rooting in the mud, that the lotus makes her way to the light.

Slowly the lotus ventures through the waters, rising to the surfaces and settles on top of the water. By early morning till afternoon, the hoovering lotus opens its petals, and so, the lotus flower blossoms.

The muddy ground represents our unconsciousness or our dark side. This dark side includes all of our past and all of our sufferings. But more importantly, it also includes our potential.

Being rooted in the mud means we’ll have to take responsibility for our sufferings. The higher we’ll need to rise through the waters of life, the deeper we’ll have to root.

Rising towards the light reflects the necessity to aim high and towards something good. Our aim prevents us from getting lost in the water.

The hoovering leaves and flowers represent our capacity to observe and detach from the sufferings in which we’re rooted. The opening of the petals symbolizes the expansion of our consciousness.

The First Leaf Collection

January 28, 2020 by Steven Pauwels Leave a Comment

At some point during the creation, we came across teak wood that had served for many generations in Indian houses and decided to reclaim it. In line with the Indian culture, we decided to incarnate this precious wood into new daily serving products.

Engaging with the design and the creation of this collection The First Leaf collection was carved, out of ancient teak wood. Teak has been widely used in India for more than 2,000 years. Old trees served for generations in Indian houses. Through a thoughtful and delicate procedure, this precious wood got reclaimed and incarnated into new, daily serving decorations.

About the collection

September 19, 2018 by Steven Pauwels Leave a Comment

“Daily reminders of our nature.”

Honoring the tradition:

The lotus flower collection, integrates several artisanal traditions of Morocco. Each tradition brings along a whole range of possibilities, provided the perfect setting for a co-creation. At least 5 different artisans participated in the co-creation of each flower.

“Each presentation showcases how a vision can transform diversity into one.”

Inspired by our nature:

As presented in more detail in the accompanying writings of this collection, the collections is inspired by the 15 virtues or tunes of co-creation. The design & creation of each virtue started by looking up the significance of flowers. Both flowers & virtues make up the reality of our nature.

Inspired by the blooming of the lotus flower, the leaves and roots provide for an unlimited number of presentation.

The petals of the different flowers are made out of first quality glass & the silver & golden looking metals. The glass comes in 4 colors: red, bleu, green & amber. Occasionally, some yellow & lighter shades of bleu & red can be found in this first quality glass as well. The metal are an alloy of copper, zinc & nickel. All materials are sourced locally.

“The 100% handmade aspect of these co-creations serve to honor & respect our human nature.”

Balance & harmony:

As virtues root towards their origin, the lotus’ potential rises through the waters of life. Our virtues co-create balance & harmony in our inner homes.

The design of each presentation is balanced in alignment with the 5 feng shui elements. Metal, water, wood, fire, & earth. Besides the obvious metal and wood element, the water element is represented by the glass & wavy shapes of the petels. The earth element is represented by the amber colors of the glass and the copper alloy. The t-lights provide for the fire element.

They are beautiful in daylight, but it is in the dark that they show their true colors. It is in those moments we’ll need to connect with virtues the most.

In the middle of each flower and in the bottom of the wooden sockle, you’ll find the Scent&Sense logo, hammered in with a stamp tool, guaranteeing the authenticity of each co-creation.

” May each of these creations serve as daily reminders, daily reminders to nurture our nature.” – Steven Pauwels.

Cocreation & making choices:

The design of the collection results in a multitude of presentation options, providing for the co-creation of unique expressions of light. With each kind of presentation, several flowers have to choosen, and maybe even combined. This element of the collection shows the value of cultivating our inner virtues. Our virtues allow us to change the way we make our choices.

“When we aim to manifest our potential, choices can no longer be made with the mind.”

Honoring the tradition:

Inspired by our nature:

Balance & harmony:

Cocreation & making choices:

How can we be of service?