The Architecture of Aroma

The Architecture of Aroma marked the beginning of Crestline’s Five Senses in Design series, an exploration of how sensory experiences can enrich the workplace.

Held in Auckland and Wellington, the events invited architects, designers, and workplace leaders to take part in a

perfume-blending workshop. Under the guidance of fragrance specialists Astrid Crosland and Jemma Scott, guests combined natural botanicals to create a personalised scent to take away. More than the finished fragrance, the workshops offered a hands-on, creative experience and a moment of pause from the pace of daily practice.

The gatherings connected back to Crestline’s recent whitepaper Wellbeing in the Workplace, developed with the Designers Institute of New Zealand. The research highlighted how wellness has become a central expectation of today’s workforce, with workplaces carrying a clear responsibility to support the health and wellbeing of their people. It also emphasised that the office must now offer something distinctly different to home: a place that enables focus, collaboration, and energy at a level that the home environment cannot provide.

The workshops offered a reminder that design is multi-sensory. Just as light, sound, and materiality influence how a workplace feels, fragrance can contribute to a sense of identity and belonging. This aligns with the whitepaper’s broader call for people-centric design — workplaces that foster connection, choice, and a sense of community, so that people feel inspired to be there each day.

For Crestline, The Architecture of Aroma was both a celebration of community and a first step in a wider conversation about sensory design. As the Five Senses in Design series continues, future events will further explore how workplaces can move beyond function to become destinations that truly support wellbeing and performance.