Sara Ricciardi creates fragrance diffuser 'Phoenix' to celebrate 40 years of Starhotels

Italian designer Sara Ricciardi recently designed a fragrance diffuser for Starhotels, a luxury hotel chain based in Florence. This special collaboration celebrates the hotel’s successful completion of 40 years of Italian hospitality, while also serving as a reminder of Ricciardi’s original and evocative designs. Phoenix, shaped into its current form in collaboration with Fornace Mian, a glassmaking atelier in Murano and Silver Tre, a Milan based metal workshop, was designed by Ricciardi in such a manner that the fragrance diffuser doubles as a sculptural piece.

The design of the unique object is inspired by the mythical creature, phoenix, that is reborn from its ashes every 500 years. Part peacock, part eagle and part pheasant, the phoenix is known to build a nest out of balsamic plants, which later gets burned by the sunrays, killing the bird and giving rise to a holy fragrance. This sacred scent then accompanies the process of the rebirth of a stronger phoenix. The design of the fragrance diffuser attempts to physically present the essence of this legend, making it especially pertinent in these trying times, when it is all the more necessary for all of us to rise again together.

Created using an ancient Phoenician technique, the blown glass was turned into the plumage of a sacred bird, thus making the glass sphere look like it has frozen the rise of the phoenix midway. The brass halo that surrounds the central glass sphere mimics the role of the sun, the agent that heralds the rebirth of the bird. This symbolism that is the driving force behind the unique design of the diffuser grants it the status of a symbol of transformation.

The diffuser sometimes also appears like a lighting piece and at other times like a crown or sculpture, thus keeping the viewers intrigued and guessing. The interesting shadows emanated by the finely crafted object render the surroundings it is placed in with a captivating aura. The object can also be viewed as a perfect example of the kind of well-made Italian design and objects that are promoted and felicitated by Grande Bellezza, a project created by the Starhotels to support Italian creators.

The diffuser contains within itself an aroma that completely justifies the packaging, while also embodying the essence of the Grande Bellezza project. Created by Turin based perfumer Diletta Tonatto, the essence opens with the notes of Italian citrus fruits like bergamot and orange, paired with pepper and thyme. This initial Italian fragrance then gives way to the floral scents of jasmine, rose, magnolia and orange blossom, ending with a whiff of sweet almond blend together with incense and wood, thus leaving the environment spiritual.

Sara Ricciardi is an Italian designer who bases her design processes on the inspiration she derives from precise stories. Born in Benevento, Ricciardi graduated from the Product Design department of NABA in 2015. She now resides and works in Milan. Over the past seven years, she has explored her creativity as a set designer, researcher and a teacher of Social Design and relational practices at NABA, while also exploring the fields of interior design and product design. Her designs are defined by a rich background story and are brought to life with the help of great masters of Italian craftsmanship.