THE REST ROOM: Sophie Ashby

What was the first thing that came into your head when the collaboration was first discussed?

Sophie: I’ve been playing around in my head for years and years with the idea of a scented object and even tried and failed to do it myself about 5 years ago, so I immediately thought and hoped this might be the moment to bring that concept to life. Celia and Sophie met my idea with enthusiasm and energy and weren’t intimidated by the challenge so it was a really exciting conversation. 

Tell us how it came about - what was the starting point?

Sophie: Sophie & Celia (Reia’s wonderful co-founders) are old friends of mine and I’ve been a Reia devotee and supporter since they launched in 2021 with the most genius and lovely range of refillable hand and body washes. 

Scent in the home is something that’s a really component of what we do and a very important factor of handing over a newly finished project to a happy client. There are lots of ways of doing that but none of them really suit the scenario for us; we don’t want to light their new candles on their behalf. Pot pourri is my favourite method of scenting a space but it’s also quite dusty and specific in its smell. The meeting of scent and sculpture feels so natural to me and I’ve been dreaming of creating something beautiful, sculptural and scented for the home for years. I've always been fascinated by the way scent can completely transform how we experience a space, shaping the atmosphere much in the same way as art or lighting might. 

What surprised you most? Whether that's the direction it took, the process, or something else.

Sophie: I think what surprised or inspired me the most was the nuances of scent itself - discovering all the different notes and botanicals and seeing how they can unlock such specific feelings and memories, from the deep, earthy Vetiver to the soft sweetness of the Manuka honey. I thought I knew what I liked and could name my favourite notes in fragrance, but when Abi took us through the process, I realised I’d harboured all sorts of misconceptions and many of the smells I thought I didn’t like, were really appealing to me. 

You've said that the stories behind things make an interior interesting. What's the story behind the design of the SERRA Talisman?

Sophie: It’s very much rooted in the healing and grounding powers of the natural world and those moments where you feel completely immersed in it - one of my favourite feelings to bottle. I had always had this idea in my head of a vessel that could diffuse scent subtly whilst also being textural, sculptural and ultimately special. We knew that ceramic was the way to go, to give the piece permanence - we landed on a lid that could absorb oil and slowly diffuse scent. The box form has this magic combination of sculptural presence and quiet simplicity - the perfect piece to store treasures or to display on a shelf.

Where do you keep the SERRA Talisman? Either at home or in the studio.

Sophie: One at home in my bedroom on the mantlepiece and one in the studio for everyone to enjoy on the coffee table. We also have one in the office area which the team enjoy topping up with a few drops.

What do you keep inside it & why?

Sophie: Jewels, keepsakes, little trinkets, matches, other essential oils and collected objects - it’s the perfect home for treasured things.

What does the scent mean to you, or feel like to you? Does it take you somewhere?

Sophie: It comes back to nature...for me it’s that smell when you come out the airport in a hot place and the air smells like Cyprus, Pine, orange blossom.  We wanted to capture that moment where time seems to steady - the sensation of looking up through a canopy of trees with dappled sunlight on your face and for a moment everything softens and slows. That’s where it takes me.

Is there an object you own - anywhere in your home or studio - that you'd struggle to explain why you love, but you do?

I have this wonderful Palefire x Kpreet Lamp, it was a special collaboration imagined by Palefire and artist & CSM graduate Kpreet for our United in Design x WOW!house room. I bought it after daydreaming about it for weeks and it now has a happy home in our bedroom, casting a beautiful, soulful light.

Do you think the way scent is used in their home tells you something about a person that the rest of their interiors doesn't?

Sophie: Absolutely - scent is so inherently personal. I think that scent has such a nostalgia, it can really transport you. It can reveal clues of your heritage, culture, what you cook, the flowers you like. 

Do you incorporate any rituals into your work or daily life? 

Sophie: Breakfast with my children will always be my favourite ritual. Beyond that, I’ve always enjoyed the ritual of getting dressed, opening a wardrobe each morning full of things that you like, and you feel good in, and layering these loved pieces for the day. I love clothes and fashion and I think of jewellery and perfume as the finishing touches, much like scent in a room, the playlist and reading material.