Ethereal Dissolve | Conceptual Perfume Fan Art

Some projects begin with a brief. Others begin with curiosity.

Ethereal Dissolve started as a personal exploration — a conceptual perfume created as fan art, inspired by the universe of Iris van Herpen. It was designed as a commercial product, but also as an artistic interpretation of transformation, fragility and organic metamorphosis.

The Concept Behind Ethereal Dissolve

At the core of this project lies the idea of transformation — the fragile moment where form dissolves and re-emerges into something new. Ethereal Dissolve draws inspiration from the natural world and the inevitable cycle of change: growth, decay and rebirth.

Beauty, in this context, is not permanence, but the act of becoming.

The concept blends aquatic, terrestrial and organic references into a single aesthetic language, echoing the sculptural and biomorphic qualities often found in Iris van Herpen’s work. Fluid structures, delicate membranes and translucent layers became the visual foundation of the perfume.

Translating Fashion into Fragrance

Rather than interpreting fashion literally, I approached this project by translating movement, materiality and emotion into another medium.

A perfume felt like the perfect form:

intangible, yet present
ephemeral, yet memorable
built in layers, much like couture

Ethereal Dissolve was imagined as a fragrance that opens gently, like a cocoon releasing its inner light — a quiet transformation rather than an abrupt statement.

Final Design Concept

The final perfume bottle was envisioned as a sculptural object suspended between fragility and structure. Its form reflects organic growth, inspired by jellyfish, fungi and mineral layers shaped by water and time.

Contrasts play a central role:

soft, fluid inner forms
a protective, faceted outer shell
cool marine tones balanced by luminous highlights

The packaging unfolds gradually, mirroring the idea of dissolution and emergence. The object is revealed slowly, reinforcing the ritual of discovery rather than instant gratification

ETHEREAL DISSOLVE by Chiriac Bi…

Creative Process

The development of Ethereal Dissolve began with extensive visual research and concept sketching. I explored textures, organic forms and natural rhythms through hand sketches before moving into digital modeling.

The process included:

concept boards and visual research
form exploration and sculpting
3D modeling and rendering
packaging layout and structural design

Sustainability was also considered during the process, imagining biodegradable or recyclable materials that align with the project’s natural philosophy.

Throughout the workflow, every decision was guided by the same question:Does this still feel alive?

Olfactory Narrative

Although conceptual, the fragrance was imagined with a clear olfactory structure:

Top notes: White Bergamot, Aqueous Lotus
Heart notes: Luminous Iris, Pearl Orchid, White Freesia
Base notes: Ambrette, Clean Musk, Mother-of-Pearl Accords

The scent was designed to feel fluid, soft and luminous — never overpowering, always evolving.

What This Project Represents

Ethereal Dissolve is more than a perfume concept. It is a study of how ideas can move across disciplines — from fashion to object design, from material to emotion.

As a fan art project, it represents freedom:freedom to explore without constraints,to experiment without expectations,and to translate inspiration into a personal visual language.

Projects like this often reveal more about a creator’s thinking than commercial work ever could.

Final Thoughts

Fan art is not imitation — it is dialogue.It is a way of responding to a creative universe with respect, curiosity and interpretation.

Ethereal Dissolve exists as a quiet conversation with nature, transformation and the work of Iris van Herpen — a moment captured just before it dissolves and returns to the cycle from which it came.

Ethereal Dissolve — Creating a Conceptual Perfume as Fan Art for iris van herpen