A New Visual Language for Fragrance
The Fragrance Foundation has tapped artist and illustrator Melissa Koby to define the visual identity for the 2026 Fragrance Foundation Awards. Linda G. Levy, President of The Fragrance Foundation, says the partnership aims to elevate fragrance as a cultural art form, shifting the focus from traditional beauty marketing toward emotional storytelling and memory.
From the U.S. Open to the Awards Stage
The collaboration began in a perfumer’s office. While visiting, Levy spotted Koby’s artwork on the cover of a U.S. Open booklet. She reached out directly, and after a brief meeting, the two agreed to align on the visual direction for the 2026 ceremony. The partnership is rooted in a mutual appreciation for the emotional resonance of art and scent.
Elevating Perfume as Fine Art
The Foundation is working to elevate fragrance alongside fashion, music and visual art. By commissioning Koby, the organization hopes to move away from strictly commercial aesthetics, grounding its work in human experience instead.
“When art leads the conversation, the product becomes more relatable and more human,” Koby stated. She describes this shift as a transition for the consumer, moving the experience from a simple transaction to a point of connection.
Translating Scents into Landscapes
Koby approaches the intersection of art and fragrance through the lens of memory. Her illustration style—defined by lush landscapes, soft femininity and emotional storytelling—is designed to trigger the same sensory responses as a scent.
- Core Memories: Koby draws inspiration from her time spent in Jamaica as a kid, incorporating natural elements like water, greenery, and florals to represent peace.
- Comfort Notes: In her personal life, Koby identifies vanilla and coconut as “comfort notes” due to their association with her childhood.
- Symbolic Scents: Jasmine holds personal significance for the artist, specifically tied to early memories of meeting her husband.
Centering Tenderness and Representation
This commission follows Koby’s role as the first Black artist commissioned to create the 2025 U.S. Open theme artwork. Her work frequently centers on the power of tenderness and softness within the narrative of Black women.
“I’m intentionally creating work that highlights softness as joy and resistance,” Koby said. By integrating this philosophy into the 2026 awards, the Foundation aims to diversify its visual narrative and solidify the status of scent as an artistic pursuit.