Louise Roe and 10AMapotheke unite sculpture and scent in a handcrafted art object
Louise Roe and 10AMapotheke have introduced the Scented Art Object, a sculptural candle holder that connects Copenhagen-based design with the natural landscape of Crete. Developed by designer Louise Roe Andersen in collaboration with Eva Papadaki, founder and creative director of the Athens-based brand, the project combines a handcrafted metal vessel with a scented beeswax candle. The result is an object intended to remain in the home beyond its immediate function, where its physical presence, changing surface and fragrance become part of everyday life.
The collaboration began with a conversation between Louise Roe and Eva Papadaki about their shared interest in traditional craftsmanship and objects that acquire meaning through use. Both designers approach materials as carriers of memory, although their practices originate from different disciplines. LOUISE ROE is known for furniture, lighting and sculptural objects, while 10AMapotheke draws from Greek traditions of care and the natural ingredients associated with Papadaki’s childhood in Crete. Their encounter established the foundations for a design in which metal and wax express two complementary approaches to permanence and transformation.
At the centre of the Scented Art Object is a rounded vessel made from solid brass and finished in silver. Cast and polished by hand by a craftsperson in Portugal, its compact silhouette is covered in an irregular, hammered texture that gives the surface a tactile quality. Small variations preserve evidence of the manufacturing process, ensuring that no two pieces are entirely identical. Over time, the silver develops a natural patina through exposure and handling, gradually altering its appearance. The object references the precious character of jewellery while retaining the weight and proportions of a small domestic sculpture.
Inside the metal vessel sits a candle handcrafted by 10AMapotheke using 100 per cent pure Greek beeswax and wild Cretan thyme essential oil. Both ingredients originate from Crete, where the aromatic vegetation and local traditions have influenced Papadaki’s approach to fragrance. Produced using traditional waxmaking techniques, the candle releases its scent progressively as it burns, introducing an additional sensory dimension to the sculptural form. The contrast between the enduring metal exterior and the gradually consumed wax establishes a relationship between two materials that respond differently to time.
The Scented Art Object is also designed for continued use through a refillable candle, extending its purpose beyond a single burning cycle. This consideration reflects the designers’ interest in the emotional longevity of everyday objects. Andersen describes the intention behind the piece as something familiar yet difficult to associate with a particular period, allowing it to acquire personal significance over time. For Papadaki, fragrance offers another connection to memory, recalling the warmth and vegetation of the Cretan landscape. Together, these perspectives position the candle holder between functional design, contemporary craft and collectible art objects.
Available from November 5, 2026, the collaboration introduces a shared design language that connects Scandinavian interiors with Mediterranean material traditions. Its production spans Portugal and Greece, combining metalworking expertise with natural candle-making methods. Through its textured silver surface, organic proportions and aromatic composition, the Scented Art Object demonstrates how a domestic accessory can develop a more enduring relationship with its surroundings. As the candle is renewed and the metal gradually changes, the piece continues to register the passage of time through both material and experience.
All images courtesy of Louise Roe
