Why We Love Wood Smell So Much!
Before moving to Rome, and then to the UK, I was born and spent much of my childhood in the Italian Alps. Come September, you could tell the cold season was at the door, you could almost… smell it! That was the smell of the fireplaces and stoves getting to work again, but to me it also became the smell of the leaves turning colour, and of hot chocolates while watching the snow falling out the window! For me, It’s forever the “smell of winter”.
Of all the places, I would have never thought I’d “smell winter” daily in our workshop! Every time we work on a new laser-cut piece, that subtle aroma lingers: a little whiff of lightly burnt wood, a little reminder of childhood in front of the stove. It’s a warm detail, and in a small way, we like to think it brings that alpine winter feeling into every gift we make.
The sensory journey of our gifts begins the moment they’re unwrapped. There’s something undeniably special about opening a package and being greeted by a familiar, comforting scent.
It’s Not How it Smells, but How You Use it…
Yes, it’s also about the nostralgic connection of smells, but if it were all there was we’d sell charcoal, not Engineered Gifts! Sure, we do sell ornaments and engraved pictures, but our favourite products are the “fun” ones: We’ve all played with wooden toys as kids (or at least we should have!), and we all know how complex, educational, and fun they can be.
Wood (and in particular plywood) makes a great engineering material for frames, shapes, blocks, gears and even springs! We try to leverage its endless possibilities, often in conjunction with 3D printed components, to craft unique designs that spark curiosity and amazement (for example our Mini Foosball or our amazingly complex Mechanical Advent Calendar).
A More Sustainable Smell
This “signature scent” is a subtle nod to more sustainable practices: in a world where synthetic materials are the norm, the choice of wood as the bulk material for our products is a deliberate choice we took when we started this adventure. Whenever we are forced (by engineering challenges) to use 3D printed plastics, we almost exclusively rely on PLA, which is an oil-free, compostable, vegetable-sourced thermoplastic.
Make it the Smell of Your Winter
In every piece we create, from intricate ornaments to playful wooden toys, there’s a story: for me, it’s a reminder of cozy winters in the Alps, and for you, we hope it becomes a warm detail that sparks nostalgia, joy, and wonder. Whether it’s the whiff of a woodshop, the crackle of a fireplace, or the magic of discovery, we love to share that sensory delight with every gift we send your way.
