Sop ~ Scents of place is a Norfolk-made bodycare and fragrance brand – creating bodywash, shampoo, conditioner, hand wash and soon-to-launch bath salts, candles and room diffusers.
Sop is founded by Fiona Burrage, creative director of lifestyle brand Nor–Folk, photographer and, of course, co-director of our own branding studio, The Click.
With Sop being another self-initiated venture, our role was both the creative team and the client – led by Fiona to realise her vision for the brand. The project included naming, visual identity, packaging design and writing.
The idea to create the brand in the first instance was conceived by Fiona’s desire to offer bespoke bodycare products to her guests at the Water Cabin – a place to stay in the heart of the Broads National Park.
Sop’s brand identity is inspired by the Norfolk landscape and language – both visually and verbally. The brand name, the product names and respective descriptions along with the wider visual identity have all been influenced by Norfolk as a place.
The name came first – a playful twist on the popular saying ‘a sense of place’. By changing this to ‘Scents of place’ we encapsulated the product range (all of which comprise beautifully crafted scents) and capture the original inspiration (the wonderful place of Norfolk).
Sop ~ Scents of place tells its story through the products it creates and the way they are intrinsically tied back to the landscape and language that inspires them.
Vladimir Naboko
Sop also has a small range of seeds – some of which are included for free on customer orders – encouraging the planting of wildflowers and sunflowers. We commissioned local Norfolk artist, Ruth Howes, to create the illustrations.
Sustainability is of paramount importance to Sop – every detail is carefully considered. The shipping boxes and bags are fully biodegradable and made from recycled sources.
The decision to use aluminium bottles was based on much research and consulting with a number of environmentalists. Whilst we sourced some good recyclable plastic options we discovered aluminium to be not only easier to recycle but infinitely recyclable. Plastic pump dispensers are sold separately to facilitate easier but also multiple use.
Everything is made, bottled, printed and fulfilled in Norfolk – the majority of it within 5 miles of our home in Norwich – made by Norfolk people.
Fiona isn’t herself originally from Norfolk but does have a regional accent (Essex) and knows all too well the stereotypes and perceptions that are often associated with local accents and dialect. In the globalised generation that we all live, it was her vision to create a brand that celebrates what makes it unique.
This celebration comes in many forms – by embracing local dialect and words, photographing humble botanicals as sculptural art forms and in turn capturing the real essence of place.
Fiona Burrage, Founder, Sop.
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