Nao (pronounced ‘now’) is an Italian essence whose captivating packaging and design was created by Milanese independent branding specialists, Black Swan Brand Consultants. The agency was founded by Paolo Cazzola and Gianluca Bovoli in 2021.
The name Nao is derived from the word ‘ship’ in the Genoese dialect. There are two flagship fragrances, Cruêza de Mä and Natûa, both essences inspired by the north-western Italian locale of Liguria. The first fragrance is an aromatic nod to Liguria’s Hanbury Botanical Gardens [Giardini Botanici Hanbury]. The second evokes scents from a rocky coastal breeze, mixed with flora of the region. Creative director Paolo Cazzola states: ‘The fragrances are based on natural and organic ingredients … one from the land and one from the sea.’
Much consideration went into the composition of the scents. The main objective of both fragrances is to take one on a journey of the senses, to conjure up memories. Cazzola says, ‘The concept of the brand is remembering good moments in your past while experiencing the fragrances in the present, so naming it Nao, referring to the English word “now”.’
The relationship with materials was a very important consideration for the package design decisions. From the blue and green ombre glass bottles to the embossed green Fedrigoni Imitlin paper, all the materials used are based on natural elements. The ‘dark to light’ nature of the essence bottles represents the fragrance drifting up into the air, filling the room with the smells of breath-taking Liguria.
