A Sensory-Driven Product Launch When Arkive set out to launch their new fragrance collection, they didn’t just want to showcase scent — they wanted to immerse audiences in the emotional stories behind each one. At the heart of the launch was Adam Reed, hair stylist and Arkive’s brand ambassador, whose personal memories inspired each fragrance. Arkive’s goal was twofold: to generate buzz and shareable content around the new collection while creating a deeper emotional connection with Adam’s audience. They wanted to move beyond a typical launch and deliver a premium, cinematic experience that was both nostalgic and contemporary. To achieve this, Clockwise was brought on board to concept and produce a 12-minute film that would anchor the brand’s first-ever Smell-o-Vision event — an exclusive screening at The Garden Cinema in London, where scent and storytelling met on-screen and in the audience’s hands via timed scent cards. Shooting in a Single Day Clockwise worked closely with the Arkive creative team to develop a film that would visualise the story behind each of the four new scents: No One Elsie: Inspired by Adam’s childhood memories of his grandmother’s greenhouse. Warm, green, nostalgic. Future Bloom: A luminous, floral scent evoking the hopefulness of a sun-soaked walk. Decorated Woods: A rich, earthy fragrance capturing the transition of the seasons in a lush English woodland. A Kind of Floral: A comforting blend of blossoms and musks — gentle, elegant, and grounding. To bring these emotions to life, we shot four standalone visual vignettes in just one day — two on location, and two in-studio. Our on-location shoot took place at Dalston Gardens, London. To add a layer of nostalgic realism, we captured key shots on 16mm film and blended them with Sony FX6 footage, using transitions (like a doorframe within a greenhouse) to bridge the present and the past. The decision to reserve 16mm for location scenes allowed us to balance production efficiency with artistic depth. The limitations of film — no playback, limited takes — forced a clarity of vision and intent that elevated the result. In the studio, we ran two parallel teams: a prep team that staged upcoming scenes while the camera team rolled on current setups. This lean, agile structure allowed us to maximise every minute. A Premiere That Left a Lasting Impression The Smell-o-Vision event drew a packed house of influencers, media, and fans of the brand, and the response was overwhelmingly positive. The unique pairing of scent cards and visual storytelling created a multisensory experience that went beyond a typical product launch. There were emotional reactions throughout, with audience members tearing up during key moments, particularly during No One Elsie. Dozens of attendees shared their experiences on social media, organically boosting the campaign’s reach without the need for paid promotion. While it’s early days for metrics, the buzz from this first screening has already sparked internal conversations about a second event. Want to create cinematic product content that connects emotionally with your audience?Clockwise blends film craft, brand insight, and bold creativity to bring stories to life on screen and beyond.