Behind the Silhouette

The visual identity of Sanabella Olfactory is rooted in a rare piece of global art history. Our emblem originated in the work of my great-grandfather, painter Vicente Alvarez Dizon. A brilliant scholar, he graduated with high distinction from Yale University in 1936, where he became the first Filipino elected to the exclusive artist society, Yale Phi Alpha. Created during his time at Yale as his final thesis project, his masterpiece, After a Day's Toil, went on to earn international acclaim at the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition, securing first place in a prestigious global competition over notable contemporaries, including Salvador Dalí.

Great art survives because its core remains unchanged by time. The textures, the dignity, and the profound stillness Dizon captured nearly a century ago still carry a relevant, grounding frequency today. He chose to forge his own path rather than chase the trending artistic fashions of his era, marrying a meticulous technical command with a deep reverence for the land. Placing his history at the center of our house allows us to honor a legacy not as a stationary moment in time, but as an enduring, living influence that continues to dictate how we design.

For us, the carabao stands as a symbol of that strength and quiet presence, values that dictate our creative process today. Beyond a design choice, our emblem serves as a space to celebrate his legacy, allowing us to share his artistry and introduce his story to a broader audience. Where he captured the resilient spirit of the earth on canvas, we seek to translate that same unyielding depth into the olfactory medium, continuing a lineage of creative expression through the disciplined craft of scent.