Bath & Body Works’ newest collaboration brings to life a dazzling collection of products based on Disney Princess characters. The collection features six brand new fragrances inspired by some of the most beloved characters in the franchise: Disney’s Ariel, Belle, Cinderella, Jasmine, Moana and Tiana. Each fragrance was carefully crafted with a Disney Princess character in mind and designed to capture their unique spirit, strength and resilience while transporting you into their worlds.
In honor of this special moment, we are giving a behind the scenes look into the development of these unique fragrances, and this week’s highlight is Ariel.
Disney’s Ariel has an independent spirit and is determined to stand up for what she wants. Through her journey of self-discovery, she ultimately creates a connection between land and sea.
In the Disney Princess Collection, Ariel’s fragrance was inspired by her traits and key elements from the animated film, Disney’s The Little Mermaid.
“Ariel was very close to my heart, I identified with her because of my bond with the ocean and the empowering sense of happiness and freedom it provides me,” says Mary Testa-Gough, associate vice president of product and fragrance development at Bath Body Works. “When we created Ariel’s signature scent, we wanted to convey the energy of the ocean air. The fragrance notes of sea salt breeze, golden citrus, and coral waters weave a story of Ariel's adventurous spirit and her desire to explore beyond her underwater world.”
Testa-Gough spoke to how the fragrance also embodied Ariel’s love for the sea and the significance behind the fragrance notes.
“The golden citrus represents Ariel’s energy, it radiates a natural freshness and warmth she experiences when she emerges from the depths and into the golden sunlight,” says Testa-Gough. “The coral water symbolizes the magnificent underwater kingdom of Ariel’s world, signaling her connection to the fluidity of ocean and aquatic beauty of her home.”
Candice Oates, designer at Bath & Body Works, also shared how much influence the ocean had on the design process.
“With Ariel being our only underwater Princess character, it was a fun challenge to try and represent that in a way that also celebrated Ariel’s softness through the use of bright whites and watercolor textures in the sea life,” says Oates. “It was also important to let Ariel’s whimsical nature shine through, by including elements like water splashes and her seahorse friend.”
Oates says the soft teals and watercolors throughout the packaging will transport fans under the sea. “The addition of the golden citrus adds a splash of boldness which pairs wells with the gold embellishments and fun surprises hidden throughout the package design,” Oates says.
“I hope our customers are surprised, delighted and feel that nostalgic childlike sense of awe and wonder that Disney is already so good at encapsulating,” Oates says.
To learn more about the Disney Princess Collection, visit bathandbodyworks.com.