COWBOY | Capturing the Scent of the Shop
People frequently walk into the shop, pause, and ask, "I love the scent in here. What is it?"
It’s a funny question, because the honest answer is that it’s always a mix. A blend of the curated scents we carry layered with the natural musk of the store itself. We’ve always loved that ambient fragrance, so when a national brand approached us about doing a white-labeled custom candle, the idea immediately intrigued us.
We were excited to explore it, but once we saw the price tag and the impersonal nature of the process, it just didn't line up with our vision. Then, it hit us: the answer was right in front of our face … Casa dell'Unknown, a local, LGBTQ+ owned fragrance house located right in our neighborhood.
When we reached out, the founder Dominic Ferraro was on board immediately. As he put it, "This project felt like being invited back into" a part of his creative self he’d missed while focusing on the operational side of business. We gave him the ultimate challenge: capture the scent of Cowboys and Astronauts. We knew wood and leather had to be the foundation, but how do you capture a feeling in wax?
Dominic came back to us with three distinct paths: Oakwood Cowboy, Gritty Cowboy, and Refined Cowboy.
From sample oils to trial candles burning in the shop and at home, we tested them all. There was a clear winner from the start, but we wanted it to land a little stronger. We got a little experimental even tweaking the formula, only to realize we didn't like the adjustment at all. We went right back to the original blend. We burned that candle in the shop for a few weekends, and the verdict from our customers? They loved it.
But that’s the story of COWBOY Candle, right? Nope. That was just the beginning.
Then came the real work: choosing the vessel, the colors, the screen printing, the box design, coordinating photoshoots, and product launch. It involved an endless cycle of emails, Pantone color swatches, sample orders, designs, and redesigns.
We worked as a team to get it just right. From the details hidden in the paisley bandana print and the colors that scream "cowboy," to the refined product you expect from both Cowboys and Astronauts and Casa dell’Unknown, we poured everything into this project.
Then, quickly followed was COWBOY Profumo. A wearable scent that allows you to take this scent on the road less traveled. Whether bouncing around town, or traveling aboard, Cowboy Profumo evokes that rugged blend of sun-drenched leather, warm amber, and deep oakwood. Inspired by the wide-open horizon and the steady grit of the trail, this personal fragrance captures the spirit of the frontier, refined for the present day.
We loved this journey so much and the result is so, so good that we’re already planning to do it again, & again.
Shop the COWBOY Collection and explore more Supplies for Modern Kind.
Photo credit: Dominic Ferraro, Casa dell'Unknown
