BURBERRY GODDESS: ENGRAVING LUXURY INTO EVERY BOTTLE
This September, I had the incredible opportunity to collaborate with Burberry Beauty and Sephora Canada for the launch the new rechargeable bottle for the iconic Burberry Goddess Eau de Parfum - a unique gourmand fragrance led by a powerful trip of vanillas, enriched with luminous lavender. More than just beautiful on the inside, this first refillable perfume bottle pairs sustainability and elegance together.
To celebrate this launch, I brought live freehand engraving to 3 Sephora locations across Montreal and the surrounding area - Dix30, Carrefour Laval and Carrefour St Bruno - over the course of 7 event days (Sept 5, 6, 12, 13, 14, 26 & 27). That added up to 27 hours of live personalization.
CREATING A PERSONAL CONNECTION
Burberry wanted this activation to reflect the idea that refillable bottle is more than a fragrance - it’s something to treasure. By engraving each client’s name, initials, or short personal message directly onto the bottle (or on an exclusive Burberry medallion bracelet that was gifted during the event, we created keepsakes designed to be cherished and refilled over time.
One moment that stood out was when I engraved a pair of wedding perfumes - Burberry Hero and Burberry goddess - for a couple preparing for their big day. They were so touched to have fragrances they would carry into marries life with a permanent, personal reminder of their wedding.
BEHIND THE SCENES
For these activations, I set up my portable engraving station complete with foldable table, tablecloth, directors chair, and a clean, professional display. A small sign let passers-by know about the activation, which always sparks curiosity.
Throughout the events, I engraved around 60 bottles and bracelets, typically completing about 10 pieces per hour during busy periods. Shoppers often stopped to watch the process, and more than a few made unplanned purchases after discovering that engraving was available.
CLIENT MOMENTS
These little interactions are the heartbeat of live personalization’s. Some of my favourite things I overheard during the series:
💬 “My wife is going to love this for our anniversary.”
💬 “I wasn’t planning on buying anything today, but this is just too cute to pass up.”
💬 “I love how sparkly my name is now!”
Clients also mentioned birthdays, weddings, and anniversaries - reminders that fragrance is often tied to life’s most meaningful moments.
WHY IT MATTERS FOR LUXURY BRANDS
I believe Burberry chose to feature live engraving at this launch for the same reasons I love offering it: to make the experience memorable, create buzz in-store, and offer clients something they can’t get anywhere else. A personalized fragrance bottle isn’t just a purchase - it becomes a story, a gift, and a lasting connection with the brand
Luxury brands like Burberry are investing in experiences that go beyond the product itself. By combining a refillable design with personalization, they’ve positioned Goddess as something both sustainable and sentimental - a bottle you’ll keep, refill, and treasure.
MY TAKEAWAY
What I love the most about activations like this is the chance to connect with both the brand and the clients. Every engraving comes with a story - from a birthday surprise to a wedding keepsake - and I get to help capture in a tangible way.
A huge thank you to Burberry Beauty and Sephora Canada for trusting me to be a part of this unforgettable launch.
If you’re a brand of event planner looking to create your own memorable activations, I’d love to connect!
