Fragrance Du Bois has revealed a creative partnership with Dave Steele, the acclaimed poet and advocate known internationally as The Blind Poet. Diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa, Dave channels his loss of sight into poetic work rooted in intuition, emotion and sensory awareness.
“The fragrance industry is built on visuals. Campaigns, bottles, faces, lighting, seduction through sight. Which is why this collaboration with ,Fragrance Du Bois feels so powerful.” said Dave Steele.
Responding solely to sensation and emotion, Dave developed a collection of poems inspired by Cavort, Secret Tryst and Lovers. His writing captures longing, intimacy and emotional chemistry without relying on visual cues. “For their For Lovers collection, they chose to work with someone who doesn’t experience fragrance visually at all. I’m registered blind. I write from instinct, memory, emotion and sensation. This collaboration isn’t about inclusion as a tick box. It’s about trusting a different perspective to tell a deeper story. And that’s where the magic lives. Grateful to work with a brand willing to do something genuinely different.”
Dave also highlighted the challenges many people with disabilities face within luxury environments. “A lot of people with disabilities feel anxious about going into luxury spaces like high-end fragrance departments because they fear being judged or not belonging. That’s why this campaign matters. Having Fragrance Du Bois promote disability in a positive, visible way sends a powerful message that these spaces are for everyone, and that’s something worth shouting from the rooftops.” added Dave.
Although fragrance is often communicated through visuals, its essence lies in how it makes people feel, through memory, instinct and personal connection.
“Working with Dave on our For Lovers campaign was about trusting a different perspective to tell a deeper story. One that isn’t driven by what you see, but by what you feel. We’re grateful for the honesty, sensitivity, and insight he brought to this collaboration, and proud to share work that challenges convention in such a meaningful way.” said Jonnie Swarbrick, Founder and Creative Director.
The For Lovers collection reflects love in its many dimensions, the spark of attraction, the intensity of closeness and the emotions that remain long after the moment has passed. Through this partnership, Fragrance Du Bois encourages audiences to experience scent beyond imagery, embracing emotion as the truest form of connection.
