Where Magic Begins: Behind the Illustrations of Tijana Lukovic
This festive season, step into the warmth and wonder of our Christmas collection where nature inspired fragrances are brought to life through enchanting new illustrations.
For our 2025 Christmas collection illustrations, we collaborated with the incredibly talented illustrator, Tijana Lukovic, whose storytelling artwork beautifully captures the essence of each of our festive scents. With fragrances crafted to fill your home with festive cheer and illustrations that add a touch of magic, this collection is made to be unwrapped, savoured and shared.
To uncover the magic behind our new illustrations and delve deeper into the creative journey that shaped them, we sat down with Tijana to explore her inspiration, processes for our newest fragrance and advent calendar illustrations.
What inspired your design for Sacred Forest - were there particular landscapes, seasons, or stories that helped shape its magical world?
Sacred Forest was inspired by the deep stillness and mystery of winter nights. I imagined a hidden forest, a place where animals, spirits, and humans coexist. The long nights of winter and the returning light of dawn echo the ancient seasonal rituals that celebrate hope and renewal.
Can you take us behind the scenes of your creative process. How did Sacred Forest evolve from an idea to the final artwork we see on our Christmas packaging?
It began with a sketch where I wanted to capture that quiet moment when the sun rises after a long winter night. I built the composition around a glowing centre, with characters and animals drawn toward the warmth and light. My process for St Eval illustrations is always fully digital as layering elements separately is important for their later design work.
Nature is such a rich source of inspiration in your work. Were there specific plants, textures, or natural settings that shaped the world of Sacred Forest?
Yes, the tall evergreens and frozen rivers are drawn from beautiful northern forests. Second part of inspiration came form the folk tales where the forest is a sacred character in itself: protective, watchful, and full of quiet enchantment.
Designing our Tealight Advent Calendar
How did you approach bringing the Advent Calendar brief to life – what ideas or themes guided your design?
When I began imagining the Advent Calendar, I wanted it to feel like a journey and a celebration of wonder that builds as each candle is lit. The ocean became the heart of the design, representing both mystery and calm. I liked the idea of descending into a dreamlike underwater world where whales, mermaids, and glowing creatures guide you toward the magic of Christmas. The theme of light shining through deep water mirrors the spirit of Advent itself: hope and beauty emerging from the depths.
Can you share a bit about your creative process for the Advent Calendar – from early sketches to the finished illustration? Were there any details or ideas you were especially keen to include?
It started with pencil sketch searching for the right composition and place for each important element mentioned in the brief. I worked layer by layer, balancing the rich midnight blues with touches of gold and coral, until the whole piece felt like a deep-sea night sky. The castle and figures were my way of connecting sea and land, bridging the two worlds together.
Our Tealight Advent Calendar is full of tiny, magical details – are there any secret touches or hidden moments in the design that you hope people might spot as they count down to Christmas?
Yes, there are many little secrets waiting to be found! One of them being the mermaid carrying a glowing stars found underwater. I love including these gentle hints of story, so that each time someone opens a door, they notice a new spark of magic they hadn’t seen before.
The Inspiration Behind Tijana's Style
How would you describe your illustration style to someone discovering your work for the first time?
My illustrations live somewhere between folklore, witchcraft and deep love for nature and its mysteries. They’re filled with magic, enchanted forests, and characters such as witches, animals and nature spirits. I love creating worlds that feel ancient and a bit mysterious, like stepping into an old story that feels strange but also familiar.
What inspires you most – nature, storytelling, people, or something else entirely that sparks your imagination?
Storytelling and nature are always at the heart of my work. I’m inspired by how the natural world can so perfectly reflect our emotions, the calm of a forest, the light after darkness, the shift of seasons. Folklore also guides me, those old tales hold so much wisdom and wonder that I try to bring to my own world of illustration.
What themes or inspirations do you find yourself drawn to again and again in your work?
I keep coming back to Forest, sacred feminine energy but also the hidden magic in ordinary moments. Forests, light in the dark, and strong, mystical women often appear in my art, they’re part of the world I keep dreaming about.
Do you work mainly digitally, traditionally, or a mix of both? How do those tools help you express the feeling you’re after in your artwork?
For most of my client work I use a mix of traditional and digital techniques. I start with gouache and colour pencils to get that soft, handmade texture, then add some smaller details, overall light and mood digitally. It lets me keep the warmth of traditional painting while adding a bit of magic and atmosphere with my pencil in Procreate.
