About Sol of Sage
Sol as in Sun or alternatively, So(u)l of Sage, is an effort to raise awareness of everything that UCLA’s Sage Hill has to offer. Named to emphasize the soul of the space itself and the importance of the sun to the growth of life, Sol of Sage emphasizes knowledge and history tp create a holistic understanding of the sacred and mostly unknown environment. Formulated and developed in the Design Media Arts Sage Hill and Graphic Design for Native Plants class, Professor Erin Cooney and Bobby Joe Smith III created a space for Allision Wu, Fabian Rios, Karrington Lewis, and Sunaina Bose to create. The information provided by Dr. Cully Nordby, the Associate Director of the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, and Professor Thomas Gillespie, Co Chair of the Environmental Science and Engineering Program laid out the groundwork for the project. Smelling coastal sage and being introduced to the various plant species motivated the group to think deeply about the implications of creating a product that would represent Sage Hill. Resting on Tongva land, the treatment was acted out in awareness of the hundreds of years that came before.
What is Sage Hill?
Sage Hill is 3.4 acres of native, untouched California habitat that exists at the University of California, Los Angeles. Recognizing the Gabrielino/Tongva peoples as the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar, Sage Hill has become the home to a high diversity of flora and fauna species including 50 native higher plant species, 7 native mammal species, 17 butterflies species, and almost 30 resident and migratory bird species. It is also a unique sanctuary, research and classroom space for students, researchers, and faculty willing to take the time to explore the ins and outs of a land that is unlike any other around West Los Angeles. The work done in Sage Hill varies from developing a non native vegetation plan to support habitat restoration to restoring biodiversity and awareness. The current efforts to bring the UCLA community to Sage Hill and help them discover the beauty and history of the area have been the main focus of Sol of Sage.
The Scents: SAGE and YUCCA
This candle is a brightening scent that mixes herbaceous sage and fresh yucca. It is topped with California coastal sage and toyon berries, another essential plant that makes Sage Hill unique.
The Scents: SAGE and OAK
This candle is a soothing mix of aromatic sage oil and warm, earthy oak oil. It is topped with oak leaves and purple sage harvested directly from Sage Hill.
The Scents: SAGE and EUCALYPTUS
This candle is a sharp distinct mixture of sage and the oftentimes, medicinal eucalyptus. It is topped with purple sage and California coastal sage, two of the three sage variations that exist upon Sage Hill and give it its name.
Our Process
To create these candles, we first had to create a basis of understanding around the scents of plants at Sage Hill. We conducted research by visiting Sage Hill to smell plants ourselves, as well as asking Sage Hill professionals for their expertise and advice. We settled on the scents of Sage, Oak, Eucalyptus, and Yucca. Since Sage is the main plant of the land, we wanted the Sage scent to be in each candle. Therefore, we decided on the final scents of Sage & Oak, Sage & Eucalyptus, and Sage & Yucca. We also included the native plants themselves on top of our candles to add a pop of color, in addition to reinforcing the scents mixed into the soy wax. The native plants were also used to create sunprints, which we printed on site and turned into the informational booklet you’re reading right now!
Your Impact
When you light a Sol of Sage candle, you are not just lighting a wick with the hope to fill the room with delightful scents. You are acknowledging and bringing forth the importance of having a place like Sage Hill that one can experience in multiple ways. Lighting these three candles brings Sage Hill to your home and into the hearts of those who you light it with. The natural world that you have invited into your home sparks a flame not just literally, but emotionally as well. We at Sol of Sage hope that these candles inspire you to visit the real place, the real Sage Hill. To explore and appreciate such a sacred and unscathed habitat without any expectations and noise from the regular world around you. Sol of Sage is not just a candle, it is a story that is waiting to be told.
