Designing Stillness with Studio Kozé
Scent, Silence, and Small Rituals
Text and Photos by Kerol Izwan
Sundays in Kuala Lumpur don’t usually come with silence. The city stays busy even on quiet days. Stalls open early, traffic moves steadily, and people go about their routines. But that Sunday had a different pace. I found myself in a pocket of stillness, away from the usual noise and pace, invited to a gathering by Studio Kozé, a new lifestyle brand that’s just begun to find its footing in the local scene. I didn’t expect much at first, but what I walked into was an experience that asked nothing of me except to slow down and simply be present.
Studio Kozé is the brainchild of Sumay Cheah, Su Ting Cheah and Shanker Joyrama, a trio who seem to understand the quiet power of thoughtful living. Their brand isn’t just about objects or gifts — it’s about creating a mood, a shift in mindset, a pause. They’ve launched Kozé with the intention to remind people that meaning can be found in the smallest of gestures, especially when those gestures are intentional. Their collaboration with Else Retreats Kuala Lumpur, a hotel already known for its design sensibility and calm atmosphere, set the perfect stage for what they called a Sensorial Experience — an hour and a half dedicated to quiet rituals and subtle discovery.
The experience took place in a single room, softly lit and gently styled. Nothing extravagant. A table in the middle held the tools for the session: tea cups, fabrics, candles, handwritten cards. We began with a simple breathing exercise in a segment called Breathe in the Aroma. It was a chance to anchor ourselves — to let go of whatever we carried in from outside. This moved into a Tea Ritual, where we were guided to notice each step — pouring, sipping, even holding the cup. Then came the Furoshiki wrapping session, a short and tactile moment that reminded me how we rarely use our hands for slow, deliberate tasks anymore. We ended with quiet time to write our Personal Wishes, followed by a small offering of sweets and drinks. Nothing fancy, but every detail felt thought through.
What made the experience more personal for me was knowing that Sumay, who also happens to be a past contributor of Musotrees, is a multidisciplinary artist with years of working across various mediums and materials. With a deep respect for circular sustainability, she curated Studio Kozé through that lens — making thoughtful use of remnants and leftover pieces from her past exhibitions. Some of the items used during the Sensorial Experience — like the Japanese-inspired tie knot string or the hand-painted gift cards — were personally created by her. It was genuinely moving to witness the care and patience she put into every small detail laid out on the table. It didn’t feel mass-produced or decorative. It felt sincere.
The centrepiece of the gathering was the reveal of The Koze Gift Collection, featuring two candle scents — Mera and Oriental. Both were hand-poured, softly scented, and designed to be more than just a product on a shelf. They carried a sense of calm. Each was paired with a narrative — not loud or overly styled, but gently told. What stood out most during the session was Sumay’s presence. She led the experience not as a host performing, but as someone who truly believed in what she was sharing. There was a steadiness to her voice, a genuine sense of ease that made the space feel safe and unhurried. For a moment, the usual urgency of KL didn’t follow us into that room.
As I left, I realised how rare it is to be invited into a space that asks nothing of you except attention. No pressure to network, no loud branding, no need to document every second. Just a room, a story, and a few people gathered with a shared willingness to pause. Studio Kozé may be new, but its message is clear — that even in a city known for its energy and movement, there is still room for quiet, intention, and beauty in the slow.
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Feel free to take your time exploring the Studio Kozé website, where you’ll find their full candle collection available to browse and purchase online. Each scent is thoughtfully crafted to offer a calm, sensory experience, and the site also shares more about the inspiration and process behind the brand. Whether you're looking for a gift or something to elevate your own space, the candles are available for easy ordering, delivered right to your door.
