How Maison Solís Launched Faster with CGI: Luxury Perfume CGI

Maison Solís knew what a launch meant for a luxury perfume brand. Basically, it could make it or break it. Now, they were preparing to introduce their first fragrance collection, Blanco, Reposado, and Añejo. They had the physical products up and running, but their ambitious creative vision was way beyond traditional photography limits. Sure, they could maybe pull it off. But think tons of products (plus shipping), professionals to stage highly art-directed scenes, professional photographers, editors… plus all these people needed to be flexible enough to accept design changes.

Maison Solis wanted a trial-and-error approach. All this meant millions and tons of time they just didn’t have, with the launch approaching fast. That’s why they chose Computer-generated imagery (CGI). Here’s how we de-risked their launch and offered unparalleled creative control so Maison Solís could bring their brand vision to life just as they wanted.

Every successful project we’ve ever had started with a clear vision (that our client jots down in the creative brief). Maison Solís was no different. They asked for the precise 3D modeling of three 30ml perfume bottles, multiple unique image styles (including custom lifestyle scenes and minimalist, simple props – black gloss shots), and a dynamic 7-second product animation. Before we did anything, we set out a clear priority order: 3D modeling – custom images — animation — simple prop images.

Then, we made sure we had a proper collection of reference images. And we had a few really fun ones, too: agave plants for Blanco, roasting agave pits for Reposado, and whiskey barrels with wisps of smoke for Añejo. Without these, we can’t set the products’ mood, environment, and narrative. And telling a brand’s story visually is our main goal here. Now, with the strategy and vision locked in, we could move to that first technical step, a.k.a. 3D modeling.

Yes, it’s always fun to go through the client’s reference images, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to turn them into dimensionally accurate 3D assets. Our artists went through every microdetail time and time again, until each perfume bottle was a perfect digital replica of the actual one. That means every curve, edge, and surface, no matter how much you zoomed in.

It was during this phase that our expertise in collaborative problem-solving proved a lifesaver (we can’t stress that enough). There was a small discrepancy between Maison Solís’ PDF label files and the physical geometry of the bottle: a sharp breaking edge where the front face met a subtle curve. The initial digital label design didn’t account for this physical reality. 

This led to questions about placement and distortion. So we had a quick consultation to agree on an application method and make sure the final label placement was true to their luxury aesthetic. We even offered a complete label redesign mid-project without compromising the timeline.

Finally, Maison Solís approved the 3D models so we could bring those assets to life with gorgeous materials and textures.

Texturing and shading is the fun stage where we make products scream luxury. Think rich materials, light and shadow falling in just the right way, and micro-imperfections that tell customers these are the real products they’re looking at. For Maison Solís, this process meant creating hyper-realistic glass that refracted light just like the actual bottles, and developing the precise color and viscosity of the liquid fragrance inside each bottle. Then, we engineered the distinct “metallic foil on matte black” finish for the labels, as specified by the Maison Solís art team.

For the custom hero images, we did what we call the “impossible shot.” Impossible in a traditional photography studio, not so much in the CGI world. We put the Añejo bottle on a rustic barrel and surrounded it with smoke and fire. A simple reflection of the perfume’s base notes of Cedar Wood, Leather, Smoke, Patchouli, and Oud Assam. But imagine getting every detail right from the get-go in an actual studio! Plus, we produced a huge range of styles for each bottle, from the custom environments to sleek, minimalist shorts on a black gloss surface.

Now, the digital bottles were built, textured, and placed in their virtual sets. And of course, the Maison Solís team was happy. So the team could turn the models into photorealistic images and animations — the final technical stage.

The final stage of the workflow is rendering. That’s right, it’s that computationally intensive process of converting 3D scenes into final 2D images (and making sure we keep the narrative true to the brand in the meantime). This is where strategic lighting choices are vital. Light must interact with the glass, liquid, and metallic foils exactly as it would in reality. That’s why we call this technical artistry: it’s equal parts tech prowess and art.

After the render, each image and animation frame moved into post-production. In other words, final color correction and contrast adjustments to get that polished, premium look people expect from a luxury brand. Take the smoke in the Añejo scene. We composited and refined it until Maison Solís said, “Perfect.” Let’s talk results now.

A fine case, Maison Solís. We loved working with them, and we loved the instant results they got. For us, it’s proof that CGI done right cuts through the traditional photography bottlenecks with speed and flexibility. This win was built on collaboration (and lots of ongoing feedback rounds!) and alien-level precision and artistry.

And here’s a little extra to keep in mind: we work like partners, not vendors. Just as we did with Maison Solís, we handle tricky geometry, evolving designs, and scary timelines without losing sight of the creative goal. As we told Maison Solís at launch: “Your sharp read on your audience guided us — we just built the vision. Think of us as your production house; we bring ideas to life.”