Fragrance plays a vital role in Lincoln's latest automotive evolution, with the introduction of Violet Cashmere - a new diffused scent designed specifically for the Nautilus and Navigator SUVs. To showcase this sensory innovation, Lincoln partnered with artist Shinique Smith to create a visual interpretation of the fragrance experience.

Smith, a Baltimore native, translated the essence of Violet Cashmere into a visual exhibition called "Gateway," featuring four fabric panels that blend colors, textures, and graphics to capture the emotional experience of the fragrance within Lincoln's luxury vehicles.

The artist's approach incorporates multiple sensory elements, including light, reflection, shadow, and space, building on her previous work with scent in installations. In 2015, she first experimented with fragrance using Demeter's "snow" scent to create an immersive cold sensation.

Smith's automotive-inspired work extends beyond the Lincoln collaboration. Her exhibit "Torque" at the Indianapolis Museum of Art pays tribute to the Gold and Glory Sweepstakes, a groundbreaking all-Black racing series from the 1920s and '30s.

The integration of diffused fragrance in Lincoln vehicles represents a modern approach to personalizing automotive spaces, creating individual sanctuaries within the chaos of daily life. This innovation continues the automotive tradition of providing not just transportation, but an environment of beauty and serenity.

Smith, now based in LA, personally relates to this concept, describing her car as "a safe space within the chaos of the world," where she enjoys audiobooks and carefully chosen scents, emphasizing the human desire for a beautiful, serene environment beyond mere transportation.

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