Inspired by Daryl Qilin Yam’s Shantih Shantih Shantih
Daryl’s Shantih Shantih Shantih is a tricky one. While the title means ‘inner peace’ in Sanskrit, the book has an almost apocalyptic undertone that chronicles the stories of 12 people on a snowy day in Singapore and how their lives have intertwined. As we follow them throughout the day, we start to see their lives unravel in fragments, broaching the subjects of love and loss, meeting and passing, serendipities and mishaps among the imperfections that make life worth remembering.
Through Daryl’s characters, I have seen pieces of myself, my unanswered questions and thoughts. The “Scent of Snow” essential oil blend kit is my feeble attempt to understand our shared humanity. Inspired by the fleeting nature of snow, we want to create an experience that is both personal and elusive through scents. I hope your blend will speak your truth and share your story. For this special project, we have also collaborated with Hong Kong artist, Nicolas Ho, to create a knot bag that celebrates our melancholy.
"Shantih Shantih Shantih" kit includes:
- "Shantih Shantih Shantih" by Daryl Qilin Yam
- 'Scent of Snow' essential oil blend kit by Scentory
- Japanese know bag designed by visual artist Nicolas Ho
About DARYL QILIN YAMDaryl Qilin Yam (b. 1991) is a writer, editor and arts organiser from Singapore. He is the author of the novella
Shantih Shantih Shantih (2021), shortlisted for the 2022 Singapore Literature Prize, and the novel
Lovelier, Lonelier (2021), the Singapore nominee for the 2023 International Dublin Literary Award. He co-founded the literary charity Sing Lit Station. His writing has appeared in periodicals and publications such as the Berlin Quarterly, Mekong Review, Sewanee Review, The Straits Times and The Epigram Books Collection of Best New Singapore Short Stories anthology series. His first novel,
Kappa Quartet (2016), was selected by The Business Times as one of the best novels of the year, and described by QLRS as “[breaking] new ground in Singaporean writing… a shimmering and poignant novel, an immensely sympathetic and humane exploration of our existential condition.” The American edition of
Lovelier, Lonelier is forthcoming from Gaudy Boy in Jan 2024. Yam’s fourth book, a short story collection, is forthcoming from Epigram Books in late 2024.
