at my house, candles are always burning. Year-round. Nothing is more inviting than the warm flicker and unique scent they disperse through the entire building. As the dark nights draw in and the temperature drops, my house ends up looking like an episode of the American show, 'Hoarders' waiting to happen: pretty little glass and ceramic jars on every surface, matches strewn everywhere. The wick maintenance in and of itself has me shuffling around like a crazy cat lady, nipping away at the charred tips so they stay just ¼” long—optimal for burning and advisable to minimize smoking. I keep doubles - triples even - of the favorites, stacked in boxes just in case one should evaporate before I’d thought to restock. Of course, a nice candle also makes a lovely gift, and having a cache of the best ones means you’ll never scramble to a house warming/dinner party/office gifting empty-handed.
My current roster is made up of earthy, smoky, full-bodied scents that pretty much all fall under the umbrella of “sexy”. There are no springtime florals or sparkling citrus top notes over here between October and February. I want to feel like I’ve sunken into a silk velvet sofa in the lobby of a very chic, dimly lit French hotel, listening to groovy music that I’ve never heard of and having a glass of Pinot Noir with someone very good looking. In reality, I'll be sprawled along the sofa with some trashy TV or glossy magazine, but the candles (and a glass of wine) makes my fantasy much easier to visualise...
I've rounded up my five favourites of the past few weeks, so you can enjoy my indulgement of these mini-pleasures. 1.
Catbird “Campfire” - This Brooklyn-based jewelry shop has been producing hand-poured candles in New York for a few years. Campfire is “refined and animalistic”, with notes of wood smoke, saddle leather and honey. This was a gift, and as I'm running low, I'm trying to convince the boy to take me to New York for another pot...
