This week, I’m enjoying my “home-away-from home” — California. I’m trying to stay outdoors as much as possible, and I plan on enjoying the desert and the ocean. Today finds me in Palm Springs, and if all goes as planned, when this review posts, I’ll be on horseback, riding through Murray Canyon in gorgeous weather.
I’ve been heartened recently at fragrance companies who give back to their communities by sharing some of their profits for great causes…
Maison La Bougie candles are marked down for final sale at Beautyhabit. Shown is my favorite design, Rose des Vents ("Subtly fresh with thyme, this departure gives way to bergamot with a unique delicacy. In a bright, spring-like opening, the pines warm the bodies in heliotropic shades as the freshness of the vanilla balances perfectly.") It is $100 for 300g. The regular 190g candles in glass jars without lids (including a cute one for Paul & Joe, complete with kitty) are all $44.
Considered by the Chinese as one of the three holy fruits with peach and lemon, the grapefruit was a symbol of prosperity and fertility. Also highly prized by the Greeks and the Romans, the hesperide has a crisp freshness: known for its rich terroir and unique soil, the Salta region enhances the citrus’ intensity. Blended with verbena and hyacinth, the grapefruit fragrance is aromatic. ~ Cire Trudon
In those three sentences, Cire Trudon references Italy, Greece, China and…Argentina (its beautiful Salta region does produce citrus…but is more well known for its lemons)…
A new Diptyque limited edition candle for Eau Capitale: "From the Eau Capitale Paris En Fleurs Collection. For this celebration of Paris, Diptyque draws its inspiration from the rose and its many variations: like the roses of Bagatelle or the roses you’d find in a flower market. To create this scent, Diptyque collaborated with artist and friend, Pierre Marie. Together, they brought to life a fragrance inspired by Art Nouveau- a fragrant trellis on which rustic foliage and roses intermingle." In 70g mini ($38) or 190g full ($74), at Saks.
In the earlier 2000s, I used to make frequent purchases of scented candles (and room sprays and “wax tarts”) from any number of brands. Nowadays, I buy candles from an independent candle-maker in my own city and my home fragrance cravings are pretty much satisfied. One exception: my annual purchase of a holiday candle from Diptyque, an indulgence I never regret.
This year’s Holiday 2019 collection is titled Porte Bonheur (“good-luck charm”) and features illustrations by Olaf Hajek. I’ve chosen the “blue” option every year for nearly a decade, because it’s usually something deep and incense-y. This time, after pondering all three candles in the Holiday 2019 collection, I gravitated towards the “red” choice. Its official name is Flora Fortuna and Diptyque recommends burning it “for good luck.” Its glass canister is decorated with “symbols of good fortune from around the world such as the four-leaf clover and maneki-neko cat…while the red color brings us the energy needed to seize its luck…”