A few gift ideas for Valentine’s Day, in case anyone is in need of (scented) inspiration. Do feel free to comment and tell us what present you’d most like to get!
From Diptyque, a brooch you can scent with your favorite fragrance: “Our new hand embroidered Rose brooch was developed in partnership with jewelry designers, Macon & Lesquoy. Perfume the ceramic drop and enjoy your fragrance all day long.” $55 at Diptyque…
Between November and March is the period I call “Scented-Candle Danger Zone.” During these cool/cold months, I yearn for, “research,” and then buy perfumed candles…expen$ive candle$. Over the years, I’ve come to realize that a single, $100 dollar candle usually makes more sense budget-wise (and ambiance-wise) than three $33 candles, or five $20 candles. Inexpensive candles almost always smell cheap; their artificial aromas and blends must have been devised by a computer program or a food-crazed focus group who loves cheap candy. I hate candles that smell like carnival food: Caramel Apple Sundae, anyone? CocoNut-ChocoCone? Pumpkin ‘n’ Spice Latte? Ick. And what’s worse than cheap-smelling floral candles? (I guess you could call me a candle snob…or a “candle idiot” if you must…you won’t hurt my feelings!)
But as my hubby says: “Kevin, you pay more in parking fees in one week than you do on one candle!” How nice to have an enabler at home. He’s right. What do I get from parking fees? A concrete space to occupy. A $100 candle gives me pleasure for months (sixty or more hours of burn-time!) I don’t eat out much because my official enabler is a great cook, so I buy a candle, or two, or three, with that saved restaurant money…
Our second-to-last holiday gift post for 2013 focuses on budget options and stocking stuffers. Next: luxury, coming up on Sunday.
If you missed them, check out Part 1: scented body products, Part 2: travel sizes & coffrets, Part 3: home fragrance, Part 4: gifts for men, Part 5: teas & sweets and Part 6: more travel sizes & coffrets.
More shopping ideas: see the Winter Holiday Shopping Guide at Chemist in the Bottle.
From Yves Rocher’s Hammam collection, a “Beauty Ritual Duo” with soap (scented with jasmine, rose and fruits) and Nourishing Argan Balm (scented with orange blossom). Normally $48, currently on sale for $25 at Yves Rocher…
Our series of holiday gift posts continues with gift ideas for the men in your life, although there are plenty of “unisex” ideas in the other articles, and there are probably a few things here that women might like. If you missed them, check out Part 1: scented body products, Part 2: travel sizes & coffrets and Part 3: home fragrance. Up next: fragranced teas and chocolates.
More shopping ideas: check out Persolaise’s round up of holiday 2013 fragrance gifts.
From Acqua di Parma, a candle holder fashioned from wenge wood and buffalo skin: “The wood’s strength and hardness, along with its black streaked dark hues, blend perfectly with the soft and compact brown buffalo skin that trims the entire edge. The leather has a discreet hot stamped logo.” £140 at Harrods in the UK, Colonia candle is sold separately, £53…
Our series of holiday gift posts continues with home fragrance of all kinds, from candles to sachets. If you missed them, check out Part 1: scented body products and Part 2: travel sizes & coffrets.
More shopping ideas: check out Perfume Posse’s recommendations for indie fragrance gifts.
To repeat what I said last year, maybe some year, Diptyque’s holiday candles will look so dull that we’ll leave them out, but that year has (still) not yet arrived. This year’s limited editions include Pine Bark (“A clean, woody, smoky fragrance that combines pine and cedar with hinoki, the Japanese cypress.”), Orange Chai (“A mellow but not sweet accord of orange, quince and a mixture of Indian spices.”) and Indian Incense (“A mysterious, deep fragrance, dark and floral. Rose and carnation are balanced with incense and myrrh.”), with designs by Tsé & Tsé. $68 each (190g), or $32 for a mini candle (70g), at Diptyque….