Floral Street's Spring Bouquet diffuser ("Bringing a burst of sunlight in through your windows and a wild country garden vibe into your space: a fusion of crisp, green floral fusion with pockets of rhubarb, bay and cedarwood") is decent looking and not too spendy: £28 for 100 ml, at John Lewis.
After much consideration, I think I could stand to have these in my house. From Etro, the Rajasthan ("...suggests a nomadic and yearning femininity, wild gypsy poetry set in the Maharaja’s cities: like the bright and colourful precious pearls from magical India. Etro’s fragrance is dedicated to an ever-changing and unexpected personality, who is always able to surprise with joy. This is an oriental floral fragrance with pink pepper, lemon, mimosa, rose and amber") and Jacquard ("A tribute to the intricately woven fabric often used by Etro in their garments, the Jacquard Candle is full of fascination and new beginnings whilst remembering the past in an authentic and original way. This fragranced candle is sophisticated and exotic with its notes of bergamot, black pepper, iris, jasmine, sandalwood") candles, 145g each for £60 at Harvey Nicks.
From a new collaboration between Miller Harris and McQueens Flowers, the Green Stem candle. "Green Stem captures the fragrance of where magic happens and designers with sap stained hands craft fronds and bend boughs into bouquets, discarded foliage exudes herby notes and aromatic lavender is strewn on benches, creating a green, powdery and peaceful scent."£65 at McQueens (where you'll also find the other 2 candles, Petal Storm and Water Wood).
Perhaps because I could use a nice latte at the moment: the Caffè In Piazza candle from Acqua di Parma. "Intense hints of coffee softened by sweet bouquets of fresh pastries bring a spirited Italian tradition of conviviality into your home. Bright cardamom notes recall the joyful and lively atmosphere of the piazza, enhanced by intense coffee scents. The sweetness of vanilla, evoking the aroma of freshly baked Italian pastries, finds its perfect match in a hazelnut cremino for a delicious olfactory treat." $69 at Saks Fifth Avenue.
I used to never burn candles during summertime in Seattle. My house was always wide open from May through September and the air from nearby Lake Washington and my garden smelled fresh and good. Over the last several years (and no doubt due to what The Guardian is now committed to calling ‘the climate crisis’), my home is often closed up for weeks at a time because of heat or dangerous smoke and particulate matter in the air from long-burning forest fires…or both. These days I need to use candles all year to keep the stale air at bay inside my home.
Otherland, one of the crop of new candle makers who don’t believe you need to spend over $100 to get a high-quality candle, has released its new spring/summer collection…