I adore scented candles – I have mentioned some of my favorites before, like L’Occitane’s Pumpkin Chestnut delight and Floris’ Lavender sweetness. However, I rarely splurge on scented candles myself. Why? Well... Alright, I’ll admit it: I find good candles too expensive. The cheaper alternatives do not smell nearly as good (as a matter of fact they most often smell terribly cheap) and their throw is practically non-existent. There is a single exception to this rule (you’d be shocked), but that is a story for another day! Instead, I prefer to burn scented oils. With a little research for the right quality and the perfect scent, I have everything I need in order to create a wonderful home ambience in the most economical way. One area I do not hesitate spending money on though, is buying presents for my friends, and for those that have a taste for it, a luxury candle is a great gift. And one, I have to say, I love receiving myself. Proof being the wonderful candle I received. Days later, I am still as overjoyed to have it as I was the moment I opened it. I pass in front of it on my way to a different room and somehow find myself lifting the lid to steal a whiff of the wonderful aroma. Like a child with a new toy it can’t resist, I find myself looking forward to lighting it when I come home, while I’d normally save the higher end candles for occasions when I am expecting friends. Yes, that’s how good it is.
I’ve gotten carried away, haven’t I? I haven’t even mentioned the name of this wonderful candle that has me waxing lyrically. Its rather poetic name is “Bois de Lune” and it is by Manuel Canovas. I’d never heard of Manuel Canovas before, but apparently it is a French fabrics and tapestries house, also offering a line of specially designed home fragrances. So far, the line is offering nine different candles and having smelled Bois de Lune I’ll admit I am most curious about the rest as well. Each time I smell Bois de Lune, I am slightly taken aback: I can’t help but wish to call this a dark, dark scent. The first impression is that of extremely fragrant, rich black tea and this is a note that remains predominant. It is however, tea engulfed in marvelous woody goodness: deep, dark, stately, like the paneling and furniture of a dimly lit lounge at a gentlemen’s club, where brandy and single malt whiskey is quietly sipped. The mental imagery is rounded off with the ever-present light smokiness of this candle’s scent, evocative of a yet unlit, expensive cigar. To me, this is a marvelously comforting smell, one that I am quickly becoming quite addicted to. A slightly scary thought, since this could turn out to be an expensive new habit. The packaging of the line is simple, understated luxury, adorned with the pattern of shagreen, in a different color for each scent. The candles themselves come in elegant frosted glass jars, and the large ones are capped with a golden lid that will help keep the dust away as well as extinguish the flame. The candles come in three sizes, Large (6.6 oz or 200 gr.), Medium (4.2 oz or 125 gr.) and Votive (1.2 oz or 35 gr.). The price for the large candle is 60$ (approximately 60 burning hours) and refills for the large size can also be purchased (5.8 oz for 45$).
Do let me know if you, like me, hesitate before buying an expensive candle, or whether you happily indulge and treat yourself and your home to luxury scented goodies! Also, have you smelled any of the other candles in the line? I am very curious, especially about Brune et Or.
Images: Author's Own
4 comments:
Well, I have to admit.. I am like you.. I could not spend a lot of money on a candle.. .. Yankee candles are expensive in my book.. Sorry, i am a candle ebeneezer scrooge..
I just discovered Burberry Touch.. Love it..Burberry's are keepers
Goodmorning Italian Girl! Haha, that makes us two Scroodges then :) I've actually been intrigued by this since I wrote this piece and I've been asking many of my friends what they do in turn. A great tip I got from a friend was that she puts her own expensive candles (the ones she receives as gifts, because she too finds it a shame to spend ridiculous amounts of money on candles) in her wardrobe. Because the high-end candles smell so strong even when you do not burn them, keeping them open in the wardrobe gives her a wonderful whiff of perfume every time she opens her wardrobe and even lightly permeates her clothes according to her. I am definitely going to try it myself with some of my yet unburnt candles!
PS: You are sooooo right, burberrys are total keepers :) I'm with you :)
PS2: Sorry for the delay in answering your question on Juliet has a Gun 'fumes, I've answered it now in the other post's comments.
Thank you for your opinion on Juliets perfume... I love Clinique's aromatique elixir.. im sure lady vengeance would suit me, But you would think Ricci would have been more original.. as for the fruity one, been there, done that.
Have a good weekend!!!
What a wonderful Christmas gift Divina! I am like you as well. I hesitate to spend a lot of money on candles for myself. However, I am happy to splurge as a gift for someone I love. This one sounds delightful and very similar to my recent review of Frapin 1270 - rich, warm and comforting. I have not heard of this line either so I can't comment on the others. Enjoy!
xo,
T
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