Scented Comfort
When one is predisposed to surround themselves with fragrances, it is inevitable that this love affair with scent will intrude into the home. While I have read that many scent purists, and especially perfumers, prefer to keep their environments free of any scented products, scent can add an additional layer of beauty and comfort to a home.
In this vein, I love to keep a few scented candles around my home. They can help create a delightful ambiance on a rainy afternoon indoors, or add a special touch after a dinner party, enticing guests to linger. Mind you, I am not speaking of the supermarket variety, although some of those do possess a nice fragrance that will do in a pinch. Better to invest in a few good candle products, which if cared for and used judiciously, will last several months.
Aside from the obvious choices of Guerlain and Diptyque, some of my favorites are those produced by the French company Carrière Frères Industrie. Carrière Frères was founded in 1884 by two entrepreneurial brothers who were passionate about wax-making and craftsmanship. Their passion led them to combine the best quality, pure vegetal wax and wicks for a candle that would burn longer and cleaner, without unwanted smoke. The paraffin-free wax formula blends more easily with fragrance and seems to release it more uniformly as well. The duo was awarded a gold medal in 1889 for their innovative church candles and night-lights, and has been the official supplier to the Basilique du Sacré Coeur ever since.
The Carrière Frères line carries numerous soliflores and other botanical scents in elegant white glass holders bearing an image of the scent and its scientific name. The candles give off a lovely odor even when left unlit and the holders can be “recycled” for other uses once the candle has been used. I love to use mine to hold cotton balls or makeup brushes. While there are too many wonderful scents to choose from, Iris Sibirica, Viola Odorata, Gardenia Tahitensis and of course Lavandula Angustifolia, are among my favorites. The candle box is also gorgeous – elegant and minimalist.
The website offers points of purchase (I purchased mine from one of the online retailers) and helpful tips for caring for your candle. A friend of mine offered the best tip for candle care, however, one which assists in prolonging the scent. Once you have finished your candle session, simply put a plate on the candle holder to snuff it out. This helps the wax dry evenly and allows the scent to last longer. I have been using this technique on all my scented candles and have been very pleased with the results. According to Carrière Frères, the candles have an average burn time of 45 to 50 hours.