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The Best Candle Ever

I realize the title of this piece may sound like I'm exaggerating, but I promise I'm not.  I'd seen the Salty Caramel Scented Candle at Bath and Body Works a few times, but somehow passed it up.  Then this weekend I needed to buy something else to use a coupon, so I threw one in my bag and forgot about it until I got home.  I lit the candle for the first time on Saturday and it was like hearing angels sing.  (At least, I assume so.  I've never actually heard an angel sing, but I assume it's life changing).  It's described as "sweet cream and caramel sprinkled with glazed pecans" and if your mouth is watering at that, it should be.  The candle smells amazing.  Amazing!  It instantly filled my living room with the Salty Caramel fragrance and while normally I only let a candle burn for about four hours at a time, I left this one on all day just because I couldn't bear to blow it out.  I'm seriously obsessed and plan to go back and buy a few more of them as soon as I can run over to the mall again.  (And lots of other people feel the same way I do, if the reviews on Bath and Body Works' website are any indiction.  The largest size of the candle is actually out of stock at the moment, which I've never seen happen before).  If you like sweet or dessert-scented candles, get yourself to a Bath and Body Works ASAP and check this one out.  You'll thank me later.

Odin New York

I'm very candle obsessed lately (probably because I have a ton and if I have to cart them all when I move, I'm going to be hating my life).  I get bored with the same old scents though - I mean, I love Clean Cotton more than anything, but I burn it so often, even my neighbors are probably like, girl, switch it up a little!  So when I got the chance to try the new candles from Odin New York, I jumped at the chance.  

The four unisex scents are all really unique and interesting.  Here's what you'll find in the line:

• 01 Sunda - Creamy oriental notes of juniper berries and cedar leaves with spicy black pepper
• 02 Owari - Rare mandarins and freshly crushed grapefruit leaves mixed with vibrant cube pepper and Tonkin musk
• 03 Century - Silver birch, Cypress, and forest mint combined with liquid myrrh, vetiver, patchouli and moss
• 04 Petrana - Blooming Black Iris built on a foundation of wild orris root and green violet leaf absolute, with herbaceous coriander, spicy pink pepper, and deep purple cassis

Aren't those descriptions intriguing?  (And don't feel bad if you don't recognize some of the notes - I'd never even heard of about three of them!)  Out of the four scents, my favorite is definitely 02 Owari.  It's really fresh and awakening, a candle I'd burn to get myself energized when I'm trying to get some work done.  03 Century is really interesting too - it's sort of smoky and musky, without being too heavy.  It's kind of a nighttime candle perfect for a candlelit dinner (or, uhm, after dinner...)  01 Sunda and 04 Petrana are harder for me to describe (as you can probably tell from their notes), but I'd definitely burn both of them again as well.  They're all just really different from the candles I'm used to burning, which is a good thing for all of you who are in a candle rut like I was.  They would make great gifts too because the packaging is so sleek and modern - black glass with slate colored wax.  At $65, they're kind of pricy, but you do get 60 hours of burn time, which is a lot, so it sort of evens out.  Clean Cotton, you've been replaced (at least for the moment!)

You can find the candles at Odin New York and Pas de Deux in New York, as well as select stores in the US and abroad.

Note:  Samples of this product were sent to me by a PR representative working with Odin New York

Seriously Sexy Candle

I adore candles - seriously, my home is probably ten degrees warmer than most because of all the fire I have lit in each room.  That said, I thought I had tried every brand and had already settled on my go-to ones, until now.  I just had the honor of burning an Infusion Organique soy blend candle and it puts all others to shame.  I have been smelling the delightful Acai Rain for a few hours now and I am in deep, passionate, waxy love.  To start, the candle is gorgeous - square glass with elegant floral design hugging a few of the sides and it comes in an equally elegant white box which makes it look even more luxurious.  Then as soon as you light the candle, you wonder how you ever lived without it.  Acai Rain is a beautiful, fresh and fruity scent combining raspberry, current, white peach and vanilla.  I also smell a hint of bamboo which makes this a very unique, and intoxicating experience.  The candle burns extremely evenly which makes me happy, no soot because of the wax blend, and smells up my entire home after only burning for a few minutes.   Absolute candle bliss, my friends.  It's pricey at $38.00 but oh-so-worth the splurge.  With candles you get what you pay for and this is truly my new fave (and definitely a gift I will be giving on Mother's Day).  Infusion Organique has four unique scents, each burning 65 hours.  They also have a host of other goodies, which I need to check out because I can only imagine how much I will love them all.  Who knew a candle could excite me so much?!

Note:  A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with Infusion Organique 

Summer Berries

 

Oh my God, this candle is SO great, you guys.  I had to quickly run into Bath & Body Works tonight to get a thank you gift for someone and this candle practically threw itself into my bag.  (When buying a thank you gift, I try to stick to the "One for you, one for me" rule.  It makes the process way more fun).  There was a whole display of the new Summer Vanilla scents (Berry, Lemon and Coconut) and I loved them all.  I totally need to go back and buy some of the Shower Gels and Cooling Mists because they're buy three, get two free right now and that's a deal I just can't pass up.  I didn't have time to figure out exactly what I wanted this time, but there was no way I was leaving empty-handed, so I decided to get a candle.  I was really torn because I pretty much love all three scents equally, but since the store had only a few Berry candles left, I figured I should grab that one before someone else bought the last one.  I've been burning it all night and it is so, so pretty.  I can smell the berry, but I can also smell the sweetness of the vanilla, which makes it different from a lot of the fruit-scented candles I already own.  It's really light and perfect for the summer and the three-wick candles last a really long time.  They're $19.50, but right now, there's also a buy one, get one 50% off on candles, so you can get two for $30.  Time to stock up!

Buy Red

Diptyque and (RED) join forces to help provide life-saving medication for those living with HIV in Africa.

As the international symbol for hope, a candle’s light can now be a coveted item with a positive, humane, and impactful initiative.  In partnership with (RED), diptyque has created an exceptional limited-edition candle that helps those living with HIV in Africa obtain the medicine they need to stay alive.
 
Red like the African soil, the (diptyque) RED Special Edition candle combines several traditional elements of this ancient land.  Wax print – the colorful, graphic African fabric which exemplifies a unique expertise – is the most natural choice for this candle’s packaging.  Wax prints weave a link between tradition and modernity, and set the scene for this wonderful limited edition candle, perfectly dressing up the packaging. The glass container, however, dons a more sober look, sheathed in a matte crimson to celebrate the (RED) partnership.

Taking its commitment a step further, the candle’s soothing, spicy scents are derived from certified fair trade vanilla.  At the heart of this spicy aura, diptyque chooses to feature both Indian and Madagascar vanilla along with South African rooibos.  The Indian vanilla comes from Karnataka, Kerala and Tamidu through a fair trade alliance between Firmenich and the EARF (Eco Agri Research Foundation). This spice, coveted by all those who inhale it, is even more precious to those for whom it ensures hope, the promise of a future and the ability to meet the needs of their children.

The special edition diptyque (RED) candle will debut January 2010 and will retail for $68.00 at the diptyque boutiques in New York and San Francisco as well as retailers nationwide. (It can also be purchased online here).  Diptyque will contribute 10% for each candle sold to help The Global Fund provide life-saving medication to those living with HIV in Africa.

Wild Garden

I so want to try these new candles from Space NK.  The new collection of exclusive signature scents were inspired by the fragrant aromas of a wild garden.  Each one is hand poured and blended with essential oils and high quality wax, so I'm sure they'll smell as pretty as they look.  They're available in the following scents:

• Blue Hyacinth
• Citrus Mint
• Charcoal Rose
• Neroli Spice
• Tarragon Flower
• Tobacco Leaf
• Wild Iris
• Smoldering Embers

They're kind of expensive at $60, but the names are so exotic, they kind of make the money seem totally justifiable.  I think Citrus Mint would smell delicious in my kitchen or bedroom and I'm dying to burn Smoldering Embers in my living room while I'm curled up on the couch reading magazines.  (Yes, it's a very specific fantasy.  I don't know why).  You can find them at Space NK stores and spacenk.com.

Calorie Free Godiva

 

I love burning candles when I'm relaxing at home, but in recent months, I hadn't found any new scents that got me really excited.  (I can be kind of picky about the ones I like).  And then I got my hands on candles from the new Godiva Home Fragrance Collection and everything changed.  I'm obsessed with them now.  Obsessed.  The candles come in amazing scents like Raspberry Ganache, Black Almond Truffle, and Holiday Peppermint Bark and as amazing as that sounds, smelling them is actually more amazing.  You know how sometimes you buy a candle and even after you've been burning it for awhile, you can't smell anything?  That's the exact opposite of what happens with the Godiva candles.  From the second you open the box, the scent wafts out into the air with a mouth-watering chocolate smell.  The word "yummy" really is the only description that fits.  While it's burning, the candle scents the entire room, and even after you blow it out, you can still smell it lingering in the air for hours.  (Even after the one that I'm currently burning has been out for hours, I can still walk by and smell the chocolate scent.  It's that strong).  When I first saw them, I figured they were going to be super expensive, but they're really not at only $22.50 for a large-sized candle that comes packaged in the signature Godiva gold box.  (So pretty and perfect for gift giving!)  My current favorite is the Black Almond Truffle, which was inspired by Godiva's Roasted Almond Truffle.  The scent is roasted black almonds and  dark chocolate which is mixed with a touch of golden honey, black pepper and vetiver essences.  It's so, so good.  I've been making everyone who comes over smell it and they've all instantly become hooked as well.  There's only one problem - after burning one of these candles, it's impossible for me not to want to run out immediately and buy a box of some real Godiva, so it's very possible burning these candles is going to make me have to kick my gym time up a notch.  (Or, uhm, go at all...)  Totally worth it!

You can purchase the Godiva candles online at neimanmarcus.com.

Note: A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with Godiva.

Catch A Shore Breeze

I tend to like the same scents in candles that I always do in perfumes - fruity, spicy, or clean and refreshing.  I'm not a big fan of the floral candles, although oddly, I do like having actual real flowers in my apartment, so  figure that one out.  (I know it makes no sense).  Either way, I think my favorite candle of all time is from CLEAN, so when I saw the new Slatkin & Co. spring scents at Bath and Body Works, I got way excited because they're very similar.  The one I'm most in love with is Shore Breeze.  It manages to smell exactly like the air does when you take a walk on the beach - very clean and fresh, with a hint of salt.  It's the kind of candle I could burn day or night - it's both relaxing and energizing at the same time, exactly like a real walk on the beach.  (Although I sort of hate walks on the beach - I always manage to get sand everywhere or salt water in my eyes or something tragic.  Weird, I know).  And how adorable is the container that the 5.5 ounce size comes in?  It looks so cute in my living room, where I've been burning it for the past few days to try and forget that Los Angeles has been cold and rainy for what seems like forever.  Enough already!  And to make me even happier, Shore Breeze also comes in Scentportable, Home Fragrance Oil, Room Spray, and Wallflowers versions, so I can totally Shore up my entire place.  And I will.  I really, really will.   

You can smell Shore Breeze and the other new spring scents (I also really love Beachside) at a Bath and Body Works near you  To order online, go to bathandbodyworks.com.

A Candle For A Rainy Day

I love candles. On a cold, windy, rainy day, there's nothing better than cuddling up on the couch, watching a movie with all the lights off and a candle burning. And since it's been practically a monsoon outside here in L.A. for the past week, I've had a lot of time to do just that and test out the various candles I've had sitting in my closet for months. My new favorite? Bath and Body Works' Orange Ginger from their Aromatherapy line. The box says that it's energizing, which kind of insinuates that burning it would make me want to jump up, put on the "Rocky IV" soundtrack and run a few miles. It did not. (This might also have to do with the fact that even venturing outside to get the mail made me look like a drowned rat and I don't even like running when it's sunny out. Unless it's to catch the ice cream truck that used to come around in the summer time. I have been known to do a full on sprint to get my hands on a Toasted Almond). Instead, I found it a really pleasant scent to relax to, citrusy, but with a hint of spice as well. The scent was long-lasting and filled a few rooms, instead of just lingering around only the burning flame. The candles are also really reasonable - $10.50 for a 45 hour burn time, and you can usually get them even cheaper if the Aromatherapy line is on sale or you have a coupon. And you can get the scent in their Home Fragrance Oil as well, which is even more economical. I guess my mom was right. I really should clean out my closet more often!

Tree In A Box

Even though I love Christmas, I never get a tree for my apartment. I could pretend that it's because I'm against cutting down living things or that I'm rebelling against how expensive it's gotten to buy and decorate a tree, but really, it's because I'm lazy. It's a lot of damn work to make a pretty Christmas tree happen and as a rule, I'm against putting that much effort into something I'll have to throw away in a few weeks. Plus, real trees shed and I have nightmares about trying to vacuum piles of dried up needles. But of course, even though I'm too lazy to get a Christmas tree, I still want my apartment to smell like I have one. This is where candles come in. Usually it's the Gap Holiday one, but this season I've stumbled upon a new favorite - Slatkin & Co.'s Tree. It really does smell like you have a forest in the middle of your living room, and even when the candle hasn't been burning, I can still detect a faint scent of Christmas in the air. It's a pretty good deal too - it sells for $16.50, but the box says that it burns for 50 hours. I think mine is probably going to last closer to 40, but then again, it's not like I have a stopwatch out when I light it, so my math could be a little off. (I hate math. The only time I like doing it at all is when I'm trying to calculate how much a 20% off coupon is going to save me at the mall). I do wish they'd chosen a catchier name for the candle though. I mean, Tree definitely tells you what your nose is going to be dealing with, but it's just so... blah. I can come up with better ones just off the top of my head. What about Everlasting Evergreen? Forever Fir? Pine Power? Hey, this is fun! If you ever run out of candle namers Slatkin & Co., call me! You can pay me in boxes of Tree.