u/Celestial-Year-1133

After doing some shopping at my local farmers market this weekend, I decided to beeline into ABC Home and ended up on a mini impromptu sniffing excursion, where I sampled a few new brands that I figured would be fun to share with the community!

Right at the front, they had a huge display for a brand I hadn’t heard of before - UK-based Perfumer’s Story. I am leery of flash-in-the-pan brands, but the nose behind this house, Azzi Glasser, seems to have some actual legitimacy and is associated with Agent Provocateur and Bella Freud. They had six candles out - Sacred Wood, Twisted Iris, Fig Ambrette, Black Moss, Rain on Earth, and Fever 54. All were quite interesting and felt layered, but also heavy. I liked Sacred Wood a lot but can’t fathom burning it in the current weather. Rain on Earth is an great petrichor, perhaps one of the better ones I’ve come across. I am not a petrichor person, but it still felt like a standout to me. I have no idea about burn quality, and the square vessel is giving me heartburn… Has anyone else heard of this house? I passed on buying for now, but it was fun to find something new :)

I then sampled AdV - ABC really beefed up their display, which was feeble at one point (John Derian Company is my usual go-to for AdV in NYC). I ended up snagging a bottle of their Commune de Paris eau de cologne. It’s so refreshing and bright - has a little barbershop, fugere action which aren’t my usual profiles but it’s so well done. I will be dousing myself in it all summer.

And then I came across another new discovery, Liberty candles. I know Liberty is a beloved luxury department store in London, and I’ve smelled a few of their in-house perfumes before, which ABC also carries, but I had never smelled their candles. I immediately loved Stately Bouquet. I have no idea why they named it this, as it’s not really a floral candle - it’s a juicy, happy, fruity candle with some musks. It made me happy as soon as I smelled it, and as someone who is not a major florals person, I was actually happy about the misleading title. Can’t wait to burn it.

Hope everyone is having a lovely Sunday - and if you’re on the East Coast, like I am, I hope you’re basking in all the “spring is finally here” vibes this weather is serving!

I don’t know who else in my life would appreciate it as much as this group so sharing here :)

Work has been beyond stressful recently and this week is already shaping up to be stacked - but delivery gods smiled on me and blessed me with a double delivery of Loewe’s Pistachio (I decided to go for a double wick), FE Golden Pollinator duo and the free Green Goddess (and it’s a bottle of their truffle olive oil hiding in the box - totally indulgent and unnecessary but I can’t wait to drizzle it on all the things).

I’m excited to relax and spent time with Pistachio; which on cold smells absolutely delightful and exactly what I was envisioning / hoping it would be. Crossing fingers that the double wick will help with the throw.

Moro Dabron Erbario: Bought this for the gorgeous vessel that I plan to use as a vase, but the scent itself is also just lovely. It smells just like a vegetable garden - green, herby, vegetal, earthy. I pick up tomato vines, mint, carrot stalks (imagine that green, leafy part) and blackcurrant leaves. It makes me want to put on a pair of fancy gloves and root around in my imaginary English garden. If you’re a fan of Loewe’s Tomato and their general approach - a realistic but sophisticated encapsulation of a particular scent - you will like Erbario. Cold throw was intense; on hot, it mellows out to a respectable, solidly medium throw. It fills the room nicely but won’t suffocate you. I do wish it were a tad stronger at its price point. Clean and even burn with no tunneling in sight, but the first burn needs to be a long one. Is it worth the $185 it retails for? I’d say it depends on how much you love the vessel.

FE Green Goddess: Another herby candle, but with more zing! Erbario gives more vegetal sophistication, while Green Goddess is punchier and more herbaceous, with mint at the forefront, followed by basil and pea shoots that give it a concentrated green quality without grassiness (a note that I actively dislike). There’s a hint of ginger too, to keep it spunky. It’s a terrific kitchen candle, my second favorite after La Droguerie. Strong throw, burns like a dream.

Malin + Goetz Bergamot: Can’t believe I’ve been sleeping on this gem. This has quickly become my personal favorite from Malin + Goetz. Bubbly, bright, juicy citrus with a bit of woodiness to give it body and enough sweetness to take the edge off. It just makes me happy whenever I light it. The throw is strong. It took a few burns to get to a proper full melt pool and the flame seemed a little small initially, but all’s well now.

Le Labo Verveine 32: One of my all-time favorites from Le Labo and perennial re-buy. The scent is built around verbena leaf. Compared to Malin + Goetz Bergamot, this is a sharper, greener, more concentrated take on citrus. It gives lemon and lime zest, crushed verbena leaves, a bit of astringency from eucalyptus, and then those unmistakable musky and woody undertones that make up Le Labo’s DNA. This is a very energizing scent that gives your home a burst of freshness that smells expensive without veering into “cleaning supplies” territory - as some lemon- and lime-leaning scents can sometimes do. Insane throw, but like many Le Labo candles, this one is prone to tunneling which is disappointing. Outside the tinfoil cone of shame, I found that LLs benefit from VERY long burn times - we’re talking 5+ hours.

Flamingo Estate is running a free candle with purchase special for Mother’s Day (they had the same offer last year with free Night Blooming Jasmine candle).

We have an unusually chilly and rainy weekend here in NYC and it was the nudge that I needed to finally light up Trudon’s Carmélite. The scent of mossy, damp monastery walls felt like a perfect accompaniment to the rain rattling against my roof.

I am just getting acquainted with Carmélite. I smelled many times in the boutique, and each time I did not particularly like it but was intrigued all the same. Being a bit of a Trudon collector, I ended up snagging it - I knew I would feel remorse if I didn’t and the entire limited edition collection that they had of Carmélite, Spella and my beloved Empire is just gorgeous. I have to say, on hot, the scent has mellowed out and it’s truly unique and transportive. I’m glad that I went for it, and I wish Trudon would bring back more of its prior, interesting scents that make a statement!

Whenever someone complains about not understanding why people bother with scented candles, I wish they could experience first hand just how evocative scents can be. Would love to hear about others’ atmospheric, moody scents that feel immersive and really set the mood 🥀