HEAVEN SCENT SUMMER : CANDLES
Candles may be heralded as an autumn/winter staple, vital to maintaining a festive atmosphere during the gloomier months of the year and lifting our [equally gloomy] moods with the help of subtle synaesthesia, but that is not to say that they're not equally summer appropriate.
From heady florals to seductive woody scents, today's lineup provides the perfect accompaniment to an al fresco dinner or sunset cocktails. So as dusk falls, strike a match, light up, and inhale - for an olfactory summer escape.
THE TIMELESS CLASSIC : DIPTYQUE Baies Candle
The perfect balance between floral and fruity, Baies combines the soft sweetness of both rose and blackcurrant for a sensuous chorus of summer florals. Heady and luxurious, perfect as a gift, but even better as a treat for yourself - this is a modern take on floral chic; ideal for a summer evening spent on the terrace or in the garden. Summer, embodied in one iconic glass.
THE SUNDAY ESSENTIAL : LINARI Malva Candle*
This elegant frosted glass bottle burns an inviting combination of green fig and bergamot, overlain with nutmeg and wild raspberry for a seductive and modern take on summer fragrance. Burn at home to call to mind significantly sunnier climes. You may live in a shoebox rental apartment smack in the middle of a concrete jungle, but light up this candle, and expect the softly diffused scent to whisk you away to your [imaginary] villa in the lowlands of Tuscany.
THE SCENT OF SPAIN : LA MONTANA First Light Candle*
Everyone knows the aura of a sun-soaked villa terrace in the Mediterranean. Think : mountains peaking against a clear blue sky, birdsong, a delicate breeze, and the distant chatter of a foreign tongue. In true Spanish form, home-grown brand La Montana have embodied both scent and visual in their signature fragrance, First Light - inspired by the first hours of a summer day. The recipe? Fennel, bergamot, and rosemary with a subtle warmth of mountain pepper.
THE POWER CANDLE : AROMATHERAPY ASSOCIATES Inner Strength Candle*
A distinct and uplifting blend of herbs and essential oils. Cardamon and frankincense form the topnotes, whilst sage and geranium add a slight hint of a garden fresh crispness. Designed by Aromatherapy Associates' founder to help her achieve calm and inner peace whilst undergoing stressful treatment for cancer, this candle creates an atmosphere before the match has even been struck. This is everything you could possible desire of a candle - steady burning, luxe packaging, a complex and original scent, and 10% of the proceeds are donated to the charity, Defence Against Cancer.
THE SUMMER BREEZE : MUJI Hinoki Wood Candle
It’s rare to find a candle that delivers quality and elegance without pulling too hard on the purse strings, but MUJI's entire scent range does just that. Meet the candle you'll want to buy in bulk [the signature scent with which to fuel your moonlight garden parties], or burn whilst lazing on a makeshift sunbed in your secret sunspot. A ripe, woody scent with hints of incense, spice, and citrus; this perfectly captures the lingering heat of a summer evening spent outdoors.
What are your favourite summer candles?
