I sorta wish Kevin had not told me about Cire Trudon's latest, a collaboration with Balmain, but I suppose I would have found out about it eventually. "Building upon that longstanding relationship, the new Balmain x Trudon candle is the result of a unique partnership between the two Parisian houses. The container and perfume reflect the distinctive savoir-faire and style of both Balmain and Trudon. The striking container, inspired by the pattern of Balmain’s iconic marinière, relies on horizontal stripes and the house’s two signature colors: gold and black. The meticulous creation process relies on an initial hand application of gold leaf upon the clear glass, before it is lacquered in black - resulting in many fine cracks, ensuring that each candle is truly unique. The fragrance features leathery notes, Atlas cedarwood, gunpowder, cigar notes and a mysterious and distinguished black rose." $150 for the 270g, $650 for the massive 2.8 kg.
The (almost) daily lemming
Pumpkin spice season starts in earnest around early August, so we're already late. One of Voluspa's efforts (yes, there are more), the Mini Spiced Pumpkin Latte Candle Pairing Gift Set, with 72g votive candles in Whipped Coconut Crema, Kabocha Pumpkin Pulp, Cinnamon Spiced Brulée and Fluffy Vanilla Marshmallow, $38 at Sephora.
Lingers like the melancholy ramblings of an old inebriate
This sounds like an admirable scheme and the descriptions of the candles on the website are great: “The Local”, which “evokes the classic British boozer” and “lingers like the melancholy ramblings of an old inebriate”; “The Cinema” which boasts “salt popcorn”, “a fug of recirculated air” and “just the faintest whisper of third base in the back row”; and “The Festival” which features “sun-warmed cider”, “dew-damp sleeping bag” and “the merest shimmer of distant Portaloo”.
— David Mitchell of The Guardian takes a look at pandemic candle spending; above he is talking about a charity effort from the brand Earl of East, Scents of Normality. Read more in Why the scented candle really gets on my wick.
The (almost) daily lemming
Extremely high on my list of things I want but will probably never see and would not pay the price for anyway: Loewe Beetroot room spray, from their new home collection that I also never would have heard of if the Times hadn't covered it last week. Due to launch in September, €85 for 150 ml. "Home fragrance with beetroot essence. Olfactory creation that highlights nature’s most authentic and pure scents. Glass container with glazed ceramic stopper and cotton label, providing organic textures to the product." For €70 there is a wax candlestick (see above, it looks like a candle in a holder but the whole thing is wax and so you have to put it on a plate or whatnot, and they do of course sell a black glazed terracotta base just for this purpose, €20) and also for €70 there is a regular jar candle (that's the small one shown above; the large is not yet on their website), and a diffuser for €210. Everything also comes in Honeysuckle, Luscious Pea, Tomato Leaves, Ivy, Liquorice, Marihuana, Juniper Berry, Cypress Balls and Oregano. I'll take the lot.
A car fire started by a burning candle
Firefighters in Florida are reminding drivers not to burn candles while driving after putting out a car fire started by a burning candle.
— Read more, if you need to, in Scented candle burning inside car causes vehicle fire in Florida at KIRO7.