In the earlier 2000s, I used to make frequent purchases of scented candles (and room sprays and “wax tarts”) from any number of brands. Nowadays, I buy candles from an independent candle-maker in my own city and my home fragrance cravings are pretty much satisfied. One exception: my annual purchase of a holiday candle from Diptyque, an indulgence I never regret.

This year’s Holiday 2019 collection is titled Porte Bonheur (“good-luck charm”) and features illustrations by Olaf Hajek. I’ve chosen the “blue” option every year for nearly a decade, because it’s usually something deep and incense-y. This time, after pondering all three candles in the Holiday 2019 collection, I gravitated towards the “red” choice. Its official name is Flora Fortuna and Diptyque recommends burning it “for good luck.” Its glass canister is decorated with “symbols of good fortune from around the world such as the four-leaf clover and maneki-neko cat…while the red color brings us the energy needed to seize its luck…”

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