Our homes have become shrines to ourselves and scented candles adorn the altar. As the cost of living rises, they also offer an achievable form of indulgence. But still, why candles? asks SophieElmhirst
, go to the basement of Selfridges department store in central London. Among the glass shelves stacked with Fornasetti, Byredo and Cire Trudon, the air is sepulchral compared with the bustle elsewhere. It’s as though the mere presence of candles, even unlit, lends a sanctifying effect.
, hundreds of candles with names like “Romantic Dream” and “Sleep” are placed near rows of tiny golden Buddhas , as if to emphasise their inherent spirituality. In the late 1990s, Matthew Williamson designed a candle in a brightly coloured container. Williamson was at the peak of his acclaim; his day-glo debut collection had launched at London Fashion Week in 1997 and won him a devoted following. Williamson somehow encapsulated the optimism of the time. Britain was post-recession, shining with New Labour and reinventing itself as a fashionable country.
On a bright spring day, Amanda Morgan, Diptyque’s managing director in Britain, and Henri Fournier, the shop’s manager and brand’s “star”, met me among the glass-fronted cabinets of candles and the overpowering smell of sweet berries. “How many years has it been now, Henri?” asked Morgan. “Thirty years,” replied Fournier, modestly.
Today, the shop displays every possible way you can commodify scent: glass bottles, hand wash and lotion, hourglasses and electric plug-ins. Above all, there are endless candles, 49 different scents in all: Figuier, Patchouli, Tubéreuse, Ambre. Each gives off a strong, distinct aroma, some spiced, some fruity. There was a whiff of my long-dead grandmother’s house in one; a vague holiday feeling from another, pine cones on a path near the sea.
Diptyque still manufactures the first three candles ever made – Aubepine, Canelle and Thé . Contemporary Diptyque has sales targets – “of course, we’re a company” – but its brief to perfumers is a “page blanche”: there are no limits on ingredients as it concocts a new scent. Even more costly can be the time it takes to develop.
It’s quite clear what the message of a Diptyque candle is for Kudzi Chikumbu , probably the world’s top scented-candle, who works at TikTok. “This person spends money to make their home smell amazing,” he emailed me. “That’s aspirational.”
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
13 Cosy Cashmere Loungewear Sets You Won’t Want To Take OffLoungewear has long been a staple in the comfy dressing arena.
Read more »
Albanian migrants: Why are they coming to the UK and how many have arrived?Why are Albanian migrants coming to the UK and how many have arrived?
Read more »
Not enough is known about the science of pads and tamponsAn average woman uses around 15,000 menstrual products during her life. The onus is on scientists, regulators and public-health agencies to fill the gaps in knowledge about these products
Read more »
Councils to fund childcare as 'infrastructure': Why this is good news for YOUChildcare will now be funded as 'infrastructure': Why this is good news for working parents PregnantScrewed stellacreasy
Read more »
Why we shouldn’t feel guilty about outgrowing friendsWhile it can be uncomfortable to experience for both sides of the relationship, changing friendships are a significant part of growing.
Read more »