I had a discussion recently with a girlfriend about what things we could do without in these recessionista times. The thing I really quite simply can’t do without is flowers, and scented candles. They may seem like an extravagance at the present…
I had a discussion recently with a girlfriend about what things we could do without in these recessionista times. We agreed, for a short time anyway, that we could remind ourselves happily what the inside of an op shop looked like. That we could toodle around on trademe for shoes. We could happily do without new furniture (I haven’t got any more room for ANYTHING else anyway) – and use our considerable design talents to move around the stuff we already have to make it feel new. The one thing we couldn’t do without is fresh flowers. Just something living and organic – this week I have huge herb plants in old kettles as my greenery – the flowers aren’t lasting well with all the extremes in weather at the moment.
The other thing I really quite simply can’t do without is scented candles. They may seem like an extravagance at the present moment, but for me, those familiar scents in my home, coupled with the warm glow candles throw during these vile winter months, they just cant be beaten. I spoke to someone recently who is so passionate about a particular candle that she gets her pilot Husband to pick them up for her from a store in LA when he is flying there! I would say that is dedication to the cause.
My daughter has just recently discovered the joys of making her own soy candles. Here is the Thread.co.nz link to make your own soy candles cheaply and easily. Please note, if you want to add a scent, you need to use a candy thermometer and heat on the stovetop rather than heat the wax in the microwave. She has been making them in old vintage sugar bowls and teacups; the lids seem to help keep the scent intact. So we are featuring 5 of our favourite candles – from the cheapest and most accessible, the divine and quirky, and the expensive.
We should of course start with the cheapest and most accessible. The Warehouse has a huge range of candles – though not a lot of them come up to my rather high standards! The multi coloured candles above are quite simply the cheapest, they have no scent, but by putting different colours in a candelabra, you are making a feature of it. I use it when we have people for dinner and I haven’t had time to grab any flowers. The candles are 99c each, so they’re a cheap and cheerful way to beat the winter gloom. The French-inspired, scented soy candles from The Warehouse pictured top left are a surprising treat to find. They come in a glass jar with a lid, so they are lovely to look at. They come in three scents, Forget-me-not & Lime, French Pear and Vanilla Bean. The scent is not strong, and our favourite is the Vanilla Bean. They come in three sizes – small ($9.99) med ($19.99) and large ($24.99). Available now nationwide.
Grand Illusions candles are made from 100% organic plant wax, they are fragranced with essential oils – and have a burning time of 60 hours. It is worth noting that it is best to always trim the wicks of your candles before you burn them, so the wick is about ½ centimetre. This stops the flame flaring up and burning too fast. It is worth the effort as it extends the burn time of your candle. These candles come in a range of fragrances, but our favourites are the Rose, Floret (forest – which is tones of amber and vanilla) and my favourite Cote (coast). They come in a gorgeous shaped glass, and I have just kept them all over the years, and my Daughter is refilling them with her own candles. They are available at Madder and Rouge, and also Macy Home here in Auckland for $39. To find more stockists, please call Nelson & Co on 09 3760582.
Kitsune candles are made in collaboration with the designer and perfumer, James Heeley. They literally are a breath of fresh air, with their slick styling and amazing scents. No French-inspired floral over tones here – the packaging is modern and quirky, and the two scents stocked by Children of Vision in K Rd in Auckland are out of this world. La Glace au Sesame Noir (so much more gorgeous in French don’t you think – is black sesame ice-cream) and la Glace au Pain D’Epices (gingerbread ice-cream) are both gorgeous. We photographed and tested the gingerbread – and it owes nothing to the actual smell of gingerbread other that the mix of sweet and dark notes – it is quite simply divine. Kitsune candles are $120, and are available from Children of Vision, shop 16, St Kevin’s Arcade, Karangahape Rd, Auckland – phone 093798930.
I have saved my favourite for last. The mix of the gothic and the gorgeous is just right for me. Curio Noir’s Tiffany Jeans hand pours each candle she makes – and the time and attention to each one is obvious. I adore the scents she uses – it is her own perfume called Vetyver Bouquet. It has notes of Cypress, Orange flower, Jasmine and Vetyver. We have photographed the Lilith Doll, named and fashioned after her daughter Lilith. It comes in a beautiful black box finished with cotton ribbon – and it is so pretty, you want to leave the box out with the candle. You could just simply leave the candle and let it gently perfume it’s surroundings, as it is a gorgeous object in it’s own right. Creepy and divine. She also makes The Doll, which is an unperfumed version of the Lilith Doll. The smallest object she makes is The Skull, in black, gold and white. It stands a tiny 6cm tall. The Lilith Doll is $160, and is available from Simon James @The Department Store. To find more stockists both here in New Zealand and also in Australia, go to www.curionoir.com She has a new candle coming later this year, which we hope to bring to you here on Thread.
By ANya Brighouse 15 July 2011
Leave a Reply