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Diptyque Fragrance Holiday Gift Guide Home / Interiors

Holiday Gift Guide: The Best Luxury Candles For the Home

December 1, 2016

I have a gift guide roundup including some of my favorite candles for the home this holiday. I love those warm and cozy feel good scents this time of year. Pine and spice scents are always fun to give the ultimate Christmas kind of vibe, but if you’re not into those kinds of scents there are still lots of other options that are great for holiday. If you don’t want your house to smell like a pine tree or pumpkin, but still want something for your home or for a gift, I’ve rounded up alternatives for you.

The cutest luxury set this year is the Jo Malone Christmas Miniature Candle Collection ($110 for 5 candles, 1.2 oz each). This is definitely quite the splurge but comes packaged in a beautiful box that looks like a small tent box. The throw on these is phenomenal even though they are small. It contains Sweet Almond and Macaroon, Green Tomato Leaf, Frosted Cherry and Clove, Pomegranate Noir, Peony and Blush Suede.

Byredo carries some of the most expensive candles on the luxury beauty market. I’ve splurged on a few here and there and love them, but the price is something that holds me back from trying them all (otherwise I would). If you’re shopping for someone who already has almost everything Byredo have some unique options that I think are great.

This year they’ve introduced three candles in a gorgeous color glass version at $85 each. Fleur Fantôme and Cotton Poplin are my favorites for their soft relaxing feel and I ordered those immediately to add some color and life to our home. Bibliothèque is also available in a green tinted version (this one smells like a sweeter version of Bal D’Afrique perfume). Another thing they’ve brought back this year are minis! (I reviewed three a year ago here.) The minis run at $35 each and right now they have them in Fleur Fantôme, Bohemia, Cotton Poplin, Tree House and Bibliothèque. For those new to the brand, you can find Byredo at Neiman Marcus, Barneys’s New York and Net-A-Porter.

The white frosted ones from last year are also still available, Figue Glacée ($95) is my favorite as I love fig scents and this one has red currant, whipped vanilla cream, violet, bamboo and sandalwood mixed in. The other two Prune Glacée and Cassis Glacée are both very sweet.

The most elegant holiday scent is Antica Farmacista Black Label Champagne Collection. I love this line so much I’ll have a dedicated post on my picks. I ordered the Full Size Candle and it’s such a beautiful sparkling sweet citrus. It has Satsuma citrus, floral notes of muguet to soften the citrus, passionfruit, sugared blackcurrant and apricot. The candle comes with a box of matches in the lid. Below is also shown the Travel Candle, Room Spray and one of the minis in the Diffuser Trio.

Lumira continues to be a favorite candle line. I’m beyond obsessed with their Tahitian Coconut candle. For holiday they still have the Holiday Trio Set which has their best sellers:

Tuscan Fig has notes of fig leaves, fig tree, blackcurrant, cedarwood, iris and musk
Cuban Tobacco is one my husband loves and has in his office, it has tangerine, cardamom, clove bud, mahogany, patchouli, musk, vanilla, tobacco and floral notes
Persian Rose is the best rose candle I’ve burned because it’s not powdery or dated, it has Top notes of sparkling mandarin, bergamot zest, sweet orange, Middle notes of budding Persian rose, geranium essence, Base notes of soft musk, patchouli, dark amber

Le Labo x Violet Grey have done a collaboration to launch a special exclusive of the Santal 26 Candle which comes in a beautiful black glass jar instead of the clear ones. The scent is still the same as the clear one, both are named Santal which has notes including amber, vanilla, cedar, musk and sandalwood. It has an earthy almost raw feel. Another great sandalwood home scent is the Molton Brown Coco and Sandalwood line. I own this scent in every option including the hand cream, shower gel, room spray and body lotion. The candle gives all kinds of cozy warm vibes. You can find the candle in a Single Wick ($49) version or Three Wick ($74) version.

Diptyque is always fun during the holiday. I think their pine scent is the best one that comes out each year. This year’s special edition candles come in a Holiday Candle Trio ($100) with minis that has Sparkling Incense, Delicious Spices and Festive Fir Tree. My favorite is the blue one Sparking Incense which has cloves, vanilla and incense. Quite a few of you asked for other recommendations as some mentioned you were disappointed in this year’s holiday options. Noisetier ($32 to $62) is hazelnut which is a warm and sweet scent but it’s not overly sweet. It has a mix of fruity and woody in it as well making it a delicious option. Vanille ($32 to $62) is another option, it’s a different kind of smoky vanilla. I didn’t really love it at first, it’s one that took me a while to get used to, but it’s a cozy option. To date the best vanilla scent is Henri Bendel’s Vanilla Bean – it’s not too sweet which is my biggest issue with most vanilla based candles.

One last roundup: Sheepskin Rug, Chenille Throw, Pillows found at Pottery Barn

Hope you enjoyed this roundup of some of my favorites! If I had to pick just three to burn the rest of the month, my top picks would be Antica Farmacista Champagne Black Label, Molton Brown Coco and Sandalwood and Diptyque Noisetier.

Do you have any favorite holiday scents for the home? Let me know in the comments!

Press samples included from Lumira, Molton Brown and Antica Farmacista.

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Diptyque Fragrance Home / Interiors

Diptyque Coriandre Candle

August 19, 2016

Diptyque Coriandre ($62 for 6.5 oz) is one of those candles I’ve had for a while but never got around to reviewing. For the home I do tend to give Baies and Figuier the most love but there are a lot of other scents that are really good that are often under the radar. Coriandre (or coriander) is one of those I would never think to burn in the home because it smells exactly like the herb. It’s described as having a slightly peppery green zest and is really unique. It smells fresh and green.

This one popped up on my radar while I was at a boutique one time. One of the associates went through half a dozen candles after I asked her what her favorites were. She pulled this one and said, “this is the best one for the kitchen to get rid of food smells” and it instantly piqued my interest. I did not buy it during that particular visit as many times I’ll think about a scent before buying. This one I just couldn’t get out of my mind and everytime we had food smells in our home from the kitchen after cooking I kept thinking about this. It wasn’t until about six months later that I was able to go back to the store to buy it and was really happy I did.

Burning it at home I found that it did help a lot in the kitchen. In attempts to waste less food (we find it challenging to buy just the right amount of produce at the grocery store and use it before it goes bad), experiment with new recipes and eat healthier, we’ve been experimenting with a few recipe delivery services. Some of them call for garlic and shallots which are nice to add for flavor but often fill the entire house with the scent for hours. I can say that burning the Diptyque Coriandre does help diffuse the food and cooking scents. It won’t make them disappear completely but I was really impressed with how it did somehow counteract food smells better than other candles. The effect is similar to that of Febreze which we used to use a lot because of our dogs, but eventually found we needed something stronger. The scent of a candle is longer lasting when you burn it and the scent fills the room better.

Other times I have burned it by my desk or in the evenings. It’s got a green feel that I find relaxing but refreshing at the same time. By the time of this post I’ve already burned it to the end. It’s one I will definitely repurchase in the near future. I think it’s one you should check out if you have a Diptyque store or counter near you. It’s not a boutique exclusive so you should be able to find it easily. Right now it only comes in the standard size. I think it’s well worth the splurge. I find it one of those scents you can burn year-round. If you’ve tried this let me know what you thought!

You can find Diptyque Coriander at Diptyque, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue and Barneys New York.

Have you tried Coriandre? If not what’s your favorite Diptyque scent? Any favs that you think are really unique or under-rated?

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Diptyque Fragrance Home / Interiors Lifestyle

Scented Luxuries for the Home

July 28, 2016

I love little home accents to add a bit of luxury whether it’s something as simple as a nice hand wash or a beautiful candle. Little details can add a bit of life to the home or give it a more personal touch. As many of you know, I’m beyond obsessed with Diptyque (my favorites in this round up here). There’s nothing quite like a good scented candle to set the mood and since Diptyque has a wide range of options, there is something for everyone. They are quite the splurge but worth every penny.

I’ve rounded up a few more home fragrance options that I love including items that aren’t candles. All of these can double as great hostess gifts – or really gifts for any occasion. I always have extra Diptyque candles stocked up for those moments I need a last minute gift, or when my husband needs a gift. Of course as one of my friends and I discussed, there are some people who won’t appreciate the special nature of a Diptyque candle in which case we both agree great alternatives are hand creams.

Up first is a line that I just discovered called Antica Farmacista. I’ve seen it at Nordstrom and other retailers and after trying a few items I can’t believe it took me this long to try it out. They’ve been kind enough to offer Beauty Look Book readers a mini body butter with any order, simply use code ANTICABLB at checkout.

I’ve tested out three products so far and a few of you have e-mailed me a few additional recommendations after seeing it featured on my social last week. Their Platinum Round Candles come in a 9 oz size with 60 hours of burn time. They’re cased in a glass jar with a platinum leaf pattern. I’ve been burning Cucumber and Lotus Flower and scent fills the whole room even without burning. The throw is very good once burned and this is such a calming scent. It has a mix of Crenshaw melon, green apple, olive, coriander, heliotrope, rose and jasmine with cucumber. For something that has a lot of notes it smells very streamlined and clean. It is a green scent but a cucumber green versus a leafy green. I highly recommend it, especially with the hot summer heat – it gives the home a cooled effect.

The Reed Diffusers are beautiful. I’ve been using Aqua which is another fresh and clean scent. As with most diffusers the effect is softer than burning a candle or using a room spray but the scent is definitely noticeable. It’s more prominent in smaller rooms like a bathroom, but I’ve placed this in our living room and it gives the entire room a soft clean scent. It’s a huge plus for us since we have 3 furry critters at home (thank God for roombas). We bathe them frequently but and added help with scents is a life saver.

Last but not least are the Body Butters which are ultra luxurious. I normally prefer unscented body products or dry oils (the L’Occitane Extra Gentle Shea Butter is my go-to) but the Bergamot and Ocean Aria is one of the most incredible to die for clean scents I’ve ever tried. It leaves the body feeling silky smooth – no greasy residue left behind. I found it moisturized the body well and didn’t irritate my super sensitive skin (I blow up in bumps if I use Kiehl’s lotions, although I can use their shower gels just fine). Unlike other body butters, the scent lasted all day but was soft enough that it didn’t give me a migraine. I was sent a couple minis, Orange Blossom, Lilac and Jasmine is a sweet orange blossom kind of scent. Prosecco is a citrus floral with black currant, apricot and passionfruit – it smells like a spa.

Books: Harper’s Bazaar Greatest Hits and Tom Ford

Next up includes the cutest travel sized set I think I’ve ever seen. I had to replenish on some shower gels from Molton Brown last month and browsed the site for a few things to add on to my order. I came across the Best Sellers Travel Hand Wash Set and immediately ordered. I literally squealed when they arrived in the mail because I’m a sucker for minis and these each come with a pump. They’re bigger than the tiny baby shower gels which makes them a good trial size but more than a 3x use kind of product. They clean the hands nicely without drying them out and there’s no film leftover after rinsing. My favorite is Pomegranate and Ginger.

These are 100 ml each compared to the full sized Hand Washes that are 300 ml each. Shown hand held also to show scale. I can’t get over how cute these are! They are a little spendy if you break down the set price of $45, it comes out to a little over $11 per mini bottle. There are a few good promos offers online right now though. You can get a free 3.3 fl oz body wash when you spend $70 with code 70WASH at checkout (you get a choice from 15 options) and if you spend $150 you get a 4-piece Travel Set + Luxury Luggage Tag with code GETAWAY150.

Acrylic Tray by West Elm, on the nails Marc Jacobs Resurrection

Other favorite home luxuries include the Lumira Darsana Candle (review here). For those new to Lumira, they are an Australia-based candle company and their scents are incredible. My husband has the Cuban Tobacco in his office. My personal favorite is Tahitian Coconut. Darsana is part of their limited-edition Collezione Bianca launch and I love the clean white packaging.

Diptyque Baies and Figuier are my top two favorites from the line. They have a special limited-edition box in the mini size as part of their summer voyages collection. I splurged on the Large Scented Candle in Figuier once – it cost me an arm and a leg, but my husband wanted one for our home so I didn’t resist. It lasted us for months because I burned a little at a time. We’ve since recycled it and I use it for large flowers or to chill champagne. If you shop at Club Monaco stores they often burn the large Baies candles there and it always smells great in the stores.

Last but not least are Le Labo x The Laundress Detergent. These are extremely pricey so I use them sparingly but they are worth every penny. I can’t decide which one I prefer, Santal has that amazing musky sandalwood and cedar mix which I love. Rose on the other hand smells incredible for sheets and it’s not too girly. On the last special gifting occasion we had my husband asked me what I wanted for my birthday, I asked for a Le Labo Detergent lol! He got me something else instead, he said, “I am not getting you laundry detergent for your birthday – even if it’s fancy.”

That wraps up my roundup of scented luxuries for the home. As always I’d love to hear about your favorites! I think the Antica Farmacista Reed Diffusers are nice alternatives to candles – especially since you don’t have to worry about flames or smoke.

What ways do you add little touches to your home to give it an extra special touch? It doesn’t have be something fragranced! I love adding little decorative objects but it usually takes me ages to find ones that I like. Flowers or candles are the easiest for me because they are so simple. I’d love to hear ideas from you!

Press samples include items from Lumira and Antica Farmacista. All others purchased by me.

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Diptyque Fragrance Home / Interiors

The Beauty Look Book Diptyque Favorites

April 18, 2016

I’ve been a long-time Diptyque lover and many of you have seen that their candles and fragrances are a huge part of my everyday life. This post has been highly requested as many of you ask me for recommendations on a regular basis. I think fragrance shopping can be overwhelming if you’re new to the line or don’t have in person access to smell their products. When I first discovered Diptyque it was hard to find – only a few stores carried it and they were at least a 2 hour drive away from where I lived. Sometimes it took me several trips that happened over a few months before I could decide to splurge on one. You know the drill – sometimes you have to smell something and think about it before deciding whether or not to buy a scent whether it’s perfume or for the home. In the past 5 years they’ve expanded their offerings to more retailers which I’m thrilled about and have also opened up quite a few new free standing boutiques. I thought it was time I did a roundup of my favorites and a mini guide on the brand in case you’re new to the line and want some ideas of where to start exploring.

For me fragrance is seasonal and home scents are no exception. I’ve tried to include non-seasonal launches that will work for right now (spring to summer). Diptyque occasionally launches limited-edition seasonal options typically in the spring with a rose-theme (the latest one was Rosaviola) and also options during the holiday.

In terms of home fragrance brands in general, my favorite lines of the moment include Diptyque, Henri Bendel and Byredo. I do enjoy items from Malin + Goetz, Cire Trudon, Le Labo and Jo Malone as well – but my most-burned candles are hands down from Diptyque. Fragrance preference is so personal and for me Diptyque remains at the top of my list for adding a special touch to the home. I find the scents to be beautiful and love how well designed the packaging is. I love the way they burn and how the scents can lift one’s mood. I truly think they are worth the splurge.

Standard Candles and Size Options

Up first is a breakdown of the standard scent options and sizes. Shown below from left to right are the standard options you can buy individually.

Colored Glass Candles $90 for 10.2 oz

Estimated Burn Time 90 hours

Available in Baies, Figuier,
Tubereuse, Ambre, Feu de Bois

Standard Glass Jars $62 for 6.5 oz

Estimated Burn Time 60 hours

Available in the widest range of scents in the line

Large Scented Outdoor Candles $290 for 51.2 oz

(shown repurposed as a flower pot)

Estimated Burn Time 190 hours

Available in Baies, Figuier,
Tubereuse, Feu de Bois

Mini $32 for 3.2 oz

Estimated Burn Time 20 hours

Available in a smaller selection of 15 scents

Standard scents are split into categories like Fruity, Woody, Spicy, Herbal, and Floral. Most of the scents can be easily found at a wide range of retailers. You can also find the Collection 34 options at most retailers too. These come in a slightly different jar that is a matte porcelain jar currently available in 3 options (all shown in this post here, also priced slightly higher than the standard options).

For the standard options my top four picks include:

La Prouveresse (from Collection 34) – pulls on the masculine side with notes of fig, cypress and cedarwood with an earthy and raw feel
Feuille de Lavande – strong lavender with an earthy feel
Baies (black colored version c/o) – mix of blackcurrant and rose
Figuier – the best warm fig I’ve ever tried

Boutique Exclusives are scents that are exclusive to Diptyque stores and their website. In my experience their website frequently goes out of stock on a number of these options but they do restock frequently. Stores tend to have more stock compared to their website and although I find ordering online is what I prefer, their boutique have excellent customer service. My top picks on the boutique exclusives include:

Cuir – leather and birch bark with a very clean feel
Aubepine – hawthorn, powdery floral that has an almond feel
Tilleul – sweet linden scent with a hint of lime, floral fresh and green
Tomas Maier Palm Beach – mix of citrus and floral, with noticeable hints of jasmine, iris and sea salt with a green touch

Also shown below is a pair of the Wick Trimmers which I’ve found invaluable in trimming and catching burnt wicks. They can be found at all Diptyque retailers.

Photophores are decorative accessories and come in several options. For the most part these are exclusive to the boutiques. Here’s a quick snapshot I took of the glass options lined up in Printemps when I visited Paris last year. They are on the pricey side but they make beautiful decorative accents for the home. In recent holiday seasons they’ve started offering the Large Photophore + Baies or Large Photophore + Feu de Bois as a set (one with straight lines) at multiple retailers.

If you’re curious on which ones I own, I have the Large Full Twist (shown here), Small Full Twist (shown here) and Oiseaux Photophore (shown here).

Perfumes from the line are tricky for me. I adore the way many of them smell but there’s something with my body chemistry that doesn’t work the best with Diptyque perfumes. Others work well as a home fragrance like fig or vanilla but aren’t scents I feel comfortable wearing. Three that I really love:

L’Ombre Dans L’Eau is the Baies equivalent in perfume form. It’s a heavier blackcurrant kind of scent that I think is perfect for special occasions. For me it’s not one I can wear everyday although my husband really likes it on me. (I have this one in a couple of the mini vials.)
Eau de Sens (c/o) is the newest fragrance from Diptyque. It’s the best orange blossom I’ve found that works with my chemistry. Most turn too sweet or have a bitter dry down, this is just perfect as an in between kind of scent. It has orange blossom, bitter orange, juniper berries, angelica and patchouli.
Florabellio (c/o) was last spring’s launch and to this day it’s one of the most unique scents I own. It’s description makes me think it would be the last scent I would ever wear as it has a mix of apple blossoms, apricot, fennel, sea salt, coffee and toasted sesame. It’s sweet and summery.

Room Sprays – I just did a post on the two new ones Gingembre and Fleur D’Oranger (c/o) here so I won’t repeat the review. Figuier and Baies reviewed here. I think they are all really good so I can’t pick a favorite but I would say right now it’s a tie between Baies and Gingembre. Thoughts on the difference between the candles and room sprays in both review posts linked above. (Note the lavender one isn’t available in the US.)

Frequently asked questions:

Where is the best place to buy Diptyque?

You can find these at a wide range of retailers. My preference is to shop in the free-standing stores/boutiques because they have the best customer service in my experience and also have the widest selection. Since I don’t have one near me though I also order online from Nordstrom and Space NK.

Do these ever go on sale?

I’ve never seen them go on sale, although they do offer occasional gift with purchase minis, these are unfortunately hard to find. Check Nordstrom during their Double or Triple Points Events, Neiman Marcus during their Incircle or Beauty Weeks, individual free standing stores often have promotions too.

I’m going to be buying my first Diptyque candle? Which one should I start with?

Oooh, tough one! I would say that it really depends on what kinds of scents you like but the three I’ve gifted the most frequently include Baies, Figuier and Roses – I don’t think you could go wrong with any of these. You might want to consider the Mini Candle Trio to start. Some retailers still have the 10 Piece Holiday Candle set from the holiday season too.

How long does a candle last?

For me a standard candle can lasts months – I don’t know why but it takes me forever to finish burning a candle! Notes on burn time near the top of the post next to each sizing. I haven’t actually timed the burn time from start to finish though.

Are there any tips on how to care for candles?

Yes, lots of tips in my Candle Care Tips post – be sure to trim the wicks after each burn, also note the timing of the first burn is important to make sure you avoid tunneling.

The sides of my candle start burning and turn black with the residual burn, is this normal?

Sometimes wicks can migrate so you need to push them back to the center if they start to move. Be sure you trim the wicks before you burn – having long wicks can make them smoke and burn the sides.

Is the wick trimmer worth the price?

Yes I do think it is. You can use regular scissors or nail clippers or anything sharp to cut the wick too – but it is nice to have a dedicated tool so the wick doesn’t smudge other things you have. The beveled tip also makes it nice to catch the trimmed portion.

Is there a difference between shopping at a retailer like Nordstrom or Space NK vs shopping at the individual stores?

Yes – individual stores have exclusives, offer beautiful gift wrapping and often have promotions that larger retailers don’t. In my experience the staff at Diptyque stores are very knowledgeable, friendly and I’ve never felt pressure to buy. I’ve done a few stories on boutiques including South Coast Plaza (Costa Mesa), Maiden Lane (San Francisco), Larchmont (Los Angeles), 34 Boulevard Saint Germain (Paris).

What about their body products? Any thoughts on those?

I really love their Revitalizing Shower Gel for Hair and Body (reviewed here) but it’s so pricey I haven’t been able to bring myself to keep replenishing.

Best way to clean out residual wax once the burn is finished?

There are a number of different ways to remove remaining wax. I have a tutorial in my Diptyque Candle Jars Recycled post. My favorite way is to use warm water and dish soap in repeated steps to soften the wax and help clean the edges. Although others recommend freezing or boiling, I wouldn’t recommend those methods which I find can make the glass prone to cracking or can damage the sticker labels.

What do you do with all the empties?

I recycle or repurpose most of them! You can use them to store pens, makeup brushes, beauty minis, roller-ball perfumes, q-tips, etc.

I hope you found this round up guide on Diptyque helpful! I’ve been a fan for years and still haven’t tried every scent they have. For me everytime I visit a boutique I learn something new. I’ve tried a lot more than I’ve featured in the recommendations above but as a starting point I wanted to share the ones that were my absolute favorites. I get asked on a weekly basis what my top picks are and I think there is so much to explore and preferences depend on the season, but if I were to narrow down my top five favorites right now, they would include Baies, Figuier, Cuir, Gingembre Room Spray and Tomas Maier Palm Beach.

You can find Diptyque at a wide range of retailers these days. I’m always thrilled when I find they’ve expanded their distribution because it makes it easier for me to find. Available at Nordstrom, Space NK (special TBLB promo code valid through May 1st), Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Barneys New York, Net-A-Porter and Diptyque.

Some items featured include press samples indicated with “c/o.”

Most items featured purchased by me.

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Diptyque Fragrance Home / Interiors

Diptyque x Olympia Le-Tan Rosaviola Candle

February 2, 2016

This spring Diptyque and French fashion designed Olympia Le-Tan have partnered to launch a special limited-edition candle for Valentine’s Day called Rosaviola ($35-$67). Each spring I look forward to the new rose-themed candles for the fun packaging designs and this year’s is the best one yet. Everything about this launch is beautiful, feminine and romantic from the pink boxes, pink glass jar, canvas print sticker label, fun illustrations to the Diptyque emojis. There are the cutest little match cases that have a magnetic enclosure – inside the matches are covered with the Diptyque x Olympia Le-Tan prints. I found mine at the boutique at South Coast Plaza, check your local boutique to see if they still have any left.

There are several items in the Valentine’s Day collection, several of the items have already sold out at a few places. I had to search quite a few retailers to find the mini candle – I think this is the first year they have offered the limited-edition rose as a small version.

Rosaviola Candle ($67 for 6.5 oz/190 g)
Rosaviola Candle Mini ($35 for 2.4 oz/70 g – still available online at Space NK)
Rosaviola Scented Oval ($50)
Rosaviola Solid Perfume ($50 – seems to be sold out everywhere online)

In addition, there are some Eau Rose items that have been repromoted but come with the Olympia Le-Tan packaging. I picked up multiples of the candles in both sizes. It smells of sweet roses and violets with really good throw. It’s a girly scent that I’ve been absolutely smitten with. It’s not too girly that it bothers my husband, but I don’t think he would choose to burn it in his office (he likes Mousses and Cuir).

The packaging this year is a frosted baby pink glass jar with an embroidered canvas label that has the letters of Rosaviola embroidered in shades of pink, red and purple. There’s also a little canvas lip-shaped print on the candle itself. The canvas appears to be solid and the adhesive is pretty strong. That being said, if you recycle the candles and rinse the remnants of wax out with warm water and soap, you will need to be careful not to get the canvas wet to keep it pristine.

A look at the box – I die for the prints inside!

Inside the boutiques the Olympia Le-Tan prints covered the windows with the cutest stickers:

A look at the regular standard size versus the mini. The mini ones have sold out everywhere I looked in store, but you might be able to track one down. It appears to have sold out online everywhere except Space NK. I would say hands down if you’re debating which size to purchase, get the standard regular size. The mini is cute and nice to have, but in this case I think you will fall in love with the scent and the larger size will last longer (burn time is listed as approximately 60 hours while the small one is 20 hours, I haven’t actually timed the burn time on any candle though).

A look at the past few years of spring launches from Diptyque, I’m still crying over the fact that I missed out on Rose Duet years ago. Rosamundi was launched a few times, shown below is the 2014 launch. Last year’s version for 2015 was Rosafolia. This year the spring 2016 version is Rosaviola.

Bottom line, the collection is well worth a look. I can’t get over how incredibly cute the packaging is. I wish Diptyque sold the matches as I would haven’t hesitated to purchase them to give out as gifts for my girl friends this Valentine’s Day.

It’s nothing but pure love for this one. I know Diptyque candles come with a hefty price tag, but in my experience they are worth every penny. This one is an absolute must whether it’s to gift to a loved one or to treat yourself. You can recycle the jars after they finish burning for a wide variety of uses (brush holders, pen holders, flower vases etc.).

Bottom line love and I don’t think you should miss this one.

You can find the Diptyque Rosaviola candle at all Diptyque retailers now. It is limited-edition so I suggest you order sooner than later. The limited-edition ones always sell out each year. You can find it online at Diptyque, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Barneys New York, Net-A-Porter, Space NK, Selfridges and Harrods.

Have you checked out the new candle from Diptyque yet? If not, what’s your favorite one?

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Fragrance Home / Interiors

Atelier Lumira Collezione Bianca

January 24, 2016

I discovered Lumira candles a year and a half ago and fell in love instantly. The line is relatively new and founded by Almira Armstrong in 2013. Lumira candles are handcrafted and contain the purest, all-natural soy
wax available. If you’ve burned one you know how luxurious and exquisite they are. The traditional full size candles come in a hefty black glass jar (also available in travel size, introductory review here). She recently launched a new collection of white glass candles in her Collezione Bianca and they are incredibly chic yet simple. I’ve been burning these for almost over a month now testing them to evaluate their scent, throw and burn. Her line is based in Australia, but you can find them online at a variety of locations worldwide. Details where to find them on her website.

There are three candles in the Collezion Bianca. They retail for $75 AUD each which converts to a little over $50 USD.

Above: on the nails Formula X Color Curators in A Girl’s Best Friend

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La Primavera is something that I feel epitomizes spring. It’s a white floral with strong notes of rose and jasmine. The mix of lemon and patchouli give this one a more rounded feeling and tones down the floral notes so it’s not like a powdery floral. There is a noticeable powdery feel to this but it burns clean and bright. Throw is very good and the scent will fill the entire room in about 20 minutes time.

“Channeling springtime in San Remo, La Primavera boasts a gorgeous
bouquet of jasmine, rose leaf, lily and patchouli supported by a powdery
cashmere musk, creating a romantic tribute to Italy’s ‘City of Flowers’
and an alluring fragrance for all occasions.”

Notes
Top: citrus, lemon, rose leaf
Mid: floral, jasmine, lily
Base: patchouli, cashmere musk, vetiver, moss

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Sirocco is my absolute favorite of the three. The closest thing I can think of is Byredo Gypsy Water Eau de Parfum which is something I adore but have to wear with a super light hand (it’s one that can induce a severe migrane for me if I spray too much, although I can wear the Body Cream just fine without issue). Lumira Sirocco reminds me of a softer less sharp version of Byredo Gypsy water. It has the most incredible mix of citrus, pine, vanille, sandalwood and cedar. I rarely find candles where I love the scent so much that I would consider wearing it as a perfume, but if Lumira were to launch this in body products I would probably want to bathe myself in it daily.

“Named in honour of the great North African wind that extends across the
Mediterranean Sea and into Southern Europe, Sirocco boasts top notes of
tangerine and cumin, anchored by Moroccan cedar, vanille and sandalwood
to create a sultry, tempting scent reminiscent of Tangier’s bustling
souks laden with leatherware, spices, and sweet delights.”

Notes
Top: citrus, tangerine
Mid: herbaceous, pine, cumin
Base: Moroccan cedar, American cedar, vanille, sandalwood, moss

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Darsana is another one I’ve fallen in love with. It comes in close second to Sirroco. It’s difficult to describe but it has a sweet mix of amber and jasmine. I find amber home scents sometimes too spicy or earthy, but Darsana has a good mix of musk in it to round it out and make it have a slightly sweet feel. This is one of the most unique home fragrances I’ve smelled before – and it’s unique in a good way. There is a powdery floral undertone to counter the spice of the amber. Vetiver gives it a calming well rounded kind of feel that is very soothing.

“An ode to the Hindu temples of India and the divine visions they
inspire, Darsana marries precious ancient ingredients of amber,
frankincense and jasmine absolute to form a unique blend that is both
seductive and mysterious, transforming any space into a place of ritual
and spiritual transcendence.”

Notes
Top: aromatic cyclamen
Mid: powdery, floral, Indian jasmine absolute, frankincense
Base: amber, labdanum, vetiver, musk

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I’m head over heels in love with Sirocco as my favorite of the three with Darsana in close second. Lumira is a small but well curated line and I love the attention to detail she has with her candles and Paradisium fragrance line. Little things like the packaging (they come cased in beautiful boxes that I haven’t shown but you can see on her website www.atelierlumira.com). The design of the candle jars themselves are very simple and streamlined but there is beauty in simplicity and I love the clean look and feel of the jars. They make lovely decorative accents and I really love burning these at home. If you’re on Instagram – check out her page @atelierlumira for some of the prettiest home decor and workspace decor inspiration. She features a mix of her own styling along with some regrams from other super creative bloggers.

Bottom line, I love all three and I hope all of them are permanent. If I were to recommend one I think would be most universally appealing, I would say Sirocco is my top pick. Darsana is more unique and comes in close second though. These retail for $75 AUD each and have 350g/12.3oz | 70hr burn time. Prices may vary depending on the stockists that carry the line in your country due to conversion rates. You can find these online at Atelier Lumira and full stock listing here.

Many thanks to Lumira for sending these for review consideration.

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Diptyque Fragrance Gift Guide Home / Interiors

Diptyque Advent Calendar – Holiday 2015

December 8, 2015

Beauty Advent Calendars have been around for years in Europe, the ones launched in the UK have been on my radar for many holidays and much to my dismay the good ones have never been available in the US. This year, Diptyque launched an Advent Calendar which sold out at lightening speed. By the time I called my local store they had sold through all the ones they received, but they put my name on a waitlist. I was thrilled to find they were able to find one for me and will be doing a reveal of the contents each week.

The Diptyque Advent Calendar this year is priced at a jaw-dropping $390, but the set is quite impressive. It contains a mix of 25 mini-sized Diptyque items including candles, fragrance and body products. A huge part of me cannot believe that I splurged so much on a single beauty set, but another part is giddy with excitement. The Advent Calendar comes in a beautiful large box and black bow. It’s taken a lot of self control for me to not open all the little doors at once time. They did list all the contents online, it contains:

15 (1.2 oz) mini candles in Ambre, Feu de Bois, Santal, Genevrier, Opoponax, Vanille, Cypres, Noiseter, 34, Oud, Geranium Rosa, Pomander, Figuier, Rose, Benjoin
1 (2.4 oz) small candle in Baies
6 (0.34 fl oz) perfumes in Oud, Florabellio, Do Son, Tam Dao, Philosykos, 34
1 (15 ml) mini Precious Oil
1 (15 ml) mini Rich Body Butter

Here’s a look at the box with two items for scale:

A look inside the box, each day has a little perforated door to open:

Contents of Days 1 through 7:

Breaking down the price of the set versus individual items is a bit of a challenge since the minis aren’t usually sold separately. At $390 this Advent Calendar is the ultimate splurge. This is for the person who is a Diptyque lover, or for someone who wants to try a little bit of everything in mini-sizes. For a few reference points:

The 5 Piece Set is $75 and 10 Piece Set is $130. Both contain the baby candles that are also in the Advent Calendar, so the price per candle is either $13 or $15
The Eau de Parfume Set is $115 for 5 mini fragrances, although the size of each is 0.25 oz while the ones in the Advent Calendar are 0.34 oz
The 2.4 oz Baies is priced individually at $32

If you find this confusing, don’t worry, I did too, but bottom line is there doesn’t appear to be any price break by purchasing the calendar. Since it’s sold out and probably very difficult to find at this point, I would recommend the 10 Piece Candle Set as the next best alternative for someone who wants to experience as much Diptyque as possible for the best price.

Even though this Advent Calendar cost an arm and a leg (and then some) I do think it’s extra special. It has minis of candles and scents that you can’t usually buy separately at such a small trial size. I’m anxious to try them all over the next few months. I think it’s fun that they included so many different fragrances to try as well.

For fun, I’m going to be doing a few giveaways in the next few weeks. I’ll have a new giveaway with each weekly reveal. Ideally I wanted to giveaway a gift card to Diptyque so the winner could pick their own items, but their website doesn’t appear to sell them, so the next best thing is one to Nordstrom. For this one, I’m giving away 1 $100 e-gift card to Nordstrom. It’s open internationally, but you must be 18 years or older to enter. If you’re a selected winner via the Rafflecopter widget and are located outside of the US, you can opt to receive $100 via Paypal. Entries will be collected through the widget – you can comment below in the blogger comments, but note valid entries are through the widget only.

Terms and conditions are listed in the widget below – selected winner will be chosen randomly via the Rafflecopter widget and announced below. I will e-mail the winner directly. Entries will be collected through 12/12/2015 11:59 PM PST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

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