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Best Cozy Candles for Fall

October 8, 2021

Best Candles For Fall Diptyque, Jo Malone, Byredo

I love this time of year when we can bring out all kinds of cozy things for fall the season. It’s still quite warm here in Florida but the weather has noticeably started to shift. I’ve started to change our home scents to put us more in the mood for fall. Today I’ve put together a roundup of my favorite cozy fall candles from Nordstrom. I’ve included a few alternatives for diffusers and room sprays as well.

Diptyque Loves

Best Diptyque Baies Candles

Out of all the home fragrance brands I would say that Diptyque is my favorite. I still remember the first ones I splurged on and to this day my favorite is still Baies. It’s a classic blackcurrant and rose mix that is truly unique. I own this in multiple formats and sizes. The Standard Size 6.5 oz/190 g candle is a classic and has approximately 60 hours of burn time. For a splurge the 3-Wick 600 g comes in a black ceramic vessel and has 90 hours of burn time. The larger size has significantly stronger throw.

If you’re looking for a good gift set to treat yourself or gift as a hostess gift Best of Baies is a great one with a mini candle, mini room spray and scented oval.

Diptyque Best of Baies Set Nordstrom

Other scents I adore include Ambre which is a warm and creamy woody amber with vetiver, patchouli, aniseed, spices, incense, cistus and tonka bean. Santal is another favorite woody scent wand is probably my favorite sandalwood variation with a mix of velvety spices. Vanille is one of the best smoky vanillas I’ve tried.

Best Diptyque Candles for Fall Ambre, Vanille and Santal

The Diptyque room sprays are among the best ones I’ve tried. While they’re not as long lasting as a candle, I find they last longer in our home compared to other brands. I’ve splurged on a quite a few but the ones I like the most are Figuier and Baies.

Favorite Diptyque Room Sprays

Byredo

Best Byredo Scents Tree House, Burning Rose, Cotton Poplin

I also have so much love for Byredo. Their candles are really spendy but they have incredibly strong throw. Even their mini ones are quite potent. The ones I keep going back to are Tree House and Woods for fall. Both have a really unique woody vibe. Tree House is a complex scent with cedar, bamboo, sandalwood, guaiac wood and hay and spice, myrrh and labdanum. The first time I visited a Byredo store this was the scent they were burning inside and it was incredible. I splurged on the Room Spray and was really impressed.

Another favorite is Cotton Poplin which I think is more of a timeless home fragrance. It’s one of the most comforting fresh scents with a mix of chamomile, cedar and musk.

There are so many great options in candles. I also really like Burning Rose and Bibliotheque – both unique, smoky with a lot of depth. If you like the Bal D’Afrique Perfume you will really love Bibliotheque.

Le Labo

Le Labo Santal Candle and Discovery Set

Le Labo is another great line I think is universally loved. The Santal 26 Candle is one of their classics. It’s a creamy warm mix of amber, cocoa, vanilla, cedar, musk and sandalwood. It’s quite potent and fills the entire home within minutes.

They have a few mini candle discovery sets which I love. I own the Candle Discovery Set Trio with Figue 15, Palo Santo 14 and Petit Grain 21 (Nordstrom Exclusive) and think it makes for a great gift. They just added a new Candle Discovery Set with Calone 17, Laurier 62 and Verveine 32. I’m super curious about these and have them on my list to smell next time I’m in store.

Maison Francis Kurkdjian

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Scented Candle

One of the most luxurious things I’ve been gifted was the Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Scented Candle. My bestie bought this for me last Christmas and I save it for special occasions. It smells just like the Eau de Parfum – mix of rich amber, floral notes, jasmine, saffron, cedarwood and ambergris. It has such an incredible throw.

Jo Malone

Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin Scent Surround Diffuser

Last but not least is Jo Malone. They have so many timeless classics and I love their holiday editions. The one I love the most is the Lime Basil and Mandarin which is clean, unisex, unique, sharp. I tried the Lime Basil & Mandarin Scent Surround Diffuser and love it.

Best Candles for Fall from Diptyque, Byredo, Jo Malone

I know this is a long list but since I work from home I find them worth the splurge. We always have something burning in the home for any kind of mood. I love that Andrew also loves a good smelling home.

Out of all the scents that I’ve purchased and repurchased, I would say my Top 5 for fall:

  1. Diptyque Baies
  2. Diptyque Santal
  3. Diptyque Ambre
  4. Diptyque Vanille
  5. Byredo Tree House

What I’m wearing in this post:

You can find all of my favorites available at Nordstrom. Don’t forget to check out their Gift With Purchase page to take advantage of extra minis! If you’re part of the Nordy Club they have 2x points on beauty through October 31st! What are your favorite scents for fall? Do you like more woody spicy scents or do you go for something more floral? Or opt for the sweeter gourmand scents? Would love to hear about your favorites!

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Many thanks to Nordstrom for partnering to sponsor this post. As always all opinions are my own.

Diptyque Home / Interiors

Diptyque Le Grand Tour Collection Picks

September 13, 2021

Diptyque Le Grand Tour Collection Review

Diptyque launched a 5-piece collection to celebrate their 60th Anniversary with their Le Grand Tour Collection. Each item is inspired by a different destination. As the ultimate Diptyque lover I ordered 4 of the 5 items immediately and have been completely obsessed. I love the special editions from Diptyque. If you’re in New York they have a Pop Up for the collection from September 10 through October 10th. I ordered all the items except for one of the perfumes. If you have smelled it let me know what you thought!

The design of each item has special meaning to the city the product is named after. I found it really interesting to read more about it on their Virtual Walkthrough page.

Diptyque Le Grand Tour Collection Review

Diptyque Le Grand Tour Collection Review

Paris Candle

Diptyque Paris Candle Le Grand Tour | The Beauty Lookbook

The Paris Le Grand Tour Candle ($105) is the standard 190 g size and comes with a sculpted wood lid. This has a beautiful earthy woody soft feel perfect for fall, but I really think it’s good for year round. Throw is on the softer side but still noticeable in our home. I do think other scents have a stronger more potent throw, but this one is still very good. It also comes with a lid which is different from their Standard Black Lacquered Candle Lid ($28).

Notes include: Myrrh, wood patina accord, Paris stone accord

If you’re a Diptyque fan you probably already own the Paris City Candle (part of their City Candle Collection). The notes in the Paris Le Grand Tour Candle are different from the Paris City Candle. The latest Le Grand Tour is more earthy and woody while the City version is a brighter but mellow floral. I love both even though they’re very different.

Diptyque Paris Le Grand Tour vs Paris City Candle

Standard flat black lacquered candle lid (top) vs Le Grand Tour Lid with the Paris Candle (bottom)

Diptyque Candle Lids

Venise Eau de Toilette Trio

Diptyque Venise Trio Le Grand Tour Collection

Perfume can be so hit or miss so I ordered the one I knew I would like. I love vetiver so I ordered the Venise Travel Trio ($95) and absolutely love it. This has a similar but greener vibe compared to the Le Labo Edition Hotel scents (which have black tea, green tea and tobacco leaves). The Diptyque Venise perfume is a lovely green vetiver kind of perfume with good lasting power. I wish this were permanent! I may buy a backup of this since I know the travel sizes will be used up in no time for me.

Notes: basil, green bell pepper, vetiver

Milies Scented Oval

Diptyque Milies Scented Oval

I’ve owned a few of the scented ovals from Diptyque and the lasting power isn’t the best but I still think they’re beautiful. Milies Scented Oval ($70) has a really potent fig scent that reminds me of their Figuier Candle scent, but a little sweeter. I think the design and accent beads are beautiful. In my experience the scent fades after a few months – they still make nice accent pieces though!

Notes: Immortelle absolute, ambroxan, fig wood accord

Byblos Candle

Diptyque Byblos Candle

The Byblos Candle ($165) comes in a beautiful marbled clay vessel inspired by wisps of coffee smoke. It’s a nice fresh and spicy kind of scent with incredible throw. This comes in the 300 g size which is same size as the Glass Colored Candles.

Notes: coffee, atlas cedar, white musk

I’m still debating whether or not to order the Kyoto Perfume – the notes sound really beautiful but I am unsure of buying it without smelling it first. Now that it’s sold out at Diptyque and Nordstrom I kinda want it now! (Still available at Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s and Net-A-Porter.)

I’m really happy with all the items I purchased and have no regrets buying sight unseen. I ordered mine online from Diptyque but the collection is also available at other retailers like Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s and all other Diptyque retailers. If you’re ordering online at Diptyque make sure you check their Exclusive Special Offers page for gift with purchase options!

Diptyque Le Grand Tour Collection Review

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Have you checked out the collection yet? Do you have a Diptyque boutique near you? Let me know what you thought!

Fragrance Holiday Gift Guide Home / Interiors

Best Holiday Candles + Scents For the Home This Season

December 14, 2020

Best Luxury Christmas Candles Byredo, Diptyque, Cire Trudon | The Beauty Lookbook

I’m wrapping up my holiday gift guides with a few more roundups! Today I’m sharing my favorite luxury candles for the holidays. If you’re looking to splurge on something nice for the home or as a gift here are my favorites.

Best Holiday Candles Diptyque, Byredo, Maison Francis Kurkdjian | The Beauty Lookbook

DIPTYQUE

Diptyque Best of Baies Set | The Beauty Look book

Baies is my favorite of all the Diptyque scents, it’s great for holiday because it’s a unique mix of roses and blackcurrant. It’s a green and berry mix which I think is interesting and perfect year round. I’ve bought this in multiple sizes and adore the Baies Room Spray. Available in multiple sizes. In case you are not a fan of blackcurrant or rose, I’ve included a few others.

Best Diptyque Candles for Christmas Amber, Santal, Vanille, Feu de Bois

Vanille is a unique vanilla in the sense that it’s a smoky leathery one with a hint of spice. It’s not sweet like other vanilla candles.

Ambre is one of the prettiest holiday scents to me. It’s a warm mix of amber and musk giving it a cozy feel.

Feu de Bois is the best firewood scent in candle form. It has a smoky earthy kind of wood smell.

Santal is one of the softest sandalwood scents I’ve tried. Sometimes sandalwood can be a bit strong in other candles, this has good throw but has a well-rounded feel. It has a bit of a velvety feel to it.

A few other fun things to check out:

BYREDO

Byredo Tree House Room Spray Mini Bibliothque Candle | The Beauty Lookbook

Tree House is one of my favorite woodsy kind of candles, this year I opted to buy the Tree House Room Spray and am so impressed. It has the longest lasting power of all the room sprays I’ve tried. It smells just like the candle and is quite potent. It has a mix of pimento, bamboo, cedarwood, guaiac wood, sandalwood and leather. The Room Spray comes at quite a steep price but it is cased in a large glass spray bottle and I feel it will last a long time.

Bibliotheque is one of my favorites for the holiday, it has a really unique mix, almost like a more intense less sweet version of their Bal D’Afrique perfume. Bibliotheque notes are peach, plum, peony, violet, leather patchouli and vanilla. It is available in the standard 8.5 oz size and also in the mini 2.5 oz (shown here). Minis are harder to find sometimes as they sell out, but you can find them at Byredo, Violet Grey, Lucky Scent, Space NK.

Maison Francis Kurkdjian

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Candle

The Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Candle was a gift from my bestie and it is AMAZING! I just bought the perfume and fell in love with it. The candle smells exactly like the perfume – woody, amber, floral and sweet with extremely good throw. It is quite a splurge but I would not hesitate to buy on my own. She bought it from Saks.

CIRE TRUDON

Cire Trudon Ernesto Candles | The Beauty Lookbook

There are so many things I want to try from Cire Trudon but I keep going back to my one favorite, Ernesto. Cire Trudon makes the best of the best in terms of how elegant and unique their candles are. They have the strongest throw out of the ones I have tried. I fell in love with Ernesto thanks to one of my readers who kept nudging me to try (she even offered to buy me one if I didn’t order one lol!). I eventually splurged and have never looked back. This year they launched Ernesto in a beautiful Alabaster vessel with a lid. It’s truly glorious. I ordered it over Cyber Week for some savings. It is like a beautiful work of art.

For Christmas, I have also tried Gabriel, Nazareth and Fir – all are truly lovely for the holiday season.

ACCESSORIES

Diptyque Photophore Glass

Crate and Barrel Glass Cloche Candle Cover

Glass Match Cloche Twist Skeem Design | The Beauty Lookbook

Wick Trimmers Diptyque and Lumira

A few accessories I love:

That wraps up my holiday candle favorites! I hope you enjoyed the roundup!

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GIVEAWAY

I’m hosting a giveaway! I’m giving away one $100 eGift Card to Nordstrom. ONE person will be selected at random to win and contacted by email from me ([email protected]). All you have to do is follow the steps in the widget below. The more steps you complete the more entries you receive. Open internationally but you must be 18 years or older to qualify. Not sponsored or affiliated. Runs through 12/21/2020 11:59 PM EST. Winner will be selected by 12/22 and will need to respond to my email within 3 days to claim prize or another winner will be selected in their place.

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Diptyque Home / Interiors

Diptyque Limited-Edition Baies Candle 2020

November 27, 2020

Diptyque Black Friday Baies 2020 | The Beauty Lookbook

It’s here! The Diptyque Limited-Edition Baies Candle 2020 ($74) has launched from 11/27 to 11/30 while supplies last. For the past three years they have launched a special design for their best selling Baies candle and this year’s design is beautiful! It comes in a black glass jar in the Classic 190 g size. The design is embossed printed onto the black jar (versus a sticker). It has black wax and has the special 2020 mark labeled on the back. This Black Friday 2020 Baies Candle is available at Diptyqueparis.com.

Diptyque Black Friday Baies Candle 2020 | The Beauty Lookbook

Diptyque Black Friday Baies Candle 2020 | The Beauty Lookbook

Baies is my most burned candle in my home. It has a beautiful unique mix of berries, blackcurrant and rose with a slightly green undertone. I love that it’s sweet but not sugary sweet. Both Andrew and I adore this in the candle, large candle and spray versions. We’ve tried a number of room sprays and while they won’t last as long as a candle or diffuser the Diptyque room sprays are among the strongest we have bought.

Diptyque Black Friday Baies Candle 2020 | The Beauty Lookbook

Additional Details Shown Above: Chair // Fluffy Pillow // Side Table // Boucle Ottoman // Round marble tray // Glass Photophore // Porcelain Baies // Wick Trimmer // Nail Polish is Chanel Organdi

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Shown Below: Best of Baies Set (trio) // Classic Size Individual Baies Candle //Wick Trimmer

Diptyque Baies | The Beauty Lookbook

The 2020 Black Friday Baies comes in the standard size which is 190 g/ 6.5 oz. Approximate burn time is 60 hours. If you’re interested in this particular scent it is also available in their regular line up with the clear glass jars and white wax and a few other formats:

The Diptyque team kindly gifted the Black Friday Baies 2020 candle. Each year they’ve launched I’ve also bought an extra backup. Here’s a look at the candles from 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Diptyque Limited-Edition Black Friday Baies Candles

Diptyque Baies Black Friday 2020 Edition | The Beauty Lookbook

Diptyque Baies Candle | The Beauty Lookbook

You can find the Diptyque Limited-Edition Baies Candle 2020 available 11/27 to 11/30 while supplies last at Diptyque. They usually have special gift with purchases available. Check out their Special Offers page for the latest one (they have the promo code there too).

Baies 2020 gifted for review. All other items purchased by me.

Home / Interiors

10 Things I’m Loving for the Home

June 18, 2020

Home Bookcase Shelf West Elm Diptyque Photophore

So many of you liked the my last home decor post I decided to do another one! I’m rounding up 10 things I’m loving for the home including a few favorite home accents, my favorite hand washes and a few countertop organizers to help keep things more tidy.

We’ve been loving nice hydrating hand washes for the home as we’ve been washing our hands more frequently! Molton Brown sent over a cute care package with their Delicious Rhubarb and Roses Liquid Hand Wash (1) and Hand Lotion (2) and I love how fresh and floral it smells! You can also find these in a Duo Set (nice for gifting) and also Travel Sized Minis (love that these come with pumps too).

Molton Brown Delicious Rhubarb Hand Wash and Lotion

Another long-time favorite is the Aesop Resurrection Hand Wash (3) for a nice cleansing gel that won’t strip the skin. It’s invigorating and is easy to rinse. We love the rinse-free version too, but my favorite is the one you can wash off.

Aesop Resurrection Hand Wash

For the bathroom I’ve been trying to find some countertop solutions for my hair dryer/brush. I decided to try the Haircare Holder (4) from West Elm which is made by Yamazaki Home. It’s small and compact so it won’t take up a lot of counter space. It’s made with a powder-coated steel. (Also available in black). It works for the hair dryers I alternate between which include the Dyson Supersonic (reviewed here) and the Harry Josh Ultra Light (review here). The stand itself fairly small and compact so if you own a larger hair dryer it probably won’t work for your needs. So far it’s held up really nicely over the past few months since I bought it.

Yamazaki White Hair Care Holder

Also below shown with the Harry Josh Ultralight dryer in the larger opening. You can also put curling irons or flat irons inside. There is an attachment that comes with this for you to hang on the cabinet door/under the sink if you want to store it a different way.

Yamazaki White Hair Care Holder

I’ve also been loving these Wood Handled Bathroom Caddies (5 and 6). You may have seen these several times on the blog or on my Instagram as I use them to store sheet masks. I ordered these from West Elm in the Small (base is 5″ wide, 3.25″ tall, 5″ deep) and the Large (base is 10.25″ wide, 3.25″ tall, 5″ deep). These are the same material and brand as the Hair Dryer holder – made a powder coated steel. They are on the small side so they won’t hold larger items but to keep smaller things in place they’re perfect!

Wood Handle Bath Caddy West Elm

Below the small vs large:

Wood Handle Bath Caddy Small vs Large

As a huge Diptyque fan I’m obsessed with their Photophores in all the sizes! I have both small and large sizes (7 and 8). The ones I own have an opening at the top so you can burn the candle inside it. However sometimes the flames get too high/strong so I mainly use the glass ones for decorative purposes these days. The Large Glass twist version is an older style which you might still be able to find in boutiques, but for now they the Full Twist with a black stripe. The Coast Glass is still available in the small and large options. They come out with sets and new variations during the holiday season so if you don’t see one you 100% love, I would recommend waiting until later in the year for the limited-edition launches.

Below small coast vs. full sized twist:

Diptyque Photophore Glass

I’ve been looking for some candle covers to keep some opened ones dust-free. I ordered a few Glass Cloches (9) from Crate and Barrel which is on the small side. It will fit a standard size Diptyque candle inside but for anything larger it’s a snug fit. Target has a similar style that’s slightly larger but I have not seen/tried it. I do like the look and feel of the ones I ordered though!

Crate and Barrel Glass Cloche Candle Cover

Last but not least are the Mini Countertop Trash Cans (10) from simplehuman. These are small at 1.5 liters but perfect for things like counter tops, small spaces or even an at-home coffee bar area for sugar packets/stirrers etc. I ordered mine from simplehuman online but you can find these at a number of places like Target, Amazon, etc.

Simplehuman Sensor Mirror Pro and Mini Trash Can

Below is the small white one we have in our kitchen next to our coffee machines.

Home Kitchen Nespresso Vertuo Next and Keurig K-Mini

 

What are you loving for the home these days? Any organization favorites or boxes you love? I would love to hear how you store your hair appliances whether it’s in the drawer, on counter or some other storage solution! I’m always looking for ideas and inspiration.

Molton Brown hand wash + lotion provided for review. Other items purchased.

Beauty Favorites Home / Interiors

Best Decorative Trays for Your Vanity + Beauty Products

May 21, 2020

Best Spring to Summer Perfumes 2019 | The Beauty Look Book

Today I’m rounding up all of the best decorative trays for your vanity! I’m always on the hunt for better ways to organize, display and store my beauty products. I love trays of all shapes and sizes because it helps me keep things in place and makes things look less cluttered! So many of you have asked questions about where I get all of my trays so today’s post is a comprehensive roundup.

Many of you have also asked for an updated makeup storage/organization post. You want to know how I store everything from the best acrylic organizers, boxes, shelving, drawers etc. I haven’t done one since we were in San Diego in my Home Loft Tour (3 years ago!). We’ve done a lot of moving around over the last few years since we’ve moved to Florida. I feel we have been in a long transition phase as we took our time to explore the different areas of Tampa Bay. We’ve finally found an area we truly love that feels like home to us now. I will be putting together my full beauty organization setup in a separate post. Today’s roundup focuses on all my vanity trays.

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Restoration Hardware Bath Tray

Measures 12″W x 7½”D x 1¼”H

Restoration Hardware Marble Bath Tray

I’ve loved and used my Restoration Hardware trays for years! It’s held up really well over many years and moves and it’s such a classic piece. The one you see in most of my photos is their White Italian Carrara Marble Bath Tray and it’s a single solid piece of marble with the center interior carved out. It looks like the rectangular ones I own have been discontinued from their website although some of their other Bath Accessories are still available. I’m trying to find a high quality dupe but haven’t found one yet.

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Crate and Barrel French Kitchen Marble Rectangle Tray

Measures 14″W x 8.5″D x 1″H

Crate and Barrel French Kitchen Marble Tray

I ordered this Crate and Barrel French Kitchen Marble Tray because of the rave reviews and the $39.95 price seemed like a steal! I think for the price it’s a great buy. However it is not a single piece of solid marble. The base and four sides are bonded together with some kind of smooth white grout or epoxy which is visible where the pieces are connected. The cut isn’t 100% exact so some of the corners have more white grout/glue showing in between the corner lines than others. It’s not a deal breaker and overall it’s well made. Also this is not totally noticeable once you have product (or food) set on it.

Side by side of the Crate and Barrel (larger on the left) tray next to the Restoration Hardware Tray (smaller on the right). If you look closely at the photo, you can see the white grout showing in the corners on the top right and bottom right corners of the Crate and Barrel Tray – I do think each piece will be different though. Yours might not show any!

Marble Trays for Your Vanity

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Goop Marble Petite Round Tray

Small measures 8″ in diameter, 1.5 inches high

Everyday Makeup Favorites

I love the small but still practical size of the Goop Marble Petite Round Tray ($50). I do not think it’s carrara marble as the veining and coloring isn’t quite as nice as other marble furniture pieces I own, but I think it’s really well made and I love the size. The Petite Size is currently in stock ($50 for 8 inches) and I just ordered the Grand Size ($80 for 12 inches, currently on waitlist). They’ve restocked multiple times since I first ordered mine. More views of it and full breakdown of the makeup in the photo listed in my Everyday Makeup Favorites post here.

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West Elm Marble Cheese Board Round

Measures 14 inches in diameter (from my Best of Cle de Peau)

Cle de Peau Radiant Liquid Rouge Shine Liquid Lipstick Sugar Jelly

Round Marble and Brass Cheese Board

I love West Elm! I stalk their site on a weekly basis. Their Marble and Brass Cheese Board Round ($49.50) is perfect for our kitchen to display a few candles and room sprays. I also borrow it for a prop on some of my beauty shoots from my Best of Cle de Peau, Charlotte Tilbury review and Hair Care Favorites to name a few. I really should just order a second one.

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Marble and Brass Cheese Board – Rectangle

Measures 14″w x 10″d x 2″h

Marble Brass Tray for Beauty Vanity

Marble Brass Vanity Tray

I also love the rectangular Marble and Brass Cheese Board ($49.50). You’ve seen this in my bathroom, on my vanity, on my desk etc. It’s heavy and I love the quality. There are some other options that I think are super cute including the Cake Stand (could double as a stand for beauty products) or their Marble Brass Footed Board.

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Acrylic Trays

CB2 Measures 14″W x 6.25″D x 2″H

Acrylic Tray CB2

I’ve gone through several acrylic trays over the years. I had some larger square options from West Elm and CB2 that I loved but got rid of over some past moves. Acrylic tends to scratch as you move product over the surface (even the sturdy durable options). Over time they wear down. I do like the CB2 Acrylic Tank Tray for my sunglasses and also for my desk. Note that this style does not have rubber feet (I added them on my own) so if you don’t want it sliding around I’d recommend adding them. They’re easy to find at a wide range of places. I ordered some from Amazon and really like them. The Container Store has some options for acrylic trays which are decent and functional, but in my experience not the best quality.

For those curious the sunglasses from top to bottom in the photo: Black round (Celine), Brown square (Tom Ford), Honey brown round (Ray-Ban), Beige round (Ray-Ban), Dark brown round (Ray-Ban), Pink small (Chanel, old style).

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West Elm Mirrored Trays

Small Size Measures 15″ x 10″

Favorite Face Brushes and Tools

West Elm Mirrored Tray Small

I love the look of mirrored trays, especially with any brass or gold accents! However they’re high maintenance as they scratch easier than other surfaces and show every speck of dust or finger prints. Mirrored trays are easy to clean, I just find I have to clean and dust them frequently. This Fishs Eddy Gilded Cafe Mirror Tray – Brass from West Elm has held up for many years though. It’s the same one I’ve had since I lived in San Diego. There are a few scratches as it has been well loved. I have the small size but they have a larger option too.

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Lacquered Trays

Medium Shown measures 7.2″w x 10″d x 1.1″h

Pink Color Tray West Elm

Most of my lacquered trays (gloss or matte finish) have been from West Elm. I’ve loved and used them from years! I’ve bought them long before I started blogging. As we’ve moved around I have switched and rotated them with other styles. This one is the Color Block in the Medium Size. I like that it’s on the compact side and easy to fit in small places/shelves. They also have other colors and sizes which I have but haven’t put to use yet. CB2 also makes nice options!

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Marble Wine Coaster

Measures 4.75 in diameter and 1.75 high

Byredo Candle, Marble Wine Coaster, Diptyque Photophore

This Williams Sonoma Wine Coaster ($15.96 on sale) is the perfect size to hold a Byredo Candle or standard size Diptyque Candle. It’s also tall enough to store small things like my Slip Silk Scrunchies or rubber bands. Long matches from Tommy Bahama. Photophore from Diptyque (older style, but current versions here). Wick Trimmer from Diptyque.

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Small Marble Brass Inlay Tray

Measures 9″w x 4.5″d x 1″h

Marble Brass Inlay Tray Small

If you want an extra small tray to keep things super tidy, I think the Small Brass Inlay Marble Tray ($40) from West Elm is really lovely. It’s quite small and only holds a few things but it well made, heavy and looks lovely on the night stand, shelf or desk!

Trays added to my Ikea Billy Bookcase shelf (option is with doors):

Beauty Lookbook Shelfie

A few extra tips on finding the perfect tray(s) for you:

  • Some trays do not come with anything on the base. You might want to buy a set of thin small felt pads if you have a surface that might get easily scratched. Adhesive bumpers/rubber feet are also another option if you want the tray to stay in place and prevent them from sliding around. I ordered a bunch from Amazon (also for furniture too). You can find these easily at Target or any home improvement store etc.
  • Look for products that aren’t labeled “tray.” Some other things will pop up on search that can double as display trays. For example on home good sites like West Elm or Crate and Barrel (etc.) type in the search bar words like dish, board, trivet, cake stand, coaster etc.
  • I tend to look for small to medium trays for beauty product storage as larger ones can get cluttered REALLY fast for me. If you’re organized it should not be an issue or problem at all though! I also have a console and shelves that are on the narrow side so finding a smaller tray has been ideal for me.
  • Sites like West Elm, CB2 and Crate and barrel often have sales on their sites. Lots are happening this weekend for Memorial Day. Target has some really nice affordable home decor options but the seasonal launches tend to sell out quickly.
  • If you stain your marble with watermarks or oil, it’s possible to remove by applying a baking soda + water mixture. Mix it into a paste and apply to the stained area. Leave on for 24 hours and then wipe away. For smaller stains that haven’t settled too long it should absorb any oil and remove them! This has worked for me when oil from skincare or water from a cup/jar has left a ring on my tray. Your mileage may vary depending on what the stain is made of, how big it is, how long it’s been there etc.

Beauty organization post to follow soon but leave all your questions in the comments below so I can add them to my list for FAQs! I hope you found this roundup helpful. I’m asked on a daily basis “where did you get your marble tray?” – the answer is usually that I have several! This post has them all in one place so now for reference.

Trays featured:

 

Other decorative accents/accessories featured:

 

Do you have any trays you love for your beauty products? Or do you tend to display them on a shelf, drawers or boxes? I’d love to hear how you organize your beauty stash!

Diptyque Home / Interiors

Diptyque Coloring Spring

April 29, 2020

Diptyque Coloring Spring 2020

I’m so excited to share a look at the Diptyque Coloring Spring collection today. As one of the biggest fans of Diptyque I could not be more thrilled to see some beautiful limited-edition jars for spring. They’re currently exclusive online to Diptyque and (update) now as of May 11th available at Nordstrom! I have a look at each one as I ordered them the day they launched. There are five options in Iris, Geramium Rosa, Freesia, Mimosa and Choisya and retail for $74 each. All of the scents are available in the standard clear glass jars as well.

I know that buying scents without smelling them in person first is always tricky. While I do have a Diptyque counter near me, they don’t carry all the scents that the individual Diptyque stores do so I’m often buying blind. Especially now with everything closed with stay at home orders, everything is online only! There’s no substitute for being able to try in person but I hope this will will be the next best thing to help with some descriptions!

Iris

Diptyque Coloring Spring Iris Candle

Iris a new one for me and I think it will be a new favorite. It’s a sweet iris blossom with notes of violet that has a soft warm powdery feel to it. Throw is good but soft and gentle.

Geranium Rosa

Diptyque Coloring Spring Geranium Rosa

Geranium Rosa is one of the cleanest green scents I’ve ever tried. I’ve burned this one numerous times in the past and it smells like geraniums. Fresh, green, a bit spicy. There are supposed to be rose notes in this one but I can’t detect them very well.

Freesia

Diptyque Coloring Spring Freesia

Freesia is new to me as well and my second favorite in the launch. It’s a well rounded floral that isn’t too powdery or too sharp. It has a soft relaxing vibe to it which I think is going to be the most universally appealing floral.

Mimosa

Diptyque Coloring Spring Mimosa

Mimosa seems to be everyone’s favorite (next to Baies). I love the soft but bright yellow jar – it brightens the mood and makes the whole house smell like a warm honey-like flower. It has a bright feel to it which is hard to describe but has a warm clean feel, almost like velvet but fresh and soft.

Choisya

Diptyque Coloring Spring Choisya

Choisya is another newer one for me. I have burned this in a mini in the past from sets but it has been a while since I tried it. This one is the botanical name for Mexican orange blossom. It has a fresh green feel to it and smells like orange blossom leaves. This smells like nature to me!

Diptyque Coloring Spring Collection

Each candle comes with a coordinating box to match the color of the glass jar. I love the little detail flower prints inside! They add a special touch.

Out of the five my favorites are Freesia, Mimosa and Iris, but all of them are really nice. As a die-hard Diptyque fan these were worth the splurge for me even though they are available in the standard clear glass jars. They brighten the home and lift the mood!

You can find the Diptyque Coloring Spring collection while supplies last online at Diptyque and Nordstrom. They retail for $74 each.