This holiday Diptyque launched three limited-edition scented candles in Sapin, Liquidambar and Oliban. The packaging is breathtaking and the special designs this year are the best ones to date. Diptyque partnered with painter Julien Colombier who lives and works in Paris to create this year’s holiday candle designs. As with previous holiday launches, there are several options in sizes and sets for the holiday scents. The price of these are slightly higher than the standard clear glass jar candles, but this is usually the case with any special-edition release. The options this year:
All 3 individually in the Small Size 2.4 oz / 30 hour burn time – $35
All 3 individually in the Standard Size 6.5 oz / 60 hour burn time – $70
If you are near one of the Diptyque boutiques, I highly recommend you visit one this time of year. The visual displays during Christmas are my favorite – everything is so beautifully put together and very festive. I stopped by the one at South Coast Plaza a couple weeks ago and every time I visit, I never want to leave.
Out of the three, my favorites are tied with Sapin and Liquidambar. I’m a huge fan of all the Diptyque pine scents. I started collecting a few years ago – as you can see below the packaging gets better and better every year. Below shown is Pine Bark (2013 edition), Résine (2014 edition) and Sapin (2015 launch). For inquiring minds, yes I bought backups each year and miraculously still had one of each kept in the original box. Out of all the holiday scents out there, I think Diptyque makes the best pine ones each year. Comparing the three, I do find the notes similar between the seasons. Pine Bark is the perfect mix of pine needles and bark, it’s earthy. Last year’s Résine is more green and smells more like the pine. This year’s Sapin is sweeter with noticeable citrus – the description says it has mandarin in it and it gives this an interesting sweet twist. Throw is very good on this one.
Liquidambar is another really good one. The packaging is simply stunning. This one is described as “liquid amber is spiced with nutmeg and cinnamon, then cloaked in the scent of muscovado sugar.” Compared to the regular Ambre candle, the Liquidambar is sweeter, not as spicy and has less of an incense feel. The sugar and cinnamon of the holiday candle makes for a festive but warm feel. Throw is really good on this one as well.
Oliban is described as having ” sweet oriental vapors of incense and woody accents set against fresh notes and balmy tones.” It definitely has that balmy feel, almost like a misty ocean-like scent. There is wood and incense mixed in. It has a refreshing feel. This one has the weakest throw of the three. It does give the room a clean subtle lift, but compared to the other two, it’s more on the subtle side. Shown below next to the Oiseaux Photophore (boutique exclusive, also reviewed here).
One more look at the displays at the South Coast Plaza boutique:
Once again Diptyque has launched a beautiful collection for holiday that’s not to be missed. I’m always eager to see the special edition packaging with every launch and the designs get better and better every year.
Being the Diptyque fan that I am, I bought the Holiday Trio along with the full size options in each of the three scents. Before the season is over I will be backing up the Liquidambar and Sapin for our home. For holiday there are a number of other nice sets that have regular candles which include:
Advent Calendar $390 (sold out, but stay tuned for a post on this later today)
My husband asked me to buy him a few of the 5 Piece Mini Sets + several wick trimmers to give out as business gifts. I’ve posted comparisons before but in case you missed it, here’s a quick look at the size comparisons. The mini sets have the smallest candles that you can’t buy individually (at least note yet) and are usually the ones given in gift with purchases.
You can find Diptyque at a number of retailers now. I am really happy to see they’ve expanded over the past few years. My favorite place to shop for Diptyque is the South Coast Plaza store even though it’s a bit of a drive for me to get there. They have the best customer service and visiting the store is always a treat. The lovely people who work at the boutiques are also very knowledgeable about all the products in the line which is always nice if you have questions or need recommendations. Not to mention everything is always wrapped up beautifully if you have gifts to give. You can also find Diptyque online at Diptyque, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Space NK, Barneys New York and Net-A-Porter.
Have you checked out the holiday offerings at Diptyque this year?
When it comes to home fragrance, I’m a Diptyque lover at heart and the new releases for fall are beautiful. I stopped by a Diptyque Boutique a few weeks ago to check out the new fragrances, perfumes and photophores. There are a number of new perfumes that have been released as part of the 34 Collection (three are boutique exclusives in beautiful glass bottles). I picked up the new Oud Candle ($60), La Proveresse in the porcelain marbled jar ($85) and the Oiseaux Photophore ($160, boutique exclusive). These days I’m thrilled to see Diptyque available at more and more retailers, but if you want an exceptional experience I recommend you visit one of the free-standing boutiques. I’ve been to five different ones in San Francisco, Larchmont, Beverly Hills, South Coast Plaza and Paris – each one has been such a treat to visit. Someday I hope to visit all the stores.
Up first is the Oud Candle ($60 for 6.5 oz/ 190 g). This one falls into the woody category of scents. It’s described as, “mysterious, woody, slightly animal composition enhanced by incense, patchouli and sandalwood.” It is indeed woody with a smoky feel, to me it smells like a warmer more inviting version of Feu de Bois. I have been burning Oud for a few days off and on with other scents and I’m smitten. It’s on the masculine side so I don’t think it will be for everyone.
My current favorite is the La Prouveresse Candle ($85 for 7.3 oz/220 g). This one is more expensive than other standard sized candles but it is slightly larger in size for product. It’s also available in the Pillar Form as a Diptyque online and boutique exclusive. The La Prouveresse is part of the 34 Collection inspired by the first Diptyque store on 34 Boulevard Saint Germain in Paris. (See snippets of my visit in June in my Paris Beauty Shopping Guide.) This comes in a porcelain container pot crafted entirely by hand using the “terre mêlée” (mixed clay) technique and each piece is entirely unique. Last year Diptyque released Le Redouté (still available for purchase, reviewed here). I am hoping the fact they released another version this year means that they will release a new one each fall. I have the three 34 candles shown side by side:
34 Candle ($80) as launched to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Diptyque, this is cased in a white matte porcelain container with the 34 embossed on the front. Out of the three, this is the most light feeling in terms of mood, it has extremely good throw, it has a fresh green feel. The 34 candle is described as being fresh, green with spicy accords, notes of damp mosses, crumpled blackcurrant leaves, sun-dried fig leaves. It smells very natural and raw.
Le Redouté ($85) is the spicy one. It has the most holiday-like feel with cinnamon, clove, orange, roses, cedar and amber. It’s quite complex and for me I only feel like I’m in the mood to burn it during the holiday season. I still have about 1/4 of mine left over from last year that I haven’t burned off.
La Prouveresse ($85) is my favorite of the three. It’s the perfect mix of feminine and masculine. If you find Feu de Bois or Oud too masculine, the La Prouveresse is softer with more green notes. This has a mix of fig tree, cypress and cedarwood. It has an earthy feel. It usually takes me forever to burn an entire candle but I’ve been burning this non-stop and am already 3/4 finished with it.
Last but not least is the Oiseaux Photophore ($160). This is beautiful decorative item to display candles and each Diptyque Photophore is a work of art. These are exclusive to the boutiques but during the holidays there are sometimes sets released at other retailers for the clear glass photophores (see one of them here). There are three new photophores in this year’s 34 collection. According to Diptyque:
“This photophore features an openwork metal design created by the French illustration and graphic design duo Anamorphée, who have developed this unique decorative piece whilst remaining true to diptyque’s graphic heritage. Inspired by the painted wooden birds found in the window of 34 boulevard Saint Germain during the 1960’s, the two creators imagined the feathers and beaks of a colony of mockingbirds, the contours of which can be made out when the candle is lit. It has its own unique wooden base.”
Measurements are: height 4.7 inches / 12.5 cm – base diameter 4.3 inches / 11.5 cm, it will fit the Diptyque Pillar Candles, a full sized Diptyque Candle, Byredo, Jo Malone and Henri Bendel (the new Cashmere Candle sounds amazing!!).
Overall I’m really happy with the three new Diptyque additions to my home. I suspect I will be repurchasing La Prouveresse soon, it makes the home smell amazing. A couple other new things that I’ve seen pop up that might be of interest include the introduction of Vanille in the mini size (review on this one here). Benjoin was an online exclusive last year and they’ve re-introduced it to all retailers (review on this one here). You can find the fall releases in stores and online at Diptyque retailers now. Certain items like the Photophores and special edition perfumes are exclusive to the Diptyque Boutiques.
Have you checked out the Diptyque fall releases yet? Or have you picked
up anything else for home fragrance lately? I’m always happy for
recommendations.
To celebrate the opening of the new boutique in Beverly Hills, Diptyque has created a special limited-edition candle inspired by the iconic city. The Diptyque Beverly Hills Candle retails for $70 and is exclusive to the Beverly Hills store in Los Angeles. comes packaged in a stunning bright turquoise glass jar with contrasting yellow palm prints. It’s a floral citrus that gives a fresh summer beachy vibe that I am completely head over heels in love with. The throw is quite good on this one and the scent fills up our living room within 10-15 minutes of burning. The notes in this one include: lemon essential oil, mint essential oil, orchid accord and freesia. The notes according to Diptyque:
Beverly Hills Candle next to a small full-twist photophore (boutique exclusive) and a small Baies
Diptyque Beverly Hills has a similar refreshing vibe to that of the Tomas Maier + Diptyque Palm Beach. The Tomas Maier candle is more citrusy while the Beverly Hills candle has more of a sweet more rounded tone to it. I’ve already burned through my first one in the course of two weeks (which is a record time for me, it takes me forever to burn through candles). Since it is limited-edition I stocked up on multiples when I ordered it and I’m glad I did because it’s all I want my home to smell like right now.
The Diptyque Beverly Hills candle is a limited-edition scent, exclusive to the Beverly Hills Boutique on North Beverly Boulevard. You can call the store at (310) 385-5941 to purchase over the phone or buy in store too. I highly recommend this one. The scent is refreshingly bright and summery and the turquoise and yellow packaging design makes for a fun colorful accent to your desk or shelf.
P.S. In case you are new to luxury candles, make sure to visit my Candle Care Tips post on how to burn them properly.
Have you checked out the Beverly Hills Diptyque candle or the store?
I purchased my first Cire Trudon candle a few weeks ago at Barneys in Beverly Hills. I have @wendyg_nyc to blame for this splurge (or rather thank) as she has been pleading that I check out Cire Trudon for months. I don’t have close access to the brand and although it’s been on my list for quite some time, every time I stopped by Barneys all the distractions on the beauty floor prevented me from looking into these candles.
If you’ve seen Cire Trudon candles in person at Barneys you will see they are all displayed on the counter covered with a glass dome to help retain the scent. These are the strongest candles I’ve ever smelled or burned and seeing all the options was quite overwhelming. Thanks to Wendy I had a list of three to narrow down my first purchase and I picked out Odalisque ($95 for 270 g / 9.5 oz).
Cire Trudon candles are made of vegetable-based wax. They come in several sizes, the Classic Size is a large brown-tinted class jar. The one I picked out has a mix of orange blossom and cinnamon. It’s quite complex and is extremely rich. It smells so rich it almost smells holy, like it belongs in a cathedral.The official description of Odalisque is:
“Enclosed in citrus and wood bark, the orange blossom weaves a painter’s dream from which escapes the pale volute of smoke from a narghile. As an orientalist painting, furiously romantic, the vigorous scent of the case, and solar splinter of citrus fruits, come out as a thin blade in the silky shadow of vanilla. Top notes of lemon and orange, heart notes of orange blossom, and base notes are cade and vanilla.”
top note : lemon, orange / middle : orange blossom / base : wild juniper, vanilla
The candles have a small label on the back:
Odalisque is a classic orange blossom scent amped up with spice and wood. I find traditional orange blossom candles to be very light and airy, there is a hint of citrus but there is a good mix of florals to prevent it from smelling too fruity. Odalisque is a unique orange blossom because the mix of wood bark and juniper add depth to it that is hard to describe but makes it complex.
This is my first time burning something from Cire Trudon and it’s pure love. Odalisque proved to be one of the strongest home scents I’ve burned, the scent fills the entire room within a few minutes and the scent lingers for a while even after you blow out the flame. It is a luxurious splurge so if you’re unsure about ordering sight unseen at all I highly recommend you try to visit a store first (locator by region here).
I’ve had this Byredo Trio of Minis on my wishlist for quite some time and finally caved and ordered them online. The trio includes three individually wrapped candles in Bibliothèque, Cotton Poplin and Fleur Fantôme. This specific set is currently exclusive to Net-A-Porter and Byredo.com ($120 for the set) but you can buy them individually in the mini size and full sizes at select locations. Based on what I’ve seen in person, stores seem to have limited inventory of the minis. Each mini has 8.4 oz /70 g with an approximate burn time of 14 hours each although I haven’t timed my burn lengths.
The three mini candles all have extremely good throw even at the small size. Based on my experience with the full-sized Fleur Fantôme, I can say the mini is just as strong in scent once it is burned. I’ve burned each of the minis over the past few weeks. These are lovely unique home scents but my heart still belongs to Diptyque and Henri Bendel.
Bibliothèque mimics the Bal D’Afrique perfume. To me this is a warm peachy plum that gives all sorts of warm fuzzy feelings. It is still very fruity so if you’re not a fan of sweet, I’d say skip this one.
Cotton Poplin resembles Blanche perfume. The candle is much better than the perfume version (in my opinion). It’s a fresh clean linen-like scent with a hint of powdery floral mixed in without feeling too powdery. This is quite unique and makes the entire room feel bright and clean.
Top notes: Blue Chamomile
Middle: Linen, White Cedarwood
Base: Sweet Musk
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Fleur Fantôme is a unique floral. This is one of the most natural-smelling sweet floral candles I’ve burned, it makes you feel like you are in a spring garden.
The Byredo candles are comparable with Diptyque in terms of price per ounce. I no longer have the larger full-sized Byredo candle anymore to show you an image of but for reference here are the minis compared to the full-sized and mini Diptyque (full break down on Diptyque sizing here):
Price per ounce breakdown:
Byredo full size
240 g / 8.4 oz for $80 to $95
Burn time 60 hours
Price per oz $9.52 to $11.30/oz
Bydedo mini size
70 g / 2.4 oz for $40 each
Burn time 14 hours
Price per oz $16.67/oz
Diptyque full size
190 g / 6.5 oz for $60 to $68
Burn time 60 hours
Price per oz $9.23/oz
Diptyque Mini
70 g / 2.4 oz for $30
Burn time 30 hours
Price per oz $11.76/oz
While the minis are really adorable and are great to sample the scents or good for travel, the better buy is the larger size. Packaging-wise these are sleek and simple making beautiful home accents. Recycling the older versions proved to be tricky since the labels were made of paper and if you got them wet it ruined them completely. If you search for reviews or images you might notice that the packaging has changed slightly (older version shown here). The newer version seems to have a more sturdy label but it is still prone to smudging and staining.
My overall assessment of these Byredo Candles is that they are a luxurious splurge. Beautiful with strong throw and unique scents, but extremely pricey. Although you the price per oz of the full size is similar that of Diptyque, spending $80+ on a single candle is pretty hard to stomach. Out of all the Byredo candles, the three scents in this trio are among the softest and most soothing in overall feel although the scent itself is very strong. I have a full size Cotton Poplin on order but will probably not be ordering anymore for a while.
In case you missed it, be sure to check out my Candle Care Tips and Recycling Posts. I’ve included tips on how to avoid tunneling, burning the sides, excessive smoking and also how to recycle the candles after you finish burning them.
I ordered my Mini Candle Trio from Net-A-Porter. It’s also available at Byredo.com. Individual minis are available at select stores from Barneys New York and Neiman Marcus too but you may have to shop around to find all three in stock.
I’ve been neglecting Jo Malone for a while because of my obsession with other lines but I couldn’t resist picking up the Cardamom & Moroccan Rose Candle ($70 for 7 oz, limited-edition) which is part of the My Wanderlust Collection mainly because the packaging looks quite stunning. Cardamom & Moroccan Rose is described as a Moroccan rose with a mix of honeyed spice. Straight out of the box it smells like a citrus orange rose with a hint of gingery spice. I wasn’t sure how it would burn because the mix of honey, citrus and rose seemed very odd. Once it you burn it, it warms up to a beautiful soothing scent. It smells of equal parts rose, ginger and chamomile. It’s floral but also earthy with a warm mix.
The packaging was a bit of a surprise when I saw it in person. I expected an orange and red tinted glass case, instead the outside is an adhesive sticker. I was worried how the sticker would fare after burning but so far I’ve had no issues. The packaging design is quite lovely and adds a festive accent of color to the home, desk or office. Still, I would have preferred a tinted glass jar rather than a sticker but it seems very sturdy and well made so for now, I’ll overlook it.
If you’re a fan of rose mix home fragrances, the Jo Malone Cardamom and Moroccan Rose is a good one to look into. The mix of rose, honey and spice is really quite unique and makes it a more unisex kind of rose (versus a girly and feminine rose). I find it’s been the perfect transition scent for winter to spring. It’s particularly nice on cloudy days to brighten one’s mood. On warmer sunny days here in Southern California I find it gives a soothing feel.
The Jo Malone Cardamom & Moroccan Rose Candle is a limited-edition scent. Available at all Jo Malone stores and counters while supplies last. I bought mine from Neiman Marcus. Also available at Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, Saks and Jo Malone.
Have you checked out the Jo Malone My Wanderlust Collection? Did you pick up anything? If not, what’s your favorite rose home scent?
I’ve received a number of questions on candle care so today I’m sharing some simple tips on how I burn and care for your candles. Once you own a luxury candle you will want to burn it and care for it properly in order to get the most out of it’s life. I’ve burned quite a few candles in the past few years and didn’t realize until recently that I was burning some of my candles incorrectly.
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Question 1: Some of my candles don’t burn evenly and tunnel. How do you prevent this?
I just recently discovered the phrase “candle tunneling” which refers to an uneven burn where the wax of the candle near the center/wick melts but the edges do not. Some of my candles haven’ burned all the way to the edge for a smooth flat burn while others have – I did not know what caused this. I just found out at a recent trip to a Diptyque store that the first burn is extremely important to prevent tunneling. The reps at the store said that you want to make sure the first time you burn the candle you want to let it burn long enough to melt the entire surface of the candle which can take several hours. Depending on the size of the candle, they recommended about 1 hour per inch in diameter. I thought 30 minutes of burn time would be sufficient to melt the surface of my standard Diptyque candles so I timed it at a few intervals. At 45 minutes the surface was nowhere near being completely melted.
It took a full three hours for the surface of my standard size Diptyque candle to melt and liquify completely and evenly on the surface for the first burn. Jo Malone 7.0 oz candles and Diptyque 6.5 oz candles are very similar in size, after testing the timing for the initial burn, I found they both took about the same time for the surface to melt. Below is a Jo Malone Candle where the diameter is about 3 inches. So the 1 hour burn time per inch of diameter proved to be pretty accurate.
So what do you do if you burned the candle incorrectly the first couple of times? There are a lot of other resources online on how to fix it, but this depends on how deep the tunnel is. If the tunneling is minor I’ve been able to fix some of mine by burning for a few hours and scooping out the hard unmelted wax around the edges to even out the surface. Other recommendations on Scent Snob and Nouvelle Daily.
In addition to the first burn, to make sure you candle burns evenly, you also need to make sure the wick stays centered. It can migrate sometimes or burn at an angle. Use a sturdy object to re-center or straighten the wick – I’ve done this while the candle is burning with a small butter knife although I recommend you do this with caution to avoid burning yourself or anything else. It’s better to re-center the wick after you’ve blown out or snuffed the flame. Sometimes I’ll push the wick with the tip of scissors. Whatever you use, if you dip it in melted liquified wax, you’ll have to clean the item.
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Question 2: Why invest in a wick trimmer? Can I just use my regular scissors?
Trimming the candle wick after they burn is important to prevent them from smoking on the next burn or from burning the sides of the glass. It’s commonly recommended that you trim them as short as possible without cutting them too short. I trim mine after they’ve cooled just in case I don’t catch the end of the trimmed wick. Sometimes I accidentally drop it into the candle and it ends up getting the melted wax very messy or sinks to the bottom of the liquified portion.On wick trimmers vs scissors, I find they both work, but it is nice to have a dedicated tool just for trimming wicks. It took me a long time before I splurged on a Diptyque wick trimmer but I’ve found it well worth the investment and I use it all the time. Now I no longer have to worry about getting my scissors dirty. They also double as a decorative accessory. Wick trimmers are more aesthetically pleasing than basic scissors and I can leave them laying on the coffee table or desk. Also because of the beveled tip it cuts the wick straight versus scissors which will cut the wick at a slant if you have to insert it into the jar and a angled cut wick won’t burn straight.
Most wick trimmers have a beveled tip which makes it easy to catch the trimmed wick. This is perfect for people like me who find it difficult to balance tiny things on small surfaces.
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Question 3: Are accessories like lids or photophores really useful? Or worth it in general? What about candle snuffers?
Some candles come with their own lids. Henri Bendel Travel Candles and full-sized Jo Malone Candles come with lids. Diptyque carries candle lids you can purchase separately. I’ve received a couple Diptyque lids as gift with purchases before and also purchased several. I find that they work to keep out dust and debris and really help to keep the surfaces clean. Some have asked if it keeps the scent in the candle from fading – if you have input on this I’d be really happy to hear your thoughts. I have had several candles that I left open or in a box over 6 months and found they retained their scent and strength without a lid. With the lids that come from Diptyque, Jo Malone or Henri Bendel, they sit on top of the candle but it won’t seal them shut completely so air can still get in and out. I like my lids mainly to keep them clean and dust-free.
Photophores are decorative accents for me. They can be on the pricey side but I do think if you are willing to splurge on something to decorate your home these are very beautiful. I received one from Diptyque as a gift from my husband and really love it. Below is the Large Full Twist option.
One of the candle accessories I don’t own yet is a candle snuffer. I’ve looked at them numerous times at the stores but haven’t splurged yet.
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Question 4: How do you clean out the wax from the interior to recycle your candles?
If you google how to recycle or clean out candles, you will find a number of different methods. I’ve shared my personal candle recycling tips before. I don’t always get a completely clean burn and there is often remnants of wax on the sides so the freezer method doesn’t work for me. I don’t like using really hot water because it can impact the stickers on the sides of the jars. I like to use the warm water + dish soap with paper towels or a sponge to soften the wax and clean the interior.
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Question 5: What are your all time favorite candles?
I’ve purchased quite a few different candles, each time I go to a Diptyque store or visit Henri Bendel I discover something new. Personal favorites change depending on time of year. My most frequently repurchased candles include:
I also really like Frederic Malle, Byredo and Lumira candles as well, but for me they are harder to find so I don’t purchase them as frequently as I would like to.
I hope you found this candle care post helpful! If you have any tips you’d like to share please do so in the comments! What are your favorite candles or scents?
