Paris and Its Scented Candles

by Rodrigo Lavalle

Something that caught my attention when I moved to Paris in 2010 was how large and varied the French scented candle market was. At that time, in Brazil, we were still under the "domination" of L'Occitane's incense (which unfortunately no longer exists) and home fragrances from Trousseau and Osklen.

Here in Paris, many brands and stores that work in home decor and household goods have their own line of scented candles. Even fashion brands and trendy shops, in an effort to extend their reach and become lifestyle brands, launch their personalized versions of the product.

Among the numerous options available in Parisian retail, I've compiled a list of my favorites and divided them into two categories: affordable, with prices around €15, and luxury, starting at €45.

• Muji: the only non-French brand on the list. Muji sells clothes (somewhat plain), furniture (nice), bedding and bath products, travel accessories (super practical), and toys (amazing). Everything has a cool and clean design. The candle scents are fruity and light, all exclusively developed for the brand. The candles come in a tin with a lid and are made from a blend of vegetable wax and paraffin.

Style: smart minimalism. Price: €5.50.

• Comptoir de Famille: founded in 1992 in the small town of La Tour du Pin, near Lyon, Comptoir draws on a vintage country theme. Its home and decor products evoke the times of our grandparents - if they were French and lived in the countryside. The series of gourmande candles features scents inspired by foods that bring back childhood memories: Cinnamon Cookie, Spice Bread, Strawberry Jam, Lemon Meringue Pie, Crème Brûlée, etc. A great olfactory substitute for dessert. The candles come in glass containers resembling mousse bowls. They are made of paraffin and the wick is made of cotton.

Style: cozy and cute. Price: €16.

• Diptyque: Founded in Paris in 1961 at 34 Boulevard Saint Germain, where it still operates today. Initially functioning as a fabric store for decor, it later transformed into a perfumery. Its specialty is in-house manufactured fragrances that evoke nature. The candles complement the product line with the same scents: orange, gardenia, cilantro, cinnamon, cypress, etc. Nine different types of mineral waxes enriched with vegetable waxes are used in the manufacturing of their candles.

Style: sophisticated cool. Price: €45.

• Astier de Villatte: one of my favorite stores in Paris. Founded in 1996, Astier specializes in ceramics made from black clay that then receive a layer of white glaze. The final appearance is somewhat "imperfect" but luxurious and super chic. A lovely plate - without apparent practical function - costs €42. The candle scents are inspired by various cities around the world and attempt to capture their spirit: Alcatraz, Brasília, Paris, Stockholm, etc. The candles come in the aforementioned ceramic containers - handmade at the brand's workshop in Paris - or in glass containers made in Tuscany. The wax used is 100% vegetable based.

Style: rustic chic. Price: starting from €55.

• Cire Trudon: The oldest and most traditional of the three brands, Cire Trudon was founded in 1643 as a candle factory. After a few years, it became the official supplier of wax and candles for the kings of France and later for Napoleon. Loved by Marie Antoinette, the brand supplied the candles used in Sofia Coppola's film about the queen. The scents draw from the past or reference it, such as Solis Rex which evokes the Hall of Mirrors at the Château de Versailles with its vast wooden floor and hundreds of chandeliers. The candles come in glass containers handcrafted in Vinci, Italy. Each is unique and has its name engraved in gold letters. The wax used is 100% vegetable made from soy and copra (the dried flesh of the coconut), and the wick is made from pure cotton. Since the wax does not contain paraffin, it leaves no combustion traces in the glass container.

Style: traditional, sophisticated, slightly dense. Price: €60.