Belle en Rykiel

I’ve had Belle en Rykiel from Sonya Rykiel sitting around for a while because it just seemed much too heavy to test or wear in the summer, so I thought I’d take another run at it now that the weather is getting all crisp and the Rockies are…. IN THE WORLD SERIES!!!! Well, maybe. At the time I’m writing this, we don’t know yet, and I may be retracting it late tonight or early tomorrow morning.

Also, today will be a sample grabbag giveaway. I have tons of them – Shilo, Bois 1920 Sutra Ylang, some Il Profumos, Cristina Fissore Rapsodia in Blu. So just leave a comment and let me know if you’d like to be in the draw, and the winner will receive a bunch of samples that I need to get rid of before it is impossible to wade out of my office. I’ll even toss in a bit of my Bond No. 9 Andy Warhol sample :cries:. I’m trying to let go of little samples I love, and it’s really, really hard on this one, but I keep telling myself a full bottle will be mines, mines, all mines!!! in December. Lord, I’m just a ‘orrible, selfish wretch. I can’t let go of it. Instead, I’ll be giving away a set of the November Posse Scent Club samples in addition to the grabbag. Two separate drawings for one post, so just indicate if you want in the drawing for one or the other or both. If I can convince myself to have some dignity, the Andy Warhol bit may still make it in one of these.

Belle en Rykiel has top notes of mandarin, red currant, and lavender flowers; heart notes are heliotrope, coffee blossom, and frankincese; base notes are patchouli, amber, vanilla, and Mahogany wood. This reminds me of a creamier, more floral Bond No. 9 New Haarlem. New Haarlem is my favorite coffee fragrance of all time. NH is stronger, more pungent than Belle. Belle is a little softer, it doesn’t have that coffee bitterness, or it is tempered by the other notes. The longer it is on, next to NH, the closer together they start to come, but Belle never quite has that coffee pungency that NH has and veers off away from the coffee midway through the drydown, retaining only a trace of the coffee on me.

For those of you that like your coffee softer and surrounded by flowers and perhaps a teensy bit of some sweets, and that in the open and going to almost nothing in the drydown, and you find New Haarlem to be too Starbucks Burnt Coffee, Belle en Rykiel is very pretty and appealing, and it works far better in colder weather than in summer. I’m still preferring New Haarlem, but I suspect the price point, once it gets to discounters, will make Belle en Rykiel the more attractive of the two.

So ya’ll remember the expensive candle from last week? The Santuario di Bellezza Roma Modern Candle for $120? It smells great in the jar! Unfortunately, that’s where the beauty ends. I tried burning it and I tried melting it, and the result was the same — almost nonexistent throw. ‘Tis a shame because it’s a beauty and should have a way to get out and perfume my house. The only way I could have wound up more irritated by this purchase is if I had bought the bigger $180 version of this “no smell unless you stick your nose in the jar” candle. Why would they spend this much time and effort to make this beautiful fragrance wrapped up in wax in a beautiful 24% leaded jar, tied up with a beautiful bow, just to have the fragrance be a big zero?

Two questions for today. What’s your favorite coffee fragrance? I find myself in need of sampling some more. And what’s the candle you have that has the best throw?

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18 years ago

I am a huge fan of the Ikea candles in glass containers. Each comes with a plastic over the mouth that has a picture of what it’s supposed to smell like and no name written out. They definitely scent a room or two really well. Please enter me in the drawings for both batches of samples. Thanks.

Connie
18 years ago

No real suggestions on the coffee or candle front but I do want to be entered in the fab sniff bag. Thanks!

18 years ago

My hands-down favourite coffee scent is CSP’s Vanille Café: coffee with cream and sugar and a little dollop of vanilla syrup. Simple, irresistible, intoxicating. (It was reformulated, I think, when they redid their line and called it Vanille Moka: I haven’t tried that so I can’t compare them.)

L’Artisan’s Eau du Navigateur is another good one, but the coffee, to my nose, isn’t a dominant note–it’s more about the leather and wood.

If there are drawings for samples of things, enter me, too.

Dennis
18 years ago

Hello – the company is California Fleurish, who produce a line called Antique Garden, which has the Green Tomato Leaf. All available online, methinks.

cjj88
18 years ago

LOL…i try to give away the ones i love and pine after too..

please enter me in both drawings…

thanks
Candice

Laurie Brown
18 years ago

Please add me to the draw!

I’m here in the upper Rocky Mountains of Idaho…

Rob
18 years ago

PUT ME IN THE DRAWING!!!! PUT ME IN THE DRAWING!!!! Thanks!

New Haarlem is the darling of my coffee scents if it weren’t for the price, but Rochas Man quells my craving for a smooth coffee scent for a steal.

When I crave for a more stronger coffee, I like Armani Attitude, but that’s pretty much the extent of it. I wanted to like MPG Santal, but GEE-WIZ! Terribly bitter and without a chaser unfortunately.

Candles? Wish I liked ’em, but I prefer room sprays or even those plug-in thingys.

18 years ago

I can’t imagine a candle that is that expensive! The best candles I have come across are Tyler. The throw is quite impressive and they have so many scents. I train horses, and I can burn one of these candles in the office that is connected to the barn and you can smell the candle in the stalls!

I used to love a Jo Malone frag that had coffee to it…the name escapes me. I have some pure coffee butter I can send you if you like coffee….it is hard to get and very creamy.

Please enter me in your draw!

Lavanya
18 years ago

This *is* a coincidence..I was recently(couple of hours back) reading reviews of candles as I need/waannnt to buy a candle to scent my living room..(right now I have some kind of fragrant reed diffuser thing that I want to change)..so it was fun and useful reading everybody’s comments.
I thought I liked New Harlem(liked it better than the other Bonds) but the last time I wore it I couldn’t wait to get it off..hmm..

Please enter me in both drawings(if its not too late)

Camille
18 years ago

Help!! Can you check to see if I’m being filtered? Tried to post twice today and not having any luck. Avoiding any potentially trouble words in this post to see if it works….

Camille
18 years ago
Reply to  Camille

Okay, sure, I see how this works now: I’m not allowed to mention I’m a Diamondbacks fan, apparently, or it sends me straight to the smut can. :d Congrats on your World Series clinch!

No help on coffee scents, but I can highly recommend Gold Canyon candles for throw. Inexpensive, lots of fragrances, amazing candle sillage.

Hope this one makes it through!

Dana
18 years ago

Please enter me in both drawings. I have yet to try any cofee-based scents. Thanks!

Jane
18 years ago

My favorite coffee scent is Black Vetyver Cafe and my candle with the best throw is Mocha Latte by A Zaftig Woman etailer.

Love your site:)
Jane

Erin/Tigs
18 years ago

Thirding Yohji Homme. And L’eau du nagivateur rocks this side of the Rockies. I’m all about the manly coffee.

Karla
18 years ago

Hello,
Please enter me in both drawings…..

I’m a little reserved in trying heavy coffe or chocolate scents, but Belle En sounds worth the try….

I’m alwasy looking for a new and different scent, i just can’t take them too heavy

Annie
18 years ago

:xOh,Lord…..just yesterday I re-tried Bond #9 New Haarlem,and am simply NUTS for it….I want to bathe in it,spray it on my sheets,douse my whole body with it,etc,etc….fav. coffee scent??…..that’s putting it so mildly…..now about candles….I YERN(old term,’cause I’m old!!)for candles with great throw….years ago,I found one at K-Mart,yes,that’s right,K-Mart….unreal…..sooooo,I’ll be scoping out the comments here,and then after I sell the house,so I can purchase the Bond,and the candle(you KNOW it’ll cost many $$$$$$)…..I will invite you all to tea in my cardboard box,where I’ll be living,and smelling great….total fun!….I luv ‘youse guys….please enter me in any/all currant draws:”>

minette
18 years ago

am i too late to enter? i’d love to grab the grabbag!

do you know rochas absolu? belle en rykiel reminds me very much of it. and yes, both are better suited for cooler temps.

Maura
18 years ago

Hi Patty!

I have to agree with the AL Cafe Noir as being a great and affordable coffee scent!

So sorry about your candle :((!! I have a few of the Bond No. 9 and the throw is amazing. I can’t burn them for more than a few hours due to the potency. I’m SO lemming the Solonge Stoned candle…would love to know the “burn quality”!!

Would love to sample your grab bag of goodies!

Thanks :d

Cheryl
18 years ago

I found this all very inspiring — to seek out more candles. I have had great luck with the reasonable (sort of) priced Voluspa, and the wonderful Geodesis — hard to get in Canada. And Japanese incense is great, but vanishes the instant the incense does. Very transient.

Have not found a chocolate noted perfume yet to enjoy. Ava Luxe’s didn’t grab me. Love to be in the draw!
Cheryl

Lucy
18 years ago

Not familiar with the coffee scents . . . but I have come to love Slatkin candles — especially Oriental Spice and Frankincense. Twigs is good and their Christomas candle is a winner.

If it isn’t too late, may I be included in the drawing?

Good luck with the Rockies!!!

priti
18 years ago

Enter me in both drawings please 🙂 I need something new to spritz now that rainy, cold weather has once again come to Chicago :_( Coffee fragrance, hmm. I don’t love gourmand smells somehow so I dunno about that..

CindyN
18 years ago

Please enter me in the drawing. Pretty, pretty please.

Susan
18 years ago

How ’bout those Rockies!!!

Patty, so sorry you were disappointed with the candle purchase – but disappointment is the ONLY experience I’ve ever had with candles. Have somewhat better luck with fragrant soaps (but not to perfume my house, obviously!)

Please enter me in the drawings. Would love to have some new samples.

Also, since I know how much you guys here hate Angel – I’ve finally summoned the courage to ask – does anyone else smell a light coffee fragrance in it? Maybe its supposed to be chocolate?(Ducking and running now)

Tessa
18 years ago

You know, I can’t bear to burn candles when I really love them, I keep an old battered pacifica in a discontinued scent in my underwear drawer, it looks like a spotty christmas tree green but it smells soft and sweet and delicious.

okay, actually minimizing it now…

Tessa
18 years ago

I’d love to be in both drawings, Thanks! – I’m exited about the November scent club.

minimizing the window at work now…

Lindsey
18 years ago

I’d like to enter both drawings, please.

Of the two coffee fragrances I’ve tried, New Haarlem & CDG Wood Coffee, I much prefer New Haarlem. I enjoy wearing NH after dinner and before bed.

Sorry I’m no help as far as candles…usually use incense.

Lindsey
18 years ago
Reply to  Patty

Hey Patty! Sorry it took me awhile to reply. This is our usual incense (I’m sure we’re not unique in liking this?) Nag Champa – Satya Sai Baba. I also like Nag Champa – Sai Baba Super Hit Incense.

I’m sure I could dive into the world of high-end incense quite easily if I let myself.

Jen
18 years ago

🙂 Please enter me in the drawings. 😉

Coffee is my fave in fragrance. I love Cafe Noir a ton, also Bond no 9 New Harlem is a good one. That one is strong though

noyna
18 years ago

Oh, lawd, coming late to the blog again. Please enter me in the drawings, if possible! The weather is finally cooling down here in BKK, so I don’t worry so much about being a stinky wildebeest when I sample new scents…

18 years ago

My Annick Goutal candle (Petit Cherie) does have a very good throw. But also this makes me think if you really want to scent you house, the best thing is to use those lamps that waft specially made home fragrance oils around. Also I do find that L’Occitane home fragrance sprays are very good. And the Jo Malone home fragrance sprays are delightful…Please enter me into all the drawings! I am being greedy aren’t I…

Lena
18 years ago

Please ender me in the draw!

I have bought candles from the brand Voluspa and they have the best throw and lots of fragrance options!

Karen
18 years ago

Not much of a candle person at all, I’m afraid…but I am a baseball person (Go Rockies!!!). Yes, please oh please enter me in your drawings!

luv_bug
18 years ago

The only coffee note in any scent I truly love is the one in CdG’s Kyoto. It lends all those cool evergreens a shot of attitude.

As for candles, I too am of the small-apartment-two-cats variety, and I tend to keep my burning objects to incense. One stick of sandalwood (bought cheap at Whole Foods) covers up the stink of life pretty handily.

Please enter me for both drawings!

Sarah
18 years ago

Go Rockies!!! (and Indians!)
After having worked for the ‘bux for two years, I’m afraid the only coffee fragrance I like is, well, coffee. However, I can tell you which types of coffee I prefer based on aroma, flavor, and country of origin/method of processing (I was one of the few baristas who actually cared about coffee). You sound like you’re more of a fan of Latin American coffees and lighter roasts, no? Very floral, nutty, sometimes cocoa-powder aromas, maybe some fruit…

Anywho, please enter me in both drawings! Thanks! (If you ever need help finding a good coffee…)

Donna
18 years ago

I can’t think of any coffee fragrances that I have tried. As for candles with great scent throw, Chantecaille Frangipani candle, Henri Bendel Birch (may be discontinued) and also the Bendel Ginger and Clove candles. Worst scent throw ever were the Party Lite candles I bought just to be a good friend (I still have them).

I would love to take some samples off your hands! Thanks!

rachael
18 years ago

I’m never satisfied with candles’ ability to scent a room, so I opt for oil burners or incense. The only coffee frag I’ve tried is New Harlaam, but I do love it. No, wait, that’s not true, i tried Ava Luxe’s Cafe Noir, which was too sweet for me.
Also, I’d love to take some samples off your hands, laugh.

dinazad
18 years ago

Oh Patty, what a terrible disappointment! I feel for you.

Where coffee scents are concerned, I’m a dyed-in-the-wool New Haarlem Fan. I also like Rochas Man and Yohji Homme. I THINK I’d like Jo Malone Black Vetyver Café, except that it doesn’t hang around long enough for me to smell it. As for CdG Wood Coffee – cold, stale, week coffee forgotten on the windowsill (sorry, Divina!)….

Some gentle soul sent me three travel-size Henri Bendel candles, and they’re really great. I also luuuuurrrve Annick Goutal’s “Noel” Christmas candles, even though I can only afford the super-tiny travel size. They’re insanely expensive, but smell wonderful and perfume the entire house! Mariage Freres I keep hanging around – they’re not cheap, and I wonder whether they can possibly be as good as the MF incense sticks (Fruits Rouges is to die for). I’d hate to be disappointed. The best candles I ever had were from O&Co., a company which sells olive oil products. Their basil-scented candles burned down to the last tiny sliver, had a great throw and came in cute little ceramic pots. But I can’t find them anymore! SOBBBBBB!!!!!
Worst candle ever: Donna Karan Black Cashmere (and I love that scent!). An enormous, expensive black thing with minimal throw which left you with a big block of scented black wax when it burned down after only a few hours. Not worth buying….

Oh yes – I’d love to be in both drawings!

Cheezwiz
18 years ago
Reply to  dinazad

Oooh the Annick Goutal Christmas Candles! Haven’t bought them before but I had the chance to sniff them in the department store last year. Absolute holiday heaven. I would definitely shell out for those if I had the money!

Carol
18 years ago

Unfortunately, as a relative newbie, I don’t think I’ve ever sampled a coffee scent and I’m not much of a candle person lately – I have what I think is an Archipelago Botanicals Havana Jar Candle at home on my dresser, but I haven’t opened it for probably 2 years…. but I sure would still like to be entered in the drawing:)

Congrats on the World Series!!

pattie
18 years ago

Another tired Denverite here – can you believe this??!! They just keep going . . . . Please enter me in the drawing if you would. My latest favorite candle is the L’Artisan Annanas Fizz one (it has a different name than the scent, but I cant remember it – like I said, I’m tired).

sunlit
18 years ago

I would love to be entered in both your drawings.

I do love candles and I am always sniffing them where ever I go. I have a Geodesis candle in Lotus that is lovely, both lit and unlit. They sell a cover for it, it you want to enclose the scent while it sitting there on your shelf.

I am getting a Diptyque candle for my birthday. I smelled it burning in a little shop and decided to splurge. The scent was Baies. Hopefully, I will enjoy it as much in my home, as I did in the shop.

chayaruchama
18 years ago

Belle En Rykiel-
God help me, I wanted it to be a HG- and I detested it so, I returned it to Nordstrom’s. It smelled weak and fakey-fake to me.
Shoot me .
AL Cafe Noir- really good. And the discontinued Liz Zorn’s Sienna Sun- just stunningly dark and yummy.

I love candles, but I never buy them…
That would detract from my horrific perfume expenditures, ma belle !

Teri
18 years ago

Oh yes, pulllleeeeze enter me in both of your drawings! I hope I have 1/2 the luck with the drawing that our Rocks have had in the playoffs!! I stayed up to the very end of the game so I could celebrate — even though the alarm goes off at 5 am @-) Let’s hear it for the ‘flyover states’!! Whoo hoo!!!

I love coffee-scented and flavored things. It’s just the plain old cuppa joe that doesn’t appeal to me (tea drinker here). I like the Belle en Rykiel, too, and have been toying with the idea of buying some. I think this would make a great cold morning scent. Virtual caffeine? lol Why not!

I don’t really know any other coffee scents, but I’m writing down the names suggested here and adding them to my ‘to try’ list. :d

I got two GREAT candles as a gift last year. Sadly, there was no brand name on either of them and the gifter doesn’t remember where she bought them. One was orange, the other pear, and they came in urn-shaped jars and smelled heavenly. Very natural fruit-smelling and they scented the entire main level of my house.

I keep looking at every shop I visit, hoping I can find that distinctive frosted glass urn-shaped jar.

Diana
18 years ago

Enter me for both please!

BTW, I LOVE LOVE LOVE Belle en Rykiel! I tried it for the first time two saturdays ago in Nordstrom, but I had no idea what the notes were. Thanks for the review!

18 years ago

Oh do sign me up for the drawing.

The only two coffee frags that I’ve tried are the CG Wood Coffee from the Sweet series and the Bond So New York. The Wood Coffee was okay on me, a bit too sweet, but mostly a nice woods and patch scent. The So New York just smelled a bit off. But that could have been the coffee/chocolate/plum combo…it wasn’t really sweet on me, just something didn’t go well and made a weird flatish sour note. Blech. Alas, I’m afraid I’m no good for suggestions.

Marsi
18 years ago

Hello from a fellow Rockies fan just down the road from you (Stapleton)! UNREAL!!

Please enter me in the drawing, thanks!

I don’t have a favorite coffee fragrance, but I’m very curious to try Belle en Rykiel now. The other notes sound very good.

As for candles, I like Diptyque, but they’re awfully spendy, so I don’t often go down that road. My favorite affordable candles are by Capri Blue, which I buy at Anthropologie — and I especially like the ones in the pretty, cut-glass jars, which you can reuse.

Mostly though, my preference is to burn Japanese-style incense (no bamboo core). My favorites are by Mariage Freres, which I seem to find only in Paris (but since you’re going … check it out!), but a stateside runner up is Shoyeido (who, if I had to guess, might be the company that produces the Mariage Freres incense — just a hunch).

Best,
Marsi

Joan
18 years ago
Reply to  Marsi

You can find the Mariage Freres candles online at Aedes de Venustas. The Ambre is luscious…but incense are my favorites too. Thanks for all the great suggestions – the candle I was using was delegated to the coat closet (as it has, I fear, good moth killing capabilities).

Lee
18 years ago
Reply to  Patty

It’s on Rue Vieille du Temple if I remember right (very close to an old frien’s former apartment)… You can stop off there after going to the Picasso museum, and then watch the gay boys parading a little down the road…

Lee
18 years ago
Reply to  Lee

I’m wrong!

Kelly
18 years ago

I’m possibly more angry than you are about your candle. Indeed, what’s with all the presentation on a turd?! Yankee candles are just my favorite. I’ve tried others and always “meh” my way back. I use the crock warmer, and leave it on 24/7. Right now I’m drooling over Autumn Harvest. That spicy yumminess makes me feel like an amazing housekeeper and cook, even when I’m tripping over toys to take the fish sticks out of the oven. (And the house doesn’t smell like fish sticks!)

Oh, and lots of little mystery vials? Catch me while I swoon… with my last conscious thought I gasp, “enter me!”

Ack! Shirl, I’m writing p0rn again!

18 years ago

Coffee & chocolate are 2 gourmand notes that I like on the real thing but can’t wrap my mind around as perfumes. Case in point, I’m test driving Piment Brulant today & the chocolate note in it is kind of weirding me out (it was a freebie, I wouldn’t actually choose a scent like that). So, haven’t sniffed any coffees yet.

And wow holy cr@p Patty, are you KIDDING, $120 for THAT? Ouch! I don’t do candles much because 1 small apt + 2 cats = candle hazard. Plus, candles with too much throw choke me out of my little space pretty quickly & make me wheezy. I did have a Yankee Clipper candle once & it was so strong even unlit that I had to regift it. So I’m a bit useless on that front. But … I do sometimes light little L’Occitane candles in tins in the bathroom for guests & they fill the space up beautifully. I’ve used vanilla & green tea (a bit herby for me, actually). And I’ve also had some really lovely leather scent candles that throw nicely even unlit (cheap pillars from a leather shop on Christopher Street. ahem.) And I have a poshie soy candle in a jar that REALLY throws but ah, can’t remember what now. I’ll check tonight at home & post it.

18 years ago
Reply to  Patty

Saved by Google! It’s the Votivo Aromatics Black Ginger candle. They’re very soft & melty & I’d thought they were soy candles, but the sites I just looked at didn’t say soy. So, maybe no. Still, like the name says, very aromatic.

18 years ago
Reply to  Patty

I will try to get to Aedes to candle check. I’ve recently gotten interested in incense even tho my first forays (Avignone, Messe de Minuit) were disasters. Even Ouarzazate was kinda sour-ish for me. But I love Barbara Bui & Joseph Statkus & want to find more. So, incense candle sniffing I will go. Just don’t hate me if it takes a couple weeks to get there, please.

Gail S
18 years ago

I would love to be entered in the drawings!

I’m not a huge fan of coffee fragrances, but for another Bond, So New York is a recent favorite of mine, and it does have an “espresso accord”. It’s reminiscent of Angel, except that it smells good :d

I will second and third some posters from above about the Henri Bendel candles – Firewood is my favorite and scents the entire house from my daughters’ room. But for really covering a whole house, for my money, the home fragrance oils can’t be beat. It literally takes less than five minutes to spread to every corner of my big house. And you can’t beat the price either, $3 right now at B&BW!

melamici
18 years ago

I’d love to be entered into the drawings. Haven’t made it to coffee scents yet, as I’m fairly new at this game, but I’m working on it… and, for candles, I recommend Archipelago Botanicals and also these adorable Aunt Sadie’s candle-in-a-can concoctions that I first picked up at an Anthropologie last year. Super cute, great throw, not so hard on the wallet.

Judith
18 years ago

I really like New Haarlem, but I like it even better as a candle–and it has great throw!!! Other coffee loves are Navigateur and Yojhi Yammamoto Homme. Dying to try the Silver factory, but I guess I’ll just have to be patient and wait! 🙂

Judith
18 years ago
Reply to  Patty

The New Haarlem candle lasts forever, too. And it’s very nice looking–and great for Fall! Somewhat pricey (though not as bad as the one you bought), but totally worth it, IMO. Just sayin’

One candle I would NOT recommend is the Armani Prive Bois d’Encens (or probably others in the series). Gorgeous looking (with a price to match), but no throw at all!

On other coffee scents–I like JM Black Vetiver Cafe, too, but it lasts about 5 minutes on me (I see that others have this problem); everyone but me seems to love the A-L Cafe Noir, but on me it’s too sweet–smells like those little candy Coffee Nips, ya know?8-|

18 years ago

My favorite coffee scent probably would have been Comme des Garcons Wood Coffee from the sweet series, but the lasting power is non-existent. Still, for the time it lasts, it is a beautiful coffee fragrance.

Please count me in for the first grab bag too!

sariah
18 years ago

Wow, lots of comments today.

Best throw candle that I like: Henry Bendel Amber is amazing – amber and woods, not as sweet as many ambers – great for fall winter, and you can often find for 1/2 off at B&BW. Sorry to hear about the Roma candle, that bites.

I LOOOOVE New Harlem, must try the Belle de Rykiel, please sign me up for the draw of the grab bag. Love Angel Men too, but didn’t think it smelled like coffee (more like chocolate)Thanks