Happy autumn. It’s pouring rain here with gale force winds through the evening. My weird neighbours’ chimney divested a supporting piece of wood (which looked like it was petrified) into a plant in the back garden this afternoon. At least the woman was appalled. Will remind her next week that I’m concerned about more of the wood coming down.
Otherwise, my last covid test held a very faint positive line. And … hurrah, hurrah … my sense of smell has mostly returned. I am one thankful bunny. Even happy to smell the dog’s breath.
Anyway, Diptyque’s LE Encre (ink) candle.
I smelled that and the companion Papier candle at the Diptyque shop on the rue St Honoré in Paris on my recent trip.
It’s a nice shop and the SAs were the perfect combo of focused when I asked about something and hands off when I just wanted to wander and smell.
I had specifically wanted to smell the LE candles and ended up taking Encre home.
It’s an interesting interpretation of ink. Only notes listed are patchouli and licorice. It does smell mineral, like I expect good ink smells. The wax should be black, IMHO. But, it’s not.
I tried Papier as well but one of the notes listed (besides heliotrope) is sesame and I couldn’t get past the feeling of tahini. So, that was a no go.
I was gifted a couple of samples which I’ll get to at some point. And I did ask about this year’s Xmas candle releases. The manager just smiled at me enigmatically and said ‘be patient’.
I haven’t lit Encre yet but soon. We’re certainly entering the colder, darker time of year when it will perform well.
Oh, and one day, someone will gift me the Diptyque Advent calendar. A girl can dream.
Pics: Mine
Just been aimlessly scrolling the Fenwick website & saw this https://www.fenwick.co.uk/beauty/fragrance/candles-and-diffusers/candles/cafe-trio-set-3-x-70ml-limited-edition/2530024082464.html
The Biscuit candle as part of a mini trio. Maybe it’s coming back in the full size
I looked at that set but decided I’d wait to see what this year’s Xmas offering is. Apparently the cafe scent is supposed to be awesome.
Great news on the nose! It’s 83 and sunny here, which is … freakishly warm, but given the options I’m just fine with it. I’m dreading winter. I don’t care for the smell of ink so this wouldn’t be for me, but I hope you end up loving it.
Oooh, warm. I don’t mind cold and snow so much but I do not enjoy our 3-4 months of wet, grey, dark and flooding. I discovered that my friends in Prague escape the city over winter for some place south. That makes so much sense to me. But they are artists and make their own schedule. Not everyone can do that …
Ooo sounds like another shop I’ll want to check out! The candle looks beautiful.
330-332 rue St Honore. I believe there are other shops but as I was staying in the 2nd arrondissement it was closest.
Your storm is now with us! Yesterday was dry & we had a day out at the final classic car show of the show season. Good job it wasn’t today!
I like my house to smell of house, the cooking, bread baking, even the dog. Though I do occasionally burn candles I prefer wide open windows.
Beauty Pie do a candle called Clean House. I’m guessing Laundry musks, but, as there is no way of sniffing until after you buy I haven’t bought it. I did get their Gingerbread a few years ago. Smelt good but tunnelled.
I am intrigued by Beauty Pie. It’s still windy here but not wet (so far). I don’t understand the concept of clean musks. What is the point supposed to be?
I think the point is the same as ‘laundry musks’ – some weirdo generic ‘clean’ smell that always ends up smelling chemical – at least to my nose.
I find white/clean musks headachy.
Beauty Pie’s skin care it outstanding, that’s Marcia Kilgore’s background.
The make up can be hit & miss for me, the collaborations have mainly been fabulous. Pati Dubroff’s collaboration was just as good as you would expect from Pati, Sam Chapman’s was stunning too. I’ve been a member for 5 years. The fragrances are awful though.
My new daughter in law enjoys the candles so she gets the mini Xmas candle set in her gift stocking each year.
You can join for a month’s free trial & get member prices during that month. Also lots of influencers do codes for a reduced membership fee & you can combine both offers I believe
Dyptique is one of those houses that I like but have never bought from. Maybe because I have a thing about open flames- I’m always a bit paranoid about leaving them alone (not without provocation- two friends of mine had fires their building because someone left a candle burning near an open window with billowing curtains. Which is why I love that trick I was taught with the candle burning then putting it out.
Oh, and great news about the nose!
Thanks. It is a big relief and am appreciating all the banal things I can smell again along with perfumes.
That’s mad on a candle anywhere near fabric. I do that with candles: the light, let burn for a bit and then blow out so hot wax wafts.
oh, SNAP! You (and violetnoir’s) trick about the candle show up in my post tomorrow!
Glad for you that your sense of smell has returned, sense of smell so important. Scented candles are lovely to create personal olfactory ambiance. There is a scent for everyone. I don’t think ink smells nice; however, I’ve never experienced Diptyque candles. I’ve always enjoyed the candles from Anthropologie, and now Pura home fragrance systems. My new find for car is Drift car fragrance. Non-toxic and smell heavenly, scent the car for a month.
I’ve thought about trying those- are they really good?
Yes! Drift car scents are amazing! I subscribe to the scent of the month; however, Grove is my favorite scent. They really last a month and longer. Non-toxic. And look nice, compact and fit on the visor in wood, metal, or stone options.
I like Diptyque candles — and they offer some fragrances in a smaller size which doesn’t feel like you’re spending the earth. I am also quite partial to the Trudon mint candle in the small size.
I am very pleased for you that your sense of smell has basically returned! Inky candles and sesame candles don’t really arouse my curiosity. I do love scented candles though. They add a lovely atmosphere and scent to a room.
I really was put off by the sesame note. It just made me feel weird. It’s getting colder and damp here so definitely candle time.
I am SO happy to hear you are getting your sense of smell back! I love candles and have a lot of early Dyptique and Amouages – I employ Tom’s trick (h/t Violetnoir) of lighting, letting wax melt, then blowing it out and letting the wax scent the room.
It really is a relief. And it changed how everything tasted, including tooth paste. Yup, Tom’s idea is a good one that works very well.
Heya Cinnamon,
We are having some fairly wild spring weather here too. Lots of wind and some rainstorms. It’s desperately needed and so fun, as long as I’ve got an umbrella and some towels to dry the dogs up after.
Because we are two stinky old men living with two stinky old dogs in an apartment I always have a candle burning in the living room an hour or so before guests (and often just to alleviate the stench of living).
There’s also another in the main bathroom.
My preference is for something low key. I just want the room to smell a bit nicer/fresher, not be a huge blast of scent.
Portia xx
Our storm has passed. Today, it’s mild and quieter. But, we’ll see when the rainy season starts fully. Oh, sweetheart, you are two great smelling, cool guys. I don’t have a bath in the bathroom so no candles there. Usually kitchen.
HA! I love that we give off that vibe but I’m fully aware of the situation. The other day my BFF walked in and curled her nose. You’ve never seen me move faster to light an incense stick.
I rarely use the candle for bath time, it gets lit when we have guests and I don’t want anyone to worry about stinking out the next in line.
Our weather came up nicer this afternoon too. Glad because Monday is washing day. I should be able to bring everything in and get it folded tomorrow. YAY!
Whenever I don’t have money to spend on perfume, but I really need something good smelling, I buy myself a scented candle. Diptyque candles are always wonderful because they have the right size, cover my whole living space with their perfume and are affordable. I haven’t tried Encre and now that I know what it means I suppose I will be biased because I don’t like the smell of ink. On the other hand, I like all of their candles that I’ve tried so far. I like Myrhe, Opopanax, Noisettiere…and last year’s Christmas special Delice was amazing. I’m looking forward to this year’s special edition.
With you. That’s why I like the small size candles. I love Feu de Bois. Have bought on repeat. I have a Xmas one from a couple of years ago, Biscuit, which is wonderful. I wonder what they’ll come up with this year.
I bought this candle at Nordstrom thinking I would like it and imho it was awful. Incredibly bitter, pungent, acrid aroma, almost to the point of being nauseating. I tried my best to burn it to get my money’s worth but it got to the point that I couldn’t take it anymore so just put it back in its box and forgot about it. Plus of course the smell lingers on everything for days so the upper floor of my house smelled like some weird metallic chemical factory. I actually like the smell of ink so naturally I thought I would enjoy this as well…so, so wrong. I’ve had other candles that have ink/paper notes but this was just too much and I have NO idea why this was allowed to go out into the market at all. The papier candle was a little bit better (not by much) but I also thought at times it smelled a lot like that weird fragrance bugs leave behind when you keep them as pets. Like it really smelled like cockroach skins to me or fly larvae. Big misses from Diptyque unless you like the pleasing fragrance of pet cockroaches (papier) or Dr. Frankenstein’s operating table (encre).
Hmmm, interesting our different reactions to things. The only Diptyque I really didn’t rate was Tea, which smelled like soap. Really disappointing.