Nothing says Christmas glamour like a hefty 3000g candle, and the offerings this year are particularly glorious. For the glitz factor, look to Cire Trudon’s Nazareth candle that provides a cosy blend of the most Christmassy scent of clove, cinnamon and orange in fabulously gilded glass.
To reap the rewards of such an investment, when lighting a candle for the first time always allow it to burn for 2 hours, which will allow wax to pool evenly for the duration of its burn time, according to Ben Palmer, co-owner of Palmer & Penn, which sells Australia’a biggest and best range of the French brand.
To get the most of your candle burn it until the entire surface of the candle melts.
“To preserve the fragrance, don’t burn your candle for more than four hours at a time during the first third of the candle and one to two hours at a time during the remaining,” advises Palmer.
Candlelight is one of the quickest ways of adding instant glamour to a space. They make you (and your rooms) look beautiful.
That’s why so many proposals are made over candlelit dinners. They can disguise all kinds of flaws. They create atmosphere and movement. Shadows on walls. Magic.
Cire Trudon, the candlemaker to France’s greatest churches, founded back in the seventeenth century, Cire Trudon was Louis XVI’s choice and is a big fave with Hermes, Cartier, Dior and Guerlain. The parrafin-free numbers use 100 per cent vegetable wax, have pure cotton wicks and will burn for almost double the time of the usual posh numbers. Available in 12 fab scents, which are in a league of its own, the scents smell real. They follow you around and linger, (without completely disappearing or being headache-inducing). The come in three sizes, in handblown Italian glasses.
Seek out favourite scents such as Ernesto (leather and tobacco), Gabriel Christmas (Gourmand Christmas fire), Cyrnos, (Mediterranen armoas), Abd El Kader, (Moroccan mint tea), Odalisque (Orange blossom) and others that will transport you to everything from fresh laundry to Indian jasmine, verbena and roses, fresh cologne, mimosa, and more.
Palmer also warns against ever blowing out a candle. “Never blow on a flame to put it out. Snuff it out.”
And finally, Palmer recommends always giving the wick a trim (about half a centimetre) before relighting. This ensures less soot is formed when the candle is burning and that the oils are kept beautiful.
PALMER & PENN
16 Transvaal Ave, Double Bay NSW 2028, (02) 9328 4800, palmerandpenn.com.au
OTHER TOP TIPS:
- It’s best not to light differently scented candles in the same room as, unlike perfume, candles can be hard to blend.
- Change your home’s scent with the seasons: try something warm and woody for winter; fresh and citrusy for summer.
- Light your candles one hour before guests arrive for the best effect.
- Forget using scented candles to try and mask a bad odour – it doesn’t work.
- In small rooms or a wardrobe, unlit scented candles can perfume the air, and infuse your things with a pretty smell.
- Avoid cheap candles – they smell awful.
