Diptyque "Gardenia" Candle Review

By now, I'm certain that you've figured out that I'm endlessly obsessed with fragrance... home fragrance, perfumes, shower creams, body creams, candles. The list just goes on and on! (and on...)

When I was younger, I was in love with sweet gourmand fragrances (Miss Dior Cherie and Comptoir Sud Pacifique's Vanille Abricot were among my favorites). Any candles or diffusers I owned were fragranced with some sort of vanilla or cupcake note, and it's a wonder that I didn't fall into a saccharine-scented induced coma at the age of eighteen. ;)

Now that the phase of smelling like a French pâtisserie has passed me, I've found myself falling in love with more scents from the floral and woody families. White florals are quickly becoming one of my favorites, and I've fallen in love with gardenia especially. Enter Diptyque's Gardenia candle.

I'll be totally honest, I was first drawn to Diptyque because of the bold graphic labels on the glass containers. (Can you blame me? They're gorgeous!) You constantly see them on display in home decor magazines, used almost as a staple accent in the well-dressed home.

Diptyque describes the gardenia scent as a "bouquet of opulent white flowers in a twilit room in the evening." I've been burning the 6.5 oz candle (with an approx. 60 hour burn life) in my bedroom, and it's the perfect dreamy scent for such a place. It gives off a delicate, understated scent that is simply evocative of the gardenia flower... so, so pretty. I must admit, I wouldn't recommend this candle for a large space (such as a living room or kitchen), as the throw is practically non-existent. My Voluspa candles are much more heavily fragranced, but it's a nice change when I use the lighter Diptyque (particularly now that it's getting warmer out).

Would I buy Diptyque candles regularly? Probably not, especially since they are quite pricey for such a short burn time. However, they are a definitely a little luxury to use... the perfect gift for a friend or a random treat for yourself.

It's the little things in life, right?

P.S. Another great use for your Diptyque glass after it's been used up? As Cupcakes & Cashmere shows above, it can be recycled as a super cute makeup brush holder. Totally doing this!

Voluspa Candles: Suede Blanc

As you've probably gathered from this blog, I'm a true girly girl, and enjoy little things that bring an extra "sparkle" to my life. As I've mentioned before, Voluspa candles are one of those little pleasures for me. I burn one of their candles nearly every evening, and I love how it creates a warm, cozy ambiance to my home, no matter how crazy my day has been.

I recently had a small issue with one of my favorite Suede Blanc candles from their Maison Blanc collection, and sent off a quick email to their headquarters about it. Within a day, I had received a concerned response from Voluspa's co-founder, Troy Arntsen. A week later, I received a replacement package of Suede Blanc products as a gesture of goodwill for the mishap.

I've shopped and vacationed at many places that are renowned for their customer service. Saks sends gracious thank you cards. Louis Vuitton offers complimentary gold stamping. Bond No. 9 sends samples. The Ritz-Carlton has welcomed us with chocolate-covered strawberries and champagne. I'm pretty loyal when it comes to brands if I love a certain product, so these little things matter to me. Just as any business course will tell you, companies can retain customers for years if they go that extra mile to make them happy.

Voluspa is a total example of this... they went above and beyond to ensure my satisfaction. In a time where convenience and cost-cutting is often a priority for many companies, it's refreshing when you encounter companies that are focused on the core of their business: the customer.

Suede Blanc remains my favorite home fragrance, and surprisingly, it's something I'd liken to a "boyfriend" type scent. It's rich with notes of cedar and sueded leather, and it's such a comforting fragrance. I adore the packaging: the white and gold is gorgeous, and totally compliments my neutral French chic decor. Like the Macaron candle I reviewed a few months ago, the milky white glass jar just glows beautifully and the scent is evenly distributed in the room.

Love, love, love!

Retail Haul: Hits & Misses

Voluspa's Macaron Candle ($32 at specialty boutiques, 12 oz.)

I go a little crazy for blankets and candles this time of year... I can never get enough of cozy. This gorgeous, clean-burning Voluspa candle is absolutely no exception. Reminiscent of French macarons (with notes of vanilla and powdered sugar), this one is sweetly fragrant but not cloying. Think sexy, grown-up sweet... not saccharine, a la Aquolina Pink Sugar.

 Kiehl's Rosa Arctica ($60 at Saks, 1.7 oz.)

With the combination of chilly weather, Retin-A, and the end of a cold, my skin became a dry, peeling mess this weekend. My old standby of Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream just wasn't cutting it anymore. Having used samples before, I knew Rosa Arctica (similar in consistency to La Mer) was my only saving grace. I purchased it on Saturday afternoon, and by this morning, my skin was back to normal. How's that for effectiveness?! It's actually marketed as an anti-aging cream, claiming to help smooth and firm the skin. While I'm not in need of anti-aging treatments, I love how densely hydrating it is. A tiny bit goes a long way.

YSL Faux Cils Shocking Mascara ($30 at Sephora)

Ughh. I really wanted to like this mascara, but like the original Faux Cils by YSL, the Shocking is a clumpy, icky mess. The wand isn't anything special; if anything, it's just a magnet for tangles. The formula isn't workable, and immediately starts to set the moment it hits your lashes. Buy this if you want spikey, sticky lashes. I think I'll pass, thankyouverymuch. ;)

Bumble and Bumble's Creme de Coco Shampoo & Conditioner ($22 for each, 8 oz.)

I'm selective about nearly everything I use, but hair care is especially important just because I have such a massive amount of hair. Creme de Coco smells great, and claims to be moisturizing. HA. That's a joke. I might as well have used hand soap on my hair, because these two products did absolutely nothing. Back to Victoria's Secret (So Sexy) and Oribe (Brilliance & Shine).

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Best in Bow

I'm obviously a fan of all of the above (Bows? Candles? Bandeau bikinis? Missoni? ... enough said). However, when it comes to Prada's Saffiano Tote... love, love, love. I've been on the search for the perfect black leather tote with yellow goldtone accents, and this one is definitely on the top of my list. The shape is perfect, and I could see myself using this one for years. So classic.  

Available at Neiman Marcus

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