Paris Burning

Irwin Weiner ASID --  I tend to dislike scented candles. They usually pass in many homes for "good interior design," and fancy smells are no substitute for good design. A lovely unscented taper or column adds romantic light and ambience to any interior -- without perfumey mess.

But I was recently asked to research scented candles and I came up with some beautiful ones that intrigued even me. Most of the candle makers are from Paris, but a few are domestic and attempt to capture fragrances depicting French life.

Try these websites to get your fill of these perfumed candles and use them when you want to add fragrance to a special interior. Set the mood for a romantic evening in bed, a spa-liscious bubble bath, or just try to mask or neutralize cigarette smoke. Be sure to avoid candles with lead wicks, and remember that SOY is JOY (natural soy candles are wonderful).

1. colette is an ooh-lah-lah Parisian website with a great assortment of designer candles, and some of them are interior design statements in and of themselves, like the Pharrell candle from Atelier WM (see photo at top).

Click to read more ...