Stuff My Stocking 2017, Stuffer 3: Five Perfect Candles for the Important People in Your Life
By Zoe Hawryluk
Whether you’re visiting a friend for the holidays or your aunt is hosting your family’s Christmas party, the most classic and surefire hostess gift is -- you guessed it -- candles.
But don’t bring your bestie or your auntie just any candle. Surprise her with a lavish soy candle from Commodity. Known for their artisanal perfumes, Commodity brings classic scents to candles for the perfect complement to any home décor.
At $55 each, Commodity candles are hand-poured with expert precision. They combine naturally derived soy-based wax with expertly crafted premium fragrances that use nature’s finest commodities (get it?). These candles burn for 60 hours and will surely impress even the nit-pickiest in-laws in your world.
With five scents to choose from, here are my favorites from the collection and who you should gift them to:
1. Book
Top Notes: Virginian Cedarwood, Bois de Rose, Eucalyptus, Bergamot
Mid Notes: Alaskan Cypress, Amyris, Amber
Base Notes: Musk, Sandalwood, Velvet
My Notes: Forget Kindles, there’s nothing better than the smell of opening a new book. Or an old book. Or any book, for that matter. For the reader in your life, this candle pairs perfectly with a cup of hot tea in your home library, no matter how big or small your literary collection.
2. Oolong
Top Notes: Cassis Fruit, Honey, Mandan, Egyptian Basil
Mid Notes: Oolong Tea, Damascus Rose, Tonka
Base Notes: Hints of Tobacco, Indian Sandalwood, White Patchouli, Cashmere Musk
My Notes: For your world traveler, this versatile candle takes you on a trip across continents. With a certain je ne sais quoi, the scents in this candle are sharp, a little tart, and deep. If you close your eyes, you’ll be transported to another country. You decide which.
3. Leather
Top Notes: Black Leather, Oregano Essence, Juniper Wood Essence
Mid Notes: Cacao Bean Absolute, Myrrh Resinoid, Cade Essence, Akigalawood®
Base Notes: Styrax Resinoid, Cedarwood Essence, Haitian Vetiver Essence, Cistus Labdanum Essence from Concrete
My Notes: If this candle could tell Dad jokes, it would. Perfect for your father or grandfather, this candle feels like a warm hug from a silken suit jacket and velvet vest. The scent lingers in the room for hours after the wick is snuffed, as does the best advice from your lovable old man.
4. Orris
Top Notes: Carrot Seed Orpur, Pink Peppercorn, Italian Bergamot, Coriander Seed
Mid Notes: White Lily of the Valley, Tea Blossom, Patchouli Oil, Moroccan Cedarwood
Base Notes: Italian Orris, Vetiver Oil, Vanilla Madagascar Orpur
My Notes: This candle smells like a bathroom just after you step out of the shower, but in the best way. The top notes are high, but not too high that they give you a headache. The scent is fresh yet easy on the nose, so it’s perfect for your Mama.
5. Tonka
Top Notes: Almond Oil, Indian Davana Oil, Cardamom oil
Mid Notes: Lotus, Magnolia Oil
Base Notes: Venezuelan Roasted Tonka Absolute, Peru Balsam Absolute, Australian Sandalwood Oil, Laos Benzoin Resinoid
My Notes: Easily my favorite candle in the collection, Tonka makes you feel something. Perfect for your intellectual friend or extravagant bestie, this is the ideal candle to have flickering in the background. Whenever I have people over, everyone always asks me, “Mmm, what’s that smell?”
I absolutely love and highly recommend all of these scents. If you’re ballin’ on a budget, order the 3x3 Exploratory Kit ($38). It comes with small candles and mini fragrances in Book, Oolong, and Orris. Split them up by scent or mix and match for a gift that doesn’t break the bank and shows you care.
