I have always believed that my home that should feel like a long exhale and a sanctuary for my heart and those traveling guests. Beautiful, whimsical and welcoming. With mushy sofas to curl up on and scrumptious bedding to dream in. Lighting plays the role of setting the stage and the tone for the story to unfold. Whether by way of natural sunlight, twinkly chandeliers -  the quiet flickering glow of a candle brings peace and serenity into the heart of the home.

Over the years I have curated my favorite candles, considering both their fragrance and the vessel in which they are placed. A quiet accent that contributes to the feeling and essence of a room.

l.a Rouge, the most Luxurious candle, is now a mainstay in my home.

My most recent discovery is l.a. Rouge, founded by my dear friends Amy Neunsigner and Lucinda Lent. Back in the summer of 2024, on their visit to my home in Meadow Manor, in the English countryside, when they were conceptualizing their vision, we spent many hours discussing their mission to create a candle, where the scent was to complement the gatherings of the dining experience. Where the fragrance are notes from a garden of herbs and plants, an extension of aroma to the subtle flavors of taste. 

We meandered thru the local flea markets gathering vintage cut glass vessels for what was to become part of the story for their candles. And over the next few months of the concept and development and ultimately launch of l.a.rouge, I observed Amy and Lucinda's slow and careful exploration of every minute detail so to be sure their final offering encapsulated every quality of their intention. And so along with a breathtakingly beautiful end product, the hands-on soul of creation lives on.

And of course they fell in love with George, my dog, which inspired the name for Lucinda's puppy as well as my favorite George candle. 

My forever favorite candle for the dinner table.

Amy has spent a lifetime of photographing and creating magical dinning spaces to gather. She saw a void in the market, where heavily branded and often intrusively incompatible heavily fragrances, often achieved with toxic ingredients, were the only offerings available. I love l.a. Rouge for its subtle contribution, where the fragrance is part of the recipe quietly in the background.

The cut glass flea market found vintage vessels, have a new lease of life, discarded from their original purpose, they now house the candle itself while also creating twinkles with light reflecting ,creating an old-world dreamy charm. The trademark organic red wick is an edgy punctuation, which once lit is a memory, never forgotten. Every detail is considered, and a l.a. Rouge candle is an experience unto itself. Humming along quietly amongst the food and conversations, humbly, fancifully and meaningfully.  A beautiful take away memory.

How I Use Luxury Candle Scents in Every Room

In my world of Shabby Chic®, my l.a. rouge candle is like an old friend. Comforting, familiar and cherished. Layering into the gems in my home, as though she’s always been there.

My home is full of personality. While I have many found treasures, they all have meaning for their beauty, function and memories they hold. And I am very mindful of my selections.

I have always been very selective of any fragrance in I choose in my home, carefully placed so the journey of my chosen fragrance transitions from room to room. Up until  l.a. Rouge I only had fragrance free candles in my kitchen and dining area. But now the citrus and herbal notes support the flavors of dining, adding a richness and texture.

Thru to my living room I favor woodsy or an amber fragrance, a subtle background of a scent that layers into the hodgepodge of my eclectic and mushy décor.

My sleeping sanctuary, often minimal luxury, welcomes a romantic layer of soft flowers, comforting and soothing.

I have a vast collection of vintage vessels which I mostly use for my floral arrangements. Many have evidence of chips and cracks, but their imperfections and part of their story. The vintage cut glass vessels of l.a. Rouge candles layer in perfectly into my collections.

 xo Rachel

Other Luxury Candles I Treasure

I love creating a journey of fragrance throughout my home. Some long-time favorites now share space with l.a. Rouge, and each adds its own character to the rooms I inhabit. I tend to favor quiet, powdery aromas rather than overly sweet ones, so the transition from room to room is noticeable but subtle. Fragrance is a lasting memory. Like a song, it often brings back moments long forgotten, more so than a visual recollection. While I welcome many candles into my home, there are just a few distinct fragrances that are my true loves - subtle but memorable.

Diptyque Candles

Diptyque is a French-based haute perfumery. It is the most whimsical as well as substantive of brands. Their story telling and depth of passion into every detail are inspiring. Founded by a gypsy-esque threesome: Christiane Gautrot, an interior designer; Yves Coueslant, a theater set designer; and Desmond Knox-Leet, a painter. They introduced their first candle in 1963 from the Diptyque store at 34 Boulevard Saint-Germain in Paris, France. Their labeling, inspired by the Roman shields of the Pretorian Guard, combined with the magical journey of developing their fragrances through metaphorical as well as genuine secret gardens, brings pure soul to the candle plus an aroma that is unmatched.

Personally, I love the Baies fragrance, which is made up of notes of blackcurrant berries, along with their green leaves and a flowery accent of rose. This scent has become a trademark in my home.

Trudon Candles
I first discovered Trudon at my English country home. One of the oldest luxury candle houses in the world, Trudon is known for dramatic, layered scents featuring musk, woods, and spices. Their fragrances are never overpowering but contribute to storytelling and a sense of theatre. Against a backdrop of flakey paint mantels or timeworn gold mirrors, Trudon candles feel heavenly and cinematic, adding depth and drama to the subtle journey of fragrance through a home.

Santa Maria Novella Candles
Santa Maria Novella is a historic apothecary in Florence, Italy, with roots stretching back to 1221 when monks experimented with herbs and flowers to create soothing balms and elixirs. Today, the pharmacy is housed in a breathtaking building with vaulted ceilings, ornate gilding, frescoes, and marble floors, its walnut cabinetry lined with glass decanters filled with colorful potions. My personal favorite is the iris candle, which graces my home altar where my collection of vintage Virgin Marys resides. Its fragrance, reminiscent of the iris flower—the symbol of Florence—is both hauntingly beautiful and unmistakably elegant. A divine gold-painted fleur de lis adorns the candle, a perfect detail that blends history, beauty, and scent.