It began with tomatoes. Thanks largely to Loewe’s gangbusters Tomato Leaves line and outdoorsy lifestyle brands like Flamingo Estate, the aroma of these red fruits can now be found in any well-appointed home. Much like owning Aesop’s Resurrection Aromatique Hand Wash or Diptyque’s Baies candle in years past, catching a whiff of tomato is a surefire sign that someone has taste. The spicy-sweet, fresh, and green scent isn’t going anywhere (at least for now), but this summer, we’re upping the ante. I give you: garden candles.
It’s something I picked up from the zeitgeist: candles perfumed with oregano, mushrooms, even obscure fruits like kumquats. After talking to fragrance experts about the best scented candles for this summer, my hunch was confirmed. ‘Garden scents are having a big moment,’ says P.F. Candle Co. founder and creative director Kristen Pumphrey. ‘I’ve noticed that fruit notes in particular have been very popular — this is a trickle-down from fine perfumery. Cherry, peach, watermelon, fig — true-to-life fruit scents that feel vivacious and fun.' Also in that garden camp are savory suspects: vegetables and herbal scents like rosemary, mint, and eucalyptus — ‘anything that feels like a cooling evening in a summer garden,’ Kristen continues.
