Belle Fleur New York: Palo Santo and Indochine Candle Review + Burning Exotic Woods and Resins Draw

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Specificity is an important part of luxury. Belle Fleur understands this completely, and this meticulous attention to design and fragrance allows for a soulfulness to radiate through their candles.

Even before the first strike of the match, I notice the candle sitting in its box complete with its very own matchbox. The candle sits in a smoky brown glass. The wax looks more like dark mahogany wood than wax, and it appears almost opalescent. To the touch it feels slick, oily. Once lit the wax burns like a hum, even, peaceful. These candles have a presence in the home, they are not meant to mask, rather they want to enlighten. Leaving us with intimate olfactive impressions from around the world.

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Magdalen with the Smoking Flame by Gerges de La Tour (c.1640)

Palo Santo takes its name from a tree that grows in Ecuador and Peru. It is known as a deeply sacred wood of the Amazon with healing and metaphysical properties. It is a deeply sensual candle that oozes of psychedelic sweetness that is tempered by warm mystical woods. It is trance inducing. As the candle burns violet notes rise and caress clove, and I catch wafts of heliotrope as I walk on by. Warm sweet amber and resinous notes blend with a powdery floral accord. As the candle burns the fragrance becomes a baritone of richness that is frankly hypnotic, near spiritual. Notes include:  Violet, Labdanum, Patchouli, Oud, Copal, and Amber. Indochine evokes the countries surrounding the South China Sea, and their Chinese and French influences. Jasmine, osmanthus, honey, and saffron bring a sophisticated and unique harmony that is floral, animalic, arid, and powdery. Bergamot brings with it flashes of Earl Gray tea as deeper notes of benzoin, vanilla and patchouli keeps a steady woody base. The overall gestalt makes for exotic and striking warmth; it is a refined beauty. Notes include: Bergamot, Saffron, Benzoin, Jasmine, Honey, Osmanthus, Rosewood, Patchouli, and Vanilla.

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Belle Fleur aspires to explore the boundaries of home fragrance. Tony Perez, co-founder of Belle Fleur shared his insights, in particular about their new scents  (there are 5 in all.) “We want to elevate what "home fragrance' could be, making it architectural and spatial and appropriate as an environmental scent, of course.” There is no question that Belle Fleur understands perfumery, Belle Fleur is composing fragrance for candles that considers top, middle and base notes. Perfumer Jerome Epinette’s work has incredible breadth, yet is completely targeted too. The quality and percentage of raw materials makes for a tenacious candle, I must say that the candle almost acts as a conduit for fragrance, and I have never thought about a candle in that way before.

Lighting a candle can mark our intention for a wish, a memory, it can be a tiny step in taking better care of ourselves and our loved ones. Belle Fleur beckons us toward a lifestyle where ritual reigns.

Thanks to Belle Fleur we have a reader’s choice draw for either Palo Santo or Indochine. This is a US only draw. To be eligible leave a comment on which you would choose and what appeals to you about candles and scenting your personal space. Draw ends January 29, 2014.

Disclosure: I received my candles from Belle Fleur

We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.

 –Valerie Vitale, Editor

Editor's Note:  Belle Fleur won a CaFleureBon Best of Scent for Home Fragrance 2013. Tony Perez and Meredith Waga of Belle Fleur won 2014 The Fashion Group's Rising Star Award in the Beauty and Fragrance Category- Entrepeneur Division on January 29, 2014. Thrilled!

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43 comments

  • These candles look beautiful. I am a big candle user but havent tried these yet. I would choose Palo Santo, as I could use some “trance enducing” mojo from time to time. I am in the US

  • Hard choice here as to which one to choose… Since I have Palo Santo chips I burn in my electric heater, I will go with the Indochine. Congrats to Tony and Meredith on the nomination best of luck on the 29th. I am in the US. Thanks Belle Fleur for the draw, I have heard great things about your products.

  • I think I’d choose Palo Santo. Candles are appealing because they supply the three things I need most in winter: light, warmth, and fragrance! I’m in the US; thanks for the draw.

  • I would choose Palo Santo. There is something about the flickering of a candle that invites intimacy and shared confidences as well as making one look mysterious. The scent adds to the overall ambience of warmth.

  • Elizabeth T. says:

    Thanks Belle Fleur! Burning candles adds just the right amount of coziness and warmth in the winter, and can freshen up a room in minutes any other time of year. I’d love to try Indochine.

  • I’m in the US, and I would choose Indochine because of its saffron, benzoin and honey notes. I love candles that have good throw but aren’t overwhelmingly strong. Thanks for the drawing!

  • Wow, you make these sound amazing. I love what a candle can do to the atmosphere in a home, even unlit. I would love to try Palo Santo. I am in the US. Thank you!

  • I love scented candles! I would choose Indochine, and I love being able to change my environment and mood in such a simple but effective way. I am in the US, thanks!

  • Living in the USA my choice would be Indochine. I have always enjoyed the power of candles as a way to change the mood of a room; be it the flickering of the flame or the scent.

  • The glow of a burning candle helps me forget that it’s the middle of winter, the light is so soothing and welcoming. My choice would be Palo Santo, I’m in the US.

  • I would choose Palo Santo. I’m not a big candle user as i burn Japanese incense twice a day for both meditation and atmosphere. I’ve found most scented candles conflict with the smell of the incense, but this sounds like it would intermingle beautifully!

  • I’d choose Palo Santo. Candles are mood changers, mood soothers. I love being surrounded by scents – perfumes or scented candles. I am in the US.

  • Maylo Beemon says:

    Palo Alto is the scent I would select. I now live in a beautiful mountain home overlooking miles of woods. Nights are serene and augmented with my favorite scent burning while enjoying a beautiful fire in the fireplace.

    I’ve often likened my love of scents to providing a ‘scentrack’ of my life linked to memories of people, places, and special occasions.

  • I would love to win Pal Santo.I like burning scented candles on a dark Winter’s night.They bring a sense of hope and serenity to the darkness.I’m in the US.Thanks for the draw!

  • I recently received a “designer” candle as a gift and it makes such a tremendous impact. Like you describe, the physical presence of a well crafted candle sitting in a room is beautiful. It is such a different experience from a fragrance in a bottle.

    I’m in the US.

  • I love burning candles, especially lately on these polar vortex nights! I am in the US, and while both sound wonderful my pick is Palo Santo.

  • susie frankel says:

    My earliest experience of burning candles comes from votives in the Catholic churches and saying a prayer …
    My adult experience often has the same reason…prayers for thanks, favors (blessings) and special occasions. I have quite a collection of scented candles and I cannot live without them in my home’s daily life.
    I would choose Palo Santo. USA. Great draw. thanks

  • I have always been a big fan of burning candles, love how you can scent your whole home and for some reason I find the flicker of a candle comforting. My choice would be Indochine, the notes sound lovely. Thank you for such a wonderful draw.

  • wefadetogray says:

    I love burning candles no matter the season. I believe they enhance not only aesthetically but spiritually my space. My choice would have to be palo santo. I burn real pieces of palo santoeZ2y which I buy when I go back to my country. The smell transports me.
    Thanks for the draw. I am in the US

  • Palo Santo seems like it would evoke my memories of travel. I can picture myself looking and smelling the buddhist temple I visited in Hong Kong, or the evergreen foliage around the old emperors palace in Kyoto. It would be lovely to have a scent in my home to take me back to those memorable places.

  • tomate farcie says:

    I think candles set the tone for a setting, evoking a certain atmosphere..floral, leather, spicy.. These both sound fabulous but if I have to choose Belle Fleur would be the one. I’m in the US

  • helical gnome says:

    I like burning candles or anything scented really from incenses to resins. Palo Santo’s smell is just so moving. I’d have to choose that one for sure!
    I am in the US
    Thanks for the draw.

  • Candles make the environment seem a little richer and a little more elegant, like fresh flowers do. Plus they are so much nicer for scenting the home than air freshener! I live in the US and would chose Indochine. Thanks for the draw!

  • I’d love to try Indochine…I like burning candles to add both scent and a little atmosphere to the room…I can scent my space without spraying my perfume everywhere!

  • Fazal Cheema says:

    i may go for Indochine..i like smells so its natural i want the environment to smell pleasant..i sometimes even spray perfumes around …i am in the US

  • I enjoy candles for the natural essences they put in to the home and for the visual warmth and reflection of the flame. I would choose Indochine, the patchouli and citrus and spice notes appeal to me in winter when my mind craves the outdoors but the weather keeps me inside, it sounds like a calming and focusing blend.

  • I would choose Palo Santo as I love violet scents. I love candles especially during the cold months. Bringing fire and scent into my home is so comforting and hopeful!

  • I would love to have Indochine scenting my home. I love to have candles burning, both for the scent and the flame. They add so much warmth and coziness to my house. I am in the US.

  • Wow! I’d love to win Palo Santo, sounds really really good. I love scents for the house but mostly use incense but I’d love to try a really good candle. I am in the US. Thanks.

  • Courtney Warren says:

    i choose Palo Santo.
    I love candles because of the calming effect they have in a room.
    I am in the US

  • Not only does everyone look fabulous by candlelight, but it’s so welcoming for someone to walk into a house where a candle has been burning! I think Palo Santo sounds wonderful, and I live in the U.S. Thank you!

  • As much as I love to smell good I love to have my personal space home or office or bathroom everything some sort of airy perfumy aroma that suits my style. Both candles sound good to me. I think I would choose Indochine mainly for more likely notes such as Saffron, patchouli and Vanilla benzoin. I love that Belle fleur is constructing these candles just as personal fragrances.
    Thanks

  • These sound amazing, Valerie. I am most drawn to Palo Santo, I love Copal and Oud. I use candles and room sprays to scent my office which is a healing space. I like the transportive effect that room scents offer to my patients, their healing begins as soon as they enter. I’m in the US. Thank you Belle Fleur.

  • Wow, these sound so luscious! Thanks FB and Belle Fleur for the reviews and draw
    Palo Santo would be my pick for space-scenting because it sounds warm and comforting and deep. There is something elemental about candles, watching and hearing their little living flames. I’m not opposed to room sprays but you can’t beat candles for ambiance!

  • Palo Santo sounds lovely. I am especially fond of burning candles in the winter. I have a series of punched-tin sort of cylinders on the mantle and I love the patterns of light that the candle flames inside throw. The smell of a scented candle (especially a spice/wood/amber blend like Palo Santo) can really warm up a room.
    I live in the U.S. and thank you for the draw.

  • Mmmm…I think I would choose Palo Santo. Both sound delicious but Palo Santo reminds me of my time in Peru…

  • I would choose Palo Santo. Patchouli , Oud and amber are great scents combined together. Candles provide a small way to experience fragrance without covering yourself in scent yourself. You can discreetly experience scented bliss while you go about your daily routine at home. I’m in the US. Thanks for the draw.