hand poured Vanilla & Grapefruit scented candle

Vanilla:

Tropical undergrowth the world over is now teeming with vanilla vines... and the vanilla plants all come from the same place: the Aztec Empire! That\'s how essential the spice now is to our nose and palate. But the French had a big hand in vanilla\'s history from Louis XIV\'s reign and onwards. Madagascar was actually a French colony and is still one of the biggest vanilla exporters. The Indonesian archipelago has such perfect conditions for growing it that vanilla has finally found its home here.  

Grapefruit:

Corsican pink grapefruit is now a rare gem. Especially if you compare it to the absolutely colossal production of grapefruits worldwide for sweet almost bitterless juice instead of perfume. But nothing beats the smooth scents bursting from Corsican peel. 

Vanilla:

Can you imagine a world without Vanilla? It\'s so familiar and essential to us now that we often forget that it was a late arrival in Europe: the black flower (the pod) was only used by the Aztecs in America after being conquered by the Spanish. Vanilla may have only been grown in Mexico for centuries but it gradually flooded into European kingdoms. Louis XIV and the rest of the French court were won over by its aroma and tried to introduce it to the Bourbon Islands. It didn\'t happen until there was a better understanding of how pollination works. Vanilla vines ended up thriving in the 19th century on Bourbon Island (now Ile de la Réunion) and the best vanilla is named after it. Vanilla came into its own in Madagascar later on and it\'s still the biggest exporter in the world. 

Grapefruit:

Grapefruits are an exception: they are the only citrus fruit to come from the Antilles and not Asia. The fruit didn\'t really establish itself in European gardens until the late 20th century in the French Mediterranean and especially Corsica.

Vanilla:

Vanilla is a flowering vine. A pod forms at the base of its white flower after being pollinated by pollinators that only exist in tropical habitats (which is why it can\'t be grown just anywhere and why it was shrouded in mystery for centuries). The pod must be picked whilst it\'s still green before it\'s expertly dried to develop its signature aromas. As ever in natural fragrances, the soil type has a significant influence on the standard of aromas: Tahitian vanilla is less gourmet but has notes of coumarin, similar to fern or light tobacco, whilst Bourbon vanilla is drenched in the sweet and suave scent that you want when it first hits your senses. This magical vine grows anywhere in the world that feels good: in humid tropical regions whose undergrowth has the shade and light it needs along with a constant supply of water and heat. 

Grapefruit:

Grapefruits are so sensual and indulgent that they\'re known as "the forbidden fruit" in Guadeloupe and Martinique. With their bittersweet aromas, grapefruits come in all kinds of varieties and are mainly grown for their flavour qualities. Grapefruit peel undergoes steam distillation to provide the sought-after citrus-floral note in perfumery. Pomelo de Corse is easy to spot with its pink flesh and yellow peel that can veer towards deep orange or red. It\'s best picked between March and June as it\'s a spring fruit that waits for the sun to return. 

The instant and refreshing zing of pink grapefruit melts into deep and exotic Bourbon vanilla: our perfumer has gone for a subtle pairing that packs a punch. 

The Vanilla & Grapefruit scented candle belongs to the Gourmet scent family. Our fragrance pays tribute to the power of the sun and the mouth-water gems it nourishes.

Top note: Orange, Grapefruit, Raspberry

Heart note: Jasmine, Geranium

Base note: Vanilla, Musk