The Candle as a Boudoir Object of Style

Candles are one of my obsessions, anyone who follows me on Instagram already knows this. I keep them in every room, not only to decorate, but because they completely change the atmosphere of a space. The warm light, the scent in the air, the presence they create: a candle can alter the mood of an interior in seconds.

I tend to think of candles in three categories, each with its own function and aesthetic.

Candles in Vessels

Cire Trudon, Diptyque, Dior Maison, Fornasetti and Richard Ginori all produce candles that exist even before being lit. The vessel itself is already an object to collect: colored wax, illustrated labels, porcelain or sculpted glass.

Among my favorites are Tuileries and Odalisque by Cire Trudon, and also Roses and Café by Diptyque.

I like placing these candles on trays, mirrored surfaces, stacks of books, or beside the bed. Once finished, the container becomes something else entirely: a holder for matches, makeup brushes, flowers, pens, or small objects around the boudoir.

Candles Without Vessels

Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella remains my favorite for candles without vessels: the rose candle, the pot-pourri waxes, the small hand-molded rose, almost too beautiful to burn.

I also love the pink Marie-Antoinette candle by Cire Trudon, which feels more like a decorative ornament than a candle.

I usually keep these candles on marble or glass surfaces among perfumes, trays, and hand mirrors. One of my favorite details is placing the Santa Maria Novella rose candle on a silver shell-shaped dish on my vanity table.

Candlesticks

Candlestick are the ones that truly transform a room. Les Bougies de La Madeleine by Cire Trudon belong to this category: elegant unscented candles designed more for mise-en-scène than fragrance.

I also love the candlesticks by Loewe Perfumes, where the candleholder itself is entirely made of wax and becomes one sculptural object together with the candle. They bring a slightly surreal and playful touch into a room, somewhere between design object and decorative fantasy.

I love them on the table for breakfast, dinner with friends, or even evenings alone. I also keep them in brass wall sconces inside my studio boudoir and light them while working at night to create an atmosphere that feels slightly suspended in time.

Accessories: The Ritual is in the Details

Beautiful candles deserve beautiful accessories.

Cire Trudon produces scented matches that are decorative objects in themselves, while Archivist Gallery creates matchboxes with neo-retro illustrations and pastel-colored matches that I collect almost obsessively.

I particularly love vintage match holders: blown glass, porcelain bowls, and small silver containers. They are the kind of details that complete a space.

Whether decorative, sculptural or purely atmospheric, candles remain one of my favorite ways to transform a boudoir.

With love,
Madame

*This post may contain affiliate links, this means that if you buy something through them I receive a small percentage that allows me to support my work. Thank you! Images via Pinterest.