I have an insane- no, I mean off the charts, insane- sense of smell, and a low tolerance for anything flowery. So the first time I walked into the Gramercy Park Hotel years ago, I nearly fell over- drunk from the yummy, wintery scent of its interior- and I’ve needed everything in my life to smell like that lobby ever since. The scent, Cade 26, is custom mixed by Le Labo and is exclusive to the hotel, but the parfumerie carries Santal 26 in its shops and online. If it’s actually a different scent, it’s not detectable to the human nose. Even mine. And, good news, it’s $20 bucks cheaper!

Even buying them through the boutique, these candles are expensive- and I pride myself on being frugal in most aspects of life. But some people need shoes, and I need this smell! If I could live inside a fireplace, where the logs were made of leather, it would smell just like this. Le Labo’s candles are 100% soy blends and 100% natural, but best of all, the $70 price tag also gets you a personally labeled 1lb glass container that is “re-usable as a beautiful pen holder or as something heavy that you can throw at someone you particularly dislike.” I have actually taken the time to freeze and scrape the wax out of mine and use them at my drafting table for the former option they suggest.

Know this. I am dimey in all aspects of life. I want my smell, but I wanna get my 70 bucks worth too… Thanks for the great idea, Le Labo. My pens sure do have a pretty house.

PS I also use the spray, and all of my drapery/ upholstery gets a spritz whenever company is on their way. (Many guests call later to tell me “the essence of my home somehow sticks with them for awhile”, and “how lovely that is”. I decline to mention that it’s because all of my good-smelly pillows rubbed off on their shirts. I have yet to come up with a clever way to reuse these bottles. Lemme know if you think of any…

Le Labo Santal 26 Candle & Room Spray, $70 & $125