Water, water everywhere

Published on July 2, 2009 in Trends. 0 Comments

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Behind every season lies a unique fragrance story. Unexpected twists and scent combinations have always served as a great inspiration when it comes to my personal fragrance, fashion and overall lifestyle choices. Summer, being my favorite season of the year, tends to bring a great deal of bright, fresh and bold trends—not to mention copious amounts of ice cream and peach margaritas! This year, as always, my love affair with summer fragrance has led to a tryst with new seasonal sensations.

There are several undeniable trends this season that keep catching my attention: light, refreshing floral and cherry blossom fragrances such as Pretty by Elizabeth Arden and Guerlain’s new Acqua Allegoria, greener scents like Fleurs de Bois by Miller Harris, cooling tangy fruit sorbets like Givenchy’s Very Irresistible Summer Sorbet, and reminiscent of an exotic getaway, 5:40 pm in Madagascar by Kenzo.

But what has captured most of my attention this season has to be the aquatic theme. It is often inspired by exotic destinations in the Mediterranean Sea and the reflecting, shimmering blue skies of lagoons in the tropics. Splashes of water, rain drops and ocean waves are translated into many hot summer launches such as Davidoff’s Cool Water Woman, Pucci’s Vivara Variazioni Acqua 330, and a personal favorite, Marc Jacobs’ Splash Rain. Here freshness is the prevailing sensation with all the crisp, clean and natural elements of water.

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Within this aquatic purity, you can repeatedly find soft sheer floral fragrances mixed into the marine category this summer that help balance this undeniable freshness… Along with florals, sweet and tropical notes are also making their way to the forefront with their succulent aspect of the watery trend: combinations with apple, melon and orange are dominating new launches by many perfume brands.

Aquatic fragrances are often perceived as a category lacking variety and character. But the truth is that you can choose from a wide range of cool summer scents, each showing a different temperament of water: from the notes of fresh splashes of cool, salty ocean to the natural, earthy types interlaced with mist and dew motifs.

Go ahead, join me on this journey and explore your senses through your own perception of water, while I keep diving into the cool aromas of an always unpredictable and much anticipated summer.

Father of the Beach Bride

Published on July 2, 2009 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

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At Chesapeake Bay Candle, we give a lot of thought and planning to our fragrances, designs, and color palettes. The end result, we hope, is a product that brings warmth, joy, and evokes special memories for you and your family. Do you use candles for special occasions?

As a guy with three kids (two daughters) who’s married to an interior designer, I’ve been lucky to have lots of exposure to the many creative uses for candles in dozens of holidays and family events.

We recently celebrated a family wedding that was made even more special because my daughter wanted our many talented family members to control the decorations and floral arrangements.

PhotobucketOur home is on the seashore, so following a wedding held on the beach, our guests joined us at the house for a sunset reception that lasted well into the next morning! With a jazz ensemble, a variety of regional foods and serving stations, the mood was set for great times with our friends and family members.

Since the beach theme was inescapable, my mother (another designer) and wife collaborated to create the wonderful hurricane lamps with classic pillar candles. The anchor of beach sand with an assortment of shells we collected from the beach made a great centerpiece for the dozens of draped tables.

The warm glow of these candle arrangements and the smiles and happiness they illuminated will be a memory we’ll all treasure forever. With just a little imagination and creativity, you can come up with your very own personal candle arrangement ideas. We’d love to see them – email us at pr@chesapeakebaycandle.com!

An Exceptional Nose

Published on July 2, 2009 in Thoughts. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

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For me, having an exceptional nose for fragrance is like having an exceptional singing voice: I admire the talent in others, but I am realistic about my own abilities.

I work in an office full of people who can distinguish fragrances too nuanced for me to even detect – people who can sniff carefully at something, then pronounce with confidence, “There’s a bit of charred Siberian Fir shavings in that, isn’t there, and perhaps a touch of spiced kukui nut oil?” My reactions are far more basic – “It smells like cupcakes! I like cupcakes!” – but I’m comfortable with this; I like what I like (usually anything vanilla-based), whether it’s considered sophisticated, or not.

That’s not to say I don’t appreciate complex fragrances, and maybe my attraction to most anything containing vanilla has less to do with my lack of a sophisticated nose, and is more like how I love Chanel No. 5, not because of the fragrance itself, but because that’s what my mom wears. Sure, everybody finds vanilla comforting – big duh, right? – but maybe I find it more so than most for a simple reason: I am a huge lipstick junkie freak (you don’t even know). M.A.C. puts vanilla in all their lipsticks and Lipglasses, and so M.A.C. and its vanilla has been on my lips (and so, under my nose) non-stop for years, so now there’s all these good memories that are, for me, inextricably linked to that smell.

Silly as it sounds, I can be in an awful mood, but if I just smell a tube of Lipglass, it helps. (If you think that sounds silly, imagine how it looks – people walking past my desk as I’m hunched over and snorting at this little plastic vial. That’s a conversation with HR waiting to happen.) Which is why, when we get a new batch of candle samples here at the office, while others are remarking on the sophistication and complexity of this floral, or that ozonic, I’m the one who has grabbed the Vanilla Amber or Vanilla Riceflower candle, and started inhaling for all I’m worth.

So yeah, when it comes to fragrance, I’m a simple girl, with simple tastes, and proud of it. Power to the people!

However, should you ever want to have an in-depth conversation about the nuances of difference between Ruby Woo and Russian Red lipsticks – well, on that subject matter, I am totally Jennifer Hudson, and ready to break it down for you.

I guess we all have our talents like that.

Sniffapalooza

Published on July 2, 2009 in Events. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

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“Nature and all her wonders guide me. Emotions find expression in fragrance. Fragrance is the music of my dreams. Fragrance is my inspiration.”

Words of true fragrance enthusiast Annick Goutal, the feeling expressed in this quote resonated among every participant of the 2009 Sniffapalooza Spring Fling. The event was an invitation for perfume fanatics to explore some of the latest fragrance introductions at New York’s most exquisite destinations for fine fragrances – including Bergdorf Goodman, Bond no. 9, or Henri Bendel – and also included presentations and speeches from some of the biggest names in the industry.

A self proclaimed ‘perfume passionata,’ I was a perfect match for this scent savvy group of fragrance aficionados. Attendees from around the globe got together to share their enthusiasm for fragrance, attended educational seminars, and discovered the latest introductions in the fragrance industry.

I’ll share with you some of my favorite impressions from this event, many of which will surely fuel some creative inspiration for future Chesapeake Bay Candle collections:

Transforming emotions into fragrance, perfumer Annick Goutal satisfied in her creations the age-old quest to find eternity in a passing moment; to embody an emotion or memory of a significant event, or even a loved one, that has temporarily escaped us.

Perfumer Gérald Ghislain, so inspired by the creators of his favorite works of literature and authors like George Sand and Marquis de Sade, crafted the fragrances of his Twelves Tomes collection like a sensual reference to the written word and all the emotions it inspires; an olfactory homage to the art of reading.

The synergy of this romantic idealism, accompanied by the perfumer’s distinctive passion for fragrance was echoed throughout almost every perfume house featured during the event, and was evident in the stories behind the fragrance collections we explored.

To me, the Sniffapalooza Spring Fling was the perfect opportunity to spy the latest fragrance trends and uncover the many beautiful inspirations that tell the story of every fragrance collection. Make sure to check back with us to find out which tales will be told through our upcoming Chesapeake Bay Candle home fragrance collection – for I can hardly wait to translate my inspirations into creativity.

Ahhh…spring!

Published on July 2, 2009 in Thoughts. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

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My favorite time of year…a time to begin again…revive, renew, rearrange, reinvigorate…a time for a fresh start…which I must say…we all would welcome right now!

And the best part of the season is the awakening of fragrance in the air…earthy scents, the lovely fragrance of blossoming flowers and trees, the fresh scent of new grass or the first balmy spring breeze. It inspires you to open your windows and feel this sweet tonic of renewal blissfully blow through the rooms of your home. And once you start the intoxicating experience…how do you keep that flourish going?!

…By treating yourself, family and friends to beautiful, inspiring home fragrance and the captivating glow of candles.

Spring welcomes a number of holidays and the opportunity to re-engage after the long winter.

PhotobucketThe combination of beguiling bouquets and fragrant candles, reed diffusers or scented pomanders and sachets create a treat for the senses and add sparkle to your gatherings, entertaining and celebrations.
Whether placing decorative votives and pillars together to create a magical environment in a dining table centerpiece or escaping to a spa experience in the privacy of your own bathroom with mini tea lights and reed diffusers…or refreshing your closets and drawers with the gentle scent of sachets, the pleasure of fragrance and candle glow lightens spirits, transports your mind and renews your energy!

Light a citrus scent in your kitchen to keep the beautiful bounty of spring fragrance glowing throughout every room of your home.

Shake off those patio cushions and add festive lanterns to your outdoor space…or larger candles, which we refer to as “grand pillars,” to create random height and plays of light…and extend your living space for great entertaining.

So…use your imagination to captivate, entertain, surprise…and welcome this season of renewal…happy spring!

Dining in the Dark

Published on July 2, 2009 in Events. 0 Comments Tags: , .

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Have you ever had your dinner in complete darkness?

If you’re like me, the answer is probably no. And if you’re like me, you would have thought the “dining in the dark” event I attended last month was a totally cool experience leaving a lasting impact.

The event was organized by the Washington, D.C. chapter of the Young Presidents Organization – spearheaded by a friend who has worked for the National Industries for the Blind.

The organization’s mission is to enhance opportunities for economic and personal independence of people who are blind primarily through creating, sustaining and improving employment.

We started the event by being blind-folded. Immediately one felt vulnerable. You instantly reached out to the next person to support you. In this case, it was the shoulders of our waiter, who allowed us to hold both hands on to her shoulders and led us to our table.

After we were seated, we couldn’t help but notice the extraordinarily loud sounds coming from all corners. Everything simply became more amplified, to the point you could hear whispers coming from the very far table.

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And the waiter softly told us that she was about to place a drink to our right. As I took a sip of my wine, the aroma of sun dried mulberry and oak mixed with the acidity of the grape assaulted my taste instantly. It wasn’t just the aroma; it was as if a full symphony orchestra was playing in front of you with top and bottom notes with subtle flavors in between. Without the distraction of vision, one’s senses were so heightened that we were able to pick up the faintest note, that we otherwise would have completely ignored.

The dinner went on, and we were joined by other couples. Everyone talked in lowered voices – despite what appeared to be a very loud environment – for it seemed to go better with the sensory experience.

And before we sank our teeth into the entree, we had already experienced the raw and green smell of asparagus, the smooth and velvety blue potato with a hint of rosemary, and the succulent thyme infused duck breast.

We had never experienced such depth and variety of flavors and fragrances in any meal, but then again, we had never been blindfolded for a meal either. All we could focus on was the food and the others’ soft words.

After the dessert was served and the blind fold was taken away, we couldn’t help but wonder: do we underuse our wonderful senses of smell and hearing? Have we allowed the visual aspect of our lives take over other pleasures of the world? Wouldn’t it be interesting to let your eyes rest once in a while to let our other senses pick up the more ambiguous aspects of nature and life?

The dining in the dark experience gave us a whole new perspective on what a blind person’s life must be like and what we can do to make it better.

Hello and welcome!

Published on July 2, 2009 in Thoughts. 0 Comments Tags: , .

Polaroid - MareikeEvery week we receive hundreds of emails, letters, and phone calls from you, and we appreciate every compliment, comment and the occasional constructive critique (thank you!).

When Mei and David created the first Chesapeake Bay Candle collection in the basement of their home in Annapolis, Maryland back in 1994, they would have never dreamed their little venture would become one of the most popular candle companies in the country. And they know they could not have done it without your support and involvement.

There are many talents behind the Chesapeake Bay Candle brand – from our designers, to our fragrance “noses” and our quality experts. We all share your passion for candles and home fragrance, and we thought it would be fun to create a forum where we could share and exchange our thoughts and ideas with you…
A place where we could talk to you, and you could talk right back.

And so we are launching the Chesapeake Bay Candle blog!

Our creative minds cannot wait to share their secret decorating, entertaining and gifting tips. They also look forward to revealing their design obsessions (the things that inspire them) – may it be fashion, photography, fine art, or something they’ve discovered on the streets or at a hotel.

Look out for something new from us every other week – our goal is to surprise you with fresh and exciting ideas. We hope you will share your feedback as you have always done (please, please keep talking to us!).