For hundreds of years, people have sought ways to harness the evocative power of scent. It is so strong that just a few exchanges between molecules floating in the air can download a host of memories of relatives or of days and nights spent wandering the world. From a moonlit valley in Scandinavia to a pulpit in Harlem or a bustling bazaar in the Middle East to the cliffs of Yosemite, let these scents transport you wherever you want to be.
Dave Vieglais/Getty; Paddywax
The Call of the West
Yosemite National Park, California
Sounds ambitious. Can a candle really bring the majesty of the ancient redwood and the cliffs of El Capitan and Half Dome indoors? If these fragrance notes—ground black pepper, African ginger, elemi resin, clove leaf, cinnamon bark, eucalyptus, fresh nutmeg, sandalwood, dark teak—aren’t enough, the wooden wick and rustic vessel of hit anywhere will seal the deal. . Just add a spark. Paddywax, Yosemite
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty; Harlem Candle Co.
1920 Speakeasy
New York City
Scratch a match for a flashback: the Jazz Age, the Prohibition Era, and the Harlem Renaissance. This white and gold ceramic bowl with a Harlem nightclub map serves as a time machine to take you back to the secret excitement of underground bars with verbose aromas of tobacco, cardamom, patchouli, saffron and dark chocolate . Harlem Candle Co., “Speakeasy” Harlem Harlem
Getty; Julie Ansiau/Astier de Villatte
Summer Night in the Old Town
Buenos Aires
Instead of a long-haul flight, let this candle transport you to the cobbled streets of Buenos Aires on a midsummer night. It contains the scent of white flowers that you can follow in the warm breeze for a cocktail at a corner jazz bar, a tango dance in the dark or rhythmic music from the neighborhood that never sleeps. Astier de Villatte, Buenos Aires
Chunyip Wong/Getty; Skandinaviska
The valley of the moon
Western Norway, Norway
A narrow river flows through the valley, moistening the soil, reviving the gardens, ripening the fruits. This stained glass candle evokes a canoe trip on an autumn evening in Western Norway, when the moonlight shines on the fjord and the scents of apple and pear blossoms float in the air. Scandinavian, FJORD
Peter Adams/Getty; Rifle Paper Co.; Bebe Istrate/Getty
Mediterranean breeze
Calabria, Italy
Imagine being able to lie on the beach after a long day of work. Perhaps, light this beautifully painted glass candle blended with eucalyptus, sea salt, lemon and jasmine. Then, close your eyes and let the fresh scent of the Mediterranean, lemon trees and rock breeze wash over you. Only the aroma can calm the tension of the day. Rifle Paper Co., Amalfi del Mar
Gary Yeowell/Getty; Lumir
Midday shopping
Cairo
At first it smells like smoke. Then come the pure and clean roses, followed by the intermingling of patchouli and sandalwood notes and oud, amber and musk. An aromatic concerto, a delicate balance between the soft, enveloping scent of flowers and the full, complex scent of wood, this unique candle contains the greatest richness and charm of the Middle East. Lumira, Oud Arabic
Tim E. White/Getty; Photo Allie Mullin/Bright Black
The Land of Milk and Honey
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Let’s trace the aroma of frankincense, myrrh, coffee and creamy milk with a drop of honey to the origins of homo sapiens. The warm, healing aroma will transport you to the city’s buzzing farmers’ markets, where freshly baked breads and handmade leather goods are sold, and to majestic churches and mosques, where prayers are answered. Bright Black, Addis Ababa
Nicolas Daumas/Getty; The boy smells
Lush island
Antananarivo, Madagascar
A lanai is an outdoor porch where you can sit and relax all day, watching the ebb and flow, the sun and moon rise and set, flowers and fruit bloom and dry. This candle embodies the tropical cycle of life and renewal in its playful, complex and exotic blend of aromas: lava ash, tonka bean, coconut and mango. Boy smell, Lanai
Marco Anginoni/Getty; It’s hard; Iryna Veklich/Getty
Ancient Indian Odyssey
Tamil Nadu, India
The ancient Indian city of Madurai has a nickname: the jasmine city. Fruity, musky flowers exist in myth and legend, Shiva’s temple altar and statue, women’s hair and necklaces, and this blue glass candle. With a front note of ylang-ylang leaf, lighting this candle can take you back to King Vel Paari’s hunting trip in 300 BC when jasmine was discovered. Trudon, Madurai
Ni Qin/Getty; Travel perfume
Wonder of the World
The Great Wall, China
The signal fires are long gone, the walls have eroded and the 13,170 miles of fortifications are now a must-see for tourists. This candle brings the greatness, grandeur of the bygone empire and its world wonder built by many nameless common people: pomelo and plum for the glory of yesterday, Chinese tea leaves for the passage of time. Viaggi, The Great Wall of China
Elena Liseykina/Getty; Memo Paris
Siberian blizzard
Siberia, Russia
It’s a song of ice and fire: the flame will release the scent of frost mixed with basil, pine needles, mint, clear sage, rosemary, cedar, patchouli… As you light the candle inside this reusable porcelain mug, imagine a long snowy night sitting by the fire, swapping ancient myths and legends and listening to wolves howl in the distance. Memo Paris, Russian leather mug
