I have been on a fig fest lately, trying every fig candle I can find, and the LAFCO Marseilles Fig candle is the one that made me daydream. Here is the brand description, how it compares with other figs, and how it performed in my front room.
Ripe black figs and gently crushed fig leaves are combined with a bit of lime zest to create an earthy fruited scent.
I’ve been having an absolute fig fest lately try all varieties of fig candles. It’s amazing how different they all are. Some lean towards the green leaves of a fig tree, some towards it’s fruity sweetness and others go to the dark side. The LAFCO Guest House (Marseilles Fig) candle, however, comes across as slightly gourmand.
I picture black figs baked in the oven until slightly soft, drizzled with honey while still warm, and then topped with the smallest sprinkling of lime zest. This fragrance makes me happy and hungry.
If I could dream a little dream, I’d see the French countryside out the window and I’d be sipping smooth red wine and eating gourmet cheese and bread while enjoying this candle. Soft music would play in the background and the table would be surrounded by friends and family laughing the night way. Oh, to dream…
I love all the hand-blown colored vessels in the LAFCO candle line. They are so eye catching the price is worth the vessel alone. I was surprised how much I enjoyed this clear glass vessel. It looks so simple and elegant and the black rim ads a nice touch.
I’m always impressed with the amount of fragrance LAFCO candles provide. I put this candle in my front room that has a high ceiling that opens to the second floor. This candle filled the space with ease yet didn’t overwhelm it.
If you created a fig candle, what would it smell like?
What the LAFCO Marseilles Fig candle smells like
The brand describes ripe black figs and gently crushed fig leaves, combined with a bit of lime zest for an earthy, fruited scent. In my nose it comes across as slightly gourmand, meaning it suggests food.
I picture black figs baked in the oven until soft, drizzled with honey while still warm, and topped with the smallest sprinkling of lime zest. That is my picture, not a note listed by the brand.
The lime keeps the sweetness from getting heavy. LAFCO Marseilles Fig makes me happy and hungry in equal parts.
In short, the LAFCO Marseilles Fig candle is a gourmand fig, not a green or woody one.
Fig is a good fruit to build a candle around because it can be green, sweet or dark depending on the other notes, and LAFCO Marseilles Fig shows all three sides at once.
Where it sits among fig candles
Fig candles vary a lot. Some lean toward the green leaves of the tree, some toward the fruity sweetness, and others go to the dark side.
This one stays between the three: green from the crushed leaves, fruity from the figs and slightly gourmand overall. If you prefer a very woody or leafy fig, you might prefer another style.
To compare, read our posts on the Herve Gambs Essence de Figuier and on a honeyed fig candle. Reading them side by side shows how different one fruit can smell.
Where does the LAFCO Marseilles Fig candle fit in your own collection? If you already own a very sweet fig, this one is brighter; if you own a leafy one, this is softer and richer.
The vessel and the throw
I love the hand-blown colored vessels in the LAFCO line, and they are so eye catching the price is worth the vessel alone. I was surprised how much I enjoyed this clear glass one, with its simple look and black rim.
LAFCO candles also impress me with the amount of fragrance they provide. I put this one in my front room, which has a high ceiling that opens to the second floor, and it filled the space with ease without overwhelming it.
That tells you the LAFCO Marseilles Fig candle can handle a large, open space. In a small room, one or two hours will probably do.
Fragrance throw is where the LAFCO Marseilles Fig candle impressed me most, and it is why I would recommend it for open living areas.
It is worth noting that every home is different. High ceilings, open stairs and air movement all change how a candle fills a space, so judge the LAFCO Marseilles Fig candle in your own room.
A dreamy evening with LAFCO Marseilles Fig
If I could dream a little dream, I would see the French countryside out the window, sip smooth red wine and eat cheese and bread while this candle burns. Soft music would play, and friends and family would laugh late into the night.
It is a pleasant scene, and the scent fits it. A fig candle like this is good for dinner parties, though keep it away from the table so it does not compete with the food.
For more from the same brand, our post on living it up with LAFCO shows the range. For the fruit itself, the Wikipedia page on the fig is a quick read.
On a cool evening, the LAFCO Marseilles Fig candle makes a pleasant partner for a simple meal with cheese, bread and fruit.
Tips for burning a gourmand fig candle
Give it a full first burn so the wax melts evenly. Trim the wick before each use and avoid drafts, and the LAFCO Marseilles Fig scent will stay steady.
If you find food-like candles too sweet, light it in a room that gets some air. The lime and leaf notes help, but ventilation helps more.
If you made a fig candle yourself, what would it smell like? Tell us in the comments.
A last tip: if you are new to gourmand scents, try the LAFCO Marseilles Fig candle for an hour first and see how your nose reacts.
Burn the LAFCO Marseilles Fig candle away from direct sunlight, since heat and light can shorten the life of any fragrance.
