Tabak or not tabac is the question every tobacco candle asks at the shop counter, and my answer changed once I lit one. The jar and the burning candle are very different experiences.
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Most customer’s initial reaction to hearing “tobacco” in a fragrance description is “ew”. Images of cigarette buts and smokey bars come to mind. Tobacco, however, lends a rich and masculine appeal to a home fragrance to make it incredibly comforting and relaxing. Think oversized leather chair in a dark den surrounded by wood paneling. I could stay all day.
Our first introduction to tobacco was in the legendary Archipelago Botanicals Havana candle which blends bergamot, tobacco leaf and ylang ylang. Men and women are both drawn to this exotic fragrance that whisks you away to an exotic island with rum drinks, bold shirts and cigars. I, too, was skeptical of tobacco in home fragrance but after experiencing this scent I became a believer.
Belle Fleur created a unique twist on tobacco by blending it with cocoa in the Cocao Tabaq candle. To hear Belle Fleur creator, Meredith, describe this fragrance is a scene out of When Harry Met Sally. Her eyes roll back and half shut as she walks you through how deep cocoa, tobacco leaf and ebony wood come together with a touch of roasted espresso for warmth. You’ll want to scream “I’ll have what she’s having!” and run home and devour the delectable scent.
Then came Voluspa Warm Perique Tabac. At first sniff, most customers turn away from the almost bitter note from this candle. Light it, though, and it opens up to reveal the most warm and inviting fragrance. Worn, wooden floors appear beneath your feet and you’re surrounded by leather bound books. It’s the most robust and distinguished of all the tobacco fragrances we’ve encountered. It’s not for the faint at heart but can become a healthy addiction for true tobacco aficionados.
Aura did a great job at creating a sensual tobacco fragrance with their new Muse candle blending tobacco flower with vanilla orchid and amber. If you’re looking for a new “bedroom” candle – this warm and intimate blend is it. Aura mastered the art of balancing yin and yang with this fragrance- the masculine tobacco is perfectly complimented by just the right amount of supple, more feminine vanilla.
Tobacco has even made it’s way into holiday fragrances with Aquiesse Cinnamon Tabac and the new Tocca Marrakesh candle.
“Gifts of golden cinnamon gently dusted over warm vanilla, with hints of sweet aged tobacco, summoning memories of the glow from a stone fireplace.”
Aquiesse Cinnamon Tabac is mostly a spicy blend offering warm cinnamon and soft vanilla. The tobacco in this blend gives the overall fragrance nice depth but doesn’t overwhelm. If you’re looking for a good fall/winter scent that has a unisex appeal, this one is for you. I love the uber thick smokey glass with Aquiesse candles. Added bonus – these come with a lid that can be used as a snuffer, base when the candle is in use, and as a cover when the candle is not in use for a clean, dust-free look.
One of my favorite new holiday fragrances this year is by Tocca. Their new Marrakesh candle offers sweet tobacco blended with creamy vanilla. The tobacco in this blend is so sweet it comes across almost like incredibly rich caramel. If Voluspa Warm Perique Tabac leans towards this bitter side of tobacco, this is on the extreme other side of the spectrum with it’s velvety appeal. This slightly oversized candle is super fragrant with 3-wicks and a brass base for a dramatic ambiance.
If you’ve never tried a candle with tobacco – fear not – for it can add depth and character like no other fragrance note. Pick a crisp dark night. Dim the lights. Light a luxuriously scented tobacco candle and stretch out on a plush rug in front of a roaring fire. You’ll want to stay all night.
Tabak or not tabac: why the jar fools you
Several of the candles in this post smell sharp or bitter when you lift the lid and turn soft once the wax melts. Heat changes how the notes release. Sweet and creamy parts come forward, and the dry edge relaxes.
So when someone asks me tabak or not tabac, I say do not judge from the cold jar alone. Ask the shop to light one, or burn it for an hour at home before you decide.
The title of our original post riffs on a famous line, but the question is real: tabak or not tabac in your living room? Tabak or not tabac sounds like a joke until you stand in a room where it is done well.
How tobacco gets balanced
Pure dried leaf is only one ingredient. Makers soften it with something sweet, like cocoa, vanilla or amber, or sharpen it with citrus and spice. The best ones feel like a leather chair and a bookcase rather than an ashtray.
Wikipedia has a plain overview of the tobacco plant if you want the background. In a candle, though, it is just one dark, dry accent among many.
Think of tabak or not tabac as a balance problem. Too much leaf and the candle turns dry and harsh, too little and you may as well have bought vanilla.
That is the real answer to tabak or not tabac: it is rarely about tobacco alone. It is about what sits beside it, whether cocoa, vanilla or a pinch of spice.
Where to burn them
Dens, studies and entry halls suit these blends well, and so do cool evenings. For more spice and smoke in the same family, try the Aquiesse Embers write-up, or take a look at the fireplace mood in our Linnea’s Lights Fireside Candle post.
If you are still asking tabak or not tabac, start with the smallest size. If it wins you over, you can always buy the large one.
Asking tabak or not tabac at a shop counter often starts a good conversation. Staff can tell you which blends lean sweet and which lean dry.
Our verdict on tabak or not tabac is simple. Yes to tabac, if it is balanced and if you give it an hour.
Tabak or not tabac, I now say tabac, with the lights low and a good book.
I will keep coming back to tabak or not tabac, and I suspect you will too.
Header photo: daryl_mitchell from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0).
