NEST Sparkling Cassis was created for parties, and it is easy to see why the idea caught on. This post looks at what is in the scent, how it came about and which version, candle, diffuser or votive, makes sense for your home.
NEST Fragrances Founder, Laura Slatkin, set out to create an exceptionally glamourous fragrance fit for all festivities. A consummate entertainer, she spends days prepping to host a party to ensure the evening is superbly seamless. For Laura it all starts with creating perfection in the details, from purchasing fresh flowers, to selecting the wine, to planning the menu. Sparkling Cassis embodies this spirit of setting the mood for a celebration.
Raise a glass to this glamorous combination of notes, including sparkling essence of pink champagne infused with hints of crème de cassis, frosted cranberry, and wild fig. Available in Classic Candle, 3-Wick, Diffuser and Votive.
What is in NEST Sparkling Cassis
The notes listed by the brand are pink champagne, a touch of crème de cassis, frosted cranberry and wild fig. Cassis is the French name for blackcurrant, and crème de cassis is the liqueur made from it, so the name points to a drink-inspired scent without being literal about it.
Pairing a sparkling note with berry and fig is a classic way to make a scent feel festive but not heavy. We have not tried to describe it beyond what the notes tell you, so smell it in person if you can, because fruit-forward fragrances can read quite differently from person to person.
It is a scent that suits the season, but nothing about the notes ties it to December. Champagne, berries and fig could easily work for a spring dinner or a birthday, so do not feel you have to save nest sparkling cassis for the holidays.
The official description also uses the word glamorous, which is a fair summary of the idea: a sparkling opening, a touch of fruit and a smooth finish. If you want more information, the brand’s own product pages, linked in the article above, list every size and format.
The NEST Sparkling Cassis story begins with a party, and that is the best way to think about it: a scent made to be part of an occasion rather than just a room.
Put simply, NEST Sparkling is the name to look for if you want champagne and berries rather than a floral or a wood.
Candle, 3-wick, diffuser or votive?
The scent comes in four forms: the Classic Candle, the 3-Wick candle, the Diffuser and the Votive. Each one solves a different problem, so it helps to decide how you plan to use it.
The Classic Candle is the everyday choice for a living room or kitchen. The 3-Wick is the bigger statement for an open space or a gathering. The Diffuser is useful when you want a constant background scent without a flame, for example in a hallway. The Votive is the low-risk way to try nest sparkling cassis before you commit to a larger size.
If you are still working out which NEST scents deserve a spot in your home, Best NEST Fragrance Candle Scents: How to Choose Yours is a good companion read.
A few pointers on choosing. If you have a small space, one Classic Candle is plenty. If you entertain often, the 3-Wick covers more floor space and gives off more scent, but it also needs a bigger, safer spot on the table or sideboard.
The Diffuser suits someone who wants the scent in the background all day. Reed diffusers have no flame, so they work well around pets and children, though you should still place them on a stable surface where they cannot be knocked over.
The Votive is a small candle designed to burn in a holder, so it makes a good low-cost sampler. Our votive candle reference explains the format, and a few of them lined up on a tray can look quite pretty for a gathering.
Whichever you pick, the NEST Sparkling scent stays the same; only the way it reaches the room changes.
Using scent to set the mood for guests
The story behind the fragrance is about hosting. NEST’s founder, Laura Slatkin, is described as someone who plans the details of a party for days, from the flowers to the wine to the menu. Scent is one more detail on that list, and it is the one guests notice before they are even through the door.
A simple way to handle it is to light a candle or turn on the diffuser well before people arrive, because a room needs time to fill with fragrance. Keep it in the entryway or living room rather than right next to the food, so it does not compete with what is on the table.
If you like the festive side of the NEST range, we also wrote about why the NEST holiday candle is our favorite year after year.
Think about the whole evening, too. A party lasts a few hours, so a nest sparkling cassis candle lit before the guests arrive may be burning for much of the night. Trim the wick first, and check the flame from time to time as people move around.
Finally, remember that your own nose does a better job than any description. If you can smell the candle in a store before you buy, do so.
To sum up, NEST Sparkling Cassis is a festive, fruit-led scent made for entertaining. Try the NEST Sparkling Cassis votive first, then move up in size once you know you like it. Choose the format that suits your space, and enjoy it at your next gathering.
If you plan to give the gift of NEST Sparkling Cassis, a candle plus a diffuser makes a pairing that reaches two rooms.
Header photo: Jersey Glass Company, Wikimedia Commons (CC0).
