Long-time followers of Taylor Swift may be familiar with her love for the luxury candle brand Le Labo, but she's just taken her love another step further.
Taylor gifted Selena Gomez a hand-curated hamper, featuring home-made sourdough bread, and Le Labo's Encens 9 candle (available at Selfridges). It may come as no surprise, therefore, that this scent is selling fast.
Benny Blanco, Selena's fiancé, shared the gift basket on Instagram, where fans loved Taylor's 'It’s a loaf story,' label (a play on the lyrics to her song Love Story). This being Homes & Gardens' celebrity style desk, however, we were even more excited by Taylor's choice in candles – inevitably one of the best candles in the industry.
The Encens 9 Classic candle has notes of frankincense and clove, promoting serenity and leaving you soothed. It's designed to transport you to winter nights spent by a roaring fireplace, a thought we welcome, despite being in summer. The musky undertones ground the aroma, instantly make it warm, homely, and Taylor-approved.
This is the first time we've seen Taylor specifically choose the Encens 9 scent, but her love for Le Labo isn't anything new.
During a first secret session listening party for Taylor's Lover album, a fan noted that she had Le Labo's Santal 26 (available at Selfridges) dotted 'everywhere' around her London mansion, the latter being a best-seller for the brand. However, inevitably, after Benny shared the photo of the gift hamper, Encens 9 is selling just as fast. It may be a winter-inspired scent, but Taylor has ensured it's one of the most popular fragrances of the summer.
Scented with the addictive comfort of Santal 33’s spicy, leathery, and musky notes, this luxury candle will bless your home with a fragrance that’s full of personality. It's made from soy wax with a pure cotton wick, designed in New York, and hand-poured in Mississippi.
How do the two Taylor-approved scents compare? Firstly, as hinted at, Encens 9 has notes of luxurious frankincense, warm amber, and spicy clove, evoking a calm and warming ambiance that's reminiscent of winter.
In contrast, Santal 26 is richer, evoking a sense of gentleness, smokiness, and a leathery texture simultaneously.
Similarly, Taylor is associated with another one of the best home fragrances available: Tree House by Byredo (at Bloomingdale's). This scent is described as 'enchanting' – thanks to its spicy, forest-like aroma that could come from a fairytale.
When answering Vogue's 73 Questions, Taylor shared that the woody fragrance is her favorite aroma; eagle-eyed readers may have already spotted the candle on a tray in her living room.
Tree House draws inspiration from architect Takashi Kobayashi, who constructs buildings using the natural environment of Japanese forests. The scent is ideal for those who enjoy woody fragrances in their home, thanks to its spicy sandalwood undertones and deep base notes of leather.
Whichever you choose, you can rest easy knowing that they'll fill your space with true personality, and they're all Taylor Swift (and now, Selena Gomez)-approved.
