Charitable Gift Giving

Agraria started life in 1970 as a boutique on Nob Hill in San Francisco, selling a mix of antiques, books, unique gifts, potpourri, candles, incense, sachets, and bath and body products. They specialized in home fragrance, launching with two signature aromas: Bitter Orange Potpourri and Balsam Perfume Candle, which together made an amazing combination.

Four years later, New York fashion landmark Henri Bendel put these Agraria scents at the front door of its flagship store, which got the attention of everyone from The New York Times to Vogue. Fast forward to today, and you’ll find Agraria scents everywhere from Bergdorf Goodman to InterContinental Hotels and Resorts to department stores and gift shops everywhere.

On their site, you’ll find bath, body, and candle products in eight signature aromas, including the original balsam and bitter orange, plus cedar rose, golden cassis, lavender and rosemary, lemon verbena, lime and orange blossoms, and Mediterranean jasmine.

I got a chance to try out a Cedar Rose crystal cane candle. It came packaged in a beautiful box, perfect for gifting.

The candle itself is stunningly beautiful. It comes with a shiny silver plated lid. The candle holder is a beautiful crystal glass that you can use to hold tea lights once the candle is burned out; as the candle burns down, the candlelight twinkles through the crystal. Here’s a picture, but I’m afraid this picture doesn’t do it justice.

As the candle burns, the color of the premium soft wax (which is vegetable based) is a remarkable, shimmering dark pool of deep pink.

The cedar rose scent is also very unique exquisite, as all their different scents are. According to their Web site, a cedar rose is the top of a mature cedar pine cone that’s create when the cone dries out and the lower “petals” push off or disintegrate. So despite the pink color of their products and candles, they don’t smell strong and artificial like other rose-scented candles out there. Instead, they have a subtle scent that combines a deep cedar wood aroma with the Damask rose, a flower renowned for its fine fragrance, and commonly used to make rose oil or rose water.

While you can certainly get candles at lower prices, this is an example of a candle done right–that burns cleanly, has a fragrance that’s not artificial nor overpowering, looks as beautiful as it smells, and is made in the USA. If you’re in the market for the perfect present for someone who’s discerning about the highest quality, look here first before looking at your run of the mill Yankee candle.

During the month of October, 35% of all sales of Cedar Rose products from their Web site, fittingly enough due to its pink color, is being donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. In addition to this candle, they have bath bars and diffusers so that you and your home can smell nice too.