The two most popular book candles at Strand, Ms. Altshuler said , are Old Books, which smells like a used bookstore with a hint of cinnamon, and Lost in the Stacks (both $32.95), reminiscent of a fancy library that uses leather armchairs — the dreamy one complete with the library ladder reaching to the top shelves. Before losing her eyesight, books were Ms. Smith’s favorite escape from reality, and she would devour a novel daily. “After losing my sight, reading became very difficult, but my love for literature was still very much alive,” Ms. Smith said. “Making literary-inspired candles became a way for me to keep that love alive.”She harvests wild local botanicals, compounding them into unique fragrances to match the smells she associates with old books. While some people prefer to be transported into an old library or bookstore when they read, others like to pair their candles with their books, like wine with food.

Source: New York Times January 11, 2019 17:37 UTC