If your mom is anything like mine, she loves pretty-smelling things, like scented candles and aromatherapy diffusers, but never splurges on herself to buy them. While I wish she would pamper herself a little (heaven knows she deserves it), I'm happy to do it for her, so I'm always on the lookout for sweet-smelling luxury items. This year, just in time for Mother's Day, I've found two local purveyors of good scents to choose from.
Haley & Company uses soy-based wax and lead-free wicks to create the uniquely scented Rendezvous [1] candles (from $11), which are gentle on the environment. With four collections to choose from -- Fruits of the Spirit, Gathering Places, Travelesque and The Bath Bakery -- there's bound to be a scent to suit your mom.
My favorites among the almost 40 scents include Penny Lane, a light lilac aroma grounded by hints of cedar and sage; Parlour, a sugared grapefruit; and Manhattan, a sweet-tart currant. Special for Mother's Day is a rose geranium-scented candle whose glass container features an elegant pink "In honor of Mom" label.
Rendezvous candles are available at Curtsy Bella [1] near University Village, Willow and Bloom [1] in Fremont, and online at the Rendezvous Web site [2].
With sophisticated packaging reminiscent of old Italian pharmacies like Florence's Santa Maria Novella, Antica Farmacista's [3] line of home fragrances (from $58) are a splurge-worthy treat for your nose. Combinations of essential oils and fragrances inspired by Tuscany and the Mediterranean come in pretty glass bottles along with thin, unscented birch reeds ready to be slipped into the neck of the bottle to soak up the fragrance and gently diffuse the aroma throughout your home.
There are so many exquisite scents to choose from that I have a hard time naming favorites. Each transports me to a different place: Santorini's light, crisp citrus paired with exotic spice whisks me away to the Greek Isles, while Peonia, Gardenia and Rosa makes me feel as though I've just stepped into a flower garden in full bloom. For my mom, I would pick Orange Blossom, Lilac and Jasmine, a combination of classic flowers just as sweet as she is.
Antica Farmacista's products are available at Nordstrom stores [3], Martha Harris Flowers and Gifts [3] in Madison Park, Frenchy's [3] in Madison Valley, Décor on 34th [3] in Madrona, Essenza [3] in Fremont, Illi [3] in South Lake Union and online at Antica Farmacista's Web site [4].
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