Lulu Beauty candles from Show Pony are a sweet-scented summer fling

While most Seattle shoppers recognize her as the woman behind boutiques Show Pony and Olivine, Julie Merriman Wray began her retail career in 1993 with a small storefront in Fremont called Aromatica, where she mixed up her own line of sweet-smelling body care products.

In time, that venture led to her own cosmetic and perfume line called Lulu Beauty. Wray has since moved on from makeup to focus on fragrance, and she recently expanded her line with the addition of scented candles.

The four-piece collection is manufactured locally with soy wax, lead-free wicks and fragrance oils. Each candle burns for 45 to 50 hours and retails for $18.

Beach Bunny is an ode to summer and the scent of the tropics. "Coconut is my absolute favorite smell," Wray says. "Anytime I can, I escape to the beach, and this candle transports me there, even when I can't get away."

Show Pony, the signature scent of Merriman's boutique, is light and heady with the sultry scent of five different gardenias.

Named for Wray's lucky number, Lucky No. 22 features warm notes of vanilla, sandalwood and musk.

Customer favorite Urban Meadows combines sweet honeydew melon and cantaloupe with a savory edge of bergamot.

The Lulu Beauty perfume line features fragrances inspired by iconic actresses and female characters. Starlet is Wray's summer favorite, boasting the same sexy gardenia scent as the Show Pony candle. Marlena, Lulamae and the popular Gigi round out the collection.

Wray herself blends and bottles each perfume. The perfume oil ($30) comes with a roll-on applicator, and the eau de parfum ($20) in a purse-size atomizer.

The Lulu Beauty line can be purchased at Show Pony in Fremont.

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