Harlem Candle Company launched its Luxe Collection to a packed crowd at the Vintage Harlem Wine Store on Thursday, Dec. 3. The event was a candle and wine pairing that featured the collection’s four scents — Ellington, Holiday, Savoy, and Lenox — and wines from the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France.
Teri Johnson created Harlem Candle Company in 2014 to honor the old and new Harlem Renaissances and take people on a “journey” through scents, she said. With a background in travel writing, Johnson tries to use fragrances to tell stories and highlight the history of Harlem.
For instance, the collection’s Holiday candle — which draws inspiration from Billie Holiday, who spent much of her childhood in Harlem — is “a fresh pine note [that] plays homage to Billie Holiday’s ‘If The Moon Turns Green.’”
Paired with the Holiday candle was the L’Artisan Languedoc 2011, made in the Languedoc South of France by 8th generation winemaker Laurent Miquel. It tastes of fruits and mocha herbs and spices and pairs well with roast meats, cheese, and spicy dishes.
The Luxe Collection is now available online, alongside Harlem Candle Company’s travel candles, matchsticks, and other handmade items.
Check out Teri Johnson’s travel site here: http://travelistateri.com/
-Jessica Sain-Baird
