As a general rule, I like beautiful things better than I like ugly things. I’m somewhat puzzled by stuff that looks completely hideous: why make these things? Who buys them? Anyway, I shouldn’t get agitated. There are exceptions – I have only once bought a perfume just for the bottle and will happily spend money on the ugliest flacon if I love the scent. But when it comes to candles, I do think that looks are important – you don’t put them away in the drawers, to protect them from the light. At least while you are actively using them, they’ll be on display. As you have probably guessed, I’d rather display beautiful things.

Sometimes, inner and outer beauty coincide – Byredo Bibliotheque candle is a case in point. This Tom Dixon product, however, is not the most fantastic candle I’ve ever burned. Unlit and close up, it does smell very nice: woody, leathery, a bit smoky. But the throw is feeble, so if you actually want to smell it, I suggest burning it in a small room. Then again, who cares if it smells of anything, because LOOK AT IT.

The vessel is designed by Tom Dixon and made of mouth-blown glass and you can tell. It looks like petroleum on water, multi-coloured and absolutely beautiful, different in every light. Apparently, no candle looks the same. If you are one of those people who like to reuse candle jars, this will up your game in a major way. All those unfortunates, storing their cotton buds in their Diptyque containers? You can just smile at them with a mixture of generosity and condescension, as their lives are so empty compared to yours. Also, if you’re going to pay for a designer name, it might at least be a great designer who makes beautiful things (see paragraph one on the superiority of beautiful things).

Another not-very-widely known company that produces extremely good-looking candles is L’Objet. They go for classic French elegance and do it very successfully. I have never burned their candles, but I have smelled them in-store and I was impressed. The Russe and Jasmin d’Inde were my particular favourites. I’m sure I’ll get one soon, regardless of the actual performance.

Any recommendations for other pretty candles that don’t really work but look pretty? To aid me on my way to bankruptcy?

PS Doesn’t the title sound like a very bad academic paper? Something like “Beyonce’s Dancers: Race as Metaphor” or something?