Ortigia Candle, Fico d’India: why it’s incredible

I love candles. Beautiful objects that smell nice, what’s not to like. However, more often than not I find «high end» candles are not only overly expensive, but don’t actually perfume anything outside of a 5 cm radius, let alone the whole room.

Well, I came across this candle. I was familiar with this Sicilian brand, I love their ambery smells (vanilla+ cistus labdanum- lovely stuff, smells like a summer evening in a hot country) and their beautiful designs. I immediately loved the smell of the Fico d’India candle, and although it was a way more reasonable price than other perfume brand candles I know of, I was reluctant to pay, on my student budget, for a candle I wasn’t sure would be any different from the others (but I must admit the smell alone was very close to swaying me). However, my boyfriend ended up buying it for me for Valentine’s Day (<3), and so of course I lit it immediately. When I tell you we have a big, spacious lounge with a high ceiling and a mezzanine (impossible to heat, let alone perfume). Well, as soon as you entered the room you could smell Fico d’India. Incredible. I then moved it to my room, and in a smaller space I found I didn’t even need to light it. The smell of the candle in itself was enough to gently perfume the whole room.

On an added note, I studied perfume & cosmetics and it included candles, which means I know how to recognise a quality candle, regardless of price and brand, and this one ticked all the boxes, which I don’t think I’d ever seen in a candle before- the size of the flame, the way the wax burned in an even and large circle, not creating a hole around the wick,  the fact that it stayed the same colour (showing the ingredients used are stable-which seems like a given, but really isn’t) , and of course the fact that the scent diffused well (as I think I mentioned).

I’m sure this goes for their other candles too, I have since tried one of their hand washes and again, my hands kept that lovely smell until the next wash better than if I had actually sprayed perfume on them. Amazing stuff.

Long story short, if you want to treat yourself or someone you like to a luxury candle, or any sort of scented product, knowing you’re buying a quality and beautiful object that will make the whole house smell incredible, head over to to an Ortigia shop, retailer or website- I promise you won’t regret it.