We love all sorts of scented things here at The Candy Perfume Boy. There is no discrimination when it comes to scented products – give us perfume, candles, body lotions, shower gels – you name, we’ll sniff it. I don’t know why I say ‘we;, because it’s just little old me, but nyway I digress. Every once in a while a slightly unusual scented product will come along, one that is entirely new and more than just a little bit intriguing. These things will either make us exclaim ‘what the smell’ (get it?) or make us fall head over heels for their fragrant beauty. Today’s post is about a product that definitely falls within the category of the latter.
When I was asked whether I’d like to try some scented pencils from Caran d’Ache, my initial thought was “scented pencils are a thing?” quickly followed by “sure, why the hell not”. I do love a pencil, which is no surprise seeing as I am a writer, and I much prefer them to pens. There just is something wonderfully soft about pencils – something romantic about their impermanence and their delicate feel. Caran d’Ache, the Swiss manufacturer of art and luxury goods know a thing or two about pencils and with their scented pencils they’ve created something rather unique: pencils that write and smell beautifully.
Les Crayons de la Maison Caran d’Ache Ed. 6 Scented Pencils, to use their full name, are a set of four lead pencils with a difference. Finely crafted from four different woods they present a range of colours and grains, boasting Western Hemlock, White Oak, Silver Teak and White Ash. They’re soft with a smooth finish, but they’re also reassuringly heavy too. It seems like such a cliché to say that one can feel the quality but with these pencils it really is true – they look and feel like the height of luxury.
Caran d’Ache has teamed up with Mizensir, the perfume house created by Perfumer Alberto Morillas (MUGLER Cologne, CK One etc.), to scent their fragrant pencils and they couldn’t have made a better choice. The fragrance of choice is Bois du Tibet, a song of patchouli, tonka bean and incense that smells like a very light amber – it’s all softly burning wood chips and grey incense smoke, all presented in a delicate way. Touches of vanilla and benzoin melt into the wood of the pencil, making it feel somehow more supple than it really is. It’s gorgeous and the scent is strong (you’ll notice it the minute you get the box) but it’s never oppressive and one could almost believe that the fragrance is the natural scent of the wood.
What can I say about these pencils? They’re truly beautiful and luxurious. The look of the wood is so attractive, with the wood grains adding a natural beauty, whilst their weight gives them an extra tactile feel in the hand. The scented aspect is such a lovely touch and it adds an intimacy to the experience of writing one’s thoughts. Presented in a handsome gift box, the Caran d’Ache scented pencils strike me as the perfect gift for anyone who likes to write or draw, regardless of whether they’re a scent addict or not – they’re just a lovely object to have.
Availability
A set of four scented pencils from Caran d’Ache will set you back £29.95.
Disclaimer
Sample and quotes via Caran d’Ache. Images are my own.
The Candy Perfume Boy 