- Luxury has become increasingly affordable with the direct-to-consumer revolution. Italic, a company that makes unbranded luxury goods using the same factories as brands like Tom Ford, recently debuted candles.
- Italic’s $35 luxury candles come in five scents, burn for approximately 40 hours, and come in beautiful containers made from reclaimed sea glass.
- I love candles and will splurge on designer versions, but I found Italic delivers a luxury experience on a budget.
One of the most truly “revolutionary” frontiers in the direct-to-consumer retail revolution is luxury.
The industry has come a long way from being able to determine the social status of a person simply by how many indigo or purple clothes they could afford to wear.
Today, aided by a globalized, digitized economy, it's easier than ever to make luxury affordable and accessible. Startups cut out middlemen, build direct relationships, and pass the savings on to increasingly savvy customers. New labels may not carry the heritage or distinct design direction of fashion houses, but they can deliver comparable quality for a fraction of the price.
One of the best examples of democratized luxury is Italic, a startup that sells unbranded luxury goods that come from the same factories used by some of the world's most upscale brands, without the markup associated with a designer name. We reviewed the company's leather bags and found them to be worth the hype.
Recently, Italic launched a $35 Scented Candle that comes out of the same factories that produce scents for brands like Le Labo and Tom Ford. They're about half the price of a designer option, and they promise a comparable burn time of approximately 40 hours.
Italic candles are 100% vegan soy, and they're hand-poured into a beautiful jar made from reclaimed ocean glass.
The 8.5-ounce candles are all $35 and have been prone to selling out in the past, but you can currently shop them in the following five scents:
I've been burning the Black Currant Geranium most evenings this fall, and it's quickly become one of my favorite candles - for its scent and its throw. This is one of those candles that expands to fill a space; my roommates can smell it from the kitchen when it's burning in my room a few feet away. And the neutral glass container works with any home decor. The scent is complex but not overwhelming.
Personally, I have no problem justifying the purchase of a stellar Le Labo candle. Scent is a comforting means of personalization, and olfactory memories tend to be particularly strong. I prefer to be stingy elsewhere and invest in the sort of creature comforts that make a $98 robe and $100 smart lights my most cherished possessions. But even though the cost isn't my main concern, I plan to buy another Italic candle. It's genuinely a good candle, and its affordability is a welcome perk.
After a month of use, I plan to buy more of the Italic Scented Candle as Christmas gifts as well. They're particularly well suited for the job: Firstly, because the company is an interesting, little-known startup that's fun to discover and backed up by consistently great products. Secondly, the candles are both affordable enough to buy en masse and a gift innocuous enough to give to anyone on your list. And lastly, because they're a genuinely good deal when it comes to price and performance.
If you're planning on heading to a good amount of holiday parties and don't want to show up empty-handed, it may be smart to store a few in the hallway closet. Whichever ones survive the season then become gifts to yourself.
All in all, for $35, Italic does a great job of make a luxurious experience affordable. Whether you're buying one for you or as a gift, I highly recommend checking it out for yourself.