L+L Candles: Holiday 2022 Launch Autumn in New York l The Story Behind the Candle
How our premiere candle Autumn in New York came to be...
The first of our holiday candles is the Autumn in New York candle with scent notes of golden maple, fall pumpkin, and cozy fireplace. The Autumn in New York candle was inspired by our first date on a November day in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
It was Marcel Proust, author of the seven-volume novel In Search of Lost Time, who coined the term “involuntary memory.” A major theme of his work is the formation of memory through experiences, and the curious phenomenon of a memory triggered by the senses, in this instance, smell. When we talk about the “Proust Effect,” we mean the dual effect that a specific scent can have in opening lost memories and bringing joy.
On a cool, crisp fall day in November, we met for the first time. The air in Park Slope, Brooklyn smelled of cozy fireplaces burning and earthen leaves and gourds. We met at the Hungry Ghost Coffee (156 7th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215). Lukas arrived at the date with the most beautiful fall leaf that he’d found on his walk to the café. It was patterned with the rich Autumn hues of golden, amber, and red. What he didn’t realize was that I loved fall leaves more than I did flowers. I love the color palate of Central Park and Prospect Park in fall, and the way the leaves flame along the Hudson River. That simple leaf was the most memorable gift he could have brought that day. And a picture of this leaf is used in the label of the Autumn in New York candle.
At the café that day, we both ordered almond milk lattes instead of the traditional fall pumpkin spice lattes. And we very quickly connected. The first things I noticed about Lukas was his sage eyes and infectious laugh. He was also very charismatic with a warmth that brought even the coldest of Brooklyn baristas around to engaging with him. Lukas says he was drawn to my depth and empathy. We found we shared similar goals and interests; a strong one being our love of storytelling. We both could easily see a life together in New York.
After coffee, we weren’t ready to part ways, so we walked towards Prospect Park. When we got stuck in a sudden rain shower, we ran for shelter underneath the marquee of the Nitehawk Cinema (188 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn, NY 11215). There we sat, had a drink and watched the light change on the trees. It was a perfect autumn in New York day.
Life together quickly became a vibrant adventure. And another memory that is opened so to say by the Autumn in New York candle is the sweet smell of golden maple. A weekly family tradition on cold nights together with our two daughters was a dinner of “waffles and charades”. Fluffy waffles doused with upstate New York golden maple syrup and the hilarity of kids doing charades is something we strongly recommend.
In a lovely amber jar, our Autumn in New York candle invites you to cozy up with those you love and welcome in your own “Proust Effect” of found memories and joy.
Each candle is hand poured with love in our Brooklyn, NY kitchen with our two daughters by our side.
All design and content copyright © 2022 Liz and Lukas/L+L Candles
Photography by Lukas Greyson / GreysonImages