[unpaid/sample] It’s very rare to get anything more substantial than a compliment slip with samples now so I very much appreciated the personal touch of a hand written letter from founder, Rebecca Rose. The mission of To The Fairest is to represent landscapes, literature and love in fragrant form. While I don’t know the entire range (I’ve previously reviewed Aubine which is an orange blossom fuelled delight), I’d say Cecile is most representative of love if we look to the traditional sense.
It’s a powdery, rose petal aroma that sweetens your room and your mood. Rose is what I get first although strictly speaking, it’s billed as a middle note, and following that, I get amber which gently smooths and softens. I don’t get anything from the clove bud (which is fine with me!) but there are definitely, once your nose is ready for more, brightening citrussy notes of bergamot and mandarin. There’s tonka bean in the background just to add more serenity and comfort.
In terms of throw, it’s gentle rather than a big boom of scent. By that, I don’t mean it’s ungenerous, but rather a more subtle trail of perfume that you can sit easily and happily with. It reminded me of wedding ceremonies – I’m not sure if it’s the quiet, the romance or the bouquets or all those things together but it’s a happy, contented kind of a fragrance that speaks to femininity. It’s inspired by the garden of Hesperides (somewhat strangely because to my memory, that was all about apples… I’ve just checked and what a complicated myth that one is!) but given that it’s mythological, I suppose you can let your nose take you wherever it wants to go! The candle is £45 HERE.