The Power of Scent

A Letter from Isabel

I miss, like all my team, our connection with you, both in the Connolly shop and the wider world. Somehow everything seems diminished, not just our actual physical space and freedom... And this letter is me trying to expand my connection with you and my own need to roam and smell and touch and see the world that has always inspired me, even if only in my head at present. If like me, you are working from home and worried about so many things... but especially the future of our suppliers then read on. I want to tell some of their stories and focus on the beautiful products that we have worked on together to make me feel optimistic.

THE POWER OF SCENT AND THE ALCHEMY OF LYN HARRIS, THE CREATOR OF LEATHER SMOKE FOR CONNOLLY AND OWNER OF PERFUMER H

'My ethos is to never compromise' says Lyn Harris, 'and use beautiful materials in their simplicity to construct my creations ... I work with a limited palette of materials I love and that define my work and style. My passion is to bring nature alive and create scents that work with you and please the senses.' Lyn although unconventional in her approach was classically trained in Paris and Grasse. She has worked with Robertet Grasse for over 25 years, who are renowned for having the best naturals in the world.

Lyn writes... 'I have been burning your Connolly candle so much in these days of isolation and it brings me comfort and joy. I think burning a candle is a simplistic pleasure for all of us at the moment and this is enhanced when the smell can help you escape ... this is what is important to me and this is my goal always!'

Created for Connolly, the candle features notes of cedar wood, gaiac wood, sandalwood, vetiver, cade, birch, tree moss and leather. Made from sustainable vegetable wax and Paraffin with a cotton wick, all sourced in Europe and selected for their high burn quality and poured into a beautiful refillable amber glass holder. The label is printed on eco-suede to reflect the original key fob shaped leather grains archive pattern books, used by Connolly in the 1920s.

Leather Smoke reminds me of things past … the power of scent takes me straight to places and moments … our candle created by Lyn Harris is evocative but not overwhelming.

I wanted to add that one of the most compelling reads on the olifactory senses is a book called Perfume by Patrick Suskin, exploring the sense of smell and its relationship with the emotional meaning that scents can conjure... Kurt Cobain described the novel as one of his favourites.

Available to order from Isabel's favourite bookshop John Sandoe Books.