Arcadia, the Dubai-based perfumery brand created by Amna Al Habtoor, has extended its product line and is now offering locally produced home fragrances in the form of three candles as part of the Out of the Darkness series, bookmarking the internal struggles faced during the 2020 pandemic and the subsequent light at the end of the tunnel as we emerge from these turbulent times.
Amna Al Habtoor, the owner of Arcadia, said: “Arcadia is a brand that represents the idea of a utopic existence where each nostalgic fragrance is coupled with a narrative, underscoring the euphoric experience that occurs while reminiscing.
“In our new home fragrance series, Out of the Darkness, each candle is centred around a narrative of real experiences we have all gone through, all narratives are relatable during these testing times. The poetic description for the range of candles is built from the context of feeling enclosed, recurring incidents and not being heard – something I am sure everyone can relate to on some level.”
The first of the candles, Trapped Freedom, evokes feelings of the soul’s search for freedom with wood, floral, rose, amber and oud notes. Meanwhile, Controlled Chaos, the second candle in the home fragrance line, uses woody, incense and balsamic notes to signify controlled chaos in one’s life. With notes of citrus, bergamot, powdery, mimosa, white lilac, amber, musk, woody, soft sandalwood, the final candle, Loud Silence, paints a picture of two people, no longer connected, where the silence created by the void between them is louder than their desire for being together.
All candles are hand poured into individually made artistically designed cement holders which come in three shades, grey, black, and white. Each candle is made of a blend of natural waxes which are free of animal products and testing.
Established in 2017, Arcadia has gone from strength to strength and emerged as one of the leading perfumeries in the region. With cruelty, paraben and chemical-free fragrances, and sustainable packaging, Arcadia ships all products worldwide, including all 10 sophisticated scents from the Edition 1 collection as well as the critically acclaimed Edition 2 collection with eight fragrance variations.
Out of the Darkness candle notes and narratives:
1) Trapped Freedom
Notes: woody, floral, rose, amber, oud
Narrative: As she scours her surroundings, she heaves with difficulty. Her body egresses with force, but her soul is sheltered. Freedom remains a plight.
The Idea: This person is free, but not free. They are lost between which direction they would want to take. They’re stuck in their soul and body, they want to be free, but they can’t.
2) Controlled Chaos
Notes: incense, woody, balsamic
Narrative: Havoc and turmoil magnify, yet his order lies in the midst of chaos. A hindrance to one’s accustomed life is euphoric to his.
The Idea: A simple life with no chaos is not what he is accustomed to, so instead, he builds his controlled chaos, a life where chaos becomes manageable, a happy balance for him.
3) Loud Silence
Notes: citrus, bergamot, powdery, mimosa, white lilac, amber, musk, woody, soft sandalwood
Narrative: Two gazes pierce through profoundly desolated souls. What ground does reconcilement hold when voids only amplify?
The Idea: Two people, no longer connected, their silence, the void is louder than their desire for being together
Price point and product details:
AED285 + VAT
Approx. burn time 65 hours
Weight: 555g / 19.6 oz
Available at the Arcadia flagship store, Dar Wasl, Dubai.
Available internationally on www.arcadiabyamna.com