Gay men, perhaps more than most, appreciate the intoxicating nature of an alluring scent. The earthy and nutty notes of chocolate. The sharp and crisp aroma of pine. A whiff of sweaty armpits, raw masculinity at its finest.
Perfumers Dennis Green and Ricky Tiscareno are ready to serve all eager noses with their richly curated brand of candles, Poured Candle Bar. True to its name, the company offers several collections of candles that serve as elixirs for your home.
The best products often emerge from the passion between lovers, blending their intimate history and talents into a singular goal. Green and Tiscareno are partners in life and business, but they also harness the ingenuity gained from 15+ years of traveling the world.
With a shop in Hudson, New York, and an e-commerce platform delivering hand-poured and blended creations to your door, Poured Candle Bar has the approval of the most contemporary discerning taste.
The company has been recommended by New York Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, Travel & Leisure, and, of course, So.Gay is here to give Poured Candle Bar the ultimate gay stamp of approval.
We’re obsessed with all their fragrance options, but choices must be made. The candles run at $40 a pop, so it’s about quality, not quantity. (Unless your wallet is up for a fragrance orgy.)
Here are some of our favorite picks to get the aromatic party started.
1. Dirty Girl Martini
Gay men will fall in love with the “fabulously filthy” vibes of the Dirty Girl Martini, which melds elegance and sultriness into scent. Bring nightlife home by lighting “Olives floating in brine, with a splash of Juniper infused gin & aperitif.” Who is thirsty?
2. Flames & Flannel
Don’t limit cuffing season to winter; Flames & Flannel keeps you cozy year-round. Cuddle away with the smell of fresh coniferous and smoked woods, with notes of “Silver Birch, Fraser Fir, Crisp Flannel, and Firewood.” There can’t always be a strong arm to rest your head, but this comforting aroma can always be here to stay.
3. Twenty Years Sleep
Ugh, Twenty Years Sleep sounds like something we’re ready to volunteer as tribute for, but a lazy Sunday morning inhaling notes of “Lavender, Vetyver, Cypress, Absinthium, Chamomile, Mint” will suffice for now. Don’t sleep on this soothingly refreshing way to reward your (typically) most snubbed sense.
4. The Madame’s Boudoir
Don’t worry, gays; you don’t have to stick your nose in any bosoms to indulge in Madame’s Boudoir. Known as the Grand Dame of Poured Candle Bar, this offering was inspired by the thriving Red Light Districts of Hudson that housed several saloons and brothels that were run by powerful madames until they were shut down by police raids in 1950. Whiffing in the notes of “Amber, Rosewood, Jasmine, Bergamot” is, quite literally, a celebration of sex – and gay rights – for your nose.
5. Nocturne
Some nights might arrive more restless than others, but make them all pleasant with Nocturne’s resin and spice blend with fetching florals over an ambiguous bed of tobacco leaves. Research has shown that distinct smells help promote better sleep, so the notes of “sweet musk with faint floral + subtle spice” are actually an investment in your overall health. Goodnight, babe.
Discover everything Poured Candle bar has to offer at their website here.
