While decorating and gift-giving are central to the holiday spirit, the power of scent to evoke festive memories and a sense of warmth is unparalleled. From artisan makers to local vineyards, garden centers and boutique gift shops, the East End offers a fragrant palette of seasonal options that not only warm a home but also support the vibrant community that defines the region.
1. Cire Trudon | ‘Solis Rex’ ($135) Marders Garden Shop, 120 Snake Hollow Road, Bridgehampton
Crafted by the world’s oldest candlemaker, this exquisite candle, modeled after the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles, offers a regal fragrance that combines notes of eucalyptus and orange with deeper tones of fir bark and cedarwood. The brand’s commitment to quality is evident in every detail, from its hand-crafted glass vessel to its signature beehive emblem, a tribute to the bees that have contributed to Trudon’s candles for centuries. The company also supports a crucial conservation program for bee populations, a cause that Marder’s proudly supports.
2. Hamptons Handpoured | ‘Coastal Christmas’ ($30) Montauk Point Lighthouse Gift Shop, 2000 Old Montauk Highway, Montauk
Crafted by Hamptons native Brittany Torres, who uses 100% natural soy and plant-based fragrance oils, the ‘Coastal Christmas’ scent tells a story of life on our windswept shores, with notes of salty sea air, cypress and camphor. Encased in a heavyweight glass vessel, it is a beautiful tribute to the unique community of East End ocean lovers.
3. Wölffer | ‘Pine’ ($38) The Wine Stand at Wölffer Estate, 3312 Montauk Highway, Sagaponack
Poured with 100% soy wax, this candle from Wölffer Estate immediately transports you on a walk through a snow-dusted pine grove. Its winter forest aroma features a blend of fresh balsam, Siberian fir needle, sweet balsam, cedar and musk, uplifted by a hint of winter berry. Chic graphics of repeated pine needle tufts on the label tie into the brand’s whimsical design for its iconic ‘Summer in a Bottle’ rosé.
4. East Hampton Gardens | ‘Holiday’ ($85) East Hampton Gardens, 16 Gingerbread Lane, East Hampton
Inspired by and reflecting his passion for the holidays and Hamptons style, owner Michael Giannelli’s exquisite candle is a captivating blend of bergamot, orange and lemon, with notes of fir needles, sage and cedarwood. The beautifully packaged candle comes in a golden bee-embossed, red and white striped box, with an emerald green and gold lift-top mirrored lid—a nod to Giannelli’s nearly three decades spent designing products for brands like Gap
and Victoria’s Secret.
5. Apotheke | ‘Charcoal’ ($50) The Sagaponack, 3720 Montauk Highway, Sagaponack
This seductive, signature scent of The Sagaponack hotel captures the fireside, brooding vibe of the Hamptons during the off-season. Handcrafted in Brooklyn, Apotheke’s ‘Charcoal’ candle features a blend of cedarwood and sandalwood, accented with smoky embers, burnt maple and a hint of raspberry, for a rich, full-bodied fragrance and is poured into a sexy, matte-black glass vessel using a premium soy wax blend.
