Desert Heights candle

We've found something here that actually lives up to the hype - a candle that doesn't announce itself with the subtlety of a smoke alarm.

Desert Heights smells like what we imagine the Sonoran Desert would smell like if it had gone to a very good spa: earthy cedarwood and pinyon pine, with just enough sage and mineral notes to keep things interesting without veering into "we're performing wellness." The whole operation is refreshingly intentional.

Hand-poured in California, coconut wax that actually burns clean (revolutionary, we know), and a glass vessel that's handsome enough to keep around once the candle's done. The wax is skin-safe, which means you can theoretically use it as a balm, though we suspect most people will just admire it from across the room like a normal person.

Forty-plus hours of burn time, lead-free cotton wick, phthalate-free, paraben-free, cruelty-free - basically everything you'd want if you're the type to care about such things. And if you're not, it still smells excellent, which is the real test.