Iconic candle brand diptyque has created nine exclusive city candles – Paris, Beverly Hills, London, Miami, New York, Tokyo, Shanghai, Berlin, Hong Kong – only available in shops of the corresponding city (and online when in stock) and the Hong Kong candles is a very chic to offer this Christmas. Dressed in colorful graphic pattern, the candle jar is inspired by the city’s urban density while its scent is an ode to nature built around the famous Bauhinia Blakeana accented with a floral-vanilla accord.
 
Available at diptyque’s stores across Hong Kong (Harbour City and ifc mall)
 
REDISCOVER OUR VISIT AT DIPTYQUE’S HONG KONG FLAGSHIP STORE AFTER ITS OPENING LAST YEAR  
 
 
 
Graphik Recollection – Hong Kong digital prints

A collection of 14 drawings inspired by all things typical in Hong Kong: an egg waffle, a red cab, traditional white and blue porcelain, some dumplings … the kind of things you see every day when living in Hong Kong and you’ll probably miss if you ever leave!
 
HKD 190 per drawing (HKD 5 being given to ImpactHK – supporting homeless people in Hong Kong - for every drawing sold) 
Available online at Graphik Recollection
 
GRAPHIK RECOLLECTION IS ONE OF THE BEAUTIFUL BRANDS OFFERING GIFTS FOR OUR EXCITING ADVENT CALENDAR PROMOTION. IF YOU HAVEN’T JOINED THE GIVEAWAY YET PLEASE MAKE SURE TO DO IT BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!  
 
 
 
Le Labo – Bigarade 18 (city exclusive fragrance for Hong Kong)

Perfume brand Le Labo also offers a City Exclusive range, with the corresponding perfumes being only available in their namesake cities and Bigarade 18, representing Hong Kong, was launched over the summer. The fragrance includes raw ingredients such as cedarwood, neroli and bergamot to capture the unique essence of the Fragrant Harbour.
 
Available at Le Labo’s stores across Hong Kong
 
 

The APT Studios – Hong Kong prints

Launched by famous local Instagrammers, content creators and freelance photographers Victor (@veceecheng ) and Sam (@samishome ), The APT Studios offers you an opportunity to buy one of their iconic photos redefining the most touristy postcard view into incredibly beautiful prints. Hong Kong prints include: the iconic Peninsula hotel, the colourful Choi Hung estate, the girly Pink Basketball Court or a Typhoon 10 Street View.
 
All prints are limited editions prints and are therefore signed, dated and numbered. All prints are printed on premium archival luster paper. 
From HKD 460 (A5 format) to HKD 4,282 (A1 format) 
 
Available online at The APT Studios
 
 
 
The Hong Kong Gin Company – Bauhinia Gin

An artisanal and premium London Dry Gin which is a tribute to Hong Kong, distilled from the finest natural botanicals and united by the unique flavor of the Bauhinia flower, the emblem of the city.
 
HKD 490
Available online at Wine Moments

by Aude
 
Ok, I’m no going to pretend and lie. I’m such a diptyque addict.  I love the brand from their signature scented candles to their truly beautiful beauty lines and I wish I could have a diptyque candle in each and every room of my flat (not that I have 10 rooms in my flat, Hong Kong style it’s more like a tiny box) and a diptyque shelve in my bathroom. I was therefore quite excited to discover their newly opened IFC flagship and the brand-new Hong Kong candle.

The second you step in the shop, you enter diptyque’s poetic world. And that smell … divine! Loving the translucent column w/ icicle-like cobblestones imprisoning the ditpyque candles. So hard to choose which one is my fav! Maybe Figuier … I absolutely love this one and always end up buying it. 

But not this time, this time I went for the Hong Kong Candle, a Hong Kong limited edition – a graphic and colourful candle inspired by the urban density surrounding us and with an addictive, almost powdery, scent of Bauhinia orchid wrapped in rice steam.  
 
Hong Kong Candle
HKD 650 

Most people know diptyque for the candles, but did you know they also have a beauty line? It’s probably the most desirable one ever: Eaux de parfums, Eaux de toilette, Facecare and Bodycare (including the most amazing Satin Oil for Body and Hair. 

In this brand-new shop, all the Maison’s fragrances are presented in the painter’s palette, a beautiful box placed in front of French artist Nicolas Lefeuvre beautiful artwork created exclusively for this Hong Kong shop. 
 
I had to spend a little time w/ him and have him tell me more about this quite fascinating art-piece and his collaboration with one of my fav lifestyle brand ever. 

French born, Hong Kong based … tell me a little bit more about your background. How did you end up here, in this exciting city? 
After studying at Beaux-Arts in Rennes (France) and architecture/ product design at Camondo in Paris, I left Paris in 2000 and went on an “inspirational trip” around Asia (Nepal, South East Asia, ...). A trip that lasted almost a year and which aim was to sketch and “see” (from morning lights to old ceramic tiles ...everything was inspiration). I eventually settled down in Singapore opening a showroom and gallery. I then started to work as Creative Director for a French luxury brand* which sent me to Tokyo in 2008, then to Hong Kong, in 2013, where I also set up an independent music label in China. 
 
*editor’s note: Chanel 
 
 
How is like to collaborate with a brand like diptyque? 
It was very moving and personal.
I remember my mother burning the Aubépine (hawthorn) candle at home when I was younger... Also, I have been working with the Lavender Leaf candle for almost 10 years I think! Besides, I really love the story of the brand: travelling and bringing back treasures,
scents, memories, ... which matches with my work and my personal experiences.
 
How did the collaboration go? Was it a lot of back and forth before you really started working on your art piece or was it pretty clear from the beginning what you wanted to do and you had the freedom to go that way? 
It all started when the team saw my work in an exhibition I had last year. I then went to Paris to discover their magical universe. That is when we realized “Landscape” was a common word/language between us. diptyque elaborates its fragrances this way, imagining “olfactive landscapes”.
So, I knew exactly what I wanted to bring, build, represent in this fresco, and had a total freedom to create...
 
Speaking of this fresco, can you tell us a little bit more about it – for those who haven’t been to the shop yet? 
This artwork is a “Landscape” part of my series “LAND(E)SCAPES”. It is a mental photography made combining images, memories, sounds, but also scents I had in HK.
 
We often see HK in its verticality, so I wanted to come up with horizontal lines in order to contrast with this verticality and remind people that HK is not only buildings and skies but the sea has an important role here. I have almost always been living by the sea (from France to HK, Singapore, Japan...), so of course it is reflected here. Also, I mostly work early morning or at night, and always loved HK by night: that’s why these gold lines are imaginary horizons of city lights from the evening.
 
I am not an artist with political messages or strong claims. I am just travelling through a quest of aestheticism.
 
Where do you find inspiration? 
Everywhere! People, music, objects, buildings, electrical lines, scents, memories from childhood, cities ...
Also I work mostly with ink, on paper, using objects which surround me (kimonos, Japanese wooden shoes, mahjong dices, stamps, ink rollers, wood blocks…), so the place I live in is also an influence.
 
Your dream collaboration? 
With Hong Kong Madame of course! 
 
Editor’s note: whoa, I’d definitely loved such a collaboration! 
 

I got that thing w/ candles and all candle lovers will tell you: diptyque is the best. Their brand new limited edition Hong Kong candle is a beautiful tribute to the city. The smell is divine and very unique using the floral accord of Hong Kong iconic Bauhinia orchid wrapped in rice steam. This candle has been burning in my living room since last Wednesday and I'm already thinking on buying a new one before the entire stock is gone. 

HKD 650 (190 g) 

 

 

#2
La Maison du Chocolat 's "Bien-être" collection

A super yummy collection aiming at liberating chocolate from animal fats and proteins. Always a big fan of Nicolas Cloiseau's yummy creations and loving his idea of taking a qualitative nutritional approach and using fruit juices, purées and nectars to create silky chocolates. Wellness doesn't have to be boring and can actually be super yummy. Now that's the kind of wellness I'm looking for! 

My fav ganache of this collection? Mango Turmeric in a dark ganache, sweet and slightly acidulous with just a hint of spice plus loaded in vitamins and antioxidants. 

HKD 390 for the Wellness Collection gift box
HKD 70 for two Bouchée Bars (only available in Green Apple Aloe Vera or Squash Squeed Praliné)

 

 

#3
Sanpellegrino new sparkling fruit beverages flavours

The heat is back in Hong Kong and I like a fresh sip of Sanpellegrino Sparkling Fruit Beverages to cool things down on summer days. This summer, two new flavours: 

-   Melograno e Arancia: a zest of orange blended with pomegranate's ruby-hued juice 

-   Clementina: sweet clementines blended with oranges and mandarins 

Pssst: they also make perfect cocktails and mocktails material! 

 

#4
Oatly 's Cold Brew Latte

I discovered Oatly a few weeks ago and love absolutely everything about this brand from their uber cool packagings to their sustainable philosophy and their super yummy products. Not that I am intolerant to cow's milk or don't like it (actually love milk) but always love exploring different things and Oatly is the brand that has me thinking "ok, I don't mind swapping my usual milk for this one, actually happy to do because this oat milk is just super yummy". 

My fav Oatly's product? The Cold Brew Latte ... this little can is just so good when served perfectly chilled! 

Oatly's oat milk is available as an option in more and more coffee shops around town (including Pacific Coffee) 
Products available at JustGreen, ParknShop, Honestbee and more ...