Gold Grand Alligator Candle, $950, thompsonferrier.com
Our clothes significantly enhance the art of seduction by conveying nonverbal signals of confidence, status, and desirability. But, what you wear – or don’t wear – is only part of the equation. Fragrance is a critical, often subconscious element in the art of seduction, serving as an “olfactory signature” that triggers memory, emotion, and desire, making a person unforgettable.
The sense of smell is directly connected to the brain’s limbic system, which controls emotions and memories. A well-chosen scent can create a “pheromone-like” effect, inducing feelings of comfort, trust, and attraction. Love begins with fragrance; the scent of romance.
The history of Valentine’s Day is a mix of Christian and pagan origins. Still, the use of scented candles has a long history in Valentine’s Day celebrations, from ancient Rome to the Middle Ages, and in modern times as a romantic gesture, setting a relaxing, intimate atmosphere, adding scents to the room, and symbolizing love and connection.
Gold Grand Elephant Candle, $1540, thompsonferrier.com
Raffi Arslanian is the founder and designer of Thompson Ferrier, a luxury brand based in NYC that launched in 2011. They specialize in high-end, meticulously crafted scented candles and home fragrance products, featuring unique, artistic vessels made from ceramic, porcelain, glass, and concrete.
“Every Thompson Ferrier candle is a masterpiece—crafted with precision, designed with intention, and infused with bold, unforgettable fragrance. Our designs don’t just sit in a space; they command attention, elevating your home with elegance and sophistication.”- Raffi Arslanian, Founder, Thompson Ferrier.
Gold Grand Buddha Candle, $1540, thompsonferrier.com
Thompson Ferrier distinguishes itself in the crowded luxury candle market by blending artistic, sculptural vessel design with highly curated, evocative scents that function as bold, decorative statement pieces. Moreover, they are known for exceptional customer service, transparent communication, and high-quality, reliable products that create a multisensory experience, often described as a “scent experience” rather than just a candle.
Raffi Arslanian, photo courtesy designer
Raffi is inspired by travel, nature, and his rich cultural heritage. Working alongside traditionally trained world-renowned perfumers, each fragrance is carefully curated from a library of essential oils and proprietary aromas. They use a library of essential oils curated with Swiss perfume house Givaudan to produce unique scent profiles.
“In today’s world where everything has become just average, it seems that it’s too much work for anyone to push themselves creatively. Obsession with creativity and exactly what matters to you, is something very personal and time consuming.” – Raffi Arslanian
Elizabeth II 24K Gold Ruby Red Glass Buddha Royale, $425.
The brand offers over 60 different fragrance options for its candles. Products are made with a soy wax blend and 100% cotton wicks, offering a long burn time (180–240 hours).
According to Arslanian, Thompson Ferrier’s most seductive scents, often highlighted in their White Collection, feature warm, smoky, mysterious notes that create a sensual atmosphere. One of the top contenders, perfect for passion and romance, is Red Currant Crush, targeted for “fiery lovers”.
Red Currant Crush, $54, thompsonferrier.com
Cherry Tobacco Affair is described as a “nostalgic, seductive, and a little flirty” scent that acts as a surprise bestseller. It is a deep, smoky suede fragrance that creates a cocoon of temptation, featuring notes of cherry, clove, tobacco, vetiver, sandalwood, and suede.
Madame Elixir is best described as a “luxurious boozy fragrance experience”. It is an opulent, smoky, rich, and dark scent with notes of cognac, plum, tobacco, cedarwood, and vanilla.
Nastassja Kinski and the Serpent, Photo by Richard Avedon, 1981
Thompson Ferrier’s most popular products consistently include animal-themed and spiritual, metallic containers. One of my favorites is the Grand Gold Alligator Candle. When I first saw the image, it immediately brought to mind the iconic, highly seductive “Natassia Kinski and the Serpent”, photographed by Richard Avedon in 1981.
Gold Grand Alligator Candle, $950, thompsonferrier.com.
The candle features a removable tray and comes with four refill trays. Each tray is hand-poured with a proprietary wax blend, highly fragranced with essential oils, and finished with two lead-free cotton wicks to ensure a clean, even burn. This candle is available in 11 fragrances, and with your purchase, you will receive four trays of your selected fragrance.
Black Dante’s Skull, $235, thompsonferrier.com
Among the most consistent best sellers is the Metallic Gold Buddha Candle, featuring notes of Palo Santo, Tobacco Flower, and Vanilla. The Silver Elephant Candle is another popular item, an intricately designed piece commonly filled with Midnight Orchid fragrance. The Black Dantés Skull in Secret Sucré is a distinctive, edgy, and popular candle with notes of black pomegranate and tart cherry.
All the vessels at Thompson Ferrier are designed by the company’s founder, Raffi Arslanian. As a second-generation fine fragrance brand builder, Raffi had the privilege of working alongside his father, Sarkis Arslanian, to launch several fragrance collections, including YSL’s Opium & Kouros, Calvin Klein’s Obsession, Creed’s Aventus, & many more.
Bonaparte Skull Candles silver and gold $235 thompsonferrier.com
Drawing on his background in luxury real estate, Raffi creates these sculptural, fashion-forward pieces in their NYC office with the intention of making candles a central element of home décor. His design philosophy is, “where fashion meets fragrance,” and he aims to create a sculptural presence.
By the way, it’s not just Thompson Ferrier’s fragrances that are romantic. A romantic connection between New Yorkers Pauline Dana and Raffi Arslanian began at a restaurant called Ferrier on the Upper East Side.
After years of knowing each other, Dana and Arslanian had their first “real” date at the Thompson Hotel. The union is celebrated in their home fragrance collection, aptly named Thompson Ferrier.
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