GERANIUM No.3 by C.Atherley

This week marks National Relaxation Day, which is held annually on August 15th. First celebrated in 1985, it’s a day when we are all encouraged to “slow down and unwind”, and “focus on taking care of ourselves”. The fast-paced lives that most people lead these days can make self-care a forgotten ritual, but we really do need to make an effort to find time for a moment of calm if we’re to win in the battle against daily stresses. That’s where the act of fragrancing our homes can play a big part, and C.Atherley’s new Mabel Grey-inspired Geranium No.3 Candle is the perfect scented antidote to the daily grind.

August is a month when we are all encouraged to enjoy the warmer summer weather and take a well-deserved holiday from the office. That’s great in theory, but if you’re working in hospitality then this is your busiest season, and time off is rare. It’s also a period when, whether we like it or not, nights are beginning to shorten and autumn is just around the corner. These changes of routine can often cause us to feel a little unsteady in ourselves, and that’s why some simple “me time” is so important in our daily lives.

C.Atherley is a company that I’ve featured many times, because their products and fragrances are quite simply exceptional, and the latest addition to the collection continues that winning streak. Founded by Cath Kidston-Padgham, it takes pelargoniums as its inspiration and translates their scents into a range of bath, body and home products. The fragranced part of the plant is actually the leaf, usually released when you rub it between your finger, and so their perfumer always goes to great lengths to ensure that the scent is a true reconstruction of that moment of discovery.

Geranium No.3 takes the Mabel Grey variety of pelargonium as its focus, which is characterised by a zesty, citronella-like scent - their first two fragrances centred around the peppermint Tomentosum and the lemony-rose Radens. This new addition is yet another way to bring “the outdoors indoors”, and is an incredibly uplifting aroma that clears the mind and definitely feels as if it calms the senses. The candle in this scent is also the first to come in a porcelain jar embossed with the C.Atherley name, and so is destined to head to the greenhouse when it’s empty. So, looks aside, what does Geranium No.3 smell like?

The candle’s citrus quality is realised using a fantastic blend of grapefruit and may chang, so you get a sherbety effect with touches of tart juice, but there’s also an immediate earthy geranium note. This adds a textural, leaf-rubbing feeling which is then expertly added to by a grounding cedarwood. This helps to conjure the woodier stems of the Mabel Grey. Adding to the citrus opening, an aromatic bouquet is also present with notes of cardamom and mint but, in the background, the subtlest hint of nutmeg and patchouli adds a comforting touch to a sensational candle. Go on, treat yourself to some well-deserved scented “me time”.

The Geranium No.3 Candle is available from the C.Atherley website at c-atherley.com, and also from various stockists, priced at £50 for 240g. You can also click on the image below to read Cath Kidston-Padgham's "Stephan's Six" interview from 2023 [Sample provided by C.Atherley]