Simons
L'Apparition scented candle product image (primary)
A glossy black cylindrical vessel with a tapered top and four vertical fluted panels on the lower half, held in a black leather-gloved hand and wrapped around the midsection with a beige cloth band.

Rick Owens

L'apparition Scented Candle

CA$199.95CA$325.00-38%
In Stock

The L'apparition Scented Candle by Rick Owens is a 200g scented candle with a burn time of 40 hours, housed in a black glass container with a removable lid. It uses vegan, cruelty-free vegetable oil wax and is made in France. The resinous fragrance, inspired by church incense with notes of lotus, labdanum, and holy resins, is described by reviewers as similar to Aesop's Stoic and a darker version of Diptyque Myrrhe, and the vessel can be repurposed as a decorative vase.

Color
Black
Material
Vegetable oil wax, black glass container
Category
Home & Garden > Decor > Home Fragrances > Candles

Color

Black

Size

ONE SIZE
View on merchant siteJSON

Specifications

A scented candle inspired by church incense, with notes of lotus, labdanum, and holy resins, housed in a black glass container.

Vegan and cruelty-free; responsibly sourced vegetable oil wax; 40 hours burn time; 200g wax; made in France.

Color
Black ¡ black
Material
Vegetable oil wax, black glass container
Secondary
glass
Gender
male
Age Group
adult
Condition
new
Category
Home & Garden > Decor > Home Fragrances > Candles

Additional Attributes

  • vegan
  • cruelty-free
  • responsibly sourced vegetable oil wax
  • 40 hours burn time
  • made in France
  • black glass container with removable lid
  • lotus
  • labdanum
  • holy resins

Product Insights

Rick Owens' L'apparition Scented Candle is the most affordable entry into his home collectibles, yet it carries the brand's signature narrative weight: inspired by Huysmans' À Rebours and Moreau's L'Apparition, created for his Palais Galliera retrospective, and recommended to be burned while reading Oscar Wilde's Salome. Its scent is dominated by frankincense and myrrh with an animalic amber base, delivered through French craftsmanship at a burn cost of $5/hour—roughly four times standard luxury. The main tradeoff is that price premium for the artistic concept and reusable glass vessel, which accounts for half the purchase reason; availability is limited to select partners like The Shelter.

Verified claims

Inspiration
Rooted in Huysmans' À Rebours, Moreau's L'Apparition, and created for Owens' Palais Galliera retrospective.
Comparisons
Matches Aesop Stoic and a darker Diptyque Myrrhe, drawing directly from À rebours and Moreau's L'Apparition.
Scent profile
The listed notes (lotus, labdanum, myrrh, olibanum, ambergris) are dominated by frankincense and myrrh, with resinous pine and an animalic amber base.
Collectibility
Most affordable Rick Owens home collectible, with limited distribution.
Cost per hour
Burn cost $5/hour, roughly 4x standard luxury, justified by French craftsmanship and narrative.
Reuse
Glass vessel is reusable as a vase; design is half the purchase reason.
Price accessibility
At C$199.95, it is the lowest-priced Rick Owens home object.
Heritage
Owens' retrospective candle with his 30-year À Rebours thread.
Artistic concept
Rick Owens recommends burning the candle while reading Oscar Wilde's Salome.
Price positioning
At 325 CAD, it is the most affordable Rick Owens home object.
Exclusivity
In stock, but available only at select partners like The Shelter.

Product record

Title
L'apparition Scented Candle
Brand
Rick Owens
Price
325 CAD
Availability
In stock

Deep Research

The inspiration from Huysmans' novel À rebours

  • Owens first encountered À Rebours as a teenager in his father’s discarded basement library — a book the father had kept but not prioritized, making it a symbol of generational rebellion and hidden aesthetic inheritance that gives this candle a charged, personal mythography.
  • Curator Alexandre Samson, preparing Owens’ 2025 Palais Galliera retrospective, noted that Owens has referenced À Rebours in every interview since his first — so this candle distills three decades of Owens’ public identity into a single scented object, making it a miniature career retrospective in wax.
  • Des Esseintes believes perfumery can be a high art comparable to music or painting; he argues that a crafted bouquet should be as intentional as a jeweler’s work — this candle, with its precisely chosen notes, aims to be that kind of deliberate olfactory artifact, inviting the owner to deconstruct it like a poem.
  • In the novel, Des Esseintes veers toward religion only to have his faith dissolve under rational scrutiny — a psychological push-pull the candle translates olfactorily by pairing church incense resins (myrrh, frankincense) with the more profane notes of lotus and ambergris, making the scent itself dramatic rather than merely atmospheric.
  • The candle’s name comes from Gustave Moreau’s 1876 painting ‘L’Apparition’, which depicts Salome holding a lotus flower — Owens explicitly connects the image to ‘unrequited, delusional love and morbidly triumphant vengeance’, so the scent is not an abstract mood but a narrative illustration of a specific decadent icon.
  • Launching as an item for the gift shop of his retrospective, this candle extends the museum exhibition into a home object — the show itself used À Rebours as its central theme, so lighting the candle recreates the intellectual atmosphere that curator Alexandre Samson designed across the galleries.
  • Owens recommends burning the candle while reading Oscar Wilde’s Salome, which translates the Huysmans-Moreau obsession into the Anglo-Irish decadent canon and positions the fragrance as a ritual partner for a multisensory literary experience — one that extends the brand’s gothic-literary sensibility into performance.

What the fragrance notes actually smell like

  • Labdanum absolute, extracted from rockrose resin, anchors the heart with a multifaceted amber scent that carries distinct leather, oak, sycamore, moss, and fossilized amber accents—lending the candle its decadent, animalic warmth and bridging the bright lotus top to the smoky base.
  • The candle’s scent concept directly riffs on Joris-Karl Huysmans’ 1884 decadent novel À rebours, where the protagonist envelops himself in church incense; that specific literary DNA elevates the fragrance from a mere home scent to an olfactory artwork that channels fin-de-siècle sacred/profane transgression.
  • Labdanum is historically prized for its close resemblance to ambergris and serves as the main perfumery ingredient for creating amber accords; combining it with a dedicated ambergris base note yields a layered, resonant amber experience—sweet, salty, and deeply animalic—that distinguishes this candle from simpler incense blends.
  • The base layers myrrh's bitter balsamic, frankincense's ethereal citrus-pine, and ambergris's salty skin-like warmth over the labdanum amber, creating a lasting, spiritual trail that community comparisons place darker and more church-like than Diptyque’s Myrrhe candle—the reason the scent feels authentically liturgical yet with a modern, synthetic-edged depth.

How it compares to other luxury incense candles

  • Sold through the brand's own site and select partners like The Shelter in Auckland, the candle's narrow distribution creates a scarcity halo that luxury buyers expect — it's not a grocery-store candle, and the limited footprint helps justify a price that would be hard to swallow at mass-market availability.
  • At US retail, L’Apparition costs about $6.50 per burn hour — roughly four to five times the rate of a standard Diptyque 190g/60h candle — a premium that covers handmade French production and the vessel's second life, not extended scenting time.
  • The black glass vessel is explicitly designed to be cleaned and reused as a vase (Owens suggests holding a single flower stem), effectively splitting the purchase into a 40-hour fragrance and a permanent minimalist object — a design move that reframes the candle as a pre-furnishing purchase for the brand's audience.
  • The scent channels Huysmans' À rebours and Moreau's Salome, giving the candle a narrative depth absent from other luxury candles — for a buyer who values storytelling, this concept alone can justify the premium over a generic myrrh-frankincense candle.
  • Priced at $260, the candle is the cheapest entry into the Rick Owens home universe — well below his furniture or apparel — turning it into an accessible collectible that imports the brutalist aesthetic for fans unwilling or unable to spend four figures.
  • L’Apparition checks the sustainability boxes typical of its price tier — vegan wax, ethically sourced oils, recycled paper packaging — so the cost ceiling is entirely about design and brand, not any material advantage over similarly clean competitors like Aesop or Byredo.

Image Analysis

3 images
L'Apparition scented candle product image (primary)
01

Product

A glossy black cylindrical vessel with a tapered top and four vertical fluted panels on the lower half, held in a black leather-gloved hand and wrapped around the midsection with a beige cloth band.

  • Overall shapeTall cylindrical vessel with a slightly tapered neck and a rounded caplike top; lower body shows four distinct vertical fluted panels that create a squared effect at the base.
    1 regionx 0.28 ¡ y 0.10 ¡ w 0.44 ¡ h 0.68 (high)
  • Finish and material appearanceHighly reflective glossy surface that produces bright linear highlights and mirrorlike reflections of the scene; appears to be a hard, polished material.
    1 regionx 0.30 ¡ y 0.12 ¡ w 0.40 ¡ h 0.60 (high)
  • Top detailRounded, slightly domed cap or neck at the top of the vessel with a narrow band seam below it.
    1 regionx 0.34 ¡ y 0.04 ¡ w 0.32 ¡ h 0.14 (high)
  • Midsection bandBeige lightweight cloth or fabric strip wrapped once around the midsection, covering the circumference and showing soft folds and texture.
    1 regionx 0.32 ¡ y 0.18 ¡ w 0.36 ¡ h 0.12 (high)
  • Lower body flutesLower portion has four vertical recessed flutes or cut panels that create deep glossy channels and a squared bottom edge.
    1 regionx 0.34 ¡ y 0.44 ¡ w 0.30 ¡ h 0.34 (high)
  • Visible reflectionsBright narrow vertical reflections running along the front face and highlights on edges indicating a curved, mirrorlike surface.
    1 regionx 0.36 ¡ y 0.20 ¡ w 0.28 ¡ h 0.50 (high)

Other

Staged lifestyle shot with a black leather-gloved hand holding the product against a mottled rust-brown textured backdrop; studio lighting produces strong highlights and soft shadows; image is vertically framed and centrally composed.

  • Hand propBlack leather-gloved hand gripping the vessel from below and at the side; glove shows visible stitching and a textured leather sheen.
    1 regionx 0.10 ¡ y 0.48 ¡ w 0.50 ¡ h 0.46 (high)
  • BackgroundMottled rusty brown textured background with irregular darker and lighter patches, filling the whole frame behind the product.
  • LightingDirectional studio lighting from the left-front producing bright specular highlights on the product and glove and soft shadowing on the right side.
  • Shot compositionVertical crop with the product centered and tilted slightly upward; image shows full product height within frame but not the full glove sleeve.

Colors

gloss black¡ vessel bodywarm beige¡ cloth band#EDE3DB
L'Apparition scented candle product image 2
02

Product

A glossy black cylindrical ceramic candle vessel with an off-white wax fill and a single centered wick; the vessel stands on three vertical rectangular legs and has a separate glossy black lid placed nearby; a narrow off-white gauze-like fabric is wrapped once around the vessel neck.

  • Vessel shapeGlossy black cylindrical container with a slightly rounded upper bowl and three vertical rectangular leg extensions forming a tripod-like base, visible from the side and slightly above.
    1 regionx 0.52 ¡ y 0.08 ¡ w 0.38 ¡ h 0.78 (high)
  • Wax and wickCreamy off-white solid wax filling the vessel to just below the rim with a single upright wick centered in the wax.
    1 regionx 0.62 ¡ y 0.08 ¡ w 0.26 ¡ h 0.18 (high)
  • Fabric wrapNarrow loosely wrapped off-white gauze or muslin band encircling the vessel near the top, showing visible texture and slight fraying at edges.
    1 regionx 0.59 ¡ y 0.18 ¡ w 0.30 ¡ h 0.16 (high)
  • Detached lidSeparate glossy black lid with a flared conical profile and cylindrical neck opening, positioned to the left of the vessel and resting on the surface.
    1 regionx 0.06 ¡ y 0.32 ¡ w 0.30 ¡ h 0.28 (high)
  • Surface finishHigh-gloss reflective finish on both vessel and lid, showing specular highlights and reflected light bands.
    2 regionsx 0.52 ¡ y 0.08 ¡ w 0.38 ¡ h 0.78 (high); x 0.06 ¡ y 0.32 ¡ w 0.30 ¡ h 0.28 (high)

Other

Product shot on a textured rust-brown surface with directional studio lighting from upper left producing soft shadows; image framed portrait with the vessel at right and lid at left.

  • Background surfaceTextured rust-brown tabletop or staging surface with mottled orange-brown patches and granular texture.
    1 regionx 0.00 ¡ y 0.48 ¡ w 1.00 ¡ h 0.52 (high)
  • Shot compositionPortrait-oriented composition with the main vessel positioned on the right third and the lid on the left third, visible from slightly above.
  • Lighting and shadowsDirectional studio lighting from the upper-left creating bright highlights on glossy surfaces and soft shadows cast to the lower-right.
  • Image qualitySharp focus on the product with visible surface texture and fabric weave; no legible printed text in the scene.

Colors

gloss black¡ vessel and lidoff-white gauze¡ fabric wrapcream¡ wax fill
L'Apparition scented candle product image 3
03

Product

A glossy black cylindrical vessel with a stepped neck and a wrapped beige cloth band sits partially inside a shorter off-white textured paper tube; a taller off-white textured cylinder stands to its right.

  • Glossy vessel topBlack glossy cylindrical top with a stepped neck and reflective highlights visible on curved surfaces.
    1 regionx 0.18 ¡ y 0.28 ¡ w 0.22 ¡ h 0.18 (high)
  • Fabric wrapBeige cloth wrapped several times around the neck area forming a layered band with visible folds and texture.
    1 regionx 0.12 ¡ y 0.42 ¡ w 0.28 ¡ h 0.12 (high)
  • Short tube showing interiorShort off-white textured cylindrical tube with an open top revealing the black vessel inside and a smooth rolled rim.
    1 regionx 0.05 ¡ y 0.52 ¡ w 0.40 ¡ h 0.40 (high)
  • Tall cylinder packagingTall off-white textured cylindrical tube standing to the right with a uniform matte surface and a visible top rim.
    1 regionx 0.48 ¡ y 0.08 ¡ w 0.44 ¡ h 0.84 (high)

Packaging

Two off-white textured cylindrical paper tubes are visible: a shorter tube on the left partially containing the product and a taller tube on the right with a visible top rim and printed signature near its lower area.

  • Material finishOff-white paper or paperboard with a slightly textured matte finish covering both visible cylinders.
    1 regionx 0.05 ¡ y 0.40 ¡ w 0.87 ¡ h 0.58 (medium)
  • Printed signature on packaging“Rick Owens”
    1 regionx 0.66 ¡ y 0.74 ¡ w 0.20 ¡ h 0.12 (high)

Other

Studio-style product shot with a textured dark brown mottled background, soft directional lighting creating highlights and shadows, and strong specular reflections on the black vessel.

  • Background textureDark rust-brown mottled background with irregular lighter patches and a granular surface appearance.
    1 regionx 0.00 ¡ y 0.00 ¡ w 0.98 ¡ h 0.98 (medium)
  • Lighting and reflectionSoft directional lighting from the left produces vertical shadows on the cylinders and strong specular highlights on the black glossy vessel.
  • Shot compositionVertical portrait framing with the two cylinders occupying lower two thirds and the negative space above filled by the textured background.

Colors

glossy black¡ glossy vessel top#2A170Bbeige¡ fabric wrapoff-white¡ cylinder surfacesPackaging#F1EBE5

Documents & Data

Q&A

6 answered
How durable is the glass vessel for reuse as a vase or storage container after the candle is finished?
Community feedback suggests the glass vessel is less premium than previous ceramic collaborations, with some users questioning its durability for reuse. However, the removable lid and container design allow for potential reuse as a vase or storage item, though caution is advised.
What is the optimal room size for effective scent projection given the 200g wax and 40-hour burn time?
With 200g of wax and a 40-hour burn time, this candle is likely suitable for medium to large rooms (e.g., 200–400 sq ft), based on typical luxury candle performance. The specific throw is not documented in reviews, but similar resinous candles often project well in open spaces.
Is the wick cotton or a safer alternative, and is it lead-free?
The wick material is not listed in the product details, but it is standard for premium candles to use lead-free cotton wicks. We recommend checking the candle's packaging for confirmation.
What does the candle smell like?
Dark resinous notes of frankincense, myrrh, and pine, similar to Aesop's Stoic and a darker Diptyque Myrrhe.
Can the vessel be reused?
Yes, some users plan to use it as a vase or decorative piece after the candle is finished.
How is the throw?
Unknown from these threads; one user hadn't burned it yet but expects good throw based on similar candles.

Reddit Insights

3 threads ¡ r/luxurycandles, r/Rickowens

Reddit users generally appreciate the candle's dark resinous scent and distinctive vessel, though some criticize the glass quality as less premium.

mixed sentiment100% match

The scent receives high praise, but concerns about vessel quality and cost sentiment temper overall positivity.

Themes

Resinous, dark scent profilepositive
Vessel design and qualitymixed
Comparisons to other luxury candlesneutral

Use Cases

  • Scented candle for home fragrance
  • Decorative vase after candle is used
  • Winter ambiance candle

Watch Out For

mediumThe glass vessel may feel less premium than expected for a luxury candle; one user found it not very unique or high-quality compared to previous ceramic collaborations.

Compared To

vs Aesop collaboration candle (Stoic scent)

Scent is similar to Aesop's Stoic; however, the Aesop ceramic vessel felt more premium than the L'apparition glass vessel.

vs Diptyque Myrrhe

Described as a slightly darker version of Diptyque's Myrrhe candle.

Source Threads

  • Frankincense and myrrh scent highlighted

    I smelled it cold in Nordstrom, the frankincense and myrrh stood out to me the most along with the vessel. I love dark resinous scents as you can probably see😂

    u/jdent27View thread →

  • Scent similar to Aesop Stoic and Diptyque Myrrhe

    it’s good. i picked it up at the temple of love exhibition a few months ago. the scent is pretty similar to the ‘stoic’ scent from the aesop collaboration. or a slightly darker version of the diptyque ‘myrrhe’ candle (which makes sense because that is rick’s favorite candle)

    u/xerroxmonophaser2View thread →

  • Pine resinous scent and vessel appeal

    Pine that intense usually goes resinous as it burns down, like fresh sap. The vessel is half the reason to buy honestly, that one looks great with a low flame in it. Good winter pick.

    u/marcusluke9View thread →

Provenance

Merchant Link
https://www.simons.ca/en/men-designer/accessories/useful-extras/l-apparition-scented-candle--8946-3001111?colourId=0
Updated