THE WORLD'S MOST ILLUSIVE CANDLE

I'm not exaggerating.

Ester & Erik candles are nearly impossible to find online. These hand-dipped Danish beauties are the supermodels of their waxy breed. They are extra tall, extra tapered and come in the most striking array of colours; nearly 100 to choose from, in fact.

My knowledge of that statistic illustrates my obsession. Those close to me can attest: my fixation is such that when I couldn't find them for purchase online, I created my own candle making studio (let's very loosely call it that) in my parents backyard shed in a feeble and misguided attempt to recreate the product. I studied the art of candle making and colour mixing. I purchased the tools. I (obviously) failed miserably. I really wish I had photos to show you. It was a rough scene.

Should I be embarrassed? Definitely. But I'm not. My obsession lives on and grows stronger by the day.

I first came across Ester & Erik candles at a boutique in Oakville, Ontario that has since shuttered its doors. A few years later I spied them through the paned window of a now defunct homewares shop on Nantucket . My most recent encounter was two years ago in Montreal. But that time, I had sought out my prize in advance.

For years I have checked online every couple of months to try and find an online retailer to no avail. Then yesterday, a breakthrough ...

Urban Dwellings, a home design store in Portland, Maine has six colours available on their website. While they aren't colours I would choose if I had my pick, they are stunning nonetheless, towering at 16 and 19 inches, respectively.

The candles retail for $30 US per pair. Not cheap, but worth it. They're works of art, standing elegantly in their holders.