Celebrating our unsung heroes
In the complex and highly intricate process of creating a fragrance, our laboratories in France tweak and finesse each formula endlessly before they arrive at the perfect balance of notes. Working with flowers and botanicals from Southeast Asia and beyond, often, it’s the unsung heroes that give each fragrance that extra something special. Over the next few months, we will be running a series shining light on the unsung hero ingredients in our fragrances which many of us know by name but may not know too much about. First up, orris root and violet, key notes in our Vietnamese Rose & Delentii and Frangipani & Neroli fragrances.
Orris Root
Found in our Vietnamese Rose & Delentii, Frangipani & Neroli and Tuberose Absolute & Sandalwood fragrances, Orris comes from the dried roots of the Iris and was used in fragrances in Ancient Rome and Greece. With a powdery, suede-like scent, it brings an earthy middle note to our delicate florals.
Violet
In our Vietnamese Rose & Delentii, Frangipani & Neroli, Water Hyacinth & Lime Blossom fragrances, we use Violet to lend a delicate floral top note. Extracted by steeping the flower petals in oil, their soft, sweet scent brings a romantic aura to sweep you away to flower filled gardens steeped in the rich, layered scents of another place and time.
How long to burn your candle
This is much debated amongst the team! There seem to be two schools of thought here - those who love lighting a candle for a short sharp burst of fragrance in the evening, and others who love nothing more than a candle burning in the background for hours. I think a lot of it depends on the size of the room, the time of day and occasion, and also the fragrance. I find that some of our stronger, more heady fragrances lend themselves to shorter bursts of burn time. In general though, we suggest people burn our candles for an optimum time of 2-4 hours. This gives the fragrance a chance to fully develop without the wax becoming too hot. A minimum of 2 hours will also make sure the wax can burn to the edge of the candle, leaving an even finish, ready for next time.
How to trim your wick
Trimming the wick is boring but really important to get the best results from your candles. If the wick is allowed to get too long, it produces a larger flame which can cause sooting around the glass. Most annoying of all, bits of it can fall into the molten wax which are a pain to get out! The best time to trim the wick is when your candle has fully cooled. Try to keep it around 5mm long for best results.
Re-using your silver glasses
This is a trick I learnt a while ago, but it really does work well. The easiest way to remove the remnants of wax left when you’ve finished burning your candle is to put the candle jar in the freezer for a few hours. The cold makes the wax contract, and then the leftover wax should just drop out. I re-use our silver glasses as vases and put them along the table – they look brilliant.
Of all the active, natural ingredients we use in our smooth, softening hand creams, it’s sodium hyaluronate that’s the most vital in delivering its exceptionally moisturising benefits. A lighter form of hyaluronic acid, this powerful agent can hold up to 1000 times its own weight in water - which is why, when applied to your skin, it attracts, holds and immerses your cells in that all important moisture.
As a compound that mixes easily with water, with a low molecular weight, it’s also extremely effective in penetrating the deeper layers of your skin, providing hydration that goes beyond the surface. Reducing dryness and roughness - and with them, the appearance of fine lines - this magic ingredient is also anti-inflammatory. The perfect antidote for winter hands dried out by cold and endless harsh soaps and sanitisers, it’s the perfect touch of luxury for now.
2020 certainly felt like the year that turned everything on its head. For us, as a business, it presented huge challenges, but with them came opportunities, and as a small company, we were in the fortunate position to be able to adapt quickly for which we are very grateful.
Personally, my life changed significantly in 2020. I went into the year living in Asia where I had been for 10 years running Cochine daily from our office to relocating to England, working from home and juggling work with unpacking, home schooling and everything else the day brings! Today we run Cochine remotely across continents and time zones and with a renewed flexibility and truly global focus.
Change, I know, is something I share with many of you. 2020 was the year when, for many of us, our homes became both our office and our haven. Being part of your home and also part of the time carved out for yourself, lifting the experience of another evening in with a little touch of luxury has been a true privilege.
We are hopeful that brighter times are on the horizon and, with this, are excited to be bringing you some brand new products soon - and a whole new collection that you have been asking us for. In the meantime, thank you so much for welcoming us into your homes and we look forward to helping you make them feel like the special sanctuaries you need them to be.
With love,
Kate
3 Things that have kept me sane…
1. The Midult Podcast - Listening to these ladies when it all seemed a bit much never failed to lift the spirits.
2. More than a Woman by Caitlin Moran - This book made me feel seen, heard and SO well understood.
3. Baths - Honestly, the best part of every day!
Ten years ago, when Cochine was first started in Saigon, our founder Kate searched far and wide to find a specialist candle factory to bring her vision to life. She found a family owned factory on the outskirts of Saigon, run by two brothers who would go on to become our partners in everything we do. After a year of testing wax, wicks and burn times, our first White Jasmine & Gardenia candles were produced back in March 2010 and now, ten years on, our latest candle fragrance Orange Amère & Star Anise has just been made in the very same place.
In that time, so much has changed. The factory has grown exponentially, expanding their capacity to make our travel and 4 wick candles, and moving into producing our reed diffusers, while providing secure and fulfilling jobs to the wonderful artisans that work there. Some things, however, remain the same. Every single scented candle they produce is still checked by hand before it gets filled, and after. The most exciting place to be is still their candle testing room, where we meticulously put each new fragrance through its paces in a temperature controlled cabinet, assessing burn time, the ‘throw’ (how much fragrance they emit), wick size and more. And, the most thrilling thing we all experience together is still the wonderful moment when the process has been completed, an idea has been brought to life, and we all know that we have alighted on something truly unique and special to share with you all.
We couldn't do any of this without our wonderful partners. It’s a relationship we cherish, and we’re so grateful to you for your support as you continue to help us grow and develop products in just the same way we set out to do together 10 years ago.
]]>"As I freshen up my home for summer, I find our floral scents to be the perfect accompaniment to warmer days and indulgent evenings. Here are some of my favorites I can’t get enough of right now.
My home office is enjoying a major uplift thanks to the invigorating scent of our Water Hyacinth and Lime Blossom reed diffuser. Lush and light, it elevates the space and my mood from the moment I walk in the door.
]]>
]]>
A castaway isle floating off the coast of Vietnam, Phú Quốc is an island fringed with palm lined, breezy beaches. It was weekends spent relaxing here, on its soft white sandy shores brushed with the shade of frangipani trees, that inspired our founder Kate to create our Frangipani & Neroli Fragrance.
]]>
Harnessing the power of nature, Cochine’s luxurious Hand & Body Lotions and Washes are packed with active, natural ingredients that leave your skin feeling fresh, smooth and perfectly scented and you ready to go about your day.
]]>
Cochine’s Tuberose & Wild Fig fragrance was created to capture that magical moment, when dusk falls in a sun-warmed Saigon garden and the Tuberose and Jasmine start bursting into flower. Discover the story behind the creation of this evocative scent.
Created using the finest essential oils, Cochine’s Tuberose & Wild Fig contains pure Tuberose Absolute oil. One of the world’s most precious oils, it takes over 2kg of blossom to produce just 1g of this wonderful essence.
Combined with the richness of Wild Fig, inspired by the majestic Fig trees of Saigon, and blended with citrus notes of Vetiver, Lemon and Bergamot, the ingredients come together to create a scent that is dark and romantic, yet wonderfully crisp.
Decorate your home with the subtle glow and citrus-noir fragrance of our Tuberose & Wild Fig Scented Candle. With over 50 hours’ burn time, Cochine candles will gently infuse any room to create a delicately evocative and inspiring atmosphere.
Decorate your home with the subtle glow and citrus-noir fragrance of our Tuberose & Wild Fig Scented Candle. With over 50 hours’ burn time, Cochine candles will gently infuse any room to create a delicately evocative and inspiring atmosphere.
Scented with Wild Fig, Tuberose and Jasmine, this refreshing Hand & Body Wash will leave your skin feeling soft, fresh and perfectly cleansed. Formulated without sulfates and parabens, our washes use a mild natural cleansing agent, which does not dry the skin.
Enriched with Argan Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Shea Butter and Vitamin E together with soothing Aloe Vera extract, our lotions leave sun kissed skin supple and nurtured as the seasons change.
Enriched with Argan Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Shea Butter and Vitamin E together with soothing Aloe Vera extract, our lotions leave sun kissed skin supple and nurtured as the seasons change.
There’s something about the last days of summer that feels wonderfully glamorous. It’s a time for evening cocktails and dinner under the stars, beautiful, bohemian dresses and deliciously scented, sun-kissed skin. Here are some of our tips to get you and your home feeling suitably set for elegant summer evenings.
]]>There’s something about the last, heady days of summer that feels wonderfully glamorous. It’s a time for evening cocktails and dinner under the stars, beautiful, bohemian dresses and deliciously scented, sun-kissed skin. Below are some of our tips to get you and your home feeling suitably set for elegant summer evenings.
When it comes to styling tips for glamorous summer evenings, we like to keep it simple and chic both with our decor and our wardrobes. Touches of white are elegant and romantic. Go for luxurious white linen napkins and beautiful white dresses to complete the look.
Soft, nourished, sun-kissed skin feels deeply luxurious. Pamper yourself with our hydrating body wash and moisturiser at the end of a hot day, letting our subtle scents envelop you as you get ready for evening. Inspired by the magical moment of dusk in a flower-filled garden, our Tuberose & Wild Fig fragrance is the perfect accompaniment for elegant nights under the stars.
Decorate your home with the subtle glow of lanterns. We love the relaxed, beachy feel of these finds from Pottery Barn. Laid back and romantic, scatter them around your garden or in clusters on a table to add a bit of sparkle to your evenings.
Our White Jasmine & Gardenia 4-wick candle makes a striking centrepiece and fills any room with the beautiful, floral scents of Saigon. Style it up on your coffee table with fresh summer blooms, or place it at the centre of your dining table surrounded by smaller votives to create an atmosphere filled with dancing candlelight and the enchanting, elegant fragrance of Saigon summer nights.
]]>
A place where it feels time really has stood still, and a long-time favourite holiday destination of our founder Kate Crofton-Atkins, here are her top tips for the best possible visit to Hoi An.
]]>The current love for natural and woven products is one also close to our hearts. It was in her Saigon garden one afternoon that Kate was first inspired to create our Water Hyacinth & Lime Blossom fragrance, setting the tone for one of Cochine’s signature scents. Struck by a subtle yet crisp fragrance lingering in the air, she later discovered it was the scent of Water Hyacinth, the material used for the woven arm chairs on her terrace. Found in the waterways of Vietnam, these beautiful flowers have long, reedy roots which are harvested for furniture, bringing a wonderful citrus, woody scent to any room they are used in.
This summer, woven products are being spotted in stylish homes all around the world. A great way to bring nature inside, furnishings with a lovely, organic feel to them provide an elegant yet bohemian look. We have chosen some of our favourites below, all of which will bring a fresh, invigorating and natural vibe to your home.
Plant your greens and spring blooms in these lovely glazed pots with rattan detailing to create a boho-chic look and bring the garden inside.
Bamboo accents deliver a fresh look to any room. Try some shelves like these as an elegant storage solution for a bedroom or bathroom, fill with white towels and dress with a Cochine reed diffuser to finish off the look.
Fill your home with the citrus, woody notes of Water Hyacinth to create a crisp, clean atmosphere designed to subtly fragrance any room. Combined with the fresh scent of Lime Blossom, this invigorating fragrance is reminiscent of lazy afternoons on the banks of the Saigon River and perfect for summer.
We have seen these woven pendant lampshades used in some of the most stylish interiors we’ve spotted recently. Bringing a natural look to a more formal room, they also work brilliantly with a pale colour palette for that beach-side feel.
Rattan table mats look lovely on summer tables. Pair yours with printed napkins and vases of wild flowers for a countryside-inspired table setting.
]]>
Weaver Green’s washable rugs are a wonderful summer find. Made from recycled plastic bottles (but you’d never tell), their water-resistant styles are as chic as they are convenient. Their rugs would look lovely laid out on a lawn, creating the perfect spot for an afternoon with a book or a pretty picnic.
5 Travel Essentials
If you’re setting off on holiday or heading away for work, travelling in style helps us arrive feeling ready and prepared. Whether we’re talking on-the-go pampering, some stylish travel accessories or clever products designed to help us feel comfortable away from home, the little touches can make a big difference when you’re on the move.
5 Travel Essentials
If you’re setting off on holiday or heading away for work, travelling in style helps us arrive feeling ready and prepared. Whether we’re talking on-the-go pampering, some stylish travel accessories or clever products designed to help us feel comfortable away from home, the little touches can make a big difference when you’re on the move. Below, we’ve gathered together some of our travel essentials for trips we’re taking this summer. Bon Voyage!
Eddie Harrop Voyager Bag
We love Eddie Harrop’s luxurious leather bags. Wonderfully chic yet practical, they’re designed to be the perfect size for a weekend away. This grey leather Voyager bag is simple, stylish and on our wish list!
Shop Here
Smoothing Hand Cream
Our signature botanical fragrances, inspired by the tropics themselves, are blended in this paraben-free formulation to keep hands hydrated, soft and smooth. The perfect size for your carry-on or handbag, they’re a wonderful way to bring a little pampering and luxury with you and will help keep your hands moisturised on even the longest of flights.
Shop Here
Smythson Currency Wallet
Keeping organised whilst on-the-go isn’t always easy. It might be more in reach, however, with the help of this sleek wallet from Smythson. Keep all your receipts and essentials filed away in this chic silver number to make your travels more seamless.
Shop Here
Cochine Travel Candle
Whilst we love the adventure of discovering new places, travelling anywhere, whether for work or fun, can be a bit exhausting. We like to take along one of our travel-friendly votive candles whenever we check in somewhere new, infusing the space with a luxurious scent to help relax and unwind.
Shop Here
Silk Eye Mask
For nights on a plane, or in a hotel room, this luxurious silk mask would bring instant comfort - and hopefully a good night’s sleep! Supremely soft and designed to block out all light, here’s a little touch of luxury designed to ease stress and encourage relaxation.
Shop Here
Sodium Hyaluronate
Derived from natural sources, Sodium Hyaluronate is well known in the skincare industry for its ability to help skin retain moisture and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Apply our hand cream while your hands are slightly damp from washing them to lock in moisture, maximising its wonderfully hydrating properties.
Apricot Kernel Oil
Apricot Kernel Oil is fabulously rich in linoleic acid and vitamin E, both of which increase skin elasticity, minimise the signs of ageing and help soothe inflammation, all while keeping your nails and cuticles nourished and hydrated. Massage our hand cream into your hands regularly to reap the benefits of this amazing ingredient, taking extra time to work it into your nails for a rejuvenating and truly restorative experience.
Sunflower Phospholipids
We turned to this active ingredient for its wonderfully smooth texture that envelops the skin in a layer of hydration, just like wearing the finest silk gloves. Designed to sink quickly into your skin, our formula leaves no sticky residue, making it perfect for carrying with you on the go, whether travelling or as part of your day-to-day routine.
Photo courtesy of Arete Culture
Bring Nature Inside
Create a New Centrepiece
Getting your home ready for the holidays is important for setting both the scene and the spirit of things. With time tight and resources limited, however, pulling it all together can often seem a bit of a task. Don’t panic. At Cochine, we like to keep things simple, stylish and seasonal, and below we have rounded up some of our top tips to get your home looking and feeling festive and beautiful with just a few clever touches.
Welcome in the winter foliage for an instantly festive look. Eucalyptus and pine can be bought at almost any florist or market, and have the wonderful dual purpose of both looking and smelling fabulous. We like to decorate the centre of our dining or coffee tables with these lovely leaves interspersed with holly, red berries and pine cones - topped off with silver ribbon and small silver baubles for the full effect. (To keep your arrangement lasting longer, just spray it every few days.) Place our seasonal Juniper & Ginger candle in the middle, and you’ll bring a wonderful wintry fragrance and atmosphere into your home.
This year, we are sprucing up our Christmas tree with the addition of some velvet ribbons. You can make last year’s baubles seem more of a feature in an instant by tying them with beautiful velvet that’s easy to buy online (we have selected a few for you, below.) We went for a rich fuchsia, but a deep green or festive red would work equally well too.
A good centerpiece on your dining table makes all the difference at Christmas - and you don’t need to start from scratch. We love using our Vanille & Tabac Noir 4 Wick candle as a focal point surrounded by some of our smaller scented candles to add an array of light, layers and heights to the display. This way, you can layer up different fragrances to create a wonderfully indulgent atmosphere and create a gorgeous glow with all that flickering candlelight. And, for the full effect, finish it all off with some fairy lights for a showstopping display without too much fuss.
Simply arranging items together in a clever way can create a festive focal point for a room. Place your candles, match holders and some seasonal flowers together on a tray on your coffee table, and you’ll provide a centrepiece for your room in an instant. Keep it festive with berries and green, and layer up our warm, wintry fragrances such as Agarwood & Amber together with Juniper & Ginger to set the mood for indulgent, cosy evenings.
Preparing your home for the holiday season is as much about creating an atmosphere as it is about vision and style. At Cochine, we believe strongly in the power of fragrance to lift, change and inspire a mood, and at no time of year is this more true than at Christmas.
Whether you’re wanting to set the scene for an evening of elegant entertaining or settling in for a spot of indulgent relaxation, the right fragrance will bring a wonderful, luxurious warmth to your home, lifting your senses and your spirits. Our favourite scents for this time of year all have deep, sumptuous tones that suit winter nights and inspire comfort. We like to pair them together to create a multi-layered, rich atmosphere that sets the tone and mood in an instant. Below, you can find out more.
This warm and all encompassing fragrance combines the deeply sensuous aroma of Agarwood with the warmth of White Amber, Tuberose and Patchouli, making it an ideal choice for indulgent, wintry nights. We like to layer it with our seasonal Juniper & Ginger candle to create an instantly festive atmosphere.
Combining the crisp scent of Juniper with the sweet spiciness of Ginger, this fragrance brings a sumptuous wintry warmth to any room. Hints of Clove, Bergamot and Patchouli blend with the freshness of Eucalyptus to envelop you in a fragrance reminiscent of evergreen forests and alpine charm. Perfect for this time of year, use this scent to transport your guests to a winter wonderland the moment they enter your home.
Blending two of the Orient’s most evocative aromas, this elegant fragrance encapsulates the magical allure of Saigon at sunset: that moment of contented reflection before the sun gives way to the stars and the evening unfolds. With a lovely, delicate spiciness to it, this scent brings a sensuous aroma. Pair our luxurious 4 Wick Candle with a Juniper & Ginger diffuser to create a wonderful, seasonal centrepiece.
Nothing says cosy winter evenings like wrapping yourself in a cashmere blanket or lighting a rich, seasonal candle. Below, we've gathered together some of our favourite ways to get our homes looking sumptuous, warm and stylish as the nights begin to draw in. From small accessories to clever styling tips, decorating updates and the odd clever purchase, here's how we are preparing our homes for winter.
Introducing a new fabric doesn't just give your room an instant update; it can also help get your home feeling cosier during the colder months. For a really indulgent look, try bringing in a bit of velvet. These curtains from Anthropologie are elegant and wonderfully luxurious. Or, if you'd rather not redecorate to that extent, scatter some of their beautiful velvet ikat cushions across neutral sofas to warm them up.
Don't limit yourself when it comes to introducing some warmer tones and fabrics into your home. Coloured lampshades give a great and easy way to reinvent an otherwise more neutral interior. We love Pooky Lighting, where you can find great block printed shades in fabulous patterns and colours. Whether you go for seasonal, berry tones or something a little less colourful, use these shades to brighten and warm up any room.
When the days and nights start to cool down, you can make your bedroom cosier with the addition of brushed cotton or flannel sheets. The White Company's brushed cotton range is easy to look after, yet beautifully luxurious. And, inject some colour by throwing a contrasting cashmere rug over your bed, too.
If you don't want to change the fabrics in your home, try adding a pom pom or tasseled edge to your curtains, or give them new tie backs in a deep, rich, berry red. We love these from VV Rouleaux - the one-stop, cult shop for all things trimmings that ships globally.
Not all of us are lucky enough to have big, open fires to light, but with a bit of clever arrangement, candles can be used to give a similar effect. We like to light one of our large 4 wick candles on a mirrored tray, surrounded by some of our standard sized candles as well as some votives to give varying heights and kinds of candlelight, plus a lovely warm glow and ambience.
Berries aren't just for Christmas, they offer an easy way to bring a lovely, autumnal feel into your home at this time of year, too. Hypericum berries come in white and green as well as pink and dark red. Mix them in with simple white flowers to give your flower arrangements a new, seasonal feel.
Our newly formulated Cochine Hand & Body Washes and Hand & Body Lotions have been carefully created using natural ingredients that will leave your skin feeling nourished, radiant and fresh. We searched far and wide to find the very best laboratory to work with on these new products, eventually finding a family run business in the South of France with over 50 years' experience who were able to help us create new formulations that blend our signature fragrances with wonderful ingredients to leave your skin feeling transformed. You can find out more about these natural wonders and what they do below.
“I’m proud to say that we are using 95% natural ingredients in our new formulations, and that they are all paraben, silicone and sulfate free. The process to perfect our new products has been a long one, but I truly believe the end result is worth the wait”
Kate Crofton–Atkins, Cochine Founder
In our NEW Lotions we use Argan Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Shea Butter and Vitamin E together with soothing Aloe Vera extract which is rich in polysaccharides, vitamins and amino-acids that leave skin feeling supple and nurtured. All of this means that, not only do our new Hand & Body Lotions have exceptional moisturising qualities, they are also extremely light and easily absorbed into your skin. Our NEW Hand & Body washes are formulated without parabens or sulfates and suitable for all skin types. We use a mild natural cleansing agent which does not dry out the skin, Grapeseed Extract, a natural antioxidant, and Aloe Vera, to cleanse, soothe and moisturise.
Not for nothing did the New York Times name Argan Oil 'liquid gold.' Derived from the Mediterranean Argan tree, its high Vitamin E and fatty acid content make it a wonderful moisturising agent that is absorbed easily and can even restore elasticity with anti-ageing effects. Well known for its use in hair products, it works wonders on your skin too.
Sweet Almond Oil is rich in oleic acid and known for its immense healing qualities. It also absorbs very easily, being one of the most hypoallergenic and widely used natural massage oils. And, in case you needed another reason to indulge, it is packed with zinc and wonderful for strengthening your nails. Take a bit of extra time to massage our Hand & Body Lotions into your cuticles and dry patches to let this magic oil do its stuff.
Derived from the Shea tree, Shea Butter contains A, D , E and K Vitamins and has been used to treat everything from skin conditions to blemishes, sore muscles to scars. A wonderful, natural, healing ingredient, its nourishing effects also leave your skin feeling wonderfully soft.
Named by the Egyptians as the 'plant of immortality,' Aloe Vera is known for its almost transformative effects and has been used to help heal as well as nourish for centuries - just look at how it helps with sunburn as proof. Rich in polysaccharides, vitamins and amino acids, it is best known for its moisturising, soothing and anti-irritant properties.
Summer is here, a perfect time to fill your home with fresh floral scents from our signature fragrance collections.
Our Water Hyacinth & Lime Blossom and Frangipani & Neroli are perfect summer scents.
To get the most out of your diffusers, see our tips below:
We love a good scented candle to help us relax and whisk us away to a different world. We also believe they are a great design element to create ambience in your home. Make the most out of your scented candle and keep it in peak condition with these five useful tips. |