On a spring evening, I found myself strolling through the lively streets of Zurich with a friend. The city was just waking from its long winter slumber, and there was an almost tangible sense of renewal in the air.

The cobblestone streets of District 1, near the old town, were alive with the rhythm of footsteps and laughter. The historic buildings, stoic witnesses to centuries of stories, stood tall, their facades bathed in the soft, golden light of the setting sun.

As we walked, the gentle murmur of the Limmat River whispered secrets to the wind, its waters weaving a silver thread through the heart of the city. The first blooms of spring adorned the trees, their petals fluttering down like nature’s confetti, celebrating the arrival of warmth and light. The air was crisp yet tender, carrying with it the scent of fresh blossoms and the promise of longer days.

Zurich in spring is a city reborn. After months of hibernation, its people emerge, drawn out by the mild air and slowly lengthening days. The evening sun cast long, gentle shadows across the cobblestones, turning the sky into a canvas of soft pastels—lavender, peach, and rose blending together in a serene twilight. It’s a time when the city breathes deeply, its pulse quickening, and its cafés and bars filling with the hum of conversation and clinking glasses.

We found ourselves drawn to a small café nestled between two quaint boutiques, its warm lights and inviting aromas too tempting to resist. We took a seat outside, where the world passed by in a blur of smiles and spring jackets. I ordered a drink with elderflower—a personal favorite, not just for its light, refreshing taste, but for its enchanting fragrance. There’s something about the scent of elderflower that stirs the soul, as if it holds within it the essence of fleeting beauty and delicate memories.

As we sat there, sipping our drinks and watching the evening unfold, I couldn’t help but share a budding idea with my friend. "Akimi Candles" was little more than a dream at that point, a vague concept flickering in the back of my mind.

But as I talked, the idea began to take shape, gathering substance from the air around us. The conversation flowed easily, like the river beside us, until a thought surfaced—had I ever encountered a candle that captured the scent of elderflower?

The question hung in the air, as sweet and elusive as the fragrance itself. It was a seed planted in my mind, and as we continued to talk, I felt it take root, growing into something I couldn’t ignore. The idea of a candle that could evoke this very moment, this perfect spring evening in Zurich, filled me with a newfound determination. I wanted to create something that could transport people, just as the scent of elderflower had transported me.

Bringing this idea to life was anything but simple—a dance of trial and error, of mixing and blending, seeking and discovering. I spent countless hours experimenting with scents, searching for a blend that would evoke not just the smell of elderflower but the entire atmosphere of that spring evening. After endless experimentation, I found it: a fruity blend of lime and bergamot, rounded off with elderflower and sweet notes of burnt sugar, vanilla, and caramel. It was more than a fragrance—it was a memory in a jar, a piece of that spring evening captured forever.

But scent alone wasn’t enough. The vessel that would hold this fragrance had to be just as special, something that would complement the experience and add to the magic. I searched far and wide, determined to find the perfect glass that would be as much a part of the candle’s story as the scent itself. Finally, I found it—the Dalmatian glass. More than a container, it was a piece of art—a visual echo of the candle’s essence. Its elegant, speckled design was modern yet timeless, a perfect match for the delicate balance of the fragrance it would hold.

And so, "Elderflower & Coconut Sugar" was born. The moment I poured the first candle, I knew it was something special. The fragrance filled the room, and for a brief moment, I was back in Zurich, sitting in that little café, surrounded by the sights and sounds of spring. The candle quickly became a permanent part of my collection, and to my delight, it resonated with others as well. People were drawn to it, just as I had been.

Each time I light one of these candles, I am transported back to that evening, to the power of a single idea, and to the way scent can capture a moment and hold it forever. Akimi Candles may have started with a simple idea, but it has grown into something much more—a way to share the beauty of fleeting moments, to preserve memories in a way that words alone cannot, and to bring a touch of magic into the everyday.

https://www.akimi.ch

 

Akimi Candles will appear as well in our upcoming Chandlers Coffee Tablebook
with an additional beautiful special >>