Marti’s Blog

MONOGRAM MAGIC

As you may know, at Masquerade we either hand select, import or custom design our products.  All three processes are exciting and creative, each having its own challenges and rewards.  The most thrilling new development to me in the last couple of months was the design of the MONOGRAM CANDLE COLLECTION.  I wanted a range of unique candles never before seen in South Africa and completely exclusive to Masquerade. It needed to appeal to both men and women.

From this point of conceptualisation over a year ago, the development of the range focused on four aspects:

(1) The container :

I wanted an alternative to glass as a vessel for a luxury scented candle. The challenge in this was that the subtle light of the candle flame still had to permeate through the container.  This meant using a fine porcelain, not a ceramic container (for ceramic is often too thick to let light through).  As we don’t have many  porcelain artisans locally, I had to look further afield.  I briefed a factory in China to custom develop a fine bone china holder with the Masquerade monogram debossed on the eggshell finish and with glazing on the inside for easy cleaning.  The container may be reused after the candle is spent – just drop a tea-light in and the warm glow reappears.  With this process of mould-making and sampling on the go, I could concentrate on the fragrances.

(2) The fragrances:

I wanted two masculine and two feminine fragrances…. fragrances with substance and history; definitely not commonplace scents.  After some research, the shortlist was sent to France and soon the decision was made and the oils ordered.  Each fragrance chosen has a wonderful story nestled in rich history which is shared on the box.  The candles are hand poured in Cape Town.

(3) The box:

I had been mulling over the look and feel of the boxes for a while.  Knowing the Masquerade monogram would be used, I wanted something old-world, romantic and timeless.  I also knew I wanted to use portraits.  After much research, I found the four faces I wanted on the boxes.  Together with a great graphic designer, we finalised a beautiful portrait design with luxury detail like rose gold foiling and a velvet-touch varnish.  We are proud to have sourced a specialist local printer in Cape Town for this project.

(4) The monogram:

A monogram is a motif made by overlapping or combining two or more letters or other graphemes to form one symbol. Often, they display the initials of an individual or a company in order to serve as a recognisable symbol or logo. Monograms first appeared on coins, as early as 350BC, and have been used throughout the centuries for various reasons, including religious purposes, as marks of royalty and as resistance symbols in wartime.

My favourite type of monogram, however, is the thick, embroidered initials one often sees on antique French napkins and sheets.  Over the years, we have used the “M” monogram on various Masquerade products such as linen, paper and packaging.  It is not a monogram that was custom designed for us, but one with good proportions and a clearly visible “M” that has been used in the course of history. (I actually once spotted it in one of the Harry Potter movies as the monogram for the “Ministry of Magic”, which I thought was a most suited description for our shop!).

As you can see from the above descriptions, our monogrammed candles have been developed with love, thought and integrity. Why not add some of its gentle warmth to your home?

Happy shopping!

Products featured in this article:

Passion Fruit Monogram Candle

Violet Monogram Candle

Exotic Spices Monogram Candle

Oudh Wood Monogram Candle