Katz’s Lights It Up

Over the years there have been many a strange candle concept. There was the White Castle candle designed to mimic the steamed beef and onions aroma of their signature sliders. The newsprint scent that was an olfactory homage to The New York Times. Or the candles modeled after aromas as varied as dirt, laundromats, or gin and tonics. So while the sound of a candle inspired by Katz’s—New York’s, quite possibly, most famous delicatessen, open since 1888, and still doling out deliciously monstrous sandwiches to the hungry and drunken masses night after night on the Lower East Side—might seem odd at first, one whiff and you will quickly change your tune. That Joya (the fragrance and candle brand helmed by the supremely talented Frederick Bouchardy) is behind its creation bodes very well for the deli; also, that they opted to create a scent inspired by chocolate egg cream versus, say, brisket or pastrami. The resulting limited-edition Katz’s Chocolate Egg Cream candle is invitingly malty, warm, and rich, with notes of chocolate syrup, whole milk and cold seltzer. And when the real drink isn’t close at hand it makes for a very sweet substitute. FV

$25, at katzsdelicatessen.com and joyastudio.com