Press Coverage

Kate Crofton-Atkins left L’Oreal for the scents and seduction of Saigon. Her stay there led her to create scent brand Cochine, inspired by the incense-filled temples, French architecture, woody forests, balmy warm nights and seaside rural areas of Vietnam. She tells C&TH how to get the best out of a stay in Saigon.

Vanilla and tobacco is a timeless fragrance combination, with its contrasting sweetness and bitterness loved by perfume enthusiasts the world over, and versatile patchouli is often found as a supporting complimentary note in the best vanilla perfumes. Cochine’s Vanille Tabac Noir is deliciously warming and makes for quite a sexy evening spritz, with the patchouli working in harmony with cedar, tonka, spicy cardamom and nutmeg, for a gorgeously complex fragrance. It’s a bit of a statement, but a great one, and it lasts brilliantly – we caught whiffs of it all day and evening long.

Exclusively created with master parfumer Maurice Roucel, you will not forget the Tuberose Absolute & Sandalwood fragrance in a hurry, with its intoxicating, lingering scent of a romantic summer evening.

Interestingly, I had a not insignificant argument with my husband over Cochine Vanille & Tabac Noir Eau de Parfum (€130 at cochine.co.uk). He steals it, you see, and I refuse to share a single drop. Inspired by the sultry heat of summer evenings, it contains a nutmeggy spiciness with sweet vanilla, sharp cardamom and the flush of tobacco flower. The first sniff of it is a bit like prolonged eye contact with a very attractive person who doesn’t happen to be the one with whom you’re in a relationship. It’s a frisson of something safe yet thrilling before you go about your evening as normal (because for all his perfume thievery, your husband is nice, really).

The countdown to Christmas is well underway, so if you’re looking to get into the festive spirit this year then why not invest in a scented candle to fill your home with cinnamon, spice and all things nice?

Christmas is almost upon us, and you know what that means, don't you?! It's time to light your Christmas candle. You see, Christmas candles are totally different from any other candle. With a festive Christmas candle you will light it when you're feeling full of the the magic of Christmas.

Intense, sweet and smoky, this is like the figgy pudding of fragrances - not to everyone's taste, but if you like rich, sticky scents you won't be able to stop after one helping. Notes of vanilla and tobacco flower blend with patchouli, cardamon and basil into this sensual, high-calorie perfume

If you are missing the feeling of soft sand under your feet, Cochine's fragrances will help transport you to faraway shores with their romantic scents inspired by travel and summer evenings. White Jasmine & Gardenia's unforgettable scent is inspired by the streets and gardens of southern Vietnam where jasmine thrives in the heat and is picked at night when its fragrance is at its most intense.

Cochine Orange Amere & Star Anise candle, a glamorous limited edition filled with oh-so-evocative Christmas scents

Cochine, Orange Amère and Star Anise, a rich, winter fragrance created from many layers that is the perfect scent for glamorous winter evenings. Key Notes: Orange Amère (Bitter Orange) Star Anise, Hints of – Clove, Nutmeg and Cinnamon leaf, Base notes of Vanilla and smoky Guaiacwood.

Cochine Vanille & Tabac Noir Eau De Parfum, £110 for 50ml - Inspired by tropical summer evenings but ideal for winter wear, this beautifully balanced scent combines the sweetness of vanilla with smoky tobacco flower, cardamom and patchouli.

Cochine Tuberose Absolute & Sandalwood Eau de Parfum - Developed in collaboration with master parfumier Maurice Roucel, combining explosive tuberose with provocative rich leather and sandalwood

Have we ever been more grateful for the power of perfume to salve our wanderlust and take us places that are currently actually impossible to visit? A new collection from Cochine – creators of much-loved home fragrances – brings that into sharp focus, with perfumer-legend Maurice Roucel, no less, capturing the exoticism of the Far East in a collection of eaux de parfums from a brand that is already well-loved for its home fragrances.

Fragrance of any kinds will always take us to divine places. Its connection to our memory is well documented, as the part of the brain that deals with our sense of smell, sits right next to the brain area dealing with memory. So whether it be a sense of ‘smell-memory’ of your own or a delicious collection provided by someone else who has shared their loving insights, smell really does impact our emotional physical and spiritual health. So if the aromas of the East draw you explore Cochine in-depth and you too can sit in the gardens of Saigon.

Cochine’s Orange Amère and Star Anise candle will definitely put you in the Christmas mood. When burned, this beautiful candle will effuse delicious and sweet scents, filling your room with gentle warmth during the chilly season.

Whoever you’re shopping for this festive period, take the stress out of the occasion with our Christmas gift guide. Cochine White Jasmine & Gardenia Scented Candle

I MET KATE CROFTON-ATKINS, THE FOUNDER OF COCHINE, AN EXQUISITE BATH, BODY AND SCENT BRAND, WHEN SHE LAUNCHED IT BACK IN 2008. I STILL HAVE SOME SAMPLE BOTTLES OF THEIR SCENT (WHITE JASMINE & GARDENIA AND TUBEROSE & WILD FIG) THAT I KEEP IN MY WASHBAG AND ONLY SPRITZ ON VERY SPECIAL OCCASIONS. I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER WORN IT WITHOUT IT BEING COMMENTED ON ABOUT HOW LOVELY I SMELL.

Cochine, the lovely candle company from Vietnam, has created a truly beautiful candle and scent that will be adored well past the holiday season. The deep orange vessel has star anise and orange branches done in silver and created by artist Susannah Garrod. They echo the fragrance notes of candle itself and include bitter orange, star anise, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon leaf, vanilla, and smoky guaiacwood – a perfect scent for any winter’s eve. The adorable tassel on the outside of the box adds to the beautiful and festive presentation

Another modern take on a timeless fragrance story is this Cochine Orange Amère and Star Anise Candle ($65). The scent inside this glowing, decorative glass vessel was inspired by both the brand founder’s visits to the richly-fragrant spice markets in Saigon, as well as cozy Christmas evenings back home in England. In it, top notes of bitter orange and star anise give way to a trio of classic Christmas spices (clove, nutmeg, cinnamon) pooling atop warm, smoky base notes of vanilla and guaiac wood, creating a scent that’s evocative of the holiday spirit the world over.

Inspired by seaside holidays, far away from the city, and thinking about the soft white sandy beaches, frangipani trees in the warm sea breeze, the air is mixed with exotic frangipani, orange blossom and honey. Exquisite and relaxing.

COCHINE FOUNDER KATE CROFTON-ATKINS WAS INSPIRED BY HER WANDERINGS THROUGH THE SAIGON SPICE MARKETS, SO SHE SET OUT TO CREATE A RICH SCENT THAT BLENDS WARM CHRISTMAS MEMORIES TO CREATE AN AROMA THAT IS TRULY EVOCATIVE AND PERFECT. WINTER EVENING FRAGRANCE: COCHINE CHRISTMAS LIMITED EDITION CANDLE. TOP NOTES: BITTER ORANGE, STAR ANISE / MIDDLE NOTES: CLOVES, NUTMEG, CINNAMON LEAVES / BASE NOTES: VANILLA, SMOKED CINNAMON

This luxury candle combines orange branches and anise to create a scent reminiscent of a spicy hot cider. It has added notes of nutmeg, vanilla, and cinnamon, and together it evokes a warm atmosphere—perfect for the holidays.

Launched in a balmy garden in Saigon 10 years ago by former London beauty industry magnate Kate Crofton-Atkins, French-Asian candle house Cochine focuses on native Vietnamese scents in its modern approach to fine home fragrances. It’s freshly released a Southeast Asian interpretation of a seasonal candle, featuring orange amère, a bitter citrus native to Vietnam, the warming spice of star anise, with a melange of holiday usual suspects such as clove, nutmeg, cinnamon leaf, on a vanilla and guaiac wood base. The glass features a limited edition design by British fashion illustrator Susannah Garrod.

Burning over 50 hours and with top notes of bitter orange and star anise, with hints of clove, nutmeg and cinnamon leaf, and base notes of vanilla and smoky guaiac wood, Orange Amère and Star Anise from Cocine will make your winter evenings much cosier.

With top notes of bitter orange that mingle with a luscious blend of nutmeg, cinnamon leaf and vanilla, Cochine’s Orange Amère and Star Anise candle will definitely put you in the Christmas mood. When burned, this beautiful candle will effuse delicious and sweet scents, filling your room with gentle warmth during the chilly season.

Combining the memories of cosy Christmas nights at home with the rich, fragrant spice markets of Saigon, Cochine’s new Orange Amère and Star Anise candle is an opulent holiday scent for winter festivities. Top notes of bitter orange and star anise dance with hints of cinnamon, clove and nutmeg, while a toasty base of vanilla and Guaiacwood round out the sumptuous medley. This limited edition Christmas candle arrives in a dark orange glass embossed with designs by British fashion illustrator Susannah Garrod.

When I got my first Cochine candle last year, I fell head over heels and somehow made it last for a full 11 months (I just couldn't bear to part with it). I just got the brand's newest limited-edition candle, though, and it's somehow even better — so good, in fact, that I've burned through more than half in November alone. I'll definitely be splurging on a new one soon. — Anna Buckman, Shopping News Editor

Made just for the holiday season, Cochine's Orange Amère & Star Anise candle smells like a delicious hot, orangey cider spiced to perfection. Anise intermingles with nutmeg, cinnamon leaf, and vanilla, while the guaiac wood adds an element to this scent to make it feel like home.

Saigon-inspired fragrance label COCHINE has created a Christmas candle (HK$490) inspired by the spice markets of the Vietnamese capital. Bitter orange and star anise are combined with holiday favourites such as clove, cinnamon and nutmeg. Available at Harvey Nichols, Landmark Atrium.

Our favourite in the Glass office has to be Cedar and Vietnamese Oud, a candle with an impressive 50-hour burn-time, perfect for long work-days. Inspired by the incense found in temples found in rural areas of Vietnam, the scent is dark and smoky, with top notes of the Orient’s characteristic woody oud fragrance. Fragrant but not overpowering, the candle also incorporates lotus flower, amber, and sandalwood into its dark and distinctive scent. A collection with a fragrance to suit every taste, other scents include White Jasmine and Gardenia, Tuberose and Wild Fig, Vietnamese Rose and Delentii, Agarwood and Amber, Frangipani and Neroli, and Vanilla and Tabac Noir.

Our favourite in the Glass office has to be Cedar and Vietnamese Oud, a candle with an impressive 50-hour burn-time, perfect for long work-days. Inspired by the incense found in temples found in rural areas of Vietnam, the scent is dark and smoky, with top notes of the Orient’s characteristic woody oud fragrance. Fragrant but not overpowering, the candle also incorporates lotus flower, amber, and sandalwood into its dark and distinctive scent. A collection with a fragrance to suit every taste, other scents include White Jasmine and Gardenia, Tuberose and Wild Fig, Vietnamese Rose and Delentii, Agarwood and Amber, Frangipani and Neroli, and Vanilla and Tabac Noir.

Cochine makes some of the most deliciously scented candles in the entire world — delicate but exotic, floral but never candied or overly sweet. The Tuberose and Wild Fig candle has a faint wet earth, just-rained-in-a-garden scent that left us light-headed from all the obsessive inhaling. It really is one of the best smelling candles out there.

If there is anything you have forgotten from home, you can almost guarantee you will find it in the bathroom. Also slippers, robes and locally made Cochine toiletries.

Tuberose and Wild Fig Scented Candle from Cochine combines the sweetness of fig with rich, floral tuberose to excellent effect, with a freshness of fragrance that may make it seem an unlikely choice for winter.

Nothing makes a room feel more inviting than a beautiful scented candle, and this luxurious luminary infuses your space with notes of rose, bergamot, violet and Delentii orchid. The perfect way to set the mood this Valentine’s Day, we hear Alicia Keyes is a fan of this fancy fragrance brand, which also offers bath and body products, diffusers and gorgeously-packaged gifts in scents ranging from fresh florals to rich, sultry woods.

Though it may seem daunting to figure out which candles smell the best to you... there are cult candle brands you can shop online that promise to look and smell gorgeous.

This candle from Cochine combines the sweetness of fig with rich, floral tuberose to excellent effect, with a freshness of fragrance that may make it seem an unlikely choice for winter. However, we found that its balanced cedarwood warmth spread subtly through the room, making it a worthy inclusion...

Sandalwood and lotus flower blend perfectly in Cochine’s Cedar and Vietnamese Oud candle.

The new Cochine Saigon Cedar & Vietnamese Oud Candle is inspired by incense-filled temples in the forests of central Vietnam. The scent starts with a smoky, leathery base and builds up to a blend of cedar, sandalwood, amber and oud. Notes of lotus flower round out the complex, rich-but-not-too-dark fragrance, which adds a warm touch to any room (perfect for a quiet night in with your favorite person or book).

I love the backstory of this fragrance brand, which uses notes that are signature to southeast Asia to inspire its fresh, green, and warm fragrances. This candle has deep woodsy notes that, to me, smell like celebrating Christmas on the beach.

Cochine's new fragrance blends rich, velvety tones of Cedar and Sandalwood with the precious resins of Amber and Oud. This deeply luxurious fragrance is available in a limited edition, with a beautiful candle glass design - a perfect scent for a sumptuous winter evening.

Close your eyes and imagine a crackling fire: that's what Cochine Cedar and Vietnamese Oud Candle smells like, mixed with hints of lotus flower to soften the burn.

The Cochine Smoothing Hand Cream Collection feels like silk and is made from naturally good things like apricot kernel oil and sunflower extracts.

This lotion captures the flower’s essence without being too aggressive about it (and hydrates my dry winter hands).

Being more mindful, exercising or getting an early night - whatever your idea of self-care is, we've curated the best products to get you there.

'I burn a candle at my desk every day. I've tried them all and Cochine's make me the least cranky' -Farrh Storr, Editor-in-Chief

Cochine's juniper and ginger scented candle is warm yet wintry, combining notes of crisp juniper with spicy ginger and hints of clove, bergamot, patchouli and fresh eucalyptus.

A price-conscious collection of thoughtful treasures

The sweet scent of wild fig, tuberose and jasmine combined with warm cedar wood, crisp vetiver and bergamot is a crowd pleasing scent that is impossible not to love and this candle comes so beautifully packaged you can just place a bow on it and you’re done!

An uber luxe hand & body lotion to envelope your body with a delicious scent

When I learned that the creator of Cochine Saigon candles lived in Vietnam for a year and was also inspired by its scents, I was eager to smell them. And the experience didn’t disappoint.

Inspired by the allure of Saigon at sunset, this complex and sustainable fragrance from Cochine ($70) is infused with sweet notes of vanilla bean and balanced with warm hints of patchouli with sensual tones of tobacco flower.

This gorgeously light texture is quickly and easily absorbed, leaving skin soft, supple and perfectly moisturised.

I love the scent of this candle – it’s a sultry, spicy scent and a cosy addition to a night in.

I put four of the rattan reeds in it and put it on my side table in my living room. It made the room instantly feel fancier.

I mean, how gorgeous are these? If you haven’t started a holiday list (for yourself or others) yet, get on it and put Cochine at the very top!

Wherever tuberose sits at the base of these perfumes or embraces the amplitude of the fragrance, you're certain to find a bottle full of personality.

I found tree-lined avenues and French-style buildings with pale green shutters. Walking through the streets was like being in an old film and I instantly fell in love.

Fancy pants excursions call for an equally high-end votive (just look at that shagreen box!). The floral scent is reminiscent of the gardens of Saigon, which makes the jasmine, gardenia, and peony aura a beautiful addition to any elaborate getaway.

This luxurious, all-natural candle from Cochine smells like the holidays without coming across as too overbearing. Give it to the hostess with the mostest to ensure you remain on the list for many holiday outings to come.

Whether she loves flowers or is more of a perfume lady, we've got your gift covered

A lovely luxe candle gift is Cochine’s Vietnamese Rose and Delentii candle (a fabulous subtle rose and bergamot scent)

Cochine Travel Candle, £20

Delicately blended with Cochine's signature fragrances, this beautiful Hand & Body Lotion will make your skin feel soft and smooth.

Today, [Kate's] elegant Indochine label, Cochine, is quietly poised on the brink of international success - the delicately scented candles, diffusers and body lotions are now stocked in major stores in London and New York.

As Jon Snow says, winter is here. With 50 hours of burn time and a floral scent, this will take you to warmer climes.

Cochine brings something completely aromatically unique to the scent scene with its range of enticing products.

Modern minimalism in present form

I fell in love with this candle, thanks to the gorgeous silver packaging, and it's infused with one of my favorite Christmas notes - ginger.

It’s inspired by my favorite time of day in Saigon – dusk – where the warm air carries the really rich and romantic scent of jasmine and tuberose...

I wanted to create fragrances that blurred the line between personal and home fragrance...

[Kate's] sense for what makes something unique, interesting and beautiful is a talent that doesn't come along every day.

Warming and welcoming, this scent is just what you want to greet you after a long day at work

Tuberose & Wild Fig Scented Candle (harrods.com)

You can count on this one to last for months on end.

Rich and sweet, transports you to a Saigon sunset. Cochine Vanille & Tabac Noir candle.

And relax...Frangipani & Neroli candle, £45, Cochine (johnlewis.com)

Travel in style with this fragrance collection from Cochine - perfect for your handbag and will keep you smelling delightful however long your journey.

The scent I love most is its Vanille & Tabac Noir - it has notes of vanilla bean and hint of patchouli, cardamom, nutmeg and basil but what ties it most with Vietnam are the sensual tone of tobacco flower.

We adore these delicate rose candles to scent your day.

This beautiful set will make your skin luxuriously smooth and fragrant.

Seasonal fragrances for your home are the perfect accompaniment to a relaxing evening, and this autumnal candle from Cochine provides just that.

Made using the finest oils from Vietnam, this uber-luxe candle is a surefire way to put a smile on your mum’s face on Sunday morning. A gorgeous floral blend of sweet frangipani and feminine neroli, this could just be springtime in a candle.

"I'm a bit of a fragrance nut and I burn candles at home all the time. My favourites are ones with full, sensual scents, like amber and sandalwood." - Alicia Keys

You want to treat her to something special but it's not quite time for dramatic gestures...

At Cochine Saigon, a beautiful fragrance brand inspired by Vietnam, one third of the business is made up of reed diffusers.

Four-wick candle, £195, Cochine (www.cochine.co.uk)

It's the perfect Christmas gift!

Floral Fragrance

Capture the exotic warmth of Indochina with Cochine Saigon's Water Hyacinth & Lime.

Cochine's White Jasmine and Gardenia candle is the first luxury fragrance brand to come out of Vietnam.

Candles have just been given an injection of staying power. New brand Cochine Saigon's versions,￡45, have an impressive burn time of 50 hours.

Each Cochine candle burns evenly and cleanly and has great projection. The brand has eight fragrances to choose from and my favourite is Vanille Tabac Noir.