Rick Owens expands his creative universe with the launch of L’Apparition, a scented candle that embodies his signature blend of beauty, mystery, and intellect. Originally conceived as an exclusive item for the gift shop of his retrospective at the Palais Galliera museum in Paris, the candle has evolved into a standalone expression of his artistic vision.
The concept behind L’Apparition draws from both art and literature. Owens cites Gustave Moreau’s haunting painting of the same name — “L’Apparition” — which portrays Salome holding a lotus flower before the severed head of John the Baptist. For Owens, the image symbolizes “unrequited, delusional love and morbidly triumphant vengeance,” themes that echo throughout his work. He even suggests lighting the candle while reading Oscar Wilde’s interpretation of Salome’s story, creating an immersive experience of scent, mood, and narrative.
The fragrance mirrors this darkly romantic tone. It opens with the soft, ethereal essence of lotus, grounded by deep notes of labdanum, myrrh, frankincense, and ambergris — a composition that feels both sacred and sensual. True to Owens’ values, the candle is entirely vegan, vegetable-based, and cruelty-free, using ethically sourced oils that honor both craftsmanship and conscience.
Each L’Apparition candle is hand-poured in France and encased in a matte black glass vessel that reflects Owens’ minimalist aesthetic. The glass is designed for longevity; once the candle burns away, it can be reused — perhaps to hold a single flower stem, as Owens himself suggests. Even the packaging, crafted from recycled paper, underscores a quiet sense of responsibility and refinement.
With L’Apparition, Rick Owens captures the poetic tension between light and shadow — a fleeting apparition that lingers long after the flame goes out.
