Une Bougie and Un Book

I am well aware of the power of the last-minute gift. The last-minute gift is a political juggernaut that can make or break careers, destroy reputations, wreck a love affair, or forge life-long alliances.

The selection of such gifts can be fraughter, especially when selecting for the urbane male .

Here, two things I am giving this holiday season, multiply:

Aedes de Venustas-exclusive L'Artisan Parfumeur bougie, scented with Japanese incense, strawflower, leather, balsam, and musk. This is not a girly candle. It broods incongruously with muscularity and Zen. The burgundy color and introspective, pelt-like undertones make it a distinctive gift for men with libraries, as is...

The Letters of Noël Coward, no explanation necessary. Indispensable for anyone needing a a lesson in the quip. "I'll go through life either first class or third, but never in second." Bitchy, brittle, arch, arcane, and those are just the B's and the A's.

Two gifts: A book of letters from a high intellect and an intellectual candle. Sublime alone; together, they are nearly devastating.

L'Artisan candle, $65.00 at Aedes de Venustas
The Letters of Noel Coward, Amazon.com