Scents and the Soft Life with Sir Candle Man

Summary

Episode Summary: Fat Mascara - "Scents and the Soft Life with Sir Candle Man"

Release Date: April 18, 2025
Host: Jennifer Sullivan & Jessica Matlin
Guest: Sir Candle Man (Kudzi Chikumbu)

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Introduction to Sir Candle Man

In this episode of Fat Mascara, hosts Jennifer Sullivan and Jessica Matlin welcome Kudzi Chikumbu, widely known as Sir Candle Man, a prominent content creator specializing in fragrance and candles. With an impressive following of approximately 440,000 on TikTok and Instagram, Kudzi brings a wealth of knowledge from his extensive background, including an MBA from Stanford and eight years at TikTok.

The Genesis of Sir Candle Man

[05:42] Jen: "I need for people who don't know you, we need to know where this whole fragrance journey began."

Kudzi shares his early exposure to fragrances, growing up in Zimbabwe and South Africa amidst floral scents from his mother’s flowering business and experiences with designer fragrances introduced by his aunt. A pivotal moment occurred during a trip to Paris, where a stunning candle scent ignited his passion, leading him to create the Sir Candle Man persona on TikTok.

[07:57] Kudzi: "I just created Sir Candleman for fun. And through that, it just got a lot of traction, and that world was born."

Embracing the Soft Life

The conversation shifts to the concept of the "soft life," a term Kudzi explains originates from Southern Africa and predates its trending status on platforms like TikTok.

[08:38] Jen: "We love you. We love our listeners."

[08:45] Kudzi: "Soft life as a phrase is so interesting because...it's really candles...it's really candles...and also really learned the importance of slowing down."

For Kudzi, the "soft life" embodies slowing down and embracing moments of calm, much like the deliberate process of burning a candle.

Fragrance Trends and Preferences

[16:14] Jen: "What are you noticing right now for, like, home fragrance trends?"

Kudzi discusses the fluctuating trends in home fragrances post-pandemic, highlighting unique scents like Thai Basil from Brooklyn Candle Company and Andean Myrtle from Lafco. He emphasizes a preference for bold, resinous aromas that stand out in the home.

Notable Quote:
[16:35] Kudzi: "I think fragrance is like, mostly not...it's not vibes, but like there's actual raw materials that are the true ones. But the storytelling is so important and I'd rather make it personal."

Technical Insights: Wax Choices and Candle Maintenance

A significant portion of the discussion delves into the technical aspects of candles, particularly the differences between paraffin and soy wax.

[24:25] Kudzi: "Paraffin wax burns at a lower temperature...soy wax burns at a higher temp so it burns quicker. But it doesn't throw fragrance as much. But it burns cleaner."

Kudzi provides actionable advice on maintaining candles, such as trimming wicks to prevent tunneling and the benefits of using candle warmers to maximize scent throw without an open flame.

[35:47] Jen: "You also said if the flames farther away from the wax...it makes sense."

[36:34] Kudzi: "You can put it down and there's a little light that goes on and it like melts the candle from the top down."

Favorite Brands and Recommendations

Kudzi shares his top candle and fragrance brands, praising Lafco for their ethical practices and rich scent profiles. He also highlights Bath & Body Works as a beloved brand for its extensive range and impressive scent throw.

[32:47] Kudzi: "This candle...it's called Dreamer by Nomad Noe. It's like a Sandobudi vanilla, cedar, delicious candle. I gift it all the time."

Signature Scents and Personal Preferences

The hosts explore the idea of signature scents, with Kudzi expressing his reluctance to limit himself to one fragrance.

[15:31] Kudzi: "The world is so beautiful and amazing. Why would you just do one thing? Like, that's how I feel about fragrance."

Jen, on the other hand, shares her preference for variety over a singular signature scent, likening herself to someone who experiments with different dishes at restaurants.

[56:53] Jen: "I love variety. I'm like that person who orders the thing they've never had at the restaurant and then regrets it and wants your food."

FM5 Speed Round

The episode concludes with the beloved FM5 speed round, where Kudzi answers rapid-fire questions, revealing personal tidbits such as his favorite snacks and how he spends his days off.

[58:40] Jen: "What's the first beauty product you remember falling in love with?"
[58:44] Kudzi: "Molecule 01 classic."

[62:13] Jen: "What's your favorite snack?"
[62:16] Kudzi: "In South Africa, we have the snack called biltong...similar to a Chomps for the protein."

Conclusion

Hosts Jen and Jess wrap up the episode by emphasizing the depth of their conversation with Kudzi, covering everything from technical candle maintenance to the philosophical aspects of embracing a "soft life" through fragrances. Kudzi's insights provide listeners with both practical advice and a deeper appreciation for the nuanced world of candles and scents.

[63:57] Kudzi: "This was so fun."
[63:58] Jen: "Thank you for coming on Fat Mascara."

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Key Takeaways:

• Soft Life Philosophy: Emphasizes slowing down and embracing calm moments through the deliberate use of candles and fragrances.
• Wax Selection: Understanding the differences between paraffin and soy wax is crucial for optimizing scent throw and candle longevity.
• Signature Scents: Encourages exploring a variety of fragrances rather than settling on a single signature scent.
• Technical Maintenance: Proper candle maintenance, such as trimming wicks and using candle warmers, enhances the burning experience and scent distribution.
• Favorite Brands: Kudzi highlights brands like Lafco, Nomad Noe, and Bath & Body Works for their quality and scent profiles.

Notable Quotes:

• Kudzi Chikumbu:
  "[08:45]...it's really candles...it's really candles...and also really learned the importance of slowing down."
  "[24:25]...paraffin wax burns at a lower temperature...soy wax burns at a higher temp so it burns quicker. But it doesn't throw fragrance as much. But it burns cleaner."
  "[15:31]...the world is so beautiful and amazing. Why would you just do one thing? Like, that's how I feel about fragrance."

• Jen Sullivan:
  "[56:53]...I love variety. I'm like that person who orders the thing they've never had at the restaurant and then regrets it and wants your food."

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This episode offers a comprehensive exploration of the intersection between fragrance, personal well-being, and the art of candle-making, making it an insightful listen for both fragrance enthusiasts and those seeking to incorporate more tranquility into their lives.

Transcript

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

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[Jen]

All loaded up. Have a great day, Tracy.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Hot stuff, Tracy.

[Jen]

Ooh, honey.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

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[Paige]

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[Jen]

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[Tracy]

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[Jen]

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[Tracy]

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[Jen]

Hi everyone. Welcome to Fat Mascara. It's me, Jen. I got a solo episode for you today. I mean, last Friday was a big one, but we still have a great interview this Friday as well. Before we get into that, I'm gonna ask you a favor. If you wouldn't mind going over to Apple or Spotify or wherever you listen to us and throwing us a review. It helps us become more discoverable so you can keep making the podcast for you. And I love reading them on the air when we have new ones. We have two new ones, but you know, I'll just read one of them. Cause we all wanna get to Couldzy and Sir Cand. Okay. Skin by Ori. This is from Apple. Five stars. Thank you Best Beauty Podcast. Absolutely love this podcast. Jess and Jen have an unmatched rapport. They are so funny and knowledgeable. I'm a licensed esthetician and I've learned so much from all the incredible guests that they have interviewed. If you want to laugh, learn, and get a much needed break from life, these are your gals. And also love their new hosts, Julie and Garrett. They bring some fresh energy and ideas to the pod. Now this is great. Now stop reading this long winded review and start listening to Fat Mascara. I mean, I don't know if ChatGPT helped you write that. It was just too perfect. I love it so much. Ugh. Should we put this on our website? I'm gonna like. I'm gonna do a poll quote from that one. I really like it. We love you. We love our listeners. Head over there and review us if you don't mind. And now let's get into. It's Friday. Let's get into our interview. Sir Candleman. So Sir Candleman is actually Kudzi Chikumbu. So he's a content creator on Instagram and TikTok who considers himself. This is his description. Your bougie uncle living life through fragrance. His handle is at Sir Candleman and He has about 440,000 followers on TikTok and Instagram and he educates about fragrance. He's also the author of a book, Let It Burn, Illuminate youe Life with Candles and Fragrance. But he's not just a content creator. Kudzi has an MBA from Stanford NBD. He worked at TikTok for eight years and he also has quite a following for his non fragrance related content. Just as couldsey. So like on TikTok, his handles could see. I'll put links to all that in the show notes as well in case you like what he's all about and want to follow him. Not as Sir Candleman, but he's mostly here to talk about that whole Sir Candleman Persona. Fragrance, candles, how he built up this content that he's doing. So everybody please welcome to the virtual studio. Sir Candleman. Welcome to Fat Mascara. Or should I say Sir Candleman?

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

We'll go with Sir Candleman. I feel like with the name I can be the person, you know.

[Jen]

Oh, are you putting. Did you shift Personas? Are you now in the. In the Persona?

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

I wouldn't say shift. It's more like access, like a part of my brain. Does that make any sense?

[Jen]

It's like an actor or like is it Beyonce? She has Sasha Fierce.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

It's like that. It's a little alter ego, but it's not unreal. It's just another space. I need to figure out a better story for this. But people ask me this all the time. I'm like, no, he's not a character. He's me. Just like an amped up version of a part of me.

[Jen]

I get it. I think that a lot of people who are in media and entertainment might have that. Cause it's like me on steroids.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Exactly. And then you jump out of it and you go back to yourself.

[Jen]

Yeah. Well, I know you're in la, but weren't you just in New York for the Fragrance foundation luncheon? Or am I making this up?

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

No, you're not making it up. So I don't love New York City.

[Jen]

It's okay. We'll let you stay. It's fine.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

But I went for the Fragrance foundation luncheon. That's the one where they announced the finalists for the awards in June. So I landed on Monday evening. I did the lunch on Tuesday, and I went straight to the airport back by Tuesday evening. I need to keep my New York trips tight.

[Jen]

Okay, well, sorry. I'm bringing the New Yorker to you. So you're back in la.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Yep.

[Jen]

We're so excited to have you on the podcast. Welcome, welcome.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Thank you.

[Jen]

I need for people who don't know you, we need to know where this whole fragrance journey began. There's always that spark moment. Right. What was it for you?

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

So there've been. What do you call the little sparks on the fire before the real. The fire really starts? Like little embers. Embers. There've been embery moments throughout my life. So I was born in Zimbabwe. I grew up in South Africa, and my mother was a florist growing up. So, you know, I had a lot of floral smells around me all the time. And we also had a really great rose garden. Old school. Zimbabwe was gorgeous. Not like industrial roses. These are like roses that smell incredible. And then we moved to South Africa, and one of my aunts used to work in a department store, and she would bring back some. Some testers and some samples. I don't know if she was allowed to do that, but she did. So I was just like, always, always intrigued by these worlds I could smell but couldn't access. So I think those were the embers. And I was a kid grow. I would order Turtlemes or like, some oud from Byredo from while I was in South Africa on Amazon. It would take, like, months to arrive. Cause I was like, oh, my God, this olfactive profile. I'm kidding. I didn't even use that word back then. But, like, this sounds like something I would love to wear. So I was always intrigued. And it was all designer, but designer fragrance. And then I went to Paris a few years ago after I was living in la and I truly. That's when the true flame started. I was in Paris to see Beyonce. I love a Beyonce Europe show. It's a different energy. And my friends were shopping, and they were taking too long to shop. So I was sniffing around the department store, and I was sniffing some Francis Kirkjean stuff, you know, the beloved Baccarat rouges, all the perfumes. And the sales associate said, you should go smell the candles. And I smelled this one candle that truly just. I'd never smelled anything so amazing. I have it back here. And that was the beginning. And I came back. I just created the account. And truly, the first post is me smelling that candle. It's even like a static image. This was before the reels on Instagram. It was just the picture.

[Jen]

Oh. Life was simple.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Simpler times. And I also used to work at TikTok at the time, and a lot of us made videos because there weren't that many creators on the platform at the time. So I just created Sir Candleman for fun. And through that, it just got a lot of traction, and that world was born. And then I just became a student of fragrance. So that's how it started.

[Jen]

What was that candle that you still have?

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

It's called AU17, based on Francis Kirchen's apartment. So it's like a incensey, smoky candle, but it's like, really resin y almost very delicious. And it's so full circle, because I know that he knows, because I met Seungwon, who knows him, and was texting him, letting him know that I met this person who was inspired by you. And he's like, that's so cool. So I feel like I've wrapped that bow, you know?

[Jen]

Not yet. You gotta interview him yourself and chat with him, and then it'll be a full circle.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Then it'll be a full circle. Okay. Not you inspiring me. Okay. I like that.

[Jen]

Yeah. Oh, you guys would hit it off, I'm sure. I read your book, by the way. Fabulous.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Thank you.

[Jen]

We're going to talk about candles and stuff, but let's just talk about you first. I love that you embrace the concept of the soft life, which I feel like.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Oh, my God. Yes. Oh, my God.

[Jen]

I need. I need lessons in that. But how does fragrance play into that whole concept for you.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Well, soft life as a phrase is so interesting because.

[Jen]

Right.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

It's a phrase that we used a lot where I'm from in South Africa, a lot of Southern Africa and a lot of Western Africa before it was like trending on TikTok. This was like a decade ago. So just be like, you know, I want to live soft life in that phrasing. It's very African. And was more like a soft life girl who has like the man who takes care of the stuff. Not quite trad wife. It wasn't quite trad wife like today. It was more just like, I can have a little bit more ease, you know, so that's where that came from. And then it was kind of trending at the time when I made this candle collaboration called Soft Life with a brand called Lord of Seraphine. But to me, it's really candles. I started because I loved the smells, and then I started learning about fragrance. But then I also really learned the importance of slowing down. Even if I'm about to film a video and I film perfume videos and candle videos. Candle videos take the most time because you actually have to light the candle and then you have to wait. You can't rush the diffusion into the home. I have to come back and like film the ending. So it's a great lesson in just slowing down. So me, Soft life is truly like taking a breath and slowing down. And in the book, I always tell people it looks like it's a book about buying candles, but by the time you get to the end, it's actually a journey. It's a book about taking care of yourself gently and slowly because it ends on wellness and self care. So that's what soft life means to me is just like slowing it down. Just like a candle, you have to wait. You have to burn it for at least an hour. You can't rush.

[Jen]

Yeah, I feel like that terminology's gotten commodified here in the States, which we do with all the best terminologies. Americans borrow from many other cultures and subcultures, but that one, that's a good one. So we thank you. We thank you for that. To the. Was it Zimbabwe or South Africa where you first heard it?

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

It was South Africa. Definitely. It was South Africa. And if, you know, I don't know if you're big into, like African music, but Afrobeats, which is technically. People call it Afrobeats. It's technically Afrobeat, but Afrobeats was really big in South Africa before it was big in the US This Is like a decade ago when we were all listening to Wizkid and Burna Boy before. Whatever. But it's big. Nigeria moves down. And that term generally comes from West Africa, like, Nigeria, soft life. But it was bubbling in South Africa because we listened to that music and that culture, and then that music became global with, like, Burna Boy and a bunch of these artists. So, like, those phrases are kind of, like, in the world, but I'm pretty sure a lot of people have no idea that that's where it comes from.

[Jen]

Well, we just schooled them, didn't we? Thank you for that. Did you live in Jo'burg? Cape Town. Where?

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Johannesburg. Yeah, we moved to. From Harare, Zimbabwe, to Johannesburg, South Africa. And then I went to Cape Town for my undergrad. So I've lived in both, and I go home often.

[Jen]

Cape Town's honestly the most gorgeous place and gorgeous smelling place.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

It is gorgeous. It is so gorgeous. And I tell people this all the time. They're like. And then they go. They're like, oh, my God, you're so right. It's like, what? Because you have the mountains, you have the beach, you have the wine country. It's quite incredible. The landscape is just insane. Oh, yeah. The smells. It's good smells. Of course, there's the oceany smells, but there's also like, the great, like, flora of the. Of the region. Like, if you. If you're like a hiker, like, the green protea flowers, all of that stuff.

[Jen]

You clocked me.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Yeah.

[Jen]

What's the. What do you think the best smelling place you've ever visited?

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Ooh.

[Jen]

Could be someone's home, could be a hotel, could be a city. I don't know.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

There's this hotel in Colombia, in Cartagena, called Casa San Augustin. I talk about this a lot. It's, like, gorgeous. They have this, like, copala incense that they pump through the hotel. Similarly to. I don't know if you love an auberge resort, which I do. There's the Iterio in Playa del Carmen. That's really nice. Also that, like, copal incensey, but it's almost like kind of resiny sweet. So, like, I love smells like that.

[Jen]

It's so hard to replicate that, though.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

It's so hard. Yeah. So hard. Because you need the actual good caul incense. Like, the good caul. So I actually asked them to sell me some, and they did. Of course they did. And if it's hard to replicate even in a candle, I would say hotels that, like, Hotel Quintessential lobby, kind of Miami ish vibe. Santali tea smell the ones that they pump intensely at places like the Addition. I love the Addition. I love to don't come for me. But like, I.

[Jen]

When it's good, it's good.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

I don't. It's too much, though. This is what I'm saying. It's too much. We've smelt that all before. I don't need more tea.

[Jen]

So you must smell. Okay. Yes. That edition hotel candle, they must sell tons of that. One genius business move for all these hotels, by the way, to start those candles.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

But I don't think I love that smell anymore.

[Jen]

You've moved on. You've evolved.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Yeah. It's always like a little bit too strong. And I've also become more sensitive to smells. You know, when you smell things all the time, then like, I'm aware of smells all the time. So if I don't like it, I'm like, I hate it here.

[Jen]

Let's talk about fragrance. Generally, I do have specific candle questions because no one's clicking on this episode and doesn't think they're going to learn about candles a tiny bit. But first, this idea of the signature scent, whether it's for home or person, does that appeal to you? What's your thoughts on the signature scent?

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

So. No. Did it ever? No. No. So I look back as a teen and, you know, the teen boys are blowing up the category, making it grow. So I was like this version, except then maybe I wasn't quite a Zerjoff boy. I call them the Xerjoff Boys and the Louis Vuitton Boys. Very intense. And I love both brands. I met Sergio Zerjoff himself. Great men. So I had. I look back at like my mini collection back then. I. This is like a 1617. I always wanted to smell really sweet, so I had Prada Candy. I was like a gourmand guy before they were those guys. I had Tura d'hermes because I loved Yvette T. Barraford, Santa Voya's Hab. I had Paco Rabanne Black Excess. I had Daisy.

[Jen]

Okay.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Turns out those last two, even Acqua di Gio, which were all made by.

[Jen]

These are eclectic. These are all over the place.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Yeah, I was everywhere. Cause I was like, I needed to spray how I felt in the day. It's really important for me. You know, people care about the outfit. I'm not really a fashionista, but I'm giving you like old school sort of candleman denim jacket. This is like one of my signature looks, but I don't care about fashion. But I do care about the scent for the day. Like, to me, that's the outfit. So I've always been that way since the beginning of time. Those last three were actually all made by Alberto Marillas, which was crazy. I was like, oh, I love this man. And then I met him at the Fragrance foundation awards, like a few years, like twice. And he's like, I love the way you talk about fragrance. And I'm like, oh, my God. That's a full circle moment.

[Jen]

Yeah. It's funny that they have the same way an artist or a writer, like a voice in perfume. The perfumers that you. You notice that Even as a 17 year old, probably without realizing it, without.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Realizing it, there was some like. So those are like my scents. So as we think about, as we talk, as people talk about signature scent, I've always been like, the world is so beautiful and amazing. Why would you just do one thing? Like, that's how I feel about fragrance.

[Jen]

Yeah, I hear you.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

But I'm the person that will order the same thing at a restaurant if I like it. So, like, this is the place in my life where I play. I don't really play too much with food.

[Jen]

I have a friend, he put this in his yearbook. You know how you put those quotes at the bottom of the yearbook? I've stolen it now as my own, and it's. I'll try anything once, twice if I like it. And I feel like you're that way with fragrance, but maybe not with food.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Exactly. I will spray anything.

[Jen]

Yeah. Okay, that's. See, that's why I wanted to talk to you, because I know you know what's going on. You try all the things that I just don't have the patience to try. What are you noticing right now for, like, home fragrance trends? Are we still going to be doing these cherry scents for the rest of time?

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Like I'm seeing? Well, home fragrance has been interesting because it was booming in the pandy, of course, because we were all at home. And then it kind of like slowed down a little bit. I think, like, the units weren't moving as much. But if you have a hit, you're fine. I don't know if I'm the person anymore to say what's on trend, because you know what happens when you smell a lot of things? You then start liking extreme things.

[Jen]

You're out of your comfort zone.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Yeah, okay. And you like extreme?

[Jen]

Then forget the trend forecasting. Forget it. Let's talk about what's standing out to you right now.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Thai basil from Brooklyn Candle Company is, like, really nice. It's like a really zesty basil. I like a really intense lime. There's this Andean myrtle from lafco, which, you know, is one of my favorites. They just. It's part of their source and story collection, which is where they really go back and they tell you where the ingredients is from. They're trying to get the best ones. And most ethically made. And this Andean myrtle from Peru. And then the whole combo is like, this lime zest bomb, which is amazing.

[Jen]

Cause. Yeah, I don't even think I've ever thought about myrtle, let alone what it looks like, where it's from, and would not have clocked it as South American.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Yeah.

[Jen]

Just saying. So there we go. We learned something.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Yeah, I'm learning. But I learned through the brands, too, because I'm like, oh, wow. Okay. This is new. This is cool. Well, Lafco just released this new candle. It's called Midnight Cactus. I was in New York this time. I didn't stay for 36 hours. I stayed for, like, three days.

[Tracy]

So I was like, I'm so happy to have you.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

So I was like, let me go see my friend. And I went to lafco. This is new. And I was smelling a lot of interesting stuff. And I was like, this is incredible. It's, like, a really dry wood, so it's most likely aceta wood. It smells like sweetness in the desert. That's what it smells like. It's, like, really dry. Really? I would say maybe even dusty, but still, like, sweet and almost like. Yes, like a sorbet, but in the desert. Like a raspberry sorbet in the desert. It's like.

[Jen]

That's that feeling Diesendurga has. Sweet do nothing. It's this, like, western Texas scent. And that's what it's like. Dry, deserty. But then there's that little bit of.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Yeah, those are my favorite things. Like PF Candle Company's pinon is my favorite. Cause it's also dry. Anything that feels like luxury. Sedona retreat, Very west coast of. Yeah, yeah. West coast.

[Jen]

Throw in a little copal.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Yeah. All of that. And I was like, why? I just, like, love it. It's very calming to me. But if I look up these notes. Let me not hit my mic.

[Jen]

I bet you if we went back to your, like, childhood in Zimbabwe, there was probably some notes there. Some dusty herbal notes. Or maybe in. Actually, Johannesburg has that. You know how, like, it smells deserty. I Feel like it's on the edge of the.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

It can. It cannot be. It cannot very dust. It can feel bur.

[Jen]

Like a dusty. In a nice way.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Yeah. Like very, like, linearly dry.

[Jen]

Oh, I love that. That's gonna be my. Oh, that's gonna be my summer moment. Midnight cactus. It's called that one.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Yeah. This is what I'm gonna give to everybody. Okay. So it has golden amber, cedar, desert musk. I don't know what that is, but okay, I was right there. Rosebuds, cactus blossom. I don't know what that smells like. And then wild raspberry, hence the sweetness. And described as twilights. Cloak the adobe. Is it adobe or adobe? Adobe terrace. Okay. It's very deserty. And this description, I can't. A verdant sweetness and earthy allure recall a mystical desert oasis. Okay. You see, this is why I love lafco. Because I think their DNA. This is why I love them. It just matches my DNA, you know? Like how some brands just have the structures that work for your being.

[Jen]

Yes. But in general, sometimes the marketing copy on candles and fragrances as well, it has gotten so over the top for these people to stand in, out. I'm curious, when you're reviewing something, whether you're going to make content about it or not, do you read the marketing stuff before you go in?

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

No. No.

[Jen]

That's why I think you are good at what you do because you're not parroting the company line. I feel like you're giving it an individual spin.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Yeah, no, because it's like, it's dry. So I learned. I didn't learn early on. I just like, figured out. I guess I learned is people just respond to the videos or the content. Where I say have something feels like to me. Because if I were to say the notes, like, if I told someone it has. What does it say? Cactus, adobe blossom, prickly pear, rosebuds. They'll be like amber people. Like, I don't know what that is. I have no idea what that is. So I kind of go with my vibes. And I feel like fragrance is like, mostly not. It's not vibes, but like there's actual raw materials that are the true ones. But the storytelling is so important and I'd rather make it personal. It's also how I've come to learn when I do a review of a range of fine fragrance, for example, because it's easier to. To review because it's faster than waiting for the candle. I try to say what I smell and then I look it up. It's just a way to like train my mind over time. And people like those videos because I think it's still the feeling versus the notes and the copy.

[Jen]

Well, I think we just got that in real time. And then we checked your work if it. As it were. And you were right exactly with the raspberry.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

So next time I'll be like, okay. Prickly pear cactus blossom. There's something in there. When I smell something else similar, I'll the connections. That's how it works in my brain.

[Jen]

Yeah, you do do a lot of luxury content. But I know in your book you said we need to get out of this whole price conversation. Like, don't get caught up on the price. I want to talk about this though, because for me, I've just found that the ones that are more expensive and I don't know if this is like me the psychology of it and I'm tricked into it. But the scent throw is better. And I know this. They have to load it up with a lot of concentration of oil to get that scent throw. What do you find about price versus scent throw and how that all goes down?

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Wait, I want to answer this question, but would you consider my account a luxury account? I'm trying to be like an everyday girl, you know?

[Jen]

Well, that's what I like too, because you talk about a bath and body works, which I want to talk about as well. I don't know. I like. You have a bougie air about you. I'm like, this guy has taste. Maybe I shouldn't equate that with luxury. You know what? That was. That was bad of me.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

I do like the idea. No, I mean, it's fine. I mean, I definitely. I started with friends coaching, but my early candles that I. That I started to buy on this journey and then I'll answer your question, were all from TJ Maxx and Marshalls Love a discount store. And then things just did get a little bougie over time.

[Jen]

Okay, but is that. Cause those are the better ones. Let's talk about this.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

No, people started gifting them to me and then I started liking them. But yes, to your point, when I was doing my candle collabs and I was. We were going through all the mods and. And I was like, this just doesn't have the throw that I want. You do have to load up the fragrance oil and that's like a big part of the juice. It is the juice. Sorry. It's a big part of getting it to throw, particularly if you're Working with soy wax, you need a lot more than paraffin wax, which just throws easier. And paraffin wax is cheaper. So better, well constructed, more expensive products, particularly with like a really high grade of wax and a really nice vessel. Like a lot of fragrance just do cost more and they do smell better for the most part. So. Yes. But I've met some people in the scene. You can also get a lot of throw from some of my favorite Bath and Body Works candles. And they also use really good materials. They all made like similar fragrance houses.

[Jen]

Because they're moving a lot of products. So I agree with you that those have a. They have a great throw, the Bath and Body Works.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

And that's why people love them.

[Jen]

Yeah. What do you think about the fandom of the Bath and Body? Are there any other brands that you know that people get fangirl about?

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

No, it's bbw. Whenever I post, like if I just mention that video will do numbers if I just. It's insane. I love it so much.

[Jen]

It's like Beanie Babies that's aging me. But people collect them.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Yeah, they collect them. And I have my ones that I love, which is somewhere back here.

[Jen]

What's your Bath and Body Works? Tell us your best Bath and Body Works top three.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

It's Book Loft, but they don't make it anymore, which I'm really sad about. Sweater weather. And I think it says white tea and sage. It's like old school Bath and Body Works.

[Jen]

Oh, white tea and sage. That sounds nice for spring.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

But I love me some Bath and Body Works and the team is so nice too.

[Jen]

Okay, so generally speaking though, you did.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Just mention, yeah, white tea and sage. It smells like an earthy, freshly brewed cup of tea. So again, back to the earthy tea vibes.

[Jen]

Yeah, that was from your colognes from when you were teen too. But you mentioned soap. Paraffin versus soy wax. So tell me the difference. And this might explain something though that like the nicer brands are using the soy waxes, aren't they?

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Honestly, it depends.

[Jen]

Okay, what's the difference?

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

One is naturally derived. Well, they will actually naturally derive. So it's just paraffin wax kind of burns a little less clean. Like you can see the smoke. You know, when like burns, you can like see the smoke burning off. And in large amounts, like so much you have to basically be living and hovering on top of the candle. Like can release some carcinogens that are not so great. But that's for people that have the black ceilings that are open overdoing it with the Candles, it won't stop burning.

[Jen]

Paraffin based waxes.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Waxes, but it carries fragrance really well. And it burns at the lower temperature. So the candles also last a little longer for that. So people like love them. And then soy wax burns at a higher temp so it burns quicker. But it doesn't throw fragrance as much. But it burns cleaner. So there's two ways to go. You can go full, full paraffin, which maybe you don't want to do because you can like smell it. It's like that chemically smell, you know, you can smell it like in the room. If you're really sensitive to smell like I am, I know instantly and I'm like, I got to get out of here. Or you can go soy wax, which I love, but you won't get the full throw, which I'm also okay with. I'm not someone who's obsessed with beast mode candles. I just want the waft. Or then you have what everyone a lot of brands do, which is the soy wax blend. But that can mean a lot of things because it's just percentages of paraffin and soy. Some say that to appear more clean or burning, but they have a lot of paraffin and just a touch of soy. Some have a lot of soy in order to preserve the cleanness of the burn. And just a touch of paraffin to like boost the throw a little bit more to like match consumer tastes. I'm more in that. And they'll never tell you what's. What the mix is. That's, you know, it's like just like behind the scenes, just like skincare. What is in there? So I either go soy or like soy wax blend that I can tell is like very soy for it.

[Jen]

Jess, you know what we haven't talked about in a while?

[Tracy]

What?

[Jen]

How much we love Honey Love.

[Tracy]

Oh, I feel comfortable just talking about it.

[Jen]

So good. You know how most people rip off their bra the second they get home because they're so uncomfortable? No, we don't do that here at Fat Mascara because we're all wearing Honey Love and they're so comfortable you'll forget you're wearing them. I even sleep in them.

[Tracy]

Honey Love has those bras that don't cause the bulging in the back. And they offer the support of a traditional bra, but without that uncomfortable underwire. They have molded cups that are designed to lift and separate. It's not going to give you that shelf like bra, so you're not going to get that dreaded uniboob effect. Honey Love recently launched their new Cloud Embrace Bra so this just sold out in days. It's a wireless T shirt bra with a sturdy lightly padded foam cups that feel like a cloud against your skin. It's a wireless bra for people who love Underwire. And honeylove has more than bras. They have shapewear tanks and leggings that.

[Jen]

Are comfortable and supportive. Treat yourself to the most comfortable and innovative bras on earth and save 20% off site wide at honeylove.com mascara. Use our exclusive link to get 20% off honeylove.com mascara. After you purchase, they'll ask where you heard about them. Please support our show and tell them we sent you. Experience the new standard in bras with honeylove. Listen, there are so many skincare products on the market and you know I will try most of them once. But for me to use something more than once and make a real habit of it, it's got to work. That's why I love Ritual's Haicera. It's a multi step skincare in one daily supplement and it features two of the best clinically studied ingredients shown to help minimize wrinkles and hydrate skin. And now it's part of my everyday skincare routine. I got in the habit of taking it daily by putting the cute little purple jar right next to my sunscreen. It looks nice on my vanity and let's be honest, I love that. But once I stuck with the habit, I really noticed a difference in my skin. I am not the only one. In a clinical study, subjects reported an improvement in skin elasticity, glow and radiance in 90 days and ritual hyacinth led to a 2.9 times increase in skin smoothness within 90 days as compared to placebo. I also like that they're easy to swallow. The capsules sort of taste like vanilla. They're not all weird and fish fishy like some other supplements. Plus, Ritual works with world class certification bodies to validate their products and it's a certified B core with supplements that are vegan, gluten free and made traceable. Start Ritual High Sarah to support your glow without compromising on clean science. Get 25 off your first month for a limited time at ritual.com mascara. Start ritual or add High Sarah to your subscription today. That's ritual.com mascara for 25 off okay, I'm gonna let you in on a secret. I've always wanted to be a scientist. Everybody listens to Fat Mascara knows it's Jen's Science Corner. Guess who has helped me up my game Masterclass and Their class with Bill Nye. Masterclass is the only streaming platform where you can learn and grow. With more than 200 of the world's best instructors.

[Tracy]

And all of this for just $10 a month, billed annually. A membership with Masterclass gets you unlimited access to every instructor. And you can access Masterclass on your phone. That's where I watch a lot of it. At the gym, on the treadmill, your computer, your smart tv, or even in audio mode if you don't want to look at the pictures. There's classes about every type of topic, from Jay Shetty navigating change, perfect for the moment, to how to style your hair for every day with Jan Atkin, former fat mascara guest.

[Jen]

And right now, our listeners get an additional 15% off any annual [e-mail] Fat Mascara. That's 15% [e-mail] Fat mascara. Jess, what's that website?

[Tracy]

Masterclass.com Fat mascara.

[Jen]

I'm learning a lot because the paraffin, I think that's my thing against the less expensive candles. They definitely have a better throw, but I, I sometimes get like an undertone. It's like a plasticky undertone.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

It's that and you can feel it.

[Jen]

Meanwhile, I've had some soy ones, the beautiful ones. They're like $150 because they probably have to put in so much scent to get it to throw. And this is explaining it because the soy doesn't carry the scent quite as well. Like all those natural candles.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Exactly.

[Jen]

Yeah.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

And then it's, like, tough to create a soy wax formula burns, like smells. Correct. Because it burns at a higher temperature, it can like, literally singe off those top notes a lot. So you won't get the olfactive expression that you're supposed to because, oh, my.

[Jen]

Wax pool's like, it's gone like lava.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Yeah.

[Jen]

And it's just gone burning the scent. Interesting. So they have to tinker with all of this. What do you think the most expensive candle you've ever tried? This side note, just as we're talking.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

About price, I mean, I have a $500 one next to me, I think. Or 300.

[Jen]

Like a $500, $500 candle, but it's a big one. Please tell me it has three wicks and is like the size of a bucket. He's getting it for me. Thank you.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

I think this is 300. This is from L'Auberge. I think it's 300. It's like a leathery scented candle. It's three wicks. I have a LAFCO here. I think that's five wicks. I think that's 300. And then I have another L'Auberg one that's 500. This sounds crazy. Okay, I sound, like, literally crazy, but.

[Jen]

No, at that point. I'm sorry. That's a vase. That's home decor. Like, that's not just a candle.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Okay. Okay. So maybe in, like, a smaller range like this. They don't make these anymore. This is a Louis Vuitton candle, which my friend gifted to me. It's a leather. Smells like.

[Jen]

Oh, my gosh. It's got the leather Louis Vuitton handle. Love it.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

I need to clean this. That was 150. Like a Troodon candle. Like, all of those. Like, $150.

[Jen]

Oh, this Trudon one, That's my favorite. Abd El Kader. It's the minty.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Oh, the Min. So good.

[Jen]

It is the best candle of all. That's. You know what? As I was gonna ask you that, I was like, what's the. Okay, let me ask you. What's a candle? You think universally beloved. Like, okay, if you don't know what to get someone, just. Everybody likes this. Doesn't have to be expensive.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

I gift so many things. Okay, let me just think. And I have this in the book. I think you have to just go, like, cedary or like sand or what do you. With some vanilla and some sweetness. Just like a simple.

[Jen]

Everyday people love vanilla, don't they?

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Yeah, no, honestly, I would have been. It would have been. This sounds so crazy. Cause creators do this all the time. Would have been like, my candle. Heart of the matter, which I should send it to, but it's gone now, so I would do.

[Jen]

How convenient. It's my candle. That's the one that you should buy for everyone.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

The thing about the Internet is you must be shameless if you want to win. Oh, it's this candle. It's called Dreamer by Nomad Noe. It's like a Sandobudi vanilla, cedary, delicious candle. I gift it all the time. That's what I love about it.

[Jen]

What's the brand name again?

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Nomad. No way. Oh, cool.

[Jen]

Okay. And that has a wood, like a cedar. A soft wood that's not too piney. Yeah, that sounds lovely.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Cedarwood. Yeah, like I said, vanilla firewood. And, like, a little leathery note. It's called Dreamer in London. It's like 75 bucks for seven ounces. So it's a little pricey, but it's in this gorgeous porcelain vessel, and it has a lid Comes in a great box. It feels like opening an iPhone. It's like that whole feeling. So I'd probably do that. Honestly.

[Jen]

Now I feel like I have to ask this because people are probably thinking this themselves. What's the least expensive candle you like? You mentioned Bath and Body Works, which you can get for a great price. Are there any other, like, margue bougies? I'm saying it French to make it cool.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

I think it's called Everspring Candle. Target Balsam. Oh, I think it's like, seven bucks.

[Jen]

Balsam could go Cedar and balsam.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Cedar and balsam. But it's more cedar than balsam. It's like eight bucks.

[Jen]

Wow.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

From Target, it's cedar and balsam. Target, it's eight bucks. I love that a lot. It's like my. Sometimes I just want to work from home, and I want something just really crisp and cozy.

[Jen]

$8.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Yeah. $8. Boom.

[Jen]

Guess who's getting that. The teacher, the bus driver, the everybody. They're getting that one this time.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Yeah. That's my favorite. Yeah, for sure.

[Jen]

Before we stop talking about candles, I have other things I wanna ask you about, but I have to ask about lighting of the candle and the accessories. Cause a lot of it feels. I'm like, are we really gonna have a plan for how to light the candle? And then I read your little tips in your book, and I was like, this man has a point. How are we supposed to light a candle?

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

I mean, the accessories can feel a little much. It's more the feeling, you know, what it's like to me. And then I'll go into the candle is I get ready quickly in the morning, and there's some people. I must do my skincare routine. But it's like three steps, and if I'm. Or like, five. But if I'm really lazy or, like, in a rush, I'll just put all the things in my hand and make a combo. Yeah. And go. But I must do it. There's some people who. They need their morning. They have to do, like, each step and, like, take their time and get ready. So Candle World, there's, like, the same thing. Some people just, like, light the thing, keep it moving. Just like, boom. So, like, they will take this candle, people watching that I burnt last night. And because I burnt it, the wick is, like, a little mushroomed. And they'll just light it and keep it moving. I won't do that. There's no part of me that can do that. I'm like, the person who gets ready slowly. So the first thing you need to do is trim your wick to like a quarter inch. And you need to trim this little mushroom piece because it'll create soot and burn and like won't smell very good. So that's like step one. And you need to trim it so that it's not too long because if it's too long, you'll get a really big flame which will want to be too hot for the fragrance but also may cause extra smoke. So you don't want that.

[Jen]

Well, you also said if the flames farther away from the wax. Wax, it's sort of like you're wasting the burn potential. I forget what you said in your book, but I was like, that made sense to me that the flame needs to be closer to the wax to get it to melt and get your smell going.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

That is correct. And then don't do what I did here. But I didn't burn it fully. You can't really see it last night to the edges. I had to go through.

[Jen]

Oh, he's got some tunneling guys, tunneling going.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

But you can throw it under the candlelight warmer and it's done anyway.

[Jen]

You can throw it under the candlelight warmer. I'm sorry, you have a candle lamp warmer?

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

You don't. Wait, did you.

[Jen]

I know, I know. Fat mascara likes its fragrance. Yeah, but this isn't a thing I've purchased. Do I need a. What is a candle lamp warmer? Who makes the best one? What do we do with it?

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Let me get one for you. Give me one second, please.

[Jen]

P.S. he said let me get one. Like he doesn't have several.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

No, I have two. I have two. I only have two. So this is a candle lamp. Walmart. You basically.

[Jen]

Well, for our audio.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Oh, for audio.

[Jen]

So it's like a chic mid century lamp.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Yeah, you can get like different designs. It's from Amazon. It's like 30 bucks. You can get like a 20 bucks one. So it's basically like a lamp. You put a candle down and then there's a little light that goes on and like, it like melts the candle from the top down. So that allows you to do two things. For people who don't like to have a flame going, let's say you have pets or like children and you're kind of scared. This is perfect because you get the scent without burning.

[Jen]

It gets hot enough though to like melt the wax, like to a pool.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

To a full pool.

[Jen]

I always thought the candle warmers were just warming it up slightly so the scent molecules were moving and I was like, cool, thanks. That's so. But it actually melts it without the open flame.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

100%.

[Jen]

You don't have to set it up. We trust you.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

I'm doing a little. I have to, because.

[Jen]

Well, we don't publish the whole video. I only publish clips, so. Oh, God, he did it. Oh, wow.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

So go on. It's hot enough. You can feel the heat under my finger. So this will melt and then you'll get the scent.

[Jen]

You have to send me the link for this one. Cause that actually looks nice. It doesn't look cheap. And I'm sitting that out on my counter and I don't like the decor of it.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

No, for sure. I'll send you the link to my Amazon storefront too. I'll send that to you. I've sold a lot of those from my Amazon storefront. Like a thousand.

[Jen]

I thought they were bs, but I like the idea of this. So you can put your candle there. What were you talking about when we started?

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Oh, tunneling. So one of the things process on tunneling. Yes. So if you do have a tunnel candle, if you put it there, it'll just like level it out. Cause it just like melts it down.

[Jen]

Perfect.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

It's like the hack we fixed it. Done. So you light your candle and then you need to let it. You need to place it in the right place is like part one a lot of people. Well, if you place it closer to like the AC or like a window or somewhere with the draft, like air moving, the flame will move with the wind. So you won't get a. It make holes like tunneling. Cause it's like not burning evenly. So you don't want to have too much air moving. And then you want to burn it for enough time that it creates a full wax melt pool. That means the wax is melted all the way to the edges. That helps you prevent what's happening with mine. Where we are tunneling. Because a candle has what they call candle memory. So if it doesn't burn to all the way to the edge, it will start to just burn down. And then you waste all that wax on the side, which you paid good money for. So we don't want that.

[Jen]

Okay. And if we do have a candle that got to that point, we could get our candle warmer to still get the scent from the wax without having. Since we can't light it anymore.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Exactly. That's what I do.

[Jen]

Cause the flames way down there.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Yeah. For a candle that I really love, that it's finished. That I don't Want to repurchase? I'm trying to be on a no buy situation these days with a lot of things. I did just buy some new perfumes, but I use the candle at Walmart to get the last bits of scent out.

[Jen]

Yeah, no, that's a good tip. Or if you're someone like me with lots of tunneled candles because you don't follow your own advice and then you.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Need to put out the candle. The, like, snuffer and the wick dipper are all like a little much, but I think it's a cute thing. What I like about the wick dipper in particular is that you, like, use it to dip the wick in. It puts the candle out. It actually does two things.

[Jen]

Like a snuffer. Is that what you're talking about?

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

The snuffer is the one you put on top.

[Jen]

Yeah. Like a little bell.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Yeah, it's more for like a long candle where you can't get in there. Like, you can go in with the snuffer. The wick dipper is for a candle you can just reach. So if you have a really long candle, which I don't have to show, but you want the snuffer. But with the wick dipper, you just dip the end of the wick into the wax and two things happen, which is good. One, because you dipped it into the wax instead of blowing it out, you don't get smoke. You know, if you blow out a candle, you get smoke. Some people just hate that smell. I don't mind that smell. I like that. I don't care. So that's one and two, it kind of coats the wick in wax. So when you burn it the next time, actually it stops that mushroom head from happening. So you get a clean burn. When you burn it the next time, you don't have to do, like, I.

[Jen]

Gotta get a wick dipper.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

I mean, people, you can use anything, but it's nice to have a cute thing. Loewe has a set for 500 bucks if you want.

[Jen]

Okay. So I have a. I'm gonna be honest. I have a friend and her house smells amazing. And the last two times I was there, I was like, I'm just gonna ask. She's bought the Loewe candle. Now I don't know which one it is. I can find it out. I'll find out for you. Wait, let's look up the price. We're gonna die together.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

When I look this up, two.

[Jen]

And that way I can remember the name of it too. This candle is. Is There only one scent of Loewe candle?

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

No, there's a lot.

[Jen]

Hers is this pink colored one. Hold on, let me. Let me find it. Let me find it, guys.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

It might be my favorite one.

[Jen]

What is it? Tell me, what's your favorite?

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

My favorite is beetroot.

[Jen]

Beetroot? What does that smell like?

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Like earthy, damp, sweet earth. Is that the one?

[Jen]

That's it.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Yeah. It's the best candle of all time. Yeah.

[Jen]

First of all, the color of this candle holder. I'm just gonna.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Let me get it. Oh, my God.

[Jen]

Wait, do you see how much this. Okay, guys, the small beetroot candle is $130 medium 265 large 520. You have it there. That's it. This candle is so amazing. I could not believe it. Why does it smell so good?

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Truly, it's the best. I loved it so much. I got the room spray for it too, and it smells amazing. So this is the stuff where I'm like. I'm sure they're like, this man is just insane. But like.

[Jen]

And here he is on the interwebs telling me to spend $130 on a small candle.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Ooh, I'm on the site. They have this Earl Grey. I might have to get that. And a small tuberose.

[Jen]

This has now become us shopping live. While people have to listen.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

I have this wasabi one, which from Loewe as well, which was fine. It's a little too, you know.

[Jen]

Do you repurpose your ceramics and your holders at all? You could be honest with me. This is not going on social media, so I won't get you into the tabs.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

I can't believe you have me shopping on the web right now. And close these tabs.

[Jen]

Yeah, close the tabs.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Come back to me because I saw this roasted hazelnut. I saw this roasted hazelnut. I think I need that.

[Jen]

We're all like. We love bath and body works. And then both got completely distracted by the Loewe website.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

This is bad. This is bad.

[Jen]

That's so funny, though, that. You know the candle that I'm.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Yeah, it's my. It's. And there's one other person. Dion. Dion. I'll send you his full name. We. This is the most unnecessary Lux thing to talk about. We went on the Chanel brand trip to the south of France together. And I mentioned this candle is the. Oh. And I was like, oh, this is the way of a candle I like. And before I was finished, she was like, it's gotta be. Be Trude. I think for people with really great taste. Not saying that that's me but like who really love the art of perfumery. Like that is quite magical.

[Jen]

Well, I get to get grouped in with that because I, I didn't even know this and I clocked it at my friend's house. She has great taste too. It's just dirty and the best and like the fruitiness of a beet. Like rhubarb but like earth.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

And I rarely finish a candle because I'm always like testing new things because I film videos. But this is done. It's like, yeah, it's a wrap.

[Jen]

It's good stuff.

[Tracy]

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[Jen]

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[Tracy]

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[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Foreign.

[Jen]

Okay, you know the fat mascara listeners. Me and Jess, we love sunscreen. We don't always agree on products, but we definitely agree on Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen. They have the products for sensitive skin. That's me always. They have products that are safe for the entire family. Jess has a little one. It's just the perfect line for both of us and probably for you too too.

[Tracy]

Here's why we love Blue Lizard. They're experts in mineral sunscreens for nearly 30 years and their products, they go on like a dream. I love the sprays because mineral sunscreens, they're a little tricky with sprays and these go on really easy. They apply really nice and really sheer. And I find a lot of people don't want to use sunscreen because they say I'm too sensitive. Well, not with this. No more excuses. I like to carry the little sticks around because they're so easy to put in a backpack or just my purse when I'm walking, walking around the park with my daughter, I just take it out and I just pop it on.

[Jen]

Boop boop boop.

[Tracy]

For her face, her legs, her arms. Great for touch ups.

[Jen]

They have so many formats. Go to blue lizardsunscreen.com to find out more information, which sunscreens are right for your family and where you can buy in store or visit the Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen store on Amazon. Okay, you mentioned I'm getting us off focus. You mentioned this three step, that's really five step skincare routine. Talk to me. What are we doing for your skin?

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

It's very simple. It's actually very, it's not that crazy. So I like a really simple cleanser, Cerave Foaming or if I'm a little, if I'm in my bougie era. Like the an is clinical or those are the two really good. And then I need to have a niacinamide, but, like, really effective. This is my favorite. It's called element 8 oxygen therapy infused. So it's a lot of dermatologists who created this and their whole thing is like, when treating skin, oxygen is the most, like scars or like cuts on skin.

[Jen]

Okay.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Is the most important thing to get to the wound in order to rebuild the skin cell. So it's like oxygen infused niacinamide. It's a little pricey. This is like 300 bucks.

[Jen]

Why do you like niacinamide? My Coke sometimes. Co host Garrett loves niacinamide as well.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

It just makes my skin, like, really smooth. This is after like two days. Your skin looks great. There's no filter. Like, this is just gorgeous, glowing, smooth. I don't know what it is they have in here, but that's magic. It's magic. It's magic. It's a little pricey at like 300 bucks with 30 milliliters, but that's okay. And then I like a vitamin C. Bloom effects. I don't know if you've tried them. Gorgeous.

[Jen]

Oh, yeah, of course.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Or beauty stash from Ron.

[Jen]

And then everybody knows Ron.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Everybody knows Ron. And then I'll add. So that's step three. And then I'll add a moisturizer. I like something because I have, like, combination oily. So I like something weightless if it's the daytime. So Shani Darnie's about to get hot.

[Jen]

So we need a wait list. What is it? Shani Darden?

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Yeah. She's known for, like, her peptide something something. But that moisturizer, which is the weightless one, is like, really good. And then. But if it's nighttime, like, let's say I'm going out and I might take pictures. I want more of a glow. You know, there's that, like, celebrity. You're a white woman, but, like, there's a celebrity white woman glow on the carpet. And I found you can only get that. Of course, it's makeup, but you can only get that with the Beta Rich cream. It's like there's this really specific, like, glow to the skin that I love.

[Jen]

I mean, I think that we're also seeing. That's that money glow. That's that botox, little touches of glow. Yeah. But there is something about that butter cream that is undeniable. I agree.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Yeah. Sometimes I just want that glow that's not that many steps and then sunscreen Supergoop.

[Jen]

Oh, which one from Supergoop do you like?

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Seen unseen? Just the normal SPF 50. Yeah, that's about it. But I must do that every day. And I used to talk to a lot of guys at work. They'd be like, that's we don't put anything. I'm like, this is your actual face. I guess maybe because I'm on camera all the time. I must. But I feel like it's. I feel like I can't leave the house if that's not done.

[Jen]

Oh, I feel naked without my. Actually butter just came out with a sunscreen. Takes a while to rub in. There's like a bit of that lavender Y mineral sunscreen cast when you first put it on. But it has that texture of the Baader rich cream that everybody loves.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Well, so good.

[Jen]

You also said let's talk about fragrance a little bit before we go here. I know you're on a no buy zone, but you've evolved. Clearly you're a fully purpose 360 degree person. Not just sir Candle man about candles. But I love that you're doing more content about fragrance because it's all tied in. What are you loving with fragrance right now? Those five you mentioned, you already knew what you were doing at age 17. I can say thank you.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

I was like, oh my God, my nose is working. I mean I'm in a no buy zone. But I did buy black Afghan from Nasomato, whatever and a few Veronika.

[Jen]

Black Afghan is the scent.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Yum.

[Jen]

Uh oh, he's going to get it. Could see black. Black Afghan is a. Is a type of weed. It's a strain of weed. Did you know that?

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Now that you mention it, I was in this thing and they're like it's kind of cannabisy. But I thought there was more. Like the story. I didn't know it was like truly pulling from.

[Jen]

I wonder if that's where they got the name from.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

I'm assuming so. But okay, so it's from Nasamato. I got it. Cause it's like so gorgeous and so pricey.

[Jen]

That bottle's to die for. They have the best. I like it. Yeah.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

And let me tell you what I got recently and then I'll tell you what I'm loving. Don't ask. But I'd never smelt Bombshell from Victoria's Secret. And I was like, someone mentioned it. I was like, oh, I feel like you need to know the classics. So this. I'm a student of the game. Incredible. Fragrance. I can see why. This was like a hit. Of all the hits, Valentino has this line called Anatomy of Dreams. It's like a private collection. This is private talk. It's so good. It's like a tuberose cappuccino. It's, like, incredible. Ooh, yeah. If you love a white line, I.

[Jen]

Wouldn'T put those together, but that sounds fun.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Incredible. Yeah. Cappuccino cord and tuberose. And then from Lucky Scent, Amber cashmere. I'm looking for, like, the best cashmerely, like, soft scent.

[Jen]

Wait, Lucky Scent has its own private label line of perfumes?

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

No, no, no. This is Nikolai. Nikolai something. Nikolai. But I got it from Lucky Sam. But right now I'm seeing a lot of stuff. I feel like Juicy Juicy and Stone Fruit is in. So we have Guerlain's Pech. We have Kirkey, for instance. Kirchen. We have. Well, that world. I feel like I'm loving. I'm in my Chanel bag because I never really was in. And then I. And then I met the team, and I've been to the place, but I'd never really worn that many.

[Jen]

Nothing like a trip to France to get you on board as a brand ambassador for shop.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Listen, listen.

[Jen]

Which scent from them, though, are you like a bleu? The.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Oh, no, no, no. I love. I mean, I wore Bleu de Chanel my whole growing up, too. That was in my. That was in my rotation, and I love it. I have all of them. The edp, the edt, the parfum, whatever. I love that whole. The soap, the shaving cream. I have the deodorant. I have it all. Lotu shell's amazing. But Cora Mandel in, like, the Les Exclusifs, just like those, like, deep Chanel aldehyde, ambery, resiny, very old feeling I think are delicious. This came out recently. It's called Comet. Comet. C O M E T E. It's like cherry blossom aldehyde. I think sandalwood. It's, like, really good. So anything in that DNA? Cause I never really gravitated to those when I was young. But once you learn a brand's DNA, because I'm a student, I can, like, dive in and explore with that lens. I feel like I just like the learning. For the most part. I'm a student. And then Guerlain. I also wasn't like, I didn't. Growing up where I did. Guerlain just meant Shalimar, you know, like, that's all that meant. And then. Okay, maybe it's the brand trips. But they flew me to New York. He's like, they know what they're doing, those PR peoples out. It works. Hello. But no, I just. They explained the DNA of, like, the Galenade, which is, like, the kind of six ingredients that they kind of use in all fragrances to create this, like, thread between them. And there's, like, a Guerlain essence to, like, a lot of scents. And, like, I really love the almost irisy powdery perfume smell. Like, I guess similar to Chanel. I love that perfumed feeling, which is. I don't know if there's a better word for that.

[Jen]

Yeah, it has a vintage aldehyde powdery that, like, it's not grandma, but it's like grandma in a good way. Like a lady. Like a madame wears.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Exactly, exactly. I'm obsessed.

[Jen]

And it feels right. It feels good. Like, you feel like, okay, we're doing this.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Exactly. And then I'm actually about to make a video about. I was on the plane and some people's fragrances were a little strong. So I'm gonna make a video. But, like, I think we need to just tone it down in the place, the sillage.

[Jen]

You said beast Mode, but, yeah, I think that beast mode thing really took off, and people took that to mean quality. And it doesn't always.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

No, no. It's, like, too much. And I'm someone who loves. Like, I'm an oversprayer. And, like, I love. But I think there's a time and a place confined to the place are not the place. So I'm in my skin scent or like, just like, soft mascara. This Espiritu from House of Beau. I don't know if you know this brand.

[Jen]

Yeah, well, that's the other thing. It's like, how do I choose a scent for the plane that's like, I feel good, I'm in my little cocoon, but I'm not messing with other people's. Like, what's the Loewe beetroot of? You know, everybody's gonna like it.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Yeah, yeah.

[Jen]

We don't need anything polarizing on the plane.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

No, it's like, just chill out. It's too close. It's too much. Yeah. But I find these days, I don't know about you. Do you wear fragrance every day?

[Jen]

Sometimes. No, I wish I did. Sometimes I just forget if I just, like, plop down to do work at home and then I don't put something on. Why do you ask?

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Because nowadays, some days I don't because I wear so many fragrances. Because I want to get a break. Yeah, I need a break because I've come to. I've come to feel. I feel like a perfumer. And I'm not. I'm not qualified as a perfumer, but a lot of them would say that they don't wear fragrance because it's basically, like, working. So sometimes I then, like, end up on this, like, fragrance journey throughout the day that I don't want to be on. And I'm very aware. So if I'm just at home like you, sometimes I'm like, I'm good because on a spray day, on a filming day, I'm spraying like, 10. I'm probably putting, like, three on my different parts of my body. It's like a lot of scents, and.

[Jen]

I have a couple scents that are like my rest day kind of scent if I still want something. But I don't. But my nose just needs a break.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Yeah. What's your signature? If you. Well, do you believe in a signature scent or. No.

[Jen]

No, I couldn't. I love this place of life. I love variety. I'm like that person who orders the thing they've never had at the restaurant and then regrets it and wants your food.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Right. You're, like, living that.

[Jen]

Just happened to be at a restaurant, and, like, someone got this beautiful pasta, and I was like, I'm gonna have osso buco with blah, blah, blah. Regretted it. But I love a woody scent. I love cypress. I love cedar, citruses, that kind of thing. But I love a skin musk, like, glossier. Yu.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

So good. Still good. Have you smelled the new one?

[Jen]

The floral one?

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Yeah. Fleur.

[Jen]

Yeah, it's.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

I haven't smelled it yet. Okay.

[Jen]

No, yeah, it's lovely. I mean, you put a great perfumer with a. A brand that knows how to market. It's a good scent, but it's definitely too floral for me. I don't like anything too traditionally gender coded as feminine. Like, I think flowers have gotten that vibe. Even though back in the day, as I'm sure you've learned, that was not the case at all. Like, the men wore the rose, and still in the Middle East, I love men wear flowers.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

What's your favorite rose?

[Jen]

It's my favorite rose.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Or top three or top three?

[Jen]

Good. Top three rose scents.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Yeah.

[Jen]

I don't know about that. Rose isn't even one of my things.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Oh, my God. Okay. Portrait of a Lady, of course.

[Jen]

Oh, I love it. On everybody else, it's not too much.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Mia Frances Kirchen, l'homme a la Rose. Incredible.

[Jen]

Okay.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

It's like a more like citrusy, airy rose and then Diptyque aux rose.

[Jen]

Oh, that's good. Okay, I have to look into that coetzee. Before you go, we have to do the FM5, which is our speed round that we do with all of our guests. Are you up for it?

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Yeah. What do I need to know?

[Jen]

You don't need to know anything. You just need to talk. First question, what was the first beauty product you remember falling in love with or grooming or whatever it might be? Whatever you consider beauty product.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Fragrance is not beauty. Right?

[Jen]

Yeah, sure, go ahead.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Molecule 01 classic.

[Jen]

Not a classic. A new classic.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

A new classic.

[Jen]

Okay. I know you used to host a podcast about dating. Among other things. What's the best date night fragrance for me?

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Amouage guidance.

[Jen]

Why?

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Hazelnut pear, a little bit of rose. It's like very. It's confident but it's like fun and like juicy and not scary. I call them like, men should smell good but not like be scary.

[Jen]

Men like, I want to get closer to smell more. Not repelled by the like. You're wearing cologne.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

I'm wearing cologne. Yeah. And not too sexual.

[Jen]

Like dance floor. I call those the dance floor ones.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Yeah. Just be safe following distance. Just be where you are over there and be a nice person.

[Jen]

We're not Ibiza. We're just gonna have a nice date.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

It's just a date. And it should just be a normal date. I love a normal. I just want a normal date. Am I boring? That's all I want. Just like a regular. I feel like everything is too much.

[Jen]

No, like an, like an activity. And it's a whole thing. And you just wanna have a nice cup of coffee.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Have a coffee or like a meal that's like 75 minutes, like not too long. And it's just like great. And then you like go home and you think about it and be like, oh, it was so great. I'd love to like see you again. I feel like people just don't do.

[Jen]

Like normally hit minute 76. And then I was like, forget it.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

And I'm out of here.

[Jen]

Okay. Open your Please youe Notes app. Do you use the notes app on your phone?

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Uh huh.

[Jen]

No lying. What is the last note that you wrote to yourself on your notes app?

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Videos to film. This is at on Brand Midnight. Like this morning at like 12:20.

[Jen]

That's when the ideas come sometimes.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Yeah, it's called Bougie for no Reason, which is a series that I used to do where I just like have Like a bougie day. And I wanted to highlight Apple TV shows because I feel like not enough people talking about Apple tv and because I also want them to, like, sponsor me in a video in the future. That's what my brain thinks about.

[Jen]

Okay, There's a new season of the morning show coming up. Just hit all the names and maybe Apple TV will sponsor you. Exactly. We're putting that out there.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

You have to, like, create the life you want for yourself.

[Jen]

Yeah. In Philly, we say, fake it till you make it.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

There you go. Well, I mean, is it faking or are you.

[Jen]

No. Artist. Fiction. Create the life. And then my version is that, yeah, fake it till you make it.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

You just do it. A lot of people are like, how do you learn fragrance? I'm like, you just. You literally, you just smell more things and you make notes.

[Jen]

You know what, though? I think that's really good advice. I think a lot of people, I see them prepare for a journey of a learning thing they want to do. Or like, I want to get into knitting and I need to follow the people and find the books. And it's like, just pick it up and start doing it. Like the best things in my life that I've tried. I'm just like, eh, what the heck?

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

You know, exactly the times when. So I worked at TikTok, like I said, for a long time. And everyone would be like, oh, I want to. I need someone to help me with TikTok, like, making videos. And I'm like, you know, I really want to do it. And I'm like, oh, have you posted anything? And then they'd be like, no. And then I would always say, my rule was until you've posted, you can't come and talk to me because there's nothing to work with. I can't help you. I truly can only help you. If we have a starting point. It doesn't even matter how bad it is. At least we can say, okay, this is not good. And let me tell you why. But if it's just ideas in your head, it's no, I'm not the guy for you. I'm very action forward.

[Jen]

You can't create something from nothing. Yeah. What more platitudes can I throw out at you? Okay, two more questions. We're getting off topic. What's your favorite snack?

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

In South Africa, we have the snack called biltong. It's like a dried meat, not quite a jerky. It's more like air dried and doesn't have a lot of other stuff like that's. My favorite snack. Hard to get in la. So if it's la, I would do. If I'm here, then I would do a similar like a Chomps. Like a meat stick. Like a Chomps for the protein with chomps.

[Jen]

Like a nice Slim Jim.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Yeah. Natural they say.

[Jen]

I don't think I've said the word Slim Jim like in the last 20 years of my life. And now saying it out loud, feeling really silly. Slim Jim.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

It's the Slim Jim for the Erawan girls.

[Jen]

She loves it. Okay. Actually now I kind of want to try it. And also is that oxymoron because erewhon vegan. But no, they just want good meat.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

When they have the meat just like good ingredients. It's very pricey. But I do love like an ingredient that is just the ingredient. I love food that is just the foods. I don't know how to explain that. I don't like need.

[Jen]

Yeah, like a dried apricot. It's just an apricot.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Yeah, just like just that. We don't need crazy stuff.

[Jen]

Well, I'll tell you, it's probably cheaper than importing Biltong from South Africa. So you're fine.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

100%. Exactly.

[Jen]

Okay, last question. It's 11am on your day off. What are you most likely doing? So it's your day off, you're not working.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

I'm gonna take a walk. I love like an hour walk in la. I live in a very walkable neighborhood.

[Jen]

Oh you're lucky. Cause I feel like every time I've taken a walk in la people are like what are you doing here? Do you need help?

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Oh no. I throw on a self help audiobook and take an hour long walk. I love to walk around cause it's like I love the sunshine. I grew up in South Africa. It's like sun on my face.

[Jen]

While you learn about love.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Exactly. And self discovery and try to. Then I need to take action.

[Jen]

Yeah. Oh well this was fun. I could talk to you for eight more hours.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

This was so fun.

[Jen]

Thank you for coming on Fat Mascara.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

Thank you so much. I appreciate it.

[Tracy]

We hope you enjoyed the show.

[Jen]

It's your reviews and feedback that help us make the podcast even better. Head over to itunes to rate and review us or email your thoughts to infoatmascara.com the we also want to answer.

[Tracy]

Your beauty questions and hear what products you love. To share a raise, a one product review or to ask a beauty question. Email us at infoattmascara.

[Jen]

If you send it as a voice memo file, we can even share your voice on the podcast. You can also do that by leaving us a voice message. Our phone number in the United States is 646-481-8182.

[Tracy]

Thanks so much for listening.

[Kudzi Chikumbu]

In communities across the country, hourly Amazon employees earn an average of over $22 an hour with opportunities to grow their career and their paycheck. Learn [e-mail] I don't know about you.

[Simu Liu]

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[Paige]

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