This article appears in print in the March 2020 issue. Click here to subscribe.
One of the newest bars on Capitol Hill boasts a stunning open design concept and plenty of exotic flavors—yet you’d be hard-pressed to find a bartender on site. At Elm Candle Bar, a do-it-yourself scented-candle studio open since November, walk-in customers start by sniffing their way through a collection of more than 80 fragrance oils, from calming bamboo to citrusy yuzu. A trained scent specialist helps combine as many as three of the selected oils to achieve your preferred aroma, which is then mixed with heated soy wax poured from a tap into your chic container of choice ($27–37 per candle). If the traditional wicked candle isn’t your speed, you can choose to create a custom diffuser, wax tarts or a room spray. The concept is the brainchild of cousins Erin Page, Matthew Kim and Leah Kim, who were inspired by the impact of scent as it relates to an environment.
