London-based home and fragrance brand Earl of East collaborates with musician Sampha on Sensory Nectar, a limited-edition candle inspired by his album Lahai
Photography courtesy of Earl of East
Words by Jessica-Christin Hametner
Sensory Nectar is a new limited-edition candle exploring the shared language between scent and sound. The sixth iteration in Earl of East’s ongoing artist collaborations – following partnerships with Olivia Dean, Sigrid and Annie Lennox – it was developed with British singer-songwriter and musician Sampha.
Two years in the making, Sensory Nectar draws on Sampha’s latest album, Lahai, and his instinctive use of scent as creative inspiration. He channels this into his music, making him a natural collaborator for London-based home and fragrance label Earl of East.
‘Spending time in Sampha’s London studio, which really is his “home away from home”, set the tone for the scent,’ says Niko Dafkos, co-founder, Earl of East, reflecting on the moment the pair realised the album’s mood could be translated into fragrance.
Photography courtesy of Earl of East
‘It’s full of instruments and objects from his travels, all there because they’re used and meaningful rather than decorative,’ Dafkos continues. ‘Being in that space, seeing how he works and the things he surrounds himself with, pushed us towards something that feels spiritual, grounding and intentional.’
Made in London, the glass vessel is adorned with delicate artwork and encased in deep red packaging, both referencing Sampha’s album imagery and designed by East London-based Jonny Lu Studio. The thick glass contains hand-poured eco-soy wax, providing up to 60 hours of burn time.
Sensory Nectar was developed from conversations around mood, memory and focus that underpin the candle’s woody base. Time spent together in their respective studios allowed the collaboration to evolve through listening, experimentation and instinct, without following a conventional fragrance brief.
Photography courtesy of Earl of East
‘Rather than recreating the music itself, we focused on capturing the album’s overall mood,’ explains Dafkos on how Earl of East reflected the rhythm of the album in the fragrance. ‘The result is a calming, reflective and earthy scent that evokes the intention and atmosphere Sampha wanted – a moment to pause and connect, much like listening to the album.’
The heady blend emerged from observing Sampha’s creative process and the rituals he repeatedly returns to, culminating in a rich olfactory experience: a warm, woody smoky base is complemented by fresh notes of cypress and juniper, while a subtle hint of orange adds lightness.
Crafted from essential oils and produced in small batches entirely in-house, Sensory Nectar was honed through a blind smell test at Earl of East’s Soho flagship. Seven rounds of meticulous refinement produced the finished composition, with natural variations in the raw materials giving each candle its own character.
Photography courtesy of Earl of East
‘We keep production small, take our time and are open to going through multiple rounds until it feels right,’ says Dafkos on what he believes creatives respond to in Earl of East’s approach to collaboration. ‘There’s no pressure to jump on a trend or hit a marketing moment,’ he continues.
‘We’re interested in building a world with them, from the scent to the imagery to the object itself,’ explains Dafkos. ‘For artists who are used to having strong creative control, that level of care and autonomy feels familiar and reassuring.’
Beautiful as a candle or, once burnt down, repurposed for pens or tea lights, Sensory Nectar lives on as a functional keepsake and well-designed object to treasure. From studio to home, this limited-edition candle promises to leave a lasting impression beyond the final burn.
Photography courtesy of Earl of East
‘That slower, more experimental process allowed Sampha’s instincts to lead, which is very similar to how he approaches music,’ Dafkos concludes on how scent and sound inspired each other.
‘Because this was never meant to be a quick tie-in to an album cycle; it was about making something that genuinely belongs in his world.’
Sensory Nectar is available now exclusively in Earl of East stores and online at earlofeast.com
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