The Candle Collab
Creating Art in Sicily with Guava Jelly Studio
A New Collaboration melding the Sicilian inspirations of Elisa Valenti with the hand crafting of Guava Jelly Studio
In the Sicilian Studio
From June to August, the NYC art studio closes and the overseas, Sicilian studio of artist, Elisa Valenti opens. Elisa takes us with her inside her art studio in the heart of Sicily. “How else can I share this experience with you? I can show you the photos of the food, videos of the sight, and stories of the experiences but through scent we can unlock memories.”, says Elisa. This collaboration allows you to take home a piece of this experience, with the help of Devin Curry, the artist and maker behind candle company, Guava Jelly Studio. Working together to choose the perfect scent combination, Devin created an inspired candle using + Vegan +Non-Toxic +Premium Ingredients to capture an “In the Studio” moment with Elisa Valenti.
“In celebration of Valenti’s captivating large body paintings, we’ve taken this candle to the next level by doubling its size, says Devin. Just like the figures in Elisa’s artwork, this candle occupies more space, making a bold statement about celebrating the female figure in all its facets", she continues.
“The scent layers transport us to the place of imagination and creativity; a tapestry of memories. ”
The Scent Notes: Torocco & Femminello
So how did we choose the scent notes? The carefully chosen layers of Femminello lemon, Tarocco blood orange, cactus pear and sea salt, a tribute to Elisa’s inspirations and heritage, transport us to the place of imagination and creativity; a tapestry of memories. Combing the sea, the land and the fruits of nature, we came up with this scent.
In Sicily, the most diffuse of the lemon varieties is the ‘Femminello’. Femminello Lemons are famous for their protruding nipples and tart, yet very rich, flavor. Like its tangy taste, the scent of this lemon is tonic and refreshing. The essence of the Tarocco lemon offers us floral and fruity nuances at the same time. Take a ride through the countryside or down the main street in Elisa’s town and citrus trees are abundant
Tarocco oranges are a variety of Sicilian blood orange and are beloved for more than just their dazzling flesh and nutritional value. It's their flavor — like a subtly sweet orange that has been infused with tangy red grapefruit and hints of tart cherries and raspberries. In the layers of this candle, it offers a warm, tangy, sweet aroma with a berry facet
Cactus Pear & Sea Salt
The Cactus Pear or Sicilian Prickly Pear, Sicily’s symbolic fruit, is the full expression of what it means to live in Sicily'; to adapt to different conditions, overcome thorny pitfalls and then savor unexpected sweetness. The Cactus Pear is a unique scent in that it is fruity, but not sweet. Instead, Prickly Pear leaves you cool, crisp and invigorated.
Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean sea. But more specifically, Palermo is in the northwest of the island, by the Gulf of Palermo in the Tyrrhenian Sea. It would be impossible to describe the experience of the studio without the scent of the sea. A light layer in this blend, the sea salt offers a soft mineral, ozone, or aquatic quality.
Layered together, this scent will take you right into Elisa Valenti’s Sicilian Studio.
“The mission of Guava Jelly Studio is to encourage curiosity about women artists of the past [and present day history of art].”
Meet the Maker
Meet Devin, a painter and candle-maker living in Fredericksburg, Virginia. She's the creative force behind Guava Jelly Studio, where art and candles collide.
Every candle serves as a tribute to influential women artists who have left an indelible mark on history. Each scent is inspired by a specific work of art, drawing inspiration from the content, color, and emotion.
Guava Jelly Studio isn't just about making beautiful candles; it's also about making a positive impact. A portion of the proceeds from each candle goes toward supporting women artists, providing them with resources and opportunities to thrive.
With a commitment to reducing environmental impact, Guava Jelly Studio uses only premium, sustainable, and eco-friendly ingredients to craft their candles and other products.
Devin’s Inspiration
The label proudly showcases a painting titled, “Dust to Shadow, and Shadow to Dust.” Devin was inspired by this captivating artwork that features a female nude, bathed in light, surrounded by delicate shadows of leaves and fronds. Beauty and mystery intersect in brush strokes, blurring the boundaries between imagination and the tangible.
