19-69
Chinese Tobacco Scented Candle
This scented candle from 19-69 features a woody and spicy fragrance with tobacco, bergamot, red pepper, and cedar notes, inspired by the creator's visit to a restaurant in Kuala Terengganu. It is made in Italy, contains 6.8 oz (200 ml) of wax, and provides approximately 48 hours of burn time. Reviews note its evocative Southeast Asian-inspired scent, though the product name has generated mixed reactions in fragrance communities.
- Category
- Home & Garden > Decor > Home Fragrances > Candles
Color
Size
Specifications
A nostalgic woody and spicy scented candle with notes of tobacco, bergamot, and vanilla, made in Italy.
Top notes: Italian bergamot, tobacco, red pepper, lemon. Heart notes: ginger, coriander. Base notes: frankincense resinoid, cedar wood, vanilla, birch tar, vetiver. Burns for approximately 48 hours. 6.8 oz (200 ml).
- Material
- Candle: Vegetable waxes, fragrances; Jar: Glass
- Age Group
- adult
- Condition
- new
- Category
- Home & Garden > Decor > Home Fragrances > Candles
Additional Attributes
- nostalgic woody and spicy scent
- top notes: Italian bergamot, tobacco, red pepper, lemon
- heart notes: ginger, coriander
- base notes: frankincense resinoid, cedar wood, vanilla, birch tar, vetiver
- made in Italy
- 6.8 oz. (200 ml)
- approximately 48 hours of burn time
- creative mind of Swedish artist Johan Bergelin
- perfumes that tell stories
- natural olfactory signature
Product Insights
19-69's Chinese Tobacco Scented Candle ($75 CAD, in stock) delivers a dry incense‑tobacco character from birch tar and frankincense, not sweet vanilla, matching the exact scent of the eau de parfum. Handcrafted in Italy by European artisans using a 1961 vegetable wax blend, it burns cleanly for 48 hours at roughly $1.56 CAD per hour. The jar is reusable as a vase. Buyers praise the atmospheric scent evoking a Kuala Lumpur restaurant memory, but the name stirs controversy over cultural insensitivity, and the brand has given conflicting origin stories for the name chosen.
Verified claims
- Name controversy
- Buyers report loving the scent but being put off by the name's cultural insensitivity.
- Brand narrative
- The brand has given conflicting origin stories for the 'Chinese Tobacco' name.
- Scent character
- Dry incense tobacco from birch tar and frankincense, not sweet vanilla.
- Burn quality
- Vegetable wax blend provides clean, slow 48-hour burn at about $1.56 CAD per hour.
- Scent match
- Exact scent match to the Chinese Tobacco Eau de Parfum.
- Brand story
- Controversial story but the scent is praised.
- Origin story
- Birch tar, frankincense, and vetiver produce a dry, smoky character recreating the restaurant memory.
- Brand heritage
- Brand 19-69 channels 1969 counterculture; each fragrance is crafted over 24 months by European artisans.
- Craftsmanship
- Handcrafted in Italy with 1961 vegetable wax and screen-printed glass.
- Scent story
- Chinese Tobacco's scent is inspired by a Malaysian restaurant memory.
- Wax formula
- Hand-poured 1961 vegetable wax blend ensures even, low-soot burn.
- Burn guidance
- Burn 3–4 hours per session to achieve an even melt pool and prevent tunneling.
- Reuse
- Jar is reusable as a vase or display piece after burning.
- Cost per hour
- Roughly $1.56 CAD per hour of burn time.
- Design and brand
- Handcrafted Italian jar, same fragrance as eau de parfum.
- Founder authorship
- Founder Johan Bergelin developed Chinese Tobacco over two years with European artisans.
- Scent ritual
- Same scent as the Eau de Parfum, presented as a candle ritual.
- Scent fidelity
- Candle's scent composition matches the Chinese Tobacco EDP exactly.
- Atmosphere
- Creates the ambiance of a Kuala Lumpur restaurant with spice and smoke.
- Scent profile
- A dry incense-smoke character from birch tar, frankincense, and vetiver, not sweet tobacco.
- Performance
- Burns evenly for 48 hours with low soot.
- Value
- 48-hour burn time at a cost-per-hour comparable to Diptyque and Byredo.
- User reception
- Buyers love the scent for its SE Asia vibes but note its name stirs controversy.
- Burn cost
- At 75 CAD, the candle's 48-hour burn time yields a cost of approximately 1.56 CAD per hour.
Product record
- Title
- Chinese Tobacco Scented Candle
- Brand
- 19-69
- Price
- 75 CAD
- Availability
- In stock
Image Analysis
2 images- 01
Product
A cylindrical glass candle container with orange-red translucent exterior, pale wax fill and a single upright wick centered in the wax; white/gold printed text appears on the glass front.
- Shape and geometryShort straight-sided cylindrical glass container with a slightly rounded base edge and a flat open top showing the wax surface and wick.
1 region
x 0.28 · y 0.42 · w 0.44 · h 0.42 (high) - Glass finishTranslucent glossy glass exterior with uniform color; highlights and reflections visible on the curved surface.
1 region
x 0.28 · y 0.42 · w 0.44 · h 0.42 (high) - Wax and wickPale beige or light tan solid wax fill visible at the open top with one unlit short upright wick centered near the middle.
1 region
x 0.42 · y 0.45 · w 0.16 · h 0.14 (high) - Front printed text - line 1“19-69”
1 region
x 0.34 · y 0.58 · w 0.28 · h 0.09 (high) - Front printed text - product name“CHINESE TOBACCO”
1 region
x 0.33 · y 0.66 · w 0.34 · h 0.16 (high) - Front printed text - descriptor“BOUGIE PARFUMÉE”
1 region
x 0.34 · y 0.80 · w 0.30 · h 0.05 (high)
Other
Studio-style product shot showing the candle centered on a smooth light countertop with vertical beige fabric backdrop; soft directional lighting from the left creates gentle shadow and reflection on the surface.
- BackgroundVertical beige fabric curtains occupying the top portion of the image, out of focus.
1 region
x 0.00 · y 0.00 · w 1.00 · h 0.56 (high) - Supporting surfaceSmooth light-colored countertop with a soft reflection of the candle visible directly beneath it.
1 region
x 0.00 · y 0.56 · w 1.00 · h 0.44 (high) - Shot compositionProduct is centered slightly below the vertical midpoint; camera angle is near level with the top edge of the candle showing the wax surface.
- Lighting and shadowSoft diffuse light from the left creates a faint cast shadow to the right and a narrow reflection of the candle on the countertop.
Colors
vibrant orange-red· glass exterior#DC3422pale beige· wax interiorwarm metallic ivory· printed text- Shape and geometryShort straight-sided cylindrical glass container with a slightly rounded base edge and a flat open top showing the wax surface and wick.
- 02
Product
Multiple colored translucent glass jar candles with straight cylindrical walls, filled with off-white wax and single centered wicks; each jar has bold black printed text (brand and fragrance name). Several jars are shown upright and one is on its side.
- Red glass jar - Chinese TobaccoTranslucent red-orange cylindrical glass jar with off-white wax and a centered wick; front-printed black text '19-69' above 'CHINESE TOBACCO' and a smaller line 'BOUGIE PARFUMEE' beneath; jar appears slightly tilted forward.
1 region
x 0.09 · y 0.45 · w 0.22 · h 0.29 (high) - Pink glass jar - Rainbow BarTranslucent pale pink cylindrical glass jar, upright, with off-white wax; black printed text '19-69' near top and 'RAINBOW BAR' below it.
1 region
x 0.40 · y 0.05 · w 0.14 · h 0.17 (high) - Orange glass jar - Female ChristTranslucent warm orange cylindrical glass jar, upright, containing off-white wax; black printed text '19-69' near top and 'FEMALE CHRIST' below.
1 region
x 0.68 · y 0.24 · w 0.14 · h 0.24 (high) - Deep purple glass jar - Purple HazeTranslucent deep purple cylindrical glass jar, upright, with off-white wax and a visible wick; black printed text '19-69' above 'PURPLE HAZE'.
1 region
x 0.37 · y 0.54 · w 0.12 · h 0.24 (high) - Yellow glass jar - Capri (on its side)Translucent bright yellow cylindrical glass jar lying on its side with wick visible and black vertical text '19-69' and 'CAPRI' printed on the side when rotated; interior wax appears off-white.
1 region
x 0.43 · y 0.80 · w 0.34 · h 0.18 (high) - Orange-red jar - KasbahTranslucent orange-red cylindrical jar upright with black text '19-69' above 'KASBAH' and a smaller line 'BOUGIE PARFUMEE' beneath; wax and wick visible.
1 region
x 0.82 · y 0.72 · w 0.13 · h 0.22 (high) - Glass jar constructionAll visible jars are straight-sided cylinders with slightly rounded top rim edges and translucent colored glass that shows the off-white wax level inside; most have a single centered wick.
- Visible printed brand name on jars“The numeric brand mark '19-69' is printed on the upper portion of multiple jars in black, centered horizontally on each jar face.”
1 region
x 0.36 · y 0.05 · w 0.44 · h 0.90 (medium) - Off-white wax appearanceThe wax in each jar is a uniform off-white or cream color with a visible single wick centered in most jars.
Packaging
Several rectangular cream-colored product boxes are visible, each with black printed text including the numeric '19-69' and fragrance names.
- Cream box with '19-69' and KASBAH“Tall rectangular cream-colored box with black printed '19-69' near top and 'KASBAH' printed below on the front panel.”
1 region
x 0.45 · y 0.36 · w 0.16 · h 0.20 (high) - Cream box with '19-69' and CHINESE TOBACCO“Cream-colored rectangular box showing '19-69' near the top and 'CHINESE TOBACCO' below on a front panel.”
1 region
x 0.66 · y 0.56 · w 0.18 · h 0.22 (high) - Cream box with '19-69' and PURPLE HAZE (side)“Cream-colored square box on the left with black text '19-69' and 'PURPLE HAZE' visible on a side panel.”
1 region
x 0.02 · y 0.67 · w 0.27 · h 0.27 (high) - Small front panel text blocksSeveral small blocks of fine-print or secondary lines are present on the boxes but are too small to legibly read at this resolution.Partial
Other
Studio lifestyle arrangement on a reflective pale surface with a neutral curtain backdrop; soft directional lighting from left creates gentle shadows and highlights on jars and boxes.
- Shot compositionProduct group arranged in a stacked, staggered layout across a pale reflective tabletop with a vertical curtain backdrop occupying the full image height.
- Lighting and shadowsSoft warm lighting from the left creates subtle highlights on glass rims and soft shadows to the right of objects; reflections of jars appear on the tabletop.
- Image qualitySharp focus on foreground jars and boxes with slight depth blur on background curtain folds; colors appear saturated and true to glass translucency.
Colors
translucent red-orange· red-orange glass jar#D33B2Cpale pink· pale pink glass jar#EDCDC2warm orange· warm orange glass jar#D37B3Cdeep purple· deep purple glass jar#3C2C62bright yellow· bright yellow glass jar#FED12Corange-red· orange-red Kasbah glass jar#AA7D6Ecream· cream product boxesPackaging- Red glass jar - Chinese TobaccoTranslucent red-orange cylindrical glass jar with off-white wax and a centered wick; front-printed black text '19-69' above 'CHINESE TOBACCO' and a smaller line 'BOUGIE PARFUMEE' beneath; jar appears slightly tilted forward.
Documents & Data
Reddit Insights
4 threads · r/Perfumes, r/fragrance, r/luxurycandlesWhile the scent of 19-69 Chinese Tobacco is generally well-received for its evocative, Southeast Asian-inspired aroma, the product's name has sparked significant controversy within the fragrance community due to its perceived insensitive historical references.
Positive remarks focus on the scent, while negative reactions center on the brand's naming choices, leading to an overall mixed sentiment.
Themes
Use Cases
- Personal fragrance
- Home scent (candle)
Watch Out For
Compared To
vs Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille
Some users inquire about similarities to Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille, though no direct comparison is made in these threads.
Source Threads
Reaction to 19-69 Chinese Tobacco's controversial name
It’s my first time hearing a perfumer creating a fragrance based on such an odd and controversial topic, super disappointed since I love a good tobacco perfume
u/NeonTearyEyesr/PerfumesView thread →
Positive mention of Chinese Tobacco
i absolutely love chinese tobacco.
u/zachwier/fragranceView thread →
Considering purchasing Chinese Tobacco candle
The Female Christ and Chinese Tobacco 9 ML are in my cart!! If I get any feedback on the candles I am taking that as a sign to place an order!
u/leorising69r/luxurycandlesView thread →
Description of Chinese Tobacco scent experience
Yeah, the current story is a really lovely description and it’s pretty apt for what I’m smelling. I get classy SE Asia vibes here. Not sure how this would have worked with the original Apocalypse Now story haha
u/HotlineBirdmanr/fragranceView thread →