The Vampire's Wife Bonfire candle

This was a very happy splurge for Jo, before Christmas, which has been illuminating cosy nights at home.

The Vampire’s Wife is a fabulous fashion line founded by Susie Cave, the ultra-cool wife of Nick Cave. We admire from afar the floral, frilled, floaty dresses which so suit tall, willowy beauties. But we do not count ourselves among their number, so it’s lovely to get our hands on this, created in partnership with Trudon, the legendary candle brand.

We love Susie’s description, which brings to mind the Bonfire celebrations in Jo’s own home town of Hastings. (It’s a Sussex tradition.)

‘The home of The Vampire's Wife is in the strange, medieval town of Lewes, with its secret and ever-present history of martyred heretics, hauntings, witches and pagan rituals. Each November, the town holds the infamous and legendary Lewes Bonfire celebration, the largest in England.

The Vampire's Wife has created a scented candle that contains the same dark, seditious and unearthly energy. The candle itself is nested in a smoky crimson vessel, with a beautiful silver and gold monogrammed label. We have developed our own scent that is brooding. Woody and smoky. The candle is called Bonfire.’

The black wax candle wafts notes of leather, cedar and ‘exotic herbs’ – quite a unisex scent, and bewitchingly gorgeous.

Though pricy, the candle burns slowly and will last at least till spring, when Jo will be sniffing around for something lighter, brighter and probably flower-powered.

£85 – buy here