The Memory
It was the turn of the millennium. And it was magnificent. I was 16 and was fortunate enough to have been living with a wonderful family in Milan since September while attending an Italian scientific high school for my junior year. The dad was a psychologist and the mom was a teacher and they had four girls and I was their fifth. The mom's father had co-founded one of the Universities there and her parent's had long since retired to the countryside in Lombardia and lived in a stunning villa estate.
So on December 31st, 1999, my whole host family, myself and about 50 or so of our closest friends took the train to Schianno. We ate a normal five-course Italian style meal, and finished the night off with fireworks - set off by a few of the friends - and the most delicious homemade Pan D'Oro and mascarpone sauce I've ever had in my life.
I've spent years trying to recreate that dessert and that moment. And now I believe I have.
The Inspiration
Capo D’Anno was inspired by the effervescent feeling that comes from celebrating the possibilities and when reflection meets renewal. Named for the Italian phrase “Head of the Year,” this fragrance captures the gentle pivot between endings and beginnings — the pause before promise.
It’s a scent of gratitude, of looking back with grace and forward with hope. The candle burns clean and bright, like a whispered prayer for what’s to come.
Fragrance Notes
Pan D'Oro • Pear Mascarpone
Mood: Elegant, hopeful, serene
Best For: New Year’s gatherings, reflective evenings, journaling, gratitude rituals
Behind the Pour
Each Capo D’Anno candle is hand-poured in small batches of pure beeswax, infused with a smooth, creamy mascarpone and grounded by the warmth of Italian sweet bread. The wood wick crackles faintly, mirroring the sparkle of a distant celebration.
It’s a fragrance for turning pages — one that feels like candlelight reflected in crystal, timeless and clear.
Pairings
Pairs beautifully with: Heirloom Hearth and A Cottage Christmas
Together they tell a story of warmth, reflection, and renewal — from Christmas glow to winter’s dawn.
Reflection
“Behold, I am making all things new.” — Revelation 21:5
The turning of the year is more than a calendar change — it’s an invitation. To begin again. To believe again. To light another candle and watch as grace fills the room.