Reason Magazine

Site Search

I Love the Smell of Murderous Thuggery in the Evening

Legendary high-end Paris candle-maker Cire Trudon introduces "Ernesto," for those of you who want to fill your home with the scent of a sweaty, murdering Latin revolutionary:

In a hotel of Havana, sizzling under the stubborn sun of the Revolution, fierce overtones of leather and tobacco meddle with waxy silence of wood. Breaking out of the cool dimness, sly grimaces emerge, framed by the smoke of cigars and the barrels of guns.

Please note, this scent isn't for the proletariat.  This particular block of paraffin infused with the scent of glorious Marxist uprising will set you back a cool $75 for 9.5 ounces.  ¡Hasta la Victoria Siempre!

Thanks to Jim McCarthy for the link.

Help Reason celebrate its next 40 years. Donate Now!
Send this article to:

« Judge Orders Release of Five… | Main | New at Reason: Friday Funnies »

Comments to "I Love the Smell of Murderous Thuggery in the Evening":

The Angry Optimist | November 20, 2008, 10:59pm | #

That's some deep irony right there. A proletarian-friendly candle at bourgeoisie prices.

anarch | November 20, 2008, 11:12pm | #

But. Marxism. Is. Not. Friendly. To. Workers.

John C. Randolph | November 20, 2008, 11:16pm | #

I somehow enjoy the idea of marxism being sold as kitsch. I remember many years ago, Barq's root beer bought a couple carloads of Soviet insignia like military rank pins, baby lenin pins and the like, and they were giving them away in 12-packs of root beer.

I think I'd like to get some massive bit of nazi memorabilia to use as a urinal in a bar somewhere. Either that or Marx's gravestone from that cemetery in London.

-jcr

Lester Hunt | November 20, 2008, 11:16pm | #

Oh wow, I gotta steal me one o' those!

stubby | November 20, 2008, 11:53pm | #

I have a Che tshirt with a dollar sign on his stupid ass beret and the words "This Shirt Brought to You by Capitalism."

People who would spend seventy five bucks on Ernesto candles are the same people who will sneer as they tell you that Americans just don't get irony.

Rex Rhino | November 21, 2008, 12:14am | #

To be fair... they are also selling Napoleon candles, Marie-Antoinette candles, and an "Empire" candle. I think it is more in the lines of "these are interesting historical figures" than "Che Guevara was great".

texas_libertarian | November 21, 2008, 12:29am | #

To be fair...they are also selling Napoleon candles, Marie-Antoinette candles, and an "Empire" candle.

I hope they make a George W. Bush candle, too.

Hazel Meade | November 21, 2008, 12:30am | #

Next up: Obama candles.
Smells like newsprint, plastic, and febreeze.

The Angry Optimist | November 21, 2008, 12:32am | #

Rex Rhino,

Looking at that list, I think that their inclusion of the "Ernesto" candle is even more bizarre. The list is a veritable rundown of French history and culture. Napoleon, Marie Antoinette, La Revolution Francaise, a candle for the Roi de Soleil in Versailles and one for Madame de Pompadour...

And Che Guevara. What the fuck?

One of these things is not like the other...

The Wine Commonsewer | November 21, 2008, 12:34am | #

Che hasn't been smoking many Habanas in the ensuing years since his sorry backside was eliminated to make way for the proper revolution.

Oh wait, it was the Americanos who rubbed him out.

Hey when [name withheld] went to Cuba, he brought back some three peso bills. They had a nice portrait of Ernesto on the front. Not as good as Balko's, but still, quite enchanting. I still have mine. Mint condition, too.

Jon Lee Anderson | November 21, 2008, 12:48am | #

Probably the funniest lede on a blog post I have ever read.

Paul | November 21, 2008, 2:04am | #

This particular block of paraffin infused with the scent of glorious Marxist uprising will set you back a cool $75 for 9.5 ounces.
I smell capitalism! Breathe deep, commies!

Tommy_Grand | November 21, 2008, 3:31am | #

How does it smell?

gaijin | November 21, 2008, 8:23am | #

How does it smell?

It smells like...victory

rob | November 21, 2008, 8:27am | #

I'm sure joe has already ordered a six-pack of these...

Episiarch | November 21, 2008, 8:45am | #

fierce overtones of leather and tobacco meddle with waxy silence of wood

What, no gunpowder? Or blood? These candle makers are slacking.

ed | November 21, 2008, 8:49am | #

I hope they make a George W. Bush candle, too.

In a ranch of Crawford, sizzling under the stubborn sun of the failed presidency, fierce overtones of cow shit and sweet tea meddle with despondent rustling of tumbleweeds. Breaking out of the suicide-scenario, sly sycophants emerge, framed by the stench of old lawyers and fresh book contracts. $39.95 at Spencer Gifts.

Nigel Watt | November 21, 2008, 9:07am | #

There aren't any tumbleweeds in Crawford, ed.

Pro Libertate | November 21, 2008, 9:14am | #

From "Steel" wafts the fragrance of millions of peasants, starved to death.

tired dog | November 21, 2008, 9:37am | #

I had no idea there was such a thing as a 'high end Parisian candle maker'; damn fools will buy anything...

R C Dean | November 21, 2008, 10:17am | #

A proletarian-friendly candle at bourgeoisie prices.

Anyone who put as many proles in the ground as Ernesto did is not "proletarian-friendly".

$75 for a candle is not "bourgouisie pricing".

Other than that, pithy comment.

some fed | November 21, 2008, 10:33am | #

Are these the French candle-makers behind that petition to keep all windows shut?

economist | November 21, 2008, 10:40am | #

"Anyone who put as many proles in the ground as Ernesto did is not "proletarian-friendly"."
But they did it for future proles, RC! You know, the ones that flee their country on boats trying to get to the U.S.

Lamar | November 21, 2008, 10:44am | #

Sweaty, stinky, cigar smoking dirt bag? Sounds like an excellent fragrance!

Jim Walsh | November 21, 2008, 7:15pm | #

Sweaty, stinky, cigar smoking dirt bag? Sounds like an excellent fragrance!

I suggest we bottle it as a perfume and call it Useful Idiot...