Uncommon Scents

The scented candles that restaurateurs reach for to impress their guests

- By Lucy Simon

EVERY PART OF A RESTAURANT is designed to tell a story, including its scent. On a recent visit to Lord's, a British-inspired restaurant in New York City from 2023 F&W Best New Chef Ed Szymanski, I stepped into the restroom and was surrounded by the clean, crisp scents of palo santo, cedar, and fresh pine, transporting me to a cozy cabin with a wood-burning fireplace. The source of the intoxicating fragrance? The Wood Cabin candle from the company Keap. I loved it so much that I ordered one for my own home.Here are the candles used by savvy restaurateurs at some of the best restaurants in the country to impress guests with a fantastic-smelling bathroom. Light any one of them, and be tra