The Ultimate Guide to Candles for Latham & Watkins Employees
Buying a gift for someone who bills in six-minute increments is its own kind of puzzle. They work in a firm with about 3,000 people and a name that opens doors. They already own the nice pen, the good coffee maker, and the noise-canceling headphones. What they do not have is a way to make a long day at a desk feel less like a long day at a desk.
That is where a candle earns its spot. A good one shifts the mood of a room in seconds, which matters when work-life balance rates about 3.5 out of 5 and the hours run long. The ones worth gifting burn clean, so they freshen a space instead of layering perfume over stale office air. That is exactly the lane our 100% beeswax candle collection was built for: no paraffin soot, no heavy toxic fragrance, just a fresh room and a slow crackle.
Why a candle is the right call for a law-firm gift
Corporate gifting has shifted. Handmade and clean beats mass-produced and flashy. People notice the unboxing now, and they notice what a gift is made of.
A candle checks both boxes without being a risk. You do not need their size, their taste in clothes, or their dietary rules. You need to know they spend a lot of hours in one chair.
The trick is picking one that works in a workspace. Skip anything that screams across the room. The goal is a scent that fills a space and then stays quiet, which is the same thing sophisticated buyers link with quality.
The picks, ranked from safest desk gift to boldest statement
I ordered these on purpose. We start with the pick nobody could object to at a shared office, then work toward the one that says you actually thought about this person. The last pick is the one that lands hardest.
The safe-for-any-desk pick: Just to Clarify
Start here if you are not sure of their taste. Clean and green scents are the ones people tend to associate with focus, so this is the low-risk gift.
The Just to Clarify candle carries notes of Bergamot, Lemon, Orange, Green Tea, Black Tea, and Sandalwood. It reads like a pot of tea by a window. Bright up top, calm and woody underneath.
Picture a first-year associate lighting it on a Sunday, a memo open on the screen, the room smelling like the good part of morning. The 40-hour size is $32. The 80-hour size is $65 for someone who burns one daily.
The end-of-day pick: Wine Down
This is the gift for the person whose day does not end at five. It is built for the shift from work brain to home brain.
The Wine Down candle layers Lavender, Chamomile, Sage, Rosemary, Camphor, Cedar, and Sandalwood. Lavender is the scent most people reach for when a day has been long. It is soft here, not soapy.
One reviewer put it better than any tagline could:
"Absolutely loved the Wine Down candle! The scent is so light and clean, not overpowering at all, which is exactly what I look for. A lot of other candles tend to give me headaches, but this one was a total game-changer. I was able to enjoy the calming aroma without any discomfort. I'll definitely be purchasing it again. Highly recommend if you're sensitive to strong scents but still want something that smells amazing!" Nicole D.
That headache note matters for a work gift. Picture them home at nine, shoes off, this one lit on the counter while the laptop finally closes. The 55-hour size is $37.
How MBur stacks up against the usual luxury names
If your Latham colleague has a taste for the fancy stuff, they may already know Diptyque, Le Labo, and Boy Smells. All three are strong brands with real followings.
Diptyque leans classic and refined, the safe luxury pick that has been on nice mantels for years. Le Labo goes minimalist and cult-favorite, known for scents people obsess over. Boy Smells plays woodsy and a little moody, which reads well in a professional room.
Here is the honest difference. Those are the names. This is the wax.
| Feature | MBur (100% beeswax) | Typical luxury brands |
|---|---|---|
| Wax | Single-ingredient beeswax, no blend | Often soy or blended wax |
| Wick | Wooden wick, soft crackle | Usually cotton |
| Fragrance | Phthalate-free, non-toxic | Varies by brand |
| Longest burn | 80 hours (highest melting point wax) | Varies |
| Made | By hand in New York City | Varies |
| Price to enter | $32 (40-hour size) | Often higher |
Beeswax has the highest melting point of any candle wax, so it burns slower and longer. That is why the 80-hour size outlasts most jars twice its price. It also burns clean, which fixes the number one complaint about premium candles: soot in the jar and scent that fades after two burns.
Which size to gift
For a colleague you know a little, the 40-hour size at $32 is the right weight. Thoughtful, not over the top.
For a mentor, a boss, or a close friend at the firm, go to the 80-hour size at $65. It is the largest we make and it reads as a real gift. For a team or a client, a gift card lets them pick their own scent.
Frequently asked questions
What scent is best for a law-firm office?
Go clean and green over sweet or heavy. Bright, tea-like notes tend to read as focused and professional. The Just to Clarify candle fits that brief and starts at $32 for the 40-hour size.
Which candle is best for stress and long hours?
Lavender is the classic pick for winding down. The Wine Down candle leads with soft lavender and stays light enough for people sensitive to strong scents.
Are these candles safe to burn in a shared office?
Keep the room ventilated and trim the wooden wick before each burn to cut smoke. Beeswax produces less soot than paraffin, which helps in a closed office. Anyone with allergies, asthma, or a health condition should follow their doctor's guidance. Browse the full beeswax candle collection for more options.
How long do these actually burn?
The sizes are named for their hours. The 40-hour is $32 and the 80-hour is $65, and the 80-hour truly lasts because beeswax has the highest melting point of any wax.
Do people believe candles help clear the air?
Some people believe beeswax candles help freshen indoor air, though this is not scientifically established. What we can say: a clean beeswax burn adds no paraffin soot to a room.
The bottom line, and how to present it
For a Latham colleague who lives at a desk, a clean beeswax candle is the gift that gets used. It freshens the space, it lasts, and it does not trigger the headaches that cheaper jars cause. The Wine Down candle at the 55-hour size ($37) is my top pick for the person who never really clocks out.
MBur candles are hand-poured in New York City, and reviewers keep saying the same thing: the scent fills the room, then behaves. As Portia D. wrote, "From the packaging to the burn of the candle, everything was top-notch. Well done, MBur Candle Co!"
Presenting tip: keep the kraft wrapping on, tuck it in a simple box, and write the burn time on the tag. That one detail turns a candle into a gift they will remember.
Shop the beeswax candle collection and pick their scent today.
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