Scent has a powerful effect over the human body and mind—it can affect our mood and transport us through time by triggering special memories and beautiful moments. The olfactory bulb is part of our brain’s limbic system, which is closely associated with memory. Throughout our lives, we remember particular moments that are stored away as memories, including certain scenes from movies.

Brother and sister duo, Andy and Kelsey Borenzweig, are the founders of Charlot—a line of luxury candles that feature cinematic-inspired scents. Born and raised in Malibu, the siblings developed similar tastes and interests while pursuing their own different paths in life. Kelsey is currently in law school while Andy has immersed himself in lifestyle brands with years of experience in the role of Director of Business Development at an innovative spirits venture backed by Drake.

Inspired by the vibrant spirit of Los Angeles and its history of telling transcendent stories through film, Andy and Kelsey had the vision to present fragrance as cinema. Charlot candles are crafted in small batches and are made locally in LA using all-natural coconut soy wax and essential oils. Each candle comes in a hand-painted colored vessel with matching wax, and similar to the way scenes are written in movies scripts, each scent is denoted “INT.” (interior) or “EXT.” (exterior) based on the setting it takes place in.

“We’ve always loved fragrance and candles,” says Andy. “Kelsey is the candle aficionado. I’m passionate about fragrance, whether that relates to niche cologne, the nose on fine spirits or candles. As the pandemic broke out, along with the widespread restrictions, we found ourselves spending more time at home as did so many others. Enjoying and leaning on candles more than ever, we were inspired to create our own collection with a mission to positively transport anyone who uses the candles we make.”

We chatted with Andy, who shared the inspiration behind the line, favorite scents, what’s next, and more.

When was Charlot founded and what’s the meaning behind the name?

My sister and I founded Charlot in 2020, launching with a limited release at the end of the year. The name comes from one of our favorite streets in Paris—Rue Charlot—which we credit with a lasting influence on our sense of style and inspiration.

Tell us more about your products and what makes them special.

We started this journey in the midst of the pandemic with a mission to uplift any setting that would feature our candles. Growing up in LA, feeling a close connection to the city and its history of telling stories through film, we endeavored to do this by presenting fragrance in a cinematic lens.

Our signature scents are created by selecting classic films that are meaningful to us personally, using iconic moments in each as inspiration for the essence we aim to express. In collaboration with a fragrance house with over 260 years of experience, we developed four uniquely cinematic scents that form our first collection.

Our packaging is designed to reflect the vibrant spirit of LA. Each vessel is hand-painted in thematic colors with matching wax. We use a great, natural coconut soy wax. All of our candles are made in small batches locally in LA.

What’s your favorite product from your line?

Paris Apartment is Kelsey’s favorite, attributable both to its fresh floral scent and its pink vessel. My personal favorite is Roman Hot Spring. I actually wear this fragrance using our EDT sample almost every day.

Where are your products sold?

Our candles are available directly from our website. They can also be found locally at The Give Store on Sunset, which offers a great opportunity to smell and sample each of our scents.

What's next for the brand?

Right now, our main goal is to introduce our candles and the vibrant experience they offer to a growing audience. In addition, we are excited to be developing new scents to add to our candle collection, as well as a range of fragrance goods—including home fragrance and perfume—that will capture the experience in different mediums.

For more information, visit charlotfragrances.com and follow on Instagram: @charlotfragrances

[Photos by Charlot]

Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk