Introducing: ROMERO SECO
An Artisan Collaboration
Le Gaol is a company based on celebrating heritage and building community through the art of aroma. We hand-craft everything to ensure all of our products are handled with care and made with love. We’ve been hard at work crafting with some amazing entrepreneurs to bring a brand new aromatic experience to life. We were approached by Carey, owner of Saguaro Home in Downtown Willow Glen, to collaborate on a private label candle housed in custom-designed vessels by Max, owner of Ceramax. After months of designing, ideating, and testing, the time to share our beautiful creation is finally here.
We’re proud to introduce ROMERO SECO, a small-batch ceramic candle exclusively available at Saguaro Home. Spanish for “dried rosemary,” ROMERO SECO is a celebration of whimsical memories born from traveling in Mexico. Paying homage to the dessert in which the Saguaro cactus inhabits, dried rosemary is known to retain both its aroma and flavor even after drying, despite developing tougher leaves. This candle encapsulates that strength and is a celebration of beautiful memories, growth, and resilience that we all harness within ourselves.
The origin of ROMERO SECO
On a recent trip to Todos Santos in Mexico, Carey was inspired by the local practice of burning fresh rosemary in beautifully handmade ceramic pots. This not only created a beautiful ambiance to relax into, but also helped to keep away insects while dining. The peaceful sensation of being nestled in the scent underneath the night sky left Carey feeling deeply inspired. She was determined to find a way to recreate it back at home in California. It was from this experience that the idea of creating a candle from this memory was born.
To truly encapsulate the sensation, sourcing the right candle vessel would be key. Carey knew that it needed to be her own version of a hand thrown ceramic in order to authentically recreate the memory of her Todos Santos experience. That’s when she reached out to Max from Ceramax ceramics. He was thrilled about the inspiration for the Saguaro Home candle, and together they collaborated on the beautifully finished vessel design—all hand-thrown on the potter’s wheel!
At the heart of the candle experience is aroma. When we were approached by Carey to help recreate the ambience in candle form, we were thrilled. To help bring this sensory experience to life, we sourced high-quality Spanish Rosemary essential oils for the base. A light hint of juniper was also incorporated into the blend to balance out the rosemary notes while also delivering a playful holiday nod to her love for California. This finished scent not only fills the room wonderfully, but in combination with both the wooden wick and hand-thrown ceramic vessel, creates a beautiful ambience that transports you back to laying under the night sky of Todos Santos, Mexico.
Available now at Saguaro Home
We are all so proud of how these candles turned out and we can’t wait for you to experience them. They are now available in small batches at the Saguaro Home store in Downtown Willow Glen, ready for purchase. Swing by today to experience the beautiful ROMERO SECO candle and pick-up yours while supplies last!
About Saguaro Home
Saguaro Home is named after the beautiful cactus that adorns the state of Arizona. Pulling inspiration from her family’s ranch near the Saguaro National Park, her store draws inspirations from both her family roots and the love she has for Northern California. Artwork of her late Aunt Judy riding her horse “Jesse” graces the large wall behind the register counter, and the atmosphere of her collections are reminiscent of her grandparents whom she recalls would sell their handmade goods at the local swap meet.
About Ceramax
Ceramax is the studio of Max Upp. He’s been throwing on the wheel and handcrafting clay pottery for over 15 years, with customers nationwide, and a collection including everything from planters and pots to drinkware and serveware. One visit to Max’s studio makes his passion for his craft immediately evident through his pottery-lined walls. His handcrafted pieces are all individually unique in shape, size,and live in harmony alongside one another with their beautiful final glazing treatments.
IG: @I.am.ceramax
