The bath, the stone and one small flame

Some rituals ask a lot of you. This one does not. Run a bath, turn off the overhead light, and set one small candle on the edge where you can see it. That is the whole of it.

One flame, not ten

It is tempting to line the bath with candles. One is better. A single flame gives just enough light to see the water and the stone, and leaves the corners of the room in shadow. Your eyes rest. The room stops asking anything of you.

We like the Ash vessel here. Its speckled grey glaze sits naturally against stone and tile, and its scent of smoked vetiver is dry and grounding, never sweet. It is made with organic essential oils, so the scent stays soft and true rather than loud.

A single flame leaves the corners in shadow, which is the point.

A few practical things

• Place the candle on a flat, dry surface, away from towels and the curtain.
• Keep it clear of splashes: water in a melt pool makes the flame spit.
• Light it a few minutes before you get in, so the scent has time to open.
• Never leave it burning when you leave the room.

Steam and a closed door can make the flame lean. If it starts to flicker, open the door a crack, and trim the wick before you light it next time.

If you prefer no scent at all, a short pure pillar on a small stone dish works just as well. It smells only faintly of honeycomb, and its flame is a little more golden than a vessel’s, which is lovely against pale tile.

Afterwards

Put the flame out before you pull the plug, and let the vessel cool where it is before moving it back to its shelf. When it is finally empty, the cup is yours to keep. Loosen the last of the wax with hot water, and use it for a toothbrush, a few stems, or the rings you take off before the bath.

Done once a week, it is a small thing to look forward to. Done every night, it simply becomes the way the day ends.