What's That Smell?

White Castle candles that smell like burgers have customers drooling

BY Katie Nelson
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Friday, May 7th 2010, 12:25 PM
White Castle introduced a new candle that smells like hamburgers.
White Castle introduced a new candle that smells like hamburgers.

Want to woo Harold or Kumar?

White Castle has just the aphrodisiac: the fast-food burger chain is hawking burger-scented candles in honor of their self-proclaimed National Hamburger Month.

The mood-setter comes in a rectangular ceramic holder that resembles the cardboard box of the White Castle Slider sandwiches. They sell for $10 each, with net proceeds going to Autism Speaks.

A New York candle power-house helped create the flame-broiled scent. Laura Slatkin and her company, Nest Fragrances, typically design luxury bath products for the likes of Christian Dior and Vera Wang.

But this time, the Chelsea-based firm is helping out a like-minded fast-food company - both she and the heads of White Castle have kids with autism.

"I was thrilled to do it," said Slatkin, who also helped found the New York Center for Autism and the state's first public charter school for children with autism.

"The candle has a top note of diced sweet onions and crisp pickle, the middle notes are beef patty, cheese and ketchup, and bottom note is a warm burger bun. It all comes together to create this amazing aroma of a White Castle Slider."

The candles have been selling like, well, hotcakes, said a spokesman for the Columbus, Ohio-based company, immortalized in the hit movie "Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle."

"We thought we had a two- month supply for online sales, but they were gone in 48 hours," said Jamie Richardson, a vice president of corporate and government relations. He projects the company will raise more than $50,000 for the nonprofit.

New Yorkers were, however, skeptical about the idea of eau-de-burger.

"I wouldn't buy it because hamburgers smell too good," said Crystal Padin, 19, of East New York, Brooklyn as she ponied up for a four-pack of White Castle burgers in midtown. "I would be hungry all day."

knelson@nydailynews.com

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/food/2010/05/07/2010-05-07_if_you_luv_the_smell_of_burger_white_castle_candles_selling_fast.html#ixzz0niC4CjU5