By Sarah Maeli · Beauty & Lifestyle Editor · 5 min read

There is a particular kind of luxury that does not announce itself — it simply exists, quietly perfuming the air. This is the luxury that Gifted by Matte has been building, one candle at a time, since its founding in 2021.

“I’ve always believed that fragrance is architecture,” says Mathabo Nkosi, the brand’s founder. “It shapes a space as surely as walls and furniture do.”

Gifted by Matte’s signature collection, Terrafrica, draws on the olfactory landscape of the African continent: the earthy depth of wet clay after rain, the green freshness of marula leaf, the smoky sweetness of rooibos.

“I wanted to create something that felt like a love letter to where I’m from. When people burn our candles in Tokyo or New York, I want them to have a small, beautiful experience of Africa.” — Mathabo Nkosi