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Welcome to another edition of Launch Digest, where we bring you the latest and greatest product launches to hit the market across the DTC universe. This week, the DTC universe is time traveling, in a way. We’re looking at a candle that holds the key (or charm) to your future, a carbonated beverage built on NFT technology, and fragrances that will have you feeling like you’re back in the 90s. (Don’t worry, there are still plenty of timeless classics, like pantry essentials and baking mixes that will anchor you to creature comforts, which are always in style.) Read on.
Caffeine, But Make It NFT, $48
Taika, known for its adaptogenic canned coffee and lattes (and known to me personally as some of the best canned black cold brew on the market), just launched its new sparkling tea on Wednesday. Brace yourself: it’s called Mateverse ($48 per 12-pack). It’s the first community-created beverage, utilizing web3 and NFT technology in collaboration with Friends With Benefits to create a drink fueled by (and for) creativity. Taika offered an NFT to 400 holders via cryptocurrency with the opportunity to help create the beverage. What does this mean exactly? Let’s not investigate it further. The (NF)Tea? It’s lightly carbonated, yuzu-forward, and deliciously laced with L-theanine and lion’s mane mushroom. The can also features a fun design that I can only describe as technologically inspired. While I normally keep a safe distance from anything involving cryptocurrency, I’m cozying up to a pack of Taika’s undeniably refreshing Mateverse.
west~bourne Satisfies Your (And My) Autumnal Baking Cravings, $30
west~bourne, the sustainable pantry essentials brand dedicated to protecting our planet and elevating your kitchen game, just launched its seasonally-appropriate House Baking Set ($30). Featuring a trio of naturally gluten-free and regeneratively sourced baking mixes, the set has everything you need to whip up pie crust, muffins, pancakes, and waffles – treats that will delight everyone, whether they’re gluten-sensitive, vegan, or both. If these mixes are anything like west~bourne’s (completely addictive) Togarashi Crunch and House Granola, you’ll probably have to either hide them from the other residents in your house or buy them in bulk (I recommend the latter). I know I can’t be the only one catching the fall baking fever – and these mixes are about to carry me through all of November and December, too.
Our Pantry: Because All Good Home Cooks Need A Few Tricks Up Their Aprons, from $33.90
Speaking of pantry essentials…there’s a new girl on the block. Our Pantry, born of a mom’s own personal struggle to find pre-made sauces and condiments that she could confidently use to nourish her family, is dedicated to developing fully traceable (and delicious) kitchen staples. By partnering with some of the world’s best chefs, Our Pantry is on a mission to bring accountability into your kitchen – so that you can celebrate cooking shortcuts, instead of feeling sheepish about them. The brand launched with four sauces – Cherry Tomato, Roasted Tomato Onion Salsa, Cherry Tomato Arrabbiata, and Sweet Ginger BBQ – and we can’t wait to see (and taste) what it’ll whip up next. Go ahead, let your guests think you made that pasta dish from scratch. I’ll never tell.
Retrogrades, Eclipses, And New Moons – Oh My. Birthdate’s New Candle Is Here To Reset Your Cosmic Vibe, $38
Birthdate – our favorite bespoke astrological candle and book brand (say that three times fast) – just introduced its limited edition Tarot Candle ($38). Scented with bergamot, cardamom, eucalyptus, and verbena, the new candle is more than just an olfactory delight; each candle holds a mystery charm reflecting a card from the Major Arcana tarot deck. Just light the wick, let the wax melt to reveal your charm, and scan the QR code on your candle to learn more about the message of your charm. While most candles leave nothing more than an empty jar, Birthdate’s Tarot creation will leave you with a gold-plated charm, a permanent gift which you can repurpose as a necklace, keychain, or bedside keepsake. While the single candle obviously makes a great gift, send The Tarot Trio ($115) to someone you really love who might be needing a little spiritual guidance or clarity. And who of us isn’t?
Gwyneth Paltrow Looks 20 And Vanilla Fragrances Are In: Are We Back In The 90s?
Earlier this week, Gwyneth Paltrow announced that she’s 50 with a gold-plated photo displaying the body of a 20 year-old. Other indications that we might have aged backwards into the 90s: brands are launching vanilla fragrances left and right. Genderless LA-based fragrance brand Dedcool is highlighting TAUNT ($90), its flirtatious fall scent featuring notes of amber, vanilla, bergamot, and “fresh dew” – and yes, it somehow smells like your high school yearbook feels, with a sophisticated spin.
Meanwhile, clean fragrance label By/Rosie Jane added a new signature scent to its collection earlier this week: Dulce ($70). Inspired by the founder’s first year in Los Angeles – 1996, of course – the scent mixes two kinds of vanilla, musk, and a grounding Hinoki wood for a fragrance that’s nostalgic, delicious, and mature all at once.
Maybe We’re Not In The 90s: Bobbi Brown Is Formulating Makeup Distinctly For 2022, from $28
Jones Road, Bobbi Brown’s strategic, streamlined, clean beauty brand continues to selectively launch just the products we need in our no-makeup-makeup routine (and nothing we don’t). Earlier this month the brand launched The Best Blush ($28), a silky powder formula that dusts a natural flush of color onto the cheeks, available in five curated shades. And on Tuesday, JR introduced The Cleansing Stick ($34), a solid oil cleanser that dissolves makeup and removes impurities with a powerful blend of vitamin-rich, plant-based oils in a travel-friendly package.
I’ll be back next week with a new set of launches in the DTC universe. Email me directly – zoe@thequalityedit.com – with any launches you’d like to see in the spotlight, or DM us over @thequalityedit.
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