ChatGPT: My New Olfactory Oligarch at the Bougie Bar
When AI Meets Artisanal Candle-Making (Say That Three Times Fast)
After my wild success using ChatGPT as my personal stylist for London Fashion Week (okay, it was just regular London, but Chat.gpt made me feel Fashion Week ready), I couldn't resist testing AI's skills in a completely different sensory realm: custom candle creation at Baton Rouge's The Bougie Bar.
Yes, you read that right. I brought artificial intelligence to artisanal candle-making. And honestly? My AI assistant absolutely delivered—not just for me, but for my SDA colleagues SonJa and Sydney too. Move over, Yankee Candle. There's a new fragrance authority in town, and it lives in my phone.
The Setup: SDA Goes Bougie (Literally)
Our August SDA networking event took us to The Bougie Bar on Jefferson Highway—my second time at this olfactory wonderland. If you haven't been, imagine a candy store but for grown-ups who want their homes to smell like "Moonlit Garden" instead of "Teenage Boy's Gym Bag."
Between the amazing cake balls from Brew-Ha-Ha (Gabby Louviere knows what she's doing) and those perfect mini muffulettas from Calandro's, we were already in networking heaven. But the real magic happened when we started making our candles.
The concept is simple: pick from their overwhelming array of fragrances (seriously, there are so many), blend your perfect scent, pour your candle, and come back in a few business days
to collect your masterpiece. They have a skilled Bougie expert (shout out to store manager Randi!) to guide you through the process, but I had a secret weapon in my pocket.
Enter the Olfactory Oligarch
While everyone else was sniffing jars and making faces trying to imagine how "Fresh Linen" would mix with "Black Cherry," I pulled out my phone.
"Would this make a good candle smell?" I typed, listing Sandalwood, Amber, and White Tea.
What followed was a masterclass in fragrance theory from my pocket parfumeur. ChatGPT didn't just say "yeah, that's nice." No, it broke down the entire fragrance pyramid:
Sandalwood → warm, woody, grounding base note
Amber → resinous, slightly sweet middle note
White Tea → light, fresh, clean top note
Then it suggested exact proportions: 40% White Tea, 35% Amber, 25% Sandalwood. It even calculated the grams for different candle sizes. I felt like I'd enrolled in Fragrance Chemistry 101 without the student loans.
The AI Contagion Spreads
When I asked for variations, ChatGPT started channeling its inner luxury brand consultant, suggesting combinations that would create scents "similar to Jo Malone or Nest." The more I chatted with my phone, the more animated I became—and the more curious my colleagues got.
"What are you doing?" SonJa asked, watching me have what looked like an intense text conversation while surrounded by fragrance jars.
"ChatGPT is helping me design my candle," I said, probably looking slightly unhinged. "It just calculated optimal fragrance load percentages."
Moments later, she had her phone out too.
The Escalation: From Consultation to French Parfumerie
Sydney jumped in next, holding up Teakwood and Brazilian: "What are your thoughts on these two?"
I snapped a pic\ of the two blue bottles. ChatGPT proceeded to describe a "warm, sexy, tropical-woody blend" that would evoke "luxury beach resort vibes—like teakwood cabanas with tropical air."
But the real transformation happened when SonJa found her power combo: Noir and Baccarat Rouge.
"Take a picture of these for me!" she said, holding up the two luxury scents. "I need to see what ChatGPT says about THIS combination."
ChatGPT practically swooned through the screen: "This combo screams luxury candle. Think five-star hotel lobby or high-end boutique."
When SonJa asked for names, the AI went from helpful assistant to full French parfumerie mode. Her options included:
Rouge Nocturne (Red Night)
Élixir Obscur (Dark Elixir)
Lueur Clandestine (Clandestine Glow)
We were dying. Suddenly, we weren't Elizabeth, SonJa, and Sydney at a networking event. We were Élisabeth, Sonja, and Sydney, propriétaires of an exclusive Parisian apothecary, circa 1892.
What We Created (With Our Pocket Parfumeur)
By the end of the rainy afternoon, three professional women had gone from casual candle-making to consulting AI about top notes and base notes like we were crafting perfume for French royalty:
My "Serenity Bloom" (White Tea + Magnolia Peony + Sandalwood) - the spa-inspired original
SonJa's luxe creation with Noir + Baccarat Rouge - still attempting to pronounce "Lueur Clandestine"
Sydney's "tropical beach resort" blend (Teakwood + Brazilian) - instant vacation vibes
Beyond the AI: The Actual Bougie Bar Experience
The Bougie Bar staff was lovely. The Bougie Bar staff looked on with what I can only describe as bemused professionalism as she not surprisingly announed, I was the first person she has seen use AI to craft a candle scent.
The practical details for your own visit:
$40 per person includes everything (2-hour experience for parties, about an hour for walk-ins)
BYOB wine or champagne (no corking fee!)
Empty Bougie Bar containers? Bring them back for a $20 refill
Pick up your candle in a few business day (or they'll ship for $12)
Pro tip: Book ahead for social parties, or call to check walk-in availability. They've got locations in both Baton Rouge (Jefferson Highway) and Lafayette.
The Unexpected Lesson: AI Creates Connection
Here's what I didn't expect: using AI at a networking event actually created more human connection, not less. Our ChatGPT candle consultations became an icebreaker, a conversation starter, and eventually a group activity.
We went from making individual candles to collaborating on a shared experience. By the end:
We had screenshots of ChatGPT's increasingly elaborate suggestions
Everyone was discussing their “notes”
We had stories way more interesting than typical networking small talk
The AI didn't replace the human expertise at The Bougie Bar—it amplified our experience and gave us a shared language (however pretentious) to discuss what we were creating.
From Basic Questions to Curated Collections
The AI magic extended beyond mere candle-making. It was how ChatGPT gradually elevated the entire experience. We started with "would this smell good?" and ended with the AI suggesting I consider the difference between "romantic sultry" versus "unisex elegant" naming conventions.
By the end, it was offering to create a cohesive "collection" with matching French apothecary-style names. I went from making a candle to curating a fragrance line. ChatGPT had successfully turned me into that person at the candle bar—and I loved every pretentious second of it.
Your Turn: AI as Your Pocket Expert
Whether you're heading to The Bougie Bar or tackling any creative decision, consider bringing AI along as your consultant. Not to replace human expertise, but to:
Go from "I like vanilla" to "I prefer gourmand base notes with 30% vanilla absolute"
Turn simple activities into immersive experiences
Create unexpected connections with others
Have hilarious stories for your next event
The Bougie Bar staff might think you're either a fragrance expert or completely extra. Your colleagues might get caught up in the contagious enthusiasm. And you? You'll walk away with a custom candle that actually smells like what you imagined, plus a great story about that time ChatGPT convinced you to name your candle "Nocturne."
Just try saying "Bougie Bar in Baton Rouge" three times fast while your candle sets. Then try pronouncing "Lueur Clandestine" without sounding ridiculous. I dare you.
Elizabeth Harris is the Chief Olfactory Innovation Officer (this week) at Kevin Harris Architect and believes AI assistance should extend to all five senses, preferably with French subtitles. When not consulting ChatGPT about optimal fragrance load percentages, she handles marketing, operations, and explaining to people why her candles have names like "Élixir Obscur." Subscribe for more adventures in using AI to make everyday activities unnecessarily sophisticated.
Have you tried using AI for unexpected creative projects? Drop your stories in the comments—I'm collecting ideas for the next experiment!
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