Candles Help Scent a Small Home
The other day, I wrote about making small changes in a small house that make things seem a little different.
In addition to changing bedspreads, throw rugs and maybe the shower curtain, I also look forward to the changing seasons with new candle scents.
My love of candles goes back to my childhood. I always knew when we were having company as my mom would have the house nice and clean when I came home from school and there would be at least a couple of candles burning.
Although my dad couldn’t stand the strong smell of candles in a store, my mom and I used to love a store in the mall called Wicks ‘n Sticks (a quick search shows the 36 year old company went bankrupt in 2006).
These days, my candle of choice is Yankee Candles. They burn clean and smell oh, so good.
I love the flower scents of spring such as lilac and the clean, fresh scents of summer like cotton and meadow showers. Red velvet cake and vanilla cupcake are great for winter, but my favorite scents come out in the fall.
They’re always spicy and sometimes woodsy and my favorites typically have some type of apple or pumpkin scent.
This year, Yankee’s new fall lineup includes Apple Pumpkin, the best of both spicy worlds for me.
Since I use a lot of candles in the fall and winter, particularly when I’m writing, I also splurged on a new little Halloween votive when I bought some candy corn candles.
In the Little House, I typically use Lampe Berger if I want to just clean the air of dog smell, but in the studio, it’s scented candles all of the way.
Do you like scented candles? What is your favorite?
Candles emit toxins into the air! And scented ones probably more so! Going into a candle store gives me an instant headache and it’s not a mystery why.
Read this:
“According to a recent study by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), 40 percent of candles on the market contain lead wires inside their wicks. Most often, the candles with lead wicks are scented candles. Fragrance oils soften the wax, so the manufacturers use lead to make the wicks firmer.
A candle with a lead-core wick releases five times the amount of lead considered hazardous for children and exceeds EPA pollution standards for outdoor air, says the CPSC. Exposure to high amounts of lead has been linked to hormone disruption, behavioral problems, learning disabilities, and numerous health problems.
In addition, you’ll want to look out for aromatherapy candles made of paraffin—a petroleum by product—which release carcinogenic soot when burned. The soot can also cause respiratory problems and will aggravate the conditions of those who already have asthma, lung, or heart problems.”
I am generally not a huge fan of candles – after years of dogs and young kids when it was simply not practical. Now however I do have some Yankee Candles for fall – I like the pumpkin pie scent, which makes the house smell like I’m baking even when I’m not
Love candles too! There’s a company in Sisterdale, Texas, a small town outside of San Antonio, called Marlowe Candles. They make candles in a jar too and are my favorite ones. All my faves seem to be food related – creme brûlée, spiced pear, pumpkin, warm cider. Haha! I hate to think what that says about me! 😀
LOL! Cream brulee is my favorite Lampe Berger scent! So, whatever it says about you, it says about me, too! 🙂
I love scented candles and always find myself reaching for one when company is coming. I don’t know why I just don’t light them for myself! I think now I just might…scent of choice is usually lavender, but I also love vanilla, grapefruit and so many more.
Ah, I love vanilla as well.