I have been waiting to make this post since I wrote its cold-weather companion last winter, and finally I have amassed enough spring-scent candles to make it worth while!
When the weather is warmer, I put away all of my cozy, sweeter, smokier scents in favor of grassy, green, plant-like scents. In spring, my goal is to make my whole house smell like a greenhouse, as I am such a huge fan of house plants. Here are six of my favorite candles to bring the outside in, and make the air feel less heavily perfumed and sweaty.
1) "Afterlife" by Little Ghouls
"Graveyard dirt swallows your feet, waning moonlight nurtures roots as they begin to materialize once again. Experience your past, present, and future in one moment as this scent takes you into a dreary, ancient graveyard."
This candle, intended to smell like dewy, foggy cemetery grass, is absolutely divine. I like it best for night time because of its slightly mysterious side, which I attribute to the Frankincense. Said to contain notes of "rich earth, lilac, heliotrope, frankincense, and patchouli." It will definitely give you the potter's-shed smell that brightens your living space for spring and summer.
6 oz. jar, $20.00
2) "Cemetery Gates" by Burke & Hare Co.
"This fragrance is clean and uplifting, featuring the scent of newly overturned dirt under, sweet balsam and hay combined with fresh tall grasses. Both earthy and airy, this candle evokes the sense of wandering through headstones on a dewy morning. This fragrance mimics nature and may be perceived as lighter than others, it will not be as obvious, but provides a calming and clean background to the room."
With a very similar story to the last candle, this one is just a little less mysterious and a little more greenhouse. More of a daytime scent, it's the sweetgrass I think that uplifts this candle and gives it a sunnier feel. The earth gives you the impression you're in an actual potting shed.
3) "Ojai" by Norden
"Fragrance -- Frankincense, Cypress, Patchouli, Palo Santo
Smells Like --Dry wood paneling, grass, resinous citrus, woody incense."
I'm a bit obsessed with my Ojai candle, and a bit covetous too, due to its hefty price tag. This candle is one I just want to stick my nose straight into and smell forever! Definitely a bit more on the greenhouse side than they describe, and it leans more to smoke than to earth, giving this more of an incense-y quality. Definitely worth every penny.
4) "The Sea" by L'Apothicaire Co.
"Icelandic Sea Salt and Black Sea Coral are the base notes for this deep sea inspired blend. Topped with essences of Kelp, Sea Grass and Sakura Blossom, this fragrance is intense, moody, and a little bit briny…"
This candle has been my favorite discovery of the year. Although it claims to be ocean inspired, I think the green notes from the sea grass and kelp come through more than sea salt or sea air. A delightfully plant-y fresh scent that I love for keeping things feeling light spring and summer. I even pick it up to smell it when it's not lit!
6 oz. jar, $20.00 (Currently sold out and their shop is down! Sorry!)
5) "Chisos" by The Village Common
"Essential oils of bergamot, parsley seed, sage, & vetiver.
A heavy, earthy scent with the depths of mystery of the Chihuahuan desert.
Chisos remain a ghost or spirit, the presence is evident as you near it. The scent carries through rock & dust, it's here you surrender & learn to trust. The Chisos Mountains, land of beauty & grace. A trail leads to your heart, oh holy & spiritual place."
I love that this scent defines itself with something ghostly and more spirit-like. All of the bright, plant-like scents do linger in the air and even follow you when not lit when a warm day is melting the wax. I love how sophisticated this one is, green but not simply grass scents, and lightly smoky. Definitely a more dried-hay smoke scent than fresh green.
So there you have it! My five favorite scents for spring, to keep your house feeling light and bright in this oppressive heat, not warm, dark, and claustrophobic.
