======= ======= ====== ====== ====== ===== ==== ====== ====== ===== ==== ======= ======= ====== ====== ====== ===== ==== ====== ====== ===== ====
Plain and simple, candles are hot right now. Just like “MAGA” hats in Mississippi, candles are everywhere you look. You see them on the edge of the bathtub in every girl’s “relaxation time” Snap story. Candles are as common in a Scaries Panic Room as red wine or Netflix. They’re even being made into “Apple Product” and “KFC” scents. Candles are the trendiest aesthetic around.
Just being honest with myself, I’m usually more of a follower than a leader, so I’m diving all in on this. I’m all about becoming a candle guy.
Now this wasn’t just a spur of the moment lifestyle decision. I’d probably place the origin of my potential candle addiction in line with visiting my girlfriend’s apartment. She treats her apartment with candles like the pharmaceutical industry treats West Virginia with opioids; extremely overstocked. She’s a connoisseur, and I’m hopping on the same train. Maybe it’s natural maturation, but sometimes life just seems a bit better with 1-3 wicks of a delicious scent smoldering in your room of choice.
Things started off slow; a couple classic 3-wick winter scents from Bath and Body Works found their way into my domain. More and more I found myself enjoying the double whammy of fresh smells and visually pleasing candle flicker as I went about my business at home.
Maybe the masses on Twitter had a point, as the Netflix I was binging just seemed to go down smoother with “Fresh Balsam” burning strong in the corner of the room. Inhaling B&BW’s “Dashing Through The Snow” while I plug away at my desk doesn’t make the workday nearly as brutal. Hell, even indulging in some Lemongrass & Coriander in a basic candle I picked up from HEB heightens the senses and relaxes me in a way that I didn’t know was possible beforehand.
Slowly but surely I’ve become accustomed to a flickering flame within eyesight when I relax at home. No longer is a candle simply a way to mask one of my kid’s old diapers that I accidentally left in the inside trash can. On the contrary, a constant burning candle is a lifestyle and brand that I’m suddenly all about.
This enthusiasm for candles has slowly started to consume me, especially since I’ve discovered that there’s a bigger and more craft-oriented candle world outside of your standard B&BW’s. What started as an innocent jaunt through my local Saturday “Market Days” event turned into a 10-minute stop at the booth of a local company smelling their product like a fiend, ending with giving them a follow on Instagram and being a very satisfied owner of their “Orange Vanilla” scent.
Naturally, I’ve used this as a springboard to following more craft (is that even the term for these local niche candle companies?) candle accounts on Instagram. Now suddenly a filtered picture of a fresh poured soy masterpiece with a citrus scent is like visual crack to me. I mean, just look at this:
Nose boner.
So where do I go from here? When I was discussing this piece with Will deFries he said “I know way too much about scented candles from my last job so I may judge the shit out of you.” Frankly, he’d be well within his rights to do that. I’m as rookie as they come in the candle game; I’m yearning to reach that connoisseur level. Nothing would make me happier than to be able to walk in a room and be able to say, “I need to smell some Lavender Vanilla in here like I need air to breathe.”
What’re my options? Can you go candle sniffing like you do wine tasting? Do I have to hound local markets and search far and wide? Should I just get a B&BW rewards card and burn my way through their entire stock? I guess only time will tell. All I know is, I’m clearly really enjoying the vibes of being a candle guy. .
Respond
Kyle Bandujo
The artist formerly known as Crash Davis. My kid doesn't think I'm funny.
@kylebandujo
@bandujokyle
kyle.bandit
TJ Maxx / Homegoods has a dope selection most of the time. Grab a wood wick for a soothing crackle.
This. Once you go wood wick you never go back
Expert advice is why I wrote this. Need hot tips like this like I need air to breathe. Brb speeding to Homegoods
The DW Home brand of candles is A) like $8 for a mammoth-sized candle and B) Just as good, if not better than Bath and Body Works. It also has a number more masculine scents.
Can confirm, used to stock shelves for them as an adolescent calf and they quite literally get crates full of them delivered daily.
When you smell a candle, smell the lid, that’s the burn scent and not the candle itself. Fiancé told me that and her monthly candle budget is higher than my truck payments.
Damn dude that’s some knowledge, thanks.
Fresh linen candle in the bedroom, island breeze in the bathroom, and apple pie in the dining/kitchen area
A lot of farmers markets and swap meets have candle makers and you can get some pretty unique scents plus you’d be supporting local small businesses.
Once you start to know your way around the candle game a little more, you can begin lighting multiple candles at once. It’s a precarious task but sometimes you can really set the mood right.
Just don’t be like Wild Fire and leave your candle burning all night.
Tobacco Bay from great bear wax co. may be the best smelling anything I’ve ever owned.
Also check out homesick candles. That’s how I get my South Dakota fix in Wisconsin.
Fellow South Dakotan here where ya from?
Rapid. Went to Mines, lived in SuFu for a little while too. You?
Volcano, trust me. Managed to reach entire floor without overpowering.
Give me the Volcano or give me death. I almost spent my monthly salary on the giant one they have at Anthro a few weeks back.
Friend got me this for my birthday and it makes my whole house smell amazing in 10 minutes.
I pray that you never smell a Diptyque candle, because you’ll never want to buy one from Bath & Body Works ever again. And you’ll need a line item in your monthly budget for candles. So I’ve heard.
I’m no candle expert but have a stock of about five B&BW candles at any given time. Make sure you watch for their sales and you can really stock up. Sometimes they are on sale for 1/2 off, $10 off, or buy one, get one free. There’s also usually always a 20% off coupon you can use in addition to the sales. Sign up for their mailing list or download the RetailMeNot app to get that information.
I also really recommend their wallflower plugs!