Our candle giveaway handed out three tiny D. L. & Co. candles on Facebook in February 2011, and small sizes like these are a smart way to meet a new scent.
Table of Contents
Join us on Facebook for a chance to win a 1oz D. L. & Co. Thorn Apple candle. We’ll have 3 random Facebook giveaways during the week and we’ll announce the winners as we go. This contest runs 2-15-11 to 2-18-11.
Good luck! We’ll ship the winning candles to any continental US address.
How the candle giveaway worked
We gave away a 1 ounce D. L. and Co Thorn Apple candle three times in a contest that ran from February 15 to 18, 2011.
A candle giveaway like this is meant to be quick and friendly, and this candle giveaway was no exception.
The draws were random and held on our Facebook page, and we announced winners as we went.
Prizes shipped to any continental US address, so you did not need to live near the shop. It was a quick, low pressure contest, and I like those the most.
There is a good reason I like short contests. They are easy to follow and they keep people interested. A four day window means you can check in each morning and not feel overwhelmed.
Contest posts like this are short on purpose. If there is little to explain, there is little to get wrong, and you can go back to your day with a little more hope than before.
Why a candle giveaway in miniature is a smart idea
A 1 ounce candle is a small commitment. It burns for a short time, but that is enough to learn if a scent suits you. For a brand with such evocative names, a mini is a good first step.
A mini like the Thorn Apple candle in a gift box beside a larger jar makes a charming extra.
There is also a practical point. Candles come in many sizes, and the small ones are often the best way to compare scents side by side. Line up three minis, burn them one at a time and you will know your favorite in a single weekend.
Our candle giveaway prize was small, but the fun of winning does not shrink with the size. A tiny candle in the mail can be the nicest surprise of a gray week.
Do not judge a candle by its size, either. Even a tiny jar can fill a small room, and a quick burn is often all you need to decide if you want the full size.
Every candle giveaway should leave you knowing something new about a brand.
About the name
Names matter in fragrance, and Thorn Apple is a lovely and mysterious one. It brings to mind hedgerows and old gardens, but a name is not a guarantee of how a candle will smell. I never guess at notes, so check the maker’s page for the exact description.
D. L. and Co also makes the Modern Alchemy line, which I have written about elsewhere on this blog.
The company likes history and storytelling, and that comes through in its product names.
When I describe an unfamiliar scent, I try to use words like woody, sweet or green, and I stay away from claims I cannot back up. If a maker does not publish notes for a candle, the honest answer is to ask.
Names like this also remind me of the fun side of the trade. A candle is partly a story, and the story starts with what you call it.
I love when a brand gives its products unusual names. They remind us that a candle is more than just wax and scent, it is a small piece of storytelling you can hold.
A candle giveaway is also a nice excuse to learn a maker’s backstory.
Tips for tiny candles and Facebook giveaways
Light a small candle for an hour or two, then let it cool. Burning it for too long in one go can overheat a tiny container. Keep it on a heat safe plate, away from anything that can tip it.
If you like a votive size, the Wikipedia page on votive candles explains how votives are used. A small candle is also ideal for a bathroom shelf or a desk, where a big jar would overwhelm the space.
If you are new to social media contests, my advice is simple. Read each post, follow the instructions and check the dates. Our candle giveaway only lasted four days, and anyone who missed the start missed the chance.
For another prize from the same maker, see Modern Alchemy Giveaway-a-Day.
For another contest, see the Bluewick Giveaway. We run many, and I hope one catches your eye.
Wax in a tiny jar melts quickly, so there is not much time for the scent to build. Light it in a small room, like a bathroom or a hallway, and the aroma will be easy to notice.
When it is gone, wash the little container and reuse it. Tiny vessels are good for earrings, paper clips or a bit of potpourri.
My last tip for giveaways like this one: if you win, send a note of thanks. Small shops remember kind people.
The candle giveaway was also one of three prizes, which meant three winners were announced across the week, and each got a small happy surprise in the mail.
If you win a candle giveaway prize, burn it soon, because fragrance is best enjoyed fresh. Watch for the next candle giveaway on our Facebook page.
Header photo: Aussie~mobs, Wikimedia Commons (Public domain).
