Jim and Dorothy sent a Linnea’s Light blog contest entry built on a childhood memory of spicy cookies, and it explains why clove and wood feel so right in winter.
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Guest Blog Post by Jim and Dorothy Samson
for Linnea’s Lights Blog Contest
Winter seems to bring out the sensual and spicy kind of fragrances. One of my early memories is of me standing at the kitchen counter, barely able to see the spicy cookies cooling to be eaten later! Maybe I couldn’t see those yummy cookies very well, but I surely remember the spicy aroma tickling my nose!
And the sensual? Well, winter is a the perfect season to experience the “clove and sensual wood” type fragrances of Linnea’s Lights Fireside candle!
A perfect combination…!
Photo from ziggityzoom.com.
Why winter asks for spice
Jim and Dorothy open with a kitchen counter, a tray of cooling cookies and a nose that could smell more than it could see. That detail stuck with me. Our noses start collecting scent memories long before we are tall enough to see over the counter.
Cold weather pulls us toward those memories. We stay indoors more, the windows stay shut, and the smells of baking and wood fires get associated with comfort. Candle makers know this, which is why spice shows up so often on winter shelves.
The quiet detail I like best is the memory of being too short to see the cookies. It tells us that scent often comes first and the full picture comes later. Many of my customers describe their favorite candle by saying it smells like a house they used to visit, not like a list of notes.
I think that is worth remembering when you shop. Do not ask which candle is the best. Ask which one reminds you of something you are glad to remember.
This light blog contest entry is short, yet the memory in it is vivid. One strong image beats a long description every time.
Reading a light blog contest entry like this one reminds me that our noses collect memories long before we can see over the counter.
I keep coming back to this light blog contest entry when I think about winter scents.
A light blog contest entry about clove and wood
Clove is sharp, sweet and slightly peppery, a little like the spice in a pot of mulled cider. On its own it can feel loud, so perfumers usually soften it with something rounder.
Pair it with a sensual wood such as cedar or sandalwood and the edges relax. The spice sits on top and the wood keeps it grounded, a combination that reads warm without being sugary. Since I cannot quote exact notes for any one candle here, check the maker’s page for the full list.
The entry mentions the clove and sensual wood idea behind the Fireside candle. If you want my own thoughts on cozy cold-weather picks, my review of Linnea’s Lights Winter takes a different, sweeter direction.
Cedar leans dry and pencil-shaving crisp, while sandalwood leans creamy and smooth. Either one will take the edge off a spice. If you find clove too sharp, look for a candle where the wood is listed first.
Smoky touches add another layer, and some makers use them to suggest a hearth. They are a matter of taste, and a smoky winter candle can be wonderful or overwhelming depending on the room. Try it in a space with a window you can crack open.
The light blog contest entry names the clove and sensual wood idea, which is the heart of a good winter spice scent.
Without quoting exact notes, I can say a spiced wood candle usually reads spicy first and woody second, then settles as the wax warms.
A light blog contest entry like this one makes the spice and wood pairing feel personal.
Choosing between spicy and sweet
People often ask me which they should buy for the cold months, a spicy candle or a sweet one. I tell them to think about the room. A small den or a bedroom loves a spicy wood scent, because it feels quiet and enclosed.
A big open kitchen can take something bakery-sweet. Spice also works in an entryway, where it greets guests with a hint of fireplace even if you do not own one.
If you are unsure, burn a sample or smell the candle cold in the store. Hot and cold throw can differ, so give it a few minutes of burn before you decide.
Think about gifts too. A spiced wood candle is a safe present for someone who is hard to buy for, because it fits the season and it does not feel too feminine or too sweet. Add a box of matches or a snuffer and you have a thoughtful package.
Giving a candle for the holidays is easier when you picture the person’s home. A cozy nook, a mantle or a bedside table tells you where the scent will live, and that helps you decide how strong it should be.
A gift inspired by this light blog contest entry could pair a spiced wood candle with a tin of cookies.
When I help someone choose a winter candle, I ask about the room first and the scent second. Small rooms like spice, and big rooms need two candles.
The best light blog contest entry is the one that makes you smell something while you read.
Keeping the winter memory going
Light the candle at the time of day you would normally start dinner, and trim the wick to about a quarter inch first so the flame burns cleanly. Let the wax melt all the way across the surface on the first burn, which helps it avoid tunneling later.
If you enjoy the history of the spice itself, the Wikipedia article on clove explains where it comes from and how it has been used for centuries. Then read how the Linnea’s Lights contest began and think about your own winter memory.
What is yours?
Candle contests like this one are a good reminder that everyone has a scent story. You do not need to be an expert to write one. You only need a vivid memory and a willingness to share it.
If you were to enter a similar contest, start with a place and a sensation instead of a product description. Readers care about the kitchen counter, not the wax blend.
Writing your own light blog contest entry starts with a memory, so think of the first spicy smell you can recall.
I enjoyed this light blog contest entry, and I hope you will try writing one too.
A light blog contest entry does not need a prize to be worth writing. The memory is the reward.
Share your light blog contest entry with a friend, and swap spicy memories over tea.
Maybe your light blog contest entry will start with a kitchen, a winter coat or a fireplace.
