The Smell of a Good Book: Candle and Book Pairings
Today’s blog is a special treat! Bookseller Mariah’s husband Sean—candle connoisseur and book lover—is giving some insight on to how to make your reading experience even more cozy by pairing the book you’re reading with the candle you’ll want to light.
When I was young, someone, somewhere told me that when I read books, I could be hurled into a brand new world. I always emphasized this in my mind with some sort of visual—sometimes it was a young reader. usually with glasses (like me!), tumbling into a book and falling from an atmospheric height to a world below. Other times, I would see the characters from the story leaping off the page or acting out the scenes before me. Tragically, this is all metaphorical and unrealistic. No matter how hard I concentrated or believed, I can never lock swords with an evil knight, discover a lost planet, or perhaps most sadly, sit with a silly old bear in a hundred acre wood. However, what if I told you I found a way that I could almost feel like I was there, watching from the wings? How could this be possible? By using a tool in the way it was never originally intended:
Candles.
Through the use of scented candles I have found that, while reading, I can immerse myself in that extra sensory experience that helps to bring me just one step closer to the story in my hands. With their illumination and fragrance I have sat with the Inklings of Oxford, heard the retelling of Gawain, entangled myself in the worlds of classic horror and scifi, and walked through the trees listening to Nick Offerman’s philosophical commentary.
I’ve spent the last six years utilizing scented candles to enhance my reading pleasure and I’d love to pass my fragrant findings and font of knowledge on to you as well.
Now if the idea of matching candles to books seems a little overwhelming and you feel a little too anxious to find the right scent, have no fear. There are many stores and independent sellers who dabble in this art of reading immersion as well and have already mixed-up candles for you. To recommend just a few: Briarwick, Novelly Yours, and my personal favorite, Frostbeard. Just peruse their wares and find one with scents that just feel right for what you need, or grab a candle based on your current book. Here are a few of my own personal recommendations for book and candle pairings:
A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik and “Mystery” by Briarwick
Set at the Scholomance, a school for the magically gifted where failure can spell certain death (for real), one girl, Galadriel “El” Higgins, begins to unlock its many secrets. There are no teachers, no holidays, and no friendships, save strategic ones. For this book, I’d suggeset a Briarwick candle called “Mystery”. The mystifying and dangerous vibes of the world match the scent notes of Black Cypress, Juniper, and Mist to create a vibe that I would recommend for any dark academia story.
A Merry Little Meet Cute by Sierra Simone and Julie Murphy and “Candy Cane Lane” by Briarwick
A steamy plus-size holiday rom-com about an adult film star who is semi-accidentally cast as a lead in a family-friendly Christmas movie and the former bad-boy pop star she falls in love with. Neither is aware they are each other’s biggest fan in their personal lives, and this realization will help send sparks flying. For the holiday season, I’d recommend “Candy Cane Lane” from Briarwick (a seasonal scent) The notes of Peppermint and Dark Chocolate match that romantic, festive, Christmas vibe.
House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig and “Plot Twist” from Novelly Yours
In a manor by the sea, lives a royal family of Highmoor, The family is made up of Annaleigh, her 11 sisters, and their father and stepmother. Loneliness eventually fills the grand halls now though after four of her sister's lives have been cut short. What is causing these deaths and what dangers lurk at the mysterious banquet the sisters frequent under the cover of night? I feel that “Plot Twist” from Novelly Yours, with its scent of Storms, Dark Musk, and Ozone, mixes nicely with the dark and briny seaside world of the book.
The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton and “Mystery & Thriller” from Novelly Yours
As fireworks explode overhead, Evelyn Hardcastle, the young and beautiful daughter of the house, is killed. But Evelyn will not die just once. Until Aiden—one of the guests summoned to Blackheath for the party—can solve her murder, the day will repeat itself, over and over again. And what part does this aloof Plague Doctor Play? A candle I think would go great with this twisty mystery is another from Novelly Yours—their “Mystery and Thriller” candle. The scents of Abandoned Cabin, Night Air, and Smoke set the scene for this dark, confusing mystery that Aiden must detangle..
Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng and “Enchanted Library” from Briarwick
Following a young boy named Bird who lives with his father, a former linguist turned university librarian, as he searches for his mother who disappeared 3 years ago. A Chinese-American poet, Bird’s mother was thought to be an unamerican dissident, and his search for her will pull him through an underground network of librarians, children who have been taken from their homes, all the way to New York City where he will realize that acts of defiance can also be acts of hope and change. I’d pair this with Briarwick’s “Enchanted Library”—its notes of Cedarwood, Parchment, and Leather. These scent notes. especially the scent of parchment, will evoke the scent of paper in the libraries he visits and the pages of his mother’s poetry..
Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger and “Darcy’s Parlor” from Frostbeard
A Texas teen comes face-to-face with her cousin's ghost and vows to unmask the murderer. Elatsoe lives in an alternate contemporary America shaped by the ancestral magics and knowledge of its Indigenous and immigrant groups. Though you might think it a strange choice, I think Frostbeard’s “Darcy’s Parlor” makes a great choice for this book. With all the ghosts, Indigenous culture, and Texan vibes, the candle’s scents of Leather, Ancient Wood, and Tobacco ties in exceptionally well.
[editor’s note: Sean did not realize that he chose “Darcy’s Parlor” for Darcie Little Badger’s book, which I think is kind of funny]
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and “Rainy Day Reads” by Frostbeard
A classic novel about the turbulent relationship between Elizabeth Bennet, the daughter of a country gentleman, and Fitzwilliam Darcy, a rich aristocratic landowner who must both overcome their pride and deeply held prejudices to find love. I enjoyed Frostbeard’s “Rainy Day Reads” as a nice addition to my reading of this novel. The scents of Rain, Ginger, and Lavender provided a clean, calm atmosphere to make this a fantastic spring read.
Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune and “Winter Keep” from Frostbeard
A whimsical and slightly spooky novel about a bitter lawyer, named Wallace Price, who dies of a heart attack and is shocked to find that only five people are attending his funeral, one of whom is a strange woman he's never seen before. The woman whisks him off to charming teashop with a very specific purpose that he will soon discover has more to do with his future than he could have imagined. A candle that really helped me feel like I was in this world was Frostbeard’s “Winter Keep” (a winter seasonal scent). Its simple scent of Evergreen and Bonfire place you amongst the high trees which surround the strange place that is Charon’s Crossing.
How Iceland Changed the World by Egill Bjarnason and “Holiday Hygge” from Frostbeard
A nonfiction that takes you on a guided tour of history, telling the tales of how Iceland played a pivotal role in events as diverse as the French Revolution, the Moon Landing, and even the founding of Israel. Frostbeard’s “Holiday Hygge” (a Holiday seasonal) was a lovely choice for this read. The scent of Hearth. Sugar Plum, and Earl Grey provides a charming and warm winter feeling as if the author is sitting across from you, telling you of his home country.
I hope you light up a candle with your next read and find it as transporting and enjoyable as I have. If you’re feeling crazy, create a hoard as I have so you always have a plethora of options for any book. Be prepared though. If you delve too deep, like that of the moth to the iconic flame, you will soon have as big of a “to be smelled” pile and you do a “to be read” pile, like me.
