What Does Eucalyptus Smell Like? – The Scent Guide

Eucalyptus is a well-loved scent for creating a relaxing mood, opening up your sinuses and offering antibacterial properties. To fully understand what eucalyptus smells like, you need to know where it comes from, what medicinal benefits it has and what other scents it pairs well with. At Homesick, we have several candles and reed diffusers featuring the scent of eucalyptus. Whether you want candles to set the mood for a dinner date or improve the air quality of your home, Homesick has the candle for you.    Missing Your Homestate of VT? Order a Vermont Candle Today! Eucalyptus: A Scent Guide The primary constituents of eucalyptus oil include terpenes, such as cineol, pinene and limonene. But it also contains up to 250 other phytochemical compounds in varying concentrations, depending on the breed of eucalyptus tree. These aromatic compounds give eucalyptus a minty, camphorous scent that is sharp and highly pungent. Like mint, inhaling eucalyptus opens your sinuses and clears your head. However, the aroma also contains some hints of the forest, which some people describe as sweet and similar to honey. Hook, a unique variety of eucalyptus, has a citrus scent similar to lemons, as it contains a higher concentration of limonene. This variety, which is a crossbreed of a eucalyptus and citrus tree, is much shorter than other eucalyptus trees. Its leaves have antiseptic properties, which many indigenous people used for medicinal purposes.  Where Does Eucalyptus Come From? Although many people only know eucalyptus from their essential oil bottles or our Vermont candle, the oil originates from a tree species native to Australia and other southern islands. There are over 660 varieties of eucalyptus, and most grow to a height of about 300 feet. While these trees are native to Australia, they can grow in most temperate climates, and many people around the world grow them for harvest. The telltale scent comes from the oil in the leaves of most varieties, particularly the Tasmanian blue gum and black peppermint tree. This oil smells not only wonderful, but also has several health benefits. To create the oil, workers dry, crush and distill the leaves.   Australians also use the wood for heating their homes and the bark for paper and in the tanning process.  Been a While Since You Had Granny’s Cooking? Enjoy Those Delicious Scents Again with Our Grandma Candle Medicinal Properties of Eucalyptus You can use eucalyptus oil for various medicinal purposes, from wound dressings to soothing a sore throat. Because of this, you can find many products with a eucalyptus oil base, including creams, steaming oils, soaps, candles and throat lozenges.  Antiseptic Use creams infused with eucalyptus oils to reduce inflammation, clean wounds and help your body heal. You can also steam with several drops of eucalyptus oil to help your body recover from a throat or chest infection.  Cough Suppressant Having a cough isn’t only irritating, but it can also give you a sore throat and make it difficult to sleep. Many cough syrups and chest rubs have eucalyptus to help reduce your cough. Using eucalyptus essential oil in a vaporizer or humidifier or sucking on a eucalyptus candy can also help soothe your cough and clear your sinuses in the process. Loosen Mucus Mucus is a slimy substance that protects against pathogens trying to enter your body. When you get a cold, the mucus thickens which can block the sinuses and lung tissue, giving you a stuffy nose and chesty cough. To help relieve your cold symptoms, inhale steam scented with eucalyptus oil or rub a eucalyptus-based balm on your chest. The oil can help to loosen the mucus, making it easier to breathe and reducing your coughing. Reduce Inflammation Eucalyptus oil also has anti-inflammatory properties. If you have a sore shoulder, rub cream or lotion infused with the oil to reduce inflammation. For those who suffer from cold sores, you can also use some cream to reduce the soreness and help end an outbreak. Because it helps with inflammation, eucalyptus oil can also help soothe symptoms of arthritis. Help with Relaxation In today’s busy world, many people struggle to relax. Approximately 18 percent of Americans over the age of 18 suffer from anxiety. Besides seeking treatment from a doctor, you can use the scent of eucalyptus to help you relax, and take a few minutes every day for mindfulness or meditation.  Using our Winter Mantel Reed Diffuser, take several deep breaths and allow the eucalyptus scent to permeate your senses. The scent can help you connect with your breath, which can ground you and give you a sense of peace.  Remove Lice Lice are parents’ worst nightmare. Traditionally, lice removal methods include combing thoroughly to remove nits, the lice eggs, and over-the-counter and prescription shampoos to kill the lice and stop itching.  However, if you prefer to avoid chemicals, you can treat your child’s hair with a combination of eucalyptus and tea tree oil. Mix 10 drops of each oil with two ounces of olive oil and apply it to the scalp and hair. Let it sit for at least 12 hours before rinsing out.  Deter Bugs Mosquitoes are not only irritating, but they can also be dangerous. Mosquitoes carry diseases like the West Nile Virus and Zika Virus, which can cause serious health problems. Even a regular mosquito bite is uncomfortable and unsightly. However, many of the bug sprays available use DEET or other chemicals that can harm the environment and irritate your skin. If you’re hanging out by the pool and want protection from the bugs without the chemicals, use a spray with lemon eucalyptus oil as a base. At night, light some eucalyptus-scented candles to keep the bugs away and set the mood. When to Light Eucalyptus Candles Candle lovers know there’s a time and place for each scent. Like in our Love Letters Candle, rose petals and jasmine are fantastic for creating a romantic mood before a candlelit dinner date, while the warm embrace of apple pie scent in our Grandma Candle brings comfort to people far from home.  Because eucalyptus is such a calming, relaxing scent, the best time to light your eucalyptus candles is when you want to unwind. Our eucalyptus candles are ideal for a long meditation session, during mindfulness exercises and while enjoying a bath.  If you have one of our diffusers, you could also use your eucalyptus oil to help you fall asleep if your anxiety makes that difficult. The relaxation properties of the oil can help to slow your breathing and allow you to drift off. Try combining it with a white noise machine to create an ideal environment for peaceful sleep. Using Eucalyptus in Your Essential Oils Routine Researchers have created essential oils through the study of aromatherapy and aromachology, which use scents to trigger emotions. While aromatherapy has existed for centuries, originating in ancient Egypt, aromachology began in 1989 at the Sense of Smell Institute. Aromachologists study how smells affect people’s emotions and feelings.  Because aromachology is relatively new, researchers are still learning about the relationships between scents and emotions, but many believe certain scents can trigger specific emotions, like happiness, relaxation, sensuality or exhilaration.  In some ways, this research has led to the essential oils industry, which uses distilled oils from plants and flowers, including eucalyptus, to help reduce stress, increase joy or improve focus. Besides eucalyptus oil, some of the most common essential oils include rosemary, lavender, lemon, tea tree, lemongrass and clary sage. If you need a pick-me-up, use a few drops of rosemary oil near your temples. It will help wake up your brain, giving you the energy to tackle your work.  If you’re feeling down, whether from personal circumstances, PMS or depression, inhaling some steam infused with clary sage oil can lower cortisol levels, improving your mood. Lavender oil has many healing properties, including antibacterial, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting.  Like lavender oil, lemon oil is also antibacterial. Use it to clean your counters or to refresh your skin. You can use your eucalyptus essential oil for steaming if you have congested airways or as an air disinfectant. For people who suffer from bad breath, swish a few drops of oil mixed with water in your mouth and spit. Scents to Pair with Eucalyptus Many candle enthusiasts like pairing multiple candle scents to create a unique smell. Whether you want to have a relaxing, candlelit bath or just want the room to smell nice while you work from home, choosing the right scents is essential.  Eucalyptus is a strong smell, making it hard to match. You can either pair it with another strong smell that offers similar olfactory properties, like peppermint or spruce. Or choose a lighter, calmer smell that will complement it, like lavender, rosemary or sweet orange.  Gifting a Candle Candles are a fantastic gift for the holidays, birthdays or as a simple, thoughtful gesture. However, choosing the perfect scent for your friend or loved one is sometimes hard since scents are a personal experience. At Homesick, we have candles that represent all the states, some cities and several countries. If your friend is homesick for their hometown, consider giving them one of our state candles. For friends who dream of traveling the world, choose a candle from their dream destination.  During the holidays, everyone loves scents of cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. One of our candles from our holiday selection is sure to get your friends in the mood for winter, hot chocolate and Christmas cookies. If you’re giving someone a gift just because, or because they’ve recently had a hard time, choosing a candle with eucalyptus in the base can help them relax.  Some people steer away from candles as presents because they don’t know how to wrap a candle. The round shape makes them tricky to wrap traditionally, and using a gift box creates additional waste. You can use the fan method, which involves measuring the exact amount of wrapping paper and pleating the flat top and bottom. Or, if you prefer more extravagant gift presentations, choose the candy wrapper method which has the top twisted around like a candy wrapper.  Candle Safety and Care Candles can add a wonderful feeling to your home, but it’s important to be aware of their danger. Unfortunately, eucalyptus oil is toxic for pets–and dogs, with their incredible sense of smell, may mistake a eucalyptus-scented candle for a snack. Always keep your eucalyptus candle out of the reach of small children and pets and never leave them unattended. Many people find themselves disappointed at how quickly their candles burn out. To improve their longevity, there are a few steps you can take. First, trim the wick ¼ inch before lighting for the first time. Keep the pool of wax clear, removing wick trimmings immediately. Before lighting, check that your candle is not below a vent or near a strong air current which could cause it to burn unevenly. You should also only burn your candle for a maximum of three hours at a time to avoid tunneling. Trimming the wick before each lighting can help your candle burn more evenly. When you’re ready to blow out your candle, use a candle snuffer if possible. This prevents hot wax from splattering, which could injure you or damage your furniture. Wait until the candle jar has completely cooled before touching it. If you need to move it quickly, wear oven gloves to protect your hands. Following these tips can help improve your candle experience and lengthen the lifespan of your favorite candles.  Stock Up at Homesick Founded in 2016, Homesick’s goal is to bring you closer to the places, memories and people that matter most to you through the power of scent. Every candle we create has meaning, and we work with many people to ensure the scent delivers the feelings we want. At every step in the manufacturing process, we check with the experts to ensure our scent combinations are working. We always hand pour all our candles in the USA, and every candle has 100 percent cotton wicks embedded in a natural soy wax blend. We don’t use any toxic chemicals and guarantee our candles are free from plastics, parabens, lead, synthetic dyes and phthalates.  At Homesick, we are passionate about preserving our environment and don’t allow animal testing for any of our products. We also encourage our customers to recycle and reuse our glass jars, whether for storage, crafts projects or drinking glasses. Whether you’re looking for a candle or a diffuser to remind you of your childhood, celebrate the holidays or take you back to the scents of your home state, you can find the perfect scent for you in one of our 200 products.    Image Sources: Pixel-Shot / Shutterstock.com Refat / Shutterstock.com K.Decor / Shutterstock.com Aggie 11 / Shutterstock.com solomonphotos / Shutterstock.com freedomnaruk / Shutterstock.com Aleksandra Suzi / Shutterstock.com Didecs / Shutterstock.com

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What Happens to Candle Wax While Burning?

  Source: New Africa/Shutterstock.com Burning a candle causes the scented solid wax to melt away and evaporate slowly. But have you ever given much thought as to where it goes? Homesick dives into the science behind combustion, exploring precisely what happens to candle wax. Plus, we answer a few more of your burning questions regarding safety and offer tips on how to preserve your candle as long as possible.   Candle Wax Combustion Candle wax, or paraffin, is made up of a chain of carbon atoms surrounded by hydrogen atoms. Combined, it creates hydrocarbon molecules which can burn completely. This is why the wax close to the flame ultimately melts into liquid. Essentially, the heat from the flame vaporizes the wax’s hydrocarbon molecules, reacting with the air’s oxygen. As the wax vaporizes and is consumed, the wick draws more of the liquid wax, using a scientific force known as capillary action, where a porous material defies gravity using adhesion, cohesion and surface tension. In other words, so long as your California candle’s wax is still in contact with the capillary action-absorbing wick, the flame will consume the wax, leaving no ash or even residue. Furthermore, since light and heat radiate from the flame, some of the combustion’s energy (roughly one-quarter) is emitted through the heat. In turn, this heat maintains the reaction. It vaporizes the wax so it can continue to burn and melt, maintaining the supply of fuel until there’s either 1) no wax left or 2) not enough heat to melt said wax.      Moved Out of SoCal But Missing Home? Order a California Candle to Cure Your Homesickness The Wax Combustion Equation While the chemical equation can fluctuate due to certain variables, such as the type of wax used (ours is soy-based, for example), it’s generally as follows:  C25H52 + 38 O2 → 25 CO2 + 26 H2O In simple terms, heat causes a reaction between hydrocarbon and oxygen, which produces carbon dioxide, water and energy, or the heat and light. When burning a candle, you might notice the air still feels dry, even though water is technically being released. This is due to the temperature increase which allows air to hold more water vapor.  Worried About Inhaling Wax? Don’t Be! At this point, you might be wondering, “If the wax essentially evaporates, does that mean we are inhaling it?” Not exactly. When you burn a candle, the only thing released into the home’s air is carbon dioxide and water. While a steadily-burning, teardrop-shaped flame offers efficient combustion, a flickering flame can cause a fluctuation, visible by smoke wisps or soot, which is carbon. But even a flickering flame is nothing to worry over. While it indicates incomplete combustion, the vaporized wax of your orchard-like Apple candle doesn’t travel far at all and is centered only around the flame. It’s completely safe!  Through an at-home experiment, you can actually see the wax vapor! All you need is two candles. Lighting one candle, allow the wick to begin vaporizing the wax. Extinguishing it, hold it somewhat close to the other candle’s lit flame. At this point, you should be able to watch the flame jump and travel along with the wax vapor, relighting the previously extinguished candle. And that’s science, folks!    Give Your House a Crisp Smell with Our Apple Candle While using a paraffin wax candle is safe, paraffin itself is made from petroleum, which is a gasoline by-product. According to a 2009 study, burning paraffin wax releases toluene, a potentially dangerous chemical. While some disagree with the study’s reliability, even a minuscule use of the gasoline by-product petroleum can be harmful to the earth, if not ourselves. Instead, use a plant-based wax, like an eco-friendly soy wax—like that used in Homesick candles—that offers a carbon neutral, renewable and sustainable resource. Now that’s something to feel good about!    Source: Haggardous50000/Shutterstock.com Smokeless Flames and Smooth-Melting Wax While candle wax is meant to literally evaporate, don’t let it go entirely to waste. Be sure to take advantage of the full 60- to 80-hour burn times on your Homesick candles. Learn how to burn a candle all the way down by creating a steady, teardrop flame that doesn’t flicker and wastes less wax along the way. That way, you can enjoy your favorite scent for a long time!

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Why Is My Candle Flame So High?

Psst. Don't forget to check out our new arrivals after learning more below! Shop HERE. Candles add ambiance to any space, making a house feel like a home with their warm, glowing light. These delightful decor pieces also have a way of promoting relaxation and calm or providing stimulating energy when you need it. Sometimes, though, they don’t always burn as expected.  If you’re wondering, “Why is my candle flame so high?” or noticed your candle burning down the middle, here's what you need to know about candles, how they burn and what you can do to keep your candle’s flame in check.  Learn How to Fix a Candle Wick with Our Guide! High Candle Flame When you light a candle, the flame’s heat melts the wax in and around the wick. A candle wick is typically made from absorbent twine, such as braided cotton or other cord or string types, which uses capillary action to draw the melted wax up the wick to deliver fuel to the candle flame.  If your candle flame looks like it’s burning too high, this may be because it’s burning too hot. When you have a strong flame, it appears very tall or it could flicker or smoke. If you see any of these signs or feel the flame is out of control, extinguish the flame immediately to eliminate fire hazards. Even if this exaggerated flame doesn’t spark a fire, you likely will burn through your candle much faster than you intended to.  Once you’ve put out the high flame, it’s time to investigate. There are two primary reasons your candle flame may burn so high. One is the wick isn’t the proper width because of a manufacturing issue. Unfortunately, if your wick is too thick, it may require replacing the candle with a better one. Luckily for you, when you replace it with a Homesick candle, our wicks are just the right diameter! A second reason for a flame that burns too high is the wick is too long. Here, the fix is simple:  Trim the wick. You can easily trim a lengthy wick with our convenient wick trimmer, complete with a custom cloth bag for storage for a safer and cleaner burn. For an optimum, controlled burn, keep your candle’s wick trimmed down to ¼ inch. Remembering to trim it before you light it each time helps ensure you’re controlling the amount of fuel to the flame for a safe, slow burn.  Use a Wick Trimmer to Easily Fix Your Candle! The next time you give a friend a candle or send a special thank you candle, include a wick trimmer so they can enjoy their soothing, scented candle for even longer! Smoking Candle Another common issue with burning candles is excess smoke production. If you’ve properly trimmed your candle wick to the correct height, a draft might be to blame for this unwanted smoke. Sometimes a draft or burst of air can cause your candle to smoke as it burns, which reduces the air quality in your home.  When a rush of air makes the flame flicker in and out, this can also cause your wick to fuel the candle inconsistently by drawing too much oil from the candle wax. When this happens, you may get a buildup of oil in the wick and the candle won’t be able to burn it as fast as it's being drawn in. When the flame grows again, it burns too much fuel and causes the candle to smoke.  To rid your candle of any smoke, simply move it away from open windows and doors, fans and vents to limit drafts.  Candle Wick Is Too Short While sometimes your candle wick being too long can be the issue, in other cases, it’s a short candle wick that can be problematic. If you’re having trouble lighting your candle because the wick is too short, knowing how to fix a candle wick will have your candle flame burning in no time.  If you’re able to light the wick, let it burn for 20 minutes or more while checking on it every so often. If the issue doesn’t resolve itself by melting enough wax, you may need to remove some wax.  If you can’t light your candle at all, using a heat gun to melt the wax around the wick and carefully pouring out the hot wax gives you more wick to work with. Similarly, if the wick is completely buried, you must melt down the surrounding wax.  The Takeaway The glowing light and enjoyable scents of candles make them a welcome addition to any space, but if they aren’t burning properly, they can become fire hazards and affect your indoor air quality. You can help your candle burn cleaner and safer by keeping the wick trimmed, positioning it away from drafty areas and preventing a buildup of wax.   

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Can You Recycle Candles? 4 Fun Crafts for Your Jar

If you love candles, you probably have multiple scents and sizes for each room in your house. However, when they peter out, you’re left with just residual wax and an empty jar. Eco-minded candle lovers may wonder if there’s a way to recycle their candle remnants. You can reuse it to make a one-of-kind candle and use the empty jar around your house, in crafts and for storage.   Is Your Candle Wick too Long? Order a Wick Trimmer Today! Whether you want to create trendy craft beer drinking glasses or stylishly store your rice and lentils in the pantry, here four fun ways to repurpose your candle jar. Can You Recycle Candles? You usually have an inch left of candle wax after finishing with a candle if you’ve followed our instructions on how to make candles last longer. While you might not be able to recycle your wax traditionally, you can reuse it. Keep several boxes separated by scent. Once you have enough, use a wick trimmer to remove as much of the burned wicks as possible and then melt the wax down in a melting pot. Remove any leftover wicks and filter out any debris using muslin or cheesecloth. Finally, you can use this wax to make a candle yourself.  To make the most interesting candles, try mixing and matching your leftover wax from a different country candle. Although not all scent combinations work, you can experiment with the many varieties of candles Homesick offers. Know of a Friend Missing Home Right Now? Order a Country Candle of Their Native Land’s Scent Besides melting down the wax, you can repurpose your candle jar in a variety of ways. 1. Make Craft Beer Glasses Craft beer has surged in popularity, but when you can’t get to your favorite brewery, you can use your old candle jars as funky craft beer glasses. Remove all the wax and wash it out thoroughly with hot water. Run them through the dishwasher twice to remove any remnants of the original scent.  Even if you aren’t a beer drinker, candle jars make great cocktail glasses, too. Whether you prefer a refreshing gin and tonic or a sweet Dark and Stormy, you can make your living room feel like a boutique bar with repurposed candle jars. 2. Store Your Dried Food Pantry moths, also known as Indian meal moths, are a common household pest across the world. They love dried food, including rice, oats and flour. Often, your first sign you have pantry moths is when you discover unsightly clumps in your flour or rice, which quickly turn into larvae. One of the best ways to protect your dried foods from pantry moths is by storing them in glass jars.  Find cork or plastic lids the same diameter as the opening of your candle jar. Thoroughly clean out your jar, make sure it’s completely dry and store all your dry foods in it. Seal the jar with the lid and use a glass marker or adhesive label so you remember what product is in each jar.  3. Turn It into a Planter If you love fresh herbs but don’t have access to a garden, you can use your old candle jars to plant some thyme, basil and parsley seeds. Fresh herbs are more flavorful than dried and will give all your recipes a boost. If you have a black thumb, try planting a small succulent or cactus which requires less water and care than herbs. 4. Store Your Dog Treats  Whether you have a new puppy or a senior dog, you probably have an extensive collection of dog treats. Try repurposing your candle jar for storing your dog treats. If you use a compatible lid made from cork or plastic, the jars can keep your dog treats safe from moisture, helping them keep for longer. Especially if you buy the organic option, dog treats can be expensive and it’s frustrating when they go bad quickly.  Set up an arts and crafts table with your kids and use some glass markers to draw dog paws on the jar. Your kids can also glue ribbons or gems to the jars to create a personalized gift for your pooch.  Restock Your Candle Collection at Homesick Whether you’re cleaning out your old jars for planters or drinking a new craft beer, having a scented candle burning can make the experience even better. Order new candles to replace your finished ones. At Homesick, we have a variety of scents–from Date Night, with notes of cashmere, fig and red currant, to our Grandma’s Kitchen candle, with apple, butter and cream with a hint of cinnamon.  Whatever your crafting project, there’s a candle at Homesick to give you inspiration and focus. 

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What Does Tonka Bean Smell Like?

  Source: Ingrid Balabanova/Shutterstock.com Out of many of Homesick’s most popular candle scents comes a unique fragrance: the tonka bean. Used primarily as base notes and mid notes that linger beneath the surface, tonka bean is not as well-known as vanilla, but used more than you might realize. So what does this little bean bring to the table in terms of fragrance? And just what does tonka bean smell like? Here, we break down the aroma one might expect from a Homesick candle that includes tonka beans and explore the scent’s origins.  Where the Tonka Bean Comes from   Source: COULANGES/Shutterstock.com Tonka beans come from the tonka bean tree which grows in Central and South America’s tropical rainforests. Capable of growing to be 1,000 years old, the tonka bean tree blooms rose-colored flowers which in turn produce a fruit that holds a single inch-long tonka bean. As the fruit drops from the trees, the beans are harvested, cured for 24 hours through alcohol and then left out to dry. Once the tonka beans dry, they create a frost-like crystallization over the skin, resulting in coumarin, which is the absolute essence used in fragrances, deodorants, soaps and even cinnamon once it’s diluted.   Often called the “love-wishing” bean, some cultures believe the tonka bean to be an aphrodisiac or to have mystical properties to conjure up courage and wealth.  Discover Our Most Popular Candle Scents in Our Guide What Does Tonka Bean Smell Like, Exactly? While similar to vanilla, tonka bean doesn’t quite call to mind food, although it’s still a coveted ingredient and has been used in recipes for hundreds of years. Instead, the tonka bean lends a more neutral tone, like the nutty aroma of cinnamon. In comparison to vanilla, tonka bean offers a more subtle nuance of spices like nutmeg, toasted almonds and earthy woodsy scents. And it has the slight accent of amarena cherries, like those found in an Old-Fashioned cocktail.  Overall, tonka bean is a deep, rich and warm scent which is why it’s most commonly used as a base note in perfumed products—like our Homesick candles! Essentially, the tonka bean works to blend together other ingredients. Often, the longer the candle burns, the more noticeable the tonka bean becomes.  As mentioned, the tonka bean works to elevate or balance out other scents. For example, the tonka bean pairs wonderfully with fruit-based and citrus scents, as well as smoky and musk scents. Ultimately, the tonka bean brings more dimension, sometimes softening sharp notes like citrus or tamping down overbearing scents like musks and smoky aromas.   Love the Way Your Grandmother's Kitchen Smells? Order a Grandma's Kitchen Candle Homesick Candles with Tonka Bean Notes If you like the sound of this delicate yet spicy scent, take a look at some of Homesick’s candles that include the tonka bean as mid notes and base notes. From the East Coast’s Upstate New York pumpkin patches to the West Coast’s wine vineyards, here are some of our more popular candles that include the delightful tonka bean. New York State Candle   If you’re in a New York state of mind, check out the New York State Candle. Not to be confused with the Big Apple NYC-specific candle, the New York State candle captures the Upstate region, known for its Hudson Valley pumpkin patches and apple orchards, as well as the leaf-covered trails of the Adirondacks. In this candle, tonka bean and musk act as a base, elevating the earthiness of autumn hayrides and fall foliage. Pittsburgh Candle Within the Pittsburgh candle, you’ll find base notes of tonka bean, which helps balance the musk and top notes of smoke, clove and sandalwood. There’s nothing more reminiscent of Pittsburgh than the smell of industrial steel, pierogies and fireplace smoke—but the tonka bean keeps it from being overwhelming.  California Candles Whether you’re from Southern California or Northern California, we have a candle to remind you of home! The Southern California candle brings to mind fresh sea breezes and citrus fields of oranges and lemons, muted perfectly with undertones of tonka bean. For Northern Cali, the tonka bean adds depth to the nuttiness of vanilla, amber and musk with tasty pear and apple, reminiscent of its famous wine region and redwood forests.  Grandma’s Kitchen While it lacks the tonka bean ingredient, the Grandma’s kitchen candle is a favorite for those who appreciate a nutty flavor. With the scent of freshly baked snickerdoodles, which lend cinnamon, clove and vanilla notes, it offers the same sugar, spice and everything nice notes you might find with a tonka bean-inspired candle.  Experience the Smell of Tonka Bean for Yourself Want to know what the tonka bean smells like? Experience it for yourself! From the Beach Cottage Candle to the Birthday Party Candle, tonka bean offers a pleasant undertone that might just be the “love wish” you need to feel at home.

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Are Candles Bad for Dogs? Quick Answer: No!

Source: Aquarius Studio/Shutterstock.com  Just as humans are attracted to the sweet aromas of scented candles, it’s no surprise dogs and other pets may be, too. Dogs have an incredible sense of smell and may be drawn to the appetizing scents of the delicious-smelling candles throughout your home.  Before you worry too much, though, on the whole, candles don’t pose a significant health risk to dogs. While it’s good practice to keep candles, especially lit ones, out of the reach of your furry friend, some candles help eliminate foul pet odors and offer many other benefits–from aromatherapy to enhanced relaxation.  Are you wondering, “Are candles bad for dogs?” The quick answer is no. But if you’re concerned about an open flame around an energetic pup, you have other options available to you to keep your space smelling sweet and inviting.  Worried About the Open Flame? Order a Safe Reed Diffuser Today! Risks of Candles and Air Fresheners While the scents used in Homesick scented candles are not harmful to dogs and other pets, some scented candles and air fresheners, such as plug-ins and aerosol types, may contain irritating or harmful ingredients.   Some of these products may release synthetic fragrances that aggravate existing respiratory illnesses like asthma in people and pets or harmful toxins, such as naphthalene or phthalates. There have been cases in which phthalates released from some burning candles were suspected to have caused endocrine system disruption, leading to other serious diseases, such as diabetes and cancer.  Essential oils, used in some air diffusers and scented candles, are another substance that can cause some sensitivities to humans and pets alike. Several essential oil varieties should be avoided if you have pets in your home, as they have been shown to adversely impact your pet's health. These oils include eucalyptus, tea tree oil, wintergreen, pine, peppermint, camphor and clove. Depending on the oil concentration, even a few drops can cause illness, ranging from vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, depression and more. Even when they are diffused, some oils may still cause mild allergy symptoms or a cough. With this in mind, it’s recommended you don’t apply essential oils directly to your dog’s skin or fur.  Are Soy Candles Safe? Find Out in Our Guide! Safe Candle and Scented Options While some scented products should be avoided for you and your dog’s health and safety, at Homesick, we make safe candles with a natural soy wax blend and 100 percent organic cotton wicks for a smooth, long-lasting burn. If you’re wondering: “Are soy candles safe?” we can say with certainty they are.  Soy wax burns clean, and when you follow safe candle-burning practices, it produces little or no airborne particulates. And these delightful candles can help eliminate unwanted odors from your dog’s coat and leave your home smelling fresh. Like any candle, it’s best to keep an open flame away from happy dog tails to avoid the possibility of knocking them over and starting a fire.  If you’re concerned a strongly scented candle may irritate your pooch’s sensitive nose, try burning it in a well-ventilated room to keep your dog’s eyes and nose from becoming irritated.  Dogs have an incredibly powerful sense of smell that scientists believe is 10,000 times as acute as our sense of smell. For this reason, they may immediately pick up on the presence of a new scented candle and sniff it out.  Because some pets might find our candles’ scents so delicious, there’s always the possibility their strong noses might mistake it for a tasty snack. While ingesting these candles will likely result in nothing more than an unhappy stomach or diarrhea, it’s a good idea to keep your unlit candle out of your dog’s reach so they can avoid digestive distress and you can continue to enjoy delightful scents in your home.  If you’re looking for a fragrant solution that doesn’t pose a fire hazard, you can choose from one of our many reed diffuser scents that releases a wide range of delicious fragrances. A reed diffuser is a liquid air freshener that uses reeds to absorb the scent from the liquids and releases pleasant fragrances into the air. From tropical to energizing and comforting fragrances, reed diffuser oils offer an array of delicious scents to help mask pet odors and sprinkle your home with uplifting notes from your favorite aromatic ingredients.  The Bottom Line If you’re a candle lover or someone who likes to diffuse their home with scented oils, with the proper safety precautions, you can fill your home with beautiful aromas posing no health risks to your dog. When you buy a Homesick candle reed diffuser, be assured all our ingredients are non-toxic and free of lead, paraben, phthalates or synthetic dyes to keep your home smelling great and your dog happy and healthy. 

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Organizing Your Collection: How to Store Candles Safely

  Source: Floral Deco/Shutterstock.com When it comes to candle care, you want to ensure safe placement to avoid fire hazards as well as know how to fix candle tunneling to allow hours of burn time.  But there’s also another trick that can preserve the life of your candle: Learning how to store candles. To make your candles last, here are some expert tips on storing them properly when they’re not in use.  Basic Candle Storing Tips The Importance of Fire Safety First and foremost, it’s essential to learn how to store candles safely. According to the National Fire Protection Association, U.S. fire departments responded to roughly 7,600 home fires started by candles between 2014 and 2018. As a potential fire hazard, candles must be stored away from curious children and pets, even when not lit. Plus, you should avoid storing candles in cardboard boxes and, in general, anything flammable—just in case!  Store Candles at Room Temperature Candles are intended to melt. However, don’t let them melt when you can’t enjoy them. In other words, when not in use, avoid storing your candles in warm areas, ideally room temperature. Otherwise, they can soften, bend and even melt together. Unlike bare candles, such as pillars or the tapered variety, this is one advantage of jar candles—they remain intact!  In the same vein, never freeze your candles! Since wicks are typically made of a natural wood or fibrous material (ours are 100 percent organic cotton), it can become damaged if it absorbs too much moisture and freezes. Learn All the Necessary Candle Care Here! Keep Away from Sunlight Direct sunlight does more than melt candles. It will also make the candle’s beautiful color and custom fragrance fade much faster. So consider storing your candles in a pantry or bathroom cupboard, away from the sun’s UV rays. Basically, the darker the space, the longer your candle will stay preserved.  Avoid Moisture-Prone Areas Lastly, be sure to store your candles somewhere in the home that’s nice and dry. While it’s nice to keep candles in the bathroom for self-care days where you unwind with a deep tub soak, avoid storing them beneath the sink where leaks can occur. It’s also a wise idea to avoid damp basements unless it’s a jar candle style. How to Store Candles from Homesick   Source: Enjoy The Life/Shutterstock.com You can lengthen the life of candles and scented products like fresheners and reed diffusers by storing them correctly. Here are our recommendations on how best to preserve each Homesick product:   Jar and Tumbler Candles Jar and tumbler candles are stored best standing upright. Unlike pillar and tapered candles, the container keeps them from melting or warping and generally just makes them easier to care for. The jar or container holds the scent, lasting far longer. Safely stack unused jar and tumbler candles in a box or basket in the room you use them in most frequently—protecting the container itself from being broken or damaged—and you’re all good!   Car Fresheners Although they’re not wax and wick-based, car fresheners should also be stored correctly. Like candles, they can still lose their scents quickly, which would be a real shame the next time you retrieve it for a road trip. Instead, keep your car fresheners stored in a sealed container, like a plastic baggie. Also, be sure to keep car fresheners in their original packaging or stored separately to preserve their scents. For convenience, keep your car fresheners somewhere that makes sense to you, whether it’s directly in the car’s glove box or center console or tucked away inside the garage. No Such Thing as Too Many Candles, But Try a Reed Diffuser If You Consider Yourself a Candle Collector Reed Diffusers Reed diffuser sticks and oils should be handled much the same way as car fresheners. Cap the oil container, storing it upright to ensure it doesn’t leak. For the reeds, keep them wrapped up in an airtight baggie until they’re ready to be used again. It’s worth noting you should avoid muddling scents and using reeds in multiple diffusers. So it’s best to mark or label which reeds belong to which oil diffuser.    Organize and Store Candles We hope this has brought some insight into how to store candles, both as a safety means and to preserve them. This way, you can enjoy them as long as possible! Plus, when you want to bring out your favorites and revisit a special place or hometown, you can rest assured the scent is as good as new.

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What Does Ylang Ylang Smell Like?

Ylang ylang is a deep, rich aroma with slightly sweet, earthy, green and floral notes. It elicits hints of custard, jasmine, banana, neroli (bitter orange), honey and spice.  If you’re a fan of great-smelling scented candles and scented oils, you’ve probably come across the phrase “ylang ylang” on ingredients lists a time or two. Although it’s becoming increasingly more common in scented stuff, this is one aromatic that’s still quite misunderstood. In this guide, we’re going deep on the botanical extract known as ylang ylang so you can decide if this is a scent you want to add to your daily rotation. Hint: If you’re all about sweet and sophisticated yet earthy aromas, you’re definitely going to want to say yes to ylang. Fun fact: Ylang ylang is pronounced like “e-lang e-lang.” The name is derived from the Tagalog word “ilang,” which means wilderness. It is often interpreted to mean “flower of flower,” but this is largely considered a mistranslation. What Is Ylang Ylang? Ylang ylang is the name of a yellow star-shaped flower of the cananga tree (Cananga odorata). This tropical, climbing evergreen is found throughout the world, primarily in Southeast Asia and Australia, and is prized for its fragrant-smelling flowers which produce an extract used in some of the world’s most beloved perfumes. The tree is a member of the custard apple family, which may explain why people often detect a subtle custard smell in its flowers. To produce ylang ylang essential oil — the aromatic substance that’s added to candles and perfumes to give them their characteristic scent — producers extract oil from the tree’s blossoms via the steam distillation method. Through this distillation process, they are able to extract multiple forms of the oil, from the highly sought-after ylang ylang extra used in perfumes and high-quality essential oils to softer, less fragrant extracts that may be used in cosmetics or soap. In fact, there are five unique designations in the production of this highly sought-after essential oil. You may have noticed phrases like “ylang ylang complete” on the labels of fragrant products, and this can tell us a lot about the quality or strength of the ylang ylang in the formula. A grading system is used to indicate quality and characteristics of ylang ylang extract. Extra. Ylang ylang extra is the first extract to come from the distillation process and is harvested after one hour. It’s the richest and most potent version of this essential oil. It’s usually what’s added to high-end perfumes and candles used for aromatherapy. Naturally, because it’s so powerful and beloved, extra-grade ylang ylang is also the most expensive. First through Third. After the extra-grade ylang ylang has been harvested, producers will allow the distillation process to continue for several hours before harvesting another round which is slightly subtler than extra. The first, second and third rounds of distillation each produce different distillates with progressively subtle properties and aromatic strengths. Complete. When ylang ylang oil is referred to as “complete” that means that it is a combination of all four distillates mentioned above. Typically, it takes around 10 to 20 hours of distillation to produce. Though it’s not used as often in perfumery, ylang ylang complete is still desirable in applications where a milder scent is preferred, so don’t discount it altogether.  Uses for Ylang Ylang In addition to its strong aromatic potential, the ylang ylang flower has been employed in medicinal and wellness applications for centuries.  All over the world, people have used the flowery extract as a remedy for an assortment of ailments, from asthma to malaria to pneumonia to stomach ache. Because it is believed to calm the heart rate and lower blood pressure, ylang ylang is also used as an antidepressant and anti-anxiety treatment, though more research is needed to determine the safety and efficacy of this use. It is also believed to slow down the production of sebum (skin oil), so it may be added to skincare products. From an aromatherapy perspective, ylang ylang certainly has a way of impacting the vibe of a space and it can elicit certain feelings. It’s known to be a calming scent, which makes it a good choice for more chill applications and relaxing aromatherapy uses, such as massage or meditation.  Oh yeah, and let’s not forget that cultures have used this powerful plant in sexual wellness endeavors for centuries, earning it the nickname “the oil of lovers”! Indeed, ylang ylang has a history of use as an aphrodisiac and sexual stimulator, so it’s a great smell to keep around if you’re looking to bring a little steaminess to the room. In fact, in Indonesia, it’s traditional for ylang ylang flowers to be spread over the bed of newlyweds to enhance romance!  Whether you think of it as purely a lovely scent or a powerful therapy tool, ylang ylang is a great option to have in the rotation. Ylang Ylang Smell and Properties Ylang ylang can be described as a deep, rich aroma that’s slightly sweet and floral. It brings hints of custard, jasmine, banana, neroli (bitter orange), honey and spice. It also bears characteristics of earthiness and greenery. Some people detect a subtle rubbery or metallic note with this essential oil.  Sexy, nuanced and refusing to be pigeon-holed, ylang ylang is a complex aroma that brings many layers to the table. In other words, it’s not your basic candle ingredient! One of the things we love so much about this smell is that it’s so layered. What you detect one day might reveal something totally different from the next. That’s not to say ylang ylang is overpowering. In fact, it’s known for being a great complement to other aromas and can bring a nice balance to other essential oils. Need a more concrete descriptor? People have compared the smell of ylang ylang to the smell of a stick of Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit Gum. It sounds weird, but it actually makes sense since the gum is made from natural fruit extracts, kind of like ylang ylang itself. But don’t mistake this essential oil for low-brow — it’s actually famously used in one of the world’s most beloved fragrances, Chanel No. 5. Hints of jasmine are abundant in ylang ylang essential oil, which is why it’s often used in the best floral perfumes.  Described as alluring, feminine and romantic, ylang ylang can bring warmth and romance to the mood. It also suits the tastes of those who prefer light, elegant aromas that aren’t overpowering. Because it’s so multifaceted, many people don’t have strong associations with the smell of ylang ylang, which makes it a great option when you want to create space designed for focus and creativity. Nothing compares to smelling something for yourself, so make sure to peruse our selection of ylang ylang scented candles to find some great products that enhance your home and fill it with the warm, welcoming scent of ylang ylang. This aroma lends itself very well to our place candles, since all cities and states are complex and varied, just like the profile of this versatile essential oil.  Our Favorite Ylang Ylang Candles and Reed Diffusers Because of its unique aromatic profile and complexities, ylang ylang is a great candidate for high-quality scented candles and reed diffusers that bring an enjoyable scent to the room. In fact, we use it in many of our most popular products to help bring that sweet, floral earthiness into the mix. If you want to try it out for yourself, pick up one of these amazing ylang ylang scented candles from Homesick. Los Angeles Candle — Given that La La Land is such a diverse city, it only made sense for us to toss some ylang ylang into our LA candle. This great-smelling candle features top notes of orange, bergamot and rose, which make way for mid notes of ylang ylang and lemon and base notes of jasmine and musk. It reminds us of clean sea breezes and desert sand. Heavenly, right? You can also get this scent in an LA reed diffuser if you’re not big on flames or in an LA car freshener if you want to take it with you as you cruise the freeway. South Carolina — Ylang ylang is the perfect addition to a candle crafted in honor of the great state of South Carolina! This state lends itself well to botanical candles in honor of the most ubiquitous blossom — the magnolia. This one is reminiscent of the state’s coastal charm, tropical florals and relaxed people, with top notes of bergamot, grapefruit and lemon and mid notes of magnolia, hibiscus and sugar. The fragrant floral candle comes to life with the addition of a little ylang ylang, vanilla and black tea to round out the Southern vibes.  Gender Reveal Candle — Looking for a fun and unique way to announce the gender of your baby? Our Gender Reveal candle does just that thanks to a special color-changing label. Since it has aromatics that we associate with both masculine and feminine qualities — although, let’s be honest, all scents are for all genders — it was an obvious choice for this candle. In addition to ylang ylang, it features notes of cedar and musk to treat the nose. This candle makes an awesome pregnancy gift for a friend who just announced she’s expecting! Thank you, Mom Candle — If your mom is the kind of lady who loves a complex, flowery perfume (Chanel No. 5, perhaps), then she will adore the way this candle smells. It really cranks up the botanical power thanks to top notes of bergamot, lavender and sage with mid notes of jasmine and ylang ylang. The sandalwood, musk and lily base notes will have mama melting with joy! This candle makes the perfect Mother’s Day gift because it tickles the nose with the bouquet of fresh-cut flowers, and you know mom will love that. The Best Ylang Ylang Candles Whether you’re looking for thoughtful personalized candles handpicked for a loved one or want to enhance your life with vibrant aromatics, we hope you’ll consider ylang ylang as a great addition to your library of scents. This richly scented essential oil is a spectacular standby that works regardless of if you’re feeling sweet, spicy, relaxed or energetic. At Homesick, we take special care to preserve the purity of our essential oils, and all of our candles are made from natural soy wax with premium cotton wicks and custom fragrance oils.   Image Credits PHENPHAYOM/Shutterstock.com Mama Belle and the kids/Shutterstock.com SiNeeKan/Shutterstock.com alanadesign/Shutterstock.com Artco/Shutterstock.com Maks Narodenko/Shutterstock.com Olexandr Panchenko/Shutterstock.com Sergio Sergo/Shutterstock.com Dionisvera/Shutterstock.com Nata-Lia/Shutterstock.com wasanajai/Shutterstock.com

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What Does Bergamot Smell Like? Getting to Know the Popular Citrus Fragrance

You’ve probably never eaten a bergamot orange, given their extremely acidic taste. What’s more, you might not have even seen one growing, unless perhaps you’ve visited the southern region of Italy where they’re mostly produced. However, you definitely have smelled bergamot before, as it’s one of the most common citrus scents that is featured in both candles and perfume. Read on to learn what bergamot is, what bergamot smells like and where this unusual citrus fruit comes from. We wrap up by highlighting some of our favorite candle scents that incorporate bergamot into the fragrance. What is bergamot? Bergamot is a plant that belongs to the citrus family. It’s technically an orange, but it has a green-to-yellow peel and yellow flesh, which distinguishes it from other common oranges, such as navels, mandarins and clementines. Unlike most other oranges, the pear-shaped bergamots are almost completely inedible due to their acidic, bitter flesh. Instead, they are mostly grown for their peels, which are used in teas, fragrance and so on. (More about the uses of bergamot below.) The name “bergamot” comes from the French bergamote, which came from the Italian bergamotta, which is named for the town Bergamo. However, the word is ultimately Turkish in origin, coming from the word bey armudu or bey armut, which means “lord’s pear” or “prince’s pear.” It’s not known if the name refers to the fruit’s pear-like shape, or if another citrus fruit such as a lemon was crossed with a pear tree at some point back in history. The bergamot orange should not be confused with the bergamot herb, which is a perennial native to North America. The herb bergamot produces tubular, leafy stalks that are topped by brightly colored flower clusters in purple, pink and red. The herb bergamot belongs to the mint family and encompasses several varieties, including lemon bergamot (lemon mint), wild bergamot (purple bee balm) and orange mint (something confusingly referred to as simply “bergamot”). If you see bergamot referenced on a label, check to see if the plant in question is the bergamot orange or the herb bergamot. Sometimes, bergamot citrus oils are adulterated with the oils from bergamot mint or other plants such as rosewood. In Italy, the primary producer of bergamot, the production of the essential oil is regulated to ensure the highest quality product. What does bergamot smell like? Like other fragrances from the citrus family, bergamot does have that classic sweet-yet-tart smell. However, bergamot also brings its own floral, spicy edge to the acidically appealing scent. It’s highly fragrant and, in fact, bergamot is what gives Earl Grey tea its notable scent. Bergamot is a very versatile scent and pairs well with many other fragrances, including jasmine, rosemary, sandalwood, vetiver and ylang ylang. Bergamot may also be used alongside other citrus scents, including orange, lemon, lime and grapefruit, to further enhance the citrus fragrance and add a different dimension to the fragrance profile. Where does bergamot originate from? While the bergamot orange plant originally comes from Southeast Asia, it is now primarily grown in the southern regions of Italy. Confusingly, the Italian town that the plant is named after–Bergamo–is located in the north, where the citrus plants do not grow. Instead, the bergamot orange is primarily grown around the Ionian Sea coast of Calabria in Southern Italy.  In fact, the crop is so important to the region that the fruit is the symbol of the city Reggio di Calabria. Reggio di Calabria has a special agency of the chamber of commerce, Stazione Sperimentale per le Industrie delle Essenze e dei Derivati dagli Agrumi (SSEA) (Experimental Station for the Industry of the Essential Oils and Citrus Products), to regulate the production of oil. The fruit is also produced in Argentina, Brazil, Algeria, the Ivory Coast, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey and Southeast Asia. Italy, however, is still the primary producer of bergamot oranges and oil. During World War II, when Italy wasn’t able to export to the Allied Powers, some replacements did come on the market from Brazil and Mexico. These imitation products were made from other citrus fruits, such as sweet lime, as opposed to the genuine bergamot orange. How else is bergamot used? While you might not have heard of bergamot oranges, the scent has many applications. It’s one of the most common fragrances in perfumes and candles thanks to its strong, complex, unique scent profile. The rind is also a critical ingredient used in Earl Grey tea, contributing to both the scent and taste. Anything that is “Earl Grey” flavored or scented is likely to include bergamot orange. Bergamot also comes in essential oil form, which has many different applications. Some people like to add a few drops to beauty products, apply it topically on their skin or hair or ingest a few drops in their beverage. Applying undiluted essential oils can be a bit harsh for your skin, so you may want to dilute the bergamot oil with a gentle carrier oil, such as almond oil, before applying topically. As with all essential oils, keep bergamot away from your eyes in case of irritation. If you do apply it topically, keep in mind that citrus essential oils, including bergamot, make the skin more sensitive to UV rays put out by the sun, tanning beds and sunlamps. Don’t apply the oil before exposure to UV rays. What are the benefits of bergamot? Bergamot has become a popular essential oil in recent years due to its many different properties. While the evidence for many essential oils is largely anecdotal at this point, many people turn to bergamot to help with a variety of issues: Boosts energy and alertness: Like the rest of the citrus scents, bergamot is very energizing and helps perks you up. As a result, it’s a great candle to burn in the mornings, or you can incorporate the essential oil into your morning routine. Relieves physical aches and tension: Some people find that when applied topically, bergamot oil helps relieve sore, tense muscles. Add a few drops to a carrier oil or lotion and massage it into your muscles. You can also massage it on your forehead if you have a headache, as long as the smell doesn’t make it worse. Improves mood: Partly as a result of the other benefits on this list, bergamot orange can help improve your mood and soothe away nervous tension. If you need to relieve stress while still remaining alert, opt for bergamot over a more calming scent such as lavender, which might make you sleepy. Promotes good physical health: There are some indications that ingesting bergamot orange, especially in the form of Earl Grey tea, can encourage better physical health in terms of lower cholesterol, proper digestion, weight loss and protection against diabetes and heart disease. More research is needed, but these are exciting possibilities. Candles That Include Bergamot Beach Cottage Candle Oranges often grow along warm coastlines, so it makes total sense that a beach cottage scented candle would include bergamot as part of the scent. A generous base note of sea air combines with tonka bean and amber for a salty, warm scent. Mid notes of marine, plumeria and musk add to the seaside appeal, while top notes of bergamot and sandalwood add citrusy, woody overtones to round out the fragrance profile. Florida Candle Florida is known for its citrus fruit, so of course we had to include it in our list of bergamot candles. This candle incorporates top notes of bergamot and mid notes of orange for a true citrus scent. Other fragrance notes like vanilla, amber, musk, mangrove wood, and Spanish moss add more complexity and nuance to the scent. This is much more than just an orange scented candle and really captures the scent of the state of Florida. Los Angeles Candle The City of Angels is one of the largest cities in the United States, so we had our work cut out for us when it came to capturing this populous, diverse city. We started with base notes of jasmine and musk for a subtle, floral scent. Then, we added in ylang ylang to add another dimension to the fragrance, as well as lemon to add some citrus to cut through the floral scent. To finish off the scent, we added in orange, bergamot and rose to further add to the citrus-floral combination. Washington Candle This candle fragrance was inspired by drinking Earl Grey tea on a rainy Seattle afternoon, so you know that it contains bergamot. Mid notes of rhododendron and cedarwood are layered over base notes of amber, musk and vanilla to give off hints of a forest. We topped off the scent with not only bergamot but also patchouli and maple for a very soothing, warm fragrance that’s perfect for a damp fall afternoon. Dallas Candle If you’re looking for a smoky leather candle, definitely check out our Dallas candle. Deep base notes of oakmoss and frankincense combine with mid notes of leather, nutmeg and cedarwood for a masculine, woody scent. Top notes of smoke, grapefruit and bergamot add a citrusy, smoky overtone that helps liven up the other deeper fragrances. Whether or not you’ve lived in Dallas, you’ll enjoy burning this candle. Illinois Candle This floral, citrus scent offers a subtle surprise in the form of top notes of chocolate. The base of raspberry and vanilla combines with honeysuckle and lavender for a floral fragrance with sweet, slightly fruity undertones. Bergamot forms the top notes, as does chocolate, which helps add a citrusy, savory overtone and keeps the floral notes from overwhelming the candle. If you’ve never thought about what Illinois smells like, you’re in for a real treat with this candle fragrance. Miami Candle We know we already included Florida, but we couldn’t resist adding our Miami candle to this list of bergamot candles. If you wish you had a summer vacation in candle form, this is the product you’ve been looking for. Base notes of patchouli and musk combine with coconut to get that beachy scent, which we boosted even further with notes of suntan lotion as well as lavender. Top notes of bergamot, lemon and sea breeze complete the fragrance profile and ensure that you will be transported to the beach as soon as you light this beach candle. South Carolina Candle If you want a candle that’s floral, citrusy and utterly unique, definitely check out our South Carolina candle. We started with a base of not just ylang ylang and vanilla, but also black tea to add a spicy yet sweet note. Then, we added in some magnolia, hibiscus and sugar to capture the scent of flowers blooming in summer. We finished off the fragrance with the citrus trinity of bergamot, grapefruit and lemon for some light, refreshing overtones. Nashville Candle This candle captures the memory of barrel-aged whiskey and honky tonk music late at night. To encapsulate the energy of Music City, we started with a base of sandalwood, tonka bean and musk for a subtle, heady scent. Then, we layered in patchouli, cedarwood and vanilla to add a hint of sweetness and further imbue the fragrance with the scent of whiskey barrels. Finally, we added in some maple and tobacco for that sweet smokiness, and finished it all off with a spritz of bergamot to balance out the scent with some citrus. Bergamot is a fantastic scent that can be incorporated into many different scent profiles ranging from Earl Grey tea to citrus medleys. Next time you see “bergamot” listed on a scent label, you’ll not only know where it comes from but also what bergamot smells like.   Image Credits sagulpol2807 / Shutterstock.com fotorawin / Shutterstock.com cjhobo / Shutterstock.com cheewa / Shutterstock.com Sakoodter Stocker / Shutterstock.com Junjira Limcharoen / Shutterstock.com

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How Long Do Candles Last?

Have you ever noticed that some candles tend to last months while others burn down in days? You’re not imagining things! There is quite a broad spectrum of candle burn times, with discrepancies of 30 to 40 hours from brand to brand. Unfortunately, there’s no simple answer to the question of how long candles last. It depends on a variety of factors, from the ingredients used to make the candles to your approach to candle care. However, there are some ways to lengthen the life of your candle and get the most burn for your buck. Burn Time Basics Generally, when we’re talking about the lifespan of candles, we’re talking about a factor known as burn time. Burn time refers to the number of hours a candle will stay lit without being extinguished. Good candle companies (ahem, Homesick) will always list burn time. For larger candles — 12 ounces and up — a great range is somewhere between five and eight hours per ounce. Keep in mind that large candles and those with long or multiple wicks will burn much faster than small votives and single-wick candles. How to Make Candles Last Longer How long candles last depends largely on the following factors. Luckily, there are some pretty amazing tricks you can use to make your candles last longer. Here are a few important things to do to keep the flame alive. Buy Long-Lasting Candles — Step one in your candle longevity journey: buy long-burning candles! Look for high-quality soy blend candles made with premium ingredients. Soy is better than paraffin in candle-making because, not only does it burn cleaner with fewer toxins and unwanted chemicals, but it also burns slower. This can help you fill your space with a robust scent that lasts longer and throws more evenly throughout your home so you don’t get any big, overwhelming bursts that overpower or cause headaches. Trim the Wicks — Always use a wick trimmer and trim the wick of your new candles before lighting them. This ensures that the flame doesn’t have too much wick to burn, which could result in it burning too quickly or unevenly. Always trim the wick down to between an eighth and a quarter of an inch before lighting in order to promote a slower, more consistent burn. Learn Burn-Down Tricks — Admit it: You’ve tossed out a candle that still had some wax in the jar once or twice, haven’t you? Don’t worry, we’ve all done it! Sometimes the idea of digging out a buried wick or melting stubborn wax just feels like way too much work, and who has time for that? But burning your candles all the way down to the bottom of the jar is one of the best ways to get the most burn for your buck, so to speak, so you want to do everything you can to burn it to the very last drop. Read our guide on how to burn a candle all the way down for the best tips and tricks.  Avoid Drafts — Do your best to light candles only in confined, draft-free spaces. If you light a candle in the breeze of a fan or open window, the current will cause the flame to burn quickly and unevenly, which will prevent it from burning entirely when the wick gets towards the bottom. The windowsill or a room with a fast-moving ceiling fan isn’t the best place for a lit candle, especially if you want it to last as long as possible! The Best Long-Burning Candles Ready to experience amazing scents, hour after hour? If it’s burn time you seek, you can’t go wrong with our high-quality scented candles. Homesick candles boast a relatively long burn time — most of our hand-poured soy wax candles will stay alive for up to 80 hours. How does that stack up? We don’t want to talk down on other brands, but suffice it to say that some of the most popular candle brands don’t even burn for half as long in a similar size.   Knowing how to lengthen the life of your candles is an excellent way to make your dollar go further and get the most out of every candle you burn! Be sure to follow these tips for the best candle lifespan.  

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Candle Throw: What Is It and Why Is It Important?

Have you ever noticed that certain candle scents seem to travel farther than others? Perhaps you’ve lit your favorite scented candle in the living room and noticed that it wafted upstairs to your bedroom. With a different candle, you may notice that the scent doesn’t seem to travel much at all, and only lingers within a few feet of the flame. These are acute observations that can be explained with the concept of candle throw.  Source: Jordan Lye/Shutterstock.com In the never-ending quest for how to make your house smell good, it never hurts to bone up on a little bit of science! In scent-ology (otherwise known as aromachology), the throw of your fragrances is a big topic of discussion. Knowing the concepts of candle throw can help you make the most out of your fragrance purchases and create the just-right ambiance in your home or business. It can also save you some money by helping you reduce the number of candles you need for the right effect. What Is Candle Throw? Candle throw refers to the distance a certain candle can distribute its aroma. In other words, it refers to how far a fragrance travels. This concept can refer to both lit and unlit candles and is referred to as hot throw and cold throw, respectively. A number of things affect how far a candle’s scent will travel, including how it’s made, what it’s made of and where you light it. Of course, we all want fast-traveling, robust aromas, and having a broader and stronger candle throw can save us cash by lowering the number of candles needed in a certain space. However, a more confined candle throw can be a good thing, too. For example, you may want to keep relaxing scents in the bedroom and more lively ones in the home gym or office. Things That Affect Candle Throw The most obvious thing that might affect how far and wide a candle’s aroma goes is its ingredients. Naturally, cheap and watered down essential oils won’t be as vibrant or hearty as the pure, high-quality ones. But there’s much more to the story than that. Here are some other contributors to short or long candle throw. Wax Type — You may notice that a good-quality soy coconut wax blend candle seems to pleasantly waft throughout your home, while a cheap dollar store one barely emits a scent at all. That’s no accident! Soy wax is beloved because it burns cleaner than other options, such as paraffin. It also brings the distinct benefit of a wider and more even scent distribution.  Candle Ingredients — As previously mentioned, candles made with high-quality oils will emit their scents farther than cheap, lesser quality ones. Premium scented candles are generally made with richer, more natural oils that are emitted slowly over a period of time, which allows them to evenly fill a space with a vigorous aroma. Candle Placement — Of course, the air flow and confinement of a room will have a big effect on how far a candle’s smell is allowed to travel. Place your favorite candle in a small bathroom and close the door and its throw will, for the most part, remain confined to that space. On the other hand, place it in a space with a lot of natural air flow or a ceiling fan, and the natural movement of the air will carry it farther and extend its throw throughout the house. Candle Design — The way the candle was made will also impact how well it circulates throughout your environment. For example, if the candle is designed to create a wide wax pool — that’s the pool of melted wax that develops on the top of your burning candle — it will give you a wider throw. Thus, candles with more than one wick tend to throw farther than single-wick candles, as do those with wider jars.  Source: easyshutter/Shutterstock.com Why Candle Throw Matters At the end of the day, candle throw may not matter to you at all (and that’s totally OK)! But if you want to make the most out of your candle purchase and find options that fill your entire space evenly, knowing a thing or two about throw can help you make more informed decisions. The best thing you can do is to buy candles designed to cast a wide, even throw, such as those from Homesick.  

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6 Homesick Candles That Smell Like Cologne

Cologne is one of the most evocative aromas around, as it has the tendency to trigger memories of our favorite guys — dads, grandpas, uncles, boyfriends and husbands. That’s why we always keep a variety of cologne-inspired candles in the rotation. Whether you’re looking for the best candles for men or simply want to fill your space with that sweet, sweet nostalgia, you’ll find a great option here.  Notes Associated with the Smell of Cologne When we think of classic cologne smells, the first descriptor that probably comes to mind is masculine, although these gender associations are not as firm as they once were. In fact, popular scents like musk and wood have become hugely popular in both men’s and women’s fragrances in the past several years, and they are now placed firmly in the unisex pile. With that being said, there are definitely some aromatics and oils we strongly associate with men’s cologne, including bourbon, sandalwood, leather, spice, tonka bean, cinnamon and clove. What does sandalwood smell like? Get the inside scoop on this beloved aromatic on the Homesick blog. Remember in the 1998 remake of The Parent Trap, when Hallie said the smell of peppermint and pipe tobacco reminded her of her grandfather? The smoky aroma of tobacco mixed with fresh, spicy or sweet scents can really round out a good candle. Oh, and let’s not forget the cologne OG — musk! This heavy, woodsy and earthy aromatic is actually named because it was harvested from the male musk deer, who uses it to attract mates. Sexy, right? The Best Cologne-Inspired Candles Now that we’ve got a good idea for what essential oils to look for in cologne-like candles, let’s explore a few of the most popular options from Homesick. Pittsburgh — You don’t have to be a Steel City native to light this heavenly scented candle. Featuring notes of sandalwood, clove, smoke, steel, spring water, cinnamon, vanilla, tonka bean and musk, it brings a multidimensional yet masculine aroma that evokes the memory of your favorite guy. Texas — If your idea of cologne is a little more on the rustic, manly-man side, then you’ll love the Texas candle. Featuring notes of leather, pine needles, lime, cedarwood, moss, musk and cyclamen, the Lonestar State vibes are strong with this one. Vermont — For that classic, old-school cologne aroma, look for cinnamon-scented candles with undertones of spice, like our Vermont candle. It combines apple peel, maple and eucalyptus top notes with base notes of cinnamon, baked pie crust and clove for a woodsy fall vibe. The vanilla, sandalwood and amber undertones tie it all together. Denver — Capture that woodsy cologne vibe with this candle inspired by the Mile High City. It’s packed with essential oils honoring all the most classically masculine scents — bergamot, fir, pine, patchouli, cedarwood, amber, moss and more. It’s also got a hint of hemp because, well…Colorado. West Virginia — Capturing a bouquet of our favorite cologne components, the Homesick West Virginia candle brings a little sweetness to the room. It starts with top notes of bourbon, maple and chocolate, followed by mid notes of honeysuckle and vanilla and base notes of sugar cookie and musk. Perfection. Road Trip — Reminiscent of great adventures with the guys, the Road Trip candle combines notes of lime, leather, marine, fresh air, cedarwood, amber and jasmine for a spicy yet manly fragrance that reminds you of the open road. Naturally, it also comes in a car freshener for your journey. No matter if you’re looking for a thoughtful gift for your favorite guy — especially one who has recently moved into a new place or is celebrating a big milestone — or simply love traditionally masculine smelling candles, you’ll go crazy for these classic cologne candles from Homesick.  

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