If you want a cold weather candle that smells like a lit hearth instead of a bakery, linneas lights fireside is one I keep coming back to every winter.
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A smoldering blend of tobacco, clove, pine and sensual woods.
The description for the Linnea’s Lights Fireside candle is perfect! Smoldering and sensual are spot on. I love this blend. It reminds me of Aquiesse Cinnamon Tabac, but instead of going heavy into spices, it takes an almost fresh turn with notes of crisp pine needs. I love the base of sensual woods to ground the fragrance and bring an earthy feel but not overwhelm. This is a great, unique blend that would work well in the cooler winter months from November to February.
How linneas lights fireside smells in a room
The maker describes a smoldering blend of tobacco, clove, pine and sensual woods, and that is close to the order I smell it in. Pine comes first and keeps the scent from feeling heavy. The woods sit underneath and give it a calm, grounded finish.
Smoky candles are easy to overdo, so I like that this one stays balanced. It suggests a fire without making your living room smell like you stood too close to one.
Clove adds a little warmth and a hint of spice, but it stays in the background. If you do not like sweet candles, that restraint is a good sign.
If you have burned linneas lights fireside before, you know the pine keeps the tobacco from tasting sweet. If you have not, imagine walking into a cabin where someone built a fire an hour ago and opened a window to let the first smoke out.
Try linneas lights fireside next to a lit window and watch how the scent changes as the room warms. That is the best way to judge any woody candle.
Few candles say winter as clearly as linneas lights fireside.
Where this candle fits best
I would place it in a living room, den or entry hall, somewhere guests sit and talk. In a small bedroom it may be too much. One candle in a room of average size is usually plenty, and you can always relight it later.
A candle, a blanket and a book on a wet November night beats most television. The pine in the blend also sits well next to a real tree at the holidays, and the fir trees gives some background on the trees behind that scent.
It also suits an open plan space because the pine travels. A smoky scent that is too heavy in a closed room can feel just right when it has space to spread. I would try it in the main room first, then move it if it feels strong.
Linneas lights fireside fits any room with a sofa and a lamp.
If you like it, try these
I have compared this candle with a spicier tobacco scent, and the difference is worth explaining. Spice makes a candle feel sweet and warm, while pine makes it feel clean and outdoorsy. If you want more of the second, linneas lights fireside is the one to pick.
For more smoky and tobacco style reading, have a look at our Tabak and tobacco post. And for the rest of the cold season range, the Linnea’s Lights Winter candle is a nice companion.
Candles with a woody base like this one wear well across several hours. Other seasonal blends can fade out quickly, so a steady scent like linneas lights fireside is a pleasant surprise when the evening runs long.
I would recommend linneas lights fireside to anyone who likes a woodsy winter scent.
Burning it well, and giving it
Beyond the burn, this candle is easy to live with.
The maker calls these 9oz soy candles with lead free cotton wicks, so the basics are already good. Trim the wick before each burn, give the first burn enough time for the wax to melt across the top, and keep it out of drafts.
A full melt pool on the first burn matters more than people think. A candle that tunnels down the middle wastes wax and never throws the scent properly.
Light linneas lights fireside for an evening, not for ten minutes, and you will notice the difference. Check the maker’s page for exact notes and care details before you buy.
Some scents are for summer porches and some are for short days. This one belongs to the second group. I think of it for the stretch between November and February, when the house is shut up and a little smoke and pine feels right.
It also makes an easy gift for someone who says they do not like candles. A smoky wood blend rarely feels like a fussy gift, and it is hard to get wrong.
Wrap it with a box of matches and a short note about the first burn, and you have given something useful as well as pretty.
Do not forget the matches in the box. It is a small thing, but it tells you the maker thought about the whole experience, including the first match strike.
If you only buy one smoky candle this winter, make it this one.
Give linneas lights fireside a try this winter, and tell me how it goes.
Header photo:
Dejan Jovanovic, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0).
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