Fall candle season is here, and LAFCO Pumpkin Pomander is one of the ones people are talking about. The review below comes from candle reviewer Chrissy Fitzgerald, who has been burning it.
Cooler weather is finally here and that means seasonal candles! And pumpkin everything. Pumpkin and spice and.. is that lily of the valley?
LAFCO’s Pumpkin Pomander candle is love and nostalgia at first sniff. I couldn’t have been more excited to spark this one up. The intoxicating aroma is both familiar and surprising. Comfortable and inviting, yet nuanced and deep.
It’s a bite from Proust’s madeleine- you are immediately whisked off to a place and time that you once remembered.
The sleek and sophisticated silver box is supremely giftable. The substantial hand-blown glass jar is a lovely iridescent deep orange. I enjoyed watching the warm glow as the evening light waned, and the flame burned down into the night.
This is a candle to enjoy with loved ones. At the dinner table, with good conversation. At parties and holiday gatherings. Burn it in the foyer, in the kitchen, or in your family room.
It’s a gourmand scent that goes both ways- the pumpkin and spices (ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, mandarin, and clove) are tempered with a fresh floral blend at its heart (heliotrope, muguet, lavandin, and geranium.) How interesting!
The throw isn’t overpowering yet fills a room and lingers. Choose the larger size (Signature) for big, open spaces, or the smaller size (Classic) for cozy nooks.
Pumpkin Pomander has been in the works for a few years now. LAFCO wanted to introduce a classic pumpkin fragrance to their mix, but with a twist. They nailed it- you’ll be reaching for this candle again and again in the months ahead.
-Chrissy Fitzgerald, candle reviewer and publisher at The Downtown Annapolis
What is in LAFCO Pumpkin Pomander
This is a gourmand scent, which simply means it leans toward food-like, dessert-like notes. The pumpkin comes with ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, mandarin and clove. The spices alone could make for a sweet candle, but a floral heart of heliotrope, muguet, lavandin and geranium keeps LAFCO Pumpkin Pomander from tipping into pie territory.
The name is also a nice detail. A pomander was traditionally a ball of aromatic material, often a piece of fruit studded with cloves. You can read the history on the Pomander page on Wikipedia, and if you want a list of those baking spices the pumpkin pie spice article gives a good rundown.
Signature or Classic: which size?
LAFCO Pumpkin Pomander comes in two sizes. The 15.5 oz Signature is the better fit for big, open spaces, while the 6.5 oz Classic suits cozy nooks. If you are scenting an open kitchen and living room, go larger; for a bedroom or a desk, the small one will do.
The throw is described as not overpowering, yet it fills a room and lingers, which is what you want from a spiced candle that sits near dinner. The reviewer also liked the deep orange hand-blown glass jar, which glows nicely as the evening goes on, and the silver box makes it a ready gift.
Burning LAFCO Pumpkin Pomander through the season
Spiced fall candles are lovely at the dinner table, but keep them to the edge of the room so the aroma does not compete with the food. The reviewer suggests burning it in the foyer, the kitchen or the family room, and at parties and holiday gatherings.
For longer life, keep the wick trimmed to about a quarter inch and let the wax melt across the whole surface. If you like other cozy seasonal candles, I wrote about NEST Pumpkin Chai and LAFCO Golden Chestnut, and both make good companions to this one.
LAFCO Pumpkin Pomander has been in development for a few years now, and based on this review the wait was worth it. If you want a classic pumpkin scent with a twist, it is a strong candidate.
Who will love LAFCO Pumpkin Pomander
If you like gourmand fall candles but dislike ones that smell like a bakery, LAFCO Pumpkin Pomander is worth a try. The floral heart gives it a more grown-up feel, and the reviewer describes it as comfortable and inviting, yet nuanced and deep.
It is also a candle to share. Light LAFCO Pumpkin Pomander at the start of a dinner party, let it fill the room and enjoy the glow of the orange glass with loved ones.
Pumpkin Pomander for gifts and gatherings
Because of the silver box, LAFCO Pumpkin Pomander is a ready gift for a host, a teacher or a neighbor. Choose the Classic if you are giving it as a small treat, and the Signature if you want it to be the centerpiece of the present.
It is also a good candle to light in an entryway when family arrives for the holidays. A warm, familiar scent at the door makes people feel at home before they have taken their coats off.
