Watery floral candles sound like a strange choice for a hot day, and Caitlin Feener knows it. In this April 2012 guest post she explains why they are her favorite way to cool off through scent.
Guest Post by Caitlin Feener
April 2012 Facebook Top Fan
Cool Down with Candles?
On the surface, it almost doesn’t make sense. How can one cool off on a hot day by essentially lighting a small fire? I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I have heard, “It’s hotter than an oven outside, what are you doing lighting a candle?” Or, “I knew you had a slight candle problem, but it’s 100 degrees outside and you’re holding a lit match? The problem just got serious.”
Luckily, these comments are just white noise to me because I learned long ago that summer and candles go hand-in-hand. Of course, a flame is hot to the touch. But the cool, watery tones of a beautiful blended fragrance dancing in the air all around you can literally soothe the soul.
I have the same experience every year during the spring. Suddenly I find myself drifting away from the seemingly endless need of gourmand comfort scents. Like a pregnant lady in an ice cream store, the craving strikes with fury — I know exactly what I want and I want it now so you might want to clear the path. I need fresh florals.
Now, I have never been a huge fan of the “standard” floral. Every once in a while, a traditional and pure floral blend will enchant me. But this blog has been specifically reserved for a unique genre of florals that have carved out their own niche in the present market as the perfect summertime companion: The watery floral.
In my opinion the truly refreshing watery floral is a mighty fine task to accomplish. There cannot be any cloying notes of powder, and the earthiness must be minimal. Instead, the successful watery floral is like a sweet refreshment.
A water lily floating on a shaded pond. Small fragrant blossoms surrounding a roaring waterfall. A surprising rainstorm on the hottest day of the year.
This is how I prefer to cool off — through the power of smell.
While many respectable candle makers have conquered the fabulous watery floral, from LAFCO to Voluspa, here are three of my all-time favorite picks.
NEST Fragrances. Peony Blanche.
Leave it to NEST to be able to create one of the cleanest, liveliest florals I have ever encountered. Peony Blanche doesn’t stop at peony — it is millions of sweet peony blossoms floating in the freshest, most crystal clear water on the planet. It’s a blend that somehow manages to be as sweet and enchanting as it is fresh and clean.
Like a breath of fresh air with a teasing hint of jasmine, magnolia and lily, Peony Blanche will keep you coming back for more. The throw is incredible. Your entire home will be perfectly refreshed.
Lucid is a hidden tropical sanctuary. It’s a hidden waterfall in an exotic rain forest surrounded by the sweet smells of paradise. The watery notes of lotus flower combine with freesia to form a very sugary sweet, almost watermelon-like sensation.
A touch of celery adds to the watery vibe of this blend. This candle definitely takes me to a cool and calm, peaceful place when burning. Extend your summer vacation with Lucid.
Jason Wu and NEST Fragrances. Orchid Rain.
Another divine NEST creation, Orchid Rain is a unique masterpiece that is new to the candle world. The watery notes are so prominent in this blend, perfectly accenting the sweet touch of neroli blossom and soft white orchid. Orchid Rain has a twist though — pomegranate makes it a bit fun and fruity, pink pepper adds just the smallest hint of spice, and coconut brings comfort and relaxation to the table.
Orchid Rain is one of the most versatile watery florals I have discovered — it’s cooling on a warm day, but it also comes alive when it’s cloudy and raining outside. The ceramic vessel is stunning and stylish. If you love Jason Wu as a fashion designer, then don’t think twice — you will fall in love with his candle in an instant.
What candles do you like to cool down with?
What makes watery floral candles different
Caitlin is picky about the style. A good watery floral, in her view, avoids powdery notes and keeps earthiness low, so the result feels like refreshment instead of perfume. Her images are a water lily on a shaded pond or a rainstorm on the hottest day of the year.
That contrast with gourmand comfort scents is the point. When the weather turns warm, many people stop wanting vanilla and spice and start looking for flowers that smell clean.
The idea works because scent and temperature are linked in our minds. Cool images such as ponds, waterfalls and rain make us feel cooler, and watery floral candles lean on that effect. You can count on the same trick in a small apartment as in a big house.
Think of watery floral candles as the opposite of a heavy vanilla candle. They are lighter, cleaner and easier to live with in summer. Many readers who think they dislike florals find that watery floral candles are the exception.
Her three picks compared
Nest Peony Blanche is the freshest and cleanest of the three, with jasmine, magnolia and lily behind the peony. Aura Lucid leans tropical, mixing lotus and freesia with a touch of celery. Jason Wu Orchid Rain adds pomegranate, pink pepper and coconut to its neroli and orchid, and she says it works on cloudy, rainy days too.
You can read more about that last one in our Jason Wu Orchid Rain post. She also names LAFCO and Voluspa as makers who have done good watery florals.
Her three choices share one trait: each has an extra twist that keeps it from being plain. In her description of the Nest candle the throw is incredible, and she says it refreshes the whole home. Watery floral candles work best when they are strong enough to be noticed but not so thick that the air feels heavy.
If you are comparing the three, remember that watery floral candles can still differ a lot. Peony Blanche is clean and bright, Lucid is tropical and Orchid Rain is fruity and soft. All three count as watery floral candles, but each has its own personality.
Taken together, these watery floral candles show how much range the style has, from a clean peony to a tropical lotus and an orchid with fruit.
Tips for shopping watery floral candles
Look at the fragrance names and notes for words like lotus, lily, rain, water or dew. Try a small size first, because cool and clean scents can smell sharp to some noses.
Burning a candle in summer is still burning a flame, so keep the room ventilated and never leave it unattended. If your goal is a beachy mood, our ocean candles for summer list is a good companion. For general background on how scented candles work, see Wikipedia.
She ends by asking which candles you use to cool down. It is worth answering, since your list may contain citrus, mint or ocean scents rather than flowers. Watery floral candles are one way to get that cool feeling, not the only one.
When you build a small set of watery floral candles, buy one first and burn it before adding another. Watery floral candles are easy to over-buy, because the names all sound alike. Keep notes on which one you reach for after a long day.
Used well, watery floral candles can change the mood of a room in minutes.
