Our top fan May 2012 is Bonnie Jacobs, who wrote this guest post about the candles she reaches for once spring turns warm. Her picks are cozy, a little playful and easy to mix together, so the top fan May 2012 list doubles as a short shopping list if you like to layer fragrances.
Guest Post by Bonnie Jacobs
May 2012 Facebook Top Fan
Barbecues, hammocks, and candle lanterns, spring has arrived, oh yes! There is nothing better than lying underneath the stars on a hammock surrounded by candles.
I am one of those people that crave everything associated with tranquility and comfort and am always on the lookout for candles which evoke this type of mood.
Lafco Candles
I absolutely adore these candles. They are made with thick chunky glass and the fragrances are very soothing.
I love to layer fragrances and Foyer, Ski House, and Bedroom go beautifully together.
Nest Tahiti Vanille
I just love this candle! Vanilla blended with white chocolate and a touch of rum and caramel. Yummo!
Aquiesse Boardwalk
I just love this candle as it is really fun to burn. This candle reminds me of being by the beach with the smell of waffle cones in the air.
What the top fan May 2012 picks have in common
Look at the three brands Bonnie chose and a pattern shows up. The Lafco jars are the soothing choice, Nest Tahiti Vanille is the sweet treat, and Aquiesse Boardwalk is the playful one that brings a day at the beach to mind.
Together they cover calm, dessert and fun, which is a nice spread for one household. The top fan May 2012 list is short, but you would not need much else to change the mood from room to room.
She also gives practical reasons, not just feelings. She likes the thick, chunky glass on the Lafco candles, and she says Boardwalk is really fun to burn. Those small details matter, because a candle you enjoy lighting is the one that actually gets used.
Her short note on Tahiti Vanille is a good example of how fan reviews help. Vanilla with white chocolate, a touch of rum and caramel paints a clear picture, and you know right away whether it sounds like your kind of candle.
Layering candles the way our top fan May 2012 does
Bonnie says she loves to layer fragrances, and in her top fan May 2012 post she names three Lafco candles that go well together: Foyer, Ski House and Bedroom. Going by the product names, that is amber vanilla, a wood fire and lavender with chamomile, so on paper it is a sweet, smoky and sleepy combination.
If you want to try layering, start with just two candles. Pick scents that share a mood instead of the same note, such as something warm with something soft, because two very strong scents tend to fight each other.
Light both in the same room and give them about fifteen minutes before you decide how the blend smells. Noses adjust quickly, and the first minute is rarely the whole story.
Keep the jars a few inches apart so one flame does not overheat the other glass, and trim each wick to about a quarter inch before lighting. When a pairing works, write it down. It is surprisingly easy to forget which two candles made the room smell so good.
Our fans have been trading combinations like this for a while, long before the top fan May 2012 post. You can read more in the earlier spotlight on Kathy Richey, our Facebook top fan in February 2012, and in Bonnie’s earlier turn as top fan back in November 2011.
Taking the top fan May 2012 hammock mood outside
Bonnie starts with barbecues, hammocks and candle lanterns, so here are a few notes on bringing that mood outdoors. A candle in a glass jar or a lantern is easier to keep steady than an open flame, but set it on a flat, stable surface away from hanging fabric, dry leaves and anything a breeze can knock over.
Wind also makes a candle burn unevenly and can make it smoke, so a sheltered corner of the patio beats an open lawn. Blow candles out before you go inside, even if you are only gone for a minute.
Strong fragrances can also compete with food smells and sunscreen outdoors. A lighter scent usually works better out there, and a rich vanilla like Tahiti Vanille may be happier in the living room after the barbecue winds down.
If you are curious about what goes into a scented candle and why fragrance behaves the way it does, the Wikipedia page on scented candles is a good general read.
Thanks to Bonnie for sharing her top fan May 2012 favorites. Which two candles would you layer first? Tell us in the comments, and we may feature your picks next.
