The NEST Linen candle is the sort of release that gets a whole shop talking. If you expect a heavy cotton scent, this one will surprise you, because it leans crisp and airy instead.
When NEST introduces a fragrance, it is kind of a big deal. For weeks now, we’ve been quite excited about introducing NEST Linen to you. Upon first impression, you might not recognize this delicate fragrance as a ‘linen’ scent. NEST Linen is not overly saturated with notes of cotton, but rather is refreshingly crisp.
In our view, this fragrance represents notes of a linen or textile that has been sun-dried, versus machine dried. After several minutes of experiencing this new NEST scent, we are sure you’ll pick up on several subtle floral notes, including apple blossom and white orchid. NEST Linen, available in 3 candle sizes and a reed diffuser, is best described as a textile that has absorbed the nuances of a summer day after blowing in a breeze for hours.
Elements of nature— florals, greens, fresh air, are all captured in this linen fragrance, surely making it a NEST classic for years ahead.
What makes this linen candle different
Plenty of linen scents lean on cotton and end up smelling like fabric softener. This one does not. It is described as refreshingly crisp, not saturated with cotton notes, so it can be hard to recognize as a linen fragrance at first.
The comparison that stuck with us is sun-dried versus machine-dried. Think of a sheet that has spent hours on a line in a summer breeze, picking up florals, greens and fresh air along the way. That is the idea behind it.
After a few minutes you may notice subtle florals, including apple blossom and white orchid. Give the candle some time before you decide what you think of it.
Sizes and formats
NEST Linen comes in three candle sizes and as a reed diffuser, which gives you a couple of ways to use it. A candle is best for an evening or a short stretch when you are in the room. A reed diffuser, which releases scent slowly through reeds, suits a space you want lightly scented all day, like an entryway or a bathroom. You can read how a reed diffuser works on Wikipedia if you have never tried one.
If you are choosing between sizes, a small candle is a low-risk way to test it, and a larger one makes sense once you know you love it.
Where to burn a NEST Linen candle
Clean, airy scents work well in the rooms where you want things to feel fresh: bedrooms, bathrooms and a laundry corner. I would also try it on a bedside table in the hour before bed, when you want a calm room but not a heavy fragrance.
The usual care applies. Let the wax melt to the edges on the first burn, trim the wick to about a quarter inch, and put the lid back on when it is cold to keep dust off.
If you like the idea of a fabric-inspired scent, another to explore is Trapp Fine Linen, which I wrote about in a post covering four Trapp candles. And if you want to see the range of NEST scents, my buyer’s guide to NEST candles will help you narrow it down.
It is a smart pick if you want something that smells fresh but still has a little nuance. Candles Off Main expects it to become a NEST classic for years to come.
Who should try the NEST Linen candle
If you have written off linen candles as too much like laundry detergent, this is the one to try. It is meant to read more as a breeze than a basket of clean towels, with fresh air and greens alongside the florals.
It is also a good option for people who like their homes to smell light and clean rather than sweet. A candle in the bathroom, a diffuser by the front door and a small candle in the bedroom is an easy way to carry one scent through the house.
Because the fragrance is subtle, it is easy to overdo the count of candles. One NEST Linen candle in a room is usually enough, and you can always add a second if the room is large.
Linen, reed diffusers and the whole house
The NEST Linen candle works especially well alongside its diffuser. Use the candle in the room where you spend the evening and the diffuser where you want a faint background note. The result is a house that feels consistent without being heavy.
If you are building a collection, I would also compare it with other fresh, clean scents on the shelf, and decide whether you want crisp (like this) or soft and powdery. It is firmly on the crisp side.
