A Thanksgiving Reflection...

By now, everyone is feeling the impending “rush” of the holidays creeping into their minds. For those of us who love to cook and make Thanksgiving special for everyone around us, and for ourselves… the busy-ness of the season is taking front stage in our minds.

Personally, each year I wonder, what can I do different this year? I tend to shy away routine and monotony when it comes to anything outside of work or responsibilities. For whatever reason, this year my mind goes to vintage, and if I’m honest, it does most years. Vintage recipes and vintage Christmas decorations for the tree. I own a LOT of Christmas decorations, half of it vintage, because the nostalgia of Thanksgiving and Christmas always warms my heart. And when it comes to food for both holidays, my mind usually goes to old Betty Crocker recipes or those “lost” recipes of yesteryear that remind me of childhood when things were simple. This morning, it was Pfeffernüsse cookies, a traditional German spice cookie that I can barely remember anymore, as well as various pound cakes, layered salads, and various cheese balls and crackers that not many serve anymore.  It's very much a fifties to seventies thing...and I'm still down for it!

It’s that time of year when you remember, not in a corny, cliché way, but as you get older and things become more valuable to your heart than when you were young and had your entire life ahead of you, that people and connection matter most over material things. When you think about those who have gone on before you, old friends you long to see and belly laugh with and being with real family that may not always be blood related. Mostly, and certainly not least, giving thanks to the Father for strengthening you, being your #1 above all, and your absolute lifeline to make it in this world that seems to be imploding around us, just as the Bible said it would.

Is this blog about candles and scents? Not so much this time, but I did want to share what was on my heart this cold morning in northern Indiana. I mean, of course we have amazing scents, and I’ll give you an update here in a second, but I just wanted mainly to wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! I know I’m early, but as many of you undoubtedly are as well, every morning is filled with thoughts of everything I have to chop, bake, and purchase before next Thursday! 

Mainly, I just want to thank ALL of my customers, near and far. From a wonderful repeat customer in Colorado to my wholesalers down the street, I want to say how much I appreciate each and every one of you and your business. I started this 4 years ago now… and as I step into my fifth year in business, I am reflecting on the hard work and investment of Candl•ogic, and how it has paid off in joy. I truly enjoy what I do.

When it comes time to pour or mix the scents you are enjoying, I get a boost of energy knowing I can go into that room, sit at that workbench surrounded with amazing scents and products, and create something special for you. Since before October, I've spent hours with Christmas movies on the iPad while I’m working, singing along to movies like White Christmas, or saying the lines unconsciously to my favorite movies without realizing I’m doing it. So thank you. Thank you for the opportunity for that quiet, joyful time creating for you.

Okay…you've gotten this far...I know it's a long blog but let me give you an update on what’s going on in the Candl•ogic studio! Let's start with testing. I know my wholesalers and test group already know, but there are definitely new scents happening. Am I going to make the “deadline?” Probably not if I'm honest. Testing slows everything down and there's only so many hours in the day. It’s probably the worst and most laborious part of this job, but still the most critical so you have a safe candle!

Just a quick reminder too, that the Autumn Luxe Collection will be going away Thanksgiving Day, so if you want to save with a bundle, now is the time to take advantage of it.

Room Freshener Mists

Here’s what’s easier about it this year… we now have the Room Freshener Mists, so there’s no countless hours of wick testing, scent throw testing, jar heating/overheating, etc., etc.… that is the rigors of making a candle safe for distribution. It’s exhausting… seriously. But with the mists, you get to enjoy the scent right away, without waiting for the candle to make it through testing. And the reality is that not every scent works in wax, so you’re going to see that it’s available as a mist, but not a candle until it gets worked out or just eliminated as a candidate for a candle. And for those of you who don't know about these Mists, they are concentrated, they dissipate very quickly into the air without falling to your carpet, they use a skin-safe, clean plant-derived base that won't leave any surface sticky or discolored.

Car Diffusers

Some of you may have noticed that there aren’t as many Car Diffusers as there are sprays. Very true. The reason being, a car is an enclosed space, as IFRA guidelines dictate, some scents are too strong to use for the majority of people, so we follow those guidelines. A scent memory comes to mind for this: have you ever walked into a Michaels or craft store where they have those cinnamon-scented wreaths or door hangings for Christmas? They are overpowering in that small vestibule (and some even outside by the door in the open air!). Same goes for your car.  We want fragrance to be enjoyable for everyone, not knock your senses out cold!

New Fragrances

Right now, I have an oat milk, spice, and maple scented candle tester burning… and it is amazing. This is one of those rare times when you light a tester and everything is just 100% accurate; you’ll be seeing this one very soon! We have several others on the shelf curing and ready to be tested...things like pistachio, date & fig, linen-ozone-paperwhites, and several others that will soon be getting into the test groups' hot little hands for approval...or not.  

We also have a new one that those who have gotten their hands on it are giving amazing feedback… No,. 043 Sultry Poppy (not live on the site until this weekend...we need photos). This one is woodsy, floral, spice… and difficult to even describe. It leans on the masculine side without smelling like cologne. I would suggest you get a 2oz Room Freshener Mist and try it out.

The No. 208 Spiced Mandarin has been a big hit this season and is perfect for this time of year! It’s the scent you would expect when you walk into someone’s house this holiday season; it exudes all the seasonal spices with a dose of fresh orange. Think clove-studded oranges or a pot of potpourri with orange slices, cinnamon sticks, and cloves filling the home.

NEW! Reed Diffuser Sets for Christmas

Sometime after Thanksgiving, we will be launching our new Reed Diffuser Sets. This has been in the works for a while now. One tester reported back that the scent is still going strong, and she received hers back at the first of August. That, in my opinion, is a testament to the clean diffuser base we use and swapping out expired reeds.

They will be sold as a “set,” meaning they will come with the vessel you choose, a set of reeds, and the base fragrance. For now, we will only have three vessels to choose from, and I have to say, my favorite isn’t something I would have picked for myself, but when I took this beautiful, iridescent bottle out of the box, I fell in love with it and I think you will too.  Its colors shift with its surroundings and light in the room.  It's just beautiful.  If you are looking for some other shapes or colors, you need only let us know and we'll see what we can do.  You can always reach out to us at info@candlogic.com.

They work great in every room of the house, and they're amazing at keeping bathrooms and kitchens smelling fresh. For those applications… personally, I would recommend No. 038 Linen Drift or No. 019 White Wash; both work great at eliminating strong odors.

The entire Reed Diffuser Set should run about $50 or less, and of course, the diffuser bottle is meant to be reusable as they are meant to be both decorative and functional. After the initial purchase of the set, you can switch the fragrance as often as you like with Reed Diffuser refill bottles and a set of new reeds. Product photos are being taken and worked on as we “speak” and should be available to you sometime after your Thanksgiving “food coma” wears off!  Watch your email box and social media for the release.

 

I could say so much more and if you've read through this whole thing...bravo...and much appreciated!!!

With that said, I'll sign off and say, be blessed. Be a blessing. Return kindness, even when they’ve made it difficult to do...it does more for you than them.  :)

The Lord bless you, and keep you;
The Lord cause His face to shine on you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His face to you,
And give you peace.’  Numbers 6:24-26