The Candle Conundrum

I should be taking my Christmas decorations down, but I'm sitting here procrastinating — partially because once the Christmas stuff is put away, I have a big dilemma. A self-imposed and probably ridiculous dilemma, I admit, but it bugs me all the same: what is my house going to smell like now?!

In case you need a refresher, I have four boys and a houseful of pets (two dogs and five cats, yes I know it's excessive, I hear it all the time from my husband). Anyway, if I'm not absolutely on top of cleaning and sanitizing and scenting this place, it will smell like farts and feet and dog breath and cat box. So having all kinds of smell-goody things is of paramount importance to me (click that link for an embarrassing story and confirmation that some struggles never die). I guarantee it probably stinks at least a little bit in here no matter how clean it is, so I need something to cover up whatever lingering odor is there, right?

Anyway. I am a total zealot about which scents go with which seasons. You cannot — cannot! — burn, say, an evergreen-scented candle in the middle of spring. Or a floral candle in the winter. Florals and things like "clean linen" or anything lemon or lemon-adjacent are warmer-weather scents. And apples and spice belong in the autumn months. This is a hill I will die on.

But then there's that in-between period, and we're entering it right now. It comes after burning my Christmas-scented candles (pine tree all the way!), but before I bring out the lilac scent that ushers in the springtime every year. I want a warm and cozy scent, but not "pumpkin spice" or "apple pie" or any such thing because, again, THOSE ARE FOR THE FALL. Previously, my go-to has been Nature's Wick candle in Smoked Vanilla. It's got the coziness of vanilla with the wintery warmth of woodsmoke. It's like ... the comfort food of the candle world. It's literally what I think about when I think about what a home fragrance should be at this time of year.

... Which is all too often, clearly.

But when I went to find them this year, I couldn't. I thought my local Meijer was just out of them. But no — apparently this AMAZING AND SEASONALLY-IDEAL SCENT has been discontinued. I can't find it anywhere, not even online. Devastated, I consulted my internet oracle, ChatGPT, who helpfully suggested that Bath & Body Works' Marshmallow Fireside was the closest dupe. Yay!

So I looked for Marshmallow Fireside. Guess who doesn't have it? Bath & Body Works. It's listed on their website (on sale, to add insult to injury!), but out of stock and unavailable at stores. 

I don't want to burn just straight vanilla. I love vanilla, but straight-up sweet scents just make me want to eat desserts all day, and resisting that urge is hard enough as it is. And I don't want something totally masculine (leather! Bourbon! Whiskey!) or cologne-smelling because I've got enough cologne scent permanently lodged into my nostrils. Four teenage and young adult boys: if you know, you know.  

So here I am. Floundering and candle-less. Wondering if I'll be forced to burn an out-of-season scent for the next few months. (Which would legitimately bother me, and yes, I am fully aware that it's a dumb thing to be bothered by thank you very much.) I mean, it's either that or endure the wafting tendrils of armpit and dog ass. 

Literally as I was writing this, I got the following text from my best friend Betsy, who is fully aware of my dilemma:

So. It appears I'm accepting seasonal candle suggestions and taking applications for a new best friend.

... Just kidding, Bets.