With Halloween fast approaching,
almost two-thirds of familiesacross the nation are planning on celebrating by putting up spooky decorations. Creating the right atmosphere is important for any holiday setting if you want to “wow” guests and trick-or-treaters. One of the best ways to get both your family and your visitors in the Halloween mood is by making the occasion
special using scented candles. Smells are one of the best ways to set the mood in your house or apartment, putting everyone in a fun and festive spirit. Here are a couple of tips on how you can use Halloween candle scents to your advantage this holiday, from impressing guests to enchanting your children.
The Best Scents
Every season comes with scents that most of us are more than familiar with. Spring is characterized by flower and warm rain, while winter revolves around aromas such as pine and cranberry. Whether you’re looking for a single scent or a symphony of smells, here are a couple of sweet, savory, and spooky candle scents to set the tone for this Halloween:
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Pumpkin Spice: A timeless classic, pumpkin spice scents not only include the smell of freshly harvested pumpkin, but also seasonal spices such as ginger, clove, and nutmeg.
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Apple Pie: Like pumpkin, apple is a popular ingredient in autumn dishes. It’s sweet, slightly tangy scent can create a warm and homey atmosphere reminiscent of Halloween treats such as candied or caramel apples.
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Burnt Cinnamon: No fall time celebration is complete without the smell of cinnamon wafting through the air. Spicy cinnamon candles can bring memories of Halloween cakes, cupcakes, and pies.
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Vanilla bean: While this scent can make a room smell good year-round, it pairs particularly well with traditional Halloween scents such as pumpkin and cinnamon, adding a flavorful edge to already delicious smells.
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Cedar and Sandalwood: Scents that come from the woods offer a more natural and rustic smell than other common autumn choices. Cedar and sandalwood both encompass the feel of a walk in the woods as the leaves are falling.
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Orange Zest: Bright, citrus smells are often reserved for summertime, but they can also create a warm atmosphere in the early fall. It’s best to look for scents that combine citrus with spices such as cinnamon or vanilla.
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Sweet Plum: Those that prefer a sweeter or more floral scent may want to opt for plum instead of orange or apple. The fruit’s natural aroma can help to provide an intimate or even romantic setting in the autumn time.
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Candy Corn: Even sweeter than plum, candy scents can bring back fond memories of trick-or-treating as a kid.
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Chocolate: For those who aren’t into hard or sugary scents, chocolate scents can also play into Halloween memories. Chocolate balances sweet and savory to create an aroma that’s unmistakable and irresistible.
Setting Up Your Candles
One of the most common ways to
display candles during Halloween is inside of a jack-o-lantern. While this offers a fun visual effect, however, a pumpkin can block scents from permeating your living space. You should also keep scented candles lit out in the open for a more impressive visual effect. When setting up candles, the first and foremost consideration should be safety. You shouldn’t place flames too close to decorations or fake spiderwebs, and you should make sure to keep an eye on burning wicks. It’s a good idea to trim wicks on a regular basis, keeping them at ¼ to ⅛ of an inch at all times. This not only helps with uneven burning but also prevents candle wicks from spitting flames on the walls. If you have a live candle, you should make sure to keep an eye on it and extinguish the flame at the end of the night regardless of circumstance. This safety measure is particularly important for candles in jack-o-lanterns, as the meat gets more flammable as it dries. Even if you use scented candles outside of a pumpkin for your Halloween display, you should still check in every ten to fifteen minutes to ensure that the setup is safe. At Halloween, you can use candles for more than just lighting your jack-o-lantern. Scented candles not only add a visually pleasing aesthetic to a fall spread but also fill your house with the essence of fall, from the smell of autumn leaves to freshly spiced pumpkin bread. Including scents in your setup can bring an otherwise lackluster Halloween display to life, engaging kids and guests alike.
