Welcome to Lit Wicks! This is where we pair an author’s backlist with candles to really immerse yourself in the reading experience. All of the candles featured in these post are from Etsy, which means there is often worldwide shipping and that you’re supporting independent sellers. The Etsy candle rabbit hole is one I have gone down many times.
For March, we’re featuring one of my favorite authors: Kresley Cole! Her backlist includes historical romance, paranormal, YA, and erotica, so there is a lot of inspiration
If you’re curious about what other authors have received the Lit Wicks treatment, check out our category page!
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MacCarrick Brothers: The MacCarrick Brothers series is Cole’s debut series and features a trio of brothers who believe they are cursed. They’re also Scottish, which means brawny, kilted men with thick…brogues. The following candles are meant to evoke the highlands of Scotland and warm, cozy plaid!
Candle: In the Wick of Time — The Highlands 8oz. ($17)
I love the packaging on this with the green plaid label. This candle is supposed to smell like heather, sea salt, and ocean water.
Candle: Kozy Korner — Show Us Yer Kilt ($14.65)
It’s hard to get a full photo of the actual candle, so I’m unsure of the size. This candle has notes of wood, musk, and vanilla.
Candle: Flickering Fandom — Highlander 8oz. ($12) or 2.5oz wax melt ($5)
Not only does this candle come in an 8oz. jar and a smaller wax melt, but Flickering Fandoms has a 4oz candle. It’s a nice middle ground!
Immortals After Dark: Oh boy! This is one of my favorite series and has currently has over fifteen books. It was incredibly tough to try and decide on scents for this since the series has so much! There’s magic, demons, shifters, and the books span all across the globe. Oh and even into mystical worlds.
These candles are great to pair with individual books, but are also great for a big binge read!
Wax Melt: The Country Escape — Oak Moss ($2.85)
The main base of operations for the Valkyries in the series is in a swampy, marshy area of Louisiana, so I thought this would be a fitting scent. The shop offers a discount on large orders of melts (packs of 3, 6, 8, etc.), which means you can pick some additional scents if any catch your eye!
Candle: Black Arrow Candles — Valkyrie ($15.46)
Candle: Chubby’s Candles — Lightning Strike 4oz. ($5)
In the series, Valkyries trigger lightning storms when experiencing strong emotions. This candle’s scent is “crisp air before a storm.” Very romantic!
Candle: Wit and Wicks — The She Wolf 8oz. ($16)
If memory serves me, I think there’s only one book that has a shifter heroine, MacRieve ( A | BN | K | G | AB ). I demand more, please! This scent features notes of crocus, orange, mint, and just a hint of chili. Correction: Thanks to Ellen in the comments for letting me know we haven’t had a shifter heroine yet. Apologies for my memory!
The Arcana Chronicles: This is the only series of Cole’s I haven’t read yet, though I do own the first two books. This is a post-apocalyptic young adult series set in Louisiana. There’s some paranormal funny business going on and a lot of the magic and mysticism in the series is heavily influenced by Tarot cards. Sounds cool, right?
Candle: Mad Darling — Jazz on Frenchmen ($16)
This candle has a more “masculine” scent of oak and amber, which I think pairs well with the mysteriousness of the series.
Candle: Burke Hare Co. — Tarot Thirteen 6oz. ($13)
The thirteenth tarot card is usually death, which I know doesn’t immediately bring to mind a pleasant smell. But death plays a large role in this series and the candle’s scent has notes of vanilla, sandalwood, and cardamom. Sweet and spicy.
Candle: Tarot Avenue — The Lovers ($16.27)
Wax Melt: House Warming Max Welts – Sharp Dressed Man ($3.50)
Candle: Hello You Candles — Nebraska 8oz. ($20)
Candle: Olfactorie Candles — Miami 10oz. ($30)
Candle: Calico Basin Scent Co. — Las Vegas Lounge 10oz. ($15.99)
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That covers all of Cole’s series! But since the Immortals After Dark series is so huge, what other scents would you include? What candle would you pick for your favorite IAD book?
Let me know what author I should do next!
Sadly we’ve not had a shifter heroine yet. MacRieve has Chloe who is a half-succubus and the daughter of one of the villains
Oh my you have to read the Arcana Chronicles – they are amazing! Kresley does a great job creating a young female heroine Evie who struggles against her own inner demons and strikes out against the “dark forces” while hefting some serious female rage and empowerment scenes. But fair warning there is a love triangle that is central to the series so caution if that isn’t your jam. Although it may help that both the dudes are pretty yummy (#teamArik)
@Ellen: Ah, beans! Thanks for the catch. I’ve been reading this series for a long time and it’s hard to remember what happened even a few books ago!
@Lindsey – I hadn’t heard of the Arcana Chronicles yet as I don’t read a ton of YA, but holy cow, those look GOOOOOOOOOD. Thanks for the rec!
I love candles but can’t have them around my cats. Flickering flames are just too tempting.
Wait, hang on–what does Nebraska smell like? I have never been there and am curious. Also curious as to how one distills the smell of a state (as opposed to a city, like Miami, which really does smell of coconut and lime). If I had to describe the eau de toilette of my home state it would be saltwater, old trees, and car exhaust.
@Rose According to the description: wide open fields, cottonwood trees, and denim.
I grew up in Nebraska, and I gotta say, I feel skeptical. Cottonwood trees have no scent that I ever noticed. Fields=dirt? Alfalfa, maybe? That’s a nice smell. And denim… I dunno, dryer sheets?
Nebraska born and raised…the wind is always blowing, and cows and crops are everywhere except in the cities. So for a nastalgic candle, I would say fresh mown hay, a bit of earth, and a hint of fresh leather/ hide.
But from my personal experience what smells like home to me is a dusty pick up truck with a hint of tobacco, motor oil, grease, coffee, and brut aftershave. In other words, a hug from any of the local farmers having morning coffee at the Co-op.
Damn it, now I miss home.
Nebraska born and raised. A freshly disc-ed field, alfalfa drying, livestock, and college football (yes, that has an aroma, too. Part spilled lite beer, and part sweat/sunblock (heat) or layers of wool/down/polyester (cold).)