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 crafters and sellers. The Etsy candle rabbit hole is one I have gone down many times.
May’s Lit Wicks is inspired by Jennifer Crusie! I want to thank Reader Marci for this idea. Crusie’s books have a big focus on food, so expect some yummy smelling candles in this one.
If you’re curious about what other authors have received the Lit Wicks treatment, check out our category page. And if you’d like to suggest an author’s backlist for a future Lit Wicks column, please email me!
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Bet Me: Big thanks to Sarah for coming up with the scent ideas for this one. She suggested chicken marsala, glazed donuts, and cherries (given the shoe decoration on the cover).
It may come as a surprise that there are no chicken marsala scented candles, so you might just have to make that yourself and let the good smells from your kitchen waft throughout the house. However, a glazed donut candle is something I can definitely get into.
Candle: Five O Candle Co. — Glazed Donut ($9.99)
This company features candles made by police officers. It also seems like perfect romance hero fodder. If you’re worried about the Glazed Donut scent being too sweet, they also have a Cinnamon Sugar variation!
Candle: Country Rich Creations — Cherry 12oz. ($12)
As you can see by the photo, you can get this candle in a variety of sizes. Yay! Plus, they carry a wax melt for those who prefer to get their scents that way.
Welcome to Temptation: I always associate this book with one of my former bosses.
Short story: I applied for a marketing internship at a lit mag during graduate school. I mentioned SBTB on my application and it turns out the managing editor was a huge romance fan. This was one of her favorite books, so I tend to think of her whenever I see it.
Anyway, this book is chock full of bonkers goodness with all sorts of shenanigans and forbidden, naughty romances!
Candle: Shadynook Candle — Forbidden Fruit 12oz. ($12.75)
This candle is supposed to smell like an apple orchard with a faint hint of cashmere. And we all know cashmere is one of the more sexy fabrics. It definitely beats burlap.
Agnes and the Hitman: This is by far my favorite Crusie book and probably the first I read. It’s just so…fun. Agnes is a woman after my own heart: she loves Italian food and is just a bit grumpy. I want to be Agnes when I grow up. For these candles, I wanted one that captures the balance of sexy and sweet in the book and I also wanted another nod to food.
Candle: FUL Candles — Hopeful (sugar + spice) 12oz. ($18)
Candle: The Dancing Wick — Italian Biscotti 16oz.
When putting this together, the shop announced it’s on a short hiatus, but I bookmarked this candle to buy later. Apparently, it’s one of their bestsellers, comes in a couple different sizes, and smells of crispy almond cookies, dark chocolate, and vanilla. Yum!
Because the heroine winds up working for a detective agency, I took the opportunity to give the food candles a rest. I was pleased to stumble upon an Etsy candle shop that does “character-themed” candles. I might need to buy the Kylo Ren candle for myself.
Candle: Sleeping Cat Candles — Nancy Drew, Amateur Sleuth 8oz. ($14)
What do mystery and secrets smell like? Well, the description mentions notes of bergamot, sandalwood, and earl grey.
Candle: The Bat in the Hat — Haunted Manor ($10.73)
Candle: 320 Sycamore Candles — Clementine & Daisy 16oz. ($17)
I’m really happy to find this candle since I think it matches up with the heroine rather well. It’s light, bright, and the scent has a hint of sharpness from the citrus.
Candle: Wick Habit — Study Date 4oz. ($9)
The formation of this candle is really adorable, as it’s modeled after one of the maker’s first dates with her husband. The smell has notes of books, wood, and peppermint tea. It’s also available in three sizes.
Charlie All Night: This is the last of Crusie’s novels we’re doing in this post and I honestly think this has the best selections of the bunch. A bit about the book: the heroine is a radio producer who has been demoted to working the graveyard shift at the station. The hero is a DJ whose smooth voice has listeners going bananas.
Candle: Campy Home — Late Night 7oz. ($16)
Man, I love the packaging on the box! The candle is described as being “woody and masculine” and it’s supposed to remind you of the best-smelling man you’ve ever encountered. Sign me up!
Candle: Sable + Co. — Smooth 4oz. ($12)
This candle is what I imagine Charlie’s voice would sound like if you tried to translate it into a scent. Sandalwood and bourbon are a pretty sexy combo, don’t you think?
And that does it for Jennifer Crusie! What did you think? Did any of the scents catch your eye (or nose, rather)? Which author should I do next?
I love Wick Habit! I’ve bought many a candle from there. Patio Garden is my favorite- it’s a spicy tomato leaf smell, and it’s wonderful.
You need a banana bread candle for maybe this time. Andy baked every afternoon. I re-read this book often. I hate bananas, but this book definitely makes me want to stop everything and bake.
Agnes and the Hitman needs a pecan pancake candle. She makes them for breakfast and even though I don’t like pecans and I’m neutral on pancakes, the description makes me want them.
Crusie is one of my all-time favorite authors. So nice to see her featured here!
Agnes & the Hitman is the BEST!
I love these picks! The cop donut candle is especially cute and one I will have to check out. For Faking It, one of my favorite Crusie books, I’d pick an orange-pineapple scent since the Goodnight ladies prefer that flavor. Or muffin and donut scents to honor Grandma Gwen’s theory of men being either one or the other. And if you don’t like foodie candles, something with an art gallery and/or fresh paint scent.
And for the other Dempsey siblings novel, Welcome to Temptation (my first Crusie book), I’d look for candles that have the scents of summertime lazying on a dock, a bookstore and/or a pool table.
‘Welcome to Temptation’ was my first Jennifer Crusie book, and I think I was just so surprised and delighted by the humour in it that it’s remained my favourite of all her novels.
Bet Me was my first Cruise novel and I’m seeing a pattern of people’s “first” Cruise being their favorite. I agree with the comments above. Overall you did a pretty good job of matching candles to books. If you haven’t read one of the ones you profiled, I highly recommend you do.
I love Jennifer Crusie–and now I want to re-read all of her books with the appropriate candles and baked goods–thanks!
Well, now I have to go buy candles. These are great!
Hi, Ms Crusie!
I always associate Jennifer Crusie’s books with music. Her books don’t just contain music references, the songs become part of the story. Dusty Springfield (Agnes), Fleetwood Mac (Crazzy for You), Eric Clapton (Maybe This Time)… Whenever I hear one of her book titles, I almost always remember the songs featured in it first and the plot and characters later!
I just reread Agnes and the Hitman, so I can add raspberry and chocolate (for the cupcakes she’s making in the first scene). And maybe somebody makes a candle that smells like a cast iron pan—her weapon of choice 🙂 Man, I really needed some good laughs after the last month and the book always provides. As many times as I’ve read it, there’s always a funny line that delights me again.
Charlie all night needs a skunkier sort of candle option too Maybe someone in Colorado is selling one?
My favourite Crusie is Anyone But You. 40yo heroine with baggage, 30yo hero with Daffy Duck boxers – what’s not to like. It’s quite short but really wonderful; funny, sweet, witty and romantic. Of course the candle would need to be chocolate Amaretto flavoured.