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.
For October, we’re recommending candles for some of our favorite paranormal romances. All of the books below have been reviewed positively on the site. You may have purchased them, especially if they were ever on sale, and now here are a selection of candles for your reading (or re-reading) experience!
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!
…
Mating the Huntress by Talia Hibbert: Elyse loved this paranormal novella. It has a sweet, beta werewolf hero, who fully supports the heroine’s angry vengeance. We could all use a partner like that. The heroine also runs a coffee shop! In our recent Fall Flavors post, Elyse recommended pairing this one with a salted caramel mocha. Why not a salted caramel candle too?
Candle: Nichols Gems Handmade — Salted Caramel Candle 6oz. ($10.50)
The Magpie Lord by K.J. Charles: A gay Victorian-era romance with magic sounds all sorts of intriguing and Carrie gave this one an A-. She said that it has everything she could possible want in a book: “It has a historical Victorian setting, it involves magic, one of the two heroes is short, skinny, and booksmart, and above all the main characters are presented as real, multi-layered people in a real relationship.”
Candle: Cowboy and Cricket — Biblichor 4oz. ($9)
The Biblichor scent is supposed to smell like old books and hot tea! The listing description also contains this rather perfect sentence: One of the most fleeting and wonderful experiences in the world is that whiff of history, possibility, magic, and wonder that comes out of a library of old and well-loved books.
Diablo Lake: Protected by Lauren Dane: This is the second book in the Diablo Lake series, which Sarah liked better than the first! When I ask for scent help with this one, Sarah told me that the heroine is an empath witch who cooks for anyone and everyone.
Candle: Simply Made Candles — Farmhouse Kitchen 16oz. ($19.95) or 8oz. ($12.95)
There’s something so comforting and homey about a big ol’ farmhouse, perhaps on an orchard, offering fresh apple cider donuts. That’s why I chose this candle for Protected‘s caring heroine who loves to cook. This candle has notes of spice, warm honey, and caramel. Yum!
Grave Phantoms by Jenn Bennett: If you set a light paranormal romance in the 1920s, obviously you’re going to get paired with a booze candle. It’s just unavoidable. This book is the final one in Bennett’s Roaring Twenties series, and Carrie was so sad to be leaving this world.
Candle: Everyone Drinks — Bathtub Gin 8oz. ($12) or available in wax melts.
The dang scent is called “bathtub gin.” How great is that? And it is what it says on the tin; it smells like gin. This Etsy shop also has a bunch of other booze-themed items, like pinot grigio soap and wine cork wreathes.
Dark Skye by Kresley Cole: If you’re new here, I love this series by Cole, and I waited for this romance for literal years. It’s a second chance romance between a sorceress and a winged-warrior hero. It was such a great read and just talking about it makes me want to re-read it.
Candle: ENOVU — Ozone 5oz. ($11.99)
The hero comes from a kingdom in the sky and he has wings, so air, clouds, and the like all play a huge role in this romance. This is supposed to be a “clean” scent with notes of cedarwood, citrus, and lavandin (a lavender hybrid).
Ocean Light by Nalini Singh: While Elyse suggests reading Silver Silence before this one, Ocean Light earned a better grade. From Elyse: Ocean Light is a fated mate romance largely set in a sci-fi-rrific undersea base and it involves marine shifters. Could I have possibly picked a non-ocean related candle? No, definitely not.
Candle: Little Bright Sea — Ocean Spray ($21.76)
This candle supposedly burns for 40 hours (who) and has hints of seashore and citrus. As an added bonus, part of the proceeds go toward Young Minds, a mental health charity.
The Undoing by Shelly Laurenston: Sarah absolutely loves this series, and I believe this one is her favorite out of the three so far. She warns that there is all sorts of history-loving nerdery in this book and a badass introvert heroine.
Candle: Luna Love by Corinna — Go Away, I’m Introverting 8oz. ($10)
What does an “introverting” candle smell like, you ask? Cinnamon chai tea! This candle does double duty in the sense that reading is a fabulous way to introvert.
The Curse of Lord Stanstead by Mia Marlowe: If you prefer your paranormal romances with more of a historical element, Elyse really liked this book and described it as a “Regency X-Men.” Which sounds fucking awesome. As an added bonus, the heroine is a fire mage debutante.
Candle: Ghost Poppy — Fire 8oz. ($18)
With notes of orange peel and clove, this sounds like a rather warm-scented candle. Perfect for the colder temperatures. This Etsy seller also has other “elemental” scents if that’s your thing!
…
What types of scents would you pair with your favorite paranormal romances? What do you think of our latest Lit Wicks suggestions?
OK… ordering the “go away, I’m introverting” candle right the heck NOW for my office desk.
There’s nothing like sitting down with a good book and basking in the aromas of these lovely candles. I’ve been hooked on true-to-life docu-series about revealing London story from escorts and it’s quite the read. Definitely heading to etsy to find these beauties. Thanks for recommending it!
Amanda, I believe this is the first of these posts where I would happily buy every single one of these candles. ‘Scuse me, goin’ shopping…
@EC Spurlock: Please report back with your favorites!
For once I can see the images! I’m happy and suffering candle lust.
I rarely do the scented candle thing, because I find most scents overwhelming. (Yes, I’ve worked as a food writer and “the nose” in a mycology lab. And I currently live in a zendo, where we squabble over incense kind of a lot.) A good beeswax candle or two? Food and tea related smells? I’m good.
But this is too much fun. So… I’m going to start with Molly Harpers “Undead Sublet” (from The Undead in My Bed and pair it with this charming BBQ candle mostly because I thought ‘I bet there are BBQ candles, and indeed, there are.
And then I’m going to pair Robin McKinley’s Sunshine* with this lovely little Fiori d Sicilia candle. I mean, one could make a case for chocolate, but… really, just go bake something with real chocolate in it. (Or, um, both chocolate and real fiori di sicilia, for that matter. But chocolate is way too biochemically complex is be extracted well…)
* Which isn’t a romance, but I don’t care, because McKinley is God (and Mel is the most amazingly underutilized character ever, anyway.)
This rather disappointingly just got caught in spam, so I’m going to take the links out…
***
I rarely do the scented candle thing, because I find most scents overwhelming. (Yes, I’ve worked as a food writer and “the nose” in a mycology lab. And I currently live in a zendo, where we squabble over incense kind of a lot.) A good beeswax candle or two? Food and tea related smells? I’m good.
But this is too much fun. So… I’m going to start with Molly Harpers “Undead Sublet” (from The Undead in My Bed) and pair it with a charming BBQ candle, mostly because I thought ‘I bet there are BBQ candles, and indeed, there are.
And then I’m going to pair Robin McKinley’s Sunshine* with a lovely little Fiori d Sicilia candle. I mean, one could make a case for chocolate, but… really, just go bake something with real chocolate in it. (Or, um, both chocolate and real fiori di sicilia, for that matter. But chocolate is way too biochemically complex is be extracted well…)
* Which isn’t a romance, but I don’t care, because McKinley is God (and Mel is the most amazingly underutilized character ever, anyway.)
St first I read that one as “hints of seahorse” which seemed oddly specific, and not necessarily appealing. I mean, I couldn’t tell you what a seahorse smells like, but I’m guessing fishy.
The food ones sound delicious, but too much so. If I had to smell salted caramel candle for a while, I’d be wanting to eat salted caramel candies, and salted caramel ice cream, and … you get the idea. Safer to stick with the seahorse.
Trying not to buy new candles until I’ve finished the ones I have, since I’ve bought so many candles and waxes thanks to this series!
But ooohhhh the gin, introvert and farmhouse kitchen scents sound great!
Trying not to buy new candles until I’ve finished the ones I have, since I’ve bought so many candles and waxes thanks to this series!
But ooohhhh the gin, introvert and farmhouse kitchen scents sound great!
I love Robin McKinley’s Sunshine and a baking related candle is perfect given the heroine is known for her ‘cinnamon rolls as big as your head’.
I think it is one of the most complex and creative paranormals I’ve ever read. Its full of little details and interesting characters. The vampire “hero” is a love interest more complex than lust. I’m not sure it is exactly a romance but it is certainly worth a read even (or especially) if you don’t particularly like paranormals.