It’s been said a million times already, but this semester is unlike any other. I feel like I’m beating a dead horse by bringing it up at all, but it’s hard to avoid mentioning the way our lives have been changed by this new virtual and remote format. Due to the current circumstances, many students have been unable to or decided not to return to campus this fall, myself included. I’ve lived in the Midwest my whole life, but this semester I am working in Southern California. The complete lack of seasons here has made the whole Covid-19 time warp of a year that much more disorienting for me. As someone that frankly hates summer and comes to life during the fall and winter months, I’m really starting to miss Purdue’s beautiful changing colors and corn fields. I figured many of you around the country or across the globe this semester may be feeling the same FOMO for West Lafayette’s autumn, because the Midwest truly does fall best.
I’ve been coping so far by lighting my favorite fall candles around the clock (but not while I’m sleeping or out of the house, of course). If you feel like you’re missing out like me, here are some of my recommendations to give yourself the comforting illusion of autumn while you’re unable to get the real campus experience.
I think the candle scent that is the overall best representation of fall is “leaves”. I know, that’s not a very descriptive name, and don’t worry, it doesn’t actually smell anything like real leaves. The scent itself is hard to pin down exactly, but from my observations candle shopping, it is usually given a name relating to leaves. The Bath and Body Works version is simply called “Leaves”, but plenty of other brands make an almost identical scent, usually throwing the word “leaves” somewhere in the name (i.e. “Falling Leaves”, “Fall Leaves”, etc.). It is my personal favorite, because it really is a perfect blend of all the classic scents associated with fall, without being overwhelming. It has a bit spice to it, like many “pumpkin” related candles, but is not nearly as strong and sweet. There are also hints of fresh apple to balance out the heavier spices. Finally, there are notes of what can only be described as a “fall magic” scent to bring it all together.
Personally, I am not a big fan of the very spicy and sweet scents, but if that’s your preference, stock up on all the pumpkin, pumpkin patch, pumpkin spice, etc. candles you can find. You may like caramel apple or other dessert related candles, for a similarly warm and sugary aroma. I have found that sometimes “Pumpkin Spice Latte” (keyword: latte) scents can still have spice but not be as overbearing, because some of them have hints of coffee that tone down the more aggressive fragrances.
If you get overwhelmed by heavy scents and are looking for something lighter and easier on the nose, I recommend fresh apple fragrances. Be careful, caramel apple or cinnamon apple can be quite the opposite of what you want, but “apple orchard” or “harvest apple” type candles are usually very crisp and refreshing.
It is also not necessary to stick to explicitly fall themed candles, especially if you like more mild scents. Lately I’ve been loving a cypress and sage candle and a woody bonfire scent as well. Despite not being marketed specifically for fall, they still remind me of the season and feel more natural and subtle as well.
Finally, if you don’t feel comfortable or are not allowed to light candles, I highly recommend purchasing a wax-melter instead. They have no flames and are allowed in dorm rooms as well. It is essentially a plate you can put a little cube of scented wax in and it is heated up either with a light bulb or just warming up the base (you plug it in). There is a ton of variety in the scent selection and they can be quite affordable as well. You can find the melter itself for around $10 and reuse it for years. I’ve found that each cube typically lasts up to two weeks before the scent fades, but those are usually inexpensive as well (I’ve seen Meijer sell 10 packets for $10, each packet has 6-8 cubes).