Holiday Cheer Amongst Pandemic Scaries

When Ali of ALH Style posted something about “Pandemic Scaries” in her IG story, I immediately related. That is what I’m feeling at this particular moment - I have “Pandemic Scaries.” Not to be confused with “Covid Fatigue”- quite the opposite. I’ve gotten more paranoid than in previous months, more reclusive. It’s a constant thought on my mind at night, in the shower, at the store. If you own a business, you must be in the same boat. It’s the number one thought along with… what do I do with my kids today without exposing them to the scaries of the world? How does one navigate this strange time!? Ugh.After searching the internet for “things to do with toddlers” and making a trip to the Variety Store in Hollin Hall Village countless times, I decided I needed something for myself. Maura of Monday's Child posted a story that said, “It’s beginning to look a lot like We Forgot Thanksgiving This Year.” That was it! It was time. I needed something to look forward to, so forget the turkey - I’m moving straight to Santa, baby. I decided to transform both my house and stores into a winter wonderland. (Also, on a side note, what in the world would I do without Instagram? Thanks for always making me laugh, ladies.)For me, the holidays are reminiscent of sight and smell. Did you know there’s science behind that? According to a Harvard study because of the brain’s anatomy, smell and memory are closely linked. “Odors take a direct route to the limbic system, including the amygdala and the hippocampus, the regions related to emotion and memory.” So, up goes the tree, the Santa’s, the lights… and here come the holiday candles!!One of my all-time favorite candles is Aromatique’s The Smell of Christmas. My grandmother would have these lit in every room of her house, so when you walked in, along with her tree covered in Christopher Radko Ornaments, it was like Christmas on steroids (I really wish I had pictures). She adored Christmas. It was the best time of the year. The fact that my birthday fell on Christmas Eve was always such an inconvenience to her Christmas plans (ha!). I miss her so much. When I sought to transform my casa into a winter wonderland, the first thing I did was look for The Smell of Christmas. To my surprise and ahem, disappointment, it was on Amazon. Fast forward a few days later and I had the candle in my possession.Now call me crazy, but since we have been carrying CMS Supply candles, I’ve gotten a bit snotty when it comes to candles. Is it soy based? Essential oils? Every time I lit TheSmell of Christmas candle, I felt like I was releasing toxic chemicals into the air. A quick google search and I was - soot, carcinogens, non-biodegradable wax, lovely things for a house filled with children.  I emailed our CMS supplier, Cady, and asked her for a special request, not even sure if this was something she does. Could she replicate my beloved Christmas candle?! Make it natural and non-toxic? I might have lost sleep over this. I sent her a picture of the description and a few weeks later, she had the candle made! All natural, soy based, essential oils, and all. She describes the candle as “a mix of orange peel, clove, pine, and fir. The aroma gives you that holiday feel balanced with the brightness of the citrus.”  And the best part… it smells exactly like my Christmas candle! And I must say, even better. I asked her to make a case for the store to see if people would like them as much as I did. Since my husband is Jewish, I wanted a universal name that any religion could relate to. We decided upon the name “Holiday Cheer,” and we sold quite a few of them the first day.These best-selling candles are in 9oz jars and retail for $16. Looking for other scents? We have plenty of other wonderful holiday hits - Christmas Tree Farm, Warm & Cozy, Starry Night, Sugar Cookies, Eucalyptus & Mocha - we seriously can’t keep them in stock. Just yesterday, a customer was in the store and had about six candles at the register. She told me she and her mother came into the shop the other day and they got a candle for each of them. She was back for more because it was the “best candle she’s ever burned, and the smell was amazing.”  Bringing people safer, healthier, and better smelling candles while at home this holiday season is the exact holiday cheer I need. 😀