What Is A Story Candle?

Every writer has their way of settling into a new project, whether it's a playlist curated to fit the story, intensive character development worksheets, or a brief meditation to ground their thoughts. Candles are a favorite among writers for creating a cozy atomosphere through aromatherapy and gentle lighting. Some writers take this even further with a story candle. You might also hear them called WIP candles or project candles.

A story candle is a candle designated for your writing, often chosen because it ties into your WIP in some way. This could be because it reminds you of your main character's go-to perfume, your story's setting or a favorite scene, or simply just because. They're a small, yet effective way to personalize your writing space while bringing you closer to your project.

Finding a story candle is something of a little tradition when I'm beginning a new writing project. It's often inexpensive and helps me develop an intimate connection with my story. My earliest drafts are very vibe-centric, and story candles help me feel out what that vibe is. It's intrinsic.

With A Tided Love, my current historical romance WIP, I'm gravitating towards ocean fragrances. Sea salt and driftwood—anything that feels coastal, really. A Tided Love is set in a seaside resort town, so having a story candle reflecting that helps me slip into a headspace to visualize it.

I'm no expert on aromatherapy, but there is a link between what we smell and how that impacts our mind. Certain smells, like peppermint and lemon, are known for improving focus, while lavender is often used in bedtime products because it is calming and helps settle the mind. That's why I think having a story candle helps signal the brain that it's time to write.

A story candle doesn't have to be a candle, though! All of this also goes for wax melts, room sprays, essential oil diffusers, etc.

Story candles are nice to have, but sometimes, you may not be able to find the scent you need when you need it. Maybe you're working on a holiday romance in the middle of August or about a summer road trip in the middle of winter, or the blend you have in mind is incredibly specific and one that you can't find on store shelves.

To which I ask: Have you tried candlemaking?

It's become a bit of a hobby for me, and it wasn't that hard to get into (I go into more detail here). There are plenty of starter kits online, and it's easy enough to find fragrance oils on Etsy or specialty sites like CandleScience. Plus, you can reuse old candle jars or thrift them.

The first candle I made was more of a generalized writing candle inspired by the idea of writing in a cabin on a rainy night. For Project Scrimmage, my contemporary romance WIP, I started out with a lavender bergamot candle, melted it down in a pseudo-double boiler on the stovetop, and added a lemon essential oil to it; this was inspired by a lavender lemonade cocktail Courtney orders during her dinner date with Liam. This second approach is a fantastic option if you want to dabble with candlemaking but aren't ready to commit to a full kit.

If you have a story candle, I'd love to know what its fragrance is! Do you find it helpful when you're settling into your writing or that it helps you feel closer to your project? Tell me all about it in the comments.