Learning along the way: With your help!
While this endeavor is still in its infancy, a lot of trial and error and experimental scents are happening! I’m starting to lean on friends and family to help with some market research and really get a grasp on the good, the bad, and the odd. Big thanks to everyone who has agreed (or been voluntold) to this task, I appreciate your nostrils’ hard work.
Here are some of my thoughts on the scents thus far and some intel on some upcoming experiments:
Market Square Saturday is by far my favorite thus far. Cucumber sage and lavender express Saturday morning farmers market experience perfectly. So fresh so clean and not too sweet.
Stroll Along the Potomac is definitely in need of some tweaks. So far there are two versions V1 and V2. V1 was a little too soapy smelling for my liking. V2 is a big improvement...definitely more of the clean crisp waterfront air I was seeking, but definitely not 100% sure there won’t be other versions as we seek to perfect this one.
Christmas on King is another favorite of mine and while I certainly burn more candles in the winter than the other seasons combined... I personally feel this one isn’t too over the top holidays that you couldn’t begin to burn it in the Fall and let in linger into the Spring. If you’re looking for a pine tree to the face, this isn’t it.
I may have been channeling my inner Gretchen Wieners trying to make Port City Pub Crawl happen and like fetch I just don’t think it is going to work out. I love beer. I love the City of Alexandria bar scene. I am just not sure I love a beer scented candle. I would seriously love to pay homage to the cocktail scene our little town boasts with a candle in our collection and am open to suggestions though!
ALX Pineapple and Scoop Shop are a little sweet for my day to day burning, but Scoop Shop is here to stay. A whiff of ALX Scoop Shop immediately has me craving a cone at Pop’s! ALX pineapple may or may not see some changes in the future to get more to the basic of simple, sweet, fresh pineapple, but for now there is room for improvement elsewhere!
If we are being honest I didn’t know what Cherry Blossom was until I moved to the DMV in 2014. I knew it was a Bath and Body Works scent I was okay with in the 90’s. I thought maybe the DC area had a lot of cherry tree’s to honor our first president’s honesty. Turns out they’re iconic, lovely smelling, pretty trees that give the banks of the Potomac and Tidal Basin the most wonderful ambiance in the Spring....and were originally gifted to us by Japan over a hundred years ago! This isn’t my favorite scent, but how can you have a candle line without a floral contribution. It is fragrant but not over the top, a nice mellow floral scent that I think rounds out the collection and is probably the safest bet if you’re thinking of gifting an OTC candle to a friend but not exactly sure what they’ll like.
Speaking of Mr. Washington, I’ve got an upcoming trial scent honoring him with some cherry action. Also going to try out some more basic pineapple scents, a bourbon cocktail inspired scent, and some more nature inspired scents that have hints of leather, eucalyptus, cedar, tobacco, etc.
If you’ve had a chance to sample some OTC candles, I would love to hear what you think. If you haven’t had a chance yet, I’d love to send you a free 8oz candle of your choosing in exchange for some honest feedback to keep the fun going! Please reach out under the “contact” tab on our website!