It was a heartfelt moment, shared between myself and a customer. One of those quiet, unexpected pauses where words catch and emotions surface. I remember thinking, wow, what I am making here is something more than just candles and wax melts! And not just once—this has happened more than a few times. On multiple occasions, tears have been shed between myself and a customer, over something as seemingly simple as scent.
But scent isn't simple. It is complex and powerful.
Scent is far more than something that “smells nice.” It has the ability to calm us, to bring happiness, to remind us of a lost loved one, or to help us get through a difficult season of life. It can make your mouth water, transport you back to your childhood kitchen, or place you instantly in the arms of someone you haven’t seen in years. A single inhale can unlock a moment you didn’t even realize you were holding onto. But how does that happen?
The human nose contains hundreds of scent receptors, each designed to bind with specific odor molecules. When those molecules enter the nasal pathway, they connect with their matching receptors and send signals directly to the brain. What makes scent so unique is where those signals go. Unlike our other senses, smell has a direct line to the limbic system—the part of the brain responsible for emotion, memory, and behavior.
This connection is ancient. Our ancestors relied on scent to survive: to find food, recognize danger, navigate their environment, and identify one another. Long before language or logic, scent was a guide. Because of this, the brain is especially good at filing away smells alongside emotional experiences. When a scent is tied to a moment—joyful or painful—it can bring that memory rushing back with startling clarity, even decades later.
That’s why a candle can suddenly remind someone of their grandmother’s kitchen, a loved one’s sweater, or a place that once felt like home. It’s also why scent can feel so deeply personal and, at times, overwhelming. It bypasses our defenses. It doesn’t ask permission. It simply arrives—and we feel.
In fact, scent is so powerful that ongoing research is exploring its ability to help retrieve lost memories and even support healing from trauma. What we often dismiss as a “nice fragrance” may actually be a key to comfort, grounding, and emotional connection.
And that’s where those moments with customers come from. It’s never just about a candle or a wax melt. It’s about memory. About feeling seen. About reconnecting with something meaningful that had been tucked away. Sometimes, it’s about remembering who we were—or who we loved—before life changed.
Scent isn’t just something we smell.
It’s something we feel.
To the wonderful people who have shared your moments with me—thank you, truly, from the bottom of my heart. Running a business on my own can sometimes feel overwhelming, but it’s your stories, your memories, and the pieces of your lives you’ve trusted me with that keep me going. These moments matter more than you may ever know, and I will carry them with me always.
