Preparing your home for the change in seasons, winter solstice, and the upcoming holidays doesn't stop at decorations. We believe there is something special in filling your space with scents that evoke nostalgia and comfort.
Thymes has been an absolute favorite when it comes to heartfelt holiday scents. They offer two wonderful scents - Frasier Fir and Gingerbread!
Frasier Fir is a customer and staff favorite, so we always stock right up!!! Their candles, soaps, mists, and reed diffusers fill your home with the smells of crisp Siberian fir needles, cedarwood, and sandalwood. Whether you are complimenting your own decorative fir tree, or enjoying the sensation on it's own, there is no denying that the gentle presence of Frasier Fir will get everyone in your home ready to say goodbye to summer and greet fall and winter with open arms! You can purchase many of the Frasier Fir products right here on our website!
But, we don't think you should stop there! Thymes's Gingerbread candles are PERFECT for your kitchen and dining room. They fill the air with the scents of cinnamon, cloves, and ginger. The only warning we give: you may find yourself suddenly inspired to bake a fresh batch of gingerbread! We've included a recipe for inspiration.
Rainy Day Gingerbread Crisps
These delicious play on traditional gingerbread bake into delicious crisps! A wonderful project to involve little ones in - it can be extra fun to ice them after they have cooled.
Ingredients
1/2 pound butter at room temperature
1½ cups sugar
1 tablespoon molasses
1 egg
2 teaspoons baking soda
3 teaspoons cinnamon
3 teaspoons ginger
3 teaspoons cloves
3 to 3½ cups flour, divided
Whisk together 2 1/2 cups of the flour, the soda and the spices. Set aside.
Cream the butter and sugar in a stand mixer or vigorously by hand. Add molasses. Mix until incorporated. Add egg and mix until wet ingredients are combined.
Add the flour mix in 1/2 cup increments until all dry ingredients are incorporated.
By hand, form into two thin disks. Refrigerate for 2 hours or until thoroughly chilled and the dough is manageable.
Preheat your oven to 325° F. Remove one disk from the refrigerator. Cut it into quarters. Roll each quarter out to 1/8 – 1/4" thickness. Use flour liberally as you roll out your dough to hinder sticking. Cut with favorite cookie cutters. Transfer shapes to cookie sheets and bake 8-10 minutes.
Repeat with the remaining three quartered sections of dough. When dough becomes sticky and too warm to work with, return it to the refrigerator for another 20-30 minutes. Prepare the second disk immediately after the first, or save it for up to one week for future cookie baking!
The days are getting shorter, although the weather is still nice and warm. It is the perfect time of year to sit on the porch, light candles as the sun sets, and reflect on the beautiful summer you had.
We're happy we carry Vance Kitira candles just for this time of year.
Founded in 1993 by a forester, Vance Kitira, these candles reflect both aesthetics drawn from Kitira's native Thailand and his fascination with the simplicity of nature.
The Vance line comes in all shapes, sizes, and inspires whimsy with it's pear and seashell themes. Many of the candles are almost too cute to light! (We're thinking of the palm sized pears here!)
Where there is a candle, there is also a candle holder, and we have created countless ways to display the Vance Kitira pieces. Stop by the shop, check out these hand poured, cotton and wax candles.
See if you can find the Vance candles hidden throughout the shop - we challenge you to spot them all!
Islander's know the tradition well. The third week of August picturesque Campground in Oak Bluffs is lit with lanterns and lifted with the sound of island voices singing together. However, not everyone knows the history.
Around 1835, Methodists began having yearly meetings in the midst of summer. They would bring tents and camp beside the sea, in an oak grove high on the bluffs of the Northern end of Edgartown. Over the years those tents were slowly replaced by little wooden cottages, built side by side. The Tabernacle was built in the 1870s, in the center of The Campground.
Now we have the wonderful tradition of Illumination Night! In its time the celebration marked the visit of the Governor of Massachusetts. The night means many things, but one could say that Illumination Night is in part a remembrance of the first seasonal visitors to the Island. The proceeds of the Grand Illumination go towards the upkeep and restoration of the historic Tabernacle. You can find more info about the event here!
One of our favorite parts of the Illumination Night is the variety of eclectic lights, candles, and visually spectacular lanterns. Whether you are on the Island and can join in the fun, or want to put up lights and participate from afar, we have plenty of beautiful options to choose from!
Lanterns
We're incredibly proud of our lantern collection. Our Allsop Home and Garden is the awesome solar powered lantern company we carry in the store, perfect for the sustainable, aesthetically driven islander! Artecnica of CA make our ever popular handmade paper stars. We also work with Cultural Intrigue, a Vermont based company, that specializes in rice paper shades and Zen Zen, a fair trade group that focuses on beautiful cloth shades.
Candles
You can't walk into the shop without stumbling upon a candle or two. From our artisanal Skeem, to Vance Kitira, to Shore Soap Candles... we could list them all day, but you'll find they aren't hard to miss!
And More!
We stock plenty of vessels to carry candles, swanky matches, strings of light, and other essentials to brighten up your evening. The best bet? Stop by the store! We can't wait you see you at Illumination Night!
You might not notice Skeem the moment you step into our shop. Their unique candles, matches, and perfumes live in the back of our store with many of the rest of our beauty products. Skeem prides itself as a brand with a unique aesthetic grounded in a solid product. But, these guys give more than a pretty package.
Skeem was started by husband and wife team Geoff Weiser and Suji Meswani ten years ago. The two ditched the corporate world to work together and capitalize on their backgrounds in graphic design and product development. Their goal was not only to create a beautiful package, but also eliminate the waste that often comes with pre-packaged candle products.
Each of these hand poured, small batch, soy candles, leaves behind it a reusable vessel.
The Half Pint candle collection that we carry, alongside their colorful matchstick bottles and array of flower inspired perfumes, has a 50 hour burn life and a gorgeous metal snuffer lid. Once you have burned through 50 hours, the container left behind is perfect for storing hair pins, paper clips, or any other variety of kitchen, desk, or night stand essentials. (Not to mention the great lingering scent!)
So, next time you are visiting our shop, check out our Skeem line! Stock your house with matches that beg to be shown off, candles that burn long and bright, and perfumes to fill your favorite hip new clutch!
