What Candle Smells Like An Ice Cream Shop?
Introducing Ice Cream Shop Candles
Gourmand candles that evoke the sweet scents of an ice cream parlor have become increasingly popular in recent years. These fun and whimsical candles transport you to childhood memories of walking into an old-fashioned ice cream shop, with aromas of creamy vanilla, rich chocolate, sweet strawberry, and buttery waffle cones wafting through the air. The mouthwatering smells spark nostalgia and bring a smile to your face. Ice cream shop candle scents are often layered, combining two or more complementary aromas to create a delicious medley. For example, a chocolate peanut butter waffle cone candle blends the tastes of several iconic ice cream flavors into one candle. Part of the appeal is being able to enjoy the sensory indulgence of an ice cream treat without any of the calories. Lighting an ice cream shop candle is an easy way to create a sweet scene at home.
Most Popular Ice Cream Shop Scents
When it comes to the classic ice cream shop scents, there are a few key flavors that come to mind. According to various surveys and reports on the most popular ice cream flavors in America, the top contenders are:
- Vanilla
- Chocolate
- Strawberry
- Cookies and cream
- Mint chocolate chip
Vanilla reigns supreme as the most universally enjoyed ice cream flavor. According to one survey, vanilla makes up nearly 30% of all ice cream sales. Chocolate comes in second, preferred by nearly 11% of ice cream lovers. Strawberry rounds out the top three at just under 10% favorability.
Other nostalgic flavors like cookies and cream and mint chocolate chip also have loyal followings. Their signature chunks and swirls make for an indulgent treat. Even though flavors come in and out of style, these classic options remain ice cream shop staples.
Vanilla Candles
Vanilla is one of the most popular scents for candles trying to capture that nostalgic ice cream shop aroma. The warm, sweet vanilla fragrance is reminiscent of fresh vanilla ice cream or vanilla milkshakes. Some of the best vanilla-scented candles include Yankee Candle’s Vanilla Cupcake [1], Bath & Body Works Vanilla Bean, and WoodWick’s Vanilla Buttercream [2]. These candles contain notes like vanilla extract, sugar, buttercream frosting, and hints of baked goods to create the perfect vanilla ice cream shop scent.
Chocolate Candles
Candles that evoke the rich, indulgent aroma of chocolate are wildly popular. The scent of creamy milk chocolate, decadent dark chocolate, or freshly baked chocolate chip cookies can transport you to a chocolate lover’s paradise with just a whiff. Some of the most recommended chocolate-scented candles include:
Yankee Candle Chocolate Eggs: This candle combines rich chocolate with vanilla candy shells for a true chocolate egg experience (source).
WoodWick Truffle Shoppe Chocolate Cake Candle: With notes of moist chocolate cake, creamy chocolate icing, and sweet vanilla, this candle smells just like a slice of decadent chocolate cake (source).
Bath & Body Works Hot Cocoa and Cream Candle: This bestselling candle blends creamy hot cocoa with mini marshmallows for the ultimate cozy, chocolatey experience.
Chocolate-scented candles evoke feelings of comfort, nostalgia, and satisfaction. They can help satisfy a chocolate craving or sweet tooth without the calories. Burning a creamy, chocolaty candle while relaxing at home provides a multisensory chocolate experience that chocolate lovers will savor.
Strawberry Candles
When it comes to fruity, sweet scents that evoke an ice cream shop, strawberry is a classic flavor. Strawberry candles often feature juicy, ripe strawberry notes sometimes paired with creamy vanilla or milk for an authentic ice cream vibe. According to Candlefind.com, some of the most popular strawberry candle scents include Fresh Strawberries, Creamy Strawberry, and Sweet Strawberry Preserves from brands like Yankee Candle and Village Candle [1].
Village Candle offers a bright Electric Strawberry candle perfect for summer that captures the essence of fresh-picked strawberries [2]. Their Strawberry Festival candle blends strawberry with vanilla for a dessert-like scent. Yankee Candle also has strawberry options like Strawberry Ice Cream and Strawberry Daquiri. For an authentic ice cream shop strawberry, Pink Sands from Yankee Candle offers notes of strawberries and whipped cream.
In summary, look for strawberry scented candles that contain juicy, sweet strawberry fragrance, sometimes paired with creamy or vanilla notes. Brands like Village Candle and Yankee Candle offer quality options that will make any room smell like an old-fashioned ice cream parlor.
Waffle Cone Candles
For an authentic ice cream shop scent, waffle cone candles are a must-have. The smell of a freshly baked waffle cone immediately conjures images of towering scoops of ice cream. Some popular waffle cone candle scents include:
Warm Vanilla Waffle Cone – This candle from Etsy seller Dio Candle perfectly captures the aroma of vanilla ice cream in a freshly baked waffle cone. Customers describe it as sweet, bakery-like, and spot on.
Sugared Waffle Cone – Offered by Scented by Steph, this candle adds a touch of brown sugar to the classic waffle cone scent for added depth and complexity. It’s sweet, warm, and reminiscent of a decadent sundae.
These realistic waffle cone candles are perfect for bringing the ice cream parlor experience home. Light one while serving up bowls of ice cream for a truly immersive sensory experience.
Additional Dessert Scents
Beyond just ice cream, there are many other dessert-inspired candle scents to explore. Popular options include cake, cookies, cinnamon rolls, and more. Some examples of delicious dessert candles include:
Cake candles like Cake Batter, Funfetti Cake, or Carrot Cake capture the sweet scent of freshly baked cakes. Brands like Yankee Candle, WoodWick, and Goose Creek have cake batter, vanilla cake, and red velvet cake options.
For a warm, nostalgic scent, try a candle like Cinnabon Cinnamon Roll. These capture the aroma of freshly baked cinnamon rolls straight from the mall food court. Other cinnamon roll candles try to mimic the Pillsbury or Cinnabon experience.
Finally, cookies and sugar cookies like Sugar Cookie and Frosted Christmas Cookie provide a sweet, freshly baked aroma. Brands like WoodWick, Yankee Candle, and Goose Creek make popular cookie candle scents.
Making Your Own
Making your own ice cream shop candles at home can be a fun DIY project. Here are some tips for creating the perfect ice cream scented candles:
Start by choosing your favorite ice cream scents. Classic options include vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, and waffle cone. You can find ice cream fragrance oils made specifically for candle making at craft stores or online retailers like CandleScience.
For the look of ice cream scoops, pour different colored wax into a glass bowl as shown here. Let the wax harden before removing the “scoops” and placing them on top of a basic candle.
You can also coat waffle ice cream cones in wax for fun ice cream candle holders, dipping them with pliers as instructed in this DIY tutorial. Experiment with layering scents by pouring different fragrances in each layer.
Be sure to follow standard safety practices, and enjoy making delightful ice cream shop creations in your own kitchen!
Pairing Scents with Wax
When crafting ice cream shop scented candles, it’s important to consider the type of wax you use and how it will interact with different fragrance oils. Some waxes absorb and release scents better than others.
Soy wax is often a top choice for candle making. It’s natural and clean burning, though it can hold fragrances a bit weaker than paraffin wax. Florals and lighter scents like vanilla or strawberry work well with soy wax. For bolder scents like chocolate, a small percentage of paraffin can be blended into the soy wax to strengthen the aroma. According to Martha Stewart, adding just 5-10% paraffin to soy wax can help the candle “throw fragrance” more effectively.
Paraffin wax on its own is excellent at retaining and dispersing fragrance oils. This makes it a good choice for chocolate, coffee, and other deep aromas you’d expect in an ice cream shop. However, paraffin wax comes from petroleum, so some candle makers avoid it. An alternative is a natural coconut wax, which carries scent nearly as effectively as paraffin.
No matter the wax, it’s smart to test how scent oils interact before pouring a whole batch of candles. Every aroma and wax combination is a little different. Finding the right pairings for each scent will lead to ice cream shop candles that smell delicious and transport people’s senses.
Creating an Ice Cream Shop Aesthetic
One great way to enhance the ice cream shop scent of candles is to display them in a room decorated to mimic an old-fashioned ice cream parlor. This creates a fun, immersive environment that complements the sweet aromas. Some ideas for décor include:
– Vintage tin ice cream signs
– An antique ice cream parlor counter or bar stools
– Floral wallpaper or pastel paint colors
– Black and white checkered floors
You can also decorate with props like ice cream scoops, milkshake blenders, and sundae dishes. For lighting, opt for pendant lights or neon signs. Adding touches like a chalkboard menu, framed photos of ice cream, or a glass candy jar finishes the vintage ice cream shop look.
Group your ice cream-scented candles on the counter or display shelves to showcase the scents. The visual cues and decorative details will transport guests into the sweet-filled world of an old-time ice cream shop.
