What Candle Smells Like An Old Fashioned Drink?
For centuries, humans have enjoyed both drinks and candles to stimulate the senses. While most candles emit familiar scents like vanilla, lavender, or pine, some creative candle makers have started infusing their wax with the evocative aromas of popular cocktails and drinks. As we light one of these drink-scented candles, close our eyes, and inhale, we’re instantly transported back to the mellow buzz of a neighborhood bar or the fizzy tang of a boozy brunch. With notes of whiskey, wine, coffee, and more, drink-scented candles allow us to recreate our favorite drinking experiences right at home through the power of scent memory. In this article, we’ll explore the delectable world of candles that smell like your favorite libations.
Popular Drink-Scented Candles
Drink-scented candles have become increasingly popular home decor items and gifts over the past few years. Many major candle brands now offer extensive lines of candles designed to smell just like popular cocktails and mixed drinks. The aromas of fruity margaritas, minty mojitos, bubbly mimosas, and more can now fill your home through high-quality candles.
Some of the most popular drink-inspired candle scents include:
- Margarita – These candles typically smell like lime, salt, and tequila or triple sec. They often feature bright citrus and tangy lime notes with subtle sweetness.
- Mojito – Featuring mint leaf, lime, and rum notes, mojito candles transport you to a Cuban bar. The dominating scent is fresh mint balanced by sweet lime.
- Mimosa – Mimosa candles have an effervescent and sweet scent profile with orange juice and champagne notes. They smell just like a fresh brunch cocktail.
- Pina Colada – These candles evoke tropical vibes with creamy coconut and pineapple aromas along with rum accents.
- Sangria – Berries, citrus, red wine, and spices combine in sangria candles for a juicy, fruity scent.
- Moscow Mule – Ginger and lime are the predominant notes in Moscow mule-inspired candles, often with subtle copper mug accents.
Whether you love fruity cocktails, fun tiki drinks, or classic mixed beverages, there’s likely a candle to match your favorite drink’s aroma and transport you to a beachside cabana or swanky cocktail lounge through scent alone.
Why Drink-Scented Candles Are Appealing
Drink scents like an old fashioned cocktail can evoke a strong sense of nostalgia and bring back memories. According to research by Sowndhararajan et al. (2016), fragrances are closely linked to emotions and memories in the brain. The smell of a particular drink can remind us of celebrations, vacations, and time spent with friends and family. These nostalgic associations make drink-scented candles appealing for their ability to mentally transport us back to happy moments and experiences.
In addition, drink fragrances can tap into the reward pathways in our brains. Drinks like cocktails are often consumed during fun social events and positive occasions. Therefore, the scent becomes encoded as pleasant and rewarding. Smelling the fragrance again reactivates those feel-good neuropathways, creating anostalgic comfort and happiness. This gives drink-scented candles the ability to lighten our mood or reduce stress through the power of smell memories.
How Drink-Scented Candles Are Made
Drink-scented candles capture the aromatic essence of popular beverages through creative use of ingredients and fragrance oils. The basic components include wax, fragrance oil, and dye.
Paraffin or soy wax provide the base for the candle. These waxes have a neutral scent and good binding properties to hold the fragrance. Manufacturers melt the wax and add specialized fragrance oils to infuse the desired drink aroma. For example, an old fashioned candle may use notes of orange, cherry, and bourbon. The fragrance oils contain concentrated extracts that evaporate when burned to produce the scent.
Dyes color the wax to evoke the drink’s hue. A margarita candle may be tinted light green while a stout candle takes on deep browns. The melted wax mixture is poured into containers and allowed to set before adding wicks.
Some specialty drink candles also embed iconic garnishes within the wax like lime slices for a margarita or cinnamon sticks for spiced rum. These provide visual and aromatic impact.1
With the right fragrance blends and coloring, the end result is a candle that mimics both the appearance and smell of popular cocktail beverages when lit.
Old Fashioned Cocktail History
The Old Fashioned is one of the oldest known cocktails, with origins dating back to the early 1800s. According to Niococktails, the first Old Fashioned was created in Kentucky and made with whiskey, sugar, bitters and water. It emerged as a popular cocktail in the late 1800s at high-end gentlemen’s clubs in New York and other major cities. The Old Fashioned was considered an “old fashioned” drink even in its early days, as it was a holdover from the days before more complex mixed drinks became popular.
Some key facts about the history of the Old Fashioned cocktail:
- It’s one of the earliest known cocktails on record
- Originated in Kentucky in the early 1800s
- Consisted originally of whiskey, sugar, bitters and water
- Became popular in upscale clubs in major cities in late 1800s
- Called “Old Fashioned” even early on, as it was a simpler, old style drink
According to BourbonDose, the Old Fashioned emerged before the term “cocktail” was common, making it truly one of the first cocktails on record. It has survived many decades and trends as one of the most iconic classic cocktails.
Tasting Notes of an Old Fashioned
An Old Fashioned cocktail has a complex yet balanced profile of flavors and aromas. The smell is often dominated by warm, vanilla and oak notes from the bourbon or rye whiskey base spirit. There are also bright citrus highlights from the orange zest and twist garnish. Additional spice aromas like clove and cardamom come through from typical bitters used.
On the palate, an Old Fashioned starts with the smooth yet strong taste of the whiskey, before transitioning to subtle sweetness from a sugar cube or simple syrup. The bitters provide an underlying bitter kick to balance out the sweet. Finally, the citrus oils from the peel contribute fresh acidity and zing. The result is a harmonious blend of sweet, spice, citrus and spiritous flavors in perfect balance according to the traditional Old Fashioned formula (https://caskcartel.com/products/treaty-oak-old-fashioned-cocktail).
Best Old Fashioned Candles
For those seeking a candle that truly captures the warm, sophisticated scents of an old fashioned cocktail, there are some great options to consider.
Yankee Candle’s “Old Fashioned Cocktail” is one of the most popular and highly-rated choices. This soy-blend candle contains fragrant layers of bourbon, oranges, cherries, and bitters that blend together into a mouthwatering aroma reminiscent of the classic drink. When lit, it fills the room with the inviting and nostalgic scent of an expertly-crafted old fashioned.
Voluspa’s “Bourbon Old Fashion” candle also tops many lists of the best old fashioned-scented candles. This coconut wax candle offers a refreshing citrus top note followed by aromatic layers of bourbon, sugar, and bitters. Reviewers praise this candle for its clean yet sophisticated scent that is spot-on for an old fashioned cocktail.
For a budget-friendly option, Mainstays’ “Old Fashioned” large jar candle captures the sweet and boozy essence of the drink. With scents of vanilla, orange, cherry, and subtle hints of bourbon, this candle offers an impressively authentic old fashioned experience at a fraction of the cost of luxury brands.
So whether you’re seeking to set the mood for cocktail hour or are simply nostalgic for the warm, refined scents of a perfectly balanced old fashioned, quality drink-scented candles can provide an instant aromatic escape.
How To Make Your Own Old Fashioned Scented Candle
If you want to make your own old fashioned scented candle at home, it’s easy to do with just a few simple ingredients and steps. Here is a DIY guide to making an old fashioned candle using essential oils:
Gather your materials:
- Soy wax flakes or paraffin wax
- Candle wicks
- Candle jars or other heat safe containers
- Double boiler
- Essential oils like orange, cherry, vanilla, whiskey, and maple
- Scent mixing bowls
- Candle thermometer
Instructions:
- Melt the wax in a double boiler until completely liquid.
- Add in your essential oil blend drop by drop, mixing well. Use scents like orange, cherry, vanilla, whiskey, and maple. Adjust amounts to your preference.[1]
- Pour the scented wax into jars or containers, leaving room at the top for the wick.
- Place wicks in the center and allow candles to fully cool and harden.
- Trim wicks to 1⁄4 inch before lighting.
Making your own old fashioned scented candles is an easy DIY project. Be sure to take proper safety precautions and enjoy your handmade candles!
Safety Tips
When burning candles, it’s important to follow some basic safety precautions to prevent fires and injuries. According to the National Candle Association https://candles.org/fire-safety-candles/, here are some key tips:
Use proper candle holders that are sturdy and won’t tip over. According to the NFPA https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/home-fire-safety/candles, two out of five home candle fires start because the candle was too close to something that could catch fire.
Make sure the candle holder is heat resistant and placed on a stable, hard, nonflammable surface. Never put a candle directly on furniture or near anything flammable.
Trim wicks to 1⁄4 inch before lighting to avoid high flames. Long or crooked wicks can create more smoke and release more scent.
Don’t burn a candle longer than the manufacturer recommends, usually no more than four hours at a time.
Never leave a burning candle unattended. Always extinguish candles before leaving a room.
Keep candles out of reach from children and pets to prevent accidental knock overs or curiosity burns.
Make sure the candle is completely extinguished before going to bed or leaving home. Consider using a candle snuffer instead of blowing it out.
Never burn a candle outside of a proper holder or container. Melted wax can pool, ignite surfaces, or tip over.
Avoid using candles during a power outage when risk of fires are higher. Use flashlights or battery-powered lights instead.
Conclusion
In summary, drink-scented candles, especially those emulating old fashioned cocktails, offer a novel way to bring beloved bar aromas into your home. While homemade options allow for customization, high-quality premade candles carefully formulate the notes of whisky, bitters, sugar, and citrus that characterize a properly-balanced old fashioned. With careful wick trimming and placement, these candles can fill a room with the warm, sophisticated fragrance of a favorite cocktail, provoking fond memories or setting a festive mood. However, proper precautions are needed to burn candles safely. When used responsibly, drink-scented candles provide an inviting scent experience perfect for old fashioned aficionados.
