i am admittedly a bit crazy about scent in the home. every corner of the apartment has an opportunity for activation: incense and smudge sticks in the bedroom, reed diffuser in the bathroom, a mini candle in the kitchen for when the lack of ventilation makes the stench of burned food linger and choke up the air. sometimes there is ritual involved in these smells, but walking past the big coffee-scented candle in the living room and stopping in my tracks to light it became so second nature to me that i don't even think about it sometimes.
the issue lies in this conundrum: i like the living room to smell nice, but i'm usually just lighting this on my way to the kitchen or my office and won't be on guard to protect all the wood furniture in our home from the flame. so today, i announced to my housemates and our guest: "i'm going to take a shower, and i'm lighting this candle, but now it's your responsibility. keep an eye on it for me."
why? because a living room candle warms up the room with its glow. it's a warmth that just makes sense for this space, dim illumination, with everyone together in a row on a couch that could stand to be longer. and there is something to be said about the trust involved in lighting a candle. everyone in this room knows what i need in our home to make it function for me, and when i tell them to keep an eye on the big candle in the living room, i know they will, for me.
