The Perfect Match

There are so many things that we love about candles.  We love the atmosphere they create, the self care they promote, and one of the things we love most is the power of fragrance! Smell is the most visceral sense that we have when it comes to feeling and memory. Scent can instantly bring you back to a certain time of your life or trigger specific feelings or emotions.  The thing that is really cool about that, is that it gives us the power to use scent to amplify special times of our lives or bring to life a story.  

That is why we are so excited to announce that we have partnered up with Blue Bicycle Books and Kathryn Budig of The Inky Phoenix Book Club!  Each month we will be pairing a candle from our fragrance library with the book of the month!  Burn it while you read and watch as you’re instantly transported into another world.  

This month we have picked No. 54 from our library to pair with The House in the Cerulean Sea.  It is an enchanting read set on a magical island, so we think it pairs perfectly with No. 54 which has notes of ozone, marine, amber, and sandalwood.  A little bit of salty ocean breeze grounded with mysterious amber and sandalwood make the perfect match for this book. 

We sat down with Kathryn Budig to chat about the Inky Phoenix and the power of storytelling.

What inspired you to start The Inky Phoenix?

I’ve always wanted to start a book club, but wasn’t sure how to pull it off in the medium of social media. I wasted so much time trying to figure out how to do it ‘right’ and finally woke up and just decided to name it, pick an inaugural title, and figure it out along the way!

A little about the name: The phoenix is a long-lived mythological bird that regenerates itself after death, rising from the ashes in a constant cycle of rebirth. That’s how stories are for me: They burn bright, often leaving permanent marks, but like everything — they must come to an end. Yet a new story is always waiting to emerge from the ashes, urging us to read on. 

And that, my friends, is how The Inky Phoenix found its name! Each month we let our story burn bright, only to make peace with the inevitable end, knowing the resurrection of story is waiting in our next pick.

What has been the most surprising thing about starting this book club?

I’m not sure if it’s surprising as much as comforting, but I’ve received so many messages from members of the club thanking me for reminding them how much happier they are when they’re immersed in a book. I know we can fall into this story we tell ourselves, that we don’t have time for pleasurable reading, yet books are one of the most healing, stimulating and unifying things we can do for ourselves.

How has storytelling affected your life, and why is it so important?

I’ve always marveled at the skill set of a talented author — the worlds they create; how characters jump off the pages and into your hearts; how imagined stories can somehow stay with you way beyond the reach of the pages. It’s something that I’ve loved as a reader and hope to transmit through my teaching and upcoming debut novel.

What most excites you about pairing books with candles?

Books are like a portal into other worlds and fragrance is a reminder of the people and places you meet along the way. I’m so thrilled to find what scents mimic each monthly pick for the ultimate transformative experience.

Ready to join The Inky Phoenix?  Follow them here on instagram, and make sure to stop by Blue Bicycle Books and Candlefish to pick up your book and candle.  When you mention the book club you get 10% off!