Ok, so is anyone else wondering why we're all so into or curious about Pumpkin Spice?
An American craze that's become so crazed it's gone international. It seems everyone is at least talking about it. I love sharing the smell of pumpkin spice with a culture that DOESN'T cook pumpkin to be sweet or with "pumpkin spices".
I had never thought about how Pumpkin Spice is cultural. At a market I attended this weekend, someone actually smelled my Pumpkin Spice candle and said, Ok, I like it, but there just isn't any connection to this smell for me. I didn't grow up with it. Totally makes sense!
Though I did grow up with it and yes, I really do love both pumpkin spice flavour and smell myself, what is the big deal with Pumpkin Spice!?
I thought it came from pumpkin pie (which absolutely contains pumpkin spice). Being that pumpkin pie is traditionally baked on Thanksgiving at the end of November, pumpkin pie flavour and smell is as Americana as it gets.
BUT hold up as I digress a second... when I say pumpkin for pumpkin pie, its not pumpkin like that round orange squash.
The pumpkin that most use for pumpkin pie is already mashed... FROM A CAN.
I can only speak for Sweden, but pumpkin does NOT come in a can and as one might guess, there is no ready made pumpkin spice either. Pumpkins are only found at a VERY hefty price in the produce section.
I have therefore become the ultimate "pioneer woman" blending pumpkin puree from scratch and concocting my own pumpkin spice by mixing clove, cardamom, ginger, and cinnamon (did you know that that's what pumpkin spice consists of?) Needless to say, the pumpkin pie I make in Sweden is DUH-LICIOUS!
Rewind, I have not lived in the US for 15 years. YES 15 YEARS! I can't believe it either. Last year, I got to go back to the US in October (unfortunately to take care of my mother who was unwell) and even I was a bit overwhelmed by all the pumpkin spice.
Pumpkin spice is bigger than ever and literally everywhere flavouring everything! Though I did try to consume as many pumpkin spice flavoured ice creams and coffee beans as I could, this experience finally made me ask myself, where has all this craziness for pumpkin spice comes from?
So I did a little research (VERY little research, so you can absolutely let me know if you think I'm wrong). Pumpkin spice became THE THING when Starbucks introduced their Pumpkin Spice flavour for coffee drinks in 2023. The spices creating the "pumpkin spice" flavour have been around forevermore (hence, pumpkin pie). But the idea to use this flavour for coffee was unique, became a hit, other brands caught on... and at the end of the day, most love it.
So this brings me to how my business got started and why I now have my favourite candle scents for Fall.
In October 2023, I was feeling a bit gloomy about the weather. I decided that we just needed to buy a new fall candle for our home (preferably pumpkin spice, which is non-existent in Sweden.) When my daughter and I came home from our candle shopping trip empty handed, I decided to google "how to make a scented candle" and from there Honeywood was born, for real! Unfortunately, it took me so long to learn how to make candles I missed out on making Fall and Winter candles until the following year.
Whether it's because of pumpkin pie, Starbucks, or something else, I am thrilled to offer my PUMPKIN SPICE candle. It's been so fun to participate in the craze and to share some of my own Fall heritage through scent.
What's your go to scent for cosy Fall vibes? I hope you're able to find it in Honeywood 's Colder Weather collection. If not, let me know so that I can consider some new scents for next year!
Love,
Amy