Hot Stuff handcrafted candle

For someone who claims to roll their eyes at heart-shaped everything, I sure do get sentimental about that one Valentine's Day in London. The city had dressed itself in unexpected snow, as if determined to prove that even the most jaded among us aren't immune to a bit of well-timed magic. And because the universe has a flair for the theatrical, there was even a snow-dusted cherub statue in our garden, playing its role as cupid with almost comical perfection.

A month earlier, my flatmates and I had kicked off our semester abroad by snagging last-minute tickets to "Hot Stuff," a disco-fueled West End spectacle that had us humming 70s hits for weeks. In what feels like cosmic foreshadowing, that title would eventually find its way onto the label of this spicy little number I'd later create.

The inspiration? Those fiery cinnamon candies that make your taste buds do their own version of the hustle – a Valentine's Day staple that refuses to be confined to February's candy shelves. I'm particularly smitten with those cheeky little gummy dragons from Trader Joe's, which have graduated from occasional treat to not-so-guilty pleasure. In a world that could desperately use an extra dash of warmth and connection, there's something wonderfully fitting about a scent that's both bold and comforting.

Every time I light "Hot Stuff," that robust cinnamon aroma doesn't just fill the room – it transports me back to those snowy London streets, to disco beats and shared laughter. Because sometimes the most powerful kind of love isn't found in grand gestures or perfect Valentine's Days, but in the simple pleasure of a spicy candy, a remembered song, or a candle that tells a story of its own.