Meet our pantheon of personalities . . .
D'Jall, Lord of Bargains "The devil is in the details, and I have diabolical precision." Demons and Devils are a dime a dozen these days, but D’Jall made a name for himself above the rest with his shrewd mind and silver tongue. A masterful visionary and social tactician, he offers his services to all lifestyles. Rich or poor, good or bad, immortal or not- it’s all the same to D’Jall. What really matters is the finality of the contracts. No loopholes, loose ends, or unclear terms. While many devils are able to grant abilities in exchange for promises, D’Jall is the only one who’s never had a contract broken. |
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Maevenon, Patron of Faces "In the realm of illusions, I am the conductor of confusion." Maevenon’s rise to power has been a long and arduous climb filled with treachery. Originally a low ranking member of the Seelie Court, Maevenon never garnered respect from their fellow leaders because they weren’t considered stern enough to rule. However, Maevenon always considered their flexibility a strength and continued to practice it until it manifested into physical form. With the power to shift their visage, Maevenon infiltrated private conversations, charmed naive lovers, and made promises they never intended to keep. Leaving a path of chaos and confusion in their wake, Maevenon left the Court. They now roam the world, gathering followers and delighting in the mischief that comes from being underestimated. |
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Ozul, the Sentient Forge "In the heart of shadows, I am the craftsman of rebellion." Ozul, the Sentient Forge presents itself to a special few individuals. Ozul was born out of an arcane mishap caused by a deity's attempt to sweep their mistake into the shadow realm. Facing nearly an eternity in darkness, the arcane energy grew and transformed, eventually taking a form similar to self-awareness. The energy learned to shape and mold the darkness, eventually fashioning great weapons for itself and taking on the name Ozul. Although Ozul remains forever trapped in the shadows, it has learned to communicate with other planes, forging bonds with mortals who share a hatred for the gods. |
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At Cantrip Candles, we look to innovate creatively and artistically, bringing life to concepts that we take great pride in. While brainstorming ideas for new projects in late 2022, we kept coming back to a specific candle type; prayer candles. Many people, several of us included, have grown up in religious households where these have a place and purpose. There’s something inherently ritualistic in lighting a candle with an image of the divine. It changes the space around you and calls for a shift in focus. Warmth and light take on additional meanings, and it can be an act of devotion in and of itself.
In recent years, prayer candles have made a cheeky comeback in the more secular market. You can find prayer candles assigned to your favorite celebrities, characters, or customized with your pet in saintly portraits! And while many of these are hilarious (I personally wouldn't be above burning a Kermit the Frog prayer candle for good vibes), there are a couple reasons we didn't want to go the gimmick route on this particular project:
We don't make unscented candles (yet), and if the entire purpose is a silly image, then it wouldn't really feel like our product. You can find that practically anywhere. Silliness hasn't stopped us before (looking back fondly at our Stoned Cunning collection for an April Fools & 4/20 celebration in 2023), but those scents were also developed with that cheekiness in mind.
We're cognizant of the significance candles along this vein carry. We wanted to treat the project seriously, in no small part to the history behind them, even though we're making them our own.
We hadn't seen a serious take on devotional "prayer" candles to fantasy gods that could be applied to elevating tabletop gameplay and character exploration. It felt uniquely unprecedented and exciting to us, while also falling into line with our core; immersive candles.
In order to be honest to the concept, we decided that the candles would require different vessels from our usual line. Prayer candles tend to be comparatively tall and thin, so we wanted to go with vessels that honored that while also still wide enough to burn well all the way down. At the same time, we wanted to veer from the traditionally very Christian-bound imagery on the labels, and instead leaned more heavily into a tarot-inspired aesthetic.
We decided that since each god or patron had their own unique feel to them, it made sense to have each one worked on by a different artist. However, each illustration would have a unifying theme of a tarot template, and a touchstone of Ramil Sunga's iconic work on the Dragon Age: Inquisition tarot cards (here's an article to make yourself familiar if you're not already), which was hugely influential in the art community in the mid 2010's up til today.
Even with that visual touchstone, each artist gave life to these otherworldly beings in their own way!
DEITIES
For Abella, we developed the idea of confident mature woman laughing in joy. We wanted her dressed in bold colors and patterns, with tattoos decorating her, to convey someone who lives and embraces her life fully!
Additionally, she has some visual counterparts with Florence, Prince of Death! She holds a mote of sun-like light, almost in display or offering, in contrast to Florence's moon lantern.
Our concept for Florence was a pale younger figure (Death is younger than Life, though our concept of Life does periodically reincarnate!) with angular features and a moon motif. They represent natural decay (the embroidered and surrounding flower elements), and the inevitability of death. The moon lantern represents the way he guides souls to their end, a gentle light in the dark.
Javid's concept was a "refined, soft, silver fox" (actual concept notes). We wanted him to represent the pursuit of knowledge purely for its own sake, and his singular focus and solid composition lend to the idea of his acquired timelessness. He's also surrounded by swirls of incense, a key note in the scent itself, as a clarifying and focusing tool for his mind.
PATRONS
Our patrons may seem more darkly-inclined, but that's not to say that their patronage need go hand-in-hand with dubious acts! Though it's possible they may be encouraged...
We wanted to lean into the devilish rather than demonic for our hellish patron, with dark contracts and legalese being so prevalently played with in tabletop games! There's a definite draw towards a sophisticated evil that can be bargained with, and we wanted to make sure he looked the part of self-assured and indulgent. We went through a couple color variations for the composition, but the sulfurous look of the smoke surrounding him lends to the unsettling atmosphere and we're so pleased with it!
For this regally mysterious patron, we wanted to lean heavy into traditional archfey aesthetics, so we made sure to share natural elements mixed with aloof nobility in their character notes. Masks were also a theme we wanted explored, implying duplicity and hidden motives. You can never really know what Maevenon is thinking, and while they are gently smiling, their claws may give some supplicants pause.
For Ozul, our concept for it was a pierced suit of armor run through with many weapons. In this way, it reads as bound and trapped in a dark space, from which it reaches out to mortals to enact its will elsewhere. Partially inspired by Hexblade patrons, we also drew on warforged concepts to create a "figure" of armor that could be recognized by supplicants as a being, although it isn't necessarily one. The magical energy that holds it together is closer to its actual being, reflected in the blue magic visible holding its bound joints together in the artwork.
Working with these artists was an amazing experience! We're exceedingly grateful for the chance to have worked with them!
Now more than ever, the art world is a little messy (understatement) as questionable technology pushes in favor of quick and thoughtless creation. We wanted to make a statement with this project too; art made by real artists, working thoughtfully on unique concepts, should be sought, showcased, and celebrated!
We're still a small business (6 team members, including the owner) with what means and time we can manage, but this is an important part of our growth and who we are.
Designed to be applicable to gods and domains you may already be playing with in your home games, we hope you'll enjoy these candles for their art, scent, and concept! They've been a long time coming, and we're so happy to share them with you at last. :) Want to read more about these powerful individuals? Check out the Lore Blog.
Meet our pantheon of personalities . . .
Abella, Goddess of Rebirth "For every fall we have in life, we have the opportunity to rise stronger" Abella has lived 10,000 lives, being born to a different set of parents time and time again. In each of her lives, she’s faced a series of struggles and lessons, sometimes rising above them, and sometimes failing. Nevertheless, she’s managed to enrich the lives of others through story, song, and humor. Choosing this cyclical life of birth and renewal, Abella keeps the memories of her past lives as tattoos on her skin. It is not uncommon for her to sacrifice her own life in an effort to save another's, trusting in the knowledge that she will be reborn. |
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Florence, Prince of Death "Every soul’s final journey deserves a gentle escort" Despite his young appearance, Florence predates the existence of many deities. Burdened with the responsibility of ushering the dead into their next stage, Florence chooses to approach the process with a gentle and guiding hand. Their moon lantern serves as a light in the darkness of the afterlife and their cloak is woven from threads of fate. Followers of Florence strive to maintain a kind demeanor, rebuking the more violent worshippers of death and darkness. |
Javid, Steward of Knowledge "A mind equipped with knowledge is sharper than any blade" Once a mortal, Javid ascended to Godhood by studying the mysteries of the cosmos. While many people have learned how to access magical powers, Javid managed to master the origins of them. He kept rigorous detailed notes of all his discoveries, eventually creating an archive of knowledge. Javid read and wrote for so long that he failed to notice the passing of centuries. Once he noticed the collection of works he’d procured, he opened up the library to individuals who had a thirst for knowledge, although he made certain to test their wit and morals before allowing them entrance. Javid is sober minded and patient, only resorting to anger when information or knowledge is destroyed.
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The defining trait of GAMA seems to be a sense of access. Since everyone in attendance is already a member, there’s a strong sense of trust that creates a willingness to be open and transparent with each other. It’s not uncommon to rub shoulders with big time designers, well respected writers, and incredible artists. Furthermore, you’re able to strike up conversations on the fly with industry professionals- allowing for a really impressive sharing of wisdom. Without any ticketed events, invite-only panels, or other exclusionary concepts, GAMA takes the crown for having a strong sense of community.
The business side of the industry comes through clear as day at GAMA. Instead of cosplay costumes, folks are dressed business casual. Handshakes and business cards abound, and everyone is incredibly respectful of each others’ busy schedules. The sense of efficiency is refreshing!
Our objective this week was to spread the gospel of Cantrip Candles, hone in on marketing strategies for future releases, and secure commissions with game publishers far and wide. We’ve been learning nonstop and are eager to put these new lessons into practice.
Our favorite part has been the game rooms each night. Players are encouraged to learn new games and rewarded with drink tickets for participating. The result is a high energy space full of laughter and discovery. Those with particularly high Constitution stats are able to network into the wee hours of the night at the well stocked Conservatory bar. We had our fill of bourbon (it is Kentucky after all).
We head back to Los Angeles tomorrow and can’t wait to catch our team up on what we’ve learned. Our deep gratitude goes out to everyone who shared their industry knowledge with us and offered us the encouragement to keep growing. Most of the first-time attendees we spoke with immediately recognized the value of the convention and, like us, will definitely be back next year!
]]>In December we announced the 2023 winners! Congratulations! Thank you to our customers who helped make this successful! We hope you will check out these great community members!
https://www.twitch.tv/longlostlore
Long Lost Lore is a twitch channel that streams role playing games. Here’s what some of the nominations had to say about them,
“The community is widely inclusive and the sheer amount of creativity of their content is refreshing.”
“Long Lost Lore has become the place I feel at home on the internet”
“... a place where we get to laugh at darkness and dread from the safety of theater and play, and I am just so happy I’ve found this gem of a ttrpg community.”
Logan The GM (he/him) is a game designer, actual play performer and admin of Apochromatic Unlimited. Here’s what one of the nominations had to say about Logan,
“Logan uplifts marginalized people in the TTRPG scene with his work at Apochromatic Unlimited, a collective of POC creators publishing a quarterly zine elevating POC voices.”
https://steampunkunicornstudio.com/
Kat Kruger (she/her) is a freelance narrative game designer and author. Check out what the community had to say about Kat!
“Kat has always been the kind of DM that I strive to be”
“... she’s always so quick to make our personal stories part of the narrative. She’s just great and we love her.”
“Kat is a talented and thoughtful TTRPG writer and DM!”
https://www.rainbowspaces.org/
Rainbow Spaces is a 509(a)2 federally approved charity with 501(c)3 status that hosts D&D games and other events for LGBTQIA+ youth. Here’s what one nomination had to say about them,
“They run small events in San Diego such as D&D games for queer youth and are also doing great things in the community.”
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Recently, I got a chance to check-in with one of the stores in question. Geeky Teas & Games in Burbank, CA has long offered our entire catalog of signature scents for table-top immersion and general household use. Donna Ricci, the head Geek in charge, recounted how our founder Christoff came in off the street a few years ago.
“He told me about his products and I said I thought it was a great idea!” Donna explained not far from the sizable candle wall. We snuck off to one of their private rooms to chat, but we could still hear the flurry outside of a busy Saturday afternoon. “We were a much smaller store back then so it was a much smaller order, but we were the first people to say yes. He was surprised.”
The current candle wall at Geeky Teas & Games
Cut to today, when I am still surprised by our day-to-day wholesale orders that have extended well beyond Burbank. Cantrip Candles has nearly 70 retail partners from California to Texas to New York. We even work with international retailers like Meeples & Dragons in Queensland Australia and Strange & Unusual Trading Co. for our EU customers.
Game stores of all sizes have made the jump to candles just like Donna did. This is a real thrill for us since D&D is still strongly tied to brick-and-mortar community hubs just like Geeky Teas and this quirky store is a perfect example of how far the TTRPG community has come in terms of acceptance. Both Donna and I have crossed paths with our fair share of gate-keepers and toxic individuals. Thankfully, everything about Geeky Teas & Games screams, “Join us!”
“Take a chance on our community,” said Donna when asked if Geeky Teas could impart anything to potential visitors. “They’re friendly, welcoming people and we have curated that pretty well […] Sit down with us and play games!”
She also shared with me how her initial rebelliousness in terms of D&D led to her establishing a successful game store. Like many parent figures at the time, her mother wasn’t supportive of the fringe hobby for Donna or her late brother who she adored.
“[D&D] was a very taboo thing as a child for me,” she recounted. “I was forbidden from playing because it was satanic and my brother hid his D&D books in his room and I wasn’t allowed to look at them… but I did.”
Perhaps the real rebel of Geeky Teas is Mr. President, resident cat and vigilant store mascot. Luckily, I was able to say hello before I left that day. If you stop by, the staff may be willing to have Mr. President ring the presidential bell for treats– although it’s a chore to get him to stop.
Mr. President is not without company. The game and tea store is also the headquarters of Donna’s non-profit cat rescue “GeeKitties.” She was modest about her work on this front and preferred to leave folks with a simple message:
“People in cat rescue don’t wanna be in cat rescue,” Donna said with the weariness I’ve seen from people who work and volunteer in animal adoption. “Please spay and neuter your pets… I sound like Bob Barker.”
Mr. President says hi! #AdoptDontShop
Cantrip Candles is very proud to feature our wares at a store like Geeky Teas & Games. I was also tickled to see our popular Roll with Pride pin sharing space with a Mr. President sticker on an adorable accessories wall. Talk about prime real estate!
Our range of products can make a tantalizing display for game and hobby stores. Try some 6 oz. candle tins or our Spellbook Matchboxes near your store’s register and watch your customers be captivated.
“They sell themselves,” Donna shrugged when asked about the candles’ high sell-thru rates. “Because we’ve carried them almost as long as they’ve been around, people know it’s a staple here of our offerings.”
To learn more and browse our latest wholesale catalog. Visit our Faire store or email me directly at retail@CantripCandles.com
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Community Highlights will spread holiday cheer and appreciation for the unsung heroes of the TTRPG space. The initiative coincides with the unveiling of three limited edition tea light sets: Healing Potion, A Walk in the Woods, and Yule (their exclusive holiday scent). The best part? Proceeds from each set sold will contribute to the prize pool, ensuring that our TTRPG community members receive the recognition they deserve.
Nominating a deserving community member is a breeze. Customers adding a Cantrip Candles' Community Highlights set to their cart can provide the name, contact information, and reasons for nominating the person who has made a significant impact in their life. Winners will be selected at random.
The Community Highlights initiative is set to launch on November 10th, 2023, and will run through December 10th or until supplies last. It's a limited-time opportunity to recognize those who have worked tirelessly to enrich the tabletop experience.
As a note, each of the winners must align with the values of Cantrip Candles, which include fostering a sense of inclusivity and creativity. Cantrip Candles kindly requests that customers refrain from nominating already established companies or organizations with large followings, since Community Highlights is designed to uplift emerging talents and rising stars within the TTRPG community.
"We received a generous donation early in our journey that allowed us to grow to where we are today. Through our Community Highlights initiative, we aim to do the same for other amazing people and give back to the community that has supported us over the years," said Christoff Visscher, Owner of Cantrip Candles.
Join Cantrip Candles in celebrating the holiday season by recognizing the unsung heroes of the TTRPG community. Purchase a limited edition tealight set, nominate someone extraordinary, and be part of the magic this holiday season.
For more information about Cantrip Candles and the Community Highlights initiative, please visit cantripcandles.com
]]>1. Never burn your candles unattended and make sure you keep out of reach of pets!
2. Trim your wick! Your candle wick should be about ¼” each time you burn your candle. If you don’t want to get soot on your fingers you can grab a wick trimmer from us. This helps prevent that mushroom at the top of your wick. That’s carbon build up and it can make your candle smoky and sooty.
3. How long you burn your candles matters! The first burn should be approximately an hour for each inch in candle diameter. Really that’s just a fancy way of saying you want to burn your candle until you have a complete melt pool on top. Candles have a memory so if you don’t burn them long enough you may get consistent tunneling. For our candles that means you need about two hours. Never burn your candle for more than four hours as this can create intense heat in the candle vessel and will burn off your wax much too fast.
(Sometimes you burn a candle and the melt pool never reaches the edge of the container; this means that your candle has the wrong wick size. In this case you may need to scrape some wax out or pour off excess wax so your wick doesn’t drown.)
4. Don’t blow out your candle! We all do it and we all love it, but the best way to put out a candle is to dip the wick below the wax line, making sure you lift the wick back up above the wax line after it's extinguished. You can use a wick dipper for this or just a pencil, screwdriver or any other non-flammable thing you have around the house. You can also snuff it out using a candle snuffer. This avoids spreading wax and smoke all over your home. Don’t worry, we won’t tell if you want to keep blowing out your candles.
When you’re done with your candle you can clean out the wax and reuse the container or recycle them! We like to use ours as little planters, pencil holders or displays for all of our extra dice!
That's all you need to know for candle care! As always, you can send us an email if you have any questions! Until then, Shop our scents here!
]]>Scent development is an incredible and fulfilling artform, especially when it comes to composing a fragrance that evokes a fantasy location. After designing Forest of Fae a couple of years ago, our mind immediately started planeshifting to the Shadowfell. What does that even smell like? A popular setting for many campaigns, these “Planes of Dread” are often characterized as devoid of life and unsettling.
We took inspiration for Realm of Shadows from many sources, but kept coming back to a couple of images for my main scent palette: Count Strahd in his castle, and Persephone’s journey into the Underworld. When designing a scent for a fantasy setting, we like to find some realistic touchstones to begin with, and then add other fragrance oils for vibes.
From the very beginning we knew we wanted pomegranate in this scent; it’s tart, juicy, and seductive. It evokes a bright red color, representing danger and passion. We then wanted to bring in a grounding scent, much like the loamy soil smell in Forest of Fae. Wet slate was the perfect amount of clean and desolate that we needed. The combo of these two fragrances was already good, but it needed more depth and character.Although we love the original art style, we wanted a look that was a bit more "battle ready." After all, while these characters mean business, they still need to be able to handle themselves when combat comes around.
We've been keeping our eye on Thomas "Teeg" Ketchen of Teeketch Art and thought they'd give our characters the facelift they deserved! We love Teeg's bright colors, simple lines, and intense creativity. You should give their work a look at www.teeketch.art! Without further ado, let's check these folks out!
Mr. Cantrip leads the charge on the workshop floor, but takes a backseat approach to battles. As a fire weilding wizard, his magic offers an offensive barrage (provided his allies stay out of the way.) His early encounters with magic were self discovered once he got his hands on a used spellbook. He's a strong advocate for people being able to pursue what brings them joy. Not without flaw, he has a tinge of paranoia, thinking others are trying to steal his arcane secrets.
Jonah knows how to go with the flow and keep it moving! Originally a sailor of the high seas, he gained a lot of experience with safely transporting wares between businesses. Now he uses that same expertise to guarantee your candles arrive safely! On the battlefield, Jonah is a front liner with a good degree of defensive maneuvers. No broken candles and no broken bones! Jonah aspires to one day own their own sailing vessel and successfully travel around the globe, starting from Long Beach.
Alice has lived a life that taught her to temper her emotions and find the good in everyone around her. This skillset makes her the perfect candidate for helping smooth things over when we've made a mistake. A practitioner of the domain of peace, she's always on time, happy to listen, and often brings coffee to meetings. Though her friends would describe her as flawless, her family disagrees with her decision to give up her noble status in exchange for a job at a Los Angeles candle making company. When peace is no longer an option and battle lines are drawn, Alice is an invaluable healer to her comarades on the field.
We originally met Clover speaking to the pigeons that live behind our storefront sign. It wasn't exactly love at first sight, but after seeing how well they were able to add a sense of ambience to the space, we grew to enjoy their company (Clover, not the pigeons). Clover handles all of the events at Cantrip Candles. Their tendency to space out is probably why events have been few and far between, but they're working on it! Opponents of Clover will often underestimate their combat prowess, thinking they're nothing more than a naturalist with their head in the clouds. When push comes to shove, Clover can tap into animalistic nature that knows no bounds.
Want to play with these awesome characters? Give us a few weeks and we'll have character sheets available so you can add these fine folks into your home games!
*SPOILERS DEFINITELY FOLLOW*
Even an army of goblin cultists can’t ruin a breezy hike to the Emerald Grove! Although the forest is old, the new political climate caused by some displaced tieflings promises to pose a challenge for the resident druids.
Act 1 of Baldur’s Gate 3 certainly seems simpler compared to the intersecting choices and plot points that come after, so allow the airy notes of pine to relax your parasite-ridden brain– because you’ve got quite a ride ahead of you. We know the circle of druids would appreciate A Walk in the Woods. Channel the ancient power of Silvanus with this candle as you explore the fragile state of the Grove. Will you help those in need or merely serve your own ends?
The player avatar will find themselves on the Ravaged Beach not long after the nautiloid crash that starts BG3. It’s a prime location for our Brinewater Tides, but the game doesn’t require you to stay beached for long. There’s a pier where you may come across a book titled Shanties for the Bitch Queen, which was the only reference to Umberlee a.k.a. the Wavemother I spotted until Act 3 when you can visit The Water Queen’s house.
This is one of my favorite encounters in the game because it begins with girlies harmonizing at an upbeat funeral. The only thing that can make this scene better are the riptide, seaside vibes of a Brinewater Tides candle. Enjoy the notes of kelp and cedarwood as the sun-kissed waves roll into the temple. Be warned, these NPCs may be displeased if you don’t do as they ask. What would you expect from folks with a goddess lovingly called the Bitch Queen?
BG3 would not feel complete without a few rogues and scoundrels to round out the game’s innumerable NPCs. I was so pleased to stumble on Nine-Fingers Keene and “The Guild” when my party finally made its way into the Gate’s Lower City. Tensions in Guildhall are high with the arrival of a mysterious “Stone King” and the cult of the Absolute threatening Baldur's Gate. Keene’s motivations are not entirely clear, but she is determined to maintain a tight grip on her beloved city by any means necessary.
The schism brewing between the Guild and the Zhentarim make this an ideal session for Den of Thieves. This is a scent for cavalier swagger and throwing back a glass of red wine right before you stab your associate in the back. There’s a feeling that you should be careful who you trust– then again, there’s information to be gathered…
We spend so much time at Cantrip Candles talking about the Black Hound Tavern that it's practically a real place in our minds. In that spirit, I have to honor the Elfsong Tavern in Lower City, the reputation of which has enchanted Baldur’s Gate fans for years.
The famous ghostly song of the tavern’s namesake no longer rings out, but the hustle and bustle of Elfsong is ideal for our Black Hound Tavern candle. It’s not just about whiskey and firewood– our tavern candle is about late nights and good company. At this point in the game you can make a spacious room in Elfsong your new camp for rest and relaxation. Light Black Hound Tavern while you spend your evening catching up with companions or managing your inventory (C‘mon, those bags won’t organize themselves).
I stress caution when it comes to BG3’s Underdark map. The Underdark can be the introduction to Act 2 for a lot of players. You’ll likely cross paths with myconids, duergar, and worse. The flora and fauna in this region fulfill the promise of the Forgotten Realms Underdark we’ve been eagerly anticipating.
At best, the Underdark is a rude awakening for players. Use the subtle hints of moisture and cavernous clay in Dungeon Depths to accompany your descent into the foreboding unknown.
I recommend circling back to explore the Mountain Pass if you braved the Underdark to approach Moonrise Towers and vice versa. Along the Mountain Pass you may come across Giant Eagles (see Rosymorn Monastery below), wayward NPCs and perhaps some Death Wardens. BG3 is about exploration, and I did my best to leave no stone unturned.
The spruce and copal resin of Mountaintop makes it a crisp scent. I burned it gladly while hopping and fighting my way along the treacherous path. Compared to the moist and harrowing Underdark, my Mountain Pass playthrough felt bright and grandiose as I burned my Mountaintop. Onward we go!
Rosymorn aka Crèche Y'llek is another reason to visit the Mountain Pass as it’s only accessible through that map. The interdimensional Githyanki play a large part in BG3. In the game, the githyanki have taken over this crumbling and moss-covered monastery as a base and training camp. Psionic encounters await you along with a holy puzzle that packs one hell (sorry, “heck”) of a payoff.
As you retrace the steps of the monastery’s Dawnfathers, we recommend our pastoral classic, Stonemoss Chapel. Your avatar may not be the religious sort, but there are few out there who don’t appreciate Stonemoss’ understated notes of stone and soil. You’ll be glad to have it while you’re investigating Rosymorn, fending off gremishka and Lathander knows what else!
Congratulations! You’ve made it to Baldur’s Gate. Get ready for more quests than you can fathom. If your party needs some of those higher end spells, look no further than Sorcerous Sundries– nestled away in one of the largest buildings in Lower City. Originally the arcane stronghold of the late, great Ramazith, the Sundries shop is now partially owned and operated by one Lorroakan, who you’ll meet as he obsesses over something called “the Nightsong.”
Sorcerous Sundries is just one good fit for Library Scriptorium in the game as there’s many bookshelves to plunder. Notes of parchment and aged wood evoke hard-won knowledge and long-sought power that is finally within reach. People consistently tell us that Library Scriptorium is one of our most accurate scents and this candle will surely help you take BG3 to the next level.
Let’s backtrack a little to the Shadow-Cursed Lands that take up most of Act 2. All roads lead to Moonrise Towers and you’ll have to brave this area to continue your quest. Thanks to Lady Shar’s curse and the unchecked power of General Ketheric Thorm, this is the most hostile region you’ve encountered so far. Expect no shortage of undead and other gut-wrenching encounters. Hold your Moonlantern close– unless you’ve found some other means to survive the curse!
We’re using this post as an opportunity to announce a new seasonal scent launching late September (Um, I’ll definitely still be playing BG3 then, right?) Embrace the darkness with Realm of Shadows, featuring notes of pomegranate, star anise and wet slate. Light this candle as you make your way among the graves and secrets of the Shadow-Cursed Lands. Are you excited? We certainly are!
Auntie Ethel is a doddery old NPC way back in Act 1 of BG3. She’s totally nice and helpful, but turns out to be a very evil hag.
You can meet Auntie Ethel early on in the Emerald Grove, but her quest line really gets cooking when you approach the Riverside Teahouse nestled in some swamplands in the southern part of the map. Your party will be met with warning after warning to steer clear of this monster, but it’s not in my nature to let a sleeping hag lie, and I’m hoping you feel similarly.
We’re so glad there’s a hag presence in this game because in late September we’re releasing another new smell. Our followers may be familiar with Baba Yaga, a popular but short-lived scent that we’re pleased to be bringing back as House of the Witch. This candle, with notes of blood orange and patchouli, has a brand new look and vibe that is perfect for your visit beneath the teahouse as you meet Ethel’s erm, “found family.” There’s a fair amount of spicy boss fights in Act 1, and I can tell you that House of Witch is worthy of this one.
This summer, Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (a direct sequel to Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild) took the gaming world by storm. If you’re reading this, you likely got swept up in the highs and lows (see what we did there?) of Hyrule, and we’ve got a scent guide to enhance your gameplay!
If you're roaming around Hyrule Field or hopping around sky islands, consider SUMMERPLAINS! With notes of fresh cut grass and orange blossoms, it's perfect for a relaxing gallop or taking a moment to help a buddy put up some signs!
*This scent is only available during the summer and is currently on its last stock for the year, so grab some while you can!
The Hebra mountains are a chilly place, so make it smell that way with MOUNTAINTOP! Enjoy cold notes of frosted spruce while you listen to the crunch of snow beneath your boots.
If you're brave enough to explore The Depths, try DUNGEON DEPTHS. The humid, cavernous notes will lend an eerie atmosphere to your exploration… and the flickering candle light might be enough to ward off the darkness.
We recommend STONEMOSS CHAPEL for hunting down wells, bubblegems, or shrines! Plus, if it's raining- the notes of soil and moss will really enhance the immersion!
And lastly, if you're doing some in-game shopping or completely the stable circuit, try burning ADVENTURER'S EMPORIUM! The leather and clove notes will have you feeling like home away from home!
It's a beautiful game to explore and we're not even halfway done with it! Do you have suggestions for other scents of ours that work well with the game? Let us know! Happy adventuring!
Courtesy of Nintendo
]]>After four years with our original, circular map logo, we figured it was time for an upgrade! A lot goes into a logo design- so let’s go through the process!
We reached out to Josh Diaz of Oldboy Studio to help us take our logo to the next level. We came across him on instagram (the modern-day replacement for rubbing shoulders in a smoking room) and appreciated his work! He has a strong portfolio, and flexibility with style. We knew we wanted a medieval woodcut feel to our look and were confident he could provide what we needed.
The conversation with Josh started pretty open ended: a list of proposed imagery ranging from vintage wizards, to star shaped lanterns, and more traditional depictions of candles. As usual our love for details took over and we started to steer towards the image of a wizard in their castle crafting candles out of a cauldron.
As the process continued we started to identify intricacies that would better tell the story of our brand. Originally the wizard depicted had a long white beard. Despite our appreciation for the classical wizard, we wanted ours to better represent our status as a Black-owned company so we switched to a curly, black beard.
The stacked books towards the bottom of the logo represent a foundation of lore and knowledge for our brand. The fox standing on those books is a representation of our commitment to approaching work from a playful and curious standpoint. It’s also a nod to the owner's dog, Henry, who also happens to be the black hound of the Black Hound Tavern. (We’re nothing if not obsessed with our pets).
The stone cellar background alludes to the world of fantasy tabletop games while simultaneously calling back to the business’ early days when candles were poured in the owner’s dimly lit side room. Lastly, the three small stars that fall into the central cauldron represent the sparks of inspiration that we include in the design process of each of our candles. We hope that this inspiration carries on to the stories that you tell!
So, what do you think about our logo? If you’re in love with it, you can grab it on a T-shirt, or mug! Thanks again to Oldboy Studio for helping us create such a magical image!
]]>After some brainstorming with the Marketing team over at BOOM, we decided to start with candles for The Seasons Have Teeth and the kaiju-like monsters that represent each of the four seasons. Once we knew where to focus our energy we were able to use the amazing monster art done by Sebastián Cabrol and Sebastián Fiumara to give us our inspiration. We knew that each candle had to be unique to the monster, but that the entire set should play well together as they are pieces of one cycle. And of course, the candles needed to smell great too! For the actual process we sat down with Amanda Lawson from the BOOM! team and played with different scent combinations until we felt like the candles met all of our criteria.
We started with the first monster, Spring, that appears in issue #1. In The Seasons Have Teeth, Spring is not a season of gentle flowers but of wild growth. We chose a blend of vetiver, chamomile and earth that brings to mind rampant growth and freshly wet earth.
For Summer we wanted to highlight the smoke and destruction inherent in the art but also the sheer energy and potential of the season. We came first to hickory to give us the smoky note of burning wood, eucalyptus for the brightness of Summer, and sandalwood to ground the scent.
Autumn was one of the more difficult scents but we knew we wanted to avoid the cozy autumn vibes of a traditional fall candle. Instead we leaned into the falling of leaves and the dry decay of the season using a blend of cedar, patchouli and saffron.
Winter was fun to build; we used pine for the evergreens of the season, petrichor for the wet of snow and sleet, and a hint of peppermint for a surprising zing. Balancing those three scents together created a candle that actually smells cold. All together the candles are unique but complimentary.
Unlike when we make a candle in house we had art already to draw from for the labels. We decided to feature each of the monsters on the lid while bringing to mind a comic panel for the side label. The candles were poured, labeled, and packed here at Cantrip then they went off to BOOM so that their team could add marketing materials and send them off to the lucky recipients.
This collaboration pushed us to consider different ways to create a candle scent, and as an added bonus we got to read a really wonderful story about change, destruction, and redemption. Our heartfelt thanks to the BOOM team for reaching out and making this collaboration such a unique experience.
While you can't purchase these candles in stores, you can enjoy scents from similar families like Sanctuary, Stonemoss Chapel, and Mountaintop
]]>The Seasons Have Teeth is published by BOOM! Studios.
Created by Dan Watters and Sebastián Carrol
Written by Dan Watters
Illustrated by Sebastián Cabrol
Colored by Dan Jackson
Lettered by Nate Piekos of Blambot
Cover art by Qistina Khalidah
But we’ve grown a lot since 2017.
Now with over 20 scents, an expansion of products, and a growing team, we felt it was time to level up, while still honoring our rustic roots. The purpose of the change was twofold:
With this in mind, we decided to add detailed art and color to our existing label design, that way we kept our classic look and gave each scent its own unique look.
That’s where Cynthia Osaseri stepped in.
We found Cynthia through the #PortfolioDay tag on Twitter, and her background design work was an instant match for the visuals we were imagining for our labels; strong shapes with fine lines, and meticulous attention to detail. We’re working with limited space, so we knew we had to find someone who could work small without sacrificing detail, while also portraying wide expansive landscapes.
An example of Cynthia’s (@cynicaldrawings) work, shared for Portfolio Day. https://twitter.com/cynicaldrawings/status/1612723900353499137?s=20
Figwood Orchard was the debut candle for our planned label update, with a Spring 2023 release. Figwood Orchard is a subtle but sweet candle that evokes two of our discontinued scents; Sweet Fig Farmhouse and Le Jardin des Fleurs. We felt a lot of pressure to make sure everything went smoothly, so we put together a sloppy sketch for Cynthia to work from.
The sketch above was the guide provided to Cynthia, while the below shows Cynthia’s final linework.
Getting the finished label art back in return felt celebratory; it was exactly the vibe we were hoping to hit with the new labels. From there, we gave Cynthia descriptions and scent notes along with the occasional visual supplement as reference, but we knew our labels were in good hands.
Color selection was a little trickier to figure out because each label was so unique, and depended greatly on the final linework. In the end, we found that adding color accents to the art in-house worked best. Some labels stuck to a singular color, while others felt like they needed more because the art seemed to demand it, in the best way. Dungeon Depths was one of the labels that was the most difficult to select the colors for, but we are so happy with how it turned out!
Color mockup for Cynthia's Dungeon Depths linework.
All in all, we have a total of 19 labels designed in this way (three of which have yet to be revealed… keep an eye out, they look amazing), and we are so proud of the elevated look of our hand-poured beauties!
Have you gotten to take a closer look at the details in our labels? Do you have any favorites?
Here are ours!
Lines & Color Mockups for Black Hound Tavern, Stonemoss Chapel, Library Scriptorium, and Summerplains, respectively.
Follow Cynthia at @cynicaldrawings on Twitter, or cynical.drawings on Instagram!
Curious what these scents smell like? Shop our expanding collection at cantripcandles.com!