I’ve always been a film and TV buff. When I began candle making during the holiday season, I loved watching my favorite childhood magic on screen as I worked. I attribute much of my initial success to the love poured in those first vessels—often inspired by what was on my screen in the process. As my passion grew, I wanted to ensure that my work reflected a little bit of my personality—one vessel at a time—through the labor of wicking, label design, branding, and scent-perfecting. It may be time consuming, but it’s entirely … me. For you. And I’m proud to be a brand with personality; I’m even more honored to have a brand that so many others love just as much as I do.
To this day, while wax is melted, wicks are pressed into jars, and labels are hand-cut, there’s almost always something on the screen. And, somehow, whatever I’m watching always ends up tangled into the vibe of the batch – especially when I’m testing new scents.
January was definitely one for the books—there weren’t many sales after the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, and I had a lot of time to reflect and plan for the future, especially with 3 weeks of no school. It was a month of mysteries—indulgent ones, romantic ones, and plain and simple … mysterious ones. Which, honestly, felt very on brand for a candlemaker that lives for anything antique, eerie, and heavily Southern gothic.
Here’s what I watched ... and the candle each one demanded I burn.
His & Hers
This one surprised me. It was not at all what I expected when I hit play, but I ended up really enjoying the ride. It’s full of twists, subtle clues, and moments where you have to read between the lines. A proper whodunit for anyone who likes unraveling a story slowly… or for anyone who simply enjoys watching Tessa Thompson on screen.
Verdict: 8.5/10
Burn this: The Study — smoke, sweet rum, eerie woods, and unmistakable southern gothic energy. The kind of scent that feels like secrets live in the walls.
“The Beast in Me”
The actors were fantastic. Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys are phenomenal leads, and Brittany Snow? Jonathan Banks?? Great casting. I was hooked for the first two episodes. Truly. I’m a sucker for a lead character with writer’s block.
But I have a personal flaw: when a show starts grounded in realism, I want it to stay there. And this one… wandered. Still entertaining, still worth the watch, but, by the end, it felt a little more exaggerated than I’d hoped.
Verdict: 7/10
Burn this: Midnight Ganache - rich dark chocolate, fudge sauce, pure overindulgence. Dramatic. Decadent. Slightly overindulgent … in the best way.
“Bridgerton”
Bridgerton will always win me over. This season leans into themes that feel heavier than past ones — class struggle, forbidden love, and the quiet emptiness behind many marriages of the period. It’s a big thematic jump from earlier seasons, but still wildly entertaining. A nostalgic Downton Abbey vibe that I’m entirely here for.
I binged this while pouring a batch of Let Them Eat Cake, which felt almost too perfect for the vibe: Vanilla shortbread, buttercream icing – decadent, but still light enough for afternoon tea in my imaginary gilded drawing room.
Verdict: 8.5/10
Burn this: Let Them Eat Cake
“Mare of Easttown”
My mom has been insisting I watch this since it came out. While I hate to say it, my mother was right about this one. It was the standout of the month. I had this playing while testing our Jersey Devil scent in new vessels. Something about that natural Delco grit paired so strangely well with sweet pine and juniperberry.
The show feels local in a way that’s hard to explain unless you’re from this area. Delco is practically my backyard, and Kate Winslet’s performance is so raw it feels less like acting and more like you’re watching someone’s real life unravel.
Verdict: 9.5/10
Burn this: JERSEY DEVIL — juniperberry, pine, and something quietly mysterious lurking underneath. Burn with caution.
Candlemaking can be very repetitive. Pour, wait, wick, label, repeat. It can be incredibly calm and peaceful — the kind of work that lets your mind settle. There’s something almost ancestral about it for me, like participating in a rhythm that existed long before electricity and screens and noise.
But because it is repetitive, what’s playing in the background really matters. A good show can make the hours feel immersive and atmospheric. A bad one can make the whole process drag. And somehow, without trying, the stories on the screen always find their way into the mood of the scents.
So if you’re wondering what to watch while you burn your next Mystic Veil candle… now you know what was on in the workshop last month. Happy watching. 🖤🕯️