SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News)– A local establishment in the heart of downtown Syracuse is taking people on a trip down memory lane with their immersive candle making experience.
Gwendalyn and Kyle, two visitors at Camp Candle Bar said they burn candles every day.
“It’s very relaxing, especially with work. It just helps us focus and get us in that mood,” Kyle said.
Similarly, Mariana and Marcus enjoy the ambiance that scented candles create in their home.
“It just makes your space smell good, like very homey,” said Mariana.
But what exactly about scented candles makes people feel “homey”?
Theresa White, a psychologist who researches the relationship between memory and smell, said the power of scent lies in personal experiences.
“You have that specific experience that makes this particular smell important to you. A lot of what our associations are to smells is learned,” said White.
And this proved to be true when Gwendalyn and Kyle subconsciously selected fragrance oils for their candles which triggered childhood memories.
“(It reminded me of) memories of after the doctor or dentist. I would always get the cherry or strawberry Dum-Dums and my candle literally smells like the Dum-Dum hard candies that I used to get,” Gwendalyn said.
Kyle, on the other hand, recalled the scent of his grandparents’ cabin in Lake Tahoe.
“(My candle) kinda reminds me of really old wood and weird tire smells in the garage,” said Kyle.
Camp Candle Bar encourages patrons to tap into these nostalgic experiences when crafting their own candles.
“We do have a little motto too that says ignite your happy place, and it’s really to embrace yourself and curate fragrances that can speak to the mind, body and soul,” explained Lauren Naum, co-owner of Camp Candle Bar.
Naum emphasizes that each person’s candle is a unique reflection of their individuality.
“No two people are the same, so no two candles will smell the same either,” she said, highlighting the personal touch that makes each candle special.
