July is here, which for many of us can feel like the halfway point of summer, falling between Memorial Day and Labor Day. With a long stretch of summer ahead of us, there’s no better time to make those trendy and practical purchases of the season that help extend the joy of the season– candles included. From beachy and floral scented candles to candles that offer the benefits of citronella, the National Candle Association is here to offer some insight and inspiration to celebrate Summer 2021. 

• Indoor/Outdoor Cohesion: Summer is the season for implementing a seamless blend of indoor-outdoor living. This can be achieved through multi-functional furniture choices like outdoor rugs and couches made with luxurious but resilient materials like teak or wicker, adding ample fans and other cooling devices to your outdoor set up, and of course providing ambient light to the area. Consider adding candles to the décor that can be enclosed in lanterns or vases to prevent them from falling or getting blown out by the breeze.  

• Citronella Candles: While the idea of indoor/outdoor living is great, especially during this time of year, we still need to manage mosquitoes and other pesky bugs. Bright lights, and even ambient twinkling lights, can attract bugs, but citronella candles, and other candles with scents that repel bugs like lavender, peppermint, and lemongrass, overwhelm the bugs and make them fly away. Plus, these scents conceal the human scent and the mosquitoes can’t find you as easy to bite you.   

• Seasonal Scents: Every season has its signature scent, and summer is certainly no different. Summertime candles are great because of the variety of scents you can find that still evoke the essence of the season. Earthy scented candles can range from the salty coast with seagrass and driftwood scents, up to the wooded mountains with scents like sandalwood and cedar. Plus, summer is the perfect set of months to light a fruity or citrus scented candle like ones with coconut, lemon, or lime. 

• Holidays, Parties & Events: As we transition out of social distancing and COVID-19 lockdowns, you’ll definitely want to do the outdoor décor right to make your patio or deck festive. Candles can be a great way to do that. They set the ambiance and add light to any party or celebration. 

Candles work for every season, but during the summer they serve as both decorative and functional by deterring bugs and lighting up an outdoor space with seasonal scents. NCA always encourages smart and safe candle use, during the summer and all year long. For more information on candles and fire safety, visit our Fire Safety page.