Midwinter Mirth Soy Candle (mulled cider and roasted chestnuts)

 Fragrance notes: mulled cider and roasted chestnuts

Inspired by Mari Lwyd (pronounced Ma-ree Lloyd), the eerie Welsh midwinter tradition of the horse-headed specter who roams from door to door, Midwinter Mirth is a festive fragrance steeped in folklore. Warm mulled cider fills the air with the comforting aroma of spiced apples, evoking the ancient custom of wassailing, when communities gathered to sing, drink, and toast to good fortune in the darkest days of winter. Roasted chestnuts add a rich, nutty warmth, conjuring images of crackling fires and winter feasts. Midwinter Mirth smells like a Yuletide celebration with a delightfully macabre twist, where ghostly visitors are welcomed with song, cider, and a little mischief.

Learn more about my inspiration:

Mari Lwyd, meaning “Gray Mare” in Welsh, is a peculiar figure from Welsh winter folklore. Traditionally represented by a horse's skull mounted on a pole and draped in a white sheet, the Mari Lwyd is carried by a costumed party that visits homes and pubs during the Christmas and New Year season. The visitors challenge householders to a battle of rhyming insults and verses seeking entry through wit and song. Those who welcome the Mari Lwyd may offer food and drink, while the tradition is often associated with good fortune and celebration.

Wassailing is another old midwinter custom, involving the sharing of a spiced drink and songs intended to bring prosperity and a fruitful year ahead. Although wassailing traditions vary across Britain, they share a spirit of communal celebration during the coldest part of the year. Midwinter Mirth brings these traditions together in a fragrance that balances the warmth of festive hospitality with the strange, spectral charm of Welsh winter folklore.