Inspired by Dorset: The Seasonal Scents Behind My Candle Collections

Living by the sea in Poole, Dorset, I find inspiration everywhere.

The changing seasons here have a way of transforming the landscape completely. One month the gardens are full of blossom and fresh rain, the next the coastline is glowing in warm summer light. By autumn, the air smells of fallen leaves and woodsmoke, and winter brings crisp mornings, cosy evenings, and the comforting ritual of lighting a candle as darkness falls.

When I create a new collection for Cera Vía, I always begin with a feeling.

Sometimes it is the smell of salty sea air on an early morning walk along the coast. Sometimes it is the scent of flowers opening in spring, the warmth of spices in autumn, or the comfort of soft amber and vanilla on a winter evening.

Each candle is designed to capture those moments and bring a little of Dorset into your home.

Spring in Dorset: Blossom, Fresh Air and New Beginnings

Spring is one of my favourite seasons in Dorset.

After the long grey days of winter, everything suddenly feels lighter. Gardens begin to bloom, the trees are covered in blossom, and the air feels fresh and full of possibility.

I love walking through Dorset in spring and noticing the tiny changes: blossom appearing on the trees, the scent of flowers carried on the breeze, and the fresh coastal air after rain.

These moments inspired my Spring 2026 collection.

This year, I wanted my spring fragrances to feel elegant, fresh, and full of light,capturing both the beauty of blooming gardens and the freshness of the Dorset coast.

One of my favourite blends is a soft, uplifting fragrance of bergamot, lemon, and pear. It feels bright and fresh, like the first warm spring morning with sunlight streaming through open windows.

Another spring scent is inspired by pear and freesia, combining delicate floral notes with the sweetness of ripe pear. It is light, pretty, and perfect for bringing a feeling of spring into the home.

For something more romantic and sophisticated, I created Parisienne Spring: a blend of damask rose, bergamot, sandalwood, and cedarwood. It has the softness of fresh roses in bloom, balanced with warm woods that make it feel timeless and elegant.

I also love cleaner, fresher fragrances in spring, which is why one of the collection’s scents combines white musk, eucalyptus, jasmine, and mimosa. This fragrance feels like freshly washed linen drying in the breeze—soft, airy, and beautifully clean.

My Spring 2026 collection includes:

• Pear and freesia, bergamot , lemon and pear 
• Parisienne Spring: damask rose, bergamot, sandalwood, and cedarwood
• Clean Cotton: white musk, eucalyptus, jasmine, and mimosa

Spring candles should feel light, elegant, and uplifting—the kind of scent that makes you want to open the windows and let the fresh air in.

Summer by the Dorset Coast

Summer in Dorset has its own unmistakable scent.

It is warm sand, salty skin after a swim, sea breeze drifting through open windows, and long evenings spent outside.

Living near the coast means that the sea is never far away, and so many of my summer candles are inspired by those fresh, coastal notes.

I love creating fragrances that feel clean, airy, and bright. Sea salt, driftwood, citrus, eucalyptus, and soft florals all work beautifully together to create that feeling of summer by the sea.

My favourite summer fragrance combinations include:

• Sea salt and driftwood
• Citrus with coastal herbs
• Bergamot, sea breeze, and white flowers
• Coconut, lime, and soft amber

These scents remind me of beach walks, sunshine, and the relaxed feeling of summer evenings in Dorset.

Autumn: Woodland Walks and Warm Spices

As soon as autumn arrives, everything changes.

The air becomes cooler, the leaves turn golden, and suddenly we begin to crave warmer, richer scents.

Autumn in Dorset always makes me think of long woodland walks, muddy boots, cosy jumpers, and coming home to a warm drink and a candle burning in the background.

This is the season when I start blending deeper fragrance notes: woods, spices, orange, clove, cinnamon, and smoky undertones.

I love fragrances that feel comforting and familiar, with a little hint of nostalgia.

Some of my favourite autumn combinations are:

• Orange, cinnamon, and clove
• Cedarwood with apple and spice
• Fig, amber, and sandalwood
• Pumpkin, vanilla, and warm woods

These are the candles I reach for on dark evenings when I want my home to feel cosy, warm, and inviting.

Winter Evenings and the Comfort of Candlelight

There is something so special about winter candlelight.

When the evenings are dark and the weather outside is cold, lighting a candle becomes part of a simple ritual: a way to slow down, feel cosy, and make home feel warm.

Winter fragrances are often the richest and most comforting. I love using notes like vanilla, amber, pine, cedarwood, clove, orange, and soft smoky woods.

Some winter scents remind me of Christmas—fresh pine, orange peel, and spice—while others feel softer and more peaceful, like cashmere blankets, warm fires, and quiet evenings indoors.

My favourite winter blends include:

• Orange and clove
• Pine, cedarwood, and eucalyptus
• Vanilla with amber and sandalwood
• Cranberry, cinnamon, and winter spice

For me, winter candles are not just about fragrance. They are about creating a feeling of comfort and togetherness.

How I Turn a Season into a Candle

Every Cera Vía collection begins with an idea or a memory.

I might be inspired by a walk along the Dorset coastline, the smell of rain in a spring garden, or the feeling of wrapping up in a blanket on a cold evening.

From there, I begin blending fragrance notes together until they create exactly the feeling I want.

With my chemistry background, I love experimenting with how different scents work together. Some fragrances add freshness, others bring warmth, and some create depth and softness.

I test each blend carefully until it feels balanced, beautiful, and true to the season that inspired it.

Every candle is then hand-poured in small batches in my home studio using 100% soy wax and braided cotton wicks.

The result is more than just a candle.

It is a small piece of Dorset - a memory, a season, and a feeling; captured in fragrance and brought into your home.