Still Summer - the scent for long evenings
There’s a moment in late spring when everything slows down just a little - the windows stay open longer, the birds seem louder than usual and the idea of eating outside starts to feel like a pleasure rather than a chore, the recent glorious weather has only reinforced this desire to sit outside and enjoy a morning coffee! That’s the feeling I wanted to bottle (or rather, pour and blend) with Still Summer.
This scent comes in both a beeswax candle in terracotta, a maxi tealight and a natural reed diffuser - so whether you're lighting up the patio or just keeping your kitchen breezy and fresh, it’s a gentle way to stretch out the season.
Why I made it
I love summer but not the muggy, stuffy, no-air kind of summer. I don’t particularly want my house to smell like a piña colada either! I wanted something that felt like fresh air indoors - the kind of scent that gives a sense of calm and cleanliness, even if the kitchen’s still got crumbs on the counter.
That’s where Still Summer came in. It’s a blend of essential oils that smell clean, clear and a little bit green - not floral or fruity, just gently herbal with a citrusy lift. Think citronella, eucalyptus, lemongrass, rose geranium and thyme. Together they create that just-mopped freshness… without actually having to mop anything and it is the first thing I smell when I come down stairs in the morning - the beautiful Mediterranean scent of lemon thyme.
Still Thyme also fits this bill with its minty, herbal freshness - though it’s much lighter, which makes it ideal for neutralising cooking smells in the kitchen, however the Still Summer trio was designed to do something else and not just smell nice. The main point of difference is that I have used essential oils and they are all known for helping to naturally deter flies and midges, which means this blend has a purpose beyond just smelling good!
What’s in the blend?
Still Summer is made entirely with essential oils - nothing synthetic, nothing fussy and every drop is there for a reason:
Citronella & Lemongrass - clean, citrusy and brilliant at gently keeping the bugs at bay (without smelling like bug spray). Neither citronella nor lemongrass oils kill insects, but they mask the scents that attract them, making it harder for them to find their target.
Eucalyptus & Thyme - bring a fresh, herbal edge that clears the air and sharpens the senses. Eucalyptus oils are known for their strong insect repellent properties which last for several hours. Thyme oil can effectively repel insects and studies have shown that combining thyme and citronella oil can be particularly effective against ticks.
Rose Geranium - softens the whole thing with a leafy warmth whilst the floral and rosy aroma acts as a potent deterrent. Geraniol (a compound found in rose geranium) is known to be more effective at repelling mosquitoes than linalool and even citronella.
Still Summer Diffuser
The result is bright, balanced and quietly purposeful. The diffuser is made using 25% of this essential oil blend which is strong enough to do the job without overwhelming the space. The result? You get that first-thing-in-the-morning freshness, like someone’s wiped down the surfaces and flung the windows open, even if nobody has!
No flame. No fuss and more importantly, no flies! Just calm, clean air with no drama.
The reed diffuser is perfect indoors: kitchens, hallways, anywhere you want to keep feeling fresh and clean. I keep mine in the kitchen to create a kind of invisible buffer zone - so you can leave the window open but not feel like you’re inviting half the garden in with it.
Then there’s the candle, which is a classic beeswax and coconut wax blend and ideal for setting the mood in the evening. Beeswax naturally purifies the air as it burns and when you pair that with this clean scent, the whole room feels calmer.
New for this summer: maxi tealights. These are small but mighty - perfect for popping on the table outside when you’re eating or having a natter. I wanted something you could gift easily or take with you when visiting, no fuss, no bulky jars, just a little token. They burn for around 7.5 hours, which feels like a good match for a summer evening. I’ve had to double wick them to get the best scent throw (otherwise they burn longer but don’t smell nearly as good) and I think that’s a fair trade-off. You want it to work, not just glow in the corner looking pretty.
Why it’s not just for outdoors
Although it helps with bugs, it’s not a “bug-off” blend in the usual sense - this isn’t something harsh or citronella-heavy. It’s more about creating a fresher-feeling space. It’s what I light when everything’s still and the light’s just starting to soften - that lull in the evening when you don’t need music or screens or even conversation. Just peace.
Candle or diffuser… or both?
Both do the job, just in different ways…
The candle and/or maxi tealight are perfect for evenings outside. The beeswax blend burns clean and steady, and the terracotta jar helps keep it grounded on breezy nights.
The terracotta cup can also be reused as a drinking vessel, as it has been glazed on the inside and would be ideal for sipping iced Sangria on a warm evening! We also have a matching terracotta jug in our Summer collection - which is also perfect for keeping drinks cool on a hot day or alternatively can be used as a rustic vase? Either way, both look lovely on a table, inside or outside.
The maxi tealight can be simply placed on a candle plate or small dish and is absolutely perfect inside a lantern or tealight cup holder. Again we have some lovely seagrass ones in our Little Extras section, that would work perfectly.
The diffuser is your slow-release summer - sitting quietly on a shelf or windowsill, doing its thing all day long. No flame, no fuss!
It provides a gentle scent line between you and whatever's buzzing about outside. You can keep your windows open without worrying you’re inviting the whole insect kingdom in. If you want to really want to ramp things up for an evening outside, light the candle alongside the diffuser and let them both do their work.
The full set in brief:
Still Summer Reed Diffuser - slow release, long-lasting, always on
Still Summer Beeswax Candle - clean burn, clean scent, no faff
Still Summer Maxi Tealights - 7.5hr burn, perfect for tables or gifts
If you’ve ever felt like summer should feel nicer than it does sometimes - these are for you.
How to use:
Place diffuser in a warm, well-ventilated spot, unscrew the lid and place reeds inside the diffuser bottle, making sure they are spread out as much as possible, to increase air flow and surface area for a better fragrance throw. Place in an area of high traffic – lots of movement will cause air to circulate and disperse the fragrance better and help to deter those flies.
Burn candle for at least 4 hours on the first burn, to allow the melt pool to reach towards the edge of the terracotta (at its widest point) before extinguishing; this helps to prevent a ‘tunnelling’ effect. Before relighting your candle, always trim the wick to 5mm with a sharp pair of scissors or candle wick trimmers – this encourages your candle to perform to its best, providing a clean burn.
Please place the maxi tealight in a suitable dish, lantern etc in case of knocks which could cause spillage.
All three are Ideal for patios, porches, hallways, general living areas and kitchens.
I hope you enjoy Still Summer as much as I’ve enjoyed creating it. Whether it’s keeping the kitchen fresh or making your evenings a little calmer, it’s a scent that truly earns its keep. You can find the full Still Summer range here and if you’ve tried it already, I’d love to hear what you think!
Love Karen x
