Kelsea Ballerini's favorite candle 'smells like a late summer night on the porch' – and it doubles as an eye-catching cocktail glass
Romanticize your life with Kelsea Ballerini's fragrance obsession that pays homage to her favorite city – plus the fun doesn't end when the candle burns down
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A new fragrance is one of the easiest ways to bring a sense of glamor and romance into your home. This makes candles an amazing gift for a friend or a simple decor upgrade for your home. Kelsea Ballerini recommends an intriguing and complex candle you will love.
On the topic of the best candles, Ballerini told The Strategist: 'I love the local Nashville-based company Ranger Station. It makes amazing-smelling candles. I go for ones that have a more spicy, amber vibe. It just feels warm and cozy to me. They have the whole range, though, so I gift a lot of the sweeter scents to my friends.'
Her favorite fragrance would make a beautiful Valentine's Day gift because it has a hidden second purpose. Ballerini explains: 'What’s cool, too, is that they’re made in whiskey glasses. So once you burn the candle down, you can do the trick where you boil it, put it in the freezer, get the rest of the wax out, and then you have this beautiful local Nashville whiskey glass. It’s a nice two-in-one gift.'
This candle is designed to capture the complexity and warmth of the city of Nashville. I love the brand's description that states: 'Smells like a late summer night on the porch, under the lights, trying to escape the humidity, dreaming out loud with the friends who’ll be there for you in every venture.' It includes notes of dogwood, magnolia, amber, and musk.
The hyper-local, hyper-specific turn of Ranger Station's fragrances fits into the signature scent trend we've seen over the last several years. As more and more candles become available, homeowners want increasingly unique and specific fragrances. People crave smells that feel original to their homes. A scent inspired by a city, or an album, or a favorite beverage have this personalized feel.
Editor's Picks of Ranger Station Candles
Sandalwood is one of the biggest fragrance trends of the 2020s, and this candle is an especially gorgeous take on the scent. Iconic drag queen Sasha Velour swears by this scent, explaining: 'I always light a candle right when I start doing my makeup. It’s a little ritual, a smell that takes me out of whatever space I’m in.'
As a New England local who adores Noah Kahan, I love the idea behind this smoky, piney candle. It's meant to create an olfactory experience of the beloved album replicating, 'what it's like to live in a small town.'
If the doubling as a whiskey glass capability of this candle is a draw for you, then you'll love this Old Fashioned Candle inspired by the classic candle. It's rich and sweet with a charred undercurrent.
Creating a unique, and specially personalized home is a wonderful way to choose candles. Kelsea Ballerini's fragrance is a great place to start.
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Sophie is a London-based News Editor at Homes & Gardens, where she works on the Celebrity Style team. She is fascinated by the intersection of design and popular culture and is particularly excited when researching trends or interior history. Sophie is an avid pop culture fan. As an H&G editor, she has interviewed the likes of Martha Stewart, Hilary Duff, and the casts of Queer Eye and Selling Sunset. Before joining Future Publishing, Sophie worked as the Head of Content and Communications at Fig Linens and Home, a boutique luxury linens and furniture brand. She has also written features on exciting developments in the design world for Westport Magazine. Sophie has an MSc from the Oxford University Department of Anthropology and a BA in Creative Writing and Sociology from Sarah Lawrence College.
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