Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Come One, Come Fall... at Bath & Body Works!

It always sounds so early (to other people) when my favorite candle shops, Bath & Body Works and Yankee Candle, start advertising the preview for their fall collection in July to be released in August. But when the end of July and August actually get here, I think everyone is SO ready for cooler weather that they don't really mind seeing fall items appearing in stores :-)  I think it's so good to get a head start, because before I know it, fall items are here and gone by September, and find myself scurrying around in October, while stores prepare for Christmas, going "what happened?!" and feeling like I didn't have enough time to get all of my fall haul done! Which is why I am so pleased to see Bath & Body Works fall preview mailing list up on the website! And guess what I'm even more pleased about?? That I know which items will be here before BBW officially announces it! Yaaaaaay!

So, if you would like to sign up for BBW's mailing list to be notified of fall items, here is the link: http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/comeonecomefall

Umm.. ok, so I signed up for e-mails Sunday, clicked on this last night and also this morning, and it isn't working! I had a feeling they would take it down, only because I actually stumbled upon their "Come One, Come Fall" link on Friday the 13th, which is really early, and I could not find it after that! They took it down really fast. I didn't even get a chance to look at it because it was on my phone and I wanted to have the full experience on my computer lol. Learned my lesson... if you see an early link, USE IT!

So anyway, keep trying the link if you want to be added to the mailing list, but I will keep you informed of things as soon as I know them. So if it doesn't work, don't worry!

And now, without further ado, here's a sneak peek of what we can look forward to in stores!

Brand New for Fall:

Autumn Day (this is a repackage of Acorn & Fig): A crisp autumn medley celebrating the changing seasons and all the beauty of the harvest with notes of fresh cut cedar, juicy fig and sandalwood. I was not a huge fan of A&F last year, but maybe the repackage is a little different this year. I’ll definitely give it a try!

Black Pepper Bergamot: Intricate layers of spicy black pepper combine with an uplifting bergamot and lavender in a fragrance inspired by fall’s changeable days. This was a test scent that I picked up in January/February, and the label has been completely transformed since then. Its better selling counterpart, Mahogany Teakwood, was off the shelves before I could snag one for myself. I can tell you though that BPB has been described as a peppery version of MT, and you either love it or hate it. The pepper can be strong and unpleasant to some people, but I don’t mind it. I think it smells good and was a nice transition from winter fragrances into the sweet, fresh scents of spring. I’m sure it will do great as a masculine fall fragrance to cap off warm summer nights.

Bonfire Maplewood: Combining notes of coffee bean liqueur, rich hazelnut and creamy marshmallow, this cozy fragrance feels just like gathering 'round a crackling bonfire.

Brandied Pear: Treat yourself to the fragrance of a favorite fall dessert- poached autumn pears drizzled with sugared brandy and topped off with vanilla cream.

Cider Lane: As sweet as a trip to the local apple orchard each year- a delicious fall blend of mulled cider, warm caramel and sweet cinnamon. This one sounds amazing, it’s heavier on the caramel, a good mix of the other cider blends that Slatkin has done before.

Cinnamon Nut Bread: Warm and comforting on a cold fall day- fresh baked shortbread with cinnamon, buttercream and chopped nuts.

Cranberry Harvest: Bright and crisp as a sunny fall day, the perfect autumn blend of fresh cranberries, apple peel and clove. I am not a huge cranberry fan, but their description of a bright, crisp, sunny fall day makes me want to try it…

Farmstand Apple: This sparkling orchard favorite reminds us of a bright sunny day picking apples. Made with notes of McIntosh apple, ripe pear blossom and woodsy oak.

Mahogany Teakwood: The scents of fine woods- mahogany, cedarwood and oak -highlighted by delicate lavender and geranium notes conjure up an escape to a cozy library on a chilly fall day. If I remember this test scent correctly, it’s the one that smells like men’s cologne, and women were all over this one like 50 Shades of Grey. O.M.G. It FLEW off the shelves, almost literally. I’m not kidding, if you want this, I highly recommend getting it early. Not saying they won’t prepare and have a high volume of it, but who knows. If you want it, get your hands on it quick! Plus, it never hurts to burn these early. Especially this one, as I think it is a good transition fragrance.


Nutmeg and Spice: A warm and cozy fragrance inspired by an elegant mixture of nutmeg and all of autumn’s very best spices

Plum Wine Amber: A splendid blend of mulled wine, golden amber and purple plum creates a fragrance that recreates the richest fall days

Pumpkin Cupcake: The perfect pick from the corner bakery this fall- a spiced pumpkin cupcake with rich buttercream and frosted ginger. Sounds amaze. This one has been talked about quite a bit, and my guess is it will go fast. So if you smell it and like it in the store, buy it. If you don’t like it when you get home and burn it, BBW’s fabulous return policy will allow you to bring it back, no questions asked. You don’t even need your receipt. Ok they might ask you like 2 questions, such as “Did you not like the scent?” and “Was something wrong with the way it was burning?” which is always nice to tell them so they can give feedback to the company and improve our future candle experience.

Salted Caramel: Indulge on an autumn day with a swoon worthy mixture of farm-fresh sweet cream, salted caramel and warm vanilla.  I actually have this candle from when BBW tried to do a summer boardwalk collection in 2011 and it didn’t go too well. I liked SC a lot (then called Salty Caramel, not salted) when I picked it up over the summer, but decided it was not at ALL a summer fragrance and I waited to burn it during the fall. I was really happy I did. I’m glad to see BBW agrees with me on this being a fall scent :-) It’s almost like Creamy Caramel from way back in the day like 10 years ago (one of my FAVES), but a little more nutty and salty, like kettle corn. Kind of like the glazed popcorn note in Summer Boardwalk. It is reformulated this time around and little more mild. So if you weren’t a fan of it in 2011, give another try this fall. You may like it! Time machine: Do you remember the other 2011 boardwalk scents? Lemon Meringue and Cotton Candy! Those were good. But not quite like the ones they came out with for summer this year.

Returning favorites:

Acorn & Fig is now Autumn Day

Autumn: Get festive this fall with our heartwarming fragrance that unites three beloved autumn scents- dark pomegranate, sweet red apple and woodsy fir balsam. This one is very light, unlike its older cousin, Leaves, and it is strong on the apple. Very fresh and like I said, light. I like it as a morning fragrance during the fall. It is delicate and sweet, which is exactly what I need in the AM :-)

Apple Crumble: The perfect way to chase away an autumn chill, baked Granny Smith and McIntosh apples topped with vanilla crumble. 

Cinnamon Sugared Donut: Share the delight with a homemade vanilla cake donut covered in sugar crystals and crushed cinnamon. I was not a fan of this one last year, I thought it smelled dusty or something?? I don’t know. But a lot of other people seem to like it, so I’m glad to see it made its return for the CSD fans out there! I know how rough it is when your fave scent unexpectedly disappears. Mini freak out.

Cranberry Woods: Equal parts woodsy and fruity, Cranberry Woods combines fresh, tart cranberries, black currant and warm cinnamon bark in one delightful, spicy fragrance.

Creamy Pumpkin: A sumptuous and soothing autumn blend of spiced pumpkin drizzled with sweet caramel and topped with warm cream inspired by the sweet richness of fall harvest. This one is sooo good!! It’s been around for a few years and I love seeing it every fall!

Fresh Balsam: Ok, so this is different. This has always been a pine scent for Christmas, sometimes released early in the fall, but definitely intended for Christmas and winter. But this year it looks like they are trying to make it a fall favorite. I have always loved this scent and I’m sure I will still love it a few months early :-) The wax is more of a sage green now instead of white, in case you were curious.

Leaves: The hallmark scent of fall. Must. Have. This year, it will be released in BOTH Slatkin and White Barn, so you will have two different jars, lids, labels, pictures and scent descriptions. Here is the White Barn description: A fragrance that embodies the richness of fall- with all the colors and pleasures- featuring notes of golden nectar, ripe delicious apple and red berries. This one has white wax as opposed to its usual dark brown, and is capped with a gold lid (all White Barn will be gold lids). The image on the label is pretty white to match the wax. The picture is a white wood bridge with white bark trees surrounding it. Slatkin description: Celebrate the brilliant colors of autumn with this rich blend of golden nectar, red apple and berries. I think I like the packaging on this one the best. It has colorful fallen leaves on the label and the traditional rich, dark brown wax. That’s how Leaves should look to me :-)

Marshmallow Fireside- Celebrate the changing season with a warm mixture of marshmallows, smoldering woods and creamy vanilla reminiscent of a cozy evening 'round the bonfire. This one was so popular last year, I had no doubt it would be back. They could barely keep this one on the shelves. It quickly became one of my absolute favorites and I CANNOT wait to burn this one again! Also, I think this is the perfect intro to fall. After you burn your Summer Boardwalk to close out summer, I would transition to Marshmallow Fireside. It reminds me of the end of summer when you go up to a cabin for one last hoorah before school starts up and sit around a bonfire toasting marshmallows and making s’ mores. But it’s not all summer, the warm, woodsy notes definitely tell you fall is around the corner. Love this one! If you don’t have it, pick it up!!

Pumpkin Caramel Latte: Scent your home with this rich blend of creamy pumpkin, spiced caramel and sweet cream and keep your treasured autumn drink all season long. So nice to see this one back. Have you ever had a Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks? Have you ever added caramel syrup to it? Boom. That’s what this is. Just make sure you remember it’s a candle so you don’t accidentally drink it ;-)

Spiced Cider: A delicious blend straight from the orchard that mulls three varieties of fresh apples, spiced with nutmeg and cloves. I am SO glad this one is returning! It’s a classic, so I was pretty sure it would, but you never know. My recommendation- if you want this candle, pick it up FAST! They were sold out in every store in my area by September and did not get any back. I learned my lesson :-) I really like it for August and all the way through Halloween. It’s a good, festive scent that can be almost like a witches brew if you are looking for a yummy fragrance that can go on the spooky side as well.

Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin: One of my favorites of all time? Quite possibly. I nearly explode with excitement when I smell this one. It is that freaking good. It's like nostalgia in a jar or something. Maybe I feel this way because it was one of the only fall fragrances when I was in 6th grade and my obsession with Bath & Body Works began. It honestly just takes me back to the house I grew-up in, standing in our garage looking up at our attic, patiently waiting for my parents to bring down our Halloween boxes and feeling the crisp, cool air swirl in and remind me of all the wonderful reasons that I love this season. Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin might not do that for you, but now you know why I love it so much! Here is the description: A harvest fave returns for fall! Our delicious, one-of-a kind recipe combines sweet pumpkin pie, rich vanilla cream and a touch of cinnamon. They always change the descriptions on these each year. It's fun to see what new way they come up with to tell us what we're smelling :-)

Something I'm not sure about is Pumpkin Patch, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be back. I LOVE that scent. It is so comforting. I’ll be keeping my eyes open for it this year.

*Mark your calendars, these fall faves will make their debut Monday, August 6th! Two weeks from yesterday… I think I can hold off for that long! We’ll see!

Which ones sound good to you? Any new ones you can't wait to try?