It was a plain soy candle, no scent at all, poured on a Tuesday. And it taught us more than any of the loud ones.

No scent is a scent

An unscented candle has a smell — warm wax, a clean wick, the faint glow of the flame itself. Sometimes that's exactly what a room needs.

Why it matters

We kept one on the desk all month. It's now in the library as a reminder that the candle comes first, and the scent is only ever a layer on top.