Annapolis: A Harvest of Memories


As the first hints of autumn began to settle over the quiet region of Annapolis Valley, a familiar coolness crept into the air, mingling with the scent of ripe apples and woodsmoke.

For Rebecca and Jessica, the founders of Albenlane Candle Co., this season carried a special magic—a blend of nostalgia, nature, and tradition, all of which had inspired one of their most beloved creations: the Annapolis candle. This inspiration was rooted in the Annapolis Valley, nestled in the heart of Nova Scotia. For Rebecca and Jessica, it had always been more than just a place on the map. It was their home, a landscape brimming with cherished memories of crisp fall days spent wandering through apple orchards, their fingers stained red from the fruit they’d picked straight from the trees.

Every year, like clockwork, their families would pack up the car and make the familiar drive to one of the Valley’s many farms, ready to immerse themselves in the bounty of the season.

“We chose Annapolis as our autumn scent because it’s so close to our hearts,” Rebecca explained, her voice carrying the same warmth as the candle’s glow. “When the leaves start to turn and the air gets that fresh, cool bite, the memories of those family apple-picking days flood back. The Valley would come alive in the fall—the orchards full of people, the smell of apple pie drifting from the farmhouses, and the crisp crunch of the first bite into a freshly picked apple.”

Jessica smiled, her thoughts drifting back to those simpler times. “We’d walk for hours through the orchards,” she added, “with baskets in hand, our boots crunching over fallen leaves and the scent of apples all around us. We’d eat a few right there in the orchard, their juicy sweetness blending with the crisp, cool air around us. It was a kind of magic we didn’t even realize we were experiencing at the time. Now, it’s one of those memories we hold on to—something to share, something to relive every fall.”

That cherished tradition became the heart of the Annapolis candle—a way to capture the essence of those perfect autumn days in wax. As Rebecca and Jessica worked to blend the candle’s fragrance, they drew on the sights, sounds, and smells of their childhood visits to the Valley: the tart sweetness of apple orchards, the earthy scent of hayrides, and the soft, comforting undertones of spiced cider brewing in the background.

The candle opens with a fresh, invigorating burst of ripe apples—just like the first breath you take when stepping into the cool orchard air. Notes of cinnamon and clove follow, adding warmth and depth, evoking memories of hot apple cider warming your hands as you sip it by the fire after a day spent outside. At its heart, there’s a touch of maple and vanilla—a nod to the treats their families would buy from roadside stands as they made their way back home, baskets brimming with apples and cheeks flushed from the autumn breeze.

“Lighting the Annapolis candle feels like stepping back into those treasured moments,” Jessica said. “It’s not just the scent of apples—it’s the feeling of a perfect fall day. It’s the rustle of leaves underfoot, the sound of families laughing in the corn maze, the distant clop of horses pulling hayrides through the orchards. It’s everything we loved about autumn, wrapped up in one little flame.”

The candle also captured something deeper for the two friends. It wasn’t just about reliving the past, but about sharing that sense of home and tradition with everyone who lit the candle.

For Rebecca, the focus was clear: “We made Annapolis not only to celebrate our favorite time of year, but to give people a way to bring that feeling into their homes,” she explained. “Whether you’ve been apple picking in the Valley or not, this candle gives you that same sense of coziness, of connection to nature, of gathering with loved ones. It’s like inviting autumn inside.”

Now, as the days grew shorter and the air cooler, the Annapolis candle glowed on tables across homes, filling rooms with the soft, golden light of nostalgia. The scent carried with it the crispness of the orchard air, the warmth of spices, and the sweetness of cherished memories. Each time the wick flickered to life, it brought with it the magic of an Annapolis Valley autumn—a season rich with tradition, family, and the beauty of nature’s quiet transformation.

As the leaves turned red and gold outside, Rebecca and Jessica couldn’t help but smile at how far they had come, and how a simple candle could carry the essence of their most treasured childhood memories to others. Through the Annapolis candle, the spirit of the Valley would live on in every home, every fall, as a reminder of the simple joys that make autumn such a special time of year.

https://albenlane.com

Alben Lane Candles will appear as well in our upcoming Chandlers Coffee Tablebook
with an additional beautiful special >>