There’s a particular kind of sunshine that only exists along the coast. Not the piercing, dry heat of the desert or the sticky, heavy sun of a landlocked southern afternoon. This is a gentler warmth, one softened by sea breezes and salt spray, glowing rather than glaring. It’s the kind of light that makes shadows stretch long and memories linger, and it was under this sun that I found the inspiration for the Summer Sunshine Collection, and it all began with a road trip.
Several weeks ago, I packed a weekender bag with breezy sundresses, sunscreen, swimsuits, and a sun hat, brought along a dog-eared novel, and pointed the car toward the coast. It wasn’t a grand destination, more of a staycation really. There was no resort-lined beaches or tourist packed boardwalks. Just a sleepy little seaside town whose name I almost don’t want to share because it's one of those rare places that still feels like a secret.
I spent the mornings biking along stretches of paved paths that ran on for miles and miles and through several neighboring towns, only to find myself turning off onto narrow streets, (some of which were cobblestoned!) and lined with picturesque coastal style homes and sun-washed storefronts that dubbed themselves historical.
The air never let up on the scent of briny ocean and warm pavement, and side-quest trips to spontaneously duck into used bookshops, to sample pastel-colored sweets from a candy store that hadn’t changed its wallpaper since the ‘40s, or best of all, to indulge in a much needed ice cream cone from a local shop whose family has been hand making their ice cream for several generations, were all moments I will never forget.
Afternoons were for wandering. I hiked beneath moss-laced trees in a nearby state park where the air was heavy and green. The trail smelled of warm earth, tree sap, and green citrusy scrub were sharp, honest scents that later found their way into the melts inspired by that very place.
And then, of course, there's the ocean. It seemed like every path I took, every little expedition I set out on all eventually trailed their way to the shore.
Glittering emerald and cold, the slightly rough waters cut through the heat like a spell. It was heavenly to wade in, slowly submerging sun-warmed skin inch by inch until I felt the coolness of the waves wash over my reddened shoulders, and then I would retreat to the beach whose sand was so white and fine it was almost a liquid of its own, letting the sun dry the salt on my skin as I relaxed on a towel and treated myself to the refreshingly sweet juiciness of fresh cut chunks of watermelon. That almost childish delight left me feeling more alive than I had in weeks.
Evenings were a different kind of magic. After dinner, which was usually something simple and fresh from a nearby restaurant, a walk along the coastal dunes as the sun slowly sank into the sky was subliminal. There's really no other words to describe it.
Then, once I'd trailed my way back to the rental, I'd retreat to the balcony, wrapped in a light blanket and with a cup of tea in hand, snuggled on the chair, under the warm glow of the string lights that glowed like fireflies, gazing out over the water, cicadas singing in the background, salt and nighttime florals on the air, and the full moon overhead. It was in those hours that I began imagining how to bottle this feeling. How to capture the moment and distill sunlight, and ocean spray, and handmade caramels, and humid afternoons hiking through state parks into a scent.
And that’s how Summer Sunshine came to be. This small-batch collection of melts were inspired and designed to capture the charm of a seaside vacation in a small and sleepy town. But see, these aren’t just scents, they’re stories, postcards of slow mornings and sunburnt shoulders, of pages turned in beach chairs and laughter echoing over handlebars, of the simple joy of a coastal vacation in a small town, and ones that I'm thrilled to be able to share with you!
This summer, I hope you get the chance to chase your own sunshine. And when you come home, I hope these melts bring it back to you, one scent-sational waft at a time.
- Kitty.
