There’s a training camp happening, and excitement is in the air. With football season almost upon us, scent experts at Bath & Body Works are taking a unique approach by launching a “soccer season” scented candle.
As soon as I caught a whiff of those football-themed candles, I knew we had to get involved. So, we sent our writers, James Datar and Mark Scofield, to a local store to pick up a “soccer season” candle and brainstorm some ideas.
To keep things fair and unbiased in our candle review, we decided to set aside our personal opinions and write independently. From now on, we’ll just refer to this as “scent.” For the first time, we found ourselves pondering the concept of “soccer season.”
James Datar
This candle does have a pleasant aroma. I won’t act like it smells awful—though I’m sure my three dogs, including a rather intense Staffordshire bull terrier, could ruin any candle’s appeal. We need all the help we can get to mask those infamous pet odors.
That said, I don’t really relate this scent to “soccer season.” I didn’t expect it to smell like leather, grass, or dirt. Candles are meant to set a mood, but here, the mood doesn’t resonate with memories of attending a football game; instead, it vaguely reminds me of snuggling under a blanket in the bleachers with a cup of hot chocolate.
The predominant scent is eucalyptus, which is a bit disconcerting for someone from Australia. It feels, well, not very American and definitely doesn’t evoke the autumn vibe. Sure, it has a grassy scent typical of “green” fragrances, but I recognized it instantly because I grew up with it.
Now, while there are hints suggesting fall, I’d rather have my favorite autumn candle “leaf” warming the house instead. There’s a subtle orange hue to this candle that falls somewhere between soccer and pumpkins.
Overall, this candle strikes a nice balance between summer and autumn, but still, I wouldn’t associate it with “soccer.”
Mark Scofield
“You came to get two ‘soccer season’ candles, right?”
That question really highlights the oddness of the moment… almost absurd, given where I found myself on that Tuesday afternoon. It was deep into July, edging toward August, and the heat outside in Maryland was stifling. With temperatures nearing 100 degrees, it was simply too hot for candles labeled “football season.”
In my mind, candles like these should evoke the comfort of “a warm flannel blanket in the bleachers.”
This is all for content creation, after all.
The concept was straightforward: during the lead-up to football season, a few SB Nation writers would pick up candles to share their thoughts—sort of like a wine tasting experience. Except here, we’re discussing candles with hints of soccer.
Once home, I unwrapped the candle, took a deep breath, and… inhaled.
There were aspects that could hint at autumn, but most of the scent was reminiscent of “strong cologne,” combining anticipation with the experience of sitting in cold metal bleachers, feeling let down by your favorite soccer team.
The woody scent that I caught, probably cedarwood from its description, was accompanied by a hint of sage and eucalyptus a few minutes later.
Again, while it doesn’t necessarily evoke the feeling of soccer, it does bring autumn to mind.
After all, this is football season, so I think it could work.
Consider adding this candle to your fall collection.
Should You Buy “Football Season” Candles?
If you enjoy lighting candles during autumn, then absolutely, why not? Just be mindful; some coffee tables come adorned with team pennants that declare “Go Team!”
