When picturing medieval life, cleanliness probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind. It's easy to visualize the dirt covered peasantry walking through muddy streets and smoky rooms, and the idea that people were always dirty and smelly. When it came to washing, methods varied greatly between different social classes but bathing still had a place in medieval life. 

For this fragrance, my focus was on the nobility, not the peasantry, and the image of a relaxing medieval bathing experience rather than a laborer rinsing himself with a jug in a shallow basin. 

I pictured a room within a medieval manor where steam rises from wooden tubs within stone walls, with a fire providing the heat for the water.  A quiet, relaxing moment away from the dirt and commotion of medieval life.

To achieve this I used soft aquatic notes to form the foundation of Bath House, careful not to let the fragrance become too oceanic. The real character comes from the tubs themselves.  For that, I used a cedarwood oil with a natural smokiness that gives the fragrance a sense of warmth.  I added an additional smoke note to represent the byproduct of the wood fire that would be heating the water.  The combination of those notes together is what creates the impression of warm steam. 

Initially I had considered adding rosemary or eucalyptus to this fragrance, but worried that those notes would pull it toward a modern spa candle. Keeping the smoky wood character is what allows Bath House to hold its place within the medieval manor theme.

I personally keep one of these candles in every bathroom in my house. Whether I'm taking a hot shower or my wife is relaxing in the bathtub, we love having this candle bring the warmth and atmosphere of a medieval bath house into our home. 

Experience Bath House for yourself!

https://www.themanorcandleshop.com/listing/4510751825/bath-house-candle-cedarwood-steam-scent