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Winter market season is one of the most exciting and beautifully chaotic times of the year for a small artisan brand. Between crafting products, styling displays, hauling supplies, connecting with customers, and creating a cozy winter shopping experience, every market becomes its own little adventure. Today, we’re taking you behind the scenes at Good Smells Inc. so you can see what really happens before the candles are lit.
Winter is the busiest time for handcrafted candles and artisan home fragrances. In the weeks leading up to each market, the lab is filled with warm scents like cedarwood, mint, amber, pine, and smoked leather. Every amber jar is wicked, poured, labeled, and polished by hand.
Packing day is its own sport. Every crate, tablecloth, shelf, candle, and bottle has a perfect place in the vehicle, usually found after three attempts. Winter markets often require both indoor and outdoor setups, so we bring:
Table lighting (night markets)
Display shelves
Inventory
Tools for quick fixes
Branded bags
There’s something satisfying about pulling up to a market knowing everything you need is packed and ready.
The goal is simple: create a warm, inviting, dark-academia-inspired nook that draws people in from across the venue. We use:
Navy, cream, and gold display elements
Styled risers
Soft lighting at night
and sometimes Seasonal greenery
With the scent of pine, rose, clove and smoke drifting from sample jars, guests often say they can “smell you from the parking lot” or “it smells so good over here.”
This is the best part of market season. We meet teachers grabbing gifts, couples hunting for cozy candles, families looking for winter sprays, and shoppers wanting something handmade and meaningful. These connections are why small-batch artisans do what we do.
People love hearing the scent stories:
“This one was inspired by an old a library.”
“This blend smells like a forest after fresh snowfall.”
“This candle has a crackling wood wick for extra winter coziness.”
When the market ends, we pack everything back up, now dusted with winter air. There’s always a sense of accomplishment, whether the day was busy or quiet. Every market teaches us something new, helps us refine our brand, and brings Good Smells Inc. into the hands of people who truly appreciate handmade goods.
Beyond the candles, décor, and potpourri, winter markets are about community. They support small makers, artisans, and local dreamers. They create warm moments in the middle of cold months. And they remind us why we do this: to bring comfort, scent, beauty, and handmade artistry into everyday life.
