Can somebody tell me when October became so busy?
Because I’m sure October used to be quite nice.
A bit of a breather after summer. Darker nights. Cosy jumpers. Candles back on. Maybe a Sunday roast.
Lovely.
This year?
Absolutely not.
My diary seems to have exploded, Christmas is already tapping me on the shoulder and every week appears to have about three days in it.
And apparently this is the season when we’re all supposed to be slowing down.
Is anyone actually managing that?
The Instagram Version of Autumn
You know the one.
Beautiful walk through crunchy leaves.
Big jumper.
Coffee held with two hands.
A perfectly tidy room with a candle burning somewhere in the background.
Perhaps a homemade soup bubbling away.
Meanwhile, I’m looking at the clock wondering how it can possibly be 5pm when I’ve achieved approximately 14% of what I planned to do that day.
I do love autumn. I genuinely do.
But I think we may have slightly oversold the relaxing part.
October Is a Funny One
September still feels like you can pretend there’s loads of year left.
Then October arrives and suddenly everyone starts saying things like:
“Only 11 Fridays until Christmas!”
Please don't.
Because once you run a small business, October is when Christmas quietly starts taking over your life.
We're making stock, ordering boxes, checking labels, planning launches, filling shelves and having conversations about Christmas in the studio while normal people are still wondering whether it's too early to put the heating on.
And I know it's not just business.
The weekends start filling up. There are things with my teenage daughters. Things at work. Things you've agreed to months ago that have suddenly become this Saturday.
Then somebody casually asks:
“Have you started your Christmas shopping?”
No, Susan. I’m trying to get through Tuesday.
Maybe Cosy Doesn't Mean Doing Nothing
I've been thinking about this because I actually want to enjoy this time of year.
I don't want to blink and find myself standing in December wondering where autumn went.
And perhaps I've had the whole slowing down thing wrong.
Maybe it doesn't mean suddenly having an empty diary and three hours every evening to read a book beside the fire.
Because that's probably not happening.
Maybe it's just the little things that tell your brain:
Right. That's enough for today.
For me, it's coming in and shutting the door.
Lamps on.
Something nice for dinner.
Winter Grace diffuser doing its thing.
Candle lit ridiculously early because Scotland has decided it's nighttime at approximately 4.30pm.
And I'm done.
Nothing groundbreaking.
But sometimes that's all I need.
The 6pm Pyjama Rule
I also think we need to stop pretending that getting into your pyjamas ridiculously early is somehow giving up on the day.
Quite the opposite.
Once the pyjamas are on, I'm committed.
I'm not going back out.
You cannot tempt me with plans.
I live here now.
And there is something genuinely lovely about reaching that point in the evening when you've decided the outside world can manage perfectly well without you until tomorrow.
Maybe that's my version of autumn self-care.
Not face masks and green juice.
Just knowing when I've had enough.
This Is Probably Why I Love Fragrance So Much
And yes, I realise I own a candle company, so take this with whatever size pinch of salt you feel appropriate.
But scent really does change a room for me.
There are certain fragrances I wouldn't dream of burning in June that suddenly feel completely right now.
Warm. Woody. Spicy. Cosy.
It's one of the reasons we created scents like Autumn and Winter Grace in the first place.
You don't need to redecorate your house for every season or fill it with pumpkins.
Sometimes lighting something that smells gorgeous is enough to make the whole place feel different.
Although again, woman who makes candles for a living says candles are wonderful.
Shocking development.
Before We All Charge Towards Christmas...
I know it's coming.
Believe me, I know.
There are boxes in our studio that could confirm it.
But I'm trying not to wish October away just because Christmas is waiting at the other end of it.
There's something really lovely about right now.
Cold enough to want to be inside.
Not quite cold enough to resent being outside.
Dark evenings.
Sunday dinners.
Walks when the weather behaves itself.
Candles burning again.
And that first proper feeling that it's completely acceptable to say:
“No thanks, I'm staying in.”
So maybe October doesn't need to be less busy.
Maybe we just need to protect a little bit of it.
And if that involves pyjamas at 6pm and a candle lit before dinner, I’m absolutely fine with that.
Jo x
