I’ve always been a massive Christmas lover - the lights, the music, the smells, the cosy chaos of it all. But if I’m being honest, something about it feels a bit different these last few years. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it’s there - an undertone that I can’t seem to shake.
Maybe it’s just a natural age thing. Maybe it’s when your kids become teens and the sparkle changes shape. I mean, I still believe in Santa (and there is absolutely no mention of him being “not real” in our house - ever!), so it’s not like I’ve lost my belief… but the feeling has shifted a little, and I don’t love that.
I adore that my girls still get so excited for Christmas, and that they make me see it through their eyes again. But I can’t help wondering - what is that thing that bursts your Christmas bubble as you get older? Maybe it’s simply life, growing up, or just being pulled in a dozen directions all at once.
A Season of So Many Feelings
This time of year, brings a mix of emotions for everyone. For some, it’s the season of sparkle and joy. For others, it can feel heavy - a reminder of someone missing, the strain of finances, family tensions, loneliness, or just the sheer exhaustion of trying to make everything perfect.
At JoJo Co., we see all of it. We pour candles that end up lighting dinner tables, filling homes with scent, being gifted with love - and sometimes, they’re lit in quiet remembrance. Christmas heightens everything - the good, the hard, and the beautifully in-between.
Finding Our Own Way to Celebrate
We realised this year that we couldn’t face doing the exact same Christmas pattern again. So, we’re switching it up - Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve, and then leftovers (including Jamie Oliver’s famous turkey pie!) on Christmas Day. Not exactly a wild rebellion, but after eight years of the same routine, it feels refreshing!
Maybe it’s part of that “burnt-out Christmas business owner” feeling - when you spend months helping others create the perfect Christmas, by the time your own rolls around, it can feel like there’s not much left to give. I spend weeks handwriting gift tags, wrapping gifts, packaging joy… so by the time it’s my own family’s turn, I feel like I can’t give JoJo Co. candles as presents, because it would look like I haven’t made an effort! (The irony isn’t lost on me.)
The Countdown Is On
Still, despite the madness, I wouldn’t change it. There’s a kind of magic in being part of other people’s Christmas stories - creating gifts that mean something, helping customers make their loved ones smile. We’re already in full Christmas mode at JoJo Co. - writing cards, tying ribbons, perfecting every parcel. It’s manic, yes, but it’s also special.
And now that we’re heading into November, the countdown is officially on. Christmas music will soon be playing in every shop, the radio jingles are ready to go, and festive scents are filling the air once more.
Speaking of scents… our much-loved Cranberry & Spiced Nutmeg is back!
It’s the one that instantly brings that Christmas feeling rushing back - warm, fruity, spiced, and completely nostalgic. I’m still loyal to Winter Grace until December (creature of habit!), but I know so many of you have been waiting patiently for that unmistakable cranberry warmth.
There’s nothing quite like walking into a bathroom or hallway and catching that familiar festive scent from a Christmas diffuser - it’s the little things that make a house feel like Christmas.
A Little Thought to End On
As the season begins, and we all get swept up in the rush - the wrapping, the lists, the meals, the expectations - I just want to say this:
Take a breath.
Buy thoughtfully.
Support the small businesses you love.
The ones who make, wrap, write, pour, and pack everything with their own hands — who put heart into every single order. That’s where the real Christmas magic still lives.
And when you sit down with your favourite festive treat (mine’s an eggnog, a mince pie, and a very good - mulled wine), light a candle and let it remind you - it’s okay if Christmas feels a little different this year. The magic is still there. It just changes shape.
