Beautifully Done
ILLUME’s Signature Scents of the Season
BY EMMA GEARY
As the nights grow longer and the holiday season approaches, cozy evenings at home and gatherings around the table are simply begging for the warm, glowy light of a seasonal candle. The right scent can set the mood, spark nostalgia, and make your space feel like home with a signature scent that is unmistakably yours. That’s where ILLUME comes in.
Designed and handcrafted in Minneapolis, ILLUME has built a national reputation for home fragrance that’s both expertly elevated and deeply rooted. With nearly 95% of its products manufactured at a state-of-the-art facility in Minneapolis, the brand blends thoughtful design, expert craftsmanship, and globally sourced materials to create sensory experiences that elevate the everyday.
ILLUME’s seasonal collection, aptly named Beautifully Done, captures the warmth and wonder of winter in three signature fragrances: Balsam & Cedar, Winter White, and Woodfire. Each is a multi-layered composition meant to evoke the quiet, cozy moments of the season—welcoming, nostalgic, and undeniably elegant. No matter the mood you’re in this winter, we’re ready to strike a match and ignite the holiday season in style.
BALSAM & CEDAR, perhaps the most iconic of the trio, is rich and comforting. Fir needle and warm cinnamon are layered over oak moss, conjuring memories of fresh-cut trees, cozy cabins, and all the rituals that make the holidays feel like home.
WOODFIRE is smoky and sultry, grounded in cedar with a heart of suede and a kiss of earthy amber. It’s the scent of crisp nights and fireside conversations, with just enough mystery to linger long after the night ends.
WINTER WHITE feels fresh and luminous, opening with cool cardamom and evergreen, then brightened by sparkling citrus. It’s a breath of frosted air on a clear December morning—clean, invigorating, and quietly festive, perfect for enjoying as the snow falls with a cup of cocoa.
One of the reasons we love ILLUME is not only the quality of their fragrances, but their attention to detail and how they champion local artists in their work. From the design of the vessels to the way each product is meant to be displayed and gifted, ILLUME approaches the candle making (and displaying) process with an artist’s eye, collaborating with creatives for each collection.
For ILLUME, scent is more than a background note—it’s an invitation to slow down, set the tone, and mark the moment. With Beautifully Done, the Minneapolis-based brand reminds us that the most meaningful traditions often start with the senses.
To learn more about ILLUME and shop their seasonal collections, visit illumecandles.com.
Emma Geary
Emma is Collective Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief and LAB’s Brand + Editorial Manager. She loves getting lost in a story and is sharing her own on her Substack, Hot Girl Walk. Find her staring at the sun on her daily lap around Lake of the Isles.
