Behind the Blend: A Love Letter to the Coast (Summer 2026)

There’s something about the ocean that has always felt like home to me.

As someone who was born on an island, some of my favorite memories are tied to the beach. Long before Black Lavender Co. existed, before I knew anything about fragrance notes or candle making, I was creating memories along the shoreline with the people I love most.

I can still remember family trips to the beach, piling into cars with coolers, towels, snacks, and enough food to feed what felt like an entire neighborhood. The beach wasn’t just a destination, it was an event. A gathering place. A place where time seemed to slow down.

My siblings and I would spend hours in the water, refusing to come out until we absolutely had to. We’d jump waves, collect shells, and stay just long enough that our skin carried the scent of saltwater long after we left.

Some of my favorite memories are sitting by the seaside with my dad, eating freshly prepared fish while listening to the waves crash nearby. There was something so simple and peaceful about those moments. No schedules. No rush. Just good food, family, and the ocean.

Even now, as an adult, the beach remains my happy place. There’s something incredibly calming about standing at the edge of the water and watching the horizon stretch endlessly in front of you. The sound of the waves, the warmth of the sun, the salty breeze...it all creates a feeling that’s difficult to put into words but impossible to forget.

When I began planning this year’s Summer Collection, I knew I wanted to capture that feeling. Not just the scent of the ocean, the experience of it.

The collection was inspired by what the coast means to me: relaxation, peace, nostalgia, and connection. Each blend was carefully chosen to reflect a different moment along the shoreline.

Some scents remind me of warm afternoons spent walking along the beach with sand between my toes. Others capture the feeling of watching the sun dip below the horizon as the sky turns shades of gold, pink, and amber. Some evoke the fresh ocean breeze rolling through open windows, while others bring to mind evenings spent on a patio overlooking the water.

The goal wasn’t to recreate the beach exactly. It was to recreate the emotions the beach creates. Because scent has a remarkable way of transporting us. A single fragrance can bring back memories you haven’t thought about in years. It can remind you of a place, a person, or a season of life that felt special. That’s what I hope this collection does. Whether you’ve spent summers along the coast, taken family vacations to the beach, or simply dream of escaping to the shoreline, I hope these scents help you slow down and experience a little piece of that coastal calm.

For me, this collection is deeply personal. It’s a reflection of where I come from, the memories that shaped me, and the places where I feel most at peace. Every candle tells a story. This collection tells mine.

Thank you for allowing me to share it with you.

-Alecia ♡