The Resort-Worthy Candle I’m Stocking Up On to Keep the Spirit of Summer Alive

While the first day of autumn may still be a couple of weeks away, chances are you’re already being inundated with all things fall. From Halloween decorations already lining the shelves of our favorite stores to the return of the seasonally controversial pumpkin spice-flavored, uh, everything, fall seems to come earlier and earlier each year. But what about those of us who aren’t yet ready to say goodbye to summer? If you’re like me and looking for a way to hold on to the season, I’ve got the ultimate treat for you. For me, scent plays a big part in the seasons, so my favorite way to hold on to one well after the fact is with a scented candle that perfectly captures the essence of that season — and no candle encapsulates summer quite as well as Vacation’s Well-Tipped Pool Boy candle.

For those of you familiar with Vacation, you know that the brand is the maker of “the world’s best-smelling sunscreen” as well as a matching fragrance. It’s also known for its incredibly fun branding (its most recent launch, Classic Whip, is a sunscreen that looks and feels like whipped cream, down to the container it comes in), so, it came as no surprise earlier this year when the brand branched out into candles with a fun, resort-themed line. And while I have yet to try the other two scents in the collection, believe me when I say Well-Tipped Pool Boy is a star and a standout when it comes to a summertime candle.

I first smelled this candle when I walked into a friend’s apartment earlier this summer. The scent was captivating and before I could even get a word out, my friend stopped me and said, “I know what you’re going to ask — it’s that candle,” pointing to the sea-green candle burning on her coffee table (What can I say, she knows me.) Described as a blend of “coconut sunscreen, freshly cleaned swimming pool, hand-me-down-cologne, and desire” this candle immediately transports you to a poolside cabana at a swanky five-star resort with a pina colada in hand and a handsome pool boy in your line of vision. Featuring many of the same notes found in their sunscreen (think coconut, banana, pineapple, and orange blossom), this candle takes it up a notch with a dash of pool water, lycra, and the unmistakable musk of an expensive cologne for a scent that hits all of the olfactory nerves like a freight-train — not in an overpowering, cloying way, but in a “I’ll never be able to live without this scent again” way. Needless to say, I ordered two on the spot.

Priced at $34, the cheekily named Well-Tipped Pool Boy candle comes housed in an 8.5-ounce tumbler and features an 85-hour burn time; it’s also vegan, cruelty-free, and made with a rich soy blend wax complete with a 100 percent cotton wick. So if you’re like me and not ready to leave summer behind just yet, treat yourself to this candle. Long live the smell of summer (and well-tipped pool boys).

Buy: Well-Tipped Pool Boy Candle, $34