P.F. Candle Co.’s Kristen Pumphrey on the Home Fragrances You Need ASAP

Skimm Her Life is a series in our weekly newsletter, Skimm Your Life, where smart women share their favorite things.

In honor of candle season officially arriving, today we have the queen of candles, Kristen Pumphrey, here to Skimm Her Life. She’s the founder and creative director of P.F. Candle Co., whose covetable candles in those classic amber jars have been in our rotation for years. Kristen, spill your secrets…

Smartest purchase you’ve made recently?

We upgraded our speaker system to Sonos last year, and it lives up to the hype. We connected our record player to the system, so that we can listen to records or tapes in the backyard. Music’s always on now.

Something you always have in your bag?

An obsidian palm stone. What can I say, I’m superstitious.

What’s on your nightstand?

A stack of books I want to get read/am in the middle of, including Eve Babitz’s “I Used to be Charming,” and Bryan Washington’s “Family Meal.” A picture of Paris I took on film when I was a teenager. A Loftie Alarm Clock so I can wake up to the sound of calming chimes. A Piñon room and linen spray.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

“If it takes you less than two minutes to do something, just do it.” This is from David Allen’s “Getting Things Done” method. This gets you over decision fatigue and procrastination.

Favorite surprisingly useful item under $25?

This tea infuser. It changed the game for brewing loose-leaf tea, which I like to do because it makes me feel like a (poorly trained) magical herbalist. It’s better than the ball type because it’s less grungy to clean out.

What is your favorite P.F. Candle fragrance?

Without a doubt, Wild Herb Tonic. It smells like a fancy but rustic spa.

For people new to P.F. Candle Co., what products do you recommend starting with?

You can’t go wrong with Teakwood & Tobacco in a candle or diffuser. Then, I’d try our incense. Enoki Cedar in cones and Piñon or Wild Herb Tonic in sticks.

Do you have an unconventional or hacky way to use any specific P.F. Candle Co. products?

I use our car fragrance as a travel fragrance. It packs smaller than a travel candle and scents the room up.

Any tips on scent layering/mixing at home?

Think about the fragrance wheel as a color wheel — you either want to do complementary fragrances from the same family (like doing two earthy scents) that will amplify the mood you’re going for, or create some of contrast (like adding a green undertone to a gourmand note, which would create a hyper-realistic fruit scent). I also like to think about my layers by product type. I start with a diffuser in my “base” scent, then layer in candles and incense seasonally, or based on the type of energy I’m trying to create. Diffusers have more staying power, so when you layer other types on top with less tenacity, it creates a dynamic and personal blend.

Your current favorite book and/or podcast to listen to?

My current favorite podcast is Shortcomings. The hosts are hilarious and delightful. They do recaps (and honestly kind of takedowns?) of the “Sex & The City” universe, going show by show. It’s laugh-out-loud funny.