Why the Poe Collection Will Always Be Around
If you’ve followed The Smell of Fear for any length of time, you already know that
Edgar Allan Poe isn’t just an influence for me but he is the foundation from which I built my spooky candle company. Before there were collections, before wholesale orders, before horror conventions and markets, there was my adoration of Poe and his stories.
When I say I’m thrilled to state that my Poe Collection candles are available at the Poe Museum in Richmond, Virginia, this isn’t just a business milestone, but a very personal one for this massive Poe fan.
A Curated Collection for Fellow Poe Devotees
The Poe Collection is carefully curated to reflect the emotional weight and atmosphere of Poe’s writing. Each candle pulls from a specific story, setting, or psychological moment, designed to feel immersive rather than illustrative.
These aren’t “novelty Poe candles" but instead are meant to be burned while reading, reflecting, or sitting with the unsettling beauty of his work. For fellow Poe fans, this is a chance to bring home something that feels connected to the stories that shaped us.
From First Candles to the Poe Museum
My early Poe-inspired scents helped define what The Smell of Fear would become:
story-driven fragrance, rooted in setting and emotion rather than just novelty scary candles. My very first creation once I started this as small business was "The Cask of Amontillado". I blended notes of oak casks, sherry, and earth for my very first immersive scent. The experience of burning this one takes you right to an underground wine cellar with the vengeful Montressor and hapless Fortunato.
The Poe Museum has now been stocking these candles almost since the beginning of this candle adventure back in 2019. The museum is my strongest wholesale partner, as they believed in the concept early and helped to give the Poe Collection scents a home where they truly belonged.
Why This Partnership Means So Much
The Poe Museum isn’t just another retail location. Knowing that my work sits alongside Poe’s legacy, in a space dedicated to honoring his life and writing, is something extremely special to me. I fell in love with the troubled author's work as a child, when a relative lent me their "Vincent Price Reads Poe" album and I've been smitten ever since. My creations at his museum feels like I've come full circle!
This partnership represents:
- Trust in my interpretation of Poe’s work
- Respect for scent as a storytelling medium
- A shared commitment to thoughtfully honoring Gothic horror
A Little About the Museum
From the Poe Museum website: "The Poe Museum began over a century ago when an Edgar Allan Poe collector and researcher named James Howard Whitty and a group of literary enthusiasts met in Poe’s hometown of Richmond, Virginia to create the state’s first monument to a writer... The Poe Museum opened to the public in 1922, featuring the Old Stone House (oldest residential building that is still standing in Richmond, Virginia) and Enchanted Garden."
Please visit the website for more information or better yet, if you're in or around Richmond, VA stop for a visit!
Final Thoughts
The Smell of Fear wouldn’t exist in its current form without Edgar Allan Poe and it certainly wouldn’t exist without the early and ongoing support of the Poe Museum. This collaboration is one of the things I’m most proud of.
And agin, f you ever find yourself in Richmond, VA be sure to visit the museum and support the legacy of one of the Masters of Horror.
