Wicked Pumpkin

October 4th marks the anniversary of Andante Home, and as I look back upon the years, my thoughts return to our one-year anniversary in 2021, when I became determined to capture the very spirit of October within a single fragrance. I longed for something that *felt* like the season itself, something that carried the warmth and wonder of childhood.

I hold many memories carving pumpkins beside my sister and brother, our laughter rising with the scent of autumn leaves. I remember the thrill of trick-or-treating as a family, and the joy of pumpkin pie piled high with soft clouds of whipped cream. These are the moments that remain with me still.

To me, pumpkin has always been the very soul of autumn; warm, golden, and endlessly welcoming. Still, I knew what I sought was not the ordinary pumpkin spice the world had grown to expect. I imagined something deeper and more deliberate, a fragrance that would honor the essence of the pumpkin itself, while lending it a quiet sophistication, nostalgic, yet new.

The true test, as ever, was Nate’s approval. When the final blend came together, pumpkin, black cardamom, vanilla, and a faint trace of smoke, I watched his expression soften, and I knew then that we had found it.

To this day, it remains a gentle reminder that even the most beloved traditions may be renewed and refined, while still holding fast to the heart of what makes them loved.