Right. I was not expecting to feel emotional over a book that started with a bloke waking up alone in space, groggy and confused, but Project Hail Mary really surprised me. The story is funny, super clever and full of heart, and somehow made deep space feel really personal. The whole time I was reading it I kept thinking about a scent I’d been working on. That candle became our soon-to-be-launched Static Blue.
This candle was made for science fiction stories like this. It opens with a cool, ozonic marine note that’s crisp and almost sterile, like the air inside a ship that hasn’t been opened in years. There’s a quiet strangeness to it. Then comes the cyclamen, which softens things just enough without making it floral in the usual way. It’s more artificial than natural, but that just... fits. Finally, vetiver comes in to anchor everything with this dry, clean base that reminds me of calm systems quietly running in the background while the stars drift by outside.
Static Blue doesn’t smell cosy. It smells still. Controlled. How can I explain it? You feel lonely, but not in a sad way. More like... You are floating through space with nothing but your very thoughts and perhaps a mission that is too big for a single person to handle. Which is exactly what Ryland Grace faces in Project Hail Mary.
If you have not read it yet, it’s about a man who wakes up on a spaceship with no recollection of who he is or why he is there. As the story progresses you learn that he is nothing less than Earth’s last hope, and somehow, in the middle of all the science and problem-solving, he builds one of the most unexpected and heartwarming friendships I have ever read. I surely will not spoil it, but trust me, it stays with you for a long time.
Reading it with Static Blue burning beside me changed the experience. The scent matched the mood of the book so closely that I actually paused a few times to take it in. That’s exactly what I love about this whole idea of pairing stories with scents. When it works, it won't just linger in the background. It enhances the atmosphere. You’re not just reading about space travel. You’re in it.
Static Blue is coming soon. I can’t wait for you to try it with your favourite sci-fi books, but if you’re looking for a starting point, Project Hail Mary is definitely the one.
Until then, keep reading strange and wonderful things!
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