Tomato Leaf

Yesterday, Sarah brought out a candle that one of her friends gave her for her birthday. Sarah doesn’t usually love candles, so I knew it was going to be good. I gave it a sniff and my brows shot up - “What is this!” I spun it around. Sure enough, one of my new-found favorite scents. Tomato Basil.

“Do you like this scent??”

She nodded her head enthusiastically.

This was huge news. A mutually loved scent between the two of us is not easy to find. And I really, really love a tomato basil scent.

Two years ago, I was introduced to the Tomato candle family by my good friend, Trader Joes. They had a spring seasonal Tomato Leaf candle. I only bought one because I wasn’t sure I was going to love it, and it’s one of my greatest regrets. I loved it. I loved it so much. I went back to Trader Joes less than a week later to buy five more, only to realize: the season was over. They were done carrying the Tomato Leaf candle (I asked). I decided to ration my candle, barely using it all year. These things are tiny, $5 tin candles. They don’t have ample amount of burn time.

And then…

I did not make it to Trader Joes in the right time period last year. I don’t know what happened. I must have gone to Whole Foods or something. Who knows. But I am still sparingly using this one Tomato Leaf candle.

Today, Sarah and I made the trek to Trader Joes to get ingredients to make pizzas. The Tomato Leaf candle wasn’t even on my mind. In my head, the candle was a much later in spring phenomenon.

We did all of our shopping and got in line. As the line made its way around the store, we saw them. The Tomato Leaf candles. Only 6 left.

“I have to get all of them.”

“You do not need to get all of them.”

“Okay, half?”

“No.”

“Okay, three?”

I ended up with two. And my apartment smells incredible after two years of strict rationing.