Walk into a cabin where someone just put up a fresh-cut Christmas tree and left a pot of mulled cider on the stove. That's Balsam + Clove. Dilo's No. 11 is their most unabashedly seasonal scent - deep evergreen, warm spice, and a leathery base that makes it feel like a fireside scene instead of a generic holiday candle.
But here's the thing. While most holiday candles peak in December and collect dust by January, Balsam + Clove has enough complexity to work from the first cold snap in October through the last rainy weekend in March. The leather and patchouli in the base give it a sophistication that goes beyond candy cane territory.
What You're Actually Smelling
Eucalyptus and clove on top - that's the spiced, aromatic punch that greets you immediately. It reads warm and sharp, like walking through a spice market next to a Christmas tree lot. The middle opens into pine, cypress, and silver birch, which is where the true evergreen character lives. These aren't synthetic pine notes. They smell woody and green, like actual branches.
The base is fir balsam, patchouli, and leather. That last one is the surprise. The leather adds a richness that keeps Balsam + Clove from reading as a one-note holiday candle. It has weight, depth, and a slightly masculine quality that makes it interesting even after the novelty of the season wears off.
The Products
Balsam + Clove comes in three formats - a candle, a room spray, and a reed diffuser. Each one delivers this scent differently, and the format matters more than you might think with a fragrance this layered.
3.5oz Candle (Amber Glass Collection) - $12
Hand-poured soy wax with a strong throw that fills a room with evergreen and spice. Burns for 20-25 hours. The candle is where Balsam + Clove performs best. The heat draws out the pine and balsam notes beautifully, and the clove becomes more pronounced as the wax pool deepens. After thirty minutes, the leather base starts to come through, and the scent shifts from "holiday" to something richer and more complex.
This is the kind of candle that makes people say "it smells amazing in here" the second they walk through your door. At $12, it's an absurdly good value for a candle with this much character.
Room Spray (2oz) - $12
Instant evergreen atmosphere. The spray leads with eucalyptus and clove - sharp, aromatic, immediately cozy. The pine and cypress come through as the spray settles, but the leather base is subtler in this format. It's a quicker, brighter version of the scent.
Use it before guests arrive during the holidays. Use it to make your bedroom smell like a mountain lodge on a random Tuesday in November. A couple of sprays is all it takes, and the scent hangs in the air for about an hour. It's also a solid pick for anyone who prefers room sprays over candles - no flame, no fuss, same atmosphere.
Reed Diffuser (3oz) - $24
Continuous Balsam + Clove for two to three months. The diffuser softens the spicier top notes and lets the evergreen middle and leather base do more of the work. The result is a warm, woody presence that hovers in the background of a room - less punchy than the candle, more persistent than the spray.
This is the format to set up in early October and let run through the holidays. An entryway diffuser that smells like balsam and clove sets the tone for your entire home before anyone takes their coat off. Flip the reeds every few days, adjust how many you use to control the intensity, and forget about it.
Who This Scent Is For
If you're the kind of person who starts thinking about fall in August, Balsam + Clove was made for you. It's for anyone who lights a candle as soon as the weather turns, who loves the smell of pine and spice, who thinks holiday candles should smell like an actual forest and not a Bath and Body Works sale rack.
It pairs naturally with the cooler months, but it's not limited to Christmas. The evergreen and leather combination works anytime you want your home to feel warm and grounded. If you enjoy woody candle scents or smoky, earthy fragrances, Balsam + Clove is in that family - just with more spice and green.
It's also one of our best sellers as a gift. A holiday candle that actually smells good, costs $12, and comes in clean packaging? That solves a lot of gift-giving problems.
Where to Start
Start with the candle. The flame brings out the best of this scent - the clove gets warmer, the balsam gets deeper, and the leather base adds a layer you won't get from the spray or diffuser alone. At $12, it's the kind of purchase you don't need to think about.
If you want Balsam + Clove running in the background all season long, pair the candle with the reed diffuser. Light the candle in the evenings, let the diffuser handle the rest. Your home will smell like the holidays from October through February without a single trip to a department store.
Find the full Balsam + Clove line in our home fragrance collection. To smell it next to Dilo's other seasonal options - or compare it to something completely different like Coconut + Vetiver - book a free scent flight at our fragrance bar on Soquel Ave.