Celebrate Beltane with the perfect all-natural fragrance for late spring.
What is Beltane?
Beltane is a modern pagan celebration occurring annually on May 1, approximately halfway between the spring equinox (Ostara) and the summer solstice (Litha). This cross-quarter holiday owes many of its themes and customs to the Irish Lá Bealtaine and Scottish Latha Bealltainn, along with echoes of the hedonistic Roman festival Floralia. It is also the inspiration for modern May Day celebrations.
At Beltane, the trees are budding and blossoming, the birds are singing, and the Earth is bursting into life with renewed fertility. This is a time for dancing, romance, manifestation, reconnecting with nature around us, and bringing the beauty of spring flowers into our daily lives in every possible way.
Where does Beltane fall on the Wheel of the Year?
The Wheel of the Year includes four Quarter Days and four Cross-Quarter Days, including the winter and summer solstices, vernal and autumnal equinoxes, and four midpoints bisecting each of these quarters.
The dates of these eight points derive most directly from the pre-Christian Celtic calendar, a solar-lunar ritual calendar dating from the second century AD that divided the year into eight roughly-equivalent seasonal sections.
In order throughout our modern annual calendar, the eight division points on the Wheel of the Year include:
-
Imbolc (late winter), celebrated on February 1
-
Ostara (early spring), celebrated at the vernal equinox (on or around March 21)
-
Beltane (late spring), celebrated on May 1
-
Litha (early summer), celebrated at the summer solstice (on our around June 21)
-
Lammas (late summer), celebrated on August 1
-
Mabon (early fall), celebrated at the autumnal equinox (on or around September 21)
- Samhain (late fall), celebrated on November 1 (often beginning at dusk on October 31)
- Yule (early winter), celebrated at the winter solstice (on or around December 21)
Our Wheel of the Year seasonal incenses, solid perfumes, scented veils, and soy candles are formulated with all-natural essential oil blends that reflect the best of each of these seasons—from Imbolc’s cozy sandalwood and cedarwood to Litha’s heady vetiver and nutmeg. Each blend provides the perfect way to ring in a new season or harken back to seasons past at any time.
When is the Beltane line available?
Like all of our Wheel of the Year collections, the Beltane line is a premium seasonal scent, and only our Beltane incense sticks are currently available year-round—so stock up on the rest of the line when it’s available!
The complete line, which depending on the year may include a Beltane scented veil spray, Beltane solid perfume, Beltane essential oil candle, and/or a Beltane gift set, generally launches about six weeks before Beltane itself, shortly after the celebration of Ostara (the point on the Wheel of the Year immediately preceding Beltane).
What does our Beltane scent smell like?
It smells like a big bouquet of fresh spring flowers, all bright and dewy on the first morning of May!
The all-natural essential oil blend we’ve chosen for Beltane focuses on jasmine, ylang ylang, peppermint, and orange, with a bit of lavender and frankincense bringing the complete scent profile together.
The blend aligns with the Water element; Pisces, Scorpio, and Cancer zodiac signs; The Empress tarot card; and the Dogaz rune.
Like all of our products, our Beltane scent will never contain chemical preservatives or synthetic petroleum-based fragrances like those commonly found in other incense sticks and scented products. You can learn more here about our commitment to keeping our bodies healthy and waterways clean by using 100% all-natural ingredients, including 100% pure essential oil fragrances.