Napa Scents

Homemade Dumplings
Take your time and give this homemade dumpling process lots of love—餃子 (jiao zi) resemble Chinese gold ingots, a currency that was used during the Ming dynasty, and are meant to represent prosperity, wealth, and health. May each one bring you a bite-sized pocket of blessing!
Ingredients
FOR THE DOUGH
1 3/4 c. all-purpose flour (224 g.)
3 Tbsp. cornstarch (27 g.)
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1/3 c. boiling water (80 g.)
2 Tbsp. room-temperature water (30 g.)
FOR THE PORK AND SHRIMP FILLING
1 c. finely shredded napa cabbage
3/4 tsp. kosher salt
6 oz. ground pork
1/2" piece fresh ginger, minced
1 large clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. ground white pepper
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
3 Tbsp. low-sodium soy sauce
1 tsp. granulated sugar
6 oz. peeled shrimp, finely chopped
2 large shiitake mushrooms, finely chopped
2 green onions, minced
2 Tbsp. toasted sesame oil
FOR THE DIPPING SAUCE
1/2" piece fresh ginger, grated
1/4 tsp. granulated sugar
3 Tbsp. Chinese black vinegar
1 Tbsp. low-sodium soy sauce
2 tsp. toasted sesame oil
2 tsp. chili oil (optional)
Step 1
Make the dough: In a large bowl, combine flour, cornstarch, and salt. Pour in boiling water and stir with chopsticks or a wooden spoon until moisture is mostly absorbed. Add in room temperature water and continue to stir until a shaggy dough forms. Using your hands, knead dough until cohesive and smooth and no dry spots remain, 10 to 15 minutes. Cover and let rest for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Step 2
Meanwhile, make the filling: In a medium bowl, toss to evenly combine cabbage with salt. In a large bowl, using chopsticks or a wooden spoon, stir together pork, ginger, garlic, white pepper, black pepper, soy sauce, and sugar. Keep vigorously stirring in one direction until the mixture turns into a smooth paste, about 4 minutes. Add in shrimp, mushrooms, green onions, sesame oil, and cabbage mixture, and stir until evenly combined. Transfer to the refrigerator to chill while dough is resting.
Step 3
Make dipping sauce: In a small bowl, stir together all sauce ingredients. Set aside until ready to serve.
Step 4
Make dumpling wrappers: On a very lightly floured surface, divide dough in half and roll each half into a 1”-thick rope. Cut each rope up into twelve 1” pieces, rotating the rope 90° after each cut. Place each piece of dough cut-side up, then flatten with the heel of your palm. Using a rolling pin, roll each piece of dough into a 3½” disc. Keep wrappers loosely covered with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap to prevent drying out.
Step 5
To assemble: Place a tablespoon of filling just below center on each wrapper. Fold top half of the dough over bottom half and pinch border to seal. Alternatively, pleat dumplings by making small folds and pinching firmly to seal the edge. Place on a cutting board or baking sheet lightly dusted with flour. Repeat with remaining dough and filling.
Step 6
In a large pot of boiling water over medium-low heat, cook dumplings in batches until they float, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate and repeat with remaining dumplings.
Step 7
Serve with dipping sauce on the side.
When rolling out the wrappers, start from the center of the dough and roll out towards the edge, maintaining a thicker center and a thinner edge on each piece.
Enjoy !

Saw a post for veggie pizza that reminded me of my mother-in-law’s Veggie Bars! Football season is here so we make these a lot this time of year! Also great for parties!

Veggie Bars

1 pkg cream cheese softened
1 pkg ranch dressing mix
Fine shredded cheddar
Sheet of crescent roll dough
One small peeled carrot or a few baby carrots
A few raw broccoli florets
A few raw cauli florets
(You don’t need very many veggies at all! Once it’s all chopped it should be about a cup or so)

Roll dough onto cookie sheet and bake as directed. In a bowl mix together softened cream cheese and ranch mix. After making sure veggies are rinsed remove excess water and place in food processor and chop until really fine. Put veggies onto paper towels to press out any remaining moisture. One dough is done let completely cool. It helps to go ahead and remove the crescent dough from the sheet pan since it tends to stick just a little. You can put it on a cutting board or on parchment paper. Spread cream cheese mixture evenly onto the top. Sprinkle with a little bit of cheddar. Sprinkle veggies evenly over the top. Sprinkle more cheese on top. Press everything down lightly to help it bind down into the cream cheese. Cool in the fridge for a few minute to make it easier to cut. Cut into bars. Makes about 20.

It’s officially fall and candle season is in full swing.
We’re stocked and ready. You ready?

The first rain of the season fell in Napa yesterday, and candle season is in full swing. Long time customer favorite Pumpkin Soufflé helps to usher in that whole fall vibe in a big way.
Pumpkin, brown sugar, molasses, butter, and spices mingle together to make a rich, delectable scent that helps bring on the cozy.
It’s pumpkin spice, elevated, and there’s a reason it sells out year after year.

We are delighted to share that Napa Scents candles will soon be available at the fantastic in their location. The Oxbow draws in locals and visitors alike, with food, wine, and shopping all in one space. Community favorite Napa Bookmine is so well curated, a fun, friendly bookstore that also sells great gifts and goodies, and we are honored to have a place among them. Look for us there in the next couple of weeks!

Travel Tin Time!
These have been flying out of the door, lots of people with travel plans this summer, and taking along their Napa Scents, naturally.😄
We will be heading to Tahoe with family for my 50th (!) this summer, I can’t wait! We always have the best time together. Are you going anywhere fun?

Sunday vibes; I could spend the whole day here.
Photo credit:

Such a beautiful vignette by Anita at featuring our newest scent, Napa Casual! She does such incredibly beautiful lifestyle and home decor photos, and what a sweetheart.
The response to the this new release has been phenomenal, I’m so glad people are loving it! I’m burning one myself today, excellent on this cloudy Napa morning. (I’m hoping we get a little more rain, my garden would love it!)
Cheers!

***New Scent Just Dropped!***

Wrap yourself in comfort with this warm, intriguing scent inspired by the casual luxury of Napa Valley wine country. Bright citrus notes and dark plum dance with earthy freesia and light musk, with amber, sugar, and vanilla brightening it with a touch of sweetness.
Napa Casual is the unofficial dress code of the Napa Valley, a casual elegance, the laid back luxury of wine country; it is the inspiration for this luxurious, yet warm and welcoming scent.
Now available on the website

Hi, I’m Kristin and I love a good viognier and living in wine country. I’m also the person behind Napa Scents. There’s been a lot of new followers lately so I thought I’d jump on and say hello!
Napa Scents began 10 years ago (!) when I couldn’t find great quality, environmentally friendly candles anywhere locally. And I loooove candles. So, having always been a maker and creative type, I made my own. A dear friend asked if she could sell them at her salon and sold out right away. The rest, as they say, is history. And I’m so grateful. I consider this business, which I love, a total gift. The support has been unreal, and I love it when I hear, “you’re the candle lady!” I hear it a lot, this is a small town after all, and I love it! Yes indeed, I am the candle lady.😄
When I’m not working with candles, I am kicking ass in the kitchen, or maybe reading a book or watching some Bravo or true crime. I love cooking, hosting, and the whole wine country lifestyle. Growing food in my garden and then serving it brings me straight up joy. My family is my soul, my kids and husband, and I’m a total mama’s girl. And holy crap I’ll be 50 this summer!
Whether you’re new on this page or been here a while, I’m glad you’re here. May your glass, whatever you fill it with, always be full.
Cheers!

I love waking up to notes like these!💜

It’s - and we’re here for it.
Scent Profiles:
Cabernet - red berries, green vines, rose nectar, vanilla, musk, pineapple, raspberries, banana peel, clove, ginger
Chardonnay - white grapes, lemon, pear, peach, oak
Napa Bubbly - grapefruit, pear, lily, lemon, lime, musk, sugar
Merlot - black currant, apple, black cherry, red grapes, clove, oak, amber, vanilla
*Other wine scents available not pictured: Bellini, Rosé, Sangria
Cheers!🍷🥂🍾

When you own a business and your kid’s nails look this good, you put some product in her hands!
Our very popular Vanilla Crème combines vanilla bean with brown sugar, softened with rich cream. Warm and luscious, it’s perfect to cozy up with on a chilly Napa night like this one.

Today’s mood, knowing it’s time to get back to work after the holidays but just not quite ready yet. Sooooo….Moroccan oil hair mask, sheet mask for the face, fresh manicure, fluffy slippers and robe, roaring fire, and my Spa Water candle are giving me straight up relaxation joy.
Every good spa has a recipe for their water, ours has notes of citrus, mint, and a touch of agave for a light and clean, yet complex and luxurious scent.
Giving me all the spa vibes, right here in my house.
Work will still be there tomorrow.

Happy New Year! May 2022 bring you and yours peace, love, happiness, and good times! Another year is over, a fresh chapter is just beginning. Make sure you write a good one.
This year marks our tenth (!) anniversary at Napa Scents, and we are forever grateful for your continued support. This journey has been absolutely amazing so far, we’ve met the most extraordinary people and had such fantastic experiences while filling your homes and businesses with gorgeous scents and candlelight, and we aren’t even close to finished.
Friends, followers, clients, and customers from IG have been a big part of our journey, and we truly appreciate you all. I’ve even met some wonderful friends “IRL” through this platform. So to you and yours, from all of us, best wishes for a joyous new year, and a big cheers to you! 🥂🎊🎉

With apples, bourbon, maple, cinnamon, and hints of orange and butter, Spiked Apple Cider is a total vibe, perfect for this cozy time of year.
Obviously you all agree, there’s only a few left until we restock after the holiday. I absolutely love this more complex, upscale version of an apple cinnamon scent, so this one’s mine.💜

You know what’s very cool? How about creating your own custom fragrance for candles? I’ve had such fun working with a Napa winery to create their own proprietary fragrance based on one of their top wines. And they nailed it; fruit, earth, spice, they created such a sexy little blend, it’s sooo good! And they chose our new ceramic black vessels for them, gorgeous! These are absolutely beautiful.
I can do it for you too. Imagine having fun creating your own blend of scents and then, when it’s turned in to environmental friendly chic soy candles, you can tell your friends and clients that you came up with the fragrance yourself! We even keep your blend on file in case you want to order more down the line. (You will.😉)
We’ve done them for wineries, events, estates and private homes; creating your own custom scent is attainable and easier than you think. If you want them for fall or the holidays, the time to get on my calendar is now. Message or call me and we can get you started!
Cheers!