Orchard Beach: A Candle, A Memory, A Bronx Love Letter

They called it the Bronx Riviera, and to us, that name held weight. Orchard Beach wasn’t just sand and sea—it was la música, la comida, and the sound of cousins laughing over shared espageti and stories we weren’t supposed to tell.

I was just a young girl the first time I stretched out on a towel with baby oil slicked on my skin like every tía before me, convinced I’d catch the perfect tan. That was also the first—and last—time I tried to snorkel there. Let’s just say: that decision made itself. And for those who know Orchard Beach... well, if you know, you know.

But beyond the sea breeze and salty stone flats, this place became a gathering ground. Orchard Beach was the last spot where mi primo and my prima hermanas and I got together before COVID changed everything. And when I returned, three of them were gone—no longer here to share sun-warmed chisme, stretch out in folding chairs, or dance barefoot near the speakers.

This candle is my ode to them. To us.
To the Bronx Riviera—imperfect but unforgettable.

The scent is inspired by the salty sea air, sun-warmed stone, and the mix of tropical oils and florals that always lingered in the breeze—shea butter, coconut, maybe a splash of someone’s piragua syrup melting too fast.

It’s not the Amalfi Coast. It’s not the Florida Keys.
But it was ours.
And when I light this candle, I remember the joy, the flavor, the beat of our summers... and my primas, who left too soon.

So if Orchard Beach ever meant something to you—this one’s for la familia.