Have you ever read a history book or watched a historical drama and dreamed of going back in time to know what the past was like? Since time travel is still something from science fiction, we can only experience history through one sense at a time. There are tons of historical costume designers, musicians who specialize in tunes from the past, dedicated caretakers who work hard to preserve homes from the past, and cooks who want to experience what past delicacies tasted like and understand the diets from centuries long ago. The cooks get a general idea of what kitchens might have smelled like, but what about the average history nerds who want to understand what pleasant scents the past might include? How can a casual history nerd experience a sensory journey from the past?
Look no further than KLEIO, a small United States business that wants to give its customers, who they refer to as “time travelers,” a sensory journey into the past through their custom-made candles. They are named after the Greek muse of history, Kleio (or Clio), their emblem. The face of Kleio faces the left to honor the past.
Now I know what you are thinking, why review candles? What does this have to do with history books and the past? Here is the cool part about KLEIO. They do more than just take random scents from the past and make candles. Instead, they work with historians and historical institutes to create unique experiences for their time travelers so that they can enhance the history learning experience.
I would like to thank KLEIO for allowing me to enjoy this extraordinary sensory journey. I was blown away by how these candles and packaging were, and I couldn’t wait to dive into the past.
The time capsules are black and gold cylindrical containers, with one side having the gilded Kleio image. On the reverse side is a piece of parchment with the corresponding writing style with a “sealed” date to complete the illusion of a time capsule. Each candle is wrapped carefully in tissue paper with a key corresponding to the era. Once you open the tissue paper, you are greeted with a lovely black and gold stopper with the words “Unlock History” etched into the material. The candles are encased in gilded glass vessels with a unique emblem corresponding to each candle.
Now that I have attempted to describe the packing for the time capsule candles let me explain what candles I received and what my sensory experience was with each candle. For the candles inspired by books, I have included my book reviews on the books.
Sweet Cacao
Scent: Ancient cacao, chocolate, Mesoamerican vanilla bean, and copal resin.
The Sweet Cacao candle was made in collaboration with the Fine Cacao and Chocolate Institute to create a sensory journey to ancient Mesoamerica and their ancient rituals dedicated to cacao. It is a complex, decadent cacao scent that transported me to a time and place that I was unfamiliar with, but it was thrilling. It shows the importance of cacao in the past, especially to Mesoamerica and its culture.
If you would like to learn more about the Fine Cacao and Chocolate Institute and their research, you can find more here: https://www.chocolateinstitute.org/
Secret Archives
Scent: Resin Incense, ancient scrolls, and sacred papers.
The Secret Archives candle collaborates with author and historian Sandra Vasoli for her latest novel, “Pursuing a Masterpiece.” In the book, Vasoli’s modern-day protagonist, Zara Rossi, visits the Secret Archives at the Vatican Library and discovers an incredible mystery. This candle is comforting and reminds me of my childhood in a library and falling in love with studying history.
If you want to read my review of “Pursuing a Masterpiece” by Sandra Vasoli, you can check it out here: https://adventuresofatudornerd.com/2022/12/01/book-review-pursuing-a-masterpiece-a-novel-by-sandra-vasoli/.
My Dearest Friend
Scent: Caramelized sugar, cinnamon spice, nutmeg, freshly baked bread, buttercream, vanilla bean, and almond.
The My Dearest Friend candle is for the American Revolutionary War enthusiasts in your life. It reminded me of my childhood and the biography I read years ago called “Dearest Friend” by Lynne Witney. This candle was so comforting, based on a bread pudding recipe that Abigail Adam used regularly. I can just picture Abigail making this recipe for her family and her husband, John Adams, as he is helping form the foundations for the United States of America.
Fun fact: The writing on this candle’s time capsule is Abigail Adam’s handwriting.
Bowes-Lyon
Scent: Ancient tapestries, ancestral books, and black tea resin.
In collaboration with historian Gareth Russell for his latest biography, “Do Let’s Have Another Drink: The Singular Wit and Double Measures of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother,” Kleio’s latest candle is the Bowes-Lyon candle. Based on the scents from Elizabeth the Queen Mother’s childhood home, Glamis Castle, this candle transported me to a Downton Abbey-style castle. It felt like I was sitting in the drawing room reading a book while the Bowes-Lyon were discussing Elizabeth becoming the Duchess of York.
If you would like to read my review of “Do Let’s Have Another Drink: The Singular Wit and Double Measures of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother” by Gareth Russell, you can find it here: https://adventuresofatudornerd.com/2022/12/13/book-review-do-lets-have-another-drink-the-singular-wit-and-double-measures-of-queen-elizabeth-the-queen-mother-by-gareth-russell/
Final Thoughts:
Overall, I found my KLEIO experience immersive and so unique. Each candle had its signature style and gave me a different sensory journey. I thoroughly enjoyed having a KLEIO candle next to me on a side table while curling up with a good book and a cup of tea. This is a perfect gift for any history lover in your life, of yourself, especially if you want to experience the past from the comfort of your own home. I cannot wait to see and smell what new sensory adventure they will take their time travelers on next.
If you want to explore KLEIO’s catalog or know more about their products and collaborations with the vast history community, check out their website: https://kleio.global/home.
The year is 1346, and numerous English ships have landed on the shores of France. King Edward III, his son Edward of Woodstock, and his lords launched the first stage of what would be known as the Hundred Years’ War. Amongst the English royalty, nobility, and regular soldiers, are companies of men who came of their own accord for money and glory. One company of men consists of ten men known as the Essex Dogs, led by Loveday FitzTalbot. They are not like the other groups. They do not fight for money or glory; they fight for each other. In the horrors of war in a foreign land, can the Essex Dogs keep their promise and stay alive? Dan Jones introduces the world to these ten men and the early stage of the Hundred Years’ War in his first historical fiction novel, “Essex Dogs.”
Today, I welcome Tonya Ulynn Brown to my blog to share an excerpt from her latest historical fiction novel, “The King’s Inquisitor.” I want to thank The Coffee Pot Book Club and Tonya Ulynn Brown for allowing me to be part of this blog tour. 
Blurb
Author Bio 
David Rizzio was one of Mary, Queen of Scots’ favorites at court and the private secretary to the queen. Being a royal favorite would not have been seen as a grave offense in any other country during this time, yet this is Scotland in the 16th century. Scotland was filled with deadly feuds between lords fighting for control of the crown, which would lead to numerous prominent men being murdered, including Rizzio. On March 9, 1566, David Rizzio was murdered in front of Mary, Queen of Scots, while she was several months pregnant. The tale of the grotesque crime and those who witnessed the events of that night are told in Denis Mina’s latest gripping novella, “Rizzio.”
Two cousins fighting for the right to rule England during the 16th century. One was the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn who fought tooth and nail to rule without a man by her side. The other was the daughter of Mary of Guise and King James V of Scotland whose marriage record would prove to be fatal. Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots, may have been sister queens, but the way they were treated in their own countries differed completely. While Elizabeth I was praised and protected from harm in England, Mary was a scapegoat for so many in Scotland. The way that Mary was used as a pawn even though she wore a crown was nothing short of extraordinary. The story of how these two queens came on a collision course that would leave one queen beheaded and the other forever changed has been told in many different ways from both sides of the tale, but it has rarely been told as a cohesive nonfiction book. That is until Kate Williams’ marvelous biography, “The Betrayal of Mary, Queen of Scots: Elizabeth I and Her Greatest Rival”.
One of the most dynamic queens in 16th century Europe who spent most of her youth in a country that was not her homeland, but was fighting for the right to rule England. Her name was Mary Queen of Scots, the cousin of Queen Elizabeth I. Many know of her tragic tale, but there was a man who was behind the scenes trying to guide Scotland to a brighter future. He was not married to Mary Queen of Scots, but he was influential in her life and choosing who she might marry and who she would end up divorcing. He was a politician and a religious reformer whose decisions would alter history dramatically. His name was William Maitland and he served as Mary’s secretary. He is always mentioned as a footnote in history, until now. Robert Stedall’s latest biography, “Mary Queen of Scots’ Secretary: William Maitland- Politician, Reformer, and Conspirator”, explores the life and legacy of this rather extraordinary secretary.
The stories of the men behind the English crown can be as compelling as the men who wore the crown themselves. They were ruthless, cunning, power-hungry, and for many of them, did not last long. However, there were a select few who proved loyal to the crown and lived long and eventful lives. They are not as well known as their infamous counterparts, yet their stories are just as important to tell. One such man was the grandfather of two of Henry VIII’s wives and the great-grandfather of Elizabeth I. He lived through the reign of six kings and led his men to victory at the Battle of Flodden against King James IV of Scotland towards the end of his life. Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk had his fair shares of highs and lows, including imprisonment, but his story is rarely told. That is until now. Kirsten Claiden-Yardley has taken up the challenge to explore the life of this rather extraordinary man in her book, “The Man Behind the Tudors: Thomas Howards, 2nd Duke of Norfolk”.
During Henry VIII’s reign, those who were most loyal and the closest to the king did not often last long to enjoy the rewards of his friendship. However, there was one man who stayed in relatively good favor with the king throughout his reign. He was a sailor, a soldier, a diplomat, and acted as an English ambassador mostly in France. He was a cousin to a few of Henry VIII’s wives, a lover of wine, and an infamous womanizer. The name of this rather extraordinary man was Sir Francis Bryan and the story of how he survived the tumultuous reign of Henry VIII is told in Sarah-Beth Watkins’ latest biography, “Sir Francis Bryan: Henry VIII’s Most Notorious Ambassador”.
When we think of medieval kings of England, we tend to think about strong warriors who did things their own way. Men like Edward I and Edward III often come to mind. Yet, there was a king in between these two legendary warriors whose name lives on in infamy, King Edward II. He is known for his numerous favorites, his relationships with men like Piers Gaveston and Hugh Despenser the Younger, his disagreements with the barons who were trying to help him run the country, his relationship with his equally famous wife and son, Isabella of France and Edward III, and his dramatic death. But who was the man known as King Edward II? What was he really like? Stephen Spinks explores these questions in his latest biography, “Edward II the Man: A Doomed Inheritance”.
In English history, the story of the royal families tends to capture the imagination of those who study it. Full of dynamic tales of kings and queens, and numerous nobles, these are tales that make it into history books and history classes. We tend to focus on the same kings and queens, who have become the popular royals. But what about those who are left in the dust of those popular royals? Who were the royal women who lived in the shadow of the throne that time has forgotten? What were the lives of these women like? It is these women who are the focus of Erin Lawless’s latest book, “Forgotten Royal Women: The King and I”.
Adventures of a Tudor Nerd 