Our Story

Scents, Stories, and Surprises is owned and operated by Emily Green Downey.

Emily founded the business in September of 2024 with the goal of combining her love of books with her love of candles.

Emily has previous business experience and candle making experience from past ventures, and she is excited to bring together her passions with Scents, Stories and Surprises.

Welcome you to the Scents, Stories, and Surprises family whether you are a reader, a customer, or an author, this business wouldn’t be possible without each of you.

Meet Emily

The heart & soul of Scents, Stories, and Surprises.

What Emily loves the most about owning and operating this business is the connection she gets to make with her favorite authors and meet new authors to fall in love with.

Some of Emily’s favorite products include the Sink Into Her Candle, which was her first collaboration with an author, any of the musky, masculine scented candles, and the Get In My Swamp collection; just to name a few.

Scents, Stories and Surprises Founder Emily Green Downey
Emily Green Downey at the Knoxville Book Festival

Stop by & Say Hello!

There’s nothing we love more than connecting face-to-face with fellow book lovers, and that’s why you’ll find Scents, Stories, and Surprises popping up at book events and festivals all across the country.

We bring our bestselling candles, custom merch, and signature surprises straight to you.

So you can see (and smell!) the magic in person.

Want to see where we’re heading next? View our upcoming stops and be sure to swing by and say hello. We can’t wait to meet you!

View Upcoming Events →

Our Team

Scents, Stories, and Surprises also employs Fern, our Author Communications and Contracts Manager, Noah our Media and Design Manager, and Shelby, our Photographer.

Without these three individuals, Emily would be lost.

If you see Fern, Noah or Shelby around, please say hi! If you see Emily asking Fern or Noah what’s going on in the business, don’t be surprised. Emily may be the boss, but those two keep her in line.