For every happy memory in your head, there’s a certain aroma that can put you right there in the moment. The chocolatey sweetness of childhood trips to the candy store. The earthy petrichor that followed the last rainy day before the best summer ever. The subtle florals of Grandma’s perfume interweaving with savory herbal notes as she taught you how to make her famous red sauce.
It’s all there, the vision of it, the sound of it – as soon as the right aroma comes along to unlock it all.
“A lot of people have a scent that’s attached to memories, like remembering the smell of honeysuckle that grew outside the front door of your childhood home,” said Melissa Monge, co-owner of Sea Love in the Shops at Sea Pines Center.
Melissa Monge and Sarah Brown
She knows the strength of that connection better than most. At Sea Love, recreating memories is as simple as diving into the more than 100 different fragrances on offer at this unique candle bar and boutique. But more than recreating memories, it’s a place for creating them.
“It’s a unique scent-blending experience for all ages. Guests can custom make their own candle or reed diffuser, with guidance from our Certified Scent Stylists® ,” Monge said. “We can seat 18 people at a time, and guests can enjoy mimosas, beer and wine, coffee, and soft drinks as they create. It’s a great place to do something different.”
Sea Love is located at the Shops at Sea Pines Center.
Hosting large groups and private parties or just anyone who wants to try their hand at scent craft, Sea Love surrounds the experience with a unique boutique selling custom fragrances and thoughtfully curated apparel, décor, and items for the home. With the guidance of a scent stylist, visitors choose three scents to blend together from a selection of more than 100 fragrances and craft something entirely theirs.
“Probably the hardest part of the experience is picking your three different scents. We have an entire wall of them,” said Brown, who leans toward champagne, honeysuckle and salt water in her own fragrances. “I love any of the fragrances that are fresh and clean smelling, they make me feel calm and relaxed.“
“And best of all, each candle is made with 100% soy wax and features all-cotton wicks, and all diffuser scents are made with the finest fragrance oils and essential oils, creating scents that are as unique as they are worry-free. “These days, people are increasingly concerned about what they’re breathing and putting in their bodies, and we’re proud to offer safer ingredients,” Monge said.
Both Monge and director of operations Sarah Brown hail from Cape May, New Jersey, but Monge moved here first, arriving 16 years ago, where she first noticed a gap in the island’s offerings. “There weren’t a ton of all-ages activities,” she said. Inspiration struck when she and her fiancé, Jeremy Modzelewski, were traveling to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and found themselves inside a Sea Love location.
“We both made candles and it was so much fun. I think Jeremy enjoyed it even more than I did,” Monge said. “We both realized that Hilton Head needed this.”
With the guidance of a scent stylist, visitors choose three scents to blend together from a selection of more than 100 fragrances.
The plan was set, the spot in the Shops at Sea Pines Center was found, and with Brown joining her on the island, all the pieces were in place. “She was looking for a career change, and I couldn’t do this without her,” Monge said. “We’re both Jersey girls and we work really well together.”
Or, to put it in olfactory terms, they’re like two great aromas that just work together perfectly. You can find your own perfect blend by stopping by their boutique in the Shops at Sea Pines Center, visiting sealovehiltonhead.com, or calling (843) 548-3823.
