Scents With A Story: The “R” In Shirt

To understand the heart and the essence of TumpiesⓇ Candles, one must understand the inspiration for the name.  Southern communities were full of Rhetts and Beaus, Daisies and Belles, but the name Tumpie was a rare find, just like the woman who bore it.

Tumpie Gardner Johnston was born Tumpie Florence Gardner in 1909 in Montgomery, Alabama.  She married Lee Roy Johnston on December 17, 1927, and was a stickler for her new last name to be correctly pronounced.  On more than one occasion a stranger would refer to her as "Mrs. Johnson".  Quick as a whip, with a sparkle in her eye, Tumpie would retort, "It's Johnston, with a "t", and the "t” in Johnston is just as important as the "r" in shirt."  This kind of quick wit made time with Tumpie both memorable and entertaining.

She was a divine seamstress who designed and sewed for people in her community, and when she had finished her work for the day, you may very well find that she had slipped off down to the pond behind her house to satisfy the yearning to fish, which she not only enjoyed but was also quite accomplished.

There was nothing droll about Tumpie. She had a delightful wit that was so sharp it would have cut clean through a barbed wire fence if it were a knife. She could always make you laugh and keep you wondering what was next.

Nevertheless, Tumpie also had a soft side. She adored her family and friends, and she always put God first. She raised her children with a strong love of God and country and expected the highest of morals and values from them. She was an honorable woman and put her heart, soul, blood, sweat, and tears into everything she did.

One of Tumpie’s greatest delights was to spread joy to her family and friends.  TumpiesⓇ Candles was created to keep her spirit, quick wit, and love for others alive and in her memory, we give all the glory, honor, and praise to God.

Alabama Bougie is a signature scent for TumpiesⓇ Candles.  Today when people think about bougie they think about fancy or extravagant but bougie in French means candle.  Much like Tumpie’s personality, Alabama Bougie was created with a blended fragrance that is robust and hardy, yet it has a touch of warm and cozy.   “It’s not fancy… just common scents” just like Tumpie was.