Candle Reviews

If you've read any of my past candle reviews, you probably know that as much as I'm a candle fanatic, I'm also quite picky about what I light up in my home. The latest candle to come under my scrutiny is Tocca's Colette Candle ($38). I've had good experiences with the luxury brand's beauty products in the past, but had never tried Tocca home fragrances.

Just like the Tocca Bianca, which I recently reviewed, Colette had me at hello. The 10.6-oz. candle is elegantly packaged in a Tiffany-blue box with the brand's chic, gilded logo. The candle itself arrives in a luxe, milk-white glass vessel, which suits any interior and can be reused with tea lights or even as a small vase. In other words, the packaging is perfection.

Now, on to the scent . . . Colette's primary notes are of warm incense, musky vanilla, and amber. I'm generally very opposed to vanilla scents, but this one is very subtle and smells natural like a vanilla bean, rather than artificial. The "warm incense" doesn't seem to have much play here, and the amber is the most intriguing note. Overall, the fragrance is sophisticated and seductive with an alluring, je ne sais quoi confidence, much like the French lady it's named for. I'd reserve this one for evenings — and maybe even just for the bedroom.

The candle has a 60-hour approximate burning time, which ranks up there with the best of them. Anything burning over 40 hours gets a high five from me. As single wick candles tend to do, if at the end this one burns too deeply, it'll be a perfect contender to be salvaged in such a beautiful jar. But mind you, this one's made of paraffin wax, so it's not as eco-friendly as its soy-wax counterparts. As for the price, this one is no bargain; I do have some favorites that clock in around $15-$30. But the scent is elegant and understated, so it's a foolproof alternative to pricier Dipytque candles, which cost an arm and a leg at $60.

You can order this one from Sephora or check out a range of Tocca's other scents in a local Sephora, if you want to sniff before you buy!

If you've read any of my past candle reviews, you probably know that as much as I'm a candle fanatic, I'm also quite picky about what I light up in my home. The latest candle to come under my scrutiny is Tocca's Bianca Candle ($38). I've had good experiences with the luxury brand's beauty products in the past, but had never tried Tocca home fragrances.

To begin, let's just say that Bianca had me at hello. The 10.6-oz. candle is elegantly packaged in a Tiffany-blue box with the brand's chic, gilded logo. The candle itself arrives in a luxe, milk-white glass vessel, which suits any interior and can be reused with tea lights or even as a small vase. In other words, the packaging is perfection.

Now, on to the scent . . . Bianca's primary notes are of green tea, lemon, and a dash of sugar. It smells herbal with a subtle sweetness, but it's not overwhelming or heavy. It has a truly beautiful fragrance that's light, airy, and transitional. It's perfect year-round, for daytime and evening occasions, but I see myself mostly pairing with a long bath, a cup of tea, a good book, and maybe a glass of red wine.

The candle has a 60-hour approximate burning time, which ranks up there with the best of them. Anything burning over 40 hours gets a high five from me. As single wick candles tend to do, if at the end this one burns too deeply, it'll be a perfect contender to be salvaged in such a beautiful jar. But mind you, this one's made of paraffin wax, so it's not as eco-friendly as its soy-wax counterparts. As for the price, this one is no bargain; I do have some favorites that clock in around $15-$30. But the scent is elegant and understated, so it's a foolproof alternative to pricier Dipytque candles, which cost an arm and a leg at $60.

You can check out a range of Tocca's other scents at Sephora, if you want to sniff before you buy! I'm excited to try more Tocca scents; I think I may be on my way to finding my favorite!

Our very own PartySugar recently asked the Assisted Living group for scented candle suggestions:

I recently moved into an old building in San Francisco. I went away for the long weekend and when I returned last night, I couldn't take the funky smell. I made sure to take the garbage out before I left on Thursday evening, but both the bathroom and main room (it's a studio) smelled stuffy and old. That's when I realized: I'm ready to invest in some wonderful smelling home candles that will make my place seem fresh and delightful. What do you recommend?

Continue reading to see my suggestions for PartySugar.

If you've read any of my past candle reviews, you probably know that as much as I'm a candle fanatic, I'm also quite picky about what I light up in my home. I recently reviewed a Himalayan Trading Post candle and have one more from the candlemaker to tell you about today.

Next up is the Fleur-de-Lys Honeysuckle Tumbler Candle ($14). I own very similar Fleur-de-Lys Glasses, which I adore, and I'm a super New Orleans enthusiast, so any sight of a pretty fleur-de-lys motif and I'm in heaven. To top that off, this particular tumbler is made of mercury glass — another fave of mine — so I seriously think this is one of the most beautiful candle votives I've owned.

Now, on to the scent . . .

If you've read any of my past candle reviews, you probably know that as much as I'm a candle fanatic, I'm also quite picky about what I light up in my home. Nevertheless, when Himalayan Trading Post sent over a couple of its candles, I was happy to give them a test run.

First up is the Small Spice Pot Candle ($23) in Wild Rose and Oak. With a dark wood finish, this spice pot has a vintage look, which is a pretty masculine appeal. It's great for gender-neutral spaces that you don't want to be too girlish. It's meant to be a replica of old teak spice pots used in rural Indian kitchens, but I'm not quite sure if it's actually teak. The pot's top is hinged and slides open and closed, which is great for keeping the dust away! Inside the pot is a metal tub that can be removed once the candle is burned and refilled so you can reuse the votive again and again. Himalayan Trading Post actually sells refill kits which you can use to repour wax — that is, if you don't have any other candles laying around the house you can salvage.

Onto the scent and burning quality. . .

Lumnique, a new company that specializes in personalized candles, recently sent over a vanilla candle for me to review. Unfortunately, I can't stand the scent of vanilla, so CelebStyle offered to review it for me! Lumnique allows shoppers to choose the color, fragrance, and "customized intention" of their candles when ordering online, with 14 different color choices and a variety of fragrances — in fruity, floral, or foodie categories — to choose from. Of course, since Lumnique mailed me the candle, we missed out on the whole personalization part of the package, so she'll just review the candle we received, vanilla:

Scent: "In my experience, candles don't usually live up to their scent being burned but this Vanilla Lumnique candle went above and beyond my expectations. The vanilla notes were strong enough to give off a lasting, comforting scent without being overpowering, too obvious, or too feminine."

To hear her thoughts on the packaging and burning, read more

Here's a post from OnSugar blog Maison Classique:

First off, if you are unfamiliar with the iconic late C.Z. Guest, do a quick Google search or brush up on the cliffs-notes here. I purchased this candle at Annie's last summer in Vail, CO. Annie's is one of my favorite shops in the village, and regrettably, they do not have a website. If you are ever there for holiday, or just driving through, stop at Annie's! They have a selection of china, dishes, candles, bath and body products, and all sorts of wonderful things. I pop in every Summer and I am never disappointed. Imagine my delight when I saw the C.Z. Guest candles . . . on sale! You better bet I snatched one up! Truth be told, I would have purchased it had it not been on sale, but I guess it was my lucky day.

The genius thing about this candle is that it literally lives on. The jar is actually a handmade flower pot, and the candle box is packaged with a seed packet. Once the candle is spent, you plant the flowers and grow them in a delightful little pot! Perfect for a guest bath or the kitchen window ledge.

Continue reading the rest of this review.

Here is a post from OnSugar blog Maison Classique:

I bring to you a candle company I am excited to spread the word about: West Third. I purchased this one at The Malibu Colony Company in December 2009. The candle names (all Los Angeles locations, the one pictured here is "Laurel Canyon") and peacock feather graphic drew me in. To my surprise, the scents were unique and desirable (often times you get one or the other . . . desirable yet common or unique and decidedly unpleasant). It was hard to choose which one I would purchase, test, then blog about — all the scents in this line were great!

Laurel Canyon by West Third is woodsy, but not too woodsy (the blend is sandalwood and vanilla . . . a combo that can easily become too strong from the sandalwood or too sweet from the vanilla). This candle burns well, smells great, and looks pretty when lit. Once the candle is spent, the glass jar will look pretty with a single tea light, illuminating the peacock feather graphic. It's a keeper even after the original poured candle is gone.

Want to read more? Start following Maison Classique or start your own OnSugar blog!

You may remember that I am very picky about my candles — and willing to spend big bucks on one that I love. Beyond that, I am skeptical of "seasonal" scents, because I often find them gimmicky or simply rushed to the market. So even when Linnea's Lights' new limited edition Fir candle ($28) arrived at my desk in its elegant box, I wasn't yet sold.

Scent:

Pulling the candle out of its box, I noticed the very light scent of a fir tree scent. But would it fill the room and waft well? I lit the candle in my living room and went about my puttering. Within 10 minutes, I thought, "It smells like Christmas!" completely forgetting that I'd lit the candle. The scent was warm and fuzzy and full of memories, and completely natural, just like a freshly cut Fraiser fir. The aroma is simple and elegant, and will fool your guests into thinking you've got a big, sparkling Christmas tree in the house — even if you live in a closet.

Hear more of my thoughts on the candle.