Burn List | March 2018

Burn List | March 2018

Don’t let this variety of pink packaging and floral scents fool you, we are indeed looking at my March burn list and not going back in time. For some reason, I prefer the sweet floral fragrances when it get’s closer to Spring. It just so happens that all the packaging blends together beautifully and will fit right in with my Easter décor! Without further ado, here is what I play on burning throughout the next month.

CANDLES

• Champagne Toast – “Glittering champagne, wild berries, tangerine zest”
• Lavender Macaron – “Celebrate the city of love with a truly French treat that combines the scent of lavender blossoms with a patisserie cookie”
• Lavender Marshmallow – “The merging of two unexpected flavors, Lavender and Marshmallow, make this mouthwatering blend a special treat”
• Pink Petal Tea Cake – “Rose Petals, Fluffy Cake and Orange Essential Oil”
• Raspberry Peach Macaron – “The ultimate French cookie is celebrated in a unique blend of ripe raspberries, juicy peach and almond cream”

WAX MELTS

• Pink Velvet – “This sweet and fun fragrance mingles sugared lemon, apple and pineapple into a sweet heart of tropical punch and red currant. Sugar cane and vanilla bean in the base deliver a captivating finish.”
• Umbridge – “Tea & cakes, sugar dusted roses and cotton candy”

If the past month was any indication, I don’t think I’ll have any trouble getting through this entire burn list. I can’t believe I only have two wax melts in my entire collection that fit this sweet floral theme – expect to see multiples in my empties!

What are you planning on burning this month? Share in the comments!

Fragrance Empties | February 2018

Fragrance Empties | February 2018

February may be the shortest month of the year, but it was certainly the greatest melting month I’ve had in a long time! Even through the traveling, heavy workloads, and migraines, I kept my home fragranced with the most delectable bakery scents all month!

Candle Empties | February 2018

Sunday Morning Pancakes

Food Network, 1-wick
Scent
10
Performance
4
Throw
10
Repurchase?
Yes
A delicious salty yet sweet scent perfect for winter mornings – wishing this would be released again as there’s nothing else like it on the market!

Cinnamon Spiced Vanilla

Bath & Body Works, 1-wick, x2
Scent
7
Performance
6
Throw
2
Repurchase?
No
We all know this is Cinnamon Sugar Donut repackaged, but the quality has greatly decreased.

Cinnamon Pretzel Twist

Bath & Body Works, 3-wick
Scent
8
Performance
8
Throw
9
Repurchase?
Yes
Aside from puny wicks at the half-range point, this was a great candle that actually smelled like it’s title!

Spiced Graham Cracker

Bath & Body Works, 3-wick
Scent
8
Performance
7
Throw
7
Repurchase?
Yes
A really unique gourmand fragrance that is heavy on the cardamom and performed better than expected.

Campfire Donut

Bath & Body Works, 3-wick
Scent
8
Performance
9
Throw
1
Repurchase?
No
While an enjoyable fragrance, this did not throw at all. I’m thinking of returning the others I hoarded…

Hot Cocoa & Cream

Bath & Body Works, 3-wick
Scent
9
Performance
9
Throw
8
Repurchase?
Yes
A creamy cocoa fragrance that almost smells like freshly baked brownies at times.

Chocolate Pistachio

Bath & Body Works, 3-wick
Scent
10
Performance
9
Throw
8
Repurchase?
Yes
A salty yet sweet cocoa fragrance; it’s probably my favorite chocolate scent out there!

Wax Empties | February 2018

Harry

Super Tarts, wax melt, x2
Scent
9
Throw
8
Repurchase?
No
I really enjoyed this gourmand fragrance while it lasted, but it’s unfortunately too similar to Vanilla Cookie Crunch for me to stock up again.

Peanut Butter Sugar

Goose Creek, wax melt, x2
Scent
10
Throw
7
Repurchase?
Yes
An all-time favorite of mine that I believe just sat in my stash for too long. The wax was no longer gooey and seemed much lighter on cold.

Magic Cookie Bar

Yankee Candle, melt cup, x2
Scent
10
Throw
10
Repurchase?
Yes
This was INCREDIBLE! A perfectly balanced bakery fragrance that isn’t too heavy on the vanilla or the cocoa.

Merry Berry Linzer

Yankee Candle, melt cup
Scent
9
Throw
8
Repurchase?
No
Fruity meets bakery in this scent, however it didn’t linger for long.

Nutty Butter Cookie Bars

Wal-Mark, wax melt
Scent
9
Throw
6
Repurchase?
No
An amazing dupe for Chocolate Pistachio on cold, yet it smelled like old gym socks when melting. Such a disappointment.

Fragrance Empties | February 2018

Cinnamon Pretzel Roll

Bath & Body Works, wallflower
Scent
8
Throw
3
Repurchase?
No
In typical wallflower fashion, this was strong when I plugged in but quickly faded to nothing.

Spiced Graham Cracker

Bath & Body Works, wallflower
Scent
8
Throw
8
Repurchase?
Yes
One of the best performing wallflowers I’ve had in a while, this fragrance was strong and lasted all month!

Hot Cocoa & Cream

Bath & Body Works, wallflower
Scent
9
Throw
1
Repurchase?
No
Typically this is a strong scent, yet I couldn’t smell this at all the entire month.

Pumpkin Pie

Bath & Body Works, hand sanitizer
Scent
8
Performance
5
Repurchase?
No
I’ve been working through this for months, mainly because when applied too much of an orange note comes out which I wasn’t a fan of.

Toasted Chai Latte

Bath & Body Works, hand soap
Scent
3
Performance
1
Repurchase?
No
Chai usually has some pretty distinct notes, yet this just smelled like watered down tea tree oil. No thanks.

This month I burned 8 Candles & 8 Wax Melts!

 

Every sweet scent that filled my home in February complimented each other so well. I was most surprised by Magic Cookie Bar and let down by Nutty Butter Cookie Bars. My hands-down favorite though was Chocolate Pistachio – I could’ve burned only this for the entire month!

What did you burn in February? Share in the comments!

Burn List | February 2018

Burn List | February 2018

February is already here which means I’ll be burning all the sweet scents! I correlate the second month of the year mainly with Valentine’s Day so it’s mainly chocolate & cinnamon fragrances in my home. Here’s a detailed list!

CANDLES

• Campfire Donut – “Powdered Sugar, Glazed Donut and Cedarwood”
• Chocolate Pistachio – “Pistachio, chocolate truffle, and white powdered sugar”
• Cinnamon Pretzel Twist – “Fresh Ground Cinnamon, Soft Homemade Pretzel, Vanilla Cream Icing”
• Cinnamon Spiced Vanilla – “Fresh Ground Cinnamon, Sugar Crystals, Tahitian Vanilla Bean”
• Hot Cocoa & Cream – “Decadent Milk Chocolate, Fresh Steamed Milk, Mini Marshmallows”
• Spiced Graham Cracker – “Ground Cinnamon, Cardamom, Golden Graham Cracker”

WAX MELTS

• Harry – “Magically Delicious and French Baguette”
• Magic Cookie Bar – “Vanilla bean and brown sugar are mixed with an irresistible combination of coconut flakes, butterscotch and chocolate chips before being topped with a dusting of nutmeg and cinnamon.”
• Merry Berry Linzer – “Jammy raspberry filling nestled in almond shortbread with a vanilla glaze.”
• Nutty Butter Cookie Bars – A mixture of chocolate & peanut butter make sweet childhood memories come to life.
• Peanut Butter Sugar – “Crushed peanuts, buttercream, cocoa, and vanilla”

I can’t even wait to begin melting these delectable fragrances! There are so many wax melts that will mix beautifully with the candles too. I’ll definitely be reporting my findings on Instagram & in my empties at the end of the month!

What are you planning on burning this month? Share in the comments!

Fragrance Empties | January 2018

Fragrance Empties | January 2018

January certainly was an interesting start to the year; when I wasn’t sick I was under an enormous amount of stress at work. Coming home every day and lighting up a cozy candle was one of the only things that kept me sane this month. I definitely was able to melt much more than I had in the last few months of 2017, which is great! I’m really trying to reduce my stash this year, and if this month’s empties is any indication, I don’t think I’ll have a problem doing so!

Candle Empties | January 2018

Winter

Bath & Body Works, 3-wick
Scent
10
Performance
3
Throw
5
Repurchase?
Yes
Awful version of one of my favorite scents from the very first burn.

Smoked Vanilla

Bath & Body Works, 1-wick
Scent
8
Performance
8
Throw
7
Repurchase?
Yes
A great smoky yet sweet fragrance that almost reminded me of freshly cooked bacon – definitely a kitchen scent!

Crunchy Pistachio Vanilla

Yankee Candle, 1-wick
Scent
8
Performance
7
Throw
5
Repurchase?
No
Lightly salted pistachios meets a baked cookie in this delicious scent – just wish it threw a little more!

Chestnut & Birch

Bath & Body Works, 1-wick
Scent
6
Performance
7
Throw
1
Repurchase?
No
Fans of Creamy Nutmeg would go crazy for this fragrance as it’s 75% that with an added woodsy note.

Fireside Comfort

Bath & Body Works, 3-wick
Scent
8
Performance
7
Throw
7
Repurchase?
Yes
A cozy fireside fragrance for the snowy month that was very reminiscent of 2016’s Smoked Vanilla.

Macaron Treats

Yankee Candle, 1-wick
Scent
7
Performance
9
Throw
2
Repurchase?
No
A light gourmand vanilla fragrance with perfume notes; wishing it smelled more like an actual macaron.

Wax Empties | January 2018

Firewood & Fir Balsam

Better Homes & Gardens, wax melt
Scent
8
Throw
8
Repurchase?
Yes
A great fragrance to melt along-side Winter as it’s very reminiscent of the fragrance with more of a fireside note.

Around the Campfire

Better Homes & Gardens, wax melt
Scent
9
Throw
10
Repurchase?
Yes
Contrary to popular belief, this is not Marshmallow Fireside but actually the perfect cozy cabin/fireside fragrance!

Vanilla Cookie Crunch

Better Homes & Gardens, value wax melt
Scent
10
Throw
10
Repurchase?
Yes
The absolute perfect vanilla bakery fragrance for mixing or by itself!

Crunchy Pistachio Vanilla

Yankee Candle, melt cup, x2
Scent
8
Throw
8
Repurchase?
Yes
The candle & wax smell identical, but this form actually throws! Also, try mixing this with Vanilla Cookie Crunch to amp up the bakery note.

Hagrid

Super Tarts, wax sample
Scent
2
Throw
8
Repurchase?
No
A minty shaving cream scent; happy to have tried it, but not my type of fragrance.

Carrot Cake

Goose Creek, wax melt
Scent
10
Throw
10
Repurchase?
Yes
This was absolute perfection; it truly smells like an authentic carrot cake.

Fragrance Empties | January 2018

Winter

Bath & Body Works, wallflower
Scent
10
Throw
2
Repurchase?
Yes
Unfortunately another awful version of one of my favorite scents.

Chestnut & Birch

Bath & Body Works, wallflower
Scent
6
Throw
3
Repurchase?
No
For some odd reason, when warmed this smelled identical to Creamy Nutmeg which was not at all what I wanted.

Summer Marshmallow

Bath & Body Works, body wash
Scent
9
Performance
4
Repurchase?
Yes

Winter

Bath & Body Works, hand soap
Scent
10
Performance
8
Repurchase?
Yes
Finally a version of Winter that actually performed! This was highly fragranced but didn’t linger as long as I would’ve liked.

This month I burned 6 Candles & 7 Wax Melts!

 

As you can see, I wasn’t just busy melting this month but also updating my empties format. I’m really hoping you like the new easy-to-read review format! The fragrances that were melted in January were certainly great overall, but my favorite hands down was Around the Campfire. I’m certainly done with these cozier scents and moving on to something much sweeter!

What did you burn in January? Share in the comments!

Burn List | January 2018

Burn List | January 2018

Happy New Year – I hope you all rang in 2018 with positive vibes! We’ve recently been experiencing single-digit weather in Rhode Island, leaving me wanting to burn cozier fragrances. Hopefully I’ll start off the new year by burning much more than I did during the last few months of 2017. Without further ado, here is my reasonable January 2018 burn list!

CANDLES

• Chestnut & Birch – “Roasted chestnut, caramel sea salt, birch bark”
• Crunchy Pistachio Vanilla – “A sweet, nutty treat of pistachio, almond and lots of rich vanilla”
• Fireside Comfort – “Rich vanilla, smoked leather, and cedar wood”
• Ski Lodge – “Smoky vanilla, deep green cypress, and rich agar wood”
• Smoked Vanilla – “Smoked tahitian vanilla, sandalwood, southern bourbon”
• Sunday Morning Pancakes – “A mouth-watering combination of warm fluffy pancakes and sweet maple syrup. It will leave your house smelling like a cozy bed-and-breakfast”
• Winter – “Pine needles, icy mandarin, and winter woods”

WAX MELTS

• Around the Campfire – “Caramelized marshmallows joins the scent of gently smoked hickory, birch and oak wood wrapped with ambered myrrh and olibanum”
• Crunchy Pistachio Vanilla – “A sweet, nutty treat of pistachio, almond and lots of rich vanilla”
• Firewood & Fir Balsam – “Smoky firewood and fir balsam with forest pine, warm eucalyptus, burning embers and white cedar”

One of my major goals this year is to decrease the amount of candles I have in my stash, so I’m going to really try sticking to this burn list. Hopefully I’ll be able to add a few other fragrances into the mix too!

What are you planning on burning this month? Share in the comments!

Year In Candles | 2017

Year in Candles | 2017

Just like that, 2017 has come and gone. This year was full of both happy memories and many challenges. But through it all, I always had the wax community to turn to. This blog has remained a positive space where I can just be myself and that’s more than I could ever ask for. Before we completely say goodbye to the year, let’s take a quick look back at all the candles & wax I melted in 2017!

In 2017 I burned 55 Candles & 91 Wax Melts!

After having so many poor experiences in 2016 with new-to-me candle companies, I was only brave enough to try 2 “new” ones this year; Super Tarts & Sonoma. I’m happy to report that I would gladly purchase from both of them again! The majority of my melting though was with Bath & Body Works candles & Wal-Mart wax.

Favorite Scents of 2016

Chocolate Pistachio // Bath & Body Works
 Umbridge // Super Tarts
Key Lime Pie // Sonoma
Berry Waffle Cone // Bath & Body Works
Corpsman // Super Tarts
Moonlit Magic Pumpkin // Better Homes & Garden

Aside from discovering a handful of new favorite fragrances this past year, I’m so happy to have also met several other lovely bloggers who totally get this crazy obsession of mine. My main wax-related goal for the new year is to melt through so much of my stash that I have less than 100 candles in storage. I’d also really like to be able to share the inventory website that my husband and I created too, but that needs a little more work! Enjoy the remainder of your 2017 and have a happy new year!

How many candles did you burn this year & what are your melting goals for 2018? Share in the comments!

December 2017 Fragrance Empties

December 2017 Fragrance Empties

December was yet again another month of insanity in my household. Aside from all of our holiday preparations/travels, I was sick for the majority of the month. This led me to having no desire to burn candles or melt wax. With that being said I was able to get through 3 candles and 3 wax melts in this last month of the year!

December 2017 Candle Empties

Chestnut & Clove (3-wick) – I’ve always had the best luck with this transitional scent in the past, but it didn’t perform too great in my open concept house. It was somewhat enjoyable but just didn’t stand out.
Marshmallow Fireside (3-wick) – This was hands down the worst version of MF I’ve ever experienced. It had puny wicks from the very first burn and didn’t throw at all, even when placed on the melter. An extreme let down as I look forward to burning it every year in December.
White Mint Latte (3-wick) – A surprisingly incredible candle all around! You really got whiffs of cocoa, mint, and coffee. Not only that but the burn was flawless and it threw all the way to the second floor of my house. Finally a hit for BBW!

December 2017 Wax Empties

Marshmallow Candy Cane – I’m not the biggest peppermint fan but this fragrance was fantastic! It had the perfect combination of peppermint and vanilla and performed beautifully.
Cozy Chai – An incredibly strong, spicy scent perfect for cozying up during the holiday. Next time I place a Scentsy order, I’ll probably pick up a couple more bars.
Rum Raisin Cookie – I stand by what I said last year – this smells like a freshly baked raisin cookie with an undertone of rum extract. It’s very enjoyable however Scentsy unfortunately discontinued the fragrance.

December 2017 Wallflower Empties

Marshmallow Fireside (wallflower) – This was a very old wallflower and quite strange as it only threw in one spot far away and not in it’s immediate surrounding. When I could smell it, I did enjoy it.
White Mint Latte (wallflower) – The throw on this wallflower threw great! For the first 24 hours. Then it was non-existent, aka a total waste of money.

I was pretty bummed that I didn’t have the chance to burn through more of my stash as December is one of my favorite times of the year for fragrances. I did have an enjoyable holiday though and hope you all did too!

Moving into 2018, I plan on restructuring my empty posts as they tend to be a bit wordy. Is there anything you would definitely like to see included or not included going forward? Share in the comments!

November 2017 Candle Empties

November 2017 Empties

I really expected for November to be a relaxing month, yet it was anything but that. The month was such a whirlwind between going back to work full-time, continuing to freelance, and the Thanksgiving holiday. However, I did get to enjoy 6 candles & 5 wax melts when I had the time!

November 2017 Candle Empties

Pumpkin Pie (1-wick, x2) – A true to life pumpkin scent with the addition of a delicious buttery crust! These tester candles were hands down the strongest I’ve ever had, especially when finished on the melter. BBW needs to bring this back next year!
Pumpkin Pecan Waffles (3-wick) – Like usual, this was incredibly strong and threw all the way to the second floor of my house. It smells like a sweet cereal and I tended only to burn it in the morning until it got puny wicks and had to be put on the melter.
Sweater Weather (3-wick) – A Bath & Body Works classic that smells like a crisp fall day and perfect for the cooler weather. This threw around a 7, was very enjoyable, and I will definitely be picking it up again next year!
Creamy Nutmeg (3-wick) – True to it’s name this is a heavy nutmeg fragrance with a hint of cream, yet it was pretty light while burning. However, once I transferred it to the melter it threw wonderfully and the scent appeal actually improved as well. Not a favorite for me and if they ever brought it back I probably wouldn’t pick it up again.
Rustic Harvest (1-wick) – A repackage of Woodwick’s Autumn Glow from 2012 and it’s just as amazing as I remember it being! It truly smells like the epitome of fall; caramel, apples, and sugared pecans. It threw wonderfully and I would forever repurchase if this is brought back!

November 2017 Wax Empties

Autumn Leaves – A fresh Fall fragrance with undertones of apple and cinnamon that I adored last year and only just liked this year. This melt was super strong though and last well over 12 hours!
Hedwig – This was very heavy on the chai spices on cold, especially the clove. However, it transformed into the most beautiful spiced cheesecake fragrance when melting. There isn’t any crust note but it’s packed with creaminess. It’s an absolutely beautiful blend that I wasn’t expecting and will try to buy more when it’s available!
Praline Spice – On cold, this was a very spicy fragrance that I wasn’t sure if I’d enjoy. Upon melting it lost all of it’s spice and ended up smelling like a salted caramel scent which I am not a fan of at all. If you are one that enjoys salted caramel though, I suggest picking this up.
Cranberry Cookie Crumble – A deliciously sweet cranberry fragrance with the perfect amount of bakery added in. A definite favorite that Wal-Mart should seriously bring back!
Cranberry Oatmeal Cookie – Another delicious cranberry fragrance that is a little less sweet than the cookie crumble version but still equally amazing.

November 2017 Fragrance Empties

Creamy Nutmeg (wallflower, x2) – The name really does perfectly explain this fragrance! While this was a pleasant aroma, these wallflowers weren’t strong at all. You got whiffs when walking by but that was about it.
Give Thanks (hand soap) – I am seriously kicking myself for not hoarding this back in 2016 because this is BBW’s Pumpkin Pie candle in soap form! Not only does it smell incredible but the scent really lingered!
Marshmallow Pumpkin Latte (hand soap) – A decent enough vanilla soap with a subtle hint of spice for the fall months, but nothing I’d go out of my way to purchase in the future.
Cozy Sunday Morning (body lotion) – My all-time favorite body care fragrance from Bath & Body Works! I’ve tried savoring this lotion for years but am SO thankful to have purchased some backups on eBay last year!

November may have been a bit crazy, but the transitional scents were quite enjoyable! My favorite fragrance of the entire month was hands down Hedwig from Super Tarts! I’m really looking forward to begin burning more festive scents now and hope to get through a decent part of my stash!

What did you burn in November? Share in the comments!

Fall Fun Series | Seasonal Wrap-Up

Fall Fun Series | Seasonal Wrap-Up

We have reached the last Saturday of November which also means we have reached the finale of the Fall Fun Series. It has been an absolute honor participating alongside the other lovely ladies all Autumn long! I’ve truly enjoyed starting out my weekends by reading everyone’s blogs and will continue doing so from this point on. To wrap up the series, I’ll be discussing the overall wax varieties offered during this fall season and where certain companies could make improvements going forward.

But first, make sure to check out the other girls in the series if you haven’t already!

Amanda at Thrifty Polished
Angela at Angela Kay
Jay at The Candle Enthusiast
Julie at The Redolent Mermaid
Sandra at Finger Candy

First and foremost, let’s discuss one of the larger retailers featured on my blog – Bath & Body Works. This company is usually the queen of fall yet this year they really let us down. Aside from the core White Barn candles, BBW only offered two small collections that both featured the same scents. There were only 3-4 new fragrances and they weren’t anything to go crazy over. Rather than giving us 4+ collections like they usually do, they decided to release an essential oil line and move straight into Winter at the beginning of October. This was a major mis-step, leading to hardly any purchases from me; I really hope they revert back to their traditional fall lineups going forward.

Fall Fun Series | Seasonal Wrap-Up

In terms of wax, I don’t tend to buy much from vendors and can’t speak for any of their small businesses. What I do tend to purchase quite often though is Scentsy, yet I haven’t done a single haul this fall. The company discontinued some of their best scents, didn’t release anything intriguing for the season, and honestly offers their festive fragrances a month too late in the year. Again, another letdown, especially for their prices and ship time.

Finally, we can’t forget to discuss Wal-Mart’s collection! This was probably the most vast on the mainstream market and had the most variety. At $2 a pop for clamshells, this is honestly the most affordable option, especially if you want to try multiple fragrances. The company really hit it out of the park this season and I found 3 brand new fragrances that quickly made it into my favorites! Harvest Moon, Moonlit Magic Pumpkin, and Pumpkin Patch Maze were absolutely incredible and I highly suggest checking them out while they’re still on the market!

Autumn 2017 may not have been the best year for buying candles or wax, but otherwise is was pretty great. I will always cherish this experience and hold other special memories close to my heart. If you’re new here, make sure to go check out the other posts from this series, here!

What did you think of the candles & wax offered this Fall? Share in the comments!

Fall Fun Series | Thanksgiving Traditions

Fall Fun Series | Thanksgiving Traditions

Thanksgiving is almost upon us and you can feel the excitement in the air. In anticipation, I’ve been reminiscing about my favorite parts of the holiday!

Each and every year growing up, I watched the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with my parents while the aroma of dinner wafted throughout the house. Then, without fail, my Dad and I would sneak a flaky roll before dinner had even been served. It’s a simple tradition, but one that I hope to carry on as we start our own family in the years to come.

Thanksgiving weekend also marks the anniversary of when my husband and I started “officially” dating. It also marks the anniversary of when we got engaged! We’ve always celebrated those events by putting up the Christmas tree and beginning to decorate the rest of our home. If time allows, we also try to go out to a fancy dinner that Saturday night as well. While we now have a new anniversary to celebrate, we’re still planning on keeping this tradition alive too.

Fall Fun Series | Thanksgiving Traditions

When it comes to Thanksgiving, it’s always been more about these little traditions that make the day special rather than decorations or special recipes. Down the line, I would like to amp up the decor for the holiday but now it’s not the top priority as we don’t host our own dinner yet. Nevertheless, I always look forward to this time of year and the symbolism is brings along with it.

Do you have any special Thanksgiving traditions? Share in the comments!

Don’t forget to check out the other bloggers participating in the Fall Fun Series too!