Colonial Candle's Café au lait
For nearly five years I worked in a café as a barista, so clearly I have a great affinity for the smell of freshly brewed coffee. This candle took me back to those days of waking at the crack of dawn and preparing the day's Hazelnut blend for my customers. This is another new scent from Colonial and most definitely receives my absolute highest recommendation. It's utterly delicious.
Yankee Candle's Eggnog
Yankee managed to successfully capture the taste of eggnog with this excellent holiday candle. The nutmeg is subtle and the rum is strong, as should be when enjoying a fine eggnog. It's the perfect scent for a party consisting primarily of those struck down with lactose intolerance. (Y'know, cause if they can't actually drink it, they can at least enjoy the aroma.)
WoodWick's Cider
When the weather gets cold, it's definitely time for some hot cider. WoodWick has brought us a terrifically fragrant new candle that is chock full of sweet apples, fresh nutmeg, maybe an orange peel and a couple cinnamon sticks thrown in. I've taken to burning it alongside of Cranberry Fig and am incredibly pleased with the combination of the two.
Beanpod's Champagne
This soy candle smells like ginger ale and the tasty zip of bubbling champagne. It's so uniquely different from any other candle I've tried and I think mixing the soy beads of Champagne and maybe Strawberry Cream or Tangerine would make a fabulous blend fit for a New Year's Eve shin-dig.
~lisa*
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Yankee Scents for Your Automobile
Car Gel - Mango Peach Salsa
I was really impressed with the Car Gel as an alternative to the long reigning Car Jar and I found the Mango Peach Salsa to be juicy and totally delicious. As a Car Gel it was strong, but not to the point where it becomes overwhelming and gives you a headache. The mango and peach are served up in equal amounts but I did detect a pinch of lemon juice. All in all, it goes nicely in my little Saturn as I bebop around town to Victor Manuelle's "Travesía."
Car Jar - Sparkling Cinnamon
This scent rocks! It's exactly like freshly ground cinnamon and also, reminds me a bit of the clove cigarettes a friend of mine used to smoke - they always smelled so divine. I've decided to place the Car Jar back in it's plastic cover and am going to save this for late December. My niece and I have a tradition of taking long drives through the Pine Barrens as we listen to "Have a Very Merry Chrismukkah!" This scent will add the perfect ambiance as we sip hot cocoa and sing along. Yes, I am a huge dork.
Pump and Go - Coconut Bay
When I first picked this up, I stopped with it to my parents' house. I showed my father the Pump and Go and said, "This Coconut one smells like naked Hawaiian girls on a beach." To which he replied, "Well, there's absolutely nothin' wrong with that, now is there?" Clearly my Irish Mama wasn't home to hear this or he would have certainly been in the doghouse. But honestly, it really smells like Hawaiian Tropic Suntan Oil and that is definitely a good thing!
The Pump and Go is an ingenious little device that allows the owner to decide how much of the fragrance they want released. Once the A/C or heat kicks on, you will get some serious fragrance from that lil' Pump & Go. I recommend this over the Car Gel or Car Jar for those that smoke, because this is, I feel, the best of the three for getting rid of strong scents.
And by the way, all three of these choices come in a bunch of different fragrances, so get on over there and pick your favourite!!
~lisa*
I was really impressed with the Car Gel as an alternative to the long reigning Car Jar and I found the Mango Peach Salsa to be juicy and totally delicious. As a Car Gel it was strong, but not to the point where it becomes overwhelming and gives you a headache. The mango and peach are served up in equal amounts but I did detect a pinch of lemon juice. All in all, it goes nicely in my little Saturn as I bebop around town to Victor Manuelle's "Travesía."
Car Jar - Sparkling Cinnamon
This scent rocks! It's exactly like freshly ground cinnamon and also, reminds me a bit of the clove cigarettes a friend of mine used to smoke - they always smelled so divine. I've decided to place the Car Jar back in it's plastic cover and am going to save this for late December. My niece and I have a tradition of taking long drives through the Pine Barrens as we listen to "Have a Very Merry Chrismukkah!" This scent will add the perfect ambiance as we sip hot cocoa and sing along. Yes, I am a huge dork.
Pump and Go - Coconut Bay
When I first picked this up, I stopped with it to my parents' house. I showed my father the Pump and Go and said, "This Coconut one smells like naked Hawaiian girls on a beach." To which he replied, "Well, there's absolutely nothin' wrong with that, now is there?" Clearly my Irish Mama wasn't home to hear this or he would have certainly been in the doghouse. But honestly, it really smells like Hawaiian Tropic Suntan Oil and that is definitely a good thing!
The Pump and Go is an ingenious little device that allows the owner to decide how much of the fragrance they want released. Once the A/C or heat kicks on, you will get some serious fragrance from that lil' Pump & Go. I recommend this over the Car Gel or Car Jar for those that smoke, because this is, I feel, the best of the three for getting rid of strong scents.
And by the way, all three of these choices come in a bunch of different fragrances, so get on over there and pick your favourite!!
~lisa*
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Votivo - Red Currant
Prior to writing this post, I had only heard of Votivo in passing while flipping through InStyle or O magazine. In fact, back in 2002, Votivo was actually included on The O List, and that's saying something. I mean clearly Oprah is used to the finer things and would only recommend the best of the best. Anyway, Red Currant supposedly is Votivo's most popular scent and after trying it, I say rightly so. It's an outstanding candle. However, the description tells of tart currants and vanilla ice cream with sugar cookies, so I was expecting something sweet and fruity. This is not so. I found Red Currant to smell of an intoxicating perfume from another era; like crushed English rose petals from an enchanted garden.
In researching Votivo, a company whose product I had never before had the pleasure of testing, I discovered just what it is that sets them into a class all their own. The fragrances are developed by perfumers and that is what truly makes all the difference. "A perfumer, however, needs more than a passably fine nose. He needs an incorruptible, hard working organ that has been trained to smell for many decades, enabling him to decipher even the most complicated odours by composition and proportion, as well as to create new, unknown mixtures of scent."1 It is this difference that makes Votivo so unique in a market so often plagued by mediocrity. Votivo's candles are created using high quality soy wax which enables the candle to burn slowly thus giving the consumer a long lasting product. Their fragrances, I read, were apparently famous for their ability to quickly fill a room. I put that theory to the test and I found that to be an understatement of gargantuan proportions. They actually engulf a room in what feels like the blink of an eye. But do not be mistaken by my phrasing, Red Currant was not overwhelming. It simply filled my home completely with the most beautiful aroma and lingered well after it had been snuffed out. It left a sillage, as the French would say. It felt as if it had become the natural smell of my home. That is why I can say without question that these candles are nothing short of totally spectacular.
From the design of the charming little box, to the strong glass candle that is wrapped delicately in tissue paper, everything about my first experience with Votivo was wonderful. I've already purchased two as gifts for the upcoming holidays, just in case CandlesToMyDoor should sell out. Next I look forward to testing the Vanilla Grapefruit. It smelled so delicious that I almost passed out in the aisle. I must admit that of all the candles I've had the pleasure to review, this is now by far my absolute favourite (sorry Olive and Patchouli, I've found another love.)
~lisa*
1 taken from Patrick Süskind's novel "Perfume" as translated by John E. Woods (In perfumery, the wake of lingering notes that follow a woman wearing scent are known as sillage. - inthenews.co.uk)
In researching Votivo, a company whose product I had never before had the pleasure of testing, I discovered just what it is that sets them into a class all their own. The fragrances are developed by perfumers and that is what truly makes all the difference. "A perfumer, however, needs more than a passably fine nose. He needs an incorruptible, hard working organ that has been trained to smell for many decades, enabling him to decipher even the most complicated odours by composition and proportion, as well as to create new, unknown mixtures of scent."1 It is this difference that makes Votivo so unique in a market so often plagued by mediocrity. Votivo's candles are created using high quality soy wax which enables the candle to burn slowly thus giving the consumer a long lasting product. Their fragrances, I read, were apparently famous for their ability to quickly fill a room. I put that theory to the test and I found that to be an understatement of gargantuan proportions. They actually engulf a room in what feels like the blink of an eye. But do not be mistaken by my phrasing, Red Currant was not overwhelming. It simply filled my home completely with the most beautiful aroma and lingered well after it had been snuffed out. It left a sillage, as the French would say. It felt as if it had become the natural smell of my home. That is why I can say without question that these candles are nothing short of totally spectacular.
From the design of the charming little box, to the strong glass candle that is wrapped delicately in tissue paper, everything about my first experience with Votivo was wonderful. I've already purchased two as gifts for the upcoming holidays, just in case CandlesToMyDoor should sell out. Next I look forward to testing the Vanilla Grapefruit. It smelled so delicious that I almost passed out in the aisle. I must admit that of all the candles I've had the pleasure to review, this is now by far my absolute favourite (sorry Olive and Patchouli, I've found another love.)
~lisa*
1 taken from Patrick Süskind's novel "Perfume" as translated by John E. Woods (In perfumery, the wake of lingering notes that follow a woman wearing scent are known as sillage. - inthenews.co.uk)
Friday, November 20, 2009
Hungry?
Beanpod's Belgian Waffles
This fabulous soy wax candle takes me back to those late nights at Aunt Sarah's Pancake House down south at my BFF's college. They had the best Belgian Waffles this side of the Atlantic and it was the only thing I would order. Beanpod managed to include a subtle hint of maple syrup to the mix and make it irresistibly delicious.
Colonial's Golden Pear
One of a handful of new candles from Colonial is Golden Pear. It reminds me of my Aunt Ginni's Baked Sliced Apples. I now suspect that her secret ingredient may have been pears, because this candle smells just like her famous holiday treat. The mix of nutmeg and cinnamon with equal parts pear and apple make this particular candle unique and exotic. Another incredible scent from Colonial.
Illume's Angel Food
Illume has a knack of producing candles so exact that I often fear I may begin devouring the candle rather than burning it. Angel Food is no exception. No one makes a tastier Angel Food Cake than my mother and this smells just like her kitchen after she removes a fresh and fluffy cake from the oven. Illume also included a decent amount of warm vanilla, making the best just a bit better.
Yankee's Almond Cookie
When it comes to cookies, I'm a chocolate chip gal all the way. However, sometimes a little deviation from the norm can be a very good thing. This candle smells exactly like a homemade cookie from a tiny bakery in Little Italy and is powerful enough to fill an entire room. Being one who does not cook or bake, I like to keep this burning to give the illusion to guests that I do.
~lisa*
This fabulous soy wax candle takes me back to those late nights at Aunt Sarah's Pancake House down south at my BFF's college. They had the best Belgian Waffles this side of the Atlantic and it was the only thing I would order. Beanpod managed to include a subtle hint of maple syrup to the mix and make it irresistibly delicious.
Colonial's Golden Pear
One of a handful of new candles from Colonial is Golden Pear. It reminds me of my Aunt Ginni's Baked Sliced Apples. I now suspect that her secret ingredient may have been pears, because this candle smells just like her famous holiday treat. The mix of nutmeg and cinnamon with equal parts pear and apple make this particular candle unique and exotic. Another incredible scent from Colonial.
Illume's Angel Food
Illume has a knack of producing candles so exact that I often fear I may begin devouring the candle rather than burning it. Angel Food is no exception. No one makes a tastier Angel Food Cake than my mother and this smells just like her kitchen after she removes a fresh and fluffy cake from the oven. Illume also included a decent amount of warm vanilla, making the best just a bit better.
Yankee's Almond Cookie
When it comes to cookies, I'm a chocolate chip gal all the way. However, sometimes a little deviation from the norm can be a very good thing. This candle smells exactly like a homemade cookie from a tiny bakery in Little Italy and is powerful enough to fill an entire room. Being one who does not cook or bake, I like to keep this burning to give the illusion to guests that I do.
~lisa*
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Scents for Thanksgiving
So, there are a ton of great scents for the upcoming holiday and I am going to try to cover a good handful of them in this post. Here goes...
Beanpod
Cinnamon Spice - This scent smells exactly like cinnamon chewing gum; it's strong and super powerful. If you don't like Big Red, then you will not like this candle at all. I personally think it's fantastic.
Toasted Hazelnut - I think this scent is a nice change of pace from the usual ones that the season has to offer. But it still provides the warmth and delightful aroma that one would desire for this time of year. It actually smells like Ferrero Rocher tastes and c'mon, how could that ever be bad?
Yankee
MacIntosh Spice - This is such a simple holiday combination of apples and cinnamon, yet Yankee somehow manages to do it in an original and exhilarating way. It's delicious and is the perfect fragrance in room spray form. A little spritz goes a long way, so you definitely get a lot of bang for your buck.
Cranberry Chutney - I have been in love with cranberry scented candles since my days working at Pier 1 where I discovered their Cranberry Balsam candle. Cranberry Chutney is incredibly potent and really fills the entire room. Delightfully sweet and aromatic, it's one to definitely have on hand throughout the winter months.
Colonial
Pumpkin Pie - Mmm...pumpkin...my favourite pie of all time. I found this scent to be very easy on the pumpkin and strong with the spices. It burns nicely and is more than suitable for any holiday house party.
Warm Apple Cake - This is absolutely one of the sweetest candles I've tried. It is smooth and easy, with no one dominating scent. The apples, cinnamon and vanilla all combine together to bring a fabulous candle to the table.
WoodWick
Cranberry Fig - Completely different from Yankee's Cranberry Chutney, this cranberry is more tart than sweet, but just as satisfying. In regards to the fig scent, well, my only exposure to a fig would be via Fig Newtons and Fig Newmans. That being said, I do detect the smell of a freshly opened bag of those yummy treats. It seems WoodWick has brought us another wonderful candle for the season that perfectly melds these two great scents.
(WoodWick Green) Valencia Orange - "Wow" was my immediate reaction to getting a whiff of this candle. I have never smelled such a juicy, refreshingly sweet and tangy candle in my life. My mother argues that Illume's Valencia Orange is better, but I say nay-nay. Illume's is good, but not orange enough for my taste. WoodWick's is the one to own.
Hope this helps with your holiday candle decision making. Be safe and have fun!
~lisa*
Beanpod
Cinnamon Spice - This scent smells exactly like cinnamon chewing gum; it's strong and super powerful. If you don't like Big Red, then you will not like this candle at all. I personally think it's fantastic.
Toasted Hazelnut - I think this scent is a nice change of pace from the usual ones that the season has to offer. But it still provides the warmth and delightful aroma that one would desire for this time of year. It actually smells like Ferrero Rocher tastes and c'mon, how could that ever be bad?
Yankee
MacIntosh Spice - This is such a simple holiday combination of apples and cinnamon, yet Yankee somehow manages to do it in an original and exhilarating way. It's delicious and is the perfect fragrance in room spray form. A little spritz goes a long way, so you definitely get a lot of bang for your buck.
Cranberry Chutney - I have been in love with cranberry scented candles since my days working at Pier 1 where I discovered their Cranberry Balsam candle. Cranberry Chutney is incredibly potent and really fills the entire room. Delightfully sweet and aromatic, it's one to definitely have on hand throughout the winter months.
Colonial
Pumpkin Pie - Mmm...pumpkin...my favourite pie of all time. I found this scent to be very easy on the pumpkin and strong with the spices. It burns nicely and is more than suitable for any holiday house party.
Warm Apple Cake - This is absolutely one of the sweetest candles I've tried. It is smooth and easy, with no one dominating scent. The apples, cinnamon and vanilla all combine together to bring a fabulous candle to the table.
WoodWick
Cranberry Fig - Completely different from Yankee's Cranberry Chutney, this cranberry is more tart than sweet, but just as satisfying. In regards to the fig scent, well, my only exposure to a fig would be via Fig Newtons and Fig Newmans. That being said, I do detect the smell of a freshly opened bag of those yummy treats. It seems WoodWick has brought us another wonderful candle for the season that perfectly melds these two great scents.
(WoodWick Green) Valencia Orange - "Wow" was my immediate reaction to getting a whiff of this candle. I have never smelled such a juicy, refreshingly sweet and tangy candle in my life. My mother argues that Illume's Valencia Orange is better, but I say nay-nay. Illume's is good, but not orange enough for my taste. WoodWick's is the one to own.
Hope this helps with your holiday candle decision making. Be safe and have fun!
~lisa*
Miscellaneous
There are plenty of fabulous scented candles that I can review, but I think it's just as important to mention the unscented ones. I really respect a candle company that gives consumers a truly wide array of choices. There are plenty of people with allergies that cannot handle fragrances and then there are people who simply do not wish to have scented candles, period. I personally detest it when I'm in someone's kitchen or dining room and they are serving food while burning a scented candle. (That's a big no-no because the usually delightful aroma of WoodWick's Rum Raisin instantly becomes abhorrent as it puts me completely off the pizza I'm being served.) Both Beanpod and WoodWick have really nice unscented candles in jar form, with Tag offering them in pillar sizes. I like that there's more options than just the usual taper or tea light candles. (btw, Colonial Candle has unscented tapers that come in a wide array of brilliant colors.)
And finally, I have to mention the Flameless from Candle Impressions. I like them because they have timers and actually flicker like a burning pillar candle. My brothers have them all over their house and also, my grandmother enjoys the look of a real candle without the fear of forgetting to blow it out come the end of the night.
Just some thoughts and options to keep in mind with the approaching holidays. Thanks for reading and check back soon!
~lisa*
And finally, I have to mention the Flameless from Candle Impressions. I like them because they have timers and actually flicker like a burning pillar candle. My brothers have them all over their house and also, my grandmother enjoys the look of a real candle without the fear of forgetting to blow it out come the end of the night.
Just some thoughts and options to keep in mind with the approaching holidays. Thanks for reading and check back soon!
~lisa*
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Three More for the Fall
Yankee's Moonlight Harvest
When the cool weather rolls in, I am all about cider donuts and anything pumpkin. Moonlight Harvest definitely brings me back to those days out at Johnson's Farm picking out pumpkins to paint and carve just as the sun was going down. With the super dark purple color, this is a great candle for the season - inside and out.
WoodWick's Currant
I found Currant to be tangy yet sweet and it reminded me of those delicious Linzer Tarts that I used to get at the local bakery on Sundays. The currant is definitely present and accounted for but the citrus sweeps in and creates another gorgeous candle from WoodWick.
Colonial's Indian Summer
I love Indian Summer because it's a nice blend of my two favourite fall treats - ginger snap cookies and Mama's pumpkin bread. It's warm and inviting and I feel would be excellent on a coffee table when hosting a holiday soirée.
~lisa*
When the cool weather rolls in, I am all about cider donuts and anything pumpkin. Moonlight Harvest definitely brings me back to those days out at Johnson's Farm picking out pumpkins to paint and carve just as the sun was going down. With the super dark purple color, this is a great candle for the season - inside and out.
WoodWick's Currant
I found Currant to be tangy yet sweet and it reminded me of those delicious Linzer Tarts that I used to get at the local bakery on Sundays. The currant is definitely present and accounted for but the citrus sweeps in and creates another gorgeous candle from WoodWick.
Colonial's Indian Summer
I love Indian Summer because it's a nice blend of my two favourite fall treats - ginger snap cookies and Mama's pumpkin bread. It's warm and inviting and I feel would be excellent on a coffee table when hosting a holiday soirée.
~lisa*
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