Lake Providence Lodge (LPL) Scented Wax Melts Review

Lake Providence Lodge (LPL) Scented Wax Melts Review

Lake Providence Lodge (LPL) Scented Wax Melts

Lake Providence Lodge scented wax melts are strong, authentic, long lasting, and dye-free. They are all paraffin, for the best throw. And the wax is soft like butter, easy to cut, but not messy or creamy. Her wax is very simple... no glitter or jewelry or teddy bear shapes. It's all about the fragrance, which is fine by me! Many vendors buy their scented oils from the same manufacturers, so a lot of the scents tend to smell the same from vendor to vendor. Not so with LPL... The owner takes a lot of time and research to find the perfect oils for the most realistic, unique versions of scents.

Prices are very reasonable ($1.75 for a 1.5 oz. scent cup), as were shipping cost and time. I've never had to wait to place an order for the Ready to Ship Melt Cups. The owner has always been professional, quick to respond, and no-nonsense (no drama in Facebook groups).

I generally prefer retail (store-bought) wax, but there are only a few vendors that I really like, and Lake Providence Lodge is my #1 favorite.

I grade throw on a scale of 0 to 5 as follows:

0 = no throw at all, even from up close
1 = barely any throw, only from a few feet away
2 = light throw (can smell it in a small room)
3 = good throw (can smell it in a large room and maybe a little outside the room)
4 = excellent throw (can smell it even outside the room and maybe the entire floor)
5 = "scent monster" (can smell it throughout the entire house, and maybe even outside the house with windows open). Very few wax scents are 5's.

Please remember that reviews are subjective. I might love a scent that someone else hates, and vice versa (which is why I don't usually grade the scent itself). And throw can be affected by different batches, warmers, and the environment in which they're being melted (see the Definitions page for more information).

These are reviews of scents that I bought over two orders. She has many more scents than these!

Apple Dumpling
"A buttery vanilla crust filled with fresh cinnamon, nutmeg and cardamom dusted apples in a sweet caramel and hazelnut syrup."
I smell apple, clove and bakery. Authentic and yummy!
Haven't melted yet

Balsam Ridge
"A mountaintop covered with pine and spruce trees. A bit of eucalyptus adds crispness to this deep evergreen scent. "
Rich balsam pine
Haven't melted yet

Banana Applesauce Cake
"Cake batter, heavy with bananas, fresh apples and a touch of spice."
Applesauce with cake notes and hint of banana
Throw: 2

Banana Bread
"Bananas and brown sugar baked into the perfect loaf, still warm from the Lodge’s oven."
Very realistic banana scent, not that fake candy banana. Melting brings out the bread notes. Lasted a long time.
Throw: 4.5

Breakfast at the Lodge
"The smell of weekend breakfasts at The Lodge. Our French toast casserole, drenched in maple syrup, mingled with fluffy pancakes and sweet cinnamon rolls."
Maple syrup and pancakes, and I swear I detect a hint of sausage or bacon. Again, a very realistic pancake breakfast scent, not a fake maple.
Throw: 4.5

Cake Shop
"This scent is a sweet blend of marshmallow fluff, cake, pure sugar and even a bit of sweet cinnamon buttercream frosting."
White birthday cake with sweet white frosting.
Throw: 3.5

Caramel Pears
"Pear halves in a cast iron skillet bubbling in a rich, buttery caramel."
Fresh pears drizzled with caramel. Could be a little sweeter.
Throw: 3

Clean Sheets
"Clean flannel sheets warm from the dryer. Some say this scent reminds them of a popular dryer sheet."
Smells like Downy fabric softener
Throw: 3

Cold Ginger Ale
"An ice cold Mason jar filled with crisp and refreshing ginger ale, fresh squeezed lime and slices of lemon and orange."
Fizzy Ginger Ale scent but has a very slight industrial cleaner note.
Throw: 3.5

Cotton Candy
"Pure spun sugar sweetness! Just like freshly made pink cotton candy."
Smells just like the real thing. Not as strong as other scents on cold sniff.
Haven't melted yet

Country Cottage
"Sweet cinnamon blended with vanilla, caramel, a touch of cider and maple syrup."
Authentic apple with something else, maybe vanilla or maple and a smidgeon of clove. The apple is pretty strong, which is odd since it's not listed in the fragrance description.
Haven't melted yet

Cranberry Lime
"Sweet and tart cranberries blended with a squeeze of lime juice."
Smells like a refreshing soda, very similar to the Cold Ginger Ale scent, but I like this one much better. Cranberry Lime is a little sweeter, and with more "flavor". I can definitely smell lime, but also a hint of berry.
Throw: 4

Fancy Salon
"You know the one. The moment you walk up to the door, the botanical smells entice you in. This oil is the scent of their famous, most PURE shampoo. Comprised of multiple flower and plant essences. Clean and relaxing just like a day at a high-end spa."
Very unique, realistic scent, like a massage oil made of a blend of expensive essential oils. Can't even describe the notes, but it's really good.
Throw: 4

Fig
"This is a warm scent of figs, caramelized brown sugar and a touch of toasted coconut. It is a deep scent rather than fruity. It is ideal for those who like masculine and clean scents."
A deep classy scent with an amber note and a hint of coconut. Not fruity.
Haven't melted yet

Fresh Laundry
"Smells like laundry day at the Lodge. Fresh and clean! This oil is a match for a popular liquid fabric softener that comes in a blue and pink bottle."
Real laundry detergent scent. This is one of those "harsh" laundry scents that some people don't like (I like it). It's harsher than the High Tide scent.
Throw: 4

Fresh Pear
"Just like freshly sliced, tart and juicy ripe pears. This is a strong and true scent."
Authentic pear scent with nothing added.
Throw: 4

Heirloom Rose
"This is a rich, deep and slightly earthy rose. Certainly not your grandmother’s rose perfume! This is a fresh, clean and lovely scent."
An old-fashioned rich earthy rose scent, not perfumy or overly floral or sweet. Has a slight soapy note, in a good way.
Throw: 4

High Tide
"We love the scent of freshly laundered linens at the Lodge! This is a clean scent that is a match for a liquid laundry detergent with a similar name. As fresh as the tide."
Subtle & classy, a nice bedroom scent, not harsh like a lot of laundry scents. Smells like Tide laundry detergent.
Throw: 3.5

Hot Bath
"This is a clean and very feminine scent. We blended our Lovely Grace with a sweet, fresh powdery scent to create a scent that smells as inviting as a nice, hot bath."
I smell baby powder and a slight soapy note. Perfect for a bathroom or bedroom.
Throw: 2.5

Hydrangea
"We have just one hydrangea here at The Lodge-but we love it! This scent is a clean, mixed floral. Very fresh with green, almost herbal notes-not perfume-y in any way."
Authentic hydrangea flower scent, fresh and not perfumey.
Throw: 2

Jelly Beans
"Sweet, sugary and a little bit tart. We added a splash of strawberry to make this even fruitier! Smells just like a bag of freshly opened jelly beans."
Smells like berry Kool-Aid. Not my favorite.
Throw: 3

Lemon Fluff Cake
"A rich, sweet lemon cake iced with a sugary marshmallow frosting."
Sweet marshmallowy lemon, my favorite LPL lemon scent.
Throw: 3.5

Lemon Icebox Pie
"Fresh squeezed lemon juice, lots of sugar and buttery pie crust."
Similar to Lemon Pound Cake but slightly sweeter and less lemony, with more of a bakery note.
Throw: 4

Lemon Pound Cake
"The Lodge’s buttery pound cake infused with lemon and sugar."
Very lemony scent with a hint of bakery. Almost a slightly "fruity cereal" type of lemon.
Throw: 3.5

Lilac
"The truest Lilac oil I could find. As a gardener, offering actual garden scents is important to me. Lilac, for me, is the first scent of spring. This is not a too heavy scent but is as authentic as the lilac bush just up from the creek here at the Lodge!"
The most authentic lilac scent I've ever smelled. If I close my eyes I swear I'm smelling the real thing.
Throw: 3.5

Lovely Grace
"This is a duplication of a famous actress’ fragrance although I think it smells also like another fancy line’s shower gel and lotion. So, I combined the name! This scent is for those who love clean, fresh and slightly floral scents."
A classy feminine scent, like an old-fashioned dusting powder.
Haven't melted yet

Melted Marshmallow
"Lightly warmed, sugar-y marshmallows. A delicious and rich vanilla scent."
Rich super sweet marshmallow frosting scent. I detect a lemon note up close, but not so much in the room. After a few hours the scent took on a nice warm slightly bourbon note.
Throw: 4

Mulberry Spice
"Warmed mulberries, steeped in syrupy brown sugar and cinnamon just waiting to become a cobbler."
Fresh bright red berries with a very slight spicy note and a hint of orange
Throw: 2.5

Peach Pie
"Ripe peaches baked in a cinnamon and maple sugar syrup filled pie crust."
I do smell bakery and a hint of peach I think, but doesn't smell a lot like peach to me. Not my favorite scent.
Throw: 3

Pistachio Punch
"A fruity and sweet blend of pistachios, ripe red cherries, juicy oranges and fresh pineapple."
Pistachio with fizziness, like pistachio soda. Slight almond note and a hint of cherry.
Throw: 4.5

Pomegranate
"Very sweet and fruity and just the right amount of tartness."
Generic fruit scent. Didn't last long.
Throw: 2

Rhubarb
"Crisp and tart. This is a slightly sweet, but earthy scent. Rhubarb, freshly picked from the garden."
Amazing on cold sniff, a succulent mouth-watering rich berry scent.
Haven't melted yet

Rose Preserves
"Syrup-y sweet rose jam. This scent is strong and fresh."
Smells like a combination of Toasted Vanilla Bean and Rose, with a baby powder note and possibly a hint of berry. I also detect a very slight almond note although I don't think that's one of the fragrance notes. Smells a little like a burnt rose. I think I like this one, but it's odd. Mixing floral with delectable doesn't always work out well. This scent is often called "Rose Jam", and this version is a little "warmer" and not as "harsh" as some other versions I've tried. After several hours, the scent morphed into baby powder with a slight rose note.
Throw: 4

Ruby Red Grapefruit
"A realistic and authentic ruby red grapefruit scent. The tartness is balanced with just a touch of sweet orange."
Smells exactly like grapefruit. Scent didn't last long.
Throw: 3

Sparkling Lemonade
"Ice cold lemonade with a touch of fizzy citrus soda added."
Just like the description, fizzy lemonade.
Haven't melted yet

Strawberry Fluff
"Our Strawberry mixed with our Melted Marshmallow. This smells sticky, sugary and sweet."
Super sweet rich buttercream marshmallow with a hint of strawberry. As time went on though, the strawberry moved to the forefront, and a few hours later it's more of a super sweet syrupy strawberry scent with some rich buttercream marshmallow mixed in.
Throw: 4

The Grove
"This scent is refreshing. It combines crisp, sugary and juicy mandarin (Satsuma) oranges and clementines."
Authentic orange with maybe a slight grapefruit note
Haven't melted yet

The Lodge's Kitchen
"A mixture of all the spices and ingredients used to prepare the cookies and pies baking in the Lodge’s oven."
Apple and cinnamon, but a bit too cinnamony for my tastes.
Throw: 1.5

Toasted Vanilla Bean
"Fresh vanilla beans warmed with toasted marshmallow and caramel."
Smells like Bath & Body Works Vanilla Bean Noel, that rich caramely toasted vanilla marshmallow scent.
Throw: 2.5

Tree-Lined Trail
"The scent of sweet fir, cypress and fresh mountain air."
Similar to Balsam Ridge but more sprucey and less piney, with perhaps a hint of smoky wood.
Haven't melted yet

Volcano
"An explosion of fruit! This is my own blend of a popular scent by the same name. It is a sweet mix of tropical fruit, sugared oranges, lemons and limes."
I smell orange and maybe lime, with maybe a slight fizziness.
Haven't melted yet

White Chocolate Raspberry
"You know the beautiful, tall cakes with the thin layers of white chiffon cake and raspberry jam? The ones iced in white frosting and garnished with shaved or curled white chocolate? This is that scent."
Perfect mix of chocolate and raspberry, a nice subtle chocolate, not burnt fake chocolate.
Throw: 3.5

White Tea
"This is clean, fresh and floral. White tea leaves mingled with light florals. A very feminine and lovely scent."
Realistic tea scent without that sometimes overpowering chai note. Slightly perfumey. Lasted all day. Even if you don't like tea scents, you'll probably like this one.
Throw: 4.5

Scented Wax Melt Company Mistakes

Here is a list of mistakes that some wax companies (retail and vendor) make, and a "wish list" of things that wax companies should consider:

Non-standard clamshell shapes and sizes
The "standard" clamshell is the 2.2 to 2.5 oz rectangular hard plastic clamshell that measures around 4-1/8"H x 2-3/4"W, with 6 breakaway blocks. ScentSationals and Better Homes & Gardens at Walmart use the standard clamshell. These easily fit into the plastic trays that Walmart throws away at the end of the season to make room for new wax. However, the Walmart MainStays clamshells don't fit into these trays, since they're slightly wider. Other brands have their own sizes and shapes, like Village Candles with their new candle jar shaped clamshell, Colonial Candle with the oval clamshells, and Ashland Decor and Goose Creek Candles with the round clamshells. One standardized size and shape would make it much easier to store the wax, and then they could sell trays. Of course, this only applies to clamshells; there are many other types of wax packaging out there, such as round scent shots, bags, etc.

Holes in packaging
Some companies put holes in their scented wax packs so consumers can smell the scent without opening the package. But when scented wax is exposed to the air, the scent starts to dissipate within a few weeks or months.

 
Complicated packaging
Some brands use packaging that's difficult to open, or that doesn't close properly.

Smaller packages
A few months ago Mainstays (at Walmart) came out with a new 1.25 oz. clamshell, half the size of the normal sized clamshell, for half the price ($.99). This is brilliant, as it allows consumers to try scents at a very low price before deciding to buy more. And since the packages are smaller, there's less wax to store (some wax tends to lose its scent when stored for more than a few months). It's also a good marketing move, because you have to visit the store more often to get more wax. More companies should adopt the smaller size clamshell.

Storing or shipping loose wax in non-polypropylene bags
Any type of plastic bag other than polypropylene will suck the scent out of the wax. And any packaging that allows a lot of air to contact the wax (such as cloth or paper) is not much better than storing the wax without packaging at all; the scent will dissipate quickly.

Throw is just as important as scent
A good scent is useless if you can't smell it when it's melting. And if throw is fantastic, it's useless if the quality of the scent isn't good. More testing needs to be done in a variety of environments before the wax is sold to consumers, since there are many variables that can affect the throw (see Definitions page).

Get more adventurous with scents
Every wax company has its standard fruit, floral, and bakery scents. They all start to smell the same after awhile. More companies should experiment with scents and different combinations.

Not listing scent strength on their website
Some scents are stronger than others. Some people prefer weaker scents that don't take over their home, and some prefer "scent monsters". It would be good to know which scents are strong and which are weak, ideally on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the strongest.

Advertising and marketing
Scented wax companies need to get the word out about their products. When is the last time you saw an ad for scented wax? When I tell people about scented wax, they have no clue what I'm talking about.

More transparency about "exclusive" store brands
 I'd like to know what company manufactures brands that are exclusive to particular stores. I don't want to buy scents that I already have by the same company with just a different label, especially if that scent didn't have good throw.

Keep prices reasonable
 ScentSationals leads the way as far as value for your money. At $2 per clamshell at Walmart, it's the cheapest high quality retail wax out there. And 1oz. scent shots sold by vendors should remain around $1. A company that charges double for the same amount of wax cannot compete, especially if the wax is not as good.

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Ashland Autumn Gatherings Scented Wax Melts Review

Ashland Autumn Gatherings Scented Wax Review

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This is a review of Ashland "Autumn Gatherings" line from Michael's Arts & Crafts. These were originally $3.99 each, but I got them on sale for $2.00 each two weeks ago as they're starting to move out the fall scents to make room for holiday scents. These appear to be paraffin wax, so the wax is hard rather than soft and creamy like their regular Ashland line (which I believe is soy). Paraffin tends to have a better scent throw than soy. I believe the Autumn Gatherings line is made by a different company, but with the Ashland label. There are maybe a dozen or more scents in the Autumn Gatherings line. Many of them smelled all the same to me, or like other typical fall and "autumn walk" type scents. So this is a review of only 6 of their fall scents.

Cinnamon Roll
Smells like bread with cinnamon. Not overly sweet or overly cinnamony. 3.5 out of 5 throw.

Apple Cinnamon
Warm cloves with a dash of cinnamon and a slight apple note. 3.5 out of 5 throw.

Fall Forest
A crisp fresh balsamy pine. This smells like real pine needles or sap. It's more piney than sprucey (sprucey scents tend to have more of a smokey note). 3.5 out of 5 throw, but it only lasted about 2 hours.

Warm Cookie
This is an incredibly yummy cookie scent. It's rich with a slight bread note, lots of vanilla, and just a hint of spice, and not overly sweet. It really smells like cookies fresh out of the oven. Excellent throw, about a 4 out of 5.

Ginger Caramel Apple
Just like the name says, a combination of apple, caramel, and a slight ginger note. I also smell vanilla, but it's not a bakery scent. It's very sweet and smells like candy. Throw is around a 2.5 out of 5.

Harvest Trio (3 scents in one package):

• Apple Pumpkin
• A nice slightly salty cranberry scent with an apple note and a little cinnamon or nutmeg. Throw is around a 3.5 out of 5.


• Orchard Fruits
• A very fresh apple scent, possibly with a little bit of some other kind of fruit like blackberry, and maybe a very small amount of vanilla, and a smidgeon of that brown fall leaves scent that smells a little like dirt. Throw is around a 3 out of 5.


• Pumpkin Latte
• A sweet creamy milky coffee scent, very heavy on the cream and light on the coffee. Very authentic; I thought my roommate was making coffee! Not sure if I smell pumpkin per se, but there may be a smidgeon of spice in there. Throw is excellent, about a 4 out of 5.

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Wilma Handmade Scented Wax Review

Wilma Handmade Scented Wax Review

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This is a review of Wilma Handmade Scented Wax Cup Melt Minis. My overall impression: I was pleasantly surprised at the quality and throw of this wax. I often don't have good luck with wax that I buy online, as I prefer to smell wax in the store (such as ScentSationals and Better Homes & Gardens at Walmart) so I know what I'm getting.

These Wilma Handmade "Cup Melt Minis" are 0.8 oz. cups of scented wax priced at $1.10 each (as of this writing). I bought 33 scents, and for all but 3, I really liked the scents. As for the throw (how far the scent reaches when it's melted), 70% had a throw of "good or above", with most of those having very good or excellent throw. Only 20% had zero or barely detectable throw. When I buy wax, I always expect that a couple will have poor throw, but only 20% is much better than what I usually experience with wax that I order online.

April 19, 2016 update - Take a look at my new review of 43 Wilma Handmade scents, at http://www.scentedwaxreviews.com/2016/04/wilma-handmade-scented-wax-melts-review.html

I grade throw on a scale of 0 to 5 as follows:

0 = no throw at all, even from up close
1 = barely any throw, only from a few feet away
2 = light throw (can smell it in a small room)
3 = good throw (can smell it in a large room and maybe a little outside the room)
4 = excellent throw (can smell it even outside the room and maybe the entire floor)
5 = "scent monster" (can smell it throughout the entire house, and maybe even outside the house with windows open). Very few wax scents are 5's.

Please remember that reviews are subjective. I might love a scent that someone else hates, and vice versa (which is why I don't usually grade the scent itself). And throw can be affected by different batches, warmers, and the environment in which they're being melted (see the Definitions page for more information).

Below I've included the scent name, scent description from the Wilma Handmade website, MY description of the scent, and a grade for the throw.

Apple Caramel Butter
"Imagine slightly tart, crisp red apples drizzled with sweet caramel and creamy melted butter. A sweet and sticky craving."
Yummy sweet caramel apple. On cold sniff this smells exactly like the Caramel Apple scent to me, although maybe very slightly sweeter and richer? But melted, a rich buttery slightly salty note comes out. Very nice!
Throw: 4

Blackberry Frankincense
"An interesting and relaxing blend of blackberries and frankincense."
Very light on cold sniff, kind of a waxy woodsy scent with a hint of berry.
Throw: 1

Cabaret
"A deep fragrance that blends tobacco leaves and rose petals with soft nuances of amber."
This had the same off-putting note as the Sweet Tobacco scent. On cold sniff I could smell the tobacco, and maybe a hint of rose but more like an old withered rose. I wasn't crazy about this scent.
Throw: 0

Caramel Apple (free sample)
"Crisp, tart green apple dipped in buttery, sweet caramel."
Yummy sweet caramel apple.
Throw: 4

Cookie Monster
"A strong fresh baked cookie with a touch of molasses."
Rich salty cookies with just a hint of cinnamon. This is not a "fall" type scent despite the cinnamon; it's a "cozy" warm cookies right out of the oven scent.
Throw: 3.5

Cotton Candy (free sample)
"Just like fresh cotton candy from a country fair! Light as air and sweet as can be. Sugary strawberry and sweet vanilla."
This really smells like cotton candy, very sweet with slight berry and that fake sugary note that makes it smell authentic.
Throw: 3

Cranberry Bog (free sample)
"A rich cranberry scent with a touch of spice and vanilla."
A nice sweet fruity candy scent. Not sure if I detect any spices. This one lasted a long time.
Throw: 4

Down Home Muffins
"Good ol' southern buttery sweet corn bread muffins! This is not your average corn bread scent."
Just like the description, it's a yummy buttery sweet corn bread scent. Smells a little like popcorn.
Throw: 3

Dragons Blood
"A tantalizing blend of ambers and woods."
This is the ultimate hippie incense fragrance, a sweet ambery baby powder patchouli type scent. Very nice, a little less sweet and more woodsy than other Dragons Blood scents I've smelled, but sweeter and slightly more baby powder than Frankincense & Myrrh.
Throw: 4

Euphoria (type)
"A provocative blend of pomegranate, persimmon, black orchid, lotus blossom, amber, mahogany woods, black violet, and a touch of cream. A Calvin Klein duplication."
Creamy woodsy amber with a hint of blackberry, and not too sweet. Fantastic scent.
Throw: 2.5

Fabuloso (type)
"Just like the lavender household cleaner. So good and so strong!"
Fabuloso cleaner is a scent all its own, a fantastic clean herbal lavender soap, a little industrial (in a good way), not too sweet, but leaves your house smelling fresh and clean. Not many wax vendors carry this scent. This one smells just like the real thing!
Throw: 4

Frankincense & Myrrh
"Enchanting aromatic blend of frankincense and myrrh."
Baby powder with a hippie incense note. Similar to Dragons Blood, but this is a little spicier and not as sweet. Very nice, but only lasted less than 3 hours.
Throw: 3.5

Fried Ice Cream
"Buttery whipped cream tops creamy vanilla bean. Hints of toasted nut and grated cinnamon."
Super sweet vanilla bean with just a hint of cinnamon and maybe caramel? Smells a little like buttercream frosting.
Throw: 1.5

Got Milk
"A creamy milk fragrance."
This smells more like rich salty buttery popcorn than milk, although it does have a rich milky note. Yummy scent!
Throw: 4

Guilty For Men (type)
"Lavender, lemon, orange blossom and neroli with patchouli. A Gucci duplication for men."
On cold sniff, smells like a fresh watery herbal men's cologne. I do detect the lavender and a slight lemony note, but no orange blossom/neroli.
Throw: 0

Hello Sugar (type)
"Delightful shortbread dusted with lemon sugar."
Perfect combination of sweet and sour lemon. Smells like a lemon smoothie or slushie. This might be the best lemon scent I've ever smelled!
Throw: 4

Lush Gothic
"Make a sexy statement. Blood orange blended with bourbon, oak moss, and patchouli with notes of amber."
On cold sniff it smells like a pleasant fresh perfume or cologne, actually like hand lotion or body cream, with maybe a hint of baby powder. I don't smell orange, but maybe amber and oak moss.
Throw: 1

Pear Noel
"Tart and juicy pear blended with our vanilla bean noel! A fabulous combination."
This smells good enough to eat, a perfect combination of vanilla, marshmallow, a hint of caramel, and pear!
Throw: 3.5

Pink Sugar (type)
"A fruity blend of cotton candy, lemon drops, caramel and raspberry jam. An Aquolina duplication."
Perfect Pink Sugar scent, sweet and caramely like cotton candy, with a hint of berry.
Throw: 3.5

Pretty In Pink
"Pink Sugar blended with red raspberry, crisp citrus, melons, and white flowers."
On cold sniff it's sugary sweet berry mixed with sweet girly perfume, similar to Pink Sugar. It smells similar to ScentSationals Pretty in Pink. But melted it's completely different, with a deep richness, like a dark earthy raspberry, that keeps it from being too girly. Fantastic fragrance!
Throw: 4

Raisu Cream
"A delicate creamy fragrance."
I don't know what Raisu is, but this smells like rice pudding, a sweet creamy scent with a hint of cinnamon.
Throw: 3.5

Rattlesnake Grass
"Fresh green notes blended with sweet orange flowers."
Sweet, fresh and green with a hint of neroli (orange blossom), like a fresh shampoo or shower gel.
Throw: 3

Red Currant
"Tart, strong and freshly picked red currants."
This smells like old-fashioned rose scented soap, with maybe a hint of berry. It's a nice bedroom or bathroom type scent.
Throw: 4

Satin Sheets
"Clean, fresh, and slightly powdery with a hint of a woody undertone."
Can barely smell anything on cold sniff, maybe baby powder with an herbal or woodsy note?
Throw: 0

Satsuma
"Strong and zesty citrus notes. A wild spin on orange citrus scents."
Satsuma is a small tangerine type mandarin that has a very strong tart citrusy orange scent, with grapefruit notes and a little lemon. It's like orange on steroids, and this scent delivers on both quality and throw.
Throw: 5

Secret Wonderland
"Wild berries blend with white florals, amber and coconut."
Very nice warm almost buttery amber, along with a hint of fruit, and maybe a smidgeon of coconut. I don't smell floral.
Throw: 3.5

Southern Fried Apples
"Juicy red apples rolled in sweet sugar and deep fried to a golden brown."
Smells like sweet apple cider. Scented lasted less than 2 hours.
Throw: 2.5

Spa Retreat
"A refreshing blend of sugar sweetened black currant with lemongrass and a touch of lime with a slightly herbal note."
This smells like old lemon scented industrial cleaner to me. I didn't like this scent.
Throw: 3.5

Spiced Teakwood
"Rich woody teak with warm spices with a touch of amber."
Woodsy scent with cloves.
Throw: 2

Sweet Tobacco Leaf
"A fabulous sweet and moist tobacco scent."
Sweet scent with an odd burnt or off-putting note. It smelled slightly like tobacco to me, but there was something about it that I didn't like.
Throw: 3

Twilight Woods
"Sweet woods with notes of berries and a touch of musk."
Sweet slightly woodsy note on cold sniff, maybe with a hint of amber, but very light scent so I can't tell.
Throw: 1

Victorian Cleaning
"Our own blend of clean cotton linens and lemongrass with a slightly green note."
On cold sniff it's lemongrass and laundry, kind of like a lime scented cleanser but in a good way. When melted, the lemongrass/lime scent overpowers the laundry scent, but the "clean" notes still come through. A little too limey to use as a "clean house" scent.
Throw: 4

Violet Lime
"The aroma of violet blends with crisp, clean lime."
This is not a combination of scents that I would think would work, but it does! Violet with just a hint of lime on cold sniff, although when melted I just smell the violet.
Throw: 4

Chesapeake Bay Candle "Home Scents" Scented Wax Melts Review

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Chesapeake Bay Candle "Home Scents" Scented Wax Melts Review

Chesapeake Bay Candle can be found at Target (the "Home Scents" line) and Kohl's, but at double the price of wax from Walmart, they're not very popular. However, their prices have dropped slightly over the last few months, and they changed their packaging to a harder plastic clamshell, which is more similar to other wax brands (a good change, as the old soft plastic packages are hard to open). Six months ago I bought a package of Chesapeake Bay wax pods (long package with 3 round "pods), and the cost was $4.19. Now they're $3.99. I don't remember what the cost of the smaller packs was before, but they are now $3.29. Granted, still much more than ScentSationals and Better Homes & Gardens at Walmart for $2.00 for the same size, but if the scents and throw are superb, I don't mind the higher price so much.

My overall opinion is: There are better wax melts out there and for less money. Many of these had weak or no throw, which is sad because the scents themselves are very nice. However, there are a couple with very good throw, so if you want to try these, make sure to keep your receipt.

Bamboo Palm
Palm has a scent all its own, a slightly green "nutty" scent with a soapy note and no sweetness at all. It's not the kind of scent you would want to fill your home with, not because it's bad, it's just kind of "blah". Which is why it's often mixed with something else, like Bamboo. Bamboo is a green scent with floral undertones. But I only smell the palm here, and the scent and throw are weak.

Blueberry Pumpkin
Fantastic scent of blueberries with a rich buttery salty note, but it's not a bakery scent. This smells a lot like Better Homes & Gardens Harvest Berry Pumpkin and ScentSationals Pumpkin Berry Twist. Throw is excellent, best throw out of the bunch.

Eucalyptus
Green, fresh and herbal. I don't smell any of that nasal cleansing menthol scent of eucalyptus on cold sniff, but when melted the menthol note does come out if you sniff it very close (most menthol and eucalyptus scents only have that nasal cleansing effect from very close up). Throw is excellent.

Fall Festival
This is the most authentic clove scent I've ever smelled in a wax. In fact, I sniffed a jar of cloves from my kitchen to compare, and it's pretty close. The wax has some other notes in it though, maybe nutmeg or cinnamon, and even a hint of vanilla. But it's not a pumpkin pie scent. It just smells like the cloves spice mixed together with a bit of nutmeg and cinnamon, and a smidgeon of vanilla for sweetness. Very nice scent, and different from other usual fall scents. Throw is okay.

Autumn Evenings
Very similar to "Fall Festival" with the clove notes. I can't tell them apart. This one may have slightly more sweet vanilla and smokiness? I don't know though, they smell exactly the same to me. Throw is not great, but okay.

Falling Leaves
It's pineapple. A nice mellow realistic pineapple that's not too sweet. The color of the wax is even a light yellow orange. And it's not like the lids got swapped, because the lids are attached to the rest of the clamshell. Sometimes companies reuse scents under a different name, so that may be the case. Excellent throw.

Firewood Fig
On cold sniff this smells like a slightly woodsy fig scent, which I like. But when melted, an odd sour "vinegar" note comes out that makes it smell like old wine or rotted wood. I didn't like this when melted. Throw was not bad.

Jasmine Bouquet
A slightly soapy floral with baby powder notes, and not very sweet. Throw was very weak.

Lakeside Walk
I can't put my finger on this one. Maybe a fresh watery soapy herbal with a hint of floral? It's not sweet, more of a "natural" type scent with a slight "old soap" note. Kind of boring, and no throw at all.

Lavender
Lavender with a soapy note and no sweetness at all. The lack of sweetness makes it smell authentic, and when melted a slight eucalyptus note comes out. But this is not a relaxing bubble bath kind of lavender. It would probably smell better mixed with baby powder or amber to add some sweetness and depth. Or with lemon to give it a spa quality. Unfortunately barely any throw when melted.

Seasons Greetings
Authentic Christmas tree scent, spruce and dirt. Yes, dirt. I don't think I've ever smelled such a realistic evergreen scent. Throw was mediocre.

Snow Day
A fantastic men's cologne type scent with warm amber, smoke and spruce notes, and even a slight saltiness. It's not sweet or herbal. Throw is just mediocre though, but I'm keeping it because I love the scent so much.

Soft Cotton
Very nice cottony laundry scent without any "harsh" laundry notes. It's sweet but not "girly" sweet, with very slightly floral, perhaps violet. And maybe a smidgeon of baby powder? The violet makes it different from other laundry scents. I really wanted this one to have good throw, but I could barely smell it when melted.

Spring Bouquet
A very realistic spring floral. It's not very sweet; in fact, it has a "green", natural note and smells like a greenhouse. There may be a very slight soapy note. Throw is very good.


Candycane Swirl / Cinnamon Sticks / Winter Pine (Triple Scent)

Candycane Swirl: It just smells like very sweet vanilla. Up close I detect a barely noticeable hint of mint. Throw is good.

Cinnamon Sticks: Sweet cinnamon candy with a barely detectable mintiness. Throw is good.

Winter Pine: Kind of like a cross between Snow Day and Seasons Greetings. Spruce with a very slight cologne note, but not nearly as much as Snow Day. And without the dirt note and not as authentic as Seasons Greetings. Throw is good.


Mandarin Berry / Raspberry Peach / Red Pomegranate (Triple Scent)

Mandarin Berry: Generic mandarin mango type scent. I didn't melt this one.

Raspberry Peach: Rich peaches and cream scent with a very slight raspberry note. Excellent throw.

Red Pomegranate: Nice woodsy scent with a slight berry note, and not very sweet, but not a smoky woodsy scent either. Similar to a classy fig scent. Unfortunately throw was not very good.


Waterfall / Summer Breeze / Canyon Mist (Triple Scent)

Waterfall: Fresh watery slightly laundry scent. After the other two scents from this triple pack did so poorly in terms of throw, I didn't even bother to melt this one.

Summer Breeze: Fresh scent with maybe a slight tropical note. No throw.

Canyon Mist: Generic fresh green scent with a slightly woodsy note. No throw.

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AmbiEscents Winter Holiday Christmas 2015 Scented Wax Melts Review

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AmbiEscents Winter Holiday Christmas 2015 Scented Wax Melts Review

This is a review of AmbiEscents Winter, Holiday and Christmas 2015 Scented Wax Melts. I found these at Bed Bath & Beyond last week, but they may be available at other stores. I believe some of these are brand new fragrances, some are older fragrances, and some may be older fragrances with different names. I do know the packaging is brand new. AmbiEscents is made by ScentSationals, so pretty much all of their wax has good throw. All of these scents are fantastic!

O' Christmas Tree
Fantastic Christmas tree fir scent, a little smoky and with that sprucey smokiness. This scent has been around for awhile. I melted this downstairs in my large living room with an open floor plan, and it took over the entire house. It's a scent monster, with incredible throw!

Pepperberry Fir
Zesty lemony peppery pine with maybe a nutty note. Very good throw.

Pine Wreath
Pine with eucalyptus and maybe something yummy like rosemary. There's also a very slight hint of sweetness, maybe berry or vanilla. Very good throw.

Baby It's Cold Outside
Sweet peppermint with maybe a hint of vanilla. It smells like a candy cane! Good throw.

Cran Apple Cider
Super sweet rich apple with a tangy cranberry note, and maybe a hint of cloves and even molasses perhaps. Fantastic scent! This is not a fall apple scent; it's too sweet, rich and warm. Excellent throw.

Cozy Fireplace
Woodsy smoke and cloves, with a hint of fir. Melted, I smell just the smoky cloves. Very good throw.

Cranberry Spice
Sweet tart cranberries and cinnamon on cold sniff, but when melted it's just cinnamon with a slight berry note (not much different from other cinnamony scents). Excellent throw.


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Glade Winter Collection 2015 Scented Wax Melts Review

Glade Winter Collection 2015 Scented Wax Melts Review

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This is a review of the four Glade Winter Collection 2015 wax melts scents: Be At Peace (Balsam Fir & Juniper), Cherish the Present (Apple Cinnamon), Send A Little Love (Vanilla Biscotti), and Share The Spirit (Pomegranate Sparkler).

Sometimes stores bring out the previous year's scents over the holidays, but that's not the case here, as the inside labels say 2015. Of course that doesn't mean that these aren't recycled scents (same scents used last year but with different names this year), which is something Glade often does.

Glade wax melts are hit or miss for me in terms of throw. Sometimes they're good, but often they don't throw well for me. Unfortunately, these did not throw well for me.

• Be At Peace (Balsam Fir & Juniper)
  Standard Christmas tree scent with good throw, maybe a 3 out of 5. But the scent started to dissipate in under 2 hours.

• Cherish the Present (Apple Cinnamon)
  Generic apple and cinnamon scent, a bit musty like a fall apple scent. Throw is not great, maybe 2.5 out of 5.

• Send A Little Love (Vanilla Biscotti)
  Fantastic milky vanilla scent, but very little throw (maybe a 1.5 or 2).

• Share The Spirit (Pomegranate Sparkler)
  A nice fruity scent, but I can't really pick out the notes. Melted, it's not overly sweet and I think there's a very slight minty note, but throw is poor so it's hard to tell (maybe a 1.5 or 2 out of 5).

• Share Cheer (Amber & Bergamot)
  I bought this one on October 24, 2015 (3 weeks after I tried the other four), and this one is the best! A nice warm amber scent with a note of something else with perhaps a soapy quality? I guess that's the bergamot although I'm not sure what bergamot actually smells like. And the throw is a 4, excellent!

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