Colonial Candle Simmer Snaps Scented Wax Review

Colonial Candle Simmer Snaps Scented Wax Review

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This is a review of Colonial Candle Simmer Snap Scented Wax Melts. Colonial scents are very complex, rich, and on the "heavy" side as far as how many different notes they put into each scent. I really love their scents, and many of them tend to have a slight ambery or woodsy note. I get mixed results from the throw, however (how far the scent reaches when the wax is melted). There are other wax melt brands out there that have much better throw (such as ScentSationals, Better Homes & Gardens at Walmart, AmbiEscents at Bed Bath & Beyond, and Hanna's Candles which makes a lot of melts for different companies such as Ashland at Michael's, Huntington Home at Aldi, and some Rite Aid holiday wax). But their scents are so rich and sophisticated, it "almost" makes up for the mediocre throw.

I think the throw is affected by the fact that Colonial puts a hole at the top of the lid. This is so people can sniff the scent without having to open the package. But when scented wax is exposed to air (much like perfume), the scent dissipates. So if the wax has been sitting around for more than a few months, even if the scent is fairly strong on cold sniff, the throw may no longer be good.

For those that aren't familiar with some of the terms I use, please check out the Definitions page.

My Scent and Throw scores are on a scale of 0 to 5 with 0 being the absolute worst and 5 being the absolute best. Scent score is VERY subjective; you may love a scent I hate, and vice versa. Throw score is not as subjective, although there are a lot of variables that can affect the throw (again, see the Definitions page). 0 throw means I couldn't smell anything when melted, even with my nose right on top of the wax. 1 is poor throw, 2 is very light throw, 2.5 is light/fair, 3 is good, 3.5 is very good, 4 is excellent, and 5 is a "scent monster" (I can smell it throughout the house and even outside the house).

You can buy Colonial Candle Simmer Snaps Scented Wax Melts at some gift and card shops, but the easiest way to get all their available scents is through their website HERE. They have a lot of sales, even up to 50% off. So while regular price for their Simmer Snaps is $4 and their sale scents are $2, with a 50% off sale that reduces the price to only $2 and $1, which is very cheap for a standard 2.4 oz. wax melt.

Shipping is on the high side (http://www.colonialcandle.com/t-shipping.aspx). As of this writing, standard shipping is $7.99 if you spend up to $17, $9.99 if you spend $17.01 to $30, $11.99 if you spend $30.01 to $50, $14.99 if you spend $50.01 to $75, and free if you spend over $75. It also takes me a long time to get my order, about 2 weeks.

Also take a look at a review of 10 additional Colonial scents from April 2016, at http://www.scentedwaxreviews.com/2016/04/colonial-candle-simmer-snaps-scented-wax.html.


PATCHOULI
Notes: Top: Lily, Bergamot Middle: Pear, White Mimosa, Spanish Moss Bottom: Patchouli, Galbanum, Vanilla Flower
Review: Very light on cold sniff, but I think it's a woodsy cologney patchouli scent.
Scent: 4
Throw: 0

FLORA PARFUME
Notes: Top: Peony, Citron, Neroli Bouquet - Middle: Heliotrope Flower, Sandalwood, Amber - Bottom: Romantic Jasmine, Vanilla Flower, Sheer Musk
Review: Fresh floral, not too perfumey but almost has a slight candy note even though it's not overly sweet. No throw, could barely detect anything even standing a few feet away.
Scent: 4
Throw: 1

WILD IRIS
Notes: Top: Lush Berry, Sweet Plum, Fresh Melon - Middle: Violet Petals, Fresh Gardenia, Jasmine - Bottom: Vanilla, Orchid, Chilled Musk
Review: Floral with a slight vanilla note and a smidgeon of berry. Smells like body wash. No throw whatsoever.
Scent: 4
Throw: 0

TIBETAN SANDALWOOD
Notes: Top: Ginger, Cardamom - Middle: Cedarwood, Guaiacwood, Jasmine - Bottom: Leather, Sandalwood, Tobacco
Review: Rich milky sandalwood with just a smidgeon of smokiness. Scent dissipated after about 2 hours.
Scent: 3.5
Throw: 3

PUMPKIN ROLL
Notes: Top: Nutmeg, Cinnamon Middle: Ginger, Vanilla Bean, Pumpkin Brulee Bottom: Brown Sugar, Espresso Bean, Buttercream
Review: Rich cinnamon and sugar with a milky quality (maybe the cream cheese in the pumpkin roll). Scent lasted all day.
Scent: 4
Throw: 3.5

PLUM CASSIS
Notes: Top: Tart Cranberry, Bright Cassis, Dark Plum - Middle: Clove, Winter Jasmine, Pink Sugar - Bottom: Cashmere Vanilla, Tobacco, Tonka Bean
Review: This is the one that I'm hoping has decent throw, because I love this scent. It's a rich dark plum scent (almost raisin-y) with a classy fig note that keeps it from being too fruity or overly sweet, and a slight amber note. One of the nicest scents I've smelled, and strong on cold sniff so I'm keeping my fingers crossed! Yay, throw is very good! When melted, it has a very slight nail polish note, but not enough to detract too much from the overall scent. Although for that reason I changed my scent quality score from a 5 to a 4.
Scent: 4
Throw: 3.5

Amber & Oud Wood
Notes: Top: Mandarin, Tangerine, Plum – Middle: Jasmine, Clove, Freesia, Rose – Bottom: Sandalwood, Amber, White Oak, Vanilla
Review: This smells like a very sweet cedar with a hint of amber. When melted, I detected a slight baby powder note, but throw was so weak I couldn't really tell what I was smelling. I definitely did not detect anything orangey (mandarin). Very poor throw.
Scent: 3.5
Throw: 1.5

GRAPEFRUIT & WHEATGRASS
Notes: Top: Grapefruit, Pear - Middle: Vetiver - Bottom: Amber, Fresh Wheatgrass
Review: Fresh grapefruit with a very slight green woodsy note, which is probably the wheatgrass. It has a bit of an artificial chemical note, which comes out more when it's melted. Throw was very light.
Scent: 3.5 on cold sniff, 2.5 melted
Throw: 2

TROPICAL FIG
Notes: Top : Blue Mission Fig, Sparkling Honeydew, Green Fig Leaf - Middle : Wild Freesia, Water Lotus, Hibiscus Blossom - Bottom : Coastal Figwood, Coconut Water, Midnight Plum
Review: This one is "slightly" similar to Plum Cassis, in that classy slightly fruity kind of way. It has a slight raisin quality, with maybe a hint of coconut and a smidgeon of wood, but it's not a tropical scent. Now that I've read the fragrance notes, I think I do detect a hint of honeydew melon, and there is a very slight floral undertone as well. For me, it's not quite as good as ScentSationals Tropical Fig, due to the additional coconut note, and it's not as sweet (although SS Tropical Fig is not too sweet either)
Scent: 4
Throw: 4

INDIAN SUMMER
Notes: Top: Fresh Ginger - Middle: Pumpkin Flower - Bottom: White Pumpkin, Blonde Woods
Review: This smells a little like pumpkin pie. I detect some nutmeg and maybe just a hint of cinnamon. There's also a very slight woodsy note. This one is strong on cold sniff, so I hope it throws well.
Scent: 4
Throw: 3.5

SNOWDAY
Notes: Top - Apple, Melon, Peach, Pineapple Middle - Jasmine, Rose, Violet, Dewy Greens, Eucalyptus, Mint Leaf Bottom - Sheer Musk, Vetiver, Rosewood, Amber
Review: Very weak on cold sniff, so I can't detect the notes. Something sweet? Mint? A hint of wood? Melted, I detect apple and spearmint with a hint of wood, and other notes I can't put my finger on. Melon? Maybe. I didn't really like this scent.
Scent: 2
Throw: 4

WHITE PUMPKIN & CLOVE
Notes: Top: Pumpkin Seeds, Brown Sugar, White Pumpkin Purée - Middle: Cinnamon leaf, Black Clove, Sandalwood - Bottom: Patchouli Bark, Vetiver, Vanilla Cashmere
Review: Wow, this one is rich! It smells like brown sugar and salty butter mixed together with a little bit of cloves added and a smidgeon of pumpkin.
Scent: 5
Throw: 4

RUM RAISIN
Notes: Top: Peach, Apple, Pomegranate – Middle: Rum, Lily, Peony – Bottom: Vanilla, Musk, and Amber
Review: On cold sniff I smell a combination of flowers and fruit but I can't make out the other notes. Apple maybe? Now that I see the fragrance notes, I think I do detect the musk and amber, definitely the floral notes (lily and peony), and the fruity notes (not sure which ones). It smells more like a nice classy ambery perfume (similar to Tropical Fig and Plum Cassis) rather a food scent. It doesn't smell like rum and raisin. Disappointingly, throw was very light.
Scent: 4
Throw: 2

CRANBERRY NUT
Notes: A medley of sweet cherry, tangy mandarin and red apple layered over smooth chocolate and a bouquet of peony and freesia. Sweet caramel and rich vanilla give this fragrance a comforting close.
Review: This smells SO good, like a thick rich chocolate cherry cordial liqueur with a nutty note. I smell cherry, chocolate and nut. Now that I see the fragrance notes, maybe I do detect a smidgeon of apple, but no mandarin at all (which smells like orange), and neither of the floral notes.
Scent: 5
Throw: 3.5

MOROCCAN MARKET
Notes: Top: Cinnamon Leaves, Spicy Citrus - Middle: Clove, Cinnamon Bark, Patchouli - Bottom: Cream, Spices, Musk
Review: I smell cinnamon and wood with a hint of cloves. Poor throw; I could barely detect any scent while melting.
Scent: 4
Throw: 1.5

MAHOGANY LEATHER
Notes: Top: Bergamot, Incense - Middle: Rose Hips, Holiday Suede, Smoked Myrrh - Bottom: Leatherwood, Cassis Bark, Cusiacwood
Review: I smell leather and smoke. On cold sniff I also detect a hint of cedar that I don't smell when melted.
Scent: 3.5
Throw: 2.5

BLUE SPRUCE
Notes: Top - Aldehydic, Bergamot, Cranberry, Red Currant Middle - Pine Needles, Wintergreen, Clove, Cinnamon, Cypress Bottom - Balsam, Cedarwood, Amber
Review: This is one of the nicest pine/spruce scents I've ever smelled. I definitely smell pine, and there's also maybe a hint of clove. But what makes this scent unique is it has a sweetness to it, almost like a perfume. And there's also something a little foodie about it, maybe vanilla and nut? Looking at the fragrance notes, the first note is "Aldehydic"; I have no idea what this is, but I found that it offers a "soapy-waxy-lemony-floral" note to fragrances, like a "fresh lemon scent". I don't smell any lemon in this, but it's definitely a clean scent, maybe a little soapy, but not like a body wash type scent. Red Currant is probably the "classy" berry note I'm detecting. I don't smell any mint at all from the wintergreen, or cinnamon either. Throw is fantastic, and it's a "scent monster" (scent takes over entire house).
Scent: 5
Throw: 5

MAPLE BUTTERSCOTCH
Notes: Top: Sweet, Caramel, Butterscotch, Spice - Middle: Butterscotch, Toffee, Cinnamon, Clove - Bottom: Vanilla, Brown Sugar, Spice
Review: Smells like brown sugar and buttery maple with a hint of cinnamon. Would probably smell just like butterscotch candies if it weren't for the cinnamon, which makes it smell more like cinnamon sprinkled pancakes but without the bakery note.
Scent: 4
Throw: 3.5

GRAPEFRUIT HIBISCUS
Notes: Top : Juicy Grapefruit, Orange, Mandarin, Cassis - Middle : Cyclamen, Violet Leaf, Grapefruit Zest, Rhubarb - Bottom : Black Currant, Musk, Sandalwood
Review: An fresh authentic grapefruit scent but I also detect some orange. I don't smell any floral. And now looking at the scent notes there, I don't see hibiscus at all. I also don't detect musk or sandalwood.
Scent: 4
Throw: 3

WHITE PEAR & CEDAR
Notes: Top - White Pear, Nectarine Middle - White Flower, Juicy Peach Bottom - Cedarwood, Earthy Patchouli, Blonde Woods
Review: This is such an unusual combination but it really works, and it's one of my favorite scents. I definitely smell the cedar, and the fruitiness of the pear. I think I smell a hint of patchouli, but I don't smell nectarine or peach.
Scent: 5
Throw: 3

TOBACCO & HONEY
Notes: Top: Chamomile, Orange Flower, Carnation Middle: Honey, Jasmine, Saffron, Guiacwood, Opoponox Bottom: Tobacco Leaf, Vetiver, Amber, White Patchouli, Vanilla Bean, Cedar
Review: Another unusual combination that works. I definitely smell the sweet smoky tobacco scent and the honey. There's also a slight hint of floral, amber, and cedar
Scent: 5
Throw: 3

VANILLA EGGNOG
Notes: A fireside favorite with warm vanilla cream and egg custard topped with rum and sugar cane.
Review: This really smells like eggnog, sweet rich creamy milky vanilla and nutmeg, and there may be a hint of floral or amber.
Scent: 5
Throw: 3

BIRCH & CLOVE
Notes: Top - Sparkling Orange, Citrus Zest Middle - Pine Needles, Cinnamon, Clove, Rosemary, Thyme Bottom - Creamy Vanilla, Balsamic, Cedarwood, Rosewood, Musk
Review: I can't figure this one out, but it smells fantastic. Without knowing the notes, I think I smell cedar first, then clove, but there are a lot of other notes. Maybe a smidgeon of orange and pine? OK now that I've read the notes, I can see what I'm smelling. I think the orange is way in the background and barely noticeable.
Scent: 4
Throw: 3

POPCORN GARLAND
Notes: A classic holiday tradition of freshly popped popcorn strung around the Christmas tree with sweet butter and salty nuances.
Review: It smells just like authentic salty buttery popcorn!
Scent: 4
Throw: 3

FIRESIDE
Notes: Top: Soothing Citrus, Violet - Middle: Cedar, Sandalwood, Sage - Bottom: Amber, Oakmoss, Vanilla
Review: This smells like smoky clove to me, even though there's no clove in the scent list. I don't smell citrus or floral, but I do smell the cedar, sandalwood and amber, and there's a slight foodie quality which might be the richness of the vanilla.
Scent: 4
Throw: 3

HIBISCUS & JAVA (from Rio de Janeiro line)
Notes: Top: Bergamot, Orange Cassis - Middle: Jasmine, Orange Blossom, Espresso Bean Accord - Bottom: Sandalwood, Vanilla, Musk, Amber
Review: Another one of my favorite scents, this is a floral scent with a coffee note and a hint of neroli (orange blossom). I also smell the richness of the vanilla and a little warmth from the amber.
Scent: 5
Throw: 3

PLUM ORCHID
Notes: Top: Floral, Green Bergamot, Plum - Middle: Orchid, Jasmine, Ylang, Nutmeg, Amber - Bottom: Sandalwood, Musk, Vanilla, Oriental
Review: I can't figure out the notes in this one. It's kind of a green floral with a slight bitterness (maybe the bergamot). Ylang is an unusual scent to put in a wax melt, but I do detect that note. And I detect notes of the sandalwood, vanilla and musk. A very complex scent.
Scent: 3.5
Throw: 3

SKI LODGE (from Vail line)
Notes: Retreat to the ski lodge after a long day with the scent of blooming lavender nestled among crushed eucalyptus and warm cedar wood.
Review: This is kind of like a "masculine" lavender. I definitely smell lavender first, but there's also the sweet wood note from the cedar, and maybe a faint hint of the eucalyptus.
Scent: 3.5
Throw: 3

RASPBERRY MACAROON
Notes: Top: Raspberry Juices, Blackberries, Sugared Mandarin - Middle: Chopped Almonds, Vanilla Pastry, White Cocoa Bean - Bottom: Powdered Sugar, Caramel Swirl, Sweet Rum, Coconut
Review: Super rich raspberry bakery scent. I definitely smell rich raspberries, and there's a smidgeon of chocolate scent from the white cocoa. I also detect a little bit of caramel and just a hint of coconut.
Scent: 5
Throw: 3

CARNIVAL (from Rio de Janeiro line)
Notes: Top: Lavender, White Pear - Middle: White Dianthus, Orchid Vanilla, Almond Blossom - Bottom: Cocoa Beans, Myrrh, Sandalwood
Review: Very light on cold sniff and no throw when melted. But what I can smell on cold sniff smells very nice, a warm vanilla scent with hints of almond, chocolate, coconut, lavender, and a very slight baby powder note.
Scent: 3.5
Throw: 0

RIVER SEINE (from Paris line)
Notes: Top: Lemon, Pink Pepper, Metallic Notes - Middle: Anise, Geranium, Watery Flowers - Bottom: Musk, Moss, Tonka, Creamy Woods
Review: This one is so light on cold sniff that I really can't smell anything except a slightly metallic floral. I didn't even bother melting it.
Scent: n/a
Throw: n/a

PARISIAN CAFE (from Paris line)
Notes: Top: Citrus Blossoms, Mandarin, Apple, Herbal, Green Leaves, Thyme - Middle: Intoxicating Jasmine, Lily, Rose, Violet, Anise, Clove - Bottom: Musk, Sandalwood, Amber, Cedar, Vanilla, Tonka, Patchouli, Moss
Review: This one is so light on cold sniff that I really can't smell anything except a slight floral apple note. I didn't even bother melting it.
Scent: n/a
Throw: n/a

ROSEWOOD
Notes: Top: Herbal Citrus - Middle: Tobacco Blossom, Rose - Bottom: Wood, Balsamic
Review: Clearly I got a dud, because all I smell is old wax with maybe a smidgeon of the tobacco note. I didn't even bother melting it.
Scent: n/a
Throw: n/a

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