Goose Creek Candle Scented Wax Melts - First Look - March 29, 2016
This is a "first sniff" for 20 scented wax melts I got from Goose Creek Candle this morning. This is my third order with Goose Creek and I've been very happy with the quality and throw of their scents. I'll do a full review over the next few weeks either by video or text, or both.
Please also join our "Scented Wax Melts Store Bought" Facebook group to discuss Goose Creek (we LOVE Goose Creek), ScentSationals, Better Homes & Gardens, Yankee, and many other scented wax melt brands, at https://www.facebook.com/groups/scentedwaxretail.
This is a review of 3 pineapple scented wax scents at Walmart: Better
Homes & Gardens Hawaiian Pineapple Cilantro, Better Homes &
Gardens Pineapple Kiwi Colada, Better Homes & Gardens Tropical Pina
Colada, and ScentSationals Papagayo Beach. My impression of these is:
Yuck. But that's really because I don't like pineapple scents in
general. If you like pineapple, you might love these! See video below for more details...
Candles by Victoria (http://www.candlesbyvictoria.com) is a small vendor wax company in Texas that has been making candles and wax melts for 16 years. She has what seems like hundreds of different scents and scent combinations. The 12 scents I purchased, shown below, are unique scents that for the most part I haven't smelled in any other wax melts. Like many wax companies, I had mixed results with the throw (after I let them cure for about 3 weeks, more than the recommended 7 to 10 days), but I'm happy with the quality of the scents themselves. I will probably purchase more scents at some point from Candles by Victoria (CBV).
MANGO SORBETT Notes: Blend of Mango, Raspberry, Lemon Compared to: Tutti Dolce Review: This smells like an authentic sweet succulent mango, without the tropical notes that a lot of mango scents have. It smells like the mango nectar or juice, as it's very sweet. Cold sniff was a little weak, but melting it really brought the notes out. Nice, realistic scent. Now that I've read the scent notes, I can detect the raspberry (I think that's what adds to the succulence) and a little bit of lemon in the background (gives it a very slight tart quality). Throw: 3.5
EDWARD CULLEN Notes: A mixture of sunshine, lilac and honey Review: I can't figure out the notes in this, but I really like it. It's unlike anything I've ever smelled. It's like a juicy fruity slightly floral skin cream scent. Now that I see the scent notes, I do detect the honey. I guess the lilac is the floral, although it doesn't smell lilac-y to me. Throw: 3.5
BATHTIME WITH POOH Notes: Crunchy toffee bits with generous drizzles of sweet honey makes this fragrance so delectable and mouthwatering. Review: This is a popular scent among wax vendors. It smells like some kind of baby product and would be perfect in a nursery. I smell honey, baby powder and milk. Not sure if I smell toffee, but it does have a slightly yummy note. Unfortunately the scent dissipated in under 2 hours. Throw: 3
BAMBOO & WHITE GRAPEFRUIT Notes: This fresh, complex fragrance begins with top notes of White Grapefruit,
Petitgrain, and Tangerine; leading to middle notes of Mandarin,
Tangerine, and Mimosa Petals; and balanced with base notes of Rainforest
Bamboo, Juniper Berries, and Musk. Review: I smell both the slightly tropical woodsy scent of the bamboo, plus the grapefruit. As time went on, the grapefruit notes dissipated a bit, and the scent took on a soapy note, but a nice expensive type of herbal soap. Throw: 3
ME TARZAN, YOU JANE Notes: This enticingly warm fragrance combines ripe fig, creamy coconut milk, caramelized brown sugar and soft, velvety musk. Compared to: Bath and Body Works Brown Sugar and Fig Review: Amber scent with a coconut note. Light on cold sniff, and unfortunately very light throw which is disappointing because it's a really nice scent. Throw: 2
EMPEROR'S LOVE Notes: A burst of lemon creates a fresh accent for this fruity floral blend. Sweet woodland strawberry balances with floral tones of rose and a hint of lavender as accents of ginger add a creative touch. Undertones of rare woods and a hint of musk create lingering warmth for the scent. Review: Can't figure this one out. Floral? Fruity? Now that I see the scent notes... I still can't figure it out. I don't detect any lemon at all. "Maybe" the strawberry, rose, and wood. It's supposedly a dupe of some perfume. It smells a little metallic to me, or like nail polish. Not one of my favorites. Throw: 4
ANGELINA Notes: Inspired by Angel perfume, this is a soft, sweet woody-floral composition with azalea, jasmine, lavender and rose notes underscored by patchouli and other precious woods with hints of citrus and other fruits appearing in the top note. Balsam and vanilla add rich sweetness. Review: This is supposed to smell like Angel perfume, which I love. Angel is a patchouli type scent with notes of berries, caramel, rose, chocolate and musk. Angelina smells a little like Angel, but it's so light on cold sniff it's hard to tell. Unfortunately this had zero throw when melted. Throw: 0
SIDECAR ANNIE Notes: Top notes of Herbaceous tobacco leaf followed by a touch of sweet honey and finishing with a smoky, leathery cedar wood, fresh cherry wood, and vanilla bean. Masculine, refreshing, and soothing, very complex and memory evoking. Review: On cold sniff I think I smell berry, nut and maybe a hint of mint. Now that I see the scent notes, I do detect the honey, cherry, and a touch of tobacco. I don't smell leather or smoke, and it's definitely not a cologne type scent. This is a very nice scent, and smells more foodie than masculine. This is the scent I was looking forward to melting the most. But unfortunately, throw was almost non-existent other than maybe a very faint sweet tobacco scent. The poor throw was surprising since this scent is part of her premium "Black Label" line (the only one I got from this line). Throw: 1
HONEY VANILLA LOVE DUST Notes: An incredibly sexy aroma of raw honey, cocoa butter, and chocolate. Review: Super sweet milky vanilla with a note of honey and chocolate. And looking at the notes, I can definitely smell the chocolate, which is more of a cocoa butter scent than just chocolate. Yummy scent! When melted, it becomes a nice rich bitter cocoa scent, like slightly burnt chocolate with a very slight sweet tobacco note. Throw: 3
BARN WOOD Notes: Fresh Cedar Wood get spicy accents for warm, welcoming appeal in this rustic creation. Earthy tones of patchouli and a hint of rich leather create country accents. Sandalwood is sweetened with exotic amber and soft mosses at the base of the scent, while clean musk surrounds the woody creation. Review: Raw slightly smoky wood with a very slight tobacco or maybe leather note. This has a very slight sweet floral note that makes it smell a little like cologne. Now looking at the scent notes, I definitely smell the patchouli. The musk gives it the cologne vibe, and the moss gives it the slightly floral note. Very nice rustic scent, but not very strong on cold sniff so I have a feeling throw might be weak. And I was right. Throw: 1
BREAKFAST IN VERMONT Notes: White chocolate truffle fragrance begins with top notes of caramel and sugar; well-rounded with middle notes of buttercream, maple, and molasses. Dry base notes include vanilla, white chocolate and white flour. Review: This smells like a chocolate chip croissant. Rich and buttery, a little bit of a flaky bread note, and a touch of maple, along with a little bit of chocolate. Fantastic scent! Throw: 3.5
HEMINGWAY (Type) Notes: A poetic masculine fragrance, with apple peel, cinnamon and spices in a leather and sweet wood base. Review: Fantastic spicy masculine scent with a little bit of cinnamon, leather and tobacco. Now that I see the scent notes, I do smell the apple, and a little bit of the woods. Throw: 4
Tuscany Candle In the Garden Spring Bloom 2016 Scented Wax Melts Review
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This new Tuscany "In the Garden - Spring in Bloom" scented wax melts line from Joann Fabric features 3 new scents for 2016. For me, these scents were duds. I just didn't like the way they smelled, and throw wasn't great.
Lavender Crumpets "Herbal Lavender and Vanilla Caramel" This smells like herbal lavender with a medicinal note, combined with a bakery note. It smells odd, like two scents that should not be put together. If the lavender were more floral and not so medicinal, this might work. Melted, it's definitely more of an herbal medicinal lavender scent, and the bakery is way in the background. After about an hour, I couldn't smell the bakery at all. I don't really care for this scent as it's a bit too medicinal. I think a little bit of vanilla mixed in would help this scent. Throw was good, around a 3 out of 5.
Blue Sage "Spring Blue Sage and Soothing Sea Salt" This one is very light on cold sniff. I smell the sage, but it smells more like herbal lavender than sage. And I do smell a salty note. This is definitely a spa scent, but a little too herbal. It might smell better with a bit more sweetness added. Melted, it just smelled like medicinal lavender but a little more savory due to the sea salt. Like the Lavender Crumpets, it was too savory for my tastes. And the throw was not good, maybe a 2 out of 5.
Water Hyacinth "Aged Amber and Blue Lotus" This is a pleasant watery scent with a sweet floral, but not really flowery. It smells like a fresh sweet herbal body wash with a slight floral note. I don't smell any amber. On cold sniff it smells nice, but when melted it had kind of chemical floral scent that I didn't care for, like a cleaning type scent that should be used to cover up other scents. It wasn't awful, but not good enough for me to melt on a regular basis. Throw was good, around a 3 out of 5.
Goose Creek Candle Scented Wax Melts Review - March 2016
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Watch video below:
I received my Goose Creek order last week and melted all 20 scents! I had placed an order last year, and had mixed results as far as the scent quality and throw. So I was hesitant to try again. However, their sale was too good to pass up... 20 wax melts for the price of 10, bringing the price of each wax melt down from their regular price of $4 each (way too much) to a much more affordable $2 each (same as Walmart wax).
In general, I like Goose Creek wax melts. I just wish the
wax were not so soft and messy (similar to Colonial Candles wax melts). And the
round clamshells make the soft, messy wax difficult to get out of the package. Other
than that, I'm very happy with my order. I only got 4 duds out of an order of
20 this time, which is great odds (better than my original order of 9 wax melts, in which 4 were duds).
Moonlit Bloom
"A delicate floral bouquet of raspberry flower,
peach blossoms and orchids are topped with sweet accords of fig leaves, purple
plum and tangerine. Sandalwood, powdered sugar and orris root in the base
deliver a soothing finish."
This one smells a little link Pink Sugar, similar to Better
Homes & Gardens Pink Sugar Berry and White Cranberry Amaryllis, and
ScentSationals Italian Gelato. It's a rich, sweet, succulent berry scent
(raspberry, I think) with a "makeup" or "lipstick" note and
a little warmth but not ambery. There's another note in there that gives it a smidgeon
of savoriness. It sounds crazy, but that savory note gives it a slight halvah
like vibe. Halvah is a sweet treat made with sesame tahini. So yeah, it's kind
of like raspberry, fig, and sweet halvah! Looking at the scent notes, there's
the raspberry, and plum is definitely in there as well. I think the fig leaves
give it a classy note and temper some of the sweetness. I don't know what orris
root is, but that's probably the slight halvah like savory note. I don't smell
peach or tangerine or sandalwood. I really like this scent, and throw is
excellent, around a 3.5 or 4 out of 5.
French Autumn
"The mouthwatering aroma of fig leaves, purple plum
and tangerine is blended with a bouquet of raspberry flower, peach blossom and
orchid. Sandalwood, powdered sugar and orris root provide a warm, comforting
finish."
This one smells exactly like Moonlit Bloom to me. And
looking at the scent notes, it makes sense, since they're the same notes. I'm
not sure why they would have two scents with the same, well, scents. I'm
guessing one, probably the French Autumn, is a seasonal scent. I don't mind,
since it is a very nice scent. Throw is excellent, at least a 4 out of 5 (wax
tends to throw a little better in the bedroom).
Dancing
Dandelions
"Flowery and feminine, this delightful fragrance blend
of Meyer lemon, juicy apple, lily of the valley, rose and violet leafmeet an
enticing fusion of vanilla, white woods and musk to create the enchanting
essence of walking through a field of dandelions."
This is a green floral with a slight saltiness that makes it
smell like an ocean scent. Actually it smells like women's body wash or
shampoo, but it's not overly feminine. But it's very light on cold sniff, and
while melting. Looking at the scent notes, lemon... I don't know, maybe a
smidgeon? I don't smell apple or lily of the valley. Maybe violet and rose. The
scent is just so light I can't tell, and it doesn't smell quite as complex as
the notes shown. Throw is weak, maybe a 1.5 or 2 out of 5. But after an hour or
so it seems like the scent has mostly dissipated. Nice scent, a little generic,
but weak throw makes this one a dud for me.
Spring Clean
"This delicate and fresh scent opens with bergamot
and juicy red currant blended with rose, jasmine petals and geranium. A sensual
base of sweet musk, benzoin and creamy patchouli adds depth."
This one is very weak on cold sniff. It's kind of floral but
also with a hint of vanilla I think, but it smells waxy. It smells like an old
scent with a poor shelf life. Now reading the notes, I think rose might be the
strongest note, and I do smell currant (gives it a classy vibe). Musk and
patchouli? Maybe. It's just hard to tell because it's so weak. This one is
another dud, as the throw is very weak and I can barely smell it in my bedroom
(where most wax throws fairly well), around a 1.5 out of 5.
Kiss in the Sand
"Enjoy a seaside kiss as cool ocean water splashes
your toes. This fragrance is a sexy blend of dark berries, moon flower and
violet wrapped in a sensual cocoon of vanilla, sandalwood and light musk."
I think I smell strawberry, raspberry, and sweet vanilla,
along with that slight lipstick note that makes it smell a little like Pink
Sugar. It's very similar to Moonlit Bloom and French Autumn. Looking at the
scent notes, yes there are the berries, as well as violet, and vanilla. I don't
think I detect floral, and definitely not sandalwood or musk. I like this one.
Throw is good, around a 2.5 or 3 out of 5.
Patchouli
"The exotic earthly allure of patchouli with notes
of woody patchouli, sandalwood, cedar and white cashmere."
This one is listed on the site as Patchouli Leaves, which it
also says on the label at the bottom of the package. But the front label just
says Patchouli. I think Patchouli Leaves describes it better though. I do smell
patchouli and spices (but not cinnamon type spice), as well as mossy, woodsy,
and green notes, a definite woodsy note, and maybe a smidgeon of floral, or
even a little bit of musk to give it a slight perfumey quality (but not men's
cologne). Looking at the notes, I expected it to be more complex. Sandalwood
and cedar are most likely the woodsy notes I'm smelling, and white cashmere may
be the other slightly floral ambery note. Melting, it has a very
"natural" scent, like tree sap, or a natural skin salve that I used
to have. I like the scent, but this is one that I can see some people really
not liking. Throw is excellent, around a 3.5 or 4 out of 5.
Summer Slices
"The scent of Summer Slices is a luscious fruit
citrus medley with grapefruit, tangerine, and strawberry."
Mmm, fresh summer grapefruit, and I think a touch of orange
and maybe a barely detectable smidgeon of red berry. Looking at the notes, yep,
I smell those on cold sniff. Nice summer fruit scent! Throw is okay, around a
2.5 out of 5, and the scent fizzled after about an hour or two.
Charming Colada
"Key lime, lemon sugar, pineapple, coconut milk,
vanilla and more."
This is a lemony lime scent with sugar and creamy vanilla.
Looking at the scent notes, I don't smell coconut at all, and if there's
pineapple, it's barely noticeable. Fantastic summery scent! After several
hours, it became more of a sugary lemon scent without the lime notes (which
smells just as yummy). Throw is very good, around a 3.5 out of 5.
Vanilla
Wonderland
"This is a vanilla peppermint scent with notes of
vanilla, peppermint, balsam, lemon and precious woods."
This is a peppermint scent, first and foremost. It's also
sweet with a vanilla note. And there's something else in there that I can only
describe as "musty", but in a good way. It gives this scent a
"homey" feel. It might be the combination of balsam and woods,
although it doesn't smell like pine or spruce at all, or even wood for that
matter, and I don't detect any lemon. Throw is excellent, around a 3.5 or 4 out
of 5.
Peppermint
"This true aroma is the perfect peppermint stick
combined with sweet spun sugar and warm melted honey."
This is true peppermint, like a peppermint candy. It's sweet
but not overly sweet, and I don't smell honey. It almost has a menthol note
because it's so pepperminty. But it's not spearmint or "toothpaste"
mint, which is good. On cold sniff I wasn't sure if I'd like this because it's
so minty, but as it's melting, it's not as overwhelming as I thought it would
be. A very nice mint scent! Throw is excellent, around a 4 out of 5.
Peppermint
Snowflake
"Ambersweet mandarin is blended with peppermint
extract and crushed candy canes for a cool and refreshing experience. Creamy
vanilla and vanilla sugar add a sweet, creamy finish for a decadent holiday
treat."
This is my favorite mint scent of the 3 Goose Creek mint
scents I've tried. This one has the least amount of mint. It smells like a warm
vanilla cookie with mint in it. I don't smell any mandarin or orange notes at
all. When melted, it smells more minty than it does on cold sniff, but I still
smell the warm vanilla cookie notes. Throw is excellent, around a 3.5 out of 5.
Cherry Cobbler
"This scrumptious handmade treat folds fresh
cherries, orange and lemon zest into a sweet, delicious blend of cinnamon
sugar, brown sugar, buttery cake crumbs and vanilla extract."
I definitely smell cherries, but it's more of a fake cherry
(in a good way), almost like a cough drop. But I also smell the brown sugar,
which makes this scent very rich and succulent. And even though it's supposed
to be a bakery scent, and it's very yummy, it doesn't have strong bakery notes.
I don't smell cinnamon, orange or vanilla. I'm not a fan of cherry scents, but
I love this one. Throw is very good, around a 3 out of 5, but the scent started
dissipating within 2 hours.
Grapefruit
Mandarin
"Delight your senses in this fresh, invigorating
blend as juicy grapefruit, orange and cassis mingle together with a vibrant
bouquet of cyclamen, violet leaf, black currant and musk."
I smell grapefruit with a savory peppery note, but in a good
way. It smells like maybe sage in the background, but that might be the
mandarin. This is not a sweet scent at all. Looking at the scent notes, I might
detect a smidgeon of orange. I'm not sure what cassis smells like, but I think
that, as well as black currant, gives scents kind of a "classy",
mellow note. No clue what cyclamen is, and I don't smell violet leaf or musk. I
really expected to see something like sage, pepper, or even lemon in the notes.
I wasn't sure if I would like this scent based on cold sniff, but now that it's
melting it smells fantastic, like a savory summer salad with grapefruit on the
side. This one is a scent monster, with a throw of 5 out of 5! After a few
hours though, it got a little annoying because it's so intense.
Cozy Home
"Have a seat by the fire and enjoy the sweet but
rich notes of coconut, pine, woody, musk and caramel."
On cold sniff I smell coconut first, then notes of wood,
milky vanilla, and a smidgeon of cinnamon. Looking at the scent notes, yep
there's the coconut and wood. I don't smell pine at all. Maybe musk and caramel
if I was really looking for it. The hint of cinnamon I'm smelling might
actually be the caramel. Melted, I just smell really milky coconut with barely
any sweetness. This is a nice classy take on coconut. Throw is very good, a 3
or 3.5 out of 5.
Blackberry
Bourbon
"Sun ripened, juicy blackberries, sweet
boysenberries & tangy black current infuse barrel aged Kentucky bourbon to
create this intoxicating and delicious blend. Creamy notes of sandalwood and
natural vanilla finish this delectable creation."
On cold sniff I smell blackberry first, but there's also a
slight floral and maybe perfumey quality. I don't think I smell bourbon.
Looking at the scent notes, I do smell boysenberry (I only know what this
smells like from boysenberry pancake syrup at iHop restaurants!). The black
currant might be the perfumey note, since that tends to temper other scents and
make them smell more "classy". Vanilla, sure. Sandalwood, no. It's a
nice scent, although a little generic. Throw is very good, a 3 or 3.5 out of 5.
Peanut Butter
Sugar
"Creamy peanut butter, pure sugar cane, and whipped
vanilla blend into light notes of fresh apple, candied tangerine, and lemon
zest to create this rich, delectable treat."
This smells like those cheap five-and-dime square vanilla
wafer cookies. But that's not a bad thing, as it actually smells yummy! It's
not a realistic scent, more like a rich, sugary candy/cookie scent. I don't
really smell peanut butter, although maybe there's a hint of a fake nut note
and a little bit of brown sugar. Now that I see the scent notes, I'm surprised
that peanut butter is the first one. And I don't smell anything even resembling
apple, tangerine or lemon. Throw is quite good, around a 3 out of 5. I'm
actually glad this one is not a super strong thrower, since it's so sweet and
rich!
Winter Splendor
"This is a cool winter scent with red berries,
cinnamon, vanilla bean, white cedar and smokey firewood."
On cold sniff I smell red berries, balsam or eucalyptus, and
a smoky note. Seeing the scent notes, yes I think I detect cedar. I don't smell
the cinnamon on cold sniff, but I do smell it a little when melted. And
although I smell balsam or eucalyptus on cold sniff, I don't smell it when
melted. Melted, I smell mostly the smokiness with a little bit of red berries.
I like this scent. It's warm and cozy and although it's definitely a
winter/Christmas scent, it's a little different from other winter type scents.
Throw is very good, around a 3 or 3.5 out of 5.
Blueberry Cake
Donut
"This flavorsome fragrance opens with fruity notes
of apple, blueberry, and black raspberries. A rich heart of vanilla cake, milk,
crystallized sugar, vanilla buttercream and musk."
It definitely smells like a donut with blueberries. But it's
a fake blueberry scent. It still smells very nice, but would be better if it
were more authentic. Looking at the scent notes, okay I do smell the raspberry,
which may be what's making the blueberry smell fake. I don't smell apple. But
strangely, I think I might detect a smidgeon of musk, because this is a
somewhat "perfumey" fruity bakery scent. Throw is good, around a 3 or
3.5 out of 5.
Strawberry
Lemonade Cupcake
"Enjoy top notes of strawberry, orange and grapefruit.
The middle combines sweet lemonade and a light dose of bakery coconut. The
bottom warms the heart with vanilla cupcake mix, buttermilk and powdered
sugar."
This smells just like a vanilla cupcake, with lemonade in
the background. And it's really a cupcake scent, not plain vanilla, not cake,
not a donut. How do they do that?? The lemon note is a lemonade type scent, not
a sweet bakery lemon like the new Better Homes & Gardens Iced Lemon
Poundcake scent, and not a kitchen or industrial lemon. The lemon note is not
very strong, but I do smell it. Looking at the scent notes, orange and
grapefruit? Hmm, perhaps. There is a very faint bitterness way in the
background which is probably the grapefruit rather than the lemon. Although I
do smell the lemon too. Ah, coconut, that's what's making this smell like a
real cupcake. The coconut is so subtle I don't actually notice it. When melted,
I only smell the vanilla cupcake and none of the lemon notes, probably because
the throw is quite weak, around a 2 out of 5.
Strawberry Jam
"Grandma's specialty; straight from the strawberry
patch. Notes of strawberry, peach, caramel, and vanilla."
This is the most delicious strawberry scent I've ever
smelled. It smells just like sweet rich strawberry jam, or maybe handmade strawberry
ice cream with a lot of strawberries mixed in.Looking at the scent notes, yes I think I can detect the peach. It gives
this scent a juicy "country" feel. And I smell a smidgeon of caramel,
which gives this scent its richness. One of my all-time favorite scents, and
throw is excellent, around a 3.5 or 4 out of 5. I bought several of these.
Hazelnut Cake
A mouth watering blend of toasted hazelnuts and creamy
vanilla with sugarcoated vanilla bean, butter, and coconut.
Fantastic and unique scent, this one really smells like
vanilla cake with hazelnuts and a little bit of chocolate. It's rich and nutty,
and the chocolate is not overwhelming. I think I detect a coconut note as well,
so this kind of smells like German chocolate cake. It's rich but it's not
overly sweet. Looking at the scent notes, they're spot on as far as what I
smell, but I'm surprised I don't see chocolate in the scent notes. I really do
smell a milk chocolate note. Throw is very good, around a 3.5 out of 5.
Crunchy Leaves
"Enjoy notes of black currant, Fuji apple, and
tangerine, enriched with a warm heart of cinnamon stick, clove bud, and plum
puree. Cedarwood, oak bark, amber, convey a cozy finish.
Although this scent does have an earthy "fall"
vibe, it's not at all what you'd think a typical fall scent should smell like.
It's very complex and I can't figure out the notes. There seems to be only a
barely detectable smidgeon of every note I'm smelling. I think there's a smoky
wood, and maybe cologne, and maybe apple, and maybe orange, and maybe cinnamon,
and maybe clove. It even has kind of a "dirt", or potting soil vibe
that makes this smell very "natural", but in a good way. It's a nice
scent, not my favorite, but it really is unique. Looking at the scent notes,
okay there's the apple, orange, cinnamon and clove. Black currant and plum,
okay these are the notes that give this scent a "classy", elegant
feel. Throw is very good, around a 3.5
out of 5, but the scent only lasted about two hours.
Burlwood &
Oak
"This warm, woody blend of oak, cashmere woods,
sandalwood and tonka delights and intrigues the senses with the addition of
aromatic rosemary, lemon, lavender and rose, creating a blend that is truly
intoxicating.
This is a very nice men's cologne scent with a clean, woodsy
note, maybe cedar or a vanilla woods type scent. It's not overly sweet or
annoying. Looking at the scent notes, there's the oak and sandalwood. Ah,
cashmere (which is a warm amber type scent), yes I do smell that in the
background. Tonka I believe is a type of vanilla. As for rosemary, lemon,
lavender and rose, if I were not looking for those scents I wouldn't smell
them, but I think I detect just a smidgeon of each of those notes now that I
know they're there.Well, maybe not the
lemon. Throw is excellent, around a 3.5 or 4 out of 5.
Spun Sugar
"Lemon sorbet, raspberry swirl, pink sugared plums,
and sandalwood cream."
This one smells like "Pink Sugar", a girly perfume
that has become a popular vendor wax scent. It's very sweet, like cotton candy
and marshmallows, with a fake strawberry or raspberry note (in a good way), and
maybe just a smidgeon of lemon, and maybe a barely detectable floral. Looking
at the scent notes, yep that's about right. Throw is very good, around a 3.5
out of 5. This is one of the scents I ordered last year, and it has been discontinued.
These are scents I
had purchased last year that I no longer have (so I don't remember the exact
scent notes):
Bergamot Mist
This was a cologne scent with weak throw. Shelf life wasn't
very good, and the second time I melted it several months later, the throw was
even worse.
Driftwood & Sandstar
No scent or throw at all when melted.
Maple Butter
I didn't like this one on cold sniff. It smelled like a fake
chemical maple scent. I didn't even bother to melt it.
Pumpkin Molasses
This was a typical "generic" fall/spicy scent.
Scent was okay, but throw was weak. Couldn't justify keeping it when I have scents from other companies that smell like this one but throw better.
If you want to discuss Goose Creek scents (and other retail/store-bought scents), join our Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/scentedwaxretail. This is a perfect time to discuss Goose Creek, as many of us in the group took advantage of the sale and received our wax at the same time. Lots of discussions going on about Goose Creek right now!
Kmart and Sears Scented Wax Melts by MVP Group Intl. - Scented Wax Review
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Kmart and Sears carry a "no name" brand of scented wax melts made by a company called MVP Group Intl. This company makes several brands of candles and scented wax melts, including Colonial Candle, Carolina Candles, Wick, Everyday Escapes, Bella Rosa, Febreze Home Collection, and Harry David Candles. In general, their wax is soft and messy. Soft wax melts quickly, but it takes time for the scent to make its way around the room. So it's important to be patient and not give up if you can't smell the scent right away. I've had soft wax that took an hour to start throwing!
Paradise Petal
This smells just like a tea rose, even though the wax is purple. Very nice scent, but no throw at all, 0 out of 5.
Jasmine Vanilla
I smell both floral (not sure if it's jasmine) and vanilla, but there's also a cashmere/amber note in there that gives this scent an elegant quality (an upscale type scent like a Tyler Mixer Melt). This smells fantastic, so I'm disappointed that the throw was weak, around a 2 or 2.5 out of 5.
Lavender Lilac
I smell mostly generic lilac, with a hint of lavender. When melted, the lavender notes came out a little more, but it's still mostly lilac. Throw is pretty good, around a 3 out of 5.
Sugared Apples
This smells fantastic. At first I thought it was a fake apple because it doesn't smell "quite" like apple. But when I closed my eyes and sniffed, I realized it's actually pear with a very slight bakery note, like pie crust. There may also be a very slight hint of cinnamon. And it's not overly sweet. It smells like slightly tart pears baked in pie crust, but there are some other notes I can't identify that make it very unique. Throw is excellent, at least a 4 out of 5, maybe more. I went back and bought two more of these!
Eucalyptus Spa
This one smells a lot like ScentSationals Zen, with just a little less sweetness. Zen is a sweet relaxing scent with a subtle musk and sandalwood, and just a smidgeon of spearmint and eucalyptus. Throw is good, around a 3 out of 5.
Sea Salt
This is more of a tropical scent than a spa scent, but it does have some spa type notes. It smells a lot like Eucalyptus Spa above, but with a slight tropical coconut note. The tropical note was a bit annoying to me, so I didn't really like this scent. Throw is excellent, around a 3.5 or 4 out of 5.
Fresh Linens
I can't even describe this scent properly. It does have kind of a laundry scent, but there's also some strong chemical floral note that I can't put my finger on. I didn't care for this scent. Throw is excellent, around a 3.5 or 4 out of 5.
Papaya Guava
Peachy type scent with a hint of tropical fruit and a sweet peach nectar note. Very nice, and throw is very good, around a 3.5 out of 5.
Tropical Fruit
This is very similar to Papaya Guava, but a little creamier and with a little bit of that "fake" peach note, but not enough of the fake peach to make me dislike it. Throw is excellent, at least a 4 out of 5, maybe more.
Sweet Pea
This is similar to other sweet pea scents I've smelled (like those from Patriot Candles, Mainstays, and ScentSationals). But this one has slightly different notes. It might have just a hint of baby powder and/or vanilla. I think it would be a good scent for a baby's room. It's a nice, delicate scent, but the throw is good, around a 3 out of 5.
Cinnamon Vanilla
This is a yummy sweet creamy buttery cinnamon scent. It smells more like cinnamon ice cream than bakery cinnamon, because of a milky note. Throw is excellent, around a 3.5 or 4 out of 5.
Caramel Cream
This is a nice strong sweet creamy coffee scent with caramel undertones. It's probably a scent they've used for one of their other brands with coffee on the label. Throw is very good, around a 3 or 3.5 out of 5.
Grandma's Sugar Cookies
A vanilla cookie scent, not overly sweet. Actually smells more like a donut. Nice scent, but pretty standard. Throw is good, around a 3 out of 5.
Here are MVP scents that I got from Sears last year (Sears owns Kmart) and I no longer have:
Amber Woods
I didn't care for the scent. It's woodsy, but there's a chemical note in it. And the throw was weak.
Ginger Macaroon
I loved this scent! I don't remember the exact notes since I no longer have it, but I do remember that it had almost zero throw, and the little bit I could smell fizzled within 20 minutes.
Midnight Orchid
This one had a strong scent and throw, but I didn't like the scent. I recall it had a chemical note.
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Ashland Scented Wax Melts from Michael's - Spring 2016 Reviews
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The Ashland brand is made exclusively for Michael's Arts & Crafts store. The Ashland wax that Michael's used to carry (and still does, although it's the older wax line) was soft and creamy, and many of the scents didn't throw well. The newer wax melts (tall package with harder wax) are made by Hanna's Candles, the same company that used to make the Mainstays brand triple melts from Walmart (the triple melts were discontinued last year). Hanna's also makes the wax that Aldi carries a couple of times a year (usually in the spring and fall), labeled with Aldi's Huntington Home name. I'm glad to see that Michael's has switched their scented wax line, because Hanna's wax is very good in general, almost rivaling ScentSationals.
When new Ashland scents come out (generally seasonally... spring, fall, winter, and maybe summer), they cost $3.99, which is pricey. But within only maybe 2 to 4 weeks, they go on sale for 40% off, or Michael's has a 40% sale on some of their products. $2.40 for wax is a much better price!
Ashland Scented Wax Melts from Michael's - Spring 2016 Reviews http://www.scentedwaxreviews.com/2016/03/ashland-scented-wax-melts-from-michaels-spring-2016.html
Peach Cobbler This doesn't smell that much like peach to me, but it's still a very nice sweet yummy bakery scent with a hint of fruit. Throw is excellent, around a 3.5 or 4 out of 5, and lasted all day.
Cilantro Lime This is a fantastic and popular scent, tangy and peppery with a lemony/limey note. It's very similar to the discontinued ScentSationals Zesty Lemon Peppercorn. Throw is excellent too, around a 3.5 or 4 out of 5.
Spring Bamboo Very nice jasmine type floral with a strong green note that keeps the floral from being too sweet and flowery. Throw is excellent, around a 4 out of 5.
Salted Caramel Yummy rich sweet slightly burnt sugar scent with a hint of salt, and even a slight hint of coffee. This is not as rich or salty as Yankee Candle's Salted Caramel, but throw is excellent, around a 4 out of 5.
Herb Trio
Lavender side smells like rosemary (which has a savory, eucalyptus type scent, a little like Vicks Vaporub) combined with lavender. It's an herbal, medicinal, savory scent rather than a sweet lavender scent. On its own I think it's too medicinal and would probably smell better mixed with a floral or vanilla scent. Throw is very good, around a 3.5 or 4 out of 5.
Light green side I think is supposed to be basil, based on the photo on the label. It's a little savory with a slightly minty note, so maybe it's mint. Light on cold sniff, so hard to tell. When melted, it smelled like toilet cleaner, that slightly minty clean antiseptic scent, actually better than it sounds. It smelled like someone was cleaning the house! Throw is good, around a 3 out of 5.
Medium green side is a green savory scent, but very light on cold sniff so it's hard to tell. I could barely smell it when melted, maybe a 1 out of 5 throw.
Vanilla Trio
Light tan side smells like a yummy vanilla marshmallow. The first picture on the label just shows vanilla beans, so maybe it's just plain vanilla. Throw is excellent, around a 4 out of 5.
Medium tan side shows a picture of vanilla ice cream above it. But this scent smells more like regular vanilla, while the light tan side smells more like a marshmallowy "ice cream" vanilla. Throw is good, around a 3 out of 5.
Dark brown side shows a picture of coconut above it, so I guess it's coconut and vanilla. If I didn't see the coconut, I wouldn't know based on the scent. It smells more like an old-fashioned or slightly burnt vanilla, rather than coconut. Melted, it smells like a sweet, yummy, buttery, burnt sugar vanilla, although it's not a bakery scent, and I don't smell any coconut. Throw is very good, around a 3.5 out of 5.
Berry Citrus Trio
Green side smells like a combination of orange and lime, tempered by a little bit of vanilla. It's not a bakery scent nor a fresh fruit scent, kind of like a orange/lime vanilla creme soda. I couldn't identify the picture, but I'm told it's Sugar Apples or Sweetsop, also known as "Custard Apple", and it tastes like custard. Throw for this scent is excellent, around a 3.5 or 4 out of 5.
Magenta side (which I think is supposed to be pomegranate) is a fantastic succulent creamy berry scent, but not a bakery scent. It smells like luxurious berry scented makeup or body cream. Throw is very good, around a 3.5 or 4 out of 5.
Red side (strawberry) smells like fake strawberry, but in a good way. It's a girly "pink sugar" type strawberry, like strawberry scented lip gloss, or even strawberry flavored marshmallow. Throw is very good, around a 3.5 or 4 out of 5.
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Chesapeake Bay Candle Home Scents Wax Melts from Target - Spring 2016
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Chesapeake Bay Candles can be found at Kohl's and also a "Home Scents" line at Target. Some of the scents were $3.99 (the newer spring scents in the regular 2.3 oz. package, and the "wax pods" long 3oz. package with 3 round pods that are meant to be melted in a special Chesapeake Bay Candle warmer similar to a Yankee Scenterpiece).
These are much more than ScentSationals and Better Homes & Gardens at
Walmart which are $2.00 for 2.5 oz. If the scents and throw are
superb, I don't mind the higher price so much. However, the scents and the throw aren't good enough to justify the higher cost. This is the same assessment I made when I did my last Chesapeake Bay review in October 2015: http://www.scentedwaxreviews.com/2015/10/chesapeake-bay-candle-scented-wax-review.html.
Flower Shop
Nice authentic fresh "green" floral scent, like a lily. Throw is excellent, around a 4 out of 5.
Strawberry Patch
As nice as this smells, it's not strawberry. I'm just not sure what I'm smelling. It's some kind of berry but also a bit of a "green" floral and maybe a tiny bit of sweet vanilla. And I think a very slight barely detectable smidgeon of eucalyptus or sage! It's not a "natural" type of scent. It's a very nice scent. I'm just stumped about the notes. Throw is very good, around a 3.5 out of 5.
Fresh Springs
This is a men's body wash type scent with a soapy note. It's so hard to differentiate the notes in these types of scents from other similar scents. There's a bit of "mustiness" to it (in a good way) that keeps it from being too sweet. Throw is excellent, around a 3.5 or maybe 4 out of 5.
Key Lime
Very light on cold sniff, this smells like a slightly bitter lemon or lime rind. When melted, it's kind of a lime/lemon with a eucalyptus note that makes it smell a little like lime scented cleaner but not in a bad way. It's a nice scent, but throw was mediocre, around a 2.5 out of 5.
Citrus Burst
This is very light on cold sniff. On cold sniff, I detect a hint of lemon and a saltiness, like a lemon spa salt scrub, as well as a very slight soapy hint that gives it just a smidgeon of a kitchen lemon vibe. Weak throw though, maybe a 1.5 or possibly a 2 out of 5. When melted, I smelled "something" kind of clean, like maybe a laundry scent with a lemon note. But it was very weak.
Pina Verbena
This is very slight on cold sniff. On cold sniff, I smell a sweet pineapple type scent, maybe with just a hint of lemon. It smells more like pineapple flavored hard candy, but it's not an annoying tropical pineapple probably due to the lemony note of the verbena. It's a nice sweet fragrance, but throw was not very good, maybe a 2 or 2.5 out of 5. When melted, all I smelled was a hint of sweet tropical fruit, but I couldn't tell what I was smelling.
Caramel Latte
This is a nice light cinnamon and sugar scent with a hint of caramel and maybe a bit of vanilla. If there's coffee in this one, it's barely noticeable. Although it's a nice scent, it's a rather "typical" cinnamon and sugar scent. Surprisingly for a cinnamon type scent, throw was very weak, maybe a 2 out of 5.
Sweet Amber
A nice ambery cedar type scent, not overly sweet, and a little more woodsy than typical amber scents. It's a classy background type scent. When melted, it has a slight tobacco note that's very nice. Although it's a masculine scent, it's not a cologne scent. Unfortunately, throw was almost non-existent, maybe a 1 out of 5.
Dewy Blossom
This is a very pleasant summery fruity floral. It smells like fake strawberry (but in a good way) mixed with a floral and possibly a smidgeon of melon. It's very strong on cold sniff, so I was disappointed that throw was very weak, barely a 2 out of 5.
Beach Glass
Typical fresh air/salt water type scent. Pleasant, but like every other fresh air/water scent out there. Melted, it smells a little like men's body wash. Excellent throw, around 3.5 or 4 out of 5.
Mango Sorbet
Light on cold sniff, this smells like sweet peach (which I guess is what mango smells like), but not an artificial peach scent. Weak throw, around 2 or 2.5 out of 5.
Bamboo Coconut
This scent is in a melt cup ("pod"). The entire pod is meant to be placed in a special warmer to melt all the wax in the cup at one time. So trying to get the wax out of the cup to cut it up for a regular warmer is very difficult. These pods are only 2.5" circumference, which I think is much smaller than the Yankee Scenterpiece wax. So I don't think the wax would melt properly if you tried to use it in a Yankee Scenterpiece warmer. Only the bottom would get warmed and you'd have all this empty space around the sides.
This is a tropical coconut with a slight woodsy note from the bamboo. It's not an annoying or fake tropical coconut. On cold sniff, there's a very slight tropical fruit note that's not there when melting. Melted, it almost has a "foody" quality to it, not like a bakery note, but something yummy. I love this scent! And throw is excellent, around a 3.5 or 4 out of 5.
Spa Waters
This one is another melt cup. The scent is fantastic, a sweet clean watery scent with a hint of salty peppery lemon. Throw is good, around a 3 out of 5.
Velvet Orchid/Cherry Blossom/Rose Lychee
This one contains 3 melt cups, each in different scents. Rose Lychee is a sweet woodsy scent with a smidgeon of floral. It had no throw, 0 out of 5. Velvet Orchid is a typical fresh fruity floral with a very good throw, around a 3 or 3.5 out of 5. Cherry Blossom is a very pleasant scent of, well, cherry blossom, although it's more like a cherry blossom scented body wash or cream. It may have a hint of sweet vanilla in it. Cherry Blossom throw was very weak, maybe a 1.5 or 2 out of 5.
Sea Salt Air
Another melt cup, this is a fantastic fresh "rich" salty water scent with just a hint of sweetness, a slight cologne note and maybe a barely detectable smidgeon of lemon. Similar to Spa Waters, but slightly different notes. Throw is very good, around a 3.5 out of 5.
Out of all of these, the only ones I liked enough to keep (those with scents that were good and unique enough to justify the high price, and also had very good throw) were Bamboo Coconut, Strawberry Patch, Spa Waters, and Sea Salt Air.
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Glade Scented Wax Melts - Spring 2016 Scents Review
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This is a review of the Glade new "Be" Scented Wax Melt scents from Spring 2016. All in all, I wasn't impressed with these scents except for Be Edgy. Scent notes are from the Glade.com website.
Be Edgy - Coconut Water & Freesia "Stimulating notes of fresh mint and crisp air send your bolder side a wakeup call, while hints of sweet jasmine and refreshing freesia take your confidence levels sky high."
I found this scent at Walmart in January. This is a fresh, sweet scent with a hint of floral and a smidgeon of coconut. It's very pleasant, and the throw is quite good, around a 3 or 3.5 out of 5.
Be Colorful - Wild Lemongrass & Green Pear "It’s time to express who you really are by embracing the colorful side of yourself. With notes of wild lemongrass and green pear this scent is a fun way to tackle whatever life throws at you, and take things in stride with a smile on your face."
I found this scent at Target in mid-February. I can't really describe this scent. It's kind of a green grassy scent with a pear note, but there's something offputting about the pear. It has kind of a watermelon note. I don't smell any lemon. I didn't really like this scent. Throw was very good, around a 3.5 out of 5.
Be Ravishing - Magnolia & Rose "Fall under the sweet spell of a completely alluring scent with notes of gala apple and lush florals. Be charmed as you decide on the right fragrance for you, one that expresses who you are and how lovely you choose to live your life. It’s an enchanting way to breathe in and say ahhh."
I found this scent at Target in mid-February. This is very weak on cold sniff, so all I can detect is some kind of floral. Throw was non-existant, as in 0 out of 5. I could smell a slight floral note if I stuck my face right in front of the melted wax.
Be Energetic - White Peach & Daisies "Notes of juicy orange and green tea take your energy levels up, up and away. Hints of white peach, cedarwood and sandalwood follow closely behind, giving you your second, third and fourth winds."
I haven't found this wax melt at the stores yet, but when I do I'll add my review to this page.
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Sonoma Wax Melts Reviews from Kohl's - Spring 2016
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Green Apple & Kale smells quite weak on cold sniff. My experience with Sonoma wax is that their spring and summer scents have poor throw if they're weak on cold sniff. I do smell the apple and something a little herbal and green in the background that tempers the sweetness of the apple. So rather than being a rich, sweet or caramely apple, it's a fresh springy slightly sour apple like maybe a Granny Smith baking apple. Actually it has a little of a cantaloupe note. There's also a smidgeon of something that smells a little like cologne, so maybe it's the green note of the kale that gives it a fresh note. I did not buy this one, so I can't comment on the throw.
Lemongrass & Herbs was only available in the candle, and was very weak on cold sniff. It's herbal and salty with a smidgeon of lemon. A nice scent if it were stronger. I did not buy this one, so I can't comment on the throw.
Peach & Apricot has that typical fake peach scent that smells like a fake peach scented car freshener. I did not buy this one, so I can't comment on the throw.
Strawberry Basil is also only available in the candle. This is the only one of the 4 new scents that was quite strong on cold sniff. And it's the only scent for which I will buy the melt. It's a very nice sweet strawberry scent with an ice creamy note. There's also a smidgeon of something a little savory and maybe salty in the background, just enough to add some richness to the strawberry. I did buy a small candle and scooped out the wax to melt it, and the throw was excellent, 4 out of 5.
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