Scentsy Wax Bars Review from a User, NOT a Seller

Scentsy Wax Bars Review from a User, NOT a Seller

 

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I never thought I would try Scentsy wax because they're so darned expensive. I discovered Walmart wax (ScentSationals and Better Homes & Gardens) a few years ago, and I've been extremely happy with the scent quality, throw, and of course, the price... $2 for a 2.5 oz. wax melt is hard to beat. Scentsy, on the other hand, is $4.99 for 3.2 oz., which is almost double the price of Walmart wax.

Plus you can only buy Scentsy from commissioned salespeople (although I've heard that some stores sell Scentsy, although I've never found any in my area). This means that unless you're attending a Scentsy party, you can't sniff the wax before you buy it, the way you can at a store like Walmart. And because Scentsy salespeople are commissioned and they have quotas to fill, some of them tend to be a bit aggressive with their marketing, and I personally have experienced less than honest tactics by quite a few Scentsy reps. I'm sure the majority are honest individuals who love the product, want to spread the joy, and maybe make a little money in the process. But the underhanded tactics I've experienced from some reps in general kind of left a bad taste in my mouth about the product.

So I was at a big neighborhood yard sale 2 weeks ago and there was a Scentsy booth there. I was able to smell the wax and I was impressed at the quality and strength of the scents on cold sniff. The new scents were $4.99, but they had discontinued scents on sale for $2.50, so I bought a bunch of each, which gave me some additional discounts, and when all was said and done I got 15 scents that averaged around $3 a piece.

I got these home and started melting them one by one. A part of me was hoping they'd be awful with weak throw, so I could justify my anti-Scentsy judgment. But… I have to admit… I loved them. The scent quality was fantastic, and they're complex scents. And the throw on most of them ranged from very good to excellent.

So before I get to reviewing each scent, I guess the question is, would I buy these again? Well, if I could get them for an average of $3 to $3.50 a piece after discounts or including half price scents, absolutely. I would still not buy these for $4.99 each if I couldn't also get some at half price, and I would never buy them online and pay shipping, as shipping is $8 for orders up to $79.99. Plus I'd prefer to sniff them before buying them, although I'm fairly certain I'd be happy with most of the scents I would get. If I didn't already have as much wax as I do now, like almost 1,000 wax melts, I would be more likely to splurge on Scentsy.

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Luna

Introduced: March 2011

Discontinued: Still available

"White florals—jasmine, sweet pea and freesia—juicy berries, and sandalwood"

This is a rich warm classy ambery scent with a hint of some kind of dark berry. It smells a lot like ScentSationals Blackberry Cider. This one is supposedly everyone's favorite, and I can see why. Looking at the scent notes, there are the berries, and I think I also smell sweet pea, but no sandalwood.

Throw: Fair to Good, around a 2.5 or 3 out of 5

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My Only Sunshine

Introduced: Summer 2015

Discontinued: Still available

"Golden tuberose and jasmine balanced by sandalwood, vanilla and glowing amber."

This is a fruity floral, and very strong on cold sniff. I can't determine the scent notes though, maybe pear? There's also a warmth in the background like a sweet amber. It smells like an expensive feminine perfume. This is another complex scent, and I really like it. Looking at the scent notes, okay I do smell tuberose, not so much jasmine, and there's the amber. And yes, there's a smidgeon of milky woodsiness way in the background that's probably the sandalwood. When melted, I don't smell all the complex notes, just a pleasant floral with a perfume vibe but also a smidgeon of baby powder, which definitely makes this a bedroom or bathroom scent.

Throw: Good (3 out of 5)

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Summer Sunset

Introduced: June 2015

Discontinued: Yes

"Delight in the sun's last rays as brilliant pomegranate, black currant and rhubarb dissolve into a horizon of sugared lemon and vanilla frost"

Ooh I really like this one. I think I smell plum but there's also a rich succulent strawberry note and a savory note and something warm like amber, but also a very slight perfumey note, and maybe a salty lemon note. Looking at the scent notes, okay pomegranate and black currant, I get that. Rhubarb, that's probably the rich strawberry note I'm getting. And there's the lemon. I don't smell vanilla at all. This is a very complex scent. This scent smells almost exactly like Citrus Pop although a little sweeter.

Throw: Very Good (3.5 out of 5)

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Amazon Rain

Introduced: February 2016

Discontinued: Still available

"Sweet notes of melon, orange zest, coconut milk and sultry night blooming jasmine"

I smell coconut and a really sweet fruit, but it's not a tropical scent. There's also a floral in there, and maybe a smidgeon of sweet lemon? Looking at the scent notes, it's probably the orange zest that I think is the lemon (although I don't smell orange at all). I guess the sweet fruit is the melon, but it doesn't smell like watermelon at all, maybe honeydew. Melted, I do smell tropical fruit but it's really more of a nice sweet fruit candy scent, and I don't smell floral when melted.

Throw: Good (around a 3 out of 5)

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Lemon Verbena

Introduced: March 2014

Discontinued: Still available

"Fresh lemon zest with a bright kiffir lime and verbena leaf"

This is lemon with the soapy herbal lemongrass scent of verbena. Melted, it smells like salty lemon with a lemongrass type herbal note. It's not sweet at all. It's a nice scent, but lemongrass verbena type scents are not my favorites in general.

Throw:  Excellent (4 out of 5)

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Summer Sunrise

Introduced: June 2015

Discontinued: Yes

"Savor the stillness of dawn with freshly ground juniper berry, cardamom and a crackle of black pepper, enlightened by aromatic bergamot and cedar"

I can't figure out what I'm smelling. I think it's cedar but there are other notes in there I can't pin down.  Maybe pepper and possibly a smidgeon of spruce or balsam. But it's not a Christmasy scent. OK, the scent notes are spot on. This is a nice, unique scent. Melted, it smells like a savory cedar, if that makes sense. It's a nice, intense woodsy cedar, and I think the savory note is the cardamom.

Throw: Very Good (3.5 out of 5)

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Newborn Nursery

Introduced: Spring/Summer 2007 and brought back Spring/Summer 2011 ("Bring Back My Bar")

Discontinued: February 2008 but still available after 2011

"Fresh, clean, and powdery, this dreamy scent evokes memories of cradling your little ones"

This is 100% baby powder, and it's very strong on cold sniff. When melted, it smells just like it does on cold sniff, like baby powder. I've never found a store bought wax melt with a baby powder scent, and baby powder scented vendor wax I've tried has always had poor throw. So this one is a definite winner for me!

Throw: Excellent (4 out of 5)

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Braeburn

Introduced: March 2016

Discontinued: Still available

"Fresh apple and a luscious assortment of tropical fruit enjoy a sprightly pop of whipped sugar and creamy vanilla."

This is a sweet fruity scent with a creamy note, maybe a tropical fruit mixed with melon. It smells like a summer slushie! Looking at the scent notes, I don't smell apple individually, as there are a lot of fruit scents mixed in. Melted though, I smell a slightly bitter note, like grapefruit rind, that gives it a bit of a cat pee vibe. This is the only scent out of all the Scentsy scents I've tried here that I don't like when melted.

Throw: Good (around a 3 out of 5)

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Citrus Pop

Introduced: February 2016

Discontinued: Still available

"Bergamot, sparkling mandarin and orange blossom"

This smells almost exactly like Summer Sunset, but in this one I can definitely smell the lemon and it's a sweet, salty bakery lemon. But there's another note I can't figure out. Looking at the scent notes, maybe the other note is bergamot (I don’t know what that smells like), but I don't smell orange blossom at all (which is neroli, a beautiful scent that you'll never forget even if you smell it once). I love this scent, but I swear I smell lemon, and it's not really citrusy. Melted, it's a really rich scent, not very sweet, kind of like lemon pound cake without frosting, and not all that lemony. Hard to describe, but a fantastic scent.

Throw: Excellent (4.5 or 5 out of 5)

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Caramel Pear Crisp

Introduced: September 2012

Discontinued: Yes

"Enjoy the indulgence of sugared pears and juicy nectarines melded together and blanketed by a crumble of golden brown sugar. Above the rich layer of buttery batter sits a generous helping of warm caramel cream"

Just like the scent name, this smells like pear drizzled in caramel. Yummy! Melted, it has a slight chemical note. It's a nice scent, but there's something slightly offputting in there.

Throw: Excellent, around a 4 or 4.5 out of 5

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Beach

Introduced: Spring/Summer 2013

Discontinued: Still available

"Papaya and honeydew sweetened with a hint of coconut"

I smell sweet coconut, a sweet guava type tropical fruit, and suntan oil. Looking at the scent notes, okay it's papaya and honeydew, not guava. Really nice summery scent. Melted, it's VERY sweet, almost sickeningly sweet. And it's a scent monster! This one needs a large room for sure; that kind of sweetness can't be contained in one room.

Throw: Excellent (5 out of 5)

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French Lavender

Introduced: 2013

Discontinued: Still available

"Pure, herbal fragrance of wild lavender from the hills of France"

This is straight lavender, not overly sweet. It's slightly medicinal, but not enough to detract from the scent. It's a nice lavender scent. Scent started dissipating within 1.5 hours though.

Throw: Fair to Good, around a 2.5 or 3 out of 5

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Key Lime Tortilla

Introduced: 2008, but brought back in July 2014 only ("Bring Back My Bar")

Discontinued: Yes

" Lime and kiwi combine for a south of the border sweet treat"

Fantastic sweet creamy milky sugary scent with a lime notes, but also some other fruit that I can't figure out. OK looking at the scent notes, the other fruit is kiwi. When melted though, I just smell slightly salty lime with a bready background. It's a great scent.

Throw: Excellent, around a 3.5 or 4 out of 5

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Coconut Pumpkin Pie

Introduced: September 2015

Discontinued: Still available

"Pumpkin puree, grated nutmeg and maple sugar are heightened by a hint of coconut shavings"

This smells heavenly. It's a rich sweet caramely pumpkin scent with coconut and a hint of nutmeg. The caramel I smell is actually maple. Melted, I smell mostly a rich buttery coconut, like buttery pie crust with coconut mixed in, but it's not salty like some rich wax scents can be. This one is a scent monster and took over the entire house.

Throw: Excellent (4.5 or 5 out of 5)

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Amaretto

Introduced: Original date unknown, brought back in January 2012 only ("Bring Back My Bar")

Discontinued: Yes

"An almond scented fragrance sweetened with honey and spice"

Very sweet creamy milky almond. This smells good! Looking at the scent notes, I think I do smell a bit of honey.

Throw: Very good (3.5 out of 5)

 

Living Colors Scented Wax Melts (from Big Lots) Review - New Summer Scents - May 2016

Living Colors Scented Wax Melts (from Big Lots) Review - New Summer Scents - May 2016

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This is a review of Living Colors scented wax melts from Big Lots (new Summer 2016 scents). Living Colors wax melts are made by MVP Group International, the same company that makes Mainstays (for Walmart), Colonial Candles, Burt's Bees, Paula Deen (discontinued), Everyday Escapes, Everyday Essentials, Interiors by Design, True Living (at Dollar General), K-Mart & Sears brands, and Febreze Home Collection.

Living Colors comes out with new scents every few months. But sometimes the scent names don't match the scent. Many Living Colors melts have very weak or zero throw. Some may do well in a very small bathroom, but many would not throw well anywhere.

Check out the other review I did a few weeks ago on older Living Colors scents, many of which can still be found at Big Lots: http://www.scentedwaxreviews.com/2016/04/living-colors-scented-wax-melts-big-lots.html

The following scents are all new summer 2016 scents except Coconut Lime and Peach Cassis, which are from last year, and which I included for comparison purposes:

Coastal Grass

This has barely any scent on cold sniff. When melted, I have to put my face about 6" from the warmer to smell anything at all. It's a bland waxy scent with a slightly grassy note and I think even a smidgeon of neroli (orange blossom), which I love. But the scent is very weak. It has zero throw, and I don't even think it would do well in a tiny bathroom.

Sandy Beach

This is not a suntan oil scent like I was hoping, but a coconut scent. It also has a nutty vanilla note, but it's not a sweet scent. The coconut has that "fake" coconut air freshener vibe though. It's not very strong on cold sniff, so I don't have high hopes for the throw. As I suspected, zero throw. And all I smelled when I got up close to it was a fake coconut scent, none of the nutty vanilla notes.

Seaside Escape

This is a fresh soapy watery scent with a hint of cologne and I think a smidgeon of mint. I'd say mostly it smells like soap, but it's a nice pleasant scent. It's not that strong on cold sniff. Barely any throw. I could smell "something" sweet in the room, but it was barely noticeable, maybe a 1 out of 5.

Paradise Reef

I really like this scent. It's a fresh bright watery apple floral note with a hint of perfume. There may also be a smidgeon of another fruit in there, perhaps strawberry. It's kind of like apple blossom mixed with a sweet watery note, although I'd classify it as a watery scent rather than an apple scent. Strong on cold sniff, and throw is very good, around a 3.5 out of 5.

Iced Berry Sangria

This smells like rich black raspberry and vanilla, a little on the fake side, but I really like it. It has a creamy quality, like maybe a black raspberry ice cream. It also has a very slight perfumey quality, like a rich raspberry scented skin cream. Melted, I think I also smell a little bit of grape. Throw is quite good, around a 3 or 3.5 out of 5.

Pina Colada

Pina Colada is made of rum, coconut, and pineapple. This smells like straight coconut with nothing else added, and it has a fake note. It actually has a milky quality though, like coconut milk, so it does smell pretty good. But throw is very light, maybe a 1.5 or possibly 2 of 5.

Coconut Lime

This scent is from last year. It's the same scent as Pina Colada, just straight coconut. Throw is even lighter though, maybe a 1 out of 5, and I could barely smell it even with my nose right up to the warmer.

Island Margarita

Margarita is made with tequila and lime, but I'm not sure what I'm smelling here. It smells more like orange or plum or some combination of that. I don't think I smell lime or lemon. It's a nice scent, but it doesn't smell like a margarita. Throw is just okay, maybe a 2.5 or 3 out of 5, but would probably do very well in a small room.

Lime Mojito

This smells almost exactly like their Lemon Bars scent, which is one of my favorite lemon scents. I think there's a subtle difference, although it may in fact be the same scent. Throw is excellent, around a 3.5 or 4 out of 5.

Peach Cassis

This scent is from last year. It smells like a fresh peach, but it's not very sweet. It's more like the outside of the peach rather than the sweet juicy inside. I'm not sure what cassis is, but I just smell peach. When melted, however, it took on a cat pee note so I had to turn it off. Throw is excellent though, around a 3.5 or 4 out of 5. Maybe it would smell better mixed with something else.

Peach Bellini

This is a sweeter, juicier peach than Peach Cassis. It's not very strong on cold sniff, and it had almost zero throw.

Island Nectar

This is a typical sour tropical fruit scent. It's a nice scent, and strong on cold sniff. Throw is excellent, around a 3.5 or 4 out of 5.

Strawberry Daiquiri

This is a super sweet berry scent that smells like strawberry, raspberry and grape mixed together. It's a very nice, pleasant summer scent, even if it's not really an "authentic" berry scent. Throw is fantastic, around a 3.5 or 4 out of 5.

Caribbean Sunset

This one was not available originally, so I added this review on May 15, 2016. This smells like pineapple with a slight coconut note, probably what Pina Colada should have smelled like. But it has that fake tropical note that smells like a cheap car freshener. Melted, it smells pretty nice, but throw is mediocre, maybe a 2.5 out of 5.

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