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Showing posts with label ashland candles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ashland candles. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Michael's Wax Melts (Ashland) Reviews

Michael's Wax Melts (Ashland) Reviews

Michael's Wax Melts (Ashland)
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These scents have been available at Michael's for years, and are there year-round (although some Michael's don't carry them at all). They are located in the candle aisle, not the seasonal kiosks where the taller seasonal candles and wax melts are located. The wax formula has changed, as well as some of the scents and packaging. For years the wax was very soft and messy (probably soy), and with only a few exceptions they didn't throw well. The new wax is hard (paraffin) and throws much better. But the more likely reason for the improved throw is that these harder wax melts are made by Hanna's Candle! However, Hanna's is no longer making any wax melts for Michael's, so these newer melts are from last year.

To identify the old and new wax melts, the old wax melts say 2.4 oz. on the label, and of course the wax is very soft. The new wax melts says 2.5 oz. on the label, the wax is hard, and the package is slightly taller than the old package (but not as tall as the seasonal scents).



Enchanting Lavender

There are 2 versions of this scent at the store, the much older (from 2014-2015), softer wax in the 2.4 oz. clamshell, and the newer hard wax in the 2.5 oz. clamshell from last year (made by Hanna's Candle).

Both lavender scents are authentic, but they are two different scents.

I prefer the older scent, which is a little sweeter and more powdery. The newer scent is more authentic, with a little bit of that medicinal herbal lavender note that smells like a smidgen of eucalyptus. I believe it's the same scent as Hanna's French Lavender Garden.

The old scent, however, has a very faint throw, maybe 2 out of 5, because it's that soft soy wax and it's quite old. The newer scent has a strong throw, around 3.5 out of 5.



Mango Cilantro

The new version does smell like mango, kind of like peach but a bit harsher. I don't smell cilantro or any herbal notes. It's a nice scent if you like peach or tropical fruit type scents, but like a lot of those types of scents, it has a tiny bit of that cat pee vibe.

The older, softer wax formula smelled better (I no longer have it and couldn't find it this time). It wasn't as harsh, didn't have the cat pee vibe, and it was a sweeter "peach nectar syrup" type of scent. Throw was slightly weaker with the old formula though, Mild or Medium, 3 out of 5. The new harder wax has strong throw, 3.5 out of 5.



Mixed Berries

This smells like fruit candy, sweet with a little bit of tartness. It smells like a couple of different types of fruits, like mulberry, cranberry, cherry, and maybe a hint of raspberry. It smells artificial, but not annoyingly so. The older, softer wax formula (which I no longer have and couldn't find this time) had almost zero throw. The new harder wax has strong throw, 3.5 out of 5.



Mountain Air

The old scent is one of my favorite scents. It smells like a super soapy soap and fresh air, with hardly any sweetness. There may be a smidgen of an herbal note way in the background. It would smell a little like a men's body wash if it were sweet. Throw is bold, 4.5 or 5 out of 5, which is unusual for the older scents.

The new scent is completely different, and it's also a nice scent. It's the same as Aldi's Fresh Cotton Blossom from January 2018 (also made by Hanna's Candle), but oddly it's not the same scent as Hanna's own Fresh Cotton Blossom. It's a nice sweet laundry detergent scent with a hint of a biting laundry note. But it's not a soft powdery fabric softener scent either. It doesn't smell soapy, and it's sweeter than other similar scents I've smelled with a little bit more of a floral note, although it's not really perfumey either. Hard to describe! Aldi's Fresh Cotton Blossom was a scent monster with a throw of 5 out of 5, and this one is pretty much the same, bold, 4.5 or 5 out of 5 (although it took an hour to get there!)



Soothing Vanilla

The old scent is just a plain, generic vanilla, with possibly a smidgen of coconut. It smells like a vanilla scented car air freshener. Not a bad scent, but a bit artificial. It smells better melted, quite nice actually, and without the buttery cookie note that a lot of vanilla scents have. Throw is faint, 2 out of 5, but might work okay in a tiny room like a bathroom.

The new scent is totally different, and smells incredible. I've smelled it before, so I think it's a dupe for something else but I don't know what. It smells like an expensive warm cashmere/amber perfume with a hint of vanilla and maybe a smidgen of patchouli. But it's not an overly perfumey scent, and it's not really a floral. One of my favorite scents, throw is bold (4.5 to 5 out of 5), and the scent lasted the entire day (at least 12 hours, but probably would have gone longer if I hadn't turned off the warmer). I wrote about this one in my Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/scentedwaxretail/permalink/1410049855779506/.




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Also, I offer a FREE review service for U.S. wax melt companies (retail, indie/vendor, and direct sales), where I review and promote your wax melts on this website (8,500+ new visitors per month), YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and more. It's a great way to promote your brand and get more customers! If interested, just leave a comment below with your email address and website where I can view your products.

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Michael's Wax Melts (Ashland) Reviews - Winter/Holiday 2018

Michael's Wax Melts (Ashland) Reviews - Winter/Holiday 2018

Michael's Wax Melts (Ashland) - Winter/Holiday 2018
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Video


I'm disappointed in the new Michael's Winter/Holiday 2018 wax melt scents, particularly the throw. It seems like since Michael's is no longer using Hanna's Candle as the manufacturer of their melts (starting with the Fall 2018 scents), the quality has gone downhill. The Fall scents were somewhat good in terms of throw, although the scents were a bit generic. But the throw for these new Winter scents, in general, is terrible this year. And I expect that will continue to be the case because Michael's decided to go with a cheaper wax melt manufacturer. As the saying goes, "You get what you pay for."

Cider Donut
This is an apple cider scent. I don't smell any donut or bakery notes.
Throw: Mild, 2.5 out of 5

Cinnamon Sparkle
A cinnamon candy scent, a little like "Red Hot" candies. I don't think it's the same Cinnamon Sparkle scent as last year, because I described that one as fantastic, like sweet cinnamon mixed with powdered sugar. And the throw for that one was Medium, 3 or 3.5 out of 5.
Throw: Very faint, 1.5 out of 5

Frosted Sugar Cookie
A nice rich buttery cookie scent. It's not as sweet as other vanilla cookie scents I've smelled, and there may be a smidgen of a barely detectable lemon buttercream note way in the background.
Throw: Faint, 2.5 out of 5

Ginger Cookie
This smells like gingerbread with a little bit of cinnamon. It might be the same scent as last year's Ginger Cookie, but the throw on that one was strong, 4 out of 5.
Throw: Mild, 2.5 out of 5

Gum Drops
It's not the fruity candy scent I was expecting based on the name, but it's quite nice. It smells like raspberry with a soapy slightly perfumey note.
Throw: Mild, 3 out of 5

Holiday Hearth
A fantastic scent that smells like raw wood, kind of like pencil shavings, with maybe a hint of patchouli and just a smidgen of perfume. It smells a lot like Hanna's Candle's Ember Glow.
Throw: Very faint, 2 out of 5

Holiday Spiced Cake
This smells like gingerbread, but it's sweeter and not as gingery as Ginger Cookie.
Throw: Mild, 2.5 out of 5

Pinecone Garland
A pine scent with a soapy note. It's nice but smells a bit fake.
Throw: Mild, 3 out of 5

Sleigh Ride
This is my favorite scent of the collection because it's not the "usual" type of winter/holiday scent. It's a sweet department store type perfume scent with a baby powder note. It's not rich, musky or soapy, and not really even floral, and it's not a candy-like girly perfume type scent either. When melted, it has a tiny bit of an "old perfume" note, but not enough to be annoying, and it's still a very nice scent (unless you don't like strong perfumey scents).
Throw: Strong, 3.5 out of 5

Wassail Wishes
An apple cider scent with mulling spices, and a bit of a falling brown leaves note. It's a bit sour, and I'm not a fan of the sour note, but I think most people will like it. This might be the same as last year's Yuletide Cheers scent, which I described the same way, but throw was strong, 3.5 to 4 out of 5.
Throw: Medium, 3.5 out of 5

Winter Wonderland
I'm not a fan of this one. I smell pine and maybe eucalyptus, but there's also a moldy, mildewy note in the background.
Throw: Mild, 3 out of 5

Woodland Pine
A nice rich pine scent. This one has a smidgen of sweetness. I don't think it's the same Woodland Pine scent from last year, which I described as very rich and smoky, and throw was 5 out of 5.
Throw: Medium, 3 out of 5



Want to discuss this review and other store bought wax? Just join our Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/scentedwaxretail.

Also, I offer a FREE review service for U.S. wax melt companies (retail, indie/vendor, and direct sales), where I review and promote your wax melts on this website (8,500+ new visitors per month), YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and more. It's a great way to promote your brand and get more customers! If interested, just leave a comment below with your email address and website where I can view your products.

Saturday, July 28, 2018

Ashland (Michaels) Wax Melts Reviews - Fall 2018

Ashland (Michaels) Wax Melts Reviews - Fall 2018

Ashland (Michaels) Wax Melts - Fall 2018
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Video


Hanna's Candle is no longer making the Michaels (Ashland) wax melts (starting with these Fall 2018 scents). I don't know who the new manufacturer is.



Autumn Walk

I smell men's cologne, sandalwood, and a fresh air note. It's the same as the Autumn Walk scent from July 2017. I said last year that the cologne note was a bit harsh. Actually, I think it has a very slight sour note, or maybe a smidgen of that old apple note, or old wood, way in the background, and that's what I don't care for.

Throw: Strong, 4 out of 5



Cinnamon Pecan Buns

Someone made a mistake at the factory, because this is the same scent as the Classic Pumpkin Spice scent.

Throw: Medium, 3 out of 5



Classic Pumpkin Spice

Just like the scent name says, this is a standard pumpkin pie type scent. A little generic, nothing exciting.

Throw: Strong, 3.5 out of 5



Delicious Apple

It's apple. I don't think I detect any spices. It smells nice even though it's a fake apple scent, like apple potpourri. Melted, I detect a hint of caramel.

Throw: Medium, 3 out of 5



Pumpkin Spice Chai

This smells a little like apple cider with a sweet raisin note. I do smell nutmeg, which gives it a pumpkiny note. I don't smell any tea or chai notes though. I think it's the same as Pumpkin Spice Chai from July 2017, but maybe not (I described that as a sweet pumpkin pie scent with a hint of chai tea). When melted, I don't really smell the apple note that I smell on cold sniff, and it smells more pumpkiny.

Throw: Medium, 3 out of 5



Vanilla Pumpkin

On cold sniff smells like a sweet creamy milky vanilla scent with coffee and a hint of nutmeg and cinnamon. It's a really nice scent, my favorite of this collection. Melted though, I smell more of the pumpkin spices and much less of the coffee. It's still a nice scent though.

Throw: Medium, 3.5 out of 5



Want to discuss this review and other store bought wax? Just join our Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/scentedwaxretail.

Also, I offer a FREE review service for U.S. wax melt companies (retail, indie/vendor, and direct sales), where I review and promote your wax melts on this website (8,500+ new visitors per month), YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and more. It's a great way to promote your brand and get more customers! If interested, just leave a comment below with your email address and website where I can view your products.

Sunday, January 28, 2018

Ashland (Michaels) Wax Melts Reviews - January 2018

Ashland (Michaels) Wax Melts Reviews - January 2018

Ashland (Michaels) Wax Melts - January 2018
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Video


The Ashland wax melts at Michaels are manufactured by Hanna's Candle (http://www.candlemart.com), which makes fantastic wax melts (although these scents are made exclusively for Michaels so you can't find them on the Hanna's website). Hanna's Candle also make the wax melts that are sold at Aldi three times a year.



Apple & Hibiscus

Notes: Apple, Pear, Seneca Grass, Lavender, Plum, Spearmint, Amber, Oakmoss, Balsam, Tonka Bean, and Sandalwood

This smells like apple blossom scented body wash or shampoo. I smell the apple first, but there's also a slight floral note in the background. I like it! Looking at the notes, I can detect a smidgen of the lavender, but I don't smell mint at all.

Throw: Strong, 3.5 out of 5



Camellia & Sweet Pea

Notes: Pear, Bergamot, Melon, Rose, Geranium, Violet, Vanilla, Amber, Patchouli, Benzion, and Cedarwood

I adore this scent! It's a sweet perfumey cherry blossom type scent with a vanilla and marshmallow note. There may also be a smidgen of a fruity note like honeydew melon, and a little bit of warmth from cashmere or amber. Looking at the scent notes, they're spot on. Yes, I definitely smell rose, but not pear. And I think I detect a smidgen of the patchouli. A fantastic, complex scent, and it lasted all day!

Throw: Bold, 5 out of 5, a scent monster that took over the house!



Champagne Blush

Notes: Sparkling Citrus, Strawberry, Red Currant, Apple, Raspberry, Blackberry, Pear Blossoms, Rose Petals, Vanilla Sugar, and Sheer Musk.

This smells like grapefruit with a slightly sweeter fruit (raspberry I think), and fizziness that makes it smell like soda. This scent also smells a bit like Victoria's Secret Love Spell (and other wax melts that are a dupe of that scent, such as ScentSationals Magic Spell, Tuscany Candle Stressless, and Scentsy Lucky in Love). I'm not fond of fizzy scents or Love Spell dupes (too bland and bitter), so I don't care for this scent, but I think I'm in the minority and it will be a popular scent. Looking at the notes, I really just smell the "sparkling citrus" (which smells like grapefruit with that bitter note) and a little bit of the raspberry, but none of the other notes.

Throw: Bold, 5 out of 5, a scent monster that took over the house



Coral Amber

Notes: Kaffir Lime, Linden Flower, Bitter Orange, Amber, Heliotrope Flower, Iris, Guiacwood Golden Oud, and Blonde Wood

Both this scent and the Sunset Lily scent smell exactly like Thierry Mugler Angel perfume. This scent is sweeter than the Sunset Lily scent. The description for the Angel perfume scent is: "This feminine scent includes notes of dewberry, bergamot, mandarin, red berries, honey, patchouli, coumarin, Australian sandalwood, caramel, vanilla, and chocolate". I can't even describe it, but there's no other scent like it, and it's absolutely fantastic. Looking at the notes, I definitely smell the Linden Flower (a rich warm floral note), and a hint of the lime.

Throw: Strong, 3.5 or 4 out of 5



Fresh Water Pearl

Notes: Fresh Waters, Citron, Palm Leaves, Grapefruit, Geranium Petals, Rosewater, and Cool Eucalyptus

A nice fresh air sweet watery scent with a salty note and a smidgen of a peppery note. It smells like a fresh body wash. Nice scent, smells like a lot of similar fresh ocean water type scents I have, but I really like it. Looking at the notes, the peppery note is probably the slight bitterness of the grapefruit and geranium. And I do smell a smidgen of eucalyptus, even though this is a sweet-ish scent.

Throw: Bold, 5 out of 5, a scent monster that took over the house



Island Hideaway

Notes: Seagrass, Bergamot, Orange Peel, Lime, Hyacinth, Lily-of-the-Valley, Violet, Musk, and Oak Wood

I smell a tropical wood scent, and maybe a smidgen of palm, but it's also a sweet watery scent. It's different from a lot of other scents I've smelled, and I kind of like it. Looking at the notes, I don't smell orange or lime.

Throw: Mild, 2.5 to 3 out of 5



Lilac and Hyacinths

Notes: Green Notes, Citrus, Floral, and Musk

Very nice scent that does smell like a combination of lilac and hyacinths. It's sweet with a hint of a baby powder note. Perfect for a bedroom or baby's room. It's not very strong on cold sniff though, and the scent started dissipating within 1.5 hours. Looking at the notes, I guess the "floral" note includes both the lilac and hyacinth notes. The musk is probably the hint of baby powder I smell.

Throw: Mild, 2.5 to 3 out of 5



O'Ahu Sands

Notes: Tropical Fruit, Floral, Sandalwood, Cedarwood, and Amber

This is the same scent as one of the scents in Hanna's Candle's Coastal Woods/Tiki Hut/Sand Dollar Trio (not confirmed by Hanna's), I think the Sand Dollar side. I think this is pineapple with light wood and maybe a hint of coconut. It's not a sweet or foodie pineapple, actually a little on the sour side, and a bit "harsh", but it's definitely tropical. I'm not a fan of pineapple scents, but this one smells pretty good to me because the light beach wood note tempers some of the "pineappliness".

Throw: Strong, 4 out of 5



Seashells and Sand

Notes: Coconut Milk, Peach Nectar, Orange Flower, Lily, Jasmine, Heliotrope, Vanilla, Woods, Tonka Bean, and Musk.

A fresh sweet watery scent with floral and coconut. And maybe a barely detectable hint of cedar. Very nice! Looking at the scent notes, they're spot on! Although I don't smell peach at all, or any fruity notes. I've smelled this scent before, so it's a dupe of something else.

Throw: Strong, 3.5 out of 5



Spring Bouquet

Notes: Cyclamen, Garden Rose, Orchid, Blue Hydrangea, Fiddle Head Fern, and Dew

A fantastic spring floral scent with a slight rose note. It's not perfumey and it's not a honeysuckle type scent. Just spring flowers with a grassy note and just a hint of bitterness to make it smell authentic. Very nice.

Throw: Strong, 4 out of 5



Sunset Lily

Notes: Grapefruit, Bergamot, Mexican Lime, Golden Amber, Verbena, Columbian Lily, Patchouli, Vanilla Bean, and Cashmere Musk

Both this scent and the Coral Amber scent smell exactly like Thierry Mugler Angel perfume. Coral Amber scent is sweeter, and Sunset Lily has a smidgen of perhaps a tropical fruit way in the background. The description for the Angel perfume scent is: "This feminine scent includes notes of dewberry, bergamot, mandarin, red berries, honey, patchouli, coumarin, Australian sandalwood, caramel, vanilla, and chocolate". I can't even describe it, but there's no other scent like it, and it's absolutely fantastic. But the scent started dissipating within 2 hours. Looking at the scent notes, I smell the warmth of the amber and a little patchouli, and the slight bitterness of the grapefruit (which is the note that really differentiates this from the Coral Amber scent).

Throw: Strong, 4 out of 5



Vanilla and Teakwood

Notes: Sweet Tobacco Leaf, Golden Honey, Madagascar Vanilla, Tonka Bean, Leather, and Cedarwood

This one is hard to describe. I've smelled it before, and it smells very nice. I do smell kind of a woodsy scent, but it's not a smoky wood or dark wood, or even a sandalwood. I think it's cedar, yes definitely cedar. It's also sweet and perfumey, but not floral, with maybe a little bit of a tobacco note. Looking at the scent notes, there's the cedar and tobacco. I don't really smell the vanilla, and I don't smell leather at all. Honey? Maybe just a smidgen.

Throw: Strong, 3.5 to 4 out of 5



There are two others scents that I haven't found, so they may arrive in a few weeks: Beach House, and Fern & Orange Blossom. If I find them, I'll add their reviews to this page.



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Also, I offer a FREE review service for U.S. wax melt companies (retail, indie/vendor, and direct sales), where I review and promote your wax melts on this website (6,500 new visitors per month), YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc. It's a great way to promote your brand and get more customers! If interested, just leave a comment below with your contact info, or under my video on YouTube.

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Ashland Autumn Gatherings Scented Wax Melts Review

Ashland Autumn Gatherings Scented Wax Review

Ashland Autumn Gatherings Scented Wax Melts
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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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