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Showing posts with label winter scents. Show all posts
Showing posts with label winter scents. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Tuscany Candle Winter Holiday 2017 Scented Wax Melts Reviews

Tuscany Candle Winter Holiday 2017 Scented Wax Melts Reviews

Tuscany Candle Winter Holiday 2017 Scented Wax Melts
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Video


I bought these Tuscany Candle Winter Holiday Christmas 2017 wax melts at Wegmans food store for $2.50 each last week. These are the "Limited Edition" melts; I believe Tuscany Candle has more winter/holiday scents that are not limited edition, although I haven't found them.

Cinnamon Snow
I smell sweet, rich cinnamon and molasses, but it's not really a foodie scent because there's a hint of wood in the background. It's a really nice, unique scent. Throw was mild, 2.5 to 3 out of 5.

Cranberry Apple Cider
This is an apple cider scent with a little bit of spices, but no harsh mulling spices. It smells like cider made with fresh, crisp, earthy apples, and it's not overly sweet. I don't know if I detect cranberry, although there is a smidgen of tartness. This is a more authentic apple cider scent than a lot of similar scents I've smelled. Throw was mild, 3 out of 5.

First Snow
A minty scent, but it's not sweet. It smells like either strong garden mint or peppermint without the sweetness. It's not spearmint, so it's not a toothpastey mint. It has that sinus clearing effect, and there may be a eucalyptus note, but it doesn't have the menthol, pine, or Vicks Vaporub note that eucalyptus scents tend to have. When melted, there's also a bit of a black pepper note. It's a nice, unique scent, although a little too savory; I would have preferred a little sweetness. Throw was strong, 3.5 to 4 out of 5, but it started dissipating within 2 hours.

Fraser Fir
This is not the same as their usual pine scent that they come out with every year but with a different name, such as Evergreen & Balsam, and Frosted Spruce. This is more of a raw wood scent with a smoky note and a hint of pine. It's quite weak on cold sniff, which is unusual for a pine scent. Throw was mild, 3 out of 5.

Gingerbread Village
This smells like oatmeal raisin cookies with ginger. I definitely smell all 3 notes: oatmeal, raisins and ginger. Fantastic, yummy scent! Throw was medium, 3.5 out of 5.

Holiday
This is a smoky scent that smells more like Liquid Smoke, or a foodie smokiness, a little bit like bacon, but with a hint of sour. I've smelled this scent many times before, and it's not one of my favorites. Throw was strong, 3.5 to 4 out of 5.

Holiday Hearth
I really like this scent. It smells like raw wood with a bit of a smoky note, but it's not a campfire type scent. And it doesn't have that weird Liquid Smoke foodie smoky note that a lot of similar scents have. And there's no sweetness like cloves. There may be a smidgen of pine way in the background, but this is not a pine scent. It smells almost exactly like the Fraser Fir scent, but this scent is slightly smokier and that scent has slightly more pine. Throw was medium, 3.5 out of 5.

Peppermint Meringue
On cold sniff, the Tuscany Peppermint Meringue puts all other peppermint scents to shame, including Better Homes & Gardens Marshmallow Candy Cane and Ashland Joy Peppermint. It's on par with my beloved Better Homes & Gardens Chocolate Peppermint Truffle that was discontinued years ago... and maybe even better than that! It's the richest, sweetest, most incredible peppermint patty scent I've ever smelled in a wax melt. It smells like peppermint fudge if there were a thing. I definitely smell the chocolate too; it's sweet and subtle while also being very rich, but not a bitter burnt chocolate at all. Throw was medium, 3 to 3.5 out of 5.



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Sunday, December 10, 2017

Yankee Candle Home Inspiration Winter 2017 Wax Melt Reviews

Yankee Candle Home Inspiration Winter 2017 Wax Melt Reviews

Yankee Home Inspiration Winter 2017 Wax Melts
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Video


Yankee Candle Home Inspiration didn't put out many winter/holiday scents this year. Fresh Balsam Fir came out with the fall scents in September. I think the holiday scents were in very limited supply, as the few that I saw on the Walmart shelves disappeared quickly and were not replaced.



Holiday Apple Wreath

Notes: A welcoming holiday mix of apple, cinnamon stick and fresh clove woven with vanilla

I smell cloves with sweet apple and a little bit of cinnamon. A typical nice warm winter scent. I've heard this is the same as the regular Yankee scent "Red Apple Wreath", although the scent notes on their website are different.

Throw: Very faint, 1 to 2 out of 5



Merry Cherry

Notes: A spirited concoction of juicy cherries and spicy cinnamon to ring in the holidays

This scent has returned from 2015. It's a sweet maraschino cherry syrup scent with a very slight perfumey note, not overpowering or harsh or black cherry. I don't smell any cinnamon at all. This is a summer type scent rather than a winter scent. It's a fun, happy scent! Throw was medium, 3.5 out of 5, when I reviewed this in the older rectangular package in December 2015. Throw is a bit stronger now that this is in the newer oval package with "more fragrance" shown on the label.

Throw: Strong, 3.5 to 4 out of 5



Sparkling Bright Christmas

Notes: ?

This smells like lemon verbena with that clean soapy note. It has a slight spa lemon quality. There's something else in there, maybe lime, but also a tiny bit of a sour note (but not bad). I thought I detected a smidgen of pine, but I don't think so. This is a unique scent, and I like it. It's not really a winter scent though. I've heard this is the same as the regular Yankee scent "All is Bright" (scent notes: a blend of sparkling citrus scents drifting on warm musk).

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



Spiced Orange & Clove

Notes: Whole orange pierced with rich and earthy clove

This is a typical orange pomander scent, kind of like cloves plus a note of orange, a bit more savory than sweet, but there's also a waxy note in there. I'm not a fan of orange pomander in general, so I don't like this one. I also reviewed this scent in September 2016 (but I didn't buy it then).

Throw: Strong, 3.5 to 4 out of 5



Glad Tidings

This was available at some Walmart stores, but I couldn't find it. However, it's available in the UK. I don't know if it's the same scent, but the description from the Yankee UK website is "Bright and happy as a mantle hung with Christmas stockings waiting to be found, full of warm amber and edged with sweet citrus."



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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.

Sunday, December 3, 2017

Sassy Kandle Wax Melts Reviews - Winter 2017 Scents

Sassy Kandle Wax Melts Reviews - Winter 2017 Scents

Sassy Kandle Wax Melts - Winter Christmas Holiday Scents 2017
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Video


These are Sassy Kandle Co.'s new Fall and Winter 2017 wax melt scents. Sassy Kandle Co. is one of my favorite wax vendors! Her scents are unique, and with good throw or better.

Sassy Kandle Co. is a candle and wax melt vendor based in Windsor, Colorado. Their website is https://www.sassykandle.com, Etsy is https://www.etsy.com/shop/SassyKandleCo, and Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/SassyKandleCo.

I really enjoyed these wax melts. The scents were fantastic, and I even like the iridescent, very slightly glittery labels on the clamshells. The wax was very soft and hard to get out of the package though. I had to use a butter knife to pry out a cube, but it wasn't a big deal.

I reviewed their regular (non-holiday) scents in August 2017 at http://www.scentedwaxreviews.com/2017/08/sassy-kandle-co-wax-melt-tarts-reviews.html, and in October at http://www.scentedwaxmeltreviews.com/2017/10/sassy-kandle-co-wax-melt-tarts-reviews.html.



Alpine Frost

Notes: Fresh cool mountain breezes on cypress trees and frosted woods, with notes of oakmoss and fresh spices

Fantastic scent that combines a sweet clean fresh soapy body wash scent with a pine note. It's a great combination!

Throw: Medium, 3 out of 5



Aspen Winter

Notes: Citrus blends with an abundance of warm winter spices of clove, cinnamon and sweet vanilla

Oh I really like this scent. It's a sweet candied cinnamon scent with cloves, but I also detect a creamy sweet vanilla buttercream which keeps this scent from being "just another" cinnamon scent. But it's not a cinnamon roll type scent either, as I don't detect any bakery notes. It's more like a sweet cinnamon frosting. Looking at the scent notes, I don't smell any citrus at all.

Throw: Medium, 3 out of 5



Autumn Red Maple

Notes: A sweet and warm maple scent with notes of ripe pear and vanilla bean blended with toasted maplewood and amber

This is a really unusual scent, and I love it. It smells like rich caramel, maple, a little bit of apple, black pepper, and a little bit of wood. It had a smidgen of a barbecue sauce vibe, although it's very rich and caramely. Looking at the scent notes, the apple note I'm detecting is actually pear. Fantastic scent.

Throw: Medium, 3 to 3.5 out of 5



Bayberry

Notes: Bayberries, fir, and balsam, with the just the right amount of nutmeg and spice

This is another very unusual scent. On cold sniff I don't like it. But warmed, I can't stop smelling it, even though I'm not sure if I like it! I smell pine with a sour note, almost like sage, but there's also a warm very slightly sweet note in the background like amber, and maybe some kind of resinous tree sap type note like oud wood. I don't smell berries at all. This smells like some kind of chemical, but not a bad chemical. Looking at the scent notes, they seem too simple for this complex of a scent.

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



Chestnuts & Brown Sugar

Notes: A very sweet, rich and buttery seasonal fragrance. A warm baking smell with caramel, rich maple, chestnuts and buttery brown sugar.

A fantastic sweet rich buttery caramel and brown sugar scent with just a hint of nut. It's not a salty caramel scent, and not really a bakery scent (no bready or cookie notes).

Throw: Strong, 3.5 to 4 out of 5



Christmas Memories

Notes: Orange peel and cranberry sauce flowing nicely into middle notes of cinnamon sticks and freshly ground cloves, with base notes of evergreen and pinecones.

On cold sniff, this is a very nice spruce scent with a hint of wood, a very slight peppery note, and maybe a smidgen of a nutty note in the background. There's also a hint of cloves and maybe cinnamon, but very faint. Looking at the scent notes, I don't smell orange but there could be a barely detectable berry note which is the cranberry. The base note of evergreen is definitely the predominant note in this scent. Melted, however, I just smell a nice smoky spruce scent but none of the other notes.

Throw: Medium, 3.5 out of 5



Crackling Campfire

Notes: That warm, smokey, woodsy firewood scent

I like this one! It's very smoky, not a woodsy smoke like an actual campfire, but more of a "Liquid Smoke" that you put on food, as it also has a clove note. It's a nice warm smoky fall or winter scent.

Throw: Strong, 4 out of 5



Deck the Halls

Notes: Blend of cinnamon bark and leaves with fir needles and pine enhanced by clove buds

I smell cloves and a warm musky perfume note, with a hint of pine. Very nice combination. Looking at the scent notes, I'm surprised I don't see musk or floral or some kind of perfumey note, since I definitely smell it.

Throw: Medium, 3 out of 5



Holiday Festivities

Notes: Spruce, apple cider, cranberries, grapefruit, mandarin, cinnamon, and clove, with a light essence of vanilla beans

This smells a little like Scentsy Snowberry (one of my favorite scents), but with a little bit more of a spruce note. There are other notes in the background, maybe a hint of orange, nut, and vanilla. Looking at the scent notes, yes, I do smell the slight bitterness of grapefruit (in a good way), and the orange (mandarin), and there's the vanilla. I don't smell apple at all, and very little, if any, cinnamon or clove. Fantastic scent!

Throw: Strong, 3.5 to 4 out of 5



Hot Cranberry Tea

Notes: Cranberry, fragrant tea leaves and a touch of lemon and spices

A nice sweet cranberry scent with a hint of cinnamon. It's not very tart, which is good. I don't smell tea or lemon at all.

Throw: Strong, 3.5 to 4 out of 5



Merry Mistletoe

Notes: A festive pine scent with a top note of sweet berries and green apples and Siberian pine needles. Notes of cedarwood, balsam, patchouli, blue spruce and citrus round out this fantastic holiday scent!

I love pine scents, and this one is fantastic. It's pine tempered with a tiny bit of vanilla I think, and maybe a hint of berry. It has just a smidgen of sweetness. I don't smell apple, citrus, or patchouli per se, but the patchouli is probably the slightly woodsy tobacco-ey warmth I'm detecting. Melted, it smells even better, such an amazing scent! After a few hours I detected a bit more of the vanilla, even though there's no vanilla in the scent notes.

Throw: Strong, 3.5 to 4 out of 5



Mulled Cider

Notes: Spicy bouquet of apple, clove, orange and cinnamon top notes with a sweet musky background.

Despite the scent name, this is not a mulled cider type scent. It's apple cider, but without the harsh mulling spices that a lot of apple cider scents tend to have. It's very sweet, more like apple juice, and with a little bit of spice that actually makes it smell more like apple butter. There may also be a smidgen of tea and honey. Looking at the scent notes, it's the musk that probably makes this scent so unique. Very nice!

Throw: Medium, 3 to 3.5 out of 5



Peppermint Twist

Notes: Cool peppermint and a splash of sweet vanilla

A nice sweet creamy vanilla peppermint scent, like the inside of a peppermint patty (but no chocolate).

Throw: Medium, 3.5 out of 5



Pomegranate Cider

Notes: Aroma of hot cider spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. The scent is then punched up with notes of pomegranate and strawberry.

I really like this one. It smells like cranberry, but sweeter and less tart than a lot of cranberry scents I've smelled. And there may be a sweet apple note in there as well. Looking at the scent notes, okay no apple, so it must be the strawberry I smell. Very nice! The spices are subtle, just enough to make this smell like a light cranberry apple cider.

Throw: Medium, 3 out of 5



Pumpkin Honey Chai

Notes: This sweet and spicy fragrance blends creamy pumpkin with freshly grated cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and black chai, balanced out with the smooth notes of vanilla, milk & honey

This is a pumpkin pie type scent, but there are some other notes that make this not smell like just another pumpkin pie scent. It's very rich and creamy, with almost a caramel or butterscotch note. I don't smell honey or chai or tea at all, although the sweet rich caramely scent might be the honey. The creamy notes are probably the vanilla and milk.

Throw: Medium, 3 to 3.5 out of 5



Pumpkin Pecan Waffles

Notes: Maple syrup, golden waffles, pumpkin spice, brown sugar

This smells a lot like Mainstays Pecan Pumpkin Cake, a super rich nutty maple caramel scent. Although this scent has a bit of an almond note, and it's very slightly sweeter. It might also be a dupe for Bath & Body Works Pumpkin Pecan Waffles (although I've never smelled that one). Looking at the scent notes, I'm surprised I don't see some kind of nutty note. And I don't detect pumpkin spice, which is good. Fantastic scent!

Throw: Strong, 4 out of 5



Pumpkin Spice

Notes: Butternut squash, pumpkin puree, cinnamon, clove and vanilla

This is not a typical pumpkin spice type scent, which is good. It's a nice caramel pumpkin scent, and it's not salty like a lot of pumpkin scents can be. And I don't smell a lot of spice.

Throw: Medium, 3 to 3.5 out of 5



Rocky Mountain Christmas

Notes: Balsam, fir, evergreen, cedar, berries and a hint of the forest.

I smell pine but there's another strong note in there that I can't identify that makes this scent a little sour or salty or smoky or even savory, something I can't figure out. It's a different type of pine scent, not bad, just different, and I like it. Looking at the scent notes, I don't smell berries at all, and this is not a sweet scent.

Throw: Medium, 3 to 3.5 out of 5



Spiced Cranberry

Notes: Fresh, tart cranberry with yummy spice notes

Sweet but lightly tart cranberry, with a pine note. When melted, I smell the pine just a little bit more, but it's a nice combination of the pine and the fruity note. Looking at the scent notes, I don't smell any spice, like cinnamon. I'm surprised I don't see pine or balsam in the scent notes.

Throw: Medium, 3 to 3.5 out of 5



Thankful

Notes: Sparkling citrus, cinnamon powder and macintosh apple with notes of blush rose, clove buds and crushed greens on a base of raspberry jam, scarlet peach and sugared vanilla.

This smells like apple cider made with sour brown apples that have fallen to the ground, but not in a bad way. Or apple cider and fallen brown leaves. It's sweet and a little sour with a little bit of cloves and cinnamon. Looking at the scent notes, I don't smell rose, raspberry, peach or vanilla. I'm surprised I don't see any woodsy or sour notes, but maybe that's the crushed greens.

Throw: Strong, 3.5 to 4 out of 5



Winter Candy Apple

Notes: A fun, festive blend of red apple, winter rose petals, and candied orange

I smell a very sweet candy type apple scent with a perfume note, like maybe a Pink Sugar mixed in. Looking at the scent notes, ah, the perfume note is the rose. Yep, now I smell the rose. I don't smell orange, but the "candied" part of the orange note is probably the sweet candy note of the apple that I smell. When melted, I also detect a hint of light wood that tempers some of the sweetness of this scent. I really like this scent!

Throw: Medium, 3 to 3.5 out of 5



Yuletide

Notes: The aroma of bayberries and apples with a base note of fresh pine needles and thyme, with a top note of freshly ground cinnamon bark and mulberry.

I smell sweet cranberry with a hint of tartness, apple, orange, and a hint of pine, and maybe a smidgen of cinnamon. It's a nice refreshing winter scent. Looking at the scent notes, there's no cranberry or orange, so it's probably the combination of bayberries and apples I smell.

Throw: Mild, 2.5 to 3 out of 5



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. 

Saturday, October 28, 2017

Better Homes & Gardens Holiday Edition Winter 2017 Scented Wax Melts Reviews

Better Homes & Gardens Holiday Edition Winter 2017 Scented Wax Melts Reviews

Better Homes & Gardens Holiday Edition Winter 2017 Scented Wax Melts
Click to enlarge

Video:


This is a review of Better Homes & Gardens Holiday Edition Winter 2017 Scented Wax Melts from Walmart. As always, ScentSationals does not come out with winter/holiday melts at Walmart. I don't yet have scent notes for a couple of the new scents, but as soon as I find out what they are, I'll add them to this review.

The labels on these melts are slightly textured, which gives them a nice high quality look and feel. And this is the first year that the winter melts say "Holiday Edition" in red underneath the Better Homes & Gardens logo.



Caramel Sugared Fig

Notes: Warm roasted figs sprinkled with brown sugar enveloped in the sweet scent of creamy toffee caramel drizzled with rich vanilla essence and soft spices.

I love this scent! But it's not really a foodie scent. It's a little bit similar to ScentSationals Blackberry Cider or Scentsy Luna, with that deep, rich, slightly perfumey blackberry fig type note. This one does have some foodie elements, like maybe a caramel and vanilla note. Looking at the scent notes, there's the figs, caramel and vanilla, but no perfumey notes.

Throw: Not good, 2 or 2.5 out of 5, and scent fizzled within 2 hours



Cherry Chestnut Bread

Notes: Maraschino cherries and warm chestnut bread with red delicious apple and buttered rum. Brown sugar, vanilla bean and musk adds further sweetness.

This smells like an apple fritter. It's a nice authentic scent. I can smell the bread and a bit of cinnamon. I also smell a hint of cherry which gives this scent some richness. I also smell the brown sugar. I don't smell any nutty notes though. I really like this scent.

Throw: Excellent, 5 out of 5, a scent monster that took over the house, and the scent lasted all day, at least 8 hours.



Cranberry Popcorn Garland

Notes: Salted popcorn and fresh cranberries strung together with hints of melted butter and vanilla sugar

I smell popcorn with just a smidgen of fruit. I can actually smell the corn, although this smells more like Fritos corn chips to me than popcorn (which other people have noticed too). It's very rich too. And I can smell a smidgen of the slightly sweet/tart cranberry. It was actually too strong and rich for me and I had to remove it from the warmer even before it finished melting. This is not at all similar to the old Better Homes & Gardens Country Kettle Corn, which some people were wondering.

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



Cypress & Frankincense

Notes: ?

This is a pine type scent but not a biting pine, and the pine is subtle. I also smell maybe a slight floral note which makes this a little bit like Better Homes & Gardens Forest Woodland Walk. But there's also maybe a slight herbal note and even a smidgen of a warm cologne note although this is not a cologne scent.

Throw: Excellent, 3.5 or 4 out of 5



Firewood & Fir Balsam

Notes: Smoky firewood and fir balsam with forest pine, warm eucalyptus, burning embers and white cedar. A touch of black pepper adds dimension.

I really like this scent. It's pine with a woodsy smoky note. The smoky note has a real "burning embers" vibe, rather than a fake smokiness. And I think I do detect a smidgen of black pepper.

Throw: Good, 3 out of 5



Marshmallow Candy Cane

Notes: Sweet spearmint and peppermint candy canes swirl into a creamy, delicious mix of whipped marshmallow fluff, vanilla creme and crystallized sugar. Vanilla wafers add a crispy sensation

A wonderful sweet peppermint with a subtle vanilla marshmallow note. Looking at the scent notes, I don't smell spearmint at all (which would have a toothpasty note), and I don't think I smell the wafer notes either.

Throw: Excellent, 3.5 or 4 out of 5



Mountain Cabin Escape

Notes: A combination of fragrant cedarwood and lavender breeze over a snowy ozone complex touched by white pine and woodland herbs fused with green apple, warm moss, ambered musk, and a hint of spice

This is a smoky pine with a sharp fresh men's cologne note, although it's not a sweet scent at all. It's very strong on cold sniff, and the picture of the cabin in the snow on the label is lovely. There's a sharpness to this scent that I don't care for.

Throw: Excellent, 4 out of 5



Salted Caramel Grahams

Notes: Salted caramel and graham cracker accord swirled together with whipped latte froth and sweet sugar crystals in this decadent holiday fragrance combination. The addition of buttered vanilla bean and mocha bark add further delight leaving mouths watering.

This smells like super rich creamy caramely chocolate fudge, but it's not salty (which is good). It's not a burnt chocolate scent, and it smells a lot like the old ScentSationals Chocolate Chip Cookies scent (with slightly different notes).

Throw: Excellent, 3.5 or 4 out of 5



RETURNING SCENTS:

A Wonderful Winter (2015)
Notes: Icy peppermint shimmers through regal evergreens adorned with glimmering icicles, bright winter citrus and leafy mistletoe
Review: http://www.scentedwaxreviews.com/2015/11/better-homes-gardens-christmas-scented-wax-melts.html

Candied Caramel Pecan (older scent)
Notes: Sweet pecans blended with freshly ground cinnamon, spicy clove and aromatic nutmeg spun with caramelized brown sugar and sweet undertones of smooth vanilla caramel
Review: I never reviewed this one because I bought it in 2014 before I started doing reviews. It's a rich caramely nutmeg cinnamon scent with excellent throw, 5 out of 5, a scent monster that takes over the house. It smells like a lot of other similar pumpkin caramel type scents.

Iced Winter Cranberry (2015)
Notes: Juicy red cranberries sparkle amid sweet red currant accents, fresh mulberry, sugared plum and bright winter citrus over shimmering holly leaf and a glint of icy, cool peppermint
Review: http://www.scentedwaxreviews.com/2015/11/better-homes-gardens-christmas-scented-wax-melts.html

Festive Twinkling Lights (same scent as Twinkling Holiday Lights from 2015):
Notes: A bright, sparkling fusion of icy ozone, sweet citrus, and crisp fir needle entwined with rich cedar and a white birch over herbaceous greens, frosted woods and a fresh hint of crushed mistletoe.
Review: http://www.scentedwaxreviews.com/2015/11/better-homes-gardens-christmas-scented-wax-melts.html

Fresh Cut Frasier (older)
Notes: Fresh citrus, aromatic evergreen and dazzling white fir combined with intriguing notes of gently smoked balsam, precious woods and a dash of festive spice
Review: http://www.scentedwaxreviews.com/2017/08/better-homes-gardens-walmart-fall-2017-scented-wax-melts-reviews.html

Frosty Winter Nights (2015)
Notes: Fresh greens, crisp ozone and cool spearmint then reveals crushed evergreen and fir needle balanced by blonde wood, amber and vanilla
Review: http://www.scentedwaxreviews.com/2015/11/better-homes-gardens-christmas-scented-wax-melts.html

Season of Joy (2016)
Notes: Balsam and fir adorned with festive red berries join notes of warm woods and oriental amber accented by vanilla caramel and shimmering spice
Review: http://www.scentedwaxreviews.com/2016/11/walmart-scented-wax-melts-winter-holiday-christmas-2016-mainstays-better-homes-gardens.html

Winter Morning Latte (same scent as the older Christmas Morning Latte from 2013 and 2015)
Notes: Golden nutmeg essence, grated ginger and smooth clove swirls with tantalizing hints of creamy buttered rum, rich brown sugar and a sweet touch of warm vanilla
Review: http://www.scentedwaxreviews.com/2015/11/better-homes-gardens-christmas-scented-wax-melts.html



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 (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.

Saturday, October 21, 2017

Sonoma Wax Melts Review (Kohl's) - Winter 2017 - Part 1

Sonoma Wax Melts Review (Kohl's) - Winter 2017 - Part 1

Click to enlarge

Video:


This is a review of the Kohl's Wax Melts (Sonoma brand) new Winter/Holiday/Christmas 2017 scents. Some of these are no longer appearing on the Kohl's website, but I believe they will be getting new stock soon. You can see all of these new scents at the top of my Sonoma board on Pinterest at https://www.pinterest.com/scentedwax/sonoma-scented-wax-melts-kohls/.

After I did this review, 6 even newer holiday scents showed up on the Kohl's website. I reviewed those on November 2, 2017 at http://www.scentedwaxreviews.com/2017/11/kohls-sonoma-scented-wax-melts-reviews-winter-2017.html.



Balsam Fir

Notes: Fresh balsam, fir and cedarwood

A smoky spruce scent with a woodsy note. It's not a sharp biting pine scent. It has a little bit of an "old" note, or maybe like the sap of a spruce tree, but not in a bad way. I believe this is the same scent as their Balsam Fir scent from 2015. However, that one had excellent throw, 4 out of 5 (although a lot of variables can affect throw, including the type of warmer, temperature of room, traffic, heating or air conditioning, etc.)

Throw: Good, 3 out of 5



Candy Cane Lane

Notes: Peppermint, mint and vanilla sugar

This is peppermint with a little sweetness, like peppermint hard candies. It doesn't have the creamy vanilla note that a lot of candy cane scents have. It's a very strong peppermint, with a sinus clearing effect even from a few feet away.

Throw: Very good, 3 or 3.5 out of 5



Caramel Eggnog Swirl

Notes: Frothy eggnog, caramel and vanilla sugar

This doesn't really smell like eggnog, but it's still fantastic. It smells like burnt sugar (in a good way) with a little bit of caramel and also a sweet liquor like bourbon. It actually smells similar to Swan Creek Candle Bourbon Maple Sugar. There may be a smidgen of nutmeg in the background to give this an eggnog note. It's a very yummy scent, and very rich, almost to the point of being nauseatingly sweet and rich.

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



Cocoa & Marshmallows

Notes: Cocoa, marshmallows and creamy vanilla

This really smells like hot cocoa with marshmallows! I'm not a fan of most chocolate scents because they tend to have a weird bitter note, but this is kind of an equal combination of marshmallow and chocolate. The chocolate is a very "cocoa-ey" chocolate with a sweet vanilla note, but not bitter or fudgy. There's also a smidgen of something in there that makes this not smell completely authentic, but not in a bad way, almost like a cocoa butter skin cream. But it's not perfumey at all. This scent is absolutely amazing, and the scent lingered in my room for 2 days after I stopped melting it!

Throw: Excellent, 4 out of 5



Cozy Fireside

Notes: Cinnamon, nutmeg and sandalwood

A very sweet intense cherry pipe tobacco scent with a men's cologne note and a hint of a shaving cream note and maybe a smidgen of bourbon. I love this one! Looking at the scent notes, I think those notes are for a different scent. This has no cinnamon or nutmeg or pumpkin pie notes, and it's not a foodie scent. Sandalwood, yes probably. This is a completely different scent from Fireside Memories which came out in August.

Throw: Excellent, 3.5 or 4 out of 5, and it lasted about 6 hours



Deck the Halls

Notes: Cinnamon, clove bud and toasted nutmeg

A pure cinnamon scent with a sweet slightly candy note, and maybe a hint of cloves. It's not quite a Big Red gum or hard cinnamon candy scent, although it's quite cinnamony. This is the same as their Deck the Halls scent from 2015 and 2016.

Throw: Good, 3 out of 5



Evergreen & Mahogany

Notes: Evergreen, mahogany and woodland musk

A fantastic raw wood scent like a just-sharpened pencil or a piece of lumber. But there's also a little kick of pine. With the woodsy and slight pine note, this scent makes you feel like you're walking through a pine forest. It's similar to Balsam & Oak from 2015, but with slightly different notes.

Throw: Excellent, 3.5 or 4 out of 5



Gingerbread House

Notes: Ginger, cinnamon and vanilla

This is a wonderful gingerbread scent with a little bit of a sweet vanilla buttercream note. I believe this is the same as their Gingerbread House scent from 2015 and 2016.

Throw: Very good, 3 or 3.5 out of 5



Holiday Cookies

Notes: Vanilla, cookie dough and buttercream

I smell creamy vanilla with a smidgen of nutmeg. In fact, this smells a bit like eggnog on cold sniff. But melted, it smells more like vanilla cookies. It's similar to their Holiday Cookies scent from November 2015, but that scent was more of a vanilla cookie bakery scent with a smidgen of nut. And it might be the same scent as, or very similar to, Holiday Eggnog from October 2016.

Throw: Good, 3 out of 5



Home for Christmas

Notes: Baked apple, cinnamon and nutmeg

This smells like an apple cinnamon tart with a bakery note. Nice scent, but it has a bit of a bready or yeasty note that I'm not crazy about.

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



Roasted Chestnuts

Notes: Roasted chestnut, maple sugar and warm vanilla bean

This smells just like rich, warm salty chestnuts. It's very strong on cold sniff. Fantastic scent! Looking at the scent notes, I actually do smell a hint of maple way in the background and barely detectable, although this is not a sweet scent at all. This is a completely different scent from their Roasted Chestnuts scent from 2015.

Throw: Excellent, 4 out of 5



Sugared Pine & Cinnamon

Notes: Pine, ground cinnamon and sweet tonka

This smells like the sweet buttercream frosting on a cinnamon bun. I definitely smell cinnamon, but while the cinnamon is strong on cold sniff, it's not strong when melted. Looking at the scent notes, I think I smell a barely detectable smidgen of the pine on cold sniff, but I don't smell it at all when melted.

Throw: Good, 3 out of 5



Tree Farm

Notes: Evergreen, balsam and wood

This smells very similar to the Balsam Fir scent, but it's not as smoky, and I think there's a hint of eucalyptus, even though it's not in the notes. This has a little bit of that biting pine note, but not enough to be annoying. I don't know if this is the same as their Tree Farm scent from 2016.

Throw: Not good, 2 or 2.5 out of 5



Winter Berry & Spruce

Notes: Frosted berries, holiday spruce and hints of vanilla

I love this scent! It's pine and berries, maybe cranberries, as there's a little tartness but not enough to be annoying. I believe this is the same scent as Winter Berry Spruce from October 2016.

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



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Thursday, October 19, 2017

Ashland Wax Melts Reviews - Winter 2017 (Michaels) - Christmas Candle Collection

Ashland Wax Melts Reviews - Winter 2017 (Michaels) - Christmas Candle Collection

Ashland Wax Melts - Winter 2017 (Michaels) - Christmas Candle Collection
Click to enlarge

Reviewed separately
(Click to enlarge)
Video:



Alpine Garland

Notes: Top: Apple, pear, seneca grass;  Middle - Lavender, plum, spearmint; Bottom - Amber, oak moss, fir balsam, tobacco, tonka bean, sandalwood

A super fresh apple scent with a men's fresh body wash note. It's a fantastic scent, although based on the name and the picture of a wreath on the label, I expected something with pine. But there are already enough pine scents in this collection.

Throw: Very good, 3 or 3.5 out of 5



Cinnamon Sparkle
(added 11/7/17 - not in video)

Notes: Top - Sweet hay, lavender sprig; Middle - Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, cumin; Bottom - Fir Balsam, vanilla, oud wood, leather, oak wood

Fantastic slightly sweet cinnamon scent. On cold sniff it's not a Big Red or cinnamon candy scent; it smells like real cinnamon powder mixed with just a little powdered sugar. Melted though, it does take on a bit of that cinnamon candy note. I'm not a fan of straight cinnamon scents, but this one is actually quite nice.

Throw: Medium, 3 or 3.5 out of 5



Frosted Bayberry

Notes: Top - Fallen snow, sparkling citrus, winter winds; Middle - Ice capped balsam, triple mint, sterling spruce; Bottom - White cedar, agave nectar

This smells like a green plant of some kind, like grass, with maybe a little bit of a fresh air note, and a smidgen of basil although this is not a savory or pungent scent at all. It has just a smidgen of sweetness, although I don't smell that when melted. When I think of bayberry, I think of a piney type scent with a little sweetness and nutmeg and a hint of patchouli and a smidgen of berry, but the real bayberry plant (without the added spices) is actually a green scent with a bay leaf note. On cold sniff I didn't really smell mint, but when melted, I do get that sinus clearing effect when I put my nose close to it, and I do smell the mint, although it's more like mint leaves from the garden. But I don't smell mint unless my nose is right up to the warmer. I didn't care for this scent, as it's a bit too green and bland.

Throw: Very good, 3 or 3.5 out of 5



Frosted Evergreen

Notes: Top - Dewy grass, eucalyptus, orange peel, frosted leaves; Middle - Spearmint, peppermint, galbanum; Bottom - Ylang, pine

I smell a slightly smoky pine mixed with a soapy note, not a Pine-Sol or industrial cleaner type of soap, more like a Dove or Ivory bar soap that only has a little bit of a soapy scent. There's also a hint of spearmint, but it's subtle. And there's a fresh note that makes it smell a little bit like bathroom cleaner (but not in a bad way) or even body wash (although it's not sweet enough); that fresh note might be a hint of citrus, like grapefruit. It's not a sweet scent at all. At first I didn't like it, but it's actually quite nice.

Throw: Excellent, 4 out of 5



Fruit Garland
(added 11/7/17 - not in video)

Notes: Top - Green apple, pineapple, frosted mint leaves; Middle - Cinnamon, fir needle, plum rose; Bottom - Cedarwood, sweet musk

I love this scent! It'a a perfect combination of pine and sweet fruit. Looking at the scent notes, I do smell fruit but I thought maybe it was cranberry; I don't smell apple or pineapple per se. I also don't smell rose. But musk, perhaps, since it does have a bit of sweetness although it's not a perfumey scent at all.

Throw: Medium, 3 or 3.5 out of 5



Ginger Cookie

Notes: Top - Cardamom, Nutmeg, lemon leaf; Middle - Ginger root, coriander seed, sage leaf; Bottom - Red molasses, cinnamon bark, almond milk

It's gingerbread, and it smells fantastic, and super strong on cold sniff! It's slightly sweeter and richer than some other gingerbread scents I've smelled, which is good.

Throw: Excellent, 4 out of 5



Holiday Frosting

Notes: Top - Citron zest, orange rind, raw cinnamon sticks; Middle - Turbinado sugar, apple halves, buttercream; Bottom - Tonka bean, whipped musk, vanilla extract

This scent might easily get passed over because it sounds like it could be just another vanilla scent. But it's not. It smells like a sweet buttery almond nut shortcake cookie. The almond is not overwhelming, and I can smell the actual warmth of the cookie. It's very similar to last year's Winter White Cookies trio, especially the brown scent from that trio, and might in fact be the same scent, although I think those scents were slightly more nutty. Fantastic yummy scent!

Throw: Good, 3 out of 5



Joy Peppermint

Notes: Top - Peppermint, Spearmint, Eucalyptus; Middle - Vanilla Sugar, Coconut, Butter, Anise, Caramel; Bottom - Vanilla Cream, White Musk

This is a super sweet vanilla buttercream scent with just a subtle note of peppermint. Very nice! If you don't like peppermint scents, you might still like this one because the mint is not strong at all. It reminds me of buttermint candies (https://www.mccormick.com/recipes/dessert/butter-mints).

Throw: Very good, 3 or 3.5 out of 5



Silver Fir

Notes: Top - Winter berry, green apple, orange rind; Middle - Clove, orange flower, fir needle; Bottom - Cedarwood, sandalwood, pine, fir balsam

A pine scent with a little bit of a smoky note. This smells almost exactly like the new Woodland Pine scent, although I think there's a very slight difference. I believe this is the same scent as Hanna's Candles' new Sparkle & Joy scent "Through the Woods".

Throw: Excellent, 4 out of 5



Vintage Holiday

Notes: Top - Bergamot, fresh linen, vanilla flower; Middle - Black pepper, amber, brushed suede; Bottom - Tobacco flower, caramel, musk, lavender

This smells a little bit like the new Goose Creek scent "Jingle Bells", which is why I love it. It's not really a holiday/winter scent, and can be melted any time of the year. It's a sweet perfumey scent, but not a floral perfume, and it might have some cashmere for warmth. But I also smell a sweet pear syrup note, with maybe a bit of blackberry for richness, so this scent also has a little bit of a fruity note. There might also be a hint of vanilla.

Throw: Excellent, 4 out of 5, and the scent lasted all day (at least 9 or 10 hours)



Woodland Pine

Notes: Top - Fir needle; Middle - Cedarwood; Bottom - Musk

This might be the same scent as Hanna's Candle's Woodland Pine which is on their website at http://www.candlemart.com. It's a pine scent with a smoky note. On cold sniff it smells just like Silver Fir. But when melted, Woodland Pine is a little smokier and richer than Silver Fir; in fact, it's almost too rich and strong, so it's best for a large room.

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



Yuletide Cheers
(added 11/7/17 - not in video)

Notes: Top - Citrus, Apple; Middle - Sweet Spice; Bottom - Orange, Cinnamon

Apple cider with mulling spices and a little bit of a sour note.

Throw: Strong, 3.5 or 4 out of 5



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Monday, October 16, 2017

Living Colors Tidings Wax Melts Reviews from Big Lots - Winter 2017

Living Colors Tidings Wax Melts Reviews from Big Lots - Winter 2017

Living Colors Tidings Wax Melts from Big Lots - Winter 2017
Click to enlarge

Video:




Cinnamon Stick
I'm not a fan of straight cinnamon scents, like Big Red gum or red hot candies. But this is different, and I really like it. It's a very sweet candy scent with cinnamon, but the cinnamon is not too strong. There might also be a smidgen of a fruity note in there, which makes this scent kind of unique. Disappointly, throw was 0 or maybe 1 out of 5.



Evergreen Forest
It's a nice pine scent. What else can I say? You can never go wrong with pine. Throw was excellent, 3.5 or 4 out of 5.



Frosted Pine
This is a pine scent with another note I can't figure out. "Frosted" makes me think mint, but I don't detect mint. I do smell cloves, and maybe a woodsy slightly smoky scent in the background, and a smidgen of something salty, like salty lemon, but I can't be sure. It's not a sweet scent at all. It smells quite nice. But throw was pretty much non-existent, 0 out of 5. When I stuck my nose a few inches away after a half hour, the scent was almost gone.



Sugared Berries
On cold sniff I smell sweet raspberry and tart cranberry, and maybe even a little bit of blackberry and/or blueberry. It's a very nice scent. It's very sweet but it definitely has a tartness. When melted though, it took on a whole new dimension! It smelled like sweet cat pee or even worse, a sweet rotting corpse. I'm not even kidding; my roommate has his windows open and told me he thought there was a dead animal outside! But throw was excellent, 3.5 or 4 out of 5.



Vanilla Wishes
Sweet vanilla buttercream with nutmeg, which gives this a little bit of a pumpkin pie note. There may also be a hint of ginger. Although I do smell the vanilla, it's not really a vanilla scent. Very nice! Throw was poor, 1 out of 5, and might not even do well in a tiny room.



Winter Woods
On cold sniff this smells like sweet pine scented soap with a slight floral note and maybe some kind of berries. Melted, I don't detect floral or berries, and it smells more like sweet soapy pine or bayberry scented bathroom cleaner, but not in a bad way, and it's not a Pine-Sol type scent at all (so it's totally different from the Living Colors Harvest Wreath scent that came out in September). Throw was good, 3 out of 5.



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Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Hanna's Candle Sparkle and Joy Winter 2017 Scented Wax Melts Reviews

Hanna's Candle Sparkle and Joy Winter 2017 Scented Wax Melts Reviews

Hanna's Candle Sparkle and Joy Winter 2017 Scented Wax Melts
Click to enlarge

Video:


The Hanna's Candle Sparkle and Joy Winter 2017 Scented Wax Melts will be available on the candlemart.com website in the beginning of November, in both the small 1.25 oz. clamshells for $1.49 (these look like the Mainstays packages at Walmart), as well as the regular tall 2.5 oz. clamshells for $2.49. It's a great idea to offer them in both sizes, so you can try them out in the smaller size, and then order the larger packs later if you like the scent.



Candied Cinnamon

Notes: Top: Orange, Cherry, Cinnamon Leaf. Middle: Sweet Cinnamon, Spicy Clove. Bottom: Vanilla, Woods

A straight cinnamon scent. It's sweet and smells like Big Red gum or cinnamon hard candies. There may also be a hint of clove. There are no bakery notes in this one. Looking at the scent notes, I don't smell orange at all. I'm not a fan of straight cinnamon scents, but if you are, you'll love this one.

Throw: Good, 3 out of 5



Holiday Shimmer

Notes: Nutmeg, cinnamon, clove and anise blended with juicy orange and ripe cranberry.

This is a nice warm cozy orange pomander scent. On cold sniff, I just smell tart cranberry, slightly sweet orange, and a hint of cinnamon. Looking at the scent notes, I see anise, which is a licorice type scent, but I don't detect that at all. It's an "okay" scent for me, but then I'm not a fan of orange pomander scents in general.

Throw: Excellent, 3.5 or 4 out of 5.



Starry Night

Notes: Top: Ozone, Aromatic Accord, Mixed Fruits. Middle: Jasmine, Rose, Muguet. Bottom: Veiled Musk, Exotic Woods, Golden Amber. Like a hidden treasure, this scent sparkles and shines with an exquisite blend of lush florals, exotic woods and golden amber.

I love this scent! It's the only one of this collection that isn't really a holiday or winter scent. It smells like a combination of shaving cream and suntan oil. Actually it smells a little like ScentSationals Himalayan Pink Salt, but sweeter and better, without that odd offputting note that nobody can figure out, and with more of a Coppertone suntan oil note.

Throw: Very Good, 3 or 3.5 out of 5



Sugarplum Dream

Notes: Cranberry, clove, raspberry, pineapple, orange, and balsam fir

A nice smoky pine/spruce scent. It's very similar to the Through the Woods scent, but more smoky. On cold sniff I also detect a smidgen of sweetness, but I don't smell that when melted. Looking at the scent notes, I don't smell anything except the balsam fir. I expected it to be a fruity scent based on the name.

Throw: Excellent, 3.5 or 4 out of 5.



Through the Woods

Notes: Siberian fir needle oil, Texas cedar wood, sandalwood, spruce, fir balsam and raspberry.

A nice pine/spruce scent with a hint of wood and a little smokiness. It's very similar to Sugarplum Dream, but more "piney" and slightly woodsy, and a little less smoky. This is not the same scent as their Timberwick Pine Meadow scent, although it's similar; Pine Meadow is not as smoky. It might be the same as their Woodland Pine scent (although I no longer have that scent), but the notes listed on their website are different.

Throw: Excellent, 3.5 or 4 out of 5.



Winter Delights

Notes: Buttery vanilla with a hint of honey and coconut.

This is a nice plain vanilla scent with maybe a hint of nut and maybe a slight bakery note, like warm vanilla cookies. It's not an overly sweet vanilla. Looking at the scent notes, I don't smell honey. But actually I think I do smell a smidgen coconut, but it's so subtle that if I didn't know it was in the scent notes, I probably wouldn't detect it.

Throw: Like many vanilla scents, throw was not good, maybe 2 out of 5.



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Friday, October 6, 2017

Trapp Fragrances Wax Melts Reviews - Seasonal Collection (Fall & Winter 2017)

Trapp Fragrances Wax Melts Reviews - Seasonal Collection (Fall & Winter 2017)

Trapp Fragrances Wax Melts - Fall & Winter Seasonal Collection
Click to enlarge

Video:


Everyone should have at least a couple of Trapp Fragrances wax melts in their scented wax melt collection. These are high quality luxury melts. They are not scents that you melt in your kid's room or put by the cat litter box. They're meant to be savored, like a fine wine! So get out the champagne, draw a bath, and enjoy your holiday season with the sophisticated scent of Trapp Fragrances wax melts.

For more details about Trapp Fragrances wax melts in general, take a look at my reviews for their regular scents, at http://www.scentedwaxreviews.com/2017/07/trapp-fragrances-wax-melts-reviews.html.



Fireside Pumpkin

Description: Smoking white birch logs and New England pumpkin create a warm and inviting fragrance.
Notes: New England Pumpkin, Smoky Pumpkin Spices, Glowing Embers

This is definitely not a "typical" fall pumpkin scent. I do smell pumpkin spices and just a smidgen of smokiness (not as smoky as I expected based on the scent name), but there's also a sweet creamy note. Wait, this smells like eggnog! It's not exactly like eggnog, as there's a bit of woodsy note in the background, but it's a fantastic scent.

Throw: Very Good, 3 or 3.5 out of 5



Golden Cypress

Description: Create a holiday ambience with the intoxicating aroma of fresh cypress sprigs and golden citron fruit.
Notes: Citron Zest, Green Cypress, Siberian Fir

Orange and pine is one of my favorite scent combinations, and this one is fantastic. I smell the pine first, with just a hint of citrus in the background. The citrus note is a very subtle orange rind note rather than a juicy orange. And there's also a little bit of a woodsy note too. Fantastic scent!

Throw: Very good, 3 or 3.5 out of 5



Hearth

Description: Notes of autumn leaves, wild black currant, crushed nutmeg and sweet apricot comfort with feelings of family and memories of home.
Notes: Wild Black Currant, Crushed Nutmeg, Autumn Leaves

I can't figure out this scent. It's sweet and smoky, but not smoky like a fireplace, more like that liquid smoke you put on food. And it's not overly smoky, which is good. There might also be a hint of fruit like strawberry, and maybe a smidgen of cloves. Looking at the scent notes, the fruit I'm smelling is currant, and the cloves I'm smelling is nutmeg. It's an interesting, "cozy" scent.

Throw: Very good, 3 or 3.5 out of 5



Holiday

Description: Cinnamon sticks, spiced raisins and gingerbread make this a vibrant and spicy blend
Notes: Cinnamon Stick, Gingerbread, Bourbon Vanilla

My Review: I'm not a fan of cinnamon scents, but this one is very nice. It's a sweet, rich cinnamon scent with a slight clove note for warmth. It's "kind of" a candy scent, but definitely not a Big Red gum or Red Hot Cinnamon scent. Nor is it a bakery scent. I do smell the vanilla in this one, and I think it's the bourbon that takes it to a different level.

Throw: Excellent, 3.5 or 4 out of 5



Lemon Sugar Cookie

Description: Tart lemon balances the sweetness of oven-baked cookies drizzled with frosting.
Notes: Lemon Zest, Baked Cookie, Warm Sugar

A nice sweet lemon scent. I don't really smell the bakery notes, so it doesn't smell like a cookie to me, but that's okay. It's a great scent!

Throw: Very good, 3 or 3.5 out of 5



Orange Clove

Description: The classic combination of juicy orange and freshly ground clove warms your senses.
Notes: Juicy Orange, Freshly Ground Clove, Cinnamon

This smells like sweet cinnamon with a subtle orange note. It's not a citrusy orange. I also detect a smidgen of clove. It smells like orange pomander, but a much better version. Pomander scents sometimes have a weird nauseating soapy note, and this one does not. It's very nice!

Throw: Excellent, 3.5 or 4 out of 5



White Fir

Description: White fir essence fills your room with the refreshing, cool sensation of a winter forest.
Notes: Frasier Fir, Balsam Wood, Cool Ozonic Notes

A nice Christmas tree scent with a hint of smokiness.

Throw: Excellent, 3.5 or 4 out of 5



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Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Ashland Winter 2016 Christmas Candle Collection Scented Wax Melts Review

Ashland Winter 2016 Christmas Candle Collection Scented Wax Melts Review

Ashland 2016 Christmas Candle Collection Scented Wax Melts
Click photo to view larger image

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. These 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 (which were discontinued). Hanna's also makes the Aldi's Huntington Home wax melts that come out three times a year.

When new Ashland scents come out (generally seasonally... spring, fall, winter, and maybe summer), they cost $3.99, which is pricey. But within only a few weeks, they go on sale for 40% off. Michael's often has other sales, so some of these melts I was able to get for $1.19 each during a 70% off sale!

I bought all the new Christmas Candle Collection scents except Cinnamon Orange, which smells like orange pomander, a scent I don't like (soapy spicy orangey scent).

O' Christmas Tree
Typical pine/spruce scent, but with a woodsy and slightly eucalyptus note, and maybe a smidgeon of smokiness. It's a nice Christmas Tree scent. Throw is quite good, around a 3 or 3.5 out of 5, although most pine scents have excellent throw. Scent fizzled within 2 hours.

Glistening Snow
Mint with a slight pine note. This is not a sweet mint, and has some spearmint notes that give it a slight toothpaste quality which I don't like. But the pine note saves it. Not my favorite scent, but it definitely has a chilly snow quality! Throw is excellent, around a 3.5 or 4 out of 5.

Vanilla Frost
On cold sniff this smells like plain vanilla with a bit of a sweet liqueur note in the background. I expected to smell mint based on the name, but I don't detect any mint. Melted, it's just a nice sweet vanilla scent, nothing special. Throw is good, around a 3 out of 5.

Winter Apple and Balsam
On cold sniff, this smells a little like mulled apple cider, but there's a slightly sour note in the background, and I think I smell a bit of a balsam note. On cold sniff it really just smells more like a fake fall type apple scent than anything. But it smells a little better melted, like sour apple and leaves. It's very similar (if not an exact dupe) of the Huntington Home Falling Leaves scent that was sold at Aldi in the fall of 2015 (Hanna's Candles, the company that makes the Ashland wax melts, also makes the Aldi wax melts). Throw is excellent, around a 3.5 or 4 out of 5.

Merry Berry Clementine
This smells like a typical cranberry scent with a smidgeon of spices. It's a nice fall scent. Throw is very good, around a 3 or 3.5 out of 5.

Candy Land (triple melts)

red scent (picture of red & white mint candies) - This smells like peppermint candies or a candy cane. Throw is very good, around a 3 or 3.5 out of 5.

white scent (picture of white mint candies) - This is a sweet creamy mint with a vanilla note, like creamy mint candies. It smells fantastic! Melted, I don't smell as much of the mint as I do on cold sniff. Throw is very good, around a 3 or 3.5 out of 5.

orange scent (picture of gingerbread) - This smells like gingerbread and cloves on cold sniff. When melted, I just smell woodsy cloves. Throw is only fair, maybe a 2.5 out of 5.

Country Lodge (triple melt)
All 3 scents are orange, so I'll have to go by the pictures on the front label.

picture of cinnamon sticks - On cold sniff it smells like straight cinnamon with a bit of sweetness. But when melted, more of the sweetness comes out so the cinnamon is not harsh like a Big Red type cinnamon would be. It's more like a cinnamon roll, and I think I also detect a very slight bakery note. Throw is very good, around a 3.5 out of 5.

picture of a tree - Sugary cinnamon scent with a little bit of cloves. Throw is very good, around a 3.5 out of 5.

picture of orange and pinecones - Sweet cloves with maybe just a hint of cinnamon. Throw is excellent, 3.5 or 4 out of 5.

Shimmering Noel (triple melt)

white scent - I thought this was the same scent as Glistening Snow above because it's white, but it's not. It's a nice warm woodsy scent with a slight eucalyptus note and a smidgeon of mint. It doesn't have that sinus clearing quality that a straight eucalyptus scent would have, but it smells wonderful. Throw is very good, around a 3.5 out of 5.

light blue scent - This one is not very strong on cold sniff. I smell cloves and just a hint of mint or menthol. Up close, I can smell the sinus clearing effects of the menthol. It's a nice scent, and throw is very good, around a 3 or 3.5 out of 5.

light green scent - This is the same scent as Glistening Snow (reviewed above).

Twisted Citrus and Spice (triple melt)

orange scent (picture of orange & cinnamon) - This smells like a combination of pomander and apple mulling spices with a hint of brown fall leaves. Definitely a fall scent! Throw is very good, around a 3.5 out of 5.

magenta scent (picture of cranberry & orange beverage) - On cold sniff this smells like very tart cranberry, but when melted it smells like red wine, with a little bit of that sour fermentation note that I don't like, but a little bit of sweetness that tempers some of that sourness. It's actually a pretty nice scent, and throw is excellent, at least a 4 out of 5.

green scent (picture of apples) - This is a sour apple scent which is similar to the Winter Apple and Balsam scent (reviewed above), but not as sweet. It's too sour or bitter or something, so I'm not a fan. Throw is good, around a 3 out of 5.

Enchanted Fruits

red scent (picture of mulberries) - This smells like apples and berries with a woodsy note and a little bit of sourness. It's not very strong on cold sniff. Melted, it's a bit too tart for my liking. Throw is good, around a 3 out of 5.

green scent (picture of apple with cinnamon stick) - This is the same as the green scent in the Twisted Citrus and Spice triple melt. I don't care for the sour bitter note. Throw is excellent, around a 3.5 or 4 out of 5.

magenta scent (picture of cranberry beverage) - This is the same scent as the magenta scent in the Twisted Citrus and Spice triple melt.

Winter White cookies
These three scents smell very similar, and they're my favorite scents out of all of this year's Christmas Candle Collection.

tan scent (picture of powdered sugar crescent cookies) - rich buttery shortcake cookie scent with an almond note. Throw is good, 3 out of 5.

ivory scent (picture of powdered snowball cookies) - This smells a lot like the tan scent above, although the nuttiness is pecan or walnut instead of almond, and it's more buttery. Throw is excellent, a 4 or 4.5 out of 5.

beige scent (picture of plain vanilla cookies) - Super buttery cookie with slight nutty (pecan maybe, but not almond) and milky notes. Not as nutty as the other two scents. Throw is excellent, a at least a 4 out of 5.

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Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Walmart Scented Wax Melts Winter/Holiday/Christmas 2016 - Better Homes & Gardens & Mainstays Review


Walmart Scented Wax Melts Winter/Holiday/Christmas 2016 - Better Homes & Gardens & Mainstays Review

Walmart Scented Wax Melts Winter/Holiday/Christmas 2016 - Better Homes & Gardens & Mainstays
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Better Homes & Gardens Winter's Sleigh Ride
"Seasonal blend of orange zest, cool winter spices, smoky woods, incense and mountain fir, with a warming base of oakmoss, blue cedar and vanilla bean"
This is a cozy smoky scent with a slight pine note I think. I thought I smelled a hint of mint, but I don't think so; maybe it's the orange zest or the "cool winter spices" (whatever those are). I don't smell orange at all. On cold sniff there's a hint of sweetness which is probably the vanilla, but I don't smell any sweetness when melted. This is similar to Better Homes & Gardens Winter Ski Resort from 2014, and Better Homes & Gardens Wooded Mountain Trails, but with slightly different notes. And it's a scent monster that took over the entire house, a throw of 5 out of 5, and it smells great!

Better Homes & Gardens First Winter Blizzard
"Crushed peppermint leaf, smoked birch wood, fragrant pine and emerald holly leaf glisten with an icy, ozone freshness touched by mistletoe greens"
I barely smell anything other than maybe a slightly sweet woodsy soapy scent. I didn't detect any mint. Throw was maybe a 2 out of 5.

Better Homes & Gardens Cranberry Cookie Crumble
"Sweet cranberry, cinnamon sugar, caramel swirl and buttered pecan in a heart of sugar cookie and crumb cake"
There's a reason why everyone is raving over this one... It's fantastic, a super rich buttery cookie with a pecan note (like snowball cookies) and a hint of brown sugar, and maybe a slight berry note (although I don't smell cranberry per se). I don't smell cinnamon at all, which is good. Throw is excellent, at least 4 out of 5.

Better Homes & Gardens Bubbly Peach Cocktail
"Peach prosecco, sparkling bubbles and pink champagne blend together to create this effervescent fragrance. Fruity infusion of mango, peach nectar and blush wine swirl in the heart and lead into a sweet, refreshing base of icy vanilla and sugarcane"
I thought I would hate this one because generally anything with "wine" or "cocktail" or "champagne" in the scent name tends to have that sour wine fermentation note. And this scent does have that note, but it's slight. I smell peach and a little bit of creaminess which is probably the vanilla, and just a smidgeon of that sour wine fermentation note. I don't detect any effervescence notes that you sometimes get with fizzy alcohol type scents. It's a nice scent but not my favorite. Throw is pretty good, around a 3 or 3.5 out of 5.

Better Homes & Gardens Warm Up Winter
"Warm cedar and oriental clove bud with notes of black myrrh touched by shimmering aldehydes, swirls of fragrant wood smoke, spiced amber and herbaceous greens"
I smell the cloves, cedar, and smokiness. It's a cozy scent with almost has a slight foodie quality, maybe because of the cloves. But it's not sweet enough to be yummy. It smells a little like Dr. Pepper soda, and other people have said the same thing. The picture on the label shows a mug of hot chocolate or coffee, but this scent smells nothing like that. I don't care for this one. Throw is very good, around a 3.5 out of 5.

Better Homes & Gardens Sugared Maple and Evergreens
"Fusion of autumn accords including sugared maple, orchard woods, autumn apple and clementine with holiday notes of roasted chestnuts, nutmeg, fresh evergreen, holiday pine and buttered rum"
This smells fantastic, like a mixture of caramel and pine with a hint of nut. It sounds like a weird combination, but it really works. I guess the caramel I smell is the maple and buttered rum. I don't smell apple or any kind of fruit. Throw is excellent, a 4 out of 5.

Better Homes & Gardens Season of Joy
"Balsam and fir adorned with festive red berries join notes of warm woods and oriental amber accented by vanilla caramel and shimmering spice"
This is not a Christmas scent, but a fantastic warm perfumey scent with both an amber and a caramel note. I don't smell any balsam/pine or spices, but maybe there's a smidgeon of berries that I barely detect. It smells a tiny bit like ScentSationals Love Letters. Throw is maybe a 2.5 out of 5, but it might do well in a small room. But when I melted a different one months later, the throw was better, good to very good, 3 or 3.5 out of 5.

Mainstays Apples & Evergreen
This is a nice even blend of sweet apples and pine, with maybe just a smidgeon of caramel. I'm not sure which I smell more, the apples or pine. It's a combination that wouldn't seem to make sense, but it works. Throw is excellent, 3.5 or 4 out of 5.

Mainstays Spiced Cranberry
This is a nice cranberry sauce scent, sweet with a little bit of that bitterness, making it an authentic cranberry rather than a "candy" type cranberry. I think there's some kind of spice in the background but I'm not sure what. This is definitely a fall type scent. Throw is good, around a 3 or 3.5 out of 5.

Mainstays Pine
This is an authentic woodsy spruce scent. Mainstays came out with an "Evergreen Spruce" scent last year or the year before, and although it smells very similar to the "Pine" scent, the Evergreen Spruce scent is more of that biting artificial pine scent with a smidgeon of sweetness. This new Pine scent smells much nicer. And throw is fantastic, at least a 4 out of 5.

Mainstays Winter Mittens
This smells like Better Homes & Gardens Pure White Woods or ScentSationals Vanilla Wood, and on cold sniff there's just a hint of mint which I smell from close up but not in the room. It's a nice classy light woodsy scent with a hint of sweetness but no smokiness. Throw is very good, around a 3 or 3.5 out of 5.

Mainstays Spiced Orange
This smells like orange pomander, which is orange plus spices. I think cloves is one of the spices, but I don't smell cinnamon. This is a strong, rich, almost savory orange scent. I'm not a fan of this one, or pomander scents in general, as it's a bit nauseating to me. Throw is excellent, 3.5 or 4 out of 5.


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