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.

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

Tuscany Candle Spring Wax Melts Review - April 2016

Tuscany Candle Spring Wax Melts Review - April 2016

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I believe these are part of Tuscany Candle's spring collection (with 3 additional scents which I reviewed at http://www.scentedwaxreviews.com/2016/03/tuscany-candle-in-garden-spring-bloom.html). I found these at Christmas Tree Shops (http://www.christmastreeshops.com) in mid-April 2016. I don't know if they're new scents or older, discontinued scents. The top line is the scent name, the second line is the description on the package, and the paragraph underneath is my review of that scent.

Blood Orange
"Citrus Blast"
This is a holiday pomander scent, which is a mix of orange and cloves. It's the same scent they use in a lot of their orange scents, including Orange Vanilla. It's a strong scent, but not a spring or summer scent. I'm not a fan of that orange pomander scent, but that's just a personal preference. Throw is excellent.

Salted Caramel Cake
"Sea Salt, Brown Sugar and Vanilla"
This really smells like caramel. The brown sugar note is very strong. This is not as salty as some other brands of salted caramel scents (like Yankee). Yummy scent! Throw is excellent.

Cotton Candy
"Sugary Airy Sweet"
Tuscany's Cotton Candy scent breaks the "cotton candy curse" (as in, I've never found a cotton candy scented wax melt that had a strong throw). This is a totally authentic cotton candy scent, with that sticky strawberry/lemon sugary note. And the throw is very good to excellent. Fantastic scent!

Ocean Pebbles
"Sea Heather and Driftwood"
This smells like a fresh men's body wash, kind of like "Cool Water". It's very strong on cold sniff and throw is excellent.

Strawberry Cake
"Fresh Strawberries and Buttercream Frosting"
This smells exactly like strawberry shortcake. On cold sniff, a lot of Tuscany scents have a weird sour or waxy note, and this one is no exception. But you don't smell that sour waxy note when it's melted. I love this scent! And throw is good to very good.

Mountain Meadow
"Fresh and Clean"
This one is a bit weak on cold sniff. It's a sweet grassy floral but there's a slightly harsh note in there, like a sweet chemical, that I don't like. This smells a little like ScentSationals Orchard Breeze. Throw is fair to good, which was a pleasant surprise since I expected it to be weaker based on cold sniff.

Dandy Daisy
"Spring Daisies Lightened with Tonka"
Tonka is a type of vanilla, and I don't smell any kind of vanilla in this scent. It's not exactly a floral either. It's a fresh oceany scent with a hint of clean floral, like maybe a body wash or even a laundry type scent. It's a nice generic fresh scent. Throw is very good.

Puffed Petals
"Soft Florals Blended with Sugar Cane"
This smells like vanilla mixed with a floral and a warm ambery cashmere note. It's a very nice delicate, classy fragrance. Unfortunately, no throw at all.

Blushing Orchid
"Delicate and Wild"
A nice jasmine type floral scent with a green note and a smidgeon of soapiness that keeps it from being perfumey or too sweet. Barely any throw when melted.

Spring Rain
"Pure and Clean"
This one smells a little like Blushing Orchid but not as sweet and floral, and there's an additional note in there that makes it smells a little watery, but I'm not sure if I like that note and it's hard to describe. No throw when melted.

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Aldi Scented Wax Melts by Huntington Home - Summer 2016 Scents Review

Aldi Scented Wax Melts by Huntington Home - Summer 2016 Scents Review

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The Aldi summer wax melts are triple melts this time. Aldi's store brand is Huntington Home, and the Huntington Home wax melts are made by a company that makes many well-known popular wax melts for other companies. Read the full review at https://www.facebook.com/groups/scentedwaxretail/permalink/925058897611940/. This review is exclusive to our Facebook group members. Join us at https://www.facebook.com/groups/scentedwaxretail.

Goose Creek Candle Scented Wax Melts Review

Goose Creek Candle Scented Wax Melts Review - April 2016

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This is the complete review for the "first look" review I did a few weeks ago: http://www.scentedwaxreviews.com/2016/03/goose-creek-candle-scented-wax-melts-first-look.html.

And take a look at the Goose Creek Candles Scented Wax Melts review I did for 20 different scents a few weeks ago: http://www.scentedwaxreviews.com/2016/03/goose-creek-candle-scented-wax-melts-0316.html.

Once again I took advantage of their sale (which seems to occur every few weeks), which is 20 wax melts for the price of 10, bringing the price of each wax melt down from their regular price of $4 each to a much more affordable $2 each (same as Walmart wax)

I like Goose Creek wax melts. I wish the wax were not so soft and messy (similar to Colonial Candles wax melts). And the round clamshells make the soft, messy wax difficult to get out of the package. Other than that, I'm very happy with my order. You always get a couple of duds with every order from every company, so I always expect that.

For the throw, instead of assigning a number score like I usually do (1 out of 5, 2 out of 5, etc.), I'm just going to say it's weak or fair or good or excellent, etc. Numbers mean different things to different people, so using words to describe the throw might be better.

Red Velvet Cupcake

"This bakery favorite opens with fresh frosting, orange zest, and dark berries. Sweet chocolate and cake batter combine with rich vanilla and brown sugar for a scrumptious, signature finish.

A pleasant cupcake type scent with chocolate notes and maybe a smidgeon of coconut. The chocolate is not a rich dark or overwhelming chocolate, but more of a light milk chocolate. There's also a very slight floral or perfumey quality. Looking at the scent notes, I guess I detect a smidgeon of berries and maybe that's the floral I think I smell. I don't smell orange at all, and I'm surprised there's no coconut.

Throw: Good

Black Amber Plum

"Sweet plums with a sparkle of mandarin leads into the floralcy of jasmine. A warm background of exotic black amber, vetiver, patchouli and musk create an elegant ending."

I definitely smell plum, but it also smells a little like some kind of dark fruity cough syrup, but in a good way. It has a "fig" note which makes it smell "classy". It might also have a very slight bakery note that makes it smell a little like some kind of thick dark fruity filling in a cake. It's a nice, rich plum scent. The scent started dissipating within 2 hours though.

Throw: Good

Golden Peach Vanilla

"Bright, fruity accords of sliced peaches, orange and lemon zest are blended with cinnamon and brown sugar for a rich and luscious experience. Highlights of buttery cake crumbs and vanilla extract emphasize this incredible flavor. "

On cold sniff, this is amazing, a super rich sweet vanilla pastry scent with a very slight rich raspberry note, and just a smidgeon of peach. Looking at the scent notes, I'm surprised there's no raspberry in there. I don't smell orange or lemon though. I really wanted this one to throw well, but disappointingly it didn't. In fact, while melting if I stick my nose really close the warmer, it has a little bit of a burnt chemical smell, and that's only after about a half hour. It smells so good on cold sniff though that I'm tempted to keep it just to open up the package and sniff it every now and then!

Throw: None

Blueberry Limeade

"Delight in this refreshing blend with notes of sweet lime, lemon, blueberry and strawberry. White sugar and vanilla sweeten this thirst quenching aroma."

This smells like a lime based alcoholic beverage, but I also smell the tart fruitiness of the blueberry. Sadly, the scent dissipated within only 2 hours.

Throw: Fair

Soothing Coconut

"The milky sweet aroma of an island true coconut. Bust it open and have a soothing sip. Orange, pineapple, coconut, musk, and vanilla. "

This is not a "fake" tropical coconut scent, but more of a light coconut with vanilla and a nutty note. Very nice. Looking at the scent notes, yes I think I do smell a slight pineapple note, but I don't smell orange or musk. Melted, this is a fantastic sweet coconut with a vanilla note and a smidgeon of pineapple.

Throw: Excellent

Clementine & Mango

"Bright and juicy notes of clementine, mango nectar, and pink grapefruit are accented by a heart of jasmine and succulent pineapple. This fun and fruity fragrance is finished with notes of warm amber, creamy sandalwood, and musk."

I can't figure out the notes in this one. I guess I smell mango and maybe a slight tangerine note, which may be the clementine. Looking at the scent notes, OK I do smell a pinch of pineapple and grapefruit. It smells sweet and juicy. Nice scent, but very similar to a lot of other scents.

Throw: Fair

Sunset Sparkle

"Enjoy the sparkle of a tropical sunset. Top notes of sweet berry and mandarin. The middle blends jasmine, and honeysuckle. The bottom combines amber, vanilla and a light essence of sandalwood. "

This smells a lot like ScentSationals Love Letters, but with a slight tropical fruit note. It smells like cashmere/amber with a hint of almond and a smidgeon of tropical fruit.

Throw: Weak

Tahitian Citrus

"Indulge in this mouth watering fruit medley as fresh lime zest, lemon sugar and sparkling grapefruit are touched with accents of whipped meringue, vanilla bean, sugar cane and Tahitian musk. "

This smells like rich salty lemon with maybe a hint of orange, but not like a drink, or even really bakery. There's also a touch of something savory in the background (which might be the grapefruit). It's really yummy, and it lasted all day. It smells a lot like Golden Peach Vanilla.

Throw: Excellent

A Christmas Story

"This is a cool balsam scent with notes of pine, orange blossom, and caramel musk. "

On cold sniff, it smells like neroli or some kind of orange blossom type of perfume, with pine and maybe a hint of eucalyptus, although it's not minty at all. It also has a musty note, but not in a bad way. It's a very nice, unique scent. Looking at the scent notes, they're right on! Melted, I only smell the musty pine and none of the orange blossom or caramel, but it's a unique pine, more like a spruce (not as savory as pine), similar to Colonial Candles Blue Spruce. Very nice, and it lasted all day.

Throw: Excellent

Autumn Romance

"Love is in the air with notes of warm amber crystals, brushed suede, creamy sandalwood, sensual amber, and sugared musk. "

On cold sniff, it smells like a sweet cashmere/amber type perfume with a smidgeon of apple notes and possibly a barely detectable smidgeon of patchouli. Melted, I don't smell any fruit or apple, just a beautiful rich, warm, soft cashmere amber scent, similar to Better Homes & Gardens Soft Cashmere Amber, but richer.

Throw: Excellent

Vanilla Pumpkin Waffle

"This decadent scent infuses delicious accords of pumpkin, butter and apple with a blend of pecans, maple and cinnamon. Vanilla, sugar, tonka and musk add depth for a mouthwatering experience. "

This is a super yummy scent that smells, well just like vanilla waffles. I don't smell pumpkin (not sure what that smells like anyway) or any type of fall spices, which is good. And there's no maple. It smells just like warm thick doughy waffles with butter and a little bit of powdered sugar (although it's not really a sweet scent), and possibly a couple of nuts since it has a slightly nutty note. Actually it kind of smells like funnel cake. Looking at the scent notes, I don't smell apple, maple, or cinnamon at all.

Throw: Excellent

Summer Sherbet

"Summer Sherbet is a rainbow of flavors. With orange, lemon, lime, peach and raspberry. "

This smells like berry flavored Kool-Aid. I smell a "Tang" powdered orange type scent, and maybe also lemon and some kind of red berry. Melted, it has a bit of a fake citrus cleaner note, not a kitchen lemon but maybe some kind of floor cleaner with a hint of lime. It's a nice refreshing scent but not my favorite. Throw wasn't great either, and the scent was gone within 3 hours.

Throw: Fair

Sipping Tea

"This delightfully refreshing fragrance blends tea leaves with bursts of chilled lemonade and lime juice while accords of pear nectar, crystallized sugar, mimosa and musk adds a soothing sensation. "

This smells like salty lemon sugar with a note of black tea. It's like sweetened iced tea with lemon. The tea notes are light, and it's not a chai tea. Very nice scent. Looking at the scent notes, I don't detect mimosa (floral?) or musk, but there is a slight warmth in the background that may be the musk. When melted, I smell more of the tea.

Throw: Excellent

Toasty Hot Toddy

"The scent of toasty hot toddy is a delicious maple treat. It is concocted with the sweet notes of buttery toasted pecans, dark rum, and cinnamon sticks. "

This smells like rich cinnamon french toast with butter, maple syrup, and nuts. It's a yummy fall scent. Looking at the scent notes, they're right on. Although this is definitely a bakery scent rather than a beverage.

Throw: Excellent

Pineapple Sea Spray

"This unique blend combines fresh ocean water with freshly cut pineapple. Enjoy top notes of bergamot, pineapple and fresh watery ozone. The middle combines pink peppercorn, white peach and light jasmine. The bottom contains blonde woods, skin musk and a light dose of vanilla. "

Even if you're not a fan of pineapple scents (like me), you might still like this one because the pineapple note is more in the background. This smells like a fresh clean body wash with a salty ocean note and just a bit of pineapple in the background to give it a slightly tropical vibe. Nice and summery! Looking at the notes, I think I do detect a smidgeon of peach and floral. This one lasted for 24 hours!

Throw: Excellent

Black Leather

"Top notes of leather and bergamot. Suede, cardamom and moss enrich the heart leading into warming base notes of amber, musk, cedar and sandalwood. "

I'm so glad I took a chance on this one, as I was afraid it would just smell like leather. But it's so much more. It smells like leather, tobacco, clove, and smoky wood. A nice warm, masculine scent. The tobacco is not a sweet pipe tobacco, but more of a cigarette tobacco, but not in a bad way. This is not a sweet scent, nor is it a cologne, scent, but there is a slight cologne note that gives it a hint of sweetness. The smokiness is almost like a liquid smoke scent, but it's not overwhelming at all. Looking at the scent notes, it's probably the musk that gives it that cologney note. Actually, now that it's going strong in the room, that smoky note is more of a cigar or ashtray scent, which sounds bad, but there are so many other notes in this scent that blend into it to make it smell really good. As much as I like this scent, I'm not sure if I want my whole house to smell like this.

Throw: Very Good

Cranberry

"A tart, bright blend of fresh berries and lemon, sweetened with raw sugar and vanilla. Enjoy fresh blackberries, lemon, raspberry, cranberry wine, raw sugar crystals and vanilla. "

I do smell the tartness of the cranberry, but it's not an authentic cranberry scent. It's more like a cranberry punch, and I think there's some other kind of fruit in there. Looking at the scent notes, I don't detect lemon, but I think I detect blackberries and maybe also the raspberries. And I see cranberry wine, which explains the hint of that sour fermentation note that I smell on cold sniff (but not enough to be annoying), but thankfully I don't smell when melting. When melted, I just smell cranberry punch.

Throw: Excellent

Confetti Cake

"This flavorsome fragrance opens with a fruity blend of red berry, orange, mandarin and peach leading to a sweet, silky mix of whipped butter, vanilla and sugar for the ultimate delight. "

I smell sugary lemon and maybe also an orange note and possibly a touch of red berry, but also a smidgeon of a vanilla cupcake note. Looking at the scent notes, I'm really surprised I don't see lemon. This is a yummy "Fruit Loops" type scent, and it smells a lot like Golden Peach Vanilla and also Tahitian Citrus.

Throw: Very Good

Pumpkin Caramel Swirl

"A warm and scrumptious creamy caramel treat with notes of sweet orange pumpkin, pumpkin puree, buttery vanilla and brown sugar. "

This is a yummy milky caramel with a rich buttery brown sugar note and what might be a smidgeon of coffee but is probably actually the pumpkin. On cold sniff I don't smell any cinnamon, but when melted I do, even though it's not in the scent notes. This is a very sweet caramel, not a salted caramel, although it does have a little bit of salt. It smells fantastic.

Throw: Very Good

Georgia Peach

"Enjoy juicy pink grapefruit, orange slices, mango, sweet coconut and woods."

This smells just like a juicy peach! It doesn't have that fake peach note that a lot of peach scents have, the kind that smells like cheap peach scented air freshener. This smells like the real fruit, but there's something else in there too that I can't figure out, that gives it a slight banana note. The closest peach scent I can compare this to is Mainstays Peach & Mango, as they both smell authentic. The Mainstays has that slight mango note that gives it a tropical vibe, and it's not as sweet, but it does smell more "natural". Whereas the Goose Creek is sweeter and "juicier", like peach nectar. OK, looking at the scent notes, I think the banana is really the mango and coconut, and now that I know coconut is in there, I do detect it. I don't smell orange though.

Throw:  Very Good

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Living Colors Scented Wax Melts (from Big Lots) Review

Living Colors Scented Wax Melts (from Big Lots) Review

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This is a review of Living Colors scented wax melts from Big Lots. Living Colors wax melts are made by MVP Group International, 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.

Also, check out my review of new Summer 2016 scents at http://www.scentedwaxreviews.com/2016/05/living-colors-scented-wax-melts-from-big-lots-summer-2016.html.

Waterfall Mist
This is a nice jasmine type floral scent with a soapy note. It's not overly sweet, and has a very slightly salty watery note. I wish this one had thrown well, as it had almost zero throw.

Garden Blooms
I really like this one but I can't figure out the notes. It's definitely floral and very sweet. It almost has a lilac vibe, but not quite, and maybe baby powder. It smells fake, but not in a bad way, more like a really floral shower gel with fresh notes. This had barely any throw, maybe a 1 or 1.5 out of 5.

Gardenia
Nice generic gardenia scent, but no throw.

Bamboo Sugarcane
It doesn't smell like bamboo or sugar. It's not sweet at all. It's very very savory, almost like a salad with perhaps a hint of lemon. It smelled a little like cat pee when melted, not good at all. I don't get that cat pee note on cold sniff though. Good throw.

Iced Lavender
This smells like a fake lavender, but smells very nice. Weak throw.

Sea Salt Scrub
This is a really strange scent. It doesn't smell like ocean or sea salt or a spa scrub type scent at all. It smells like burnt chocolate and dust combined. That description sounds awful, but it's so unusual that I can't not like it. Throw is very good.

Orange Blossom Tea
I definitely smell orange and tea, and the orange is more like an orange rind rather than a sparkly citrusy orange. The tea is not a chai tea, but more of an iced tea. There may be a little bit of ginger in the background. It's a very nice refreshing scent, and throw is very good.

Cucumber Mint
It smells like a spa mint, kind of like ScentSationals Zen. I don't smell cucumber. It's not very strong on cold sniff, and since I already have several Zen type scents, I didn't buy this one.

Eucalyptus
This is similar to Cucumber Mint but slightly more savory. Very weak on cold sniff, and weak throw.

Peach Cassis
I didn't buy this one because it smells like a fake peach car air freshener. I don't smell anything else, like cassis.

Citrus & Sage
This smells like orange with something in the background that gives it a slight spa quality. It's very similar to Orange Blossom Tea. Weak throw.

Coastal Breeze
Very nice fresh soapy body wash or herbal shampoo scent but very light on cold sniff. Slight ocean type saltiness. Weak throw.

Lilac Bloom
This smells like lilac room spray. It's nice, but not authentic. It's sweeter than Lilac & Lily and I like it just a bit more. Throw is good, but ScentSationals, Better Homes & Gardens, and Mainstays Lilac scents and throw are better.

Lilac & Lily
I definitey smell lilac, but I think there's a slightly different floral mixed in. It's a very "spring" like scent, and it's slightly more authentic than the Lilac Bloom scent. This had barely any throw, maybe a 1 or 1.5 out of 5.

Citrus Vanilla
I'm not sure why I bought this one, since it's straight vanilla with a little bit of coconut which makes it smell like a vanilla cupcake. I don't smell citrus at all. It's not overly sweet. I have tons of vanilla scents, and from experience I've found that Living Colors vanilla scents typically have no throw. And I was right. This had barely any throw, maybe a 1 or 1.5 out of 5.

Vanilla Cream
This is a more sweet buttercream vanilla scent than Citrus Vanilla. I like this one more. It's not super sweet, like buttercream frosting, but more like a sweet white spongey cake or an iced vanilla cookie. Zero throw.

Vanilla Amber
This is a nice vanilla buttercream type scent with a rich cashmere amber note, like a smokey vanilla. It's a very nice elegant scent, but throw was very weak.

Tahitian Vanilla
I no longer have this one so I don't remember the specific scent notes, but the throw was very weak.

Watermelon
Nice fake watermelon candy type scent. I'm not a fan of watermelon scents, so I didn't think I'd like this one. But it smells nice and summery. Throw is mediocre though, but would do well in a smaller room.

Sandalwood
This does not smell like sandalwood at all. It's straight cinnamon, maybe with a little bit of sugar. No wood notes at all. Weak throw.

Lemongrass Sage
This is a really fake lemon scent, like a lemon candy but not very lemony. I can't describe it, and although it's not an awful scent, I don't care for it, and I don't remember if I had ever bought it or not.

Maple Sugar Oak
I don't smell any wood in this. It smells like maple french toast or maple pancakes. It's not straight maple syrup, because I smell a slight bread note as well. Throw is very good.

Tangerine Burst
Super strong fake orange soda scent without the fizziness, or orange candy. Very strong and orangey, and it smells really good, although it's a little harsh. Maybe I'll mix it with a vanilla. Throw is excellent.

Lemon Bars
This smells like straight "true" lemon with a little bit of salt. It's not a kitchen lemon or a bakery lemon or a lemon alcoholic drink. It's probably one of the best lemon scents I've ever smelled, and throw is excellent.

Pineapple Coconut
Fake pineapple coconut tropical scent, like a tropical car freshener. It smells better melted though, and throw is very good.

Coconut Lime
This smells like straight coconut, although it's a fake coconut. I don't smell any lime or pineapple notes. I don't think I ever bought this one.

Mango & Saffron
Super sweet peach or persimmon nectar type scent. It's a nice scent, but it has a very slight cat pee note! Throw is very good.

Lotus Blossom
Some kind of floral, but very weak on cold sniff, and no throw.

Apple Cinnamon
Typical fake generic fall apple scent with a hint of cinnamon, like a cinnamon apple room spray. Weak throw.

Grapefruit Chamomile
Smells like real grapefruit, and throw is very good.

Cool Serenity
Very nice super sweet cotton laundry scent. Not a harsh laundry scent. Unfortunately, no throw at all.

Honeysuckle
Nice honeysuckle scent, but weak throw.

Tangerine Tigerlily
I no longer have this one so I don't remember the specific notes. I do recall that it smelled great on cold sniff, but had zero throw when melted.

Tranquil Waters
I no longer have this one so I don't remember the specific notes, but it had no throw.

Sweet Cherries
Very light on cold sniff. I can barely smell the cherries. I didn't buy this because I couldn't find the melts, only the candles.

Fresh Linen
Typical generic nice laundry scent. Only found candles, no melts.

Hazelnut
This smells like coffee with a lot of cream and hazelnut creamer mixed in. Weak throw. Only found candles, no melts.

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