IT’S that time of year again when the garden is in full blossom and the world is bright and sunny.
Well that’s summer time in theory, but here in the Highlands we all know sunshine and perfect flower beds can evade us.
So in a bid to at least make our homes smell fresh and gorgeous, scented candles can be a good option.
Not as expensive as fresh flowers, and arguably they last longer. You also have the added bonus of when the sun sets, they can make for a lovely atmosphere, especially when entertaining guests.
But with an array of scented candles on the market, at a very broad price range, it’s hard to know which ones are worth their wax.
So in a bid to help our readers out we’ve tested a few to see which ones are flaming hot and which are not…
Peony candle for Nougat London, RRP £20, available from www.nougatlondon.co.uk
Three stars
THIS candle will look stylish in any home, white and large, it makes for a perfect centre piece on a table. When lit, it gives of a fresh scent, however, I was slightly disappointed the smell wasn’t slightly stronger. Being a pet owner, I find scented candles a perfect way to freshen up a room, especially when I have friends coming over.
The packaging is lovely though, and I think the candle would make for a nice present. And the longevity of this candle is really impressive – it does go on and on.
JM
‘Unwinding’ candle from BLEND collective, RRP £25 160g, available from www.blendcollective.co.uk
Two stars
AT £25 a pop I would expect a lot more from the 30-hour "Unwinding" sensory hand-poured candle by Glenda Taylor from BLEND.
The BLEND collective range was launched in February and consists of three distinctive "luxury" fragranced blends – Enlivening, Unwinding and Balancing.
The promotional blurb claims their "Unwinding" blend of sandalwood, frankincense, cedarwood and neroli essential oils are carefully selected for their deeply relaxing, sultry tones which calm, indulge and delight.
But it was well past the 24-hour burning mark, in fact a lot nearer the 30-hour mark, before the fragrance became apparent and although it was pleasant enough, it wasn’t worth the wait to be honest.
Money up in smoke comes to mind!
LAF
Sabichi Scents – 7oz glass candle with lid, RRP £8
Three stars
HAVING the glass surround really lifts this otherwise average candle. For whatever reason, the glass seems to force it to produce a stronger smell than its pillar relative, and it is a rather handsome musk.
The real beauty of this candle is its size, however. It looks good enough and has the perfect dimensions to give as a present. Handing out fragrant candles can seem like a comment on someone’s housekeeping, but a compact, attractive item makes all the difference.
AJ
Candle in Jute Bag, Midsummer, £19.95 from www.wildplanetproducts.com
One star
THIS candle looked lovely as it came in its own jute bag and was wrapped in nice pink tissue paper.
Plain white in colour, it sits in a heavy base glass and boasts to have a minimum 40 hours of burn time.
Including rose geranium from South Africa with English lavender to promote relaxation, it claims to be a balancing and soothing blend that is both harmonizing and restorative.
However, on burning this candle for a several hours, I thought I was going a bit mad when I couldn’t smell much of a scent filling the air. Even with my nose perched right above it, I could barely sense any fragrance from it, and anything of the rose geranium I could smell was so subtle.
I guess this would be perfect for your bedroom as you wouldn’t want a strong smell overpowering your senses. It wouldn’t work if you’re looking for a candle that fragrances a living room or such like.
HB
National Trust Garden Wild Rose and Camomile candle, 190g, RRP £15
Four stars
IF you are going to light a scented candle in your living space, it makes sense to light one that you will be able to smell.
This National Trust example has a pleasant, and not overwhelming fragrance, at its best in the half-hour after the flame has been extinguished, and the smell is allowed to work its magic on its own.
The 40-hour burn time equates to 160 minutes of burn per pound, which seems to be decent value for money.
Naturally, it is covered in National Trust decals, but this is no bad thing, as people visiting will be made aware you are up for giving a national institution a helping hand.
Any problems? Well, carrying the candle even for just a couple of minutes will leave a strong flowery smell on your hands, which is difficult to shrug off. Otherwise, a thoroughly decent candle.
Available from www.nationaltrust.org.uk
AJ
