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Summer Scented Candle Review from Colonial Candles
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by Julia, added 7/27/09 Brand: Colonial Candles
Type: Jar Candles Various sizes Fragrance: Pink Peony, Sandcastle, Platinum Pearl, and Island Blossom Cost: $14 - $25 Scent Strength: Varied |
 Introduction to my Review:
I've been enjoying Colonial Candles for years, ever since receiving one as a gift. From that first experience with one of Colonial Candles large oval jars, I was hooked. At the time, I had never seen these candles locally so I looked online for them and discovered Colonial Candles website which opened up a whole new world of scents to explore. Since then, I've found Colonial Candles at several local home goods stores and gift shops, but nothing beats the huge scent selection and style choices I can find on their website.
Colonial Candles website is one of my regular haunts. I cruise through their sometimes just to look around and see what new scents are coming out or what the current sales are, and even what's in the clearance area. I never know what I'll find there, so I check the site often.
The website has beautiful, professional photographs, and several different search criteria, so it is easy to navigate around the site. Each time I check it out, I find new and unexpected items available, so I find dropping in for a peek irresistible. |
What do my Colonial Candles look like?
For this review I checked out some new scents and even a new jar style. Colonial Candles medium and large sized traditional oval style glass jars are double wicked and have a glass lid with a good strong seal. The jars each had a large colorful label which peeled off  easily. The oval jars look so beautiful burning that I did peel the labels off so I could get the maximum flame viewing action. This jar style has a phenomenal burn and the oval glass reflects the flickering light... it is mesmerizing. (Oval jars pictured at the top of this review)
As great as the oval style jars are, I did branch out a bit for this review and tested out a new 12.5 ounce square flared jar too. The square flared jars are single wicked and just a pretty as I've come to expect from Colonial Candle. This style does not have a glass lid, but there is a plastic cover over the top of the wax.
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How did my Colonial Candles smell?
Pink Peony
Here is Colonial Candles description of Pink Peony:
"This tranquil aroma of fruity top notes combines with rose and peony blossoms, infused with a spicy touch."
 Before reading this description, I thought and thought about which flower this smelled similar to and when I couldn't quite place it, it dawned on me that, of course, it must smell just exactly like a pink peony. I've never smelled a peony that I can remember, so I really had no reference here.
I was trying to compare it with a rose scent or a lavender scent, and even though it had some similar scent qualities, this pink peony was different. The Peony surely is it's own unique floral. It is a powdery soft scent... not sweet at all to me, more woody, cool and austere. I enjoyed the uniqueness of this floral scent. It makes me want to find some real peonies to smell.
I kept this pink colored candle in my powder room. The candle strength did well there and the scent itself was well suited for the space.
Although the jar shape was interesting, and I liked the heavy glass, I had some trouble getting the wax to pool. It eventually did, but not without some coaxing. |
Sandcastle
Here are some scent notes that I wouldn't have thought to put all together:
"Smooth coconut sprinkled with peach blossoms, travel through the heart of citrus bursts and soy blossoms."
Now put all of these scents in a candle called Sandcastle... well, I was unsure about what to expect. When I think of sandcastles, I think of suntan lotion and sea spray, so Colonial Candles take on this scent was certainly different than what I expected, but with my first sniff of this 8 ounce jar, I was quickly won over.
Sandcastle is the color of sand and has such a pleasing coconut base that is sweet, but not in a foody, bakery way. It didn't smell like suntan lotion, however, I would love to find a lotion in this Summer scent. I got a sense of some citrus in the background and although I don't know what soy blossoms smell like on their own, I'm guessing this and the peach blossoms gave the scent it's smooth sweetness.
This candle pumped out the scent too, even though it was the smaller 8 ounce size, it did a great job of filling a room with it's delicate, fresh fragrance. |
Platinum Pearl
Here is how this scent is described:
"Florals take a spicy twist with cinnamon and pink pepper. Patchouli, cedarwood and vanilla complete this jewel of a fragrance."
What an interesting mix of fragrances... I had to try it. 
I feel like this scent was made for me. If I were standing in Colonials scent laboratory... and believe me, I've conjured up quite the mad scientist's laboratory in my imagination... but if I were there, and could put together my own combination of fragrance notes, this is exactly how I would want my candle to smell.
It's not an everyday kind of clean fresh scent... it's more of a seductive, romantic fragrance that is well suited for the night. The fragrance sits heavy in the air and has a mysterious, masculine feel to it, which must be the patchouli coming through. Cedar wood and Vanilla are a good pairing of scents. Where is the cinnamon? I didn't notice it, but I didn't miss it either... beautiful fragrance.
The Platinum Pearl candle I tried was a creamy white colored, 8 ounce oval jar. It easily filled my powder room with scent. Because this scent practically oozed seduction, I decided that the bedroom was a more appropriate room for it. The larger sized area was just about all this sized candle could handle. It smelled less noticeable than it had in the powder room but still had a subtle presence. |
Island Blossom
When I saw the hibiscus flowers on the label of this candle I knew it would be right at home around here. Hibiscus flowers are plentiful in this area in tons of colors and varieties, so right away I had the impression of a tropical floral. Here is the description from Colonial Candles:
 "A flawless blend of hibiscus, gardenia, tuberose and jasmine petals blend to create an exquisite bouquet."
Flawless, indeed... exquisite?... oh yeah. This is exactly the scent that I wanted for this time of year. I am a floral junkie from way back and I don't just relegate them to Spring... I want them all year round, but Island Blossom is decidedly a Summertime scent. It is sweet and hypnotic and oh-so-tropical. Like so many of Colonial Candles scents, this is a complex blend that is perfectly balanced... I really enjoyed this floral.
Luckily, I had this scent in the largest size offered... the 22 ounce oval jar, because I didn't want this scent to ever end. The candle was pure white, and being the big daddy of jar candles, it had double wicks that made for yet another outstanding burn. This candle held it's own in the larger main area of my home.
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 How did my Colonial Candles burn?
If you haven't burned a Colonial Candle oval jar before, I highly recommend giving them a try. The oval jars are consistently among the best burning candles I've ever enjoyed. The melt pool forms quickly and is a steady 1/2 inch deep all the way through the burn. It's an amazing candle to watch. The wicks burn cleanly and require only minimal trimming. Colonial Candles ovals are always a treat.
The Square Flared jar gave me some trouble in the beginning. It was single wicked and the wax pooled out in a circle which was like putting a round peg in a square hole. The corners didn't melt even during my first marathon burn, so I pressed the wax from the corners down into the melted wax. This left a waxy mess on my pretty jar so I needed to wipe down the sides after it had cooled. Once the wax burned down into the narrower part of the jar... about half way... it pooled nicely and evenly. |
Closing to my Colonial Candle review...
None of the scent strengths chased me out of the room, but the scents were complex, and the candles were so pretty. I enjoyed all four of the scents in this review. Pink Peony and Island Blossom had the stronger throws, but Platinum Pearl and Sandcastle were the scents I liked the most. Figures, right?
Colonial Candle is an old favorite of mine, but it is a company that doesn't just rest on it's laurels. They are continuously introducing exciting new scents and products. The customer service is exceptionally good.
I always shop with confidence here, knowing that I'm going to get a steady, good quality candle with a great burn and interesting, complex fragrance. My hat's off to Colonial Candles for continuing to raise the bar on their products and service.
Happy candle smelling!
~ Julia
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