Fine Merlot Colonial Candle Review
By Christina Rylan
Brand: Colonial Candle
Type: 22oz large oval jar
Fragrance: Fine Merlot
Scent Strength: Strong
First impression of Fine Merlot:
I loved the look of Fine Merlot. The wax was a super dark purple and a candle I couldn’t wait to watch burning. Dark purple candles are so pretty once lit. The scent… a sophisticated grape aroma. I was intrigued.
Here is the scent description for Fine Merlot:
The scent of Merlot grape combined with plum and sandalwood makes a sophisticated combination. Set this candle out for your next dinner party, book club, or when you need the smell of wine after a long work day.
Smelling the wax, maybe it was the sandalwood that was giving it that sophisticated edge? I could also smell the sugary plum in this fragrance too. So far so good – I’m just hoping the scent stays true and doesn’t morph into a cough medicine aroma. We shall see!!
Huge tip with Colonial oval jars… do NOT trim the wicks prior to the first lighting. The wicks look long but they taper down on their own. If you cut them, it will ruin the wicks and your candle won’t burn correctly. I learned that the hard way. With that said, once my candle was lit, it took a good hour to reach a full melt pool but the fragrance was present long before that and I’m happy to report… no cough medicine in sight, thank goodness. Instead, my bedroom smelled like grape with a dark edge to it. I don’t think I smelled sandalwood. In fact, I stood over the candle sniffing away to see if I could detect sandalwood and I couldn’t. What I was could smell was plum. The aroma floating through my bedroom was a very a rich and dark grape with an equal amount of plum. I don’t burn grape scents very often but I sure enjoyed this one. I’d buy it again.
Strength – I would rate Fine Merlot an 8 out of 10 in a really large room. 10 in medium to smaller rooms. Great scent throw!
How did my Fine Merlot candle burn?
This candle could have burned better. The wicks lit right up and I never once had to trim them but the candle never reached a full melt pool. This caused a thick layer of wax to stick around the glass wall. I’ve never had that happen before. Usually Colonial’s large jars burn pretty consistently with no wasted wax.
Closing to my review:
I enjoyed Fine Merlot and do recommend it if you love grape scents. It wasn’t your average candied kind of grape aroma… it was richer and bolder and I think that’s why I liked it. It was different. I do have to point out though, all three of my fella’s (husband and two sons) didn’t like this one and made it abundantly clear. All three! The first day I lit it, hours later I might add, my husband came out of our bedroom and said, “I don’t know what you’re burning in our bedroom but it smells very floral. I don’t like it. Please hurry and finish this review.” Lol! I told him I didn’t smell any floral and he thought I was nuts. My 16 year old said it smelled weird and funny. He wrinkled his nose. My 14 year old said it smelled bitter and not like grapes at all. So there you have it. Four different noses who smelled four very different things from one candle. My take away from this one… Fine Merlot was not a man friendly scent. None of mine liked it. ☹ Oh well… you win some, you lose some I suppose.
Happy candle hunting!
~ Christina
Presentation: 5/5
Authenticity: 4/5
Burn Performance: 3/5
Strength: 5/5
Overall Rating: 4/5
