The year 2020 will go down in history for a number of reasons, many of which we would like to forget. The pandemic has impacted just about every facet of our society, directly or indirectly. For many individuals, it has impacted their work status, thrusting them into uncertainty about their future. This was the situation for Melissa Flease, a dental hygienist by training who found herself significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Luckily for Melissa, she had been creating candles for over 19 years. She seized the opportunity to share her candles with the world, bringing them to us via The Scented Oar.
A Closer Look at The Scented Oar
Melissa has chosen to use 100% soy wax for The Scented Oar candles, in order to provide a clean, long-lasting burn. The mason jar candles also feature a wood wick to add a sense of ambiance while burning. The candles are dyed to match the scent and come with a branded matchbook attached to each candle lid. If wood wicks are not your thing, they do offer a 3-wick style tumbler and wax melts.
There are literally hundreds of candle companies out there, each one with their own personality and vibe. The vibe that is given from The Scented Oar is one of relaxation and easy living. For example, when ready to enjoy your candle, you don’t have to stress over finding a match to light it up. There’s one attached right to your lid! The wood wick of the mason jar candles gives that soft, crackle-pop, that combines audible feedback to encourage that chill mode. Some of the scent names evoke that sense of ease and well-being, like Black Cherry Merlot and Day At The Spa.
Melissa takes a lot of care in the products she hand creates. The attention to detail does not go unnoticed. It’s even evident in her scent descriptions, which are incredibly thorough – helping describe exactly what you might be purchasing and how the scents play with each other.
Products Offered
As of this writing, The Scented Oar has two wood wick candle sizes: 6 ounce and 12 ounce mason-style jars. They recently introduced a 3-wick tumbler candle which has cotton, lead-free wicks. Each one of these candles has a branded matchbook attached to the lid. All scents are also available in clamshell style wax melts. There are some limited edition ceramic vessel candles, as well.
Product Reviews
We tested a 12 ounce mason jar candle (Black Cherry Merlot), a 3-wick tumbler candle (Apple Maple Bourbon), and wax melts (A Day At The Spa) from The Scented Oar. We’re noting our initial thoughts below, and will be following up with full reviews for each individual item in the near future.
Black Cherry Merlot
Our 12oz candle jar was a beautiful wine-purple color, perfect for the scent of Black Cherry Merlot. The scent itself was was intriguing and oh-so-good when I lifted the lid. The website scent description reads: Black Cherry Merlot is a boozy, sophisticated twist to the classic black cherry. Top notes of black currant and apple brighten the red wine and black cherry heart of this fragrance. Aged oak and amber base notes highlight the merlot, while vanilla balances the sweet finish. Patchouli and nutmeg essential oils enhance the wood and spice notes for added depth. Deep, dark, and luscious, Black Cherry Merlot evokes the distinct aromas of a wine cellar along with a fruity sweetness to any room.This fragrance oil is infused with natural essential oils, including patchouli, nutmeg, and davana. This candle scent was soooo much more than ‘just another wine scent.’ The fragrance was rich and deep, with a sharpness to it from the black currant. After burning for a while, the warm amber notes and slightly sweet vanilla were more prominent. It combined to make a rich, warm scent that was intoxicating.
I had such a great, clean burn with this candle. The candle jar remained clean all throughout – no black soot! The wood wick added a soft crackle and pop, which enhanced the enjoyment of this particular candle. I had an even burn and very little wick maintenance to do. This candle also lasted a super long time – an added plus!
Apple Maple Bourbon
The 3-wick tumbler style candles also have an attached matchbook on the lid. The wicks on these candles are lead-free and fairly thick. The scent? Ohmygoodness, it hit me in the face when I removed the lid! I love this particular fragrance, and it was spot on from The Scented Oar. The scent description reads: This mouthwatering, boozy scent starts with top notes of apple, cinnamon, and a hint of orange. Bourbon and butter are the heart of this fragrance, while rich, sweet maple and vanilla finish off this irresistible baked apple dessert.This fragrance oil is infused with natural essential oils, including cinnamon leaf, tangerine, mandarin, and orange.
With the 3 wicks, I was able to get a solid, full-wax melt pool in a relatively short period of time. It was beautiful! The scent itself was fantastic – a nice, rich apple scent with caramel-like notes. The cold sniff was strong and that held true with the burn.
This candle also had a very clean burn with no wasted wax on the sides of the jar. The wicks were easy to maintain from start to finish. This candle would rival that of the big boys, like Bath & Body Works.
Day At The Spa
The Day At The Spa clamshell style wax melts had the prettiest color. I was instantly put into a serene mood. I was anticipating something a little perfumey and that’s what I smelled on cold sniff. The website scent description reads: Day at the Spa is a calming and balanced fragrance that combines notes of lemongrass and black currant with hints of patchouli and sugarcane. It’s a great year-round fragrance. This fragrance is infused with with natural essential oils, including Lemongrass, Patchouli, and Lime.
This particular fragrance was actually very complex once it started melting. It remained a bit perfumey, but there were some bright, energizing notes, too. It was peppy and invigorating. I found this scent a bit milder, but the throw was fairly good. I used 2 cubes in a 20W hotplate melter and was able to fragrance a medium sized room without any problems. The fragrance lasted all day, too!
Overall Impression of The Scented Oar
If you are looking for a great small business to support during these times (and who isn’t???), The Scented Oar is a great place to check out. The candles are high quality, clean-burning, and long-lasting. We can’t get over the reasonable pricing, which makes it so much easier to try out all of their products. We are certainly wishing Melissa many years of success with her new business, and will be watching her growth for many years to come!
These candles and wax melts can be purchased on The Scented Oar’s website.
These products were provided in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are our own.
