So far, I’ve only ever reviewed books on this blog. That changes today! During the pandemic, I wanted to support small businesses and the USPS, as well as indulge myself in some retail therapy. The joy of opening a long-awaited package is, in my opinion, unparalleled by any other earthly feeling. As you may recall, I wrote a post (linked) recommending ten bookish candle companies for you to support. As of now, I have candles from four of those shops, and two outside the list. I have nineteen (19?!?!) candles. Without further ado, my reviews! Shops are in order of my purchase timing, so the newest purchase will be last. I will not be judging based on shipping times or order processing, because COVID-19 has shifted timelines and I don’t want to be unfair to the shops. Rose & AdderTo be upfront, I’ve owned this candle since before my obsession. It came as part of my OwlCrate Call Down the Hawk box, and I’ve been obsessed with it since. It’s my only woodwick candle, and I just love the sound the wick makes while I’m burning it. The scent is earthy and sweet, and I admit to just opening the lid and sniffing the candle even when I don’t want to burn it. Gorgeous labels, and a wide variety of themed collections also appeal to me. My Rose & Adder candle was a one-off, but I’d love to grab something from their Zodiac or Literary collections. That being said, Rose & Adder’s prices are quite prohibitive for me: their 9oz glass jar candles run for $21! Their 5oz metal tins are $12.50. I generally prefer to buy more candles at a time, so I’d have to be seriously treating myself in order to grab anything from this shop. They had a fantastic Black Friday sale with reduced prices, so I definitely took advantage of that and splurged a bit! I want more wood wick candles in my life, so I can’t wait for them to get here. Also, there’s some discoloration that happens with the colored soy wax in my candle—once melted, it cools a more frosted color than the solid candle. Just a small nitpick that it happens with this candle and rarely with my others. Otherwise, it’s a very even burn, though perhaps I would wish the wax be slower to evaporate so I could have a longer burn time. Flick the WickI *love* Flick the Wick. They are my most-owned candle brand—I think I have 6 now, and I ordered a bunch more for Black Friday. The gorgeous labels, reasonable pricing ($8.50 for a 4oz, but they have rep codes!), and perfect scents make them my go-to candle for studying, writing blog posts, or reading. You’ll note in my latest Read With Me video, I lit up a FTW Queen of Terrasen candle. I don’t think I have any issues with these candles. They’ve stayed in perfect condition, generally don’t frost, and have super long burn times proportionate to the size of the jars! We love a long lasting candle. I’d highly recommend adding a couple of these to your collection. A Court of CandlesThe Witcher collection from A Court of Candles isn’t something I regret buying, however… there are some moments where I wish I’d waited longer before hitting that one-click purchase button. They’re the only thing I’ve bought from A Court of Candles, so don’t take this as a stinging indictment of the company, but I’m not enjoying them as much as I’d like. Let’s start with the positives. Really vivid wax colors, pretty labels, and reasonable prices! I can’t get onto their website (it’s closed for restocks), but I don’t recall breaking the bank over these. Now for the grievances. My main objection is the scents—yes, it’s on me for purchasing them, however I do feel like at times, they can be a bit overpowering and I get a small headache whenever I inhale too much of the fumes. They’re also earthier than my traditional floral scents (Geralt’s is straight-up bathwater and Drakkar Noir), which might contribute to my dislike. Heady fragrances are maybe best for larger, more well-ventilated spaces as opposed to my room and office area. Secondly, the wax doesn’t hold up that well at room temperature, even when the candle isn't lit. I’ve noticed a lot of sweating (condensation on the surface) which would be okay if I had left them outside from the mail, or if I lived in a warmer climate, but… it’s December. And I live in Boston. My space is kept at 70*, so I’m not sure what’s up with this. Fire Nation CreationsI bought two Fire Nation Creations candles from their Bookish Ships collection because I was in love with the artwork, and they did not disappoint! Loureid from Serpent & Dove, and Starlington from Ninth House. I actually haven’t burned them yet, so this can’t be a true review. I’ve been putting it off because of how pretty they are! There’s a layer of colorful glitter coating the wax surface, and it’s the most glitter I’ve ever seen included in a candle, so I’m not sure how that’s going to go if I burn them. The scents are so saccharine, definitely more food-related and less floral than most of my others, which is a nice contrast. Updates to come if I ever get the courage to light one. IceyDesignsBack in August, I caved and ordered IceyDesigns’ Star Daughter candle. It’s one of my favorite books of 2020 and seeing merch for it just made my month. This candle is so high quality, y’all, I can’t even begin to tell you. The jar is gorgeous, with a matte paper label and an airtight seal to keep the candle fresh for as long as possible. This is a 9oz candle, one of the biggest ones I own as of writing this review, and I’m very satisfied with its consistency. The melt pool forms easily—I’m pretty sure it’s soy wax like my others, and yet for some reason this candle’s wax evaporates faster than theirs, so I burn it sparingly. If you didn’t know, I’m more interested in preservation and collection than just straight up burning and tossing my candles. My only quibble is price—$18 is a lot for me to spend on one candle, so I’d probably only get Icey candles for books that I really care about. Novelly YoursAhh, Novelly Yours, AKA the first bookish candle company I’d ever heard of and somehow the last one I ever tried! I love the scents and prices—wish there had been some more color/design that went into the labels, but they’re cute regardless. My favorites are from their Shadowhunters candle box, from which I bought overstock. Those have quotes on the back and a bit more design element type things that went into them. Here’s my grievance: burn quality. It takes such a long time to get an even wax pool, and then unless the candle is left to burn for hours on end, the wax still clings to the side of the jar. I don’t like to just burn candles and leave them, because it’s not a recommended practice, so there’s really no way to avoid this. Again, I’m really not sure why this is happening! If any other candle fans out there would like to share tips or stories, I’m always happy to listen. I love these—they’re great for meditation and quiet working—and I want to treat them right! And that’s a wrap! I hope you found this helpful, whether you’re new to the bookish candle scene or a veteran looking to try some new brands. I kind of like this lifestyle blogging thing, maybe I’ll keep at it! Let me know in the comments if you’ve tried any of these candles, and how you liked them! I’m always fascinated by the bookish things that people like to collect. Perhaps there’s an enamel pin review post in the blog’s future...
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The BaronessHey, I'm Shreya! I love to read, write, travel, and drink tea. Disclosure: I am an affiliate of bookshop.org and I will earn a small commission if you click the above link and make a purchase.
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