It’s Self-Care Sunday! Let’s start the day with a candle review.⁣

   Appearance

The candle’s colorful wax and label really sold me. It’s exactly what I think of when I imagine being in a tropical paradise!⁣

   Fragrance

The product description states “a sunny, carefree fragrance with bright hibiscus, sparkling tea, and juicy melon […] a sparkling citrus burst over accents of sun-blushed quince and sweet honeydew with splashes of white tea and chamomile.” I guess this is what Chesapeake Bay Candle decided a bird of paradise flower smells like.⁣

   Throw

The cold throw was pleasant and moderate in strength. I would describe it as sweet, fruity, and floral – more heavy on the melon than the hibiscus. The hot throw was essentially the same sweet smell, but not as strong, which was surprising. I could smell it for the first 5-10 minutes after lighting, then it seemed to lose its strength. This is a single-wick candle, so maybe it would do better in a smaller space.⁣

   Burn

The wax did not pool all the way to the edges, as the wick was too short for the size of the jar. Fortunately, I was able to prevent tunneling by using aluminum foil to melt the wax on the edges of the jar. The wick also mushroomed slightly after burning, which meant I had to trim the already-short wick each time I wanted to use it, and therefore had to keep using the aluminum foil every time I lit the candle.⁣

   Impression

This candle initially gave me “serene” vibes – I could close my eyes and imagine my honeymoon in Hawaii again. Unfortunately, the aluminum foil was a distraction and eyesore… I held off as long as I could before draping it over the top of the jar.⁣

   Rating: 3/5

If it weren’t for the uneven wax pool, I would give this candle a higher rating. I bought the 11.5 oz. single-wick version at Target for $6.99, and later discovered they have a 19 oz. two-wick version for $10.99, so maybe I’ll go back and give the two-wick version a shot.