topic Re: My Slatkin 3-Wick Review in Holiday

My Slatkin 3-Wick Review

TenderMercies — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 20:56:34 GMT

I wish I was about to embark on the writing of a gushing, positive review, but unfortunately, that's not going to happen. My 3 sets of Slatkin 3-wicks arrived today. I received one set of Deck the Halls/Trim the Tree and two sets of Frozen Balsam/Winter Fireside. All sets arrived intact, and the packaging was fine.

In general, I was surprised that the candles did not smell very strong. Based on what others had written, I was expecting to take off the lids and be punched in the face with a strong throw. I really had to stick my nose in to get the scents. Here is a rundown of what I got from each of the four candles:

Deck the Halls: My first thought was this is an exact replica of Yankee Candle's Balsam & Cedar. It's all pine, and it's not really a pleasing pine. It's kind of a pine scent you'd get in a cheap, dollar store candle. I'm not pleased with this scent at all. There are no multiple layers in this. Just pine.

Trim the Tree: My first thought was cranberries and apples. The scent description says there is balsam, but I don't smell any of that. It is mostly a cranberry scent. If you've smelled BBW's Cranberry Woods, then I think you'd recognize this. There's also an artificial sweetness to it which kind of makes the scent a little cloying. There's a little hint of the Nest Candle, "Holiday" in it, too. I don't hate it, but I'm not impressed at all.

Frozen Balsam: It's a copycat of "Winter" from BBW. It's not bad, but it's nothing I haven't smelled before in a candle I could purchase for a fraction of the cost.

Winter Fireside: It's a copycat of "Fireside" from BBW. Nothing else I can really say, because it's an exact replica. It's one of my favorite scents for winter after the holidays are over.

So, I'm definitely returning the set of Deck the Halls/Trim the Tree, because I find them cheap and cloying. I will most likely hold on to the two sets of Frozen Balsam/Winter Fireside to either give as gifts or perhaps burn myself. They are attractive candles, and I'm always looking for something to burn in the Winter after the holidays are over. Which brings me to a very sad point. None of these four scents captured the smell of Christmas for me. For me, a pine candle only works if it's scent is mixed well with other notes to soften the smell. I love "Evergreen" from BBW and "Frasier FIr" from Woodwick, because they accomplish that "rounding" of the pine scent in those candles. I really hoped that Harry was going to be bringing me the scent of the holidays this year, but for me, he totally missed the mark.

Re: My Slatkin 3-Wick Review

Patriot3 — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 21:45:50 GMT

@TenderMercies Sorry you had a bad experience w/these candles. For some reason or other, I just couldn't get into all the hype re HS candles and stuff. Don't know why. Maybe I couldn't justify the price and that anything would be worth that price. Just a feeling. I'll stick w/my Yankee candles and Luminaras.

Re: My Slatkin 3-Wick Review

hopi — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 21:49:35 GMT

Well it was more of us consumers who really built up the hype.

Can't really blame Q as much as those of us who wanted Harry back.

Those of us who enjoyed the charm of the Slatkin products sold at BBW and then carried on Q noticed a real upgrade from the scents at BBW and the quality of the figurals leaving Yankee Candle and the rest in the dust.

When the Slatkin line left BBW the underlying cheap chemical smell just became their trademark scents. Yankee Candles always smell odd to me and have never been a fan.

I cannot tolerate chemicals, perfumes and odd scents.

Essential oils are different story.

That being said the candles I got were great and the scents lovely.

The packing was impecable and the prices high but it has been since Harry left that I have purchase any candles.

Only Christmas can capture Christmas - can't ask to much from a candle.

Re: My Slatkin 3-Wick Review

spot555 — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 21:53:28 GMT

I just got those sets today & LOVE them. I think they're loaded with scent. In fact I just lit the Deck the Halls, & the scent has already traveled into the entire first floor of the house.

As far as B&BW goes, they got those scents FROM Harry when he designed candles for them. After he left, their quality went way downhill.

I'm crazy about these! So sorry you don't care for them. It's like fragrance- we all have a different "nose".

Re: My Slatkin 3-Wick Review

spot555 — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 21:54:53 GMT

hopi.

I so agree about YC- all I smell is fake chemicals. They give me a headache.

Re: My Slatkin 3-Wick Review

BornToShop — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 21:57:06 GMT

I totally agree with @spot555, however I am the first to admit scents, strength of the scent throw, etc. is truly a personal thing & can't be judged accordingly. @TenderMercies, I will be happy to take your returns!

Re: My Slatkin 3-Wick Review

lucymo — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 22:02:19 GMT

@TenderMercies I'm so sorry that the candles didn't measure up to your expectations. I don't think you are alone in that feeling.

I had so many other things that I wanted to buy so I passed on the HS candles. I, for one, have no problem with Yankee or BBW candles. I have favorite scents and some I dislike in both brands. But, HS will have some that I love and others not so much. It was like that when he was at BBW. I collected his Luminaries and still have several, they were well made back then and I enjoyed displaying them.

I don't buy Dollar store candles but I do have a limit to what I'll pay for a candle. I dig out out a lot of them and use my warmer rather than burning them in the jar.

Again, I'm sorry for your disappointment. Just go back to your tried and true ones and enjoy.

Re: My Slatkin 3-Wick Review

spot555 — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 22:08:20 GMT

lucymo

You're absolutely right....buy what makes you happy! As you can probably tell, HS candles do that for me.

Re: My Slatkin 3-Wick Review

lucymo — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 22:23:23 GMT

@spot555 wrote:
lucymo

You're absolutely right....buy what makes you happy! As you can probably tell, HS candles do that for me.

@spot555 Yes, of course. If we all loved the same thing it would be rather boring, wouldn't it? What one loves the other may not.

I bought a lot of HS candles when he was at BBW and no denying he has some great scents. But, like all other brands, some are not good in some way, scent or throw. I've read mixed reviews on these and it makes me sad because everyone was so excited to be able to get HS candles again. I'm happy to hear that you love yours and I'll try them again at some point, I'm sure.

Thanks for the review and I will have to try them and see if my memory is messing with me or not. lol

Re: My Slatkin 3-Wick Review

spot555 — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 22:31:59 GMT

I agree throw definitely does vary according to the scents. I think that probably happens with most brands.

I bought another brand of 3-wick candle in a huge glass jar, & couldn't even smell the scent when I stood next to it. I actually picked up the lit candle & brought it to my nose- I could barely detect a scent. Now that was a waste of money!

Re: My Slatkin 3-Wick Review

SHOPR — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 23:18:54 GMT

@TenderMercies, Thank you for the thorough review! It will be interesting to learn whether or not your opinion changes after burning one a few times. Sorry that you're not impressed. :-(

I say that because I know you've tried lots of candles. Also, I swear the Banana Maple Pancake changes every time I sniff it and I haven't burned it yet. I know you don't like bakery candles but OMG I love this candle. I'm not sure if it has artificial banana scent, as one reviewer said, or not, but to me it's a heavenly blend of goodness, not heavy at all on the maple, which I think is a good thing. But the slight tartness of banana is coming and going. Bizarre.

Its companion, Toasted Vanilla Cupcake, is a good basic vanilla cupcake scent that I also like a lot so far, and I think I would buy again. I will add that to my nose, it is on the verge of having too much caramel and smelling like Slatkin Salty Caramel. Again, this could all change when burned or melted.

Keep us posted if/when you burn one of yours.

Re: My Slatkin 3-Wick Review

brandy77 — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 23:21:24 GMT

I'm one of those who gave in to the type and ordered several sets. I blame no one but myself. Also, after going through Hurricane Harvey and being a person who suffers from depression, I was really hoping I'd have a great, uplifting scent-sational experience with these candles since I know scents can improve my mood. And I was all out of scented candles anyway. I haven't received all of them yet, but I have been burning the Autumn Pumpkin and Harvest Leaves combo since yesterday afternoon.

Pumpkin is a huge disappointment, no throw, barely any scent, just a hint of warmth and spice. I actually put it in my small bathroom to see if it would perform better there, but no luck. My elderly father loves pumpkin and he actually had to ask me if the candle was supposed to be scented.

As for Harvest Leaves, it has a fantastic throw. I do live in a small house, but the candle is in my bedroom and I'm in my home office and I can still smell it, and a little in the kitchen and living room too. I personally think this one is mis-named, it should have been Harvest Berries, maybe that's my fault, the name led me to expect something more in keeping with fall leaves, but it's a strong tangy mixed berry type fragrance. I like it, but I can easily see how some might find it too much or too sweet.

Hopefully I will have better luck with some of the other scents. I'm just annoyed that I splurged and bought the pumpkin figurals as well. Unless the scent performs better in those, or I fall in love with the containers, I already know they are going back.

Re: My Slatkin 3-Wick Review

ILUVChristmas — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 00:23:42 GMT

Oh sorry to hear that. I ordered the Candy Cane Kisses and Winter Wishes. I could smell them before getting all the pkg off...wow. Candy Cane Wishes is a stronger and seems a tad sweeter version of Twisted Peppermint and Winter Wishes is a stronger version of the Winter candle. The gingerbread house that I received has a great paint job and just looks gorgeous to me

I guess the candles can be a hit or miss and our noises are all different. I just feel bad the candles didn't hold up to your expectations...i was thinking surely these would be a hit for everyone. Now we are back to ordering with caution or hesitation.

Re: My Slatkin 3-Wick Review

brandy77 — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 00:42:43 GMT

@ILUVChristmas I am looking forward to the Candy Cane one, I have sinus problems and I love peppermint scents they seem to help, so I am hoping when it arrives this one will be good and strong.

I will probably end up returning a few, most likely the pumpkin, but still hoping I will find some new favorites.

Re: My Slatkin 3-Wick Review

tsavorite — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 00:56:07 GMT

@brandy77 wrote:
I'm one of those who gave in to the type and ordered several sets. I blame no one but myself. Also, after going through Hurricane Harvey and being a person who suffers from depression, I was really hoping I'd have a great, uplifting scent-sational experience with these candles since I know scents can improve my mood. And I was all out of scented candles anyway. I haven't received all of them yet, but I have been burning the Autumn Pumpkin and Harvest Leaves combo since yesterday afternoon.

Pumpkin is a huge disappointment, no throw, barely any scent, just a hint of warmth and spice. I actually put it in my small bathroom to see if it would perform better there, but no luck. My elderly father loves pumpkin and he actually had to ask me if the candle was supposed to be scented.

As for Harvest Leaves, it has a fantastic throw. I do live in a small house, but the candle is in my bedroom and I'm in my home office and I can still smell it, and a little in the kitchen and living room too. I personally think this one is mis-named, it should have been Harvest Berries, maybe that's my fault, the name led me to expect something more in keeping with fall leaves, but it's a strong tangy mixed berry type fragrance. I like it, but I can easily see how some might find it too much or too sweet.

Hopefully I will have better luck with some of the other scents. I'm just annoyed that I splurged and bought the pumpkin figurals as well. Unless the scent performs better in those, or I fall in love with the containers, I already know they are going back.

@brandy77 if you purchased the set of 3 pumpkin ceramic ones? they are labeled as apple pumpkin pie and they smell nothing even close to that. A very odd unappealing waxy odor...awful. I think if this set had some cinnamon in it and something else nice they could have been great but it's like a over load of dead cloves truly bad.

I cancelled the other order of HS candles before it could ship out...no thanks.

Re: My Slatkin 3-Wick Review

brandy77 — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 01:22:38 GMT

@tsavorite Unfortunately it's too late for me to cancel anything except the plug-ins. I ordered the three big pumpkins, one in each color, and a set of the little ones. I'm a caregiver for my father and he's a big fan of pumpkin scents and I like them too. But it hasn't turned out the way I hoped.

Re: My Slatkin 3-Wick Review

kitcat51 — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 02:19:56 GMT

I only use Woodwick candles & frazier fir is one of my favorites. Thought about getting a set of Slatkin for a gift but passed, glad I did. Thanks for the review...great job.

Re: My Slatkin 3-Wick Review

brandy77 — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 05:38:11 GMT

@tsavorite UPS snuck up on me while I was cooking dinner and left the three little pumpkins and I wish they would come right back and take them away again! The clove scent is so strong it is almost like onions. These have to be the worst candles I have ever smelt. And this is just from a cold sniff of the melted mess I found in the box. So far all the three wicks have arrived fine, and I hope the other three I'm still waiting on will as well, but at some point these little pumpkins melted and got turned upside down. This must be the first time I've ever been glad to have an order arrive damaged because now I don't have to pay the return shipping to get these awful things out of my house, well off my porch, they are not spending the night in this house. I couldn't even salvage the little pumpkins which are very cute because there are Harry Slatkin labels stuck on each one, I tried to carefully peel one off since it was wrinkled anyway, and it left an ugly mark on the metallic finish. I understand designers wanting to label their products, but there has to be a better way. I sincerely hope I just got a bad batch and others will have much nicer experiences with these, it really was a lovely idea and they looked gorgeous on tv.

Just to be clear, the above negative comments only apply to the set of three small ceramic pumpkin candles not Slatkin candles in general.

Re: My Slatkin 3-Wick Review

goldensrbest — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 11:26:24 GMT

I asked about the 3 little pumpkins on home, i also am disappointed in them,the smell is just not good.

Re: My Slatkin 3-Wick Reviewmy

Pecky — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 11:45:01 GMT

I received Holiday Wishes & the peppermint candles. I love Holiday wishes as it smells just like BBW Winter which is actually Slatkin. I've never burned a peppermint candle before but this one not burning smells refreshing & yummy. I use only buy YC but they have been a big disappointment with not smelling it. I also like DW candles that I get from Marshalls & TJX.. I have the Apple Honey Butter that is do die for.