Wednesday, March 22, 2006

FOR THE HOME: Slatkin Black Tea & Berries Candle

What is it? A votive candle scented with black tea, lavender, cassis, and currants. Measures: 2 ½” x 2”; Burning time: Approximately 20 hours; Weight: Approximately 2.3 ounces.

What does it smell like? This is my first experience with Slatkin candles and sadly, I'm not impressed. The aroma reminds me of a cough syrup I used to take as a kid - the dreaded Symophylin. Yuck! There's an odd bitter edge paired with sweet berries, but rather than a tart, gourmand aroma, with a trail of smoked tea, I'm left with an odd misch-masch of cacophonous notes. Granted, I've been fighting allergies and mine is a pretty strong negative association with childhood torture, but...Where can I buy it? $10 for 1 votive at TheSensualCandle.com

The Bottom Line: High-priced, not soy, low throw all equal a disappointment. I'll stick with Slatkin's impressive fragrances and try one more candle just to be fair...But this one just wasn't my cup of smoked tea and berries.

Rating (out of 10): 3

Tell us about your favorite votive candles.

6 comments:

Mark said...

Slatkin's Holiday Candle is really great if you like the smell of cloves and oranges and the standard smell associated with the holidays. Its really gorgeous, I bought a store out after Christmas this year at 75% off. I bought the big ones with the 3 wicks that were like $60 originally.

Elton John's 4 scents he created for Slatkin are terrible. They're redundant, uninteresting, typical failures. In case you were wondering, lol.

anyasgarden said...

I am now on a new mission: get people to stop using those ferstunkin scented candles. Went to a new accountant yesterday, and almost had to flee, due to the two scented flamies in her reception area, in the hallway, and in her office. Told her right off they were irritating my prized nasal and accessory breathing passageways, and she put the one in the office out. Then I noticed a Glade thingie in the outlet!

After she saved me thousands, I told her she could get a nebulizer and have it on a timer so that for five minues every twenty minutes, i.e, three times an hour, a gentle mist of pure essential oil could spritz into the air. Much less offensive, and much nicer smelling than berry melon crapola. In times of influenza, lemon myrtle would purify the air, which is a bonus.

I may have a convert. Otherwise, I'll invite her to my house four blocks away for consultation because I'll never submit myself to such stench again. I don't care if it's a $100 flaming Jean Claude Ellena hand-thrown candle, those things are toxic!

I always like a good rant before my morning coffee.

Anonymous said...

Funny, after smelling a lot of the Slatkin range i too was unimpressed.

marlen said...

mark - I remember, or rather, I actually don't remember smelling them at Bergdorf....thx for the opinion...I'm styickin with Diptyque for now....

marlen said...

anya - NO, please don't take away my right to candles! I promise I'll try and burn only soy-based aromatherapy type candles, but I simply must have my candles and incense!

marlen said...

anonymous - yeah...I dunno, nothing by SLatkin has completely bowled me over yet...especially at those prices.