Wax Notes | Feb 2016 (1)

I meant to upload this post at the mid-point of the month as per usual but somehow I forgot and I thought I had. When I realised it wasn't done yet, I figured I would just do one post this month since I melted a little lesser in the second half, due to a bad week and that I will be in Hong Kong for a quick vacation by the time you read this!

Apple Pie (Sniff My Tarts)
Love this Apple Pie scent! It's spicier than sweet and I really enjoyed this one. Lucky for me, I have more of it! Medium scent throw, medium scent impact.

Sugar Milk (Ten Digit Creations) - Not pictured
Low performer. Barely any scent. But when I go near to my warmer, I do smell a sweet milk scent.

Miss Frosty (K's Kreation)
I still don't know what this scent is about. There is a slight eucalyptus note and maybe some pink sugar? Medium low throw, medium low scent impact.

Apple Colada (Rosegirls) - Not pictured

Fruity fun! Super high throw, medium scent impact.

Sugar Cookie Fruit Loops (Two Timing Tart)
The sugar cookie scent note really amps up the fruit loops and lends a touch of warmth to the blend. Very nice and perfect for a rainy, cool night. Medium scent throw, medium high scent impact.

Citrus Noel (Enchanted Candle Co.)
You can never go wrong with Enchanted's throw. I always put this on when we have company at home! The noel scent is very very sweet and the stronger note of the two. But I do detect a tinge of acidity from the citrus just slightly toning down the VBN. Very high throw, high scent impact.

Rainforest Sugarcane Type (Candles From The Keeping Room)
I am really liking this scent. It is such a well-blended scent of the various notes that all I can think of is fresh, sweet greens. Usually, green scents tend to be very strong but this is so subtle and soft. Medium throw, medium scent impact.

Pink Peppermint (Tiffany Candles)
A popular scent blend for a reason. Medium high throw, medium scent impact

Mandarin & Lime (Candles From The Keeping Room)
Surprisingly, this blend is a lot mellower than I thought. I wish it was a lot more acidic to live up to its name. Medium high throw, medium impact.

Blissful Blackberry Type (Candles From The Keeping Room)
I really like this scent. I learnt that it's a BBW dupe of sweet blackberry and soft florals. It's definitely more floral than fruity so if you don't like the former, this might not be what you think it is. But I really like, it's sweet and light. So despite high throw, it's not overpowering. Medium impact.

Repeat Melts

Singin' In The Rain (Rosegirls)
Apple Orchard (K's Kreations)

Wax Notes | August 2015

Hello everyone! How has everyone been this summer! I have been really busy with work and travel that's why I haven't been very much on the blog. But I did manage to schedule a couple of haul posts from Tiffany Candles and One Little Indian Scents, I hope you enjoyed that. I still have two more hauls to share from Sniff My Tarts and Candles From The Keeping Room. So look out for that!

Wildberry & Sweet Lemon Confection (Rosegirls)
I really wanted to like this blend more than I did. I think it was the Wildberry note that was turning me off. I would want to buy Sweet Lemon Confection in just the Mini-melters for the pure scent note. Medium scent throw, medium scent impact.

Happy Days (Vintage Chic Scents)
A clean, laundry scent. Laundry scents are really too strong for me, and with the addition of the clean cotton scent note, it's a double whammy. But if you like laundry scents, I would say you would love this scent. Medium-high scent throw, medium high scent impact.

Bartlett Pear (K's Kreations)
I am going to stand by my initial thoughts on this on cold-sniff when I said it smelt like apples. Essentially, it's a juicy fruity scent. Medium scent throw, medium low scent impact.

Peach Peppermint Schnapps (K's Kreations)
No throw and scent. Very disappointing. :(

Strawberry Mint Ice Cream (Rosegirls)
I mostly get a sweet strawberry scent, the mint is very slight and only wafts in and out. My colleague did comment that it was a little artificial smelling. Medium throw, medium scent impact.

Satsuma (Thirty Street Wax)
In the mood for an energetic scent (even thought it's at night) so I reached for this. It's great, exactly what I want for in a satsuma scent. Satsuma is sharper than orange and not as sugar sweet. Medium high throw, medium high scent impact.

Repeat Melts
Happy (Streetman Candle Co.)
Springtime Breaktime (Enchanted Candle Co.)
Long Winter's Nap (Enchanted Candle Co.)
Pink Sugar Rose Red (Two Timing Tart)

Wax Notes | July 2015 (1)

I am getting back into the melting swing of things. With all my recent hauls, I am fairly obsessed with trying to melt the wax that I have had for at least a year. So a lot of repeat melts of I try to use wax that I cut up into smaller pieces.

Birthday Cake (SMT)
Simple and sweet-smelling. Medium throw and impact. My major beef with this tart is that it stained my warmer!

Nilla Strawberry Noel (Rosegirls)
The VBN is super strong in this scent, it's pretty much the main note I am smelling. A little disappointed that not more of a strawberry note is coming through. High throw, medium scent impact.

Squeaky Clean (Crabby Candle Co.)
This smells exactly like talcum powder, it's not unpleasant but not a scent I would buy again. High throw, medium high impact.

Twitterpated (Streetman Candle Co.)
This scent is really sweet, very much like candy! Medium scent throw, medium high scent impact.

Repeat Melts
Heads Up Seven Up (Enchanted Candle Co.)
Daydreamer (Two Timing Tart)
Rose Red (Two Timing Tart)
Sultan (Enchanted Candle Co.)
Fencing Masters (Thirty Street Crafts)
Pomegranate, Grape Muscadine, Blue Raspberry Slushee (Sniff My Tarts)
Tweetledee's Dilemma (The Bathing Garden)
Violet Mojito (Two Timing Tart)
Fruit Loops (Tiffany Candles)

Haul | Two Timing Tart (3)

Welcome to my Two Timing Tart samplers haul, this lot was bought and received a long time ago but I am just really slow at posting. At the moment, Two Timing Tart is closed while Becky the owner deals with some personal issues but it seems like an opening is on the horizon so keep a look out on their Facebook group! I feel like TTT gets the short end of the stick in the wax community, there is rarely any chatter about this company and if there is, rarely is it positive due to a rocky beginning. Personally I have always had a great experience with TTT's wax and their scent blends are some of the most interesting around and right up my alley!

Becky offered up several samplers for sale and since I was in the market for some TTT, I decided to take the plunge on three samplers - Fruit Loops, Lemon Curd and Vanilla Honey. I love both the basic Fruit Loops and Lemon Curd scents and I was interested to see what sort of combinations Becky could come up with. Because there are so many scents in these samples, I am going to be doing quick, first impression reviews of each scent!

Fruit Loops sampler

Sugar Cookie Fruit Loops
The Sweet Cookie scent is quite a lot stronger than Fruit Loops. It's a little sweeter than my preference.

Zucchini Bread Fruit Loops
Surprisingly this Zucchini Bread and Fruit Loops blend is quite equal, I can smell both. The Zucchini Bread is spicy and the Fruit Loops is a foil to that.

Clementine Cupcake Fruit Loops
Wow, I am really getting the buttery cake scent in here. It's actually quite nice with the Clementine tying everything together.

Pie Crust Fruit Loops
One of the blends with the strongest Fruit Loops scent,

Blueberry Fruit Loops
This is so so good! Like I can't stop sniffing. The blueberry scent is amazing, sweet, juicy and authentic!

Mandarin Plum Fruit Loops
This is a really good blend, I never would have thought of it. It's heavy kind of sweet and citrus. I can't differentiate between the Mandarin Plum and Fruit Loops.

Sweet Orange Fruit Loops
Really like this, sweet and simple.

Bite Me Fruit Loops
Another blend that I like. I am also weirdly detecting a ginger note in this. I like ginger so that's cool with me.

Key Lime Fruit Loops
Great blend, I think that the Lime melds really nicely with Fruit Loops

Raspberry Macaroon Fruit Loops
Yum, I love the Raspberry scent, it's super juicy and sweet!

Wildberry Scone Fruit Loops
Mm, very juicy wildberry scent coming through. This is a nice blend!

Lychee Coconut Fruit Loops

Another blend that I don't think anyone would have thought of. The sweet coconut blended really well with Fruit Loops. Even I can barely detect a straight FL even though I know it's there. That's how well blended it was.

Lemon Curd mini-sampler

Lemon Curd Cedar
This was one of the scents I was most interested to smell because of the interesting combination of citrus and woodsy. The Lemon Curd is very yummy but I barely get a hint of the Cedar. Hopefully it comes out more on melting.

Lemon Curd Black Cherry
Black Cherry > Lemon Curd.

Lemon Curd Fresh Herbs
My least favourite of this sampler, the Fresh Herbs completely overtook the Lemon Curd.

Lemon Curd Purple Sage Mint Leaf
This scent is the surprise of the sampler! So fresh, so acidic and not at all herb-y.

Lemon Curd Peppermint
I like this scent very much, again the Lemon Curd is the stronger scent of the two, with the peppermint being more of a soft whiff underneath. It reminds me slightly of a lemon cough drop as well.

Lemon Curd Lavender Martini
I have had TTT's Lavender Martini before but with the Lemon Curd, this scent is really amped up. It's a winner!

Vanilla Honey mini-sampler

Vanilla Honey Birch
This smells like really upscale potpurri, in a good way!

Vanilla Honey Myrrh
Another upscale potpurri scent. I think I prefer the Birch version but this is pretty good too.

Vanilla Honey Orange Blossom
I love Orange Blossoms so this scent is up my alley. The base Vanilla Honey scent sweetens it up.

Vanilla Honey Cinnamon
The cinnamon makes this scent sour. I am a little perplexed but I don't dislike it. It's interesting.

Vanilla Honey Gold Musk
This is made very perfume-y by the Gold Musk. I am not sure if I would wear such a scent though.

Vanilla Honey Sunflower
This is my second Sunflower scent, it's strong in this blend. It's also smells strangely soapy.

Wax Favourites | June 2015

When I came back to the wax world last January, I was immediately struck by how much the wax world has changed with the various ways to make an order and the many different business models. It took awhile to figure out all these new processes, learn the new lingo and check out vendors I have never heard before previously. The community has also exploded. Before it used to centre around MakeUpAlley but now Facebook is king. I am not a big Facebook participant because I am not quite there with the community's rhythm and quirks but I do read most everyday and I like to share when I come across a scent I really really like!

(Wax Collection, June 2015)

With so many existing vendors to try and new ones popping up every month, it took me some time to work through enough vendors to figure out my favourites - businesses that excite me and I would re-order from again and again.

Before I start discussing my favourites, I want to give you some context into how I melt because it does influence my vendor preferences, given the range of wax products out there. I have two warmers that I use interchangeably at home. The smaller cream one can comfortably fit 0.8oz-1.2oz or approx. 2 clamshell cubes while the larger one works for bigger cups and chunks. I also have a third warmer in my office. Since I melt mostly in small spaces like my room or my office, I prefer to melt smaller quantities and I find it a hassle to have to cut up bigger pieces of wax. I find that bigger chunks does not always equate to a stronger throw. My theory is that a shallower/wide scent pool allows for the throw to "evaporate" further as opposed to a thicker/same width scent pool.

I have been thinking about this post for a long time and what are the criteria I use to define my favourites. I have come up with the following (in no particular order):

• Scent List Diversity: I am not a bakery lover, preferring fruity, fresh and floral scents so any company I like must have a diverse and interesting scent list.
• Product Performance: Must have a very good scent throw and impact.
• Customer Service: I think this goes without saying that all customers appreciate good customer service from a business.
• Communications: This could be categorised under customer service but I thought it deserved its own point. Constant communications from a vendor is very important especially as the TAT is a longer one. I find that it helps make the wait more bearable.
• Ease of Ordering: Be it via a website or a Facebook group, an always-open website or restocks, having clear instructions and a simple process for ordering smoothes the way to completing an order. Convoluted instructions and badly organised websites turns me off from ordering, no matter how raved about their products.
• Turn-Around-Time: Like everyone else, I prefer a company with a fast TAT but I am also fine with waiting a few months if the products are superb.

And finally, on to the list of favourites!

Enchanted Candle Company

Enchanted Candle Company, owned by Debra Henry Galvan, burst onto the scene early last year, I remember seeing some small hauls in a Facebook group and I was intrigued by the Disney themed scents, and went off to investigate the company. I found a delightful company with a diverse scent list of clean and elegant scent blends. I don't think I have come across a scent that I actively dislike, everything I received have been really really good. There is a clean and simple style to her branding and the wax shapes that she offers, sometimes themed to the collection (which is adorable). I like that the wax shapes she offers are smaller than most which allows for me to melt it in my smaller warmer. She also offers different quantities which is great once you have found a favourite! Her TAT is very reasonable and her wax consistently throws well for me! It's no wonder that this is my most-ordered company (5 orders)! Unfortunately, she has closed up shop this year to concentrate on her health and there are no plans to open back up.


Rosegirls

Rosegirls, by Jenny Oaks, is undoubtedly one of the biggest companies in the wax business and has even expanded to a retail store in their hometown! While they are famous for their bakery blends, Jenny also has a great range of non-bakery scents and blends. Her bakery blends are so yummy sounding and so talked-about that even I want to order them! The wax is beautifully made and one of the most colourful and distinctive chunks out there. However, they are sold in bigger quantities with no option for singles so be prepared to spend a little more. I have had two orders so far, a sampler and a customs order. Ordering is via an easy to use website with the very helpful feature of a wishlist registry. You have to join the Facebook group to receive information on the openings and what is available each time. It's also where Jenny communicates with customers throughout the TAT, she is very consistent and conscientious about it, which I really like. Another thing I really like is how she is always trying to innovate her business model to satisfy her fan base!


Ten Digit Creations

Out of the five companies, I have been ordering from Ten Digit Creations the longest! Ken and Amber offers an amazing scent list (heavy on fresh, fruity and spa scents), one of the best prices in the business with regular specials and a lot of flexibility in buying small or large quantities of wax. Their single wax melt is a perfect 1oz for my bigger warmer and I love unwrapping them to pop one full tart in. The branding is clean and simple, and very recognisable after their many years in business. They are almost always open and one of the best things about TDC is their ridiculously quick TAT (1-3 days)! This is a unpretentious, friendly company that I would recommend specifically for a wax beginner!


Tiffany Candles

Tiffany Candles is the latest entrant to make my list of favourites! Her wax have been throwing extremely well for me and I made a second order recently that includes my first TC scoopable! Like TDC, I love the size of her single wax melt in a traditional fluted shape (about 1 oz) and she has a range of wax products from small to large quantities. Her scent list is moderate, on the smaller side, but it covers all the basic scent groups and she has really interesting blends during her RTS restocks. Tiffany runs a hybrid ordering system where her website is open almost all the time with RTS stock and items from her re-stocks. For the first week of every month, you can also make custom orders. Her TAT is very quick (up to a week). Another plus for Tiffany, she refunds shipping overages!


Two Timing Tart

 

I love Two Timing Tart mostly for its scent list, it is probably the most unique list out there among the vendors. Becky Anderson creates scent blends like no other vendors! Like Rosegirls, TTT operates out of Facebook with updates about upcoming restocks for the website. The wax is priced very reasonably and the website is easy to use. Her current wax formula throws well for me and I recently have a new order to confirm this. However, her restocks are very irregular because Becky works on TTT on top of her regular day job. There is also an element of the unknown because different shapes, quantities and scents are offered at each restock and you never know which of your favourites is going to come back.

So there you go, here are my favourite companies as of June 2015! Do you have your own list of favourites, share them with me because I still like to try new companies even as I solidify my favourites! :)

Haul | Two Timing Tart (4)

Finally, a haul post rather than my usual wax notes! I have a few in the works from some of my recent hauls and I am going to be posting them up slowly but surely! This is the first of my two Two Timing Tart hauls, in fact this is the second of the lot but it was smaller and a lot easier to do my initial impressions. So you will get the Two Timing Tart (3) post a little later. I haven't ordered from Two Timing Tart since early 2014 and I thought it was high time I replenished my stash with them, especially since her new formulation throws great for me.

To order from Two Timing Tart, you have to be part of Becky's Facebook group, during a restock she will post what's available and reload the website on the promised day. You go on the website and select what you want, check out, easy peasy! TTT isn't as popular as some of the other vendors so you rarely have to worry about items going out of stock unless Becky is making only a few items in popular scent. Also if you can be patient enough, you could also wait till she marks down items left from the restock, I find that's a really good deal but the downside is you might not get what you want, which is risk I haven't dared to take!

For this restock, she was taking requests and made virtually everything that was requested. I put in a request for Silk Sheets and I managed to nab a bag of it! Yay! All in all, this was a great order!

Date Night Sensual sandalwood dripping with deep, sweet honey

As advertised, sandalwood and honey comes in equal measure in this scent.

Plum Wine Sandalwood A deep, resinous sandalwood mixed with the decadent freshness of plum wine

I really like this one, a fruity scent that is all grown up and mysterious. I like how the plum is sweetened and rounded up by the wine-grape scent.

M' Lady's Boudoir White musk, soft ebony, a hint of vanilla orchid, sandalwood, and a breath of citrus

An elegant scent that would not be out of place in a perfume bottle, I mostly smell the white musk, ebony and sandalwood.

Jasmine Vanilla Green Tea Peach Flora, tea, and lightly fruitly

This bag is bittersweet, Becky mentioned that this will be the last bags of this scent because she doesn't intend to re-order this fragrance oil. I rather like this one on cold, I smell a mix of jasmine, vanilla and peach.

Silk Sheets Musk, vanilla, cherry blossoms

I requested for this one because I so rarely come across a Cherry Blossom scents that I need to get them while I can. I really enjoyed the clamshell I got in my first order that I know I needed more!

Walk of Shame Bite Me (berries, cherries & lim), lotus blossoms, sea salt
The dominant scent in this blend is Bite Me and as I sniff harder, I begin to discern the floral note of the lotus blossoms. I don't smell the sea salt.

Forever Red BBW Type
I am not sure what's in here but it's floral, sweet and has a dark, mysterious feel to this.

Tobacco Cedar
I was a little afraid when I first opened this up to sniff but thankfully the tobacco is the less dominant note. I imagine this is what a log cabin would smell like.

Wax Notes | April 2015 (1)

I am stealing a few moments to type this out. These last two weeks have been busy busy busy, and it's about to get worse. Ack! But at least I have a shipment of wax hauls to look forwards to. I click SHIP for my latest Two Timing Tart hauls and my mega Enchanted Candle Co. custom order. I am so looking forward to the custom blends I made.

Two more outstanding orders to go: Sniff My Tarts (October'14 custom opening) and Super Tarts Lavender Sampler! I am contemplating a third order to round out the next shipment. Ten Digit Creations, Tiffany's or Candles From The Keeping Room? Help me decide!

\

Madame President (Beezy Tarts)
A mostly sweet and spicy floral scent and a base of ozone and vanilla. Medium scent throw, medium scent impact. I melted the second half in my 11w warmer and it threw like a BEAST! I am pretty impressed! High-high scent throw, medium high scent impact.

Ruby Slippers (Vintage Chic Scents)
After one year, I have finally decided to melt my VCS scents. Yes, one year, I checked! I have been hoarding them because I don't know when will I ever be able to buy them outright from the website. The VCS shopping cart unfortunately does not allow for non-American credit cards (I think I should check in with Kirby about this). The two hauls have been from flash sales from her Facebook page in which I was very very lucky. So anyway, I love this scent, it's that perfect combination of sweet, citrusy and fizzy. Medium-high scent throw and medium-high scent impact.

Pistachio Gelato (Crabby Candle Co.)
I have never tried a pistachio scent before, it's interesting but I am not sure if I would order this willingly again. High-high throw, medium high scent impact. It's really such a pity that Crabby doesn't seem to be in operation any more. Their tarts throw so well in my warmers, this one went right out of my house again!

Prince Humperdink (Thirty Street Crafts)
Maraschino cherry scent is strongest, with the full sweetness of pineapple and coconuts. Not much citrus scent, occasionally a whiff here and there. Medidum high throw, medium high scent impact.

Honey Lemon (Ten Digit Creations)
Honey, honey! This is great scent, comforting and relaxing, it also lingers for awhile after it's done. However, I don't detect very much lemon, if at all. This would be a great blending scent too. Medium high throw, medium high scent impact.

Pink Sugar, Rose Red (Two Timing Tart)
I am not a big Pink Sugar lover but surprisingly, when mixed with Rose Red, with its hints of sea salt, this is quite nice. The floral sweetness of rose and pomegranate also helps to tone down the sickly sweetness of Pink Sugar. High throw, medium high scent impact.

Apple Harvest (Ten Digit Creations)
I am a big fan of apple scents and I have yet to find one that I don't like. I even like them in bakery blends! Apple Harvest isn't your typical juicy apple fruit scent but rather the apple scent you encounter in the apple orchards in autumn. It tends towards the apple scent you would find in apple pie as well. I love it! Medium high scent throw, medium high scent impact.

Orange Blossoms (Ten Digit Creations)
This is a lovely floral scent, it's not cloying or overly sweet. There is a faint, orange-citrus hint that I wish was more apparent and I really want to blend this with a stronger citrus note! Medium high scent throw, medium high scent impact.

Repeat Melts
The Sultan's Morrocan Massage Oil (Enchanted)