Haul: Glitterati Candle Company Custom Order Haul!

In June (!!!), I ordered from Glitterati Candle Co. for the first time. Their wax came highly recommended by many fans and friends, so I will share my haul, even though it's massively overdue. Starting with the samples!

-Lovespells & Lemon Drops: I have this melting in the bathroom right now and it's incredible! The lovespells is a straight perfume dupe of the Victoria's Secret scent from my youth. WOW. And the lemon adds a nice zestiness. I just LOVE this. And, one little cube is super strong. Yes!

-Violet & Birch: another scent that has never been on my radar, violets are sort of sweet, aren't they? This is okay, not my favorite scent, but it's nice. I have a feeling it may develop a bit more when warming, become stronger.

-Mac Apple Cranberry Woods VBN: what a mouthful, lol! Brilliant scent, truly. Mac apple is my favorite apple, and when mixed with creamy VBN and earthy, damp and sweet cranberry woods? ERMAHGERD. Incredible! Big bag worth! A blend to remember in the future.

-White Tea & Pomegranate: isn't white tea a more floral scent on its own? I have always seen "white tea" and have run away from it, but this is really lovely. Sweet, fruity, slightly floral, I think I am a white tea fan!

-Citrus Herb Cocktail: veeeeerry herby. Not sure I love this one. It smells strong on cold sniff, but the scent beyond the citrus just isn't for me.

-Iced Tea Mango Sage: a really nice balance of sage and mango with some minor floral notes underneath it all! Not my typical type of scent but I really like this!

I also got 3 Bite Bags, which includes 12-18 individual, easy-to-use tarts totaling 10 ounces for $10.

-Pink Marshmallow Fireside: AMAZING. I believe this was recommended to my by Julie from The Redolent Mermaid, and if she did, kudos to her suggestion. Wow, this is wonderful! You have to be a fan of Marshmallow Fireside's smokiness to like this, and if you do, you'll be hooked. Can't wait to melt this!

-Pink Peppermint: ...what? You think I'd order from a new company and not try their pink peppermint? ;) I have also heard raves about Glitterati's pink peppermint being extra strong, so I couldn't pass up a couplea bags. It definitely has a nice throw, but I have noticed her wax doesn't always last as long as other wax might.

I also got a couple chunks, which are $2.50 a piece and individually bagged and a maximum of 50 different chunks per order. There is also no minimum, so you can get individual chunks of your own blends, as well as pre-made blends. I like that Glitterati offers customers to get one chunk of any blend, but I also see a problem when people can order up to 50 of any blend they want. This alone probably adds a lot to her TAT, but it's great for people like me who want to try out blends and are too afraid to jump right into a big bag. Most of these chunks are big enough to cut into two, perhaps even 3 different melts! Anyways, let's look at these chunkies!

-Pink Sugar Toasted Marshmallow: a must for me, honestly. I love this scent, so I wanted to smell what Glitterati's was like. It's great! The pink is a background note compared to the toasted marshmallow, but I don't mind at all. It smells so good.

Rebel Yell: Sangria White Peach/Watermelon/Cotton Candy

-Rebel Yell: white peach to me sounds like something with a floral undertone, but I couldn't pass up an alluring blend of watermelon and cotton candy. This is wonderful! A fruity, 80's explosion. It needs to be cut up, though, because this chunk is huge.

Purple Rain: Black Rasp. Vanilla, Chardonnay

-Purple Rain: another fan favorite, if I'm not mistaken. This smells lovely! Chardonnay scents and wine scents in general aren't always my favorite, but when mixed with black raspberry vanilla, ohhhh boy. Again, another one that'll need to be cut.

Amish Kitchen: Vanilla, cinnamon, clove, allspice, sugar, nutmeg, bakery and fruits

-Amish Kitchen: fruits? Not to much. Spice? HELL YES. This is right up my alley and I have done my darnedest to save it until fall. So, so good. It smells like spice heaven!

-Pink Rosemary Peppermint: As many of you might know, I love peppermint scents. Recently, I discovered a rosemary peppermint scent from another vendor, but instead of spearmint this time, I added pink sugar because, well, it's me. I like this, but the rosemary is definitely center stage. Herbaceous, peppermint, and slightly musky, this is a must have for mint fans.

I also grabbed a few scent shots, which are 1.5 ounces for $1.75 a piece and a maximum of 50 different shots per order. Love this starry bag!

Here's what they are:

-Cucumber Mint: a friend of mine has raved about this scent in the past, and until now, I have never been serious about it. Believe the hype, fresh fans! This is SO good. Clean, unmistakable cucumber and cool, refreshing mint makes for one amazing blend. This is strong, too. Delish and fresh to death.

-Holiday: Holiday, like, the Madonna song, not like Christmas. Toasted Coconut, Orange Soda, and Cotton Candy mix for an interesting blend that sort of smells like something you'd eat at a fan. Sugar coated orange sweetness with wisps of coconut.

-Strawberry Cream Lemon Meringue: I took a chance on this one, hoping it wouldn't be too crusty from the meringue part, but it is. Sure, the other notes are there, but for some reason, all I smell is crust. Meh. Maybe it will be a nice melange when melting!
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That's my haul, everyone! Anything stand out as a favorite to you? What should I melt first? Have you ordered from Glitterati? Any favs or must-haves for next time?

To Try: Petunia's Corner's Vanilla Cardamom Candle!

Petunia's Corner is a newer candle vendor on Etsy and one I heard about on Instagram. We were in contact about me trying a candle in exchange for an Instagram post/photo, which I did a while back, but this candle deserves and entire post, to be honest. So, here I am, many months later, finally getting my s**t together and blogging about it! Take a look!

Inside my box was this big long instruction guide and about me pamphlet. Very informational!

Dina's business card, cute!

Honestly, I wanted to make this post for the packaging alone. In my box was this smaller box with a nice gold bow! Ain't it pretty? I kept the ribbon, lol.

She let me pick the scent I wanted, and after a long debate between a few fragrances, I chose Vanilla Cardamom. I took a chance on this since it contains cardamom, which has come off as too astringent to my nose (especially when mixed with other spices) in the past, but I am sure glad I picked it. I have often talked about Bates Nut Farm on this blog, I even did a haul/photo post a few years back. We would always go there during Halloween/Thanksgiving/Christmas to look at pumpkins and feed the animals. There is a general store there, and this scent smells exactly like that store! I was floored! Once I burned it for the first time, I let it go waaaay longer than I should have because I didn't want to extinguish it. It made me feel so happy! It's slightly bakery, slightly homey goodness. The vanilla is front and center, mixing well with spices to create something truly wonderful. The best smells in wax and candles often create scent memories, which we have also discussed in an Order of the Odor post, and this candle has definitely stuck in my mind. 

I burned it three times, and each time, the burn was wonderful, clean as far as pooling out to the sides, and had a medium-high to high scent throw. Also, can we talk about the presentation of this candle? I have to admit, I love white wax candles every now and then, there's something so stylish and elegant about simple white wax. Does that sound stupid? LOL. I also love mason jar candles, and when Dina adds her rustic brown label complete with pretty font and a piece of twine to her product, the entire thing wraps together so nicely in a neat, chic package. In fact, all of her products are really cute. She also makes more than jarred candles, she makes mason jar wall sconces, painted and distressed mason jars, mason jar lamps, and tea light candles. I have to admit, I have reserved the rest of this candle for actual fall, so I don't waste it and save some for when it gets a little chillier (LOL YEAH RIGHT), but it looks like Petunia's just came out with their new fall scents, so check out Dina's Etsy shop! Thanks for the chance to try your candle, Dina, and I will get grabbing some of your 4 ounce jar candles soon! :)

Swift & Supersonically Snappy Short Review #90: Rosegirls Chunk Wax Melts Sweet Lemon Confection/Sweet Tea

Tea and lemon has been my favorite combination since a few years ago. Not tea and cakes. Not lemon tea and zingerfluffzucchinibarfness. Tea and lemon. I tried my hand at blending, and......

Rosegirls Chunk Wax Melts Sweet Lemon Confection/Sweet Tea
Cold Rating: 10/10
Lit Rating: 10/10
Throw Rating: 10/10
Overall Rating: 10/10; PERFECTION. AMAZING. WONDERFUL. Strong! I melted this in the bathroom and smelled it in the bedroom and outside. Insane throw, wonderful combination. Almost like B&BW's candle London Calling. Excellent balance of tea and sweet lemon. Even the biggest tea haters would be forced to agree this is perfect. Literally (LOL) the best scent I have melted in a long time. Cutting wax is the devil. Shards of wax all over the place. Nice handwriting, needing more Rosegirls. Cool colors. Needing to get back into teas. Wanting to go to high tea. Curdle is an awful word.

Swift & Supersonically Snappy Short Review #89: Candles from the Keeping Room's Cherry Blossoms

Florals and laundry scents are a wonderful bathroom option and I have been loving these types of smells more lately. Any time of the day. All day. Not just for laundry day. Am I getting more mature??? Maybe???? Bueller???

Candles From the Keeping Room's Cherry Blossoms
Cold Rating: 6/10
Lit Rating: 8/10
Throw Rating: 7.5/10
Overall Rating: 7/10; lush and sweet, delicate and natural. So, so lovely. A slight orange blossom note, too? Like holding a big, giant bouquet in my hands right now, or like a laced lake filled with blossoms. Better while warming than I thought it would be. Lasted 4.5 hours in the bathroom. Pretty strong. Carol is still in my top 3 my favorite vendors. Her florals and laundry scents are some of the best in wax. No cherry, just a light sweetness.

Swift & Supersonically Snappy Short Review #88: Sugar & Spice Gourmet Soy Candles' Peach Margarita

Summer is winding down for people with kids who need to go back to school, which means the adults might be able to enjoy one or two cold beverages before the fall seasons starts. In the day. Around 10 am. Pants off. You know how we do. LOL.

Sugar and Spice Gourmet Soy Candles' Peach Margarita
Cold Rating: 8/10
Lit Rating: 8.5/10
Throw Rating: 9/10
Overall Rating: 8.5/10; not a fan of peach scents, but I am loving this combination. Insanely strong. The peach is juicy, the margarita smells just like a salty, tall glass of the limey frozen/rocked concoction. Lick the air good....drink the air good? Lime and peach are a surprisingly good pairing. Wanting to try this from other vendors. Awesome throw, excellent smell! Not drinking like I used to, just not into it. Tired of missing happy hours across the country. What's your favorite alcoholic drink?

Swift & Supersonically Snappy Short Review #87: Better Homes and Gardens' Valencia Blood Orange

Wax sometimes comes in scents of weird fruits.
BLOOD ORANGE?? WUT?
Now, unlike other fruits I have asked about, I actually do know this one exists, so the aforementioned "WUT?" was hasty. Anyways, onward!

Better Homes and Gardens' Valencia Blood Orange
Cold Rating: 7.5/10
Lit Rating: 9/10
Throw Rating: 8/10
Overall Rating: 8.5/10; Juicy. Ripe. Fresh. Very lovely. Super strong. Slightly spicy? Or no? Am I crazy. Either way, bomb! Repurchase for sure. BH&G getting a bad rep when it comes to wax. 2 cubes at a time. Cute label. Clamshells with no stinky smell. Amazing. Deceptive upon cold sniff. Wanting to buy more blood oranges. Blood orange tree? ORANGES MADE WITH BLOOD??? Begs the question.

Order of the Odor: Volume 12

Hello! This is the 12 installment of the Order, which means we have reached our one year anniversary! We all hope your summer is winding down beautifully and many happy memories have been made. Please join us in answering the question of the month:

What were some of your favorite scent experiences this summer?

As you may well know, I am a mint fiend. I made a blend of scents from SMT including rosemary mint/spearmint/peppermint, and I was SO SAD I only bought this blend in a 2 pack of popsicles. Luckily, they open soon, so I will try and rectify this situation! I have also been into coconut scents this summer, and Coconut Bay from Beezy Tarts has been an awesome pick! Finally, I have been super into candles again this summer....weird, right? Well, I received an Ocean & Sea Salt candle in one of my Flicker Boxes and it's almost gone, that's how much I loved it! Other candles include B&BW's Flower Shop dupe, Amsterdam, Yankee's Midnight Jasmine, and an old B&BW favorite, Beach Cabana!

The Bathing Garden has some seriously ornate wax tarts and if anyone can do them justice, it is Sunnee. Hop on over to her blog to read all about her latest The Bathing Garden order and see which ones stand out. And oh happy day!!! The Bathing Garden is open and has been open for orders for several months now.

Liz at Furianne found a lost waxy treasure and melted it recently. Check out what gem she found that is STILL performing after over two years old! 

Want the Bath & Body Works candle experience without the Bath & Body Works price tag? Deb hauled a few candles that fit the bill and will fill her home with fall cheer this year. You will want to read this!

Lolo gets to smell with the Rock is cooking... whenever she wants. And if you want to smell it too, as well as look at his cutie pie mug all over a candle... you must see what Lauren has recently acquired. Get ready for fits of "I NEED THAT!"

Candles From The Keeping Room recently moved over to Etsy, temporarily, and Julie placed an order on the first opening there. Read all about how the ordering process went and the abundance of scents she picked here. You can tell she went wild!

Michelle recently received and reviewed a Super Tarts sampler. Her precise descriptions and on point nose will leave you scouting for some of these scents. Find out what sampler she got and her thoughts on it. 

Subscription Box Corner: July 2015 Flicker Box Review!

Flicker Box...my love, my life! I absolutely love finding new candles, scents, and vendors each month through this subscription box service, so let's jump right into the July box and see what newness cropped up this time around!

The box, as per ush.

The theme for July 2015 was "Blue Lagoon." Doesn't that conjure up a lovely mental image of beaches, summer, cool water, and hot days? Unless you're a horror movie freak like me, then you might think of bogs and flies and sticky goo monsters...sorry to ruin that picture in your head!

Upon opening the box, I spied these 2 votive candles. VOTIVES! COOL! I have been so used to getting candles in glass jars or tins, I forgot Flicker Box often sends other types of wax/candle shapes. I like votives a lot, even more when they throw. The one on the left is COOL WATER and the one on the right is SAND DUNE, both from Armadilla Wax Works. Another new company, too! WOOT! I have burned the Cool Water votive, but not the San Dune one. They both smell really great on cold sniff and Cool Water has a medium throw. I will do an individual review of Sand Dune if y'all want!

Citronella! Nothing says summer quite like bugs, and citronella is supposed to be a good remedy to keep those pesky little fliers out of your face. I love that this box has such a variety of wax to it this month! There are 6 tealight candles in this box from Blue Dipper Wax Works based out of Seattle WA (nifty box, huh?). I have used one outside, but forgot it was there, so it extinguished. Going to use one of these this week when we have some work done on our house and the doors are constantly opened. PS: Does anyone know where to get some tealight holders besides Yankee Candle? Think cheap! ;)

This is probably the most aesthetically pleasing Flicker Box I have received. Look at the adorable charm on this candle from Earth Meets Water! And that lid! Gorgeous! This candle is in a mason jar (swoon) and is a peachy orange colored wax, scented in Toucan Jungle, a fruity/tropical explosion. I have melted this candle 3 times. The first time, the wick collapsed in on itself. I thought Josh blew it out since we left the kitchen for a while, but no, it collapsed in on itself...like, curled over, fetal position and all. I was perplexed...I've never seen a wick do that before! No fans were on and no windows were opened. The second time, I burned around the area of the wick to create a bit of space to get it standing back up. While the burn lasted an hour, eventually, the flame got so low, it burned out. Bummed, but not yet sold, I melted it the next day and it worked just fine, though a bit of tunneling has started. I am determined to give this candle my all! Needless to say, I haven't gotten a whole heck of a lot of output from this candle, so I will report back if anything changes. I love this company's labels and charms and they have tonnnnnnnnns of beachy stuff and wax melts, too! I am planning an order soon!

Don't you just LOVE the labeling on the Wood and Wax Handcrafted Goods candle? UGH, I serious fell in love with this candle at first sight based on the label alone, The, then I opened the lid and saw it was a wood wick candle? END OF STORY. Love wood wicks! On top of this, ocean and sea salt scents are my jam. This candle smells great! It's one that builds in strength the longer it has been lit, but it's a nice and pleasant medium in our bedroom. I had a helluva time with the wick the first burn, but this issue has since been corrected and I am in love with this scent. Yay!
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Though there were a few individual problems, I LOVED this box. It was so full of great scents and an awesome variety of wax! I fall more and more in love with this company and candles again each time I get this box and melt my goods. Until next time!