Reviewing candles and home fragrance products is difficult (violins, commence!) It is almost impossible to obtain samples of home fragrance (room sprays, diffuser oils, candles), and even if sample candles were available, how could I gauge their full-size effects? The reason most of my home fragrance product reviews are positive is not because I am eager to please or easily pleased, it's because I smell candles, room sprays, diffuser products and incense in a store before buying them and I buy what I like — and then review the products.
But every now and then I can’t resist the urge to buy something unsniffed (and unavailable locally) simply because of gorgeous packaging or ad copy that references exotic locales and cultures, rare or unusual ingredients, beloved flowers. Red Flower tempted me with a magical word: marigold.
Calendula (pot marigold), a genus of the daisy family (Asteracea), grows around the world; there are as many as 20 species of this plant, so talking about marigolds can be confusing. I’ll keep it simple and speak of marigold in a generic way (marigolds are one of my favorite flowers so I feel guilty giving them such short shrift).
Marigold is used as a medicine, insecticide, clothing dye, and fragrance. The marigolds I enjoy possess a zingy, peppery, spicy odor (reminiscent of tomato leaves and vines). Red Flower describes its Chinese Marigold candle (I’m not sure what a Chinese marigold is mind you, Red Flower seems to list its floral scents with a geographic marker) as being "pungent, masculine, earthy, generously scented."
Sadly, the scent of Red Flower’s Chinese Marigold candle is not of marigold at all — it is a simple sweet floral that reminds me of 'baby shampoo'. There is no pungency or masculinity, no earthiness in the fragrance. The throw of the candle is good, but it takes at least 30 minutes for the aroma to become apparent.
Red Flower’s candles are topped with dried flowers; this is unnecessary and annoying when the flowers stick to the wax. I guess one could just throw the dried blossoms into the yard waste container or plop them into a bowl of potpourri, but a friend says she uses them as TEA. I asked her if this was suggested on the candle box or insert, and she said: "No". She's still alive, but I would not recommend drinking an infusion of the dried material on Red Flower candles unless the company says it is safe!
During the Chinese Marigold candle’s burn, the melting wax (a beautiful orange color) overpowered the wick; there seemed to be too much wax in the container and the flame kept threatening to go out. Worse still: the wick was very brittle and burned in a ragged (and smoky) way and it was hard to trim (due to the narrowness of the Red Flower candle container).
Red Flower candles come with a cute booklet of 'light-my-flower' matches. I have been accused of theatricality, but my shout was genuine the first time I used these matches. Are they made of gunpowder? The noise of the "explosion" as I struck a match and the strong flame scared me (as sparks flew to the ceiling). One other warning: as the Red Flower Chinese Marigold candle burns, a very large amount of wax liquefies so let the candle cool completely before touching it after burning and do not move the candle with bare fingers during the burn or you too will scream.
The Red Flower Chinese Marigold Candle comes in two sizes: 6 oz. (45-50 hr. burn time, $34) or 1.5 oz (12-15 hr. burn time, $12). The Chinese Marigold scent is also available in soap and body wash. Red Flower candles are available from beautycollection or beautyhabit, or directly from redflower.
See also: Victoria's review of the Red Flower Indian Jasmine candle.
Kevin, do you read Perfume Posse? Patty had a post there very recently about Modern Alchemy's candles and included a positive review of their Day of the Dead candle with marigold and frankincense, which sounded very intriguing to me. Red Flower candles seem to be made to sit around as coffee table decorations rather than burn: hence, the dried flowers, almost non-functional wick and geographic specificity. I like the Indian Jasmine and Japanese Peony the best, but I'm not sure I'd ever buy another one.
Great review, Kevin. I was very tempted to buy a Red Flower candle. A friend of mine is completey addicted to their Italian Blood Orange candle. In my house at the moment I have two Votivo candles, Tomato Leaf (LOVE!) and Deep Clover (it's nice), and a Volupsa Makassar Ebony and Peach (it was a gift, but quite lovely). I'm not sure I'm going to try the Red Flower anymore…sounds like a waste of 30+ bucks. The Votivos are less expensive and I love them. Thanks for saving me $, yay!
To compound the 'marigold' confusion, in America, 'marigold' means genus Tagates, a totally different plant from Calendula. It's the one with the round heads (rather than daisy shaped blooms) and the strong scent to the leaves. The makers of the candle seem to not bother to tell you which one this is. And the candle sounds like an all round loser, too.
Tigs: I have smelled the Day of the Dead candle…and it was very nice, but again, no marigold! The smell of the DoD candle was heady frankincense to my nose. (I'll review the 'Boston Tea Party' candle soon.) I'll read Patty's post…thanks, Kevin
Gina: I love the Votivo candles too…and I've had great luck with Voluspa, Slatkin. I have such a backlog of candles to review! I cannot heartily recommend Red Flower…and money saved is money earned as we know…but if one of their scents tempts you, you could buy their TINY candles to sample. K
DP: I just don't know WHY it's so hard for SOMEone to make a marigold-scented product! Really…such a rich, distinctive, strong odor to work with (tagetes)! I wonder if some perfume industry focus-group research is out there saying “most people” don't like “marigold?” Let me know if you've found a TRUE marigold-scented candle, room spray, etc. K
That's a great idea…didn't realize that Red Flower has the tiny candles. I haven't tried Slatkin, but will. What's one of your favorite incenses? I usually burn the good old Nag Champa, which to me, is lovely, but I'd like to try something different.
I like Nippon Kodo's Koh Joss Sticks (I THINK amazon.com carries those), Morning Star's Aloes Wood or Sandalwood incense sticks (on sale now at http://www.incensewarehouse.com). Also, see my review under “Home Fragrance” of my all-time favorite: Shoyeido's Plum Flower Tree (baika-ju) incense. I've always enjoyed L'Occitane's incense cones too…every scent they make! K
Thank you, Kevin!! I will shop immediately! ha.
That's interesting about the Blood Orange candle as I happen to be burning that one (the tiny version) as I read this. I was excited to try it, because I have also heard other rave reviews, but I have to say, I'm not impressed. I don't get much of a throw, and it feels like a mix of orange popsicle and burnt sugar….
I hope some of the others are better, as we bought a bunch to give as gifts and I've stored them in my closet (so much for the marigold one though!)