I first came across the Lollia line of products when I added a mini handcreme to a drugstore.com order to qualify for free shipping. As I'm sure a lot of you can relate, it makes no sense to me to pay
$5.99 for shipping when for $5.99 I can pick up a little sweet-scented doodad that I can slip in a friend's purse when she's having a bad day! Anyhow, the creme was a big hit, and the packaging absolutely delightful, so I decided to explore their other products.
Since I was in the market for a home scent that would be relaxing and appropriate for bedtime, I decided to order their Relax candle. The notes — white orchid, Tahitian vanilla, bee blossom honey and Indian amber — sounded tempting, and the packaging charming, with a lilac-colored paisley pattern printed on the glass and a little crystal droplet designed to hang from the rim. It seemed whimsical and happily romantic — and when it arrived it was indeed quite sweet to look at it.
Unfortunately, I was less happy with the actual scent. It's pretty enough — soft and round, very well-blended, with a subtle floral accent on a mildly gourmand warmth. But it's very sweet and, as an evening candle, it overwhelmed me with a synthetic feel. I found myself missing my good old lavender candles, or other more natural amber scents I have tried that have a grounded earthiness to their warmth. This candle could easily be the waxy companion to a mainstream perfume — in fact, I kept recalling Casmir by Chopard, although I do not have a bottle of that lying around to compare. As such, I found it too demanding for bedtime. That being said, if sweet is your thing, you might still like this candle and it could be quite cozy on a snowy winter day.
The Lollia candles are made of soy wax, have a nice clean burn and excellent throw, and the price is on the more reasonable end of high end home fragrances.
The Lollia Relax Luminary is available in Tall ($56, 240 hours burn time) or Petite (shown above, $32, 80 hours). For buying information, see the listing for Lollia under Perfume Houses.
I adore Lollia's packaging but have never really tried their products, I should though.
Their packaging really is charming–one of the handcremes has little red painted birds and leaves, a kind of Chinoiserie patter, that is absolutely gorgeous!
I'm sure that packaging is gorgeous!!! I love Chinoiserie patterns!
Even a travel size hand cream is cheap at $5.99.
Yes, they are relatively cheap, but just be warned that they are also quite small!
What lavender or amber candles do you use? I need some tips! Thanks!
I really like the diptyque Feuille de Lavande candle. There is a review on it somewhere on this blog, I think. It's quite strong, I think 'brawny' was the word used, but once you get used to it, I find it addictive. With lavender, I've also had luck with some cheaper kinds, basic lavender aromatherapy from companies like Illume (if they still make them). Never did care for the one by l'Occitane though, not sure why. I would bet that the Red Flower lavender candle is quite nice–that's one I've been meaning to try as well.
One amber candle I've enjoyed a lot is the one I reviewed some time back by Potter & Moore, Orange Blossom & Amber. There is something elegant and steadying about it. Very nicely done. I did also, ahem, just pick up the Ambre candle by L'Artisan Parfumeur on ebay, but I've yet to try it!
If I think of any more, I'll let you know! 🙂