Willow WaxCraft While other candle melt shops may pour a single note of cotton candy into their products, stick a spooky sounding name on a fancy label and then ship it out weeks later. Willow WaxCraft dares to go outside of the box and offer blended notes of barn wood, murky water, death lilies, champagne, aged tobacco etc. which all pay creative homage to different themes that are then shipped out insanely fast, presented beautifully AND smell as promised! Imagine that! That's all why I return to this wonderful shop and this time the Falloween collection needed to come home to me. As always the packaging was beyond lovely (the exotic candy and free sample greatly appreciated) and my favourites out of the bunch were Unmask!, Ulalume's Tomb *see review here, and 7 Days Thank you Samantha for thinking and going outside the box. Unmask! (Described as: "A polished roque mallet, aged wood and vanilla, hearth embers, pine, evergreen topiary animals, rich merlot, and sparkling champagne. Great party, isn’t it?!") *Now available in the General Catalogue Willow WaxCraft promised a scene from an iconic horror novel and they delivered with Unmask! Walking into my bedroom is like entering a historic New Year's Eve party set in the mountains and I can detect every note. The fresh cut boughs of an evergreen greet me first followed by a wisp of smoke and bubbly champagne. The more I stand in the doorway I expect to hear music from Glenn Miller fill the air or to find a pile of confetti at my feet, the sweet wine and wood notes slowly appear next pulling me into another world and the vanilla and embers are a nice departing combination. Unmask! definitely creates an atmosphere I don't want to leave and I'm so happy it has joined the general catalogue. It's my personal favourite from this enchanting shop. 7 Days (Described as: "A dusty barn, decaying wood and hay, an ancient stone well, dark water, burning leaves, and videotape. She never sleeps.") *Limited Seasonal Edition This shop truely excels at going completely outside the box with their listed notes and 7 Days is one melt you just have to experience to get the full effect. For me, each time I open my bedroom door I'm taken back to my grandmother's ancient barn and staring into inky darkness. That dusty barn description is dead on as well as the stone well and hay. I don't get any smoke, leaves or that distinct odd scent of used video tapes I somehow remember but if you want a creepy abandoned barn with stone walls and a prickling sense of something dark in the water, get 7 Days and be prepared for a scent journey. Victorian Smoking Room (Described as: "Where the menfolk retreat into a cloud of smoke and congratulate themselves on being masters of the universe…dark wood panels, tall shelves of worldly literature, opulent leather armchairs, and velvet, velvet everywhere. Black pepper, patchouli, vetiver, sweet tobacco and pipe smoke with hints of cherry and vanilla, rich bourbon, and deep brown sugar.") *Available in the General Catalogue How could I resist a clever hidden little reference to one of my favorite movies in the description but alas Victorian Smoking Room gives me a bad headache and I can't be in a room more than a few minutes at a time when it is melting. I was hoping for more tobacco and either the bourbon or the heavy leather accord just doesn't make my heart go on (sorry, sorry couldn't resist), a rare miss with this fabulous shop. Oh well, can't win them all. Pumpkin Latte (Described as: "It’s officially the season of that omnipresent autumnal coffee drink- sweet pumpkin, rich coffee, fall spices (cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and clove), all topped with mounds of whipped cream and drizzled with caramel. Cozy up.") *a free sample that appeared in my order, thank you so much Willow WaxCraft! *Limited Seasonal Edition Even though I can't drink heavily caffeinated beverages I still enjoy smelling them and Pumpkin Latte is true to life with a spicy creamy combination that fills an entire room and upstairs with one delicious pumpkin aroma. The coffee note is dark as promised but lightened with the whipped cream and spices that call for just one more sniff before leaving for the night. It almost reminds me of Liber Arcana without the leather note. A true fall staple that I need to get a full clamshell of eventually. As soon, as I saw the winter collection I had to try several and the sampler was the perfect option for that desire. My package arrived lightning fast and was presented in such a pretty fashion (I love the new willow vine ribbon choice). Upon opening the carefully packed parcel, I could immediately smell something divine waiting and I couldn't decide if that was exactly Whoopie, a Zeppelin! or The Christmas Tree Emporium of the Midwest (turns out it was a heavenly mashup of both). Each scent shot was nicely sized and the stand out favourites were The Long Night, The Christmas Tree Emporium of the Midwest and Breathe Before You Leave. The Long Night (Described as: "A warm light in the darkness of Winter Solstice: Balsam fir, sacred frankincense and myrrh, beeswax candles, sweet oud, blood orange, clove, cinnamon leaf, and vanilla") *Available in the General Catalogue As the snow swirled and blew this past winter, I found The Long Night was exactly what I needed to melt the frosty winter blues that always arrives with the howling winds and pelting ice. Right away, the realistic pine pulls me away from the outside world and when the familiar frankincense, myrrh with spicy bright orange appears it all transforms my bedroom into a much needed sanctuary and just makes my senses glow with memories of once happy holidays and cherished visions. I can't help but smile as this candle melt holds a very special fragrance combination for me. I'm so thankful it can be found in the general catalogue listing now; it's so lovely and a comforting treasure (I wish there was a perfume oil that could match these notes; it's perfect in my book). Whoopie, a Zeppelin! (Described as: "Plunge into the cornucopia! The scent of sugarplums, tart pomegranate, cinnamon glazed doughnuts, gingerbread, a swig of a buttered hot toddy, and unbridled avarice".) *Limited Seasonal Edition This was one of the first fragrances to catch my attention as the fruit notes are dominant with a tangy sweetness that fills a whole upstairs and lingers in the air after the wax warmer is turned off for the night. It is indeed the smell of holiday delights with a swig of something extra to warm you up and if you love lightly spiced plum or pomegranate join me in keeping an eye out for this creation's hopeful return next winter. The Christmas Tree Emporium of the Midwest (Described as: "Take a trip to the lot and find that one glorious tree (not one where all the needles fall off). A variety of evergreens, mistletoe, hot cocoa, roasted chestnuts, and a whisper of gasoline and motor oil.) *Limited Seasonal Edition I realize not every winter creation from this release could make it to the general catalogue but I really wish The Christmas Tree Emporium of the Midwest could have made the cut because my bedroom is delicious realistic smelling cocoa, evergreens and yes even carries a spot of motor oil that hangs in the air. It's simply marvellous! Overall, a brilliant mixture that captures an iconic scene from my favorite Christmas movie and reminds me of driving around looking at twinkling lights and themed displays so long ago. A definite repurchase for me and one to recommend. Lost on the Moor (Described as: "The haunting, chilling scent of the wild Yorkshire moor-heather, lavender, moss, chamomile, ozone, juniper and elderflower.") *Available in the General Catalogue Please allow me to interrupt this humble review with my favourite quote from this classic (or pretty much from any work I ever picked up): "Catherine Earnshaw, may you not rest as long as I am living; you said I killed you—haunt me, then! The murdered do haunt their murderers, I believe. I know that ghosts have wandered on earth. Be with me always—take any form—drive me mad!" [Sigh] Now that's a book and even though Lost on the Moor is described as haunting and chilling for me this was the fragrance I melted when I was desperately seeking spring this past winter. Saying that, I will admit this melt was more fresh and bright (even a touch soapy) than I was desiring but the more time I spent in its company, the more I oddly liked it and was drawn to it. In the end, Lost on the Moor definitely brings to mind warm spring sunshine on a green landscape where one can clear their mind and be half-savage and hardy, and free again. I do believe I need a clamshell pack of this. Breathe Before You Leave (Described as: "I was given this mantra to repeat to myself during a particularly stressful time in my life. So often we rush out in the morning without taking a moment to compose ourselves, and it sets a frazzled tone for the entire day. He told me, “slow down, and breathe before you leave.” Juicy pear combined with bright and zesty yuzu, lemon verbena, ginseng, and cleansing sage, grounded with hibiscus tea. Breathe deep.") *a free sample nestled among my scent shots and exotic candy, thank you Willow WaxCraft, you know how to spoil us! *Available in the General Catalogue This sparkly square appeared in my order and it is one uplifting tart citrus blend that wakes my senses and pulls my nose toward my upstairs (it has an impressive throw when I open the door). I can clearly smell the lemon verbena, ginseng and bright fruits (it is almost an effervescent scent but with a hint of spice) even where I sit typing and just like Lost on the Moor it reminds me of warm spring sunshine. Perfect for this time of the year when nature can't decide if it's 60 degrees or 14 degrees with dangerous ice and everything is brown or gray. I need to order a full clamshell as I want Breathe Before You Leave (so aptly named) throughout my home (or in my car) the entire year round. Willow WaxCraft Comments are closed.
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28th of January 2023) NOTES/COMBINATIONS and Stones CURRENTLY ON THE HUNT FOR: Naughty Licorice/Star Anise Cardamom Cardamom Cake with Roses Smoky Honey & Leather Leather and Florals Pomegranate Colder Tuberose scents Smoked Florals with Cinnamon and Honey Graham Cracker and Incense Double strand of Rose Quartz or Moonstones or Black Tourmaline Chainmaille Jewellery Houses of Fragrance and Interest on the Horizon (shops that contain such temptations): LurkerAndStrange Good Spirit Wolf Rapt In Maille ToadStoolSoaps DSH Perfume Baphomet&Co Harvest Moon Haven Granny Hootenanny's Shop
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