The Boy Smells Bramble candle gets a 9/10 from me. I’m basing this on the scent, price point, candle quality, and vessel quality. It’s a near perfect candle as far as scent is concerned. I’m also impressed by the choice of wax (a coconut wax blend) given that the price is pretty reasonable. At $48, it is not the cheapest candle, but given the candle quality and lengthy burn time (50 hours), I think this price point makes sense. I would consider Boy Smells to be more of an indie brand than a luxury brand so the mid-range price point feels appropriate to me.
I can’t think of a better candle for spring/summer. I’m actually not much of a seasonal burner so I’ve been enjoying this throughout the winter months, but I wanted to wait until now to write my Bramble review. For all of the details on why I rated this candle a 9/10, keep reading!
Boy Smells Bramble Candle Facts
Fragrance Notes: Rhubarb, acai, cassis, blackberry, strawberry, basil, tree moss, white cedar, amber
Wax Type: Coconut and Beeswax Blend
Size: 8.5 ounces
Price: $48-56 (varies by website)
Burn Time: 50 hours
Vessel: Transparent green glass tumbler
Scent
Hot Throw: I can promise you that Bramble has a strong hot throw. I’ve been throwing open all of the windows to enjoy the spring weather and I can still smell this candle very well when I burn it in our main living space (which is a large open space where the living/dining rooms meet). This scent fills a good portion of the first floor when I burn it.
Cold Throw: Also strong. When this candle is on my side table, I can smell it un-lit even if I’m sitting a couple feet away.
Bramble has such a beautiful combination of scents. If I had to describe it, I’d say it smells like sipping a blackberry cocktail in the middle of a very fragrant garden. It’s slightly sweet, but it’s also very green. I’m hoping this description makes sense to someone other than just me.
The blackberry and the basil come through more than the other notes mentioned on the packaging, but I smell something earthy underneath that top layer. It has to be the tree moss and white cedar balancing out the sweetness from the blackberry. If you’re like me and you tend to avoid sickly sweet candles, you do not have to worry about this one just because there are multiple fruity notes like strawberry and rhubarb. It’s so well balanced that beyond the blackberry/basil combination, none of the other notes is super dominant. You just get a fruity, slightly tart, but mostly fresh scent throw.
While I hope that you trust my review, this is the type of candle that I would recommend trying out in person. Bramble was not a blind buy for me. I tried it out at Kuhl Linscomb (my favorite place to shop for candles here in Houston) and then I ordered it through the Boy Smells website during a sale that brought the price down to $24.95. That’s how I typically buy candles – smell in person, then wait for an online sale.
Price Point
Cost to Burn Per Hour: $0.96/hour (based on 50 hours of total burn time)
If you are a regular reader, you know that I like to think about candle pricing in terms of the cost to burn a candle per hour. Boy Smells typically sells their 8.5 ounce candles for $48. With a 50 hour burn time for Bramble, this brings the cost per hour to $0.96 if you purchase at full price. My general sweet spot is any candle below $1.50 per hour so this one checks that box.
I also think about pricing in terms of the quality of the ingredients used in the candle and that’s why Bramble gets full points in this category. They used my favorite wax type – a coconut and beeswax blend. As a candle maker, I know how expensive coconut wax is so I am impressed that this is still a relatively affordable candle given the quality of the main ingredient.
Candle Quality
I’ve done several burns and have had no issues with tunneling. After each burn, the surface of the candle is still very smooth and creamy (which is why I love coconut wax so much). I haven’t noticed much soot either. I don’t have much else to say about candle quality, but that is a good thing. No complaints here! As long as you keep the wick trimmed, you should not have any issues with this candle.
Vessel Quality
This is the only category where I have some notes. I think Boy Smells could’ve done a little better with the aesthetic of all three of the candles in their Farm to Candle Collection. I’m just not a huge fan of the label, but that is such a minor complaint. The green vessel is fine and most importantly, will be a good jar to clean out and re-use. I won’t use it as a home decor piece like some of the other beautiful vessels that come with candles in the $40-60 price range that I’ve bought recently, but I can definitely re-purpose this as a makeup brush or pen holder.
Where to Buy Boy Smells Bramble Candle
Note: As of today (3/20/25), you can’t get this candle on the Boy Smells website, but here are a few links to some online retailers that are still selling it:
