I recently got the opportunity to try out three candles from La Jolie Muse’s Amelie Collection. I have always thought that LJM has some of the most well designed candle jars and I appreciate them for their re-usability. You’re buying a candle and a home decor piece at the same time. I still use this empty Spicy Amber candle jar to store q-tips in my bathroom. I know it will be awhile before I burn through the new candles, but I already have plans to repurpose the gorgeous ribbed glass jars around my house.
Full disclosure: These candles were sent to me by the brand, but all of the opinions below are my own. This is a brand that I have purchased candles from in the past so I was so excited when they reached out to send their Mandarin Matcha, Santal Rose, and Champs de Tuberose candles.
Everything to Know About the Amélie Collection
Wax Type: Soy Wax
Size: Every scent in the line comes in 7, 11, and 19 oz varieties, all with the same ribbed glass vessels. All 3 sizes are single wick candles.
Price: Given the size and burn time of the candles (and the re-usability of the jars), I think this line is reasonably priced –
- $28 for the 7 ounce candle
- $34 for the 11 ounce candle
- $44 for the 19 ounce candle
Burn Time: If you’ve read my other reviews, you know that I always think of price in terms of how much it costs to burn the candle per hour, with $1.00 per hour being the max I typically like to pay unless a candle really blows me away. These candles all come in at much less than $1 per hour —
- $0.70/ hr to burn the 7 ounce candle (40 hours of burn time)
- $0.57/ hr to burn the 11 ounce candle (60 hours of burn time)
- $0.37/ hr to burn the 19 ounce candle (120 hours of burn time)
Vessel: This collection comes in ribbed glass candle jars in various colors. The glass is thick and these candles are heavy. I’m very impressed by the quality of the vessels and as I’ve already mentioned, they get extra points from me for their re-usability. Also – this may seem trivial to some, but I really appreciate candles that come with a lid because no matter how much I vacuum, I have lot of dog hair floating around my house. If I don’t keep my candles covered between burns, I have to clean dog hair and dust off of them regularly.
Mandarin Matcha Review
Top Notes: Mandarin, Green Tea, Bergamot
Heart/Middle Notes: Matcha, Jasmine
Base Notes: Cedarwood
I was expecting something sweeter when I saw that mandarin was a top note, but I don’t get much sweetness from this candle and I actually like that. The citrus is there, but it’s subtle. The matcha is the main appeal. The first time I tried a matcha latte, I thought that it tasted “green” and I had the same reaction to this candle – it just smells “green”. I can’t quite put my finger on how to describe that (which is frustrating for a review, I know). It’s similar to freshly cut grass, but that doesn’t completely capture it. It’s refreshingly earthy (that’s the cedarwood, I think) and just slightly floral. I can’t specifically pick out the jasmine, but it makes sense to me to see it listed as one of the notes.
Mandarin Matcha was the lightest scent of the three candles that I tried – it’s not going to overpower a room but despite being more subtle, it’s still very memorable. This is the type of candle that I would burn before having people over – something interesting enough to be commented on, but not so strong as to offend people who are sensitive to smells.
This is a great spring/summer candle. It’s the one I’ve burned the most of so far and I already know that I’m going to want to re-purchase it when I’m done.
Santal Rose Review
Top Notes: Black pepper, Saffron
Heart/Middle Notes: Rose, White Amber
Base Notes: Patchouli, Leather
To be honest, I’ve never been a huge fan of rose candles, but the rose note in this candle doesn’t seem very dominant to me at all. It’s not your conventional floral candle. In fact, if you’re looking for a truly floral rose candle, I would actually not recommend this one because it’s got a more masculine, musky vibe to it. I think that’s the patchouli and leather notes coming through. This was the candle my husband liked the most so I think it will probably live on his desk.
I get excited when I see a black pepper note in a candle and I do really like it in this one. That said, I think that the spicy, pepper-y element combined with the patchouli and leather makes this scent a little heavy for my taste. I liked this candle, but did not love it. In contrast to the lightness of the mandarin matcha candle, this santal rose candle felt sharper and more dense. As I said, I didn’t really pick up on much of a rose note or a white amber note. The pepper, patchouli, and leather seem more dominant to me and I think that this is the type of scent that I would prefer to burn in the fall.
Because it packs such a punch, I used this candle under my candle warmer lamp. By using the dimmest setting, I was able to kind of “turn down the volume” on the scent to really enjoy it. It’s also the kind of candle that I would never use in a small space because it would be too overpowering. While I wouldn’t typically go for a scent like this, it is a challenge to find candles that my husband likes so I am happy to have this in my collection.
Champs de Tuberose Review
Top Notes: Ylang
Heart/Middle Notes: Tuberose, Toasted Coconut
Base Notes: Fresh Orange Blossom
This candle screams spring to me. I don’t actually buy a lot of floral candles, but this is a floral that I can appreciate because it doesn’t fall into the trap that so many others do. It does not smell like perfume. The floral notes have a much more authentic feel – like I’m putting my nose in an actual bouquet of flowers.
Gardenia wasn’t listed as one of the notes, but that’s what I’m getting the most of from this candle. When I looked at the La Jolie Muse website and found a longer description of the candle, it made more sense to me: “A lush and alluring fragrance that opens with the delicate allure of Bergamot, Jasmine Petals, Gardenia, and Ylang, leading into a heart of creamy Tuberose and Toasted Coconut, while resting on a warm base of Musk and Fresh Orange Blossom.”
My mother currently has a gardenia bush growing in her backyard and this candle makes me feel like I’m standing right next to it. I already know that I’m going to give this one to her for Mother’s Day. She is a master gardener and I know that she will appreciate this beautiful combination of florals.
Final Thoughts on La Jolie Muse Amelie Collection
If you’re looking for a traditional floral candle, try the Champs de Tuberose. For something a little warmer and more masculine, go for the Santal Rose. If you prefer something light and green, try the Mandarin Matcha.
If I had to rank the 3 candles – Mandarin Matcha was my absolute favorite. Champs de Tuberose came in second. Santal Rose was third. They’re all solid candles, but Mandarin Matcha is the one that I will go back and purchase again after I burn through it. I was also very surprised that my husband liked all 3 candles. His rankings were: 1 Santal Rose, 2 Mandarin Matcha, and 3 Champs de Tuberose.
There are several more candles in the Amélie line and at some point, I’m going to have to try the Watermelon Mint Zest. I’ve been on a quest to try as many tomato candles as possible (more on that, later) so I will also have to try the Tomato & Vine candle.
If you decide to try out La Jolie Muse, leave me a comment and let me know what you think!
