If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best NEST candle for a newbie is, then we recommend Grapefruit as the best one.
For months I’ve been crossing paths with NEST candles; popping up on my news feed and even having a couple of friends recommending several scents. But since I wasn’t one to easily experiment, I was a bit hesitant to try them out. All that changed when I got my first set of NEST candles as a gift – are they really as good as everyone says?
NEST candles are, without doubt, premium-quality candles with amazing scents that last for hours upon hours. They come in a wide range of fragrances to suit every mood, so you’re guaranteed to find something that you like. Topped off with elegant packaging and surprisingly reasonable prices, NEST candles prove to be one of the best candle brands on the market.
My initial experience with NEST candles left me wondering why I waited so long to join the club. Upon digging deeper, I came to appreciate the company’s extensive selection of scents and different size options. I also found out they’re 100% cruelty-free and use non-toxic ingredients to make their magic happen.
Everything about NEST candles screams modern-day luxury without breaking the bank. Keep reading to find out more about the brands and whether their candles match what you need for a relaxing weekend.
All About the Company
NEST candles are manufactured under the brand NEST Fragrances founded by Laura Slatkin.
Story
As a pioneer and recognized force in the home fragrance industry since the launch of Slatkin & Co. In 1992 (the first American luxury home fragrance brand), Laura’s reputation needs no introduction.
Not only did she create her own labels, but she has also created home fragrance collections for more than 100 luxury brands.
Laura launched NEST fragrances in 2008 as a collection of home scents developed for consumers with a true passion for home fragrance.
The launch was a tremendous success and it was followed by another launch in 2013 with NEST Fine Fragrances, a collection of perfumes that caused a shift in the fine fragrance market towards artisanal brands as they offer customers authenticity, uniqueness, and creativity.
Finally, in 2019 Laura expanded the brand to include fragranced body care with a scented collection of very effective formulas to both cleanse and nourish the skin.
NEST New York prides itself as being a place where ‘mood is elevated and the scent is celebrated’. It strives to offer products that transform your every day through scents that captivate the senses. One thing you can notice in all its fragrances is how they skillfully blend the familiar, the exotic, and the unexpected to give you a true one-of-a-kind experience.
NEST New York is also a 10% cruelty-free brand, so you can rest assured that the production of its candles and all other goodies involve no animal testing of any kind.
Additionally, NEST New York is a member of the NCA (National Candle Association).
NEST New York products are sold primarily in North America through major department stores, specialty beauty stores, boutiques, and spas. You can also buy their products online through Amazon or their own website.
Now that you learned all about the brand’s history, founder, and work ethics, it’s time we explore the NEST New York scented candles product line.
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Scented Candles Composition
These beautifully fragranced candles are artfully crafted with an exclusive premium wax developed to burn cleanly and evenly.
The list of ingredients in NEST scented candle wax is a proprietary trade secret, which means the company doesn’t publicly disclose its formula.
It does, however, share some valuable information regarding the following aspects:
- Wax: NEST primarily uses a food-grade paraffin wax base in all of its scented candles. Depending on the specific scent being created, they’ll occasionally mix in other commonly known FDA-approved ingredients to optimize burn and fragrance diffusion.
NEST’s scented candle wax formulas have been developed and refined over decades by the industry’s leading chemists and master perfumers in order to hold and disperse a high content of fine fragrance oil and ensure that each and every candle burns cleanly and evenly when used and maintained properly.
You’d also be pleased to know that paraffin wax is non-toxic, just like all candle waxes are. Moreover, paraffin is approved by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) for use in food, cosmetics, and medical applications.
- Fragrance: the main question here is whether the fragrance oils incorporated in NEST candles contain natural ingredients (such as essential oils) or synthetic materials.
While many fragrances incorporate the use of some natural ingredients, there are many more synthetic materials available on a perfumer’s palette. These materials allow the perfumer more creative freedom to develop a unique and memorable scent.
Synthetic fragrances are much stronger, longer-lasting, and more complex than all-natural fragrances, yet they’re just as safe to use.
Synthetic fragrances are also easier to manufacture on a large scale because their components are much more consistent and stable when produced, whereas natural ingredients can yield unpredictable results like anything in nature would.
- Wicks: NEXT Fragrances uses all-natural cotton wicks, cotton wicks that have a paper core (or center), as well as wicks that are a combination of cotton and paper woven together. The brand doesn’t use metal wicks or any type of metal in the make-up of its wicks, so they don’t contain lead.
- Candle Soot: one thing that many people often worry about when using candles is the soot produced and whether or not it’s harmful. I’m glad to report that NEST candles produce a very tiny amount of soot that’s not dangerous at all.
The soot formed by a candle is the natural byproduct of incomplete combustion. Candle soot is composed mainly of elemental carbon particles and is similar to the soot given off by kitchen toasters and cooking oils.
Such everyday household sources of soot aren’t considered a health concern. Candle soot is chemically different from the soot formed by the burning of diesel fuel, coal, or gasoline.
Read more: Diptyque vs NEST Candles: What Is the Difference
NEST’s Instructions for Using the Scented Candles
- Trim the wicks down to a one-quarter inch each time before burning. Long or crooked wicks can cause uneven burning, high flames, smoking, or soot.
Use a sharp wick trimmer or scissors to trim wicks. Otherwise, a dull tool will split the wick’s threads, causing it to “mushroom” excessively.
Be careful to not trim wicks too close to the surface of the candle wax or you’ll cause irreparable damage to the wick and it’ll likely not burn properly again.
- Center and straighten wicks after blowing out your candle. A wick that has migrated to the edge of the candle glass will cause the candle to tunnel and may cause the glass to crack/break if it burns near or against the wall of the candle.
Use a pair of tweezers or a candle wick snuffer to carefully and gently straighten and guide the wick back to the candle’s center while the wax is still melted.
- Burn candles in a well-ventilated room.
- Keep the wax pool clear of wick trimmings, matches, and debris at all times.
- Keep burning candles away from drafts, vents, fans, or air currents. This will help prevent rapid or uneven burning, smoking, or sooting.
- Before re-lighting a candle, let the candle cool completely (a candle generally takes approximately two hours to cool). Trim the wick and check for unwanted drafts.
- Burn candles for 3-4 hours at a time. Smaller Votive Candles should only be burned for 2 hours at a time.
Burning for shorter periods of time can cause the candle to “tunnel burn”, leaving excessive wax remaining on the inside walls of the candle vessel.
Burning for longer periods of time than recommended can create soot on the glass or cause the glass to become extremely hot, posing a fire hazard.
- Burn candles in an ambient room temperature of 65-75°F. Colder or warmer environments will significantly affect the candle’s burn performance.
- When burning multiple candles, place them at least eight inches apart. This ensures that the candles do not affect each other’s burn performance with the heat they generate.
- If a candle is burning unevenly and the wick is centered, it’s in a draft. Rotate the candle 90 degrees periodically to keep it burning uniformly, or move it to another location.
Top NEST Candle Fragrances
Bamboo
One of the all-time best-selling scents, Bamboo candle features an iconic blend of white florals and lush green accords with notes of sparkling citrus. This candle will fill your surroundings with a refreshing, slightly sweet fragrance that’ll leave your home smelling like a spa.
It’s rejuvenating, calming, and the flowery scent isn’t too overwhelming.
Grapefruit
NEST Grapefruit scented candle is another one of the brand’s best-sellers. It’s also one of NEST’s founder Laura Slatkin’s top three favorite scents, which speaks highly of this beautiful blend.
Grapefruit does a perfect job nailing ‘pink grapefruit’. It includes hints of pink pomelo grapefruit and notes of watery green mixed with lily of the valley and coriander blossom. As a fresh scent, this can be great for a bathroom or a kitchen.
Hearth
If you’re looking for a stronger and deeper scent, then you should seriously consider Hearth.
Giving off sophisticated vibes, this candle burns to offer the aroma of a wintertime fire thanks to the combination of rich oud wood with frankincense and notes of smoky ember.
The woodsy and tad spicy candle can work wonders for a den or a living room. It’s almost sexy, so a bedroom setting would also be a good idea.
Moroccan Amber
If you always go for ‘vanilla’ scented candles, then it’s probably time for a change-up. One of the best fragrances to get you started and add a bit more ‘flavor’ to your house is NEST’s, Moroccan Amber.
This unique blend creates an exotic atmosphere courtesy of Moroccan amber, sweet patchouli, heliotrope, and bergamot with a hint of eucalyptus to accent the aroma.
Cedar Leaf & Lavender
You don’t have to think twice about lighting up a Cedar Leaf & Lavender candle when some relaxation is due. This scent is perfect for taking a long bath after a hectic week at work or simply when you feel like pampering.
It features a herbaceous blend of lavender, rosemary, and sage accented with cedar leaves, creating a soothing spa-like atmosphere right at home.
Rose Noir & Oud
For nights when you feel like setting a romantic or a bit playful mood, Rose Noir & Oud can be the perfect candle for the job.
This irresistible fragrance features Rose de Mai and smoky oud blended with hints of incense, black leather, and patchouli to create a sultry aroma that’s a great choice for date night.
Ocean Mist & Sea Salt
Ever get the urge to go to the beach but then remember it’s mid-winter and you’d probably freeze if you set foot on that sand? Well, how about a candle to take you there?
Offering you the refreshing essence of a gentle ocean, the Ocean Mist & Sea Salt scented candle features hints of sea salt, white tea, and coconut so you can escape to the seaside at a burn of a wick.
Apricot Tea
Another amazing option for a relaxing night in is Apricot tea. This candle gives you the silky smooth essence of English apricot blended with the richness of black tea leaves, bergamot, and warm golden amber. People seem to enjoy this fragrance particularly with a good book and a hot beverage.
Customer Opinions
Now that you have an idea about the top NEST scented candles, here’s a summary of the experiences that other customers had with NEST Fragrances candles.
Longevity
This is the most raved about aspects of NEST candles, and rightfully so. Customers left and right isn’t only praising how the scent stays for a long time even after you put out the flame, but they’re also very impressed with how long it can take them to burn through an entire candle.
Packaging
Elegant, chic, modern, and stylish are words that you can frequently see in customers’ reviews when it comes to packaging.
The boxes are smartly designed with vibrant colors, while the glass of the candle features sleek stripe etching that complements any decor. Customers also say that the packaging makes these candles a great gift.
Value for Money
Most customers feel like they’re totally getting their money’s worth since the candles are slow-burning and last for a long time. However, some wish they were a bit cheaper so they can buy more.
Final Thoughts
There you have it, everything you need to know about NEST scented candles.
My personal recommendations go as follows:
- Best for Living: Bamboo
- Best for Bathroom: Grapefruit
- Best for Men: Hearth
- Best for Date Night: Rose Noir & Oud
- Best for Reading: Apricot Tea
However, these are just suggestions. NEST Fragrances offers a lot of choices when it comes to scented candles, so you can easily find ones that suit your needs the most.
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