These Candles Have Fun, Customizable Scents Perfect For Gifting

Once you get through the packaging, the candle itself is a lot more simple. Set in a standard glass jar with a black and white label, it’s not a piece that doubles as decor per se—unlike more design-forward brands like Boy Smells and Otherland.

The magic instead comes once the candle is lit. Mine stayed true to its marketed aroma: fresh wafts of jasmine and linen quickly permeated my stale new-apartment air. And at the end of my first burn—the wick flickering as I did a couple of hours of work—the wax barely seemed to have diminished. Boasting a 60 to 80-hour burn time, it’s safe to say the candle is long-lasting. I used it during several lengthy work sessions over the span of a month, and it was only toward the end that the wax finally started reaching the bottom of the jar.

Get This If You Are Looking For A Unique Gift

Homesick candles strike the right balance when it comes to scent. The aroma is potent and lingers for hours without being overbearing. I checked out a local gift shop to sniff out some more options and noticed that the scents stay true to their intention: a “Let’s Toast” candle smells like a bottle of bubbly and the warm sweetness of buttercream frosting comes through in the “Birthday Party” candle. There are also so many specific ones—like college town themes, horoscopes, and all 50 states—that you can customize specifically to someone’s taste. 

This is perhaps where Homesick’s greatest strength lies. With all the unique, specific scents, there is something that works for any person or occasion in your life.

Is It Worth The Money?

At around $38 a pop, Homesick straddles the line between an accessible and luxury candle. However, the long burn time does mean you get more bang for your buck. One thing to note is that you may need to invest in proper candle-care tools on top of the candle itself.

Point in case? My normal candle lighter, which is long and thin, stopped working in the middle of testing. So, I had to resort to regular lighters I had on hand—the shorter types you get at the register of a gas station or drugstore. Normally, these work fine to set a flame for my other, less bulky candles. But the Homesick candles have a slim cylindrical shape that tapers to an even slimmer opening at the top. This made it hard to light once the wax dwindled to the bottom third of the jar. I even tried lighting it with matchsticks—since they are sold on the Homesick site—and was still unable to reach the wick. 

Along with lighting, it was also difficult to trim the wick. I tend to trim with a regular pair of scissors, and I’ve had to contort my hands in awkward ways to make sure I have a clean and safe candle. Specific tools, like the brand’s wick trimmer and a utility lighter, will thus leave you better equipped for an easeful burning experience—and with less cramped palms. 

Overall, Homesick's unique and fun scents are certainly worth it when it comes to gifting candles. If you’re looking for one to gift yourself, though, it’s a coin toss. It could be fun to try out a special Homesick one—but you probably won’t miss it if you retreat back to other, more well-designed brands that you already know and love.

Price at time of publish: $38