Homesick Candles Review: Worth the Hype?
About Homesick Candles
Homesick is a home fragrance company with a unique premise – creating candle scents inspired by treasured memories of people, places and moments. Founded in 2016 by two entrepreneurs, Homesick set out to capture nostalgia in a jar through expertly crafted candles.
The brand has seen tremendous growth since then. Today, Homesick offers close to 200 signature fragrances across candles, car air fresheners, reed diffusers and more. The collection includes scents representing every U.S. state, top global destinations, occasions like Christmas and Halloween, college towns, childhood places like grandma‘s kitchen, and so much more.
"Homesick is a home fragrance and lifestyle brand with one simple goal: to bring joy to your home by helping you feel closer to the people, places, and moments that matter most."
The company has been featured widely in top media outlets for its innovative approach to home fragrance. Homesick also stands out for its commitment to quality – the candles are hand-poured in the U.S. from a custom soy wax blend, with 100% cotton wicks and phthalate-free, non toxic fragrances.
This detailed Homesick candles review will cover everything you need to know about the brand and their products to determine if they are worth a try. We‘ll take an in-depth look at their candle collection, top sellers, what customers love about them, where you can buy them, promos and more.
Overview of Homesick Candles:
Pros
- 200+ signature scents designed to bring you back to a memory
- Handmade in the U.S. from high quality ingredients
- Beautiful, giftable packaging with each state/city map
- Option to add a personalized message
- Cruelty-free, non toxic
- Long burn time of 60 – 80 hours
Cons
- More expensive than average candles
- Scents don‘t work for some noses
- Limited international shipping
A Nostalgic Approach to Home Fragrance
Unlike most candle companies that focus on home decor or ambiance, Homesick is all about tapping into memories. They‘ve designed each signature scent to capture the essence of a cherished place, activity, loved one and more.
Some examples from their unique fragrance collections:
States: Transport back home with your state‘s iconic landscape distilled into a candle. Scents like California blend vibrant citrus with florals and woods. While New England captures fall in the northeast with notes of apple, pine needles and maple.
Cities: Big cities get their own dedicated scents celebrating their energy and character. The Seattle candle bottles that city‘s crisp air with hints of pine and sea spray.
Occasions: Recreate the coziness of game nights, the warmth of Grandma‘s kitchen, the thrill of adventure and more. The Book Club candle mixes rich nutmeg, amber and sandalwood notes perfect for cozying up with a novel.
People: Show mom how much she means to you with the Thank You Mom candle designed with bright bergamot, soothing lavender and white floral notes.
Places: From the tropical breeze of a Beach Cottage to the quiet woods of Campsite, go back to favorite vacation memories.
Homesick goes to great lengths to encapsulate entire experiences into jars – speaking to over 100 locals in each place to nail down the notes and visiting locations to collect samples. The result is a collection of candles that smell familiar even on first whiff and whisk you away as the wax melts.
Homesick Candle Scents & Bestsellers
Let‘s look at some of Homesick‘s top selling candle scents and what customers love about them:
Southern California Candle
The bright, beachy scent of Southern California is a bestseller. Sunny citrus notes of orange and lemon mixed with jasmine and vanilla capture the essence of the laidback SoCal lifestyle. Reviewers say it‘s "crisp and refreshing" and makes them feel like they‘re "on the coast ready for adventure."
New York City Candle
The NYC candle mixes breezy citrus with green notes capturing central park and woody base notes inspired by the city streets. Customer reviews rave how it "transports you right to the big city" with scents so realistic you can "close your eyes and feel like you‘re there."
Hawaii Candle
Another top seller is the Hawaii candle with juicy tropical fruits and sweet florals. Reviews describe it as "summer in a jar" and as good as "an actual Hawaiian getaway." The spot on pineapple and coconut notes set the mind right to island mode.
Book Club Candle
For book lovers, the Book Club candle bottled up cozy evenings in with nutmeg, cinnamon, balsam fir and sandalwood notes. Customers say it‘s "warm, inviting, absolutely perfect for reading." An affordable way to make any night feel special.
Thank You Mom Candle
Show mom some love with this bright floral candle with hints of lavender, ylang ylang and lily. Reviewers gift it to thank their moms for everything she does. The soothing scent helps them feel calm and connected.
Beach Cottage Candle
Beach vacations live forever in this summery candle mixing aquatic and floral notes like tonka bean blossom and sea air. Reviews say it "transports you to the serenity of the water" and is perfect for "reminiscing about our yearly family beach trips."
This is just a small sampling of Homesick‘s extensive nostalgic fragrance collection. They have signatures scents for just about any cherished memory from Pumpkin Picking to Dad‘s Homecooked Meals. Browse the full catalogue of soy wax candles on their site to find your perfect match.
Tip: Not sure which scent to pick? Read the fragrance descriptions closely and look for notes resembling your happy place. Citrus and green fragrances tend to have universal appeal.
Quality & Consumer Reviews
How do Homesick candles actually perform? Are the signature scents as reminiscent as promised? Here is what buyers have to say:
The average rating on Homesick’s website is 4.8 out of 5 stars reflecting highly satisfied customers. Positive reviews highlight the true-to-life familiar scents, excellent burn quality with minimal soot and long 60+ hour burn times.
90% of customer reviews on the site are 5 stars praising Homesick for delivering on their nostalgic promise.
Homesick also has a strong 4.5 out of 5 average rating on Amazon across their bestselling candles.
The NYC candle has 451 reviews on Amazon with an impressive 4.5 stars. Positive feedback calls it the "best NYC candle ever", saying "it smells JUST like I‘m in the city."
The California candle has 944 Amazon reviews and 4.3 stars. Fans say it "fills the room with memories of the Santa Monica pier" and has an "incredibly accurate" west coast scent.
Negative reviews are very few but mention issues like scents not being strong or long lasting enough. This can come down to personal scent preferences.
The verdict: Thousands of satisfied customers give Homesick top marks for scent authenticity and transportive ability. Their candles genuinely capture treasured memories you can smell and feel.
Candle Making Process
What goes into Homesick‘s memory capturing candle making process?
Natural, High Quality Ingredients
They hand pour each candle in the U.S. from a custom soy wax blend without any phthalates, plastics or synthetic dyes. The scent oils are also phthalate-free.
The soy wax lasts longer than paraffin alternatives while being environmentally friendly. Each wick is made from 100% organic USA grown cotton for a clean even burn.
Fragrance Design
Finding the perfect nostalgic fragrance starts with deep local knowledge. Homesick‘s team engages over 100 residents whenever they design a new state or city candle. Surveys capture the natural scents, popular local foods, cultural events and more.
They collect actual scent samples on location like pine cones, fruit peels and foliage. Evaluating all this input combined with visiting locations allows them to design layered scents authentic to each place.
Testing & Production
Each scent goes through rounds of testing among different noses before production. Once perfected, the artisan candle makers hand pour the soy wax blend with wicks into premium glass vessels. The elegant packaging features each location‘s map making them perfect for gifting.
This thoughtful process allows Homesick to encapsulate entire experiences into scents you won’t find anywhere else.
Where To Buy Homesick Candles
You can shop the complete Homesick collection on their website Homesick.com with prices ranging from $29 – $38 per candle.
The candles are also available at popular retailers like Nordstrom, Kroger, Barnes & Noble, and specialty boutiques across the U.S.
Select signature scents are sold on sites like Amazon and Walmart.com often at discounted prices. We spotted the Florida candle for just $27.99 on Walmart vs. $34 direct.
While the brand doesn‘t currently ship overseas, you can find Homesick candles in some parts of Canada like London Drugs and Indigo.
Those in the UK can shop a limited collection of the US City candles on AmericanFizz.co.uk with pricing around £20 per jar.
Promotions & Discounts
While Homesick candles are worth the splurge, you can often save money through seasonal sales events, bundle offers and promo codes.
Here are some current deals:
- 15% off sitewide
- Gift Sets starting at 3 candles for $75 (25% off)
- Free shipping on orders over $59
The brand also runs monthly promos like 20% off all Reed Diffusers or $10 off College Town candles.
Sign up for the Homesick email list to get notified of the latest candle sales, new launches and more exclusive offers. Or check Groupon for Homesick promo codes which can save you an extra 15-20% off.
How To Make Homesick Candles Last
Once you invest in your nostalgic Homesick candles, follow these handy tips to make the most of each jar and keep your wallet happy!
Mind the wick: Trim wick to 1⁄4 inch before lighting to prevent smoking and uneven burning. This helps the wax pool evenly as well.
Go low and slow: Burn candles for just a few hours at a time, keeping them away from drafts. This slower burn helps the scent last longer.
Use a candle warmer: Place an unlit candle on a warmer instead to simply melt and release the fragrance vs burning. This can make the candle last over a month.
Freeze it: Place used candles in the freezer overnight then pop out leftover wax to use containers for storage. The cold temps release lingering scent to enjoy.
Following these best practices can stretch 60 hours of burn time to over 90 hours per candle making Homesick‘s nostalgic scents well worth the investment.
Reasons To Buy Homesick Candles
After taking an indepth look at Homesick candles from quality to price here‘s why they make great gifts, décor accents and aroma boosters for any home:
Transportive Nostalgic Scents – Expertly designed fragrances instantly tap memories of places close to your heart
Quality Candle Construction – Hand poured domestically from custom soy wax blends for clean even burns
Beautiful Packaging – Map artwork of each state and city make them easy to gift for any occasion
Option to Personalize – Add recipient names or messages for a bespoke feel
Uplifting Mental Health Benefits – Release mood boosting serotonin and relieve stress through recalling happy memories
Safe Ingredients – Non toxic blends use organic cotton wicks and phthalate-free fragrances
Strong Value – Long burn times of 60+ hours deliver month of enjoyment from each candle
While more of an investment than typical drugstore candles, Homesick delivers an unparalleled nostalgic experience with familiar high quality scents designed to feel like a warm hug. They channel simpler times and special places making any room in your home happier.
Homesick Candle Alternatives
While Homesick cornered the memory evoking candle category they aren’t the only player. Here are some alternative brands selling location inspired candle scents:
Frostbeard Studio – This independent company has an extensive collection of bookish candles. Popular jars capture the magic of fictional realms like Hogwarts and Middle Earth.
Village Candle – Find candles devoted to iconic cities around the world from Paris to Vienna. Airy European inspired fragrances.
Homesick sticks out from these competitors for the breadth of their nostalgic collection – covering U.S. states, global destinations, college towns, life milestones and more. Plus their exceptional quality and captivating scents remain unmatched.
If you want to give off-the-beaten path candles tied to more unique memories and moments, Homesick is very tough to beat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who started Homesick?
Childhood friends Nate Schmiedehaus and Ben Kaufman founded Homesick in 2016 inspired by their own homesickness for family and cherished places.
What types of wax do they use?
A custom soy wax blend makes the candle core. Soy wax burns cleaner than paraffin alternatives while being more environmentally friendly.
How long does shipping take?
Standard shipping is 2 to 10 business days within the domestic U.S. International shipping averages 1 to 3 weeks.
What‘s the return policy?
Unlit candles can be returned within 30 days of purchase if still in original condition. You‘ll get a full refund minus any shipping fees.
What‘s the average burn time?
60 to 80 hours per 13.5oz large classic jar. Burn times vary based on wick length and other factors.
Can candles be personalized?
Yes, you can add custom engraved messages up to 130 characters long on most candles. A unique gift idea.
How many candle scents do they currently offer?
Homesick has around 200 signature scents available across their candles, reed diffusers, car air fresheners and more. New fragrances launch every season.
Final Verdict: Worth the Hype
Homesick delivers where no other candle company dares to go using the power of scent and memory to transport you to places and moments that felt like home.
Their unrivaled nose for quality fragrance design makes it easy to close your eyes, take a whiff and feel right back where your heart belongs.
While expensive compared to typical store bought candles, you certainly get what you pay for thanks to domestically sourced ingredients and hand pouring methods. Plus with proper care you can make each soy wax candle last over 3 months.
If you‘ve ever longed to bottle up nostalgic times or places to keep enjoying for years, Homesick‘s collection grants that ability. Find your scent, ignite the wick then let the smells soothe your soul.
Overall Rating: 4.8 out of 5
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