Review: the «Limone di Sicilia» scented candle is lemony magic

To bring a Mediterranean feel to my Zurich apartment, I recently reviewed Paddywax’s island-inspired Santorini scented candle Although I liked the way it looked, it smelled more like autumn than summer. Returning to my search once again, I came across Jean & Len’s «Limone di Sicilia» candle. What could be more summery than an Italian island and the «dolce vita» lifestyle?

Sicily’s known for baroque cities such as Palermo, its volcano Mount Etna, beautiful beaches, arancini, cannoli and particularly good lemons. The handmade «Limone di Sicilia» scented candle aims to give off the scent of these fresh, natural citrus fruits. To see if it does so successfully, I’ll be ordering one to test at home.

First impressions

Unlike the Santorini, this candle’s beautifully packaged and could be given as a gift. I also like the fact that it has a lid in a matching colour. This serves as a mat while the candle’s burning, and protects it from dust when it’s not.

The fragrance

I was initially concerned that the lemony scent would be similar to my washing-up liquid. The opposite turns out to be the case; the candle exudes a sour note reminiscent of freshly sliced lemons. It makes me think of a limoncello spritz, the fizz tickling my face as I drink it. The warm colour of the wax coupled with bright daylight reminds me so strongly of the Mediterranean on a sunny day and peps me up so much that I light the candle in the morning. I especially like the fact that the zesty fragrance diffuses into neighbouring rooms.

Appearance and quality

The candle’s made from plant-based soy wax, making it an environmentally friendly choice. Taking about 50 hours to melt away, the wax burns off evenly (provided you always leave it burning until the entire wax surface is liquid). You should also trim the wick regularly to make sure the candle lasts as long as possible.

After the candle has gone out, a hint of citrusy fragrance lingers for a while – even with the lid on.

The Jean & Len candle’s glass holder could be reused, but I personally don’t like the way it looks. Apart from its name and delicate yellow colour, there’s no visual connection between the candle and Sicilian lemons. It would’ve been easy to incorporate lemon motifs into the design, as this Kare Design planter demonstrates.

Decorative bowls

CHF164.–

Kare Design Decorative Planter Lemon Juice 22cm

Decorative bowls

CHF164.–

Kare Design Decorative Planter Lemon Juice 22cm