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Review of Luminary Candles from Ablaze Candles
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by Andrea, added 8/23/11
Company:
Ablaze Candles
Type:
Luminary Candles
Scents: Unscented |
 Introduction to my review of unique Luminary candles from Ablaze Candles:
Whew! It's been entirely TOO long since I've posted a candle review. It's amazing how life can change and move in the blink of an eye. And let me tell you, my scent loving friends...life has been doing just that for me! But one thing never changes around here. My love of candles. ALL kinds of candles – which is exactly why I was so excited to review this particular company.
Ablaze Candles are in a word: beautiful. This company has taken the idea of a luminary to the nth degree. The initial visit to the website can seem a bit overwhelming. There is just so much to view and discover. But trust me – it's worth the time and effort. There is something for just about everyone here.
From the website links on the left, you can click to view all the candles available. Unless you enjoy the head spinning feeling, I'd advise against that. Much more manageable are the categories for the different types of luminaries. This is ideal if you are searching for that perfect gift. Have a sports fan? Choose the Sports Candles category. A housewarming gift for your coastal friends? Check out  the Seashell Candles. The list is pretty extensive. If this still appears too much, head on down to look at what the bestsellers are. There the top five are listed so you can choose from what's the most popular at the moment.
Once you have decided on a category, the various shapes available within will be displayed. Ablaze has beautiful pictures of each type of candle for a quick overview. You can then click on individual candles to get a very detailed description. You'll be able to view the candle in both its lit and unlit state – a very cool feature, if you ask me. There is a brief description of the candle along with exact dimensions and weight. Ablaze has taken a lot of time organizing their website and it shows. It makes the shopping experience very enjoyable.
Because of the sheer magnitude of candles available, I really was unable to decide on what to choose. The owner was kind enough to surprise me and surprise me he did! I was sent a broad selection of candles to test from small to large. Since the candles are not scented and the candles all work similarly, this will be a different kind of review for me. I will speak about the candles overall and then some of the finer points of the different shapes.
Ablaze creates their own molds for these beautiful candles. This fact alone lets you know you are dealing with very unique works of art. The candles I received were just that – works of art. They were packaged well and arrived without a single blemish. The sheer weight of even the smallest one astounded me. These are quality pieces that should last a lifetime! Included with each candle is a business card with the name of the individual who created the candle just for you. What a personal touch!
 The candle shells are made from a very hard wax that has a smooth feel to it. The outside of each candle shell was sculpted with amazing amount of texture and detailing. The inside of each shell was smooth like glass (or polished marble, as mentioned on the website). In the center of each candle there was a small, clear disc that is protective in nature. This is where the glass votive cup sits – so that neither the votive or the cup will be directly sitting on the bottom of the wax shell. This disc is firmly planted and about 1/3” thick – so there are no worries about heat transference to your beautiful sculpture.
Included with each candle is a clear crystal votive cup. Nothing fancy but it is nice that it is included. It is a standard votive cup that should last for a long time. A votive candle is also included with each luminary. Again, nothing fancy – it's white and non-scented – but I liked the fact that these were included. Everything to get you started enjoying these candles right away!
The candles also come with a simple set of instructions for use and care. I cleared out all items from inside my candles, set the votive cups directly on the protective discs, placed the votives inside the cups, lit them and let the magic begin. Instant beauty! The candles are beautiful enough without the light, but add the touch of fire and it's simply... amazing. The sculpted wax design appears to come to life. There is a soft, warm glow on the outside that highlights the details of the design quite nicely. Once the included votive was completely gone (about 15 hours worth of burn for each votive), I began replacing with votives of my own. Scented votives add another special touch – mixing beauty and scent together. I also  used tealights at times (placing the tealight directly into the votive cup holder).
As mentioned on the website, these candles will last a lifetime. The outer wax shell is designed so that it will not melt unless direct heat is applied to it. They are easy to clean by using a soft cloth or paper towel and warm, soapy water. I would not submerse these into water but they can be cleaned in the kitchen sink. I viewed many different designs on the website, and they all indicated that these luminaries can go into the dishwasher at the right temperature. I would be too afraid to place these in the dishwasher and I never could find specific information about the correct temperature to do so. Handwashing was not difficult at all, so that's what I will continue to do. These beauties can be used indoors or out. I only used mine indoors but have plans to try them outdoors soon.
One of the specific designs I received was the Soaring Angels Candle (pictured above left). Two angels with wings spread around to overlap with each other. The amount of detail in this candle is stunning. When lit, the detail in the angels' faces truly show. This was a medium sized candle in comparison to the others I received. The smallest candle received was the Conch Shell Candle (pictured directly above). This candle looked exactly like a conch shell and would make a perfect beach-themed gift. This entire candle had an even deeper glow with it being more compact and closer to the table surface. The Swirl Urn Candle I received was very large (pictured very top). It had a simple, yet beautiful design with swirled lines all around. This candle illustrated to me that you really should take care to look at the dimensions listed on the website to make sure the candle fits the area you have in mind for it.
I am very pleased with my introduction to Ablaze Candles. I find the luminaries unique, beautiful and functional. I would definitely go back to make another purchase – most likely for a gift. They have a wide range of candles available that should fit all sorts of budgets. I urge you to give them a try yourself. You will not be disappointed!
Happy candle shopping!
~ Andrea
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