Illuminations is a pretty big name out there. They have stores in most major malls across the country and also an online store for those who prefer the convenience of shopping from home. I caught one of their big online sales last summer and as one who can't resist a sale, I was all over it!  I bought a bit of everything since I wasn't sure when I'd get this chance again.

I've already burned a few candles and since then, I'm really torn as to what I think of these candles in general. Some were "ok", some were good and some were pretty lousy!  That's a pretty wide range and let me tell ya, I personally think these candles are way overpriced for what you get. I honestly do. Sorry Illuminations but for $20 bucks a candle, they better knock my socks off. So far, not one I've tried has. I'm sure a lot of you reading this totally disagree with me and that's perfectly ok. I'm just telling you I personally feel there is better out there for your money.

How Did My Illuminations Candles Smell?

Dulce de Leche:

I've known this name since I was a child. My Grandma used to make a jelly roll cake and the jelly itself was Dulce de Leche. Oh man is it yummy and sweet as can be, it tastes like sugary sweet milky caramel. I remember eating gobs of it by the spoon when my Grandma would make it. When I saw this fragrance on Illuminations website, I snagged it right away. How could I resist smelling a childhood treat I remember so well? I couldn't. Here is the description on Illuminations website:

"A heavenly concoction. Sweet cream, silky caramel, pure cane sugar, and warm vanilla ensure total decadence in this satisfying fragrance."

Now I must say, this candle is pretty strong and so far, one of the strongest scents I've tried from Illuminations so far. I lit this candle in my bedroom and I started noticing the fragrance within minutes of lighting it.  When I got my first whiff, I was like, "hmmmm" this does smell just like Dulce de Leche, not bad". The next time I got a whiff, it was very sweet and strong. After about an hour, I couldn't take it anymore and had to put it out. The strength of this candle is very strong so the scent throw is above average. It was just too sweet and sugary for me. Now if you like sweet sugary smells, you would LOVE this scent! You would also like it if you like caramel scents too.

Just from the initial smell test, this candle smelled pretty good and definitely a fragrance that fits my taste. I've always liked lemongrass scents because they smell so vibrant and distinctive. I also think cilantro is unique and usually mixes well with other fragrances so the two thrown together sounded too good to pass up.

This really is a lovely scent and a great one to burn any time of the year, especially during spring and summer. You can't help but smell it and think of sunshine and the outdoors, at least that's how this fragrance affected me. The scent throw is nice and strong as my 16oz candle easily filled my large bedroom and open bathroom. It's a fresh energetic scent that can't help but perk you up and put you in a good mood. Here is the scent description from Illuminations website:

"Crisp stalks of lemongrass and herbaceous cilantro emerge in a cleansing scent experience. Enhanced with the citrus clarity of lime and grapefruit."

After reading that description, I now have another reason why I liked this scent so much, lime and grapefruit, two scents that are music to my nose. Citrus and lemongrass scented lovers will like this one, it's a winner.

Overall Opinion of Illuminations:

I plan on staying open minded with this company. I'm not saying I dislike them but they definitely aren't in my top 10.  If I catch another sale, I may purchase some again, we'll see.