Spring Candle Review: Cire Trudon, Reggio (Scented Cameo)

The latest spring edition of The Hairpin’s popular candle column.

“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” Steve Jobs said that, according to BrainyQuotes.com (search term “innovation”), and I do believe it’s true. Would you like me to prove it to you? OK. Here’s how I’ll prove it to you. I am a leader —

— and an innovator.

See?

Expensive candle company Cire Trudon recently sent me three “scented cameos,” which are little carved candle wax, uh, cameos, which are made to be used with this thing that I do not have:

A whole thing, just for this? I don’t think so. We already figured out how to melt candle wax and it’s called: a candle. But that’s OK. As you know, I’m an innovator. I figured out another way to burn the cameo.

How did I burn the cameo? Well, you’ll just have to read on to find out. You’ll just have to read on until right now:

I put it in a pot on the stove.

Incredible. It worked, and now I’ve proven correct the Steve Jobs quote about which you were so skeptical earlier. I accept your apology. (I am the bigger person.) Here is how this scent, “Reggio,” is described by the Cire Trudon website:

Brought back from Indochina in 1828, the mandarin-tree has since prospered on the occidental banks of the Mediterranean Sea. Facing the Messina Strait, it sculpts the Calabrian landscape without a touch of bitterness. The mandarin’s softness hints back to ancient times when its essential oils composed an elegant, odorant grammar.

Hmm. That doesn’t tell us too much about this scent literally at all, but that damn mandarin tree sounds good as fuck!!!!!!!!!

— But is the scented cameo good as fuck? Let’s see.

DOES IT HAVE A GOOD SMELL?

It does. Here is its “fragrance pyramid,” as it is described on the Cire Trudon website:

Head Notes: Grapefruit.
Heart Notes: Mandarin essential oil.
Base Notes: Mimosa.

It smells bright and fresh and clean and maybe a little too sweet for my taste, and maybe a little too perfume-y, but interesting. It doesn’t smell like any of those notes particularly, but you can tell that it smells somewhat fruit-like. Like a juicy flower at the laundromat. (Am I doing a good job reviewing candles?) It’s a nice smell to have around, mostly in your kitchen at the moment because of how you melted it in a pot.

IS IT A SPRING CANDLE?

Yes. I have the windows open and the smell is wafting through the apartment with the breeze and the sun and it’s nice. What a pleasant afternoon. I love nice scents, they really elevate the moment.

I love nice scents, they really elevate the moment.

— Kelly Conaboy

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

You can get four scented cameos for $40 or I think sometimes they’ll just give you one as a sample if you buy a candle in the store, but you didn’t hear that from me.

ARE FOUR CAMEOS WORTH $40?

Well, no, because then you also have to buy the thing (which costs $275!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) to melt them in. In my opinion, just buy a candle. Candles already exist. The need for scented cameos…you know, I hate to be rude, but I just don’t see it. I know we all want to be innovators but that’s only me and Steve Jobs.

WHAT IS THE BURN TIME?

One cameo burns for eight hours, allegedly.

DID YOU RUIN YOUR POT?

Maybe, but I don’t think so. I poured the wax into a cup right after it melted in the pot, and then I cleaned out the pot. I think it’s OK.

DID YOU RUIN THAT CUP?

Yes I think so.

AND NOW WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH THE HARD WAX IN THE CUP?

I hadn’t really thought about it.

DOES THE CAMEO LOOK NICE?

Yes. A little wax cameo. A little carved wax face. Tiny little thing in a little slide-y box. Hold it in your hand. Feel the face with your thumb. Like a little soap. I love it.

IS IT HEAVY?

No, it is very light. Very tiny and light. Tiny little face. Like a little soap.

WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS CAMEO TO A FRIEND?

My candle friend Leah has either one or multiple cameos from Cire Trudon that she puts into her clothing drawers (or maybe it was just her sweater drawer) so her clothing (or maybe just sweaters) has (have) a nice scent. That’s a good idea. I’d recommend that to her, but she’s already doing it.

SCORE:

• Six checks
• Four non-checks
• One our secret
• One dunce cap

Pretty good!

Previous candle reviews:

• Miley Cyrus’s Mom’s Candles
• Kerzon, Tuileries Palais-Royal
• goop, edition 02 — shiso
• Seda France, Japanese Quince
• L’Objet, Eau D’Égée Candle №3
• Ellis, Verb
• Empty 2.4 oz Diptyque, Tubéreuse
• Jo Loves, Christmas Trees
• Surf’s Up Candle, Surf Wax
• Keap, Wood Cabin
• NOTE Frangrances, Scranton in the Fall
• Common Good, Lavender and Bergamot
• Ombres Portées, Avenue Saint-Jean