Spring Candle Review: Kerzon, Tuileries Palais-Royal

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

What is friendship? It’s an interesting question. Hellen Keller once said, “I would rather walk with a friend in the dark than walk alone in the light.” The circumstances under which she said it are debated, as is whether or not the quote is wholly original to Helen Keller, but regardless, one thing that is obvious about the quote is that it does nothing to answer our original question (“What is friendship?”). Huh. Dumb shitty Helen Keller quote, doesn’t even tell us anything.

It does bring up another interesting question, however. What if you were walking with a friend in the dark…with a candle? Now there’s an idea.

I hate to speak too personally on-line, but this weekend I spent time with a friend. We visited a store we like and we both bought a candle with which we were quite taken. It was this candle: Kerzon’s “Tuileries Palais-Royal.” I hate to spoil the review so I will not disclose whether we were taken with the candle in a good way or a bad way. You’ll have to read on and see. 😉

I was able to locate the candle on-line, and here is how the Kerzon website describes it:

Strolling through Parisian gardens is a wonder of every moment. Away from the noises of the bustling city, time holds its course. And along the tree-lined walkways, paved with flowers, the mind begins to dream. The Tuileries Palais-Royal fragranced candle, from Hyacinth & Bouquet notes is inspired by these cherished moments where each memory has its own fragrance, in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

Incredible. This candle sounds like it smells EXACTLY like a stroll through a Parisian garden along the tree-lined walkways, paved with flowers, as the mind begins to dream.

…But does it smell like a stroll through a Parisian garden along the tree-lined walkways, paved with flowers, as the mind begins to dream?

Let’s see.

DOES IT HAVE A GOOD SMELL?

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh my god. This candle has a very good smell. It smells like hyacinths and not much else. So if you like the smell of hyacinths, and I don’t know why you wouldn’t (maybe you’re just so fucking dumb that it’s crazy?), this candle is a candle for you. Personally, I think people who plant hyacinths in front of their house so others can walk past and enjoy their scent should be able to write off the cost of the hyacinths on their taxes, as well as the value of the section of property on which the hyacinths are planted. But we don’t need to venture too deep into my tax plan. The smell of this candle is piercing and alive but not overwhelming; it is really good.

I made a friend smell this candle yesterday — a second friend, apologies for the boast — and this friend said, “Wow.” And then he said, “This really smells like a flower.”

It’s true.

IS IT A SPRING CANDLE?

Yes. It is perhaps the most spring candle of any spring candle. It is the number one most spring candle, and I love it.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

You know as well as I do that I hate to appear as a shill, but there are simply too many good things to say about this candle, a candle for which I am being paid in neither candles nor money to promote though I would accept either or both from the Kerzon company without protest. This candle costs a very reasonable $36.

IS IT WORTH $36?

Yes! It is embarrassing how much I would have been willing to pay for this candle. The price of this candle relative to its “goodness” makes me feel very foolish, and even more swindled than usual by previous candle purchases I have made. Still, I am grateful.

DOES IT HAVE ANOTHER THING IN THERE?

It does. It comes with, as the description on the Kerzon website says, “a scented sachet from the same scent, to slip into a bag, a drawer or a suitcase.” Incredible. I am going on a trip next month and will put it in my suitcase. If things go as planned, my clothes will smell like the candle.

WHAT IS THE BURN TIME?

About 45 hours. I don’t know, sure.

IS IT A PROBLEM THAT THE CANDLE IS VERY “ONE-NOTE”?

No. It manages to be captivating even though the scent is singular and familiar. It is like me in this way.

DOES THE CANDLE LOOK NICE?

Yes. I love how it looks. Nice green glass container. White writing. It feels nice in your hand. It’s lovely, I love it.

IS IT HEAVY?

It has a nice weight.

AREN’T YOU SO RELIEVED THAT THE FRENCH DIDN’T ELECT A NAZI YESTERDAY?

Yes. And not only because it would have put a damper on this review.

WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS CANDLE TO A FRIEND?

Yes, but, as you know, my candle friend has already purchased this candle. That’s my friend Leah. Maybe you are a new candle friend? If so, I recommend this candle to you. Also maybe you would like to buy it for you mother for Mother’s Day? I can’t tell how I feel about recommending an item to purchase for Mother’s Day but I do like this candle and your mom probably deserves something nice even independent of the holiday, so.

SCORE:

• Eight checks
• One non-check
• One #1

Pretty good!

Previous candle reviews:

• 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