Value for Money

Conor Pope reviews scented candles.

Jo Malone Spring Jasmine Scented Candle €61.50

Highs: The best thing about this is the price because if bought as a gift for someone who knows anything at all about candles, they will be able to tell immediately that a ridiculous amount has been spent on it. The presentation is flawless and, from the classy - and outsized - cream-and-black box to the extra-long matches and the gentle, fragranced tissue paper thrown into the bag, it oozes luxury. It also has the freshest, most natural floral fragrance.

Lows: The worst thing about this candle is the recipient being able to tell that a ridiculous amount has been spent on it. And, make no mistake, spending €61 on a candle, however fancy the packaging might be, is ridiculous.

Verdict: The best of pressies, the worst of pressies.

Star rating: ****

Diptyque Jasmine €40

Highs: Made on the Boulevard Saint Germain in Paris, this candle is undoubtedly a class act. The front of the box is wonderfully minimalist, with the single world "diptyque" in a cool, black font. It also offers instructions on wick trimming to help keep the candle burning to the bottom of the glass; PriceWatch would have thought "light the candle" and "relight the candle" would have been more than sufficient to keep it going.

Lows: The scent was perhaps a little sweet and unlikely to be confused with real flowers. While the candle is certainly cool (well, as cool as any candle can be) it lacks the wow factor of some of the competition, unless you really know your candles, of course, in which case you'll recognise and be impressed by the name instantly.

Verdict: Too sweet, too dear.

Star rating: ***

Kenneth Turner's White Flowers Candle €28.50

Highs: This appears to be a considerably more complex scented candle than the competition and, in addition to the scent of jasmine, there are freesia, lilies, marigold, coconut and cassis fragrances added to the mix. All these elements lend it an appealingly light fragrance. It is comparatively cheap and certain outlets sell the candles pre-wrapped, saving you the bother of having to do it.

Lows: Kenneth Turner is, the box tells us, "the outstanding floral decorator of our time" before waxing lyrically - and a little annoyingly - about all his wondrous flower-related achievements. His talents extend to candles but clearly not candle boxes - the presentation here is not great and the presence of Styrofoam to keep the candle in place was a little tacky.

Verdict: A good option for the present

Star rating: ****

Fragrance Boutique White Jasmine €10

Highs: This costs just a tenner (although €10 would not have seemed like quite such a bargain prior to sourcing the other candles) yet is not much smaller than the competition. It is Irish-made and is nice and simple, with a delicate fragrance. It doesn't come in a box but is wrapped in a white muslin-type cloth tied up with a small bunch of flowers.

Lows: It has a fairly faint smell. The muslin-type cloth is actually a nasty nylon material and the little flowers are plastic. Both these factors serve to reinforce the candle's cheapness which, if you're buying it as a present, might not be something you want emphasised. Untangling the cord (also made of nylon) which ties the whole affair together required some Houdini-esque skills.

Verdict: Cheap but cheerless

Star rating: **

Brown Thomas Jasmine Scented Candle €20

Highs: At just €20 this starts to seem like and absolute bargain when lined up alongside some of the more stupidly priced competition. It is a decent size and had a good-sized wick, making it easier to light. It also has a delicately pleasant smell.

Lows: One person's delicate and pleasant, however, may be another's weak and ineffective. Despite being lit for several hours, this candle's fragrance struggled to fill a pretty small room. It perhaps lacks the exoticism of some of the other candles and, while it is comparatively good value, you are committed to having a candle with big Brown Thomas lettering on its base.

Verdict: A pleasant enough present

Star rating: ***

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