by Joseph Walter
As you might imagine, due to said sensitive nose, I have a preference for things that smell good.
Because of the preference for things that smell good, I've built up an armory of varied incense sticks, scented candles, and awesome little bags that contain weird and tiny chunks of God-tier scents, which I hide all over the place so that my nose can be met with pleasant surprises daily.
Additionally, I also happen to love love Disney World. And I love the way Disney World smells.
So, imagine my surprise when I discovered that there were a few independent candlemakers who shared my admiration for good smells, theme parks and good theme park smells.
For these reviews, the rating system I'll be using assigns two scores: one for how much the candle smells like what it's supposedly supposed to be based on (for those whose sole interest is in that feature) and then another for the overall enjoyability of a given candle, regardless of how much x smells like y.
Now get your noses ready, and let's begin!
Part 1: The Magic Candle Company
I'm torn on the "Magic Candle Company," not necessarily because of the quality of what they make, but rather the manipulative way in which they describe their candles and warp your expectations of them.
Although never outright stated, it's heavily implied that the scents they create are supposed to be reminiscent of the Disney (and/or Universal) rides and attractions that the candles are very clearly based on, but that really isn't the case for a good deal of their products.
I'm not about to accuse anyone of false advertising (because, again, they never actually claim that a certain candle smells like a certain ride), but the way things are worded are likely to give a lot of customers the wrong idea about what they're getting.
That said, while many of the "Magic Candle Company's" scents are simply "inspired" by a specific Disney attraction/area/facet, there are definitely a few that genuinely emulate the smell of a given ride. Additionally, each candle I tried had long burn times, well-designed labels that popped, and delightful wooden wicks, all of which are very good things to have!
"Tiki Terrace"
Considering that the Tiki Room doesn't exactly have a distinct scent, I wasn't really sure what to expect with this candle. Would it smell like Dole Whip? Or the water of the waterfall on the queue?
Neither, it turns out: the Tiki Terrace candle produces an exceptionally sweet and fruity aroma, befitting a "tropical hideaway."
It's also quite powerful: even when not lit, the smell can be overwhelming. Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing is up to your nose and your preferences. For me, I didn't mind it at all, but others? Maybe not so much.
Now, as to whether or not the candle and its scent honor the attraction they're based on (or "inspired by"), that's hard to say. The lush, fruity fragrance certainly seems like it would be found in a real-life version of the Tiki Room, but, again, the ride itself doesn't actually have much of a unique or distinct smell (other than the general "Disney smell.")
Because of that, I'll award "Tiki Terrace" a 2 out of 5 when it comes to "Ride Vibes." While the ride itself doesn't possess an iconic smell, a rating of zero was avoided because this candle certainly smells like it would be said smell if the ride did have one.
Regardless, the overall enjoyability of the candle and its scent earn a 4.25 out of 5. It's pleasant, but perhaps a little too strong, and a little too saccharine. Still quite a feast for the nose, though!
Ride Vibes: 2/5
OVERALL Rating: 4.25/5
"Wilderness Resort"
Most importantly, though, all the wood that makes up the Wilderness Lodge most definitely gives it a unique smell, as do the surrounding trees. Because of this, I was most curious as to how well this "Wilderness Resort" candle would do when stacked up to such a distinct scent.
The short answer? Not well.
Is that a bad thing, though? Not exactly.
It's actually quite difficult to describe what "Wilderness Resort" smells like. There's a huge mishmash of fragrances, and none of them came off as particularly rustic or woodsy to me.
The Magic Candle Company's website alleges that this scent "features notes of earth, firewood, pine, amber and leather," but I would never describe any element of this scent as such, as I didn't detect anything remotely close to those components. Perhaps if I were feeling imaginative, I might describe a portion of it as... pungently ashy? Or burnt wood? Burnt wood that's unnaturally sweet, maybe?
Regardless, whatever its actual smell is, if you were to take a whiff of it from just the unlit candle, the odor comes off as almost offensively potent and startlingly unidentifiable. When it's lit, however, the weird and initially overwhelming fragrance is far smoother and quite enjoyable.
Wrapping things up, "Wilderness Resort" falters when it comes to the "Ride Vibes" rating, barely scraping by with a 1.25 out of 5. If you really strain your nose, you might be able to convince yourself that you detect a hint of a distant campfire, or maybe a fleeting whiff of the sturdy logs that hold the Wilderness Lodge together, but the truth is that the only part of this candle that truly reminds you of the genuine resort (and the wilderness, in general) is the delightful crackling of its wooden wick, sounding quite like a cozy fireplace.
Conversely, when it comes to the overall enjoyment of the candle in question, I felt it was fair to award it a 3.75 out of 5. It's not perfect, and its smell is fairly unidentifiable (at least to me), but it's not unpleasant (at least after lighting it) and, if I may be so bold, I'd argue that it's actually quite engaging, as your brain tries to interpret the unusual cacophony of scented notes.
Ride Vibes: 1.25/5
OVERALL Rating: 3.75/5
"Rome Burning"
I've been enthralled with learning about the evolution of communication while journeying through time ever since laying eyes on the Egyptian scene as a wee lad (I was a huge Egypt/Mummy/Pyramid fan!)
While I still love that scene, I've added a few new favorites, such as the feeling of being lulled into nirvana by the voice of Dame Judi Dench, thanking the Phoenicians and, quite appropriately, taking in the iconic, fiery fragrance of the Library of Alexandria as it burns to a crisp.
That particular moment has been a favorite of my Dad's for as long as I can remember, so when I saw that the Magic Candle Company had a scent based on the scene, I had to get it.
And when it finally arrived? My God.
Merely smelling the unlit candle was enough to send me back to the era of papyrus, but actually lighting it made me feel like I was the one who set fire to the Library of Alexandria, all while Judi Dench looked over my shoulder, shaking her head in disapproval.
This wasn't some "inspired by" crap like "Tiki Terrace" or "Wilderness Resort," either. No, this was the real deal.
"Rome Burning" smells virtually identical to the scene in question.
Obviously, it's exceptionally difficult to actively compare the two, but the way my nostalgia center lit up after letting the candle burn for a few minutes was all the proof I needed.
This is one of the very few fragrances on this list that genuinely simulates the precise aroma and atmosphere of an iconic scent from an equally iconic ride.
While this is deserving of a perfect "Ride Vibe" score, I would be remiss if I didn't point out a single, unusual, teensy-weeny issue: every now and then, "Rome Burning" smells a lot like "Big Ed's Barbecue." I'm not talking charcoal or fire pits, either, I'm talking barbecue sauce. Like, straight up Sweet Baby Ray's.
When the fragrance goes through one of these bizarre BBQ episodes, it immediately takes the smeller (technical term) out of their scent-induced-stupor. While not a dealbreaker by any means (unless you dislike BBQ), it's pretty jarring, and a small blight on an otherwise perfect presentation. Therefore, "Rome Burning" gets a nearly perfect "Ride Vibe" rating of 4.75 out of 5.
In terms of overall enjoyment, I'd rate "Rome Burning" slightly lower than its high "Ride Vibes" score, but only barely so, clocking in at a 4.5 out of 5. The reason for this is quite simple: this candle, along with one or two others on this list, is for a very specific type of person.
It's for the people that want to thank the Phoenicians, or ogle Fake Steve Jobs.
A non-believer just wouldn't understand the joy this aroma brings, or what it means to generations of Disney fans. Instead, they'd just be wondering why someone would make (and others would buy) a candle that smells like barbecue sauce.
Ride Vibes: 4.75/5
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
"Splash"
In other words, the smell is still the same, it just got a new name. Therefore, because nothing about the smell has changed except its name, simply treat this review as if it were written for "Pirate Life," substituting it for any further mentions of "Splash" along the way.
While I might accuse this particular candle company of some creative advertising in regards to what these candles are intended to smell like, "Splash," much like "Rome Burning," hits things out of the park.
... or maybe into the park, in this case.
Although I doubt anything will ever be able to fully replicate the scent of a Disney water ride like Splash Mountain or Pirates of the Caribbean to perfection, "Splash" comes pretty damn close.
Frankly, there's not much else for me to say. The quality of the scent is apparent even from the unlit candle, but once it burns for just a wee bit, you'll be fully immersed in the murky, musky, and nostalgic delights of the Briar Patch and Tortuga.
I have no complaints, but there are two things worth considering:
Firstly, this scent is extremely strong. Definitely not recommended for those who have an aversion to overwhelming aromas. Secondly, and more notably, this scent is... well, it's weird. In fact, it's so weird that it might even be difficult to recommend to people, despite my praise and how much I love it. See, outside of its intended context (simulating the smell of a ride), it's not exactly the kind of fragrance that can be universally appreciated. Even "Rome Burning" smells enough like a fire to be enjoyed by normal people who don't know about the thing it's supposed to be, but bromine-infused theme park water most certainly isn't in the same category.
But who cares about "normal people?" We know what this is, we know we appreciate it, and we know that we want it. So get it.
Ride Vibes: 4.75/5*
OVERALL Rating: 5/5*
Although the new "Splash" retains some elements of the original fragrance, it's different enough that these scores no longer truly apply to it, and instead apply to "Pirate Life," where they still accurately reflect my thoughts on this specific scent.
Part 2: Park Scents
While their selection isn't as expansive as the "Magic Candle Company," "Park Scents" brings a rawness to the "theme park scents" playing field. Their candles may not have wood wicks, and their labels might not be as flashy, but they still manage to put out an impressive array of products that precisely adhere to what they're advertised to do, plus they even offer an excellent risk-free guarantee that can't be beat!
"Flume"
When it comes to Ride Vibes, "Flume" earns a 3.25 out of 5. Although that might seem low, "Flume" actually does manage to smell like what it's trying to reproduce, but that's not the problem. The main issue here is the rarity in which you'll get to enjoy that smell.
For most of its burn time, there's a very vague fragrance that suggests something greater than it actually possesses. While this general smell isn't unpleasant, you'll only get an occasional whiff of the exquisitely replicated water ride scent.
Alas, it just simply does not happen often enough for you to fully enjoy the candle as it was intended.
Additionally, because of the general weakness of the scent, "Flume" is difficult to fully enjoy for even those with a desire for unusual smells. Therefore, its overall rating comes out to a 3 out of 5.
Ride Vibes: 3.25/5
OVERALL Rating: 3/5
"Burning Rome"
"Burning Rome" vaguely smells like a fire. That's good. "Burning Rome" also smells like burning rubber/chemicals/plastic, and not in a vague way. That's not good.
But does it smell like the ride? Honestly, it's hard to be certain without taking a whiff of "Spaceship Earth" right now, but my money is on "not quite," mostly because I think I'd remember something smelling this pungent. Could I be misremembering? Sure, but even if this was a perfect recreation of the scent (and I don't think it is), I'd much rather have the seemingly romanticized version found in "Rome Burning," because this one really doesn't work as something you'd want to smell in your free time.
Because of this, a "Ride Vibes" rating of 2 out of 5 seems like the fairest score, since, sure, I guess it's possible that the ride does smell like this and I don't remember... but my gut tells me that I'm pretty sure I'd remember if it smelled like this.
As for the "Overall Rating," things aren't much better. In fact, they're worse. It's not a situation like "Flume," where the smell is weird but still capable of being appreciated by those who like weird smells. This one's just... not good. So not only does it not smell like what it aspires to smell like, but the smell itself is actively unpleasant.
To be completely fair, there actually are a few (very) fleeting moments of enjoyment to found here and there when a fiery fragrance somehow pushes through the otherwise overpowering rubbery/plastic-y/chemical-y cloud of poison gas, but that happens nowhere near often enough to give "Burning Rome's" "Overall Rating" anything greater than a 1.5 out of 5.
Ride Vibes: 2/5
Overall Rating: 1.5/5
"Extra-Terrestrial Adventure"
This is not an exaggeration.
Aside from not having a wooden wick, "E.T." blows the competition away in every conceivable aspect, and it more than makes up for the less-than-stellar reviews I've given the "Park Scents" candles so far.
From the moment you open the box, to the second the last bit of wax evaporates, this candle perfectly delivers on its promise. You are transported directly to the woods of the ride's queue, and can relish it for hours upon hours.
Even when the candle wasn't burning, I found myself smelling it like I was trying to huff paint. It's that good.
Critically, what solidifies this candle's spot above all the rest is that, out of all the candles reviewed in this review, "E.T." is the only one to truly, unequivocally succeed in its stated mission: to genuinely replicate an iconic smell from a theme park ride.
The very first whiff of this candle's (unlit!) aroma immediately took me to Universal Studios. I saw E.T.'s queue. I felt the cool air. I remembered when I was a 4-or-5-year old kid, and it was my first time at the park. I remembered frantically asking the attendant if I was still allowed to ride, even if I didn't know how to ride a bike (E.T.'s ride vehicles are the bikes from the movie.)
I remember the jubilation of soaring through the sky in a bike I couldn't ride. The mesmerizing sights, sounds and atmosphere. The magical and endearing moment during the finale, when E.T. personally said good bye to my parents and I, calling us each by name.
It was an absolutely phenomenal experience and a truly cherished memory, and this candle brought me right back to it. My brain couldn't tell the difference, and that is how I know this scent is as accurate as it gets.
Best of all, "Park Scents" clearly adores the magic of the E.T. ride as much as my family does, because they saw fit to include a little bit of E.T.'s "magic" into the candle itself, by way of the tiny bits of glitter in the wax, that shimmer and sparkle as the candle burns.
Whether you love E.T. as much as I do, or just like phenomenal, forest-y aromas, there is no better option than "Extra-Terrestrial Adventure." I'm sure it's obvious by now, but "Extra-Terrestrial Adventure" is a 5 out of 5 all the way for both "Ride Vibes" and the "Overall Rating."
This candle is absolute magic. I hope you decide to get one and experience it for yourself!