PartyLite has been transforming homes into cozy, fragrant havens since 1973. As one of America‘s original candle companies, it has certainly stood the test of time. But how does this classic brand hold up today against newcomers like Anecdote and Boy Smells?
In this in-depth critical review, we won‘t just take their word for it. We‘ll analyze PartyLite‘s positives and negatives – from product quality to business ethics. Read on for the candle brand‘s highlights and hope spots, along with my unfiltered take as a seasoned reviewer.
The Science Behind Candles and Mental Wellness
Before judging PartyLite‘s lineup, let‘s examine why candles enthral us. These captivating objects aren‘t mere decor. Researchers have found candles can lift our mood, reduce anxiety and promote relaxation via our sense of smell.
When we inhale pleasant fragrances, scent receptors send signals to our limbic system – the emotional center of our brains. This eases stress, heart rate and blood pressure. One study even showed lavender aromas increased beta waves that signify calmness. One more reason to light up!
Of course, the mood magic depends on picking an enjoyable scent. PartyLite wins points here with 600+ fragrance options from fruit punch to fir balsam. Now let’s see if their formula and burn quality withstand my scrutiny…
The Best and Worst of PartyLite Candles
PartyLite offers candles galore – tealights, votives, jars, pillars and more. As I tested over two dozen, most impressed me with even wax pool and few issues like tunneling. The wax seems fairly clean-burning with minimal smoking or excess soot. Here‘s my candle-by-candle breakdown:
Hits
- Lavender Vanilla Votives – Pleasant herbal-floral aroma. Each votive lasted around 5 hours.
- Coconut Cove Tealights – Festive tropical punch fragrance. Great value with each tealight burning 4-6 hours.
- Midsummer Night 3-Wick Candle – Fruity berry scent throws nicely without being overpowering. 25-30 hour burn time.
Misses
- Rose Quartz Pillar Candle – Light rose fragrance lacking silage. Wick issues caused tunneling.
- Black Cherry Fizz Wax Melt – Initially juicy but quickly faded to an artificial candy smell.
- Sweetgrass Reed Diffuser – Earthy green scent pleasant at first but slightly irritating when stronger.
No candle brand bats 1000. But overall PartyLite exceeded my expectations for smooth burns, true-to-name fragrances and intensity flexibility via containers with various wicks.
PartyLite vs The Competition
PartyLite trails category leader Yankee Candle in sales by a wide margin – $340 million annually compared to $1 billion. But when it comes to scent options, PartyLite is the clear victor with nearly twice as many. While Yankee wins praise for beloved classics like Macintosh Apple, I prefer PartyLite‘s constant fragrance innovation – they release 100+ new scents per year.
Against popular contemporary Bath & Body Works, PartyLite shines for ingredients and burn quality. BBW offers lots of girly-fun scents, many quite synthetic-smelling with poor wax pool issues. PartyLite uses higher concentrations of essential oils and fine fragrances. While not 100% natural, I‘d call their formulas clean enough. PartyLite also costs a touch less than BBW‘s ever-rising prices.
Where PartyLite loses to newer artisanal brands like Boy Smells and Homesick is packaging aesthetic and marketing savvy. Those brands create gorgeous, giftable products with smarter e-commerce. But their smaller batches can‘t compete on selection breadth or accessibility. Via PartyLite‘s vast consultant network holding home parties nationwide, virtually anyone can afford these candles.
The Direct Sales Dilemma
PartyLite and competitors like Scentsy strictly use a direct selling model rather than traditional retail stores. They say this allows deeper customer connections and career opportunities for the predominantly female consultants.
However some see direct sales companies as merely socially-acceptable pyramid schemes. Recruiting overly eager friends with unrealistic get-rich promises while burdening them with inventory can strain relationships.
PartyLite corporate stresses that consultants should focus on sales not recruitment. Many MLMs penalize inactivity to force continual inventory orders, but PartyLite is more lenient. Overall the opportunity seems ethical if taken sincerely. Still I‘d advise setting boundaries around friends to avoid tension.
Sustainable Sourcing & Business Practices
Conscientious consumers today not only care about what goes in or on our bodies via skincare, makeup and household goods. We also make purchase decisions based on how ethically and sustainably companies operate overall.
PartyLite gets a mixed grade on this front. While they say nothing about eco-friendly or recyclable packaging, PartyLite states their palm and soy waxes are responsibly sourced. They aim for 10% recycled glass in jars and utilize solar at their manufacturing facility. I‘d like greater supply chain transparency but it‘s a start.
As for fair business practices, I uncovered no major complaints against PartyLite. Consultants must invest around $100 upfront on a starter kit but aren‘t saddled with monthly inventory requirements. Field leaders emphasize nurturing over nagging. While the MLM structure inherently pressures working out of obligation not desire, PartyLite seems kinder than most.
Gift Giving & Home Party Tips
PartyLite makes gift shopping easy for any occasion with products to suit an array of recipients. Here are my top suggestions for PartyLite presents:
- Birthdays – Scented candle in their favorite fragrance
- New homeowner – Matching candleholder and pillar candle
- Thank you teacher gift – Reed diffuser for the classroom
- Hostess gift – Set of tealight candles or wax melts
Planning to host or attend a PartyLite party? Along with testing merchandise, I have insider tips to create buzz-worthy events:
- Coordinate a themed menu and decor with the fragrances
- Plan icebreakers like a custom scent profile quiz
- Have guests layer and mix scents
- Use unscented candles for written manifestation rituals
- Raffle off door prizes every 15 minutes to keep energy high
Let me know if you try any of these ideas! Tag me @scentguru on Instagram.
Final Verdict: Should You Buy PartyLite?
Despite direct sales model complexities, PartyLite remains my go-to candle brand for reasonably-priced high performance. The sheer breadth of on-trend and nostalgic fragrances intrigues while seasonal selections constantly surprise. Burns often delight with excellent cold and hot throw.
While artisanal candlemakers boast prettier branding for gifting, PartyLite frequently wins on accessibility and affordability. Testing at home parties lets you experience before buying instead of guessing from online descriptions. If you enjoy scent exploration and making memories with friends, say yes to PartyLite.
