CandleLit is a monthly subscription box delivering books by authors of color, soy candles, organic tea and handmade wellness products created by people of color.
CandleLit simplifies scheduled self-care despite your busy life. We partner with POC-owned brands to support a holistic wellness lifestyle.
CandleLit offers monthly and quarterly subscription plans as well as single box and gift box options. Subscribers have the option to receive an e-book (Kindle) or hardcover book.
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About CandleLit
The Subscription Box: CandleLit Box
The Cost: $40 every month or $120 every 3 months + free shipping
The Products: A new hand-picked hardcover or e-book by an author of color, a soy candle, organic tea, and other handmade wellness products
Ships To: the US only
Good to know: Boxes ship the first week of the month
CandleLit September 2018 Review
Included in the box is a card that highlights this month's box. The front of the card reads:
This box is an ode to women who continue to light our flame. We are here to light yours.
The back of the card highlights the box partners and featured editor for the month as well as other useful information about the box.
Also included is a card that features one of the box partners for the month. Amor Mas creates luxury home scents. The back of the card lists the four candle scents: Camden, Baja, Marrakech, and Williamsburg. I received the Camden scent.
Everyday People: The Color of Life – a Short Story Anthology by Jennifer Baker, Editor - Retail Value $17.00 (found here for $11.59)
I couldn’t wait to brew a hot cup of tea, light my candle and curl up with this book. I’m a big fan of short stories. I can steal away to a quiet corner in my otherwise hectic house and finish a story before the kids find me! Short stories fit into my mini self-care sessions which are frankly all I've been able to get in lately.
One of my favorite short stories thus far is High Pursuit by Mitchell S. Jackson. It’s chock-full of black slang and AAVE (African-American Vernacular English) and I enjoyed every bit it. The main character sounds like my uncle and his “patnas” and many of us can relate to having very religious parents or grandparents. In fact, the entire story of this family in “high pursuit” is relatable and doesn’t seem too far-fetched.
Note: The book included in this month’s box is not a hardcover book. Everyday People: The Color of Life only comes in Kindle and Paperback editions.
Book summary from Amazon:
In the tradition of Best American Short Stories comes Everyday People: The Color of Life, a dazzling collection of contemporary short fiction.
Everyday People is a thoughtfully curated anthology of short stories that presents new and renowned work by established and emerging writers of color. It illustrates the dynamics of character and culture that reflect familial strife, political conflict, and personal turmoil through an array of stories that reveal the depth of the human experience.
Representing a wide range of styles, themes, and perspectives, these selected stories depict moments that linger—crossroads to be navigated, relationships, epiphanies, and times of doubt, loss, and discovery. A celebration of writing and expression, Everyday People brings to light the rich tapestry that binds us all.
The contributors are an eclectic mix of award-winning and critically lauded writers, including Mia Alvar, Carleigh Baker, Nana Brew-Hammond, Glendaliz Camacho, Alexander Chee, Mitchell S. Jackson, Yiyun Li, Allison Mills, Courttia Newland, Dennis Norris II, Jason Reynolds, Nelly Rosario, Hasanthika Sirisena, and Brandon Taylor.
Some of the proceeds from the sale of Everyday People will benefit the Rhode Island Writers Colony, a nonprofit organization founded by the late Brook Stephenson that provides space for speculation, production, and experimentation by writers of color.
Amor Mas Camden Candle, 3.5 oz – Retail Value $12.50
Amor Mas describes the scent of the Camden candle as "earthy bergamot and mint mingled with violets with a slight hint of grapefruit." It smells downright delightful! It contains two of my favorite essential oil fragrances, bergamot, and grapefruit, and smells very similar to Capri Blue Volcano – that fantastic scent you smell when walking into an Anthropologie store. I already want more!
Cuples Tea House ‘Tea Tube Testers’ - Lemongrass, 1oz – Retail Value $6
Honey Acres Raspberry Honey Straws, 5g – Estimated Value $0.20 (buy 100 for $20)
Cuples Tea House is a family owned business offering loose leaf teas, tea sets, tea accessories and “urban tea experiences”. Lemongrass tea has numerous health benefits include helping digestion and lowering bad cholesterol. A Honey Acres raspberry honey straw was paired with the lemongrass tea. I usually grab honey straws by the handful from my local farmers market. They are a fall staple, portable and portioned perfectly for a hot cup of tea. Until now, I never tried flavored honey straws. This raspberry honey straw was so good! I really wish more than one had been included in the box!
CandleLit Affirmation Notes
This month’s box also included CandleLit affirmation notes. The sticky notes read: "I am worthy of all that my heart desires. No one is allowed to disregard my presence or silence my voice". I love using affirmations as a way to train my mind to believe, without a doubt, the stated message. I am worthy, I have desires, I won’t be disregarded, and my voice will not be silenced! How powerful is that?
Verdict: Ask me to describe my favorite things and curling up with a good book and a hot cup of coffee or tea would be near the top of the list. This is the type of self-care I can fit into my busy schedule without much fuss. I also love that this box highlights authors and partners that are people of color. I’m sold!
CandleLit costs $40.00, including free shipping, and has a retail value of $35.70, not including the affirmation notes. I initially felt like the cost of this box was too expensive but considering that shipping is included, the cost then becomes comparable with other boxes of similar offerings. I think it's a fair value for a newly released book, candle, tea, and wellness item featuring people of color.
To Wrap Up:
Can I get this box if I sign up today?: If you subscribed by the end of the month you will receive the October CandleLit box. You may be able to purchase this box as a Single Box order from the CandleLit Shop.
Value Breakdown: At $40 for this box, here’s what you are paying approximately per item:
Value Breakdown: This box costs $40 + free shipping, which means that each of the 4 items in the box (counting the tea and honey stick as one) has an average cost of $10.
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What do you think of this month's CandleLit box?
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