Everyone knows Sephora is a beauty store where you can find almost anything and everything related to makeup, skincare, body care, hair care, and self-care, but did you know they also frequently release curated limited edition sets? Sephora's curated sets aren't new, but the one I am reviewing today is: the Mini Candle Discovery Set is the first Sephora Favorites kit of its kind where you can try out mini candles and redeem the voucher for your favorite scent in the full-size. I was incredibly excited when Sephora launched it and even more excited when it arrived on my doorstep.
FYI – this kit is sold out online but is still available at local stores (and you can choose the "buy online, pick up in-store" option to make sure you snag yours)
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First Impressions
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The packaging of this set reminds me of a house decked out for the holidays- and the windows show the mini candles inside. Once you open the box up more fully, you also see the voucher that you use to redeem for your full-size candle.
If you choose to redeem it online (I love that online redemption is now offered as an option!), you enter the "certificate promo barcode" in the "promo code" section of the website. The code should start off as "U-", and the dash needs to be included in order for the system to recognize your code.
The Breakdown – What’s Inside This Limited Edition Box From Sephora
Maison Louis Marie No.04 Bois de Balincourt Candle, 2.5 oz - Estimated Value $11.25
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Certificate redeems for the 8 oz candle that retails for $36
I knew this brand was fancy just by this mini votive, even though I don’t have any experience with them before this set. I love woody scents but thought this one didn’t have as much of a woodsy punch the way I prefer in my candles. It has scent notes of sandalwood, vetiver, and amber woods, supplemented by a “spicy cinnamon nutmeg complex.” This candle was enjoyable, but my personal preferences would have liked more of a punch of cinnamon spice.
Maison Margiela ‘REPLICA’ Lazy Sunday Morning Scented Candle, 1.2 oz - Estimated Value $12.83
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Certificate redeems for the 5.8 oz candle that retails for $62
I adore this fragrance brand, so I knew that this would be a strong contender for being my favorite candle just on brand reputation alone. This candle is a really light and airy fragrance- it had a decent throw, but in a way that melded with the room air to be slightly noticeable but not overpowering. The scent was profile is described as a classic floral with notes of lily of the valley, iris, and white musk. It’s designed to evoke the memory of freshly washed sheets, and I think this comes surprisingly close to the memories that I have. I think that lovers of floral candles will be delighted by this candle, but some people may prefer candles with a little more intrigue.
NEST New York Grapefruit Candle, 0.95 oz - Estimated Value $5.16
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Certificate redeems for the 8.1 oz candle that retails for $44
I have such a fondness for this candle- a Nest Grapefruit votive candle was my first gateway into candles more expensive than paying full-price at Bath and Body Works. If you like citrus scents, I think you’ll find this absolutely delightful. The full scent profile includes notes of pink pomelo, grapefruit, lily of the valley, and coriander blossom. The zesty grapefruit is the predominant scent, and it has a great throw. Honestly, the reason this wasn’t a strong contender for my voucher redemption is because I already have a full-size of this candle waiting to be lit.
Otherland Rattan Sandalwood Vegan Candle, 2.3 oz - Estimated Value $10.35
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Certificate redeems for the 8 oz candle that retails for $36
I lusted after trying Otherland candles for years, and finally bit the bullet when the brand became available at Sephora. I hadn’t smelled Rattan Sandalwood before, but it was absolutely delightful. This actually has similar scent notes to the Maison Louis Marie candle with notes of sandalwood, golden amber, and warm musk, but I much prefer this candle by Otherland. It has that warm woodsy scent I nostalgically associate with campfires, and this was a strong contender for which candle I would redeem my voucher for.
Voluspa French Cade & Lavender Candle, 1 oz - Estimated Value $1.67
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Certificate redeems for the 18 oz candle that retails for $30
This candle brand is more affordable than the others featured in this kit, but that means that if you redeem your voucher for it you’ll get a whopping 18 oz candle- that’s double the full size of the other candles, and should last you for quite a while (100 hours, according to the brand). This candle has scent notes of French cade wood, lemon verbena, and Bulgarian lavender. The lavender is the star of this candle, and I think those who love lavender will really love this candle. It’s definitely a relaxing scent to me- the kind of candle I would light during a relaxing bath or as I got ready for bed.
Value – Was This Box Worth It?
The Cost: $50
Cost Breakdown: This kit costs $50 + free shipping, and I received $41.26 worth of mini candles and a voucher to redeem for the full-size candle of your choice that ranges in value from $30-$62.
Sephora promised a value of $80 for this set, and by my math, the lowest possible value for this set is $71.26 and the highest is $103.26, depending on which candle you choose to redeem your voucher for.
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Key Takeaways
This was the first time that Sephora expanded their favorites kits to include candles, and boy do I hope they do it again in the future. If you're like me and always like to have a candle burning in your home, then you'll probably find this set to be an absolute slam dunk. I thought that this set featured a lovely assortment of candle brands. Most of them I knew of already because of that candle obsession, but there was a new brand as well as multiple new-to-me scents included in this box. I think my favorite candle scent of the bunch was the Otherland Rattan Sandalwood because I love the woodsy notes, but I actually redeemed my voucher for the pricier Lazy Sunday Morning candle- the brand just screams luxury to me, and I couldn't resist the opportunity to make myself feel fancier than I actually am. At the end of the day, though, I don't think you can go wrong no matter which candle you choose- all of them were lovely.
Other Things You Should Know
Can you still get this box if you order today? It depends- this set is sold out online but may still be available at your local store (thanks to the website, I can see that this set is available at my local Sephora and I can even purchase it online and pick it up in-store later to make sure I get it before it sells out).
Can the voucher be redeemed online? Yes! Sephora recently changed its voucher program to allow for in-store or online redemption. You can't redeem this at a Sephora inside JCPenney store, Kohl’s store, or Sephora Canada store, so the ability to redeem online is a great option for people who don't have a local Sephora but still want to take advantage of it (and when you do you get to add your two free samples to your order, even if you're not buying anything else).
Is it hard to redeem the voucher? No, but sometimes you have to enter the code a few times when there are letters that could be mistaken for numbers and vice versa. Your voucher has two barcodes at the bottom- you want to use the "certificate promo barcode" number and enter it in the space to enter coupons.
Is shipping free? Shipping is free on all orders over $50 and costs $6.50 for orders under $50 (though since the pandemic started you can usually find a free shipping coupon for smaller orders that will stack with other coupon codes)
Is this eligible for the Sephora Holiday Sale? Yes! Use code YAYHOLIDAY to save on your Sephora purchase.
What do you think of the Sephora Favorites: Mini Candle Discovery Set? What bottle of perfume would you like to add to your vanity?
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