Add to Cart is a reader interest series that breaks down products and launches in beauty and skincare from your wish list. Has something caught your eye and preoccupied your desires? What products are you curious to learn more about? Let us know what's living on your wish list in the comments - each month, we'll select, buy, and review one product to see if it lives up to the hype!
Welcome to another round of Add to Cart! I rarely venture out from skincare and beauty for this feature, but this candle is brought to us via one of my favorite sunscreen brands. As someone who adores luxury candles but is rarely willing to pay for them, I was curious to see if this much-hyped candle lives up to the accolades.
The Product We Chose: Well-Tipped Pool Boy Luxury Scented Candle - $34
My Subscription Addiction paid for this product. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).
Before you begin the review, take a second to launch Vacation's Poolsuite FM app. One of the most fun things about this brand is the utter commitment to 90s beach vibes. Their entire website is a satirical 90s dream and the music feature has a downloadable app that I have had on my computer for almost a whole year now.
Seriously, run, don't walk.
The Candle and Packaging
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In typical Vacation fashion, the packaging here is 90s brights and features nostalgic beach imagery. The theme of this candle is that stereotypical pool boy at a country club. If you have ever smelled Vacation's sunscreen, the scent will be familiar! Here is how the brand describes it:
Tall, handsome and asked for by name, the “world-famous” Vacation® Brand “Pool Boy” scented candle is a (strictly platonic) olfactory affair of tropical romance, unchecked fantasy and over-attentive summer employment.
Coconut sunscreen, recently de-leafed swimming pool, resort towel, a dash of hand-me-down-cologne, desire
And, much like the SPF, this candle smells just like summer when you were a kid. It conjures memories of my mom applying sunscreen to my back in the places I couldn't reach, and my pre-teen self making eyes at the handsome lifeguard. Pure, absolute nostalgia. It is especially gratifying to light this candle, lay back on the couch, and imagine a warm, sun-kissed day at the beach. And, despite it being the dead of winter, this strongly scented candle combined with some Poolsuite FM tunes is a great way to mentally escape the winter blues. And the scent? STRONG. I blew it out one evening because I had it going for hours and I was feeling overwhelmed. Lots of fragrance bang for your buck here!
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The Performance
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The candle itself is tall and pretty large. Weighting in at 8.5 oz, it boasts an 85-hour burn time. The wax is a soy blend with a 100% cotton wick. These candles are hand-poured in the US and are vegan and cruelty-free. Here is where I am about to get pretty nit-picky: The wick wasn't centered on my candle. And when a candle is $34, I really expect that to be a non-issue. Why does this matter? Well, the wax hasn't burned evenly and there is a little bit of tunneling happening here as you can see on the left side. I am hoping this corrects itself the further the candle burns down, but, c'mon, give me a centered wick on such an otherwise incredible candle!
My Takeaway
I love the Vacation brand, and I loved this candle. Sure, the wick placement was a disappointment, but I am hoping mine was a fluke that snuck past quality control. Because otherwise? This candle is amazing. It is a little on the pricy side but the long burn time and fragrance overload certainly help justify the cost. And the vibes are immaculate.
Should You Buy Well-Tipped Pool Boy Luxury Scented Candle?
It's a yes if:
- You are a candle enthusiast.
- You love a strong scent.
- You are already a Vacation super-fan.
- You enjoy cheeky branding and the 90s.
- You want to mentally escape winter from the comfort of your couch.
This candle is pretty much my new go-to hostess gift or gift for that person in my life who already has everything. And if you want a few other scent options? Vacation has a few more: Ball Boy (scented like fresh tennis balls and SPF!), Partial Ocean View Suite, and High Ceiling Resort Lobby. I want to try them all!
Ready to Add to Cart? Get it here!
What's Next?
Here are a few products that I keep hearing about:
1 of 5 | Glow Recipe
Avocado Ceramide Moisture Barrier Cleanser
What new launch has you wondering if it is worth an Add To Cart? Let me know in the comments below!
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