Aquiesse alpine meadow is a candle where the name says one thing and the scent says another, and I would hate for anyone to skip it because of that.
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This fragrance falls perfectly into my “What’s in a Name?” category. Naming is everything. Nest Mahogany (RIP) is an example of a fragrance death by name. It was a great fragrance that smelled like caramel praline. Customers looking for a rich, woody (ie – Mahogany) scent were disappointed with it’s gooey sweetness. Customers looking for rich caramel would never know to try it. Sadly, the fragrance wasn’t able to make it into the hands of customers that would truly appreciate it and it’s was “retired”.
The Aquiesse Alpine Meadow candle is near the cliff but not quite ready to jump off. From the name and description, I was expecting a spring-like scent the smells of fresh cut grass, blue skies and wild flowers. Instead, I was transported to a ski lodge in the mountains. Out of the shower comes a freshly washed, very sexy man, still smelling of soap from the shower and newly applied cologne. It’s a musky scent with lots of spicy pepper and fir notes from the deep woods.
Don’t let the name fool you from trying it. This is a great fall/winter scent. If you are looking for a “boyfriend” candle (making your home smell like you have a boyfriend when you don’t), this is your ticket.
Aquiesse uses lead-free, cotton-based wicks are used for optimal burn time and clean, even burn performance. The reusable, ultra-thick smoke-brown glass is stunning and looks beautiful in every home. Custom heat-resistant candle cover is designed to serve as a pedestal for the candle to rest on while burning, to extinguish candle, and also to keep the wax dust free when not in use. Packaged in a reusable keepsake box.
Fragrance intensity 3/5. Burn quality 5/5. Photo from skiinstructorblog.com.
Why aquiesse alpine meadow confuses people
Say the words alpine meadow and most of us picture cut grass, wildflowers and a blue sky. That is what I expected. What I got instead was a cozy, musky scent with spicy pepper and fir, more mountain lodge than open field.
That mismatch is the whole reason this post exists. A name sets an expectation, and when the nose disagrees, the shopper feels cheated even if the candle is good.
It is a small lesson in shopping by nose. If you can, sniff before you buy, and if you cannot, ask someone who has burned the candle what it really smells like. That is what a good shop is for.
Aquiesse alpine meadow is a lesson in not judging a candle by its label.
How a name can sink a good fragrance
I have watched this happen with retired candles. A rich caramel scent with a woody name draws people who want wood, and they leave disappointed, while the people who would love caramel never pick it up. Over time the wrong customers pass on it and the right ones never find it.
Candle makers have a hard job. A name has to be short, pretty and memorable, and it rarely gets to be exact. That is why I always suggest reading the notes, not just the title.
Names also affect a candle’s life on the shelf. A pretty name can sell a mediocre scent, and a plain one can bury a great one, which is why I always lean on the nose first.
Aquiesse alpine meadow is not the first candle to be hurt by its name.
Who will love aquiesse alpine meadow
Aquiesse alpine meadow suits fall and winter best. Think crisp air, wool sweaters and a fire in the next room. The scent is described as medium in strength, so it fills a room without shouting.
It is also the candle I call the boyfriend candle. If you want your home to smell as if someone clean, warm and slightly spicy just walked through it, this is your ticket. Customers laugh when I say it, then buy it.
Pepper and fir give it an edge, so it is not for people who want a sweet candle. Pair it with a soft throw and a glass of something warm, and you have a very good evening. I would put it in a living room rather than a nursery.
I would happily give aquiesse alpine meadow to a friend who likes pine and pepper.
Burn quality, packaging and what to read next
On the practical side, the brand uses lead free cotton wicks for a clean, even burn, and I rate its burn quality very high. The fragrance intensity I would call moderate, around three out of five. That is not a flaw, since a gentler throw is nicer in a small den.
The smoke brown glass is thick and reusable, and the candle comes with a heat resistant cover that doubles as a pedestal while it burns. It also keeps dust off the wax when the candle is resting. The whole thing ships in a keepsake box, which makes it an easy gift.
Next time a candle name does not match what you smell, give it a minute. Something like aquiesse alpine meadow shows how far a good fragrance can travel from its label.
If you want to know more about this maker, our post All About Aquiesse covers the whole line. And for another cold weather candle from them, take a look at Aquiesse Embers.
For the pine side of the story, the Wikipedia page on fir trees explains a little of how fir trees earned their place in winter scents.
In short, aquiesse alpine meadow is better than its name suggests. Try aquiesse alpine meadow before you decide.
