If you are hunting for a tree-scented holiday candle, the NEST Birchwood Pine candle is one I keep going back to. Here is what NEST put into it, how it burned for us, and a few ways to get more out of a pine candle at home.
NEST Fragrances recently added Birchwood Pine to their holiday offering. This new fragrance features white pine, fir balsam and birchwood over a base of rich musk and amber.
Tree fragrances can range from very woodsy, focusing mainly on the trunk of the tree, to very clean featuring the crisp notes of the bright green needles on the tree. This scent definitely highlights the lively green notes creating an open atmosphere full of energy.
I really love this new fragrance by NEST. It’s a perfect way to bring the fresh outdoor air into your home. The fragrance is intense and invigorating and the candle burned beautifully.
For those of you that love a tree fragrance at the holidays, this is a must try! It is sure to impress and delight with its fragrance and festive packaging.
NEST Birchwood Pine is available in an 8oz candle, 3-wick candle and votive candle.
Fragrance intensity 4.5/5. Burn quality 4.5/5.
Who the NEST Birchwood Pine candle suits
A pine candle is not for everybody. Tree fragrances fall into two camps, as mentioned above: the woodsy kind that focuses on the trunk and bark, and the clean kind built around bright green needles. Birchwood Pine leans toward the green side, so if you expect a heavy smoky cabin smell, it may come across brighter than you imagined.
If you already like fresh fir or balsam, the NEST Birchwood Pine candle is an easy yes. If pine sometimes reads as sharp or like a cleaning product to your nose, smell one in a shop first, or start with the votive. It is the smallest way to find out whether you like it before you commit to a full jar.
The notes help explain why the NEST Birchwood Pine candle feels the way it does. White pine and fir balsam give the green, open feel, and the birchwood adds a drier, woodier edge. The musk and amber underneath keep it from feeling thin, which is a common problem with tree scents that are all top and no base.
Choosing a size for your NEST Birchwood Pine candle
The NEST Birchwood Pine candle comes in three forms: an 8oz candle, a 3-wick candle and a votive. The 8oz is the everyday choice and suits a bedroom, an office or a small living room. The 3-wick is the one to pick for a larger open space, since more flames mean more scent in the air.
A votive is handy for a bathroom, an entryway or a shelf where you want a little pine without a big jar. It also makes a low-risk gift, or a way to sample the scent next to a few other holiday candles.
If you are still comparing options, our roundup of tree scented candles for the holidays puts several of them side by side. You may also like to read why NEST Holiday keeps coming back as a favorite if you want something less piney.
Getting a clean burn from a pine candle
A NEST Birchwood Pine candle only smells its best if it burns properly. On the first lighting, let the wax melt all the way to the edge of the jar, which usually takes a couple of hours. Burning it for just a few minutes tends to leave a tunnel that wastes wax and weakens the scent over time.
Trim the wick to about a quarter of an inch before each use and keep the flame away from drafts. A flickering flame smokes more and throws scent unevenly. Our 4.5 out of 5 for burn quality came from a NEST Birchwood Pine candle that burned evenly, and a little wick care is a big part of that.
One safety note for tree lovers. If you have a real tree, keep any lit candle well away from the branches, because dry needles catch easily. For an artificial tree, a pine candle on a nearby table gives you the smell without any worry about the greenery.
If you enjoy scented candles in general, the same habits apply to every jar you own: trim, burn long enough, and snuff the flame rather than blowing it out.
Where it sits among the 2012 favorites
The NEST Birchwood Pine candle was new when we first wrote this, and it went on to win the Best Holiday Tree Fragrance Candle category in our readers’ vote. You can see how that played out in the full list of Best Off Main Award winners.
My feeling about the NEST Birchwood Pine candle hasn’t changed much. It is lively, easy to like and clearly aimed at people who want the outdoors inside for a few weeks in December. Just remember that scent is personal, so treat our 4.5 scores as a starting point and trust your own nose.
