Orleans Home Fragrances Wax Melts Reviews
November 14, 2021
This is a review of Orleans Home Fragrances wax melts, which can be found at www.orleanshomefragrances.com. They make candles, wax melts, scented oils, scented laundry detergent, and body lotion.
Orleans Home Fragrances are inspired by the avant-garde culture of New Orleans, and some scents are named after destination neighborhoods paying homage to the city of New Orleans. Most of these scents have a perfumey and/or incensey note, and many have at least a slight note of patchouli. If you're like me and you like patchouli and perfumey scents, you will adore these wax melt scents!
We reviewed 30 of their 40 wax melt scents. The average throw of these 30 scents was 3.5 out of 5, which is strong. About half of the scents were strong, very strong, or bold, and the other half were mild or medium.
I sent Orleans Home Fragrances an email to find out what type of wax they use in their melts, but didn't get a reply. Our second reviewer had the same experience. And the person who gifted these melts to me also emailed and called their offices with questions about their products, but got no reply. Based on this, it appears that customer service may not be up to par; however, the order arrived quickly and was packed well.
Ambre Lavender
A rich blend of lemon leaf, French lavender, shaved nutmeg, basil and warm amber, patchouli, and musk
A wonderful scent of authentic lavender with a milky, soapy, slightly peppery note. It's not a sage-y or medicinal lavender, nor is it a sweet perfumey lavender, although it has a tiny bit of sweetness, but not a sweet lavender scented soap note, more like a soapy herbal note that could almost be ginger but I know it's not, or a smidgen of lemon verbena although it's not lemony. It's VERY soapy, like bubble bath but not as sweet, and it's not perfumey. Looking at the notes, the smidgen of ginger is nutmeg (even though I don't actually smell nutmeg or ginger per se), and the basil could be the peppery note (although again, I don't smell basil per se). I also don't smell patchouli, although this scent is a tiny bit rich, so that could be it. I love this scent!
Angel
An intoxicating blend of vanilla bean, coconut milk, white jasmine, and patchouli
This smells like Thierry Mugler's Angel perfume, which I love. Angel perfume is a warm, slightly foodie perfume with notes of vanilla, chocolate, caramel, patchouli, orange, rose, and musk, and it's incredibly good!
Bayou Bonfire
A warming earthy blend of Chestnuts, Ripe Coconut, and Juniper Berries followed by middle notes of Blue Spruce, Amber, and Patchouli with hints of Texas Cedarwood, Tonka Bean, and White Musk
A combination of super milky vanilla and light, milky, raw wood (sandalwood?) with a little bit of a nutty note (like pinecones, chestnuts or acorns... I think it's chestnuts because it has an ever so teensy smoky note). It might have just a smidgen of pine or spruce way in the background. And even though I don't detect any perfumey notes on cold sniff, in the room I'm getting a hint of an old perfume note that might actually be patchouli (although I don't smell patchouli per se). Looking at the notes, they're spot on, although I don't smell berries, and I actually do get a teensy hint of raw, milky coconut which I thought was part of the nutty note. I love this scent! It's very different, although it's not a bonfire scent at all.
Black Orchid
A sophisticated blend of cashmere, black orchid, rich vanilla, sandalwood, and opulent musk.
A delicate, perfumey scent with lots of vanilla, a sweet floral, baby powder, warm amber/cashmere, and musk. Very nice!
Blue Spruce
A winter wonderland of fresh blue spruce, fresh cedar, and a hint of eucalyptus
A combination of smoky spruce and a biting pine. It's not one of my favorite pine type scents though because it has a slight bitterness in the background, not a Play-Doh or sour or rubbery note that some pine scents have, just a hint of a bitter or vinegary note. It's not enough to ruin the scent though.
Bourbon Street
A smooth blend of Bergamot and Italian Mandarin with Tuberose, Transparent Amber, and Benzoin. Base notes of Bourbon Vanilla, Oak Wood, and Exotic Musk
I smell bergamot (which gives scents a slightly citrusy cologne note, although this is not a cologne or citrusy scent), gardenia, lemon, cedar, hints of orange and vanilla, and possibly a barely detectable smidgen of patchouli or sweet tobacco. It's rich, aromatic, full-bodied, and sweet but not overly sweet. Looking at the notes, they're spot on. Benzoin is a vanilla type note with a subtle cinnamon undertone, tuberose is like an extra rich gardenia, mandarin is orange, and what I think is patchouli and tobacco are probably the oak and bourbon (although I'm not really getting any bourbon notes). I adore this incredible scent!
Cashmere
Soft cashmere and luminous night blooming jasmine wrapped with warm sandalwood, vanilla, and musk.
This doesn't smell like other cashmere scents I've smelled. Cashmere is warm and perfumey like amber but a bit "lighter" and more powdery, without the hint of wood that amber tends to have, and with a little bit of a laundry note. This scent, however, smells like baby powder, musk, a hint of patchouli (although it's not like nag champa) and maybe a smidgen of vanilla. I thought it was similar to
Pink Zebra Soft Patchouli,
Mainstays Patchouli,
Gonesh Patchouli, and
Pier 1 Patchouli (which are all dupes of each other), a perfumey patchouli soap scent with a hint of oriental spices and a smidgen of baby powder. But comparing them side by side, this scent is different; it has way more baby powder, way less patchouli, and no soapy note. Looking at the notes, yes, I do detect the jasmine, but not the sandalwood, but that combination might be what I think is baby powder or patchouli. It's a fantastic scent that's both incensey and perfumey.
Chateau
A complex blend of dark bergamot and black pepper with the finest vanilla, incense, and opulent woods.
A fresh incensey scent of musk, bergamot, patchouli, baby powder and incense (maybe nag champa), a slight laundry note, a hint of mahogany, a tiny bit of citrus, and a smidgen of vanilla. Looking at the notes, I don't smell black pepper. I like it!
Christmas Passion
A melange of warming spices: Cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg with a touch of juniper sprigs
This smells like apple cider with the cinnamon note and a bit of mulling spices, but this one is different than other similar scents in that it's much sweeter and doesn't have nearly as much of that sour note that apple cider scents with mulling spices have. Maybe it has a hint of vanilla? I think I also detect a barely detectable smidgen of pine way in the background that I don't think most people would notice. Looking at the notes, I'm surprised I don't see apple, because that's the main note. I adore this unique apple cinnamon scent!
Creme Brulee
A delectable treat of heavy cream, vanilla bean, and toasted sugar
A toothachingly sugary sweet scent of vanilla buttercream and maybe caramel, although I'm not sure about the caramel. The only way I can describe it is warm, thick liquid vanilla sugar, like something you'd pour over ice cream. It's incredibly sweet and super rich. Looking at the notes, they're spot on! This sounds like a lot of other sweet vanilla type scents, but it's so much better! And these types of scents are usually not very strong.
Duet
A floral bouquet of gardenia, jasmine, heliotrope, and violet wrapped in a cozy blend of creamy vanilla, cashmere woods, and sheer musk.
A lovely floral perfume scent that smells like gardenia, along with a bright note, and a smidgen of a metallic note (but not nearly enough to be annoying). I think I'm also getting orange blossom, and maybe a barely detectable smidgen of citrus (orange?). Looking at the notes, no orange or orange blossom.
Fig Cassis
Creamy fig, hints of clove, a squeeze of lush berries, and musk.
A fig scent made for a candle is rich and soapy with a fruity quality but no sweetness (even though real fig fruits are extremely sweet). Fig scents can be used to tone down scents that are too sweet. Cassis is a type of currant, similar to fig, but more fruity, with slight cedar, clove, patchouli, and possibly soapy notes. This scent, however, has no sweetness and it's not fruity. It's a waxy, woodsy, slightly bitter, fermented fruit type scent. I like fig scents, and this one is not bad, but it's not fruity or sweet enough. Looking at the notes, again, I'm not getting the berries or musk, and no cloves. But I think this it will make a fantastic mixer to tone down scents that are too sweet and give them a "classy" note. Try blending it with a sweet fruity scent, or woodsy, perfumey, or floral scents.
Fine Linens
A delight of bright orange blossom, freshly picked cotton, and musk
A very nice scent of musk with a bit of a laundry note and maybe a hint of nag champa, baby powder, or orange blossom. The laundry note is subtle, so I would classify this as a perfumey scent, although it's not "overly" sweet or perfumey.
Frankincense & Myrrh
Deep and rich guaiacwood, myrrh, and patchouli with nuances of rose, vanilla, and musk.
An incredible sweet perfumey scent with musk, patchouli, vanilla, and possibly a hint of geranium. It's very, very similar to the Cashmere scent. There's something else way in the background that I can't put my finger on, maybe oud wood or mahogany. It's like the Cashmere scent with geranium added, a little more patchouli, a tiny bit more vanilla, and that smidgen of rich wood in the background. Looking at the notes, they're spot on. Geranium and rose smell similar, and that smidgen of wood is guaiacwood. Myrrh is a resinous spicy balsam scent with an aromatic woodsy or pine note, and although I don't get pine at all, I think I do get a teensy bit of balsam (which is why it smells so similar to Garden District). Of course I love this scent, and I smell a bit more of the patchouli when melting.
French Quarter
A fresh floral bouquet of ylang ylang and lily with notes of vanilla and musk.
A lovely, sweet scent of musk, gardenia, sandalwood, vanilla, and maybe a hint of an exotic spice (but not an incensey note like patchouli). It smells a little like the Cashmere scent without the incensey notes. Despite the sweet floral notes, it's not annoyingly sweet or flowery. Looking at the notes, I don't detect ylang, but I'm sure that's what I think is the combination of sandalwood and exotic spice. I like these types of scents, and I love this one!
Garden District
Fresh resinous balsam with hints of cinnamon, vanilla, and musk.
A fantastic scent of vanilla and musk with a little bit of gardenia, which sounds like (and is similar to) a lot of their other scents, especially since it too has a bit of an incensey note. I think I also detect a hint of sandalwood and smidgen of cinnamon. There's something else in the background that's rich and aromatic, maybe some kind of exotic spice. Looking at the notes, it's balsam, which is an earthy, woodsy vanilla with hints of cinnamon and a smidgen of pine. I do smell that, and I think I do get a barely detectable smidgen of pine that I wouldn't detect if I didn't know it was there. I love this scent!
Gardenia
A sophisticated floral with gardenia, ylang ylang, petitgrain, and a touch of coriander
This smells like a combination of gardenia and jasmine, with a tiny bit of a soapy note, and although it's very sweet, it's not sweet enough to be a jasmine/gardenia perfume. Looking at the notes, petitgrain is basically neroli/orange blossom, and gardenia scents tend to have that note. I don't detect coriander or any foodie notes. I love these types of scents!
Jazz
Top note of Bergamot and Green notes, followed by a middle note of Sheer Floral Accord. Base note blend of Moss and Woods.
I adore this rich, sweet, yummy scent! I smell musk, rich mahogany, gardenia and/or baby powder (or hint of nag champa?), warm amber, rich French vanilla, and possibly a hint of caramel and smidgen of oud wood. Looking at the notes, I suppose I detect a tiny bit of bergamot, but that usually gives scents a little bit of a citrusy cologney note, and this scent has no note like that. Nor do I get any green or mossy notes. This scent is divine!!
Jean Paul
Robust geranium and lavender with nuances of cedar, vanilla, and amber.
A fantastic scent with lavender, a hint of mahogany, a little bit of a baby powder note (or nag champa, which tends to have a baby powder note but is more incensey), bergamot (which gives it a smidgen of cologney note, although it's not a cologne scent), and a smidgen of vanilla. It's fantastic, smells expensive, and it's not overly sweet. Looking at the notes, what I think is mahogany is probably cedar (and I do get the cedar note now that I know it's there).
Lemon Verbena
A fresh blend of sparkling citron, lemongrass, and verbena with hints of vanilla and musk
A nice lemongrass scent, perfect to use as a spa scent. This one is not as "soapy" smelling as other lemongrass scents, probably because of the verbena note which I do smell as well, but it also has a tiny bit of a lemon soda note with maybe a teensy bit of fizziness. It's nice on its own, but I think it needs to be blended with something else. Blend it with spearmint and/or lavender and/or eucalyptus for a spa scent, or with other citrusy scents like lemon or orange, and even with rose and cologney type scents. The scent lasted 15 hours and would easily have gone longer if I hadn't turned off the warmer for the evening.
Mulberry
A burst of mulberry, cherry, and holiday spices
This smells like black cherry, with that biting, very slightly tart note that almost smells like black cherry soda, but without the fizziness. Maybe also a hint of cranberry? It's very fruity and strong, and smells fantastic. Looking at the notes, I'm not getting any spices at all, no cinnamon, etc.
NOLA
Top notes of lemon and geranium, with a middle note blend of sheer floral and rose. Base note wood and amber.
I smell cedar, rose, and musk, but there's another note I can't figure out that makes it smell like perfume that got a bit old, although not enough to ruin the scent. It's still quite nice. Looking at the notes, I don't get lemon at all, but geranium is a little bitter and could be creating that old perfume note.
Orange Vanilla
A refreshing and creamy delight of fresh squeezed orange and warm vanilla
This smells like an orange creamsicle, although it's just slightly more citrusy than an orange creamsicle, with a smidgen of tartness from the citrus of the orange that an orange creamsicle wouldn't have. And although it's sweet, it's not quite sweet enough to be a creamsicle. Although I do also get a creamy vanilla note. I like it!
Orleans No. 9
Sandalwood and patchouli blended with lush white florals, warm vanilla and musk
A very sweet incensey scent with musk, sweet florals, a hint of cedar and/or sandalwood, exotic spices (maybe a smidgen of nag champa due to a barely detectable hint of baby powder), and possibly a barely detectable smidgen of cinnamon, patchouli and vanilla. It's similar to a lot of their perfumey incensey scents. I really like it!
Orleans No. 27
Top note of lemon and orange. Middle note blend of fruity accord with floral spice. Base note blend of patchouli, sandalwood, and vanilla.
I smell sandalwood first, with a hint of patchouli, a smidgen of floral, and a barely detectable pinch of cinnamon. It's just a little bit sweet. A nice, pleasant exotic scent. Looking at the notes, I'm not getting lemon, orange, or any fruit (maybe apple, but I don't think so). My description is very similar to Orleans No. 9, but they're different scents; sniffing them side by side, that scent is more woodsy and has the smidgen of vanilla, along with a slightly different blend of notes.
Patchouli
Top note of violet and jasmine with a spice middle note. Base note blend of patchouli, musk, and vanilla.
A pure patchouli scent, very "incensey" with a bit of a nag champa note, and not overly sweet. I love patchouli scents!
Quartet
A sensual medley of oud, patchouli, cedar, and sandalwood accented by floral nuances of night-blooming jasmine and violet as well as pineapple, iris, and amber.
I smell mostly rose, but also another floral, and a barely detectable smidgen of a bright, refreshing note that could be apple, orange, or both. I think I'm also getting some incensey notes in the background. Very nice! Looking at the notes, the fruit is pineapple, but I don't detect pineapple at all. And oud is a note that I'm easily able to pick out in a scent, but I don't smell that either. I'm surprised I don't see rose.
Saint
Top note of winter apple and wild berries, followed by middle notes of fresh sage, juniper berry and aromatic eucalyptus, and base notes of fresh woods, Siberian fir, and white musk
This is a dupe for Bath and Body Works Sweater Weather (whose notes are sage, juniper berry, eucalyptus, and woods, although I believe there are some notes that aren't listed). It's basically mint with a slight pine note and a hint of eucalyptus, but there's more going on. It's not a sweet mint, and has some spearmint notes, but not a toothpastey spearmint because of the pine, as well as a hint of something very slightly sweet and maybe a smidgen of fruit like cranberry or apple. My description doesn't do it justice. I love this fantastic scent with a "chilly" quality; it's a scent you'll remember forever after the first time you sniff it!
Southern Magnolia
The garden beauty of southern magnolia, fresh jasmine and kiss of musk.
This smells more like jasmine to me than magnolia. Magnolia is a jasmine type scent with a lemony note, and I think I get just a smidgen of that. It's quite authentic, although it does have a bit of a perfumey note. Very nice! Looking at the notes, they're spot on.
Tobacco Vanille
The rich essence of tobacco leaves and vanilla with nuances of cinnamon, coconut, and musk
A lovely incensey scent of sweet cedar with a tobacco note and maybe a smidgen of patchouli. Looking at the notes, I don't detect coconut at all, nor do I smell the vanilla. And I do kind of detect cinnamon on cold sniff, but not when melted; what I think is cedar may be a combination of coconut and cinnamon, because there's no cedar note, but cedar is definitely the main note I'm getting. I really don't smell the musk either because although it's sweet, it's not perfumey. Fantastic scent that has a rich, aged (in a good way) quality, like something you might smell in an historic building.
