(Not) Surprisingly I had a Bath & Body Works Limoncello candle left over from last year’s candle binge. Lucky me! When I saw a “new” version of Limoncello available this year (packaged as Cheers To Capri), I couldn’t help but notice the price hike. What was $20 last year was $22.50 this year. According to Bath & Body Works, the price increase is justified as follows:
We have made several changes to our candles. First, each wick is handpicked to ensure it’s the right wick for that candle to ensure it burns all the way down. Next, our 3-Wick Candle produces a full melt pool which releases the highest concentration of fragrant oils. Additionally, we have new fragrance offerings and we are elevating the look of our collections. We certainly hope this explains the increase in the price of our Candles.
Well now it was time to put these notions to the test. Let me start with looks. There is an obvious packaging difference. I prefer the new look, as it appears more fresh and modern. This, of course, is purely personal preference and not something I would pay more for.
Limoncello on the left; Cheers on the right
The scent descriptions are the same. Cheers had one added line: Drink to the beauty of Italy!
Raise your glass to this fragrance inspired by Italy’s beloved drink, Limoncello, with its notes of Sorrento lemons, cane sugar and a hint of lemon zest!
I prefer the wax color of last year’s Limoncello…a soft, buttery yellow. The color wax for Cheers is off white, maybe a very, very pale yellow.
Limoncello on the left; Cheers on the right
I studied the wicks carefully and they look very similar. At least to my naked eye. As far as the scent, both were the same. A tart, zesty lemon with hints of sweetness. Very clean and refreshing.
The burn is where I noticed the biggest difference. I got a better wick performance with the Cheers candle. My wicks on Limoncello were simply inconsistent – at times, nice big flames…other times, very small flames dangerously close to drowning.
Cheers To Capri candle burning.
Limoncello candle burning. I had taken this one to the office and didn’t let a full melt pool develop before snapping a photo, but this is for a general idea.
That’s where scent throw comes into play. Because I had more consistency with my Cheers candle, the scent throw was stronger. It filled a room and beyond, whereas Limoncello did good to fill the room.
Burn time? Both were in the 40 hour range. My Limoncello candle actually lasted a little longer because of the inconsistency with the wicks. But I’m not sure I would add that to the “pro” column.
In summary, I think the Cheers To Capri candle had the edge because of wick performance and scent throw. But the burn time was just a bit shorter than Limoncello. Based on this one test comparison, I would have to say that Cheers was a new and improved version of Limoncello. Worth a price hike? Begrudgingly, maybe so.
I’ll compare a couple of other repackaged scents to get a better idea. I seem to have a *few* of the older candles available for comparison. 😉
What are your thoughts for the new candles and prices?
Happy candle burning ~
Hi, I'm Andrea. Welcome to Candle Scoop ~ The official blog of Candlefind. I am a complete wax-a-holic and love all things scented. Join me as we discuss candles, scented wax melts, bath & body products and more! 
February 10, 2014
Very interesting indeed. I guess there really is a new formula to the new candles. I think I would pay the extra $2.50 for the better scent throw. After all, that’s my main priority where candles are concerned.!
Well done Andrea.
February 16, 2014
That’s a good point, Carolyn. The scent throw was definitely improved.
February 10, 2014
Great review. Stands to reason that the “new” candle would give more scent throw if it got a bigger melt pool. That’s a basic in candle making. Having been to Capri – I’d buy it for the name alone 🙂
February 16, 2014
Thanks, Laura! Capri is on my bucket list. 🙂
February 10, 2014
Thanks for this! I really, really hope the new wicks do perform better. B&BW has such a spotty track record with uneven pools and drowning wicks, especially with the White Barn/gold lid line. Some of their candles have the zinc cores (supposedly best for jar candles) and some don’t–I’ve never understood why the difference, especially when they’re all priced the same. As it is, I refuse to pay full price for their candles anymore and always wait for a sale or use a coupon, though there are so many scents that I can’t seem to live without 🙂
February 11, 2014
Kate, I’m in total agreement with you. I wasn’t happy with the price increase.
February 16, 2014
You’re welcome, Kate. I’m hoping to find improvements with the other candles as well.
February 11, 2014
Andrea, thanks for the tip! As you know I’m obsessed with this fragrance, so I’ll be picking this up ASAP. I hadn’t noticed that price increase, but it does seem subtle enough to make it worth the better performance.
February 16, 2014
You’re welcome, Gil! Yes, I know you adore this fragrance. It’s a great one! 🙂
February 18, 2014
The candles weren’t selling well at the higher price point so the candles are going back to 2/$22 through spring.
March 1, 2014
Good!