D.S. & Durga Big Sur After Rain Candle – 7 oz

One of my Faves!
Love this candle. I always burn this in my guest bathroom when I have people over and everyone loves it.

Stinky; Friend Described is As “Unwashed Sheets”
I keep saying I’m not going to buy products that masquerade as product reviews in the various magazine and blogs I get, but then something will persuade me, as Elle Decor or some other magazine just did. The reason I’ve tried to swear off this habit is because I am frequently disappointed.The magazine’s scent description and the candle’s name, Big Sur After Rain, was too irresistible. I liked it okay at first, but as it kept burning I became unsure. The next time a friend was at my house who knows and likes the NEST candle I usually burn, she didn’t like it at all. She said it “smelled like an old man’s house who’s hasn’t washed his sheets in a long time.” LOL! So I got rid of it.Also, it’s too pricey, and it’s a fairly meager candle for the price, $70 for 7 ounces. The candle is in a narrowish glass, so it will burn down pretty quickly. My usual “signature” house scent is NEST’s Birchwood Pine. At roughly $50 for an 8-oz container, it usually burns for about 60-65 hours. And everyone who comes into my house compliments me on how lovely it smells.

Bought b/c of Big Little Lies
I’m usually more into floral scents, but the name and vibe drew me in. Smells like fresh, green eucalyptus that’s also kind of wet and juicy. Burned beautifully with a pretty strong throw. Thick peach-colored glass. (We call it “rose gold” nowadays, don’t we?) Would make a very nice gift for California expats, dudes, and anyone who’s not into floral or sweet scents. A unique and memorable home fragrance. PS: Love D.S. & Durga — cruelty-free and made in NYC ❤︎

Scent Isn’t Overpowering
Upon arrival, this candle’s box looked as if it has been beaten up (is this deliberate? Other reviewers have said the same thing — I actually ordered two candles, as one was meant to be a gift and it felt weird to give a damaged-looking present to someone). I chose this candle because I love beautifully-scented (Big Sur After Rain!), natural candles, yet I’m super sensitive to strong fragrances. As promised by other reviewers, the scent isn’t overpowering, and it matches the description pretty well… I loved it at first but fell out of love over a short amount of time, as it quickly grew cloying and headache-inducing. I’m giving it three stars because, while it’s pitch-perfect Brooklyn-hipster cool, it’s certainly not excellent (I think the fragrance is synthetic, which explains why I fell out of love so quickly), and the big-girl price tag definitely does not match the value.