Jewel Candle :: A Gift Within A Gift

An email landed in my inbox earlier this week from Jewel Candle who asked if I'd like to try one of their candles from their range. It really couldn't have come at a better time since I've run out of scented candles (something that hardly ever happens) and I loved the concept so they really made me an offer I couldn't refuse. I decided to opt for the larger Passionfruit candle with a ring inside (you can also buy slightly smaller offerings with earrings) as I'm trying to freshen up my scents for summer and when the postman handed it to me I knew exactly what it was inside the brown box. On first opening the bright yellow green tone of this candle seemed a little garish but I can cope with it as I like the way it brightens up the room a little more.

The concept is great - a candle that burns down to reveal a heat protected foil package with either a ring or a pair of earrings inside. A gift within a gift, if you will. The rings are one from an assortment and are worth anywhere between £10 and £250 (but the worth of them can't be stated) in the most popular sizes K-Q. This is where I had the problem. I'm a fat girl with big fingers so anything less than a P just wouldn't be wearable on my ring finger, let alone any other finger. I wish there was an option to choose your sizing so you know the gift you're getting inside will fit, even if it may not be to your taste. As it is with my delightful offering, I can only wear it as a rather fancy midi ring.

It took around three and a half hours to burn down enough to grab the foil with a pair of tweezers and pull it out covered in the melted wax. Once the wax was cool and solid, I opened it up, took it out of the little bag that was inside and was pleasantly surprised. The ring itself is lovely, sterling silver with twisted sections around the band and a circular set stone with a halo of stones around the outside. I'd definitely wear this ring if it would fit me and from other reviews I've seen and photos from their website, the other rings look equally as lovely so it's not as hit and miss as I once feared it would be. I wasn't expecting anything less than you'd buy in the local jewellers for £15 if I'm honest (note: cheap looking, tacky) but out of all the things I was expecting, this was quite a modest piece.

I've popped the ring onto Layla's hand for demonstrative purposes and I'm going to be giving it to a friend as a gift so she can get some wear from it. While I may not be able to enjoy the ring and probably should have gone for the earrings instead, the candle is burning away well (a very clean burn so far with forgetting to trim the wick) and has a subtle Passionfruit scent that I can just about smell with a summer cold. Boyfriend assures me it's not too overpowering and synthetic smelling which I find a lot of fruit scented candles can be and after six hours it hasn't induced a headache in him like some Yankee candles can which is probably my favourite thing about this candle. I can burn it without worrying about affecting him and really, my living room smells lovelier than before.

You can buy the ring version of the Passionfruit candle here for £24.95 and browse the selection of other delicious sounding scents within the range that come with both ring and earring options. What do you think? Will you be investing or gifting one this year?