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Oct 28, 2024

Vellabox Review: We Tried the Ultimate Candle Subscription [2023]

By Katie Bandurski Taste of Home's Editorial Process Updated on Aug. 23, 2024 Who wouldn't want seasonal candles to show up on their doorstep? Our Vellabox review puts this candle subscription service

By Katie Bandurski

Taste of Home's Editorial Process

Updated on Aug. 23, 2024

Who wouldn't want seasonal candles to show up on their doorstep? Our Vellabox review puts this candle subscription service to the test.

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I’ll admit it: I love getting mail. And, thanks to gift of the month clubs, I can treat myself to a special delivery every couple of weeks. As Taste of Home’s Senior Shopping Editor, I’ve tried everything from coffee clubs to plant subscriptions. But there’s one service that’s truly stolen my heart.

Say hello to Vellabox, a candle subscription that embodies chic coziness all year long. “Vellabox features high-quality, hand-poured candles from small-batch artisans across the U.S.,” says Lydia Wachsmuth, Vellabox’s Director of Marketing. So continues to say, “Every month, the box features a different maker, set of scents, and theme.” I was lucky enough to try it out for myself; here’s what I learned:

KATIE BANDURSKI/TASTE OF HOME

Candles are personal. And Vellabox takes the guesswork out of delivering the perfect scent—either to you or a loved one. Here’s how it worked when I was putting together this Vellabox review:

First, you take a short quiz identifying your favorite scent profiles, where you like to burn candles, preferred scent strength, burning frequency and more. From there, you choose between three size options: Lucerna (4-ounce candle), Ignis (8-ounce candle) or Vivere (16-ounce candle). Then, sit back, relax and wait for scented candle bliss to appear on your doorstep.

Katie Bandurski/Taste of Home

As Wachsmuth says, “There’s a surprise bonus item valued $10+ in every box.” Think a lip balm, air freshener, or trinket tray—and a card detailing your candle of the month. Choose to receive a Vellabox delivery monthly or pre-pay for 3, 6 or 12 months at a time. “Box options range from $12-$38 per month depending on the candle size you choose and subscription duration,” Wachsmuth says. U.S. orders ship free!

Beyond the subscription, you can peruse the Vellabox shop to stock up on your favorite scents and candle accessories.

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Take a brief quiz to identify your scent and candle preferences. Then, select between size options, and the Vellabox candle subscription will arrive on your doorstep.

Shop on Vellabox

Katie Bandurski/Taste of Home

At this point, pretty much every candle in my home is from Vellabox. I’ve been testing the service on and off since 2020, so you know this Vellabox review is worth it.

Without fail, I tear into every candle box like a kid on Christmas morning. Even though I’ve identified my favorite scents and have at least a general idea of what to expect, it’s still so much fun to smell each option in real life.

Each Vellabox candle is artisan-made from 100% natural wax, cotton wicks and phthalate-free fragrance oils. As someone with a sensitivity to intense fragrances, I find these candles burn cleaner than other brands I’ve tried.

Plus, the packaging is impeccable. Each candle is wrapped in a seasonally appropriate cloth bag and then tucked inside a box with the surprise goodie and candle card. Over several months of testing, I have not once received a broken or damaged candle. And those cloth bags? I love that they’re more sustainable than bubble wrap, and I have found endless uses for ‘em around my house.

To burn the candles, I start by trimming the wick. (This step is critical to prevent wick mushrooming and scary-high flames.) I also make sure I have plenty of time for the initial burn. You want to create an even layer of melted wax all the way across the top of the candle to prevent tunneling. The larger the candle, the longer this process takes. I like to tackle the initial burn during a movie night or when settling in with a good book. Tough job, I know.

While I’ve sampled dozens of candles through the years, Autumn Nights is my latest seasonal obsession. It’s a little sweet, a little spicy and the absolute best way to set the mood for a fall Gilmore Girls binge session. (Especially when I place it under a candle warmer lamp!)

You can tell from my Vellabox review that it also makes a great gift. It’s my go-to when I don’t want the headache of shipping a gift myself or when someone’s birthday sneaks up on me. Ordering takes mere minutes, and I know they’ll enjoy the gift month after month.

I, Katie Bandurski, am a senior shopping editor here at Taste of Home. I’ve personally reviewed hundreds of items in the food, kitchen, holiday and home spaces. I also have over eight years of writing experience in the home and food industries, contributing to thousands of articles.

In addition to my firsthand testing experience, I consulted with Lydia Wachsmuth, the Director of Marketing at Vellabox. She is one of the team’s longest-serving employees, joining in 2017 shortly after the brand’s launch. Her input on how Vellabox works and what the brand offers was invaluable in putting this piece together.

Sean Tirman, Content Updates Editor at Taste of Home, updated and contributed research to this piece. Sean has written shopping guides since 2016 and is a former associate editor at Gear Patrol.

You can order your very own candle subscription through the Vellabox website. Subscriptions start at just $12 a month for the small Lucerna box, $22 for the medium Ignis box and $29 for the large Vivere box. Considering you get a candle and an extra goodie, the value is well worth the price tag. If you’re a candle lover, don’t hesitate to hit “subscribe.”

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Each candle subscription box also includes a bonus gift. Select delivery windows monthly, or pre-pay for 3, 6 or 12 months at a time.

Shop on Vellabox

Wachsmuth fielded this question for us, saying, “At Vellabox, safe, non-toxic ingredients are a top priority. Every candle we source or make in-house meets the same ingredient standards: made with 100% soy wax, clean fragrance and pure cotton wicks. Our candles are paraben-free, phthalate-free, and paraffin-free. We have taken the extra step to ensure all candles are also Prop 65 Compliant, meaning they are free of chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm by regulatory standards.”

Yes. Along with the normal monthly subscriptions, Vellabox offers tiers that can be purchased as gifts for someone else—in fact, that’s what they’re designed for. “You have the option to personalize their box to their scent preferences. After the first box arrives, the gift recipient can also manage their scent preferences,” says Wachsmuth. You can also “write a personal gift note that will be printed and included in the first box,” a free add-on. You can even choose the shipping destination and when the gift ships (to coincide with an occasion, perhaps).

“Vellabox scents rotate monthly, so every candle is a new scent to discover, and the selection is constantly changing,” says Wachsmuth. “Some current top sellers are Amalfi Coast, Citrus + Hinoki, Main St Cafe, and Pumpkin Coffee.”