The Raconteur Bondi 5 candle

Over the last 4 years, whenever my family has asked me what I’d like for my birthday or Christmas, my answer has always been the same – scented candles! There’s something so comforting, soothing & uplifting about having a scented candle burning in the room, not to mention the soft glow of candlelight that always makes me feel ultra relaxed. As I’ve tried candles from a wide range of brands from the high end all the way down to the low end (what you would find in supermarkets), it goes without saying that I do consider myself to be somewhat of a candle connoisseur now! Recently I had the opportunity to try out a candle from The Raconteur and being so impressed by the quality, I knew I had to share this with everyone on the blog!

The Raconteur is an Australian brand which started not too long ago in 2016, yet they are already making a name for themselves in the luxury scent market. I say luxury because their candles truly are luxurious and the quality is apparent from the moment you open up the box. The Raconteur are not just any fragrance makers though…What makes them unique from the rest of the market is that they specialise in using Australian botanicals which are found in specific locations around the country, crafting their scent creations around that location. They have also made custom scented candles for pearl supplier Paspaley as well as designing a scent for the owners of Hamilton Island!

Some of their most loved offerings include the Bondi candle range, which utilises botanicals located around Australia’s most famous beach area, including rock lily orchids, Port Jackson fig, giant fern and hickory wattle tree extracts. Following the release of the Bondi candle range, soon followed creations based upon other iconic Australian locations. These include Melbourne, Uluru, Hamilton Island, Tasmania and Byron Bay. Their candle range is hand-poured in the Northern Beaches of Sydney (my favourite beach area!) and are made from 100% soy wax. They are also free of parabens, paraffins, phthalates and lead, so you can relax knowing there’s no nasties wafting around in the air!

As their range continues to grow year upon year, the hardest thing for me was choosing which one I wanted to try out first! I ended up choosing the “Bondi 5 – Australian lime” candle to test out, so this is the one I’m going to review today. When the candle arrived in the post and I opened up the parcel, the first thing I noticed (after pulling open the protective wrapping) was the sleek packaging. The box that it arrived in was striking in it’s minimalistic design, all white with the Raconteur signature logo in black. The candle was securely held in place by a black foam holder at the bottom and wrapped around the box was a cover with a colourful image of Bondi beach and a description of the ingredients of the 300gram soy wax candle.

The Bondi 5 Australian lime candle contains native Australian lime, native plum pine, wild berries and jasmine. It was the inclusion of the wild berries & jasmine that attracted me to this particular candle above all the others in the range, as I definitely prefer floral & sweet scents. After burning this candle at home, I can say that the blend of botanicals is really soothing. It’s not a heady floral scent and this is probably due to the inclusion of the lime & plum pine, which assists in balancing the sweet & fruity tones of wild berries & jasmine. It really feels like the perfect candle for springtime – deliciously softly sweet but with an uplifting fresh & citrus tone included.

Apart from candles, the Raconteur also make scent diffusers, perfume & scented oils, so if you’re not a candle fan or are interested in other products, their range should have something to pique your interest! One point to note is that their candles are not cheap. Retailing at AUD$69.95, these are actually more expensive than the candles I have been using on the regular over the last 4 years. With that in mind, given that these candles have a burn time of up to 65 hours coupled with the high quality of ingredients that are sourced and used, I do see this price as reasonable. They are not the cheapest nor the most expensive candles out there in the market, given some brands retail up to as much as over $200!

A synonym for the word raconteur is “storyteller” – and that’s exactly what these candles do…They tell stories of the Australian landscape, offering up aromas of our diverse flora to infuse your everyday life with a unique experience. Whether you’re looking for a gift, are interested in trying out a candle from a new brand or simply curious about Australian botanicals and their fragrances, then the Raconteur range is definitely one I would recommend you try out! Their sleek design means they will look beautiful no matter what interior style of décor you have. A bonus is that you are also able to “personalise” a gifting message on any of their candles when you order online, which really adds a special touch to a present. They also offer 10% of your purchase if you sign up to their mailing list.

If you are curious about exploring the Raconteur range, then head on over to their website or check out their Facebook or Instagram.

I hope you enjoyed this review of the Raconteur Bondi 5 – Australian lime candle. What are your favourite scents – citrus, woody, floral, gourmand? Let me know in the comments below which scents you prefer and if you are a candle or diffuser fan too!

xoxo Lauren

Lauren Harding

Fashion & lifestyle blogger based in Sydney, Australia

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