August 17, 2022

Let’s Just Take a Moment To Hate on Harry Slatkin and Homeworx

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Hi, I’m Isabella and I’m addicted to candles. Well, any home fragrance really. Candles, oils, sprays, whatever…if it smells nice I’m all about it. But candles are definitely a passion of mine. It all started many years ago when I met one of my best friends for the first time. At the time she was working for Bobbi Brown PR and we were meeting over blog stuff. During one of the first or second meetings, she gifted me a Bath and Body Works Marshmallow Fireside Candle and the obsession with BBW Candles began.

Sam, if you’re reading this. I’ll never forgive you for that gift.

Many years have gone by and Sam left Bobbi Brown but still remains one of my bestest friends and candle lover companions!

Now at the time, I was more of a wax melt kind of girl but Sam’s gift really opened a wormhole up for me. This was during the Harry Slatkin years at Bath and Body Works! Harry was creating a lot of the scents that are currently loved by millions of Bath and Body Works fans. To this day I have candles hoarded away that say “Slakin Home” on them that were purchased at Bath and Body Works. That was also when candles were like 2 for $15!

You know, the good old days.

A few years ago Harry Slaktin returned with a vengeance. He created a brand new collection of candles called Homeworx and it became a smashing success. His four wick candles were not only bigger than Bath and Body Works but they were stronger and had a cleaner burner. The first time I purchased a selection of three from QVC I instantly fell in love. They were strongly scented, came housed in the heaviest glass jars, and were just amazing. So luxurious!

I remember at the time he was bringing two or three scents together in a set for around $40-45 on QVC. I loved this! Nowadays you can actually score some of the Homeworx Candles at TJMaxx and Marshall’s for around $17 each and trust me, if you find them there do grab them!

So why all the hate?

Harry or perhaps QVC stopped creating sets that contained a few different scents and it’s driving me mental. I used to love purchasing a set of three candles with three scents. Granted, they do still do this a bit but now they concentrate on launching new scents in duos which are still quite affordable BUT….here’s the crappy catch! They give you two of the same scent.

Sigh.

Devasting.

I have SO many candles I just don’t want two of the same scent. They launched some gorgeous Halloween scents recently. And yes, I did end up purchasing Halloween Candy, Wicked Cherry, and Haunted Woods but dude, I didn’t need two 18 oz candles of the same scent. Again, it was a deal at $42 and free shipping but still……

I miss the days he’d just include three of the scents in one set!

I wonder who decided this was a good idea? Just so we have it out there. I hate this new business model. Can we please go back to different scented sets?

Please and thank you!

Is anyone else feeling this?

22 Comments

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About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • Natalie

    As a fellow candle addict I get what you’re saying. I don’t want to buy candle duos of the same scent…I want a variety of scents. I think the HomeWorx online site, https://homeworx.shop, is better than QVC in that they sell solo candles. There’s promo codes out there too for extra savings. His Halloween candles are on his HomeWorx online shop.

    • Isabella Muse

      Homeworx does indeed have singles but sometimes scents like Halloween Candy are exclusive to QVC which sucks 🙁 Homeworx has some Halloween though for sure and the homeworx site does do great sales 😀 But yeah, sucks I gotta do two scents of the same scent. I don’t even blame Harry it’s prob a qvc thing 🙁

  • Chelsea

    You can find Homeworx at HomeGoods/Marshall’s/TJ Maxx for $16.99. I grabbed some fall candles, and I know Wicked Cherry was showing up at stores recently.

  • Brenda Murray

    Hi Isabella! I completely agree with you 100%!! I used to love gifting his candles that came in a trio of scents to my mom and sister for their birthday’s or Christmas. I am a QVC shop addict so I’m always looking to see if he has new scents or anything that might seem gift worthy…sadly not anymore and I’ve moved on to better candles in my opinion. I absolutely love candles by Antique Candle Company it’s a small family business but has grown tremendously in the past year or so that they have now become my candle gifting of choice. Their fall aand Christmas scents are just lovely. You should really try them and they do have sample packs to try. I also just love Chaz Dean candles…they used to be like $75 each but noticed recently on his website they are now $49.99. I do hope you will venture out and give them both a try. You wont be disappointed!! Have a lovely evening. And yay for us candle lovers!!

    • Isabella Muse

      Ooo no candle company to try thanks Brenda! They look good! I didn’t even know Chaz Dean did candles WHAT! Thanks so much for the recommendation! I did purchase some of Harry’s stuff but I’m still a little salty I had to do two of the same scent 🙁 booooooo! I don’t think it’s his fault, it’s prob a qvc thing but still angers me!

    • Isabella Muse

      It is but these are HUGE! And with the free shipping works out to about $22 per candle! Very worth it 😀

  • Dodie

    I totally agree!!
    I purchased a set of 3 different autumn scents in the past from QVC and loved them!

  • Karen Mannix

    I am the exact opposite – I love the duos and usually am not a fan of the mixed trios but I do love that between QVC and the Homeworx they are more options now. If I love a candle I’m happy to have two to burn even if I end up tucking it away for next year. Sometimes the trios are underwhelming – if I know I don’t like one of the scents is it really worth it? I’ve been getting Homeworx since the beginning so I feel like, unless it’s new, I know what I like and what’s a pass. Or sometimes all three have no throw which is a bummer as well. Of course, there are times I break my own rules because I get sucked in by Harry’s descriptions….I need to join a program for people with candle addictions!

    • Isabella Muse

      LOL can I join the candle addiction program? I’ve been doing homework since the start too. I just got so used to getting a trio of scents and qvc suddenly started doing duos and I was like noooooooooo! I want variety. I actually sort of don’t mind different scents as I almost always like them. I never came across a trio I didn’t enjoy. Harry has a nose! ;-D Everything he does is magical! I have too many candles I’ve hoarded so getting doubles is a hardship for me. But I get what you mean about loving one and tucking it away for next year ;-D makes total sense!

  • Marge

    I have been buying Slatkin candles for many years. I just received 2 boxes of Christmas candles. One arrived today called “Twas the night before” it has absolutely no scent whatsoever!. I’m shocked. I’m just burning wax. Mr. Slatkin, what happened to your quality control and the amazing Gourmand sent that you’re famous for? I’ve already called up QVC to send back the candles. In all the years of me buying your candles I have never been so disappointed because the quality is so inferior. If you changed companies or formula that creates your candles, I suggest you go back to the old way and or company. I could go to the dollar store and get a better candle right now. I am so disappointed.

    • Isabella Muse

      happened to me last year! I purchased a lot of the Holiday ones and there was very little fragrance! It made me scared to try Fall 2023!

  • Gwen Brown

    I have given over 30 candles of Harry Slatkin’s away for gifts. BUT when he made the plug ins. I fell in love with them. It was the Harvest collection around 2018 I think. I wish he would bring that collection back as well as the months of the year back. I bought those for my daughters and bonus daughters. I would love for those collections to return.

  • harry slatkin

    Thank you for the love and I hear you which is why I offer singles on our ecomm site – Harry

    • Isabella Muse

      Omg very flattered you commented and no hate at all. It’s mostly the qvc bundles that drive me wild! But totally shop your website for the newness! Plus enjoy the sales!

  • Theresa Binando

    I was really disappointed with Deliciously Apple 4-wick candle. I expected more of a stronger throw with all the hype given this brand. I went back to Bath n’ Body candles when they go on sale.

    • Isabella Muse

      I’m not sure what happened but some of my xmas ones from last year with very weak as well! So sorry to hear you experienced the same!

  • Janice Bevan

    Harry please take the labels off your candles. It makes for a cleaner look! Put your name and candle scent on the bottom of the candle instead. I hate labels! So ugly!
    Also, could you please make stronger scents and tell us when you do. My house is an open floor plan, your candles don’t fill the space. I need stronger. Thx

  • Roberta

    I dont know what the hype is on homeworx candles I purchased for the first time in June on qvc there is no throw with his candles. I can barely smell them. So disappointed

    • Isabella Muse

      sadly, the quality went down hill! They used to be incredible! 🙁