The Melting Library: Welcome to Hogwarts candle

Perhaps I’m making up for lost time, but I continue filling up the nooks and corners of my home with Harry Potter goods. A trend which has only increased since finishing the series last year. Bookstagram is partly to blame. I can’t seem to resist the tempting treasures that frequently scroll across my screen celebrating the legendary story, yet, I also wish to extend the experience just a little bit longer. One can’t go wrong with a candle depicting the emblematic wizarding school that set the stage for it all. 

Numerous book-inspired candles catch my eye, but The Melting Library, featured in my 2017 gift guide, does them impeccably. TML is one of the first bookish merchandise vendors I discovered, however, last Fall was my first purchase. As it’s one of the most popular collections, I grabbed this HP one when I could, and an Outlander jar for a friend.

Welcome to Hogwarts is freshly baked strudel, spiced cider and candlelight. With glass jars and metal lids, the soy-based 8 oz. candles are priced $15, a 4 oz. version is $7.50.I confess I chose this scent based solely on the label and Hogwarts reference, but I am happy I did. I may not embrace a lot of bakery fragrance; however, this is exactly what a Hogwarts welcome should be, the grand arrival of first-years to the Great Hall.

Fragrance: Enticing smells wafting from freshly laden long oak tables. Piles of sticky cauldron cakes, hearty baked breads, and stacks of buttery glazed strudel. The sweet pastry bursting with runny juice that trickles down your hands. Steam rises from bubbling copper cauldrons as hot cider is magically ladled into gleaming goblets. All is warm and aglow with candle flames dancing upon the bewitched ceiling, flickering as pearl-white vapors float by, the Hogwarts’ ghosts alighting to welcome the students home.

Some bread based scents tend to be yeasty, this, a toasty just from the oven confection; simple, warm and wonderful. The richly spiced apple cider is foremost on cold throw, while the bakery notes appear lightly on warm. 

Performance: Soft and subtle. The creamy wax pools in under an hour, but the scent gets lost in a larger room. After moving the jar into my bedroom, I was met with occasional warmth from the sweet strudel.Enjoyment from these candles comes mostly from displaying one’s beloved fandoms, or adding to a bookshelf collection. The library card stamp label, worn and faded font, and paper cover featuring book quotes combine for a special artistic touch. 

The shipping turn around time can seem lengthy at 3-4 weeks, mine was 4 weeks and a few days, for $7.62. I did use a candle rep discount found online for 10% off. Availability varies, but TML is currently well stocked in both candle sizes for many collections, get them while you can!I continue to relive the stories through the illustrated editions published yearly. This Christmas, I didn’t even need to mention it to my husband, he just knew. Especially wowed by Jim Kay’s rendition of the Knight Bus, one of my favorite chapters in Harry’s journey. This might be my purple-hued tome for the Bookish Jay and Reading Mermaid challenge, as I’m resolute in actually reading these versions rather than just using for display. 

What about you, would you collect bookish candles or other items for display or use them up? I think I’ll add tea lights to my jar when empty.