60 hours of calm? What the 'Calm & Serenity' scented candle really delivers
"Calm & Serenity" by Cerería Mollá is said to be proven to relax you thanks to fragrance research – and for 60 hours at that. The first part is true. The second part, I weighed.
Soy wax, two wicks, a topaz-colored glass: This is “Calm & Serenity” by Cerería Mollá. It is supposed to smell of sandalwood, vetiver, and fresh citrus notes – and, true to its name, provide peace and serenity. That is not just a fragrance note; it is a promise to my mood.
Behind the candle is Cerería Mollá 1899, a Spanish manufacturer that carries its founding year in its name and makes craftsmanship the core of its brand: “Since 1899, we have preserved artisanal techniques passed down through generations,” the website states. The brand is specific – and thus verifiable – when it comes to materials: 100 percent vegetable soy wax, natural cotton wicks, essential oils.
Regarding the scent, the brand even invokes science: It is based on “olfactory neuroscience” and has been “tested in a renowned Spanish laboratory for measuring emotional reactions.” This is said to prove its ability to “promote deep relaxation.” That sounds impressive, but remains unverifiable: Which laboratory, what method, how many test subjects? There is no information on this. So, I test it myself: I burn the candle in my 15-square-meter living room and have three colleagues smell it blind.
First impression
The candle comes in a color-coordinated, recyclable cardboard box. Only the protective sleeve inside is made of plastic, but it can be removed. The packaging contains information about the brand, and a brochure includes tips on burning.
The weight is striking: The candle weighs a total of 840 grams, of which 370 grams is wax. The glass and lid therefore account for more than half of the weight. The candle glass feels high-quality. Except for the lettering, which I don't think is necessary. It can be reused with the lid for a new candle you pour yourself or for a tea light.
The scent
The unlit wax already smells pleasantly woody and fresh when unpacked. Once lit, the scent is more intense, but no less refined. It unfolds most strongly in the room itself, but is also perceptible in adjacent rooms because I usually leave both doors open. The sandalwood provides the base, the citrus note keeps it fresh. Above all: It doesn't overpower everything. Many scented candles are so present after half an hour that I extinguish them again. This one remains restrained enough that I can let it burn for an entire evening.
After extinguishing, the scent lingers in the air for about half an hour. How long depends on whether you close the lid or not.
The scent fulfills what the name promises for me: It calms. Whether that is due to “olfactory neuroscience” or simply because sandalwood and vetiver have been considered grounding scents for centuries, I cannot decide from my sofa.
The blind test
Because scent is a matter of taste, I had three colleagues smell the candle without a label, brand name, or price. Three questions: What do you smell? How intense is the scent on a scale of 1 to 10? And: Would you light the candle at home?
The result is surprising: Natalie Hemengül first asks if the scent is even in the room, and recognizes woods in it a little later. Stephanie Vinzens also finds it “rather subtle” and thinks of Christmas, while Carmen Baumann is reminded of saunas.
The three then agree on the intensity: Carmen gives it a 5 out of 10, Stephanie a 4, and Natalie a 3. Restrained, then – exactly as I perceive it.
Most revealing is what the three noses would call the candle: “She's Shy,” “Christmas Air,” or “Sauna Tranquility.” Three images, one feeling – and thus pretty much exactly what the product name promises.
All three would light it – just in very different rooms: Carmen in the entrance area, Natalie in the bathroom, Stephanie in the bedroom or living room.
The burn test
The wax burns cleanly and completely evenly. I usually blow the candle out and immediately use the lid to stop the smoke. Before each new lighting, I trim the wicks as recommended. The charred tip tends to crumble rather than cut, which is typical for cotton wicks. I wipe the black crumbs off the wax anyway before lighting it again. Otherwise, they can act as small secondary wicks and cause soot.
Although the manufacturer recommends letting the candle burn for at least two hours so that the entire surface is liquid, I can theoretically stop after just one hour. No wax edges remain, no tunneling, no soot. This is likely due to the two wicks: Two flames liquefy the surface faster and more evenly than one.
This is exactly where the problem lies: The candle loses about ten grams of wax per hour. With a fill quantity of 370 grams, that is enough for about 37 hours – including residual wax on the glass edge. The manufacturer states 60 hours, almost 40 percent more than I measure. I cannot find an explanation for this: Two wicks do consume more wax than one, but that is exactly what the manufacturer specifies.
And I have already calculated in my favor: Short burn phases tend to consume less wax than long ones, where the glass and wax remain hot throughout. Anyone who lets the candle burn for an entire evening will likely end up with less than 37 hours.
Ingredients
Four fragrance substances are declared: D-limonene, linalool, coumarin, and linalyl acetate. All four are considered potentially allergenic and must therefore be disclosed. Limonene is naturally found in citrus peels, linalool and linalyl acetate in lavender and bergamot, coumarin in tonka beans. However, occurring naturally does not automatically mean they do so here. “Natural scents” is not a protected term. Anyone who reacts sensitively to fragrances should know this list before the candle is placed in the bedroom. The website shows which certificates the brand claims for its products.
Price per burn hour
At 34.90 francs and the promised burn time, the candle would cost 58 centimes per hour. According to my measurement, it is about 95 centimes.
In a nutshell
Reassuringly reliable, just not for as long as promised
Pro
- calming effect – also confirmed in a blind test
- very clean, even burn without soot and wax edges
- high-quality glass, reusable
- elegant packaging, suitable for gifting
Contra
- actual burn time about a third shorter than stated
- resulting in a high price per burning hour
Like a cheerleader, I celebrate good design and bring you closer to everything furniture- and interior design-related. I regularly curate simple yet sophisticated interior finds, track down trends and interview creative minds about their work.
