Kelly Hoppen’s ongoing collaboration with Marks & Spencer keeps producing some serious gems for our homes – and the just dropped Kelly No. 1 Decorative Scented Candle is my latest top pick as it’s the perfect budget-friendly alternative for one of my favourite high-end candle brands, Cire Trudon.
Selling for only £25 and providing up to 40 hours of burn time, this is one of the best scented candles in terms of value for money – so it’s no surprise it’s already selling fast on the M&S website, despite its very recent release. It comes in a white ceramic jar with a matching lid, decorated only with a gold-coloured coat of arms sticker bearing Kelly’s name.
The candle comes in a white ceramic vessel which is not quite as fancy as alabaster stone but still looks very sleek and stylish. It also comes packaged in a matching white box with the same coat of arms.
Yes, this candle is undoubtedly pricey. But in all fairness, the vessel is made from real alabaster which is refillable so you only have to buy it once. Then all you continue buying are refills retailing for £80.
It’s the best-looking dead ringer for Cire Trudon’s Alabaster range I’ve seen – which is the brand’s refillable scented candle range with each candle coming in a white alabaster jar with a coordinating lid. And the large golden coat of arms sticker is the instantly recognisable signature of all Cire Trudon candles.
While the core range of Cire Trudon candles sells for £95 for a regular 270g size, the Alabaster collection retails for £175 a pop. That makes the M&S x Kelly Hoppen alternative 1/7 of the price, and £150 cheaper.
Similarly to Diptyque, Jo Malone or the now very trendy Loewe scented candles (available at Selfridges), Cire Trudon’s candles can also be found mostly in stylish people’s homes. But unlike the aforementioned brands, Cire Trudon is one reserved for those ‘in the know’ since it’s not as widely recognised a brand. Which personally makes me love it even more.
But the best home fragrance is not just about the looks but also the scent itself, of course. The Kelly No. 1 candle is a woody fragrance, featuring notes of patchouli, clove and bergamot – it’s an ingredients list very similar to Cire Trudon’s bestselling Ernesto candle, sold at Selfridges, which blends these notes with leather, tobacco and oak wood among others.
Between the stylish look of the Cire Trudon candles and their beautiful and strong fragrance, it’s obvious that I’m a big fan of the brand, and it’s clear why. But the one downside of Cire Trudon is the high price point – which is why I approve of this affordable alternative from M&S and Kelly Hoppen. Just like most pieces from this partnership, this candle does not disappoint.
