Can You Really Compare Aldi Candles With Jo Malone Candles?

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Can you compare Aldi candles with the Jo Malone real deal candles? I’m going to share with you what I think about the hype.

I’m aware that I’m not the first to talk about this. I have actually shared my thoughts on my Instagram stories, though. Do you follow me? Oh, you must! Although, I’m not a serial storifier on there I do enjoy it when I have the time.

You’ll already know how big a fan I am of Aldi by my tables purchase here.

I can’t believe that I haven’t written about Jo Malone yet since launching my blog. Everyone who knows me knows what a big fan I am of this luxury fragrance brand. Mr Bbed bought me me very first candle I think must be about ten years ago now. It was the Pomegranate Noir candle and despite trying many others still remains my favourite.

I remember when Aldi first brought out the candles around Mother’s Day. The hype was unbelievable and they sold out in record time.

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The next time I spotted them I bought up all three fragrances – Pomegranate Noir, Blackberry Bay and Lime and Basil & Mandarin. I wonder just how Aldi have got away with copycatting the names. Even the packaging is a complete dupe. They are worth £3.99 of anyone’s money just for the look alone.

They are double wicked and chunky. There has been no black smoke from any of mine. I’ve had black smoke from practically every Jo Malone candle I’ve ever owned despite always trimming.

So far so good, eh?

What they can’t match though is the hot throw of Jo Malone candles.. No siree.

Hot throw is the fragrant smell from a candle when it’s wick is lit.

I’m currently burning Jo Malone Red Roses and after 30 minutes burn time that evocative rose garden smell is wafting through every room.

No matter how long any of the Aldi ones burn  they don’t have a decent hot throw in my opinion. I can smell them but only if the door is closed in the room they are on in. I get a brief hit of fragrance when I walk in the room but it’s gone quite quickly.

I will add, though, that for the money they come a very close second to almost everything else I’ve ever tried. They can easily hold their own in the £10-£25 price bracket. I can say this because I am literally a candle freak. Family and friends all know I screech with delight at the thought of receiving a candle pressie.

I’ve since bought into the diffuser hype, too, when they appeared on Aldi’s shelves a couple of weeks ago. These  are even more impressive from a packaging perspective. They must have £3.99 worth of cardboard to them alone. They’ve thought of all the little Jo Malone touches as well. Even right down to the hand tied black ribbon around the reeds.

 

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So far, I’ve had much the same experience as I’ve had with the candles. The Pomegranate Noir one is on the fireplace in the sitting room. We mostly sit in the snug so the door of the sitting room is kept closed quite a bit. This seems to trap the fragrance in the room. The minute the door is open for any length of time the fragrance diminishes.

Once again though, I think they are definitely as good as any I have paid up to £20 for. My favourite ever diffuser though is by Neom — Complete Bliss.

Writing this post has reminded me I haven’t had one in a while 🙂

 

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I use my Aldi candles to supplement the burning of my more expensive candles. There are so many levels to being a candle addict .. lol!! If you are one you’ll know what I mean!

I definitely recommend you add them to your shopping list but they don’t really compare to Jo Malone. Good try, though!

What do you think? Agree or disagree with me? I’d love to hear from you .. xoxo

 

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26 Comments

  1. I keep meaning to treat myself to a Jo Malone but just never got around to it. Maybe this year will be the year! I think I’ll take your advice and buy one Jo Malone and a couple of Aldi’s to supplement as I do like the look of a few candles burning at once in a room – more snug I think.

    • Sharon Sinclair.Williams
      / 7:24 pm

      Start yourself off with Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir, Sam – you won’t regret it. xo

  2. Annette Doyle
    / 7:45 pm

    I love a good candle! I think it all started with Partylite candle parties – remember them? I have not had the pleasure of owning a Jo Malone candle but I have an Aldi one and think it stands up well against much more expensive candles and it looks good too!

    We have had a ‘smelly tea’ tonight so I am currently burning a True Grace Lime and Basil candle and its ‘hot throw’ (never heard that term before) is pretty good and the smell is lush!

    I am a fan of Neom candles too – I adore Tranquility and I have a lovely Sicilian Lemon one that really perks up your senses. L’Occitane’s Lemon Verbena and Molton Brown’s Gingerlily are favourites too. To be honest though, I am quite partial to a good old Yankee Candle too, they make lovely little gifts and choosing a fragrance is like being a kid in a sweet shop!

    • Sharon Sinclair.Williams
      / 8:19 pm

      Ooo I like a girl who knows her candles 😉 Seriously, get a JM one on your Christmas list. Have you tried Woodwick as well? They make a lovely crackling side like the fire — very hygge xo

      • Annette Doyle
        / 9:34 pm

        I have one ready to use at Christmas!

  3. Sinead (shinnersandthebrood.com)
    / 8:46 pm

    I’m not sure I’ll ever have the Jo Malone one to compare. It’s Aldi all the way here, I’m afraid. I’ll have to live without a hot throw! 😉

    • Sharon Sinclair.Williams
      / 8:49 pm

      I’m sure you won’t miss a hot throw too much, Sinead! 😉 The Aldi ones like IMO are still way above many that are 6-8 times the price xo

  4. Lynda Glass
    / 9:42 pm

    I love the gimmick of Aldi dupes, I went for all the candles and diffusers purely on the hype, I like them in that there is o guilt attached to burning them, I always get Dyptique Guilt lol, JM are amazing though, if you are looking for a very serious low cost diffuser, the Primark JM dupes are out of this world ! 6.00 and te room sprays are amazing, the diffusers only last a few weeks, but boy are they worth replacing. Lyn x

    • Sharon Sinclair.Williams
      / 9:46 pm

      Right Lyn that’s my next try out then. I know what you mean about the guilt factor. Ive had the Aldi ones on nearly every night since the nights are drawing in. That NEVER happens with my Jo Malone. I feel the need to say ‘My Precious’ Gollum style lol!! xx

  5. / 9:32 pm

    I need to march myself down to the Jo Malone store on the Las Vegas strip and get myself some candles. ASAP.

    • Sharon Sinclair.Williams
      / 6:54 pm

      You won’t regret it, Pati 🙂 Thanks for stopping by xo

  6. Laura
    / 5:10 pm

    I’ll definitely give these a try the next time I’m in Aldi. I’ve never tried anything from Jo Malone as it’s a bit out of my price range right now :/

    • Sharon Sinclair.Williams
      / 9:52 am

      The Aldi ones are a great alternative for sure xo

  7. / 8:15 pm

    I’m loving these candles and diffusers! the smells are great and they look stylish. i wasn’t impressed with my jo malone i got for xmas a few years ago-was really black and sooty and didn;t think the smell was great! i like NEOM though-def my treat candle-the smells remind me of a spa

    • Sharon Sinclair.Williams
      / 9:50 am

      Yes I know Jo Malone can be smokey but I still LOVE them so much. Pomegranate Noir wafting through my house — hmmmm lovely xo

  8. / 9:58 am

    I love Jo Malone too but sooooo pricey.Will def have a look out at Aldi.I especially love a festive waft at Xmas but never seem to achieve it. We don’t have any Jo Malone shops near us but we are spoilt for choice for Aldi’s!!

    • Sharon Sinclair.Williams
      / 9:03 pm

      Oh that’s next on my list, Jenny … festive candles. Loving some of your recipes on your blog btw xoxo

  9. / 1:33 pm

    Wow, good to know they live up to the £20 candles but they don’t beat Jo Malone. Adore candles too x

    • Sharon Sinclair.Williams
      / 10:49 pm

      They are definitely good back ups — you can never have too many can you? xo

  10. / 8:49 pm

    I’m in total agreement with you! I’m burning Red Roses at the moment too so totally appreciate what you mean about the fragrance filling the whole room. It’s beautiful. The Aldi ones are good for what they are, and as you say the packaging is beautiful too. Great review, and the photography is lovely xx

    Sincerely, Sarah xx

    • Sharon Sinclair.Williams
      / 8:37 pm

      Yes you are spot on, Sarah. Can’t complain about candles and diffusers for £3.99 can we? xo

  11. I haven’t yet managed to get my hands on any of the Aldi ones to compare, so it was interesting to read your review. I am amazed at how much they’ve replicated the packaging though, bit of a cheek, really!

    • Sharon Sinclair.Williams
      / 8:25 pm

      I’ll look forward to reading your review, Rachel if you get your hands on some x

  12. / 12:43 pm

    I wrote about the new body range not that long ago and I felt the same with that. Obviously, they’re no substitute for a Jo Malone but I can see their appeal. Shame they don’t have more of a scent throw because they’d be ideal! Have you seen the new Diptyque dupes? I wonder if they are the same?

    • Sharon Sinclair.Williams
      / 3:10 pm

      Hey Laura .. yes I’ve got the Diptyque dupes and so far I’m pretty impressed. xo