NEWNESS UPDATE: Holiday '16 Test Scents *UPDATED*

Well gang, it's about that time again..test stores are getting in their holiday scents!

So first off, it looks we're getting another expensive fancy-schmancy lidless collection, this time with fall forest theme and wood panel -esque tumblers . Now I'm assuming this is gonna be a transitional collection from fall to winter, it may even be taking the place of last year's Thanksgiving collection but DON'T QUOTE ME ON THAT

White Birch - Crisp Lavender, Vanilla Bean, Birchwood (according to my gurl Jenn aka @theshow78, this a total repackage of Peace ~ Iced Vanilla Woods)

Applewood Spice - Red Delicious Apple, Cedarwood, Cinnamon Stick (possibly a repackage of failed test scent from last winter, Merry ~ Mulled Holiday Cider  )

Golden Amber Oak - Golden Amber, Pink Peppercorn, Black Rose Petals (I got nuthin)

Sunkissed Maple - Golden Maple, Smoked Caramel, Roasted Chestnuts, Teakwood (Enchanted Woods? Bonfire Maplewood?)

Returning scents include Woodland Forest and Sandalwood & Suede


Now let's get to the real deal, the holiday scents. So the first collection seems to be main collection and a mix of old and "new" scents; mainly gourmand scents with a few conceptual ones thrown

Spiced Gingerbread - Spiced Gingerbread, Vanilla Icing, Sparkling Cinnamon Sugar, Fresh Ground Nutmeg (I'm assuming this is Gingerbread/Frosted Gingerbread from the Slatkin days)

Hot Cocoa & Cream - Decadent Milk Chocolate, Fresh Steamed Milk, Mini Marshmallow (updated refined version of Slatkin's Hot Chocolate candle)

Snowflakes & Citrus - Frozen Lemon Peel, Fresh Squeezed Tangerine, Winter White Mango, Sugared Snow Crystals (so based on the name, you would think this was Dashing thru the Snow from last winter but then these notes throw you for a loop. Give up? It's Midnight Blue Citrus! WTF BBW?! And wtf is winter white mango?! I just can't!)

Maple Cinnamon Pancakes  (I heard from the grapevine that this is a repackage of..wait for it...Pumpkin Caramel Latte!)

Returning scents include Vanilla Bean Noel, Winter Candy Apple, Marshmallow Fireside, Twisted Peppermint, Evergreen, Flannel, Tis the Season


The next collection is a group of more outdoorsy winter woodsy conceptual scents

Winter Mint & Spruce - Sugared Spruce, Crisp Mint, Green Pine, Frosted Lavender (soooo many of candlefans were hoping this would be the grand return of Snow Day  ... no such luck, It's a new scent that's very reminiscent of Peace ~ Iced Vanilla Woods

Chestnut & Birch - Roasted Chestnut, Caramel Sea Salt, Fireside Woods, Birch Bark (I thought maybe Caramel Woods but nope. Then maybe Pumpkin Fireside...again nope. The general consensus is that this a reworking of either Chestnuts Roasting.) 

Cinnamon Pinecone - Cinnamon Bark, Fresh Pine, Aromatic Cedar, Juniper  (Welcome ~ Spiced  Autumn Wreath/ Welcome ~ Cinnamon Pinecone all the way)

Sparkling Woods - Amber Wood, Winter Pear, Sparkling Bergamot, White Patchouli (yyeaahh...I got nuthin! Sounds like a girlygirl signature bodycare scent)

Returning scents include Winter, Spiced Apple Toddy, Sweater Weather, Vanilla Snowflake, Fresh Balsam, Mahogany Balsam, Frosted Cranberry, Fresh Sparkling Snow)



And of course, there has to be New Years party collection

Winter Rose - Soft Rose Petal, Pink Peppercorn, White Cedarwood, Luxe Sandalwood (attention BBW, putting "winter" in the name DOES MAKE A CANDLE A WINTER SCENT! This also has the same notes as the aforementioned Golden Amber Oak..hmmm...possible repackage of Majestic Rose)

Berry Vanilla Bean - Winter Berries, Ruby Red Pomegranate, Lush Vanilla Bean, Twist of Mandarin (similar to Blueberry Twist but not a repackage. How is this a friggin holiday candle?!)

Holiday Sparkle - Bright Sparkling Water, Sugared Citrus, Wintertime Jasmine, Creamy Sandalwood (repackage of Bergamot Waters...I just CAN'T!)

Holly Berry Balsam - Winter Cranberry, Snow-kissed Citrus, Blue Spruce, Fir Balsam (repackage of Merry Mistletoe..why rename this?!)

Celebrate - Warm Mulled Cider, Cinnamon Stick, Clove Buds, Christmas Clementine (watered down version of Tis the Season but without pine )

Returning scents include Peach Bellini, Cinnamon Caramel Swirl, Black Tie, Champagne Toast


Lastly the winter additions to the Core collection

Peach Meringue - Fresh Peach Nectar, Golden Apricot, Juicy Nectarine, Whipped Vanilla (straightup Market/Georgia Peach...facepalm)

Vanilla Balsam - Balsam Fir Branches, Frosted Vanilla, Snowcapped Pine, Freshcut Cedarwood (so this is not Snowflakes and Spruce from last year, thank gawd. This could possibly be a new scent)

Winter Cedar - Frosty White Cedarwood, Smoked Suede, Wintry Air (this could a renamed version of this fall's Sandalwood and Suede but this also could be a repackage of Vanilla Cedarwood from '13)

Returning scents include Silver Pine & Cedar, Fireside, Sparkling Icicles, Cinnamon & Clove Buds, Fresh Balsam, Merry Cookie, Peppermint Marshmallow, White Gardenia (wtf?!!!) 

I hate being a Negative Nancy, but goddamn this is a pretty awful lineup. I thought last winter was bad but this year takes the cake! Clearly BBW is out of ideas; so many headscratch facepalm inducing choices..Winter Rose, Maple Cinnamon Pancakes..dafuq?! Repackages of Bergamot Waters, Market Peach, and Midnight Blue Citrus...really BBW? Just too much wtf-ery going on! Flat out blatant laziness and pandering to the basic bitches of America! Obviously BBW doesn't want my money for Christmastime and I'm ok with that; my bank account will be breathing a huge sigh of relief this holiday season

For pics of all of these candles, check out @theshow78, @iambored24 and @duchessofwax on Instagram