Bath & Body Works: Paris Amour 3-Wick Candle Review
After a long 12-year hiatus since its original candle debut back in 2012, the legendary Paris Amour fragrance has finally made its highly anticipated comeback. Released as a special part of the Holiday 2024 Emily in Paris Netflix collaboration, this returning classic has sparked a massive wave of nostalgia among long-time Bath & Body Works enthusiasts.
Product Specifications
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Size: 14.5 oz (3-Wick Scented Candle)
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Retail Price: $29.95
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Official Fragrance Notes: French tulips, apple blossoms, sparkling pink champagne, sandalwood, and creamy musk.
Detailed Fragrance Profile & Scent Journey
Paris Amour belongs to the quintessential fruity-floral fragrance family that defined an entire generation of Bath & Body Works body care. If you were a fan of the brand around 2011 when the original body care line launched, this scent will immediately transport you back in time, sharing a very similar DNA with other iconic favorites like Pink Chiffon and A Thousand Wishes.
Upon lighting the candle, the initial impression is a vibrant burst of fruitiness. While the official notes focus on florals, there is an unmistakable presence of sweet, juicy apple and a distinct hint of ripe raspberry that carries over from the original body care formulation.
As the wax pools, the fruit notes beautifully intertwine with a deeper, more sophisticated base:
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The Floral Element: The combination of French tulips and apple blossoms gives the scent a rich, romantic floral heart.
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The Soft Base: What keeps this fragrance from becoming overwhelmingly sweet or powdery is the masterful blend of sandalwood and “creamy musk.” The musk effectively rounds out the sharp edges of the sandalwood, making it finish much smoother and creamier than the heavier sandalwood found in scents like Japanese Cherry Blossom.
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The Effervescent Twist: Adding to its unique charm is a subtle, sparkling effervescence derived from the pink champagne note. It introduces a lively, bubbly quality that prevents the fragrance from feeling too dense.
Note on Style: This is undeniably a “classic perfume” style home fragrance. Because of its deep floral and woody undercurrents, the overall vibe leans slightly more toward the mature and elegant side rather than being a youthful, sugary sweet scent.
Burn Performance & Scent Throw
While the scent itself is a nostalgic triumph, the performance of the 2024 version is a bit of a mixed bag, offering excellent fragrance projection but requiring careful monitoring during use.
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Scent Throw (8/10): One of the biggest complaints about the original 2012 candle release was its weak, barely-there scent throw. Thankfully, Bath & Body Works completely fixed this issue for the re-release. Backed by the robustness of the sandalwood and heavy florals, the 2024 version boasts a very strong, commanding presence. It easily fills a large room within minutes.
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Burn Quality & Maintenance: The physical burn performance is where you will need to pay close attention. This candle is equipped with rather large core wicks, meaning it burns extremely hot and fast. The wicks tend to mushroom heavily, which quickly leads to massive flames. If left burning for more than 2 hours continuously, the candle will begin to soot heavily.
Detailed Comparison: How Has the 2024 Version Improved?
To see the exact differences, let’s compare the Paris Amour (Holiday 2024) with its 2012 predecessor and a similar sister fragrance:
| Criteria | Original Version (2012) | Emily in Paris Version (2024) | Compared to A Thousand Wishes |
| Scent Throw | Weak (3/10) – Faint aroma, only noticeable when standing very close. | Excellent (8/10) – Powerful throw that effortlessly fills large spaces. | Comparable in strength, but Paris Amour feels more airy and floral. |
| Scent Profile | Leaned more heavily towards a lighter, sweet fruity blend. | Richer perfume vibe with more pronounced sandalwood and musk. | A Thousand Wishes is sweeter and warmer due to its almond (amaretto) note. |
| Burn Cleanliness | Burned evenly with minimal smoke due to medium-sized wicks. | Burns very hot; highly prone to mushrooming and heavy soot. | Both require frequent trimming as they share the standard BBW wax blend. |
Pro-Tips for the Best Burning Experience
Because this candle is a bit high-maintenance with its hot-burning wicks, follow these simple rules to make it last longer and smell cleaner:
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The 2-Hour Rule: Do not burn this candle for more than 2 hours at a time. Burning it for too long will overheat the wax pool, causing a smoky, burnt undertone to overpower the beautiful perfume notes.
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Always Trim the Wicks: Before every single light, clip off the carbon “mushroom” tops and keep the wicks trimmed to about 0.3 – 0.5 cm. This stabilizes the flame, stops it from flickering wildly, and reduces soot by up to 90%.
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Use a Candle Warmer: If you want to avoid dealing with wicks and soot altogether, use a top-down candle warming lamp. The heat from the halogen bulb melts the wax perfectly, releasing an incredibly clean champagne and tulip aroma while doubling the lifespan of your candle.
Final Score Breakdown
Scent:
9 / 10(A flawless, more sophisticated revival of a nostalgic favorite)Throw:
8.5 / 10(Ranks among the strongest floral candles currently available)Packaging Design:
9.5 / 10(The Paris street map pattern and embossed logo look highly artistic)Burn Performance:
6 / 10(The only real downside due to hot wicks and fast soot accumulation)OVERALL SCORE: 8.25 / 10
Final Verdict: The revival of Paris Amour through the Emily in Paris collaboration is far more than just a clever marketing gimmick—it is a high-quality, nostalgic gift to anyone who fell in love with this romantic fragrance a decade ago. If you want to instantly bring the elegant, dreamy atmosphere of a Parisian evening straight into your living room, this candle is absolutely worth picking up!