Missing £50 candle- is it my cleaner?

[MotherHen3]

So had a really rotten few weeks at work and as a treat my husband bought me a really extravagant scented candle ...brought home and opened--wonderful smell filled whole house- 2 days later - it was gone.....This was on a day I had builders downstairs and an electrician in the house and 2 delivery men and my ( female ) cleaner who has worked for me for about 3 years....

I have turned the house upside down looking for this in the hope that someone had broken it- rather than being stolenbut it was big- and not easily mislaid my husband says I am overreacting but it has totally freaked me out to think someone in my house has stolen from me---he also says there is no way a man would steal a candle.....

I have asked everyone about it and all know nothing I have told the cleaner that I spend all weekend looking for the candle ( true ) and that I am really upset as it was a present from my husband-I hoped this might make it re-appear!

I have had previous issues with cleaner asking to borrow money from me which I did on one occasion as she said she was desperate ( and a good cleaner in an area where hard to get a cleaner )but she then started asking to borrow more money and then asking me to pay her 2 weeks in advance etc etc as she was desperate.....

I have also recently reduced halved her hours as we had ongoing building work and dust which has now finished- so gone back to usual hours---which she was not happy about.....


I have no evidence at all re the candle so don't see how I can accuse her of anything-but builders have been on site for 6 months with no problems
and as my husband says- surely they would nick something better than a candle ( even though it was especially lovely!)

...it is literally driving me nuts trying to work out where it has gone ( have turned house upside down ) and who would have taken it

...I am starting to think it can only be a woman and that maybe it wasn't just about nicking something- but a bit of a revenge thing for me halving my cleaners hours....but I have no evidence so don't see how I can sack her....thoughts gratefully received--I value trustworthiness above all else as I am a really private person and actually find it difficult having someone in my house to clean but have got used to her over 3 years ( I work full time and have 4 children so need a cleaner)

[KatieKaboom]

Jo Malone candles are rank. What a rip-off.

[BigGreenOlives]

That seems bonkers as a 200g candle is £42. £42 candle

[BigGreenOlives]

It's a typo on their website - when you go into product details the £280 candle weighs 2.5kg, not 250g.

[BBQsAreSooooOverrated]

If the smell of the candle fills your whole house it should be quite easy to track it down if it's hidden or in a bin.

[mamamea]

That makes sense then.

200g candle = £42

2.5kg = £280

No 250g candle as far as I can see....

[Kavv]

My bet's on one of the workmen - did it accidentally and then threw the broken bits in the bin hoping you wouldn't notice. Agree cleaner has too much to lose.

[Absolutelynothingelse]

I actually think maybe OP DH hated the smell and secretly got rid of it

[ChazsBrilliantAttitude]

Jo Malone
600g candles are £115
www.jomalone.co.uk/products/11783/For-the-Home/Deluxe-Candles#/products/
So that might explain £80 duty free.

[AppleSetsSail]

OP what have you decided?

[animalsitter]

wow! I haven't been on here for years and now I know why. Poor woman coming on here about her missing candle and most of you are like pack animals going in for the kill. I bet face to face you are all really nice but come on ladies, just because you are hiding behind a computer doesn't give you the right to be nasty. You are all mums, would you like your children to behave in this way or would you read them the riot act telling them to be kind to people not a bully.

[Lweji]

Poor woman?

[TrollTheRespawnJeremy]

Won't somebody think of the children!?

[liz70]

£280!!! Talk about watching your money go up in smoke!

[KittyKrap]

Can't you just line up all the suspects and smell them? If it's that fragrant

[SuperFlyHigh]

is animalsitter OP one wonders??!!

[katie85whitehead]

Hi can i suggest just asking your clearner out right maybe she has a problem with addiction or debt and took it , then you will see her reaction and tell if she looks guilty or offended , id also ask the builders too that way your not singling the cleaner out but can get a feel flr what you think

[SpaceUnicorn]

is animalsitter OP one wonders??!!

No, I think she very definitely rejoined MN after several years just to comment on a post about a candle. Definitely.

[pollymere]

Could easily be builders or electrician. It's a very saleable item. Why blame your cleaner who is honest enough to ask for an advance rather than steal.

[Lweji]

Won't somebody think of the children!?

Some of us did.
We think they did it.

[SuperFlyHigh]

Of course Space that's it, I quite admire long expired members who trawl MN occasionally for miscarriages of justice, to add their lone voice of support!

[SuperFlyHigh]

katie that's a bit harsh getting OP wondering if the cleaner has a debt or addiction problem!

I'd walk out if my employer suggested/put those questions to me!

[Evergreen17]

You have 4 children
Start there

[animalsitter]

No I am not Op and for some reason I have started getting notifications about threads. Its just hilarious reading all your posts, some are sensible and others....well .... I will look at mums at the school gates with new eyes. One of them could be on here spouting their insulting pearls of wisdom, No more comments from me, but I will enjoy the fallout from my post