Jo Malone candles and MIL.

[Flatdeadfrog]

I've name changed as details are a little bit outing as I've talked to friends about this.

My MIL is a bit of a scented candle aficionado and can be a bit precious about the types of scented candles she'll have in the house. That's fair enough, as you like what you like. BUT for mothers day, she has specified she wants a new scented candle for her hall.

DH likes to oblige his mum as she's actually lovely, but his default is to just buy an expensive Jo Malone candle. We don't actually have a Jo Malone budget, as we are feeling the pinch as I am on maternity leave and we're struggling a bit financially because of it.

DH and I have had an argument about it tonight, as I feel that MIL would be upset to think that we're spending our weekly food budget on an expensive candle (and frankly I think it's a waste), but DH really wants to get something nice for his mum. MIL loves scented candles, but something cheaper like a Yankee candle would just be shoved to the back of the cupboard.

AIBU to think MIL can do without a candle this year? Or can anybody recommend anything nice scent/candle wise that wouldn't get wasted like a Yankee candle would?

MIL is lovely, she would be appalled at the idea we'd spent our weekly food shop on a candle, but DH can't see past getting his mum a gift for mothers day and getting what she's asked for.

Sand and Fog candles from TK Maxx, gorgeous scents and really good value for money.

St Evel candles are pleasant and middling priced. Smell nice and look nice.

If you are anywhere near Cheetham Hill you can get a Jo Malone gift set which includes a large candle for less than £30

@netto bahahaha and a pair of Nikes whilst you’re there, bargain!

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134040669494

Try Home County Candle Co - I discovered them recently and their fragrances are lovely. My favourite so far is Buckinghamshire (Cedar and Wild Berries). It's a British family-run business.

You can also get a metal lid with your purchase, like a lot of more expensive brands do.

Give her a jo malone voucher towards a new candle and explain you weren’t sure which one she wanted

Thank you bery much @Stath

*very!

How utterly ridiculous.

I would make the point by reducing the food shopping by the amount that the candle cost, specifically by not buying anything nice/expensive that he likes and serve up cheap dinners like dhal and rice, beans on toast, bean chilli etc. If he says anything then just tell him that there was a hole in the budget that needed filling that week.

I have a Jo Malone candle and its Aldi dupe. There is definitely a difference in the strength of the scent.

The oud and bergamot from Aldi is amazing.

Why not try a smaller business or Etsy seller - often they smell lovely and feel quite special and unique, so nice for gifts. I like Hackney Wick Co candles, but there are lots of lovely ones. Anything made of soy wax and with essential oils should smell nice but not too headachey.

On the highstreet I find Arket do nice, cool looking candles, or H&M.

@userxx The JM candle and the Aldi dupe I have are Oud and Bergamot.
JM much stronger scent.

If he wants to spend that much he chooses what he’s not going to buy to compensate. He also buys it, wraps it etc.

Useless men aren’t going to improve if they are enabled to be so hopeless

May be too late here, but if you’ve never ordered anything from Cult beauty they’ve got Boy Love Candles for £36 and you get £15 off your first order. Postage is free if you spend over £25 but £3.95 otherwise.
I love a nice candle myself and am currently burning an Aldi dupe of the Jo Loves Roasted Chestnuts which I got for Christmas and burned until there was nothing left. The Aldi one doesn’t smell much different but somehow it’s not the same - it doesn’t look as nice!
To me candles are a luxury thing and although common sense says cheaper versions are fine,if they are not what you want then they end up being a waste of money
The Boy Loves Candles are as good if not better than either Jo Malone or Jo Loves candles and the Gardener fragrance is just gorgeous.
If OH is adamant that he wants to buy a Jo Malone candle to please his mum they are available on Look Fantastic and there is currently 15% off a £50 spend which is what Jo Malone candles cost on there.

Valentte do incredible candles. The white neroli one and the nutmeg one are my favourites

valentte.com/

They have brilliant fancy candles at TK Maxx for a fraction of the price :-)

What did you decide on in the end @Flatdeadfrog ?

@LadyEloise1

What did you decide on in the end *@Flatdeadfrog* ?

I went for a Wicked Elk candle. They had some really lovely fragrances, which I think MIL would like.

Thank you everyone for the suggestions.

Get an aldi fake one and a bunch of daffs. Xxxx

I've been buying candles from Parkminster for a few years and they smell great as well as being not too expensive.

Ralph's Orchard are my fave, very affordable and great scents like Wild Fig & Oakmoss and Vintage Bookshop