Long before Ronald Reagan officially designated the rose as America's national flower in 1986, it had already become one of the country's most enduring symbols. Often associated with love, honor, remembrance, and sacrifice, the flower has appeared in American gardens for centuries, including those at Mount Vernon, where George Washington was known to grow roses. For a collection commemorating America's 250th anniversary, I feel the rose is a thoughtful and intentional choice, showing the considerable thought and care that went into this collection's overall concept.
By the way, I should mention that I purchased all four candles from Yankee's Happy Birthday America Collection without reading their scent descriptions. As someone who loves a good theme, an occasion, or a celebration, if you will, and, yes, as a patriot, I bought them purely because of the concept.
According to Yankee Candle, Liberty Bloom is a floral fragrance inspired by America's national flower, the rose. Blending lush floral notes with grounding woods, the fragrance is designed to celebrate the spirit of possibility.
Top: Rose, Watery Green Ozonic Notes
Mid: Plum Blossom, Honeysuckle, Muguet
Base: Velvet Woods, Clove, Guaiac Wood
When I took the lid off Liberty Bloom, I instantly smelled the rose, and being someone who steers clear of roses, I was immediately a little apprehensive.
On cold and while burning, Liberty Bloom remained consistent. The rose is unquestionably the star of the fragrance, but it never comes across as overly perfumey, powdery, heady, or matronly. Instead, it's fresh, velvety, and perhaps even a little romantic. Accompanying it is a distinct watery green quality that gives the fragrance a dewy character, while the additional floral notes add depth and softness. Beneath it all, the woody base notes provide a gentle foundation that keeps the fragrance grounded.
One note I couldn't identify at all was the clove. Despite being listed in the fragrance notes, I never picked up any noticeable spice.
This candle succeeds for me because of how well everything around the rose supports and complements it. The watery green notes, soft florals, and woody base act like a supporting cast, each contributing to the overall composition. The result is a beautiful rose scent that reinforces my newfound appreciation for rose fragrances.
A single wick, red colored premium plant wax.
I think I'm having a bit of a scent identity crisis, or maybe some sort of fragrance evolution, because I'm finding myself increasingly more receptive to rose fragrances, when I used to shriek away from them. I blame True Love from Homeworx.
As for performance, I would classify the throw as medium, and I'm perfectly content with that. Given that Liberty Bloom is primarily a rose-forward floral fragrance, I'm not sure I would want it to be any stronger. Thankfully, the villainous heat and humidity that are synonymous with Tokyo summers hasn't gotten the memo yet. But when they do eventually arrive-and they will-this is about as strong as I'd want a fragrance like this to be for the season.
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