This week’s fixation: candles. I can go a whole year without burning one, but last month, Reddit’s r/luxurycandles came across my feed. Since I don’t have a spare $100 per candle, I’m taking you along on my quest to find affordable dupes.

The $14 Allswell Glow candle from Walmart has gone viral as a potential dupe for the famous $125 Baccarat Rouge 540 candle by Maison Francis Kurkdjian.

If you live under a rock, Baccarat Rouge 540 first came on the scene as a perfume, and it is popular. Its signature saffron and ambergris notes have spawned an entire dupe industry. The OG is now available in hair mists, soaps, and candles.

Here’s how the Walmart candle stacks up:

✅ Why It Works: Based on the scent notes (vanilla, pear, and coconut), it shouldn’t smell like Baccarat at all. Surprise: it’s 90% similar. It makes your entire room smell like an expensive perfume. The candle itself is in a pretty, heavy glass container, and it burns evenly.

❌ Why It Doesn’t: It can be a tad bit cloying in small spaces. This is a better one to burn in a main living area versus a bathroom.

💸 Buy It? Yes! It’s dirt cheap, smells great, and is easy to pick up with your grocery order.

Rating: ✨✨✨✨/5

Read more reviews. »

🇻🇪 Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was captured by U.S. forces yesterday. Trump claims the U.S. will “run” Venezuela — but the still-active Venezuelan government and military disagree. Uh oh.

🔋 Tesla took a nosedive in 2025. China’s BYD is the new EV leader, selling 2.26M vehicles to Tesla’s 1.64M last year. Turns out Elon is so 2000 and late.

✈️ Because flying doesn’t suck enough, American Airlines customers flying basic economy no longer earn miles or status. United, here I come.

🎂 Have a “Great British Bake Off” challenge idea? Audience Choice Week is coming in 2026, and you can submit yours here. Personally, I want to see them absolutely butcher tacos again.

🐩 In this week’s most adorable news, three new breeds have joined the American Kennel Club’s roster: the basset fauve de Bretagne, the Teddy Roosevelt terrier, and the Russian tsvetnaya bolonka.

I cannot get over this “Korean bob.” It’s essentially an undercut — long, flowy top layers, with a classic bob underneath. I would be lying if I said I didn’t consider this for half a second.

Alexa, play Hannah Montana’s 🎶The Best of Both Worlds🎶

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