WARNING - Laura Mercier Candles 'Fresh Fig'

 (IMAGE - TAKEN FROM GOOGLE, NO COPYRIGHT INTENDED.)
A while back in the January Sales I visited the Laura Mercier counter and picked up a Creme Brulee Body Set, Fresh Fig Candle, cosmetics and a perfume. Until recently I hadn't wanted to use the candle as originally they're £29 and I really didn't want to re-purchase another for full price so I was savouring it.

 Last Sunday however my bedroom was absolutely freezing so I decided to light my Laura Mercier candle to warm up my bedroom a bit and relax before work. I never normally fall asleep with candles on (I know the dangers and I'm paranoid about such things) but on this occasion I nodded off for around an hour.

I awoke with a tight feeling chest and upon opening my eyes I thought my room looked foggy, or perhaps my eyes were a bit blurry but I soon realized my room was filled with black smoke. After scanning my room, looking for evidence of a fire I realized my candle was to blame. As soon as the candle was blown out, my windows were open and I was trying to figure out what had caused the candle to release so much smoke. I then realized that around my finger nails were dark and chalky and then that my nostrils were completely blackened inside. Of course, this worried me and when I started coughing up black mucas and feeling out of breath my mum demanded I go to A&E but being stubborn I refused and instead she rang our local medical centre. They assured me that as long as I didn't start coughing up blood and didn't pass out I should be ok but that I was lucky I hadn't put the candle on before I'd gone to bed and fallen asleep otherwise I could of had carbon monoxide poisoning. Obviously the smoke had entered my lungs which isn't good for you under any circumstances.

I've since attempted to contact Laura Mercier several times, all to no avail. I've rang my local counter twice, only to be made to feel like a nuisance and assured that 'HO' would be getting in touch with me - they didn't and it's now five days on. After tweeting about the incident I did receive a reply from Laura Mercier, but once I replied to them saying I wasn't complaining for the money they ignored me. I then tweeted again asking if there was someone I could speak to about the incident, only to be ignored again. Since then I've emailed the company, only to receive a generic e-mail reply - totally uninterested in what I had to say.
Having exhausted all options, I feel that since the company are doing nothing to help, or assure me their candles are safe I need to pass a warning on to as many people as I can for my own piece of mind at least.

I've brought a fair share of candles in my time from budget unnamed brands to Neom and Yankee Candles but NONE have ever caused me such concern. I honestly believe Laura Mercier must have a bad batch of candles, so if you've brought a Fresh Fig scented candle in the Christmas Sales or recently please be careful and burn in well ventilated areas - keep an eye on it.

On this particular visit to Laura Mercier I'd spent over £200 on cosmetics, perfumes and gift sets. I have nothing against the brand and enjoy some of their products, this is just my personal experience with an item of theirs. I was never interested in getting my money back, however an interest and even a 'we'll look in to the issue' would of sufficed.