I burn candles for hours at a time, so I get a good feel for the lingering scent/burn of a candle right away. This is not a great scent. There's something very strong/spicy about it...almost a potpourri smell. Not my cup of tea. However, it burns well, so I will try a fruitier scent. I would say the candle burns exactly like a Yankee Candle: not 100% clean, but still evenly.