Space NK The Essential Candle Collection Box - BACK IN STOCK

I adore candles, I mention them a lot on this blog and last year I did a Christmas Candle Gift Guide to share which featured candles in all budgets but all Christmas related.

This year, Space NK has launched something a little different, as part of their Space NK Christmas collection and no it isn't a beauty box, it is instead their very first Candle Box and it is glorious and it is on sale for just £50 now.

Introducing Space NK’s first ever candle collection, a handpicked edit of four uplifting fragrances guaranteed to bring light and warmth to your home. Includes a full-size, limited-edition Space NK Shimmering Spice candle.

Inside the box there is 4 candles from some incredible brands and I would be absolutely thrilled to find this waiting for me under the tree!  Want to know what is inside the box?

Contents

• NEOM Perfect Night’s Sleep Scented Candle (75g) - If you struggle to drift off once the lights are out, fill your bedroom with the dreamy aroma of this sleep-inducing blend of 19 essential oils including English lavender, jasmine, and basil, to help you prepare for the perfect night’s sleep.
• Jo Loves White Rose & Lemon Leaves A Scented Candle (70g) - Fragranced with the white Norma Jeane rose, this candle - plus your sexiest Spotify playlist - is the epitome of a romantic night in. Notes of lemon peel lend a sophisticated edge, while cedarwood adds a sensual softness and creates the perfect backdrop for a special occasion, intimate dinner, or dreamy sofa date.
• Boy Smells Hinoki Fantôme Scented Candle (85g) - The perfect companion for cold winter nights, this earthy, spicy scent reminiscent of smoky Japanese cypress, jasmine petals and fresh moss combine to create a space to relax and reflect in the comfort of your own home.
• Space NK Shimmering Spice Scented Candle in red (175g) - Nothing says Christmas quite like our exclusive Shimmering Spice candle. Over the years, its unique cosy cinnamon, cedar and all spice scent has garnered a cult following and this year its decadent golden design makes it a must-have for any hearth or table centrepiece.

As you can see there is some amazing candles and the Space NK Shimmering Spice Candle from the description already reminds me of my family kitchen at Christmas as the Christmas Cake is waiting to be unwrapped. It’s such a beautiful candle box, giving you one Christmas scented candle, and three fresher candles, from luxury brands like Boy Smells and Jo Loves.

You can find the Space NK The Essential Candle Collection Box here

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Product Likes and Dislikes for 2019

As we come to the end of a decade and arrive in 2020, I have looked back over my reviews for the last 365 days and uncovered a lot of products I absolutely loved, many of which I have re-purchased a fair few times and then we have two products which I didn't love at all in 2019 but featured them on my blog, one out of frustration and the other as a dupe post.

It was really hard to choose which products stood out for in 2019 because there are so many from different brands that I just love and many that I constantly rave about, but I did manage to choose a mixture of skincare, fragrance, makeup and some non-beauty products that I loved and almost everything featured has been repurchased with a few exceptions. 

One brand I had really wanted to try was Drunk Elephant.  When something is as raved about online via social media as some brands are, you can't help but want to try them. So, I purchased the Drunk Elephant Slaai Makeup-Melting Butter Cleanser (review here). Anyone who knows me or reads my blog will know that I am a huge fan of balm cleansers, this one included.

Staying with skincare and of course, Emma Hardie was going to make it onto my list with the Moringa Light Cleansing Gel (review here).  I am a huge fan of the cleansing balm and it is always a product I have within my stash for double cleansing with, but this gel is a perfect alternative for a morning cleanse and it smells just as incredible as the balm.

I never thought I would be someone who loved trainers, but ever since I injured my ankle on the last bank holiday of the year in 2018 and honestly, the photos of my ankle are grim so I haven't shared them with you.  However, with my injury, which was essentially every ligament torn, tendons over-stretched and a flare-up of Plantar Fascitis means it has been agony to walk and I was on crutches for a few weeks too.  So,  I have had to resort to comfort shoe over 'but I really like those boots' and to begin with I was less than happy. However, Skechers trainers have been an absolute dream to wear.  I can walk without being in agony, they don't hurt my feet, they feel like you are walking on clouds and my physio said I have to wear them, so what is a girl to do.  My current Skecher of choice is the Skech-Air by Skechers and I absolutely love them.

Choosing a fragrance is something of a personal choice, it is rare I can walk into a department store and find a scent I like from the first sniff, I have to walk away and try it within an environment I am likely to spend some time in.  In 2019 I came across two fragrances that I have continually worn.  The first is from Jo Malone with Nectarine Blossom and Honey and it is a scent that came into my life accidentally (review here) but it is one I have since repurchased because it is stunning.  The second is from Floral Street with Electric Rhubarb (review here) and honestly, not only does it smell just insane, it lasts and it lasts and it lasts on the skin, on your clothes and I have had so many compliments about it when I wear it.  When you really love a fragrance that much, chances are you will like others within the range, so now I have my eye on London Poppy from Floral Street and Honeysuckle and Davana from Jo Malone.

When it comes to eyeshadow palettes, I am very happy with my Nude/Neutral shades and I don't think I will ever venture too far from them.  The palette I have surprised myself by using a lot during 2019 is the Diego Dalla Palma Nude Eyeshadow Palette (review here). 

The palette Nuda contains 12 stunning, highly pigmented shades all of which are nude and warm colours and they are said to have been inspired by the colours of the earth. 

My happy place when I am stressed, feeling poorly or just want to take a time out is in the bath.  We recently had our bathroom renovated and I am up for using any excuse I can find to use and try new products.  I am a huge fan of bath salts, in my opinion, they are very much underrated and this year I've been lucky enough to try two new brands - Verdant Alchemy and London Bathers.  Liquid Yoga by Mama Mio will forever be a product in my bathroom and I can never rave about it enough, but bath salts have been a lifesaver.  The Drift Off Mineral Bath Salts from Verdant Alchemy (review here) is designed to calm your mind and help you drift off and alongside Epsom and Dead Sea Salt, you will find ingredients such as vetiver and lavender. With London Bathers, I was lucky enough to try a trio of Soaking Salts (review here). London Bathers are an independent, family-run company on a mission to offer high quality, low impact bathroom products and accessories.

One item that has probably made a bigger impact than I had anticipated is silk pillowcases and to date, I have tried three different brands and there is no going back.  Slip Silk was the first brand I tried (review here) and it was like waking up someplace new and as someone who is a constant pillow turner because I hate having a hot pillow, it was quite the change.  Then I tried Holistic Silk (review here) again, literally, life-changing sleeping on something so soft, smooth and not having the pillow crease face the following day is quite something.  The final brand I tried most recently is SilkUp (review here) and as with the previous brands, a silk pillowcase comes with so many benefits, I simply couldn't switch back.  If it is something you can afford to treat yourself too, then definitely do.

The job I do can result in a lot of stress, so I tend to opt for products which can help de-stress me and as well as spending time in the bath, I am a huge fan of candles and this year I have shared quite a few on my blog.  However, Bath and Bodyworks Stress Relief Candle (review here) are definitely one I go too to create that relaxing atmosphere as it uses Eucalyptus Essential Oil to help clear the mind as well as Spearmint Essential Oil which soothes and uplifts.  The entire range is just totally divine.

When I am stressed, one place it shows is my scalp and I can have a nightmare with a dry scalp at this time.  Two products I've been introduced too during the last year come from Omorovicza and Living Proof.  From Omorovicza we have the Revitalizing Scalp Mask (review here) a pre-shampoo treatment which is packed with amazing ingredients such as Hungarian Moor Mud a product featured in the majority of the brand's range.  Then from Living Proof, we have the Restore Dry Scalp Treatment which you use on clean, damp hair. Again from Living Proof, we have a product which uses a hyaluronic acid-based Molecular Patch delivers instant soothing and sustained hydration to the scalp.

Lip Balm is an absolute must and I have recently bought the Rabot 1745 Lipbalm (review here) for a friend as part of her Christmas box because it is just so good.  Part of the Hotel Chocolat range, this lip balm smells absolutely incredible and yet on the lips, it is as moisturising and hydrating as some of the higher-end brands that I have tried.

The final skincare product that I just absolutely loved comes from Fresh Beauty and having read and seen so much about the brand on my social media timeline, I went in search of something to try.  The Lotus Youth Preserve Rescue Mask (review here). Described as being designed to combat signs of tired and overstressed skin, this mask uses a whole host of amazing ingredients hydrate, improve radiance and promote a youthful-looking complexion.

The final part of my likes for 2019 is book recommendations.  I have been a huge book worm since the day I learnt to read and for the last few years, I have used my Goodreads account to set goals and challenges for books to read throughout the year.

For 2019 there are two books that need to read if you haven't done so already, whether you are an avid reader or sometimes pick up a book and then forget about it.  The first one is by Gail Honeyman with Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. Described as being an astonishing story that powerfully depicts the loneliness of life, and the simple power of a little kindness, I can guarantee you that Eleanor Oliphant will be someone who makes you wonder how she is, despite being a character in a book, she is someone we can all relate to in so many ways. An absolute heroine who cannot help but want to be friends with.  The second book is The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris and there are so many words to use to describe this book, but it is described as a beautifully written harrowing story of one man's will to survive in Auschwitz...it is a story of hope and endurance and a beauty that emerges when all around is painted in black. As a reader, you cannot help but be affected by this account the simplicity of the storytelling only adds to the poignancy. This book had me in tears, it made me smile, it made me cheer and it made me realise just how strong that human spirit to survive is.

It is rare I feature products I dislike on my blog because I prefer to promote the things I actually like, however, there is one product which drove me to distraction and that was the Revolution Foil Frenzy Creation Eyeshadow Palette (full review here). At just £8 and knowing how good Revolution usually is, I had high hopes for this palette.  

Unfortunately, it was just awful and the swatches turned out to be nothing like those I had seen on the Revolution Instagram page, even when I wet them to attempt to get some colour pay off.  Definitely not in my good books!

The second product in my dislike pile is the Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Daily Cleansing Pads. I am not a huge fan of Nip + Fab as a brand in any case, I think they are overpriced for a highstreet brand especially when you can get better products for less and more so when I compared the Aldi Lacura Daily Cleansing pads (full review here) which are an almost identical dupe.

At a different in the price of more than £11 or a saving of more than £11 depending on how you see it, there was no question for me as to which product was the better of the two, more so that the ingredients are nearly identical.   

So that is my 2019 round-up of products and I would love to now if you have found anything here that tempts you or is one of your own favourite products to use?

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Mor Boutique Marshmallow Deluxe Candle

Whatever the weather, I usually have a candle alight in whichever room of the house I am in.  In the summer I tend to opt for fresh clean scents, especially something citrus like.  In the winter I like the warmer scents and toward Christmas, out come the Cinnamon and Eucalyptus and maybe even Fresh Balsam.  For me, a candle is all about winding down and relaxing, more so in the winter it is a time to be cosy, snuggle up under a blanket watching a favourite film or devouring a book. 

From MOR Boutique, I have stepped away from the norm when it comes to my candle choices and have been trying the luxurious Marshmallow Deluxe Soy Candle (£28.00). Described as being "A luxury home fragrance, this exquisite candle features a black hobnail glass vessel, pink Soy Wax and is embellished with a Marshmallow tassel. Perfect to perfume the air with a signature scent and add style to any space" and it looks just stunning from its floral outer box packaging to the inner glass vessel.

The MOR Boutique Marshmallow Deluxe Soy Candle is formulated with a soy wax blend and a cotton wick, the candle is designed to burn for up to 45 hours. When it comes to the scent of a candle, as I have said, I tend to have different preferences for different times of the year.  This fragrance is described as being a feminine Marshmallow scent and it is absolutely lovely, collectively orchestrated with Jasmine Flower and Vanilla Musk, whilst Sugar Dipped Rose Petals, White Carnation and Cotton Candy form a sweet perfume. As soon as the lid is removed from the glass vessel, the fragrance is incredibly noticeable and after a few hours of burning, it becomes more so, with the scent of Jasmine Flower and Cotton Candy (think Snow Fairy) being particularly strong.

If you are looking for a present that has the wow factor and for someone who loves candles, then this one very much ticks those boxes from the black hobnail glass vessel to the marshmallow coloured tassel and of course not forgetting the pink soy wax itself.  If you want something even more delicate then this MOR Marshmallow Fragrant Tea Cup Candle is equally divine.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Pure Style of London - Happiness At Home

At this time of year, I have candles burning the whole time I am home sitting in the lounge, I love the atmosphere they help create and I find the flickering flame oddly relaxing to watch.  I am also a huge fan of Reed Diffusers and have one in every room of this house, even the kitchen and again, I love to smell the fresh scented aroma, usually a different one in each room, that I am greeted with.

Purestyle of London kindly sent me a gift set from the Home Fragrance Collection which contains a reed diffuser and a candle.  Founded in London, PureStyle of London sells locally sourced, hand poured Reed Diffusers and Scented Candles. They launched in 2018 and have gone on to sell many of their premium products into the UK and beyond.

At PureStyle of London our aim is to add a little bit of extra happiness to you. Our products have been carefully selected and are being hand made in the UK.

PureStyle of London has recently launched the first ever ‘Home Fragrance Club’, offering consumers a new and convenient approach to having personalised home fragrance products delivered all year round and prices start at just £14.50 per month raising in price depending on your preference in need, plus there is also the option to try a one-off option too. So if candles and home scents are something that is an absolute must-have for you, then this service could be invaluable. It is fully flexible means that the consumer can change their fragrance or reeds and can pause or cancel at any time.

I was given the gift set option and having never tried anything like this before I was engrossed in making selections for the products I really wanted to try.  Starting with which colour glass you want your reed diffuser bottle to be - Black, Clear or White and from there you select the colour Reeds you would like and again there is a choice of six to choose from before finally choosing your fragrance and at this point you have a choice of 9 scents to decide between and I did struggle between which one I thought I would prefer.  In the end I opted for Neroli Rose based on the notes. 

Once you have selected your reed diffuser, it is then time to select your candle and again you get to choose between black, white or clear glass followed by which lid you would like your candle to have - the choice being silver or copper. The final choice is to select the fragrance of your candle and if you struggled with the first task, this one is equally hard because they all sound just incredible.  I opted for Lemongrass and lime in the end in black glass with a silver lid and it looks just amazing.

I have had both of these products within my possession for almost 6 weeks now and I wanted to really give them a try before saying whether or not they are worth the money. Hands up, they are!  I think for all of the Reed diffusers I have ever bought or have been sent, this one is the strongest and longest scent I have had. I placed the diffuser in the lounge below the TV, so being next to the kitchen and the hallway, there is always an abundance of smells which make their way around the house and every time I have entered the lounge, the first thing I can smell is Neroli Rose.  Both Neroli and Rose are quite strong scents and together they work so well, described as being a delicate, sweet Orange Blossom and calming, soothing Rose to intoxicate the senses, what you get is a fresh scent, as though you have just walked into a florist. 

The candle is also an incredible scent. Described as being a fresh fragrance with squeezed lemons, ripe limes and twisted with aromatic lemongrass and eucalyptus, if you want an uplifting fragrance when you feel a bit out of sorts, then this one ticks all of those boxes. The addition of eucalyptus is genius because it brings this scent to a whole new level.

Once your order has been made, everything arrives so incredibly well packaged, nothing gets broken. The two cylindrical tubes which house the products are a really nice way to show off the brand and the whole concept would make an incredible gift for someone, whether you sign them up for a subscription service, or opt for a one time try.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Sanctuary Spa Signature Candle

I am sure most of you are familiar with Sanctuary Spa and have tried more than one of their products. For me, the Luxury Bath Float has been a favourite for some time, but there are just so many amazing scented products to choose from.

With Autumn having well and truly arrived, you wake up in a morning and it is as dark as it was when you went to bed.  You leave work and the nights are drawing in and everything about you is changing and getting ready for winter.  As soon as I get home, I love to close the curtains, light some candles and relax.  But... imagine if your favourite Sanctuary Spa product scent had been replicated and was now a candle or a Reed Diffuser!

If you have been into your local Boots store, you might have noticed one or two Sanctuary Spa Candles in a beautiful presentation box but there is more to come.  With six different candles to choose from, there is quite a choice when it comes to selecting your scent - Pink Grapefruit & Neroli, Fig & Black Amber, White Jasmine & Myrrh, Driftwood & Sea Spray, Luxury Oud and of course the Signature Sanctuary Spa Scent - which is the one I have.

Cocoon yourself in our unique, classic Sanctuary Spa fragrance. A stunning combination of sparkling citrus notes, bergamot & jasmine, blended with a sensuous warming fusion of vanilla, patchouli & sandalwood. Truly an aroma to wrap yourself up in.

Packaged inside a beautifully decorated tin, these 200g candles would make a wonderful gift. As I mentioned, my favourite Sanctuary Spa product is the Luxury Bath Float and that is exactly what scent this candle has.  It becomes noticeable as soon as the lid is removed and it remains for a good while after the flame has been extinguished.  

Priced at just £12.50 with a burn time of 45 hours, they are well worthy of purchasing, as long as you can decide on which scent is the stand out for you, otherwise, you might need them all! Find them here at Boots.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

L’Occitane #LightforSight Candle

For the last few years, I have been lucky enough to promote the L'Occitane Charity Candle and the brand has always supported global sight issues and of course, this year's candle it is no different.

L'Occitane are working alongside Unicef this year and 100% of the profits from each candle sold goes straight to them. At £9 it isn't going to break the bank but it is worth noting that for every sale it does have a meaning and that is a years supply of Vitamin A supplements for 5 children. As we all know, Vitamin A is crucial as it is an essential nutrient for healthy vision, teeth, skeletal tissue, and skin and a deficiency in Vitamin A is the first cause of childhood blindness, affecting a staggering 127 million children worldwide - one-third of whom are under the age of 5. 

With the support of €1,000,000 over three years, L'OCCITANE allows UNICEF to protect 1.7 million children, including Myanmar, Papua New Guinea and Bolivia, three countries where the prevalence of Vitamin deficiencies A is particularly high. UNICEF program aims to provide children aged 6 months to 5 years with the two vital vitamin A doses necessary for their proper development. UNICEF can deploy and support large-scale prevention strategies. More can be read about this partnership here.

So the candle, which as well as raising money, is a beautiful gift and, as with the rest of the L'Occitane Christmas Collection is housed inside a tin and is dressed with an incredibly bold and bright design from the famous fashion house CASTELBAJAC Paris. It smells absolutely incredible and it has notes of freesia, red berries, Heart of Lily of the Valley, Rose and Jasmine which work with the warmer notes of Amber and Rosewood to create a beautiful floral scent which is one of the strongest I have had from a L'Occitane Candle.

This candle is Limited Edition, so if you want to get your hands on it, then you need to do so quickly as it does sell quickly.

this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

His and Hers Candles with Urban Apothecary

With Valentines Day on the horizon and supermarkets and the high street is flooded with ideas and tempting bargains (oh and Easter Eggs) and whilst Santa was very good to both of us over Christmas, there is one item we both do enjoy (me more so) are candles.

I mention candles fairly regularly on my blog and absolutely love discovering new brands and new scents and the most recent has come from Urban Apothecary and the two candles I am sharing today are just totally stunning from the box they arrived in, to the overall design and scent.  The candles are made of soy wax with a cotton wick and each candle is hand poured in England and housed in mouth blown glass.  

Described as follows:

Urban Apothecary is a new take on home fragrance that will transform your rooms. Combining distinctive aromas, the candles and diffusers encapsulate mixtures of memories and moods.

The two fragranced candles I have are Smoked Leather and Tuberose Petals and they are both huge at 300g and have a burn time of approximately 60 hours and they cost £30 each.

Smoked leather is described as being a Meditative and calming. It has aromatic top notes of saffron, coriander and white thyme which open out into a heart of rich, resinous olibanum and amber and woody cedar. Then to the base which gives you the leather, suede and vetiver combination which is described as achieving a beautiful balance and sumptuous woodiness.  

The scent as you can imagine from that description is quite something and it is one you can already get a scent of before you remove the candle from its box.  Once it is alright the scent really comes alive and you get a delicious mix and it is smoky, it is just divine. 

Tuberose Petals is described as being opulent and botanical and this one is a definite try me now candle.  Again before the box is even opened, that fresh scent of rose petals is already filling my senses. If you know anything about then there are a few` scents I absolutely love the scent of Rose but more so Tuberose which has a heavier and sweeter scent. 

Again with an incredible set of notes, this candle starts with the refreshing top notes of green leaves and bergamot which combined with the heart notes of botanical tuberose and subtly sweet honeysuckle before the addition of carnation, sandalwood and coconut come together to create this beautiful scent.  I know a lot of people don't like the scent of coconut and honestly, it isn't the dominant scent here at all, Tuberose with a hint of bergamot most definitely is it.

With both of these candles, I have never felt the need to burn them for longer than a few hours at a time, the scent comes to life within minutes of the wick being alight and every room in the house is filled with an incredible scent.  I quite like having the two of these burning at the same time, they come together to make quite the mix with the smokiness of Smoked Leather but the fresh botanical scent of Tuberose Petals, it shouldn't work, but it most definitely does.

If you are in the mood to buy yourself a candle or treat someone else to a candle, then Urban Apothecary have an abundance of scents to tempt you from Cherry Tree and Fig Blossom to Verbena Leaves and Oudh Geranium and so many more.  I am always happy to be able to promote a British brand and Urban Apothecary are just that, with their factory in Leicester to which it has grown from the kitchen table, there is now a catalogue of scents and products to lust after whether you like candles, tealights or reed diffusers there is plenty of choice!

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

Getting Cosy with Christmas Candles

One thing I love about the nights drawing in is being able to come home, close the curtains, put some lamps on and light a few candles and relax.  For me having candles lit is an important of relaxation, it is said that a candle flame can help relax the mind and the association with a candle flame flickering helps to de-stress.

Christmas time is all about scents and smells from the pine needs on a Christmas Tree, to the spices of Christmas Cake and transferring those scents into that of a candle is really quite something.  Today I thought I would share some of the candles I have been burning, each scent is completely different but absolutely incredible.

Timothy Dunn London Votive collection - Presented in a limited edition box, inside are three 70g Votive Candles which smell just incredible. 

Inside the box you will find :

• Violette de Lune - The description reads: This deep, exotic, floriental scent is intertwined with seductive amber woods and elegant musks, opening with cassis and dark violet. An indulgent blend of the precious oils Moroccan rose and neroli flower are combined with sensual sandalwood, patchouli, red tea, wild jasmine and a hint of luxurious dark chocolate
• Arabian Fig – The description reads: A complex blend of green fig leaf, basil and clove, tenderly enhanced with frankincense, this deliciously aromatic candle has a hint of wild fig, cassis rose and jasmine with the rich base notes of sandalwood, cedarwood and musk.
• Samarkand – Alongside Etrusca and Bleu Rose this is up there with my favourite Timothy Dunn London Candles and the description reads:  Discover a rich, sensual spicy wood accord with exotic tea, bergamot, cardamom, ginger, cinnamon and clove; generously wrapped in sumptuous Madagascan vanilla, suede musks, frankincense, patchouli and vetiver. This beautiful, evocative fragrance will radiate warmth throughout your home.

You can burn these candles one at a time or together and either way, the fresh scents come to live and fill the house with such amazing scents. You can find this set right here and each Votive burns for around 15-20 hours.

Balance Me, Me Time Candle - When a candle is called Me Time, you know it is one you need in your life and that it will be really special. Formulated with a premium blend of soy and vegetable waxes to ensure a clean, even burn time it features a bespoke blend of pure essential oils, this candle is designed to relax the mind, relieve tension and evoke a sense of balance and wellbeing. With a blend of harmonising ingredients, Petitgrain, Cedarwood, Rosemary, Ylang Ylang and Lavender, designed to clear the mind of worries. 

What I love about this candle is the incredibly relaxing scent which comes to life as soon as the candle has been lit.  Even when the candle flame has been extinguished, the scent lingers for an incredibly long time afterwards.  Priced at £35 you can find this candle right here.

ESPA Winter Pine Candle - If ever there was a brand which just screams Spa Day it is ESPA.  Until recently I had no idea they made their own candles, so when Winter Pine arrived, it was opened and alight pretty quickly.  The candle comes beautifully presented in an ESPA gift box, finished with a hand-tied green ribbon to really make it look festive.

The scent of the candle really lives up to its name as it boasts the warming aromas of Cinnamon, Eucalyptus and Pine which just remind me of Christmas.  This is a 200g candle with over 40 hours of burn time and it retails for £30 right here.

La Montana Duo Mini Candle Gift Set - Nestled inside a beautiful starry box are two incredible scented La Montana Candles.   

Again if anything signifies Christmas is coming it is Winter Oranges and the Three Kinds Candles.

• Winter Oranges candle – Described as being a warm, spicy, zesty blend of Valencia orange, cinnamon, red apple, and clove for me this candle definitely brings about nostalgia from my Christmases as a child when christmas cakes and puddings were being steamed for the big day. The aroma is so fresh that again it comes to life as soon as the candle is alight.
• Three Kings candle – Despite the name, which of course reminds me of a Christmas Nativity Play, Cedarwood, Frankincense and Myrrh. It is quite a unique fragrance which brings all three scents to life in one candle and it is simply divine.

These mini candles are 80gms of top quality wax and have a burn time for at least 15 hours. This set would make an incredible gift and it retails for just £32.

Heyland and Whittle if you have never come across them before is a quality soap and home fragrance manufacturer based in England. They have an entire range of candles to die for and today I am sharing two different ones. First up is Clementine & Prosecco which smells absolutely incredible even before it is out of the box. Much like a fragrance it has top notes of Clementine, sparkling wine, yellow apple and pear, incorporated with middle notes of apricot, peach, plum and a base note of sugar and dry fruits.  Coming together this is a candle which offers a sweet and sharp fragrance which again brings about that relaxing scent of the holidays. Priced at just £23.

Also from Heyland and Whittle is Frankincense in a Tin and made from a blend of sustainable soy wax which helps it to burn very evenly down the tin, comes a scent which is most definitely Christmas. The notes for the candle state that it is a Smoky sweet and woody with a whisper of Oriental florals A sophisticated layered fragrance which is packed with notes of Rose, Jasmine, Cistus Oil and Cinnamon resting on an Oriental background of Frankincense, Oud, Musk and warm Vanilla.  This candle is priced at £13.95.

So those are the candles I have been burning of late and I would love to know which ones you have been using over the last few weeks.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

Osmology | The Home of Scented Candles

If you read my blog regularly then you probably would have noticed that I am slightly obsessed with candles. Not just any candle, I am quite picky about my scents. Long gone are the days when I would just pick up anything from the high-street, now I like to choose my scent based on a need rather than a want, though that still features. When Osmology got in touch offering me a chance to test their site and buy myself some candles, I didn't need asking twice.

Osmology describe themselves as being a specialist scented candle retailer, sourcing the world’s most exciting scented candle brands and home fragrance designers and this alone was enough to draw me in. I literally spent hours looking through each and every possibility before narrowing down my choice. What I enjoy about this site is how it is broken down into categories and sub-sections. If you are not to sure what someone would like you can choose by a simple occasion or the him or her option, but if like me you know what you like then you can delve deeper and look into options such as the mood you want to create, the scent you like and whether or not you like a strong, subtle or mid strength scent. Within my own group of friends, we all like something different, so Osmology does make candle buying that little bit less stressful and a lot more fun.

I really enjoyed looking through the brands that feature, some of which I am aware of and others I have never come across. For example you can choose a brand via its origin or just because it stands out and for me, I narrowed down my choice by scent and then strength and ended up with over 20 candles to choose from and from there I simply chose something I had never used before and this is what I bought.

Eastwick Candles are an independent brand who started making their candles as a hobby. The little team of two opened their online boutique back in 2015.  Their candles are all hand poured and packaged in small batches by them, and they use all natural soy wax, cotton wicks and a blend of paraben free fragrance oils to create unique scents that gently fill your room.   This particular candle drew me in because of the scent option, I was torn between Coconut and Sweet Pea or Mint and Jasmine, sadly the latter was out of stock.  

Coconut and Sweet Pea is a large candle with a burn time of 40 hours and it uses a combination of creamy coconut and floral sweet pea, with notes of geranium and magnolia. It sits within the relaxation category, which is usually what I want a candle to do whenever I have one alight and before I had even removed the lid, the scent of this one is just stunning, the coconut scent is definitely prominent but not dominant which I am pleased about because the scent of Sweet Pea is really just divine.  I love the understated packaging that the candle arrives in and at £18 it is just an absolute bargain, I am already wanting to try more from this brand.

Next up we have Nordlys (Northern Light) Scented Candle by Skandinavisk. I am obsessed with wanting to see The Northern Lights, it is number one of my bucket list of things to do before I die and the name of this candle literally drew me in. The candle is said to reflect the magical wonder of the Northern Lights, famous for their symphony of light, colour and movement across cool norse skies. Pronounced Nor-Luce this candle is made from a blend of perfume and vegetable wax with a 100% cotton wick and is hand-poured into a painted glass votive.

Nordlys which has a burn time of around 50 hours has what is best described as being a crisp Citrus scent with a touch blended sea salt to give it a crisp fragrance and one I wasn't too sure I would like, but have absolutely fallen in love with.  I can imagine that the scent this candle gives is the kind of smell I would get fro capturing a view of the Northern Lights. A relaxing yet fresh scent which at £29 is a luxury but one well worth investing in.

So having decided upon my candles, I quickly added them to my basket before temptation got in the way and I either added more or changed me mind over what to choose.  The check out process was a simple 2-3 minute option and one which didn't want to know everything about you before allowing you to spend money.  Once I had checked out, my candles arrived delicately packaged within just a few days, which I found impressive and I was ready to test out my new ones.

If you are a fan of candles and want something special, something that little bit different but something unique, fun and simply joyful, them Osmology has got literally everything you need and with so many brands to choose from, it is an eye opener and one which will move you from your comfort zone of scents and just perhaps, as it has done for me, move into the realm of new scents and new brands and a road to discovery!

Have you discovered Osmology yet? If you love candles as much as I do, then you definitely should.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.