Nag Champa test burns

Just been doing some test burns for Nag Champa. It reminds me of holidays in India and life before kids, dogs and commitments. If you've never heard of it before Nag Champa is an Indian export popular with hippies in the 60's. It is mainly sold in incense form, but can also be found in soaps and other lotions and potions. Its scent is made of a combination of Sandalwood, Champa Flower (Franipani), Geranium, Tea Rose and Patchouli, giving it a deep earthy hypnotic aroma with light floral over tones.

The orgins of Nag Champa can be traced back to Nepalese Monasteries and indeed the fragrance is frequently associated with relaxation and meditation. According to the principles of Ayurveda (holistic medicine) the Nag Champa blend has a calming effect on those suffering from anxiety and insomia. The monks of Nepal kept their particular blend of Nag Champa a closely guarded secret and the exact ingredients of our Nag Champa fraganced candles also remains a mystery. What we can say is that if you want to invoke the fragrance of India without the ashy mess of an incense stick our Nag Champa candle is the choice for you.

Handmade Flowers

Whilst I could babble on about candles for quite a long time (as my enduring husband well knows), I thought it might be nice to include something else from time to time. Whilst on my quest to recruit new fans for my Poured by Hand Fan site, I came across lots of really unique crafters. One that I love is ffflowers.

She makes beautiful flowers from ribbon and yarns, or from more unusual materials such as recycled plastic bags, or anything else that looks promising! A lovely idea for birthday and mother's day presents.

Chocolate Ginger Fragranced Candle

Two words. Chocolate Ginger. Oh My God this is the most sensuous smell ever. It’s not on my fragrance list and to be honest I wouldn’t have gone for it, but someone sent me this as a freebie and I love it! I’ve tried other Chocolate Fragrances in the past and found some of them at bit sickly but this is GORGOUS! This is definitely a plain chocolate aroma (Think Green and Blacks 70% - superb quality and high cocoa content) with a kick of satisfyingly spicy ginger.

This is a specially blended fragranced so if you want to give it a go and you need the candle for a specific occasion, please give me plenty of notice.

Chocolate Ginger Candle

Menton Lemons

My wedding favours are a success! Guests received a luscious Lemon Fragranced Candle adorned with Aquamarine Swarovski Crystal and Lemon Ribbon. Congratulations to Mr and Mrs Lambert who tied the knot in Roquebrune Cap Martin, France on the 1st May 2010.Menton Lemons: Fat, Juicy, Tangy and Celebrated – Each year the residents of Menton hold a two week festival dedicated to Lemons. Over 1400 tons of fruits are harvested between February and May most of which are used for culinary purposes – Menton Lemons are favoured by many of the top chefs . For more information on Menton Lemons please visit the Menton Festival site.

Full of Eastern Promise

Do you remember the Fry’s Turkish Delight advert? Just why is she so sad? Why didn’t he pluck his eyebrows? And why does he smell her face? I love the drama of the 80’s! Turkish Delight is a firm favourite as far a candle fragrances go, perhaps because it’s not a scent you can easily find on the high street. I have found a lush deep pink for my Turkish Delight Fragranced Candles – Just the colour revealed when the ‘Turkish’ man slices through it with his machete. See youtube link below. Turkish Delight conjurors thoughts all things magical & irresistible – not just for the Turkish 80’s beauty in the sands, but also for Edmund Pevensie who’s downfall was thanks to the temptation of plump piles of Turkish Delight. (The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – CS Lewis) The lure & promises of the White Witch was all too much for Turkish Delight lovers everywhere, following the stage production of the Chronicles of Narnia sales boomed!

Hot Buttered Popcorn Scented Candles

My mouth is literally watering at the indulgent aroma of Hot Buttered Popcorn wafting through the house. These Popcorn Fragranced Candles are rich and creamy with wonderful buttery tones – Luckily calories can’t be consumed though your nose or I would be as fat as a pig by now! The shop bought toffee type popcorn is really fatty and high in sugar, but homemade popcorn isn’t too calorie laden (depending what you put on it). If you’ve never made your own popcorn you are missing a treat! Get down to your local supermarket and pick up some corn kernels. You don’t need a popcorn maker or anything fancy – Just a pan and a LID (The lid is very important or you will end up with popcorn all over the kitchen) Heat a large tablespoon of oil in a pan, add the popcorn so it covers the base of the pan and a bit more besides. PUT THE LID ON. Gently shake the pan every few seconds until the popcorn stops popping. Remove from heat. You can eat it as it is or get creative with toppings. If you have a sweet tooth sprinkle with brown sugar and nuts, or drizzle with maple syrup/chocolate sauce/toffee sauce/honey. If you like it savoury then sprinkle with salt, chilli flakes or drizzle with marmite. Happy Eating!

NASA Approve Apricots

Random Apricot Fact: NASA incorporated apricot cubes into the astronaut diet on the Apollo Mission to the moon. As apricots are high in potassium it was believed that they would be essential for healthy heart function and would help in combating stress. Apricots are a well known ‘super food’. In fact 3 raw apricots supply us with 30% of the recommended daily amount of beta carotene. A juicy apricot is deep orange when fully ripe with a hard brown stone. The entire fruit is edible and apparently the kernel (stone) tastes the same as an almond; the kernel contains a small amount of cyanide, so I won’t be trying one anytime soon. Apricot oils are pressed from the apricot kernel and used frequently in the production of cosmetics in place of more expensive almond oils. Apricot oil has many applications; it is brilliant for facial massage, having re-hydrating and revitalising qualities, it can be used to soothe boils and burns and of course it smells divine when melted in an apricot fragranced candle.

www.fragrancedcandle.co.uk