There are many simple inexpensive ways to freshen up the appearance of your kitchen. You could invest in one of the beautiful retro-style wall clocks inspired by French railway stations that are so popular these days. Or else you could pick up a collection of matching appliances, including kettles, toasters and even bread makers. If you choose a few items in matching styles and/or colours these will look good carefully placed along your worktops. But call us biased, but we think that the best possible accessory for the kitchen is a scented candle.
How To Use Scented Candles In The Kitchen
You can use scented candles in the kitchen in a number of different ways. You may want to light a candle to help cover up or disguise a lingering, unpleasant odour or even to help mask the smell of something strong that you have been cooking, such as perhaps a curry or other spicy aromatic foods. You can also use scented candles in the kitchen simply to create a welcoming, homely atmosphere. There are few things nicer than walking in to a kitchen to be greeted by the delicious smell of cooking, combined with the attractive glow of a number of lovely scented candles, like the beautiful self contained jar candles by True Grace candles. You can even pick up scented candles which are specifically designed to go with the smell of cooking!
Lastly, if your kitchen has a designated dining area, you can use scented candles to light up this part of the kitchen to make it more attractive for dinner guests. A great idea here is to use a number of tea lights or wax tarts such as the ones made by Yankee candles to create an attractive display.
One of the great things about scented candles these days is that they are often almost as good to look at as they are to smell – with the emphasis on almost! After all, there is no point having a beautiful looking candle if it smells of nothing. The result of this is that people often buy scented candles and then don’t light them, using them almost like an ornament. Now, at the end of the day you pay your money and what you do with your home fragrances is up to you, but to simply leave scented candles lying around the home unlit is a bit of a waste. You really need to light your candles to appreciate them to the fullest. One other problem about treating scented candles like ornaments is that – just like all other ornaments – they gather dust.
Choose Yankee Candles Or True Grace Candles For Easy Cleaning
One way of avoiding this problem is to go for jar candles, such as the ones made by companies like Voluspa candles, True Grace candles or Yankee candles. The beauty of these candles is that they have a small lid, usually made of brushed metal or glass, which you can use to keep the candle dust-free and clean when they are not being used.
But if your scented candles do not come with a lid what is the recommended way of cleaning them when they have accumulated a fine layer of dust and debris? You could always use a microfibre cloth, the kind which are invaluable for a host of domestic chores, but one novel way of dealing with this problem is to clean them off using an old pairt of nylon tights. This may strike you as a bit surprising, but trust us it really does work!
Another way to get rid of stubborn dust from your candles is to use a hairdryer – just remember to keep it at the cool setting or it will make short work of your beautiful candle!
As summer changes into autumn it is the perfect time to revisit our decor at home and liven things up with some of the rich autumnal hues which are just beginning to appear. Any room in the house can benefit from a touch of rich autumn shades such as yellow, gold, orange and red. All of these colours can tastefully be found in paintings, lampshades, carpets and tablecloths, to name but a few. Scented candles also offer the homeowner a simple, inexpensive way to introduce the myriad colours and smells of autumn into their homes Look out for luxury aromatic candles from brands like Yankee candles and True Grace candles. They are available in a selection of different aromas which will perfectly suited to the season. They slightly more costly than than alternative fragrant candles which you can find in the supermarkets, but but the fact that they offer a better, more realistic, fragrance, combined with much longer burning times mean they are actually better value for money in the long run.The colours you see so often in autumn can be part of our decor in the form of table arrangements. Such an arrangement with an autumn touch could include natural or artificial dried leaves. Candles and leaves in rich seasonal shades like orange, red or brown, are ideal for an elegant table arrangement, creating a warm, homely ambiance typical at this time of year. Another most straightforward and inexpensive table decoration, perfect for this season could be made using red and yellow apples, Spanish grapes and some wild berries. Why don’t we take the opportunity to replace our lighter, summer cushion with ones more appropriate for autumn, choosing richer, warmer colours. Heavier material for cushions and curtains will help to keep our homes comfortable as the temperature quickly drop outside. Perfume every corner of your home with fragrances evoking this exquisite time of year. Place some stunning scented candles and incense around your home to enhance its decor and to create a special, cosy atmosphere.
Everyone knows just how popular scented candles are as home accessories nowadays. You can find scented candles and, of course, fragrance diffusers and other home fragrances wherever you go these days, in small flats and apartments to grander Victorian houses. You can find scented candles being used to decorate halls, living rooms and even bathrooms – just imagine what could be nicer than chilling out in your favourite bubble bath at the end of a hard day at work, while scented candles burn away in the background? It is little wonder, then, that home fragrances and scented candles have now found their way into wedding celebrations these days. Little scented candle tins or votive candles in stunning aromas make extremely popular and unique wedding favours or “bomboniere” , so much more welcome with wedding guests than those little voile bags full of sugared almonds. Scented candles have also claimed a niche as part of the nuptials as part of the table decorations, both for guests and for the top table. Light fresh aromas usually work best. The idea is to avoid anything which could prove to be overpowering, so floral fragrances like hyacinth or honeysuckle are just right. One of our favourite rose scented candles is the True Grace candles version – Moroccan Rose. It is a fantastic blend of sweet smelling rose, which everyone knows and loves, mixed with just the right amount of spice, which makes certain that the floral aroma does not become too sweet or overpowering. Another luxury candle maker,yankee candles also makes it own wedding day candles which could not be more appropriate for a wedding celebration. What is really terrific about this candle is that it is available a variety of different sizes, which means you are able to use the smallest jar available as a perfect wedding favour, and at the same time the larger size of jar candle is perfect for decorating the table. What could be nicer!
As the smallest room in the house, the bathroom can often be overlooked when it comes to redecorating. You spend hours and hours pouring over plans for new wallpaper for the livingroom, take for ever to decide on the right ceramic floortiles for the kitchen, but the bathroom seldom seems to merit much attention when it comes to interior design. But it need not be that way. Bathroom fittings are usually what we think of when it comes to redecorating this space – a new bathroom suite or perhaps some neat storage solution. But in actual fact, it is the little things that can really make a bathroom come to life, the little accessories that really help personalise the space. You want to avoid creating a bathroom that is too cold and clinical – the minimalist approach can often give this impresssion. So, instead, go for luxurious accessories wherever you can, in rich, bold colours and designs. The options open to you when you think about bathroom accessories are endless. Beautiful towels, fluffy rugs, ornate mirrors can all add a personal, stylish note to even the dullest room. Another great idea for the bathroom is to jazz things up with a selection of scented candles. After all, relaxing in a hot bath at the end of the day, breathing in the aroma from a luxury scented candle, is one of life’s little luxuries. Why not try a selection of scented candles dotted around the room – perhaps along the edge of the bath, for example, or maybe sitting on a shelf or underneath a mirror. Small votive candles are particularly good for this because you can pick several without making the room feel cluttered. You could try some of the simple but stylish small jar candles from Yankee candles or the lovely etched glass jars from True Grace candles. A selection of differently coloured votives will add visual appeal and because candles are available in a vast selection of different shades you will always be able to come up with something to match your bathrooms decor. One last thing – don’t buy scented candles and use them just like ornaments. Sure, they look good placed around the bathroom, but their real appeal lies in their scent. Make sure you light them. You can always buy another one to replace any that are finished.
It seems that evey newspaper or magazine you pick up these days has some story about William and Kate. Whether it is an examination of Kate’s latest outfit or shoes, or what Willam is doing as part of his RAF duties it seems the press – on both sides of the Atlantic – simply cannot get enough of the young, newly married royal couple. While some of the coverage seems to be a little over the top, not to say intrusive, we must confess that one particular story jumped out at us in the last few days. It seems that, just like everyone here at The Scented Candle Store, the Duchess of Cambridge is a huge scented candles fans. So much so, that -according to press reports – she has just spent a four-figure sum on candles and diffusers to freshen up the royal apartments. That is a lot of candles! It just goes to show that she has really good taste. And if she is ever looking for something a little different – perhaps some beautiful True Grace candles or a lovely reed diffuser from Yankee candles – we’d be only too happy to help!
While many ancient peoples, including the Greeks and Romans, used oils extracted from plants for medicinal purposes, aromatherapy as an established alternative therapy has its roots in the work of a French scientist working at the start of the twentieth century. Rene-Maurice Gattefosse, a chemist, found out that lavender oil had certain healing properties after an accident at work. After burning himself, in an effort to soothe the pain, he decided to apply lavender oil to the burn. After seeing the amazing results, he then carried out a more detailed investigation on burns victims during the First World War to see whether other essential oils had similar therapeutic benefits.
Nowadays, many household items including candles, perfumes and beauty products are made with essential oils. In particular, they are to be found widely in the home fragrance market where they are used to give scented candles and other home fragrance products such as reed diffusers their prized fragrances. However, because of the cost, the use of essential oils for home fragrance purposes tends to be the preserve of the luxury section of the market, including companies like True Grace candles and Yankee candles. Essential oils cost a lot more to produce than synthetic fragrances which are to be found in less expensive, mass-market candles and home fragrances, and this extra cost is one of the reasons for the higher price of luxury home frgrances. However price is not everything.The great advantage of buying luxury scented candles made with essential oils is that they allow you to savour all the benefits that aromatherapy has to offer from the privacy of your own home. Simply light your candle, breathe in the fragrant air and relax!
The holiday season is now upon us. If you haven’t been away as yet, you will no doubt be filled with longing for long, hot summer days and nights, the chance of enjoying a richly-merited break from the stresses of work for a week or two. But if your holiday is already over, you are probably not feeling full of the joys. It is hard to imagine many things quite so depressing as trying to get yourself back into the work habit after getting back from a relaxing few weeks abroad. Well, if you are feeling that way, why not try out some scented candles to help remind you of your holiday and hold on to that elusive holiday feeling just a few days longer? Scented candles, especially those created by premium makes like True Grace candles or Yankee candles
are to be found in a huge selection of different aromas. If you have just returned from the Mediterranean, maybe the fragrance of True Grace’s Wild Lime scented candle will remind you of those beautiful summer evenings, or perhaps their Lavender candle will bring to mind the fantastic sight of the swaying fields of lavender in Provence. If you ventured somewhere a little more exotic, then why not try the Moroccan Rose candle, reminiscent of the sweet fragrance of the flower, but combined with the spice-rich fragrance of the local market? Now, we are not trying to say that lighting up your favourite scented candle is quite as relaxing as laying back on a baking hot beach listening to the lapping of the waves, but research has shown that certain fragrances can trigger memories of places and people long forgotten, so maybe it’s worth a try!
I don’t know about you but one one the most irritating things about summer can be the number of bugs about. Whether it’s midges, flies or mosquitos, these little critters have a habit of appearing when they are least welcome. You could be enjoying a nice barbeque with friends or even a cosy dinner al fresco with your family, when all of a sudden mosquitos appear from nowhere, meaning you have to move your gathering indoors. Well, if this has ever happened to you, then scented candles may be the answer to your troubles. Citronella candles have long been used to try to keep bugs at bay, but there are other choices. Take, for instance, the lavender scented candle by True Grace candles. Lavender has been shown to repel insects and the fact that a True Grace make their candles with essential plant oils means they are likely to be effective. It’s certainly worth a try! You will also find lavender scented candles among our extensive range of scented candles from Yankee candles.
A recent article in the Daily Mail has reignited the debate about whether scented candles are safe to use at home. They have certainly never been more popular, with candles made by brands like True Grace candles and Yankee candles selling dozens of different varieties and styles, not to mention fragrances. The debate is probably one which is best left to the experts, but from looking at some of the evidence put forward by both sides of the argument, there appear to be a few points which are generally agreed.
Most of the problems appear to relate to scented candles made with cheap, unrefined paraffin wax which is, of course, a by-product of petroleum. These cheap products are often imported from areas where quality control can be non-existant. As these products are very much bargain-basement in nature, they tend to derive their aromas from synthetic fragrancing ingredients which have also been implicated in health concerns.
It would appear, then, that if you are a fan of scented candles and want to continue to enjoy them safely, then you shoud opt for handmade candles created from natural waxes such as soy wax, or even better beeswax, or else a blend of these waxes. Again, look for candle which obtain their fragrance not from the chemist’s lab, but from the essential oils and extracts of plants trees and other botanicals. After all, these are the same ingredients which have been used by master perfumiers in France and elsewhere safely for many decades.
One other poiint to note. When you likght your favourite scented candle, make sure you place it in a well-ventilated room, so that any soot or dirt emitted while the candle burns can drift away.
