Thursday 13 April 2017

The best candles for your home


I feel like I write here too often that I'm obsessed with a certain thing. In fact, I'm currently drafting a skincare post alongside this candle feature and I've already written about my skincare obsession in that one but when starting this feature, it felt so natural to begin it by expressing my love of candles (and subsequently my candle obsession). There's just something about them that gets me. From the packaging, usually super luxurious to the scents themselves. 

There are so many candles out there - from brands, to scents and packaging that gives me the "gotta catch em all" kind of vibe which is where my hoarding comes into play. I wouldn't even want to know how many candles I have stashed in my current home. I'm moving next month, so I'm using it as an excuse as I'll need to fill a whole flat with them and not just my bedroom in my current shared house. Put it this way, if I look around my room right now, I can see 13 - and that's not including the ones I know are stashed away in other hidden places.  I just blooming love them. 

My favourite thing is trying out a new candle and with that, I've very much tried most of them out there so I know which are the best to pick up. From luxury to affordable and from enormous to mini, here are my candle picks. Get yourself a cuppa tea, I can feel a long one coming on. 

Jo Malone Green Tomato Leaf Home Candle, £44


Jo Malone candles are probably one of the candles I get the most excited about and ever since I first smelt the Green Tomato Leaf scent I have been in love. I'd heard great things, but you don't really know if it's going to be for you until you really give it a smell for yourself. This scent is fresh, fruity, earthy and so clean. I absolutely adore it - it's my current favourite day time scent. If you've tried a Jo Malone candle before, then you'll know about the incredible quality - but if you don't, the burn quality, scent pay off and packaging make the price so worthwhile. 

"Glasshouse tomatoes. Earthy, leafy and full of sunshine. Crisp with stem-green galbanum. Lively with artemesia, fruity with cassis, resting on a cushion of moss. Tangy and evocative."

Timothy Dunn Tiger Eye Home Candle, £36


If you're a candle fan, chances are you're always on the hunt for a new home fragrance brand and if you've not tried it yet, Timothy Dunn is the one. Their candles are so luxurious and the scents are different to what I've tried before. My absolute favourite is Tiger Eye. It comes in beautiful luxurious black packaging and feels like an absolute treat. It's quite a grown up scent and actually was one of the first I got my hands on since my Yankee Candle Apple candle days. Its warming and I adore burning this in the evening. The quality is amazing and I'm feeling the need to pick up a new scent as they all sound amazing!

Top notes: Orange Blossom, Petitgrain, Jasmine
Heart notes: Lily, Cyclamen, Sandalwood
Base notes: Vanilla, Amberwood, Patchouli

Cochine Saigon Scented Candle in Vietnamese Rose & Delentii, £45


The thing that first gets me about the Cochine Saigon candles is the beautiful packaging. It's a metallic silver glass candle and feels so so luxurious. I fell in love with this brand for the luxurious packaging and it's what's kept me going back to the candle I've got in my stash time and time again. I've got the Vietnamese Rose & Delentii scent and although it is nice, and I can appreciate it it's not really my cup of tea completely. I adore it for the packaging but this scent is not very me. If you love rose, you'll love this but if not I'd suggest giving one of the others a go. I am already eyeing up the other candles in the range, especially Vanille & Tabac Noir, Juniper & Ginger and Tuberose & Wild Fig - as I need to get this beautiful packaging in some other scents. Perhaps I could pick them up as a new house treat? 

Top notes: Rose, Bergamot
Heart notes: Violet, Rosewood
Base notes: Delentii

Annick Goutal Eau D'Hadrien Candle, £45


Again for this one, it was the packaging that got me. The branded gold embossing on the candle glass has an incredibly luxurious feel which is what I absolutely love. The scent of the candle is incredible. It's citrus-esque but with a slight spice it. It burns beautifully and 

Top notes: Sicilian Lemon, Grapefruit
Heart notes: Citron, Green Mandarin, Ylang Ylang
Base notes: Cypress, Bergamot

Liz Earle Eucalyptus and Rosemary Botanical Candle, £40


Liz Earle has been one of my favourite beauty brands for many years. In fact, probably since around the time I actually started getting into beauty and blogging. I fell in love with their Cleanse and Polish  ad have subsequently fallen in love with everything else I've ever tried from them since - candle included. The Eucalyptus and Rosemary candle is incredible. It has great scent pay off and if you love a clean, fresh scent this is perfect for you. It's inspired by the botanicals in the Cleanse and Polish, so if you love that then you'll probably love this. This one is going straight in my bathroom in my new place and I can't wait to find it a spot and relax in the bath with it burning.  

Top notes: Eucalyptus, Rosemary, Birch, Cypress, Pine Needle, Black Pepper
Heart notes: Amber
Base notes: Patchouli, Vetiver

this works Deep Sleep Heavenly Candle, £25


I've got into the routine of burning a specific scented candle in the evening before bed, and this is one of those. The calming scent really relaxes me before bed - especially when paired with their pillow mist. It's on the affordable side of the candle spectrum which is great considering I pretty much burn this every night. It's simple with its white packaging and looks perfect in the bedroom. It's a little sexier than the usual lavender-esque sleep candle. which makes for a nice change and is probably why I love it so much. 

Notes: Lavender, Chamomile 

Aromatherapy Associates Relax Candle, £38


Again, like the this works candle, this is one of my other pre-sleep candle go-to's. If you love the Aromatherapy Associates Deep Relax bath oil scent, you'll love this. It's intense on the relaxing front and is my favourite if I need calming down or if I've had a long day. It's luxurious, I adore the brand and my love of their products doesn't stop here. 

Notes: West Indian Bay, Myrrh

Orla Kiely Geranium Scented Candle, £25


I have loved Orla Kiely candles for so long. As a self-confessed big fan of Orla Kiely in general I had always dreamed of owning some of their pieces and in fact I think the now discontinued, Orla Kiely Rhubarb candle was one of my first, if not the first luxurious home fragrance buys I got my hands on. I fell in love with the beautiful Orla Kiely designed glass on the candle and that is what keeps me going back every time. Their packaging is iconic and their candles don't disappoint either. The one I got recently is the Geranium scent and it's beautiful. A little girlier, but fresh and a go-to day time scent for me at the moment. 

Notes: White Geranium, Eucalyptus and Clary Sage

Mini Moderns Paisley Crescent Candle, £24

Again, much like the Orla Kiely candles it's the unique design of the Mini Moderns candles that made me fall in love with them. The Paisley candle not only has a beautiful bold design but it smells incredible. It's a little more on the masculine side compared to some of my other favourites but that's why I love it so much. It's warming and so beautiful. Even my boyfriend loves it. 
 
If you're a gin fan or are after something a bit fresher, you need to smell the Mini Moderns Pavilion Candle, £24 - its light and fresh and so delicious and will be right up your street. 

Notes: Jasmine, Orange blossom and hints of Cardamom


Neom Happiness Scented Candle (3 Wicks), £45

Neom candles are some of my all time favourites and in fact, I couldn't even tell you when they first came into my life. I've had many Neom candles as generally they are some of the best I've ever burnt (plus they have great customer service if you have any problems)! Their scent range is always on pointbut my current obsession is the Happiness scent. It relaxes me but it's so uplifting at the same time. It boosts my mood and there's just something about the three wick candles that get me excited in their own right. 

Another of my favourites from the brand is the Neom Christmas Wish Candle (3 Wicks), £45. It's not currently available but it's been out for the last two years and is the best festive candle I've tried. Yes, I have a stock of it. Yes, I have two already stashed away for Christmas this year and yes, I can't wait to burn them. 

"A dew-carpeted garden on a fresh spring morning. A sparkling blend of white neroli, mimosa and lemon is combined with natural fresh grass notes to create a scent evocative of the awakening of spring."

Yankee Candle Linden Tree Small Jar Candle, £8.99


When it comes to Yankee Candle's, I hate to pick which is why I love their small jar candles. They are affordable and you can pick up a few to see which is your favourite before purchasing one of the larger ones. At the moment my favourite is definitely the Linden Tree scent as it smells like freshly washed clothes or a fresh summers day. If you're looking for a few others to pick up, I'd recommend the Yankee Candle Wild Mint scent or the Yankee Candle Cherry Blossom scent. 

Top notes: Hosta Leaves, Linden Blossom
Heart notes: Viburnum 
Base notes: Musk, Cedarwood


What are your favourite candles?

Lorna x
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Wednesday 12 April 2017

Happy 20th Birthday KIKO


KIKO is one of the best budget beauty brands out there. Not only is it incredibly affordable but the quality of the products are always on point. They are celebrating 20 years since launching and are doing so with seven limited edition collections in collaboration with emerging designers that will be launched throughout the year. 

KIKO are forever launching new ranges and collections and the packaging that goes along with them is always new and exciting. The latest launch and the first of the limited edition collections to celebrate their anniversary is their Less is Better collection and is perfect for those of you who like a natural, but enhanced look.

The range includes the super pigmented KIKO Less is Better matte liquid lipsticks, £6.90 in natural nudes, rosy pinks and deep browns. These liquid lipstick are in super cute pastel pink packaging and are small enough for popping in your handbag and topping up on the go. They last super well too! 

For eyes the KIKO Less is Better Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadow, £6.90 comes in three natural but glowy shades. These are great for brighting up the eye area and applying if you're in a rush as they can be blended in quickly with your finger. If you're more of an eyeshadow palette kinda gal, then the KIKO Less is Better Eyeshadow Palette, £11.90 is going to be your new favourite palette for on the go. It's a neutral lovers dream as it includes 9 brown and nude shades in a variety of finishes. It's super small, so perfect for taking on-the-go. 

For highlight, the KIKO Less is Better Fluid Highlighter, £11.90 is perfect for strobing. It comes in two shades, a lighter champagne shade and a slightly darker golden shade and is enormous for the price. You get so much product in here, so much so I couldn't ever imagine ever running out. It blends well and gives the skin a beautiful, enhanced natural glow. To finish off the skin, the KIKO Less is Better Cream Blush, £8.90 is perfect. It comes in a large tub and feels super luxurious. It comes in two shades a rose and a slightly darker mauve and they blend into the skin well while still having great colour pay off. It leaves the skin looking flushed but still dewy. 

Finally, the last product in the range is perfect for the makeup removal process as the KIKO Less is Better Konjac Sponge, £5.90 is also included in the collection. It deeply cleanses your skin gently and preps it for makeup application (or helps to remove)!

Like I said, KIKO is one of my favourite budget beauty brands and this range doesn't disappoint. I am already excited for the other limited edition designed collections to come out later in the year as this design is so beautiful. Roll on the rest of 2017... 

Lorna x

This feature may contain products gifted by brands or affiliate links but as always all thoughts are my own
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