Candles as Christmas Gifts

The countdown to Christmas has finally begun and I’m sure you already have your list of who you will be giving gifts to.  Let me guess.  I’m pretty sure that the names of family members, friends, colleagues and even neighbors are there.  Creating a list is just the start.  The most challenging part would be thinking about which gift to give them that will fit your budget.

Candles are one of the best gifts that anyone can think of giving this Christmas.  Some would argue and say that people give candles as gifts only because they couldn’t think of anything else.  I say, it’s not entirely true.  They have you in mind that’s why they got you that gift.  Perhaps you still haven’t realized yet how much a candle can alter your outlook and your mood especially if you got one of those scented ones.  The quality essential oils mixed in the candle wax can make you feel more calm and relaxed.  Your friend may be thinking that you deserve a stress-free time that’s why she gave you that gift.  Now, isn’t that thoughtful?

If you are considering giving candles to your friends, family members or colleagues, we’ve listed a few Christmas gift ideas that you can use or modify depending on who you will be giving the gift to.

KasseL Decorative candles
contain real botanicals

KARMA SENSES Vanilla coated pillar candle pack

• Decorative Candles.  What’s great about giving decorative candles is that it is extremely beautiful as it is.  You don’t have to do much.  This is a great gift for someone who loves candles and who have a handful of them at home.  They make great ornaments and centerpieces.
  
  

• Bath Basket.  Create this bath basket for your lady friends.  Get a few scented candles, a bubble bath, colorful bath sponge and a towel. Arrange everything in one small basket and tie a beautiful ribbon.  Make it extra cute by adding a small stuffed animal in the center.  This can be a great gift for couples too.
  

KasseL AquaGel candles also make an
attractive lantern after burning has finished

• Romantic Gift Basket.  Instead of giving two separate gifts for your friends who are couples, why not create a romantic gift basket that both of them can enjoy?  In a small wicker basket you can arrange a romantic CD, a few candles, a pack of incense stick or aromatherapy diffuser and massage oil that they can use for their romantic getaway.  We highly recommend the vanilla scent or rose scent because this invokes the feeling of love.  

No matter what you give this Christmas - candles, clothes or any other item, the important thing is that it should come from the heart.

Votive Candles

Votive candles are perhaps one of the most popular types of candle.  If you haven't seen one, think again.  This type of candle is often seen lighted in churches.  The practice of lighting a votive candle before the image of the saints or of the Lord started in the early Christian times.  The light of the candle symbolizes that a prayer is said and that one's faith is offered to Him. 

A traditional votive candle is around 2 inches in height and one inch in diameter.  It is made from white or yellow wax.  The candles can be in a glass jar container or in foils.  Some even bore the images of Jesus and the Virgin Mary.

Do you want to know the role they play in the religious community? 

• ·         Christians light a candle if they intend to pray for something or if they want to pray for another person.
• ·         Roman Catholics light candles at the altar or before the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary or Jesus. 
• ·         Anglicans use the candles to pray for their dead. 
• ·        Methodists use the candles in the All Saint’s Day liturgical celebration.  They light them and then say a prayer for each person in the congregation who died.
• ·        Buddhist light votive candles and make them as offerings.  The candlelight is used as a symbol of wisdom and a reminder of the last sermon made by Buddha.

Votive Candles Today

Unscented votive candles or scented votive candles are made from paraffin.  Sometimes paraffin is mixed with other wax types such as beeswax so it becomes rigid and will retain its shape.  Votives today remain popular and it has made a lot of improvement throughout the years.  They are no longer just colored yellow or white but rather in several different colors.  They now have a scented version wherein essential oils are mixed with the wax so it gives off that aromatic throw when burned.

Although the votive candles may look plain, it is that very same reason that a lot of people use them as a décor.  Its simplicity makes it easier for some to enhance it with the use of other components such as candle holders and flowers.  Besides, any room can easily get a makeover with that special glow. Use them inside your living room.  You can put them strategically on shelves, windowsills or TV stands.  Votive candles can be spread out inside your bedroom too and you can choose to buy the colored ones that fit well with your bedroom’s color scheme.

Votives, pillars or tea lights; it doesn’t matter what your preference is.  We say, have fun! After all, decorating your place can be exciting.

Have you bought (or tried) a votive candle lately?

Shopping for Christmas Presents

The Christmas countdown is ON! I’m sure not only are the kids counting the days before Christmas. Family members look forward to the time that they get to spend away from work to be with their family and relatives. It’s such an exciting time for everyone. As for me, it’s one time that I get a pretty good excuse to shop.

Next to wrapping gifts and seeing the faces of the kids unwrapping their presents, shopping is perhaps one of my favorite Christmas activities. I simply enjoy searching for what’s available out there and to whom should the gift be given to. It can be tiring but what can I say? It’s my version of getting an exercise.  

December is also the season of countless mall sales. This is the best time to buy several things for a fraction of the original cost.  However, the number of people shopping at the mall can get very overwhelming. Everywhere I look I see a sea of faces. The lines are getting endless and the waiting time almost unbearable.  It is because of this very reason that I resorted to shopping my Christmas presents online.

Online shopping is still shopping minus the added effort. Don’t get me wrong. I still like going to the malls but there are just days when I don’t want to waste more time getting from one place to another, look for a parking space and walk from one section to another. I want to get things done and fast. Online shopping does that for me. All I have to do is turn my laptop on, visit the store’s website and place my order there. It’s very convenient.

Shopping online is easy too.  Have you visited any online store lately?  Did you notice how their websites are laid out?  Each item is categorized so you can filter the items that you’re interested in.  If you need scented candles, all you need to do is click a button and the page will display candles of varying sizes, shapes, colors and scents that you can choose from.  Product descriptions are also provided so it will be easier for you to decide which product to buy for yourself or for your friend.

If malls have mall sales, online shopping websites have one too.  Most online stores offer discounts among other things.  There are even online shops that deliver the items for free.  This will allow you to purchase a gift for someone who’s living in a different country or state, pay for it and ask for it to be delivered to your friend’s house.

Whether you want to do your Christmas shopping online or at the malls is completely up to you.  I completely love both for several reasons.  Online shopping gives me the convenience I need and going to the malls allow me to meet up with some of my friends.  Then again, in this Christmas season, the important thing is that you remember the people that is close to your heart and give them a token to say “Thank you for being there all these years.”

I’d like to know, do you prefer to shop online or would you rather go to the malls?

Fruity Fragrances of Summer

There are a lot of things to look forward in the summer season.  I look forward to lounging on the beach getting my tan.  I love the feel of the sand on my toes and the wind in my hair.  And what about the scent of freshly cut grass, the ocean, and the sweet scented fruits and flowers?  I can imagine smelling them forever. These are just some of the things that remind me so much of summer.

You too can bring some of these scents at home through the different summer scented fruit scents of our candles and aroma diffusers.  We made sure that we have enough variety for you to choose from:

MiKeRa Incense, Candle & Holder Gift Set

Cherry Blossom.  Cherry blossom is a flower from the genus Prunus tree. It has a sweet and light floral fragrance that can uplift your spirits.  Because of its scent, it is used as inspiration for several perfumes and body fragrances like the Cherry Blossom from Bath and Body Works.  You can bring the scent of this flower to your home environment through the MiKeRa Incense Sticks, Candle and Metal Holder Gift set.

MiKeRa Natural Palm Wax Pillar Candle

Blackberry.  Blackberry is a fruit that is often used in jams, desserts and even wines.  Because of its sumptuous, delicious and juicy scent, it is widely used as inspiration for several fragrances like Wonderstruck by Taylor Swift.  Get lost in this beautiful fragrance at home, by getting yourself one of MiKeRa’s blackberry ripple palm candles.

Strawberry.  Another scent that reminds me so much of summer is strawberry. This juicy fruit has a sweet smell that does wonders to our nervous system.  It calms and strengthens the mind that helps you fight over stress and sleeplessness.  Enjoy Karma Senses strawberry ice soy candles in glass jars or MiKeRa’s strawberry crush palm wax candles at home.  I’m sure you’ll never have to worry about not having enough rest or sleep.

KARMA SENSES natural soy candle in
large glass bell jar

MiKeRa Natural Palm wax candles
in Ceramic Pots

MiKeRa Peach Nectar Reed Diffuser

Peach.  Peaches are fruits that are native to China.  It is also used in desserts.  This fruit is used as a source of inspiration for body care products and other high end perfumes like Chanel’s Coco.  Get introduced to its sweet smell with MiKeRa’s peach nectar patterned aroma reed diffuser.

KARMA SENSES natural soy candle in
large glass bell jar

Mango.  Definitely my all-time favorite tropical fruit because of its aromatic scent and it’s a very delicious fruit.  I just get energized every time I get a whiff of it.  If you want to fall in love with its scent, try Karma Senses Mango sorbet natural soy candles and escape to a summer hideaway each time.

MiKeRa CoCoSoy Candle
Juicy Currant Scented

Currant.  The smooth and sumptious scent of currant is seen in the highly fragranced MiKeRa juicy currant CoCoSoy candles. Indulge yourself in this fresh, sweet and earthy fragrance.

MiKeRa CoCoSoy Candle
Passionfruit Crush Scented

Passionfruit. The sweet and tangy tropical scent of passionfruit will take you straight to summer. Bring summer to your home everyday with highly scented MiKeRa passionfruit crush CoCoSoy candles.

We want to know, what’s your favourite summer fruit scent?