Re-Using Candle Glass Jars

Many candle lovers prefer buying glass jar soy candles.  That's because they come in attractive glass jars of different sizes and shapes and they are quite affordable too, just like the Karma Senses glass jar soy candles. 

We mentioned it on our previous post about soy candles that soy waxes are a lot more softer compared to other types of wax.  They burn cleaner too and they have low melting point.  It is because of these characteristics that they are placed inside a container.  I personally don't mind really because these containers are very pretty, especially when they have wooden or lsilver lids, and once the wax is consumed you can use the jars for something else.  It's exciting.  Just a little precaution though.  Never burn your glass candles all the way down or you risk breaking the glass.  If there is only half an inch of wax remaining on the glass jar, extinguish the flame right away.  Remove the wax and reuse the candle glass jar.

MiKeRa Natural CoCoSoy
Candles in Glass Jar with lids

KARMA SENSES Natural
Soy Candle in Glass Jar

How to reuse your used candle glass jar?

Removing the wax from the glass jar candle is quite simple.  Once the jar has cooled down, put it inside the freezer for an hour or two.  Low temperature causes the wax to shrink and it will be easier for you to remove it.  I used a dull knife in removing the rest of the wax.  Peel off the label and then clean the container.  Do you know that vinegar and baby oil can help remove the wax?  Soaking the container with a vinegar solution also helps remove the fragrance.  Once it's clean, you can use it for several things and I've listed a few nifty ideas that you can use it for.

MiKeRa Natural Soy Candles
in Coloured Glass Jar

MiKeRa Natural Soy Candle
in Glass Jar

What to do with you clean & empty candle glass jar?

●     Candle Refill.  If you've got several candle jars, you can find a soy candle refill.  It can be a lot cheaper than buying a new one.

●     Candle holder. Use the bigger soy candle jars as a container for your tea-light candles.  To make it more beautiful, you can fill the container halfway with sand or pebbles or even marbles and then place your tea-light candles on top.

●     Vases.  If you've got one of those huge glass jars, you can clean them and use them as vases and display them as a centerpiece.

●     Treat Jars.  Use the jars as container for treats like colourful candies and lollipops.  Or you can use one of those little ones, fill them up with jelly beans, put a ribbon on top and you can give that as a gift to brighten up someone's day.  As an alternative to those candy treats, you can also put mini biscuits.  I'd love to get me one of those.

●     Bathroom/Accessories Storage.  These adorable jars can make great containers for your cotton balls and q-tips.  You can also use them as containers for your colourful hair clips.

After reading this post, those glass jar soy candles will probably never look like just candles.  I’m sure you’ll envision them as one of those cool items that you can have in your homes. 

Do you use soy candles in glass jars? How do you reuse the jar once the candle has been used?

Want to buy some soy candles in glass jars now? Buy direct from the distributor!

The Scent of Lemongrass

Have you tried Tom Yum soup or any Thai food at least once in your life? Do you like drinking herbal teas? Have you used an Ivory soap? If you say "yes" to any of these then you are most likely familiar with the refreshing citrus scent of Lemongrass.

Lemongrass is a perennial plant that originated from India and Sri Lanka but it eventually found its way to the different Southeast Asian cuisine.  It is mostly used in Thai soups and curries and later as one of the scents used in aromatherapy.

What's with lemongrass anyway?

In South and Central America, South East Asia and Caribbean, it is an essential medicinal and culinary herb.  It has been used to treat cholera and fever.  The plant is found to have antimicrobial, antifungal and antibacterial properties that can prevent infection.  Its oil is composed of many chemical properties such as mycrene, geraniol, cetronellal, nerol and neral that are found to be beneficial for herbal, medicinal and therapeutic purposes.  It can provide relief for toothache, headache and even menstrual cramps.

Got body odor? Lemongrass can help prevent it.  In fact, lemongrass oil is used as one of the many ingredients in deodorants.  Grab an ivory soap and smell it.  That's the scent of lemongrass.  It is also used in many skin care products because it has antiseptic and antibacterial properties.

Sure it has medicinal properties but the lemongrass scent does wonders to the human senses.  Its essential oil is used in aromatherapy to help you calm down and reduce stress.  The lemongrass essential oil has an antidepressant property that can help alleviate anxiety and panic attacks.  It blends well with jasmine and lavender so you can enjoy the scents together for a more relaxing effect. I really don’t like overpowering scents because it makes my nose painful.  Not with lemongrass.  The scent is pleasant and unobtrusive so you can just soak in it forever.

Enjoying Lemongrass Scent at Home

There are different ways to enjoy its relaxing scent.  If you don’t have any budget in going to Aromatherapy Spa, that’s ok.  We’ve found a way so you can enjoy it at the comforts of your own home. 

If you love candles you can choose between Karma Senses LemongrassTea soy candle in jars or MiKeRa palm wax pillar candle.  Got kids or pets? Not a problem. Try the Karma Senses fragrant reed diffuser.  It’s so easy to use.  You can just dip it, flip it and leave it.

MiKeRa Lemongrass Tea
palm wax pillar Candle

KARMA SENSES Lemongrass Tea
small reed diffuser

KARMA SENSES Lemongrass Tea
Soy Candle in Glass Jar

Feel free to go to our website and check out our range of scented candles and fragrant reed diffusers. 

Have you used anything Lemongrass scented? Did you have candles, reed diffusers, or maybe incense? Tell us about the affect it had on you and how you used it.

KARMA SENSES Lemongrass Tea
Soy Candle in Mini Glass Bell Jar

Bridal Shower Basket Ideas

When you get invited to a wedding or a bridal shower, you want to make sure that you give something to the bride that will make her feel special.  One purpose of the bridal shower is to equip the new homes of the newlyweds.  At the same time, gifts are given in celebration of the bride's upcoming wedding.

One fun and creative way of gift giving is creating a gift basket.  It is a delightful way of wishing your friend or your loved one well.  Besides, who doesn't love receiving gift baskets?  They are perfect for almost every occasion.  Any bride would appreciate a gift basket especially if you put in so much thought on what to include in that package.  Here's what you can do:

●     Start by picking out a theme and it can be anything.  Think of something that the bride or the couple love doing together.

●     Be creative.  A gift basket doesn't necessarily mean that all the stuff needs to be inside a basket.  Try using an oversized bowl or a medium sized laundry basket or even a metal tub.

●     Set your budget. These small gifts can sometimes add up too quickly so keep track of what you're spending.

To give you an idea, we listed a few themes that we hope will get your creativity started.

Color Basket  

Think about what the bride's favourite colour is.  If it's pink, then let that guide you on which item to put in the basket.  If she likes to write then throw in a couple of pink journals, a pink pen with a pink ink.  Add a MiKeRa GuavaCocktail soy candle in a pink glass jar to add to that relaxing mood when she writes.

 

MiKeRa Tropical Pleasures Natural Soy Candle in Coloured Glass - Guava Cocktail Scented

Honeymoon Basket

After the hectic planning and preparation for the big wedding day, any couple would like to take a break from it all and spend time with each other.  It would be nice to create a honeymoon baskets with things that the bride may need.  You can throw in a sexy lingerie, massage oils, a bottle of wine or a CD of romantic music.  You can also throw in a couple of KARMA SENSES scented pillar candles that they could use to light the bedroom.  Choose scents that are considered aphrodisiacs such as vanilla, lavender, rose and ylang ylang.

 

KARMA SENSES  Quality Scented Pillar Candles

KARMA SENSES Aromatic Reed Diffuser

Relaxation Basket 

When the honeymoon is over and its time to go back to the real world, there will be times that the bride may want to unwind after a hard day’s work.  This relaxation basket will do the trick.  You and your friends can create a spa-day basket.  Fill the basket with bubble baths, facial masks, lotions, relaxing  music,chocolates, tea, a bathrobe and some soft comfortable slippers.  Include lavender-scented KarmaSenses aroma diffusers and/or incense that can help her achieve a state of relaxation.

 

KARMA SENSES Incense

The ideas for bridal baskets are endless.  Just remember that when you do create one, always have the bride in mind.  Think about the things that she loves and she enjoys doing and for sure she will love the thought and the effort that you put up in creating this wonderful gift.

Sweet Sweet Ylang Ylang

How many of you are familiar with ylang ylang or have seen this tree? If you haven't, that's fine.  You can get to know about the plant and its sweet floral scent through this post.

Ylang Ylang, pronounced as ee-lang ee-lang means "flower of flowers."  It is a tree that originated in the South East Asia and it is the name given to the tree and its flower.  Now the plant is found in Burma, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines.  The Ylang Ylang essential oil is widely used in aromatherapy and perfumery.

Ylang Ylang Scented Perfume

The process of steam distillation is used in extracting cananga and ylang ylang oil both derived from the ylang ylang tree.  The carnaga oil is mainly used in soaps and toiletries.  Ylang ylang oil on the other hand is highly used in perfumery because it has a delightful, sweet and heavenly scent.

Not quite convinced? Chanel No. 5, Estee Lauder Private Collection Amber Ylang Ylang, Givenchy Amarige Ylang Ylang and Nina Ricci L'Air du Temps are just some of the women's perfumes that has ylang ylang.  For men, try CK One Scene, Hermes Bel Ami and Hermes Vanille Galante

Ylang Ylang in Aromatherapy

The scent of ylang ylang when inhaled can have a great impact on one's mood and disposition.  It is used to relieve stress, anxiety and to elevate your mood.  Try using Karma Senses Ylang Ylang fragrant reed diffuser (aroma diffuser) inside your living area when you get home from work and lose yourself in its scent.  Or try putting a few drops of its essential oil in your bath.  I can guarantee that your mood will change in an hour (or even less). 

Ylang Ylang Fragrance Oil
for Oil Burner

Ylang Ylang Fragrant Wax Melt
for Oil Burner

The essential oil can be used as an aromatherapy treatment to help with different conditions such as dandruff and scalp parasites although there is limited proof of its effectiveness.  People with high blood pressure can benefit from inhaling its scent too.  Aside from that, it is also used to treat colds, cough, fever, insomnia, muscle tension and even sinus infection.  To add to that, the ylang ylang essential oil can act as an insect repellant, it can promote wound healing and can help lighten the scars if applied onto the skin.

 

MiKeRa Ylang Ylang
Aroma Diffuser Gift Set

Just like rose and lavender, the ylang ylang scent is considered an aphrodisiac.  If you know someone who's getting married and you don't know what to give as a present, consider getting them a MiKeRa Ylang Ylang Aroma Difuser gift set, or large reed diffusers are always a big hit in my experiences.  That will certainly help them set the mood on their honeymoon!

Ready for Ylang Ylang?

Are you ready to experience ylang ylang’s sweet, floral scent at home?  It’s just easy as visiting our online shop and see our wide range of scented candles, reed or aroma differs, incense, and oil burners.  You can choose between the MiKeRa or the Karma Senses Ylang Ylang scented reeddiffusers. Enjoy! 

MiKeRa Ylang Ylang
Reed Diffuser

KARMA SENSES Ylang Ylang
Reed Diffuser

Tips in Using Soy Candles

Soy candles are slowly gaining its popularity from those who want to enjoy natural elements in their homes.  From a mere bean, soy has definitely come a long way and now man has discovered soy wax as the natural alternative material for creating candles.

There are different varieties of soy candles in the market.  You can find it in different colors, sizes and scents.  They even come in attractive glass jars and tins.  Perhaps the only area where soy is not suitable is on freestanding candles.  Soy wax is a lot more softer compared to paraffin wax so it is best that they come in their own glass jars or containers, as soy wax melts at a very low temperature.   If you prefer pillar candles for your homes then there is a need to mix soy wax with other wax for it to remain firm enough to hold the for of a free standing pillar candle.

Proper Way of Using Soy Candles

You have finally decided to buy soy candles for your home.  Although we have ensured that the soy candles that we produce are of high quality, once we ship our candles to you, we hand over the responsibility of caring and properly using it.

We have rounded up tips that will help you in safely and properly using soy candles.

•  Read the warning labels or instructions that come with the soy candles.
• Trim the wick to 1/4 inch before each use.  Avoid over-trimming it.  If it's too short then the flame will be too small and this will not allow the melt pool to reach the outer edges of the container.
•  If it's the first time that you're lighting your soy candles, make sure that you take time and let it burn.  This is to teach your candle burn marks.
• If you have a scented candle, allow the wax to pool all the way to the outer edges.  This will result to an even burn and maximum aroma dispersion.
• Don't leave the candle unattended and keep it out of the reach of children and pets.
• Never light or burn your candle on or near anything that is flammable.
• Keep yourself from getting burned by not touching the container when the candle is lit.  Use a heatproof plate if there is a need for you to move the candles from one location to another.
• Do not blow out candles, use a candle snuffer to extinguish the flame.  This will prevent the wax from spraying.
• Keep it away from water because this could cause the wax to pop or splatter.

Get the best candle experience by following our suggestions.  Visit our website and get the best deal for all natural soy candles in Australia. 

Tips For Decorating a Modern Home with Candles

I'm sure many of you will agree that candles make great decorations.  They make great additions inside the room.  They are able to enhance anyone's mood with their light and scent.  They add personality or a splash of colour in neutral rooms making it more attractive and it adds a pleasant smell when lit.  With candles, how can you go wrong?  So, we listed a few decorating ideas for your modern homes.

MiKeRa Crystallised Palm Wax Pillar
Scented Candles

Simplicity

Simplicity is one word to describe a modern home.  Simple but definitely not boring.  Find a few spots at home where you can place your candles.  For example, the coffee table in the living room.  Choose candle designs and colors that go well with the table.  You can get a shallow bowl, put a few handful of red or brown rice and arrange different sizes of MiKeRa pillar candles.

Bright Colours & Scents

Guava Cocktail Scented Natural Soy
Candle in Coloured Reusable glass.

What about scented candles?  The truth is, there's a lot you can do with them but perhaps the best place where I'd say I'd put them is at the bathroom or the bedroom.  Scented aromatherapy soy candles can do more than just set the mood.  They create a soothing and relaxing environment and that's how primarily you should feel when you're in your bedroom or bathroom.  You can keep them together in one corner or you can put some on the windowsill.  You can use bright coloured candles like the MiKeRa soy candles in coloured glass jars or those amazing MiKeRa crystallised palm wax pillar candles.  The bright colours and beautiful crystallised texture will add heaps of character to a monochromatic bathroom.

Scented Natural Soy Candle in Square Glass
Apple Martini Scent. 

Welcoming Candles

Candle decorations also work well in the foyer.  I think it's a great way of saying "hello" to your guests as they arrive.  Once they step in they will immediately be welcomed by the scent and the glow of the candle.  Try adding a vase filled with fresh flowers too.  Flowers and candles make a great combination.

Decorative KasseL Candles

Another personal favourite would have to be the KasseL decorative candles. They are handmade and decorated with dried fruits, flowers and herbs.  It’s already attractive as it is and that’s exactly what I love about it.  No need for frills or ribbons to enhance these candles' beauty.  You can just immediately place it on your coffee table or on mount it on wall sconces.  Believe me, when the flame is gently swaying and the candle is glowing through with embedded real flowers, fruits and botanicals, I can stare at it forever.

Using candles as an accessory to decorate your homes can be fun and exciting.  What’s even better is that they work well within my budget. One can never have too many of those because they are beautiful and also functional as scented candles have aromatherapy powers and are great for creating lighting effects and ambience. Try decorating with candles at home and do drop by and share with us what you did and how you feel about it.

Premium KasseL AquaGel lamp Candles

KasseL UltraGlow Candle - Purple Gerbera Scent.

Secret to a Pleasant Smelling Room

I'm very particular with how my room smells, more so my bathroom.  I love the smell of clean sheets and a clean room filled with my favourite scent. I love being greeted by a sweet smelling room every time I open the door.  I'll let you in with my little secret -- essential oil burners.

An essential oil burner is a device that is used to diffuse aromatherapy fragrance into the air.  They are those that you see in aromatherapy stores that look like a really small clay oven.  Using them is not like rocket science at all.  All you need to do is fill the container (the one that is shaped like a bowl) with a mixture of essential oils and water.  Around 2 tablespoons of water and 3-5 drops of essential oil should be enough.  Then light a tealight candle and put it under the bowl.  The heat from the candle warms the bowl eventually causing the oil/water mixture to evaporate and fill the room with its fragrance.

Different Styles of Oil Burners

The oil burners can be made of ceramic, glass or metal.  They come in different sizes, colours, designs and material that you can choose from.  They are incredibly adorable that you can even use them as home decorations.

Do you want to try the essential oil burners but you’re not sure which ones to buy?  Don't fret.  There are oil burner gift sets available, like that of Karma Senses.  A gift pack contains an oil burner, a bottle of fragrant oil and 4 pieces of tealights. 

I personally like using tealights.  I love the ambiance that candles create inside the room no matter what its size.  However, there are people who are hesitant to use it because it’s a fire hazard.  Don’t worry, just use some caution and ensure your oil burner is placed on a stable and level surface, and never leaver leave a burning candle unattended.

Different Rooms Different Scent

Try using different essential oils in different parts of your house.  For the bedroom, I use a combination of lavender and chamomile because I prefer my room to be as relaxing as possible.   For the living room I love the scent of peppermint and bergamot to improve alertness and prevent insect bites.  And for the bathroom, I prefer using lavender and tea tree essential oil because of their antibacterial and antiviral properties.

If you want to try what I do, check out the available KarmaSenses Oil Burners, Oil Burner gift sets, fragrant oils and fragrant wax melts online. 

What about you? Do you also enjoy using oil burners at home?

Meditating with Pillar Candles

Do you need time to build your energy? Or a relaxing time to maybe regain your focus? Sometimes I do especially when situations at the office seem so hard to deal with. That's why I personally like to set some time for myself to pause and meditate.

Meditation has always been practiced for centuries and candles play a big part in the session.  They help create the mood through their scent and their lighting.  The light from the candle can be used as a focal point.

A candle alone can be used as a tool for meditation. I like to combine it with lavender or vanilla incense and sometimes meditation music.  Whatever you use doesn't matter as long as you are able to reach your meditation goal.

Candle as a Focal Point

Candles are usually placed at an eye level from where you plan to sit since you will be using them as a focal point during the entire session.  You don't want it too low or too high.  Because of this, pillar candles make the best meditation candles.

Candle flames when used as a focal point often helps you reach full concentration.  There are some though who'd rather maintain a direct contact with the flame for a couple of minutes rather than focusing on the flame for the entire session.

Candle Color and Scent

Any pillar candles can be used in meditation.  However, the scents emitted by the candles can contribute to achieving the desired goal of the meditation session.  If its relaxation and deeper meditation is what you seek, I suggest lighting Karma Senses vanilla frost candle.  If it's enlightenment then sandalwood scented candles are the best choice.

The color of the candle that you picked represents your mediation goal.  It is believed that different colors can evoke different reactions.  For example, pink candles can be used when meditating about happiness in love and romance.  Red is said to represent passion and energy.  Blue is associated with tranquility and is good when the person meditating is under stress.  White symbolizes inner peace and purity; and using yellow candle can open doors to psychic awareness.

Pillar Candles set the mood for meditation making you feel calm and giving you a sense of comfort.  The right candle color and scent will help you reach the state of mind you want to achieve.

Got any meditation stories you want to share? We'd love to hear it.

You can buy quality Pillar candles online  and natural palm wax Pillar candles direct from the distributor, Alma Importers. All our candles are created from the finest waxes and we only use lead free pure cotton wicks.

Everything Vanilla

Who doesn't love anything vanilla?  I love vanilla ice cream and i love the scent of vanilla body spray.  There is something about that scent that draws me to it.

For some, vanilla is the scent they use in practicing aromatherapy.  Vanilla beans yield fragrant essential oils that can be used to treat conditions.  It is one of the few fragrances that are universally known as pleasant.  Combine it with lavender and it will surely help you relax after a long and stressful day.

Calming Effects

In the 1991 study conducted at the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, it is found that the patients that were exposed to vanilla scent is less agitated and less anxious compared to the other patients who weren't able to inhale the scent.  Because of the result of that study, the cancer center started using that scent as a preparation for MRI's.

New Vanilla Scented Incense, Candle and
Incense holder gift set coming soon to Alma Importers

An Aphrodisiac?

Believe it or not, vanilla scent is considered an aphrodisiac.  A study in Germany in 1762 revealed that a medication that contains vanilla can cure male impotence and is especially effective in older men.  A vanilla scent helps increase the blood flow to the genitals.  Although there are not studies investigating its effect on women, it has been used by both sexes since the time of the Aztecs.  

A very interesting fact, don’t you think.  The next time a friend gets married, you can give the Karma Senses Vanilla Oil burner and fragrant crystal gift set as a wedding present.  And on your next romantic getaway, bring along the handy Karma Senses Vanilla Frost incense stick.

Weight Loss Partner

Who would have thought that vanilla scent could help you lose weight?

There was a study in St. George's Hospital indicating that vanilla does just that.  In the results of the study, there was a reduction of the sweet food intake on those people that were given vanilla-scented skin patches.  This lead to a greater weight loss compared to those who were just given dietary advice.  Although it really wasn't proven in a test environment, I'll willingly take the chance.  Just imagine; I get to relax and unwind and maybe lose a few pounds in the process.  It sounds good to me.

Aromatherapy At Home

If you just had a bad day at the office or maybe you didn’t land the contract that you badly needed; vanilla aromatherapy at home can be beneficial.  Light several MiKeRa Vanilla Cream pillar candles inside your room and notice how your overall mood alters.

Have a stress free day (and night) with vanilla fragrances.  Just don't forget to check with your health care provider if you are going to combine aromatherapy with your current conventional medical treatment.  Otherwise, go ahead and light those aromatic diffusers, grab a book and relax.

Have you tried the vanilla scent before? What did you like about it? 

DIY Decorating Tips with KasseL Candles

Are you up for a DIY decorating weekend?  Do you plan to add a little something extra to your living room, dining room or bedroom?  You're in luck because we've listed a few candle decorating tips that we hope you find useful when you tackle your decorating project.

The use of candles as home decor is easy with the KasseL candles around.  It's fun. It's fast and anyone can do this with little or no help at all. What's even better is that KasseL candles have embedded decorations so you don't really have to do so much in making it beautiful.

 

KasseL UltraGlow and NatureGlow Candles

Where to buy candles?

Now, first thing's first.  We need to select the right candles.  Candles are available everywhere.  You can buy it from the local pharmacy or gift shops, but you will find the best range and cheapest prices by buying candlesonline. Go through the different designs available and pick some depending on the room you want to decorate and the look you want to achieve.

KasseL AquaGel candles can be used after burning,
as a decorative tea light lamp that emits fragrance.

Tips for decorating with candles

Try to choose candles with varying heights like the KasseL Utraglow and Natureglow candles.  The candles are available in small, medium or large sizes.  Or you can put some candles on candle stands to create a dynamic feel. There is so much more to see when candles are arranged that way.

KasseL UltraGlow and AquaGel Candle moody scene

Using Mirrors to enhance the Candle light

Using a mirror is an effective way of enhancing your candles.  Your candles will be able to throw off more light if used near a mirror.  If there are no mirrors in that room or corner, try using a candle in a glass jar or container like the KasseL aquagel candle.  The glass container and the botanical inclusions shows off the candle light in an interesting & decorative way.

Mix Candle height, size, colour, and designs

Have fun mixing up the candle colors and designs.  Getting pillar candles with different heights creates a dynamic feel of space and having several colours and designs makes for eye candy!

Now that you have chosen candles with different variations in size, color and decorations, you can now put them together.  I like to start off with a round tray and a vase of your favorite flower.  Then you can arrange the candles on the rest of the tray.  This will make a good centerpiece on your coffee table.

Other props….

One other thing that I love to use are vase gems or beads.  I like to scatter them on the tray after arranging the KasseL Ultraglow or Natureglow candles.  Try varying the sizes and the colors of the beads or you can just stick to one type.  Do whatever works for you but let me tell you, there's something different about the glow of the candles with the gems around it.

Real Strawberry scented KasseL NatureGlow, UltraGlow and AquaGel candles.

Admire your decorative artistry!

Candle decorating is something enjoyable and surprisingly revelating.  It brings out the artist in you when you thought you didn’t have one.  Try experimenting on different textures, materials, arrangement until you find the one that shows off your personality more.  Then you can step back, light the candles and enjoy your masterpiece.

Share your favorite candle decorating tip with us.   We'd love to hear what worked for you.