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?

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.