Spotting High Quality Candles

I bet that almost anyone has purchased a candle at least once in their lives.  Some has probably used it during a blackout.  Some people use candles in meditation. Some people buy candles to practice aromatherapy and there are others who use them to set the mood.  The question remains though – how will you know that what you are buying is high quality candles?  What should you be in the lookout for?  Don’t worry, we’ll give you tips.

• Check the price.  You might argue that it is not always an indicator of quality because there are, after all some quality goods that are not too expensive however, this could be a good clue.  The truth is, quality can cost money.  You can't just buy high quality candles and expect to get a really steep discount.  Remember that in order for these companies to create the kind of products that you’re looking for, they have to incur extra costs to ensure safety and quality. But also, often, if a candle seems quite expensive, it is the brand name that makes it expensive. You could get a candle of the same quality for a lesser price.

MiKeRa Sustainable Natural
Palm Wax Pillar candle



KARMA SENSES Natural Soy Candle
in Glass Jar - Blackberry Ripple

• Look at the candle manufacturer.  This can be done simply by visiting their website and reading about the profile of the company who you’re buying the candles from.  You want to find out how long have they been manufacturing candles and how dedicated they are to candle making.  Quality candle manufacturers maintain their good reputation by ensuring that they produce quality candles all the time.  They also know a lot about candles and candle safety.

MiKeRa Sustainable Natural Palm Wax
candle in glass bowl

• Check the label if it shows the ingredients of the candle that you are about to buy.  Although not all companies have a list of all the ingredients but at least it should indicate something.  If you’re buying candles online, check the product description.  Purchase those that are made from high quality candle wax like beeswax, soy or palm wax. If the wax is not specified then it is likely be a cheap blend of cheap and harmful waxes and materials or a paraffin (petroleum) candle.

KasseL Premium Candles contain beeswax
- UltraGlow & AquaGel

• Most importantly, look at the candle itself and how it is packaged.  Most manufacturers that produce high quality candles are proud of their products.  They take extra care in making sure that they are packaged and wrapped well so their beloved products will be protected.  They also make sure that each of the candles look beautiful, the waxes smooth and they are shaped perfectly.

You may spend a little more money when you choose to buy quality candles.  Other candles may be cheaper but because they give you unsatisfactory candle experience, you end up buying another batch and therefore costing you more.  

It’s definitely better to buy it right the first time, don’t you think? Good quality candles last longer, look better, smell better, and do not give off harmful toxins.

Zesty Citrus Scents

Have you tried peeling an orange or lemon before and then feel that mist coming from the fruit? I have always loved that feeling, more so when you take the rind and breathe in that fresh citrus essential oil.  Have you noticed too that after you peel the fruit, the room almost immediately smells clean and fresh?

Three of the most renowned citrus family are the orange, grapefruit and tangerine.  Their essential oils are derived by cold pressing the fruit rind.  Each fruit essential oil has different therapeutic properties.

MiKeRa "fragrant seasons" Natural Soy Candle in
Frosted Glass - Autumn Orange Pomander

Orange. The scent of orange brings about peace and happiness.  It elevates your mind and body and increases your sense of security.  It also stimulates and improves alertness.  This probably explains my high energy after peeling those oranges in the kitchen.  Anyone can experience the orange scent because this is infused in perfumes, lotions and candles like MiKeRa's orange pomander reed diffusers and soy candle.  Perfect when you're feeling down and you need that extra boost to get you through the day.

  

MiKeRa "fragrant seasons" Tall Reed Diffuser
- Autumn Orange Pomander

Do you know anyone whose mood needs to be uplifted?  You can give them a gift too.  Alma Importers has Orange Pomander Reed Diffusers & Natural Soy Candles in stylish cylinder gift boxes for 30% Off RRP!.  Once they experienced the scent, I’m sure they will thank you for it.

Grapefruit. Grapefruit scent has an uplifting and energizing aroma.  Smelling its scent can help you balance your appetite so it’s a great scent to be surrounded with when you are enrolled in a weight management program.  You can light either MiKeRa's grapefruit zest scentednatural palm wax pillar candle or get one of those attractive Karma Sensesgrapefruit zest scented natural soy candles in a mini bell jar.

KARMA SENSES Natural Soy Candle in Retro Jar
- Grapefruit Zest

MiKeRa Natural Palm Wax Pillar Candle
- Grapefruit Zest

MiKeRa 'CoCoSoy' wax candle in Glass Jar
- Tangerine Delight

Tangerine. It has a sweet tangy scent and similar to orange, it calms the body and mind.  By allowing yourself to soak in its scent, you will be able to uplift your spirit and improve your sense of security.  The tangerine essential oil has been used for decades to eliminate the appearance of stretch marks.  Just like any other essential oils, the tangerine essential oil is also added to different perfumes, lotions, candles and body washes.  Now you can try the magical mood changing tangerine in your home environment by lighting a MiKeRa Tangerine Delight CocoSoy candle. The CoCoSoy Candles are 8% Fragrance (most candles are 3-5% Fragrance) so they will give you nice strong scent.

MiKeRa "fragrant seasons" Reed Diffuser - Fruit Cocktail

Some people want to experience combining scents and that’s fine.  In fact there are scents that go together very well.  If you are one of those who like to experiment then try the MiKeRa Fruit cocktail aroma reed diffuser.

As far as fruity scents are concerned, I’m a huge fan of the orange. What about you?

Gift Packs for Christmas

The Christmas season is fast approaching and as early as now you probably have started writing down the names of your friends, family and colleagues that you will be buying gifts for.  And if you are getting gifts for several people, I always recommend three things:

• ·         You can start buying gifts ahead of time.  For example, every time you go to the mall, you can pick up an item or two so when Christmas season arrives, all you need to do is to just wrap the gifts up.

• ·         Be on the lookout for items that are on sale.  The discounts may not necessarily be that steep but if you get quality items then it should be ok.

• ·         Buy things in bulk.  You will most likely get a good deal if you buy things in bulk. 

I like shopping for gifts, more so when I shop within budget and still get the item that I intend to give to my friend.  I look forward for store sales and I often get gift packs because it gives the recipient of the gift a lot of variety.  One of the things that everyone should look forward to is the gift sets offered online by Alma Importers. They are all 30% Off RRP and also 30% Off normal wholesale price on their wholesale website. That’s a STEAL! This definitely meets all three recommendations that I provided, and by ordering online, you save valuable time and miss the Christmas rush!

Inside the Gift Packs

Gift Set #1 - MiKeRa Incense Sticks & Candles Gift Pack

Each gift pack contains the following: 20 long incense sticks, incense holder ceramic pot with stones and 2 candles in ceramic pots. They are available in an assortment of pleasant scents - Lavender Mist, Deep Mint, Mountain Wattle, Snow Eucalyptus, Lemongrass Ice and Winter Rose. So you can pick scents for relaxing and de-stressing, scents for romance, or scents for clarity lifting your mood.

Gift Set #2 - MiKeRa Incense Sticks, Candle & MetalHolder Gift Pack

Each gift pack contains 20 long incense sticks, MiKeRa engraved leaf shaped metal incense holder and scented candle in a square ceramic pot.  You will also get to choose from four scents - Lavender Rose, Sandalwood, Cherry Blossom and Vanilla Frost. Again, you can pick a scent for to promote relation and tension release, romance or uplifting environments.

Gift Set #3 - MiKeRa Incense Sticks & Metal IncenseBurner Box Gift Pack

Each gift a pack contains 30 long Incense sticks and a decorative Metal Incense Burner Box. Again you can pick from four different fragrances - Lavender Rose, Sandalwood, Cherry Blossom and Vanilla Frost. 

Are you excited for Christmas yet?  With these gifts pack available, I sure am! And your friends would sure love to receive these gift sets that not only look stylish in the corner of the room, but also create ambience in their home environment and are practical and enjoyable too!

All About Floating Candles

Floating candles are candles that are able to float in water. That's because they are molded in a way where their tops are bigger than their base so they will remain stable as they burn.  If you notice, floating candles are mostly V-shaped.  

Although candles are considered as fire hazards, floating candles carry very few safety risks as long as materials that are highly flammable are kept away from the water where the candles are afloat.  No need for candle snuffers too because once they burn down, they would eventually sink and extinguish on their own.  Often, floating candles are used as decorations together with flowers.  Despite that, this kind of arrangement is still considered safe because the flowers can be too waterlogged for it to catch fire.

KARMA SENSES floating candles 4 pack

Floating candles like that of Karma senses, are generally very small – usually a bit larger than tea light candles so they tend to burn out in a few hours.  Keep an eye on those candles because they tend to burn out in a few hours, so you need to replace them as soon as they go out.  Most floating candles are made of classic white wax although there are some who use colored waxes.  They also come in different shapes that you can choose from.

KARMA SENSES floating candles
float reliably

Decorating with Floating Candles

Floating candles are commonly used in an outdoor setting.  These candles can make any backyard pool an extraordinary view for your guests. You can try attaching a few slip shot weights from the base of the candles to keep them from bunching up on just one side of the pool.

Floating candles can make great centerpieces too.  Try getting a bowl and fill them with water.  Add on a few pieces of floating candles and rose petals.  Place more rose petals on the base of your bowl and you will have on romantic centerpiece for your romantic night with your special someone.

Another great centerpiece idea is the use of cylindrical shaped glass or vase.  Put pebbles or sand and add a flower at the bottom.  Fill the container with water, light your floating candle and place it on top.  Do this on containers with varying heights and you will have on elegant centerpiece.

If you’re having guests over for dinner, you can fill your bathtub with water.  Next is to decorate it with petals and a few floating candles.  They will surely be impressed with your powder room.  Of course, just take safety precautions and make sure that the shower curtains are far from the lighted candles. 

Why not have a relaxing bubble bath scented with your favourite essential oil, and decorated with floating candles, and then turn the lights off for a gorgeous ambience.

An Apple A Day....

Apples are perhaps the most common fruit. Do you remember in Kindergarten when they teach you the alphabet? The first letter of the alphabet is always associated to the fruit. A for apple. Who can forget about the story in the Book of Genesis? It was Eve who coaxed Adam to eat the apple, the forbidden fruit. For many, the apple became a symbol of knowledge and temptation.

The tree originated in Central Asia and is now grown in Europe and North America with China as the leading producer followed by the United States. This sweet fruit is often eaten raw.  However, this is also used in preparing desserts such as the famous apple pie. Some are pureed and made as an apple sauce.

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away."

This quote has proven to be true because research shows that the fruit reduces the risk of colon, prostate and lung cancer. Eating them can stimulate the production of saliva therefore reducing the bacteria and the risk of tooth decay. It can protect you from Parkinson’s disease and reduce the risk of diabetes. Now, who wouldn’t love this fruit given all these health benefits?

Apple Essential Oils?

The sweet scent of the apple is one other thing that I like. Although the fruit itself does not produce essential oils, milled seeds can produce valuable essence. This combined with other essential oils can make a perfect combination.  The essential oils that are derived from the seeds have antioxidant properties. And here's a great news for apple lovers.  The smell of the apples can suppress your appetite.  So the next time you're hungry, smell the fruit so you'll see for yourself how effective it is in helping you control your appetite.

MiKeRa Apple Martini Scented
Natural Soy Candle in Square Glass

KARMA SENSES Apple Twist Scented pillar Candles

Apple essential is also used in several beauty products like soaps, lotions, moisturizers and room fresheners.  It is also used in perfumery.  Are you familiar with D&G’s Light Blue? How about Victoria’s Secret’s Very Sexy Summer or Benetton’s Pure Sport for Men?  Believe it or not but these famous perfumes are infused with the scent of apple. I was pleasantly surprised because I have always loved D&G’s Light Blue perfume.

MiKeRa Apple Martini Scented Soy
Candle in Glass Jar with Wooden lid

The scent of the apple is known to improve alertness and it gives you more energy to get through your busy day.  It can also draw love, friendship and wisdom.  So if you feel that you need a quick burst of energy, you can always take a break from everything and go light a Karma Senses apple twist pillar candle.  I’m pretty sure that after taking that much needed break and getting a whiff of that apple scent, you will have that second burst of energy to help you complete all the remaining tasks at hand. Now you can say that an apple a day will not just keep the doctor away; it can also keep stress and exhaustion away.

MiKeRa Tropical Pleasures
Apple Martini Scented Soy
Candle in Coloured Glass

So why not get your hands on some MiKeRa Tropical Delights Apple Martini Natural soy candle, and get the benefits of suppressed appetite, improved alertness and energy?

How do you like the apple scent?

Fragrant Wax Melts

Another great alternative to candles in making your room and your house smell clean and pleasant is the fragrant wax melts.

What are they?  I had the same question too when I first heard about them.

Fragrant wax melts are candles without wicks. If burned correctly, it can create a really powerful scent.  It is said that candlemakers before were looking for ways where they could use the leftover wax from candle making.  Because of their pastry tart-like shape, they became known as “tarts.”  Nowadays you can find them in different shapes, sizes and scents.

Using them is easy.  What you need are the burner, the tealight candle and the wax melts.  The burner is similar to the oil burner in terms of size and shape.  It can either be made of ceramic or metal.  First thing that you need to do is to put the correct amount of wax melts on the bowl.  Light the tea light candle and place it underneath.  If you’re using one of those electric burners then you need to plug it in.  All that’s left to do is wait for the wax to melt and for the aroma to fill the room.

Some fragrant wax melts like that of Karma Senses, there may be a need for you to break it down into smaller pieces so it would fit the burner.

Fragrant wax melts, fragrant reed diffusers, scented candles and essential oil burners.  They all have the same purpose.  You can use them all to practice aromatherapy although they may differ at how they are being used.  What makes the fragrant wax melts so special that some people prefer using it over the others?  There are numerous reasons.

●     They heat up quickly therefore they are able to emit the aroma faster.

●     They do not produce smoke if they are burned properly.

●     They are inexpensive so they are the best way for anyone to experiment with scents that work best for you.  You can even try blending your own fragrances to find out which scents go well together.

●     You are able to control the strength of the smell based on the amount of wax that you put on your burner.

●     It is an easy way of using different scents in different rooms in your house.  You can use lavender inside your bathroom and rose in your bedroom.  Choose whatever works for you.

●     Some people claimed that the aroma are stronger and longer lasting compared to using candles.

Have you used a fragrant wax melt before?  Please share your experiences.  We’d love to hear about it. 

Refreshing and Relaxing Green Tea Scent

Between coffee and green tea, many people would often choose the latter because of its health benefits.  In fact most of Asians drink a cup or two of green tea a day to cleanse their bodies.

A green tea plant is a shrub with white flowers.  The tea is produced by drying the plant's leaves.  Drinking green tea is said to be beneficial for anyone because of its therapeutic and medicinal properties.

●        It is good for the teeth because it has fluoride.  It can reduce the build-up of plaque.  Now you can flash your pearly whites with pride.

●        It is also a good alternative to coffee because just like coffee, green tea is a stimulant; except that it’s healthier.

●        For older women who are experiencing menopause, this is a great drink because it has all the essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals that your body needs during that stage. 

●        This drink is also perfect for those who are trying to lose those extra pounds because it doesn't have any calorie content.

The process of steam distillation extracts the essential oils from the green tea plant.  Since there is only very little oil extracted from the plant, additional oils are taken from the plant’s seeds.  The process is called cold-compression.  It is where the seeds are dried and pressed using an oil press.

KARMA SENSES Green Tea Scent
Aroma Reed Diffuser

KARMA SENSES Green Tea Scent
Aroma Reed Diffuser

What about the use of green tea in aromatherapy?

The green tea essential oil is used in aromatherapy as a therapeutic oil. You can put a few drops of the essential oil into your warm bath to help you relax after a hard day's work. The same oil can be added in water and diffuse them with the help of a tea light oil burner. Another great option is to open a Karma Senses aromatic reed diffuser and allow yourself to bask in its relaxing and refreshing scent. Just like the lemongrass tea scented reed diffuser and the MiKeRa pillar candles, the green tea scented reed diffusers can make you feel calm and it can create a soothing environment.

Beyond Aromatherapy

Green tea essential oils have anti-aging, astringent and anti-inflammatory properties that makes them essential in manufacturing soaps, shampoos, lotions, perfumes and massage oils.  This aromatic scent is used in perfumes like Elizabeth Arden's Green Tea or Bvlgari Green Tea.  For those who enjoy the sweet grassy scent of green tea, wearing these perfumes is a great way of enjoying its fragrance wherever you go.

Tell us:  How do you find the scent of green tea?