Christmas Gift Ideas: Candles & Diffusers

Here are my ideas for gifting:

Beatitude's Christmas Comfort Candle* (200g - £30) is one of the nicest "Christmas" scented candles I've tried. It blends the original comfort candle (geranium, clementine, lavender and eucalyptus) with clove, cardamon & cinnamon and eco soy wax. It burns evenly and has a great throw. Highly recommend!

JOIK's Hot Chocolate Soy Wax Candle** (145g - £13.50) quite literally smells good enough to eat! See my review HERE.

The St Eval's Sea Salt Candle is one of my all time favourites (45hrs burn time - £9.46). See my review HERE.

Birch & Brook Library Scented Candle* (£38 - 40 hours burn time) I absolutely adore this "book" and "library" inspired scented candle. See my review HERE.

[M] Botanicals Rose Oud Soy Wax Candle (£15)* is one of my favourite candles I've tried this year. See my review HERE.

Amphora Aromatics Orange & Clove Reed Diffuser Kit* (£13.50) is one of the best reed diffusers I've tried. See my review HERE (it lasted six weeks using all the reeds and is such excellent value for money).

Are any of these on your wishlist?

*complimentary
**sent to me as part of the Love Lula Accredited Blogger Program

ABW: A/W '16 Sampler

My a beautiful world A/W '16 sampler box arrived yesterday. As ever it sold out almost immediately.  It costs £20 (plus p&p). I love that paypal is now a payment method (thanks for listening to me Liz!) making it more likely I'll shop more often!

Inside my box:

There is a full size Birch & Brook travel candle in "Festival" which is worth £18! I've tried these lovely candles before - see my reviews of Library* (my fav - here), Festival* (here) and Evergreen* (mini mention). I think this is a nice addition to the box and a new brand to a beautiful world.

There are also various samples some big and some small. I've already tried a sample of GM Reverie's MILK Anti-Frizz Leave-in Nourishing Treatment which I loved. Included is a small sample.  Staying on hair there are two sachets from Yarok - Feed your Moisture Shampoo and Feed your Curls Defining Creme (I'll pass this one on).

The other items are skincare (my favourite kind of beauty) and include:

SW Basics Hibiscus Mask 

Josh Rosebrook Complete Moisture Cleanse

Indie Lee CoQ-10 Toner

Indie Lee Squalane Facial Oil (review)

The Body Deli Almond Milk Cleanser

BRAD Ultra Elastin Sculpting Firming Cream Complex

I'm pleased with my samples - apart from the Indie Lee the rest are new to me and from brands I've previously enjoyed so I'll look forward to trying them out.

Did you pick up a box? What do you think of the contents?

See previous boxes: 

S/S '16, A/W '15, S/S '15, A/W '14, S/S '14, A/W '13 

More Christmas Gift Ideas

I showed you some Christmas gift ideas HERE. Today I've got some more top picks:

Birch & Brook candles are just gorgeous (review of Library* HERE and Festival* HERE). I was recently sent a travel size of the beautiful Limited Edition scent in for Christmas - Evergreen* - a lush, crisp green which is "reminiscent of a winter walk". 

The candle is made of natural waxes and scented with fir balsam, pine, cedar, musk and amber. It's perfect if you are not a fan of cinnamon scents. I'm a fan of both but this is well worth having in your Christmas collection.

Minvita Baobab Body Oil (100ml - £35)* this luxe oil is 100% natural and organic and is made from cold pressed seeds of the African Baobab Superfruit. Best suited for dry and ageing skin as it contains Vitamins A, D, E, F, B1, B2, Phosphorus and Iron. 

It absorbs instantly and has a slightly nutty-fruity scent. The oil improves elasticity, helps to regenerate skin cells and deeply nourishes the skin. It's a really lovely oil and I'm so enjoying using it.

I'm a huge fan of kai fragrance oil and am now on my 3rd little roll on bottle. I normally pick these up when Cult Beauty have a GWP as they are an indulgent treat. I've mentioned this lovely brand numerous times on the blog. I was recently sent this gorgeous little gift set* (the nearest thing I can find is on Cult Beauty - but it doesn't include the fine linen wash see HERE)

Inside are 2oz bottles of: 

Shampoo: which contains mild surfactants which remove dirt and build up without stripping the hair.  Conditioner: enriched with vitamins, shea butter, plant oils and extracts the conditioner nourishes the hair leaving it delicately scented with the kai fragrance and silky smooth. 

Body Wash: which cleans and refreshes the body. Follow up with Body Lotion: which is made of nourishing safflower seed oil, shea butter, apricot kernal oil, cucumber fruit extracts and kai fragrance. The skin is left moisturised and smelling of kai.

Fine Linen Wash: this is the most recent addition to the range. It cleans linens and delicate fabrics leaving them scented with the signature kai scent and I think is the perfect addition to a travel bag.

Vial of perfume oil: this beautiful original scent was created by Gaye Straza who spent her youth holidaying in the tropics. Years later she created her signature scent with rich notes of gardenia, tuberose and lily with touches of green notes.

I love this story "the first time Straza wore kai, she was stopped mid stride by a beauty editor on Madison Avenue, NYC asking where she could buy the scent".

Products are free from parabens, sulphates, phthalates, phosphate and vegan and gluten free.

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I never grow tired of John Masters Organics and this little Limited Edition Holiday Kit from John Masters Organics would make a perfect gift (£27). Inside is: 2oz Lavender Rosemary Shampoo for Normal Hair, 2oz Citrus & Neroli Detangler, 1oz Rose & Apricot Hair Milk, 0.1oz 100% Argan Oil, a Bamboo Comb and Pouch.

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I just love this Oskia Cracker available at Cult Beauty (£18) which contains a 40ml size of Renaissance Cleansing Gel (review). I'd love to find this hanging on the tree or as a luxe table present.

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I'm intrigued by Strange Invisible Organic Perfumes and I'd pick the star sign of the friend I was buying for an unusual and unique gift (14ml - £59). I chose my sign - Aries Zodiac Eaux de Parfum - The Innovator - Element - Fire which is a blend of hydro-distilled essences of cinnamon, rose and angelica which "fuel a vibrant imagination". Frankincense, benzoin, lavender and sandalwood "cool fiery impulses, encouraging the composure needed to realize visionary plans". Sounds fantastic. One for the wishlist for sure!

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The Nordic Collection Gift Set from Inner-Soul Organics (£24.50) is a lovely pampering treat and would be ideal for your friends or mum. The kit contains Scandinavian Decadence Bath and Body Salt Scrub 60ml (mini review), Scandinavian Decadence Shower Serum 30ml and Nordic Berry Bliss Hand & Body Salve 60ml (mini review). 

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YTTP The Set £95 - which includes Cleanser, Serum and Cream. I've got an upcoming review of the Cleanser and Serum both of which are fabulous. This is a great set. Get 10% off with code YOUTH10.

Are any of these on your Christmas wishlist?

*PR samples

Birch & Brook: Festival Candle & Library Candle Travel Size

Lot long ago I tried Birch & Brook's gorgeous Library Candle* a luxe woody scented candle which is reminiscent of old books and and wood. See my review here.  I'm excited to say you can now buy exquisite travel candles* (£18 - 18 hours burn time) which are packed in cute drawstring branded bags. Ideal for taking on your travels!

I was also sent their Festival Candle* (£36 - 40 hours burn time) to review.

This beautiful candle is "infused with the thrill of imminent excitement" and is the perfect candle to burn during long hot carefree summer days.  This is a floral candle with woody and leather notes.  Notes include - Bergamot, Lily, Mandarin, Patchouli, Rose, Orange Blossom, Jasmine, Vanilla, Sandalwood, Amber Musk and Leather.

I've been really impressed with the quality, the scents and how long the candles last. I think they'd make a great gift (to self!).  Have you tried Birch & Brook candles?

*PR samples

February: Lately I've been Loving

I simply loved this delicious Rock & Roast Special Edition Valentine's Day Box. Everything was super yummy. I'll be dropping hints near to my birthday! See Rock & Roast's website here and check out the delicious looking Mother's Day box here.

I love this little Love mug which hubby got me for Valentine's day. Therapie's Strength Fortifying Tea is great when you need a boost.

Olivine Love+Roses Beauty Mist - I simply adore this rose scented mist which you can spritz over your face, body and hair. Divine!  See my review here.

This cheese from M&S on crackers with a bit of homemade chilli Jelly is one of my favourite things ever at the moment! 

Lucy at No Mud, No Lotus very kindly did a guest post for me on the first day of February of her super gorgeous DIY Beauty: Floral Bath Melts. See her post here. 

Birch & Brook Library Scented Candle* - this exquisite scented candle is one of the nicest I've tried. See my review here.

What have you been loving this month?

*PR sample

Birch & Brook Library Scented Candle

Birch & Brook's range of luxury natural wax candles are gorgeous!  The range has been created by Jessica Jones, who studied graphic arts and has an MA in Printmaking.

She was brought up in Suffolk and her candles are inspired by the English countryside, as well as literary and historical pleasures.

The candles come boxed and are made with the finest ingredients from renewable and sustainable sources.  The 100% natural wax is made from GM free, organic and certified Vegan ingredients with a natural fibre wick. Packaging is simple and stylish. P&P is free in the UK.

I was sent the exquisite Library Scented Candle (235g - £36 - 40hrs burn time)* which has really captured the essence of being hidden away in a corner of a Library enjoying "the quiet decadence of a stolen afternoon, lost in the world of a long forgotten book".

The candle has top notes of guaiac wood and patchouli, with heart notes of Cinnamon, Clove buds and base notes of cedar and moss. It is really reminiscent of the scent of old books and wood. 

Other scents available are: 

Dressing Room (with berry, rose, violte, peony, musk, sandal and cedarwood)

Festival (with bergamot, lily, mandarin, patchouli, rose, orange blossom, jasmine, vanilla, sandalwood, amber, musk and leather)

Fireside (with leather, spice, guaiac wood, amber, patchouli, wood, cedarwood, moss and musk)

Secret Garden (with greens, mandarin flower, lily of the valley, cyclamen, peony hyacinth, vetivert, musk and heliotrope).

See the website here

Follow on Twitter @BirchandBrook

*PR sample