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The Best Christmas Candles
Why Are Candles So Important For Christmas? Candlelight has been irrevocably linked to the festive season since the Middle Ages when a large candle would be burnt to represent the star of Bethlehem, a tradition that has continued in some homes to this day. Later, in the 1900’s, candles were used for the decoration of Christmas trees before fairy lights were created to mimic the hue of candlelight – a much safer option! We believe candles are the best finishing touch to most occasions, but especially Christmas. They will add joyful character to your festive décor and are the most wonderful accessory to a charming table setting. Their natural flickering glow is welcoming and intoxicating, creating an indulgent ambience that heightens the ‘Christmas feels’. Christmas soy candles also make the ultimate heart-warming Christmas gift, ideal for treating yourself, your home and the people you love. What Scent Means Christmas To You? When you ask people what scents make the best Christmas scented candles, the responses can be quite polarised. For some it might be the traditional scent of fallen pine needles, or spicy notes of cinnamon and clove. For others the juiciness of red berries and orange slices. For a wintery twist some prefer the fresh and frosty notes of peppermint, eucalyptus and soft musk florals. How Can Apsley And Company Bring Christmas Into You Home? We pride ourselves on creating home scent ranges that make a luxury style statement perfect for any home décor or occasion. For the Christmas season we keep with that classic yet contemporary stylized approach with the addition of a few sumptuous gems of festive character. Scented Space White Fir Candle A winter’s woodland walk Scented Space White Fir Candle We like to be unique so don’t tend to go down the traditional route but it quite simply wouldn’t be Christmas without the poignant scent of fir in our homes and we have worked endlessly with our perfumers to create truly authentic fragrance for this year’s festivities. Our Scented Space White Fir Candle’s aromatic blend of fir balsam, cedarwood and amber inspires an evocative scent of snow-covered fir trees and fallen pine needles. We have hand-poured this richly Christmas scented candle blend into emerald green tinted glassware, so luxuriant in colour it too is reminiscent of the magnificence of an evergreen forest. For that final touch of elegance, the glass is delicately embellished with our Scented Space logo in gold leaf foil, wrapped around the bottom of the candle. Scented Space Botanical Candle Collection A touch of tradition Botanical Candles To keep with the traditional theme we do feel a festive room setting wouldn’t say “Christmas” without a Botanical Candle so it was essential to create our Scented Space Botanical Candle . Available in two sizes – 900g and a giant Christmas candle at 1.1kg and 17.5cm in height. Each pillar is caringly hand poured by our crafters before being carefully decorated with hand-placed festive fruit and spices. To scent the candle, we have created an exotic fragrance blend of ylang ylang and lily with sparkling notes of citrus. This artisan process ensures that the candle appeals to multiple senses by looking engaging and smelling extraordinary. Each candle is presented with a beautiful red grosgrain ribbon and protected with a sheer sheath, making it gift ready for a special someone or a perfect treat for self Scented Space Celebrate Candle Collection The perfect mood setter for any occasion or celebration Scented Space Celebrate Candle Collection We have curated our ‘Celebrate’ champagne mercury glass candles to help you celebrate not only Christmas but other events and milestones across the year. The fragrance has been carefully developed to fully immerse you in that moment of celebration. The sophisticated combination of cashmere, and heliotrope harmoniously blend together with the traditional Christmas touch of sweet orange to create an intoxicating fragrance with a deep herbal woody base lifted by the fizz of fresh citrus. As the candles have been created to honour special times in our lives, we have packaged each one in a luxurious crisp white handmade box embellished with a gold foil inscription, making them the perfect gifting option. The range offers three sizes from the statuesque Celebrate 4kg Candle which makes a wonderful standalone centrepiece or can be accompanied by a combination of the two smaller candle options Celebrate Candle 500g and Celebrate Candle 1.2kg Apsley Glimpse Luxury Candle Pure indulgence for your festive home Apsley Glimpse Luxury Candle A monochrome Christmas design theme is a popular option for the more minimalist home, and for this we would recommend our Apsley Glimpse Luxury Candle collection. These unique candles are luxurious in design and nature. Each glass vessel is delicately hand-carved and polished by specialist artisans to allow an enchanting glimpse of the burning candle’s hypnotic flickering flame. Perfect for a Christmas dinner party, or when you are relaxing at the end of a hectic day of festivities. The range offers a 440g scented candle and 1.7kg scented candle with two colour and fragrance combinations, giving you a number of styling and scenting options when creating a monochrome candlescape. Apsley Glimpse Luxury Candle Noir is our black candle which is scented with a sophisticated woody fragrance of black tonka bean, cardamom and bitter orange Apsley Glimpse Luxury Candle Blanc is a unique and alluring fragrant fusion of rhubarb, white musk and the much-loved festive fig leaf encased in an ice white vessel Apsley Reykjavik Luxury Candle Luxury in every sense! Apsley Reykjavik Luxury Candle If you want to be taken to colder climes of snowy mountain tops, ice caves and glacier lagoons our Apsley 400g and 1.7kg Reykjavik Luxury Candles are the perfect Christmas home décor addition. Exuding a tantalising medley of neroli, lime zest and vetiver encased in a mouth blown ice white glass vessel that is entirely unique, this candle is redolent of Iceland's awe-inducing Reykjavik. Apsley Eclipse Luxury Candle Perfect for family picnics and festive garden parties Eclipse Luxury Candle If you like to take your Christmas celebrations outside and party until the sun sinks on the horizon, this is the one for you. The scent of sun-drenched days with Sicilian orange, blackcurrant and patchouli is encased in a one-off individually made mouth blown, artic white and black artisan vase. Available in 400g and 1.7kg Apsley Twilight Luxury Candle Taking you into the night Twilight Luxury Candle We would recommend our Twilight Luxury 400g and 1.7kg scented candles for the end of the day when you’re ready to wind down, curl up on the couch and play family games. Presented in a black and artic white artisan glass, the addictive fragrance notes of bergamot, papyrus, oud and sandalwood create a sultry intoxicating space. Abode Aroma Crystal Collection A Christmas table centre that is both unique and grand in style The Abode Aroma Crystal Collection offers a broad range of coveted crystal pieces that have been hand-crafted by artisan masters, creating an exquisite fusion of classic and contemporary design. Combining the purity and brilliance of crystal with our sublime fragrances, creates the ultimate in timeless luxury for your Christmas home. Decorative candles are an imperative part of any Christmas table setting and this collection of crystal candles and home déc or pieces are perfect as the classic styling foundation to which decorations, foliage and tableware can be added to create a festive dinner table. As a starting point you could go for our impressively thick and weighty Cybus Crystal Presentation Tray . We have a few candle accessory pieces that sit beautifully on the tray and can be styled around. Abode Aroma Tea Light Candles With our Cybus Crystal Tealight Candles you will be enchanted by our meticulously blended Crisp White Linen fragrance, housed in exquisite hand-cut, hand-polished Cybus Crystal Tealight Holders to create an inviting ambience in your Christmas home. Abode Aroma Grand Pillars Christmas candlesticks are essential for any table setting and we offer the most beautiful candle holders to present them in. Each one is hand-crafted by an artisan master with a passion for creating an elegant fusion of classic and contemporary design. The elegant duo of Cybus Pillar Taper Candle Holders are different heights to help create a unique tablescape. The Cybus Cubix Crystal Taper Holders have a multifaceted cubic shape that creates beautiful reflections that dance across the room. The trio of Cybus Grand Pillars are majestic in stature, the tallest standing at 57cm and weighing 3.35kg! Abode Aroma Hurricane Vases Cybus Maximilian Hurricane Vase and Cybus Middlemass Hurricane Vase are both distinguished and versatile in design. Influenced by the Art Deco period and our desire to encourage the repurposing of vessels, these beautiful cut crystal pieces can be used as a candle hurricane or a vase – hence the inspired conception of a Hurricane. Over Christmas they can hold mini Christmas baubles, festive blooms, fairy lights or place an Abode Aroma® Scented Refill Pillar Candle in the vase and wrap with greenery. We have packaged our Abode Aroma® Cybus collection with luxurious elegance to make it the perfect gifting option. Each product is presented in a crisp white handmade box embellished with a silver foil inscription and wrapped by a protective acetate cover.
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Getting Your Home Summer Ready
It feels like an eternity but Spring has officially sprung! Gone are the cold wet chilly days, the drab dark winter nights and that incessant need to hunker down. We can now look forward to longer days, the sun’s warmth on our skin and the beauty of nature in full bloom. Why not celebrate by refreshing and revitalising your living space. In a few simple ways you can soon make you and your home ‘Summer Ready’. Time To Get Practical 1. De-clutter By decluttering each room, not only will you clear your home but you will also clear some headspace. There are so many ways to declutter but whichever you go for, before you start it’s always good to have a plan of attack. Here at Apsley and Company we like to use the Four Box Method – ‘Trash’, ‘Giveaway’, ‘Keep’, ‘Relocate’. As Marie Kondo says – “Does this spark joy?” If it does, keep it. If not, dispose of it”. If you can’t be ruthless, get help from a friend of family member! 2. Spring Clean Nobodies favourite job but it really will freshen up your space ready for guests and summer BBQ’s: Wash the walls, floors and windows Go through your cupboards, throwing away expired food Defrost your freezer and clear space for your favourite frozen treats Move your furniture around, it will give you a whole new perspective of your space & may even improve the way you and your family do the things you love doing in the house Double check your air conditioning units and fans are clean for maximum ventilation & to avoid circulating dust and allergens Get BBQ season ready by cleaning your hotplates, checking the gas and making sure it all works safely If you’re lucky enough to have a pool, get the pool cleaner out, check the jets and ensure your safety fencing is doing its job Mow the lawn, cutback hedges, hose the decking, perk up your outdoor furniture Add some dreamy outdoor lights & scented candles to transform the summer nights into something magical. Time To Get Creative 1. Bringing The Garden Into Your Home An obvious one we know, but it really does help bring the beauty of summer indoors! Not only does greenery add to the aesthetics but will also improve indoor air quality. Flowers, from a single statement flower to a large bouquet, will add colour & fragrance to your home. If gardening isn’t your thing, go for easy maintenance plants that thrive indoors. For that extra ‘summer je ne sais quoi’ go for decorative planters and vases to add colour and an element of design to your space 2. Boost Your Mood with Colour New season, new colours, new you! Boost your mood with a splash of colour - there are so many shades, patterns and textures to choose from so why not have a play with soft furnishings, wall covering & home accessories. Warm Colours – Reds, oranges, yellows & pinks are immediately energising with their bright & cheery tones Cooling Shades – Greens, blues & purples have a more calming quality making the space restful, a place to unwind & destress Natural Balance – Browns, greys & whites are the perfect option for a room you don’t want to make a statement. They can vary in warmth and can be enhanced with brighter coloured accents 3. Restyle Your Consoles, Coffee Tables & Cabinets Mix up your home dressing style by bringing in the summer vibes. Add scented candles, glass coasters, coastal accessories, summer-themed hard cover books. Use woven baskets, bamboo fittings, natural wood carvings, ceramic pottery. On the wall hang a large mirror to add light to a corner; hang framed pictures of beaches, relaxing landscapes or tropical islands; or for a bit of fun, create a hat wall with a line-up of your favourites – Boater’s, Fedora’s, Panama’s …. 4. Keep Your Space Light & Airy Swap out thick blankets for light throws, dark cosy bedding for light & bright sheets, heavy blinds for billowing voiles. Choose prints that give out the ‘summer feels’ – exotic, wild jungle, tropicana, bohemian, nautical – whatever best suits the vibe you are wanting to create 5. The Scent of Summer Scent plays a huge part in the transformation of indoor spaces. For the new season, infuse your home with aromas that bring the ‘Summer Feels’. Whether that be fun, relaxed, fresh, floral or fruity it’s easy to create through the power of home fragrancing. Not only will new scents refresh your home they will also reinvigorate or sooth you, depending on what you go for – lavender, lemon, peppermint, amber, peach – each fragrance will bring an individual majesty of mood changing energy. Here’s a few suggestions to help you on your way to creating a fragrant indoor summer. Citrus Boost Apsley Vesuvius Luxury 230ml Diffuser - Uplifting and effervescent, Vesuvius is bursting with notes of sparkling citrus, peach and vanilla, filling your space with fragrance with the power of an erupting volcano. Floral Heaven Abode Aroma Gardenia Pearl Bevelled Crystal Diffuser – Intoxicatingly beautiful hyacinth combines with a heady symphony of lilac, star jasmine and muguet to create a truly heart achingly bouquet of dreamy white flowers. A Time To Chill Scented Space Lavender Citrus 200ml Reed Diffuser – Your dreams of a lavender-laden fragrance, reminiscent of undulating hills in Provence, is the unboxing of a room perfume away. Delicately floral and comforting, you can expect bouts of lemon, freesia cassis and tonka beans unfurling from this effortlessly parfait perfume Seaside Vibes Apsley Santorini 2.4kg Luxury Decorator Candle - Transform your space into an aquatic haven with our fragrant ode to Santorini. As you embrace the dreamy marine top notes, intertwined with patchouli and hints of black pepper, sit back and be taken on a refreshing coastal walk Sunset Dreams Scented Space Azura 200ml Reed Diffuser - Reminiscent of sandy coastlines and balmy sunsets, this fragrance is best washed down with glowing aperol spritzes. A remedial deep breath of seaside air, this holiday cocktail of fragrance is steeped in green apple, pear, orange and ozone. We can almost hear waves crashing. Fresh & Clean Abode Aroma Crisp White Linen Bevelled Crystal Candle - Fresh drifts of white lily and posies of ylang ylang blooms are enlivened with luscious servings of peach, red apple and citrus leaves to form a liberating perfume that dances on a soft ozonic pillow of musk and summer jasmine. Italian Escapes Scented Space Lime Leaves 200ml Reed Diffuser – An exotic fusion synonymous with balmy Italian summer nights, this divine diffuser is fresh, inviting & uplifting with its base notes of leather and vetiver topped with a citrus-centric burst. Inhale serendipitous perfumes of lime, mandarin, lilac and caraway that whisk you to the fruit cart laden streets of Positano. Stormy Summer Nights Apsley Tempest Luxury Candle 400g - An exquisite fragrance that captures the essence of the storm just as the lightning show begins. Fragrance notes of blackcurrant, bergamot & cedarwood. The Great Outdoors Scented Space Black Amber Reed Diffuser 100ml – Inspired by the majesty and mystery of the Black Forest nature abounds with this enchanting fragrance. Springboard into woodsy adventures with a hypnotic creation of black amber, patchouli and musk. If you are all set for getting ‘summer ready’ visit our website for more fragrant inspiration.
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Why is crystal oh so special
Our crystal home fragrance range is created with the finest, Art Décor inspired, cut crystal glassware. From our home scent ranges to our exceptional art pieces the Abode Aroma® Crystal collection is designed to create a luxury style statement. Hand-cut & polished by master glass cutters, the incredible attention to detail and finishing makes these coveted crystal pieces perfect for enhancing any décor style. The crystal pieces are bevelled which adds another element of elegance and intrigue. The glass is skilfully cut at an angle creating a prism that refracts light, providing an alluring spectrum of colours and showcasing the glasswork quality. So what makes crystal oh so special? The History of Crystal It is thought the first attempt to make ordinary glass was in Egypt around 4000 years ago. Over time, in an endeavour to imitate nature, man began making a new form of glass (now called ‘crystal’) by adding metals to change the character of the glass. Lead was found to be the most successful of these additives. From the mid-eighteenth century, cut crystal glass was most popular in the UK and Europe. Here in Australia we caught on to basic glass making it in the late 19th century and by the 1920’s we were producing blown, pressed and crystal cut glass by manufacturers in Sydney. Glassware was originally created for practical reasons but in the modern world it is no longer a simple drinking vessel. It has almost become a piece of art, an expression of style and a way to heighten an experience or special occasion. The Science Bit Crystal is renowned for being more refined than your traditional glassware and there is good reason for this. Crystal and glass are composed of different materials. Glass is simply made from liquified glass whereas crystal is set apart with something known as flint glass which is formed with lead content instead of calcium content. The addition of lead oxide creates a higher level of refraction as it separates light much more than regular glass. Crystal also lends itself to greater shine and more intricate decorative designs So, how can you tell the difference? Here’s a little checklist to help you check between crystal and glass – In close-up – This takes a keen and vigilant eye. Inspect the sharpness or smoothness of the cut. The smoother it is the more likely it is to be crystalware. An easier way to differentiate is to compare the rim’s depth – crystal glass has a narrower rim than conventional glassware Let the sunshine in – hold the glass under a light or the sun’s rays. If it’s crystal the glassware will refract the light, very much like a prism Weighing it up – compare the weight of glasses. Crystal glass will be heavier than a similarly sized normal glass It’s all about the ding! – glass will make an almost clunking noise whereas crystal has a delicate reverberated dinging sound. So next time you raise a toast you’ll soon know if you’ve got the ‘real thing’ or not And the sing! – you can also lightly run a wet finger around the glass rim. If it’s crystal, you will hear a subtle sing from the rim. For extra fun line up a few glasses holding different water levels – you can create your own musical masterpiece Despite the delicate ringing sound crystal produces, it is strong and durable with a curious warmth to the touch. It has a silvery appearance enhanced by cutting designs into the glass. Our Abode Aroma Crystal and Cybus collections are crafted by skilled artisans with a real knowledge and passion for the crystal glass making and designing process, ensuring we provide you with the finest quality crystal pieces. We invite you to experience home fragrance diffusion in grand style.
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Candle, Reed Diffuser or Room Mist: Which is the right option for you?
There’s no denying here at Apsley and Company we love a scented candle especially when we want to add to the ambience of a space or occasion. However, we know they’re not always the practical option especially if you have children, pets or an extremely hectic life – this is where reed diffusers and room mists step in. We’ve created a brief guide for Apsley home fragrance products to help you decide how best to fragrance your home. Ask yourself - What do you want out of your home fragrance? EASE OF USE? CANDLE Naked flame so needs complete attention and can only burn for a limited time DIFFUSER Self-sufficient, no flame, no smoke, no mess ROOM MIST Instant, effortless, versatile, fuss-free, flameless GREEN THINKING? CANDLE No electricity, no aerosols, reusable vessels, renewable waxes, no animal testing, natural essence based, vegan friendly DIFFUSER No electricity, no aerosols, reusable vessels, only need replacing a couple of times a year, no animal testing, natural essence based, vegan friendly ROOM MIST No electricity, no aerosols, no animal testing, natural essence based, vegan friendly A CENTREPIECE FOR THE HOME OR AN UNASSUMING FRAGRANCE PARTNER? CANDLE & DIFFUSER Both the candle and diffuser are a stylish, simple way to enhance room décor both through fragrance and design. If you want a statement piece go for our Apsley and Company Luxury Collection – for example, the Vesuvius Large Luxury Diffuser (500ml) or the Halfeti Luxury Decorator Candles (2.4kg) If you want a more classic look try an elegant glass perfume bottle like our Scented Space Crushed Fig Reed Diffuser (100ml) or a slightly more impressive cut crystal piece such as our Abode Aroma Crisp White Linen Bevelled Crystal Candle (220g) ROOM MIST Apsley’s room mist collections are the more elusive fragrance partner. At Apsley we present the mist in a classic glass bottle with elegant silver or gold cap. If left on the sideboard it will be a subtle addition to the room, but for us it’s about making a fragrant statement, rather than visual one. For your guests it will be as if the fragrance has mysteriously appeared from nowhere COST EFFECTIVE? CANDLE As an approximate guide smaller scented candles like a single wick votive will burn at a rate of 7 to 9 hours per ounce/28 grams of wax. Larger multi-wick scented candles will average 5 to 7 hours for each ounce. With Apsley candles – the Apsley and Company Luxury Candle (400g) burns for up to 60 hours meaning the burn cost is approximately 83 cents/hour. Plus you are left with a beautiful vessel that can be repurposed and become part of the home décor DIFFUSER Diffusers can last over 72x longer than candles – our Apsley diffusers last between 4 to 12 months depending on their size and the environment they’re placed in. In money terms, as an example, our Scented Space Room Diffusers last for up to 4 months so that’s around $8.74/month or impressively – 0.01 cent/hour ROOM MIST It only takes a few spritzes of our highly concentrated room spray to envelop a space in fragrance for a couple of hours. You can expect to get at least 1000 sprays from a 100ml bottle so Apsley room mists equate to approximately 0.04 cents/spray INSTANT OR GRADUAL SCENT? CANDLE Our fragranced candles add scent to the room even before lighting, but once lit the fragrance throw will get stronger and stronger during the recommended burn time. Once blown out, the fragrance will delicately linger in the room DIFFUSER A potent continuous scent is released day and night ROOM MIST Definitely an instant scent – it will give a burst of fragrance as soon as you spray NEED TO BE IN CONTROL OF YOUR FRAGRANCE LEVEL? CANDLE It’s difficult to control the intensity of scent release in a candle, the only real way to minimise it is buy smaller single-wick candles and locate them surreptitiously – for example in the corner of a room on a shelf rather than as a centrepiece on the dining table DIFFUSER Diffusers give you more control. Fragrance throw depends on how often you flip the reed sticks, how many sticks you have in the vessel, the size of the bottle neck, where you place it etc ROOM MIST You are in total control, for subtlety just go for one or two sprays but if you want to make an all-out impression (or disguise an unpleasant smell) atomise away until the fragrance level hits the right note for you! HOW COMMITTED ARE YOU? CANDLE If you plan to fragrance the home just for special occasions, or you’re not committed to a specific fragrance then candle burning is for you DIFFUSER If you’re more dedicated to a specific fragrance or signature scent a diffuser is the better option due to its longevity and scent consistency ROOM MIST This is for the spontaneous home fragrancer who needs to scent a space in an instant LOCATION LIMITATIONS? CANDLE Whilst it doesn’t need an electrical outlet please remember the safety warnings regarding a naked flame must be considered. We provide a Candle Safety advice page on the website DIFFUSER Diffusers don’t have the same safety limitations but placement considerations are still required. Our blog “For The Love of Diffusers” offers advice regarding this. ROOM MIST Location is not limited, you can leave it out on your cabinet or store it away in a cupboard. Room mists can also be used on soft furnishings, small spaces like linen cupboards or in the car. For more ideas read our “For The Love of Room Mists” blog Can’t see this on the site, it was for w/c 7th Feb so might have been when you started with Pixel Storm – there’s a few not posted around this time, do you want me to send a short list 😊 AMBIENCE CANDLE Soft flickering light casts a warm glow and engaging fragrance across the room - perfect for romantic dinners, calming bath times and a chilled night curled up on the sofa DIFFUSER & ROOM MIST Fragrance enhances the ambience of a room, but it must be said diffusers and room mists are not as all-embracing as the magic of candlelight LOOKING FOR A TRAVEL BUDDY? CANDLE Travel candles are perfect for feeling at home anywhere, their size makes them easy to pack and position in your holiday getaway. Try our individual Apsley and Company Luxury Travel Candles, or give yourself fragrance options with our Apsley and Company Luxury Discovery Sets DIFFUSER The carriage of diffusers is not as easy or practical as candles, but they are the perfect option for keeping your holiday home fresh ROOM MIST Simple to include with your travel essentials, you can give any stuffy holiday space a fragrant boost, whilst also bringing a bit of home with you. You can even give your suitcase a treat with a quick spritz before packing, keeping your clothes ‘journey fresh’ SO, IN CONCLUSION Ultimately there are pros and cons to all home fragrance products. We would say for all-important 'me time' a scented candle is perfect. For a convenient, consistent room fragrance it would be a reed diffuser. For someone who only wants to fragrance a room occasionally the room mist is a must. Whether you choose a candle or diffuser or room mist or a candle and diffuser and room mist, you're bound to find something to love at Apsley & Company. Still undecided? Why not spoil yourself and your home by layering the scent with a combination of all three products we discussed today. You can either go for the same fragrance for each one or create a signature scent with three different harmonising aromas. Explore our Apsley and Company, Abode Aroma and Scented Space collections so you can discover what is right for you.
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The Wax Facts
When choosing a scented candle the wax type is part of the selection process, along with features like fragrance quality, wick type, vessel design and burn time. There a few wax options and each one has its own qualities, so the point of this article is to give some insight into the facts about wax! What is Wax? Without being too technical wax is basically a flammable solid containing carbon which becomes liquid when heated above room temperature making it the perfect fuel for a candle. The wick is lit, the wax melts, it is vaporised and combusted producing heat and light. Et Voila, a beautifully burning candle! As you will know, there are many different types of wax that can be used to produce scented candles, they are developed from oils and fats derived from plants, insects and minerals. Beeswax was the original candle wax and has been used for thousands of years. In more recent times candles are being made with oils like coconut, petroleum and soy. Which Candle Wax is Best? We can’t really answer that I’m afraid as each wax type has its own properties which will affect factors like fragrance throw, burn time and burn quality – here’s a little summary of the up sides and down sides of the most popular waxes used in candle making: Paraffin Wax: What is it? Paraffin wax is also known as mineral wax. It is a by-product of the crude oil refinement process which does affect people’s opinion of the wax which is totally understandable. I suppose one positive is that it does mean paraffin wax production uses parts of the oil that would otherwise be discarded. It’s also worth a note that being made from paraffin doesn’t necessarily mean it is automatically toxic. Benefits? Carries lots of scent Holds colour Inexpensive Comes with various melt points – perfect for different candle types from pillars to votives Downsides? Non-renewable resource (petroleum, coal or oil shale) There are concerns regarding its toxicity/safety when burning, but there are variable findings to support this Can soot & smoke if the candle isn’t looked after Soy Wax: What is it? Soy wax was invented in the late 1990’s. It’s a vegetable wax derived from soybean oil which is produced by harvesting, cleaning, dehulling, cracking and rolling soybeans. The oil is extracted from the rolled flakes, hydrogenated which alters the oil’s melting point, making it solidify at room temperature – ready for candle making! Benefits? Slower burn A cleaner burn resulting in less sooting Renewable resource, with leftover flakes being used for animal feed Biodegradable Vegan Cheaper than some waxes Excellent fragrance carrier, doesn’t need chemical amplifiers The fragrance throw is more subtle which results in a well-balanced true to scent candle, something we pride ourselves on at Apsley and Company Downsides? Subtler scent throw so may not pack the punch you want Sensitive to temperature changes & humidity Coconut Wax: What is it? One of the newest of candle waxes, it has a soft creamy white colour and is harvested from the coconuts themselves. It is mainly sourced from the Philippines and Dominican Republic, the economies of both countries are heavily dependent on coconut harvesting. For this reason the industry and supply chain are closely governed to ensure they are protected. Benefits? Slow even burn Excellent scent throw when both lit and unlit Holds colour well Minimal sooting A sustainable & renewable high yield crop Biodegradable Vegan Harvesting supports local economies Downsides? One of the more expensive waxes It’s soft with low melting point (you will need to store it in a cool space during hot months) It needs to be blended with another wax to make it useable in a candle Beeswax: What is it? Dating back to the Egyptians, beeswax is sourced naturally from bees during the honey-making process. This wax has its own beautiful honey aroma so tends not to be fragranced when used as a candle. It is for this reason candle makers tend to mix it with another type of candle wax such as coconut wax to help emit the scent. Benefits? A naturally occurring resource Smokeless & sootless Can help purify air Hypoallergenic in its pure state Dripless Biodegradable A more solid wax so good for candle pillars Downsides? Concerns regarding the declining bee population Due scarcity it is expensive Doesn’t hold scent as well as other waxes Difficult to add colourants due to its natural yellow tint Rapeseed Wax: What is it? Rapeseed (or Canola) wax is a natural vegetable wax derived from the oil that is harvested from the rapeseed plant. Rapeseed wax is one of the most versatile waxes, particularly good for candles thanks to its great scent and colour retaining properties Benefits? Sustainable & renewable resource Slow burn Excellent fragrance throw Vegan Locally grown reducing carbon footprint Biodegradable Downsides? A very soft wax so does need to be blended with another wax (paraffin, palm or soy) for stability Sensitive to temperature changes So, as you can see each candle wax type has its own set of pros and cons. The type of wax you go for is ultimately down to personal preference and ethical priorities. At Apsley and Company we produce our fragranced candles with the greatest integrity possible, ensuring we give you only finest quality products crafted in the most sustainable of ways. We use a premium vegan blend of botanical soy and food grade wax for our scented candles. This formulation allows us to have a generous amount of fragrance throughout the entire candle and a longer lasting burn time, ensuring you are getting the absolute best during your candle burning experience.
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Earth Day 2022 – How Can We help?
It’s Earth Day 2022 this Friday, the day celebrates our planet Earth and is a platform to raise awareness about environmental and humanitarian issues. The global theme for 2022 is to Invest In Our Planet by acting now on climate change and other issues for a sustainable future. To mark the day, there will be group events like worldwide rallies, conferences, and clean-up schemes. We know these organised activities aren’t for everyone but as individuals we can still make a difference. What each of us does and how we do it has a ripple effect on our ecosystems - our power is simple yet effective. Like so many others, as a company we’re not perfect but we are always working hard to do better. With integrity, honesty and diversity being at the core of what we do, we constantly strive to treat others as we would like to be treated. We are CARBON NEUTRAL and produce our collections as responsibly as we can: Use only the finest blend of botanical soy wax combined with food grade wax Lead-free 100% cotton wicks Vegan friendly A no animal testing policy is applied to all our products We provide diffuser refills and candle refills to encourage you to reuse the vessels The candle glass and packaging can be recycled, reused or repurposed We encourage you to help in our mission to #investinourplanet and reduce waste by reusing our vessels. Each piece is designed to be adored beyond the life of the candle burn or oil diffusion. Meticulously hand-crafted by artisan masters they are simply too beautiful to throw away. The Housekeeping Bit For candles, the first step to reusing the decorative jars is removing that pesky last chunk of wax from inside. This does involve a little bit of housekeeping but it’s definitely worth it to get the most out of your beautiful vessel. We can do this in a few different ways depending on how persistent that wax is! The Big Freeze Method This method is particularly good for Paraffin wax or Beeswax. Candle wax becomes brittle when frozen making it easier to remove. Place the old candle into the freezer for a couple of hours. Once frozen use a flat edged knife (nothing sharp!) to pry out the wax. We like to use a butter or pallet knife. To remove the leftover debris put some warm water on a paper towel and wipe the inside of the vessel. Apsley Hint - Keep checking in on the candle when it’s in the freezer, if it gets too cold there is a risk the vessel can crack. Perhaps set a timer to remind you to bring it out. The Bain Marie Method This method is good for the more stubborn waxes, but make sure your container can handle the heat. Simply fill a heat-proof bowl with boiling water and place the candle holder in it for a few minutes. The water will heat the container and melt the wax attached to the inside. Once the wax is soft carefully remove the jar and pour out the melted wax. Give the jar a wash using warm water and soap. Apsley Hint – don’t pour the wax down the drain, it’s not good for the water ecosystem and may clog up your pipes when it cools. Instead, put it on a plate or baking sheet, let it solidify to be used another time (we’ve given you a few ideas later in the blog). You can also reuse the boiled water to wash your jar rather than simply pouring it away – “waste not, want not” and all that! The Teaspoon Method This method is good for waxes with a low melting point, such as Soy. It’s also the safest method if you have any concerns about the jar’s fragility. The first thing to do is get rid of as much of the leftover wax as possible with a teaspoon. To remove the wick, use the spoon as leverage by placing it under the metal tab that holds the candle wick in place and pulling the wick, it should just come away from the base of the vessel. Then simply fill the jar with soap and hot water, leave it to sit for a couple of minutes then give it a good scrub Apsley Hint – This hot water method is ideal for cleaning diffuser bottles too! Just be sure to wipe the inside so it’s totally dry and all oil droplets have been removed before repurposing Additional Hints & Tips Remember - a candle’s life ends once you are down to the last ¼ inch of wax, after this point they are not safe to burn as you risk the jar shattering from the heat Don’t waste those chunks of unused wax – they’re great for a wax burner, drawer fragrance pouch or if you’re feeling particularly creative you could make your own candle by combining all the leftover wax you have collected, melting it down and pouring it into an empty jar, insert a wick and you have a signature candle. Just make sure the scents don’t clash too much! Jump online to find complete instructions Before reusing the vessel, always remove the wick and its holder. You should be able to lightly tug it or lift it with a spoon as explained in the ‘Teaspoon Method’ If the vessel has an annoying sticky label (which I’m pleased to say ours don’t!) you can try to remove it by leaving an equal mix of baking soda and cooking oil on the label for about 30mins then scrubbing it off with a steel wool pad The Creative Bit Okay, the vessel is clean and looking as good as new so the big question is “what can you actually reuse a candle jar or diffuser bottle for?” The first option is of course to refill the vessel with a candle or diffuser oil, you can see all our refill options on the website www.apsleyaustralia.com But there are so many alternative uses, and to be honest we are only limited by our own imagination. Here are just a few but we’re sure you’ll have other ideas too! Planters and Vases We love to use our beautiful Luxury Candle glassware for planting, it is the perfect vessel for showcasing your favourite plants and cuttings. Clear glass vessels are great for succulents, proudly showing off the different layers of stone, soil and moss. Votive candle holders are super cute as herb pots and can make a lovely window garden in the kitchen. Your diffuser bottles are perfect for holding flower posies and garden blooms. We use our Scented Space perfume bottle for this and they look fab: Tea Light Holders and Hurricane Lanterns To up the ambience of your home, both inside and out, simply drop a tea light or small candle votive into the jar – the flickering effect will be mesmerising. Placed in the window or as a table centrepiece, larger jars will look great with a few coiled rolls of fairy lights inside - mood lighting in an instant! Dresser & Bathroom Organiser Hands up, who feels overwhelmed by the clutter on their dresser or in the bathroom? Jars of all shapes and sizes are perfect for getting your beauty and toiletry essentials sorted! They can hold makeup brushes, hair accessories, lipsticks, eyeliners, cotton swabs & pads, manicure essentials, jewellery, toothbrushes & paste….. Okay, I’ll stop, but you get the idea!! Desk Storage Just like a vanity area, desks are prone to getting messy so use your jars to organise your stationery essentials – pens, scissors, rulers, sticky notes, staplers, highlighters. In your drawers place small votives in a row to separate paperclips, drawing pins, glue sticks, staples, USB sticks. It will be great for your working zen! Match Jar Matches can just be seen as a means to the end, but they can become part of your home décor, looking so elegant placed on the fireplace in our exquisite Abode Aroma Crystal Diffuser Bottles. The Crystal Candle Glassware can display your essential Candle Accessory Set. I could carry on with ideas such as money banks, snack jars, drinkware, pinch pots. We would absolutely love to see what you do with your vessels so please share your styling ideas with us @apsleyandcompany @abodearoma @scentedspace If you have any thoughts, suggestions or questions regarding our product development, designs and production processes please feel free to email us https://www.apsleyaustralia.com/pages/contact or direct mail sales@apsleyaustralia.com As we say we’re not perfect, but we are constantly inspired by Thomas Edison’s quote “There’s a way to do it better – find it!” Happy Earth Day – here’s to investing in our planet together! Team Apsley xxx
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Fragrance Day 21st March 2022 - The Importance of Home Fragrance
Fragrance Day 2022 The 21 st of March is one of our most favourite days of the year. Why? It’s International Fragrance Day – a day to acknowledge the importance of scent, how it can improve our lives and celebrate all things wonderful smelling, including of course everything home fragrance! Here’s a few little fragrance ‘Did you knows?’: Fragrance has been enjoyed for thousands of years. The first recorded perfume maker was called Tapputi, he was mentioned on a stone tablet from the 2 nd millennium BCE The oldest perfumery was discovered in Cyprus, dating back to the Bronze Age and was over 4,000m² - we’re talking industrial scale manufacturing! The bible describes a sacred perfume of liquid myrrh, cinnamon, cane & cassia Today France is considered the world centre of perfume manufacture The power of smell has inspired hit films like ‘Scent of a Woman’ or ‘Perfume: The Story of a Murderer’. Even the sitcom Friends got in on the act with the Friends episode ‘Joey Sells Perfume’ Here at Apsley and Company, we actually celebrate fragrance every day of the year because scent and smell are such a key part of our daily lives and many of us don’t even realise it. Candles have been around since about 3000 BC. For many years, their main function was to provide light. Nowadays, they are used as a home accessory bringing a decorative and personal touch to your home. Overt time creators have thought up many new ways to bring fragrance into your home from wax melts and room mists through to Bluetooth speaker and USB fragrance diffusers. Why Is Home Fragrance Important? Feeling good at home is essential for our mental wellbeing, relationship health and overall happiness. When designing a home we endeavour to create a space that fits our lifestyle, functional needs, personal style and aspirations. During this design process fragrance is often overlooked but it truly is an integral part of creating your home. It’s easy to purely focus on the aesthetics of a room but you need to think about how you want it to make you feel, and scent plays a big role in this. Room fragrance can be infused all over your home using a number of aromatic products such as Reed Diffusers , Candles and Room Mists Home fragrance affects your mood Sensory experiences affect your mood, and this is particularly true with scent. Think about your reactions to certain smells when you are outside - an unpleasant smell like petrol fumes can cause nausea or a headache whereas a floral burst of Lemon Myrtle might make you smile and get you thinking about your plans for an evening meal. Sadly we can’t influence outdoor smells but when it comes to home fragrance, we are in full control of the scents our noses experience. You can decide if you want a scent that triggers feelings of joy, relaxation, comfort, vitality or simply to disguise the household smells you don’t enjoy! For example, if you have a stressful job and need to unwind when you walk through your front door make sure you are greeted with calming fragrances such as lavender, chamomile, rose. As an alternative to floral fragrances look to citrusy bergamot, soft woody notes of sandalwood or the herbaceous notes of sweet marjoram. Apsley Suggestion - Our Apsley and Company Halfeti 400g Luxury Candle would be ideal with its sumptuous notes of black rose, laced with violet and a musk base – the perfect fragrance to relax to Home fragrance transports you Fragrance is an important part of how we remember people, places and events. One study showed that people can remember a scent with 65% accuracy after 1 year whereas visual memory only carries 50% accuracy after a few months. For me, the smell of baked bread takes me back to a time of ‘helping’ grandma in the kitchen and definitely raises a smile (perhaps not for the right reasons – I am no culinary wizard!!). Fresh and citrusy scents can take you outdoors to treasured nature walks or remind you of coastal holidays. Apsley Suggestion - In current times many of us have a need to escape. If that’s you, try our Apsley and Company Santorini Room Diffuser – available in 230ml and an impressive 500ml . Created with muddled spices, peppercorn and patchouli, the fragrance takes you to one of the world’s most exotic locations Home fragrance personalises your home The scent of a home should be unique to you and reflect your personality and style. Creating a signature scent throughout the house will give you and your home a sense of well-being, and your visitors a true sense of you. Just like your favourite cologne, your friends will go away remembering the scent and always associate it with the time they have spent with you. Apsley Hint - It’s not just the room that will carry your scent. If your home fragrance products are strategically placed, the fragrance will permeate into soft furnishings like pillows, curtains, sofas and rugs Home fragrance is versatile Your mood or fragrance needs may not always be the same. The beauty of Reed Diffusers , Candles and Room Mists is that they are so versatile, affordable and easy to change, unlike the restyling of furniture or wall colours. If you are having a party you may want to lift the spirit of a room. Swap out your calming candles, for a few candles with a more uplifting and invigorating fragrance. Lighting these will give a huge fragrant boost to the room’s atmosphere and the candlelight creates a welcoming and warm ambience. It’s also a great idea to use a Room Mist for a few quick spritzes of instant and intoxicating fragrance as the guests arrive. Apsley Suggestion - If you’re celebrating sun-drenched days in the garden with friends, our Apsley and Company Eclipse Luxury Candle would be ideal and it’s available in 400g (up to 60hr burn time) and 1.7kg (up to 180hr burn time). You can move the party indoors once the sun sinks on the horizon, but still keep those warming sunny vibes going with notes of Sicilian orange, blackcurrant and patchouli For a more intimate gathering, opt for soft and sensuous florals. For example our Abode Aroma Gardenia Pearl Bevelled Crystal Candle will definitely create the perfect romantic mood with its intoxicatingly beautiful hyacinth, combined with a heady symphony of lilac, star jasmine and muguet - a heart achingly bouquet of dreamy white flowers Home fragrance helps to create spacial zones Zoning a home has become particularly important in the last couple of years as a home has become a place to live, work, exercise, socialise and relax. Home fragrance will help take the pressure off you and your home to perform all these roles. Zoning deserves its very own blog so watch this space, but for now here are a couple of examples to help you define your functional boundaries. Apsley Suggestion - For Work – go for soft herbal or citrus scents to help boost concentration and alertness. They are less dominant but enduring so will carry you through your hours of work Our Scented Space 200ml Lemongrass Ginger Room Diffuser will invigorate you and your work space with the zesty vigour of lemongrass, bursting with ginger, pine & thyme. This energising fragrance will gently awaken your mind For Rest – Our Apsley and Company Luxury Halfeti Fragrance Collection would definitely calm your mind and senses with its sumptuous notes of black rose laced with crushed violet and a base of musk. The range includes a choice of candles and reed diffusers , plus a room mist for that instant spritz of tranquillity Home fragrance offers both function and form The fragrance of a candle, diffuser or room mist is of course essential when choosing what to buy but consider their design too. The beauty of our skilfully curated range of cruelty-free home fragrance products is not only do they provide sumptuous complex scents, they have also been designed to become a central part of your interior styling. Apsley Suggestion - Each of our collections offers something different. The Apsley and Company Luxury Collection offers striking centrepieces with their one-of-a-kind mouth blown glass vessel designs and impressive size options. Abode Aroma’s Crystal Collection brings an elegant touch of luxury with its Art Deco inspired crystal vessels. The perfume bottles of Scented Space Reed Diffusers are timeless in their design and can be placed in any room or space. It is also worth noting our vessels are designed to be reused as vases, planters, storage jars and so much more! Become the scent architect of your home This may sound a bit daunting, but it really doesn’t need to be. Choosing home fragrance is not a science it’s more of a gut reaction. Don’t think about it too much, just go with your initial response to a smell, you will instantly know if it’s a love or hate. Like taste, scent preference is very much unique to you and your home fragrancing needs. We would suggest you explore our ranges to discover the perfect fragrant pieces for you and your home.
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For The Love of Diffusers – How to get the most out of your diffuser
How long do your diffusers last? As a guide, Apsley and Company 100ml/140ml diffusers last up to 4 months and our 200ml/230ml up to 6 months but there are a number of factors that can affect this. It is important to remember whilst a reed diffuser is an independent soul and happy to do most of the work on it’s own, there are some tricks you can follow to get the optimum scent and lifespan. How do you get the most out of them? It’s All In The Ingredients Alcohol reed diffusers evaporate much faster than oil-based diffusers. They also lose their fragrance after a short time so you will simply be left with is a vessel of unscented liquid. Before making a purchase check the water and alcohol content. If they are at the start of the ingredients list, or account for a large percentage of the formulation the reed diffuser will have a shorter life so avoid when possible. Apsley and Company Tip – Our formulation has either NO ALCOHOL or a very small amount hence we can claim great longevity and fragrance performance for all our diffusers across all our brands – Apsley and Company, Abode Aroma and Scented Space Location, Location Think about where you place your reed diffuser, as it can affect the speed of evaporation. The hotter and drier the environment the quicker the diffuser will evaporate. Colder surroundings and environments with high humidity usually mean the diffusers will last much longer. Apsley and Company Tip – Avoid placing the diffuser under air conditioning units, in direct sunlight or near any heat sources to give it a longer life The Science Bit – Fragrance Molecular Structure Don’t worry, it’s not as complicated as it sounds. Basically, the fragrance type affects a diffuser’s longevity due to its molecular structure. The darker and richer the fragrance oils the tighter the structure and the slower the evaporation rate. A lighter coloured formulation will not last as long. Apsley and Company Tip – Deep fragrances like woody Amber Mahogany, available in the Abode Aroma Crystal Diffuser collection, will last longer than fragrances with fresh citrus or light green notes like the Apsley and Company Vesuvius Luxury Diffuser Size is important To ensure maximum fragrant effect you need to consider the size of your glass diffuser against the size of space you are fragrancing. In larger spaces you may still not achieve the impact you would like, so consider having more than one reed diffuser placed in different parts of the room. Or perhaps accessorise with some complementary scented candles or a burst of fragrance from our luxury room mists. Apsley and Company Tip – A Scented Space Australia Lime Leaves 100ml room diffuser wouldn't be sufficient for an open space like a lounge but would be ideal for a bathroom or small bedroom. For your larger living spaces consider the Halfeti Black Rose Apsley and Company 230ml Luxury Diffuser The Reed Affect The number and length of reeds used can also affect the longevity of a diffuser. The more surface area the fragrance oil coats the quicker the diffuser will evaporate so to extend the life of your diffuser put less reed sticks in the vessel. The same is true with the frequency of stick flipping. Whilst it is important to turn the reeds, to maximise fragrance impact, the more you flip the more fragrance oil will disperse. Apsley and Company Tip - remember this might affect the level of fragrance throw, so it’s all about balance. We suggest turning your reeds once a week to gain the mutual benefit of consistent fragrance performance alongside sufficient oil longevity. Time For A Change? Once your oil has fully evaporated you can use diffuser refills. This will involve a little bit of housekeeping but will be worth it to get the most out of your beautiful vessel and the fragrance it holds. Whether you are refilling it with the same scent or a different one it is better to wash the bottle with soap and water, ensuring it’s totally dry before adding new scented oil refills and replace the sticks. Apsley and Company Tip – at Apsley we have created a range of diffusers refills that can be used with any of our diffuser vessels! Each diffuser refill comes with fresh dispersion wicks to ensure maximum performance of your ‘new’ diffuser. Feel free to mix and match between collections, for example, Apsley and Company’s Santorini Luxury Diffuser bottle filled with the Abode Aroma Crystal Diffuser oil refill in Gardenia Pearl. Shop our range of diffusers for home use on the Apsley & Company website today.
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A Reason To Smile 😊
A Reason To Smile Friday 1 st October is World Smile Day and boy could we all do with some smiles right now! As for it being on a Friday that’s perfect too, we live in a world of Friday #’s – admit it, who doesn’t start the Friday countdown from Tuesday!!! BUT smiling is not just for the 1 st of October or for Fridays! We’ve pulled together a little Smiling Guide to help ‘turn that sad face upside down’! What is a Smile? Simple hey? But it may not be as straightforward we all think! There is the physical act of smiling and then society’s interpretation given to it. A smile is one of the first things our faces do when we arrive in the world. Whilst new parents see it as a reaction to their presence it is, I’m afraid, just a reflex. We don’t actually smile in a social way until around our 6 th to 8 th week in the world. So yes, smiling is communicative, an indication of happiness and a key part of social interaction, but it has much more significance to our everyday lives than that. The Importance of a Smile We’re not going to get into the mechanics of smiling as that takes the magic away. We want to focus on why we should smile (especially with the challenges of recent times!). The ‘act’ of smiling has been proven to have short- and long-term benefits on our health and wellbeing, so we really should make a conscious effort to smile every day, whether in public or alone. Smiling Elevates Our Mood & Helps Us Stay Positive Next time you’re feeling low, smile! There’s a good chance your mood will change for the better. Without getting too ‘sciencey’, it activates neural messaging in your brain and releases mood-boosting chemical like endorphins, dopamine and serotonin. Basically, it ‘tricks’ the brain and body that you’ve so go this! - helping elevate your mood. Think of smiling as a natural anti-depressant. Fun Test: Smile – Try to think of something negative (nothing too deep!!) without losing the smile. It’s almost like trying to sneeze with your eyes open 😊 Go on give it a go! Smiling Is A Great Stress Reliever & Can Boost Productivity Stress is a powerful emotion which can ruin our mood and wear us out. Our face is the biggest giveaway when we are stressed. Even if we don’t feel like smiling, putting a smile on our face will help us take control and trigger those all-important positive mind tricks. It will help reduce stress and as a result increase productivity. If that’s not enough incentive to smile, it will also make us look less tired, worn down and overwhelmed. Positive emotions are invigorating, negative ones are draining. A Smile Goes A Long Way You know when you yawn and the person you’re with yawns too? Well, it’s the same with a smile. Happiness spreads happiness so why not brighten the days of others with just one simple smile – you could fill a room with joy within minutes. Being a light in a room lets others know you’re there for them, through the sunshine AND the rain. Be someone else’s rainbow. Smiling Boosts Our Immune System Our immune system is affected by things like stress and mental health issues. When our lives are crazy and we’re constantly running around, feeling tired we are prone to colds and illnesses. But smiles can make a difference as our immune function improves when we feel more relaxed. Smiling will prop it up and help fight illness. Smiling Makes Us Look Younger & Attractive We are naturally drawn to smiles and the people behind them. Smiles are like a big ‘welcome’ sign, letting outsiders in. Not only that, smiling is also like a workout for the face. When we smile we use the muscles to lift our face which automatically make us look younger. The muscles in your face are like the rest of your body – don’t use them they weaken, lose mass and become wrinkly. So show off your ‘happy’ by smiling throughout the day and who knows, you may stay looking young for many years. Who needs a facelift!!! Smiling Can Help Relieve Pain The biggest of ironies we know! Whilst smiling is the last thing we feel like doing when in pain a report has shown laughter causes the body to release its own natural painkillers relaxing our body and reducing physical pain. It also increases our pain threshold so we can endure pain for longer. Try a laughter/distraction technique – watch a comedy, listen to a funny film, spend time with family and friends who make you smile. So in summary, with all these perks in mind ask yourself what reason have we got not to smile Smile your way to happiness, health and helping others! Things to Make You Smile Call an old friend – you know you’ve been meaning to, and they’d love to hear from you. Make arrangements to see each other as soon as you can to give yourself something to look forward to Send a hand-written note to a loved one – just think how lovely it would be to receive something other than bills in the post! Share feelings, stories and memories and you will be sure to have a smile on your face and put one on theirs too Try a new skill – it’s good to try something new. You will hopefully enjoy the process and have a wonderful sense of achievement as you learn. Make sure you sit back and appreciate what you have created or achieved Tackle that ‘to do’ list – you may think “How on earth will this make me smile! There’s a reason I’ve been putting it off!” – but think of the end result, you will be so happy to cross something off the list and reap the benefits of doing so Read a good book – if you struggle to choose books jump online, ask a friend for recommendations. With the right book you will find yourself smiling without even realising it Make someone else’s day – it doesn’t have to be anything major. Help someone who is struggling to carry their groceries, drop a few dollars in a charity collection box, give a compliment to a stranger, offer your seat on the bus to someone in more need of it, or simply smile and share the love. Watch a funny movie – even if you’ve seen it a hundred times. Laughter is good for the soul. Daydream – allow your mind to wander and think ‘happy thoughts’ – holidays, loved ones, memories…. Look through family albums – with all the convenience of technology we sometimes forget the joy of flicking through a photo album. They hold a special magical and poignant quality you just can’t get from swiping through a screen. Run a bath - fill it with bubbles, light a candle or four (yes we had to mention candles!!!), play your favourite tunes. Feel pampered and enjoy it! Get outside – we know this isn’t necessarily as easy as it sounds but you could simply eat your lunch on the porch, go for a short walk, sit in the garden or a nearby park. Make the most of nature – Smell the roses - take in deep breaths, fill your body and mind with the fresh fragrant air that surrounds you Go barefoot - enjoy the feeling of grass, sand, water beneath your feet; feel the sun’s warmth on your skin Lift your head – stop, look around, be aware of the natural beauty around you Retail Therapy – cheer yourself up with some online or (if you can) instore retail therapy but remember to do so within your means – overspending brings a whole other world of stress you don’t need. Try to shop locally, support small businesses and help your community flourish, that way everyone benefits Playtime – okay, stay with us on this one. Go back in time to school break when life was much simpler. Try to hula a hula hoop or jump a jump rope. No matter how good (or bad!) you are it will be impossible not to smile and feel like a child again! Be thankful – write down reasons to be grateful so you can focus on the positives and get those mind tricking endorphins going. It can be something as simple as a good hair day, the sun shining through the window, a cuddle from your kids. Night night – at bedtime create an oasis of calm so your mind and body are relaxed. Place a calming reed diffuser in your room, apply soothing oils to your temples or pillowcase, dim the lights, take some deep breaths, close your eyes, relax and (of course!!) think of things that make you smile. Sweet dreams!
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