Firstly, I like candles. Always have. Something about how they represent “light”, hope etc. They way they can vary in how they “flicker” (although that can depend on the quality of the wax) etc. The origin probably lies somewhere in having a church background as a child, and then somehow that evolves. What I like now about candles is: depending on how you use them, they can create mood and vary the atmosphere. Ha! Maybe at my heart, I am a “true romantic” – but for a lot of the time, I conveniently choose to forget that. Bottom line is candles are up there in my light world, with fireworks.
Secondly, to be fully alive, I reckon means to be in touch with all of your senses. Candles can contribute to that - both in a visual sense, and from a sense of smell. They need not necessarily be $135.00 candles though eh - as I will elbaorate on later, below. Actually, they need not cost that much at all. How can I justify that expense? Well, maybe I’m trying to experiment options, in a limited way.
Anyway, what initially prompted the candle purchase was my visit to Auckland at Christmas. My niece and her husband are very big on labels. It’s never just a dress, or a good bottle of wine. It’s a Karen Walker dress or whatever bottle of wine. It's all about the names and designers. I like good stuff too if I am honest, but generally as rule, curb my chardonnay tastes to meet my budget. Now that I’m budgeting better, there’s some room for variation on this policy.
There was long discussion on Christmas day about the Cire Trvdon candles, generated by my nieces husband’s father – my nieces father in law, who I guess it could be said is a man of the world, and has good taste, with the backing of $ to support his tastes. He explained the Cire Trvdon candle history, and the one he had given my niece and her husband had the original smells of Parisian Cathedrals floorboards. Whatever, I thought. Come to my house and you will get the original floorboard smells of Carterton! Although being “nice” and latching onto a conversation I could engage in, I kept the conversation going. He then gave me instructions on where I could buy the candles in Wellington – from WORLD in Victoria St. So, I said I would buy one. I’m a woman of my word, so as you know, I have purcahsed a candle from France this week. Partly out of curiosity.
So, on Wednesday, I entered the WORLD fashion shop. I couldn’t see where the candles were. This type of shop is not my natural habitat. Simply because I don’t fit the clothing…So I entered with some caution. I could see the look in the shop ladies. Like, hello, what was I thinking? So, then I said I was hoping to buy a Cire Trvdon. The repsosne was a seal of approval, that I had some form of taste, and also I think releief as they directed me to the shop across the road – the WORLD accessory shop as opposed to the WORLD ‘frock’ shop.
Once at the WORLD acessory shop, I spent about 15 minutes lifting tumblars off various candles and smelling the scents. The shop lady asked if the candle was for me or a gift. I don’t know why, but I said it was for a gift for my neice who already had a candle. It was a variation on the truth. This then though meant I had to follow on through what the gift recepient’s tastes were, rather than necessarily my own. It did mean I got the candle gift wrapped – which I always thinks adds value to the purchase, even if it is for yourself!
And the connection with this blog – well, one day I hope to fit a WORLD dress. One day. Entering to buy a candle is a first step in the process. Also, of course, its about contributing to the harmony in my house. I’m not sure if Ali appreciates it all. And as it tends to be the cat I for most of the time as the primary occupants of the house, expenditure on a Cire Trvdon candle is pretty much up there in the pure indulgence category…
In the meantime, I have a good new candle. Although I'm not sure I want my house smelling like "Cuba" all the time, which it still pretty much does from lighting the candle two days ago! Although hopefully not tomorrow.
You could say the candle thing has ignited my obessive (or passionate) tendencies. This is possibly true. Although it is also true my professional background places a lot of credence on evidence based theory - and sometimes that slips over into my personal life.
So...............here you go, random consumer's guide to candle testing.
Candle 1: Purchased a few weeks ago a Kirks. Jaye Niemi: Think 9 Cost:$65.00 . Source: Australia. According to the Jaye Niemi site this candle has the following specification:
THINK 9 includes nine of the most powerful essential oils used to assist concentration, increase alertness, aid creativity and calm stressed nerves.
This fragrance offers a contemporary combination of citrus top notes floated excitedly over floral scents of Geranium and Jasmine and underscored by a mossy, woody complex. Effective bridging notes hold this beautifully rounded fragrance together and transform it into a sheer delight.
100% ESSENTIAL OILS INCLUDE ARE:
| CREATIVITY - Jasmine BALANCE - Lavender CONCENTRATION - Lemon CALMNESS - Clary Sage FOCUS - Lemongrass | ACCURACY - Bergamot VERVE- Peppermint PERFORMANCE - Geranium MENTAL CLARITY - Rosemary |
I'm half way through this candle. My overall rating would be about a 5-6/10 re meeting the spec/ Its good wax, but its very hard atall to discern any particular scent. As for stimulating creativity -probably less than 5/10.
Candle 2: Cire Trvdon: Previously described. Powerful scent: Especially if you like Cuba, and smoke. Expensive. But comes with a lot of luxurious propaganda, and story. Also is packaged in beautiful glass. Environmental miles and all that - Heaps - in terms of coming from France.
Candle 3: Vanilla Scented Candle - Made by National Candles in Egmont St, Wellington. Purchased at Kirks. Price: $24.00 Currently burning. This company makes candles for churches. Somehow I think its going to be the winner on price, environmental and quality. Vanilla, simple but effective. Doesn't smell of Cuba or smoke.
Candle 4: Mahina: Manor Born - Mandarin Citron Vert and Basil. Purchased at Kirks. Price: $32.00 Yet to burn burn., butI reckon it will be up there with Candle 3. Made in NZ. Says it has 50 hours burn time. This compares to the stated 80 hours of the Cire Trvdon.
Candle 5: Rosemary out of the garden on a bed of basic tea candles. Always effective: and doesn't smell like a Cuban den full of tobacco smoke, and people drinking rum off their heads – instead for about a couple of bucks, or even less, it smells very relaxing.
Matches: Beehive long: $2.50. Purchased from New World.
So, there you go, French stuff is Ok. But actually, equal, in fact I reckon better than equal for bang for buck is the good NZ stuff. And hello, National Candles cut it in terms of whakapapa to original church boards etc etc, buying local.
Oh yeah, Hohepa candles are authentic too of course. Just not part this random survey.
Any suggestions for candle scents that get you off your arse, and make you go faster, and your heart rate zoom to loose kilos are welcome. Or any suggestions on scents that give you zing and zoom. Batman kowpow energy.
Probably a glass of water, and smelling the ‘rapa country air early in the morning would be just as effective eh? Now if I could work out how you put that smell (although some of it would comprise cow shit) in a candle with wax sourced from the local bee growers, come up with a flash name and marketing angle, I reckon I could be a rich woman. Actually, I could put beehives down my driveway, and then I wouldn’t have to cultivate the salt mines down my drive….
Here's today's matching song. I deliberated on posting a "dark" song. But decided to go with a "light" song by Annie Lennox :-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfJeQDkz4JU
and being Friday, this bonus clip via the Morgueman - "hello" I reckon is very cool:
http://player.vimeo.com/video/35055590?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0
Been a rocky (unfortunately not Rocky as in Balboa) start to the new year exercise wise. Hence the candle distraction. Hopefully this weekend will represent a positive change re the exercise.
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