The Scents of Spring

Being a purveyor of an extortionate (and downright ridiculous) number of scented candles, I'm all for swapping and changing the candles I burn based on my mood, the weather, the season, what day of the week it is. You know, casual stuff.

I'm a huge fan of fresh scents all year round because frankly, why on earth would you want your house to smell like artificial (and oh my lord so sickly) vanilla cupcakes? Yankee Candle, I'm looking at you.

Excusing the accidental alliteration here: fresh, fruity and floral tones are my absolute favourite because they're usually the lightest scents when they're burning, making them perfect for small spaces (ie my bedroom) or for keeping a subtle scent for a longer length of time.

Below are three of my ultimate loves...

1. CHAMOMILE & VIOLET BY WAX LYRICAL

I never realised quite what a mix of layers this candle contains. According to the creators this fragrance includes: "chamomile and violet layered with delicate citrus notes of lemon blossom on a base of musks and precious woods. A blend of armoise, elemi, lavandin & orange essential oils". No corners cut here, thank you very much!

I keep this candle tucked safely away in its original boxed packaging whenever I'm not burning it regularly and as soon as I re-open it, the scent hits me as profoundly as it did the first time. If it was possible to make your soul smile, this candle would do it for me. This scent is perfect for lazy Sunday afternoons and leaves lasting floral notes well into evening time.

I bought this for £20 as a small treat to myself last Easter and if the fifty-five hour burn time is anything to go by, I've still got a whole lot of fragrance left to enjoy.

2. SEASHORE BY TRUE GRACE

Described as "a scent balanced with geranium, neroli, cedarwood and moss", I coveted this candle for well over a year before it finally joined my collection. In glass form it can be purchased for £25, but it is also available in a tin for £16. 

So often candle companies give their scents the fanciest of names and just assume that that's how this works. Not so, my friend. If you want to name your candle 'Christmas', then you need it to really smell like Christmas. But I digress, the point here is that this candle smells exactly as it's titled. Like a brazen, blustery (British) walk along a seashore. It's one of the most comforting candles I've ever burnt and for that reason, I know for a fact that I'll always have a glass, tin or diffuser with me, wherever I end up.

 It's also made of natural wax (always a pro) and can burn for up to forty hours.

3. APPLE AND ELDERFLOWER BY THE EVAL CANDLE COMPANY

This absolutely perfect combination of succulent crunchy green apples and the sweetness of elderflower berries is, in my opinion, what makes this candle so light, uplifting and joyful to be surrounded by. To me, it's the perfect morning scent; where your curtains are pulled back, the windows are wide open and the sunlight and fresh air can wash over everything.

Don't be fooled by the size of the tin, for £9 this scent is mighty enough to fill any space, and is said to burn for up to forty-five hours.



What are your signature spring scents?
~ Eleanor xo

The Week in Pictures: A Right Royal Celebration

Reasons why last week was probably the least productive in the history of everything:

1. The Queen celebrated turning ninety with a 'walkabout' right outside the office front door
2. The GBBO contestants were there with cake
3. The guy who played Max Cunningham in Hollyoaks spent the day in the office
4. There was chocolate cake and prosecco (in celebration of the Queen, not a semi-well-known ex-soap star...)
5. Obama helicoptered in for lunch and bought a chock load of helicopters with him which were super noisy and distracting and turned us all into excited ten-year-old boys

I mean, as far as a working week goes, this one sort of took the biscuit. Or the birthday cake, if you will... *ba dum tss*. Yes, Eleanor does mean 'immeasurably hilarious'* in Swahili.

*no it doesn't.

While I (very very) sadly didn't get to actually set my eyes on the Queen, I did get to witness the palaver that surrounded three very busy days. God knows how a tiny ninety-year-old woman has the stamina to withstand such gargantuan tasks when I got out of breath just trying to photograph the whole thing. (I may or may not now be forever immortalised in BBC News coverage as a strange passerby attempting to take a picture of the news stand set up on the Castle front lawn...).

But alas, this is what I was able to surmise from this experience:

• There isn't a single colour the Queen can't pull of.
• Open-top Range Rovers are a thing. But seemingly only if you're the leader of an empire. 
• The Queen just has some pimping rides full stop, let's be real.
• Everyone loves a flag.
• Like, literally everyone.
• Opening a bandstand is a big deal.
• Being born in the same year as a monarch is a big yes.
• The Queen must own a lot of vases.
• Dressing head-to-toe in a Union Jack print will get you on the news.
• If you go on a BBC baking show, you'll 100% end up baking for royalty.
• Prince Charles saying "Mummy" is never not funny.
• Lighting a ceremonial beacon can be somewhat problematic.
• The Princess Diaries gave me unrealistic expectations of how a beacon should be lit. Where were the flaming arrows at?
• There's nothing a piece of bunting can't cheer up.
• I'd like #ProseccoThursdays to become a thing.
• We should all have two birthdays each year.
• I sodding love spending five days a week in Windsor.

I also like to imagine that after enjoying a civilised tour of the Post Office, witnessing a dramatic re-enactment of a Romeo & Juliet scene by a local school, slicing some cake and unveiling several plaques, the royal family got totally smashed and swung from the grandest of chandeliers. Liz seems like that kind of gal.

#LongLiveTheQueen.
~ Eleanor xo

Link Love #19

1. An interesting read from one woman who took inspiration from bloggers and ate 'instagram style' food for a week {via Elle} 


2. Five picturesque properties up for sale right now {via Country Life}


3. Ten super easy ways to kick-start a healthier lifestyle {The Glitter Guide}


4. Nineteen facts about tulips (the best flower in existence) {via Country Living}


5. The town of Storybrooke actually exists. Spontaneous trip to Canada, anyone? {via Brit + Co}


6. Ruin every movie plot line ever with this website {via Mashable}


7. Fancy taking a break from adulting? These guys want to help {via AdWeek} 


8. A short history of the Facebook status. We're all guilty of it! {via Elle}  


9. Definitely want to try out this recipe {via The New York Times}


10. You can now turn your Instagram pictures into a colouring book because obvs {via Teen Vogue}

Keep it real, amigos.

~ Eleanor xo