Scents and Sensibility

The bad weather has left me holed up indoors recently, writing blog posts and trying to keep up to date with emailing friends to arrange meeting up before we leave. I seem to only really venture out to grab a cappuccino (and to vote today!) and then scurry back inside. These dark afternoons/evenings have had me reaching for my favourite candles to cheer me up. I have even started burning my treasured Diptyque Mimosa candle which has been kept for special occasions since I was given it for my birthday 18 months ago... So I thought I'd list my favourite scents that I've used for the home.


1. Lily Flame candles. I've had a few of these over the last couple of years since I was bought the Lavender and Lime one as a present. They smell divine and last for ages, and they only cost £8.50 (direct from the website and also from John Lewis) so it means I don't feel so guilty when I burn them! I've since bought the Frankincense and Myrrh for Christmas time and the Sweetpea one when I was down in Devon last Summer and now it reminds me of a lovely summery weekend spent there with my friend. But my favourite has to be Rose Petal which I have actually just finished (so I've just bought a new one online!). I definitely find that these candles are the best value for money and they have a wide range of scents, perfect for Spring, Summer and Christmas. I now need to try their reed diffusers, in rose petal of course...

Image from the Lily Flame website.

2. White Company scents. I love the White Company, not just for candles and other scented loveliness, but also for clothing and kitchenware. Most of my friends and family know this as I normally end up with at least one thing from there for birthdays and Christmases! It is also my go-to place for presents as they have some great gifts within the £20 mark, and then better still within the £30 and £50 area. I have bought presents for most of my friends there, as well as my Mum (a beautiful cashmere scarf for her birthday a couple of years ago) and my Grandma (a lovely white leather washbag for her 90th). My husband bought me the white lavender scent diffuser from there at Christmas, and it has only just run out. I think £35 for four months of lavender scent is pretty darn good. Now to somehow sneak in a white rose diffuser without him noticing...

Image from the White Company website.

3. Diptyque candles. Now these are definitely the higher end of the scent scale (from £38 for a standard), but I have been lucky enough to receive a couple of these as gifts over the last few years (Mimosa and, again, Roses) and the smell really does linger for ages after they have been blown out, which you don't really get with the cheaper candles. I am currently burning the Mimosa one which has a lovely floral scent, and makes the whole house feel clean and fresh (which makes up for it not really being clean and fresh!). If you have the cash to spend then I would definitely recommend these candles, or if you're lucky enough to receive one as a gift then savour it!

Burning my fantastic Mimosa candle when it was cold and grey at the weekend.