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New in Store!

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New in Store!

Basic, but Beautiful

We recently introduced two basic, but beautiful, scented candles: Jasmine and Vanilla. These candles are poured into small, amber colored glass tumblers, with bamboo lids. Our Jasmine candles are crafted with organic coconut wax, and our Sweet Vanilla candles are made with a blend of organic coconut and soy waxes. Both candles are made with natural hemp wicks for a nice, clean burn.

Vanilla Scented Candle

Bananas!

Also, we are introducing a lovely, exciting novelty scented candle, Bananas! made with a coconut and soy wax blend, poured into a beautiful, opalescent yellow glass jar, your choice of wood or gold lid.

Suspended Bottle Air Fresheners

Not long ago, we had only one option for our Suspended Bottle Air Fresheners for aromatherapy on-the-go, which was eucalyptus. We have since added three new essential oil options for this product: lavender, lemongrass and basil. These are adorable go-anywhere, take-anywhere little vials of aromatherapy packed with essential goodness that will clear your mind, ease your mood, and refresh the air in your near-space.

In Development

This weekend I will be finalizing a blue tansy and blue spirulina infused, oil-based kaolin clay mask. These will come in blue, half-ounce tins, which hold approximately 3-4 applications, depending on how thickly it is applied. I will also be finalizing the blue tansy facial toner spritz as a companion to the face mask in the very near future.

Molded Candles

I was so excited to try new pillar molds that look like pin-tuck fabric (or leather). The first time I tried this mold, I used a pale yellow color and realized that the design looks so much better with a dark color. The one shown below is dyed a medium brown, and is made with American Organics’ Freedom Soy Pillar Wax. It did not come out perfect, though, so I am going to experiment with wax blends to get the perfect candle to handle a dark dye load without “frosting.” My test burn revealed too small of a wick, so candles using this mold will need to be crafted with larger wicks before they are ready to sell. I would love to make these in sets of three: coconut, chocolate and almond because sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t (I always do).

Another new pillar mold with a swirly, wave design. This one turned out gorgeous and so shiny! It is scented with Lily of the Valley fragrance oil, crafted with a blend of organic soy pillar wax and organic beeswax, with a cotton wick, dyed a pale pink. After a test burn to make sure I have the right size wick I will make more of these in gorgeous floral scents such as jasmine, carnation, geranium, rose, lily of the valley and tuberose. Perhaps I’ll do an “ocean” smell as well, since the design looks like waves. Keep an eye out for these, they are coming soon!

The Wax Menagerie

I adore these “see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil” elephant molds, but it is extremely tricky to unmold these candles without losing a trunk tip, or in the case of the little guy up front, the ears. Going to continue to experiment with wax blends until I can get these to come out right! 

Lavenderpalooza!

I haven’t set a date yet for Lavenderpalooza, but it’s coming. Perhaps in October. What is Lavenderpalooza? I have to leave some surprises for you. It’s going to be epic. Stay tuned.

New In Store

RECENT NEWS

New In Store

What’s New in the Store

We are pleased to announce our latest creation: a stunning carnation-scented candle that’s sure to captivate your senses and elevate your home decor. This exquisite candle features a mesmerizing label adorned with vibrant carnations, imbued with the essence of a blooming garden. Crafted with utmost care, this candle is made with 100% organic soy wax and a natural hemp wick dipped in beeswax, ensuring a clean and eco-friendly burn. To further enhance its visual appeal, the candle is beautifully dyed a vivid, bright orange, reminiscent of a radiant sunrise. With its intoxicating fragrance and stunning design, this carnation-scented candle is the perfect addition to any candle lover’s collection.

This scent is loved so much that carnation-scented shower gel and body lotion have been added to the List of Things to Make Soon. 

Oh, Sweet Vanilla Candles are finished, crafted with a deliciously subtle fragrance oil called “Warm Vanilla Sugar,” by VineVida. These candles are presented in adorable little frosted amber glass jars with bamboo lids. No color was added to the wax, and the wicks are, of course, natural hemp dipped in beeswax. Soon, the labels designed on Zazzle will arrive, which features an elegant Shutterstock image of vanilla beans and flowers. You’ll see in a few days, they are such cute, sweet smelling candles. These cozy candles will come in handy in the fall, when the air carries a crisp chill and you can smell your neighbor’s fireplace. Then you’ll know it’s time to bring out the Sweet Vanilla scented candles for maximum hygge vibrations. 

carnation organic scented candlecarnation scented organic luxury candle

Good Things to Come

Aside from carnation scented shower gel and body lotion, look for more molded candles. Production of of cutesy-corny, animal-shaped candles continues at a glacial pace. When there are enough little critters ready, it will be time to open “The Wax Menagerie.” (Original, I know.) Imagine pink elephants scented with cotton candy fragrance oil, lemongrass frogs, chocolate owls, and bright yellow rubber duckie candles scented with something tutti-fruity. The list goes on, I just can stop with the tchotchkes.

Below are some molded candles made with American Soy Organic’s Freedom Pillar Wax, scented with Green Tea fragrance oil and dyed a bright, mint green. 

We have a new pillar mold with the texture of tufted leather, which is so detailed, there are even little pleats around the tufting tacks. I made a practice candle scented with Limoncello, that came out perfect. Let’s hope the shop’s photographer’s skills are up to the task to capture the intricate detail of this candle! Coconut Latte tufted leather pillars will debut in a few days, concurrent with the Sweet Vanilla candles.

Teasing the next decoupage tins again. No deadline has been set for their production, no scent has been settled on but when the mood strikes, it will no doubt be glorious, If you have any suggestions as to how to scent these candles, leave a comment below. We’d love to hear from you.

Speaking of decoupaged candle tins, the Limoncello decoupaged tins turned out very nice, if I do say so myself.

Tuberose

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Tuberose

Scents & Scent’s Ability – Tuberose

A rose is a rose, unless it’s a tuberose, then it’s not. Today, we launch our new scented candles, tealights and natural body butter perfumed with the voluptuous aroma of tuberose. Despite it’s name, tuberose is not related to the rose; it is an agave, a succulent cactus in disguise, a botanical chameleon that captivates the senses. Tuberose (pronounced “tuber-ose”) derives its name from the bulb-like stem that grows beneath the earth, like a secret hidden from the sun. Agave amica, the Latin name for this plant, grows three to four feet high, and in the summer, produces clusters of blooms that open at night, calling to the moon and seducing the stars.

Known to the Aztecs as “omixochitl,” the tuberose, with its waxy, white blossoms, was a flower of the gods, a symbol of the divine. Tuberose was a revered blossom, used in ceremonies and rituals, adorning crowns, worn as garlands, and offered to the gods themselves. By the time the Europeans arrived, they recognized the beauty of the flower’s fragrance, and were captivated by its charms. They brought the plant back to Europe, where it quickly became a favorite among perfumers.

According to legend, King Louis XIV bathed only three times in his life due to his (and others’) belief that bathing spreads disease. During the time of King Louis’ reign, Versailles was a place of great beauty and luxury, but also of great stink. The palace was a maze of chambers, each with its own unique bouquet of foulness. The lack of proper plumbing and the infrequent bathing habits of its residents did little to improve the situation. Amidst the stink, olfactory hope lie within the perfume of flowers. Louis XIV, engulfed the palace grounds in tuberoses and other flowers, with the expectation that they would overpower the stench with their creamy, rich aroma. King Louis XIV was nick-named (among other things), as the sweetest smelling king of all.

The cultivation of the tuberose subsequently spread all over the world, where it thrives in warm climates, in India and Pakistan, as well as other parts of the globe, and is cherished for it’s fragrance and decorative blossoms. Today, the tuberose is only cultivated and no longer grows wild.

Tuberoses are cultivated by planting their bulbs in well-drained soil, ideally in a location that basks in the golden rays of the sun for about 6-8 hours during the day. The bulbs are typically planted in early spring, after the last frost has kissed the earth goodbye, but in cooler climates, they can be coaxed to life indoors, like a secret kept from the world, and then transferred outside once the night temperature is warm enough. During the growing season, they are pampered every four to six weeks with nutrients, or by mixing well-rotted compost or manure with the soil at planting time, like a feast for their roots.

The plant produces clusters of white or pastel blooms on long spikes, like a bouquet of desire, which are used for cut flowers, making garlands, and extracting essential oil which is the essence of temptation itself. While the typical tuberose flowers are white, they also grow in various pastel shades of pink, yellow and other hues. Tuberose is one of the most costly essential and/or absolute oils to manufacture, requiring almost 2000 pounds of the flower’s blossom to produce just a half pound of essential oil.

The process of making essential oil from tuberose flowers is like a delicate dance between the flower and the alchemist’s hands. It started by gathering the flowers, which are then placed on a bed of odorless oil, such as coconut or palm oil. This is known as the enfleurage method, where the oil slowly absorbs the essence of the tuberose over several days, leaving behind the pure, unadulterated essence of tuberose. This method was used to extract the flowers’ essence until around the 1930s, when new methods of extracting were introduced using volatile solvents, resulting in a higher yield and a more economical process.

“The tuberose, with her silvery light, that in the gardens of Malay is called the mistress of the night. So, like a bride scented and bright, she comes out when the sun’s away.” – Thomas Moore

Tuberose, with its green, fruity, and nutty undertones, is also known as the “carnal flower” due to its provocative scent profile. Tuberose has been described as having a sensual, animal aspect that evokes warmth and sensuality. Its essential oil is said to have aphrodisiac qualities as well. The flower has long been a favorite staple in perfumery. Master perfumer Roja Dove has called it the “harlot of perfumery,” given its sensual, pleasure-seeking scent. Some notable perfumes that feature tuberose include Poison by Dior, Gabrielle Essence by Chanel, and Fracas, by Robert Piguet.

In aromatherapy, the tuberose is said to promote confidence, self-assertiveness, and has aphrodisiac qualities that can ignite a lackadaisical libido. It has been used to calm nerves, quell anger or depression, and imbue joy, peace, and harmony. Therapeutic qualities include the ability to stave off nausea and treat spasmodic coughs, muscle tension and nasal congestion.

Because of the flower’s anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties, tuberose also helps treat skin problems such as dry, irritated skin and acne. Other benefits tuberose offers to the skin is that it smooths fine lines and wrinkles, and keeps skin hydrated. It’s also great for cracked heels and other issues associated with dry skin.

And the jessamine faint, and the sweet tuberose, The sweetest flower for scent that blows. – Percy Bysshe Shelley

We craft our tuberose candles and tea lights with 100% organic soy wax, and perfume them with premium-grade fragrance oil. For this batch, we used a vivid pink to color the wax. They are poured into matte black jars with a glossy interior, topped with a black lid, like a secret, hidden treasure waiting to be discovered. These candles have a strong “scent throw,” even when not lit, like the tuberose herself, whispering a siren’s call of promises of pleasure and desire.

The Angelina Store is currently offering a natural, luxury tuberose body butter, an emulsified lotion which contains 100% pure tuberose essential oil. We make our emulsified body butter with organic mango butter and coconut oil, adding vitamin E and borage oils for additional hydrating power.

The tuberose is a flower of great beauty and great power, the queen of the senses. Be sure to check out our scented candles, tealights and natural body butter perfumed with the voluptuous aroma of tuberose, and let let the perfume take you to the edge of ecstasy.

Tubersoe Scented Organic Candle and Natural Body Butter

Summer Rain

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Summer Rain

New In Store

Greetings from Seattle, where people are currently celebrating the close of “Junuary.” The big robe-like sweaters, “Sherpa” throws, and fuzzy socks have not yet been put away for the season. This is not surprising because everyone who lives in the Pacific Northwet (intentional typo!) knows that summer doesn’t start until the 4th of July. Mumzy is fond of of saying: The coldest winter I ever spent was summer in Seattle.

The featured photo for this post is internet personality Gobbles, @realphatsynth on X, with a couple of candles made especially for her: a hexagonal bubble pillar and a cat, both colored a silvery gray and scented with rose, fabulous frankincense, herbacious geranium and myrrh. The full picture is shown below; unfortunately, I had to crop out her fashionable boots in order to use as a featured photo.

We are pleased to announce that the Pacific Northwest themed candles are finally finished! The series is a tribute to the natural surroundings around Washington’s west coast and Olympic Peninsula. Seattle’s legendary precipitation is also honored with a candle as well.

Salish Sea candle is made with a base fragrance oil called “Ocean Breeze,” with the addition of notes of sea salt, kelp and conifer. It is poured into a deluxe blue jar with a mirrored interior which enhances the flicker of the candle flame, and is dyed a gorgeous royal-blue. The jar holds approximately 8.5 ounces of wax, and is topped with a bamboo lid. The photo on the label of the Salish Sea candle was taken at Klaloch Beach #3.

The Queets River candle was made with a base fragrance of “Fog and Fern,” with the addition of an earthy accord comprised of vetiver and sweet, sweet labdanum. Woody cedar and a dash of distinct petrichor adding layers of both water and earth truly makes this candle smell as though you are standing on the bank of a river in a rain forest. It is poured into the same deluxe jar as the Salish Sea candle, but in green, with a black lid. A photo of the Queets River decorates the label.

Lake Quinault candle’s scent blend contains notes of moss, fern, conifer, earth and sweet floral notes. Half of this batch was poured into the deluxe blue jars described above, and the other half in the green jars topped with gold lids. The label features a photo taken while camping on the shore of Lake Quinault. The candles are colored a bright, light blue to mirror the bluest-blue sky on the label.

Finally, the Summer Rain candle. This is a larger candle than the others in this series, and holds 10 ounces of wax. The jar is heavy, rounded toward the bottom and has an opalescent, or “holographic,” sheen to it that causes the glass to change color, depending on light and surroundings. The wax has no dye and is presented au naturale. The scent has all the wet, green wonderful notes one would expect from a rain-scented candle, including bergamot & jasmine, with the addition of sea salt and conifer to capture the greenery that surrounds the city & the salt in the air.

Oscar t-shirts have made their debut recently, below they are modeled by the very charming primo, Oscar, and the equally adorable tio, Tony. It would be great to have the product gallery for these t-shirts filled with wonderful people wearing the Oscar t-shirt. 

The Wax Menagerie

At first, little animal molds seemed too cutesy & silly to bother with, but alas, there will always be suckers for tchotchkes. You may have already seen the cat candle in our Molded Candles section, now there are three more cats, considerably smaller, and they are totally adorbz & will be sold in sets of three. Other new candle molds recently obtained include an elephant, frog and rubber duckie. Owls and bunnies next, please don’t judge.

It can be extremely satisfying to unmold a candle, especially when they don’t crack, break or have some unexpected flaw. Among many lessons learned is that wearing gloves helps prevents fingernails from gouging the wax during the unmolding process. It’s not difficult, but does take a lot of care to unmold a candle without damaging it. Here are a few videos taken very unprofessionally, but lovingly, of a few candles being unmolded. Special thanks to Shmoop, the videographer.

What’s Coming

Limoncello tins are almost ready to fill. The lids have been sealed, but the tins themselves have yet to undergo a coat of sealant. The Limoncello tin project was side-tracked by an unexpected inspiration in the form of tuberose, a scent we suddenly adore even more than osmanthus, until the next flower steals our heart. Currently in progress is an article about tuberoses, also known as the “carnal flower,” which will be the next entry in the “Scents & Scent’s Ability” series. Yesterday, a batch of tuberose candles was poured using a tuberose fragrance oil, and The Angelina Store was absolutely immersed in the sweet yet powerful, white floral aroma with a tropical flair.

As a companion to the tuberose candles, a luxurious, all natural, emulsified body butter using 100% pure tuberose essential oil, organic mango butter and other natural ingredients, will be on offer in the store. The tuberose essential oil does not have the same powerful aroma as the fragrance oil, and is an extremely lovely scent. Tuberose essential oil has some surprising benefits as an aromatherapeutic, but you’ll have to wait until the article is finished to find out what those are!

Below is a sneak peak of the next decoupaged candle tin project, still wondering what type of scent to use. Your ideas would be welcome! The design lends itself to florals. Any ideas what type of scent or scent blend to use for these? If so, leave a comment below.

*GOBBLES*

Continue reading “Summer Rain”

Chamomile

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Chamomile

Scents & Scent’s Ability – Chamomile

Chamomile (or camomile) comes from the Greek word khamaimelon which is derived from “kamai” (earth, or on the ground) and “melon” (apple), due to it’s sweet, fruity aroma. Chamomile is the common name for flowers in the asteraceae family, wich includes well over 3,000 species of flowering plants. The two types of chamomile with which are most familiar to us are matricaria chamomilla (German chamomile) and chamaemelum nobile (Roman chamomile).

Chamomile has been used for thousands of years as a medicine treating a variety of illnesses, was widely used in cosmetics and perfumes and in religious rituals and ceremonies in ancient Greece and Rome, where chamomile was thought to have magic, as well as medicinal, qualities.

In Egypt, chamomile was considered a gift from the Sun God, Ra. The Egyptians included chamomile oil in their embalming practices, but the precious chamomile oil was reserved only for use on Pharaohs. In order to make chamomile oil, the ancient Egyptians used a process in which the plant was infused or pulped into animal or vegetable fat, creating a fragrant oil.

Today, chamomile essential oil is derived from a steam distillation process and continues to be used for medicinal purposes, in cosmetics and perfumes, and aromatherapy.

Chamomile in Skin Care

Chamomile is known for use on dry, sensitive skin. Chamomile is an anti-inflammatory and is used to sooth sunburn, dry skin, and can help eczema, hyper-pigmentation and dehydrated skin. It’s also an anti-microbial and can ward off bacteria and viruses. Finally, chamomile contains anti-oxidants that promote skin cell regeneration, tighten pores and slow down the effects of age on the skin.

At The Angelina Store, 100% pure Roman chamomile essential oil is used in our line of chamomile skin care products, designed especially for sensitive skin, which includes Chamomile Gentle Daily Cleanser, Chamomile Moisturizer, and Chamomile Hydrating Serum. In the near future, look for our Chamomile Hydrating Sheet Masks.

Aromatherapeutic Benefits of Chamomile

Chamomile essential oil is renowned for its relaxing, calming qualities. It can be used in a diffuser, in a spray (let us know if you would like us to craft a chamomile room spray for you), or diluted with a carrier oil and applied topically to reduce stress and anxiety, and lull one to sleep for a night of sweetly perfumed dreams.

Our Chamomile scented candles are made with chamomile fragrance oil, which does not have the same direct benefits as essential oil. Chamomile essential oil is at a price point that makes using them in candles cost-prohibitive to make or to buy. People love scented candles because they smell amazing, and fragrance oils tend to be stronger, and last longer. Chamomile fragrance oil smells fresh and gorgeous, with a very strong note of “earth apple.” While it may not have the direct benefits of pure essential oil, it definitely lifts the mood with it’s sweet perfume, and is very relaxing.

chamomile luxury scented organic candle

Benefits of Drinking Chamomile Tea

Chamomile herbal infusions have been used to treat a host of ailments including nervousness and anxiety, and also used as a soporific, due to anti-oxidants may benefit heart health, eases menstrual discomfort, inflammation and even helps regulate blood sugar.

Down the road, we plan to include organic tisanes – dried herbal blends for infusions – in our product line, and chamomile is definitely going to be on offer. We will have other blends as well, such as my favorite, oregano and mint tisane, which is delicious hot or on ice. We’ve also designed beautiful mugs with a chamomile and butterfly theme to launch with the tisanes this autumn.

Bespoke skin care and aromatherapy products are our specialty, using natural, organic ingredients. Even if we do not (yet) offer something on our website that you would love to try, for example – chamomile infused shower gel, body butter, room spray, essential oil scent roller, or hand soap, drop us a line at [email protected] and let us know how we can make your chamomile dreams come true.

                            Chamomile, aromatherapy, natural skin care, organic solutions for dry, sensitive skin.Chamomile, aromatherapy, natural skin care, organic solutions for dry, sensitive skin.Chamomile, aromatherapy, natural skin care, organic solutions for dry, sensitive skin.

Camomile Tea
By Katherine Mansfield

Outside the sky is light with stars;
There’s a hollow roaring from the sea.
And, alas! for the little almond flowers,
The wind is shaking the almond tree.

How little I thought, a year ago,
In the horrible cottage upon the Lee
That he and I should be sitting so
And sipping a cup of camomile tea.

Light as feathers the witches fly,
The horn of the moon is plain to see;
By a firefly under a jonquil flower
A goblin toasts a bumble-bee.

We might be fifty, we might be five,
So snug, so compact, so wise are we!
Under the kitchen-table leg
My knee is pressing against his knee.

Our shutters are shut, the fire is low,
The tap is dripping peacefully;
The saucepan shadows on the wall
Are black and round and plain to see.