Little Green's CBD : Unwind Candle

As we kick off the new year, finding new ways to improve our hectic lifestyle and reduce stress, we're making a priority. Here at The Amazing Blog, it is no secret that we are huge fans of CBD, as it helps relax our minds and improve our focus. Regular readers will know we’re also big fans of scented candles, so when we received the UNWIND Candle by CBD wellness brand Little Green's CBD, we knew we were in for a treat.  

Little Green's CBD was founded by former personal trainer and model, Sasha Green. Having worked for over ten years in these professions, he noticed the stressful impact they were having on both his body and mind. Sasha started using CBD products on his journey to find a holistic way to help deal with stress, sleep, and recovery, but his experience was not exactly what he was hoping for. With his research and difficulty to find top-quality CBD products that also offered full transparency, it inspired him into creating his own brand, Little Green's CBD. Sasha explained, "Little Green's CBD was created with the main focus on being high quality, and where each product had a specific purpose." The brand has a range of CBD products that include candles, oils and a balm, where each is aimed at targeting a specific need. The candles have been developed to promote a sense of calm and help de-stress, the oils, one for the day to combat stress and anxiety, and the other to be taken at night to improve sleep patterns, and the balm to relieve pain and revitalise overworked bodies. Both the candles and oils are made from the broad-spectrum distillate, which is THC-free and uses the whole plant to retain the full-plant synergy. Sasha himself has benefited from using the products and commented, "These CBD products have helped me immensely and have become an integral part of my self-care routine." The emphasis here is on the importance of full transparency, as they work with a certified government supplier, and all their products are developed and tested in the UK. The brand also conducts thorough in-house testing at its factory and sends all products to a third-party lab for further testing. They also work closely with hemp plant farmers who avoid using pesticides, which means the CBD will be additive-free, with a more natural and sustainable growing approach. The company works towards safeguarding the environment by using a more eco-friendly extraction method, and through their partnership with One Tree Planted This charity aims to help with global reforestation, they plant a tree for each product sold. We were also happy to hear all their products are made from natural ingredients and are vegan-friendly and cruelty-free.  

The UNWIND Candle is made from 100% eco soy wax and is infused with CBD to soothe the mind and body. Soy wax, derived from soybeans, known to be an excellent carrier oil. As a natural and renewable resource, soy wax is biodegradable and has a lower melting point than other waxes commonly used for candle-making. This difference means that soy wax candles will burn cleaner and longer, and emit less black soot than other candle composites. This candle uses a natural hand-made cotton wick, which also means it burns longer and emits less smoke. The infusion of 1500mg of broad-spectrum distillate allows the candle to harness the soothing and healing plant powers of CBD. When this candle is lit, and the fragrance fills its surroundings, the CBD here offers benefits such as boosting mood and promoting a sense of relaxation and relieving insomnia. The candle also includes a blend of essential oils with holistic and aromatherapeutic properties combining tobacco absolute, lemon, mint and jasmine – which create a warm and comforting oaky scent. The tobacco fosters an enriching and energising aroma which has been proven effective in relieving symptoms such as mild depression. The zesty lemon oil fights fatigue and listlessness, and the refreshing peppermint has uplifting qualities with compounds that promote muscles relaxation. As for jasmine essential oil, it's believed to relax the nervous system while also improving mood and wellbeing. For those looking for new ways to integrate CBD into their lives, this candle is perfect, as the CBD is not ingested, so the effects are more gradual as the candle disperses its scent into the atmosphere. Let us explain; as this CBD infused candle burns, the uplifting aroma from the CBD and essential oils stimulates the cell receptors, transmitting tranquil messages throughout the nervous and limbic system (the part of the brain that regulates emotion). Burning a candle is a great way to unwind and promote a feeling of calm and serenity, so adding CBD into the mix only further enhances these positive effects.

By lighting a candle, it offers a soothing and intimate ambience, which is precisely what we all need to start this New Year by feeling calmer and stronger. This CBD infused candle's burn time is around 30-35 hours, but we suggest trimming the candle wick around ¼ of an inch to make it last longer. Remember that you should only snip the wick when it is completely cool and always clean off any smut or remnants. This hand-poured 20cl UNWIND Candle (with 1500mg CBD) is available for purchase directly from Little Green's CBD website here are now on offer at £29.  

Smiths Scents: Green Tomato Leaf Candle, and Copper Wick Trimmer

There’s nothing quite like a candle to help create a very special ambience. At The Amazing Blog , we think that there’s nothing better than creating  harmonious surroundings with a beautiful and fragrantly rich candle. Candles have long been one of the most preferred ways of setting a mood, and we’re here to carry that legacy forward. Today we’re  introducing you to two of our #amazingfinds from Smiths Scents: The Green Tomato Leaf Candle with the  Copper Wick Trimmer. 

Smiths Scents  is a brand based in Somerset, with its roots originating back to 2013, founded by husband and wife duo Robert and Hayley Smith. With their beginnings as a candle-making as a hobby in their kitchen and inspired by their wedding preparations, Smiths Scents has since flourished into a business that they officially launched in 2018. Throughout the years, they’ve maintained their passion for making inviting and warm fragrances, and every candle is carefully hand-poured, made of cruelty-free ingredients and dispatched from their home, even to this day. The Smiths love flowers and herbs, and it’s evident in their products.  Their fragrances feature unusual combinations of floral and herbal oil which include candles such as Bay & Blackberry, Carrot Blossom & Fennel, and Cardamon & Mimosa, to name just a few. In fact, their passion for natural ingredients and materials doesn’t end there. Smiths Scents makes their candles with 100% soy wax and their diffusers with soy-based oil too. In addition, Smiths Scents pride themselves on being as sustainable, selling candles and diffusers in recyclable and vegan containers and only using packaging materials that are biodegradable or recyclable. 

We requested to try out their Green Tomato Leaf Candle. Described on their website as a “fresh and leafy uplifting fragrance that makes you reminiscent of a summer greenhouse,” it’s a perfect scent to accompany these warm summer days. The top notes of the candle are cucumber and tomato, the heart notes are basil, and the base notes of oregano and thyme tie the candle together to create a cohesive and uplifting fragrance. As we mentioned above, Smiths Scents makes all their candles using soy wax and essential oils. As a natural and renewable resource, soy wax is biodegradable and has a lower melting point than other waxes commonly used for candle-making. This difference means that soy wax candles will burn longer and last longer; they also burn cleaner and emit less black soot than other candle types. Because the candles include essential oils rather than artificial scents, you also reap the holistic and aromatherapeutic benefits as these candles burn, such as stress relief, relaxation, or a brightened mood, depending on which scents you pick. 

If you burn a candle you need a wick trimmer!  Smiths Scents kindly send us their Copper Wick Trimmer. With wick clippers on one end and elongated holders on the other, the Copper Wick Trimmer provides easy and no-mess access to the wick even after your candle has burned deep into its jar. Trimming candle wicks is an essential part of candle maintenance that improves the longevity and appearance of the candles. Untrimmed and long wicks can cause candle flames to take on a dull appearance, give off more black soot, and produce a larger flame that burns through your candles at a faster rate. By trimming your candle wicks, flames burn clearer and brighter with less unsightly soot, and help to burn candles at a slower pace, making them last longer. Top tip: It's safest to wait until your candle has completely cooled off to room temperature before you trim the wicks, and we actually like to trim our candle wicks each time before we light them. We recommend cutting wicks to about ¼ of an inch, and any debris that falls from the wick should be cleaned up before lighting the candle to keep your home safe. 

Through their shop Smiths Scents they offer a wide array of fragrances available both in candle and diffusers. If you’d like to experience the 220g Green Tomato Leaf Candle for yourself, it’s available to purchase here for a very reasonably priced £13.95 (if you select packaging with a copper lid). Or for £11.95 if you select packaging without a lid. Best of all, the burning time on this candle is 35-40 hours. The Copper Wick Trimmer is also available here for £8.00.

Afterglow Candles: We Create

At  The Amazing Blog  we’re huge fans of scented candles. We love the ambience they give, and when lighting a solo candle under the stars, it always adds to mystical evening glow. Now that alfresco dining has finally arrived we wanted to try this wild fig and blackcurrant candle We Create from Afterglow Candles and it didn’t disappoint.

Afterglow Candles are a UK luxury black-owned and eco-friendly home brand founded by Alex Bertie and her partner and co-founder Darrell. Alex is a doctor, and Darrell is a barber. The idea came when they were gifted a simple candle making kit and where they soon got creative. Since then, they have built up the business finally launching Afterglow in September 2020. Their mission is to provide luxury candles that are affordable and safe for the environment. Alex said: "Afterglow has been a labour of love and a steep learning curve, which has completely exceeded our expectations. We've met some great people along the way and can't wait to see what the future holds!" These artisan, hand-poured, and unisex candles are made in East London; the designs are simple, chic and minimalist made to suit every gender, age and social group. Where the stylised monochrome designs express luxury and affordability all at the same time. Afterglow candles are eco-friendly, with waxes that are 100% vegan, cruelty-free and non-toxic. The metal tin cases, that house the candles, are all made from recycled sources and can also be recycled and reused – we think it would make a great pen holder! Most of the ingredients are sourced from the UK in order to support local businesses and reduce the carbon footprint. Finally, Alex and Darrell wanted to have a charitable element in their business. So, they donate £1 from every sale to charities supporting adults and children living with sickle cell disease, as Darrell suffers from the disease. And in the forthcoming months, Afterglow Candles is also working with a charity called Crescent Kids  who provide support services to children and families impacted by Sickle Cell and Thalassemia.

We chose the 'We Create' a wild fig and blackcurrant candle from the Empowerment Collection. As mentioned above, all the candles come in a metal tin, together with unbleached cotton and linen wicks. Their range of candles are made using a blend of natural coconut and soy wax with high-quality essential oils and fragrances. Both waxes are a great alternative to paraffin as they are more sustainable and don’t have any nasty fumes or black smoke when burnt. Coconut wax is harvested from coconut crops that are sustainable and high in yield. It is also a great diffuser of scents and has a low impact on the environment, whereas the soy wax here is made from soybeans which are renewable and biodegradable, and helps to provide a clean burn. The fragrance combination in We Create has the top notes of cassis (blackcurrant), raspberry and sweet cherry. The heart notes are raspberry leaf and fig, and the base notes are sandalwood and cedarwood. This is uplifting and refreshing; we’d even go as far as to say inspirational, where it brings together all these summer fruits which, when lit, linger beautifully in the evening air… We think it’s one to burn to when you want to make the most of these balmy summer evenings. Also thanks to coconut and soy wax, the candle can burn for approximately 40 hours making it very cost-effective. Afterglow Candles offers nine different scented candles and a few accessories like bags, a wick trimmer and snuffer and even a USB lighter. By the way, for each candle you buy, you'll get a mini tin opener plus £1 will be donated to their appointed charity, You can buy the 250ml 'We Create' candle here for £22.