Green Calm Candle

Green Calm

Rose geranium and petitgrain up front, neroli and bergamot underneath, sandalwood holding it all down. Green and floral to begin with, soft and grounded as it settles. Made for the end of the day rather than the start of one.

Why essential oils

Most scented candles use fragrance oils, because they're cheaper, they throw harder and they hold their scent for years. Essential oils are none of those things. They cost more, they behave differently in wax, and getting a blend to smell as good at the end of the burn as it does cold takes a long time to get right. I use them anyway, because I want the scent doing more than smelling nice.

Scent reaches the limbic system, the part of the brain tied up with emotion and memory, before you've consciously worked out what you're smelling. I've written about why that happens here. It's also why I layer several oils into each blend rather than building around one or two notes.

Natural waxes like coconut and rapeseed need a little care in the first few burns, and it's well worth it.

Each time you light it, let it burn for 3 to 4 hours, and keep doing this until the candle is about halfway down. Candles remember their early burns, so giving each one its full time is what stops tunnelling and means far less wax left behind on the sides.

Don't worry if the melted wax doesn't reach the edge of the glass straight away. It usually takes until the third or fourth burn, and that's completely normal. A thin ring of wax around the edge is normal too with natural waxes. Keep giving each burn its full time and it will level out as the candle burns down, especially once it's past the halfway point.

Getting these early burns right gives you more burn hours from your candle and an even burn as it goes down, so the glass doesn't overheat in the last third.

Before each burn, check the wick and trim it to about 5mm if it needs it. The wicks are self-trimming, so you may not need to, but it's always good practice. Never burn for more than 4 hours at a time.

When it's finished

The glass is worth keeping. Score a grid across the leftover wax with a knife, then lever it out from the edge and it comes away in pieces. Wash in hot soapy water and it's yours for whatever you want to put in it.

Never leave a burning candle unattended, and keep it away from children, pets, draughts and anything that could catch fire.

Always burn it on a stable, heat-resistant surface, and don't touch or move it while it's lit or while the wax is still liquid, as the glass can get hot. Keep the wax pool free of matches and debris.

Stop burning when there's about 1cm of wax left in the bottom.

Allergens

Essential oils contain naturally occurring allergens, and this candle declares linalool and linalyl acetate, with citronellol, geraniol, limonene and santalols also present. If you know you react to any of those, this one may not suit you. Here's exactly how I handle allergens and why I keep levels low.

Warning: May cause an allergic skin reaction. Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects. Contains linalool and linalyl acetate.

Full safety and CLP information is printed on the base of every candle.

The packaging

Each candle is poured into an amber glass jar, wrapped in Japanese rice paper, sealed with a wax stamp and packed in a kraft box.

The wax

It's a blend of coconut and rapeseed wax with a cotton wick, scented only with pure essential oils.

When it's finished

The glass is worth keeping. Once you've cleared out the last of the wax, reuse it, or recycle it at home in most areas.

How your order arrives

Online orders are packed in a cardboard box, stamped by hand with our own ink stamp, with shredded card to keep everything safe (we chose it over cheaper plastic fillers) and a layer of tissue paper.