Keltic Candles

from GNI MAG ISSUE 64 - AUTUMN 2024

DANNY

www.kelticandles.co.uk

A luxury soy wax candle maker from Belfast, their clean-burning soy wax candles do not contain paraffin wax or harsh wicks, making them suitable for asthmatics and eco-aware individuals. They carefully select fragrances from the best sources worldwide to create their range of products. Established in 2008 their scents are inspired by nature, providing full sensory experiences. They create each candle with the utmost care, from wicking to pouring and labelling. They have a stall at St. Georges Market if you don’t want to buy nose blind off their website.

Our thoughts: The trio of candles we sampled were each so different a large glass jar with “Dark honey and Tobacco,” a stylish tin with “Black Pepper,” and “Irish Autumn” in a gift box. 3 very different fragrances but all autumn scents in their own right. The hands-down winner was the Black Pepper tinned candle which reminds us of a big fragrance brand with the initials MB, with a pretty decent scent projection once it had been lit for a while. We have to give a special mention to their “Rhubarb and Black Plum” wax melt bars perfect for your wax warmer if you aren’t keen on having flames.

Scores on the doors:

Packaging: 4/5

Scent Combination: 5/5

Scent Projection: 3/5

Overall: 12/15

The Handmade Soap Company

Candles start from £10 www.thehandmadesoapcompany.co.uk

Their big mission is to make the world a better place by looking after their people, their growing tribe, and our planet. They create handmade products that are kind to your skin and the environment, using 100% Post-Consumer Recycled materials for their bottles, FSCapproved sustainable cardboard for their boxes, and maintaining an ethical sourcing policy with their suppliers. Their brand culture is rooted in natural skincare, transparency, and sustainability. They are dedicated to creating beautiful and sustainable products that you can enjoy in your home which are available from their website or selected Avoca stores.

Paulines Thoughts: I really loved the packaging for both candles that we were sent and the scent combinations are a perfect blend, “Coriander Seed, geranium and Vetiver,” and the cutest Christmas cracker mini candle “Cinnamon, Clove, nutmeg and pine.” Out of the two I was automatically drawn to the Christmas cracker and its festive fragrance, the pattern on the glass really does make it look so expensive. The scent projection with the Christmas Cracker was stronger than the Coriander candle and would be my favourite out of the two It is something I would definitely purchase for friends and family.

Scores on the doors:

Packaging: 5/5

Scent Combination: 5/5

Scent Projection: 3/5

Overall: 13/15

Prometheus Unbound

Candles cost £32 www.prometheus-unbound.co.uk

Their candles are inspired by the Greek mythology of Prometheus, the god of fire and wit. Hand-poured using a coconut and rapeseed natural wax blend, these bookish candles offer a clean burn and luxurious fragrances. The vegan-friendly and cruelty-free fragrance oils make the scents in their candles stronger and more luxurious.

Our thoughts: We tried three of their best-selling fragrances:

“Bookish” has rich notes of plum, pomegranate, and roses, with a base of amber, vanilla, and leather.

“Shakespeare” is a fresh, spicy fragrance with bergamot, ginger, florals, and a soft base of sandalwood and cashmeran.

“Shhh!” fills your home with coffee, cocoa, and a hint of rum.

We loved the little extra touches, like the scent information card doubling as a bookmark and the tissue paper with literature quotes. Our favourite for a cosy night had to be “The Bookish” for its rich, luxurious scent and slow, even burn. The only thing that lowered its score was the time it took to fully project its scent, but don’t let that put you off, as it is worth the wait for the projection.

Scores on the doors:

Packaging: 5/5

Scent Combination: 4/5

Scent Projection: 3/5

Overall: 12/15

Nosey

Candles Cost £15 www.shopnosy.com

“Designed to burn, not to be saved for special occasions,” With 40 hours of burn time and premium ingredients, they are top-shelf quality. NOSY uses a unique wax blend made from rapeseed and a touch of wild beeswax, rather than soy, to minimise space usage and reduce the negative environmental impact of shipping. Their wild African beeswax is responsibly sourced from the East Africa Wax Co., supporting efforts to reduce poverty and climate impact. They are passionate about creating affordable candles for everyday use.

Our thoughts: We received 4 scents from Nosy: The Musky one - rich fragrance with earthy woods and smoky myrrh.

The Snoozy one - calming blend of lavender and sweet amber.

The Calm one - bold blend of green tea, rose, and geranium.

The Cheerful one - a floral blend with geranium, jasmine, rose, and wood notes.

We loved the unique paint tin-style packaging with colourful labelling. The scents blend well with beeswax and burn evenly and at an economical rate. Gary’s favourite was the Snoozy one, which he used during a long bath, and Daniel liked the Cheerful one, which he burnt while working on this very issue.

Scores:

Packaging: 5/5

Scent Combination: 3/5

Scent Projection: 4/5

Overall: 12/15