Give Your Kitchen And Bathroom A New Appeal

Are you considering changing the tiles in your kitchen or bathroom ? Well, think no more. Brick-shaped tiles are very much in vogue at the moment . Retro ones are inspired by the type used in some London underground stations, and are ideal when thinking of a new look for a traditional home . But if that´s not your style, don´t give up on your brick-shaped dream. Stylish more modern tiles  mean that there´s something to suit everyone and at every price point .These tiles look especially attractive  surrounded by clean, contemporary  accessories. In the kitchen there are plenty of  of products  which work well with them, from a sleek chrome espresso machine, to the more basic   jars  for everyday items like bread, coffee and tea. Scented candles are also a great choice  with these type of tiles, all the more so in the kitchen or in the bathroon. A plain white brick shaped tile on the bathroom wall is the ideal backing  for a choice  of pretty coloured votice candles, especially if you decide to go for candles at the higher end of the market by brands such as yankee candles and true grace candles, to name but a few. Also in the barthroom brick shape tiles are great on the wall, where you can also fix towel rails and other storage items to keep things neat and tidy.




When you come to purchase tiles, ensure  all of them come from the same batch to avoid differences  in colour. Give them a through look over   to make sure they aren´t damaged at all  and then mix them up so any slight differences between boxes are evened out over the piece   It is worth buying  quite a few extra tiles than you actually need so that you have some surplus to take account of  mistakes, cutting and wastage. If you are loking to make your life as easy as possible  you could lay new tiles over existing ones, although this never looks quite as impressive as laying yoyur tiles on a pristine surface If you wish to avoid this, or you want to tile less or more of the walls, carefully remove the existing tiles and start from scratch. The most important thing is to make sure the are clean, dry and flat before you start the job.






If, while you are fitting the tiles, you see that some of them are a little uneven  prise them out, remove some   adhesive and replace  On the other hand, if you see that they are sunken, apply more adhesive. Another useful tip is to use coloured grout when fitting tiles near  the hob, and in other places if you live in a hard-water area, to avoid discolouration-grey grout goes well with white tiles. Cutting tiles can be problematic, especially if they are small . The best thing is to get a loan of an electric, water-cooled diamond wheel tile cutter. Measure and mark your tiles first, and always wearing goggles when cutting.





The author is owner of The Scented Candle Store which supplies a range of luxury home fragrances including scented candles by Yankee candles

Are Electric Candles A Real Alternative?

Were you aware  that old familiar   wax candles have a contemporary   alternative  - rechargeable electric candles. Fans of traditional candles  - those of us who appreciate  the perfume , the flickering  flame and the  relaxed comfortable ambiance  that scented candles give to our home - will detest  the idea of candle that works by electricity  and that will come as little surprise . There is something extremely fascinating  about the soft glow  of a candle, something that makes us feel very warm and relaxed  . Some folk  have suggested that this dates back  on a subconscious level to times gone by  when our forefathers  used candles to give them some means of getting heat and light  during cold dark winter months . Or maybe it has something to do with   remenbering childrens parties from long ago, with thoughts of blowing out the candles on a delicious cake at a birthday party  No matter the reason , we are most certainly  attracted to candles, particularly  if they are sophisticated  scented candles such as those made by companies  like true grace candles and yankee candles. Well, do electric candles have anything to offer?  Do they have any benefits ? They are made of silicone, and contain a small lamp  inside, which can be recharged by using  an electric charger. When fully charged, these electric candles can provide illumination for up to twelve hours. The lamps which are within  these candles have a flickering effect that is supposed to look like  the dim flicker of a real candle. Needless to say  these electric candles do not melt or go out if there is a gust of wind . Nonetheless , they do not provide  the advantages  of real  candles, which means that you cannot indulge yourself in the sweet smell  of your favourite fragrant  candle and you do not enjoy the same choice of colours, sizes and designs . To be blunt , they are not real candles. That said , there are occasions  when they can be very handy  - such as a form of decoration for restaurants or any other place where candles tend to be lit for a long time . In such a case  it can often  be hard  to make sure that wax candles are always available  There are also situations  where it may not be completely  safe to leave candles burning unattended for a lengthy period . Indeed this is one of the reasons why we can often find electric candles being used in churches .





The author is owner of The Scented Candle Store which supplies a range of home fragrances, including scented candles by brands like Yankee candles.

The Benefits Of The Humble Lemon

Of all the citrus fruit, lemon is probably the one that offers the most health benefits. The fruit and juice of the lemon have natural antiseptic qualities and the peel contains large amounts of essential oils which have been used for many decades in the preparation of foodstuffs, cosmetics, medicines and even scented candles. In fact did you know that many luxury brands of scented candle makers  use the essential oil of lemon to give their candles their all important fragrance ? This means that by burning these kinds of candles, as well as enjoying the lovely fragrances they have, you can partake of all the therapeutic benefits that lemons have to offer by inhaling the scented air - in effect, practising aromatherapy. When it comes to food, basically, the healing power of lemon is found in its low energy content, the perfect balance between sodium and potassium and of course, vitamin C. The lemon has such a low amount of carbohydrates that it can be used to help us to diet . Eating lemons is a good way to get vitamin C without having to consume too many calories . Lemon contains high levels of potassium and low sodium content, which is an ideal combination to combat hypertension . For those of us who have high blood pressure and should not consume salt, lemon can be used instead to give added flavour to our food . In fact, many doctors and other health professionals suggest flavouring food with a little lemon juice or with herbs - either fresh or dried - in an attempt to get away from the reliance on salt as a flavour enhancer. Aromatherapists recommend the scent of lemon oil for its soothing and invigorating qualities. Many luxury scented candles such as those made by companies like Yankee candles and True Grace candles are made with essential oil of lemon and when you light them at home you savour the benefits the oils have to offer. If you are a diabetic lemon is also good because of its low sugar content. As well as this, we are all aware that a good remedy for fever is lemon juice mixed together with warm water and honey. The same mixture can help to relieve bronchitis. Tonsilitis can be helped by gargling lemon juice (about ten teaspoonfulls of this citrus in a glass of water). The vitamin C contained in citrus fruits, if consumed regularly , will help considerably to prevent us from getting cold viruses and influenza. Athletes and people who regularly do a lot of physical exercise can recover from tiredness taking lemon juice. Lemon is also used extensively in beauty products and tips for its use abound . Here are a few. For oily skin, gently rub your face with cottonwool soaked in lemon juice and let it dry. To remove the grease, make a mask out of cornstarch, almonds and lemon juice. Spread the mask over your face and then leaving it for ten minutes before rinsing with warm water and cottonwool. To condition your hair, add some lemon juice to the water used for rinsing your hair. As a deodorant lemon juice can be applied directly onto the skin as it neutralizes body odour.





The author is owner of The Scented Candle Store which supplies a range of luxury scented candles, including brands like Yankee candles.

How To Create True To Life Scented Candles

Making your own scented candles can be a really fun hobby . Not only that but there is considerable pride to be had from making your own candles, instead of just going along to the shop to buy one. Doing it yourself means you can create a candle in the exact shape, colour and fragrance you wish , with no need to compromise. It is pretty easy to make your own scented candles. For most people this will start by investing in a scented candle kit which contains everything you need to get started. However when all is said and done the aroma is the most crucial part of any scented candle. Some kits contain man-made fragrances. The best course of action is to get natural perfumes similar to those used by luxury candle makers. In specialized outlets you can select essential oils for use in creating your own fragrant candles. There is a wide variety of sweet smelling perfumes such as lavender, sandalwood or cinammon to mention only a few. These oils, which dissolve in paraffin, are to be found in small bottles or droppers. Some of them, for instance citronella, are suitable for warding off mosquitoes or other pesky critters, which is very good for summer dinners outside. Other useful ways of adding natural fragrances to your home made scented candles are by using items such as dried flowers, herbs or dried citrus peel. If you dice these very finely they can be left to infuse in warmwax for about 40 minutes, which is sufficient time to discover that they will have infused the wax with delicate, realistic fragrance. We would then suggest that they are extracted from the wax. If you leave any solid items in the finished candle there is the possibility that they might spark when the candle is alight  or alternatively that they might burn, giving off an unacceptable quantity of soot. As well as the foregoing methods of creating aromas for your homemade candles, which are similar to the methods employed by luxury candle makers like True Grace candles and Yankee candles, there are two other shortcuts you can take, if you do not have time to make your scented candles from scratch:



You could add your chosen essential oil to the molten wax at a dose of about 3-5%. You have to mix well so that the essence is spread uniformly. You can also dip the wick into the softened wax for about 20 minutes. This results in the perfume being emitted more quickly - in fact just as soon as the wick is lit, though the scent is not long lasting.



For the speediest technique of introducing fragrance in your candles all you need to do is light the wick and wait for the top layer of wax to become liquid. Then all that's necessary is to place a few drops of oil around the lighted wick. Although this will give you a very pungent initial aroma  it doesn't last that long because the ouil is not mixed throughout the candle.






The author is owner of The Scented Candle Store which specialises in home fragrances including scented candles by brands such as Yankee candles

Getting The Best Scented Candles

Fragrant candles are available in a veritable array of different styles,


colours and fragrances nowadays , so there should never be a time when you cannot find something that meets your needs. Candles are to be found in a range of scents including the familiar , such as rose or cinnamon, or perhaps even


something a bit more off the wall such as orange blossom. Then there are the truly


wild and wacky aromas made by some luxury scented candle makers - such as


companies like True Grace and Yankee candles to name but two


- for instance, Asian Pear Bellini. In the extremely unlikely event,


however,that you are still having a problem exactly what you want in terms of scented


candles then there is one further choice available - you could make your own!


Making scented candles is an extremely popular hobby these days and many people spend


hours each week carefully making fragrant candles to their exact requirements,


and then enjoying them at their leisure at home . Essentially there are three methods of creating   your own scented andles and none of them are difficult to do . You might want to purchase a scented candle making kit, which will contain just about everything you need to get started . All you then need to do is to


select the fragrance , design and colour you want, follow the instructions and very


soon you will have your first individually designed scented vandle. Alternatively, if you


already have some scented


candles around the home you will already know that you should never burn them


right down. It is recommended that you stop burning jar candles when there is about a quarter of an inch of wax remaining. You will always be left with wax which remains in the bottom of the jar . Save up a few of


these used candles - in the same fragrance, of course - and then mix this together so that you have enough to create a new candle. Melt the wax, pour


it in your chosen container and there you have it. The beauty with this


method is that if you   are using leftover wax from expensive candles ,


your own home made version will share the same quality of wax and essential


fragrance oils as the original, which means that while it may not look quite as


refined as the candles you originally bought, the quality should be reasonably


comparable.  Just imagine, your own handmade candles with the same lovely fragrance as candles by Yankee candles or True Grace candles. The final way in which you can make your own candles is to go to a craft


shop and buy all the necessary bits and pieces separately. You can pick from a large array of waxes such as paraffin wax or beeswax, as well


as a full range of colours and fragrancing oils or extracts. This is probably


the most complicated way of making your own candles but it does allow you the


greatest choice. You will be able to come up with a candle which is truly unique


and your own.





The author is owner of the Scented Candle Store which supplies a range of home fragrances including scented candles by makes such as Yankee candles

There Is More To Wax Than Making Scented Candles

Marble is a very good looking and important stone and one that is just as appropriate for use in the home as in the commercial environment. If you want your marble to last as long as some of those ancient statues you will need to keep it clean. The first thing you should learn about this rock


is that it is very porous, meaning that it is susceptible to dirt and stains easily. That  said, it is ordinarliy quite straightforward to remove stains from marble as long as you attend to them a soon as possible. The usual technique of cleaning marble


is very easy. Simply clean the surface using a sponge or


cloth which you have first of all saturated with water and a mild detergent. Obviously, if the stains


are a bit more difficult to get rid of, you will have follow a different method of cleaning. If the


marble has gone a bit yellowish, then you should gently scrub the


surface using a soft brush soaked in water and vinegar. Likewise, rust


marks on a marble floor can be removed using water and lemon juice mixed


together. If you try anything acidic in an effort to to get rid of a stain, you


must rememberthat they are corrosive on stone and, therefore you will require to take sensible precautions. Otherwise, the stone can suffer irreparable damage.


To prevent harm to the surface, rub it gentle with the solution for a few


minutes and then remove it totally with soap and water. If this does not get rid of the stains, repeat the procedure but don't leave the solution


on the surface for more than a couple of minutes. As marble is very


porous, it absorbs any liquid very quickly and that's why it's a good


idea to apply a layer of wax to the surface. Now, this is a different type of wax altogether from the waxes that businesses like true grace candles and yankee candles use to make their scented candles.


The wax helps to cover the pores and the surface becomes smoother so that cleaning becomes an easiet task. However, once you have repeated this procedure a few times, the marble can end up looking yellowish. Should this occur you should remove all the wax using a product suitable for this


task. After removing the wax, give the marble a good clean with soapy water and then


apply a new fresh layer of wax if you wish. Marble will keep looking its best if you follow some simple advice. You should always


clean marble surfaces using a sponge soaked in soapy water. After


washing make sure you rinse the surface thoroughly to get rid of any soap before drying the marble surface carefully. Avoid the overuse of lemon and


vinegar. Don't use abrasive surface cleaners and never be tempted to mix bleach with


ammonia as this solution is highly toxic. If the marble has got a


cigarette burn, the stain will not be capable of being removed. The only possible solution


is to polish the surface until the mark eventually disappears. The best best piece of equipment for this task is a brush. Using a sponge is only suitable when the stains


are easily removed. As long as you follow this simple advice, the marble


you have at home will keep its shiny, attractive appearance and will be


in perfect condition.












The author is owner of The Scented Candle Store supplying a range of luxury scented candles, including Yankee candles from the USA

Fill Your Home With Fragrance With De Luxe Scented Candles

We all know   just how important it is to have our home looking nice


but it is equally important  to make sure it smells good too. No one


likes to come home to a house which has a musty, stale smell . As a


result, an enormous industry  has grown up in recent years producing home


fragrance products. In days gone by, your main choices when you came to


pick up some home fragrances at the supermarket were either a tin of


euphemistically entitled air freshener or else a plug in air freshener.


Both of these products shared one thing in common . More often than not


they smelled simply distusting. All they were designed to do was to


blanket any odours with another smell, which was supposed to be more


acceptable. These products were not good to smell nor did they have any


aesthetic appeal either .



Things have thankfully changed dramatically since then , thanks to home fragrance companies such as true grace candles and yankee candles, so that if you are looking to give your home a fragrance makeover today you can choose from beautiful products such as scented candles,


fragrance diffusers - sometimes called reed diffusers or simply scented


reeds - as well as incense sticks, oil evaporators and the lastest


addition to the home fragrance lineup - room sprays or mists. Room


sprays are a perfect way of giving a room a quick blast of pleasant


fragrance , for instance, when you have just lit a candle and are waiting


for it to start working. In both appearance and style room sprays are


very like a perfume for the home. They come in similar style bottles


with a spray atomiser which enables you to direct the fragrance exactly


where you want it. Many companies like True Grace candles and Yankee candles make these products so they are easy to come by.



All these products have one difference from


old fashioned home fragrances. Where the disgusting smelling air


freshener or plug in would have been manufactured using synthetic


fragrance compounds - which explained why they were not that nice to


smell - modern luxury scented candles, reed diffusers and room sprays


are made with the use of the finest ingredients. In particular, these products


derive theit aroma from essential plant oils and extracts, instead of


from something synthetic . When you think that these are the same


ingredients that perfume companies in France and


elsewhere have used to make their products for many years , you can see


just what a superior product you will receive when you insist on


luxury home fragrances rather than the cheap mass produced products which are avaiable in


dollar stores and supermakets. True, they will cost you more but,


just like fine perfumes and colognes, they are artisan products made with real care


and expertise and will give you long lasting true to life fragrances


that you simply cannot get from the cheaper alternatives.












The author is owner of the Scented Candle Store, which supplies a wide range of home fragrances, including scented candles by companies like True Grace candles and Yankee candles