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.  

CBD Pure Oils: CALM – CBD Infused Scented Oil

Regular readers of The Amazing Blog will know that we can’t resist trying something new from the world of CBD, Today, think ‘room fragrance’. We couldn’t resist trying this CALM- CBD Infused Scented Oil, a CBD infused fragranced oil from CBD Pure Oils. A few drops in water either with an ultrasonic aroma diffuser (photo above) or burning in a traditional ceramic one; the combined effects of CBD with essential oils help to transform a room’s ambience.

The CBD Pure Oils story starts in August of 2017 with two friends discovering that they’ve both been using CBD products, on a regular basis for anxiety and pain relief.  This was the moment when Debbie Houghton and Julie Barrett decided to become the founders of a new CBD brand, This way they both could share their CBD experience with others. What started as an idea to provide high-quality CBD products has now turned into a successful and innovative brand.   They described CBD Pure OIls as a place for consumers to “easily access the products they desire and be assured that the CBD products they are buying are pure.”  With transparency at the forefront, the two founders want to ensure that the CBD products they offer are always reliable and pure. To emphasise this brand message, they use EU-approved hemp strains that have been extracted in the UK through a Co2 supercritical extraction process. They’ve also made information on their products available here with the laboratory results giving the strength and purity.  CBD Pure Oils sells a selection of full-spectrum but THC-free CBD products, ranging from oils and topicals to the slightly more unusual home products. Co-founder Denise pointed out, “Having the ability to provide a CBD oil that contains the whole plant, and is full-spectrum, increases ‘the entourage effect’ within our bodies, meaning our customers will get the maximum benefits from our CBD oil.” They’re also proud members of the Cannabis Trade Association, a trade body that aims to foster good work practice, raise standards, increase safety, and monitor the cannabis trade industry in Europe. All products are suitable for vegans, they’re mindful of their carbon footprint, and use recyclable packaging for their products.  

CALM- CBD Infused Scented Oil combines essential oils with 20mg of full-spectrum CBD oil, creating an aromatherapy-based room fragrance. This deep scented blend can be broken down into three main notes: the top note is bergamot, the middle note is patchouli, and the base note is amber. As mentioned earlier, this dark amber and bergamot essential oil is infused with full-spectrum CBD, this unusual addition helps to add another dimension raising a further sense of calm, which in turn reduces stress and promotes a feeling of relaxation. The full-spectrum CBD oil means that it retains many of the terpenes and natural plant compounds, like THC. However, the THC in all the products from CBD Pure Oils has been removed by using a Co2 supercritical extraction process. When these terpenes come together with other natural plant compounds, like those found in essential oils, they tend to create an even more amplified effect. The bergamot here is a popular citrus essential oil also known to relax the mind and relieve stress. Patchouli oil, made from the leaves of a patchouli plant, has its own beneficial properties like alleviating pain and easing anxiety, As for the amber oil, made from melted tree resin, it’s known to strengthen memory, soothe the mind, and improve sleep patterns. All these ingredients come together to form this unique CALM- CBD Infused Scented Oil. By harnessing the CBD benefits with these essential oils, this infusion creates a feeling of ‘calm’ which when either burnt or vapourised in a diffuser, offers a feeling of almost meditative tranquillity to the surroundings.

To use this CALM - CBD Infused Scented Oil, we simply added five or six drops together with water into our ultrasonic aroma diffuser, which dispersed plumes of fragranced vapour into the air, taking only moments to create a scent-filled room. The best way to describe this dark bergamot and amber aroma is a warm, earthy, sweet scent with a slight touch of citrusy spice - and no smell of hemp!  We found it very mellow and autumnal. Sadly, this little bottle didn’t last long as the scent proved very popular in the office, and became part of our daily home-time routine - stimulating the senses and calming our busy minds!. Yes, it’s another one of our #amazingfinds. The 10 ml CALM- CBD Infused Scented Oil (containing 20 mg of CBD oil) can be purchased here for £9.  

2022 Beauty Shortlist & Wellbeing Awards - Are Now Open for Entry!

Good to grow: 2022 Beauty Shortlist & Wellbeing Awards open for entries with new blue beauty and plantable beauty categories and fresh faces on the judging panel.

Entries have opened for the upcoming Beauty Shortlist Awards which will celebrate the highest-scoring brands and products that celebrate NATURE on Wednesday 2 March 2022.

Honouring the most-loved earth-safe and ocean-safe beauty and wellness products – all tested by experts – the ethical, natural and organic showcase returns with over 40 new categories embracing blue and green beauty, more age-specific skincare and self-care categories, eco-packaging, holistic health, eco innovation, nutrition, aromatherapy, CBD and more.

2022 BEAUTY SHORTLIST & WELLBEING AWARDS ENTRY FORM (ENTRIES CLOSE 29 OCTOBER)

ENTRY FORM

If you had to pick the most stellar month of the year for beauty and the planet, September would be up there: Organic September, a new season with lots of new launches, the Great British Beach Clean, World Car Free Day - and it’s FSC week soon, celebrating & raising awareness of responsible forestry 🌳

Never have we lived through a time when comforts and joys have been more important to our wellbeing - and it’s exactly those that are celebrated every year at the Beauty Shortlist Awards:

You are warmly invited to celebrate the top-scoring beauty, grooming and wellness of the year with the 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards on Wednesday 2 March.

These independent and 100% sponsor-free global Awards celebrate the highest-scoring ethical brands and products of the year, evaluated by beauty and wellness industry experts:

• natural + organic beauty, personal care

• nutrition, wellness, health supplements, CBD & eco cleaning

• men’s hair, skincare, self-care, body & shower products

Happy September!

FOUR HER: Gold Shimmer Oud Crystal Keyring

Whether it's through hair, makeup, clothing, or accessories, we all love to express ourselves through our appearance, and those of us at The Amazing Blog are no different! However, if we had to choose just one product it’d be this eye-catching and aromatic Gold Shimmer Oud from FOUR HER with its multitude of uses.

FOUR HER is a UK based clothing and beauty brand created by four sisters Sadia, Nadia, Shereen, and Nazima Chuhan in 2019. Although they were born and raised in London, the sisters grew up immersed in their multicultural family background. Influenced by fashion and beauty trends of the Middle East, Pakistan, and Africa, the sisters have blended these international elements with Western trends to create their unique style. They began to design their own clothing, receiving a flood of comments and compliments from others wherever they went. Over time, they began to receive requests from friends and private commissions both within the UAE and the UK, which formed the foundation and inspired them to launch FOUR HER. The sisters aim to bring together both modern and traditional women from all heritages, creating clothing that allows, as they say, "everyone to embrace the elegance whilst feeling and looking happy, inside and out." Since then, the FOUR HER founding sisters have expanded the brand to also include a children's clothing line and their exclusive Gold Shimmer Oud perfume oil. Across all designs and clothing lines, they prioritise using exclusive fabrics and limited editions, taking significant measures to ensure top quality control of each piece. 

FOUR HER sent us their Gold Shimmer Oud Crystal Keyring, a travel-size version of their Gold Shimmer Oud Perfume Oil is packaged in a sleek and convenient crystal glass bottle with a golden stopper and keyring. The FOUR HER Gold Shimmer Oud is a perfume enriched with biodegradable gold shimmer particles and sweet floral notes of rose petals and ylang ylang enveloped by white musk and woody sandalwood. The perfume also contains chords of soft vanilla patchouli, rich strands of saffron, and balancing accents of calabrian lemon, creating a romantic, indulging, and lasting fragrance. Oud oil (often called ‘liquid gold’ and worth about 1.5 times more than gold) is derived from the tropical Agar tree native to the Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. When the agar tree becomes infected by a mould called phialophora parasitica, it produces a resin to protect itself. Oud is extracted from the resin by distilling or melting the resin.. However, only about 2% of trees in the wild produce this resin, making Oud a rare and expensive ingredient in the essential oil market. Oud oil smells intense and smoky in its raw state but can also be simultaneously pleasing and sensual. There can be slight fragrance variations based on the climate in which the Agar trees grow, the age of the trees, the harvesting techniques, and how the skin's chemistry reacts with the oil. Oud is associated with harmony and serenity, and if applied regularly, it’s believed to remove negative energies in one's life, aid in mediation, and improve mental clarity. In addition to the benefits that the oud provides, there are also benefits to using perfume oils. They don't evaporate into the air because they don't contain alcohol, so the scent lasts longer, and you have to apply less to get the same effects. Oil-based perfumes are also less drying to the skin and can provide moisturisation, making them ideal for anyone with dry skin. To apply the Gold Shimmer Oud, carefully shake the bottle to activate the gold shimmer. We then applied 1-3 drops of oil onto the skin with the stick applicator, gently dabbing until it’s left a light shimmering sheen. You can focus on pulse points like the wrists and neck or apply it to highlight cheek or collarbones. FOURHER even suggests adding it on the ends of the hair to make it glisten! The fragrance is divine…with warm and seductive notes that envelop you with rose, vanilla and sandalwood. To experience this luxurious and warm scent of this exclusive Gold Shimmer Oud, you can purchase the Gold Shimmer Oud Crystal Keyring in three different bottle designs here  at £10.00 for 3ml. 

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.