Connock London: Kukui Oil Room & Linen Mist

Looking to bring a fresh, exotic floral fragrance into the home? Then let us at The Amazing Blog introduce you to another of our #amazingfinds with Connock London’s Kukui Oil Room & Linen Mist. It’s from a sustainable and award-winning brand, best known for its unique scents, and is a recent winner of an Editor's Choice at the 2022 Wellbeing Beauty Shortlist Awards.

Amanda Connock founded Connock London in 2013, inspired by her passion for fragrance and her love for exotic and unique natural ingredients. Amanda spent her childhood sampling perfumes, making scented bath salts and creating floral waters in buckets from rose petals and cherry blossoms with her siblings. After achieving her degree, Amanda joined her family's business, A&E Connock, where she acquired her knowledge and experience working with global producers and sourcing speciality cosmetic ingredients. In an interview with Great British Life, she explained how she branched off from the running the family business with her brother to create her own business, ​​"We were very young and although we succeeded with the business, which is still running today, I realised I wanted to go off on my own and do my own thing. I'm very much like my Dad in that respect." Thus Connock London was born. "It's very important for me to be able to tell my customers the source of the ingredients – where they come from and why we use them." As a business, Connock London focuses on sustainability and is committed to making changes contributing toward a better future. They now have new easy-to-use pump bottles made from 30% post-consumer recycled plastic, plus all of Connock London's products are cruelty-free. Connock London is proud to work alongside the Woodland Trust, and the Carbon Capture initiative helping to replenish the UK's native woodland from its outer packaging alone; this government scheme strives to reduce CO2 emissions by donating 100% of its charge back to the charity.

The Kukui Oil Room & Linen Mist is presented in a stylish frosted glass bottle and is part of Connock London's Home Fragrance collection. It is a floral fragrance with the exotic aroma of Hawaiian flowers, made with a high-quality blend of pure essential oils containing floral notes of gardenia and jasmine blended into a warm, woody base of sandalwood and vanilla. This Room & Linen Mist is 100ml alcohol-based and, as the name suggests, is designed for spritzing around the home, and to freshen up bed linen.

The kukui oil is sourced from a family in Hawaii that both Amanda and Connock have worked with for over 20 years. Hawaiians use their native kukui oil to keep the skin soft and smooth; it contains essential fatty acids - ideal for boosting the immune system and treating dry skin. Gardenia flower is traditionally used in Chinese medicine to help fight colds, and respiratory or sinus infections; and is said to be full of antibacterial, antioxidant and antiviral compounds. The plant also symbolises trust, hope, peace, renewal, and protection. In some cultures, jasmine is used as a natural sedative, much like lavender. Its sweet scent is known to help stress and anxiety and helps the body unwind. Not forgetting its aphrodisiac properties, which is why it’s a popular ingredient in massage oils. The sandalwood is sourced from the fragrant bark of India’s santalum trees, offering unique benefits to mental and physical health; it’s also used in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine to promote calmness, lower stress and improve sleep quality. Vanilla, after saffron, is the second most expensive spice in the world. It’s known to be a mood-booster and has a calming effect on any sharper fragrance notes.

How would we describe the scent? Exotic with a nuance of warmth and complexity. It is a ‘floriental’, which means the woody base notes of sandalwood and slightly powdery and creamy vanilla, pair well with the floral heart notes of buttery gardenia and sweet-smelling jasmine. The mist is guaranteed to create a delicious and moreish scent throughout the house.

Connock London also has a Ceramic Disc which can be sprayed with the Kukui Oil Room & Linen Mist, then tied to hangers and door hooks to keep clothing smelling fresh - we even put it in the car! It makes an elegant statement while adding a light, fresh scent to wardrobes, drawers or luggage - in fact anywhere where it can be hung. A lovely way to maintain your clothing’s freshness, and imbue this delightful scent into your clothing, mischievously clinging to the top of your favourite summer shirt.

A fragrance that’s perfect for the summer, or for summoning up the feeling of a sultry summer’s eve in the middle of our cold wet winter months! As far as high-end fragrances go, we think that the luxury features and finishes of the packaging and its exotic aroma set this Kukui Oil Room & Linen Mist apart. To purchase the 100ml Kukui Oil Room & Linen Mist for £22, see here, or to buy the Kukui Scented Ceramic and 10ml Mist for £15, see here.

Kalmar : Large Scented Joy Candle

Who doesn’t love to burn a beautifully fragranced candle on a warm summer evening? At The Amazing Blog, we love how the flickering ambient light from a solo candle under the stars, always adds to the mystical evening glow. This is another of our #amazingfinds with the Joy Candle from wellbeing and lifestyle brand Kalmar. More than just a candle, it’s full of botanicals and infused with amber gemstone to enhance positivity with crystal healing.

The journey of Kalmar begins with its founder, Karen Ruimy. She was born in Morocco and moved to Paris with her family when she was seven. Karen was thriving in the world of finance as she climbed up the corporate ladder and landed a position as a director at the age of 28. This also happened to be the beginning of her spiritual journey. Since then, her spiritual awakening has led her to focus on her spiritual healing, writing, dance, music and philanthropy. In 2016, she began her brand Kalmar to help others on their journey to wellbeing. She has made this her life's work - realigning the mind, body and soul through energy and intention-setting, assisting individuals to move forward on their own unique journey to wellbeing. The brand is centred around four soul states joy, calm, peace, and love; focusing on the positive holistic impacts on the body. As Karen says, "It's our passion to create indulgent self-care products that help you create sacred rituals to rejuvenate your being, uplift your mood, and boost energy." The bath, body care and candles are suitable for vegans, non-toxic, and cruelty-free. Kalmar's products are sustainably sourced as their packaging is FSC Certified. With every purchase, Kalmar will also plant one tree across the UK. They are also a member of the Forest Carbon’s Carbon 100 Club. Kalmar has made a name for themselves in the wellbeing and lifestyle industry as they won multiple awards for their range. They recently won three awards at the 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards, ‘Best Solid Natural Fragrance’ for their Peace Balm of Serenity and two Editor’s Choice Awards for their I Am Loved Body Cream and Calm Deep Cocoon Shower Cream. The Scented Joy Candle won ‘Best Luxury Candle’ at the 2022 Beauty Shortlist Wellbeing Awards.

The Joy Candle is a luxurious candle, with a scent that lifts spirits and gently fragrances a space, it also enhances energy and positivity. As they say, "The invigorating scent freshens your mind to start a new day or open yourself up to new possibilities." According to Kalmar, this candle is good for bringing warmth and comfort to your space with an essence of a late summer evening. This candle is made from natural vegetable waxes (not specified) and contains a fresh and zesty scent of lemon, ginger and bergamot, jasmine, magnolia and white musk; that is also combined with rhodiola, cocoa, orange extract, and amber gemstone extract.

Let’s take a look at the slightly more unusual ingredients. Rhodiola is a plant that has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries and is thought to increase the body's resistance to stress. It also helps with fatigue, reduces symptoms of depression, and improves brain function and exercise performance. Cocoa, when used aromatically, actually helps calm your body and mind, and in addition to a delicious citrus scent, the orange extract boosts your mood and reduces stress. The amber gemstone extract, sourced from fossilised tree resin, has many emotional healing properties, including emotional stability through relaxation, and also helps with the reduction of depression and anxiety. It also offers strength, protection, peace, trust, wisdom, and memory.

The candle is great for setting intentions, and Kalmar recommends lighting the candle when you need a vital energy boost.. "After lighting the candle, close your eyes and say the mantra, ‘I'm so inspired at this moment, my soul is thriving." i.e. inhale the zesty scent, and exhale all the stress. Edwina, our executive editor, was one of the judges at The Beauty Shortlist Awards, and she loved lighting this candle - even in the morning - to enhance her energy, getting her prepared to conquer the day! This candle is poured into a striking buttercup yellow recyclable glass container, and packaged in a sustainably sourced card. We think that this is one to gift to a friend or to keep and enjoy for yourself. The Joy Candle makes the perfect addition to any space. To purchase see here for the 200g Joy Candle £45, or here the Smaller 75g Joy Candle £25.

Jane Scrivner : Peace, and Revive Blends - Life Essentials Pure Essential Oils

We all know the importance of being mindful, whether focusing on health or taking an hour out to compose oneself during a stressful day. Today on The Amazing Blog we want to talk about a new range of essential oil blends that have helped us to get a feeling of balance and calm. We were delighted to test out these two unique natural aromatherapy blends, Peace and Revive in the Life Essentials Pure Essential Oils collection, from one of our favourite holistic and natural skincare brands Jane Scrivner. Some of our loyal readers may well remember that we wrote about the brand back in 2013 and 2014.

Jane Scriver created her skincare range in 2013. With over thirty years of experience in skincare working as a therapist and an international skincare trainer to top global spas, she discovered local and indigenous raw oils, which inspired her to create her very own range of skincare products. "I then came home to practise in London and used these same oils in my treatments, unblended and pure, and I saw how my clients' skin turned from pale and pasty to nourished and alive."  In addition to her well-known skincare, Jane has now added a home and lifestyle product range of emotion and mood-enhancing diffusers and blended essential oils. The brand commits to sourcing everything ethically by using carefully assessed suppliers for traceability and sustainability. All products are paraben and SLS free; they are also cruelty-free and 100% natural and use certified organic ingredients wherever possible. The ranges are handmade in small batches in the UK, where they are mindful of waste and only use FSC approved packaging. The brand is no stranger to beauty awards as they have already won several Beauty Shortlist Awards and Beauty Bible Awards for their skincare range.

Recently, they received an award at the Beauty Shortlist Wellbeing Awards 2022  for their Peace and Revive  Blend Pure Essential Oils. As we were privileged to be amongst the judges this year, we thought we’d feature these two blends which really impressed us. We used these in a candle diffuser (pictured here) which uses accelerated evaporation by heat with the drops mixed in with water; and in an ultrasonic diffuser with its waves transforming the essential oil mixed with water into a vapour. We also like the suggestion that Jane gives here, “My favourite ways to use these is to either drizzle just a few drops into a bowl of pinecones collected on a walk and to let the aroma gently perfume the room or for my office, if I have a busy 'thinking' day, I drop Blend #29 into an electronic diffuser to stay inspired and creative!" 

The Peace Blend Pure Essential Oil, we found enhanced a sense of calmness. It contains nine soothing ingredients: Bay, benzoin, chamomile Maroc, eucalyptus, frankincense, lavender, myrrh, sweet orange, and petitgrain. Bay is woody and spicy scented yet fresh, it’s indigenous to Europe and the Middle East and can grow up to six metres. Bay in aromatherapy practices is used to increase mindfulness and promote focus. Benzoin is sap from Styrax trees, and the extract has a warm scent to it. This blend is used to regulate the nervous system and reduce stress. Chamomile Maroc plant from North-West Africa and South Spain. Traditionally, this extract has been used as a muscle relaxant and for anxiety relief helping to relax the mind. Eucalyptus is native to Australia. Although this oil has many external benefits, such as relieving respiratory conditions, eucalyptus oil also eases tension and helps bring a wave of positivity. Frankincense comes from the trunk of a Boswellia tree. Frankincense is one of our favourite oils; it’s used for grounding and connectedness and is one of the key essentials we use for meditation. Lavender is one of the most frequently used plants in essential oils, and for good reasons. Lavender provides a clear and focused mind, emotional stability, and inspiration. Interesting fact, the Egyptians used myrrh for embalming as It slowed the decaying process and left a pleasant scent. In this blend, myrrh is used to uplift moods by removing any negative feelings and keeping minds grounded. When it comes to sweet orange extract, there are many benefits to this citrus ingredient, the extract can help reduce symptoms of depression, stress, and anxiety. Lastly, petitgrain oil comes from a bitter orange tree native to southern China. The word petitgrain is French, meaning "little grains". Petitgrain oil has many uses; it soothes nerves protecting the mind from anxiety, shock, and fear. We think this blend is perfect for people who need to take a step back from their stressful lives, for much-needed relaxation. 

The Revive Blend Pure Essential Oil blend is made from seven unique energy-boosting ingredients: Basil, clary sage, geranium, grapefruit, lime, patchouli, and peppermint. Basil extract is proven to have many health benefits, including stabilising the nervous system, it’s known to help decrease tension and anxiety. Clary sage is another plant with many physical and mental benefits and significantly helps to reduce stress as it has antidepressant properties. Geranium oil comes from the leaves of a plant called pelargonium graveolens, indigenous to South Africa. Geranium oil is used to treat signs of stress, anxiety, and depression and helps restores confidence. The grapefruit inspires an uplifting and positive mindset needed for motivation in this blend. Lime is also used to uplift one's mood and energy, purify the air, and even help with relaxation after a long day. Patchouli is sweet, spicy, and woody, and in this blend; it helps aid symptoms of depression and stress as it induces a sense of wellbeing. The final ingredient is peppermint, known to help relieve sorrow, or feelings of restlessness and offer a sense of calm. We think that the Revive Blend is best used when you first wake up giving a much-needed burst of energy, it’s also a brilliant blend to help give focus.

We’ve always been big fans of aromatherapy essentials oils ,and these blends are another of our #amazingfinds. Not only do they smell gorgeous, but they’ll make a great addition to anyone's aromatherapy collection. Both blends come in small 10ml glass bottles, and the brand advises adding 2-3 drops of these essential oil blends to any room fragrance device or getting creative and using what you have. Also, to note, depending on the base ingredients, these essential oil blends can smell very different when used in their product than in pure form ‘on the nose’. To purchase the Peace Blend Pure Essential Oil Blend see here for £18 or Revive Blend Pure Essential Oil Blend to Refresh & Awaken here for £16.  Or to purchase the full range of the four Life Essentials Pure Essential oils here for £85.

Trelonk Cornwall : Molecular Wellbeing Head Strong #04

During the past year at The Amazing Blog, like so many, we’ve felt the need to surround ourselves with a blanket of calm. When Edwina was offered this stress-busting Molecular Wellbeing #04 Head Strong to judge for The Beauty Shortlist Awards, she leapt at the opportunity! It’s from the award-winning Cornish essential oil brand Trelonk best known for harnessing cutting-edge innovation in plant science.

Although Trelonk was officially launched in 2021 by Mark Parnall, Trelonk Estate, where the brand was conceived, has a rich agricultural history dating back between 1891-1907. Today, the Trelonk Estate goes back to its original farming roots by harnessing new agricultural technology and improving farming practices to grow and harvest specialist crops. Preparations for their brand “Trelonk” began in 2018, with Trelonk being incorporated into Parnall Group. Despite all the challenges COVID brought, the Trelonk website officially went live in Spring 2021. Founder Mark Parnall said, "Living through Covid-19 has caused a shift in attitude towards plant science, along with compelling research showing the effectiveness of particular plant molecules on human health." With a focus on plant technology and oils, Mark believes that there are remarkable opportunities to connect the origins of authentic Cornish crops and science to help those interested in natural remedies. The brand’s mission is to enhance health and wellbeing through sustainable farming operations that positively affect the environment. “By growing and processing on-site, we aim to provide full traceability and authenticity of the products, underpinned by regenerative farming methods and strong environmental credentials." This idea has won the brand the 2021 Blue Patch Sustainable Innovation Award. As expert aromacologists (study of the influence of odours on human behaviour), they use advanced extraction technology to identify the most compelling plant molecules to use in their formulas. With the use of botanical actives, also known as terpenes, the brand primarily uses the power of inhalation, as it’s the fastest method of delivery (60-90 seconds) and the nasal receptors communicate with nerve cells via neurotransmitters in the limbic system. These positive effects may be felt within minutes! This combination becomes a high-impact wellbeing solution known as ‘Whole Plant Therapy’. For those that are novices to aromatherapy, Trelonk has made an informative list of their frequently used ingredients and their benefits on their website see here. Sustainability is at the heart of the brand, not only with many of the ingredients being grown and harvested on the Trelonk Estate but also with the use of deep violet-blue biophotonic glass bottles stopping harmful UV light and keeping the potency of the oils inside. They describe themselves as ‘where botanicals also meet technology’, Trelonk’s therapeutic formulas are founded solely on scientific research analysing the molecular make-up of plants and identifying the active elements. They’ve recently unveiled £1 million worth of scientific equipment, where they work with scientific partners in three state-of-the-art laboratories designated for plant tissue culture, oil extraction and molecular research. The three ranges of hand-blended Molecular Wellbeing essential oils are ‘Power Through’, ‘Head Strong’ and ‘Lights Out’.

The Head Strong range is designed to help support and uplift mental health and wellbeing. The trio of blends offers differing benefits, for instance, #04 for Stress-Busting and Anxiety, #05 for Concentration and Focus, and #06 for Confidence and Positivity. Trelonk's expert aromacologists explained that the ‘mother blend’ (or base formula) for all three in this range is a combination of bergamot for uplift, rosa damascena for strengthening, ylang-ylang for stress-busting, geranium for balance, sandalwood for calm and green mandarin for nervous tension and restlessness.

We’re going to talk about #04 for Stress Busting and Anxiety which recently won a Wellbeing Editor’s Choice at The 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards.  Apart from the plant active in the ‘mother blend’ above. What makes up the ten plant actives complete are the key additions with petitgrain, yuzu peel oil, eucalyptus and helichrysum flower oil all of which offer a well combined citrusy and floral uplifting scent. The petitgrain is known for its sedative qualities calming nerves and aiding anxiety, with its bright distinctive orange blossom accent. Yuzu peel oil is very similar to bergamot extract, and it can also balance one's mood. Yuzu has a sweet and citrusy scent and has dominant uplifting properties while calming the mind at the same time. Eucalyptus relieves exhaustion, elevates mood, and rejuvenates the spirit with its distinct camphoraceous smell. Finally, the helichrysum provides support in releasing emotional trauma.

We love how it oozes with encouraging citrus notes from the green mandarin, the richer and warmer notes of rosa damascena and helichrysum add weight to the blend, balancing the mind into a state of assurance. The extract has soft floral tones and a fresh aroma, making the oil mood affirming and providing comfort during heightened stress. What we found interesting (take note Trelonk) is that Edwina has carried this around with her continuously when out and about, and like a nosegay, it has kept her safe and clear of catching covid when others around her have fallen sick. A coincidence? maybe.

There is a Nasal Inhaler, which Edwina uses, it’s pictured above at £6. it’s easy to use, you put the wick inside the glass tube and add up to 20 drops of the oil, then waft it under your nose, whenever you feel the need. It helps create your own personal aroma bubble! It also comes as a gift set here. Trelonk also recommends different ways to use their Molecular Wellbeing blends. The first is putting 3-5 drops in a steam diffuser, and it's perfect to use while you do your morning yoga or everyday morning routine. Second, you can add 25 drops of the oil into 100g of Epsom salts in a bath, which feels fantastic after a long day. Lastly, you can apply two drops into a teaspoon of carrier oils of your choice, and apply directly to the skin.

The Head Strong #04 is another one of our #amazingfinds and certainly resonated with Edwina, who is a big fan of all things aromatherapy. The Head Strong #04 and Nasal Inhaler are available together for £28.90 here  We hope to try more products from Trelonk to focus more on our mind, body, and overall health. We think this is a must-have for all.

Les Parfums de Rosine : Bulle de Rose

If you haven’t already guessed, at The Amazing Blog, we have a slight weakness for anything ‘rose’! That’s why we’re featuring the French perfume house Les Parfums de Rosine who always revere the rose in their fragrances (see our previous reviews here). Their rose-based fragrances never disappoint and we couldn’t resist trying their latest launch Bulle de Rose an uplifting scent that’s a nod to the up-and-coming spring.

Les Parfums de Rosine is founded by Marie-Hélène Rogeon, who comes from a long line of distinguished perfumers. Marie-Hélène’s great grandfather was the nose behind Eau de Cologne, a fragrance designed specifically for Emperor Napolean III. Her passion for perfume began early on, she was fascinated by this world of exquisite bottles, fragrances, flowery labels, and silk braid trimmings. She pursued her career in perfume and learnt her trade by working in various well-known perfume houses. When Marie-Hélène brought back to life the Les Parfums de Rosine brand in 1991, it coincided with a period when women began to tire of commercial perfumes and looked for more authentic scents with perfumes that told a real story. Les Parfums de Rosine has allowed Marie-Hélène to combine her love of fragrance with her passion for cultivating roses. In an interview in Vanity Fair, Marie-Hélène said "I'm fascinated by the diversity of roses, both in terms of their looks but also their scents, from green and citrusy to soft and honeyish." Hence, she has built a collection of rose perfumes, all different, from the fresh Un Zest de Rose to the more sensuous Une Folie de Rose. It’s important to Marie-Hélène that all Les Parfums de Rosine perfumes are made from natural essences, and that scent profiles are always decipherable. 

Les Parfums de Rosine’s Bulle de Rose was the co-created of the renowned perfumer, Serge de Oliveira, from Maison Robertet. He is well known for having worked with various companies creating perfumes with natural essences. In an interview with Le Petit Poudrier, Serge discussed the intricacies of working with 100% natural ingredients. He explained that making fragrances from natural substances takes longer and limits the number of ingredients at his disposal. Serge de Oliveira has worked previously with Les Parfums de Rosine on fragrances such as Bleu Abysse, Rose par Essence, and Rose Absolument. When asked where he gets his inspiration, Serge said, “It may sound cliché, but it is essential for perfumers: We find inspiration in travelling, visiting museums and cities, but also in our food, in materials, textures, or fashion. Everything can and must be a source of inspiration!”

Bulle de Rose is beautifully presented in a pearly-pink bottle accented with a blue tulle pompom. The perfume itself possesses top notes of blackcurrant and bergamot with elemi essence. Elemi is a resin tapped from pili trees, and it carries a spicy balsamic almost lemony scent and is most commonly used to tether ingredients so that they might last longer. This blend of top notes creates a lively fruity blend that incorporates the blackcurrant’s fruitiness with the bergamot’s citrus and a floral edge that lasts and lasts. The middle notes introduce the caressing purity of soap accord inspired by the legendary Camay soap (an accord is a blend of two or three ingredients that produces a completely new and distinctive smell); it then opens up into the star ingredient, the Turkish rose whose powdery fragrance embodies the scent the summer, followed by the discreet green herbal essence of green tomato. The base notes ground the fragrance with the sweetness of patchouli, sandalwood’s delicate woodiness and cypriol essence’s light and spicy notes. The direct translation of Bulle de Rose means ‘rose bubble’, which is precisely the aim of this fragrance, as it surrounds the wearer with a fragrant bubble of roses, creating a fresh and spring-like scent - and one we found hard to resist!. To purchase a 50ml bottle of Bulle de Rose at £108 to buy the 100ml bottle at £140 please see here. We also believe that a selection of Les Parfum de Rosine fragrances are also available in London at Liberty and Fortnum & Mason.