Dark Candles: Light for Those Who Prefer the Dark

I received a sample tea light candle from Dark Candles in one of my Black Boxes and fell in love with the scent (Chocolate Bat) and the concept behind the business. Their catch phrase is "Light for those who prefer the dark". This really couldn't be any more true.  This company specializes in candles that have an occult theme to them, which honestly just makes them all the more fun!

I decided to buy their flat rate choose your own votive candle set.  You get 6 votive candles for $18 including shipping! As you can see my package also came with a free wax melt, stickers, business cards, and a point card for $10 when you spent $100! I also had an issue with shipping when I was trying to place my order and they literally responded to my question in under 20 minutes.  Their customer service is amazing and my issue was fixed in no time.

The quality of this company is top notch.  The candles have strong scents to them and they burn very nicely.  Therefore for this review I will be focusing on only the scents as the quality is already a 10/10 for me.

Half of these were for my boyfriend for Valentine's Day so unfortunately not all of them are scents I'm particularly fond of, so don't take my person review too seriously for those candles.  

Midnight

A dark and musky masculine scent (Drakkar Type and Midsummer's Night Dream Type). Dark Black.

This was supposed to go to my boyfriend as I figured you can't go wrong with dark and musky for a guy, however I was quite surprised when I opened it up to find it smells exactly like his deodorant. I suppose that is not necessarily a bad smell but there is no way I was going to give my boyfriend a candle that smelled like his armpits, haha! Instead I shall keep this one for myself.  While I'm not crazy about a scent like this as a candle, I think it will be nice to light whenever I am missing him and want to be reminded of a good time we've had together.

Mage

A dark and masculine vetivert blend with desert florals and sage, reminiscent of ages past. Dark Purple.

I had bought this one for myself but because I'm keeping the Midnight candle, this one is going to go to my love instead.  I won't lie I'm a bit sad to give this up, it smells so lovely. The description is spot on.  It is very dark and masculine with a slight hint of floral.  I would definitely buy this in a full size, it is a very calming scent for me.

Dark Grove

A century year old grove of redwood trees with a cinnamon undertone. Dark Green.

This one I got with my boyfriend in mind as he loves cinnamon while I really can't stand it as a smell, I don't mind the taste however. Therefore I am probably not the best person to judge this candle. The cinnamon is definitely there but it is also mixed with something else which is I suppose the trees. I was imaging more of a cedar or pine type scent with this, but that's not what it is like at all.  Perhaps it is more of a leafy scent? I'm not sure I really can't pinpoint it but it does smell familiar.

Penny Royal

Pennyroyal is a highly aromatic member of the mint family with lovely notes of menthol and bitter spices. Pennyroyal has been used as a medicinal herb for centuries, and is also effective as an insect repellant. Dark Purple.

This one has the strongest scent out of all the candles for sure.  Its the only one that you can easily smell while it is still in its wrapper.  This one is for my boyfriend as well. He loves mint and I really don't, neither the taste nor smell.  I'm kind of on the fence about whether I want to give this to him or not.  I stopped reading at mint and totally missed the insect repellent part.  That is definitely the vibe I get when I smell this.  To me this smell is just really gross and I'm a bit worried he will hate it too....

Amber Velvet

A deep amber softened with a layer of tender velvet and a touch of citrus-y bergamont and vanilla. Dark Purple.

This one definitely does not smell as I expected it to. I love amber and vanilla so I was really excited about this one but I think the citrus and bergamont comes out so strongly that I barely even smell any amber. It is still a nice scented candle, but I bought this because of the amber and I am a little bummed that it ended up not being the strongest note.

Dracula

Like a fine wine he only gets better with age. Add a touch of aged merlot with some turkish spices sweetened with masculine musk. It’s a sexy scent with a bite to it! Dark Red.

This is another one I bought for myself.  I had a huge thing for vampires when I was younger so it was definitely the name that initially brought me to this candle, but the scent description sold me on it.  Wine. Yes.  It is definitely sweet, like a cherry sweet, but it is balanced with the dark musk as described. I don't think wine when I smell this but it is nice nonetheless. This is the one I chose to burn first and I think it smells much better while burning than it does smelling it straight from the wax.  I would definitely get this one again!

Dark Carnival

This scent will evoke images of dark laughter, midway games, freaky side shows, and seedy characters! A blend of Warm caramel popcorn, nutty candy apples, and fluffy cotton candy. This scent is not for eating - although you just might be tempted! Dark Black

To me what really comes out strongly is the caramel and nutty notes.  It literally smells like candied nuts. This was my free sample and while the smell is nice, It isn't really my thing.  I'm not a huge fan of foody scents in my candles, I generally prefer florals , fruits, and musk, but I will enjoy this little bunny shaped melt while it lasts!


I will definitely be making another purchase from dark candles in the future. I need Mage and Dracula and also want to try out some of their other scents.  It is a really nice small business with a cool theme and high quality products, don't hesitate to check them out!

www.darkcandles.com

Jamberry From The Heart

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

I technically already celebrated it last week as my boyfriend and I couldn't get together this weekend. However I still wanted to show you the nails I've had on all week.   I chose From The Heart as my valentine's wrap because it has the same pattern is Love Spell which was a wrap I fell in love with only to have it retire right before I made my first purchase.  this wrap is red and silver instead of purple and silver unfortunately but it is still a really cute mixed mani to celebrate the holiday of love.

As you can see this wrap comes in three different designs: red with a white heart, red with a bunch of white hearts and lines, and then a silver inverse. I've had these on for a week now and they are still going strong even thought I had some bubbles on my tips and sides, but I think that was mostly due to rushing to get them on.  I haven't had much free time lately....

Here is what I got for Valentine's Day!

The limited edition Pokemon 20th anniversary Mew plush! I was soooo happy. I also got a chocolate rose but I ate that a while ago haha.

I hope everyone has a great Valentine's Day! I'm off to meet my friend and her roommate for burritos and beer.

Hollow & Ridge Mend Balm, Lavender Face and Body Toner, and Calm Essential Oil Blend

For Christmas my Aunt got my mother, grandma, and I little sample packages of some products from a company called Hollow & Ridge. This company specializes in essential oils and bath and skin care products scented with their own essential oil blends. As you may know, I love smelly things so I was very excited about this little kit!

This company focuses on ethics and quality, resulting in beautifully scented products that you can feel good about using.  Here is a quote from their website:

"The hollow & ridge approach to essential oil production is simple:

source high quality and responsibly-grown plant materials; experiment until

the right combination of therapeutic effect and pleasing scent is achieved."

This business has its ideals in the right place and their products are very lovely as well, as you're about to find out!

My Christmas gift included these three products: Mend Balm, Lavender Face and Body Toner, and Calm Essential Oil Blend.  They were packaged in the super cute floral bag they are sitting on in the above picture.  I also love how cute and simple the packaging is.  The colored translucent bottles and minimalist labels make the products look very sleek and professional.

The first item is the lavender toner.  I have not really used toners before but the packaging says it provides moisture and hydration so I spritz some on my face after moisturizing and before applying foundation primer.  The scent is lovely and starting my day with the bright crisp smell of lavender is just amazing. Here is the store description of this product:

"Our toner is ideal for all skin types to balance, tone, and restore skin. We have left out the rose for this one. Lavender by itself also promotes cell repair, is an excellent coolant for minor burns and sunburns, and soothes sensitive skin. Our lavender hydrosol used in our toners is distilled from freshly harvested lavender."

My little sample size is only 10ml, you can buy the full 50ml size for only $14!

Next is the Mend Balm.  This is a little pot of hard lip balm.  The products melts onto your fingers from the heat generated, allowing you to then rub it on your lips or any other chapped area.  I also keep this at my vanity and put it on before I begin my makeup routine so my lips are nice and soft for when I apply my lipstick. This smells a bit odd, its definitely my least favorite scent of the bunch.  To me it has a minty smell to it, I honestly think unsweetened mint chocolate chip when I smell it, but the oils its made from do not reflect that at all.  Regardless it is a nice product and while the smell isn't personally for me, I'm sure many others will adore it.

"Our new MEND Balm formula is luxurious, rich and intensely reparative. Applying Mend balm helps guard your lips against harsh conditions, like wind, dryness and temperature changes and leaves your lips feeling supple and smooth. The Balm promotes healing, and prevents dry, cracked or chapped lips, providing immediate relief from discomfort and softening roughness on contact. The natural oils, waxes and butters in the MEND Balm protect the damaged skin while it is healing to prevent further damage. The balm has a light, lavender peppermint scent that is both calming and invigorating."

My pot is full size I believe, meaning you can get your own for $8!

Finally is the essential oil! My little sample is called Calm and is blend No 55.  This smells so so so nice.  I have been smelling this before I begin my meditation to help me relax and get me in the right mood.  I will definitely be sad when this oil is gone.

"55 brings together smells from the places which have brought Issa peace throughout her life. Geranium and lavender used to tame irritability. Issa uses rose otto for restlessness and agitation. Petitgrain is used as a "shock absorber"."

My sample is 3ml, but you can purchase a full 10ml bottle for $38.

The other two blends sound just as divine, I wish I could purchase them in 3ml bottles for a cheaper price, because at $38 each I just can't afford to try them all.

Overall I love all three of these items and can definitely see myself purchasing from here in the future.  I believe my Aunt knows where they have a physical shop, so hopefully I can get my hands on more of these cheaper sample versions so I can try everything!

www.hollowandridge.com

Mary Kay Pink Satin

I just realized I never did a review on this Mary Kay lipstick!  This is one of the last ones I purchased before giving up on being consultant due to moving to a city for graduate school.  Before I purchased Pink Satin I did not own a single high end nude shade. Because of samples I knew I already liked this color so I had no doubts about adding it to my collection!

This is a really nice color to throw on when I find myself wearing a dark outfit with dark eyes.  It is soft and subtle and gives my lips a nice pink tint all day.  The only issue I have with it would be more my own skin's fault than my own.  As the day wears on and my foundation begins to fade it looks very odd compared to my naturally pink skin, so I try to only wear this if I know I won't be in a situation that will compromise the integrity of my foundation.  Additionally as you can tell from the image if your lips are super  chapped this won't look great up close, but from a distance any lip imperfections are barely noticeable.  

Overall this is a pretty decent light pink shade that I would give a try if you find yourself at a Mary Kay party!

Where to buy: Mary Kay consultant

Price: $15

A Girl Named Katie Gently Loved Collection

Today I have another post about A Girl Named Katie, a small clothing and accessory store featuring items handmade with ethics and the environment in mind.  If you don't remember, last time I posted about this business I was reviewing a handmade kimono style shirt!

Katie has recently started a new collection called Gently Loved. This is a mini collection filled with recycled clothing and home decor hand selected by Katie to go with the overall aesthetic of her handmade designs.  She has picked out some really adorable outfits, and I would have bought more if I had the budget! 

I purchased a flowy black blouse and a candlestick holder shown below:

 

The above are her pictures because they are just so nice way better than mine, haha!

I've wanted a candlestick holder for a long time and was thinking I needed to go to a thrift store or something similar to find a nice one, and just a few days later Katie announced she was adding home decor to her Gently Loved Collection along with a 30% off coupon and I knew then it was time to place an order.

 In addition to the candle stick I also bought the flowy blouse. Due to the nature of the top, this is not a good shirt to take a picture of laying flat, believe me it looks much better when worn! I had been eyeing this top for a long time and was super excited to finally take the leap and purchase it.  It is definitely unlike anything I own but I just fell in love with the sleeves from the model picture. It also has a little upside down V decoration at the collar which is a nice touch.  The bottom is elastic allowing for the fabric to fall in a flowy...type way? I am not good at describing clothing....

And here is a mediocre quality picture of me modeling the blouse with two different looks, dressed up and dressed down.  On the left I paired it with a dark purple lace skirt from Loft and black leggings.  As you can see the sleeves are just amazing and I am in love with them.  On the right I paired it with Loft skinny jeans and black boots.  This was the outfit I actually ended up wearing and it looked so casual yet nice. The blouse is a bit short so it must be worn either with a high waisted skirt or with a tank top underneath. I wore black this time but I may experiment with other colors. The only downside that it is a bit small around my shoulder and head area.  I have to put it on before I do my makeup because the collar does not stretch and my head just fits through.  The shoulder issue I'm used to as I know I have annoyingly disproportionate shoulders and upper arms. However, I'm not worried, as I can get it on and off just fine and it looks great!

If you want to find some really adorable and affordable second hand clothes and house decor while also supporting Katie in her business endeavor please head on over to A Girl Named Katie and check out her products!