Scents and memories with Sussex Special Candles

This post contains items gifted from Sussex Special Candles

There’s something special about lighting a candle isn’t there? For me it’s a good way to treat myself, and make the time feel more special than a usual evening, lighting a candle while in the bath is a way of helping me relax more easily. And scent evokes memories, just as taste and visuals do.

Recently I’ve been trying these Sussex-inspired candles from Sussex Special. When I saw them I was struck by the idea of replicating scents of places that I’d been, or as you’ll find out, wanted to visit. These handcrafted candles are made with a blend of natural ingredients inspired by the elements of nature you’ll find in Sussex.

I chose the Borde Hill Gardens and Brighton Essence candles and for quite different reasons, but more of that in a moment. The candles are made from 100% natural soy wax which is non-toxic, plant-based and long-lasting.

And the candles don’t disappoint. They’re good value at £12.95 each and arrived promptly and well packaged. For me that’s always a good start, once I’ve decided to order a product I’m less good waiting for it to arrive, and when it does I want the packaging to not only protect my new item, but look appealing too.

What I didn’t expect was information on candle care to be included to help get the most out of the candles. For example, the first burn of the candle should be long enough for the entire top layer of wax to melt preventing tunnelling - I’ve had candles which just burn down the middle which is disappointing, but these don’t. The website also advises that natural wax candles burn slower and are more temperature sensitive than paraffin candles, and much more.

Memories of childhood trips to Brighton

As kids growing up in South London, Brighton was our nearest seaside town and was frequently our Sunday afternoon trip in good weather. With us all piling into dad’s car for an afternoon by the sea - each of us wanting to be the first to call out that they’d “seen the sea” - something that still happens now, even though my parents live by the sea in Norfolk - it never gets old! Family traditions don’t, do they?

I’m sure our trips were full of the traditional “are we nearly there yet” type questions, and the challenge of finding a parking spot on the seafront and while tricky then I’m sure it’s nothing like trying to find a parking spot today. In fact I suspect cars can’t even park where we used to back then. We’d walk along the stony beach whatever the weather, we’d walk along the pier with me trying not to fall down any of the gaps (in reality there was no chance but I wanted to be sure).

We might wander through the Lanes, window shopping and then we’d head back to the car and back home again, often in traffic - but not like the traffic of today I’m also sure. Such happy trips, such happy memories.

So having a candle that could evoke these memories and more is a great idea - and it smelt great too. There was definitely the fresh, salty smell which gave this the uniqueness that you’d expect. I realised that the majority of my candles are wintery type smells, the smells that evoke warmth and snuggling in front of a fire, but this candle was much lighter and in a sense, more invigorating.

New memories to make

In contrast the second candle I chose is somewhere I’ve not yet visited. Borde Hill Gardens has been on my ‘to visit’ list for a while yet, but somehow we’ve not got there. I mean, I know it’s not just going to happen but I haven’t made it happen either. It’s not actually that far from us, and even closer to where my MIL lives, but isn’t that so often the case? Places nearby are the places we never quite plan well enough to get to.

It’s an independent garden - which I always enjoy - and the gardens planted are as “living garden rooms” which I’m pretty sure will equate to plenty of photos!

As you’d expect this one has a floral scent, who wouldn’t want to smell the roses, but there’s also a mix of sweet and spice too. If the candle smells this good, then I can’t wait to actually visit the gardens. I’m definitely going to make this visit happen.

The candles are in pretty glass jars which are about 8.5 cm high and 6 cm square. This is smaller than candles I’ve had in the past, but with each candle having a 35 hour burn time, their reasonable price and sustainable credentials and with the opportunity to support a family business, I think they’re good value and would make a lovely present for friends, family or yourself.

* With thanks to Sussex Special Candles for providing these candles for me to try for the purposes of this review, all views and opinions are my own.

Interiors gems in Burnham Market

Burnham Market is one of those pretty, traditional Norfolk villages, with a green and plenty of shops ideal for browsing but few parking spaces and plenty of visitors. Even this weekend it took a little while to get a space on the green, which is somewhere I rarely get to park, especially in the summer months. As we arrived the blue skies turned dark, the rain that was threatening arrived and luckily a space materialised almost right outside the hat shop, which was the purpose of our visit.

This pretty village has one of the best hat shops I know, and the plan was to take a look to see what they had to get inspiration for my niece’s wedding in May. As it turned out, as you’ll have seen yesterday, I ended up buying one because it seems even wedding guests have a moment when they know it’s the one. We made quite an entrance into the shop as when the rain paused for a moment, that was so it could turn to hailstones instead. You’d never know it from the photo below though, taken not that much after.

With the unexpected hat purchase safely stowed in the dry of the car, we had a wander around the village to see what’s changed since our last visit, and to see what’s hot in Norfolk interiors. So off we went up an alley and into a small courtyard just off the main street where we found Boudicca Designs, with plenty of cushions and mugs which caught my eye.

THE MUGS TOP LEFT SAY: NORMAL FOR NORFOLK & BOOTIFUL… EXACTLY

While you might think those mugs are out of place, there was plenty of stylish and matching homewares. These orange background matching mugs and lampshade were a favourite, initially I thought they were foxes but looking again I think they’re more dog-like.

It was the settle though behind these that really drew my attention - which thanks to my new Salvage Hunters’ obsession, I know it’s a settle - isn’t it great? The colours, the material and while not authentic, it’s something that would work well in many country and even city properties.

In one of the newer shops, which I don’t seem to be able to find the name of now, there were plenty of muted colours with white prints and some light hearted quotes, bringing a smile to my face as surely life is better in flip flops? I’ve always said Norfolk has big skies and those cards would look great in a frame, I think.

I’m not sure about the wetsuit card though.

I’m sure though that there’s definitely Norfolk time. There’s most certainly Norfolk speed on the roads, it’s about 22mph and is quite alien coming from London where everything moves much faster than the speed limit, it’s hard to readjust and so you find yourself waiting where you could have pulled out.

I’ve found another Norfolk shop with some fabulous candles, who’d have thought Norfolk would be so candle rich?

Another shop that’s always worth a visit is Uttings of Burnham, it’s deceptively large and has a mix of functional and frivolous. From the outside it looks a traditional hardware shop, fronted with a fruit and vegetable shop. It’s full of wonders though, on this visit while we were looking at these gorgeous plates there was another lady in the shop was in there looking for loo rolls.

I fell for the Octopus plate, and it would look fabulous on my dresser. I didn’t even get as far as looking at the price before MOH chipped in with, where wouldI put it, I wouldn’t mind - but he liked it too!

A candle or two...

I’m rather partial to a candle or two, and I’ve found the perfect place to buy them. No matter what colour I’m after, and that’s in one of my favourite Creake Abbey shops, Home - remember the one with the galvanised pots and the dogs that I wouldn’t want to risk with the foxes?

And I’m sharing today to remind myself, and because it’s a great picture.