Sorry not to have been in touch recently. I think that the candlemakers must be reading my blog because I have actually been set the task of creating new essential oil pefume blends by them following my rant about them having no nose for it etc.etc. and have been tied up since then in product development.
Anyhow I thought I would start by researching what the opposition is doing for fragrancing their candles, "easy!" I hear you say -not so I respond. It appears that what you think you get is not actually all you get, the use of the English language is very subtle but a complete minefield for all but the very cautious.
On a Wick have always made a distinction between their fragrance oil products and their essential oil products, using only essential oils in their natural ranges. It appears others have not!!!!
Consider these statements that I have found.
"contains essential oils"
"made with essential oils"
"made with pure essential oils"
fragrances drawn from essential oils - fragrances drawn from nature
"fragranced with absolute essential oils"
What none of these statements say is "fragranced solely with essential oils" as all of the above statement's products can and almost certainly do contain synthesised fragrance. The cost of some essential oils is rocketing with poor weather and small harvests. Best quality Jasmine oil is now £2800 per kilo, Rose "Otto" even higher and you might need Securicor for a kilo of Honeysuckle. Now I have nothing against fragrance oils and many "fragrance oils" will actually contain "essential oils" as it is cheaper to use the natural oil , some fragrances are just not replicable in the laboratory so the natural oil is used, but on reading labels ask yourself is the fragrance I am getting what it purports to be.
Ask yourself if the candle advertising says "Scented with pure essential oil" why would anyone scent one with IMPURE essential oil. If you want to have pure essential oil candles make sure that the label actually tells you that it is only or solely fragranced with essential oils. Whilst virtually all of Onawick's standard candle scents contain an element of essential oils we wouldnt dream of claiming "made with essential oils" unless we fragranced it with "100% essential oils". DID YOU SEE THAT, I am falling into the dodgy advertising trap, who would use 98% essential oils. What I meant to say was "fragranced only with essential oils"
Enough of the rant, there has been a day of cupcake experiment set aside this weekend, new flavours etc and I intend to get my share. Will post photos of the little beauties when they arrive. I can now use my smart phone so hopefully more shots of me and the family and where I live to come.
Saturday, 26 March 2011
Sunday, 13 March 2011
Geting good with the web
Just polished off a lunch of "amarula mincemeat tart" that I happened to find in the cupboard as I walked past, shouldn't have really but if someone leaves the cupboard door open and its at my height who could blame me. Anyhow it was really scrummy and I didnt get too much of a ticking off.
Just checked out the work that has been done on the website, fab new piccies from our favourite photographer Sian, will have to link to her facebook pics to bring you examples of her really good work. Really pleased with the new look to the website, more new products are shortly on the way.
Requests are coming in now for a invites to the open days, dont forget to email otherwise all the cupcakes might just be gone when you come along. Hope that everyone brings a friend as that just increases the number of visitors I can fuss over.
Might have some interesting familly news soon as my niece ( Tweed's daughter) paid a visit to very handsome man a couple of weeks ago and all things being well we should have additions to the family around the 3rd of May.
Just checked out the work that has been done on the website, fab new piccies from our favourite photographer Sian, will have to link to her facebook pics to bring you examples of her really good work. Really pleased with the new look to the website, more new products are shortly on the way.
Requests are coming in now for a invites to the open days, dont forget to email otherwise all the cupcakes might just be gone when you come along. Hope that everyone brings a friend as that just increases the number of visitors I can fuss over.
Might have some interesting familly news soon as my niece ( Tweed's daughter) paid a visit to very handsome man a couple of weeks ago and all things being well we should have additions to the family around the 3rd of May.
Friday, 11 March 2011
My talents are just not recognised
You would have thought that when my employers were assessing new scents for their candles they would actually use the employee with the most acute sense of smell. It is a well known fact (at least according to Wikipedia that font of sometimes dodgy information) that a dogs sense of smell is astonishing with 125 to 220 million smell-sensitive receptors. Dogs can discriminate odors at concentrations nearly 100 million times lower than humans can so why are they wasting their time when I could do the job in my sleep. (visitors to the workshop might just notice that is something I do alot)
That said they have come up with a couple of absolute belters with the new "Gardenia" and "Geranium and Patchouli" fragrances. They also have a great blend worked with Essential oils for a new trade customer but might just get it on their range of natural Soya candles. It only took them 2 days to formulate!!!! That is pretty pathetic as despite its complexity I am sure I could have knocked it up in an hour or so. You say you cant teach an old dog new tricks but I am sure I could teach the candlemakers a thing or two about scents!
Anyhow the birds are singing and the honeysuckle is just breaking into leaf, spring is just around the corner and the weekend is almost upon us, the visitors will be streaming into the village as good weather is forecast.
That said they have come up with a couple of absolute belters with the new "Gardenia" and "Geranium and Patchouli" fragrances. They also have a great blend worked with Essential oils for a new trade customer but might just get it on their range of natural Soya candles. It only took them 2 days to formulate!!!! That is pretty pathetic as despite its complexity I am sure I could have knocked it up in an hour or so. You say you cant teach an old dog new tricks but I am sure I could teach the candlemakers a thing or two about scents!
Anyhow the birds are singing and the honeysuckle is just breaking into leaf, spring is just around the corner and the weekend is almost upon us, the visitors will be streaming into the village as good weather is forecast.
Tuesday, 8 March 2011
lazy old week
Finally got my act together and constructed our invites for the opening bash (see below) Obvious "girlie" appeal with the cupcakes, think that Carol and Ed will be whipping up a few dozen suitably flavoured with "Onawick" flavours/scents. Vanilla, Geranium, Green Tea and ginger as well as chocolate of course.
Candles Cupcakes and Coffee
Friday 8th April 10.30 – 4pm
On a Wick & a Prayer are excited about their newly refurbished workshop and Annie would like to invite you along to look for yourself!
Come along and take a look around, see our new candle ranges,
Sniffing is free!!
On Friday only, Free Candle gift, Cupcakes, Coffee and 10% off your purchases!!
On the day, Annie and the girls will be available to demonstrate the candle making process and answer any questions you might have.
Bring along the family and enjoy a day out in Tissington, see Tissington Hall, Enjoy lunch at the Tearooms and feed the ducks!
Bring your empty containers for refilling with your choice of fragrance.
You dont have to be mad to work at Onawick, but it helps
On a Wick is located in the picturesque village of Tissington, just off the A515 and close to the Tissington Trail Cycle path.
Can’t make it on Friday? We are open all weekend, and you can still claim your 10% off with your voucher code
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CODE DELPHI 1
Candles Cupcakes and Coffee
Friday 8th April 10.30 – 4pm
On a Wick & a Prayer are excited about their newly refurbished workshop and Annie would like to invite you along to look for yourself!
Come along and take a look around, see our new candle ranges,
Sniffing is free!!
On Friday only, Free Candle gift, Cupcakes, Coffee and 10% off your purchases!!
On the day, Annie and the girls will be available to demonstrate the candle making process and answer any questions you might have.
Bring along the family and enjoy a day out in Tissington, see Tissington Hall, Enjoy lunch at the Tearooms and feed the ducks!
Bring your empty containers for refilling with your choice of fragrance.
On a Wick is located in the picturesque village of Tissington, just off the A515 and close to the Tissington Trail Cycle path.
Can’t make it on Friday? We are open all weekend, and you can still claim your 10% off with your voucher code
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CODE DELPHI 1
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