Under a Fig Tree | Update

Hello everyone, I'm back!

Back, as in I just left this space to be for a while because I have been doing other stuff e.g. working, studying, sleeping. I haven't really been doing much for the last few months, I've just been trying to survive working and studying and paying rent, the usual.

My room has has some major updates, which I will post soon. My wardrobe also has had some drastic changes and my shoe collection which has changed (I've sold some old pairs and bought some new). I no longer have a large collection of boots (first time in... almost 10 years?).

 I also have some new makeup bits (some really exciting stuff I've got recently!!!). You can say that I have been purchasing a bunch of stuff over the last few months (thanks to my insomnia x mood at night... hehe).

I wanted to post about this candle though, it's my ultimate favourite. It's not sickly, it's subtle, it's fresh and warm. I purchased it from feelunique when it was on special--it was well worth the money. It was $28.80 when I bought it, before feelunique made some major changes to their website and charges now for shipping to Australia...

So after burning the entire candle, I can say it is SO SO nice. The only down side is that it doesn't quite burn as evenly as brands like Glasshouse and Ecoya. It tunnels down the centre a bit, but it goes away if you burn it for a few hours every time you light it.

I love anything and everything fig. But ESPECIALLY when it is a woody-fig scent.

Also, the wax is purple. And the jar has a little quote you can see when it's burned down and lit.

I went back to Brisbane in March and then Early this month for a few days just for a little break and to see my little canine sister Gemma. I honestly wouldn't visit that often if it weren't for her haha! Even though my fam got her the day before I left, I've visited so many times that she knows who I am and gets excited to a new level when she sees me! She's a Labrador (but her papa is half border collie) so she's a bit funny looking for a Lab, mostly because her muzzle is longer and skinnier and her ears fold weirdly (you can't tell from a side profile though). My dad jokes saying she's an original Lab while he presses her ears down flat hahaha.

When she was all doped up after being spayed. She's never calm like this when someone is touching her...
And she's not usually allowed in the house, but this night she had a great slumber party and trodded over everything.

I will hopefully keep this space updated more frequently, just to catch up on everything. I've not been feeling so great over the past few months, mostly just from exhausting myself out. Hopefully great things will be coming my way!

First Ever Proper Candle Purchases!

I always thought burning a candle was literally just burning money, but I enjoy the smell so much I can kind of see that a candle is more of an environment accessory - like aromatherapy. I've bought lots of super cheap candles before and now I can immediately tell the difference. Better brands like Glasshouse, Ecoya, Diptyque, Yankee etc are much more pricey but they do burn so much better.

Ecoya's caramelised fig smells divine, like a burnt caramel + nutty scent. If you think Glasshouse Tahaa vanilla is too sickly and sweet but you like the 'caramelised' food sort of smell, you might like this one. It doesn't smell overly like fig which I was a little bit disappointed by, but I still think it smells soooo good. Ecoya candles are almost always full price, as is Glasshouse, but oh my god I got it during a 1-day 40% off sale at Myer *glorious hallelujah music* It was down to $21 from $34.95.

My old manager who is a candle wiz told me that soy wax doesn't spread scent as well and burns faster.
However, I think the smell spreads just fine, and I don't think it burns crazy fast or anything.

I've already used 1/4 of it, and as you can see it's burned very smoothly and there isn't some crater around the wick.

I tried so hard not to light this one until at least end of November... and I failed. It's a Christmas/Autumnal scent which Australia just never has because our Christmas is boiling hot. We don't get crispy red leaves and pudding and pies and mulled wine and beanie season this time of year.

But since I love love love spicy scents - this one basically smells like Christmas spices but a bit lighter, more fresh and fruity, like the woods. Even though it was $29.95 (again, I got it 40% off for $18), $4 less than the Ecoya in a similar size, it burns just as well and spreads the smell brilliantly!

It's a bit weird because these two I picked up are fruit-based scents (or so they are meant to be) and I normally like warmer, woodier or even cakey scents. They don't smell exactly like the description, but they smell absolutely great anyway! I'm going to try save most of the Aromatherapy one until closer to Xmas!

♥

Scented Home

I love scented candles, but I have to say that they're a bit of a pain sometimes.

Not only do the really nice ones cost an arm and a leg, cheaper ones that DO smell nice usually don't come with lids or any other decent-looking case. Usually meaning, when you blow it out, the wonderful smell quickly turns into the post-birthday-cake-blowing smell.

My mum used to tell me that don't ever burn a candle with all your doors shut (I used to burn some aromatherapy essential oils while studying), since the flame burns oxygen and uses up whatever flow of oxygen you have coming minimally into your room. It's not like you're going to pass out or anything, but I'm just assuming it's not exactly the healthiest.

But with cheaper and weaker candles, that means having to close off windows etc. so you can actually smell the scent, otherwise what's the point!!!

I've spent quite a bit of money on buying a ton of crappy cheap ones - usually from the reject shop or something, some have been okay but I'm not all that surprised from the kind of selection that's usually available, cakey, vanillary, fruity or some flower/linen scent.

I recently went looking for reasonably priced candles and had a proper look at diffusers with the wooden sticks. They smelled surprisingly strong and just as good as a candle! No need to light a flame or anything, just stick them in and leave it there for a few months. Having it diffusing 24/7 means I can come into my room with the scent lingering on, yay!

Since it's getting hotter in Brisbane, I'm not a fan of having a burning flame in my room, I think it makes a difference, and the feel of it is just wrong in summery weather.

So I got one of these to test it out, and after 6 hours since placing the sticks in the solution, I can vouch that the smell is just as strong as a candle or even stronger, and it's nice to just forget about having to light it and put it out.

Cosmetics Fragrances Direct - $14 (originally $30 apparently)

So far I'm loving smell of this, I couldn't decide between a "black liqorice" and this. I didn't realise until I smelled a lot of diffusers that I'm more fond of musky, woody and spicy scents than sweet, fruity ones. This "wild magnolia" one is basically a musky floral scent, so it's really cosy and warm but still fresh and clean-smelling at the same time.

I've bought far too many things since I have started work last month... that includes makeup, clothes and random home-ware stuff. I think I'm going through the "oh my god I have money now, I can buy stuff from a store THIS FEELS AMAZING" phase. Again. Woops.