B&M Autumn Candles

I have been meaning to do a review of these candles since B&M started stocking them a couple of years ago but you know me, it takes me a while to get around to these things. You will have seen pictures of them on the blog a few times though!

When these B&M candles came out two years ago everyone in the U.K went crazy for them because they are a great dupe for Bath & Body Works Candles which we can't easily get hold of here. I had always wanted one of the B&BW candles but until last year I hadn't been lucky enough to own one!

The B&M Essence Candles range in price from £2.99-£3.99 (on sale for £3 in my local store currently). They cannot be beaten on price, I have not found another candle this size you can purchase in the U.K that actually gives off a good scent when burnt. 

This is now the third Autumn I have been burning these candles and all of the ones I own have been able to fill a room full of fragrance and I have found them to burn pretty evenly if you burn them for long enough (I would say at least 2.5-3 hours). However if you smell them in store before purchasing some definitely smell stronger than others even of the same fragrance, so make sure try them in store.

Some of the scents pictured above where purchased (in multiples which is why I still have a supply) in previous years but I have seen most of them still in stores along with the Autumn fragrance which I believe is new for this year! The marshmallow fireside is still available in the cooper lid version of this candle {featured on the blog here}, although I prefer the scent of the silver lid version, they're meant to be the same but I don't think they are, but both smell delicious, and I am sorry to say I don't know if they smell just like the Bath & Body Works candle of the same name as I haven't smelt it.

But since I have now had the chance to try out a few B&BW candles I can tell you my thoughts on how the B&M version compares. The B&BW candles come in a much larger variety of scents and they give off a much stronger aroma when burnt, they have become my favourite candles. The B&M ones feature a pretty design on the lid just like it's inspiration and they have been labelled similar. In the U.K you will be looking at around £18-£20 if you want to pick up a Bath & Body Works Candle and while I think they are far superior, you really can't beat the price of the B&M Essence Candles. So unless you are headed to the U.S soon (with an empty suitcase) and can take advantage of the amazing sales to stock up on B&BW ones, I think your best bet is to head to your nearest B&M store and grab a few of these candles before they sell out. I am hoping they will continue to bring out new scents in the years to come! 

September Faves

Can you believe I am getting my September faves up in the first week of October? No? Me either, haha! I actually had some time to shoot some pictures for the blog recently and I am hoping to get an outfit shoot or two in this weekend because I haven't done an outfit post in ages! 

We welcomed Fall in September and I am so excited to share all my favourite cozy goodies with you all over thew next few months. 

Essie Nail Polish in 'Wicked'

This colour is one of my go to colours in Autumn every year. It's a really deep dark red colour (also perfect for Halloween). I always gravitate towards darker hues for my nails in Fall, and this Essie one paints so smoothly too.

Vitamix Blender

This Vitamix was a birthday gift from my Mum but I only started using it last month. When I lived at home I use to make smoothies every morning with my Mum. I haven't had one for breakfast since I moved and so I love that I can now make my favourite breakfast smoothies again. Plus the Vitamix has soooo much more power than our old blender so I can use it to make a huge variety of things from smoothies, to soups, to nut butters! It is definitely an investment piece but if you want something powerful that you can use everyday I would highly recommend that you go for a Vitamix!

Living with Amanda Pumpkin Pillow Case via Etsy

I picked up this pillow case at the end of last Fall and have been waiting for an entire year to have it out, so as soon as September hit I put it straight on our sofa. I love finding home decor pieces on Etsy and Amanda's store is filled full of beautiful designs. I already have a Christmas cover that I can't wait to pull out.  

Nordstrom Tees

I didn't pick much up in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale this year, I tried to refrain from making a lot of impulse purchases but one thing I do love to pick during the sale is basic striped tees! These tees are perfect for layering with cardigans in the Autumn. I picked up two short sleeve ones, a classic black and white stripe and a pink and white stripe which I wore in Summer. Then I got the long sleeve version in black and white again and also in this tan and black combination, which pairs perfectly with my Fall wardrobe.   

Bath & Body Works Leaves 3-Wick Candle

Last year my lovely best friend brought me back some Bath & Body Works Candles from her trip to America and they totally lived up to all the hype. To say I was obsessed was an under statement. So this year I decided to treat myself to a new Bath & Body Works Candle and I decided to try Leaves, because it seems to be the quintessential Fall candle, and yes it really is THAT good. I will definitely be repurchasing in years to come. If you want to know how I got my hands on this in the U.K, I had to resort to eBay. There is actually quite a few U.K sellers who seem to travel to the US and bring these candles back to sell. The price doesn't work out anywhere near as good as it does in the U.S but I still think it was worth every penny!

Well that's it for my September Favourites, what was everyone else loving last month? I will be back next month to share every more Autumn Favourites. 

SHOP MY FAVES

Where To Find Pumpkin Candles in the U.K

Happy Wednesday! Who else is excited that Autumn is finally here?? I know I am and I cannot wait for this season to get in full swing. 

There are lots of things I love about the Fall, but one thing is all the candles, Fall fragrances are definitely the best. 

If you live across the pond then you will find find pumpkin everything this time of year, but here in England we don't quite have the same passion for pumpkins yet. It's the time of year when I start wishing that we had Target over here more than ever. 

It has definably become easier over the past few years to find pumpkin goodies in the U.K and I thought I would round up my favourite places to find pumpkin candles here for you all. 

Flash back to five years ago and the candle in this post here was the first pumpkin candle I ever found and I was so excited about it, I'm so happy they are easier to find nowadays! 

Anthropologie Pumpkin Souffle Boulangerie Candle

Anthropologie is always one of the first places I look for seasonal homewares. As they are an American company they were one of the first places you could find pumpkin goods. This candle is hands down my favourite pumpkin candle I have ever owned. This one is on the pricier side, so for me it was a treat when Anthro had a sale. If I could afford to I would burn this candle every day of Autumn. 

B&M Stores Pumpkin Waffles Candle

If you are looking for a budget friendly option then head to your nearest B&M stores. 

A couple of years ago B&M introduced a line of candles that looked pretty similar to the famous Bath & Body Works Candles, but the price range was only £2.99-£3.99. 

When they first launched they had a whole range of pumpkin candles {seen in my post here} and every year I keep crossing my fingers that they will bring them back  but alas they haven't yet. They do still have this pumpkin waffles candle in store though which has quite a subtle fragrance and a price tag that can't be beaten. 

DW Home Candles via T.K Maxx

My all time favourite place to search for pumpkin candles though? I'm sure it will be no surprise that it's T.K Maxx {or Homesense if you're lucky enough to have one nearby}. It's where I found my very first pumpkin candle. They use to appear rarely but now they have a huge selection this time of year, such a big selection in fact I always have a hard time picking out which ones to take home. DW Home is a common brand you'll find in T.K Maxx and one I personally love. They have a huge range of pumpkin scented candles in all shapes and sizes and I love all the different designed jars you can find. The wooden barrel was a find in Homsense last year {that will become a base for a flower arrangement one day} and the black and white plaid is the lastest one I picked up, I'm a sucker for anything plaid. 

And if you really crave one of those Bath & Body Works 3 Wick Candles then you can always pick one up on Ebay, I may have treated myself to one this year! 

I'd love to know if you have any favourite places to pick up candles this time of year, leave your suggestions in the comments below.  

SHOP THE POST

August Favourites

Happy Friday! So I've managed to get my August faves up just very slightly sooner than my July ones. Most of these I unfortunately can't link you to, but hopefully you'll be able to find them in a store near you! 

Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt Body Creme

I have been a huge fan of Jo Malone since I discovered the brand around 5 years ago! I love to layer their scenes and create my own combinations and I recently went to their store in Jarrolds Norwich and tried out some some fragrances. I ended up taking home this Body Creme in Wood Sage & Sea Salt. I remember smelling the cologne when it first came out and thinking it was nice but I wasn't sure if it was me. However I tried it in the body creme in store and was in love. I prefer how the creme smells on my skin and it's lovely layered with my favourite Nectarine Blossom & Honey. 

American Eagle Soft & Sexy Long Sleeve Crew

I think this sweatshirt is now sold out but there is a whole bunch of other pieces made in the soft and sexy fabric and I may just have to pick up some more! This might be the softest thing I have purchased in a long time. It's super snuggly and was perfect for the chiller Summer evenings. I'll still be wearing it all the way through Autumn and probably into Winter too. It's a perfect year round piece. 

San Pelligrino Lemonades

A bit of a random one but these lemonades are my favourite. They come in a whole bunch of flavours but the lemon and blood orange have been my favourite this Summer. My Mum got me a whole bunch of these for my birthday and it has kept as stocked for the entire Summer. I try not to drink too many sugary drinks but these I have a weakness for! 

H&M Straw Bag

I probably didn't need another straw bag in my life, but who am I kidding this one had to join my collection. It was from H&M so it was super affordable and while it's not the strongest straw bag I own I think it'll last a few Summers. I was drawn to this bag because of the drawstring pouch inside, that also just happened to be blue and white stripes. I love basket bags but sometimes I worry I am going to spill all of my things everywhere so this one helps keep all my belongings safe. This bag kept selling out in store and online so I had to keep checking back for a good few weeks before I managed to grab one! 

Aldi Fig Garden Candle 

Diptyque candles are one of my favourites but I only have a few that were purchased as very special treats as they are out of my normal budget. I've always wanted to own one their big candles....maybe one day. This Summer Aldi had a special buy on these candles that can be used outdoors or indoors. I think they were £8 or £9 and since I haven't burnt mine yet I can't comment on how fragranced they are but for decoration you can't beat the price tag. I love the simple classic design and they look lovely on a coffee table or by a fireplace. 

Cat Necklace {Birthday Gift}

My last favourite for August is this beautiful necklace I was gifted from my friend Laura for my birthday. I love the sweet little cat design and every time I wear it I am reminded of Bella and also Laura. I had sent Laura a similar penguin one for her birthday and so these are like a grown up friendship necklaces to us now. 

So that was my little round up of the things I was loving in August and I will be back in a couple of weeks with my September Favourites! I would love to here what some of your Fall Favourites are so I can give them a try too. 

Autumn Decor Updates

It's hard to say whether I prefer decorating for Autumn or Christmas, I love all the warm colours of Fall. I haven't finished decorating completely yet but I've slowly been adding a few new pieces around my home to make it feel warm and cozy for the season.

Cute Prints from Lily & Val - Hot Apple Cider // Pumpkin Pie. My sister gave me these as a birthday gift and they make the perfect addition to any kitchen for some Fall inspired baking! 

Farmer's Market Flowers.

I love these Bath & Body Works Mini Candles that my sweet pen pal sent me last year, we can't get them here in the UK so I am savouring them and haven't burnt them! I also found another one of these gold frames in T.K. Maxx and framed my favourite pictured from a recent Apple Picking trip. The pine cones are ones we have picked up on our adventures and I love having them lying around the house this time of year. 

Another T.K. Max Find that I couldn't leave behind. this little rose gold squirrel is such a cutie! 

We can't get Bath & Body Works candles here in the UK but I did find some really similar ones in B&M Stores and they retail for only £2.99. I thought they probably won't smell too strong when being burnt, but surprisingly they actually fill them room with a warming aroma. They also had some pumpkin ones in the Halloween section which I picked up too. 

Yet another T.K. Max find, it is my favourite place to pick up Fall decor, they always have the prettiest pumpkins! 

Another Lily & Val Print  because who doesn't love everything pumpkin spiced at this time of year. I like to think the girl in this print from H Nichols Illustration has just stopped by Starbucks and picked up a Pumpkin Spice Latte, which I still need to do. 

What are some of your favourite ways to decorate around the home for Autumn? 

Stacey's Smiles

The closest thing I could find to Bath & Body Works Candles in the UK - £2.99 from B&M Stores.

Always Be A Flamingo {necklace found here}

Happy Pumpkin Spice Season - Print from Lily & Val.

Berry Picking Sundays!

Packing up for a sewing course! 

Happy Friday Again!! I am super excited that I am headed to a two day sewing class next week and I am going to try my hand at dress making! If I'm successful you'll be able to see my creation on the blog soon! It's also my little sister's birthday tomorrow, so I can't wait to celebrate with her! What weekend plans does everyone else have?

Also don't forget to enter the giveaway with Victoria Emerson in my last post here! 

Claro Candles #BRINGLIGHT

I have an ever growing collection of candles around my home and I love discovering new brands and scents to burn. Claro Candles were introduced to me by Stephanie on her instagram feed.
There is something a little different about Claro Candles, not only do they smell amazingly delicious as they burn, every time you purchase one you are helping change someones life. It might be by providing a life saving vaccination for a child or supplying clean clean water to someone in East Africa for a year, planting a tree in an area threatened by deforestation, or providing a day of school for a child who couldn't afford to go.
 So next time you are looking to buy a gift for someone stop by Claro and not only will you be giving them a sweet gift you'll also be helping someone in need. Burn  a candle, Bring light. 

Getting Cozy with Jo Malone

I love burning candles all year round, but as the nights get darker there is nothing I love more than curling up under my favourite blanket and lighting a few candles. I treated myself to this Jo Malone Peony & Blush Suede candle for my birthday, and the fragrance is divine, my entire room is filled with the sweetest scent! As soon as Autumn is here you will find pumpkin candles around my home and I recently discovered Flamingo Candles (how cute is the packaging?) which will be next candle I purchase when I feel like I deserve a little treat!


You can shop all my favourite candles here: