Can self-care really be as simple as lighting a candle?
The opportunity to ‘buy self-care’ is everywhere these days; from mindfulness journals to clean eating books, gym memberships to softer bed linen, yoga retreats to bath products.
And we’re all for it. While some people fall into the ‘you’re wasting your money, buying stuff can’t help’ camp, we truly believe that investing in yourself through products which inspire, unwind and soothe you has never been as important. Yes, times are tough - we’re all watching our heating bills, our nation is in disarray, it’s pitch black most of the time and it’s freezing outside. But that’s exactly why it’s important to create tiny moments of peace and comfort, and to truly savour them when we get them.
Us human beings have evolved ourselves into a bit of a pickle. With our incredible brains, we have built empires, but now we need to run those empires, and we do so in a wholly unnatural manner. While other animals (because we are animals, don’t forget!) spend autumn and winter fattening up, slowing down, seeking out a cosy place to rest and whiling away the days using as little energy as possible, we work long days despite the cold and dark, we spend more time in the office than we do with family and friends, and we forget to play, to rest, to savour the changing of the season and its prompt to slow down. We say those who end up anxious and depressed during this season have ‘seasonal affective disorder’, when actually what we have is ‘I’m trying to do too much for my little animal self to cope with’ disorder.
Many of us can’t just slow down - our jobs or kids or studies demand a lot from us, and we have to make ends meet, so we end up seeking moments of comfort wherever possible which we can slot into our busy schedule. Whether it’s foregoing your green tea for a hot chocolate (with cream and marshmallows, obviously) taking a long hot bath, binge watching your favourite show without a glimmer of guilt, or just saying ‘no’ to a few more things - these tiny acts of self-care rebellion can make all the difference when we are all trying to make it through these tough times.
Some would say that lighting a candle and enjoying a scent can’t fix your day; we beg to differ. Our senses need input; to be delighted and nurtured and utilised. Our noses are one of the most powerful ways we have of connecting to our mental wellbeing; just one sniff of a familiar or beautiful scent can transport us to times and places far, far away. The smell of your Nana’s perfume on her jacket when she cuddled you. The scent of the trees in the woods where you played as a child. Your favourite pudding, fresh out of the oven. We connect times, places, people and feelings to smell just as much as we do with sight, or the sound of a certain piece of music, or the taste of your favourite childhood treat, or the feel of someone’s touch.
That’s why I’m so passionate about creating scents that transport you; even if it’s just for an hour when you light a candle while you take a bath, or tidy your kitchen, or watch a film. I want to capture the very essence of self-care into my fragrances, to give you that little moment of respite every time you walk into your home and smell one of our diffusers. Life can be really, really hard - that’s why I feel so passionately about encouraging other women to bring softness into their daily routine.
Try and find yourself a self-care hour this week and light that candle you have been saving ;-)
Allana