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Very few leave the Isle of Skye in the Highlands of Scotland without a lasting impression. The wild craggy coastline with its briny air, ruinous castles full of dusty atmosphere, endless valleys speckled with scented heather and misty sea lochs are full of intrigue. It’s these olfactory experiences that build up a picture of where we’ve been. Taking home a memento which will help us retrieve precious time spent in the wilds can only be a good thing.
Enter Skye Candles. A small, homegrown family company with high ethical standards produces a range of candles and diffusers which paint a picture of the largest Hebridean island. Based on the rugged west coast of Skye, the company produce 20 different fragrances, hand poured in their workshop, all inspired by the wildly dramatic surroundings.
Created using 100% soy wax and natural botanical oils, Skye Candles are made with the environment in mind. Founder James Robertson started the company with the thought of ‘doing it right’ and discovered that soy wax, a by-product of the food industry was the ideal product – burning slower than beeswax or paraffin. When he discovered that paraffin, derived from petroleum, had potentially harmful benefits, the decision was clear – 100% natural soy wax was the way forward. Skye Candles now source ethically produced soya wax from Illowa in America, where soya is the second biggest food export.
This kindness to the planet extends to all aspects of the business, including glass tumblers and recyclable metal containers for the travel candles making up the stylistic look of the brand. But more than that, its ethos which reflects the natural beauty of Skye also seeks to protect it – Skye Candles has helped keep business and industry on the Isle.
Back to the candles and the taxing task of choosing a fragrance. Typically candles come into their own in autumn and winter, when the weather brings us inside and we tend to hunker down. Skye Candles aim to bring the best of the Skye’s outside for us - we love ‘Scot’s Pine’ for its earthy notes of pine, myrtle and rosemary – boosting our memories of Scottish travel whilst lending an air of cosiness. We love the large tumblers in blackened glass with wooden lids – particularly ‘Lavender’ for its soothing quality and ‘Chamomile and Cedar’ said to be the brand’s most relaxing scent.
With a burn time of over 45 hours for a large candle, that’s a happy amount of me-time we’re pleased to buy in to.
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