Our Journal
From thoughtful tips on fragrance and home living, you’ll find guides on how to enjoy our products, the stories behind our fragrances, and glimpses of life on our island home. Our journal is where we introduce you to the team behind Essence of Harris and share the inspiration that shapes everything we create.
Journal
How Do Reed Diffusers Work?
Reed diffusers have quickly become a must-have for home fragrance lovers, and for good reason. Learn all about how these home fragrance favourites work in this guide from the Essence of Harris team...
Learn more
Is Soy Wax Good for Candles?
Soy wax candles are increasingly popular as an eco-friendly choice for your home fragrance. But that's not the only benefit - find out more with our guide to soy wax candle benefits...
Learn more
Transforming Your Home with Scent Layering
Want to create a bespoke scent profile within your home? Explore our guide to fragrance layering to help you learn everything you need to know...
Learn more
Understanding Our Scent Collection: A Home Fragrance Guide
Curious about our scent blends? Learn all about our fragrance collections, and the glorious island that inspired them, from the team at Essence of Harris.
Learn more
How To Care for Your Candles So They Last Longer and Burn Brighter
(4 min read) Who doesn’t love coming home to their favourite scents flowing through the air? But have you ever wondered how to get the most from your candle? With a little TLC, your candle can actually last much longer than you might think possible! Proper care and upkeep can make all the difference when it comes to the longevity of your candles. We want you to get the most from your Essence of Harris candle, so we’ve put together a few simple steps that can help you do just that. The First Burn Have you just taken your candle out of its packaging for the first time? There’s nothing quite like the excitement that comes with opening a fresh new candle and lighting it for the very first time. The first time you light your Essence of Harris candle determines how it will burn for the rest of its life. Strike a match and watch as the flame ignites the candle wick. Allow your candle to burn until the wax has melted fully to the edge of the glass. This creates an even melt pool and will stop the candle from tunnelling. Did you know soy wax has an excellent memory? by perfecting the first burn you will ensure your candle burns evenly. Your candle will remember where it is burnt up to on its first burn, and this will act as a guide for all future burns. We recommend burning your candle for no longer than four hours at a time. This prevents your candle from overheating, and ensures you experience the maximum burn time. Watch our video tutorial where we show you how to achieve the perfect burn with your Essence of Harris candle. Make Your Room Look and Feel Cosy and Inviting Create a cosy and inviting space by placing your candles in just the right spot. Lighting multiple candles is an easy way to create a relaxing atmosphere in your room with minimal effort while maximising scent throughout the room. Our Classic Collection has been beautifully designed to not only provide ambience to your space but to decorate it too. It’s best to keep your candle away from open windows and draughty areas, so if you notice the flame flickering a little more than usual, try moving your candle. When burning multiple candles, try placing them at different heights. If you have a large space, make sure to spread them so the warm glow fills your room. We recommend using the same fragrance to scent your space, to enjoy a consistent scent throw. Dressing either side of a shelf can help create balance and symmetry in your space. Keep Consistent with your Candle Care Having well-kept wicks and wax plays an important role in helping you enjoy your candle for as long as possible. And it’s super easy to stay on top of! Once your candle has an even melt pool and it’s time to put out the flame, we recommend using a candle snuffer. Don’t worry if you don’t have one to hand, you can simply blow out your candle gently. Your candle wick should be trimmed to a quarter of an inch each time before lighting. A well-trimmed wick will prevent tunnelling and help your candle burn slowly. Our wick trimmer has been designed to make this process even easier. While burning, the wick may become misshapen and look a little like a mushroom. Simply trim these off before lighting your candle next, to avoid a smoky flame. Your Candle is Almost Finished, What Now? We know it’s disappointing when your favourite candle inevitably reaches its end but take some comfort in knowing it’s time to light another. Why not take this opportunity to try a new scent! We recommend leaving a quarter of an inch of wax at the bottom of your candle. This helps prevent the bottom of the glass from overheating. Once the remaining wax is cooled it can be wiped clean, leaving you a beautiful vessel to be reused as a plant pot, stationary jar or anything else you’d like. - Whether you're looking to set an enchanting evening table for a romantic meal or snuggle up on the couch with your favourite book, now that you’ve got all our best candle care tips, you can enjoy your favourite scents for even longer. All Essence of Harris candles are made from natural soy wax, which is free from parabens and any harsh chemicals. Read our candle care guide for more information.
Learn more
Why We Love Reed Diffusers - And Why You Will Love Them Too - in 4 Minutes
(4 min read) There’s nothing better than having a gorgeous scent permanently flowing throughout your home. Our reed diffusers are the perfect low-maintenance solution to having a long-lasting scent prominent in your home. They work particularly well in areas you want to keep scented but can’t keep a watchful eye on the open flame of a candle. They also work well to help decorate your home, filling those empty spaces. Where to place your reed diffuser: To get the most from your reed diffuser, we recommend putting it in a cosy space where you’ll be sure to notice the aroma. An entryway is the perfect setting where you and your guests will be welcomed with an inviting fragrance as you enter your home. Our Seilebost reed diffuser exudes warmth and sophistication, making a perfect addition to entryways and cosy living spaces. You’ll notice your scent much better in small rooms, so believe us when we say you won’t regret putting one in a small space. When scenting larger spaces, using multiple diffusers throughout will help you achieve a consistent fragrance and a more obvious scent throw. Create the perfect retreat in your own bedroom: We know how important it is to create a calming environment within the four walls of your bedroom. Lightly scenting your sleeping space makes it easier to relax as you unwind from busy days. The subtle notes of our Losgaintir reed diffuser will make a welcome addition to your night-time routine, whisking you away to a peaceful slumber. We said it before, and we’ll say it again, reed diffusers work well in small spaces, making bathrooms another perfect spot to place yours. Using a reed diffuser in your bathroom creates an inviting and vibrant environment for you, your family, and your guests. Choosing a crisp fresh scent will give your bathroom that much-needed boost. Our Oceana range is perfect for this, giving you that clean feeling all day long. Revitalise your kitchen: Often named the hub of the home, kitchens can be a tricky space to scent, especially after cooking. Placing a few reed diffusers can help eradicate lingering cooking smells. Filling this area with the gorgeous scent of Horgabost will bring a zesty refresh to be enjoyed by everyone. Bring positive vibes to your home office: As many of us are now working remotely, scenting your home-office, or working space will make you feel at ease throughout the day. The light and fruity notes of pink pomelo in our Huisinis reed diffuser will bring essential uplifting positive vibes. Now you know where to put your reed diffusers, here’s how to get the most from them: Our reed diffusers come sealed within their glass vessels, just pop off the top to begin scenting your home. Although fairly low maintenance, there are a few things to remember while using reed diffusers in your home. On the first use of your reed diffuser, you should allow several hours for the scent to draw up through your reeds and the scent to disperse into the air. Flipping your reeds is the most effective way to boost scent throw, when you do so is entirely up to you! Keep in mind that the more frequently you flip your reeds the quicker the oil will evaporate. Flipping your reeds may cause a drip or splash of oil here and there, using a coaster is the perfect way to protect your surfaces while decorating your display at the same time. We find that flipping all the reeds at the same time is the best way to accomplish the most consistent scent throw. If you’re looking for a more subtle scent throw, giving your reed diffuser a level swirl will give you the lightest boost. When to replenish your reeds: It is important to remember to replenish your reeds along with your oil. Over time reeds can become dusty and clogged with fragrance. Our recommendation is to replace reeds when you refill your diffuser and that’s why each Essence of Harris refill comes with a set of fresh reeds. Key points to remember: You should refrain from positioning your reed diffuser near radiators, as the heat will evaporate the oil more quickly. You should also keep the reed diffusers away from windows, as the draft may result in a loss of fragrance – we certainly don’t want that. Having reed diffusers situated throughout your home doesn’t only boost home fragrance but they are also a perfect mood booster. Whichever scent you choose, your home will become a perfectly fragranced haven. Last updated 09/10/23. *Oceana is now known as Mara
Learn more