Scentober

{Eds note: the lighting was awful when I took these, but I couldn't wait to get burning them so the photos were sacrificed for a gorgeous smelling flat}

What do you do when you don't feel well? Buy lots of gorgeous smelling candles of course. I had planned for an adventurous Saturday, but my body had other ideas. Waking up with a voice like Kermit the Frog left me feeling pretty sorry for myself, but gave me a good excuse to visit my faaaaavourite shop, Home Sense. If you hadn't already guessed, I'm a complete sucker for seasonally scented candles, and spend forever sniffing out my signature scents. Don't get me wrong, I love the freshness and fruitiness of spring and summer candles, but autumn and winter candles are what I'm all about- they're just so cosy, and fuzzy and you get the picture. So if you're after some gorgeous smelling candles for October, look no further. 

As it's only just October, I had to fight the urge to dive into the Christmas section, and instead headed straight for all the pumpkin/harvest/vanilla scented wax of dreams. I never used to be a fan of the pumpkin scent. When I used to carve pumpkins when I was younger, it used to leave me scrubbing the smell off my hands, but as I've matured, there's something quite sweet and satisfying about them. Coincidentally, all of the candles I picked up were made from the same company- Chesapeake Bay Candles, you've nailed it. 

• Creamy Pumpkin | Pumpkin Foliage | Wild Pumpkin
  This was the first candle I picked up, partly due to the fact you get three scents in one product, how's that for value for money. This candle is what I imagine star-fishing in the middle of a pumpkin patch smells like. The musky wooden tones blends perfectly with the sweetness of the pumpkin to create this heavenly scent, which you can pick up for £3.99.

• White PumpkinOut of all of my purchases, this one is probably my least favourite, buuuut it made the cut, so it's still pretty damn good. Before burning, you have to smell it more than once to get a whiff of all of it's flavours as you'd call them. It's not a sweet as an orange pumpkin, and has a bit more of a crisp aroma to it, making it a perfect bedroom candle.

• Harvest SangriaAfter visiting Spain and Portugal this year, my love for the countries grow, so anything with the word 'sangria' catches my eye. It smells just like my harvest festivals at school used to, with a fruity twist of the Sangria. Obvs, you guys won't know what my harvest festivals used to smell like, but think hay, pumpkins and Autumn air, how nostalgic.   

• Vanilla Creme
  Now this candle is the creme de la creme of vanilla candles. I'll quite happily put my hands up and admit that I am partial to a sickly sweet candle, but it normally has to burnt alongside a less-sweet candle to balance the ambience, so this one goes perfectly with the White Pumpkin candle. It's the tallest of the bunch, and smells exactly like a bakery that's just baked up a batch of vanilla cupcakes.

• Golden Fall 
  These tealights smell exactly how you'd imagine Autumn to smell like. The smell like you've just been out for a walk in the crisp Autumn evening, and you've come home to some freshly baked cinnamon buns, with some pumpkin soup burning on the stove. I'm not quite sure how they've managed to squeeze all that into a tealight, but for £4.99 for 24 tealights, I'm hella happy they did. 

I can tell you one things, my flat smells absolutely amazing right now! What are your go-to October scents?

Top 5 Autumn Activities

October is running away with us, but looking back I have experienced some perfect Autumn activities that can be enjoyed by all! So grab a hot beverage and a notebook to jot down some ideas for your next Autumn adventure. 

1. Visit a pumpkin patch
This one has to be number one. I know you're probably thinking that it's just a field of pumpkins, what's so special about that? But it's so much more than a field of pumpkins. To begin with, it normally combines a visit to a great farm with an inviting farm shop, they are the best at this time of year! It also gives you a sense of satisfaction when you find that pumpkin, you know it's the one. These type of events are cropping up all over the country now, and you don't need to be under 12 to enjoy them- especially when there's different coloured pumpkins to choose from. 

2. Go for a country walk
There is no better feeling than breathing in fresh country air whilst the crisp wind brushes your cheeks. Sounds a bit like the start to a novel, but it's true. With the countryside of Yorkshire on our doorstep, well a fifteen minute drive out of the city, we have managed to escape to some wonderful corners of the county and find picturesque views and tranquil walks. If you haven't already ventured out then Google something along the lines of 'good walks in *insert area*', put your wellies and waterproof on and head on out, I can promise you you won't regret it. {If you can find somewhere with a cute town nearby then that's an even better reason}

3. Garden Centers
Yes, I'm only 21 but going to a garden center on a Sunday afternoon was always a family tradition, and they are especially good at this time of year. Paired with a nice walk, they are great to wander round and pick out some local chutney and farm food. They also have some inspiring Christmas displays, and will definitely get you in the festive spirit. 

4. Bake some goodies
Heating is starting to be turned on, and curtains are being drawn earlier which gives your more time to flick through recipe books to find some tasty things to bake. In summer we avoid putting the oven on, but now it's colder and we're layering up, cake and a cup of tea has never sounded so good. 

5. Wander round your town / city
This time of year is when everyone seems to be friendlier and jollier. It may be cold and miserable, but the Autumn feeling brings some eye-catching window displays and happy shoppers. York has definitely embraced the Halloween spirit too, and your spoilt for choice when it comes to spooky goings on. Take some time out to simply just browse and take in your surroundings, you'll appreciate the little things around you and you can always squeeze in a cake pit stop. 

Hope this has given you some October inspiration!

Candle Lovin'

You've been treated to a whole variety of content this week! As you may have already read, in my weekly update post a few days ago, I went round smelling a whole array of new scents over the weekend. This has left me browsing the internet for my next buys and I'm going to give you guys a preview into what has been added to my shopping basket for next pay day. 

1. Autumn Comforts | WoodWick Trilogy | £17.99 {medium}
Number one on the list is a brand I had never heard of before the weekend, WoodWick. They do such a wide variety of candles and you are spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing a 'flavour'. As you can see from the picture above they also produce a unique range named Trilogy; three different scents in one jar! The one in my basket is a fall must have, Sonoma Sunset. Pumpkin Butter. Apple Crisp, perfect for the end of September. To then top this special variety, their candles also 'crackle as they burn', how soothing on a dark evening whilst your curled up reading a book.

2. Home Sweet Home | Yankee Candle | £16.49 {large}
I can't have a candle wish list without a Yankee Candle making an appearance! They may be quite pricey but their wicks/wax seem to last forever. I love the seasonal scents Yankee bring out and this one falls under their fragrance of the month category, meaning it's been knocked down from £21.99! It blends together the smells of poured tea, baked spices and cinnamon, the perfect combination for a kitchen candle if you ask me!  

3. Cinnamon Spice | Shearer | £8.00
It's not autumn without the constant aroma of cinnamon around the house, which is exactly what my flat will be smelling like! This little beauty is at a bargain price of £8.00 with a burn time of 30 hours! It comes in a swanky jar with a copper gold lid and a deep teal base; not your usual cinnamon colour. 

4. Pumpkin Spice | DW Home | £9.99
Just like you can never have too much cinnamon, you can never have too much pumpkin when it comes to Autumn. This jar is born and bred in California but is available at TK Maxx, and has a rustic feel to it. The cork lid is different to many other brands and the labeling is super nice on the eye. 

There you have it, four candles in my basket ready to be purchased. What are you favourite Autumn scents?

September Wishlist

This weather doesn't just leave me wishing for autumn even more {check out my last blog post} but it also means I'm spending my time browsing the world wide web and finding my latest loves. And for all you lucky readers I thought I'd share some of the items that are on my September wishlist for next payday, after all the important things such as rent and bills have been paid of course. 

1. Zara- Denim Mini Skirt | 2. TK MAXX- 6 Tealight Candle Holder | 3. Topshop- Moto Black Jamie Jeans | 4. MAC- Dark Side Lipstick | 5. H&M- Wool Hat | 6. Warehouse- Suede Flat Ankle Boots | 7. New Look- Rust Corduroy Skirt | 8. Oliver Bonas- Small Copper & Glass Terrarium | 9. Urban Outfitters- How To Be Parisian

Lusting for Fall

Don't get me wrong, I'm such a summer lover not just by birth, but because I love the beach, long warm evenings and the flowers the season brings. However, the last of our summer seems to be fading away and being replaced by rainy days, cold winds and dark mornings, which is making me even more ready for what September brings, and after reading my list of what I'm excited for, you might realize that you are too!

1. Mugs and mugs of hot coco
There's nothing more satisfying then coming in from a chilly day, making yourself a hot chocolate and curling up on the sofa under a blanket. 

2. Autumnal scents 
I am a candle obsessed blogger and the move into autumn means new scents of pumpkins, spiced oranges and campfires {Yankee have a divine range at the moment!}

3. Your wardrobe is full of knitwear
Each day is a struggle choosing which jumper or cardigan to wear instead of what skirt or dress

4. Boots
And every outfit is complimented by a beautiful pair of boots

5. The satisfaction of jumping into crisp, fallen leaves
And the colours of the trees make perfect Instagram pictures

6. Pumpkin carving
Everyone becomes an artist the night of Halloween

7. Salted caramel and caramel apples
Lip-smakingly good

8. Come November skies will be filled with fireworks and Bonfire ashes
Alongside sparklers, hot dogs, hats and gloves

9. Not forgetting the lead up to Christmas
Less than four months to go!

Maybe now you're ready to say goodbye to August, and hello to September!
{Disclamer: click on the photo to be taken to the source}