SCENT OF SMELL FOR WELLBEING

My approach to beauty and wellbeing has always been holistic. I know from experience that it is important to feel balanced in order to thrive in our lives. For me, personal rituals make me feel better, calm me down and bring equilibrium into my life.

When I launched my first beauty line called Angelique, an organic and natural Mother & Baby range some 25 years ago, it was built around the sense of smell and how that effects Mothers & Babies. Babies recognize their mothers not only by sight but smell and they are soothed by the aromas around them. e.g., Lavender in their room aids serenity and relaxation.

I have always lent towards natural and organic aromas and ingredients not only through the perfumes that I use but also what I use as home fragrances. I’m a great fan of CERA candles, as they hold these values true too. Amazing smells but a holistic ethos too. What’s not to like! Here are a few questions that I asked Cera founders Ian Chater and his partner Tina Koniotes.

 

1.WHEN DID YOU START THE COMPANY AND WHY


Ian had been experimenting with fragrances and different types of wax as a hobby, but we started the business in 2017 after he gifted one of his scented candles at a friend’s BBQ and everyone loved it. We started to get requests from friends and their friends, word got around and Cera.London was born.

  1. WHEN BLENDING THE OILS DO YOU DO LOTS OF TRIALS GETTING THE RIGHT COMBINATION OF NOTES


Ian experiments constantly with different combinations of fragrance oils; depending on the complexity of the scent it can sometimes take weeks to get the balance right.

All our products are tested extensively before we make them available to our customers.... Ian is obsessed with the science behind the perfect burn and scent throw.

  1. IS IT IMPORTANT THAT WHEN CHOOSING THE VASES THAT YOUR WAX BLEND IS IN THAT THEY COME FROM LOCAL, SMALL COMPANIES


Our signature black glass is made in France; however, our concrete vessels are made for us by Smith & Goat in E17 and our recycled glass comes from Prosecco bottles collected from local bars and restaurants in E11. Our newest container is made from Jesmonite, an eco-friendly, water-based resin, and is made by us in our East London studio

  1. HOW LONG DOES THE FRAGRANCE LAST WHILST BURNING I.E. BURN TIMES

Average burn time is 40 hours depending on the size of the container.

We use a high percentage of fragrance oils to wax, which means our candles have a strong scent throw even in their cold state. If the candle is extinguished after 2 hours burning, the fragrance will continue to fill the room for several hours.

Fragrance from our wax melts can last several hours after the tealight is blown out, and they can be reused multiple times before the scent fades.

  1. DO YOU BELIVE THAT SCENT EVOKES MEMORIES AND ARE THERAPUTIC

Most definitely. Scent, emotion and memory are all connected as they are processed in the same part of the brain, so we can use scent to enhance our moods ... for example lemon and lavender are good for alleviating stress and creating a sense of calm, whereas rosemary and peppermint can boost energy levels.

When creating a bespoke fragrance for clients we always ask them about scents that trigger memories from their past; this enables Ian to create a fragrance that is very personal to them.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM CERA.LONDON 


The wax used in our candles and melts is made from rapeseed and coconut, nothing else. It is completely free from paraffin, parabens, palm oil, beeswax or synthetics, and unlike soy is manufactured by a sustainable process.

We source natural oils and essences for our Signature products wherever possible
The fragrances used in our Pure collection are created from pure essential oils The fragrances used in our Natural collection are created from natural compounds which are more sustainable than pure essential oils

Our packaging is made from recycled kraft paper and card, and our packing chips are 100% biodegradable and compostable

TIPS FOR THE PERFECT BURN
The first time you burn your Cera candle, allow it to burn for at least 2 hours until the melt pool has reached the edge of the container; this will help your candle to burn more evenly the next time you light it.

Keep the wick(s) trimmed to 3-5mm. By shortening the wick you allow it to burn more slowly and also avoid unsightly black smoke marks around the edge of the container

After blowing out your candle re-centre and straighten the wick

How do you know when your candle is finished? The obvious answer is when all the wax has gone but did you know that it’s actually dangerous to burn a candle with less than 1cm of wax left, as the container could overheat and crack? To avoid waste and use every bit of your candle, scoop out 8-10g of wax and use it with a tealight oil burner. You can use every last bit of the wax in this way and use the empty container for your pens or toothbrush. No Waste!

Cera.London
We can’t change the world, but we can make it smell a whole lot better.

www.cera.london