Supporting Small Businesses this October.
October was a little bit of a tricky month for me. Normally it's my favorite month of the year. I love Halloween, and, in my own way. celebrate it all month long. The weather begins to get cooler, and October is the doorway to the fall and winter months that I love so much.
That being said, this was a tough October for me. 2020 has sunk its hooks in to me, as much as anyone else, I suppose, and I didn't really notice exactly how much until now.
Working a full-time job, plus launching the soap shop has kept me busy, busy, busy. Additionally, I wasn't approaching October with my usual enthusiasm. We had record breaking heat waves in Southern California, making it feel more like the middle of summer instead of the end.
I knew that I would have to do something to fill my heart, and my home, with those fall feelings that I was so desperately craving.
Enter these purchases. This was my treat to myself. A way to fully live in the fall season, while I spent most of October preparing and making my December soaps!
My first purchase came from Gemstone Candle Co. I ordered the Autumn Wax Melt Trio. Every scent was a winner! Cashmere Plum was sweet and fruity. Spiced Apple was so wonderful, and Caramel Pumpkin was a delightful surprise. I was pleased that every one of these fragrances were a winner, and there hasn't been a day since I got my order that I haven't had one of these three scents in my warmer, filing my days with the lovely smells of fall.
I also ordered the Vanilla Chai Candle. Let me tell you I want to LIVE in this candle. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla all wrapped up in a fantastic candle.
In addition to the fantastic products, shipping was very fast, everything was packaged safe and secure. I'll 100% purchase from her again.
My second purchase was a candle from Wicked Soaps Co. I needed help fully embracing Halloween and Wicked Soaps had just what I needed with their Samhain candle. A gentle outdoorsy scent with just a hint of extra goodies like roasted marshmallow, coconut and vanilla. I love this candle.
Finally, I ordered some soaps from Ophelia's Soapery. Yes, I know I'm a soapmaker, and I have a house full of soap, and I couldn't possibly need more.
Ophelia's Soapery creates out of this world beautiful soaps. Her youtube channel was a big help and inspiration for my own soapmaking journey. These videos have some of the most satisfying soap pouring I've ever seen, and her use of color is truly inspirational. Both of the soaps that I purchased I saw her make in the videos and, no joke, I set a calendar alert to remind me when they'd be released on her site because I knew I wanted them!
The All Hallows Eve and Cranberry Orange soaps are truly works of art, and as soon as I received the package I put All Hallows Eve in the shower.
I highly recommend that we all consider shopping from small businesses this holiday season. You'll find a treasure trove of unique, handmade objects, and the purchases themselves will go to people living and working their passion.
If you do shop small, remember that your reviews on these products that you purchase will go a long way for these shops. Leaving a review in the shop, on a social page, or even tagging your purchase on your social page will be a huge help for these shops.
You can start by following these shops on Instagram, and then just having your mind blown with all of the beautiful work that they put out.