There's nothing I love more about summer than all the excuses to make it cocktail o'clock at any hour*. A sunny Saturday in the park? Take some sparkling wine along with your picnic! Chilling in the garden? Make mine a mojito! Any other time the sun's out? Give me all the G&T! Now before you start to thing that I'm an ACTUAL alcoholic, can we go back to the fact that it is 100% socially acceptable to whip out the Pimms at a British sporting event when it's sunny. It's a good thing Wimbledon started today!
*Actually I lied, the one thing I REALLY love about summer is holidays but poorness...
M&J London is a luxury candle brand founded by Jennifer McNabb in 2012. The brand note ethics and sustainability high on on their list of priorities, driven by Jennifer's experiences of fast fashion. They use recycled glass jars and natural dyes to print their boxes which are sourced from the UK. On the whole, they are committed to making sure their products leave a positive impact on the world.
"Be the change you want to see in the world"
The brand also supports UK-based women's charities, and they donate 50p or £1 (depending on the size) from every candle sale. They have previously partnered with the charity Eaves, and are now supporting nia which aims to end violence towards women, as well as offer support to those who are victims of domestic abuse.
I think it is absolutely brilliant that the brand donates part of their profits to a good cause, and that's something that would definitely encourage to purchase with M&J over a more commercial brand in the future. M&J really comes across as a brand who care, about the environment, other causes, their customers and their products, and that's really refreshing!
M&J London's signature line of luxury candles are highly influenced by Jennifer's travels, as well as her life in London. Just a peek at the website reveals candles inspired by India, Spain, Germany... If you're someone who get a bad case of wanderlust, then this is the range for you.
When M&J London first approached me about working together, I had a browse through the range and English Summer* (£35) stood out to me immediately. English Summer is a blend of strawberries, cucumber, mint and champagne. It smells completely true to life and completely encapsulates everything I associate with summer! Gin and Tonic, Pimms, Wimbledon, summer weddings... Below shows a mood board created by M&J London, depicting their inspiration for the scent.
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| Image Credit: M&J London |
English Summer is the brand's most popular candle (and rightly so). It has the magic of being completely perfect when it is summer, but also in the cooler months it is very popular with those who want to remember the warmer weather. It is also a hit for expats living abroad, to remind them of being back in England.
I love my the English Summer scent and have done ever since the first sniff. I can't even describe how stunning the fragrance is! It is fresh and vibrant, and has a subtlety that means each and every note is detectable, and they complement each other to sing in perfect harmony. It is really refreshing to add summer candle collection that isn't tropical or fruity, and I think it's something I will come back to year after year.
I love my the English Summer scent and have done ever since the first sniff. I can't even describe how stunning the fragrance is! It is fresh and vibrant, and has a subtlety that means each and every note is detectable, and they complement each other to sing in perfect harmony. It is really refreshing to add summer candle collection that isn't tropical or fruity, and I think it's something I will come back to year after year.
The candle is created from 100% rainforest safe soy wax and burns for approximately 60 hours. There are also smaller candles available for £23 which burn for 30 hours. The glass is 100% recycled and the brand actively encourage your to upcycle your jar once it's done, and we all know how good empty candle jars are for storing makeup brushes!
Everything about M&J candles screams luxury, from the strength and complexity of the scent to the weightiness of the glass. The price is a little more than I would usually spend on a candle, but I think it is in a great position being midway between something like Yankee Candle and brands like Diptyque and Jo Malone. For a luxury candle, you're not breaking the bank too much. I'm keen to explore some of the other scents in the range, and I think Bavarian Winter sounds beautiful for the cooler months with cinnamon, vanilla, cloves and blackcurrant.
THE GIVEAWAY
As I mentioned before, the lovely people at M&J London have given me the chance to share the beautiful scent of English Summer with one reader. The winner will receive one English Summer large candle. There are a variety of entry methods, some mandatory and some extra, as outlined in the Rafflecopter widget below.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
This giveaway will be UK only, and it will remain open from 27th June 2016 for two weeks until 11th July 2016 at 23.59 GMT. The winner will be drawn at random using the Rafflecopter widget providing the entries have been completed correctly, and notified via email on the 12th July. The winner will be given 28 days to respond, to keep it fair and in line with current guidelines. In the event that the winner does not respond within this timeframe, a new winner will be chosen. I will pass on the winner's details to my contact at M&J, who will be responsible for sending out the prize. As always, I never discriminate against compers and they are more than welcome to enter any giveaway on this blog.
What's your favourite thing about summer?
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