[unpaid/sample] It’s getting to candle time, isn’t it – darker evenings, colder weather (although we are scheduled for 22 degrees tomorrow!) and a need to nurture. It’s a while since I’ve seen any NEOM products but it seems that the brand has lost none of its skill in blending scents that help you feel enveloped and comforted.

At the moment, I’m remembering to light a candle if we are in watching TV in the evenings – I go ages forgetting and then remember and wonder why it slipped my mind when it’s just so nice. I’ve had the NEOM De-Stress Candle on the burn for a couple of evenings in a row – chosen for its notes of ylang ylang, vetivert and tonka bean.

The candle jar is a big draw – it’s a masterclass in visual soothing with a gentle curve of texture change. In short, it looks like it does what it’s supposed to do. It’s also completely re-usable after you’ve finished burning. It’s the sort of thing that would easily become the ‘button jar’ if we kept buttons any more – does anyone? My mum always had a big stash of spare buttons!

Although NEOM De-Stress Candle contains essential oils, I notice it’s not being billed as ‘aromatherapy’ and I seem to remember that there are strict regulatories around how you can claim what essential oils can do. It’s muy understanding that aroma oils, which contain essential oils, are more dilute that pure aromatherapy oils. Nonetheless, you will certainly get an aroma infusion into whichever room you choose to burn it in. I knew I could smell orange and sure enough, mandarin essential oil is listed as an additional note. The candle takes a while to get to know itself, if you see what I mean. You’ll need to have it on the burn for a couple of hours before it’s going at full power but that’s okay – I quite enjoy the gentle reveal.

I think room size matters for this candle – it’s not going to have a lot of impact in a huge room and I think you’d perhaps need two or three for that – and all the while I was smelling it in my (average sized) sitting room, I kept thinking I should take it up to the (small) bathroom where I could experience it at more intense level. It’s beautiful, soothing and perfect for anyone who can feel easily overwhelmed by strong aromas – the scent was there, most definitely, but personally I wanted more of it, which I would have got had I used it in the right (for me) place. Candles just aren’t the one-size-fits-all – they’re as personal as perfume and have their own time and place in your life. There are two other candles in this new (ish) ceramic option – Energy Boost and another iteration of De-Stress. The NEOM De-Stress Candle is £54 HERE but I see that there is a code 15FORYOU that you can use to get 15% off. Postage over £40 is free.