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The benefits of crafting for children

Today on the blog we’re talking about the benefits of crafting for children. The Early Years Foundation Stage has carried out a study of candle making workshops on children aged 22 – 60 months. The study was to see the personal, social and emotional development, literacy and understanding of the world using candle craft.

Findings from the study

This experiment showed that the children involved wanted to join in when presented with the materials. Using all of their senses to fully immerse themselves in the task, the products used were designed to look appealing to them. Crafting also develops children’s sharing skills when resources are involved and teaches them to work cooperatively together. Supporting ‘turn taking’ and developing a child’s patience teaches them about the fun of learning new experiences. This can be shared as a group and actively promotes individuals self-esteem.

Creating an activity like a candle workshop introduces new vocabulary and encourages children to learn the process of making an item from start to finish. They will be able to use these new words to explain step by step how something is made and what actions are needed to carry out the task.

When used safely at home with a parent or guardian, wax melt kits will enable children to work independently. They will use their key literary skills to decorate and customise their creations, making their work their own. At the end of the process they will be proud of what they have accomplished. They will enjoy giving this gift to their family members which promotes positive relationships in the household.

Further results to consider

As well as strengthening relationships, learning new vocabulary & developing sharing skills, crafting also covers the areas of communication and language. As well as physical development, maths skills and expressive arts and design elements.

Special tools for candle making will be provided and children will be able to explore how colours and smells change as the wax starts to change its form. They will be actively encouraged to ask questions along the way about the process. The activity itself provides lots of opportunity for free, open discussions between the children and supervisors. This means that they can talk about their own personal preferences, the designs of their pendants and the finished product that they have made.

Working with wax & candles introduces children to the risks involved with flammable materials and naked flames. They will develop an understanding of risk in a safe, controlled environment and be able to contribute to their own risk assessment of the activity. As the wax changes from a solid to a liquid, children will be able to learn about the candle melting process. They will learn how the materials used can be manipulated by heat and learn about the textures of the wax and other decorative resources.

Adding decorative elements to this task will encourage children to follow instructions. They will practice such skills as; counting, recognising shapes, using the candle moulds and start to learn how to make comparisons of size as well as quantities.

If you’ve found this blog about crafting benefits for children helpful, let us know! In the meantime, check out my aroma pendant kids on the website. 

Take care,

Debbie Xx

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How to add scent to your Wedding Day

Read to to find out how to add scent to your Wedding Day… I’ve wanted to write this blog for ages!

Did you know that scent is directly linked to memory & emotions? It is often suggested to Bride’s that they select a brand new perfume to create a new ‘scent memory’ of their Big Day for the years to come.

This process is often known as ‘scentscaping’ and until recently has only been featured in the more high-end, extravagant weddings. This all may sound a little costly but filling your wedding with fragrance needn’t break the bank. Here are a few different ways to show you how to add scent to your Wedding Day on any budget.

Fill the venue with fragrance on your Wedding Day

Lining the tables with herbs is especially effective on a warm day as when the room is warm, the scent will float through the air. Guests will remember this for years to come.

Invest in a new perfume

Meghan Fay is the owner of London wedding planning consultancy Extraordinary Days. She says “The first time we smell a new scent, we subconsciously associate it with what we are experiencing at the time. This link is permanent. which is why even years later, smell can continue to evoke strong emotional responses.” This is why bridal experts encourage Brides-to-be to choose a different scent than their everyday fragrance.

How to add scent to unexpected items

It may seem unusual, but adding a touch of scent to unexpected items such as the save the date cards or invitations adds an extra touch of excitement. Also, try spritzing confetti with your signature scent. The material locks in the fragrance and keeps releasing them over time.

Gift your scent

Wedding favours can often be expensive and difficult to decide on, but they needn’t be. Why not consider a candle for a modern take on this age-old wedding favour tradition? Instead of the traditional favours such as sugared almonds or homemade gifts like preserves or spirits. This is a great way to support a local business by commissioning them to design a scent especially for the two of you that has both masculine & feminine notes.

Guests will be able to burn their candles after the wedding, being reminded of the moments they shared with close friends & loved ones.


I would love to talk to you about creating a signature scent for your big day! Shop my collections here.

Take care,

Debbie Xx

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Self love, yes please!

“Self-love is not selfish; you cannot truly love another until you know how to love yourself.”

It goes without saying that the past 13 months have been challenging for us all. Many of us juggling working from home with home-schooling and running a business. After all that, there isn’t much time left to look after ourselves. We ALL need a little self love in our lives!

5 simple self care tips from home

  1. Burning your favourite candle or wax melt – The simple action of lighting a candle can be life saving. There is something about watching the flame dancing that makes us feel calm & collected. Choose aromas such as lavender to promote calmness & wellness. This scent is also said to help reduce stress, anxiety, and possibly even mild pain. If candles aren’t your thing, why not try a wax melt? See the full collection of the melts that I offer here.
  2. Take a soak in the bath – Stock up on the good bath salts, make yourself a drink & grab your rubber duck! Allowing yourself to fully relax in the hot water will melt away your stresses. For calming effects, add an essential oil like lavender or camomile. To energise & refresh try an oil with citrus note such as orange or lemon.
  3. Get lost in a good book – Something about getting truly lost in a good book really intrigues me. That moment when you lose all track of time and space and read the pages like you’re living in them! Find the perfect spot in your home, add a mug of steaming hot tea & a choccy biscuit or two. That’s my idea of heaven.
  4. Cook from scratch – Who doesn’t love a wholesome, home cooked meal? We are often so busy in our lives that we grab something quick & easy from the supermarket without really looking to check it’s nutritional contents. Cooking a meal from scratch with fresh, proper ingredients makes all the difference and you can get totally lost in the methodical process. 
  5. Surrounding yourself in nature – It’s one of the quickest and best ways to feel grounded. You could go for a stroll in your favourite woodland area, along a local sandy beach, high up on a hill top or push yourself and hike to the top of a mountain! Breathing in this fresh, oxygenated air is so good for you. Did you know that the negative ions in sea air accelerate your ability to absorb oxygen? So breathing in this salty air balances your serotonin levels; a body chemical linked with mood and stress.

Other types of self love

Doing the bare minimum, for some, is their idea of ‘self care’, for others it’s doing the opposite and going for a sweaty run or a hot yoga class. Whatever suits you it’s more important now than ever to implement it into your life. Just do YOU!

I would love to hear some of your ideas for the perfect bit of ‘me time’, let me know yours!
Why not treat yourself or a loved one to a little piece of calm in the chaos every month with our monthly subscription box of soy wax melts?

I enjoy sharing my self care ideas because they always make me feel more myself again, so I hope that they help you too!

Take care,

Debbie Xx

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Environmentally Conscious Packaging

We hear these words ‘environmentally-friendly’ and ‘eco-friendly’ a lot at the moment. But what does it actually mean for a business to be eco-friendly? Read on to find out what I’m doing as a business through environmentally conscious packaging, and what you will be doing as a customer of Sara Jane Candles.

Know the stats

I came across an article the other day by Condor Ferries. It was about the threat to marine life due to plastic pollution in our oceans. They say that “at the rate we are polluting the ocean with around 12.7 million tonnes of plastic a year, the damage we are doing to marine life and our ecosystem is becoming irreparable.” This is both a saddening and alarm realisation to come to terms with. Did you know that 100% of baby sea turtles have plastic in their stomachs? How awful. 

But thankfully, there are things that we can do in our homes and in our businesses that can alter the course of these tragic numbers. When you buy from Sara Jane Candles there is absolutely no plastic in my packaging. 

What am I doing to help?

Here is what you will receive: 

  • You will receive your wax melts or tea lights in a glassine bag. Glassine is a smooth and glossy paper that’s made air, water and grease resistant through a process called supercalendering. Finally, as they’re not waxed or chemically-finished during manufacturing, glassine bags are fully recyclable, compostable and biodegradable. 
  • The packing peanuts that I use to protect your products are made from cornstarch. They can be dissolved easily & safely in water.
  • I re-use any packaging as and when needed ensuring that nothing goes unnecessarily to waste.
  • My packaging tape is both eco-friendly and acid free, and I use beautifully logo’d compostable tissue paper.
  • Recycled paper is used to make all my labels.
  • The seeded dust covers are provided to protect your candle & our business cards are now infused with seeds. This means that once you’re finished with them, you can recycle them by planting it and growing some beautiful wildflowers. Check these out by a lovely small business – A La Kart Creations.
  • All of our fragrances are cruelty free, suitable for vegans/vegetarians and paraben free made with vegan soy wax. Read my previous blog here about the benefits of soy wax compared to paraben wax.
  • I have also just started using wood wool in my packaging by Forest Lighter to protect my products. Eco wood wool is suitable for packing, decorating, hampers, gift boxes, cosmetics and candles. Made from hand-picked spruce trees and completely free from chemicals and dust, wood wool is a great idea for packaging. This product is PEFC and FSC certified. 

What can you change?

So, that’s what I am doing to contribute to reducing plastic pollution. I have done this by creating more environmentally conscious packaging, what can you do? Firstly, sit down and take a look at your business as a whole. Ask yourself “how eco-friendly is my business really?”. Then I would suggest breaking your business down into sections; the product itself, packaging for safety, delivery packaging & stationery. More compostable fabric, easy to dissolve material or recyclable element will all make a difference. I have added some links below to help you out.

Thank you for reading.

Take care,

Debbie Xx

Sources

Condor Ferries article here.

Tissue paper here.

Seeded dust covers & business cards here.

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Grief & mindfulness.

Out of darkness, comes the light. Crafting for grief management and mindfulness.

Discovering my love of candles

I had always loved candles and making the home smell nice so, I was intrigued about how they were made. Then I discovered another world. And so, Sara Jane Candles was born! The name for my little business seemed so perfect.

Thinking back, I wanted to do something that I could work on, get my mind focused on and really enjoy. After some time, I started doing some home crafting and bought myself a soy candle kit; I wanted to make a teacup candle with my Mum’s china.

The day my life changed forever

My world was turned upside down one day and never to be the same again. My parents and I had to say goodbye to our beloved and beautiful Sarah on September 5th 1992. Their first born and my sister, taken so cruelly at just 20 years of age. She suffered a very sudden and severe asthma attack. I was just 15.

After this life-altering event, life just seemed to go by so quickly. I obviously was affected, but I don’t think I could bear that pain to surface. So, I just carried on and worked hard. Keeping busy gave me solace and I quietly dealt with my grief. My worst nightmare then happened when my lovely Mum was diagnosed with terminal cancer, sadly passing away in 2011. My Dad just 3 months later. Work was still my biggest and best distraction at the time, I did things that I could easily get lost in. For a time, I seemed to be coping.

Changing paths

In 2016, I was fortunate to be able to make the decision to take a step back from my role as a store manager. This led me to start to re-evaluate what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. Then that is when I hit a brick wall. All the years of running a store, working long hours, was obviously just to mask the cracks I was trying to fill. 

Everyone has their own unique way of dealing with grief, to some it can also leave some detrimental effects on our bodies. My Mum’s cancer was diagnosed as “probably something that was caused by a traumatic experience”. I was told I was going through an early menopause at 36. My osteopath believes that this was probably due to the loss of Sarah, and then my parents at a young age and that this was the aftermath of my body going through the trauma.

Using mindfulness to deal with grief

Using mindfulness and crafting my candles is now a way to cope with my grief. This was not intentional or as a way to diminish the pain associated with a loss, but rather to acknowledge the pain and to face it head on, instead of running from it. They say that It usually takes more energy to avoid grief than to let ourselves experience it. 

Thank you for reading a part of my brand story. It has been a long time coming and has taken a great deal of strength and bravery to speak openly about it on such a public platform. 

Best wishes,

Debbie X

If you are looking for something creative to do, I will be incorporating some more crafting kits on my website. You will find these alongside the existing Aroma Pendants.

Here are some other local brands that I love who’s crafts are mindful:

@lauraprudencecalligraphy

@flowerwrapandgrow

@tawnyflowershed

@sketchbookbybethany

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Candle Safety at Home

Burning candles whilst at home creates a calming, cosy atmosphere that allows us to wind down after a long day. Whether you prefer to burn your candles while you take a soak in the tub, with your feet up in the living room in the evenings or to help you wind down for sleep learning how to burn them safely is very important.

Did you know soy wax is better than paraffin wax for you and your pets?
The paraffin wax used in traditional candles is a by-product of refining crude oil (petroleum) and when burnt, it gives off a lot of chemicals, mainly sooty black smoke and residue. If these chemicals are consistently inhaled by us or our furry friends, they can cause symptoms such as nausea and headaches, as well as emitting harmful carcinogens, which has links to the formation of cancer in certain cases.


So, if you think that burning a paraffin candle sounds bad for us, for our pets it is far worse. Due to their smaller stature and heightened sense of smell, the harmful impact can be far quicker and more serious as well as affecting their critical sense of smell.


In contrast, choosing soy wax for your candles & wax melts is an all natural material, which does not have chemicals added to it. It is simply made from the vegetable oil from the humble soya bean and will give off aromas that are natural and not harmful to us or our pets. Other positives to switching to soy wax are that they burn for far longer meaning that you can enjoy your favourite scents again & again. They also have a lower melting point meaning that there is less risk of burning yourself or your pets getting hurt if a little of the wax were to touch you.


The biggest advantage, to me, for using this safe wax is that the fragrances I use are stronger due to the lack of toxins & soot that are released into the air and our lungs. Soy wax candles have a stronger scent profile than paraffin wax candles meaning that you will be able to burn your Sara Jane Candles for a long time. A clean burn & a superior scent, what a result! Take a look at our full range of products on offer, all hand poured by me in my home https://www.sara-janecandles.co.uk/shop-1.


As an owner of cats and a dog myself my number one priority is making sure that they are healthy. This is one of the main reasons why Sara-Jane Candles & Wax Melts are made from 100% soy wax and other environmentally & animal friendly materials. To summarise, it is always worth saying that any lit candle must be positioned in a safe, elevated position, out of reach of wagging tails and other animal activity and intrigue.

Here is a picture of my boy Bobby & I at home in our garden in Chichester, West Sussex.


Happy burning!

Best wishes and stay safe.

Debbie xx

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What is a wax melt?

This is a question I get asked often in my line of work so in light of my recent blog “Tips & tricks on how to change a wax melt” I thought I would share another one to explain what they actually are. Read on to find out more…

Wax melts first came about, when candle makers were looking for something to do with their leftover wax after pouring candles – waste not want not! Simply put, a wax melt is a scented piece of wax, but without the wick. They are used to fill your home with beautiful fragrances, by either using a tea light burner or an electric plug in one – these were originally better known as ‘oil burners’.

Wax melts are becoming more and more popular lately as there is a wide variety of different shapes, sizes and brands, they are also a safer way to fragrance your home, especially if you have little ones or pets running around. Something that I like to do at home is to have different themes going on in different rooms, by burning a different fragrance in each. For example; in the bedroom something soothing with lavender, in the kitchen a fresh scent perhaps with citrus notes & in the bathroom something earthy and grounding like musk or patchouli.

A Sara Jane Wax melt is hand crafted using only 100% soy wax and only the finest fragrance oils. They are highly fragranced so will last approximately 12-16 hours, so are a great cost effective way to enjoy your favourite scents. If you’d like to make them go further, you can also choose to break them in half so you can determine the strength of the fragrances, if you feel they are too strong for the size of the room. Tea lights are the best way to burn the wax melts as they heat up the wax melt fragrances better. But if you were to use two at a time then this will burn the fragrances quicker.

Another question I get asked frequently is “I’ve been burning my melt for ages and I won’t go down. Why is this?” It’s important to note that unlike a candle, the wax in a wax melt will not disappear as it burns. This is because there is no wick to drive this. But instead, eventually, the wax will lose its scent and this is when it’s time to remove the spent wax from the burner and change it over to a lovely new fresh scent. See my other blog on how to do this quickly & easily here.

Thank you for reading this blog! If you’re familiar with my brand you’ll know that the business was founded by myself and is named in loving memory of my late sister Sara-Jane. Each candle is made by hand in my beautiful Victorian home in the coastal city of Chichester in West Sussex and I pride myself on working with only the very best materials and fragrances.

Best wishes and stay safe.

Debbie xx

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Tips & Tricks on how to change your wax melts

Sara-jane Candles Tealight burner

Happiness is……”A friend saying how lovely your home smells”

Having a new fragrance going into your burner is one of the most exciting moments for a “wax melt addict”!

I always like to light mine once all the housework is done, and the chores are ticked off.

Nothing beats the aroma of a brand new wax melt, combined with a cup of coffee and a chocolate digestive… or two!

**Please note the wax will never disappear with a wax melt, only the fragrance will**

But how and when do you change your fragrance over?

Here are a couple of tips for you to try:

The Cotton Wool Method

Once your melted wax has started to cool, use 2 or 3 cotton wool balls, these will start to soak up the liquid and gradually absorb most of it.

Then simply scoop them out and place them in your bin.

Wipe away any excess wax with a kitchen towel, then place in your new fragrance and enjoy!

Warm Up and Push it out

Slightly heat up your wax, so the bottom layer starts to soften (the wax should not be in liquid form), then slide the wax away and place it in the bin. Wipe your dish and then you are ready to use another fragrance.

These are the most popular ways to change over your wax melts, but please do not use a knife or a sharp object to scrape the wax, as this could cause harm to yourself and/or damage your burner.

There are no rules, as to when you should change over your fragrances, just never mix them, as they will be less pungent and also void any legalities.

The simple answer is – When you can no longer smell the fragrance or they are not as obvious, then it is time to replace.

But just remember to always “Stop and smell the Sara-Jane”

Best wishes and stay safe.

Debbie

xx