Diamond Aromatherapy Diffuser - Essence of Arcadia

Here at the Amazing Blog, we find it really helps to work and live in spaces that are scented with lovely soft fragrances, relaxing the body and mind. There are many products that offer home fragrance and we find that oil diffusers offer the most complex and long-lasting scents. Therefore we were thrilled to receive Essence of Arcadia's Diamond Aromatherapy Diffuser set to try.  

Essence of Arcadia was a brand founded to celebrate aromatherapy and essential oils. They truly believe in the practise's capabilities to enhance well-being and treat the body and soul. Essence of Arcadia have a large collection of products tailored towards creating therapeutic experiences, including oils, diffusers, and blending kits. They specialise in small diffusers which look elegant and discreet in the home.

The Diamond Aromatherapy Diffuser we received was packaged in a gorgeous black gift box which contained the diffuser and three essential oils to try: Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, and Lavender. We loved the design of the diffuser. It has a beautiful golden finish with a glass outer coating that we think would be a fabulous addition to any home. The diffuser is electronic which means that you can vary how much mist you would like to produce, making the experience tailored to each individual.

Aromatherapy utilises naturally extracted fragrances from plants in order to promote the health of the body, mind, and spirit. Essence of Arcadia have a vast collection of essential oils that all boast their own benefits, from Cinnamon's purifying effects to Frankincense's anti-inflammatory nature. The set also contains a brilliant guide to effectively use and blend the oils. We particularly loved the 'Fatigue Fighter' recipe which blended Bergamot, Grapefruit, and Peppermint.

If you want to try an elegant and high quality method of aromatherapy, try Essence of Arcadia's Diamond Aromatherapy Diffuser here for £39.99.

Hot Drinks Feature - Friday Favourites

Struggling to make it through this winter? Here at the Amazing Blog we have been trying to combat the gloominess with some warming hot drinks. We are sure you'll agree that when it's as wet and grey outside as it is today, there is nothing better than curling up with a tasty and comforting hot drink. So, we thought we would round up some fun and unusual winter warmers, that are guaranteed to make you feel cozy and comfortable.

Akesson’s is a brand that passionate about cacao. Today Akesson’s has grown from a single plantation to haveing buisness with plantations based in Madagascar, Brazil, and Indonesia. The company produces undoubtedly one of the finest forms of cocoa, which they supply globally to famous chocolatiers and chefs.

We loved trying Akesson’s exclusive line of chocolate and we particularly enjoyed the Choco-Tea Cacao Infusion. The tea is a natural product made from cacao nibs and their shells, producing a rich and warm flavour that lifted our spirits after exposure to the damp weather. The cacao in this comes from the Sambirano Valley, in the North-West of Madagascar, and has a wonderfully expressive chocolate aroma, with subtle fruit and citrus notes. The tea is organic and rich in polyphenols, antioxidants, iron, magnesium and Vitamin D, making it a very healthy and natural drink.

We infused half of one large teaspoon for five minutes in hot water. We liked the fact the tea is not overly sweet, but of course, if you like your tea sweeter adding a teaspoon of honey or sugar can help round out the flavour to match your cravings.

Try Akesson’s sumptuous Choco-Tea here for £6.95.

Pure Chimp’s Super Tea specialises in matcha green tea, a nutritional powerhouse produced in Japan. This tea is different to regular green tea, as it's partially grown under cover helping to fill it with extra goodness. Equally, matcha tea also differs from normal green tea as it has higher levels of theanine and chlorophyll. Theanine offers a wonderful energy boost without the crash that usually follows after a cup of regular caffeinated tea. The higher chlorophyll gives this tea a lovely soft and smooth flavour that we can’t get enough of. 

We love the versatility of this product. You can add it to hot water, juice, smoothies and even bake with it. Our favourite combination was to simply add hot milk and drink it as a matcha latte! The product is also suitable for vegans so everyone can enjoy the health benefits of Pure Chimp Super Tea.

Try Pure Chimp’s Super Tea here for £4.95.

Next is PHROOTI, a UK based brand which has created the perfect product for those of us who don't like tea but still enjoy the tradition and comfort that a good hot drink can give. The founders of PHROOTI were frustrated with conventional flavoured teas that smell incredibly fruity but lack any real and discernable flavour. The brand thus decided to reinvent fruit tea to give the people what they want, and we can't thank them enough as the result is delicious. PHROOTI consists of 95-97% natural and dried fruit powder and contains no traces of tea. This gives the product an intense fruity flavour that is guaranteed to tantalise your taste buds!

The faux-tea is caffeine-free, low calorie, and free from added sugar, making it a delicious and guilt-free treat. PHROOTI currently comes in three fabulous flavours, including Sour Cherry and Cranberry, Blackcurrant, Blackberry and Blueberry. Our favourite was Raspberry and Strawberry. This is the perfect option for those who don’t enjoy tea but love fruity flavour infusions.

Try PHROOTI here, you can buy 6 packs for £17.70.

We thought we would end today’s feature on a more traditional and classic note, simply, tea. Here at The Amazing Blog, we love tea and love to try out new and exciting flavours. Tea Shirt is a new UK brand founded by a tea-obsessed couple with a passion for discovering high-quality teas and unearthing original flavours.

After the endless office tea runs we've all done, you know how hard it is to find two people who enjoy their tea the same way. Whether it's an argument over when the milk goes in or type of tea, it can be a nightmare filling out those tea orders! But this isn't a problem with Tea Shirts, as not only are all their teas delicious but they have an extensive selection to choose from; ranging from the typical ‘Irish Breakfast’ to unusual flavours such as ‘Barbados Rum’ and ‘Marshmallow’ there is definitely a flavour for everyone. We personally loved the ‘Apple and Grapefruit’ tea blended with its fresh and citrus flavours, we felt completely revitalised and refreshed after a cup.

The teas are packaged in “Tea Shirts” - labels which mimic traditional textiles and embroidery from the areas where they originated. We think Tea Shirts makes a perfect gift for tea lovers or just a winter warmer by the fire.

You can buy Tea Shirts here from £1.79.

Chocolate Treats- Gnaw Chocolate

Here at The Amazing Blog, we are certainly partial to an afternoon tea break, and when a hamper full of Gnaw Chocolate goodies came our way, we were thrilled to try them.

Gnaw’s chocolate mission is to bring back the fun with chocolate. Since when did receiving chocolate as a present become so bland? We love that Gnaw Chocolates made us feel young and excited about treats again. The indulgent selection they sent us included their mini bars, big bars, hot chocolates and buttons. We thought the mini bars were a great idea for taking on the go - they come in a 5 or 10 pack which you can customise, choosing from their 5 different flavours. Our favourite had to be the Peanut Butter, closely followed by Salted Caramel.

The big bars are the ultimate chocolate hit, and we tried the Rocky Road, Banana, Mint and Dark Chocolate. The flavours are all delicious and the packaging is creative yet sleek - perfect for all ages. Their buttons were tasty treats that are deviously more-ish, and the Mixed Chocolate and the Caramel Bags are the perfect size for sharing (if you want to). Gnaw haven’t stopped at food however - they have also created a Hot Choc Shot, which looks like a chocolate lollypop. If you place the stick into hot water it melts to form a rich hot chocolate. Gnaw Chocolate is lovingly hand-crafted in Norfolk, using locally sourced ingredients and natural flavours.

Whether you need a last minute gift idea or are an avid chocolate lover, Gnaw Chocolate can be purchased online here. Their products start at £7.50.

Christmas special: Chocolate Collections.

Let’s be honest, Christmas isn’t really Christmas without a slight overindulgence. Here at The Amazing Blog we are not the type to turn down a piece or two (or three). We’ve searched for the most interesting brands and flavours, including Paxton, Chief Chocolate Officer, Helen’s Hamper , Urban Village and Stateside Treat Emporium. 

Paxton’s Christmas chocolate collection has a mix of 4 delicious and unique festive flavours. These are white chocolate, sage & cranberry, Milk chocolate, orange & Cardamom, Milk chocolate, Orange & Panettone and Dark chocolate, Orange & Ginger. The medium box, which we received, has 12 giant button-like shapes, the sleek metal design alongside the mature flavours makes it extremely sophisticated. These sizes are perfect for a table top to snack on and the interesting flavours means you don’t have too many at one time. They also come in a small size which is 6 pieces and a large version of 24 pieces.

The medium box makes a perfect gift or to keep for yourself, it is £15 available here.

There’s not much better than wine and chocolate, however sometimes it can be hard to find the perfect slice for your favourite glass. Chief Chocolate Officer have got you covered. They have created a selection of chocolates that match specific grapes used to make wine. The individual flavours like Fig, Smoke & Pink Peppermint are matched accordingly, the other flavours included are Liquorice & Rose, Blueberry, Vanilla & Black Peppercorn, Coffee, Cherry & Cacao, Pear and Elderflower and Toffee & Orange. The chocolate is made in England and the box includes all the information for the perfect pairing of the chocolate and wine.

You can purchase these here for £15.95.

If you’re looking for a variety of chocolates for that wow factor, Helen’s Hampers are the place to go. They create amazing hampers from afternoon tea to corporate gifts which can all be personalised to your chocolate taste and with pictures. Our Hamper was the Christmas Chocolate hamper, including chocolate truffles, shards, bars, a lolly and champagne truffles. The different brands within the box made sure the chocolate was very varied, with milk, white and dark chocolate of all varieties included. Our favourites were the rocky road bar and the salted caramel shards! The simple black box is decorated with bright red ribbon elegantly festive and sure to put a giant smile on the lucky receiver’s face.

The Chocolate hamper can be purchased here for £50.

Combining beautiful designs and exciting flavours, Urban Village Chocolates are deliciously simple and yet extremely hard to refuse. We received their single-origin tasting collection, a sweet selection of hearts imprinted with pretty, modern designs, we also received the large (think giant, giant buttons) buttons, all with different patterns and a mixture of dark and milk chocolate. As well as a pack of 4 of the best-selling, award winning champagne chocolates, these luxury gold circle treats are rich and super tasty. All three a packaged in clear plastic with white labels embossed with gold writing.

They are all handcrafted in St Margaret’s, Twickenham, you can buy the single origin collection here for £11.95.

Last but not least we were grateful to receive a variety of chocolate treats from the company Stateside Treat Emporium, when these treats arrived it was a happy day in the office as we were all impressed with how good these chocolates tastes when they touch your lips. What we loved about these chocolates overall and were really impressed by the brand was the variety of flavours, some were unusual flavours that we would of never selected together but they work really well and the team were pleasantly surprised with how delicious they were such as their signature range which  includes  Maple Bacon Pancake Chocolate Bar. Another chocolate treat that really stood out for us and we all loved the design was the Popcorn Lolly, it is mixed with Belgium milk and white chocolate and the popcorn flavour is toffee it tasted like heaven the chocolate melts into your mouth and tastes really delightful and didn’t give you the sickly feeling after indulging to much.

Explore the word of American inspired treats, and you can grab the maple chocolate bar here for £1.60 and the popcorn lolly here for £1.90.

L’insoumis - Lalique

There’s never not a good time to buy a new aftershave, and once you get to smell L’insoumis by Lalique we at The Amazing Blog are sure you’ll have your new scent.

Launched in September, this fragrance is dedicated to the founder of the house Rene Lalique and his artistic spirit. Founded over a century ago Lalique is the ultimate symbol of French Luxury, this scent joins a strong family of 8 different fragrances from the house. The cologne is part of the aromatic-woody fougere group and is perfect from day to night. Its scent is not too strong and three spritz’ is all that is needed for it to linger all afternoon. The bottle is an art deco style, minimal monochrome palette with fern-like decorations along the sides which resemble the scent within. Though the bottle may be too large to carry around with you for an afternoon top up it looks elegant and sleek, perfect for a bathroom countertop.

Try the newest masculine scent L’insoumis by Lalique here from Lalique for £62.00.