Orange County: CBD Gummy Buttons

Don’t they look delicious? Having seen a lot of positive reviews on this CBD brand, we were excited to finally get the chance to try these goodies out. Needless to say that with the team here at The Amazing Blog, the jar did not last long! Yes, today we are reviewing Orange County CBD’s Gummy Buttons, and we are telling you all about these sweet treats!

Orange County CBD is an all-American CBD company that produces all sorts of CBD-infused goods, from E-liquids to beauty care products, along with…edibles! All of Orange County CBD’s  products are home-grown, manufactured, and tested in the U.S. The hemp is grown in controlled farms in Colorado, Kentucky, and Northern California, where the company is based, and the manufacturing occurs in a GMP certified lab. Since their beginnings, they have been aiming at producing high-standard quality products, and today they are recognised as one of the companies with the highest-quality CBD oil, which is used to infuse their products. Their distillate is indeed one of the purest on the market, thanks to their extraction method that uses supercritical CO2, a method with low environmental impact and that has been approved by the U.S. FDA. The distillate is broad-spectrum, meaning that it contains mainly CBD as well as a few other phytochemicals (CBDV, CBG, CBC) present in the hemp flower, but no THC. In other words, yes, it will relax you and soothe you, but no, you will not get high with CBD edibles, as CBD is non-intoxicating and has no psychoactive effects. What’s more, all of Orange County CBD's manufactured products are thoroughly tested in a third-party laboratory to ensure that their high standards regarding the accuracy of the cannabinoid profiles are reached. And you can check these yourself before buying (or eating if you purchase online) thanks to the embedded QR codes on each packaging, it doesn’t get any safer than that!

The product that we have received at the office is the CBD Gummy Buttons, in Small size and with 10mg per gummy – which is higher than most gummies on the market. They come in a small plastic jar and are available in three strengths: 10mg, 25mg, and 50mg per sweet, and three sizes: the small grab bag with 8 buttons containing 25mg each (approximately 200mg total), the small jar (which is the one we have) that contains approximately 20 buttons and a large-sized jar at 1250g. When we tasted these, they were not, as we suspected, too sickly sweet and we were surprised how fruity, soft and chewy they were – unlike traditional gummies which are glutinous and have a much firmer bite. No wonder they were won the ‘Best Edible’ Award at the Hemp and CBD Expo 2020, and got so many positive reviews! Usually, CBD edibles have a strong CBD oil taste which leaves a bit of an aftertaste -  not the case with these. They taste sweet and fruity, almost like traditional gummies, and each colour is a different taste. You can taste the berry, orange, lemon, and apple. Also, they have a 2-year ‘best before’ date, so if you can resist having them near you all this time you don't have to worry about a near expiration date. Although they are all vegan and GMO-free, they do contain sugar (no corn syrup or artificial sweeteners here), so if you feel a bit concerned about the presence of sugar, you may want to take them at strategic times during the day, like just after getting up, or just before/after a workout, and avoid eating these at night. If your main concern is insomnia or sleeping at night, you may want to try taking one before going to sleep to beneficiate from the relaxing effect of the hemp. As most of you know, CBD can be a great help to cope with joint, nerve and muscle pains, or anxiety. We think that edibles are perfect for a stressful period at work or to combat the winter blues! Orange County CBD recommends eating 2-4 gummies a day to get your dose of CBD in your system. The perfect dosage varies from a person to another, so we recommend that you experiment step by step, starting with small doses then increase them in case the relaxing effect is not there, especially if CBD is new to you. You can purchase the Small CBD Gummy buttons 10mg here for £16.99. Also thanks to CBD-Produce who sent us these and another CBD food product from their extensive range (visit here ) if trying CBD for the first time, or if you’re an experienced user, we think you’ll find something to tempt you at this this great one-stop shop for all things CBD.

Cochine: Vanille & Tabac Noir Reed Diffuser

Now that everyone is talking about a second lockdown, here at  The Amazing Blog we’re remembering that dreaded feeling of being house-bound, again! Somehow, we need to get our inside space to feel more like the outside, and with a few minor changes like adding a room fragrance, we find that this can help. Now with autumn here, we’ve already changed our room fragrance to something richer, earthy and more reflective of the season. Thanks to Cochine who sent us another of their delicious reed diffusers in Vanille & Tabac Noir, we can now enjoy this comforting and warming scent to uplift our spirits. This simple reed diffuser stimulates our olfactory sense and helps to make our anticipated ‘stay at home, stay safe’ more enjoyable and a whole lot less stressful.

We have previously featured their Tuberose and Wild Fig Reed Diffuser which we totally loved. Kate Crofton-Atkins founded this luxury brand in 2008, and she has been creating a unique selection of fragrances ever since.  Kate spent the first year working with essential oils and then she had the opportunity to partner up with a New York-based fragrance house to launch Cochine in Hong Kong. Since then, Cochine has produced a range of perfumes, reed diffusers, candles, and skincare products. The brand offers luxurious products that have gained them global recognition, in five-stars hotels and boutiques. They have a strong focus on design as well as a sensory focus where each of their fragrances transports you to a global destination and evokes memories and fires up the imagination.

Vanille & Tabac Noir Reed Diffuser is produced by blending several key base notes such as that of vanilla bean, patchouli and the warming sensual scent of the tobacco flower.  BTW did you know that Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco flower) has a long history of use by herbalists as a relaxant, as well as relieving nausea and travel sickness? Yes, that was news to us too! These ingredients are all enhanced with extracts of nutmeg, cardamom and basil leaves which give a warm and opulent aroma to this oil, with the added extra of a feeling of luxury and well-being. All you need to do is arrange 4 to 8 rattan reeds and let them absorb the oil inside the bottle, then by occasionally turning the reeds, it will keep the room well-fragranced. Unlike burning a candle, these can be left unattended; and because they don’t contain any alcohol, they will keep on giving out a long-lasting fragrance.  Or you can remove the reeds and put the stopper for occasional use and the number of reeds used can be adjusted to strengthen or soften the scent. You can purchase your Vanille & Tabac Noir Reed Diffuser here for £60.00. This makes the perfect background fragrance and will add elegance to any home. 

Soular Alchemy - Classic 5000mg CBD Hemp Spagyric Infusion

If you tune in regularly to read our blog posts, you’ll know that here at The Amazing Blog the girls and I have been big fans of all things CBD for quite some time now. Several studies have demonstrated that CBD is good for the body and the soul, so of course, as wellbeing and beauty devotees, we try to incorporate different types of CBD products into our daily routines.  With CBD oils and tinctures being some of the most popular forms, it’s a tincture we’re reviewing today. In basic terms, the difference between CBD oil and a tincture is the alcohol-base, that said, they both mimic the same therapeutic properties. 

The brand that we are talking about here is the award-winning Soular Alchemy. Based in the U.S., it was founded by Kristopher Grove and Trevor Polinsky who both have a background in the organic foods and/or the natural wellbeing sector. Polinsky and Grove came together to primarily share their knowledge and to educate people on the health benefits of the hemp plant. What makes this brand so unique – and also why it caught our eye – is the ‘beyond full-spectrum’ statement which they advertise. We all know about isolate, broad-spectrum and full-spectrum; but beyond full-spectrum CBD? That’s a new term for us. In an interview, Polinsky explained that the notion of beyond full-spectrum refers to the fact they use the whole plant to make their tinctures; thus the user gets the maximum ‘entourage effect’. This means that they use the whole hemp plant rather than a single aspect, this offers significant beneficial results with the compounds working together boosting the health benefits, and overall therapeutic effect of the cannabinoids.  Unlike other brands, the process they use is actually a lot more complex than just a CO2 or ethanol extraction. The process that they use is called ‘spagyric’, which is from a method of ancient alchemy used in the preparation of tinctures. Spagyric production depends on the manipulation of the three mythologised substances that alchemists believed made up everything: salt, mercury, and sulphur - which translated to the minerals and salts representing ‘body’, the essential oils and organic acids being ‘soul,’ and alcohol was its ‘spirit’.  In short, it consists of several extractions to separate and recombine multiple plant components, including CBD, terpenes and flavonoids with a little bit of the organic cane ethanol as solvent. When all of these components are brought back together, they interact chemically with each other, creating what is called ‘ester’, a state where the elements enhance each other, creating a full entourage effect, carrying the whole benefits of the plant. Reassuring points are that all their products contain less than 0.2%, are produced with Good Manufacturing Practices, and are also EU compliant. And, the bonus here, is that the hemp is organic and free of pesticides, heavy metals, and microbials. We like that you can access their full lab analysis on each product directly from their website (i.e. for the Classic Hemp Spagyric Infusion see here).

The product that Soular Alchemy sent us is the Classic 5000mg Hemp Spagyric Infusion in 50ml. It contains a potent 50mg of total cannabinoids per ml. This is the biggest size of the tinctures that they sell and it includes all of the terpenes present in the hemp flower. The other distilled botanical terpene extracts here in the blend are sacred frankincense, blue mallee, Bavarian hops, lime and basil. All of these ensure that it’s an all-round efficient product, without addressing one specific need. Apart from the hemp spagyric, there is organic MCT coconut oil too. It comes elegantly packaged and is very instructive detailing the different terpenes present inside each plant and their benefits. To use, shake the bottle then put the drops under the tongue, hold the liquid sublingually here for a minute, then swallow. This allows the Infusion to bypass the digestive system avoiding it being broken down by enzymes and enables it to transfer through the membrane reaching the bloodstream quicker. Soular Alchemy recommends starting with 12 drops and then increasing as and when needed. If you’ve tried other full-spectrum CBD oils, then you’ll know how some can taste earthy and bitter leaving a bit of kick at the back of the throat when swallowed. Not this one. We couldn’t get over how pleasant, smooth and palatable it was, leaving absolutely no aftertaste. Our Executive Editor who thoroughly testing this out, remarked on having a better quality of sleep, less anxiety and noticeable pain relief from both her perpetual stiffness and arthritis. Although the price tag may seem hefty, it certainly seems to have lasted her well with plenty more to use. When asked if she would buy more - the answer was a resounding yes! Their two awards attest to this tincture's quality: Best CBD Tincture at the CBD Expo East 2019 Orlando, and Finalist for Best Tincture at the World CBD awards 2019 Barcelona. Apart from this Classic Infusion, there are also nine other Infusions to choose from, see here. So, if you are searching for a more specific action-oriented product to soothe a specific condition, Soular Alchemy does smaller doses of 1500mg of their hemp spagyric infusions in a 15ml bottle. These contain the selected terpenes to target particular conditions like depression, insomnia, anti-bacterial action, pain relief, to name but a few. As for this Classic 5000mg Hemp Spagyric Infusion at 50ml that we’ve reviewed today, you can buy it directly from their website here for $250.00.

PURU Suisse – Pure Sunscreen SPF50

We’ve already spoken about two other natural SPF sunscreen brands recently on The Amazing Blog and this is the last of the three for us to review.  Meet PURU Suisse, with their Pure Sunscreen SPF 50. BTW they’ve changed their packaging since we received this; however, we’re told that the ingredients remain the same.

PURU Suisse brand was born out of a frustration of not being able to find 100% natural products in Switzerland. According to Paul Flato, CEO and MD of the brand, PURU guarantees that each of their products is 100% natural, where every ingredient is checked before they process them into each of their products. These food-grade ingredients are handmade in small batches by their certified production lab. By purchasing PURU products, you can help preserve the environment from additional toxins and pollutants plus their packaging is 100% recyclable.  Flato commented in a recent interview: “We are focusing to deliver not just organic but really 100% pure, natural and honest products to our customers. We are a brand you can really trust without even checking or thinking about the ingredients. Furthermore, we want to educate and make our society/customers aware of how harmful certain ingredients for the human body are.” The brand promises 100% satisfaction to its customers and the quality of the products speaks for themselves. PURU loves animals, so they support causes that help animals and plant life. For this reason, none of their formulas is ever tested on animals. 

PURU means purity, and that what’s excites us, especially when it comes to sun care. The Pure Sunscreen SPF 50, is a recent winner at 2020 international organic awards, this is a mineral-based sunscreen which contains non-nano zinc oxide. The great thing about this mineral UV filter is that it does not penetrate the skin, or disintegrate under UV radiation, is harmless to the environment and considered the safest and most effective sunblock ingredient today. You can scan this sun care and find all ingredients on the YUKA app. Let’s start with the organic coconut oil, which is a deep hydrator and will leave skin smooth as it’s a natural-based emollient. The coconut extract will also act as a skin conditioner. The organic cacao seed butter here is one of the most potent skin healers and very protective; with its natural source of antioxidants and saturated fatty acids which are especially beneficial for healing dry, cracked skin. It is also rich in natural plant compounds called phytochemicals which will improve the blood flow on into your skin and slow the skin from ageing by protecting it from UV rays. This sun lotion is also rich in organic beeswax, straight from the honeycomb, and has anti-inflammatory properties in the beeswax which encourage healing of wounds. It also offers a protective skin barrier soothing sunburn without clogging pores. Furthermore, beeswax is high in vitamin A, which has been found to support cell reconstruction. Finally, vitamin E oil can absorb the energy from UV light and reduce damage. What we like about PURU Sunscreen is that it is highly concentrated, won’t sting your eyes, and it is reef and lake safe. There are no allergens, no irritants, no petroleum, or harmful substances. However, we found that when applied it does leave a slight white residue on the skin. It is non-greasy and almost fragrance-free (it has a subtle coconut/honey scent) which we liked. PURU advises applying their sunscreen every 2 hours, especially if you’re in and out of the water, although they say it’s water-resistant for up to 45 minutes. This is one to pack away for travels to the winter sunshine; it’s suitable for all the family, including babies. What makes this product a great sun protector, is the fact that it is made with a limited amount of all-natural ingredients and contains the mineral-based sunscreen too. You can purchase the 100ml bottle here for £30.95 and get a free lip balm too! 

Strangelove – Fallintostars Eau de Parfum

Change of season always means a change of fragrance for us at The Amazing Blog. Which is where we look for a scent that makes us feel unique, i.e. a signature. Today we have discovered a very special fragrance that resonates well with the autumn, with it’s delicious wafts of oud, meet the Eau de Parfum Fallintostars by Strangelove.

Strangelove is a fragrance brand that wishes to provoke a passion amongst all those who have the olfactory experience. Founded in 2013 by Elizabeth Gaynes, who took her inspiration from the three years she lived in Italy before moving to New York. In Italy, she discovered oud and fell in love with its history and richness; thus this brand’s success story began. Besides being friends, she works closely with Helena Christensen, the famous supermodel and creative director of the brand. Where Christensen is influential in developing the narratives of each fragrance with the collection and the presentation of the brand.  Onboard also is the master perfumer Christophe Laudamiel who has been instrumental in creating Strangelove’s distinctive collection. Gaynes is also co-founder of GaiaOne, a company changing the way raw materials are sourced for fragrances with sustainable practices for essential oils, and it was through this work that she first discovered oud that has become integral for the brand. Oud is sourced from a rare aromatic wood resin and harvested from the agarwood of the Aquilaria tree. This is a fast-growing evergreen tree found in Southeast Asia. Agarwood is among the most expensive timber in the world. Strangelove only ever uses genuine oud from sustainable suppliers; where every batch undergoes strict quality control. The success of Strangelove is echoed in a plethora of countries such as Canada, USA, England, Qatar. The blend of sensual pure perfume oils combined with the splendour of the majestic oud and other precious and sustainably sourced ingredients give these coveted fragrances their originality and a cult following.

Today we’re going to be talking about Fallingintostars which first launched in 2019, Gaynes explained “With fall​intos​tars, I wanted to bring the wonder of the universe to the wearer. fall​into​stars is a meditation on the universe itself: dark, mysterious, yet leaving a trail of powerful illuminations. The scent contains a core of pure oud, which gives fall​into​stars a deep, primal quality, emphasised with amber and labdanum notes. It’s complemented by ingredients like pink peppercorn and rosewood, which make the scent dreamlike and ethereal.” Let’s start with the base notes of this fragrance. First and foremost is the oud. It is at the heart of all of the Strangelove Eau de Parfum collection. When first applied, we could instantly sense the woody nuance of the oud adding a richness and dimension, then came the leathery notes that immediately melted into honey, amber and peppercorns. Oud has no parallel in the western world, and this is what makes the fragrance unique and luxurious.  The Indian oud is mixed with amber, warm and musky, adding depth and sweetness, making it perfect for autumn. The cooler fresh air of this season with its hint of earthy aromas marries so well with the warmth that this fragrance provides. The mixture also includes a delicate sweetness, almost majestic with light touches of woods and cinnamon found in the Peru balsam which is also bright and clean smelling. Another scent in the base note is the Siam benzoin. It’s a milky, vanilla-like smell, reminiscent of brown vanilla beans that are often used in the making of fine fragrances. Finally, for the base notes is the Labdanum which gives a leathery scent elevating it and giving it even more warmth. Moving on to the middle notes, with henna flower. The sweet, green and persistent smell of the henna feels almost narcotic. In contrast, the addition of rose here adds a floral lightness to the blend. The last middle note is the rosewood which adds peppery aroma on top of the sweet floral scent. Now the top notes, these are the ones that are instantly evident when the fragrance is applied. Pink peppercorn which has an aroma that is fresh, very intense, diffusive, warm with sweet-spice and a faint floral note and a dry woody slightly smoky undertone. The saffron here has a unique and unexplainable soft sweet earthy musk. The ginger is warm, peppery and sometimes with a camphoraceous or lemon note. Finally, the bergamot has a bright, sweet aroma with notes of tartness and acidity. However, its unique floral, spicy edge distinguishes it from other citrus scents making its addition here extremely unique. 

What is it really like? The bottom line for me is that Fallingintostars is quite inexplicable moreish – it’s probably one of the more extraordinary fragrances that I have recently worn, and will continue to wear. I always know when I have found something special, as I get stopped in the street and asked what fragrance am I wearing and Fallingintostars is that scent. Tempted? Fallingintostars can be purchase here for £105.