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Our shop and the "Un Bonheur de Colibri" adventure were born out of our desire to share with you the passions that drive us, true facilitators of happiness that we use in our daily lives. This was the case in 2009 with the opening of the Magical World of Dolls and in 2020 with the arrival of Charlie Bears soft toys in our nest.
As true enthusiasts and lovers of beautiful things, we can only present, advise and offer you products that meet our expectations and that we truly believe in.
We have therefore decided to unveil a third passion that has been part of our lives for several decades, dating back to our childhood for both of us. Given the importance of candles in our lives, their benefits and their richness, we have decided to offer a brand new ‘Ambiance & Decoration’ section on our website, where we have prepared a refined, ethical and responsible selection of natural, handcrafted candles. Of course, as you know us, we have studied and developed The hummingbird flame, a highly rigorous quality charter that sets out all the strict conditions for a candle to be accepted and presented on our website, because our customers deserve only the best and excellence!
In this article, we would like to introduce you to the real benefits of candles in your everyday life... but not just any candles! Beware of the dangers of poor-quality candles. We will also give you all the characteristics that we believe are essential for a natural, handcrafted candle in your home, and we will present the entire range that makes the Colibri team's heart beat faster.
How about lighting a candle in your home?
Taking a moment for yourself, sitting comfortably in an armchair and lighting a candle... Does that appeal to you? When was the last time you did that?
Burning a candle in your home is first and foremost a way to boost your well-being. A lit candle automatically creates a warm, comforting, soothing and timeless atmosphere. This simple wax object acts as a real ‘stress reliever’ in our busy daily lives. A candle will bring you an immediate and lasting feeling of well-being after a day's work, during difficult times or even moments of temporary sadness. Simply watching the flame dance and move will calm you, a true method of meditation. What's more, lighting a room with candles is much better for our eyes, our minds and our sense of security than electric light bulbs.
A candlelit dinner... there's no need to describe the feeling, the sense of well-being and the romantic connotations of this atmosphere created by a candle. When was your last candlelit dinner?
Of course, candles have always had a very strong spiritual power, a true link between Heaven and Earth. Present in many religions, candles burn and consume negative energies, promoting the release of heavy emotions while purifying the space. They are also a symbol of support, communion and universal contemplation.
Finally, candles can also have an effect on your body and health if you opt for a scented candle. Depending on the scents you choose, the aromatherapeutic aspect will help you breathe better, concentrate better, release certain tensions, sleep better and also purify your living spaces.
There's no doubt about it, it's better to light a candle than a switch... but not just any candle!
Do you burn oil in your living room?
If you are not familiar with candles, you might think that a candle is just a candle!
But that is where you are wrong!
The most important and fundamental element of a candle is the wax it is made from. And that should be the main criterion that determines your choice.
The vast majority of commercially available candles (over 80%) are made from paraffin wax, a hydrocarbon obtained from solid petroleum residues. Yes, you read that right... paraffin is a mineral wax derived from the refining of crude oil during the manufacture of fuels. Produced in large quantities, paraffin is cheap, easy to work with and easy to mould.
But needless to say, its petrochemical composition will have an immediate and direct impact on your health and your home. Despite its impeccable appearance (very smooth surface, very white candle, beautiful flame, etc.), the real danger of a paraffin candle comes from its combustion. When you light a paraffin candle, it immediately releases harmful substances such as benzene and toluene, both of which are classified as carcinogens.
And all this inside your home, in your little cocoon, in the very heart of your private space, invisible but present pollutants are spreading. What's more, as it burns, the paraffin candle will release a fine black soot onto the walls or candle holders, fine particles from unburned hydrocarbons. In the long term, these particles can deteriorate the quality of your indoor air and cause headaches, respiratory irritation and even certain allergies.
Finally, paraffin wax is not biodegradable, leaving persistent residues in the environment. It is therefore polluting and non-renewable in terms of the environment.
We invite you to search your cupboards and shelves for your candles. Turn them over and read the ingredients on the label. The majority of commercially available candles, offered at attractive prices and offering impeccable aesthetic appeal, are made from paraffin. So if the word ‘paraffin’ appears, even partially, it is a product to be banned immediately...
But fortunately, rest assured, there are healthy, natural, eco-friendly and sustainable alternatives: vegetable waxes.
"Hummingbird Flame", our quality charter
When we decided to add candles to our product range on our website, we carefully studied all the candles available to us. It was only natural that we drew up a list of criteria that we considered essential for a candle to be accepted into our nest. This is a genuine quality charter, enabling us to guarantee you healthy, natural, artisanal, ethical and eco-friendly candles.
During our research, we found many manufacturers, brands and candles of all kinds... unfortunately, very few passed the test of this quality charter.
Here are the various commitments and characteristics of the candles featured on our website:
High-quality vegetable wax
Made from natural and renewable raw materials, vegetable waxes offer cleaner combustion, better fragrance diffusion and a softer, more stable flame. Vegetable wax melts evenly and burns more slowly at a lower temperature, without giving off smoke or black soot. Although more expensive than paraffin, vegetable candles have a longer burning time, a more attractive appearance when lit, incomparable air quality and a much lower environmental impact. They are therefore a choice for craftsmanship, ecology and health.
Hand-poured
A hand-poured candle is a natural, artisanal candle made in a workshop by a candle maker. We therefore refuse to sell industrial candles made on a large scale by machines. There are many advantages to this type of candle: originality, the joy of buying a unique and personalised product, environmentally friendly production by a specially trained craftsman, support for local manufacturing, etc.
Equipped with eco-friendly wicks
A candle is an object composed of a base (the wax) and a flammable wick. As explained above, the composition of the wax is essential in defining a high-quality product. But it is also important not to skimp on the wick, which must be made of untreated organic cotton (without any additives) or wood. We wanted to avoid metal wicks at all costs, as they were widely used in the past and gave off toxic and undesirable fumes. A high-quality wick is placed in the centre of the candle, does not drown in the wax and does not smoke.
Enhanced with high-quality fragrances
What a pleasure it is to enjoy a candle that gives off a sweet scent, adding an olfactory stimulus to a cosy and soothing atmosphere. But a candle should not only smell good... it must also be safe to breathe in your indoor environment. The vast majority of candles in our selection are scented with high-quality fragrances made mainly in Grasse, the world capital of perfumery.
The fragrances are also guaranteed free of CMR substances (components classified as Carcinogenic - promoting the development of cancer - Mutagens - substances that can alter the DNA of our cells - and Reprotoxins - substances that have harmful effects on fertility and foetal development) and phthalates (harmful chemicals used to prolong the life of home fragrances).
Candles of French or European origin
In setting up this project, we were particularly keen to highlight the expertise of our French artisans, accepting the mission of spreading the word around us. We also had the opportunity to meet a Belgian artisan and a Latvian artisan. The place of manufacture of our candles was therefore an additional selection criterion included in our quality charter.
Our selection of handcrafted candles
A candle is characterised by its container or its shape (if it has been moulded). The vegetable wax and wick must be placed in a holder that you will use to burn it, which we call a container. But a candle can also be naked, meaning that it has been poured into a mould to give it a variety of different shapes, known as pillar candles.
Here are the different types of candles we offer:
- Glass reflections: classic but so precious, discover our selection of candles in glass containers, from the simplest little pot to blown glass holders
- Earthenware: a wide selection of earthenware containers (ceramic, stoneware, porcelain, etc.) to combine a ‘raw’ look with the softness of the candle, all enhanced with colour and originality.
- Metal treasures: small metal boxes with lids to house your most beautiful scents.
- Wild essences: the candle container is simply taken from nature itself, such as a coconut or a reed
- Timeless: with a timeless look and exemplary uprightness, these are the ‘pillar’ candles (without containers) in different shapes and sizes, scented or unscented.
To mark the launch of this new Universe in our shop, we are offering no fewer than 120 different candle designs. As in the world of dolls and teddy bears, once again, the hardest part will be choosing!
Come and discover them now, this way!
We were very impressed by the ethical and eco-responsible approach of certain artisans who offer a second life for their candles. Once the candle has been completely burned down, simply plant the small seeds included in the container to transform your candle into a plant. A beautiful gesture for nature and, above all, a powerful symbol: the magic of the candle does not end when the flame goes out; nature is reborn, offering us the hope of a flower...
It is therefore a sustainable object that combines poetry and ecology.
And now, take good care of your candle
Once you have decided on the type of candle you want and chosen its fragrance (they are simply divine...), the Colibri team will carefully prepare your order and ship it to you in well-protected packaging. You will be very eager to unpack it, discover it, smell it and, above all, light it. But to ensure that your candle lasts, burns perfectly and releases its fragrance until its last flame, a few tips are necessary.
Handcrafted candles made from natural vegetable waxes are more delicate than industrial candles, so they require a little care, but they will give you so much more in return!
Here are some important recommendations to help you fully enjoy this sensory, olfactory and anti-stress experience:
- First burn: the first time you light your candle is crucial and will determine its entire future life. Once lit, let your candle burn until the entire surface of the wax has melted (right up to the edges of the container), which can take between 1 and 3 hours depending on the model. Extinguishing it too soon will cause a crater in the centre of the candle and it will burn unevenly when lit again. In short, give yourself time to get used to your candle the first time you light it so that you can enjoy it for longer afterwards.
- Avoid draughts, which will cause the flame to ‘dance’, disrupting the evenness of the burn and causing the famous crater typical of many candles. In addition, a candle that burns away from windows, draughts or ventilation will burn much better, last longer and release its fragrance evenly.
- Do not blow on the candle to extinguish it, as this can cause the wick to become misaligned. It is better to use a candle snuffer (which smothers the flame), pinch the wick between two wet fingers or immerse the wick in the wax with small tongs. Once extinguished, it is advisable to re-centre the wick immediately while the wax is still liquid.
- Maintain the wick before each lighting by trimming it to +/- 5 mm above the wax level. A wick that is too long will cause a large flame, which will accelerate the burning of the wax and emit black smoke. But be careful, a wick that is too short will eventually drown in the wax, with the risk that it will no longer be possible to light it afterwards.
- Once your candle has cooled, protect it from dust by closing the lid (if the container has one) or by storing it in a cupboard, under a glass dome or a piece of cloth. household dust, animal hair and other unwanted debris will settle on the surface of the vegetable wax, which will have aesthetic consequences (your pretty white candle will turn grey) as well as technical ones (the combustion of the wax will be altered, as will the release of its fragrance). It would be a shame not to enjoy your beautiful candle to the full.
- Avoid placing the candle near a window (to avoid sunlight and temperature fluctuations) and away from all sources of heat such as radiators, fireplaces and open fires. You should also take care not to store it in a place that is too humid or too cold (to prevent the wax from cracking, which will greatly interfere with its proper burning).
This type of candle should not be used lightly or quickly...
It is a handcrafted product that should be cared for with great attention and savoured to the full... for a true ritual of well-being!
We hope that this new section of our shop will inspire you and make you want to feel good at home!
If you are already a big fan of candles, make sure you are not using paraffin wax and switch to natural vegetable wax candles, supporting French or European craftsmanship.
If the world of candles is new to you, take the time to look at each container, study the scents, examine the shapes, fall in love with a design and... take the plunge! You'll treat yourself by buying a high-quality candle made from natural vegetable wax and enhanced with fragrances worthy of the greatest perfumers, transforming your living room into a truly cosy, warm and soothing atmosphere.
Why not treat your loved ones and those you care about to these pleasures? Handcrafted candles are a wonderful gift idea for anyone who wants to relax, transform their home into a haven of well-being, fill their living spaces with delicate, refined fragrances, or even revisit their childhood through olfactory memories. Giving a candle as a gift is sure to please (especially these high-quality handmade candles).
Please feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of this article to share your ‘candle ritual’ with us: which candles do you prefer? On what occasions and for whom do you light them? What do these moments, when the flame dances in the middle of your living room, mean to you? Tell us everything...
And we can assure you that it's definitely worth trying... you won't be able to do without them!
So, let's go ahead and... light a candle!
