Did you know that the part of the brain responsible for memory is right beside the part responsible for smell? This explains why smell, like nothing else, causes memories to come flooding back into our minds. We’ve probably all had numerous experiences of walking into a new environment and being immediately immersed in a scent which triggers a vivid memory. This could be the smell of a detergent ushering in a deluge of memories of school corridors and lockers; maybe it’s a type of food, submerging you for a moment in a warm, cosy world. Or perhaps it’s a complete blindsider, when a fragrance you’ve not smelt for decades suddenly transports you back to a childhood incident you’d completely forgotten.
We all associate scents with different seasons. Crisp, light floral notes as new life bursts forth in spring; heady, full notes in summer alongside some classic holiday fragrances such as coconut or sea air; warm, earthy, vibes are what’s needed for the autumn such as vanilla and cinnamon; and rich spicy, scents for winter, with extra layers of orange and clove for Christmas.
Christmas scents are perhaps the most evocative of all. The smell of freshly cooked mince pies or ginger spiced cookies wafting from the kitchen, the fresh fragrance of pine as Christmas trees are hauled into the house and the inviting aroma of mulled wine gently warming on the hob, all conjure up memories of Christmases past and dreams of Christmases to come.
While perfect Christmases don’t exist, there is so much we can enjoy and appreciate about this season, not least some cosy evenings at home, with lights twinkling, a warm candle flickering and a mug of something warm and comforting cradled in our hands. What better to usher in these cosy Christmas vibes than a hand-crafted candle, wax melt or reed fragrance?
These days we are all familiar with the busy run up to Christmas, however, in days gone by, the four weeks leading up to Christmas (known as Advent) were a time of preparation, reflection and fasting. While we generally don’t observe these four weeks in such a way now, in order to avoid losing our heads in a whirl of panic buying, it’s probably a good idea to pause and reflect and be thankful for all we have instead. A beautiful way to weave this into our daily lives is to light a candle and relax…
Here at Craft Insurance, we are delighted to have a wonderful array of clients who create home fragrances and have shelves jam packed with irresistible products. Candles are particularly linked with the Christmas season, and their warm glow is assured to create a welcoming atmosphere. There is a plethora of mass-produced candles, less expensive than hand crafted ones, but we would obviously recommend buying locally made candles, crafted with love and skill.
A candle from one of our clients will be made with artisan craftsmanship, using responsibly sourced raw ingredients. Many craft businesses try to use local suppliers, which supports the local economy rather than pouring pounds into big retailers. Their carbon footprint is much smaller than their factory counterparts as they use time honoured methods, relying on manual labour rather than energy consuming machinery, and all this generates less waste products. Thought is put into packaging too, with many wrapping their products in plastic free alternatives. In addition to all this, the raw materials will be of a higher quality and so the candle will last longer.
We all love Christmassy fragrances, but there is more awareness now of the health risks associated with synthetic fragranced candles. The answer to this is obviously to buy hand crafted candles, made with natural products like bees’ wax, soy or coconut wax, with wicks made from cotton or wood. And, rather than manufactured scents, handmade candles use all natural botanicals, giving not only a much more defined scent, but a clean burn.
If you have hopped onto our website to explore home fragrance making insurance, you are very welcome! Or you might be looking to renew your insurance and research the best deals. Our basic package for home fragrance making insurance comprises public and product liability insurance and also includes professional indemnity cover. Public liability insurance covers you for any claims made that harm of damage has been caused by yourself or a member of our team as a direct consequence of a business activity. For example, if something has fallen to the ground at a fair and a member of the public trips over and has a minor injury, this insurance would cover you for compensation and/or legal fees.
Product liability insurance covers you for any claims made that your product has caused harm or injury. With both, even if it is not your fault, the insurance will cover you. While you will ensure risk assessments are up to date and common sense will avoid most mishaps, it is the unexpected incidents that we can’t foresee for which insurance is our buffer.
Professional indemnity insurance is also included in our package, and this allows you to teach or demonstrate your craft. If you are not already doing this, you might consider holding candle making workshops or courses? If you have home fragrance making insurance with us, you will be covered to do this.
As you research insurance quotes, you’ll notice that Craft Insurance aims to deliver what we say, with no exclusions and clarity and transparency. We are a family-run business and have the benefit of having learnt from those who have worked in craft insurance for decades; we have assessed the risks and know what craft business owners need. So, get a quote from our website, and if you need any help, pick up the phone and either Sam or Naomi will be glad to assist.
