EASY MORNINGS WITH LIGHTWELL CO.

Over the past year I have accumulated a ridiculous number of candles. It seems like every time I'm done burning one, three more pop up in its place. But out of ALL the candles I've received, Lightwell Co.'s hand-poured scents have become easy favorites. 

Whether I'm working on my bed or relaxing in the bath, I love lighting a candle to create a soothing environment. However, some candles are too overpowering, and just half an hour of candle smell will have me battling a splitting headache. What I love about Lightwell Co. is their dedication to making the perfect product. Their combination of 100% American-grown soy wax, delicate fragrances derived from essential oils, and cotton wicks makes for candles that are fragrant without being overpowering. 

Fact: forest-y candles make any morning better. Even a Monday morning. Just strike a match, light your candle, pick up that magazine or book you've been meaning to read, and sip away at your cup of coffee or tea until you're ready to conquer the day.

I have just as many wonderful things to say about the fragrances themselves (I'm currently using Northern Fir and Citrus & Fir) as I do about the packaging. In this age of single-use products, it requires a conscious effort to reduce the waste one creates. After I'm done burning these candles (I'm torn between saving them so I can smell them forever and ever, and burning through them in a week because I love them so much) I'll be using these simple ceramic containers to hold pencils and pens, flowers, or maybe even some makeup brushes. 

While most of the candle burning I do happens on my beside table or desk, I've recently been letting the Citrus & Fir burn while I'm having a shower or soaking in the bath. Combined with the steam, the soothing but bright scent fills the bathroom and after I've finished I'm feeling more relaxed than I usually would. Alongside my favorite face masks and skin products, Lightwell CO.'s beautiful candles are now also a bathroom essential. 

More often than not, simplicity is best. When it comes to candles, Lightwell Co. knows exactly how to deliver simple, but high-quality products that will become a staple in your home (and that of everyone you end up gifting these candles to). Some candle scents these days are so overworked. No thank you, I would not like my room to smell like a cinnamon roll, or blueberry muffin, or gingerbread cookie. Give me lush forests (nonexistent within my immediate area) and citrus, and I'll be happy as can be.

TORII AWAKE

I, like many others, am (slightly) addicted to coffee. Maybe it's the quintessential morning smell, or the photogenic quality of the foam that sits on top of a latte. Whatever the cause, I have this thing with coffee. I love it. But it doesn't really love me back. Half of the time, drinking coffee doesn't even affect me until an hour later, at which point I become so jittery and anxious that I'm practically useless as a member of society. The other half of the time, I don't even feel any energizing effects. These are probably signs that I should have found an alternative to coffee drinks a while ago.

As summer comes to an end I'm filled with dread at the prospect of juggling a job that's located an hour away from me, a full course load, family, friends, and a committed relationship once school starts. How is one to do that??? Will I ever sleep? My classes start at 7:25am this semester. I probably won't get a break until 8pm most nights. I also want to have time for the gym...

The more I spell it out, the more daunting it seems. Given the enormous amount of stress I'm going to be under, I'm going to have to make some changes to my daily routine. Considering the fact that my body doesn't process coffee well, no matter how much I try to deny it for the sake of pretty Instagram posts, I should probably switch from something that makes me jittery, to something that provides me with natural and lasting energy. This new "something" is quite possibly Torii Awake, an all-natural tonic made to enhance focus and performance, without the upset stomach and hyper-sensitivity that coffee yields. 

The cloudy, amber-colored drink is slightly reminiscent of ginger ale, with an aftertaste that can't quite be placed. Perhaps it's the Goji berry, known for its calming effects. Whatever it is, this tonic is pretty good. The effects aren't dramatic, but I'd argue that a simple tonic with slightly enhancing effects is preferable over a highly-caffeinated drink that results in bodily discomfort, a few trips to the bathroom, and uncontrollable nerves.