Coming Soon....Baby Jogger

All the amazing options of the City Select!

We are excited to introduce Baby Jogger strollers in Lloydminster!
City Mini and Summit shipping arriving in June.
City Select arriving this October.
We will also be stocking accessories and doing Special Orders for doubles/triples.
Stay Tuned for more details...

Canadian Cozy Shopping Cart Covers

Customers have been asking for shopping cart covers for awhile, and I was toying with a few ideas. I finally decided on Canadian Cozy covers and I am so excited for them. One of the reasons I liked them is that they are lined (unlike a lot of others I have found) and therefore will help protect little bums from icy cold cart seats in winter (which, let's face it, is the majority of the time here on the Prairies!) Here's what else makes them great:

One hand installation

Suitable from 6 months to 3 years

Layers of bamboo & cotton lining (not polyester)

Patent Pending design. • Rear buckling safety strap - because toddlers
will figure it out! (avoid the broken, weathered, dirty and unsafe buckles on grocery carts)

Universally designed to fit all grocery carts

Dual purpose - fits over most restaurant highchairs

Pacifier and toy attachment

Oversized side pocket for storage

"Fold & Go" option for easy transport and storage

Washer and dryer safe

Bamboo lining is:	Antibacterial
	Breathable
	Biodegradable
	Hypoallergenic
	Thermal Regulating
	Wash & Dryer Safe

MADE IN CANADA

Fold and Go!!

		1. Stand in front of shopping cart and lay Canadian Cozy™ in seating area of cart.
		2. Stretch elastic perimeter of Canadian Cozy™ over each side of shopping cart. Align Canadian Cozy™ leg holes with cart leg holes. Smooth Canadian Cozy™ around seating area. NOTE: Short section of safety belt must appear and be threaded through to back grid of shopping cart.
		3. Place infant or toddler in shopping cart seat. WARNING! Do not use Cozy with infant unable to support him/herself upright. Do not leave child unattended in shopping cart.
[Click To Enlarge]		4. Holding the buckle and long portion of the safety belt, pull around child’s waist. Loop buckle with strap through large buttonhole to back grid of shopping cart seat. Fasten buckle and adjust to fit snugly around child’s waist.
		5. Canadian Cozy™ Shopping Cart Covers buckle in the back because toddlers figure stuff out! Attach toys, place items in pocket and enjoy a pleasant trip to the grocery store!

Kiddopotamus!

Also new in baby, Kiddopotamus! We have been waiting for these products and are so excited!

First up, the Swaddle Me. When you have a new baby, sometimes swaddling can be tricky. This takes the guess work out, and wraps baby up nice and tight.

The award-winning SwaddleMe® soothes infants and reduces symptoms of colic by recreating the soothing snugness of the womb. It also reduces the incidence of the startle reflex, helping babies to sleep longer. New research shows that swaddling can help reduce the risk of SIDS by promoting better sleep when infants are on their backs.

Next up, the Tiny Diner. This portable placemat gives your child there very own space at the table--yours or one out at a restaurant. The built-in scoop catches spills and keeps your child clean. When you are done eating, the mat rolls up into the scoop and you're good to go!

Finally The Bibbity Rinse and Roll Bib.
The amazing new Bibbity Rinse & Roll bib is made with a unique, flexible material that gently conforms to your child's body and adjusts for a custom fit from 8 months to 4 years. To keep the mess off your baby, the Bibbity is 100% waterproof and spills are caught by the built in scoop before landing on your child's lap. Contoured collar is soft around baby's neck and adjusts easily. The Bibbity rolls into its own scoop and tucks into diaper bag for meals on the go. After meals, simply rinse clean. No more piles of bibs to launder every day! The Bibbity does not contain BPA, lead, PVC, phthalates or latex.

Baby Bjorn

Coming Soon--Baby Bjorn Potties and Stools!


After doing a lot of research on potties, I decided to use this brand for Hannah and then also decided to bring them into the store. The reasons are as follows:

1. Simplicity. While some potties make noises, have magazine and wipes holders, convert to stools, have fancy designs etc, what I read over and over again was that these things were distractions. It was best to just to stick to the subject at hand and not make the potty into a toy.

2. Simplicity, part 2. So many potties have so many pieces that the things are a pain to clean (and who wants that?) These potties have 2 parts (or, for the Little Potty, just one) so no messing around.

These potties are the best reviewed potties on the internet. No potty is perfect for every bottom but I tried to find the one most people were pleased with most of the time.

We have 3 options (details below) with one a little taller, one a little shorter and one great for travel or a spare.

We are getting everything in every color so potty training does not have to be drab! (And I can tell you, most places I have looked do not have all of the colors, they carry one or two, so come to HH and choose from a rainbow of potties!) White, Red, Blue, Green, Yellow & Pink!

First up, the Potty Chair.
Using the potty should feel comfortable and secure. The ergonomic design and soft shapes of the BabyBjorn Potty Chair make it the perfect start to your child's diaper-free life. The Potty Chair features a high backrest, comfortable armrests and plenty of legroom, plus a non-skid bottom that keeps the potty in place on slippery bathroom floors. Easy to Clean.

(Companion non-skid stools are also coming).

Next, the Smart Potty (new for BB this year).
The BABYBJÖRN Smart Potty is the perfect combination of function and convenience. It is small, yet stable and easy to empty and clean. It is the ideal potty for a small bathroom. It takes up minimal space and is easy to take with you. With its ergonomic design and soft lines, the BABYBJÖRN Smart Potty is also nice and comfortable for your child.

Finally, the Little Potty.
The BABYBJÖRN Little Potty is perfect for traveling or to keep in the car in case of emergencies, because it is so small and easy to carry. Your child will find it comfortable and convenient to use. And it’s practical for you, too, with a handle at the back, making it easy to empty and clean. The BABYBJÖRN Little Potty has a splashguard and is stable on the floor.

Cocktails from the Garden

While I was browsing CTV's recipe page, I found these cocktails that use herbs from the garden! Then I sourced out some Iced Tea recipes for those of you who don't believe in drinking during the day (pshh.) They all sounds good to me. If you try any let me know what you think! (I am talking to you, Heather.)

Cold Peach Chamomile Tisane

Ingredients:

• 1 oz thyme syrup
• 1/2 lemon (juice)
• 4 oz cold chamomile tea
• fresh peach slices

Directions:

Build over cubed ice, "iced tea" style. garnish with peach slices and optional thyme leaves.

Summer Trip

• 13.5 oz vodka
• 6 3/4 oz gin
• 10 sprigs lemon thyme
• 4 barspoons lemon sugar
• 10 blackberries
• 10 blueberries

Directions:

Infuse for 48 hrs and top with cold blackcurrant, ginseng and vanilla tea when ready to serve

Country Garden

Ingredients:

• 10 1/4 oz vodka
• 1 3/4 oz cucumber puree
• 5 mint sprigs
• 3 oz lemon juice
• 2 oz elderflower cordial
• 1/2 oz simple syrup

Directions:

Infuse for 48 hours and top with chilled pressed apple juice when ready to serve.

Chamomile Lavender Mint Iced Tea

• 1 loosely packed cup fresh mint leaves
• 2 tablespoons dried culinary lavender
• 1 1/2 tablespoons dried chamomile (or 4 chamomile tea bags)

1. Crush mint leaves and put in a 1-gal. lidded jar. Add lavender and chamomile.

2. Fill jar with water to within 2 in. of rim. Cover and refrigerate 6 hours. Pour through a cheesecloth-lined colander into pitcher for serving.

Lemongrass Ginger Iced Tea

• ½ cup sugar
• 7 ½ cups water
• 1 large stalk lemongrass, dry tops and tough outer leaves removed, stalk cut into small rounds (about ¼ cup)
• 1-inch by 2-inch knob of ginger, peeled and chopped (about 2 tablespoons)
• 4 mild black teabags, such as Darjeeling or Assam
• Ice for serving

1. In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, 1/2 cup water, lemongrass and ginger. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring to the dissolve sugar. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow the lemongrass and ginger to steep in the sugar syrup for at least half an hour. For more pronounced flavor, place in the refrigerator and allow to steep several hours or overnight.

2. Bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Add the teabags, turn off the heat, and allow the tea to steep for 5 minutes. Squeeze out the teabags and discard. Pour the brewed tea into a heat-proof pitcher.

3. Strain the lemongrass ginger syrup through a small sieve, pressing on the solids to extract as much flavor as possible. Discard the solids, and add the syrup to the pitcher of tea. Add three cups of cold water to the tea, and stir well. Serve over ice.

Lavender Lemon Quencher

• 1/4 cup fresh lemon balm leaves, chopped OR 1 tablespoon dried leaves
• 1 tablespoon fresh lavender buds OR 2 teaspoons dried buds
• 2 cups hot water
• 2 cups cold water and ice
• Fresh lemon for garnish

1. Steep lemon balm and lavender in hot (80- to 90-degree) water about 3 minutes.

2. Add cold water and ice.

3. Serve over additional ice with lemon wedges.

Peach Pick Me Up

• 1 tablespoon dried mint leaves
• 4 cups water
• 2 cups pureed peaches, chilled
• Fresh mint leaves for garnish

1. Steep mint leaves in hot (80- to 90-degree) water for 3 minutes.

2. Pour peaches into a sieve to remove chunks.

3. After the mint tea has cooled completely, mix it with the strained peach puree. Serve cold, garnished with fresh mint leaves.

Hot Garden Tip of the Week

36 varieties of heirloom tomatoes arriving tomorrow--early bird gets the worm, we open at 8 AM!

Also check out the area in front of the goat pen for SALE priced Mark's Choice plants!

PS--Don't forget the garden centre is open until 8 PM weeknights until June 4.

Mixing Edibles with Ornamentals in the Garden

By Mark Cullen. For more tips and stories from Mark, visit the CTV gardening page.

For a long time it has struck me that the appearance of a well kept vegetable garden is a thing of great beauty. The straight rows, the glowing appearance of tomatoes on the vine, of carrot tops and bush beans loaded with fruit.

But not everyone agrees with me.

Enter a new generation of gardeners for whom the old rules of gardening do not apply.

Here we have 20 and 30 year olds, some in their first home and with young children and some not: all of them with concerns about the environment and the quality of what they put in their mouths (and that of their kids!).

Today we have this wonderful mixing of edible plants and ornamental ones. In my opinion it is one of the most exciting developments in the gardening industry since the introduction of native plants about 25 years ago.

What grows with what?

First, consider that all plants that produce edible fruit, foliage or roots have some ornamental qualities.

Take a fruit tree for example: an apple in full bloom in late April is just as attractive as many dwarf flowering trees. We don't think of an apple as a flowering tree because it's primary purpose in the garden is it's productivity. Same for cherries, pears and the list goes on.

This photo of a demonstration garden at the Hampton Court Flower Show I England tells a wonderful story: from right to left, note the snap beans, onions, strawberries, young cabbage or kale plants, curly parsley, arugula and finally the Red Sails leaf lettuce.

See the ornamental quality of this planting?

Now you are getting the idea…..

Mark Cullen's Tips for Great Tomatoes

By far the #1 veggie crop in Canadian gardens is the tomato.

And why not - it is no mistake that Heinz has their #2 plant in Leamington Ontario [Pittsburgh is #1 but that is where they 'discovered' the secret recipe too...]

In most of Canada we have loads of sunshine and good soil is not all that far away.

My recipe for a great tomato crop is:

• 1. start with a healthy plant [I trust that you have planting it already...]
• 2. prep the soil with a minimum of ½ bushel [20 liters] of compost and equal amount of top soil, mixed equally in the bottom of the hole.
• 3. plant deeply: up to the fist leaves. Roots will grow out of the stem.
• 4. water well and fertilize with one inch [2 cm.] of finished compost or Green Earth organic 4-6-8 Tomato and Vegetable food.
• 5. continue to water deeply when the soil is dry about 5 cm. down.
• 6. double the tomato crop by getting them off the ground. Stake them as Jeff and I demo in this segment.
• 7. mulch to minimize weeds and watering. I use 6 inches/16 cm. of loose straw. Finely ground up bark also works well.
• 8. apply Bordo mixture in July to prevent early blight. This is very important where a hot, dry August in not a certainty.

As they ripen, pick often and enjoy.

Mark Cullen's Top Garden Trends for 2010

1. Canadians will be paying down their debt - to the soil. As more and more Canadians realize that they cannot draw on the goodness of soil forever, they will be 'giving back' by adding generous layers of organic material including [you guessed it] COMPOST

2. From Garden to Fork. Inspired by the recent trend to eat food produced with in 100 miles, Canadians will be growing more of their own food in their own yards and on balconies- Why? to control what is put on their food [ie. No chemicals], convenience, money saving and honest to goodness wholesomeness.

3. Naturally. Canadian gardeners are discovering -in increasing numbers - the benefits of gardening organically or [at least] in the absence of chemicals. Or at the VERY least the minimal use of chemicals.

4. Heritage Gardening. As more and more Canadians are prepared to pay a premium for 'heritage' or 'heirloom' tomatoes and other produce, they are also more interested in growing what their great grandparents grew...... look for heritage tomato varieties at garden retailers this spring.

5. Water Conservation. Gardeners are acutely aware of water use and are naturally concerned about the limited availability of water in most regions of t he country. Look for an increase in the use of rain barrels and other 'water saving' devices including low pressure water sprinklers and water conserving products like the new Water Solutions tea bags [which I will bring in for a demo]

6. Bringing Nature Home. Gardeners are closely connected to the natural world and are designing their gardens in an effort to embrace the natural world around them rather than insulate them selves from it, as we did a generation ago... as a result lawns will get smaller, native plants will gain in popularity and birding in all forms [including bird feeding] will continue to rise in popularity.

7. Gardeners as Community minded activists. Gardeners are seeing themselves more as a vital part of the community as a whole, with sensitivity to historic attributes of our towns and cities, our public green spaces and the overall beauty of our communities. We will see horticultural societies and individual gardeners give time and resources to partnerships with Historic societies, conservation groups and a growing interest in Communities in Bloom.

8. Smaller is better. As house builders continue to build larger homes on smaller lots, the nature of gardening spaces will continue to 'intensify'. The popularity of dwarf conifers, small flowering trees and growing in containers will continue to grow.

9. Gardening as Therapy. As our population ages there is a growing appreciation for the therapeutic benefits of gardening.... Improved cognitive skills, sharper minds, better memory, lower blood pressure, increased flexibility and overall better health result from the ACTIVITY of gardening, regardless of age.

10. Gardening for the NEXT generation and Gardening for Pets. The emerging generation of gardeners are integrating their kids and grand kids [and even their pets!] into the gardening experience. In an effort to reduce the growth of 'nature deficit disorder' the garden is providing the perfect opportunity to engage young people in Mother Nature's world, right in our own backyards.

Gingersnaps Weekly Menu

Double Click to Enlarge

It's Back! The Gingersnaps Specials of the Day are back for the summer, woo hoo! Buffalo Chicken wrap on Wednesday? Sounds like the best way to spend a Wednesday to me!

Yoga in Lloydminster

Double Click to Enlarge

To find classes, visit our friends at Studio Encore Yoga
or Serenity Yoga Studio

Get your Pouchee on

It was a year ago this Mother's Day that we first introduced you to Pouchees, so in honor of our anniversary we'd like to remind you how great they are ;)

If you're like some girls I know (ahem, Sarah) you change your purse daily. Purses now are so reasonably priced, it's hard not to buy the newest colour and style. I think a big bright bag is a great way to accessorize any outfit for minimal investment.

BUT- if you change your purse frequently, you'll know how irritating it is to realize you left your sunglasses in one bag, your moody bee in another.

Additionally, if you're into the bigger style of bags, you'll know how hard it is to find just what you're looking for (which pocket did I put my iRewards card in?).

Well- a retired mom from South Carolina has solved our purse-swapping woes!

Meet Pouchee, a clever little pocket meant for holding all your important bits and pieces. Room for your iPod, glasses, cell phone, sun glasses, laptop cord, keys and more.

Handy Rings for ease of changing purses and bags. Inside pockets for lipsticks or small flashlights. Inside Zippered pockets for change or personal items. Inside dividers to keep everything organized!

Shown here in Aussie Red (and Pink Cotton for the inside shot), Pouchee is available in leather and cotton in all sorts of fun colors.

New, this year, we are pleased to present the Jewelry Traveler, to keep all your pretty baubles and bling neat and organized and not tied up in knots!

Jewelry Traveler

• Handy swivel hook for hanging in your closet or hotel.
• unique patent pending design for keeping necklaces separated during travel.
• Inside pockets for earrings, bracelets & more
• retractable handle for easy transport.
• Folds flat for easy packing.

And The Daddy. We had him in before and he's sold out, so more are on the way!

The Daddy

• Car Console Organizer.
• Sturdy handles so you can take your Console Caddie with you to keep your valuables safe.
• Outside pockets for checkbook, sunglasses, mobile phone, tissues,change etc.
• Inside pockets for pens, flashlights tire gauges, CDs & more
• Inside credit card or business card pockets.
• Inside dividers to keep everything organized.

Anna Olson's Asparagus Salad

From www.annaolson.com

Asparagus Salad with Chevre, Avocado and Blackberries
Serves 4

1 lb (450g) fresh asparagus
1 ripe but firm avocado
3 oz (90g) fresh goat cheese
1 cup (250mL) fresh blackberries
1 lemon, cut in half
extra virgin olive oil
salt & pepper

Bring a pot of water up to a boil and salt generously. Trim asparagus and add to water. Blanch, uncovered, until tender (check by tasting – time will vary depending on thickness of asparagus). Once tender drain and shock in a bowl with ice and water to halt cooking. Strain and chill until ready to serve.

To serve, arrange chilled asparagus on a serving platter. Peel and slice avocado and arrange over asparagus. Crumble goat cheese on top and then sprinkle salad with blackberries. Squeeze lemon juice over top then drizzle salad with a touch of olive oil and season lightly.

And now a word from Mark Cullen...

Excerpted from Mark Cullen's Monthly newsletter, which can be found at www.markcullen.com

“All gardeners live in beautiful places

Because they made them so.”

~ Joseph Joubert

It is the month of May. Time to get serious about the garden.

I don’t quite mean this the way that it sounds: serious is not a word that we should ever attach to the gardening experience. After all, you got into this thing for the fun of it right? May is the month that we really dig in, if a great looking garden is in the plan for this year at all. That is what I mean.

As I travel the country talking with gardeners it is becoming clear to me that the emerging generation of gardeners have some lessons to teach those of us who have been doing this for a time: #1 “There are no rules”

We now mix up vegetable plants with perennials – in the same container! And most every plant that goes in the garden also goes into containers… and most everything that can hold some soil is a container for planting most everything else. No rules.

Where to start: THAT is the question!

Vegetables to plant:

For most of us Canadian gardeners it helps to look at May as two months – early (when frost can still occur) and late (when the threat of frost is much less likely).

Plant in the first half: all ‘frost hardy’ vegetable seeds. There are many that thrive in cool soil and will tolerate some frost once out of the ground.

Radish, carrots, all members of the onion family including spring sets, Spanish onions, leeks and multipliers. Plant peas now, both the ‘snow’ peas and the podded peas, (plus, for the record Sweat Peas), lettuce – leaf, head and bib varieties, cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts (providing you can find someone to eat them). In fact virtually all of the ‘gassy' vegetables can be planted early –like now.

Later, when the threat of frost is no longer a consideration plant out your tomato plants and peppers, seed potatoes, squash, pumpkins and beans. Corn should be planted when the leaves of your oak trees are the size of a squirrel’s ear. If you lack squirrels, come over to my place and help yourself.

Containers.

I have a way to cut your watering down by up to one half this summer. Water Wicks are a new product in the Mark’s Choice line up that I am very excited about. Each ‘Water Wick’ tea bag absorbs up to 400 times its’ weight in water.

When you prepare a hole for planting, drop a pre-moistened Water Wick tea bag into the bottom of the hole and place the plant directly on top of it. Firm the soil around the plant as per usual. Now, as the soil dries out the plant will draw moisture from the Water Wick. When you water your plants the Water Wick is automatically recharged with water.

The results are that you will water much less and your plants will become deeply rooted in their search for water at the bottom of the planting hole.

How do we know these work? We tested them ourselves. But not until the Ontario Flower Growers applied them to over one million potted plants that were shipped to retailers across the country. The Water Wick concept was such a hit that reforestation projects are now using them when planting tree seedlings. We (Home Hardware and I) have the exclusive use of the product in the retail market.

Give them a try and let me know what you think. I have used them in the veggie garden, under newly planted perennials and in containers with great success.

Water Wicks are made in Canada and are a 100% Canadian concept!

The BEST Wheel Barrow. Ever. It took us a while to perfect this one, but the new Mark’s Choice wheel barrow is a winner. I know this because my wife has claimed mine as her own.

It has a generous 5 cubic foot capacity, a low centre of gravity (so it will not tip unless you really try), it is perfectly balanced (the part that we worked on the longest), it has two heavy duty wheels, a thick gage high impact plastic hopper and a comfortable wrap around handle for ‘one handled’ work (so you can hold a beer in one hand and walk a load around the yard with the other!).

Mark's Choice Product of the Month

Mark’s Choice garden soils – at last ! We have been working for 3 years on the perfect formulation of soils for the 3 main jobs that you have around the garden.

Container mix for planting in hanging baskets, window boxes and all other containers. Home Hardware item# 5053-500

Weed Free Lawn Soil for getting grass seed and sod off to a great and fast start. Home Hardware item# 5053-686

Flower and Vegetable Soil , which also contains the very best ingredients for growing all vegetables and flowers in the garden. Home Hardware item# 5053-695

Welcome Elyssa!

Congratulations to staff member Cristy and husband Tim Van Staden

on the arrival of their daughter

Elyssa Alida Elizabeth Van Staden.

Born May 4 at 11:57 AM.

Mother and daughter are doing fine and we wish the new

happy family the best of luck! We can't wait to meet her!

Giftcard & Gift for Mom

This Thursday, Friday & Saturday
buy at giftcard valued at $50 or more and receive a
FREE Miniature Rose
to go with your gift for Mom!

How sweet!

Add color to your condo

Check out this great article on adding color to your condo with hanging baskets

Spring Purge

In today's Edmonton Journal there were some great articles in the condos section, one called
Spring Purge--say adieu to those aerosol air fresheners.

An excerpt:

When tackling spring cleaning duties, there are some environmentally dubious household items that you might want to give a second look. And when I say "give a second look" I mean you should reconsider using and/or replace them with a more eco-sensible alternative.

Don't get me wrong -- I love fragrantly scented air. In fact, I have a bit of a purchase-problem when it comes to scented soy candles. But if you're the type who grabs for a can of Freesia Fiesta or Melon Madness aerosol air freshener to combat the stench of last night's fish fry or this morning's wet dog, I'm here to convince you to spritz your last spritz.

As you might be aware, the alluring fragrance housed in that aerosol can isn't derived from freesia or melons but from a complex chemical brew that can trigger allergic reactions, respiratory problems, and pollute the indoor air.

The four basic ingredients, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: formaldehyde, petroleum distillates, p-dichlorobenzene and aerosol propellants. And unsurprisingly, air fresheners of all varieties, not just ones in aerosol cans, contain those nefarious volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a source of health woes and ground-level ozone.

And here's something to consider before you say adios to that half-empty aerosol air freshener: The contents are considered as hazardous waste and should be taken to an eco-station. Yep, that Freesia Fiesta is hazardous (not to mention ineffective since it masks odours instead of removing them).

The author recommends opening some windows and placing bowls of baking soda around the house to absorb odors. And a vase or two of spring flowers not only brighten the place up but offer a beautiful, natural, safe aroma.

You have to keep in mind that these things you are inhaling are chemicals. The commercials of people spraying air fresheners all over everything in house and then inhaling the scents...good grief. You would never take the can and inhale it's contents, but somehow we feel like it is OK, (or like we SHOULD) scent the air (and invariably inhale it that way).

The reason this is especially timely for me is because I went to our local farmer's market this Thursday where I was fed a sales pitch by a sell-from-your-home candle company, initials MB. While this company's candles are in fact made from soy, the salesperson proceeded to tell me that they were the only "green" candle in North America, were 100% natural and non-toxic. I asked, "What about the fragrance?" I was told "Everything is all-natural."

It is not, in fact, all natural, and the company's own website says they use synthetic fragrance because the scent lasts longer. And it is not a "green" candle, let alone the only "green" candle in North America.

This really made me angry because a) it's not true, b) it's misleading (known as "greenwashing" where a person or company misrepresents a product as natural/good for the environment/organic/safe) and c) it is being spread around and shared through at-home parties and women's shows (like the one in Lloyd this weekend). Consumers should not be lied to--if your fragrance is fake but the base is real, just be honest with us.

We offer all kinds of things at the store--just in our candle lines, some are, indeed, all-natural (soy or beeswax) and fragranced with essential oils. Some are soy, but fragranced with synthetic (man-made) scents. Some are old-school paraffin (what most candles are made of).

When making choices, as the author above indicated, consider all the information you receive. Does "sticky cinnamon raisin bun" or "birthday cake" scents exist in nature? No. So how can it be natural? Plain old cinnamon or vanilla, yes, go for it. If you don't care if it is natural, burn whatever you like. But if you do care, and you are buying the product because you think it is all-natural or safe, then you might have to do a little extra research if you hear something that sounds fishy.