Yay for Holiday Giveaways!

Check this out! One of my favourite bloggy peeps is doing a huge giveaway next week and I have a secret reason to tell you about this... and I think you should take the steps to make sure you are eligible for a week of amazing giveaways.

An old pal of mine writes this great blog called "The Art of Doing Stuff" which you simply must start reading! On Monday she starts her The Great, Gargantuan, Giftmas Giveaway … of stuff. and all you have to do is go to her blog and follow the instructions to take part. They're easy instructions. Karen is good at giving easy instructions on doing stuff, after all that's her art. Her Motto is "'cause it ain't that hard. Any of it." and she means it!
So, get on with it. :)

 

Best Curly Story ever!

I had to share this with you!
 One of my longtime DevaCurl product and hair salon clients has been sharing the products with her young daughter but earlier this summer was the first time Mimi came to the ellënoire salon to get her hair cut.
Mimi's mom sent us this note today after Mimi returned to school from summer vacation:

 "I would really like to thank you, Noelle, from the bottom of my heart, for showing me and my daughter the Deva Curl way. Mimi is 12 and has spent most of those years being teased about her appearance for one reason or another. Today she came home with a story to tell that caused happy tears for a change- she totally choked up. She told me that people in school are coming up to her and telling her that she has the most GORGEOUS hair they've ever seen. People are playing with it and trying to tuck their fingers into her curls. She was absolutely glowing with happiness. Thank you, Noelle, for showing me the way, David for my beautiful cut, John for your help in the store, and Sara for your patience with Mimi- taking the time to explain things step by step as you gave her the first haircut to make her cry for a good reason."


Kids are so beautifully honest, which of course means they can also be terribly cruel. I am so glad for Mimi's sake that something so simple like wearing her hair natural brought out the appreciative nature of  her classmates. The fact that in a world where flat-irons, blowfryers and other hair torture devices are being marketed to little girls alongside their back to school gear there are still kids who can fall in love with someone else's gorgeous natural curls.

Later I'll tell you about the confused curly girl in the drug store asking her mom to buy her a curling iron and how I stopped that from happening. ;)

 

The New that is News

Did you see our newsey newsletter a couple of weeks ago?
I know some of you do not subscribe, but feel free to add yourself to the newsletter mailing list to get advance notice of sales and specials.
Click here to get on this magical list!
I am writing today to remind you about some of the great products mentioned in the last newsletter that we have to get you through the rest of this summer.

Here is why you MUST own these things for all your summer adventures!

Muscle Mist-takes the sting out of mosquito bites... along with all its other amazing pain killing, sinus congestion, headache fixing skills it has!

Aquis Towels -Sand won't stick to them!

Sports Suds Suds- takes the stink out of workout gear AND smelly sandals!

Badger Balm... Organic Sunscreen, After Sun Balm

and so much more...

 Here is the link to the full newsletter.....don't miss the coupon at the bottom!
YA you heard me... COOOOOUPON! But you have to read the letter first... don't print it... just show up to the shop or online store and mention the coupon to save $$$$$$...

Of Mums, Scots and their Candles in Canada

My faithful readers will know that my beloved Mummy was a big part of the start of my business. During preparations for selling things at our church's annual "Holly Fair" (Have I told you this story? I don't know. Read it anyway) Mummy would make natural pot-pourri and candles. Between the Health Food store, Tandy craft stores and our garden she managed to get enough things together to make it all. I was her happy little helper. I still have all her candle moulds and random other ancient items. I've tried to make candles over the years, but I didn't want to use paraffin wax like she did-there were very few choices back then-and my experiments with beeswax were less than stellar. I have thought about trying to make soy wax candles but the last few years have been so crazy I haven't taken time to do the research and development aka playing around with it.

Every week someone comes into the store and is shocked that we don't carry candles. I bring some in at Christmas time, but not consistently because most candle companies insist on using artificial fragrances which just give me a headache and my policy in product choices for the store is clear. If I or my staff won't use it, I won't sell it. Everything in the store has been used by one of us before it hits the shelves with no exceptions.

In 2011 friends of mine launched a candle line handmade by them and their family in Scotland. I knew based on their lovely taste in decor that the candles would be just as lovely but I was pleasantly surprised that they had chosen to use only natural fragrances and soy wax in their candle line. In November for the grand opening of our boutique they brought me a couple of their creations and I was delighted to give them a try. One of the Cedarwood & Rosemary container candles sat next to my bed for months and was a delightful scented way to fall asleep (you don't need to light good quality candles to get the scent). One of the Scots Pine boutique candles got me through a power outage so I could still read! I soooo loved these candles!!

 Oh wait, those aren't the candles! Those are the friends that make them! ;)

So here we are a few months later, after a few queries, and attempts at trying to work out timing and how to get candles across the "pond" without costing an arm and a leg and we have them!

 

Yes! That's right! For the first time in a Canadian shop ellënoire is the first stockist of the C&J Home range of candles. 

Available in 6 stunning scent blends using renewable soy wax & essential oils as fragrance, as described by Colin and Justin.....

 Lime & Lavender

"We’ve carefully mixed the relaxing woody tones of lavender, one of the world’s most popular aromas, with a dramatic undercurrent of zesty lime to create a heady fusion scent that will lift and invigorate the atmosphere. Stimulating to the max, our double L combo is fresh, clean and romantic. Just what you need to lift your spirits in an ever more stressful world!"

 Orange & Patchouli

"Waves of sweet, zesty orange dance around subtle hints of Patchouli to create a balanced scent pairing that will stimulate and freshen your home or work environment. Combining classic citrus tang with Patchouli’s sensual, earthy aroma is an aromatic coup de grace and one that will cut through and lighten even the darkest atmosphere"

 Bergamot, May Chang & Grapefruit

"May Chang oil, when carefully distilled, expounds a deliciously fresh, invigorating bouquet. Known as ‘Mountain Pepper’ in Mandarin, May Chang’s revered lemony perfume is utterly uplifting and composed with spicy, invigorating ‘notes’. We‘ve played the peppery package along side hints of aromatic Bergamot (best known as a scenting ingredient in earl Grey Tea) to unleash op

Cedarwood & Rosemary

 "By combining the incense-like woodiness of soothing, luxurious Cedarwood with the fresh pine notes of Rosemary, we‘ve fashioned a luxurious, heady aroma that may help combat the stresses and strains of everyday life. It’s all about the combo; Cedarwood’s woody-balsamic undertones will tempt relaxation while the uplifting effects of Rosemary will assist in energy balance and aura cleansing"

 

Scots Pine

"Capturing the spirit of the Highlands, our Scots Pine scented candle evokes woody, rolling hills and deep water lochs. Imagine Robert Burns waxing lyrical about the joys of nature; he’s sitting in a white washed Northern cottage and his imagination is running free. So too will yours with our romantic Scots Pine aroma. The very essence of Scotland, this lovingly prepared scent is rugged, grand and heady. Light the wick and enjoy the relaxing ambience as it swirls around your home"

Mandarin & Geranium

"We’ve taken natural Geranium oil - famed for its floral, minty bouquet -and blended it with succulent Mandarin to create an aromatic marriage that is energizing, heady and uplifting. The result is a sophisticated modern home scent that will appeal to both genders in equal measure"

 

So, you see, it all ties together....  My lovely Scottish mum and her Candles in Canada and My equally lovely Scottish friends Colin & Justin and their Candles brought to Canada. I hope you come by straight away to sniff a few, or take a chance and order from our website. Trust me when I say, these candles smell every bit as beautiful as the C&J decor you have enjoyed on TV over the years!

We'll be burning a different candle everyday in the store this week and talking about it on our facebook page If you are local pop in and follow your nose!!

In the Swim?

This morning a client emailed me about swimming and her hair and how to swim in chlorinated pools without hair damage. When I was writing back it occurred to me that you my ellenoire-ites might benefit from this tip too.
This tip is for all hair types, but especially important if your hair is dry, damaged, curly or artificially coloured.
N.B. Lots of salt pools are still chlorinated, just to a smaller degree. Step 1 is key for all sun and swim time to prevent damage. Step 2 is key for chlorinated pools.

 To prevent chlorine damage takes 2 simple things.
1) Prevent chlorine from getting into the hair.
2) Neutralize what may have got in.

When you go to the pool prepare two bottles of conditioner. One plain, One with a tbsp or two of lemon juice in it.
Almost any kind od condtioner will do, but we always suggest you avoid conditioners with sulfates, petroleum & silicones.
Here are the Steps:

1) Before you enter the pool put plain conditioner in the dry or wet hair (avoid the skin if you wear a bathing cap or it will sling shot across the room. I kid you not)  

2) When you get out of the pool, rinse the hair well (don't wash the hair, it's pointless. You cannot wash chlorine out, you have to neutralize it) then apply the lemon conditioner and run in through the hair well then rinse well.

3) Apply a little of the plain conditioner, rinse and style as usual.
That's it!
 Play Safe!

Cheers, Noelle

O Blinding Light, O Light that Blinds

Ok, so I started this post a few weeks ago. can you read it and pretend it's June 23rd or so? I had some complications with some surgery so a lot of things got put on hold.... but I'm back....


So here we are.. Summer. Sunny, Sunny Summer..a few more days and all the kids will be finished with school. I just saw four young scoundrels of the local graduating class of eighth graders racing by on bikes and skateboards giving me a tiny taste of the how the neighbourhood will transform over the next weeks. I wonder though, were they wearing sunscreen? Certainly back in my time of carefree summer days sunscreen was never discussed. It was always said back then that if you didn't burn in the sun you didn't have to worry about wearing sunscreen. My medium shade or "olive coloured" (really, I don't look like an olive, but that's what people call my skin tone for some unknown reason) mixed race skin has only had two or three sunburns ever. I think I only got them when I was swimming for hours. I certainly never shyed away from the sun. I still don't.

The myth of the base tan & dark skinned people being safe in the sun was perpetuated by my mother who was quite a sun worshipper herself. I have fond scent memories of the Coppertone creaminess that she smeared on herself while lying at the beach watching us swim at our beloved campground in the Rideau Canal area. I discovered my own favourite suntan oil in my teens in the 80's with another powerful scent memory of "Tropical Blend" noted for its awesome marketing campaign about giving you a "Savage Tan"

Savage is right.

Those were the days before we knew what we know now about skin cancer.The myths about tanning still prevail.
As you likely know, cancer in all it's forms resound personally with me. My mom, my grandmother, my stepdad and I all had it. I'm sitting at home right now recovering from my final reconstructive surgery after having breast cancer and all it's joys in 2008.

Skin Cancer doesn't kill people all that often, I guess that's good news, but skin cancer has a lot of bad news too! I know a few people who have had it, and the stories are not pretty. I have one client who got a very bad case of advanced skin cancer on her leg. The cancer had spread to her lymph nodes before she knew she had it and once they removed the cancer and the nodes she was left with a compromised lymphatic system. What does that mean? The lymph system is like the sewer on your street. It drains crappy toxins out of the body. Just like a sewer that's been blocked, a lymph system that has been taken apart just won't drain things right. What happens when the lymph system gets backed up? Like with the sewer, you get a large amount of fluid that has nowhere to go. SO, she gets to wear these really attractive compression tights everyday ....

Nope, so not kidding. How would you like to try and wear a sundress with that?

So! Get 20 minutes a day of sun for your Vitamin D intake (in the summer, in winter take supps) After that???

Don't be an idiot and wear sunscreen and remind your Olive-like friends to do it too!

On top of the sunscreen issue we at ellënoire would prefer you chose clean products that don't mess you up in other ways. There are about 1000 bad chemicals in many large company sunscreens I could go crazy boring you to tears about why they may put you at risk of cancer, endoctrine disruption, icky skin rashes and such but I won't. If you have ingredient questions than always feel free to ask. If you read the links below you will see the names of many of the sunscreen ingredients that are on the bad list....

I only sell one brand of sunscreen and it's the only one I trust: Badger. You may have seen the Badger Balm line around my store over the years and hopefully for the sake of your skin, your sleep and your sanity you've tried some of the amazing products from the brand name. Ellënoire is one of the few places in Canada that stocks the entire line of Badger Balm products.

Badger Sunscreen is AaAAAAAamazing! They have everything from Sunscreen Lotion, to Baby sunscreen, to Sports sunscreen, Unscented and on and on. Here are the buzz words you need to know about Badger Sunscreens: 100% Natural & Chemical-free Protection, Certified Organic Base, UVA/ UVB Full Spectrum Sun Protection Cruelty Free, Non- Nano, Paba Free, Vegetarians/Vegan (some have  Beeswax, some don't), mineral protection, non-comedogenic I could just talk forever about how great this product is!!

We trust Badger so much that everyone on staff uses it daily, and in order to get you in the store to try it we offer the best price in town on the whole line. The last time I checked we offered the best price of any major retailers/ updated websites in the country.

 So! Get your butt in here (or to our website) and get your butt and face and legs covered in the best sunscreen on the market (in my opinion, but this is my blog so my opinion is the only one that matters no? ;p)

Me and my opinion are always here to answer your skin care & sunscreen questions.... Happy Summer!!

My First Love - The Sixth Anniversary of the Natural Perfumers Guild Blogging Event

I've been quietly sitting still (inside my head, I don't ever actually sit still) all morrning thinking about my first love in the world of scent and I am just not sure I can pinpoint only one. I know that my first essential oil love was patchouli as you may have read in my blog post last year. As a kid I had lots of scented things that could be classified as my first love. I thought about twisting the story, and picking one thing, but I just can't. Twisting stories, taking out details is kind of akin to lying in my book. I try to edit, I try to be brief... I really truly do.... but loquaciousnous is in my nature.
I wanted to write this in the big wing back chair in my scent room at my newly build boutique, but the staff will be there, the scents in the space will be obscured by the yeast and toasty sugar smells form the bakery across the hall and so I've chosen to write in my fave local cafe. The smells here are divine, freshly local roasted coffee brewed to perfection, rain through the front door, spicy squash soup.... perfect on a cool, rainy spring day.

My first love.
 I recall a hand carved wild boar that I know now must have been made from sandalwood, brought from some far away place by one of my parents well travelled friends. I think I remember that is actually belonged to my sister and I used to take it and rub it for the deep woody scent. There was a soap that the Steager family gave to me. I still have it somewhere(no, I don't use the soaps I truly adore the scent of. If I do, I keep the end of the bar so I never forget what it smelled like). It was peachy pink ball of soap, and an artificial floral of some sort. I am not fond of artificial florals, but this particular one is still a favourite.

Scent memory is such a funny thing. I vividly recall the way my little sister smelled when she came in from playing in the grass and dirt... everyone thought I was crazy but I HATED that smell. The smell of pork roasted with garlic... what an acrid nose scraping smell... I knew as soon as I opened the front door that that is what Mummy was cooking for dinner. It tasted good, but yuckarama did it smell awful. My talented and oversenstive nose has brought me a lot of things: The socially annoying habit of walking into a room knowing your carpet is slightly mouldy, the laundry in the basket sat in the washer an extra 24 hours and smells fusty, the cat litter needs to be changed, and that dinner was cooked with onions.... all in one sniff.
 Funny looks from people when I ask "what's the smell?" and they say "what smell?"
The ability to create a perfume based on a salad I made earlier that day.
The joy that comes from making someone a blend to make their home smell exactly how they imagined.

So, I told you... my first scent love will be hard to pinpoint. Was it the original Anne Klein that I loved? The brown glass bottle of the Lauren (was it really Green Apple? or did I just call it that?) or the Giorgio Beverly Hills that my parents bought as a gift...? The tiny Halson sample that I got as a gift with purchase?

b

Perhaps. I didn't have a first love. Perhaps, I am a perfume slut. The Rizzo of perfumes. Never hopelessly devoted.... but still ....There are worse things I could do,
Than try a perfume or two? ;)

Maybe my first love isn't important. Maybe it's my current love that is the key to my history with scent. I sit in my stunning scentarium(not now, still in the cafe) surrounded with an insane collection of interesting Natural ingredients (I'm sadly allergic to many synythetics, iuncluding the aformentioned daliances) essential oils and absolutes and extracts from obscure places... but when I first fell in love I never would have known the love that I share with scent now.

Oh Boronia, Oh Helichrysum, Oh Costus root.... How ,would I ever have known you without the journey through the lands of cheap floral soaps, Jean Naté gift packs, and boys covered in Polo and Original Speed Stick (ya really, we called it Eau de Ross, since Ross was the first boy I knew that smelled like that) ?


Really at the end of the day, my first love was Russell Winham and he moved away to the Maritimes in 2nd grade and I never saw him again. After that heartbreak my first love was destined to never be the same... *sigh*


Be sure to see some of the "First Love" blogs of my fellow guild members as we celebrate our 6th anniversary!

Ambrosia Jones
Charna Ethier
Christi Meshell
Elise Pearlstine
Emily Pienaar
Isabelle Gellè
JoAnne Bassett
Liz Cook
Anya McCoy
Sophia Shuttleworth