If you’ve tried the usual sleep tips including avoiding caffeine in the afternoon, reducing screen time before bed and keep your bedroom cool yet still have trouble getting to sleep and you’re looking for remedies that truly work…. there’s another solution: enter essential oils – nature's gift for promoting relaxation and deep sleep. But do essential oils really work for sleep, and if so, which ones are the best? Let's explore…
]]>If you’ve tried the usual sleep tips including avoiding caffeine in the afternoon, reducing screen time before bed and keep your bedroom cool yet still have trouble getting to sleep and you’re looking for remedies that truly work…. there’s another solution: enter essential oils – nature's gift for promoting relaxation and deep sleep. But do essential oils really work for sleep, and if so, which ones are the best? Let's explore…
Are Essential Oils Good for Sleep?
In a word, yes. Numerous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of essential oils in improving both sleep quality and duration. Whether used individually or in combination, some essential oils can create a soothing bedtime ritual that signals to your body and mind that it's time to wind down.
Essential Oils for Sleep: A Natural Solution
Essential oils have been used for centuries to help with all manner of ailments, including sleep disturbance.
Which essential oils are best for sleep?
Four of the most effective essential oils for inducing sleep are lavender, chamomile, patchouli and neroli. Each of these hero oils has unique properties that contribute to their sleep-enhancing effects.
Lavender: Renowned for its calming scent, lavender essential oil has been scientifically proven to reduce anxiety and promote relaxation. Its soothing aroma helps lower heart rate and blood pressure, signalling to the body that it's time to unwind and prepare for sleep.
Chamomile: Often taken as a tea for its calming effects, chamomile essential oil contains compounds such as apigenin, which bind to receptors in the brain, promoting sleepiness and reducing insomnia symptoms. Its gentle fragrance can ease tension and help to quiet a restless mind.
Patchouli: With its earthy, musky aroma, patchouli essential oil has sedative properties that can help induce feelings of tranquility and promote a deeper, more restorative sleep. It's known to be particularly effective for those struggling with stress-related sleep disturbances.
Neroli: Derived from orange blossoms, neroli essential oil has a sweet, floral scent that uplifts the spirit and calms the nerves. Its stress-relieving properties make it an excellent choice for promoting relaxation and easing into a peaceful night's sleep.
Let's explore three simple ways to incorporate essential oils into your bedtime routine and drift off into dreamland.
1. A Relaxing Bath Before Bed
There's nothing quite as soothing as a hot bath before bedtime, especially when infused with salts and essential oils. But why does it work so well?
Here's the science: a warm bath raises your body temperature, so when you step out, your body cools down, signaling to your brain that it's time to sleep. Adding magnesium rich salts like Epsom salt, Himalayan and Dead Sea Salt to the mix can help relax muscles, lower blood pressure and ease tension, while carefully selected essential oils enhance the calming effect.
2. Reed Diffusers in the Bedroom
Reed diffusers are a convenient and effortless way to fill your bedroom with the relaxing scent of essential oils. Once set up they will disperse their aroma throughout the room for several weeks, ensuring a consistent and subtle fragrance that lingers in the air.
By using a reed diffuser containing sleep-inducing essential oils like lavender, chamomile and neroli, you will create a tranquil environment that primes your mind and body for sleep. The benefits of reed diffusers extend beyond bedtime preparation of course; used in other rooms they can also help alleviate stress and anxiety, promoting a sense of calm and well-being throughout the day.
3. Pillow Sprays for Sweet Dreams
Another simple and increasingly popular way to incorporate essential oils into your sleep routine is with a pillow spray. Simply spritzing a blend of relaxing essential oils onto your pillow or around the bedroom can have a profound impact on your ability to unwind and drift off to sleep.
Lavender, chamomile, patchouli and neroli are popular choices for pillow sprays due to their calming and sedative properties. These oils can help reduce anxiety, quiet a busy mind, and promote deep, restorative sleep.
Combining Essential Oils for Maximum Effectiveness
While each of these methods can be used on its own to promote better sleep, combining them can create a powerful sleep remedy that tackles insomnia from all angles. Start your evening with a relaxing bath infused with essential oils, then continue to enjoy the soothing scent with a reed diffuser in the bedroom. Then spritz your pillow with a sleep-inducing essential oil blend before settling in for the night.
Say goodbye to sleepless nights and hello to sweet dreams....
*WHO and the National Sleep Foundation
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The article, on the front page of Stephan's monthly newsletter, claims "it’s a brave move for a small company to create an exclusive fragrance, but College Green have absolutely nailed it."
It celebrates the fact that room and pillow sprays offer a budget friendly way for people to access fragrance, and describes the Sleep Easy scent experience
]]>The article, on the front page of Stephan's monthly newsletter, claims "it’s a brave move for a small company to create an exclusive fragrance, but College Green have absolutely nailed it."
It celebrates the fact that room and pillow sprays offer a budget friendly way for people to access fragrance, and describes the Sleep Easy scent experience from the "instant hit of neroli...giving a wonderful brightness to the scent," the "wonderfully apple-like" roman chamomile that "combines perfectly with the woodier patchouli" then "right in the heart, you have a deliciously smooth lavender."
Stephan concludes that "while originally designed for pillows or as a room spray, it really comes into its own when spritzed onto a scarf."
As you can imagine, having created Sleep Easy as my very first exclusive fragrance I'm utterly delighted that it's first review is so fabulous review - thank you Stephan! You can read the full review on Stephan's blog.
If you'd like to try the beautifully relaxing Sleep Easy spray it's available as a 100ml spray, in gift boxes with bath soaks and candles and for pre-order as an all-natural room diffuser (available from 10 February) or from my next Stroud Farmers' Market stall which will be on Saturday 24 February.
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Every single purchase, recommendation to a friend, social media like and smile over a market stall means the world to me and every small business owner who pours their heart into their business.
So I'm celebrating the end of the College Green year with my new favourite (non alcoholic) drink - a switchel. Based on an 18th century recipe a switchel is a deliciously refreshing mix of ginger, lemon, apple cider vinegar and water, sweetened with a dash of honey - there's a customisable recipe below so you can try it for yourself.
College Green basic Switchel recipe
Switchel is easy to customise to suit your tastes & whatever you have to hand - change the wedge of lemon to lime, add a slice of orange, a sprig of rosemary or lavender, swap the honey for maple syrup... the options are endless.
I hope 2024 brings you happiness.
]]>Each melt contains dried botanicals that slowly reveals as the wax melts, then float gently in the wax while it infuses your room with scent.
The botanicals vary according to the fragrance, so in Cotswold Bluebell you'll find a sprinkling of bright blue cornflowers. Parisian Spring has a colourful floral mix including rose, calendula and lavender, and Christmas Spice contains a whole star anise that looks like a star, sitting in the wax.
]]>Each melt contains dried botanicals that slowly reveals as the wax melts, then float gently in the wax while it infuses your room with scent.
The botanicals vary according to the fragrance, so in Cotswold Bluebell you'll find a sprinkling of bright blue cornflowers. Parisian Spring has a colourful floral mix including rose, calendula and lavender, and Christmas Spice contains a whole star anise that looks like a star, sitting in the wax.
College Green Wax Melt gift sets come complete with a white ceramic warmer, a selection of six scented melts and a tea light. The scents change with the seasons and are made with the same high quality fragrance oils in College Green candles.
The contents are vegan, palm oil free, contain no SLS or parabens, and all packaging is plastic free and recyclable.
What is a wax warmer & wax melt?
A wax melt is like a candle without a wick - each one is made of wax that's infused with fragrance, just as scented candles are.
To use a wax melt you'll need a wax warmer. At the bottom of the warmer there's a place to put a tea light, and a dish on the top that holds the melt.
Once lit the tea light gently warms the dish which in turn melts the wax, releasing the fragrance into the room.
When the tea light goes out the melt will start to cool and solidify. It will stay like that in the dish until the tea light is re-lit or replaced.
Each melt will fragrance a room for many hours, and once the fragrance has started to fade it's easy to remove the wax and replace it with another melt (I make use of my old melts by putting them in a scrunched up newspaper as a fire lighter).
College Green wax warmer sets make great gifts - especially for someone who's difficult to buy for. Wax warmer fans will often have one in every room, matching the scents to the room - lavender for the bedroom, peppermint & eucalyptus for the bathroom and a seasonal scent for the living room.
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Fortunately, there are lots of gifts that are virtually guaranteed pride of place in every home....
...Introducing the College Green Sleep Easy gift sets!
...because most of us struggle to get to sleep at times and could do with a little help to drift off.
The College Green Sleep Easy range is made with a range of relaxing essential oils, well known for their ability to calm, reduce anxiety and gently lull you into a relaxed state, ready to fall asleep naturally.
There's Sleep Easy aromatherapy bath soak, with three mineral and magnesium-rich salts which is absorbed directly from your salt bath through your skin. They relax muscles, lower blood pressure, balance blood sugar and lift mood. The salts are combined with pure lavender and valerian essential oils, well known for their sedative qualities
Sleep Easy pillow and room spray can be spritzed around a bedroom and onto a pillow just before bedtime, or around any room to create a calm and relaxing space. It contains a unique blend of pure essential oils, each celebrated for its ability to calm troubled minds, balance emotions, prepare for meditation and aid a deep, restful night’s sleep.
Lavender & Vanilla soy wax scented candle & reed diffuser filled with a sweet powdery herbal fragrance opening with citrus notes, eucalyptus and camphor leading to a heart of lavender and spicy clove resting on a base of sugared vanilla, musk and tonka. Light the candle an hour before bedtime, or keep the reed diffuser by your bed to fill your bedroom with sweetly soporific scent.
Each is available in a variety of combinations in College Green gift sets. Not sure if they have bath? Choose the pillow spray and candle gift set, or a candle and reed diffuser set. You know they love an evening bath? Choose a set with a bath soak.
]]>Furoshiki!
Furoshiki is a traditional Japanese way of wrapping everyday items which originated when people wrapped their clothes in a distinctive large square cloth when visiting a public bath so they could easily identify their belongings.
]]>Furoshiki!
Furoshiki is a traditional Japanese way of wrapping everyday items which originated when people wrapped their clothes in a distinctive large square cloth when visiting a public bath so they could easily identify their belongings.
It's evolved into a popular way of wrapping gifts and in Japan and Korea there are specialist stores where you can buy beautiful furoshiki cloth and have items skillfully wrapped using intricate techniques.
The tradition is an easy and effective one to replicate using pieces of cloth, tea towels or scarves, and is the perfect eco friendly alternative to single-use paper gift wrapping, with no tape or ribbon needed.
At College Green I have a collection of beautiful vintage scarves (mostly silk) that I use as wrapping for College Green gift boxes. And it means you're giving two gifts, with the recipient having the option to wear the scarf or pass it on as a wrapping to someone else.
I'll have a selection of vintage scarves at every market to choose from or if you buy online I'll choose one for you - every one is unique and totally gorgeous!
There are lots of lovely College Green gift sets to choose from including natural, handmade soaps bath soaks, candles, reed diffusers and pillow sprays.
If you buy gift wrap online after selecting a gift box you'll find the scarf wrapping under `Accessories' or I'll have a selection at my Stroud Farmers' Market stall on the fourth Saturday of every month.
Please note: the scarves are often vintage, therefore they may have some minor imperfections but that won't prevent them being loved and used.
]]>It has everything you would wish for in a goodwill evening in the quintessentially beautiful Cotswold village of Painswick:
There's always a fabulous variety of stalls at The Painswick Centre selling lots of lovely Christmas gifts including some Stroud Farmers' Market regulars such as College Green, The Cotswold Curer, and Rustic Puglia olive oil.
The organisers thoughtfully ensure it's a night of giving, as payment for Santa's grotto is a new, unwrapped children's present which is collected by the local Salvation Army to be given to a child who otherwise may not receive a Christmas gift, and payment for the treasure maps will be a dry goods item for the local foodbank.
Follow Painswick Goodwill Evening on Instagram and Facebook for up-to-date details of the event from early November.
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Fortunately, there are lots of gifts that are virtually guaranteed pride of place in every home....
Introducing the College Green Wax Melt gift set.
A wax what?
A wax melt is like a candle without a wick - each one is made of wax that's infused with fragrance, just as scented candles are.
To use a wax melt you'll need a wax warmer. At the bottom of the warmer there's a place to put a tea light, and a dish on the top that holds the melt.
Once lit the tea light gently warms the dish which in turn melts the wax, releasing the fragrance into the room.
When the tea light goes out the melt will start to cool and solidify. It will stay like that in the dish until the tea light is re-lit or replaced.
Each melt will fragrance a room for many hours, and once the fragrance has started to fade it's easy to remove the wax and replace it with another melt (I make use of my old melts by putting them in a scrunched up newspaper as a fire lighter).
College Green Wax Melt gift sets come complete with a white ceramic warmer, a selection of six scented melts, each infused with dried botanicals that float in the wax once melted, and a tea light.
And as most people love a beautifully scented home, they are pretty much guaranteed as a winner in the present stakes.
Plus it won't matter if your recipient has a wax warmer already as they can be placed in every room in the house.
College Green wax melts are made with clean burning soy wax and beautifully fragranced, nature inspired oils and even throw off scent when they are cold (known as cold scent throw).
Fragrances include a selection from College Green favourites: Gingerbread, Christmas Spice, Nordic Forest, Tobacco Blossom & Vanilla, English Pear & Vanilla, Lavender, Chamomile & Vanilla, Bluebell and Parisian Spring.
I'll have wax melts gift sets at Christmas fairs and markets along with a selection of vintage silk scarves as beautiful wrapping. And in November, in Whiteshill Village Shop as I'm the Maker of the Month. Or browse the selection online here.
]]>It also houses a small cafe where you can get a great cup of cafetiere coffee and slice of freshly baked cafe to enjoy while browsing the selection of second hand books - that's if you can tear yourself away from the gorgeous view across the Ruscombe valley, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
College Green has supplied the shop since the introduction of a crafters section a few years ago, although when I was first approached I was told that regretfully, a soap costing £5 just wouldn't sell so please don't expect to sell any.
Thankfully Whiteshill shoppers are a discerning lot, and I've sold many soaps, bath soaks and candles in the intervening years.
I now supply the shop with soaps, pillow sprays, bath soaks, candles, reed diffusers and gift boxes.
The shop keeps a percentage of every sale, which helps towards the running costs.
It's well worth a visit if you're in the area. The shop sits next to a brilliant enclosed children's play area and has a large, flat grassy field - which could explain why it's a popular walk for families from my neighbouring village of Randwick, which has such a sloping field it's actually called The Slope!
Ruscombe & Whiteshill Village Shop, The Playing Field, Lower Street, Whiteshill, Stroud, GL6 6AN
*The first photo definitely wasn't taken in the Ruscombe Valley! It's at Canary Wharf in London.
]]>Each amber glass bottle contains a unique blend of pure essential oils chosen for their abilities to calm troubled minds, balance emotions, prepare for meditation and aid a deep and restful night’s sleep.
College Green Sleep Easy Pillow Spray contains lavender, chamomile, neroli and patchouli essential oils to help you relax, unwind and fall asleep naturally.
To use, spritz on your pillow, bed linen, a scarf, item of clothing, yoga mat or around any room to transform it into a calming, restful space.
Sleep Easy pillow spray is a unique blend, custom made for College Green, so you won't find it anywhere else. The same blend is available as a reed diffuser, ideal for keeping on your bedside table to subtly scent your bedroom throughout the night. Sleep Easy bath soak contains a blend of lavender & valerian essential oils, and there's Lavender & Patchouli soap too.
Combine Sleep Easy pillow spray with a good bedtime routine and you'll be well on your way to a deep and peaceful night's sleep - there are some great bedtime tips here.
]]>The effects of not sleeping
There are numerous studies that show the effects of not getting enough sleep. From an increased risk of diseases including cancer, cardiovascular disease, stroke and diabetes, to weight gain, anxiety, and poor memory. Or put another way, the longer* and better your sleep, the better quality of life you'll have.
Try these College Green sleep tips to help get a good night's sleep:
]]>Does not getting enough sleep matter? In short, yes, it matters a great deal.
The effects of not sleeping
There are numerous studies that show the effects of not getting enough sleep. From an increased risk of diseases including cancer, cardiovascular disease, stroke and diabetes, to weight gain, anxiety, and poor memory. Or put another way, the longer* and better your sleep, the better quality of life you'll have.
Try these College Green sleep tips to help get a good night's sleep:
Sweet dreams...
I send a monthly email out with the latest College Green sleep tips, news & discounts - why not sign up at the bottom of the home page on the website?
*The National Sleep Foundation and the World Health Organisation both recommend an average of eight hours sleep a night for adults.
]]>Already a plastic free expert? Try the bonus points for extra tips.
Of course there are thousands of plastic free swaps you can make - these are just a few.
Plastic Free July is a global movement that helps millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution – so we can have cleaner streets, oceans, and beautiful communities. Find out more and sign up to the Plastic Free Pledge at Plastic Free July.
And if you're local to Stroud, why not follow the brilliant Stroud District Action Against Plastic on Instagram & Twitter?
College Green is a tiny business making natural soaps, bath soaks, candles, reed diffusers and gift boxes in small batches. I use glass, paper, cardboard and cellulose as packaging and recycle cardboard and packing materials when I send orders in the post.
I'm the proud holder of a Plastic Free Champion Award from Surfers Against Sewage for my commitment to sustainable packaging and reducing unnecessary waste, and have been recommended in The Telegraph guide to the Cotswolds.
You'll find me on the fourth Saturday of the month at Stroud Farmers' Market with lots of plastic-free goods for the bath, body and home.
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In May I all but sold out of reed diffusers, with bluebell being the most popular scent.
In June it was soaps - single soaps, soap stacks and gift boxes of soaps -shoppers couldn’t get enough of them!
It takes six weeks to fully cure a bar of soap.During the curing process some of the water content evaporates (I use Cotswold spring water from the churchyard spring in Randwick) resulting in a harder, milder gentle bar of palm oil free soap. You can read more about the natural ingredients I use on the Soaps page (hint, they’re all natural with no sulphate or hidden nasties).
I’ll next be at Stroud farmers market on 22 July fully stocked with natural soaps, bath soaks, floral facial steams, gift boxes, silk scarf wrapping and reed diffusers because I just won’t know what you’ll want!!
]]>Not the liquid kind of course (imagine!), but a bar of College Green Lemongrass & Ginger soap which contains beer as a special guest ingredient.
Why beer? Well not only does it add a beautifully rich lather to the finished soap, but a gorgeous, natural amber colour too.
To the usual blend of six skin loving oils and butters I add two essential oils to Lemongrass & Ginger Beer Soap: deodorising and antibacterial lemongrass (a key ingredient in natural insect repellents) which contributes to the fresh, lemony scent that soothes stress and gives a boost to tired minds, and comforting ginger to boost circulation and revive tired muscles.
There's also a sprinkling of soothing oats which help to protect and heal dry skin, and provide gentle exfoliation.
All in all, it's a gorgeous soap with a twist - and makes a great little present for dads (hint - Father's day is on Sunday!)
And for Stroudies the best part is probably the make of beer itself - brewed locally by Stroud Brewery (the latest batch uses Tom Long).
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I was determined for it to be a journey, not a race, And like all journeys it will slow down, take an occasional wrong turn, and sometimes even stop for a while.
My new love of trail running has had to pause while I recover from an injury, but I'm filling the gap by learning Qigong - at first by completing an online course with Commune, and now in-person with a friend who runs Stroud Qigong.
And I signed up for an Introduction to Meditation course at my local college. Incredibly it's free-of-charge, and I'm absolutely loving it. Hopefully I can just sign up again when it ends because I never want it to stop!
And of course I'm still making the things that help people sleep better, feel calmer and increase their own happiness (which make great gifts for people who need some TLC).
I hope you're able to unplug yourself every now and then.
PS I don't know much about Anne Lamott, but I do love this quote, and the fact that the New York Times calls her the lefty guru of happiness!
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I've added Bluebell, Parisian Spring and Lime, Basil & Mandarin to the existing range to compliment the season.
And if you bought a College Green reed diffuser at Christmas, it's probably just about running out now.
Reed diffusers are a great way to continuously and easily fragrance your home. Simply place the reeds into the diffuser oil and leave them to soak up the oil and release the fresh fragrance into your room.
Each College Green diffuser will scent an entire room for weeks on end, as the reeds absorb the oil and release the scent into your room, without the need to light a candle (or remember to blow it out for that matter). College Green reed diffusers are a low maintenance and cost effective way to enjoy your favourite scent all day - from waking up, to returning home at the end of the day.
College Green reed diffusers make a lovely addition to every home and make fantastic presents (because everyone will love them as much as you).
Made with a vegan base and carefully blended fragrance oils then hand poured in small batches in our Cotswolds studio.
Each box includes a clear glass diffuser jar with 100ml fragrance, a wooden top and five reeds - use two or three reeds for a small room, and all five for a larger space. There's no need to `flip' the reeds.
I'll be at Stroud Farmers' Market on Saturday 22 April with reed diffusers, natural soaps, bath soaks and gift sets.
]]>Salt baths are particularly beneficial and can even lift your mood and help you sleep, thanks to their hight mineral and magnesium content.
Magnesium has a long list of uses in the body, including the regulation of muscle contractions and blood pressure, energy production, blood sugar balance, weight management and mood disorders, and is absorbed directly from your salt bath through your skin.
College Green bath soaks are a combination of three types of magnesium and mineral-rich salt, each with its own unique properties, together with skin soothing colloidal oatmeal and pure essential oils.:
There are five College Green bath soaks to choose from, according to your mood - or need:
And they make the perfect gift for someone who deserves a dose of self care.
College Green bath soaks are packaged in beautiful amber glass jars that make a gorgeous addition to any bathroom and which helps preserve the essential oils from UV light. Regular customers buy a 250ml or 500ml jar then refill with an eco friendly (and postage-cost friendly) wax paper refill.
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1. It’s trailblazing. There are more than 1,000 farmers’ markets in the UK, and Stroud was one of the first, being founded back in 1999.
2. It’s award winning. The trophy cabinet must be bursting at the seams as Stroud Farmers’ Market has won multiple awards including BBC Radio 4’s Food & Farming Awards for `Best Food Market’, Cotswold Life Awards for `Best Farmers’ Market’ and was the FARMA UK `Certified Farmers’ Market of the Year.’
3. You can read all about it. The market is frequently featured in publications and `best farmers’ market lists by The Independent, The Guardian Weekend, The Times and Sunday Times, The Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph, Country Living and more.
4. It’s hyper local. Everything at Stroud Farmers’ Market is locally grown or produced within 30 miles, which means food & craft miles are among the lowest they can be.
5. Every week is different. While some vendors such as Salt Bakehouse and Stroud Smokehouse are regular weekly fixtures, others like Cymbal Knits attend on fortnightly basis, or monthly such as College Green and Rustic Puglia. Regulars get to know the schedule of their favourites, and every time you visit your experience will be different.
6. The stallholders. The majority of stalls are staffed by the person who has produced the product on display. That means the person that hands over your bunch of heritage carrots or rainbow chard is likely to be the farmer that dug them up the day before and will tell you the best way to cook them. Craft stall holders will explain the benefits of each essential oil in a bar of soap or how they achieved that particular glazing technique on their pottery. They have a unique knowledge of their product and love nothing more that sharing it with interested browsers – just ask and you’ll see!
7. It’s in Stroud. Named the UK’s best place to live by The Times, the award celebrated Stroud town as “quirky, independent and free-spirited.’ There’s a story that Stroud lies on the convergence of numerous lay lines which is why so many travellers intend to pass through, but then end their journeys and settle here.
9. It’s social. You can’t help but notice a buzz when you visit. Shoppers get used to stepping around groups of friends who have stopped for a chat or meet for a late breakfast in the market café which is the best place for people spotting.
10. It's dog friendly. Being outdoors it's a popular place to bring dogs who enjoy the array of interesting sights and smells. Look closely and you might see some of the stall holders' dogs supervising from behind the scenes.
11.You can stock your larder for the whole week. From freshly picked farm fresh vegetables and salad leaves, heritage apples direct from the orchard, eggs, cheese, bread and pastries, milk, and a whole range of charcuterie and fresh meat. The choice of ready-to-eat food stalls is just as varied - from samosas and Thai spring rolls to Korean mushroom bao buns and raclette. Sit at the cafe with coffee made with locally roasted beans while you gather the strength to shop some more.
12. It’s just a day trip away. A market trip is a must if you’re visiting anywhere in the Cotswolds and is an easy day trip either by road via the M5 or train: Stroud is just 90 minutes from London on a direct train, 26 from Swindon, 35 from Cheltenham and 17 minutes from Gloucester.
]]>It's a brilliantly sustainable way to recycle, and is environmentally friendly too as you don't need any tape.
Using a scarf you no longer wear as a gift wrap means you are giving two presents, and the recipient can either choose to wear the scarf or pass it on as a wrapping to someone else.
The art of wrapping objects in fabric is actually based an ancient Japanese tradition called furoshiki (which originated when people wrapped their clothes in a distinctive large square cloth when visiting a public bath so they could easily identify their belongings).
Furoshiki is now a popular way of wrapping gifts - there are specialist stores where you can buy beautiful furoshiki cloth, which is traditionally square, but any shape of fabric will do, even very long scarves.
To get started, take a look at some websites with furoshiki-wrapping instructions (there are loads), and unlike paper wrap (which is unrecyclable if it contains glitter or has a metallic effect), you can try it several times until you're happy with the finished result.
Of course, you may end up with your scarf being re-gifted back to you - but it's probably a risk worth taking!
At College Green I use a collection of beautiful vintage silk scarves as optional gift box wrapping. Each one has been hand picked by be to be unique and totally gorgeous!
Gift sets include:
I always have a selection at Stroud Farmers' Market where I have a stall on the fourth Saturday of every month - my next market is 22 April, and they are all available on my website.
]]>The Downside of Shaving Foam
Traditional shaving foams may promise a smooth shave, but they often come with drawbacks. Many commercial shaving products contain harsh chemicals and synthetic ingredients that can strip the skin of its natural oils, leaving it dry, irritated, and prone to razor burn.
Many shaving foams and gels contain a laundry list of chemical additives, including preservatives, fragrances, and stabilizers, which can be harmful to both your skin and the environment.
The Magic of Natural Soap
Natural soap, on the other hand, offers a gentle and nourishing alternative for shaving. The key lies in the glycerin produced during the soap-making process. Glycerin is a humectant, meaning it attracts and retains moisture in the skin, creating a protective barrier that helps prevent damage and irritation. When used for shaving, glycerin ensures a smooth glide of the razor over the skin, reducing the risk of nicks, cuts, and razor burn.
Reduced Packaging Waste
One of the most significant advantages of bar soap over shaving foam or gel is the reduction in packaging waste. Traditional shaving products often come in pressurized containers made of plastic or aluminum, which are difficult to recycle and often end up in landfills. In contrast, bar soap typically comes in minimal, recyclable packaging or even naked form, significantly reducing the environmental footprint.
Elimination of Propellants
Shaving foams and gels rely on propellants to create the foamy lather needed for a smooth shave. These propellants, often hydrocarbon gases like butane or propane, contribute to air pollution and pose safety risks during manufacturing and disposal.
Better value for money
Looked after properly (ie keeping them drained and dry between uses) bar soaps tend to last longer than shaving foams or gels, making them better value for money. And there's an environmental impact too as you'll use less packaging and transportation.
Which is the best soap for shaving?
When it comes to achieving a smooth and comfortable shave, quality ingredients matter. It's worth opting for a smaller, artisan soap maker who will be more likely to use best quality ingredients than larger, commercial brands. From nourishing oils and butters to soothing botanicals and essential oils, every ingredient will be carefully selected to deliver a superior shaving experience (often at the expense of profit margin).
The Benefits of Goat's Milk for Sensitive Skin
If you have sensitive skin, you'll know how finding the right shaving soap is essential. Soaps containing goat's milk are renowned for its gentle and moisturizing properties, producing a creamy lather that hydrates and softens the skin, making it ideal for shaving the face, bikini line, or any other sensitive areas. Goat's milk is rich in vitamins and minerals that help soothe irritation and promote healthy skin, ensuring a comfortable and irritation-free shave every time.
Exfoliation for a Closer Shave
If you're looking to achieve an even closer shave, consider opting for an exfoliating soap. Ingredients like oats or coffee grounds provide gentle exfoliation, helping to slough off dead skin cells and impurities while prepping the skin for shaving. Pairing an exfoliating soap with a natural, moisturizing formula ensures that your skin is left soft, smooth, and perfectly primed for the razor.
So when it comes to eco-friendly shaving, bar soap emerges as the clear winner over shaving foam or gel. With reduced packaging waste, elimination of propellants, longer-lasting products, minimal chemical additives, and support for sustainable practices, bar soap offers a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable solution for your shaving needs.
Why not make the switch today and shave with a clear conscience?
]]>The subject of happiness is fascinating. Studies show that happiness is linked to better health and longer life - so why does it seem to elude so many of us?
Personally I subscribe to the school of thought that claims that it's possible to choose to be happy. And that happiness is a skill that anyone can can improve - it just takes determination and practice.
For me, happiness isn't defined by wealth, possessions or status. It's about finding happiness in small, everyday activities and doing more of them.
Mo Gawdat, former CEO of Google [X], believes that happiness can be learned and founded the #OneBillionHappy movement in order to help a billion people to be so that.
In an interview on the Feel Better Live More podcast Mo explains that the average person is born with a credit of several billion heartbeats and it's up to us to choose what to exchange our heartbeats for: positive or negative experiences; happiness or unhappiness.
Thinking that way, I definitely don't want to waste my heartbeats on negativity, stress or sadness.
So right now I'm going to exchange a few hundred heartbeats for relaxing in a hot bath (with College Green Sleep Easy bath soak), a face pack and a chapter of an audio book before bed.
I hope you're able to find happiness today - I promise it's really not hard if you try.
]]>We loved making our first soaps, which involved melting a block of clear soap in the microwave, stirring in essential oils and colours before pouring it into silicone moulds to set.
So that's how you make soap, I thought. Yet after some soap making research, discovered another soap making method, which created soap from scratch: the `cold process' method.
Very simply, cold process soap making mixes oil with a solution of caustic soda dissolved in water (lye). When the oil and lye are combined a chemical reaction occurs and the mixture then hardens into soap.
In reality it's much more complicated - involving a carefully curated blend of oils and butters (each of which lends a different property to the finished soap), the precise weighing of ingredients, the addition of essential oils, and if sold, a safety certificate prepared by a certified cosmetic chemist. And insurance.
Not long after I had nailed down my ideal blend I was invited to start selling College Green soaps by Clare Honeyfield, who needed a new soap seller for the Made in Stroud shop as one of its regular suppliers had moved out of the district.
My first batch was made with the same recipe I'm still using today (although the presentation is a little different now.)
And that's how it all began!
The soaps are still in small batches by hand, using spring water from my local church yard. I've added a few more products too, including aromatherapy bath soaks, floral facial steams, candles, reed diffusers and gift boxes.
You can find me on the fourth Saturday of every month at Stroud Farmers' Market, and online.
]]>Charles Dudley Warner's observation in his book The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today:
It was part of a damning story about the greed, corruption, and commercialism of American society at the time, and still rings true today.
We're more likely to choose a gift that someone loves if we spend more time thinking about what they'd love.
If you're looking for a gift for someone, why not take a peek at the College Green Gift Set pages on our website? It features a collection of gift boxes packed with lovely things designed to make people have a better day - whether they need a good night's sleep, a mood boost or gorgeously scented home.
The new College Green Luxury Facial Gift Set is a popular new addition to the range, containing a handmade natural soap, a selection of floral facial steams, a konjac natural sponge and rose quartz gua sha facial massager - a perfect papering box that would make a lovely Mother's Day gift.
And if you're in a hurry, how about giving a College Green gift voucher so they can choose their own gift? College Green gift vouchers are available from £10-£100, making them ideal for a something small, a grand gesture & everything in between.
I'll be happy to add a personalised note added to your gift box - just let me know, there will be no extra charge 💕
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