Being fans of local sourcing and fresh, healthy food, we’ve been scouring the amazing (local-sourced-ingredient) recipes from Hello Fresh. They deliver all the required fresh ingredients along with inspiring new recipes direct to your door.

Tonight we are cooking this Butterflied Mexican Chicken with Homemade Beans

Ingredients

• 1 Hass Avocado
• 1 Lime
• 1 Tbsp Chipotle
• A splash of Tabasco
• 2 Chicken breasts
• ½ cup of coriander
• 1 red onion
• 1 Tsp Ground Cumin
• 1 Tbsp Tomato Puree
• 1 Can organic mixed beans
• 1 yellow pepper
• 1 red pepper

Recipe

• Pre-heat your oven to 220 degrees. Chop the peppers, coriander and onion, then drain the beans
• Cover the peppers in olive oil, salt and pepper. Cook for about 20 minutes until they're soft and crispy round the edges
• Start to cook your onions in a tsp olive oil on a medium-low heat. After 5 mins add beans, cumin, tomato puree, 5 tbsp water and as much Tabasco as you dare
• Pre-heat your grill to a high heat and put the peppers on the middle shelf. Butterfly your chicken (make a cut on both sides and pull the sides so they lay flat like an open book
• Coat the chicken in the chipotle and the zest and juice of half the lime
• Cook the chicken on the top shelf for 6 mins on each side
• Take 2/3 of the bean mixture from the pan and mash. Mix the rest of the beans in
• Cut the avocado lengthways
• To serve, cut the chicken lengthways and place on top of the beans. Mix your roasted peppers and serve on the side with your avocado.

We have also teamed up with Hello Fresh to offer you £20 off your first order. Click here www.hellofresh.co.uk/neom20 to see what you could enjoy when you order this week and to redeem your offer.

Continuing our series of ‘Spring Pots’ blogs, Laetitia Maklouf gives Neom followers some of her best tips for instant, seasonal loveliness you can plant in pots.

For summer clouds

Go quickly! and find some verbena x hybrida or nemesia (which will be out on the shelves just as soon as the weather stops being naughty). A wide, shallow terracotta container is best and plant masses together. You’ll eventually get a gorgeous pastel puff of froth for your trouble which, when it gets straggly can be brutally chopped and fed with liquid seaweed, to make it come back again and delight you for even longer. I love it passionately.

For the promise of bliss

Of course, at this time of the year, you must sow or plant sweet peas. Wait until the weather is warm enough if you want to start them from seed (and I’m talking about the sort of whether that allows you to bare your neck and throw out your arms). Or, you can simply buy seedlings from the garden centre and plant them in a nice deep container, making sure they have a wigwam of canes up which to scramble when the time comes. For amazing scent, go for Spencer hybrids or the old favourite ‘Cupani’…but then you don’t need me to tell you about scent; you’re Neom lovers.

The lowdown on planting in pots

For Summer Clouds, and for the ideas in last week's blog, I would use a half and half mix of ordinary peat-free multi-purpose compost and John Innes no 2. You can just use multi-purpose but you’ll need to be a bit more attentive about watering as it is less good at staying moist.

For Sweet Peas I use one quarter multi-purpose, one quarter John Innes No 2 and half well-rotted manure. These are really hungry plants.

For feeding pots, I use liquid seaweed or tomorite regularly (whenever I remember), although I would never feed thyme or mint.

And remember to make sure your containers are as large as possible, and have saucers to catch excess water – making watering much easier

Enjoy
xLaetitia

Laetitia is author of two books: ‘The Virgin Gardener’, and ‘Sweet Peas for Summer: How to create a garden in a year’.

She blogs at www.laetitiamaklouf.com, tweets @laetitiamaklouf and face-books at Laetitia Maklouf, where you can seek her out and ask her absolutely anything you want.

Photos: Jill Mead

It’s still chilly outside... not even a hint of apple-blossom (which always, for me, heralds April in style). But a delayed spring holds the promise of glory, because it means that we may well get wonderful combinations, like blossom AND daffodils all at once. Anyway there’s no reason not to start gently playing with a few things outside, and pots are perfect for this, as they are small, and separate from the garden, and somehow tinkering with a pot does not require any firm commitment to the rest of a space (which can feel overwhelming, particularly at the beginning of the season).

For instant loveliness

Look no further than what’s on the shelves at your local garden centre right now. Because of the weather, that probably means a wonderful array of primroses, cowslips, tulips, daffodils and muscari. Snap them up and put them in large shallow containers, adding the odd hardy fern, and you have instant Spring beauty that you can plant out in your garden proper (if you have one) when they finally go over.

For cheery, smiling faces

It’s got to be pansies (or viola if you want to be proper about it). Armies of beauteous colours and textures, from fruity, frilly bright yellows, to sultry bruised blues are hitting the shelves right now. Again, for these, I like to use large shallow terracotta bowls, and I always stick to one colour, but if you’re short on space, then have a go at creating a cascade of them in stacked pots (for how-to, see my book Sweet Peas for Summer). Treat them well and these will last you well into the summer, particularly if you dead-head (remove spent flowers) regularly.

For fragrant feel-appeal

Go and gather some small pots of herbs. Thyme is a real winner, and garden centres are full of masses of different varieties, from trailing to variegated. I like to plant up a mish-mash of different terracotta pots with these lovely hummocks of scent and mass them together in one corner. You can do the same with different varieties of mint – it looks fabulous and improves your cooking no end. For Thyme and mint I use just John Innes no 2 compost as these are long-term plantings.

Oh, and one last thing; make sure your containers are as large as possible, and have saucers to catch excess water – this makes watering much less of a chore.

Enjoy
xLaetitia

Laetitia is author of two books: ‘The Virgin Gardener’, and ‘Sweet Peas for Summer: How to create a garden in a year’.

She blogs at www.laetitiamaklouf.com, tweets @laetitiamaklouf and face-books at Laetitia Maklouf, where you can seek her out and ask her absolutely anything you want.

Photos: Jill Mead

Scents this month become a backdrop for a rise in temperature and cheery yellows and pink blossom colours peeking through the windows but still need a degree of comfort.

Contentment has been a fantastic launch for us this month, there is something about the balance of juicy berry notes combined with a warmth of spicy notes that we still need at this time of year - so I'm using a Contentment Reed Diffuser in the hallway and up the stairs. I've found it mixes beautifully with the light, sparkling scent of Happiness which typically I use during the day, but will make a lovely backdrop for my Mother's Day evening meal too.

Mimosa with Lemon and Neroli is crisp but pretty, perfect for this time of the year. If you prefer something fruity, Cocooning is a fantastic scent for those in need of a little me-time, we developed it for pregnant ladies (the kit is a beautiful gift for new and soon to be mums) but I use it as a treat if I’m tired and so many people have told me they think it really improves their mood – packed with Mandarin, Chamomile and Ylang Ylang it is a nice balancing scent to take you between seasons too.

I would love to hear which scents you are using and what changes you make. Tweet me @nicolaelliott or @neomorganics we really do love to hear from you.

With spring just around the corner, we asked florist Lucy MacNicoll to show us how to create a beautiful display inspired by the ingredients of the scent of Happiness that will, excitingly, transition you into the spring season.

Visit Lucy's website at www.lucymacnicoll-flowers.com.

To create the display you will need:

Gold fish bowl vase.
1 block of oasis floral foam.
Florists' knife to cut the foam.
1 small plastic circular dish (to place the foam in) approx. 12cm diameter (this should sit on top of the vase) you can purchase from your local florist.
approx. 12cm diameter
Florists pot tape.
Sharp scissors.
5 stems white Lilac.
10 stems Mimosa.
5 stems Guelder Rose.
5 stems Wax Flower.
10 stems Craspedia.
5 stems Bupleurum
8 Lemons.

Directions

1. Soak the oasis foam in water.

2. Cut to size to fit into the circular dish. Secure foam with florists pot tape.

3. Begin by placing the stems of Bupleurum, Mimosa and Wax flower to fill the foam and start to create the outline of the design.

4. Add in the white Lilac and the Guelder Roses.

5. Then add in the Craspedia helping to define the loose dome shape.

6. Fill any remaining gaps with the rest of the Bulpherium and Wax flower.

7. Place on top of the gold fish bowl with lemons placed inside the vase.

8. Lightly spray the design with water.

9. Make sure you top up the floral foam with water every few days.

If you’re not signed up to Goop we really recommend it: www.goop.com

Happy Friday everyone and hope you enjoy a lovely relaxing weekend at home or building snowmen in your back garden.

Much love, Neom

Gingerbread is not just for before Christmas. It is also a failsafe way to keep younger children entertained in that time between Christmas and New Year. Get them busy with the cookie cutters and the icing and you can have a mini Gingerbread dessert table, made entirely by your kids for New Years Eve.

Pre-heat oven 180c
350g, plain flour
100g self-raising flour
125g dark soft muscovado sugar
125g butter, room temperature
1 large egg
125g golden syrup

Sift the flours in to the bowl of the mixer and add the sugar. Combine with a spoon. Add the butter, chopped in to pieces and mix, using the paddle, until resembles breadcrumbs. Making a well in the mixture add the egg and the syrup, mix together on a slow/medium speed until the mixture forms a ball. Roll out and cut out the shapes you want, bake on a lined sheet for up to 15 mins.

Revive the Gingerbread by warming gently for a few moments in the oven, sandwiching two gingerbread men together using a good quality ice cream and drizzling with salted caramel and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon! There is no finer way to see in a new year and your kids will feel very pleased that they baked up storm for such an important occasion.

These delicious gingerbread men are a perfect accompaniment with our Restore Home & Travel Candles - with a blend of Jasmine, Ginger & Sandalwood.

Ginger bread men by Cherry Menlove, Homemaker, Author of The Handmade Home and owner of Picketfencebaking.com

To make this beautiful wreath you will need the following:

A 35cm (14 inch) wire wreath ring.
1 box of Sphagnum moss
2 bunches of Baby blue and Silver Dollar Eucalyptus
Approx. 15 Pine cones
Long strong wires for attaching Pine cones
A reel of mossing wire
Strong scissors

1. Attach the end of the reel wire to the outside edge of the ring. Make compact clumps of the moss and bind on firmly with the reel wire.

2. Continue this process until the whole ring is covered.

3. To make a hook to hang it, bend a strong piece of wire in half and push it through the top of the wreath so that both ends comes through evenly. Twist wire together to make a loop.

4. Cut the Eucalyptus into lengths of approx. 15 cm. Take groupings of the Eucalyptus and place them on top of the moss binding them on with the mossing wire. Make sure all the foliage is placed in the same direction and positioned close together so there are no gaps and it looks compact.

5. To attach the Pine cones, wire the base of them with a strong wire leaving two ends which you can push through the ring and secure on the back of the wreath.

6. Add the Pine Cones in groups dotted around the wreath.

If I make it out for a bracing Autumnal walk this October, I'll have been lucky. It's more pea soup and drizzle in Yorkshire right now. Nevertheless it's still my favourite time of the year. I love the indoors just as much as being outdoors and making our home cosy and warm.

On days like this, we bake cakes and oaty flapjacks and the house is infused with beautiful scents and candles that flicker prettily against a greyish backdrop.

My must-have fragrance right now is Harmonise. Combining Pine, Cedarwood and Eucalyptus, it warms yet revives, green notes blending so well with woody undertones. It's the kind of fragrance that works as well on a gloomy Saturday morning as it does whilst entertaining that evening.

If I've kept my Saturday night free (my idea of bliss), then I combine organic hot chocolate with the 'cashmere blanket' of our scent collection; Real Luxury. When the children go to bed, I take a long bath in our heavenly Tranquillity Bath Foam and retreat to bed early with a huge pile of books and the soothing scents of English Lavender, Sweet Basil & Jasmine filling my room in the form of my Tranquillity Home Candle. Perfect weekends, whatever the weather.

View everything by visiting our shop page here.

Since we launched our bodycare range, I’ve been pestering the product development team about making organic Bath Foam…but it’s probably one of the trickiest products we have created at Neom and has taken us over two years. Our philosophy is to never use SLS (something which creates the foaming effect) because it can irritate the skin, so we had to take an alternative route to make sure our Bath Foam actually, well, foamed!

We eventually went for an alternative way of manufacturing and blending coconut oil and vegetable oils which offered us a safe ingredient that gave our Bath Foam those all-important bubbles in the tub. Then came adding the scent, this was another challenge. The blend of essential oils we added made the formula really watery and just glugged into the bath. So, I spent hours and hours adding in and taking out a mix of over ten different essential oils until we found the right balance of scent which made the bath foam stable, a joy to use and smell divinely tranquil.

I am thrilled to say it’s one the most successful bodycare launches we’ve had (perhaps it’s because it’s so ground-breaking! Not to blow my own trumpet or anything) so it makes all the hard work really worth it. Hats-off to our hard-working PD team too! May this pic be a reminder of all your hard work and the many, many baths we’ve had at testing the hundreds of formulations!

Enjoy our new Bath Foam made with 74% organic ingredients & 26% natural ingredients with ingredients like soothing Aloe Leaf, Marshmallow, and Sweet Almond.

We recently caught up with Jemma Kidd! She’s the sister to supermodel Jodie, celebrity makeup artist and mum of two-year old twins. Jemma shared with us what her favourite NEOM products are…

Baths are the few moments in a day I have to myself, so I cherish them. NEOM’s are my absolute favourite. It’s the scents I like most – so strong and instantly relaxing. They last for hours too! If I use them in a bath in the morning, my bathroom will smell like that for the rest of the day. I have so many bath oils and the smell disappears quite quickly. NEOM’s are really good quality though. The Lavender, Jasmine and Brazilian Rosewood in their Real Luxury fragrance smells particularly luxurious.

When you have two kids to take care of and a business to run, life is pretty hectic. Juggling everything is hard and it’s about striking the right balance of work, the children and husband at home and time for myself, which means relaxing with a good book and a delicious candle. I like NEOM’s Cocooning candle full of Mandarin, Ylang Ylang & Chamomile.

I do love a good body wash. My favourite is NEOM’s Complete Bliss fragrance which is Moroccan Blush Rose. Again, it’s just super-luxurious. The quality is fantastic - it smells of proper rose, not artificial. Everything in my life is organic and I’m quite strict about it, so authentic products all the way.

Laetitia has been named the ‘Nigella Lawson of the Gardening World’, and is a self-confessed plant geek after discovering her mother’s plant encyclopaedia and a packet of seeds at the back of a cupboard one day and grows the most beautiful and deliciously scented plants. We caught up with Laetitia and got some insider hints on plant scents and how to grow-your-own…

Up until now, I’ve always favoured Spring over Summer – mainly because of the sense of newness and hope that it brings. But this year has been different – we haven’t really experienced ‘Spring’ – the weather has shunted us straight from Winter into Summer, and I am simply drinking in the glorious bounty of it all.

If you know me at all, you’ll be aware that I am extremely keen on scent, and a plant without any has got to be pretty special to deserve a space in my life. It’s impossible to name a favourite combination really, but in general I always find that putting mint or nepeta with any deeply floral scent will add a touch of freshness to it and create a knockout partnership. Perhaps my favourite scent of the summer is that of gladiolus callianthus (sometimes called acidanthra). You can grow these lily-like blooms in a container and the scent is quite simply out of this world.

As far as gardening goes, this time for me is one of lazing around doing as little as possible in terms of hard labour. I want to flit around picking flowers and scenting my home. As I write, there’s a posy of roses (a David Austen one, called ‘The Alnwick’ is my absolute favourite right now), nepeta, pinks, lady’s mantle and lavender to keep my olfactory senses satisfied.

But fresh flowers aren’t always available, and there are certain places (like my very dark entrance hall) where they won’t get appreciated, so I’ve got a NEOM Violet, Chamomile and Cedarwood reed diffuser to scent my comings and goings. Violet flowers have a particularly special fragrance – it is so powerful that it actually numbs the sensors in your nose and stops you smelling anything after a while, so mixing the essential oil with other fragrances overcomes this problem and gives you the best of both worlds.

I like to tinker with plants, making everything from my own rosewater to sweet ciceley custard. Today I’m preparing for hot weather by putting sprigs of mint and rosemary into small misting bottles with filtered water. If you put these in the fridge they make a wonderfully refreshing spritz for scorching days. But there are certain plants I can’t grow, so when I want something exotic I love Neom’s organic body wash, and the Happiness scented candle with White Neroli, Mimosa and Lemon. On a warm night you can close your eyes and get transported to another world…such is the power of scent.

You can find ‘recipes’ for all the tips above, and more inspiration in Laetitia’s book ‘Sweet Peas for Summer’ and on her website, www.laetitiamaklouf.com

We know her sister Sienna has been using NEOM’s new Cocooning products during her pregnancy; however we recently caught up with Sienna’s sister Savannah to find out her top-tips to de-stress…

I get up at around 6am, depending on when my baby, Bali, does. She usually wakes up pretty early because of the light streaming through the window. The first thing I do is take a lovely deep bath in aromatherapy bath oils which wake me up and leave me smelling great for the day. NEOM’s Real Luxury version is perfect – I love the Lavender, Jasmine and Brazilian Rosewood essential oils – it’s a real anytime bath oil.

After breakfast I head to my studio on Savile Row in London, where I have started a new clothing label (I recently left Twenty8Twelve, the line I started with my sister, Sienna). We always burn the NEOM candles. It really keeps the office feeling gorgeous and smelling amazing. There’s something about burning candles which really help me to de-stress – important in the fashion world! When things get really full-on I will listen to some African music to get my team smiling and feeling calm. It really works! If I have time, I love to go to Jivamukti Yoga after work for a class, but since having Bali six months ago it has been put on the back-burner a bit, I just want to get home to her as quickly as possible. I have another bath in the evening with Bali and add some lavender. I find it really helps her to sleep better. That’s my working day, but if I had a free day to do exactly what I liked, it would have to be with my family on a beach somewhere hot and gorgeous!

Abigail James is a holistic therapist and facialist who specialises in a more natural and organic approach to beautiful skin and health. Abigail has over a decade of experience in natural beauty and is fast becoming the go-to therapist for London’s Elite who are in need of a relaxing, healthy treatment.

Here at NEOM, we’ve known about Abigail’s healing hands for a while as she loves NEOM. But we thought we’d ask her to give us a little insight and a handful of remedies and rituals most important to do at home.

I have been working as a therapist for many years. I personally felt I wanted to make the move from using synthetics to more natural beauty for the simple fact I was reacting to so many products and so were my clients. I found that the main skin irritants are synthetic fragrance and lab-created ingredients which the body just does not like or recognise. This often results in a skin reaction – it became that I was treating sensitized skin to product ingredients rather than actually treating the skins natural state. So I decided to switch – believe me once you do, you’ll never go back!

I often find I get asked about what you can do at home to help with your beauty regime. I always say my favourite home ingredient perfect for treatments which I am sure everyone has is their kitchen cupboard is honey. It’s so amazing at healing the skin. Apply it while in the bath with your hair tied firmly back, leave it on the skin for 10 minutes then add a bit of warm water and massage it deeply all over the face. Why not mix in a smudge of natural yoghurt to this too - (really, I do this at home!) It’s great. Also, keep your eye cream in the fridge; the coolness helps freshen up the eye area, keep it next to two teaspoons, then apply these cold to the whole eye area after applying the cream for bright sparkly peepers!

I also think everyone should invest in a good facial oil - especially at night, they can absorb easier than a cream and are great for re-balancing and nourishing the skin rather than overpowering it which some creams can do at night time, especially for a skin that is prone to blockages and oiliness.

I am very sensitive to scent, it is so important to me and often my mood affects how I respond to a particular smell. I recommend having a variety of candles around my home to use. Dependant on my mood, I often opt for more lemony fresh scents like the Refresh candle, I find these sort of scents help give me clarity when I am working from home. But my all-time favourite is NEOM’s Happiness candle – it’s just beautiful. White Neroli and Mimosa are my absolute favourite scents; I have individual perfume notes of both of these along with Jasmine. A twice weekly Body Scrub also makes me feel amazing, I will often do this after my morning hill-run when I am in the Cotswolds, really gets the circulation going, and lashings of Real Luxury Body Oil while my skin is still wet, with the feminine scent it’s a touch of pampering at the beginning of the day, start as you mean to go on is my motto!

www.abigailjames.com

Katie Derham is the Radio 3 broadcaster and presenter of The Proms for BBC 1 and 2 and is a very busy mum of two daughters. We had a quick chat with Katie recently and asked her how she likes to relax and escape her hectic life (if only for an hour) – so we wanted to share with you...

When you have children – a 12 year old and six year old in my case – you’re ALWAYS busy. Take today, for example, I had the day off work and, after a morning of admin catch-up, I carted our family pet rabbit, Buster, off to school as my youngest was ‘giving a talk’ on him.

It’s clear I don’t have much time for myself, however when I get the chance my favourite way to relax is with a luxurious spa treatment or massage, which I sneak in from time-to- time when I’m feeling particularly stressed! In an ideal world, I’d have a full-time masseuse in my home (what a luxury that would be!). The more realistic and a more attainable way to relax is waiting until the kids have gone to bed and sticking on a Homeland or Borgen box set – I’m obsessed. I’ll also light NEOM’s Moroccan Blush Rose candle. The scent is so calming and delicious and reminds me of a trip to Morocco I took with my husband, John, recently. Also, now that we’ve moved to the countryside out in the sticks the candles come in extra handy to prevent the house smelling of dog!

Home Scenting when the sun comes out? In my mind this is the perfect finishing touch to a house streaming with sunlight...it's just about choosing the right scent and the right way to diffuse it.

I write this from my kitchen, where an Inspiration Reed Diffuser accompanies the gentle warmth of this amazingly sunny spring morning perfectly. Violet, Chamomile and Cedarwood is perfect in this weather and the diffuser fills the home, gently, as a gorgeous backdrop in my new sunny rooms.

Tonight I'm hosting an informal dinner for 6, and hopefully we will have a couple of my infamous Mojitos in the garden first, so I will light a Complete Bliss candle, which tinged with Black Pepper and Lime will fill not only the conservatory with the scent of freshly cut roses but gently float into the garden too. Have a lovely, sunny, weekend!

I am super excited to launch our ultra-pampering Organic Hand Creams. Packed with anti-oxidising extracts which are great for anti-ageing, they include Acai extract and nourishing Argan oil, known to aid collagen production and tighten the skin. It penetrates rapidly, leaving hands super-soft, smooth and non-greasy, and leaving your hands velvety soft. For perfect hands look no further...

A lovely NEOM customer said something to me the other day that really made me smile, "I decorate my room with the different scents of NEOM, depending on how I’m feeling, what I’m doing and the kind of mood I’m in." I know exactly what she means.

On a cold rainy morning I crave a warm lounge and a flickering Sumptuous Home Candle (Rose and Neroli) followed, a bit later, by a hot bath in Tranquillity Bath Oil (English Lavender with Sweet Basil and Jasmine).

Tomorrow though, I am preparing a special ladies lunch for my good friend Lucy (no children, no men, bliss!) and I will make sure my new Happiness Home Candle (White Neroli with Mimosa and Lemon) is in the hall, and Inspiration Travel Candle (Violet, Chamomile and Cedarwood) are dotted about the dining room.

Scenting your home, just like lighting or furnishing it in the right way, is important to get the mood right.

Nicola, NEOM Founder

Get pampering the organic way

Of course, if you really want to make the most of all that relaxation then there’s only one thing for it—you need to go organic. By choosing natural beauty products you’ll be able to get all the beauty benefits with none of the drawbacks, because who wants to slather a load of chemicals all over themselves? Going organic means you can reduce your chemical count no end, and if you choose our products here at NEOM you’ll get added holistic benefit. Our gorgeous products contain high levels of essential oils to bring you treatments that work, adding something extra to your day of pampering.

Organic luxury—the best of both worlds

Here at NEOM we fully believe in the power of nature. We’re actively encouraging people to reduce their chemical count because with many of these harsh, synthetic ingredients doing more harm than good it’s important to make the change, and with our products you’ll be able to do luxury the organic way. Our products offer the best of both worlds—the beauty of natural ingredients combined with the luxury of truly indulgent products—because we think that beauty should be about spoiling yourself. With fabulous scents and a huge range of luxurious products you’re bound to find something that fits the bill, letting you relax on a wave of organic bliss for a pampering session of pure indulgence.

Have the night in you deserve

Just take a look around to find the products you’re looking for and you’ll be able to treat yourself to the night in you’ve always wanted. Light a few aromatherapy candles, run a bath and pour in a generous amount of our bath oil to surround yourself in aromatherapy gorgeousness, and combine it with our body scrub to slough away those dead skin cells and let your true beauty shine through. Finish it off with a good layer of our award-winning body lotion and you’ll have soft, smooth skin that defies expectation, and because all of our products contain usable levels of essential oils you’ll be treating yourself holistically as well.

You’ll be able to relax and unwind in the best way possible, combining the luxury of pampering with the benefits of organic beauty and aromatherapy, leaving you refreshed, relaxed and ready for anything. If you include a glass of wine, a good book or a great film into the mix you’ll have the perfect evening, so what are you waiting for? Treat yourself to some organic products and you’ll get beauty benefits and luxurious pampering in one. What could be better than that?

Vicki Edgson is passionate about making sense of healthy living. She co-founded the health brand The Food Doctor, runs her own prestige nutritional therapy clinic in London as well as the award-winning Vital Energy retreat in Ibiza – what a place to retreat, we say!

Vicki is big fan of NEOM so we recently caught up with her to get some easy and quick tips on what’s good to eat this time of year to help boost your mood.

We’re into May. This is one the best times of the year for feeling full of Vital Energy! Cherry Blossom abounds, the street markets are full of seasonal fruits and vegetables, and everything smells so fresh. Why not pick plums and apricots to nibble raw, or try poaching in apple juice. Choosing cinnamon and star anise is brilliant at boosting immunity against hayfever. I recommend asparagus (fat and juicy) or chard and purple sprouting broccoli to add raw to your favourite salad, or simply roasted in olive oil along with a dash of fresh basil and rosemary, to tickle your tastebuds, and raise your energy.

As a nutritionist I often find women are frequently low in magnesium. This is due to stress, anxiety and monthly cycles, so I always encourage them to increase their daily intake of dark green vegetables. The prime candidates for this include broccoli, chard, savoy cabbage and watercress. Rocket and parsley is also good in salads and a great source of iron too! Brown and red rice also provide abundant magnesium, and make a good base for delicious risottos.

Like essential oils I believe food is also good at helping your mood. Cutting down on carbohydrates is most definitely NOT good for a mood, as these are the foods that boost serotonin - the happy feel-good hormone that we all need more of! Choose buckwheat noodles for salad and stir-fried vegetable dishes, polenta for slimmer pizza bases, and rye breads for open sandwiches - the Swedes and Norwegians live on these grains, and they are all healthy, slender, beautiful and HAPPY!

I believe that we need all our senses to be titillated in order to feel alive, well and thriving. I always have the NEOM Refresh (Lemon & Basil) travel candles in the guest rooms on my Vital Energy Retreats in Ibiza, to stimulate mind and body. Their beautiful, fresh organic scent is so pure, it emulates the very principles I share during the retreat - to surround ourselves only with those elements that are taken from nature - fresh, seasonal food, clean air and pure water. Join me there - you won't regret it!

www.vickiedgson.com/retreats

I always feel amazing when I’m spending time with my family and close friends. We have the best time together and always laugh a lot. I have an incredibly busy lifestyle and travel a lot so the time I spend at home with my loved ones is a time I cherish.

Because of my lifestyle, I like to eat well and look after my body and mind. I love eating my daughter’s food, she has a company called Honestly Healthy and she makes delicious alkaline fridge fills so I live off her food pretty much every day and I’m so grateful for it. I exercise regularly, too, which it makes me feel great and energised.

I also like to look after my skin and hair. I’m really into all things organic and use as many organic products on my hair and skin as possible. I try to get a manicure once week and use the NEOM Morrocan Blush Rose hand lotion everyday, it smells heavenly.

When I’m not working in London or abroad, I absolutely love to spend my weekends in the country and just chill out watching romantic comedies and listening to music – it completely recharges my batteries and gets me ready for the week ahead!

When the sun is shining it signals a shift in so many things....

I am suddenly desperate to dig out my most wafty, chiffony blouse and start buying bunches of wild-looking, brightly coloured flowers every week. Isn't there something amazing about opening the windows every morning as soon as you wake up? I love musing over what new and interesting salad to prepare for tea every night too and, keeping our fingers crossed, we can eat in the garden!

It's the huge shift in the day to day things that makes me really happy come spring time...but so many people ask me how to scent their homes at this time of year. Heavier, cosy candle scents suddenly don't feel so right, so I asked the NEOM team to divulge their personal tips for scenting their homes in this weather. Here's what they said...

	Nicola, Account Manager, on her Real Luxury Reed Diffuser...This light, gentle but sophisticated scent is beautiful in a reed diffuser for spring, the minute I open my front door I feel relaxed and calm. It's my personal favourite and always goes down well as a gift too.
	Becky, Account Manager, on her Real Luxury Body Scrub...I have never used a scrub like this; we've had a few bloggers recently saying it's life changing! I have to agree! You only need to use it once a week and your skin is totally transformed into butter -soft -sundress -ready -loveliness!
	Elaine, Account Manager, on her Body Oil...I've worked at so many of the big name beauty houses but I have never ever come across a body oil like the NEOM one -it's not just an amazing anti-ageing body treat that leaves your skin feeling about 10 years younger! But it's also great cuticle oil and the only thing I'll use as an after sun on me and my kids.
	Zoe, Accounts Co-ordinator, on her Mini Room Mists...Our new mini mists in Inspiration or Sumptuous are going down a storm....I personally adore the Sumptuous one made with Rose and Neroli, I spritz the curtains every day and the scent lingers, its light and pretty.
	Claudia, PR Manager on Travel Candles...Travel candles are gorgeous in summer, great for decorating a table when you've got friends round for (usually an indoor) barbecue! Inspiration is floral and pretty, and I really love Serenity too. The vanilla gives it a warm, beachy scent that makes the room smell yummy.
	Nicola, Founder, on her Inspiration Reed Diffuser...The scent of summer is summed up in my Inspiration reed diffuser...Violet Chamomile and Cedarwood is a perfect accompaniment to sunny, breezy days and the best bit is it smells all day long! I have one in the hall, kitchen lounge and my wardrobe too so my clothes smell fresh!

When I’m home, a perfect night in for me will be catching up on my favourite TV shows. I travel often for work so I make sure I have plenty of Desperate Housewives, Gossip Girl and Downton Abbey to keep me occupied when I come home! I find it so relaxing to just curl up in front of great TV.

It always helps to have candles on too for a really relaxed atmosphere. I don’t have the time to spend taking ages in the morning, so keep my beauty and skin regime pretty basic. I do love a nice body scrub though, like NEOM’s Lavender, Jasmine and Brazilian Rosewood scrub. It smells amazing and I love that it’s organic, too.

But what makes me feel most amazing, more than anything else, is listening to music. And dancing to it! Whether I’m by myself, dancing around the kitchen with the radio on full volume or out in a club with all my mates, having music blasting just makes me feel incredible. Especially reggae. Growing up in west London, my mum would always have reggae on so it had a huge influence on me and really shaped my musical tastes now.

Estelle’s album, All Of Me, is out 12 March

So it’s finally here, possibly the trickiest, most time consuming scent we have ever developed….‘Happiness’ with White Neroli, Mimosa and Lemon.

The brief seemed simple enough back in early 2011…we wanted something fresh and clean, evocative of spring gardens, a beautifully dewy smell of bright green grass and pretty little white flower heads popping up. We yearned for something to take us out of the long dark winter, heralding new beginnings and serious positivity. The reality was so much harder! It’s difficult to blend something fresh but new, something that balances a simplicity with a sophistication you’ve come to know and love with NEOM scents. But, as they say, ‘necessity is the mother of invention’ and it led us to a very clever way of creating a new way of adding scent to this blend.

For the first time we experimented with using a unique way of releasing scent from a part of the peppermint stalk that smells exactly like (and is the same composition as) actual blades of grass. The result is a characteristic fresh, green, grassy note which when combined with essential oils of White Neroli, Mimosa and Lemon creates an amazingly evocative, crisp spring garden scent I had really wanted. The process of extracting 100% natural scents in this way is a really exciting and will push us into new ways that we can create fantastic new natural scents. Into the blend goes a stunning Mimosa oil, which is great for relieving tension, precious Neroli with its healing and balancing properties, and then Lemon gives it that little extra perkiness.

Like all our candle scents, Happiness is 100% natural and the high concentration of essential oils provides an aroma-therapeutic treatment, boosting your mood and putting a spring in your step. I am absolutely thrilled with the outcome of this scent…and can’t wait to hear your thoughts, if you’ve had a sniff, please do tell me your thoughts, I’d love to hear!

Surely not? But if this cold, dark weather is leaving you feeling a bit flat right now, I thought I’d tell you about some of the things that are cheering me up and what I’m raiding from the NEOM stock cupboard this month.

I still think that the two most unsung NEOM hero’s are our Organic Body Oil and Organic Body Scrub. A winters night is just not the same for me if I haven't had a long soak in a Tranquillity bath followed by slathering myself in Real Luxury Body Oil. People always tell me they worry about oil being greasy or sticky – and I have used all those horrible oils in the past! I know what you mean. But they are so greasy because they contain silicones (plastics) which sit on the surface of the skin. The NEOM Body Oil, packed with organic safflower and jojoba is literally my best beauty secret, it sinks into my skin in a minute and makes me feel so soft plus the scent lingers and sends me into a heavenly sleep.

The scrub was something we originally developed for professional use only but after much ooo-ing and ahhing from the countries top therapists we decided to offer it to everyone. I was never a huge fan of scrubs – it seems like a fiddly thing to include into my (very pared down) beauty regime – but my, does this transform the feeling of your entire body. If you have ever tried a scrub, contemplated using one or even written them off because you didn’t find one good enough – I’d really urge you to try this one, it’s amazing!

Oh, and of course I’m lighting candles. All the time. My current favourite is Sumptuous; Neroli and Rose is all about comforting and indulging and if I can get a bit of this feeling into my home on a dark night I’m a very happy girl after all.

However, when it comes to choosing gifts, you might well find the perfect ideas by perusing our website here at NEOM. Our luxurious candles and fragrances may tick all the boxes for the recipients you have in mind.

The fact is, women love to be pampered and our sumptuous products are ideal for this purpose. They provide the perfect antidote to the stresses and strains of everyday life and are superb in any season. Also, because our natural beauty products are precisely this - natural - they are ideal for health conscious individuals who want to cut back on their exposure to chemicals

Sourcing gifts from us couldn't be easier. Rather than having to dash to the shops when you get a spare few minutes, trying to avoid heavy traffic, checkout queues and so on, you can simply order the items in a matter of moments over the web. Perfect if you lead a busy life and only have a moment to spare.

Whether you opt to buy luxury candles, organic hand wash, bath oils or another luxury for your friends or family members, you should be more than pleased with your purchases - as should the lucky recipients of the items!

And to enhance the experience even further, invest in gorgeous natural beauty products such as the superb range of bath oils we provide here at NEOM. These chic and sophisticated products not only look great in their bottles, they also work fantastically when used in the tub.

They contain 30 per cent essential oils, meaning you only need to use a capful in order to fill your bathroom with sumptuous scents that work perfectly as a holistic treatment.

Creating your very own sanctuary within your home, this can help you take your mind off the trials and tribulations you have faced and bring you to a much calmer and pleasant state of being.

During the winter such indulgent baths can be even more pleasurable. After battling your way home through the elements, you can finally enjoy total warmth and comfort.

Also, there is evidence that relaxing in hot water can have a positive impact on health. It can help to enhance circulation, and lower blood pressure.

Of course, we not only specialise in bath products. We have created a superb range of aromatherapy candles, natural hand wash products and much much more. Indeed, with our help you can transform your home into a haven for the senses.

What else makes me feel amazing, more than anything else in the world, is waking my four-month-old son, Indio up in the morning. He’ll have the biggest smile on his face and it's possibly one of the most amazing things I have ever experienced. He’s such a brilliant baby; he sleeps through the night, is happy and content. Of course I might not be so lucky when the teenage years kick in!

Being a mother has just changed me completely. The world I was in before was quite selfish really, but now my world is him. I’m still a typical first-time Mum and freak out occasionally, but it’s a learning process. I didn’t even know how to change a nappy at first!

My party-days are well and truly behind me and - I sound just like my Mum here - but I’m happiest just staying in with a crossword and glass of wine. And my NEOM candles, of course. My routine is regimented. After I bathe Indio and put him to bed, it’s ‘me time.’ I lie on my bed and read a book, or soak in the bath with music on, and NEOM candles are always on. I love just having them around the house because they’re pretty and warming, even the glass they hold them in is gorgeous. That’s my ultimate way of relaxing, for sure.

The true benefits of organic skin care products can be contributed to the healthy, natural ingredients which they typically contain:

Natural plant oils
Natural plant oils such as grapeseed, walnut, olive and almond help to reduce inflammation and acne by providing antioxidants and moisturising your skin. The application of organic and natural facial moisturisers can soothe and strengthen your skin in a way that synthetic products simply cannot match.

Herbs
As well as helping to repair damaged skin tissue, herbs like calendula, green tea, lavender and rose can also act as an antiseptic and calm itchy or sensitive skin.

Essential oils
Essential oils such as cedarwood, ginger, patchouli, and tea tree can be used to help treat dry skin or dandruff, tone the skin and increase circulation. Furthermore, they can also be used as a moisturiser and work as an anti-bacterial or anti-viral.

For every moisturiser, hand wash or facial cleanser made with synthetic ingredients, there is a natural, organic alternative that is healthier for your skin. So, if you want to feel the benefits which these wonderfully natural yet extremely luxurious products can offer, make us here at NEOM Organics your first port of call.

Luxury candle products have better scents
The aromas which emanate from generic scented candle products tend to be quite syrupy and plain. By contrast, luxury candle scents are far more elegant as luxury candle makers pay the same kind of attention to their scents as perfume masters pay to theirs. Luxury candle products are richly scented and the aromas they produce are truly unique and innovative.

Luxury candle products offer better value
Although a scented candle bought at a supermarket or discount shop will cost you less, luxury candle products still offer better value in the long term. Indeed, these high-quality candles are specifically designed to produce less soot and burn more evenly so that you can enjoy extra-long burning times. In addition, richly-scented luxury candle products are also designed to make sure that the scent remains rich and strong all the way to the final drop of wax. Discount candle products on the other hand are sometimes only dipped in scent, so a lot of the fragrance simply disappears after they have been burning for a short while.

Explore our pages further to find out more and view our exceptional range of luxury products in greater detail.

They are 100% safe
Although candles are always a very effective and popular option for adding scent to an indoor space, they are not without their limits. Naturally their open flames make them a less than ideal option when you have small children or energetic pets running around and many workplaces will be understandably reluctant to have them burning on their premises. Sprays on the other hand are 100% safe so they can be used to great effect just about anywhere.

They are effective
Because candle scents typically provide only light aromas, they can sometimes struggle to overpower strong odours. Concentrating a luxury spray burst in one specific area however can make it strong enough to take on even the most steadfast smells.

They come in a wide range
There is an incredibly wide range of luxury sprays available these days. Indeed, the sheer number of sprays which can be obtained means that there are scent options on hand to suit all tastes, moods, needs and environments.

They can vanquish odours which cleaning cannot beat
Although household cleaning can take care of many different odours, there are some smells which aren't so inclined to surrender when the air freshener comes out. Indeed, the smell of cooking can often stand up to an industrious cleaning session, but thankfully; it will soon surrender when a luxury room spray is brought in to bat.

But there is one simple rule you can stick to that is not only easy, but also actively enjoyable and that is using natural beauty products rather than versions packed full of chemicals.

These days, many of the soaps, bath oils, home fragrances and other such offerings available for you to buy contain a strange cocktail of synthetic ingredients and no one really knows the long-term effects of prolonged usage of such offerings.

At NEOM we feel strongly about this issue. After all, why should you have to expose your body to such products when there are natural alternatives at the peak of luxury?

All our products are the ultimate in luxury. They smell and feel fantastic and aim to lift your mood and invigorate the soul. We achieve all of this without using chemical additives and preservatives.

With NEOM you can help to make your home a healthier place and you can achieve greater peace of mind when it comes to looking after not only your own well being, but also that of your household.

Going au naturel and investing in our organic candles, natural hand wash products and room fragrance is far from a chore - it is a genuine pleasure. Reducing your use of chemicals may be one of the easiest resolutions you ever make.

The great news is, there is now an array of fantastic organic beauty products that can help you to boost your mood, body and spirit. /p>

To set the atmosphere for your evening of indulgence, start by lighting some aromatherapy candles. These are perfect mood-setters.

A night in wouldn't be complete without a long soak in the bathtub. This can help to ease any aches and pains you have and it is the ideal way to soothe your mind, helping you to forget your troubles and focus on the present moment.

To enhance your bathing, add a capful of our luxurious bath oil. By choosing versions that contain a high content of essential oils, you can ensure that your bath will be perfect.

And once you step out of the tub, make the most of our superb range of organic body lotions and oils available. These are great for your skin and can help you to feel radiant and youthful.

Here at NEOM we are experts when it comes to all these products, and many more besides. So, if you want to get kitted out for the perfect night in, why not take a look at our luxury candles, bath products?

All this can leave you feeling bedraggled and in need of pampering. Now there are many fantastic products available that can help to revitalise your body and mind.

Here at NEOM we are passionate about providing healthy and effective natural beauty products and by perusing our online store, you should be able to find the perfect items for you.

Make the most of our indulgent aromatherapy candles to help relax your mind when you get back home. You can purchase gorgeous bath oils that are ideal when you want to take a long, hot soak in the tub.

And to reinvigorate and hydrate your skin, you can make use of our fantastic body scrubs, lotions and oils. These can help to make your skin feel smooth and silky and can undo the wear and tear of winter.

Also, to make your home a more welcoming and inviting place, you can take advantage of our home fragrance spray and mists.

Happy New Year! So…New Year, new leaf, new promises – yes, we all know that one! But this year we’re committing to some real positive change here at NEOM.

Did you know that the average woman is putting some 250 chemicals on her skin every day? From shampoo and conditioner, to shower gel and bubble bath, body oils and lotions. And let’s not forget washing up liquid, liquid soaps, washing powders...the list goes on. Often there is further exposure to unborn babies and children in the house. The cumulative effect of these chemicals, used by women over decades, is slowly coming to light - but much remains unknown. We’re challenging you to do one easy thing…REDUCE your count. We understand that you can’t live a completely chemical-free life, we want to offer everyday alternatives to help reduce your chemical count and that of your family…

Why This Matters:

• 1. In an exclusive NEOM poll of 100 women, 95% did not correctly recognise ONE ingredient on the back of their beauty products. This means many of their buying decisions are based on a fundamental trust of the industry and of the claims they make.

• 2. There is nothing to force EU cosmetics manufacturers to test their products for long-term use, or to effectively predict the effect on humans when used alongside dozens of other chemicals.

• 3. Toxic chemicals find their way into our bodies - up to 60% of them are absorbed into the skin, into our bloodstream, our breast milk…and our children. And diseases linked to the absorption of synthetic chemicals – including breast cancer, testicular cancer, kidney damage and reproductive problems – are on the rise.

• 4. Many chemicals in everyday products, such as propylene glycol and SLS, actually quicken skin-ageing, the very thing most brands claim to reverse!

My 3 Easy Swaps to Make Today:

• 1. Organic Hand Wash and Lotion – an everyday family product. Our range offers the organic and totally luxurious alternative, with more scents coming in March.

• 2. Organic Body Wash and Lotion – applied to the largest surface area every day.

• 3. Organic Candles – toluene and benzene (found in paraffin wax) are the carcinogens found in cigarette smoke. NEOM’s new Happiness candle, blended from pure vegetable waxes, is launching in February as the latest addition to our candle library of 11 amazing scents.

Some great reading:

• 1. Not Just A Pretty Face – By Stacey Malkan

• 2. Cosmetics Unmasked: Your Family Guide to Safe Cosmetics and Allergy-free Toiletries – By Dr Stephen Antczak

• 3. Toxic Beauty: The Hidden Chemicals in Cosmetics and How They Can Harm Us – By Dawn Mellowship

• 4. EWG – Environmental Working Group (http://www.ewg.org/skindeep)

• 5. Campaign For Safe Cosmetics (http://safecosmetics.org/) Articles 300 & 682

• 6. The Facts About (http://www.thefactsabout.co.uk)

GOOD LUCK and let us know how you’re getting on!

The power of fragrances over the imagination is truly incredible. This is partly what makes aromatherapy candles and other products so popular. They can help to changes people's moods dramatically and almost instantly.

If you are keen to create the perfect relaxing environment at home that puts you in a positive frame of mind, invest in some of the fantastic scented products available today.

At NEOM we take this one step further. Unlike many other companies, we do not use chemicals in our home fragrance spray or mists. We use completely organic ingredients. Meaning you can concentrate on making the most of the experience and unwind in the gorgeous aromas.

As well as helping you feel at peace, these natural beauty products can also inspire you, taking your thoughts to different places and helping you to enjoy a positive frame of mind.

Of course, we also provide a variety of other products, including bath oils, body lotions and much more. To see the full range, take a look around our website now.

Christmas is a busy time for me.

I DJ for big fashion brands and have the Mulberry Christmas party coming up which I’m really excited about. Music and fashion are my real passions. I’ve just signed to Models One and have been in Las Vegas hosting a show for an American network about the I Heart Music Festival. It’s a big music festival in Vegas with a line-up including Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga and Black Eyed Peas, so it’s fantastic to be involved with that. I am now hosting the Style Studio at the Clothes Show Live. So, yes, it’s pretty full-on!

Travelling is part of the job, and I love it, but living in hotels so much of the time, I definitely miss my home comforts. I never know what the places will be like so there are things I always have to have with me... good cleanser, moisturiser and NEOM travel candles. No matter where I am they make me feel at home.

What else makes me feel amazing? Watching TV (I’m obsessed with the US X Factor at the moment), Vinyasa Yoga and eating! I love Mediterranean foods like falafel in pitta bread. Delicious. I’m a big fan of Pizza East in Shoreditch, too. Going there for dinner with a bunch of friends is my ideal night out. People often assume I’m some party-girl but I’m so not! We joke that my party trick is actually being the first person to leave!”

Nothing makes me feel happier or more rejuvenated than when the kids are sleeping peacefully upstairs and I’m curled up in front of a roaring fire reading a good book, surrounded by flickering candles - like the Neom Organics Christmas Wish.

It’s funny because I’m sure if you’d asked me three years ago what made me feel amazing it would have been completely different (wine, shopping, the gym) But these days wine gives me a hangover that is literally unbearable when combined with an 8 month old baby and a 3 year old, the shopping is always a rushed, stressful affair (unless it’s on the internet, hello Net A Porter and neomorganics.com ) And the gym? Well, I can literally think of a thousand things I’d rather be doing than pounding a treadmill.

Nowadays the things that make me feel amazing are simple. Making my 3 year old boy squeal with laughter, watching him cuddle his baby sister, her gurgles of pleasure when I come into her room when she wakes up in the morning, bouncing with my boy on our trampoline in the garden (an instant endorphin booster better than any gym equipment) and of course, the fundamental feel- good essential: sleep.

You never realise how much it governs your mood and wellbeing until it’s snatched away by a squawking baby for months on end! Luckily, we’re over that hellish bit now, but still, a 7am wake up every. single. morning means lie ins are a thing of the past. So on the nights when I’m too tired to do anything else I have a reverse lie-in. I go to bed as early as possible so I can wind down in a calm, soothing environment. Our bedroom has a big, antique super king size sleigh bed, heaps of big hotel quality pillows and soft rugs underfoot. And candles. Lots and lots of Neom Organics candles. My favourite is the Complete Bliss with its gorgeous rose scent. I simply light the ones that are lined up on the mantelpiece and the bedside tables and lie there, reading my book in my own personal nirvana.

Miracle on Regent Street is available now, published by Simon & Schuster.

We thought we'd give you a little shot of inspiration early on by asking six stylish ladies what they would be buying this year and why.

When we ask you about buying NEOM goodies for gifts, we notice that so many of you tell us that you buy NEOM because you aren't just buying a cream, an oil or candle but because you're actually buying a treatment. I think it really does mean you’ve thought about your gift so much more. People are always touched when I have hand picked a treatment that I think will suit them, it's more personal somehow.

My sister works so hard I think she needs something to really help her sleep this Christmas and will treat her to some Tranquillity body oil, my best friend has been a bit down the past month so I'll treat her to a Sumptuous home candle, which will really lift her mood and my husband always thinks it's thoughtful when I fill his bath with Refresh bath oil after he’s been playing sport – it soothes his aches and pains away in five minutes flat! The Luxe Bath kits we've launched this Christmas are brilliant for giving someone an 'intense treatment' – we've worked out that a capful of the oil and half an hour of the candle lit will work as a very deep treatment.

And I have to remind you that the Christmas Wish candle is flying out – I know we won’t have any left very soon so if you like our signature scent of Christmas cakes baking (and £1 goes to the Make A Wish foundation for children) you need to snap yours up now...Please drop us a line on our Facebook page and tell us which gifts you are buying, who for and why, we'd love to know.

Happy Shopping!
Much love, Nicola

Being a full time mum and full time managing director of JoJo I really have NO ‘me time'. I don't mind one bit, but sometimes I remember the days when I would curl up in front of the TV with the fire crackling merrily. Or even better get into bed nice and early after a hot bath to read and read and read. Those days are pretty much on hold at the moment. I never seem to get through the long list of commitments and I am not often in bed before the early hours. Whilst I don't have much time for pampering, Neom's body lotion is fab and I'm a huge fan of the Neom scented candles, which have the most delicious aromas. As for a beauty regime - well it's a quick scrub and off I go, hair often wet.

Since January (seriously – we work that early) we’ve been racking our brains as to what would make the most perfect gifts. We always like to push the idea of gift-giving that bit further and make things even more special.

We came up with the idea for Luxe Bath Essentials after a conversation in the office about what amount of essential oils would absorb/inhale perfectly to create the perfect treatment. NEOM's founder, Nicola, likes a particularly strong treatment bath with 2 capfuls, I prefer just 1, but somewhere between 1-2 capfuls and an hour of a lit candle should provide you with the perfect treatment.

	Hand wash and lotion kits are something we're always asked for, but we're working on a fantastic ‘reduce your chemical count' campaign next year and we think if you are going to change even just one product in your home to an organic version, it should be the hand wash or lotion, especially because the average woman uses over 250 chemicals on her skin every day and every member of your family uses these products. So we've created Organic Hand Wash & Lotion Collections in three scent variants.
My personal favourite gift this year is the limited edition Christmas Wish Candle… yes we make these every year, but this year we plumped for sparkling paper boxes with luxe black ribbons and gold candle glass and I love them – you have no idea how many different sparkly papers and prints I’ve looked at to find my perfect version in this twinkly gold number! The matching limited edition Christmas Wish Reed Diffuser is fabulous too, with a limited edition gold cap.
We try to make our distinctly Christmassy scent different though – I think this smells of Christmas cakes baking… and to achieve that with just 100% essential oils is really something we are proud of, plus £1 from all the Christmas Wish Candles & Reed Diffusers goes to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. They will be launching on neomorganics.com in the next week or so, even though I’m now focusing on summer 2012...(!)

If you have any questions as to how we make the products or you have any ideas or suggestions, feel free to email me at development@neomorganics.com. I can’t wait to see what products become your favourites! Much festive love, Vicky Bellerby, Product Development Manager.

Wow did you see the amazing picture of Princess Charlene of Monaco receiving her NEOM goody bag at the Variety Club Golden Jubilee ball at Harewood House?

It was an amazing night raising over £200k for under privileged children…and NEOM was invited!

Princess Charlene looked beautiful in her gold dress and was very relaxed even taking part in bids during the auction (auction lots included celebrity chef Rosemary Schrager whipping up dinner at your home or three nights in the Capri Palace Hotel…how fabulous). It was HRH's first official event since her wedding and she looked stunning.

All the ladies at the event were gifted one of our Inspiration candles with Violet, Chamomile and Cedarwood and the Princess was very excited when we gave her hers.     We popped some specially chosen bits in there for her including Complete Bliss Body Lotion, Real Luxury body oil and an Inspiration Home candle which she adored.

I started cycling at a very early age but my first cycling memories are of riding on the back of a tandem bicycle with my dad as a six year old. I needed wooden blocks attached to the pedals so that I could reach them, it felt very adventurous and grown up. I used to go cycling with my dad a lot and he would talk about the wildlife, naming birds, trees and flowers, at the time I wouldn't have thought I would remember any of it but I still do I have always been interested in nature and natural history, which not many people know about me!

When NEOM asked me to write about what makes me feel amazing every day, I would say cycling through the countryside (which is almost every day) is amazing. I love being outdoors, it’s what I grew up on and fortunately it’s part of my job! Don't get me wrong though, it is much more pleasant in the summer months! I prefer the more remote country lanes so you can cycle undisturbed, if the surroundings are nice it makes the fact that my legs are aching from training easier to manage. I am lucky where I live as there are so many country lanes and villages to choose from which keeps training varied as I train 6 days a week I also have three physiotherapy appointments, my schedule is crazy, which leaves my body pretty tired out.

When I have the chance, I love a long soak in the tub with some NEOM bath oil, it is absolutely gorgeous. Jumping in and out the shower after training sessions tends to leave my skin a bit dry and dull, so a bath oil feels so nourishing and leaves my skin luminous and revitalised.

I have the NEOM Tranquility candle in my bedroom too, I was given one as a gift a while ago, which is how I learned of NEOM Organics. I was reluctant to burn it at first as it is literally the most divine scent ever! I am a smell-aholic. I am really attracted to essential oils and perfumes, I have a scented rose in the garden as well as Lavender, Honeysuckle, Rosemary, Thyme, Mint and Basil.

My fiancé Scott thinks my sense of smell is hypersensitive and can't understand my excitement of a wonderful smelling product, which I instinctively and immediately shove into his face, as to share it with him (Sorry Scott, I can't help it). I would like to add he did mention totally unprompted that the candle in our room smells nice.

I am looking forward to the London Olympics as it is the biggest event I will have ever been part of, I feel there are high expectations of the cycling team after the success is Beijing, we only have ourselves to blame! Which can only be helped by one thing...... more relaxing baths?

by Jac Kneebone, Spa Manger at the Agua Spa, Sanderson Hotel, London

I was 21 and in the middle of a degree in Landscape Architecture, when I abandoned my original plan, to study Aesthetics and Complementary therapies instead. Aromatherapy was the first modality of massage that fascinated me and the passion grew from there.

Massage continuously demonstrates to me the basic human need to give and receive. I always see very positive physical results after I've given a great massage, and occasionally experience clients that cry. This is generally associated with aromatherapy and energy work and although people might find this alarming, therapists really encourage it, as it can be a very strong release of emotional toxicity created by a build up of everyday stress or trauma.

There is a misconception though that massage is only good for the receiver, I learned the benefits as a therapist, which is why I very quickly changed paths in life. Massage is the medium in which we can communicate all the positive emotion and care that we are all too often unable to articulate to others. Circulation is life and this is the fundamental goal of massage, along with countless benefits from increasing joint flexibility, reducing mental and physical fatigue and stress to improved posture. By providing these life enhancing benefits to your loved ones or unknown guests, the rewards and emotional satisfaction is priceless.

Massage is also a much more sustainable way of keeping healthy rather than having to resort to medication and surgery in the future. I was always very impressed by the fact that Traditional Chinese Doctors are paid when their clients are healthy and not when they are ill.

After training for 3 years working as a therapist for various spas and progressing to management, I finally got a fantastic call in 2010 asking me to become Director of Spa and Retail at Sanderson in London. Working for them has been one of the biggest privileges of my life. The basic concept of their hotels is to create an engaging but dynamic guest experience. As part of our green initiative, every brand we source has to have a green action plan and commitment to sustainability. Ingredients such as parabens and synthetic fragrances are no longer acceptable.

It means NEOM is a perfect partner. The brand was introduced in 2008 – I was very impressed with their organic consistency and they are very much an extension of the Agua concept – Classic, Pure, Elegant and Goal Orientated. The sounds guests make when they smell the NEOM products is the best, I often hear, – ‘aaahhh – I have to have that’.

We are constantly being bombarded with chemicals in every shape and form so adding more to the mix really contradicts with good health principles. People are striving to simplify their lives. We absolutely live far too stressed out lives these days - and this is only going to get worse. This is why education on stress relieving therapies and a more balanced lifestyle and diet are essential to coping with this. I must say, Bikram yoga helps me, but if I’m honest, I am too lazy to do this too often, so a long bath with essential oils is the next best thing, Bergamot is my personal favourite.

Al, Buyer at Planet Organic tells us about his favourite organic recipes & how he loves to cook.

"I have been making bread for a couple of years, and now find that I have become a complete bread bore. If you were to sit next to me at a dinner party it would not be long before I was trying to explain the deep sense of joy and satisfaction at a well risen loaf, and encouraging you to roll your sleeves up and get your fingers in some wet dough. If you were unlucky enough to still be next to me for dessert, I would by then be waxing lyrical about the notion of craft, and what it means to the soul to hand make something in this digital, disposable culture of ours. So imagine my delight when NEOM offered me their blog as my very own soapbox. "What would I want to talk about" they asked. Well, I said, I am sure I can think of something...

As a child I used to help my Mum make cakes, which meant I would get in the way, make a mess, wait impatiently to see the miraculously risen cake emerge from the oven, and be first in line for a slice. Making bread involves reliving all of these childhood memories, from the soft flour between my fingers and working at the sticky dough to the sense of wonder when the dough has risen. There is then the feeling of satisfaction when contemplating a beautifully baked loaf fresh from the oven. The feeling that I made something. For some reason this is different to any other cooking. I might cook a great chilli, or bake a lovely looking apple crumble, but bread is different. It feels like a craft, like throwing a pot or knitting a sweater. Neither of which I can do.

I am lucky enough to have a job I enjoy, in an industry that I believe in. But I don't make things. Not many of us do any more. We build spreadsheets, or write reports, or sell things, or whatever it is that we do, but we don't make anything. And making something beautiful, or even something a little lopsided and funny looking, is a deeply, deeply satisfying experience, and fundamental to our nature. And you can have it for the price of a bag of flour, and half an hour's work.

Making bread is not difficult. It takes about five hours from start to finish, but only half an hour of that is actual work. The rest is reading the paper on a Sunday morning, or taking the dog for a walk. The last five minutes is enjoying a crust of fresh bread, simply spread with butter, and thinking about how clever you are.

If you are inspired top give it a go, I cannot recommend highly enough a book in the River Cottage Handbook series by Daniel Stevens simply called "Bread", which after several false starts was the book that finally got me baking. Go on. Roll your sleeves up, throw some flour around and make something for a change."

Planet Organic is the UK's leading organic supermarket, and they stock everything for the home-baker including 30 different types of flour, from stone-ground bread flour to a huge range of gluten free flours with everything from chestnut flour to coconut flour to quinoa flour.

www.planetorganic.com

Beauty Director of Psychologies Magazine Emine Ali Rushdon tells us what gives her that daily Feel Good Factor: The power of the ritual with a long soak in the bath...

It’s the simplest things in life we so often take for granted. Waking up in a comfortable bed. Washing our faces with warm water. Curling up with a cup of tea and sinking into a good book. These are the things that balance us, that allow us to reflect, that soften the blows of our busy lives and without sometimes knowing it, make us feel our best every day.

Since having my little girl, 8 months ago now, my home rituals have taken on a sacred importance they never possessed before. My daughter likes order – if dinner is late or bath time is missed, she gets a strange, withdrawn look in her eye – she’s off-centre – and then, of course, the wailing begins.

It’s taken us a long time to realise, but with a day that runs in an ordered, but easy-feeling, unrushed, way, everything becomes more pleasurable.

From waking up, the 3 of us, all in one bed – my little one slapping our faces until we’re fully conscious, then giving us a big gummy smile as we turn our attention to her – to preparing some semblance of a family breakfast, which, of course, isn’t the lashings of tea and fresh bread and piles of eggs and sweetest jam it used to be... But is still a breakfast, around a table, feeding the little one, fielding her needs, tickling jammy hands and enjoying – despite the ungodly hour – the morning, another morning, all together.

The day takes various forms, but some things remain the same. A lunchtime nap (which can top the two hour mark if we’re lucky) allows the rest of the family to settle down with the paper, brew a pot of tea, enjoy a good lunch, and occasionally grab some extra winks on the sun-flooded sofa.

Bath time, however, is when the smile really spreads... With a generous glug of NEOM Complete Bliss Bath Oil – which soothes her, and me – and I step into the water, babe-in-arms, and let her splash her cares away with her toys, while I lean back and take her, and everything else, in.

Once she’s deeply asleep, a sip of wine, a home-cooked meal, a lit candle to help me feel relaxed (I rotate NEOM Relax and Tranquillity), and a couple of hours watching favourite DVDs (anything by Aaron Sorkin; any good period drama, anything set in Paris) sets the evening’s mood.... And a couple of hours later, off to bed, another early night, in preparation for another, very early, start.

Ever since Zoe our sales coordinator recently got engaged, team NEOM have been in wedding fever.

You’re the bride to be. You have your dress and secured the venue of your dreams. Your honeymoon’s booked, the cake is on order and the flowers are set to be utterly spectacular, but have you considered the first impression that’ll stay with you and your guests forever?

The scent of your venue...

We offer a bespoke organic scenting service to give your special day the ultimate atmospheric touch. Surround your church or venue with an organic scent to subconsciously relax both yourself and your guests, whilst providing an individual and memorable backdrop to your big day.

We’d love to share with you some fabulous feedback from customers, friends and some of the NEOM team on their NEOM wedding scenting experience...

“I decided to gift a Refresh (Sicilian Lemon & Fresh Basil) travel candle to every female guest as a gorgeous favour at my wedding. Everyone thought it was a lovely surprise”

Vicky married in Harrogate, 2009

“I loved the fact that this beautiful scent created a most memorable backdrop for my big day. Everyone commented...it was the ultimate atmospheric touch”

Cecily married at Claridge’s, London, September 2010

“The minute I walked into the venue, I was overwhelmed by the most beautiful scent. Later, we all received a Travel Candle of ‘their scent’, how perfect! Forever when I smell that scent I’m reminded of their big day.”

Jane, wedding guest at Yvonne’s wedding, Marquee in Somerset, June 2010

“I wanted to create a relaxing atmosphere at my wedding to make everyone feel at ease. I used the real luxury scent with candles dotted about the marquee. The Lavender, Jasmine and Brazilian Rosewood combination really off-set the roses which were my choice of flower during my big day”

Yvonne on her choice of scent at her wedding, June 2010

“My wedding was in the spring so we wanted a really fresh scent which was zingy and zesty. I chose invigorate. The fabulous grapefruit was so punchy everyone commented on the light, clean fragrance. Now my spring isn’t the same without a touch of grapefruit in the house.”

Collette, married in the North West, 2008

“I got married in a marquee in my parent’s garden. It was a pretty hectic affair so I thought it would be nice to create a little chill-out zone in secluded corner. We scattered cushions and lit tranquillity (English Lavender, Sweet Basil & Jasmine) not too woody that it would send them to sleep, but just enough strength for that half hour respite away from the champagne and dancing!”

Nicola, married in Yorkshire, 2006

Get in touch with us at weddings@neomorganics.com if you’d like help deciding which candles or scent would suit your wedding style or venue.

If you’ve desired a good night’s sleep for a long time (whether you have an early morning start for that board meeting or are awaken by the little one at 5am) you’re probably wishing you had a magic potion to get you to sleep!

Well, we’re going to let you in on a little secret. NEOM Tranquillity Bath Oil (which won BEST BATH OIL in the 2010 Essentials Magazine Beauty Awards) uses the highest legal amount of essential oils (Lavender, Jasmine & Sweet Basil) within a fabulously indulgent organic base so it not only smells divine but it’s so potent that it REALLY works to deeply relax your mind & body, after just ten minutes of soaking in one to two capfuls.

Jemma Kidd, mother of little twins and make-up artist to the stars who uses NEOM’s Bath Oil says "I adore NEOM; such wonderful products. My new favourite is this bath oil, so relaxing it’s perfect to use just before bed for a great night’s sleep"

Sarah Beeney, businesswoman, presenter and mother of four has the NEOM bath oil on her bathroom shelf and says "I am a huge fan of baths and this NEOM Bath Oil is perfect for relieving my tired muscles at the end of a busy day".

Claudia Schiffer, super model and mum of three says "I’ve really enjoyed using the NEOM Bath Oil", Emma Crosby evening news presenter who works late into the night says "this NEOM Bath Oil takes pride of place around my bath. I don't think I ever smelt a bath product quite so beautiful before!" and model Olivia Inge says "I can’t live without the NEOM bath oils", whilst Victoria Pendleton world champion cyclist uses it in the lead up to the Olympics to soothe those muscles.

So, as Glamour Magazine says “turn your bathroom into a warming wonderland” by adding a drop or two into your bath this evening and get ready to have the best night’s sleep you’ll ever have!

As a little treat, NEOM thought we would spread a little NEOM ‘Feel-Good’ love to all the front-row-at-the-show guests with our fabulous Handbag Essential kits (brilliant hand lotion & our cult multi-balm) – perfect to keep in your bag whilst on-the-go and all you need to keep hydrated whilst going from show-to-show!

See our pics below. Click to see our album on Facebook.

We are so excited to launch our beautiful Inspiration candle this month. Working with violet (I just named my new baby girl after this scent) has always been a dream of mine – the oil is so rare and precious but it really is a beautifully inspiring and uplifting scent, perfect for spring and all the new possibilities that come with that sunnier state of mind.

As you know, we’re mad about our feel good ditties at NEOM, and since the brand was born we’ve always sent little feel good cards out with the candles – the one that really seems to fit with this scent is:

"Life is always about choices, even when it doesn’t feel that way. Attitude is a choice."

For every order this spring you’ll receive a complimentary fridge magnet with this ditty – to keep you feeling chirpy from the minute you wake up!

Love Nicola xxx

We love Red Magazine here at NEOM so we're particularly pleased that in December they decided to launch Redonline.co.uk – a beautifully designed and functioning hub where we can now get a daily dose of all things chic.

To celebrate with Red, NEOM decided to offer one of their lucky readers the chance to win a NEOM pamper pack worth over £300. So, why not sign up too and enter to be in with a chance to win!

http://www.redonline.co.uk/comps/neom

We have also won 'Best Organic Body Skincare' for our Body Lotion in Bazaar Beauty Hot 100, ‘Best Bath Oil’ in the Essentials beauty awards and have been commended for ‘Best for Candles Online’ in the Sheerluxe.com Online Shopping Awards.

We’ve bumped into the likes of Louise Redknapp, James Corden, Dizzee Rascal and mingled with fashion world with the girls from Alexander McQueen, NET-A-PORTER, Matches, Julien Macdonald, Irwin & Jordan and Joseph.

Make up artist Jemma Kidd, model Poppy Delevinge, Sarah Harding & Nicola Roberts from Girls Aloud alongside Sienna Miller & Lisa Snowdon have also been loving a bit of NEOM this year (Sienna recently has been burning Complete Bliss and Nicola Roberts chose Tranquillity to use during her busy schedule at London Fashion Week)... phew.

In a bid to take a well-earned break & get festive in the last few days of the year, team NEOM have been dressing their trees, making their homes festive and taking some time to east delicious food and drink a couple of cocktails. See our tree pics.

	"I'm rather minimalistic and like to reuse bits and bobs from my craft cupboard (aka left over's from studying fashion at uni) so decided to use some beautiful 100% natural Peruvian wool and create a pom pom tree! This Christmas I'm wishing for a gorgeous gold feather ring from designer Daisy Knights." Lucy (PR Manager)
	"I invest in one special Christmas decoration every year so our tree is a mix of lots of odd little pieces – an amazing wooden soldier (with only one leg these days) a beautiful glass bauble from Liberty, some uber sparkly fairies... the list goes on! This is the first year my little boy is really aware of what's going on so we're all very excited (and praying Santa brings a big Buzz Lightyear!)" Nicola (Founder & Director)
	"My 11 year old daughter loves Tinkerbelle, so my tree is covered with Tinkerbelle and Disney baubles. Not my personal choice however it’s very colourful!" Elaine (National Account Manager)
	"White and Silver is my theme this year. I love adding bows to my tree which I spent my Sunday night creating by the fire!" Vicky (Sales & Marketing Director)
	"I love sparkle. So my tree incorporates lots of glimmer globes. They look really great when on a night when the fairy lights shine of them." Collette (Northern Account Manager)

Lucy recently went to Dublin for a whistle stop tour! Lucy looks after the PR and promotion side of the business – from working with fabulous magazines to visiting journalists to making sure everyone is in the know about what NEOM are up to!

Catching the flight at 6.30am I was in town by 8.30am ready for the day. I got a chance to meet some lovely Dubliners including Kirstie from Beaut.ie who has a brilliant beauty blog and Niamh from the Mail on Sunday who I got to chat to about the new & exciting NEOM products like our Christmas Wish & the Ultimate Candle. I then got a spare hour to check out the city. The café opposite my hotel on Fleet Street proved a great place to chill out and Butlers Chocolate Caf&aeacute; is an absolute must - they offer the best chocolate croissants I have ever tasted.

Around 7pm I wander down Grafton Street and headed to Brown Thomas to attend the celebratory event for the second edition of Brown Thomas Living Magazine. I met the buying team and saw their fab Christmas display before sampling the gorgeous champagne and heading back to my hotel to sleep before my 5am pick up to catch the plane back to the office!

Check out the pics here and look out for the rest of the updates from team NEOM in the coming months...

To mark its launch, Tatler threw a glittering cocktail party at the elegant Dorchester Hotel on Park Lane to award their top 5 five spas from around the world, and NEOM went along. Entering the Crystal Suite (after passing by many afternoon-tea diners) one was struck by the reason it’s called the Crystal Suite. A mirrored piano and gigantic crystal chandelier were certainly a statement. Guests, insiders and old friends mingled around the small stage and beneath the crystal ceiling, taking sips of champagne or delicious lemonade before Daisy Finer (the Guide’s Editor) took the stage to announce their winners.

We all crave that time away, so why not get in touch to find out where you can get yourself a NEOM organic top-to-toe spa treatment? info@neomorganics.com

VIP customers and press gathered at the Grafton Street store in Dublin on the beautiful home-ware floor full of the most beautiful products. NEOM candles were burning, subtly scenting the floor whilst guest mingled taking advantage of the chilled champagne and delicious canapés.

We were very impressed by the amount of Christmas trimmings on offer and were particularly a taken with the over-the-top Christmas tree filled with baubles, corsages, reindeers, beads and more! Customers picked up some decorations along, sipped champagne and enjoyed listening to the string quartet. We had a chance to catch up with all the employees who were thrilled by the success of the evening as well as letting us know that the NEOM Serenity Candle was the scent of choice on the evening.

See the pics here and stay tuned for more of team NEOM’s ‘out-and-about’ updates.

A-list actors, pop icons, business, fashion & sport figures such as Giorgio Armani, Ed Sedgwick, Louise Redknapp, Hayley Atwell, Mark Ronson, Saffron Aldridge, Lily Allen, Gemma Arterton, Alexa Chung, Daisy Lowe & Jon Hamm gathered at the beautiful Royal Opera House in London for the Awards & a tipple champagne before they all were whisked home with a zesty Invigorate (Grapefruit & Bergamot) NEOM candle – the ultimate uplifting scent. Check out our behind-the-scenes pics and watch this space for more fabulous events. If you’ve got a party on the cards let us know if you need help choosing the right scent for you...

Beauty Editors & members of the fragrance industry gathered at the prestigious Claridge's Hotel to claim their awards. It made perfect sense that NEOM was the interiors scent of choice. Check out Sumptuous in action.

Click on the photos below to see our Facebook gallery.

Check out our photos on Facebook by clicking the images below!

We’re super excited today at NEOM HQ about the start of the 40th anniversary of Glastonbury Festival. NEOM are scenting the elite Camp Kerala at Glastonbury - hailed by British Vogue as “Unquestionably one of the most glamourous places to be in the UK”. Camp Kerala guests will be about to enjoy the most incredibly powerful NEOM scents of the award-winning candles and room mists around camp as well as try out our organic massage treatments in the Camp Kerala Pamper Rooms – Bliss! Watch this space for pics!

For more information on Camp Kerala, please visit campkerala.com.

With the likes of Cheryl Cole, who won Woman of the Year, Nicole Richie, Dannii Minogue and Zoë Saldana dining around the glow of NEOM’s Home Candles, the luxurious scent of Real Luxury filled the whole marquee with the fabulous aroma of Lavender, Jasmine & Brazilian Rosewood. At the end of the evening, the celebrities got to continue their NEOM experience at home by taking away their very own NEOM Luxury Organic Candle in their goodie bag.

Lucy, NEOM’s PR Manager and social butterfly, went along to mingle with the stars and chat all things NEOM with the people from NET-A-PORTER.COM and Alexander McQueen. She also managed to bump into Dizzee Rascal (who has just released a new single for the World Cup) and the lovely Dolce and Gabbana model, David Gandy, making the Cinderella girls at NEOM HQ very envious!!

Click here to see NEOM at the Glamour Woman of the Year Awards 2010.

NEOM scenting is a celebrity party must-do. Why not add a touch of sophistication to your own party, wedding or event with a NEOM scent. Email us as at info@neomorganics.com, and we’ll help recommend the perfect scent for your event.

Claire writes "Apart from Neom's lovely candles and bath oils, my other little indulgence is the odd bottle of champagne (!). In fact, a lit Neom, a bottle of champers and Russell Crowe would be pretty much my idea of heaven on earth. Anyway, I save my champagne corks, and write on them the date on which they were popped, or the occasion, if relevant. I then stash them in Neom jars, sprinkle of few drops of lavender oil on them and put them in the bathroom or other rooms as air fresheners. As well as being a lovely reminder of all the parties and special occasions, it wafts a lovely smell all around the house."

Below are the rest of our staff ideas.

Yvonne, National Accounts Sales Manager at NEOM is getting married this summer so has been obsessing over the most beautiful flowers. The conclusion – it’s got to be the rose. The prettiest way to use your Home Candle container is to add in delicate short stemmed roses.

Lucy looks after NEOM's PR. After studying Fashion & Marketing at University, you will often see Lucy wrapped in a home knitted snood (in winter) or making cushion covers over the weekend. It really wasn’t hard to see what Lucy uses her containers for – ribbon & thread.

Another yet simple idea from Gemma, Sales Account Manager at NEOM, our resident beauty therapist and lady from the South is to re use her Home Candle container in the bathroom. Try out using for cotton wool like Gemma or for any beauty bits & bobs you have lying around your bathroom.

If you want to share your use of used NEOM containers & packaging, why not send us a photo or simply email us details of your ideas? The best of them may be featured on our blog.

Email: info@neomorganics.com

See how resourceful some of the ever growing NEOM team have been with their fun & fabulous ideas and tips which not only save you that trip to the bottle bank, they’ll make your home unique!

NEOM’s Founder & Director, Nicola (former journalist & qualified aromatherapist) who you’ll know well, is renowned for loving a hot bath at the end of the day, even in the midst of summer! Nicola could never bear to get rid of our precious Bath Oil bottles so decided to keep it simple by adding a single rose to brighten up her bookcase.

Beth, NEOM’s Sales Coordinator, is a healthy green eater & our travelling guru most recently returning from Malaysia. Beth decided on a sunny evening that the Body Oils would make great home made salad dressing holders – brilliant!

Next is Adam who looks after the fabulous website, – the techy side of the business. The NEOM girls like to ask him A LOT of questions about their computers, mobile phones, iPods, etc!   Adam loves the outdoors and you’ll find him on a road trip most weekends. Check out his latest idea of growing cress – easy but effective.

Angie, Finance & Operations Manager, is our resident girl from the North West who loves her numbers & is our social butterfly. Always determined to travel light, Angie’s ingenious idea of filling our mini Bath Oil bottles with her most favourite perfume to throw into her clutch bag got the girls in the office wishing they had thought of this sooner.

Last but not least, Oli, the other half behind the brainchild that is NEOM. Oli heads up Product Development & Operations and thought up an amazing use for our 1 Wick Candle holders – salt and pepper holders – a brilliant addition to any dining table.

Watch this space for more ingenious ideas from the rest of the team…

	Serenity: Home Candle		Sumptuous: Home Candle
	Serenity (Vanilla Sandalwood) is our first attempt at Vanilla… pairing it with a deeper Sandalwood note makes the fragrance smoky, a little woody and sexy and perfect for men and women alike – it’s certainly not too sweet, and perfect for peaceful nights in we think - and it comes in a limited edition black box which is super sleek.		Sumptuous (Rose Neroli) is the most indulgent, luxurious scent we have enveloped ourselves in for a very long time….my own current favourite, this really is a beautifully indulgent rose. As the world starts to become a little cheerier place (well the ‘R’ word doesn’t seem to be being mentioned quote as much right now does it? Plus the sun is definitely shining so much more!)

We at NEOM wanted to start celebrating feeling good again, luxurious treats and all things pampering, so if you agree have a think about which scent would indulge you most… I’d love to hear your thoughts on our Facebook page to tell me which you like!

Much love,

Nicola x