notablySmitten

candles,environmentally caring

a magic eraser - Farmacy

beauty, conscious, conservation, environmentally caring, environmentally conscious, environmentally responsib, ethical, fair trade, Night Serum, Recycled, social sustainability, sustainable, sustainable farmingeden tirlComment
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Melt away all of your makeup at the end of a long day. Thanks to Farmacy Beauty, their Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm gets rid of every single drop of makeup. It’s a hundred times more gentle on your skin than makeup remover wipes and it contains sunflower and ginger root oil, moringa tree extract, papaya extract, and echinacea greenenvy. It’s 100% clean as it is only made with simple, pure ingredients.

Farmacy Beauty was founded by Mark Veeder. The sustainable company prides themselves in their farm – to – face skincare line featuring a unique Echinacea GreenEnvy, a plant containing more than 300% natural antioxidants. Their ingredients are both locally sourced and produced, making sure the company does its part in being environmentally responsible. Their packaging is made from FSC Certified Paper and their jars are 100% recyclable.

How Smitten!!!

ocean plastic - Adidas

community, conscious, environmentally caring, environmentally conscious, environmentally responsib, Oceans, Recycled, repurposed, shoes, Earth Dayeden tirlComment
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Winter is finally over! Which means we can stay out longer and enjoy warmer weather. That also means you no longer have an excuse to skip that running session. But fret not, Adidas brings you their Ultraboost Parley Shoes. The shoes were made for long distance running, featuring extra cushioning and reliable traction. When it comes to running, it’s ALL in the shoes.

Adidas was founded in Germany and since then, they have been committed to change peoples’ lives through exercise. Their mission is to be a sustainable company, which is why they created their Parley shoes that are made out of recycled ocean plastic. They use Parley Ocean Plastic in order to prevent plastic waste from reaching the ocean. A perfect way to celebrate Earth Day!

We are so Smitten!

planting hope - Sprout World

cause conscious, community, conscious, environmentally caring, environmentally conscious, environmentally responsib, green, kindness, sustainableeden tirlComment
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Pencils just got a whole lot sustainable. Imagine how easy it would be if you plant your pencils instead of throwing them in the trash? Sprout World’s Graphite Pencils allow you to do just that. Once you’re done with your pencil, plant it in an empty pot with the seed capsule facing down. Once they germinate, they’ll turn into either flowers, herbs, or even vegetables!

Sprout World was founded with the purpose of encouraging everyone to be more sustainable. They’ve certainly made it easy for everyone to care about the environment. Once the seeds have sprouted, the stub will decompose as it is 100% biodegradable. Saving the world, one pencil at a time.

elephant love - Ivory Ella

conscious, conservation, ethical, elephants, environmentally caring, globaleden tirlComment
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As temperatures drop, Ivory Ella brings us these Tie Dye Joggers—and are a must! They’ll look fly and keep you warmer than your hot chocolate will! Available in multiple colors, these athletic musts are made in the U.S. and dyed by hand.

Ivory Ella was founded in 2015 by a group of friends who learned about the impact of the ivory trade in Africa, and its effect on the elephant communities. They sought to educate the public about the crucial roles these magnificent creatures play in our ecosystem—and the vital importance of protecting them. Ivory Ella donates 10% of their net profits to Save The Elephants.

We’re smitten indeed!

a candle to light the way - OneGrid

100% natural, candles, cause conscious, global, sustainableeden tirlComment
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Nothing makes a home more inviting than a singular, noteworthy candle. OneGrid candles compliment one’s space—while giving back too. All candles are hand poured, made in the U.S., and available in six different scents.

In rural parts of the world, many communities have no access to electricity and are kerosene dependent. Kerosene is toxic and harmful. One Grid has partnered with nonprofit charity SolarAid, a nonprofit charity that helps provide solar lamps to those in need of a safe source of light.

Made with 100% Soy and Coconut Wax, 100% natural cotton wick, and hand poured.

Comes in 10oz black glass with a 60 hour burn time.

Clean and eco-friendly with a plethora of delicious essential oil fragrances to choose from!

Smitten we are!

Tote Project

artisans, bags, cause conscious, community, environmentally caring, environmentally responsib, fair tradeeden tirlComment
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Plastic is earth’s true enemy. Tote Project’s Free to Soar tote is perfect answer to reducing our plastic use- especially when grocery shopping. Made in India, the company offers a variety of designs and it’s made with fair trade cotton. Their artwork is printed with water-based inks so they’re made to last.

Tote Project was founded by two friends, Faye Grant and Michelle Chavez. Together, they work to help and empower victims of modern-day slavery. 10% of their profits is donated to Two Wings, an organization that helps sex trafficking victims pursue their dreams through mentorships and career training workshops.

love potion #9 - Brooklyn Candle Studio

100% vegan, artisanal, candles, cause conscious, charity, fragrance, organiceden tirlComment
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Brooklyn Candle Studio’s candles are the closest thing to perfect that we’re willing to set on fire. Their design is gorgeous and minimalist, their scents are rich with memory, and their ingredients are American-grown and eco-friendly.  Each 100% vegan candle is made from American-grown soybeans, led free cotton wicks, and a blend of essential oils and phthalate-free perfume oils. They each hold 60 hours of burn life, which translates into some major relaxation time.

After the horrible events led by hate groups in Charlottesville in August 2017, founder and designer Tamara Mayne decided to donate 10% of every Love Potion #9 candle to the ACLU in an effort to support the legal fight for equality.  She notes she was called to share profits with the ACLU “as a woman, a mother, an Asian-American, as an employer of women and minorities, and, frankly, as a human being”.  We must have fallen under the Love Potion spell, because we love these candles as much as we love this cause.

sweet chic sandals - Nisolo

conscious, environmentally caring, ethical, fashion, handmade, sandals, wedgeseden tirlComment
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Nisolo’s wooden wedge sandal is a perfect balance between style and sustainability - made from solid wood and hand-cut leather, they are a long-lasting addition to any closet and have an equally long lasting impact on the artisans who created them. Founded in 2011 by Patrick Woodyard after seeing the immense talent for shoemaking in Peru and wanting to be a problem solver in the global market, Nisolo is now based in both Peru and Tennessee, and employs over 50 people.

Nisolo is a leader in ethical fashion production, providing workers with wages 27% higher than fair trade wages, consistent work with yearly salaries, and “holistic learning” that includes trade skills as well as healthcare, english classes, and childcare.  The word Nisolo means “not alone”, and the most visible effect that credo has on the local community is the next generation - 100% of employee’s children are enrolled in school full time, with six on track to be the first in their families to graduate college.

light the way - Aveda

candles, cause conscious, clean water, environmentally caring, global, watereden tirlComment
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Aveda has been a trusted source of environmentally and socially conscious beauty products for many years. Founded in 1978 with the mission to create holistic beauty through wellness, men and women have grown to trust and appreciate the Aveda brand when seeking quality products for daily use.

Aveda takes their holistic mission to a whole new level with their annual, limited-edition Light The Way Candle!  Since 2007, they’ve been donating 100% of their Light The Way Candle’s purchase price towards the mission of clean water.  This year’s partnership is with Global Greengrants Fund, as clean water is an ongoing daily struggle for much of our global population.  Although their clean-water efforts are a year round endeavour, these beautiful candles are released each April in support of Earth Day.  

Holistically Smitten!

gifting with delightfully decadent soy candles - Ames and Oates

100% vegan, candles, cause conscious, gifts, pencilseden tirlComment
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Ames and Oates has an excellent way of collecting all the most beautiful, eco-conscious and thoughtful gift items under one storefront.  We love the Premium Lark Copper Soy Candle from Mine Design Co. because it embodies so much of the Ames and Oates mission - elegant, eco-friendly, vegetable based, and hand-poured.


We love that Ames and Oates is founded by two women who share the belief that life should be celebrated with beautiful things.  Every item from Ames and Oates comes gift-ready and with a handwritten note - how amazing is that detail?!  Their mission of celebration goes beyond material, as the “Gift Good | Do Good” model donates 10% of each purchase to Pencils of Promise.  With support from partnerships and donors like Ames and Oates, Pencils of Promise has built 322 schools in Guatemala, Laos and Ghana since 2009.

Smitten of course!

exquisite lighting - Prosperity Candles

candles, cause conscious, ethical, giftseden tirlComment
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What an exquisite, perfect way to add light and texture to a space, party, table...these are beautiful. Unique, mysterious, impressive gifts...perfect for the holidays! These gems come from the markets or souks in Morocco. Souk Brass Box Candles, each a little different in size, color and design.

Prosperity Candles are created by women who have recently resettled from refugee camps and are working to make a living wage and create healthy, happy lives for themselves and their families here in the United States.

Limited quantities available for Fall 2015, all candles are made to order...and made with essential oils.

No two are exactly alike and come in 3 sizes:

Small - 4 oz. burns 15-20 hours

Medium - 5 oz. burns 20-25 hours

Large - 6 oz. burns 25-30 hours

Each comes gift boxed, including a portrait, the signature and story of the woman who made your candle.

Continue to love this company...Smitten.

campfires, candles and clean water - Obakki

candles, cause conscious, charityeden tirlComment
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I'm from Minnesota, where there is nothing more reminiscent of home, or comforting to my senses, as the scent of a smoldering campfire.

Creating that scent in Southern California, without a fireplace, is virtually impossible. But Treana Peake has created a candle that if I close my eyes, takes me right back to Kabekona Lake in July.

The Obakki Cinder Candle smells of roasted coals, river stones and dry wood...and when purchased, helps provide clean water in other parts of the world.

100% of all candle proceeds go toward Obakki projects.

Treana Peake is an avid traveler and leading humanitarian, and founded Obakki in 2005. Based in Vancouver, the luxury label is an extension of Peake. The Obakki Foundation is Obakki's philanthropic counterpart, a registered charity that focuses on providing clean water and education in Africa.

Obakki absorbs all the administrative fees of the charity, allowing 100% of the foundation's donations to go directly to its charitable initiatives.

So Smitten!

give and love - Coco Shine Prosperity Candle

candles, cause conscious, ethical, fragrance, upcyclededen tirlComment
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I'm truly not one to make any sort of deal out of Valentine's Day...I've always thought it a wee silly. But if you're going to participate, and purchase anything for anyone this season, why not this exquisite candle?

The gorgeous Coco Shine collection comes in five luxurious scents, as well as non-scented. Created by Prosperity Candles, they smell divine and are poured into recyclable, real coconut shells (5 - 6 inches in diameter!) Made by women artisans from Vietnam, once refugees, now working to build beautiful brighter futures for themselves in western Massachusetts.

Each candle comes gift boxed and wrapped, including a portrait, the signature and story of the woman who made it.

A sense of purpose...

I love this company...Smitten.

elegant, ethical - Raven + Lily Silver Lake Candle

cause conscious, christmas, gifts, candles, ethicaleden tirlComment
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My shopping list always seem to include: that perfectly well worn pair of jeans…and a terrific smelling candle. Well, leave it to Raven + Lily to help me with the latter. Their Sliver Lake Candle is freshly scented, elegant...and ethical.

[The brilliant company Raven and Lily, was conceived by close friends Kirsten Dickerson and Sophia Lin who both share a love of fashion and ethical design. The socially conscious organization was created as a platform to help alleviate poverty among women and is committed to offering products that are made by hand and follow fair trade standards.]

Stunningly designed, the Silver Lake Candle is a hand-poured, soy wax candle, infused with the lush scents of mango and grapefruit, and beautifully encased in glass with a gold leaf foil bottom.

Created in Los Angeles, California by women who are transitioning out of homelessness. This employment opportunity allows for these talented, dedicated women to continue on their paths to autonomy.

Currently Raven and Lily helps to employ marginalized women in India, Ethiopia, Kenya, Cambodia, Pakistan, and the USA at fair trade wages, thus giving them access to safe jobs, sustainable incomes, health care, education…a chance to break the cycle of poverty for themselves and their families.

8 oz. candle stands 3” in diameter and 3.5” high

Totally Smitten.

beautiful black birds - The Bird Project

conscious, conservation, environmentally caring, global, soapeden tirl1 Comment
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The (exquisite) Bird Project soap was born in 2010, after the extraordinarily tragic BP spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. Tippy Tippens, a design expert and social entrepreneur, was living in New York at the time of the catastrophe and felt the desire to help. After many visits, she decided to relocate to New Orleans and start her (very cool) business, Matter Inc.

Matter Inc. is devoted to “making the world a better place by making meaningful products that matter.”

These delicate, black, bird-shaped soaps are made with natural, locally sourced ingredients: biodiesel glycerin, fair trade olive oil, aloe, activated black charcoal, and exude a light cypress scent…evocative of the bayous of Louisiana.

Soon, wash after wash, the black bird melts away to reveal a white, ceramic memento, handmade by Louisiana Clay.  A marvelous symbol of the creatures affected…a lasting token of life, restoration and hope.

The best part is that 50% of the profits go towards the Gulf Restoration Network and International Bird Rescue.

The artistry of the bird…to be cradled in the hand, caressed and cleansed is just brilliant symbolism and an extraordinary literal expression.

I am Smitten with these sumptuous soaps.

kick a** socks - Conscious Step

cause conscious, clean water, conservation, environmentally caring, fair trade, global, hunger, social sustainability, sockseden tirlComment
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These socks walk the walk they talk! Conscious Step helps “give an ordinary purchase an extraordinary purpose.”

Can socks change the world…why yes, they can! Conscious Step is surely going  to make a difference “one pair of socks at a time” – 50 percent of all profits go toward 3 partnering charities. Currently Conscious Step offers three exclusive sock designs, each reflective of the cause it supports:

One pair funds Action Against Hunger that provides three therapeutic food packages for malnourished children living in refugee camps in Kenya, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The second pair funds Trees for the Future, which plants 30 trees in rural Ghana and provides an education in agroforestry to women and children, giving them the ability to replenish degraded soils and generate sustainable sources of food and fuel.

The third pair funds Engineers Without Borders that sends Australian engineers to Nepal to build clean water sources in schools so that young girls can have the same education opportunities as boys.

The wonderful entrepreneurs behind Conscious Step are Dr. Hassan Ahmad and Adam Long from Sydney, and Prashant Mehta from New York City. All three, firm believers in “the more profitable you are, the greater your impact”…and “knowing that my sock drawer planted a forest in Ghana”, is more motivating than donating $5 to a charity and having no idea how it will be used or what difference it will make,” says Dr. Ahmad.

These socks are made from 200-needle count, organic, fair trade cotton and are sweat resistant. Each style is embroidered with it’s own unique distinguishable symbol…and did I say they kick a**!

Smitten with these socks.

upcycling elephant poo for holiday cards! - Holstee

100% natural, artisanal, conscious, elephants, environmentally caring, gifts, handmade, holiday cards, upcyclededen tirl1 Comment
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Are you looking for a holiday card that is both planet conscious and charitable? Well, I was too! I am a huge fan of all things letterpress, and I love communique the old fashioned way... the US postal service. Thus, while looking for an enchanting, simple, well designed card to mail out for the upcoming holidays, I was more than pleased to stumble upon Holstee.com.

Their choice of printing paper: 50% elephant poo and 50% recycled paper. Yes! The paper is handmade, acid free and 100% natural.

Delightful designs, letterpress printed in silver, blue and gold inks on white cotton paper. Each set comes with six 5"x7" cards and six envelopes. The cards are blank, giving you the opportunity to pen your own singular, spectacular greeting. 

 Holstee offers an array of cards, posters and other colorful, uncommon gift items.

A portion of all proceeds go towards funding Kiva microloans.

Smitten with Holstee.