Scented Scandals with Filthy Velvet

"Meet me at the tennis courts by The Ramore" It wasn't long into our afternoon together that Karen, one half of Northern Ireland's newest candlemakers Filthy Velvet, laughed about the dodgy nature of our first meeting. It's not often that I'm asked to meet a stranger down a back street (albeit a very busy one near my favourite Portrush attraction) to then be led through stepped alleys and lanes back to their house! It's all a bit... Naughty. It's a good thing then that being a bit naughty is all par for the course for Karen who spends her days making and marketing her "Scandles".

With names such as Filthy Shades Of Grey, Sext Me, Me So Thorny and scents including Leather, Irish Black Stout & Apple Pie these Scandalous Candles have been giving giggles to everyone I've heard talking about them. "Oh I want VPL!" Said no-one ever before their Vanilla, Peach, Lavender creation came into being.  

It's fairly brilliant. 

We had a lovely afternoon discussing scents and textures Filthy Velvets are so incredibly creamy they could be mistaken for a stiff body butter if it wasn't for the wick, the Filthy Bits wax melts are even more so. The scents, made using imported essence oils, are also varied and intense, no two are the same and they range from floral to cakey to spicy to even musky! And then you have the Leather and the Stout as I've mentioned already. Definitely unique. 

Karen's background in Interior Design and her sideline in Aromatherapy massage has clearly given her the right skills to create and partner Jeremy, the scientist, has developed the perfect formula to get an impressive 40 hour burn with minimal smoking and zero tunnelling. 

Going through the 14 candles I was definitely drawn to the sweet scents which is not surprising at all. I was instantly drawn to VPL & Me So Thorny due to my obsession with Lavender & Rose. (One day I'll tell you of the days I used to call myself Lavender Rose Moon... Maybe) Needless to say they are very dear smells to me. Black Stout is a marmite candle. It splits opinion with a strong coffee smell and the dark almost chocolatey goodness you get from that well known Irish Stout brand we're not really allowed to mention...

The surprise hit however was Posh Tart. It's not just an Apple Pie, it's the best Apple Pie you've ever tasted. It's your granny, marks & spencer and your local bakery all rolled into one. Karen kindly let me leave with this one and it will be getting saved for best. 

Not forgetting that this is a family affair I was also introduced to the Filthy Hound, the face of the brand to those familiar with the website, who is just the cutest wee mascot I've seen in a while. A hefty portion of our afternoon was spent getting cuddles & sneaky snapchats with the wee man. Well you do have treat celebrities special, don't you?

There are big plans for Filthy Velvets but for now you can purchase them at Studio Souk in Belfast, online directly from www.FilthyVelvet.com and at various fairs across NI (and soon mainland UK). These are one to watch having been featured on Ch4's Gogglebox and spotted by business talent scouts. If you're the kind of person that likes to say you got there first, now is your time!