Latest news with #scentedcandles
The Sun
02-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Card Factory selling £4 scented candle dupe of pricey NEOM version – and it's perfect for thank you teacher gifts
CARD Factory is now stocking some luscious scented candles, which would make the perfect gift for end-of-year teacher presents. As part of its Forest Retreat range, the lavender and chamomile candles retails for just £3.99, much less than the Neom branded ones of which they are a dupe. 3 Neom's lavender and chamomile equivalent, which is pitched as helping users get a good night's sleep, sells for a whopping £20. Card Factory's candle comes in a blue glass jar with a floral design, and features a wooden lid with a seal for keeping the fragrance in. It is available in store and online, but those keen to get their hands on it, need to get in quick as stocks are low. Candle-mania The Neom dupes are not the only bargain scented candles that Card Factory has on offer. It recently launched a Yankee Candles dupe, which is budget-friendly as the branded ones can cost up to around £65 for a gift set. Fans of the fragrant candles rushed to their local Card Factory, after hearing there's a set reduced to just £2. Given that it's a set of six, it works out at just 33p each. Lynsay took to the to share her find, after stumbling across the set in her local high street store. "Great sale on in Card Factory just now," she wrote, adding that she'd found the deal in the Edinburgh store. The same set - containing the soft cotton, pink sand sunset, exotic fruits, cherry vanilla, vanilla frosting and pomegranate coconut votives - retails for £12 in Argos. Candle Safety at Home While candles can be a beautiful addition to the home, it is essential to follow critical safety advice in order to keep your house safe. Candles are the most common cause of house fires, according to the London Fire Brigade, and suggested people switch to LED candles to get the same lighting effect, at a higher safety threshold. The LFB advises people to, never leave candles, incense sticks and oil burners unattended and to make to put them out when leaving a room or before going to sleep. Keep candles in heat-resistant holders on a stable surface and don't put them close to anything that can catch fire, such as curtains, papers, furniture, and clothes. Make sure your candles, including matches and lighters, are out of reach of children and pets.
The Sun
27-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
The three toxic items in EVERY home that this doctor warns should be removed ‘immediately'
A DOCTOR has revealed the three household items that should be thrown away "immediately" because of their toxic traits. Repeated use could lead to high blood pressure, cholesterol and reproductive issues, he warns. Gastroenterologist Dr Saurabh Sethi is known for sharing a wealth of health expertise on various social media platforms, including Instagram (@ He previously shared three foods he always avoids to protect his liver. Now, the 42-year-old has revealed three toxic items commonly found in people's homes, and advises people get rid of them immediately. In a clip, which has racked up 11.8m views and over 141,000 likes, Dr Sethi's first warning is over scented candles. 'These contain phthalates, which are known to disrupt hormone levels,' the doctor, from California, US, says. 'And cause respiratory issues." Phthalates are chemicals used in synthetic fragrances to help the scent bind to the wax and last longer. When candles containing phthalates burn, they release them into the air. Dr Sethi adds: 'Opt for unscented or natural candles made from soy or beeswax.' Phthalates have been linked to various health risks, including endocrine disruption, reproductive issues, developmental problems, and increased risk of certain cancers. How to prevent toxic plastics 'destroying' your brain - as doctor warns of 'damage and dementia risk' Studies have also shown connections between phthalate exposure and asthma, ADHD, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. The second household item Dr Sethi lists as being a danger is plastic cutting boards. He says: 'These can degrade over time, releasing microplastics into your food, which can accumulate in the body." Studies have linked microplastics to a range of potential health issues, including reproductive problems, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurological effects. They can also contribute to inflammation, cell damage, and disrupt the gut microbiome. Instead, Dr Sethi advises: "Switch to a wooden one to minimise risk.' 3 Last on Dr Sethi's list is scratched or chipped non-stick pans. Dr Sethi explains: 'These contain PFAS, which have been linked to high blood pressure, cholesterol and reproductive issues. 'Damaged pans can release these particles into your food." PFAS are a large, complex group of synthetic chemicals that have been used in consumer products around the world since about the 1950s. Exposure to PFAS has been linked to a range of health problems, including increased risk of certain cancers, altered immune function, liver damage, and reproductive and developmental issues. Some studies also suggest links between PFAS and thyroid disease, changes in cholesterol levels, and behavioural problems in children. Dr Sethi advises: "So make sure to either replace these pans as soon as they are scratched or chipped. 'Or replace those with safer alternatives, such as stainless steel or cast iron.' What are microplastics and why are they a worry? Microplastics are tiny plastic particles less than five millimetres in diameter. They come from a variety of sources in our everyday life, from larger pieces of plastic debris, such as from the degradation of bottles, to the tiny beads in personal care products like toothpaste and exfoliants, and synthetic fibres from textiles like polyester and nylon. We can either ingest them, for example in food and water contaminated with them, or inhale them from the air. There is growing concern about the potential health impacts of microplastics on both the environment and human health. When ingested or inhaled, microplastics can cause physical and chemical damage to living organisms. Studies have shown that they may be involved in inflammation in the body by leading to the release of proteins called inflammatory cytokines. While these studies are typically small and in animals or cells, inflammation is linked to a range of chronic diseases, including heart disease, autoimmune disorders, and cancer. Cellular damage has been a key focus of studies on microplastics. The tiny pieces of plastic have been shown to cause cell death, cause damage via oxidative stress, and interfere with hormone function. There is also evidence to suggest that microplastics can cause genotoxic effects, meaning they can damage genetic material within cells - raising fears they can contribute to cancer. The evidence is still evolving for these tiny particles that are barely visible to the naked eye.
News.com.au
14-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
The two surprising items King Charles and Queen Camilla have banned from the Palace
King Charles and Queen Camilla have strict rules regarding what is and isn't allowed in the royal palace. Cleaner Anne Simmons, who previously worked as a royal cleaner for over a decade, has shed light on how tightly the royals run their households. According to the cleaner, one item in particular has been included on the banned list for years; so-called disposable wet wipes. 'Despite being advertised as 'flushable', they don't break down in the system like toilet paper does,' Simmons told Plumbworld. It turns out they have been causing issues with the aging plumbing for years. 'This led to repeated blockages and costly plumbing repairs. It became clear that they simply weren't worth the trouble.' 'Not only did this prevent plumbing issues, but it also saved money in the long term by reducing the need for frequent repairs,' Simmons explained. It turns out disposable wipes aren't the only household item Charles has banned from any of his royal homes. Scented candles are also banished due to the 'toxins' they release into the air. 'Many people don't realise that scented candles release toxins into the air,' Simmons shared previously. 'In a place like Buckingham Palace, where air quality is strictly controlled, they are completely off-limits.' Meanwhile, it comes after it emerged that the UK's royal family had received a staggeringly large raise despite the cost of living crisis impacting many around the world. From April, the amount they receive via the Sovereign Grant – funded by the UK's public purse – will jump by a whopping £45 million (AU$88 million), to £132 million (AU$260 million). 'This is public money, all of this money comes from the government, at a time when the government is not able to properly fund schools, hospitals police … It is scandalous,' CEO of Republic Graham Smith told Town & Country. 'Not only should it not be going up at all, it should be going down.' However, when the increase was first announced last year, Buckingham Palace officials made it clear that a huge chunk of that extra cash will be put towards the £369 million (AU$728 million) bill for long-planned, necessary Palace renovations. The exact amount that is being allocated from this year's Grant for the work has not been made public.
