The Story of Vesper
Vesper
[ VES-PER ] noun
The evening star, often Venus; Hesperus. A planet which rises before midnight.
Also - vesper bell - a bell rung at evening.
Vespers, (sometimes initial capital letter) Ecclesiastical.
1. a religious service in the late afternoon or the evening.
2. the sixth of the seven canonical hours, or the service for it, occurring in the late afternoon or the evening.
We’d talked for months as a team about whether to release a limited edition blend to add to our existing range for the winter season - with the conclusion always being that if we did, it had to be perfect - no pumpkin-spice, heady artificial fragrances, but something pure and warming which reflected what we feel we all need spiritually and emotionally in the long, closing months of the year.
We set about creating a blend which was at once comforting and soothing, but also uplifting and joyful - and we’ve ended up spending longer working on this new concoction than any other we’ve created before. The deep, twilight blue of the Vesper label branding evokes a sense of evening calm, with the blend designed around the idea of a reflective moment of stillness, inspired by the characteristics of the oils we’ve used to create this unique blend:
FRANKINCENSE
Boswellia carterii - an ancient and holy ingredient, used widely throughout ceremonies and rituals across many religions, due to the belief that it can open doors between the mundane and the supernatural, acting as a vehicle for spiritual exaltation. It has unique energetic qualities due to the oil’s complex aroma - providing a grounding and balancing effect. Used widely in incense, Frankincense brings an earthy, spicy and woody aroma to the Vesper blend.
SWEET ORANGE
Citrus sinensis - a slightly sweet and fresh aroma, which blends perfectly with Frankincense. They bring out the best in each other - combining to form a unique and ‘complete’ aroma - it’s one of my all time favourite aromatherapy pairings. Refreshing and cheerful, Sweet Orange essential oil bring joy and warmth to the Vesper blend, with a subtle hum of festive crispness.
CINNAMON LEAF
Cinnamomum verum - a hot and stimulating oil, known for boosting circulation, supporting the immune system and invigorating body and mind. The addition of Cinnamon Leaf oil brings an uplifting and spicy top note to the Vesper blend, ideal for alleviating fatigue and lethargy and boosting the mind.
BENZOIN
Sumatra benzoin - similar to Frankincense in both pathology and character, I like to think of Benzoin as the slightly mysterious and lesser-known cousin of Frankincense. Sweet, resinous and earthy, Benzoin has been used for centuries as a treatment for lethargy, cold and frostbite. Spiritually, it is known for it’s comforting qualities - bringing reassurance to those who feel neglected, and providing stabilising support to those experiencing a physical or emotional upheaval. Steadying and focusing of the mind, Benzoin is the perfect accompaniment to prayer and meditation, allowing buried thoughts and emotions to come safely to consciousness.
SUBTLE - WARM - COMFORT - JOY
This was the inspiration behind the Vesper blend - that we could take a moment in the evening to light a candle and pause for a moment, in meditation, prayer or thought - and feel comforted, warmed and at peace. We have truly loved creating this special MASAJ blend, and we hope it brings you as much joy as it has us.
We’re making only a very limited number of Vesper candles, in both our traditional 100g amber glass jars, and an even smaller number in our new Mae Ceramics 200g Cups (coming soon!) - and once they’re gone, they’re gone!
For the Vesper candle we use only pure essential oils rather than the artificial fragrance oils used more commonly in scented candles - for us this is the absolute key to making beautiful, natural products which really work. All of our oils are sourced and processed sustainably, and each candle is lovingly made by hand in our east London workshop.