The Tiny Joys Journal Volume 1

Recently, I was sitting in a marketing meeting discussing ideas about what we should be posting, what we should be talking about, and why I haven’t done much on social media this year.

The truth is, most candle content isn’t exactly thrilling.

It’s a candle. We make candles.

A small joy that simply feels good. It feels good to buy a candle. It feels good to light a candle. It feels good to sit in a room that smells beautiful.

Some things in life just feel good, and you have no idea why.

Climbing into a freshly made bed with clean sheets… oh, stop teasing. It just feels good.

When your song comes on the radio and you turn the volume up and sing at the top of your voice so the person three cars behind can hear.

Finding a tenner in an old coat pocket that you’d completely forgotten about.

I’ve always loved those tiny moments - the small, ordinary things that make life feel lighter, warmer, and a little more joyful.

And that, my friends, is how Tiny Joys was born.

Life can feel heavy, overwhelming, and expensive - the constant pressure to have it all and do it all.

In this journal, I’ll share tiny joys, things I’m loving, the rhythm of the seasons, what we’ve been up to, and gentle reminders to appreciate the here and now.

Think of it as a collection of life’s small pleasures - the moments and discoveries that make ordinary days feel a little brighter.

It’s a space to celebrate the things that enrich our lives without costing the earth.

Because happiness isn’t always found in the extraordinary.

Sometimes, it’s found in life’s tiny joys.

A Book You Just Can’t Put Down

Is there anything better than this?

Buying a book feels great. The smell of a new book, intoxicating. The sound of the spine cracking as you open it for the first time, spine-tingling.

Then you start to read and get to welcome new characters into your life. These characters start to form part of your daily routine. You get to know them really well. You form opinions on these new found people in your life. You root for them. You get frustrated by them.

And ... bam. You’re hooked.

You just cannot put the book down. You just neeeeeeeed to know how it ends.

The temptation to jump to the last page is real, but there’s also that tug on your heart because you don’t want the journey to be over. You find yourself reaching for the book the second you wake up and falling asleep with it on your chest at night. Just one more chapter.

You start thinking, Should I cancel those dinner plans? Because right now, nothing feels quite as good as this book.

You just have to get to the end.

And when you do? The mixed emotions that surge through your body - relief, satisfaction, sadness.

All this... from a book.

How amazing is that?

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

This book was the inspiration behind the very first Tiny Joy - I simply could not put it down.

The story follows Violet Sorrengail, a young woman who expected to spend her life surrounded by books. Instead, her formidable mother forces her to enter Basgiath War College, where aspiring dragon riders train.

The problem? Violet is smaller and physically more fragile than most of the other cadets, and Basgiath is notoriously brutal. Students regularly die during training, combat exercises, and while attempting to bond with dragons.

And then there’s Xaden Riorson. Let’s just say I came for the dragons and stayed for Xaden.

The warmer weather, leaving the house without a coat, and finally getting back into the garden.

It’s a huge project and one that will probably take years rather than months, but there’s something exciting about starting to uncover its potential. One section at a time, it’s beginning to feel a little more manageable.

I love being outdoors. Whether it’s pottering in the garden, going for a walk, or simply sitting in the sunshine with a cup of tea, it always seems to lift my mood and clear my mind.

Orange & Basil

It’s our latest release, and I’m a huge fan of citrus scents during the summer months. The bright, juicy orange is balanced beautifully by the fresh, green notes of basil, making it feel both uplifting and refreshing.

There have been a lot of changes at Embers & Roots lately. I’ll be the first to admit that I may have bitten off more than I can chew, so for now I’m taking things one step at a time.

Our New Lids

We’ve kept our signature silver lids, but they now feature our beautiful embossed logo.

Why the change?

Back in December, our jar supplier reduced the availability of our existing lids, explaining that demand for silver lids had declined. To continue ordering them, we would have needed to commit to an unrealistically large quantity. We explored alternative suppliers, but the costs were significantly higher.

A few years ago, we were approached by a company about embossing our lids, but at the time it felt out of reach financially. This time, however, everything aligned. It felt like a sign that the timing was finally right. It was an easy decision, and our embossed lids were born.

Our New Labels

These labels were always the vision for Embers & Roots. We managed to finalise the Peaceful Mind design before the business took off and life got busy, which is why it has always looked a little different from the rest of the range. In many ways, it was a glimpse of where we always intended the brand to go.

Over the years, we worked with several designers to create a new label design, but we always found ourselves coming back to this concept.

We’ve embossed our logo and added spot UV detailing for a beautiful tactile finish.

The fragrance names are printed in one of our official brand colours - yes, we invested in a full set of corporate colours and comprehensive brand guidelines to ensure consistency across everything we do.

The labels also feature a matte finish, helping to protect them while adding a premium feel.

Our Fragrance Collection

We now have 12 fragrances that form the core Embers & Roots collection, with two more still to be released.

Keeping our medium jar was incredibly important to us. It was the very first container I used when I started making candles more than 12 years ago. The jar is made by Beatson Clark in Rotherham - the town where I was born. Many members of my family worked there, and my Nan was one of, if not the first, female manager at the company.

As part of our evolution, we will be retiring our three-wick containers. In time, they will be replaced with a brand-new design that we’re very excited to share.

And We’re Only Just Getting Started...

These changes are just the beginning. There’s so much more happening behind the scenes, and I can’t wait to share the next chapter of the Embers & Roots journey with you.

“The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

A lovely reminder that the biggest projects often begin with the smallest steps.