The timeless tradition of the tree

As they turned on the lights on the Christmas tree in London’s Trafalgar Square last night, I had my own little ceremony – switching on the twinklers that adorn my alternative Trithrinax Brasiliensis (Brazilian Needle Palm).

Traditional Christmas trees cause me a great deal of stress. Firstly, finding a tree that fits the height of the room – preferably one with branches in all the right places, is not always a simple task. Then locating the Christmas decorations can be somewhat bothersome, as I’m never quite sure where I put them after last year’s festivities. I know some people love decorating their tree, but I personally find this rather an annual chore. The biggest challenge of all, is keeping the damned thing alive until after the event - by which time, almost all the tree's needles are deposited over the floor, leaving a huge mess to be cleared up (don't even think of going away!) Oh, and there’s the added awkwardness of disposing of an enormous tree trunk from a seventh floor apartment…



It's hardly surprising that others seem to share my mixed feelings - as illustrated by these photos of even more unconventional Christmas trees posted on the internet (click on the pics to enlarge):

I’m not sure this inflatable tree (left) has quite the aesthetic appeal of a real one – and those kitty Santas are a decidedly odd addition... even the cat looks curious.







However, this multi-functional tree of beer bottles solves the problem of where to store your Christmas booze… and you can consume the contents over the Xmas break, hmmm.







An upside down tree is certainly an original idea, but what about the effect of gravity on the needles? This one’s probably best reserved for the artificial variety.








Talking of which, I also spotted some high-tech, designer versions that are most unusual. How about a spinning tree?






Or what about this flat-packed, eco-friendly affair by Australian design team, Buro North? I'm not certain this is quite so timeless in its appeal - and minimalism doesn't come cheap - apparently, this costs nigh on two thousand dollars.









A less costly solution might be to grab a few blocks of wood and add some household candles for decoration (see right).





Or better still, omit the wood and invest in some exquisitiely scented curiosity candles by Mad et Len, from ShopCurious - to ensure that your home smells simply divine over the festive break. By the way, these make affordably luxurious Christmas gifts too.















In any event, although I’m impressed with the innovative array of curious Christmas trees featured on the net, I tend to agree with Amy Jorgensen that, “no matter how a tree is decorated it still symboliszes the timeless Christmas tradition of families gathered together exchanging presents and love”.

Do you?

Motherly love

Not long until that special day when we can give back a little something in return for all the years of unconditional love from our mothers. I’ve come up with a few suggestions for some unique and unusual gifts from ShopCurious that you might like to consider for Mothers' Day

For the very proud parent, who’s spoiled you silly and sent you to all the right schools (and just look how you turned out!), how about a precious piece of jewellery like a pretty marcasite butterfly brooch, which can also be worn as a pendant. It’s such as shame you had to fly away from home, but there you go.



If your mother’s the natural, eco-aware type, how about a useful recycled folio. You know she’ll never get around to using a computer, so she can use this to keep all her reminder lists and pictures of you as a baby. If you do ever remember to send a postcard, she can keep it there too. For the arty Mum, how about a hand painted mother of pearl pendant? She’ll love the fact that it’s handmade and as totally individual as you.


For the country-loving, traditional type you might consider a vintage silk scarf – even better if you can find one from the year that you were born (that’ll bring a tear to her eye no doubt).

If your Mum’s always running around, something pampering and relaxing may be just what she needs. Exotic bath salts from Mad et Len smell divine and they come in a beautiful and old-fashioned style bottle too.





For the nature-lover, a stylish silk corsage is a bit more original than a bunch of tulips. We've one that's really versatile: you can wear it in on your clothing, or as a bracelet - and these make fabulous hair accessories too … plus, you never know, she might even let you borrow it.






Of course, there are some things that all mothers will appreciate – like a nice big hug in return for all those hours of story-telling… and don’t forget to put ‘lots’ of love on your Mothers' Day card. Why not add some extra kisses too…

Will you?

Christmas curiosities

Perfumes have been around for as long as humans and it's thought that smell is the oldest sense in living organisms. According to the American Society of Perfumers, the word ‘perfume’ derives from the Latin ‘per-fumum’ meaning ‘through smoke’, alluding to the early practice of releasing pleasant odours from fragrant materials such as the wood of trees through heat or burning. Ancients believed that, as the smoke rose skywards, they were making a path for the gods. In ancient Egypt scents were used by everyone, even on their horses, saddles, and in food and drink. In those days perfumes were handled by priests, sorcerers and alchemists.


Today, most perfumes are mass produced from an eclectic mix of synthetic chemicals and additives. That's why many of us recoil in shock when blasted with an unsolicited spray of the latest designer duty free offering. Of course, there are beautiful smells too - many of which are the keys to memories of cherished relatives, lovers or poignant experiences. I was fortunate enough to attend a dinner where Professeur de Parfums, Roja Dove, was speaking. He brought along some of a rare perfume called kypi - known as the scent of antiquity, which it is also said was the scent of the Pharaohs. To me, this had an indescribable sugary sweet spicy fragrance of time immemorial - not a smell I remember, just one I somehow know... I also rubbed some raw white frankincense into my hands - that reminded me of the woody smell of the resin I used on my violin bow as a child.


Did you know that we smell not with our noses, but via our olfactory nerve, which is acutally a part of the brain? If you have style with brains and absolutely adore naturally beautiful smells, as well as sophisticated and stylish perfumes, you'll love the heavenly scented curiosity candles, available from ShopCurious.




Made by Mad et Len, these beautifully presented luxury coffrets, each containing two bougies de curiosite, are made in rural France exclusively for ShopCurious. Mad et Len produce everything by hand so that each piece is unique - even the packaging is made and folded by hand. The blends of soy wax, jojoba oil and beeswax, together with perfume essences are left to mature, providing for a rich and unforgettable aroma.





When the curiosity candles are burned together, they create a divinely unique scent, marrying contrasting and complementary tones of original distilled perfume from flore, wood or aromate. The six exquisite and unusual combinations on offer at ShopCurious include vibrant, primitive black pepper with sensual, deep fruity ylang-ylang; exotic and mysterious oriental patchouli with aromatic floral gardenia and hot spicy nutmeg (muscade) with fresh citrus based verveine. The cotton toile lined boxes are individually made and really pretty too - the curiosity candle coffret would make an original and very special Christmas gift.





Mad et Len's workshop (above) is located in the Haute-Provence village of Saint Julien du Verdon, where Alexandre and Sandra, a husband and wife team, create personalised and limited edition perfumes for the bath, body and home in the tradition of old style apothecaries. The name Mad et Len is based on a quirky reference to Proust's remembrance of things past (madeleine). Quoting from Du Cote de Chez Swann: "The smell and taste of things remain poised a long time, like souls, ready to remind us, waiting and hoping for their moment, amid the ruins of all the rest; and bear unfaltering, in the tiny and almost impalpable drop of their essence, the vast structure of recollection".

Do you?