Reviews by Natalie Ellerby, Saffia Farr and Isobel Higley

Starry Night Garnet Ceò Scarf

This is a beautiful scarf in shades of winter burgundy. As well as being extremely comfortable, it is highly innovative. It is made using recycled polyester from plastic bottles and recycled cotton from t-shirts, combined with 4% silk and 1% cashmere. For those familiar with wrapping fabric, it has a thicker wrap-weight warp with a finer Ceò-weight weft yarn, making it wonderfully soft and cosy to wear. As a zero waste company, Oscha are keen to support efforts to use existing resources and are constantly trying new yarn combinations. Oscha believe that repurposing these plastics as polyester yarns is a fantastic way to create a useful product from a valuable resource, without using any new raw materials. There is some discussion about the release of microplastics during washing, but with a scarf this can largely be avoided as it is unlikely to be washed often. As well as being eco-conscious, it is a gorgeous and luxurious scarf, and would make a fantastic gift. SF

From £31.20 www.oschaslings.com

Squelch Wellies

These transparent wellies and wonderfully colourful socks have been a huge hit with my 3-year-old daughter. She loves choosing which funky socks to wear with her outfit each day and has been the envy of all of her friends! The colouring socks are amazing and kept her occupied for a good twenty minutes, as she carefully created her own unique design. This fabulously original idea was created by a mum who wanted to give her children a way to create different looking wellies, to stop them becoming bored with the same ones.  You can have fun and stay warm and dry. This is a really good-quality product, with the added bonus that you can actually check the size of your little one’s feet! NE

£16 for wellies and socks from £3.50 squelchwellies.com

Pure Essential Oils

Akamuti sell a huge range of pure essential oils. We tried Rose Otto, Frankincense and Ginger. The great thing about essential oils is that they are incredibly versatile. Isobel used the rose in an oil burner, and I used the frankincense and the ginger in the bath. The oils I tried created a very aromatic bath, and were fantastic for easing a stiff back. Isobel appreciated the richness of the smell in her burner, a sign of the quality of the oil. The oils come in little bottles with attractive labels, and they are accessibly priced. SF and IH

From £3.95 www.akamuti.co.uk

Mintie Lunchbox Set

We really enjoyed using this set. Everything has been thought of. The lunchbox has a capacity of 1 litre with a fixed divider so that you can keep foods apart. If you have additional items, such as hummus, there is a lovely little round pot with a silicon lid which, though secure, is easy to take on and off. Other fantastic features are the silicon band for securing cutlery, and the cloth bag if you also want to pack fruit or other items. We love the little 350 stainless steel bottle. It’s smaller than others we use but it is great for popping in the corner of a bag when other water bottles feel too big, and my 11-year-old daughter loves it! The items are also sold separately. SF

£28.50 for Bundle Deal #1 www.environmentallife.co.uk

Lavender Relaxing Bath Milk Gift

This is a wonderful bath milk which fills your bathroom with an intense but soothing scent of lavender. You only need to add a small amount to the water to create a luxuriously relaxing bath with the benefit of essential oils. Weleda have created beautiful new gift boxes for this Christmas, illustrated by British designer Lisa Jane Dhar. They feature the plants used in Weleda’s formulations being visited by British butterflies. On the bath milk box, we learn about the Comma butterfly, whose ragged wings are part of their camouflage. During 2019 Weleda worked with East Midlands Butterfly Conservation, recording sightings of over 17 species of butterfly. This bath milk also has a Butterfly Mark, awarded by Positive Luxury to brands that meet the highest standards of verified innovation, social and environmental performance and sound governance. SF

£14.95 www.weleda.co.uk

Audrey Maternity & Nursing Dress

This is a fantastic dress! It’s striking and stylish and made from modal, cotton and elastane, so the fabric fits in a way that feels supportive rather than clingy. What I love most about this dress is its versatility. The subtle ruching on the waist makes it flattering at whatever stage of pregnancy or post birth you are; I have been wearing this when not pregnant and it still feels fantastic! The length is also very flattering, and there is a hidden flap so you can breastfeed with ease. I tried the Everglade, but it’s available in a range of bold colours. What an amazing present for a pregnant or breastfeeding mum – it’s a dress that helps us celebrate the female body in all its creative glory. SF

£69 tilbea.com

Moon Time Chocolate

This is the most thoughtful of gifts – handmade vegan chocolates to support and nourish different times of the menstrual cycle. As I wrote this review I had just started my cycle, so I followed the suggestions. On day one, I ate a Rose and Cramp Bark Truffle to “lift depression, dispel fatigue and soothe irritability.” The mild dose of cramp bark helps remind your bodies’ muscles to relax. The truffle was delicious, with a gorgeous hint of rose, and I can honestly say that my cramps did ease – maybe it was the bark, or maybe it was just the time I took to engage with myself in this way. I love the self-care this box of chocolates encourages. Each chocolate provides a tiny moment for us to reflect on what we need. You can even treat yourself to a subscription to have something to look forward to each cycle. SF

From £6.50 for 6 truffles www.moontimechocolate.co.uk

Woodland Animals

These gorgeous little wooden animals, by Tender Leaf Toys, are made from solid rubber wood and are painted in a soft watercolour stain. You can choose from Badger, Red Squirrel, Deer, Hare, Weasel, Fox, Rabbit and Hedgehog – all very sweet and tactile. They are not large – the rabbit is 5cm high and the deer is 8cm high, but they fit so well in your hand and are lovely to move around. I really like the muted colours. The animals are made in Tender Leaf Toys’ factory in Indonesia, and the company has been audited for high ethical standards. They take care in their choice of wood, and the workers are supported as a community to become craftsmen and women. SF

£2.50 each www.daisytreebabyboutique.co.uk

Organic Evocative Pillar Candle

I love receiving candles as presents, especially in midwinter when a simple flame can help lift our spirits. This is a beautiful candle – it looks really attractive and also burns well with a tall, straight flame. I liked that the scent was gentle, not overwhelming. The candles are handmade in England by Heaven Scent, using plant waxes including soy and rapeseed. All ingredients are as natural as possible; they use essential oils for the scent, and cotton only wicks with a paper core. This 3×3″ pillar candle has a 50 hour burn time. SF

£5.95 salago.co.uk