In quiet moments under the warmth of the summer sunshine you'll discover an enchanting sight as butterflies flit from one flower to the next, delicate wings dancing gracefully on the breeze. With gorgeous colours intricately patterned like the petals of exotic flowers, these dainty insects are a joy to witness as they visit our meadows and gardens.

These fascinating insects serve as the inspiration behind one of our newest candle pots, so we’ve dedicated this special blog to them and their remarkable lives.

Superstition and Symbolism

You'll find butterfly motifs being celebrated widely nowadays, used to decorate everything from jewellery and clothing to accessories and home décor, but our love for these beautiful winged insects goes back hundreds of years. Since ancient times, butterflies have been viewed across cultures as a symbol for the human soul as it's said that their delicate wings can carry them between this world and the next.

Butterflies live truly remarkable lives, going through a four-stage life cycle developing from eggs into caterpillars, and then entering a chrysalis where the final stage of their metamorphosis takes place and they emerge as stunning butterflies. Due to this extraordinary life cycle of change, butterflies are widely associated with transformation and are celebrated as symbols of hope, rebirth and new beginnings.

Perhaps one of the sweetest superstitions relating to butterflies originates in Japan, where it is said that a butterfly entering your guest room signifies that the person you love most is coming to see you.

Environmental Importance

Attracted to bright and vibrant flowers butterflies feed on their nectar, flying from one flower to the next to feed which makes them an important pollinator as they spread pollen from flower to flower. The growth of many species of flowers, fruits and vegetables is dependent on pollination from species like butterflies, making them a key part of maintaining biodiversity, and a vital part of our environment.

Butterflies and caterpillars play a big role in the food chain, providing a food source for many species of bird and small animal, and they are also vastly important to scientists as indicators of a healthy ecosystem, due to the fact that areas rich in butterflies and moths are often rich in other invertebrates. 

Taking inspiration from butterflies, their beauty, and their significance to our ecosystem, we crafted a candle that celebrates these wonderful creatures. Part of our Nature’s Garden collection which celebrates our close affinity with the natural world, these pretty terracotta pots are adorned with charming butterfly carvings and paired with our delightful new Sweet Pea fragrance, a soft, delicate aroma of sweet orangeflower, rose and pink pepper with notes of musk and tuberose.

Shop Nature’s Garden

Here at St. Eval we feel truly blessed to live and work closely surrounded by the stunning Cornish outdoors, and we’re lucky to have such a gorgeous source of inspiration right on our doorstep. We are constantly conjuring up new and exciting fragrances, taking our inspiration from the beauty of nature and our close affinity with the natural world. After a meadow of wild camomile was discovered on the farm here at St. Eval, we couldn’t help but be inspired by this wonderful scent and we created Camomile Lawn to evoke the wonderful feelings of joy that come from being surrounded by pretty wildflowers in summertime. 

We are delighted to announce our certification as a B Corporation (or B Corp), joining a growing group of companies reinventing business by pursuing purpose as well as profit. We have been certified by B Lab, the not-for-profit behind the B Corp movement, as having met rigorous social and environmental standards which represent our commitment to goals outside of shareholder profit.

At St. Eval we are constantly conjuring up new and exciting fragrances, taking our inspiration from the beauty of the natural world and scenting our candles with a range of over thirty fragrances inspired by nature. For this week's Fragrance Friday, we're exploring the uplifting and summery Garden Greens scent, taking you behind the fragrance and delving into the special meanings behind the herbs and flowers that go into crafting this wonderful aroma.

Robert and Sam Salvoni are the custodians of Park House, a gorgeous country house nestled between Truro and St Clement here in Cornwall. Having long enjoyed Opera, they are keen to support the amazing Duchy Opera, and have opened their home as a venue for their wonderful performances. As a Cornish business we are always excited to support our local arts, and so when we were asked to provide these special evenings with the glow of candlelight we were delighted. This is our second year providing our candles for Park House Opera’s table tops.

From a soft breeze rustling the leaves, to the melodic chirping of crickets and pretty singing of birds, as summer transforms the natural world there’s no shortage of instruments taking part in this unique symphony of wild music. The determined and cheerful buzz that accompanies bees as they flit from one flower to the next is perhaps one of the most important foundational notes of this delightful song, just as bees themselves are such a vital part of our ecosystem. These hard-working insects serve as the inspiration behind one of our newest candle pots, and we’ve dedicated this special blog to them and their interesting lives.

At St. Eval, we scent our stunning candles with a range of over thirty fragrances inspired by the beauty of the natural world. This week as summer transforms the world around us with sunshine and blue skies, we're taking you behind the fragrance of Rhubarb, one of our best loved summer scents. Inspired by the joy of summer, Rhubarb is a delightful fragrance that perfectly encapsulates the fruity and slightly sweet summer scent of fresh rhubarb

Our newest collection Love, Hope & Freedom features a trio of gorgeous tins, designed by a final year illustration student from Falmouth University. This special collection has been created in collaboration with UK charity Unseen, with £1 from the sale of each tin candle going towards their vital work. Unseen are a UK anti-slavery charity working towards a world without modern slavery, providing safe houses and support in the community for survivors of trafficking and modern slavery.