I first came across the Maggie's Candles website via a parenting forum, where Maggie is a member. Seeing the tagline in her signature, I had to venture for a look. Located at http://www.maggies-candles.com/, she has a shop, and a forum I presume is for discussing her products (I have not used the forum bit). Anyway, intrigued by the assortment and deciding to buy a Nan's candle for my MIL, I also treated myself to a few goodies. A few of these goodies happened to be bath bombs.

Maggie's cruelty free bath bombs are handmade and made with all natural ingredients, much like Lush's. They are 220 grammes each, and come in two variety types which then come in several different scents. One variety is made with Shea butter, and is excellent for really dry skin, and the other is a standard type bomb. I ordered the normal type bomb in ocean and tangerine and grapefruit. ordering was simple, with a PayPal type cart, and I received confirmation of the order quite quickly. A few days later, my order arrived without a hitch. A few nights after that, I tried the ocean bath bomb.

I ran a nice hot bath (I love my water HOT HOT HOT!), and tossed the bomb under the running water. As expected, I was greeted with a nice steady fizz, and a lovely scent permeated the air about the bath. Swishing my hand a bit in the water to make sure it was dispersed towards the back as it was still fizzing, I got in. The water felt smooth and silky. The scent was stronger in the bath, but not overpowering. It smelt tangy, in a nice unchemically sort of way, rather reminiscent of a sea breeze minus the fish smell from any trawlers lurking about. The bath bomb finished fizzing, and it had dissolved well. I continued for a nice soak, and was pleased with the soft but ungreasy feel of my skin afterwards. I noted the tub was grit and grease free after the water left, though a faint salty residue was left where it had mixed with my soap and shampoo. This was easily wiped away. A few nights later I tried the orange and grapefruit, and was just as pleased. The scent was also very natural, perceptible without being overly heady, and my husband commented he found it rather nice as well. The lovely citrus tang smelt rather like orange and grapefruit peels do while you dry them by a fire. MMMMMMMmmmmm

All in all a pleasurable experience, and a steal at only £1.80 per bomb (£2.00 per Shea butter bomb, I notice). The regular bombs are also available in Parma violet, baby powder, coconut, lemon and eucalyptus, apple pie and custard, sweet fennel and jojoba, sweet and girly (which sounds yummy, with chocolate, caramel, vanilla, patchouli and sandalwood blended in), marmalade, retro (a cranberry and lime blend), and peppermint and tea tree. The Shea butter bombs come in Oriental musk, raspberry and black pepper (sounds intriguing!), and romance which is sandalwood and rose. There is also a link at the top of the page for custom orders, where one is informed that candles and gifts can be customised as to scent simply by using the contact button. With such a large variety of bath bomb scents, there is sure to be something for everyone, and I have indeed since purchased a few of the other scents for inclusion in gift baskets I have made up for friends and family. Feedback on those was also good.

So, if you like to pamper yourself, prefer cruelty free cosmetics and beauty products, and like to support small business, maggie's candles is a great place to stock up on the bath bombs without blitzing your bank account.