Suggested MDB Summer Candle Fragrance List 2011

Each Season M Design Boutique adds a new batch of fragrances to the growing collection of signature candle fragrances in M Design Boutique. These can be for any type of candle available in the shop! Tins, Votives, Pillars and the soon-to-be-listed TEA LIGHTS!

I love when my customers tell me exactly what they want if they don't see it listed in the shop. If you see a 9" Pillar that you want in a different color and fragrance -- and even type of wax -- send me a message and I will make it happen!

That said, here are the fragrances I am introducing into M Design Boutique's signature collection for Summer 2011:

• Fresh Clean Cotton
• Orange Vanilla
• Blooming Lilac
• Plumeria Breeze
• Pink Cotton Candy
• Strawberry Shorcake
• Wildflower Meadow
• Beach Breeze Linen
• Mango Papaya Smoothie
• Peach Ice Cream
• Grapefruit
• Sangria

Fragrances at any given time are not limited to the New Seasonal Additions to M Design Boutique. You can still get all of your old favorites. These will be released a few at a time so be sure to watch for them in the candle sections of M Design Boutique and MDB Weddings & Events over the next couple of weeks!

Announcing M Design Boutique's Second Etsy Shop Just for Event Planning!

You can still get all of the same great event, wedding and promotional gifts, favors and decor at the regular old M Design Boutique location so don't fret! But here's the skinny on the new shop:

In the last six months my business has grown quite quickly due to the popularity of my event favors, gifts and decor. In fact my customers keep requesting new and innovative products that can also be used as promotional give-aways, client gifts or small retail add-ons for salons and boutiques of all kinds.

Since many of my customers now come to M Design Boutique looking for these items, and usually with all kinds of special requests and custom needs, I have decided to open a second Etsy shop just for those customers to simplify everyone's life. Now...let's hope that is exactly what happens! Cross your fingers with me!

All that said, I would like to announce the Grand Opening of MDB Weddings & Events by M Design Boutique!

I am busily adding new favors, gifts and decor for weddings, receptions, showers, and every other kind of party you can name. I've even recently filled a giant order of Travel Candle Gift Favors for a Record Release Party!

I welcome your ideas and requests. So come on over and let me be your event planning inspiration!

Feedback Inspires New Ideas

Recently I sent a hand-picked variety of my Travel Candles in to my husband's office to pass around for feedback. Several of the women at his office (thank you ladies) checked out the candles and a few of them let me know what were their favorite fragrances. I was happy to hear that one of my newer fragrances, Coconut Lime, was a big hit. Also, and not surprisingly, Dark Chocolate Raspberry Tart got some kudos. I say not surprisingly because a whole swarm of New Yorkers reacted swimmingly to that fragrance back in February at Brooklyn's Artists & Fleas Weekend Market when MDB set up for a pop-up shop Saturday.

Because M Design Boutique sells predominantly to an online audience, I rely on the feedback of the few people in my friends and family to give me feedback about favorite fragrances. It is also a great inspiration to see what custom order requests come in.

Fragrance triggers strong reaction and emotion. I am always interested in what people like and why. Coconut Lime got a great reaction now, here in the Boston area at the end of a particularly long, difficult Winter. I believe that not only is it a great fragrance..but it triggers images of the Spring and Summer that we are starting to see signs of.

What fragrances do you love? Clean sheets? Baked treats? Does it vary by season? Leave your feedback in the comments section and you'll help inspire the M Design Boutique candle fragrances to come!

Announcing the NEW Travel Candle Favor Gift Price Calculator!

The popularity of M Design Boutique Travel Candle Favor Gifts has been tremendous! My creative and ambitious customers have been using them for all kinds of great purposes including Wedding Receptions, Engagement Parties, Showers and other Gala Events...but also for promotional uses such as Real Estate Agent "Drop-In" gifts and most recently a favor gift for an album release party for a record label!

I have been flooded with requests for quotes, and so today my smart and generous husband (who is a software engineer) helped me make a very simple cost calculator for those of you seeking a basic price idea for candles for your event or promotion!

Look up in the top left corner of this blog and you will see it. Simply enter the number of candles you would like for your event to get the price.

The price quote does not include shipping or rush fees, but DOES include a custom label, fragrance and custom listing for your candles. If you like the price and would like to move forward, please contact me using the email button below the calculator. If you want to know more about pricing to understand discounts, rates for larger quantities and so on, please click the link below the calculator to see the cheat sheet.

Favor bags are not included in the price calculator, but can be added to your custom order at a nominal cost. Simply contact info@mdesignboutique.com for your custom quote!

What to Give Your Bridal Party or the Bride!

Several years ago I attended the wedding of my dear friends Heather and Jason. I traveled from Los Angeles to the Colorado Rockies for the occasion and was lucky enough to spend the hours and moments prior to the ceremony with Heather, her sisters, her Mom and several of her best friends. I have had the pleasure of sharing the pre-ceremony moments with a few brides (including my own)...and it is always inspirational to see how women rally to support the bride in those stressful, but blissful last moments before they tie the knot.

I mention Heather's wedding because that day I saw one of the most clever, thoughtful gifts for a bride that I've ever seen. I may be getting the source of the gift wrong, but I believe the "Bridal Survival Kit" was originally given to Heather's sister on her wedding day, and had been handed along to each sister for their weddings. The kit contained all of those little odds and ends a bride might need on her wedding day such as bobby pins, safety pins and other little emergency-helpers.

One of the clever things about it was that it solved problems for all brides alike, whether she be in a hotel room far from home, or prepping for a wedding right in her own yard! Who wants to go running around looking through junk drawers for a needle and thread two hours before the ceremony?!

So with Heather's amazing family gift in mind, I decided to create a Survival Kit for Brides, Bridesmaids, Flower Girls, Mothers of the Bride and Groom...and anyone else present on the wedding day who might need a little help getting ready emergency-free!

I polled my facebook fans to find out what they would have loved to have handy on their special day and I've come up with what I believe to be the perfect Survival Kits, from kits for the whole party to the Bride's Survival Kit (Deluxe style).

I am happy to accomodate custom ideas and orders for groups...including the option for custom labels with design and text to match the wedding and the names of each person receiving a Survival Kit. Here's a sampling of what is available!

Bridal Party Survival Kits for Everyone in your party. These make a great gift and you can add earrings, pendants or whatever little touches you want for each person. Starting at $20 per kit.

Bridal Survival Kit contains all the little touches plus a serenity candle and wine opener for the pre-wedding jitters! This is the deluxe kit which can also be customized for bridesmaids, etc.

The label can be customized with her flowers, to match invitations or other decor. Can also be customized with her name, wedding date or other information.

Travel Candle Favor Gift Examples

Here are a few recent examples of M Design Boutique's Travel Candle Favor Gifts. These are an affordable party favor, promotional give-away and all-around awesome personalized travel candle. With a custom label and fragrance to match your event or branding, you can't go wrong. Check out how some MDB customers have been using the 10+ bulk priced candles!

Birthday Party Gift Favor

Mexico Destination Wedding Reception Favor

Baby Shower Favor

Announcing Our Engagement

Engagement Party Favor

Wedding Reception Favor Gift

Valentine's Day Drop-In Gift

Promotional Gift for Clients

Wedding Candles Custom Made to Match Your Event!

M Design Boutique proudly introduces full wedding candle services!

We can make any candle you need, be it tapers, pillars, votives or gift tins...containers, free-standing....soy, beeswax or paraffin.

Contact me, Melissa, and lets get your wedding or event candles started! I will ask you several questions and give you as much, or as little guidance as you would like to create a quote for the candles you want on your reception tables, cake tables, and anywhere else you envision the beauty and fragrance of candles on your special day.

Take a look below at a few examples below of some weddings I have created candles for.

 Pictured above are a few examples of votives in clear and frosted glass votive containers. These are a fragrant addition to the event, and the fragrance carries even outdoors. Consider fragrances that match the flowers in your bridal bouquet and centerpieces. For an Autumn wedding consider seasonal fragrances such as spiced apple cider, sandalwood and sunflower. There are lots of awesome ideas to explore, and when the reception is winding down, send your guests home with matching travel tin favor candles like this:

What a great way to send some memories home with your beloved guests. Labels and fragrances can be designed exactly to your specifications. I'm a graphic artist! Get creative!