Hands up if you deserve a treat.

Yeah, we hear you.

2021 has been a white-knuckle rollercoaster ride so far and if they’re not handing out medals for keeping everything together, then we’ll need to organise our own rewards.

And here’s some good news on that front; gorgeous new Cork brands keep appearing, tempting us with calming new candles, glorious skincare and gorgeous homeware, so you can add a little happy to your cart and support local all at the same time.

I mean, what are you waiting for?

Here are three payday picks to spoil yourself with:

1. Bare+Botanical

A new range created by Kinsale perfumer Lucy Hagerty, founder of luxury candle brand La Bougie, Bare+Botanical taps into the trend for therapeutic aromatherapy goodies to soothe away stress at home.

Focusing on five wellbeing goals (Quiet, Play, Clarity, Comfort and Courage) Lucy’s scented candles and essential oil blends have been designed to calm, reset, focus, nurture, and boost the mood.

“Many mass-produced blends combine hero oils with little thought to what makes a beautiful fragrance. As a perfumer, I give it a whole lot of thought.” Lucy explains.

“I know how to add supporting notes, often in microscopic amounts, to turn an aromatherapy blend into something exquisite.”

Shop the range: Bare+Botanical is available online and in-store at Brown Thomas Cork, with scented natural candles (€40) an electronic diffuser (€99), and accompanying essential oil blends (€25). 

2. Kushti

The latest venture by Cork boho interiors guru Deirdre O’Sullivan, Kushti sells a covetable selection of sustainable, ethically-made homewares.

Right now you can fill your cart with hand-dyed and embroidered cushion covers from Jaipur, beautiful handwoven baskets, bowls, and fans from Ghana, and magnificent rugs and runners made by Berber women in Morocco.

“When the idea of Kushti started out it was with a strong focus on supporting skilled artisans around the world, especially those in developing countries,” says Deirdre.

“We want you to know that it is of the utmost importance to us that our products are responsibly made and the people making them are getting a fair wage as well as comfortable working conditions.”

Shop the range: All products are available to order at kushtilife.com.

3. GROUND at Fota Island Spa

If you haven’t yet tried Peigín Crowley’s heavenly range of clean, green face masks, balms, oils, and restoring bath soaks, you’re in for a treat. The small-batch collection, handmade in Ovens, is now the basis for five gorgeous GROUND Rituals at Fota Island Spa.

Booking is now open for the Grounding Full Body Massage (50 mins, €105), The Grounding Ritual (65 mins, €125 or 80 mins, €150), The Restorative Face, Neck & Scalp Ritual (65 mins, €125), and The Comforting Ritual (65 mins, €125 pregnancy).

Each GROUND Ritual at Fota Island Spa includes gentle breathwork, hands-on rhythmical pressures, and techniques, including Gua Sha stones, and the compelling powers of aromatherapy oils.

The GROUND range is available to shop online at groundwellbeing.com.

To book a treatment at Fota: Call 021 467 3131 or email spa@fotaisland.ie