Sweetlime has had a shop shuffle and we are excited to showcase some new collections this month. We are excited to showcase a new uni-sex perfume called “alo” by our best selling perfume brand, Carrement Belle. This addition to the range has a top note made like a cocktail with gin, ginger, citrus fruits and rose berries, a strong marine middle note, and a base note made of a woody vetiver. If you have already discovered and enjoyed our Carrement Belle perfumes, then please don’t hesitate to call us if you are in need of another bottle. 

Our interior offer comes to the fore once the summer comes to a close and we start cocooning. Our keys look include the simple yet striking monochrome collection: black and white or ivory woven cushions; throws and complementary ceramic vases and dishes in Moroccan designs.  We also take a trip to the tropics with bold parrot and plant painted ginger jars; palm tree candlestick holders and pineapple dishes. Green is the key colour in the botanical and plant led trend and as a result, our colour of the month is green and Kerala is our hot spot in October.

With love, Elspeth


FOCUS

Green, the colour of compassion, purity, fertility, safety and envy.
Generally considered to be a positive and relaxing colour, green is often used in interiors to both calm and invigorate. The green room in theatres or tv studios acts as a place to repose and prepare before a performance. 

In Japan green is the colour of eternal life; in Celtic myths, it is the God of fertility and in China, green jade represents virtue and beauty.

We talk about green pastures, meaning something newer and better.

On a slightly more negative note, being green with envy suggests jealousy and could come from the fact that green has been associated with sickness. There is a belief that sewing with green thread on the eve of a fashion show will bring bad luck to the fashion house.

Green chillies are full of anti-oxidants and when eaten, they release endorphins and reduce pain. 

Green has always been a favourite of mine, hence “Sweetlime” and the fragrance of limes is uplifting and purifying and a slice of lime in any drink can be cooling and refreshing.

TRAVEL

Kerala, India

If you are contemplating a trip to India, then Kerala is a gentle place to start. Slower in pace and softer in its approach, it’s a beautiful state to begin your travels in India. Cochin or otherwise known as Kochi is the main entry point into Kerala by air. This port was made wealthy by the spice trade. Fort Cochin is a wonderful area full of shops, galleries and cafes. The colonial architecture includes grand mansions, churches, synagogues and mosques. There are lots of treasures to be found in the little shops.

A visit to Kerala must include time on a houseboat. I experienced a night on a houseboat, which for me was enough. The boats meander along the backwaters, through forests, spice plantations and paddy fields. Be sure to wear your insect repellent as clouds of mosquitoes cannot be avoided. 

For the freshest of air and a breathtaking experience, take a car up to the tea plantations. Don’t forget a shawl as the temperature drops as you climb up the hills. I visited Munnar, a former British hill station. A great place for a hike. 

If you love coconut, you will love Kerala. Keralan cuisine is very different from the north of India. Seafood and fish are at the centre on many dishes and coconut runs through many of the curries and is an essential ingredient in the sambals, which accompany other main dishes. Start your day with dosas, idlis and vadas, which are all typical South Indian foods and are eaten with curries and sambals.

There are many fabulous places to stay, my favourites being The old Courtyard, Malabar house and Kumarakom in Alleppey.

ART