Summer is upon us at long last! This year we can properly enjoy it, inviting friends over for sunshine dinner parties, Pimm’s in the garden, and games that leave us in stitches – no more virtual partying, this year we’re taking it into real life.
Summer is a time of citrus scents and intoxicating greenhouse fragrances. Think of relaxing sun-filled days, childhood adventures that end with sticky sweet ice lollies and cool glasses of lemonade.
What to serve at your summer party
Whether indoors or outdoors, the food and drink of summer is unforgettable and perhaps the most important part of any summer dinner party! When seeking out your booze ideas and foodie inspiration, we’ve got a few accounts that we’re drooling over – and we think you will be too.
@robjhowell
Head chef of Root and author of the book of the same name, his work is a stunning collection of unique and delicious veg plates with “a little meat on the side”. Perfect for catering to both veggie and meat-eaters, his account is a joy of elevated veggie small plates and beautiful dishes perfect for an alfresco dinner party experience. For his recipes in full, you can get your hands on the Root cookbook here.
@seemagetsbaked
For fun, super-fresh and food inspired by dishes from all over the world, Seema shares some of the yummiest and easy-to-make recipes perfect for sharing. She’s a food producer over at Mob Kitchen, so you just know all her dishes are going to be bangin’!
@theweekendmixologist
For some of the coolest cocktails out there, this account shares with you recipes to wow your friends. Pick a couple of cocktails and assign different ingredients to everyone. Have fun mixing and making with your friends this summer!
Set the mood outside with a scented candle
If the weather is good and you’re blessed with a garden or terrace, then take the party outside!
This is one of the greatest pleasures we have in British Summertime – to be able to enjoy the long evenings, sitting in the warm sunlight with a cool drink in hand, relaxing into a long summer’s evening.
As the evening sun goes down, we’d recommend bringing out some gorgeous candles to add a bit of dreamy fragrance and warm flickering glow to your alfresco dinner party table decor.
Encourage your guests to sit a little closer, drink a little longer, and tell belly-laugh filled stories over a glowing scented table.
For outdoor candles that will still carry their scent over a cool evening breeze, we’d recommend one of Boy Smells magnum-sized candles or Cire Trudon’s Intermezzo size.
Bring summer indoors with a garden inspired fragrance
For those of us who aren’t lucky enough to have a patio, terrace or lawn, we’ve got some fantastic garden inspired candles to help you bring the outdoors inside.
For daytime entertaining try adding some bright herbal scents such as Basil, Coriander or Mint candles to your table – the fragrances can be used to highlight the ingredients you’ve used within your salads.
For evenings, as the sun’s orange glow gradually fades through your windows, we love turning to warm citrus and floral scents such as Orange Blossom, Bergamot and Jasmine.
Once darkness has truly fallen and desert has been served, turn up the heat by lighting candles featuring spice notes like Saffron or Pepper.