About Us

I’m Amanda Helsel, and before I ever wrote a single review, I was blending oils and wax in a small Los Angeles studio. In 2013, I founded Kavaldon, a boutique candle company built on the idea that scent can shape space and mood.

We crafted each candle with purpose – clean-burning, spice-layered, and visually simple. For nearly a decade, I poured everything into it, from branding to formulation. Like many small ventures, Kavaldon had its moment and gracefully came to a close in 2025.

But leaving the business didn’t mean leaving behind the curiosity that drove it. I’ve always been someone who asks questions most people skip: Why is this skincare ingredient used so often?

Does this product actually do what it claims? And perhaps most importantly would I buy it again? Over the years, I realized I wasn’t alone in wanting straightforward, lived-in answers to those kinds of questions.

Amanda Helsel
Amanda Helsel

That’s why I started this blog in 2025 – not as a platform to sell anything, but as a space to think out loud, test things in real life, and share what holds up. Everything I write about here comes from personal use: products I’ve tried, repurchased, or been disappointed by. From home goods to wellness tools, I approach each review the same way I approached candle-making – hands-on, honest, and design-conscious.

If you’ve ever been overwhelmed by polished marketing or frustrated by vague recommendations, this site is for you. It’s a place to sort through the noise, one well-tested item at a time. No sponsored fluff, no jargon – just straight-up reflections from someone who still believes the little things we bring into our lives should be both beautiful and functional.

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Amanda Helsel
Hi, I’m Amanda Helsel – storyteller, candle crafter, and now, a curious voice in the world of honest product reviews. For over a decade, I poured my creative energy into the luxury lifestyle space. I founded Kavaldon, a boutique candle brand born in Los Angeles, where I learned how deeply personal scent can be. We weren’t just pouring wax – we were crafting mood, memory, and experience. Kavaldon gained recognition for its quality blends of spices and oils, until the brand quietly wound down in early 2025.

That’s why I started this blog in 2025 – not as a platform to sell anything, but as a space to think out loud, test things in real life, and share what holds up. Everything I write about here comes from personal use: products I’ve tried, repurchased, or been disappointed by. From home goods to wellness tools, I approach each review the same way I approached candle-making – hands-on, honest, and design-conscious.
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