Make a Happy Hostess

Isn’t it ironic that holiday hosting can be a source of honor, joy, exhaustion, and irritation practically all at the same time?

Show your appreciation to the holiday hosts who no doubt are losing sleep this week over redecoration, cleaning, and food preparation. Candles or soaps from the delicious Pacifica line are an elegant and environmentally friendly choice. Pacifica’s pillar and soy wax candles are clean burning and made by hand using paraffin or vegetable-based soy in small batches; soaps are handmade using biodegradable, vegan, vegetable glycerin soap base. Both products are infused with essential oils and other fragrance enhancers, and the results are good enough to eat; we especially love the unusual, rich Mexican Cocoa soap (shown, $6.95). Products are offered individually, or in prepackaged gift sets.

Available at Whole Foods and many other gift stores and bookstores. Click here to search Pacifica's (impressively accurate and comprehensive looking) vendor lists for the US and Canada.