I prefer this BBW over others in the area as they always have fragrances in stock. It's always…read moreclean and neat, and the staff is friendly. Today's visit was for stocking stuffers... they're having a $4.95 body care sale.

12.1.24 Located in…read moreColumbia Crossing in the same center as Mission BBQ and Old Navy. I was acknowledged upon entering and informed about a new scent and asked if I wanted to test it. They had a current promotion for body mists for $4.75 which I didn't know about so took advantage of it and got the lavender mist from the Emily Loves Paris line. They also had a promotion for pocket hand sanitizer 6 for $10 so I took advantage of that too. What was new to me is that they now carry fragrance boosters for laundry detergent. That's how long I haven't been to one of their locations. I'm glad that they opened across the street from my house so I don't need to go to the mall now.

This Crystal, Candles, & Cauldrons shop was suggested to me when I asked about where to find decent…read morecrystals. Founded in 2007 and relocated to this location in 2008. They are in Hampden. Straight from their website, "at the corner of Roland Avenue and 36th Street. We are located in the rear of the Historic Hampden Hall building, with our entrance off of the rear parking lot." I was walking around that building for a bit before I found them, haha. If you see Truist along 36th Street, it's on the other side of it. This is their website https://www.wiccancrystal.com/ and they are also on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/crystalscandlescauldrons/ In the 'About Us' section on their website it states, "All of our items are hand picked for their quality, value and appeal. We carry all kinds of crystals, candles, and, yes, even cauldrons. In addition, we have a selection of over 100 tumbled stones, incense, oils, herbs, sterling silver jewelry, books, journals, faeries, figurines, wall hangings, tapestries, wind chimes, hoodoo kits, holy water, note cards, art prints, artist embellished prints, stickers, swords, athames, tarot cards, angel cards, bags & more!" and "We offer tarot readings, angel card readings, astrology charts, and animal communication readings. These are available by walk-in or appointments." It's a cozy shop with ALL THE THINGS! I was browsing all the different items, there are really so many... and so much that I've never seen elsewhere! Very unique and niche. There are different 'walking altars' around the shop for different things. I asked a worker about this, and she explained to me the different purposes for them. I thought that was pretty cool. I decided to ask the staff for recommendations for a gift to a coworker. They expertly suggested to me different things that had different purposes and explained them to me. They were so knowledgeable! I decided on a door hanger made of selenite and black tourmaline crystals. This offered protection, grounding, and balance. They also explained that selenite is a softer stone and to avoid getting it wet as water could break it down. Something I would've never known! I included that information with my gift. Thanks to the awesome staff for helping me with my purchase! They also had a spinning display with different cards. The one that said "Kind People Are The Best Kind Of People" really spoke to me, so I got that to include with my gift. I like that it's a one stop shop for all your needs :) Will definitely return here when I'm in the area!

Small, selective inventory, and great staff. A tiny hidden gem!…read more *Superb* candle, crystal, herb, oil, and incense selections (and better candles than I find in most other places). Not the best place to go for books, but it's so good otherwise that I won't complain. This is a metaphysical shop for serious practitioners, with a friendly staff willing to teach newcomers.

As a storm rumbles outside, with the rest of his village of Berk training cohort having gone for…read morethe evening, Hiccup turns the pages of his Viking clan's most sacred possession: The Book of Dragons, a descriptive accounting of every dragon believed to exist, and reads aloud, "Strike class. Thunderdrum. When startled, the Thunderdrum produces a concussive sound that can kill a man at close range. Extremely dangerous. Kill on sight. Timberjack. Skrill. Whispering Death. Burns its victims, buries its victims," Hiccup continues to flip pages, "chokes its victims, turns its victims inside out. Extremely Dangerous. Extremely dangerous. Kill on sight. Kill on sight. Kill on sight. Night Fury. Size unknown. Speed unknown. The unholy offspring of lightning and death itself. Never engage this dragon." Luckily, for those of us who have grown up with the much-less-risky and more accessible hobby of birding, there is no shortage of books that could instruct and fascinate audiences: David Allan Sibley's The Sibley Guide to Birds, Ken Kauffman's Lives of North American Birds, and, most recently, Amy Tan's Backyard Bird Chronicles, to name a few. But where should book lovers and birders alike head for suet, birdseed, and feeders of all kinds? If you live in the DMV, you could choose no better destination than Wild Birds Unlimited, located at 6955 Oakland Mills Rd in Columbia, Maryland, which just happens also to be next door to the Queen Takes Book bookstore. With culinary avian delectables ranging from Bark Butter Bits to no-melt super suet and feeders ranging from cardinal-, hummingbird-, finch-, and bluebird-specific feeders to Eco-tough, FeatherWeight, squirrel-proof, and tray feeders, and a staff that is both welcoming and knowledgeable, Wild Birds Unlimited in Columbia is a dreamlike destination not unlike How to Train Your Dragon's Berk, but other locations can be found in 43 states.

WBU in Columbia is amazing. The staff is kind and helpful and really know what they are talking…read moreabout. The store is peaceful and filled with high-quality and reasonably priced bird items. I can't wait to try out the cool events they have.

I wife here Sunday for part of her special day and we had a great time making candles from scratch…read more Alex was very knowledgeable and pleasant. She made our experience memorable. Thanks Alex!!!

I received Mermaid Cove as a gift and can't even bring myself to burn it because of how beautiful…read moreit is. I went back today and purchased Biloxi Rain which smells subtle yet lovely. Their candles are soy based and have a wooden wick so it's not toxic for you compared to other candle brands. There is a smell for everyone; they have floral smells, sweet smells, fresh scents, and they even had Halloween scents. I would recommend this store to all my candle lovers and you can find a great gift for others as well. The sales rep was friendly and informative! It's a great addition to old town Manassas. FYI: the candles with glitter... the glitter remains and does not evaporate so your candles will remain shimmery!

I had such a fantastic experience at Wigenton Candle Co. in National Harbor! The workshop was…read morewell-organized, beautifully set up, and the owner was both knowledgeable and welcoming. She walked us through the process of blending scents, why these candles and oils are health conscious, and pouring our own custom candles. The space itself is bright and inviting, with shelves full of gorgeous candles and décor--it feels like a boutique and creative studio rolled into one. Perfect for a group activity, date night, or even something fun to do on your own. They have multiple items at different price point if you just want to shop!! What really stood out: * Variety of curated scents to choose from (so many amazing combinations!) * Guided experience that's beginner-friendly but still creative * Black-owned business rooted in community and craftsmanship * You leave with a candle that feels personal and luxe and is healthy to burn. Highly recommend booking a session here if you're in the area. I'll definitely be back so worth it!!!

Halloween evening I planned a romantic date night with my SO at National Harbor in Maryland…read more While waiting for their arrival, I walked through the retail district, familiarizing myself with the types of shops, and their offerings. A subtle hint had been dropped before that a couple's event, like painting and wine tasting, was of interest. There was a shop offering that experience, along with one that appeared to pair photography with alcohol?!? After further investigation however, I found 'the one's, Wigenton Candle Co. The experience they offered was much more intimate; creating a candle together. Said candle, would of course be used in the future, and each time memories of its creation would come flooding back. I ducked into the shop for an overview and spoke to the owner, Stephanie. After confirming that it was ideal, I made a reservation for a bit later that evening. Come 7:00, my SO and I arrived for our candle-making session. Being Halloween, most people were interested in far different activities, thus we were the only partipants. Stephanie explained the process to us, then had us sit at a crafting station, which had the ingredients we'd need laid out already. Stephanie provided a thorough explanation of each potential fragrance, including its benefits, and popular fragrance combinations. After testing different fragrances, and combinations, we now had all the ingredients necessary to make 'OUR' candle. Stephanie led us through the process of assembling the candle, and explained that it would need to cook for a number of hours before it could be moved. She also recommended that it not be burned for at least 3 days. As we wrapped up, Stephanie shared candle burning tips including making them last, their optimum placement within a room, etc. I asked what the inspiration was for the store. Come to find out Stephanie suffered the ill-effects that many so when burning commercially manufactured candles. They often include harmful ingredients which can negatively effect one's health (short and long-term), and exacerbate asthmatic symptoms. Needless to say, the candles you make in the store, as well as the pre-made candles and other items, such as diffuser oils, contain none of the 'bad stuff'. As we made our way out the door we learned that it's possible to bring one's own food and drink to a couple's session, adding another layer of intimacy. The reaction to the experience from both me and my SO was outstanding. It blew away all the other couple experience options available at the National Harbor, and left us both looking forward to the day (more likely night) that we would first light 'OUR' candle. We can't recommend Wigenton Candle, and Stephanie highly enough. Get there!!! 'Uncle Mike'