A wonderful shop that will be missed. Their website has been shut down, and on Facebook they're…read moreshowing photos of store fixtures they're selling "to pay our last month's rent." (Last date for a sale was February 18, I don't know if there will be more.) A real loss that leaves VERY few choices nearby.

Inviting & cozy atmosphere. Informative, knowledgeable…read moreservice provided. Great choice selection of crystals & incense!

I booked a candle making class for my friend's bachelorette and it was so much fun! It was such a…read moreunique experience where we learned so much and had a blast and we loved that we got to take home our candles as a memento of the trip! Michael was so lovely and made the experience even better than we could have imagined. Highly recommend!!!

This is a great place to make a candle. Michael was a great teacher. Very knowledgeable and…read morepatient. The show room displays are lovely. I enjoyed the process of smelling the sample scents and selecting my vessel. The fee was reasonable at $20. I choose to upgrade my vessel which was an additional $8. After this candle has been completed burned, I can take the vessel back to create another candle. There are lots of other candle/scent options available for purchase. I'm looking forward to returning. I had a great experience here.

Calm vibe, cool people, interesting, tasty teas aplenty, lots of spices, advice on what to get and…read morehow to use the goods -- plus some tasty treats, pretty tea accessories, and cookbooks! Oh, and the décor is very nice! I personally really like the Earl Grey Spring & Mulberry date-sweetened chocolate. Of course, the packaging is so pretty it's hard to separate that from the taste and texture, too .... The honeys here are like none other I've had before! The absolute cutest little honey bears I've ever seen! There's one raw honey in a glass jar that's the only chewy honey I've ever tasted -- what a treat to eat a spoonful of that plain, direct from the jar, mmm! (I didn't just eat it for the taste or texture, though -- I started to eat it because I'd read about the great health benefits of honey!) I really really enjoy the smokiness of the Russian Caravan. Plus, it's fun to research, read and find out about such things as how this rather unique tea flavour came about -- that it was the result of actual campfire smoke flavouring the tea in the first place while travelling across Russia way-back-when that is now encapsulated in this oh-so-tasty tea! Tea is a really great gateway to learning about various cultures and world history! Maybe it's his-tea-ry! Persian Rose Garden tea is splendid -- mellow and rich, smooth, calming (I'm not saying it's medicinally calming, but rather that it's evocative of a certain atmosphere that may make you feel a certain way if you tune into it.) Turmeric ginger is very nice, too .... Overall, aesthetically beautiful, palate-pleasing place! Highly recommended!

This is a unique store where lovely fragrances abound…read more The staff are pleasant and unpretentious. All the looseleaf teas are made in-house by master tea-blenders who are constantly creating. The story of how I came to know about Shafa is pretty funny. A relative was sick and drinking some of the Shafa Blends' teas as a way to recover from a serious illness. I secretly doubted this would be of much benefit. However, to commiserate with him, I had a cup of their turmeric/ginger tea. And, don't you know, I felt better--and wasn't even the ailing person! So, now, I'm a believer. I like their Superior Earl Grey tea; the bergamot component is marvelous. There are other Earl Grey combinations, too. The rooibos is nice. And I can vouch for the fact that their teas keep their intensity long after purchase.

When in Old Town...stop by The Old Town Shop. Lots of fun souvenirs, cherry blossom-themed items,…read moreVA items, and plenty of patriotic doodads (psst - America's 250th birthday coming up). The staff was very friendly and welcoming to all.

This shop is so cute and surprisingly affordable! We recently stayed at Hotel Indigo, a block or…read moretwo down Union from the shop. The hotel partners with the shop, offering guests 10% off purchases, so we stopped in here every single day--even twice one day--to stock up on souvenirs and gifts. The selection of items was great! We found several things for everyone back home. Prices were SO reasonable, especially with the extra 10% off. Staff was nice and remembered us each time we came in, joking on the last day that we were their favorite customers since we had been there so many times LOL! Overall, this shop is great. Will absolutely be back next time I'm in Alexandria!

I met them at Blend during the Christmas Market. Their candles are fragrant but not as strong as…read morethe name brands (which for someone like me who has chemical issues is a bonus) and as they are soy, they burn less so better for the environment and for your health. I like that they also use cool wooden wicks; I love candles that crackle! I have yet to burn mine because the fragrance still emits even with them unlit and I want to savor it a bit longer before it melts. I love the fragrance of a campfire, so I got the Santa's Reindeer. It's exactly what I was looking for. They do ship, so if you are like me and don't live in the area, you can get replacements. Prices are extremely reasonable and well worth the quality.