I presume the name Out of the Blue is meant to send the message that this shop is full of assorted…read moreitems that will surprise you and come across as a bit different, and I would agree that in this case, the shop pretty much deserves the name. There is a wide selection of most gift related genres here, so if you're in a rush to buy someone a present and this shop is nearby, I'd definitely recommend having a peep inside, because you're sure to find something. There are some quirkier items to choose from, like a cheese door wedge (who wouldn't laugh if they saw that in someone's house...no...just me?) and other novelty gifts like a clock, bottle stopper or lip gloss complete with crazy design of some kind. If novelty doesn't do it for you, then there are also plenty of play it safe, people pleasing options, with some pretty trendsome accessories for the home and some awesome women's Irregular Choice bags. There are also office accessories and other manly items like cufflinks, Top Gear and Superman merchandise, plus the eternally can't go wrong option of a good old scented candle for the ladies.

Wow. There are so many gift shops in this area, in fact, there are loads in the whole of Edinburgh…read morebut am I tired of them? Absolutely not. I am an absolute sucker for gift shops, even if the purchase I end up buying is a gift for myself rather than someone else. Out Of The Blue stocks what you would expect from such a store; handmade cards, gift wrap, candles, cuddly toys, home accessories, toiletries and other quirky little keepsakes that make perfect presents and are also good fun to browse. As an avid gardener I was immediately drawn to the cute gardening tools on offer and had to resist temptation as I was actually on a mission to get a gift for a friend. I ended up leaving with a little set of cupcake shaped lip glosses that I'm sure my friend will love, they were very reasonably priced and the staff were really friendly and helpful too.

One of my favorite spots to grab local Scottish souvenirs is Isle of Skye Candle Co. on the Royal…read moreMile. This family run business features natural candles hand poured in the Scottish Highlands on the Isle of Skye! My favorite scent was Chamomile & Cedar! Reed diffusers and skincare also available! The staff were very friendly and helpful with product selection and knowledgeable of available options! I am always willing to pay more for high quality products and to support small family owned businesses.

This was my favorite shopping experience in Edinburgh. Their staff is exceptionally friendly and…read morefun to talk to, and their candles smell amazing! I'm sitting halfway around the world enjoying the lovely smell and planning my next trip to restock...cause that makes so much more sense than ordering online!

Received some beautiful pastel flowers from snapdragon. They are absolutely gorgeous. Service is…read moreoutstanding, extremely professional and ensures the customer is happy. Very happy and highly recommend.

From the owner: Fresh, Seasonal Flowers from Your Local Edinburgh Florist…read more Established in 2015 with the clear aim of bringing natural and elegant garden inspired florals to Edinburgh, Snapdragon is a florist, plant shop and botanical store in Bruntsfield, Edinburgh. Inspired by the changing seasons, our small team of skilled florists create luxury fresh flower bouquets and floral arrangements for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, parties, events, funerals, and all life's special moments.

Cute wee gift shop at Haymarket. I had passed it a few times commuting to work and took the chance…read moreto pop in on my way home. Nicely laid out inside and lots of quirky things everywhere you looked. A little pricey but good quality stuff. I took the chance to grab a bargain looking through all their birthday cards that were reduced in price. I always have a couple of spare cards in the house and tend to stock up on them when I get a chance like this. 10 cards bought that were £2.50- £3.25 each now half price. Nice shop, will need to keep it in mind for little birthday gifts.

The cute, the kitsch, the quirky; that which induces the 'awww!' - I love it all. So it's no…read moresurprise that I fell head over heels for Pippin, as it embodies all of the above. When in search of a gift in Edinburgh before heading home, the oh-so-cute Pippin sign caught my eye. I headed over to the sweetest of shops with the sweetest of stock. Although there are some baby clothes in the window display and more inside, this is a relatively small part of the store and its offerings. There are plenty of lovely candles, brooches and cards to browse from a variety of different designers. Just the sort of things you'd find on etsy, which is totally up my alley. The gift was for a candle-loving friend headed to Aus so I decided that, naturally, a nice candle would be just perfect. - They had quite the selection! One range slightly cheaper and the other a little more expensive as to suit all budgets which is great. I sniffed and I sniffed till I found just the one. Would I like it gift-wrapped? 'Oh, yes, please!' So my gift looked suitably pretty in its blue wrapping paper. And at no extra cost. What a nice touch! What could make me fall even more in love with Pippin? 'Pippin supports British designers and companies, providing our customers with high quality hand picked products.' To me, that's super cute!

Black Moon Botanica is a magical shop with two locations in Edinburgh (as well as an online shop…read morethat ships internationally!). They are "candlemakers and purveyors of esoteric and magickal goods" offering loads of artisanally crafted jewelry, books, art, tarot, and more. Their soy candles and wax melts really are their specialty though (some of my favorite in the world; and, also, I can't get scents like what they make anywhere else). They've done an exceptional job describing the fragrances and uses for each of them online if you want to look. My favorites: 1) Mercury Retrograde (patchouli, bergamot, jasmine, white gardenia, vetiver; designed to "keep you grounded and supported while lifting your mood when things are going awry!") 2) Witch Wood (pine, cedar wood, cypress, sandalwood, eucalyptus, fir; "perfect for grounding, rituals working with nature, and when in need of the forest in your own home. Ideal for Yule and winter solstice, this smells of a grove of Christmas trees.") 3) Cabin In The Woods (... I think? this was a holiday scent and it smelled like wood smoke and fir and ash and fresh air!) I appreciate that the staff doesn't rush my experience browsing, touching, smelling everything. They are knowledgeable about their products; and, they also seem excited about what they're currently doing and what they hope to do in the space in the future (I've been here when an artist was inquiring about how to get their tarot featured; I've been here when an older man was inquiring about what tarot even was because his granddaughter was asking about it and he wanted to "buy her some" - in both situations, the staff was lovely, engaging, and friendly). See you soon for more candles soon, friends!

Since the last time I've been in person, Black Moon Botanica has a) started shipping…read moreinternationally via their online store and b) opened up a second location in New Town that's... 1. bigger, 2. seems to have even more options available, 3. and has *much* nicer staff. I know this location in particular is of significance to the owner, but I'd rather visit the location on Thistle Street.

Absolutely incredible customer service, such a friendly bunch of people! The selection of books…read moreabout Celtic and Scottish lore is phenomenal and reasonably priced. When I asked about a particular book I was looking for they were kind enough to direct me to the bookstore next-door when they realized they were out of that particular copy.

My friend has been talking about The Candle Store for months and months, telling me how good it is…read moreand that I need to visit. I absolutely love candles and now and again will treat myself to a Yankee Candle (or steal one from my mum). Although Yankee's smell good enough to eat, and last for hours upon hours, they're just not very bank balance friendly and as a student I can't really justify the prices even though the smells are always amazing. I've tried various different candle makes and nothing really seems to compare which is why I am SO happy that I found The Candle Store. Situated just across the road from Govan Underground it makes it easy to locate if you don't have a car. Even though it's quite a small shop there are literally hundreds of candles to choose from, I was easily there for 25 minutes. The woman who was working was so nice and helpful and she showed me a few of her favourite candles which all smelled amazing! I liked the fact that I was left to browse under no pressure to buy anything but I knew that if I needed help there was someone to ask who was very easy to approach. I was even given a few tips on how to make my candle last longer! What's more, the shop is beautiful decorated with candles lit in various corners which adds to the excellent attention to detail and makes the shop very welcoming indeed. Eventually, I opted for a large amber and rose candle at a ridiculously reasonable £3! I'm sure it will burn for days and the smell is amazing. It reminds me of the Thierry Mugler Angel perfume, and when I woke up this morning my whole room smelled delicious and it hasn't even been lit yet! When I purchased my candle it was wrapped in pretty pink tissue paper with "The Candle Store" card on it which I thought was a really nice touch - perfect for gifts. There's even a gift wrapping service with beautiful boxes and ribbons to choose from. In addition to basic candles for around the home there are candles specifically designed for gift ideas with flowers wrapped around them, in cute little tins and gift boxes too. I can't wait to tell my friend that I eventually paid a visit to The Candle Store and I will definitely be back!

I adore candles but I've never bought high quality candles... until now. I visited Shearer Candle's…read moreand had a tour around the factory (which they arrange). I saw first hand how the family company create the candles from scratch and the methods they do it in. It was fascinating! After the tour, I went into their shop to smell all the different types of candles that they have on offer and they couldn't resist name dropping a few of their famous clients; Madonna, Janet Jackson and George Michael to name a few. In fact, George Michael buys CRATES of the Persian Lime fragrance candles, so I couldn't resist grabbing that for myself. The candles are very high quality and they smell amazing. My favourites have to be Persian Lime, Watermelon, Winter Fig (a christmas variety) and then Amber Noir. As well as having the main shop with the high quality candles (large ones are around £15), they also have the "seconds" area where candles that haven't passed the final quality inspection are sold at reduced price e.g. instead of £15, it's £8 etc. If you love candles, you really need to go for a visit... and even better... it's a local company!

Amazing service and very good value for money. I am very happy with the purchases I have made here…read moreover the years and after meeting the owner and talking to her I love this shop even more. She shared my excitement for the products, you can really see they're all chosen with care. Favorite small shop in Edinburgh.

Bruntsfield is an area that's full of little boutique-style shops, selling a plethora of different…read morethings. Tucked in among these, and (currently) surrounded by scaffolding is a gem of a card shop - The Bay Tree Company. I find that I am increasingly unsatisfied by the cards provided by the major high street card and stationary chains. Cards are either too cheesy, full of unnecessary poems, or guaranteed to be the same as everyone else gets. We're always looking for that something that bit different. This is where this shop comes in. Whilst it is not a large shop, it succeeds in cramming a large array of cards into a small area. All cards are of a superb quality and cover a variety of styles as well as all the standard occasions. A bright interior and cheerful shop assistant ensures that you are always going to find the card you require. I have been more than satisfied each time I have used them. Cards, of course, range in price and the prices are perhaps slightly more than in a high street store. However, you are paying a bit more for a much better quality of card, and so this should be no barrier to using this great little shop!

excellent candles. looked and smelt great…read more AKA thedaysleeper on EBAY where I purchased from. Thanx again

Good hardware stores are a rare breed these days. Good hardware stores that sell a range as…read moreextensive as Houseproud of Morningside are like dodo eggs. From compost to pans, screwdrivers to bird tables they have it all. Split into two parts, the left hand side sells all the things you'd expect to find in a hardware store and more. They have a nifty garden section, selling pots, trowels, compost, bird tables among other things. They also have the usual range of tools, light bulbs. All the things you'll ever need. The right hand side is dedicated to kitchen products, and they have a huge range. I bought myself a hand blender from there which, at £20, was a little on the expensive side but not too overpriced. Given this place is an independent shop in an affluent area of Edinburgh you can expect to pay a little more than you would in a major chain. However, the staff are engaging and helpful and the plethora of products makes it worth a visit next time you run out of tea towels.

I have always found that good DIY stores, outside of the major chains, are hard to find in…read moreEdinburgh. Houseproud of Morningside are the exception to this rule. Situated on Morningside Road in a visible on-road location, they stand head and shoulders above all others I have tried in the city. As DIY shops go, they stock pretty much everything you would expect to find. From paints to Polyfilla, screwdrivers to sandpaper, they cover all the bases. I've visited this store on two occasions. Firstly, I went to pick up some expanding foam to fill in mouse holes in the flat. Not knowing exactly what I was looking for, I asked the assistance of a member of staff. He helpfully pointed out to me all of the different things they offered, showing a range of prices and uses. He helped me to find the product that was ideal for what I needed it for, and didn't automatically go for the hard sell on the most expensive. The second occasion was to buy a bradawl - something that is like a screwdriver, but has a point on the end rather than a screw head. Whilst this time I didn't need help finding it, the shop assistant at the counter still engaged me in some light-hearted chat whilst I was paying. It's these sort of things that I really appreciate in a small shop like this. They don't view customers as more money for the tills, but engage with you as a person. I will definitely be using this place again, as it saves a trip out of town to one of the larger chain stores. This shop is a must for all your Morningside DIY needs!