smoltalk december.

The last smol talk of 2025 is full of festive spirit. The giving kind, the coffee-fuelled kind, and the kind that smells a bit like cinnamon and citrus. Here’s what we’ve been up to (and how you can join in).

Forget costly candles and pricey plug-ins this festive season. 

Next time your reed diffuser runs out - don’t throw it away! This ridiculously easy DIY air freshener uses simple ingredients so you can make your own with all your favourite smells. Why not try out the festive blend of scents below?

Here’s what you’ll need:

• A basic carrier oil (jojoba or almond work well)
• Your fave essential oils.

1. Pour 100ml of carrier oil into your empty diffuser bottle. 

2. Add 20-30 drops of essential oils for every 100ml of carrier oil used.

3. Pop the diffuser reeds back in.

4. Give it a quick stir, pop it up out of the way of kid or pets… and let the magic happen.

Want a wonderful wintery aroma? Try:

• 8 drops blood orange
• 5 drops vetivert
• 4 drops lemon
• 3 drops cinnamon leaf

This smol talk takes us to a converted horse trailer in Guildford, where Ollie, founder of Golden Fords Coffee Shop, has built a calm, creative space where community, connection and cleaner choices all come together (with a little help from smol).

Q. Your coffee shop has such a brilliant story! What inspired you to turn a horse trailer into a café and how did Golden Fords come to life?

I was never cut out for the corporate game and the pressure finally caught up with me. A friend had died suddenly, and a week later my boss told me I didn’t really care about their business. That landed like a punch and made everything feel impossible. A year on, while I was on holiday, my boss rang and I had a full meltdown, a panic attack. I still get panic attacks now.

I’d grown up on a farm and my family had always talked about doing something practical and honest, so I decided to give myself no option but to build a way out. I came home in floods of tears and asked my parents and my husband for help. Together we bought a horse trailer and set to work in the barn. Making Golden Fords with my own hands felt grounding and real, and it gave me a small calm place where people can pause and I could finally breathe again.

Q. Running a café from a converted trailer sounds both magical and busy! What does a typical day look like for you?

I get to work around 8.30am and open the trailer, put my Spotify playlist on and make my favourite coffee to give me a boost. Then I sweep the barn, warm the machine and set up the counter. Mornings are steady. I pull flat whites, top up the counter and chat with the regulars. The café has become a proper community and those conversations are the heart of the place. 

Cleaning is a never-ending part of owning the trailer. I am forever clearing up coffee grounds. They get into everything and when you think you are done you spot another one on the clean counter. My husband is a star. His top skills are whipping tables clean and emptying the bins, and when he’s on shift everything runs that bit smoother. 

Q. You’re using smol behind the scenes (love that). What made you decide to make the switch, and what difference has it made?

I’d been using smol for years before Golden Fords even opened. I started with the washing machine detergent tabs because they came in cardboard not plastic, which felt like someone had actually thought it through. My skin is really sensitive, so only a handful of products work for me and smol’s gentle stuff fits the bill. The subscription grew with the trailer: handwash in the customer loos, washing up liquid in the trailer and those same washing tabs for every tea towel we have. It was just so easy. I never run out of anything and it’s another thing I don’t need to worry about. Anything for an easy life.

Q. Sustainability is clearly part of your story. How do you bring that to life day to day?

My background is in design so I’m always looking for the most sustainable way to do things. Our cups and lids are compostable (not the kind that need special industrial conditions to break down) they will actually rot away instead of sitting in a landfill. The little plates we use for cakes and sausage rolls are wooden and compostable too. Everything we buy or order gets the same question: is this the most sustainable option we can reasonably use? It’s a real relief to find suppliers like smol who think the same way. I honestly think doing it any other way is a betrayal, and I’d rather pay more and do our part.

Q. And finally… what’s your go-to coffee order when you need an instant pick-me-up?

Double-shot flat white with cow’s milk and a shot of sugar-free hazelnut syrup. I have about three of these a day.

We’ve all heard this one. Vacuum too often and your carpets will wear out faster… right? Wrong.

This dusty old myth has floated around for years, but vacuuming regularly is one of the best things you can do for your carpet. Here’s why.

• modern vacuums aren't the villains. Back in the day, bulky vacuums with aggressive beater bars could be a little too enthusiastic with your flooring. But today’s vacuums? Much kinder. With soft brushes, adjustable suction, and clever tech that deep-cleans without pulling the fibres to shreds.
• dust does the real damage. It’s not the vacuum that ruins carpets, it’s what happens when you don’t vacuum. Grit, dust, and microscopic particles settle into the fibres and act like sandpaper. The longer they’re there, the more they grind away at your carpet when you step on it.
• vacuuming = preventative maintenance. Think of vacuuming as the regular upkeep that keeps things looking better for longer. Once a week is a great baseline, and if you’ve got pets or allergies? Even more often is a smart move.
• fresh carpet, fresher air. Carpets act like giant air filters for your home. They trap dust, pet hair/skin, pollen, and other allergens. But that only works if you clean them regularly. Vacuuming helps boost indoor air quality, especially for those with allergies or asthma.

So don’t be afraid of the vacuum. Use it early. Use it often. Your carpets (and your lungs) will thank you.