MoonaLisa: A Supernatural Clean It's not every day I'm presented with the whole package of beautiful vintage aesthetic, fantastic scent artistry and a touch of unexplainable magic from a house of fragrance but sometimes the stars align and good things enter into your life at the perfect time and so it goes with MoonaLisa: A Supernatural Clean. From dream gourmands in gorgeous themed bottles, nostalgic scents that sweep me away to happier times and even to bath products that just melt away my stiff tired joints and muscles this shop is one I have been waiting for when it comes to the ultimate pampering delights for myself. Who knew this was the year of such wonderful kinds of self-care treats to discover and MoonaLisa: A Supernatural Clean shoots to the top of the list of favourite orders/releases of 2018 and shops to share. As I said, it's not every day you stumble across something so special or rare for yourself and for me it all started with one simple curious purchase during a favoured time of the year... One Note at a Time: *The Rumpkin! (Gathered Notes/Description: Delicious pumpkin goodies with a twist of fresh sweet lavender essential oil) In the bottle: Exactly as it says on the tin, SPICED PUMPKIN and SWEET LAVENDER. I have been searching for over a decade for this combination of notes in one bottle that isn't sharp or candle-like on the first impression. Is it possible The Rumpkin! is THE ONE? Applied: ...How do I truly describe heaven or the crown jewels of both pumpkin and lavender oils in my collection? I don't feel I can fully do this fragrance justice and all I'll do is end up rambling but here we go: I can only call The Rumpkin! pure elegant long-lasting magic (it is still detectable well into the next afternoon on me). THIS [holds up diamond-studded bottle] gorgeous scent potion is what I have been searching and waiting for years to find when it comes to the otherworldly marriage of lavender and pumpkin. It's a sweet herbal delight with some serious morphing elements as my wrists project the lavender and the crooks of my arms and neck amp the creamy almost buttery pumpkin with spice. As the hours roll on, this perfume is still captivating to my senses and gentlemen wink and fall to their knees to propose undying love as I sweep past while the other ladies seem jealous tonight...Haha no nothing that exaggerated but still The Rumpkin! garners the compliments and my coworkers keep asking me what I'm wearing that smells so good as they yank my arm and I must admit I can't stop smelling my wrists and stealing sniffs on my locks when no one is looking (but then again let them look); this is everything I've ever desired in a perfume. It's sweet, herbal, spicy and creamy plus I swear The Rumpkin! holds some unseen magic as I smell tempered white chocolate at 8 hours into the wear time. How very curious and spectacular because the chocolate is staying with my finicky chemistry, I'm seriously over the moon right now! I must have more and want EVERYTHING MoonaLisa makes now. One more holy grail fragrance off the list. *Pumpkin Batter (Gathered Notes/Description: Scrumptious, toasty bread, pumpkin puree, warm Autumn spices, vanilla frosting, creamy caramel, and juicy raisins) In the bottle: TOASTED SPICED BREAD and PUMPKIN. The wrong scent to wear when you are hungry, it's delectable and so realistic in the bottle alone. Pumpkin Batter almost smells like cinnamon homemade pretzels, now that's something. Applied: Oh yum! What a delight to find this type of combination of butter, pumpkin, bread and spice in a bottle. Right away the buttery toasted bread amps with spiced pumpkin that still carries a slightly unique pretzel aroma to it but as it warms on my skin more toasted buttery bread comes forward and a hidden honey note appears. I must admit I was expecting Pumpkin Batter to be a cake heavy fragrance like others were commenting about but this dark tinted bottle is proving it holds many delicious surprises in store and I'm falling hard for the realistic homemade bread note with honey and spiced pumpkin. Here is another fragrance that lasts into the next day and a little goes a long way. Another unique scent confection for my collection and I think I want Pumpkin Batter in the bubbling bath brews next Halloween. Forager's Grove (Gathered Notes/Description: "Blended with deep, rich notes of dank woods, sweet balsamic aromas of resinous leaves and twigs, intoxicating toasted sugared wild blackberries and hints of comforting roasted coffee") A sample vial that appeared in my first order, thank you MoonaLisa! In the vial: ROASTED COFFEE, FRESH BLACKBERRIES and something like CEDAR. It's sweet and acidic but warm. I'm a little leery as coffee can turn skunky on me but I've been having such unbelievable good luck with unique fragrances lately. Fingers crossed my chemistry plays nice. Applied: There is nothing to fear with Forager's Grove as this oil is warm, inviting and isn't turning skunky on me at all! The coffee, in fact, is very subtle and the sugar-tossed blackberries smell like they are from a cobbler and there is a measured cup near at hand of gooey buttery caramel ready to drizzle on top. I also detect the balsamic woods (even a little realistic pine resin after a few hours) and a curious note akin to fresh pencil shavings which I love and immediately reminds me of long past school days and simple innocence. I am so thankful this was a free sample I found nestled in my first order. I'll be reaching for Forager's Grove when I'm seeking cosy comforts at different times of the year. This perfume is a definite keeper in my book. *above order purchased at full price When asked about all the boxes arriving at my home at different hours in the following weeks after my first order from MoonaLisa I told those that asked: "Blame The Rumpkin!, here smell me". 'Tis true that enchanting scent launched me on a journey that took me across the threshold of a whole new collection of pampering gifts for my senses and I sorely wish I found MoonaLisa: A Supernatural Clean years ago, this shop has been around since 1996 and I just learned about its talented scent artist through a very helpful forum on Reddit this past autumn. Well, 2018 was the year I finally arrived at the party and I don't want to leave especially after falling hard for the next order I'm about to share starring The Rumpkin! of course (and this time I attempted to capture all of the magnificent presentation and wrapping but failed, it's not an unboxing it's honestly an event). Bubbling Bath Brew in The Rumpkin! Every time I open the bag of these salts I'm reminded of the vintage York Peppermint Pattie commercials where someone opens the wrapper and is instantly transported far away to something amazing and relaxing; the perfect "me time" indulgence. The same happens to me and is true about these soaks as I'm greeted not by cool mint and chocolate (that comes later with Snuggler *review to follow in early 2019) but by the beguiling wafts of sweet lavender and spiced pumpkin. The heavenly fragrance of The Rumpkin! fills my whole bathroom and when sprinkled into the tub and hot water hits, it's truly a sensation as these salts just take my imagination away along with my stiff muscles, dry skin (it's insane my skin, especially on my feet is noticeably softer in winter than it ever was in summer) and this bath brew just melts deep into my joints like buttah to ease pain. Easily the Bubbling Bath Brew/Bath Salt Soaks are one of my favourite purchases of this year and I want to stock up on every gourmand scented bag and stay in my sweet smelling sanctuary for as long as possible. Highly recommend. Witch's Brew Leave In De-Tangler in The Rumpkin! Unleashing my locks in the morning from being carefully pinned after applying this magic hair brew the night before just makes me smile and I can't recommend the spray-in-hair detangler enough. I can definitely notice less splitting and my ends are clearly quenched by something that has been missing from all the other formulas I have been using for my extremely long fine hair that delights in painfully knotting at the drop of a hat or gust of wind. Every strand is touchable (not crunchy or greasy) and expensive salon worthy. From start to finish this formula is impressive and very simple to use: shake the bottle, spray in damp hair (enjoy and lose yourself in the fragrance, imagine happily drowning in it), let sit for 5 minutes and then my brush goes right through my pile of hair as promised with nary a snag. Nothing compares with the results such as the bouncy soft voluminous (and fragrant) mane that greets me after using Witch's Brew Leave In De-Tangler and my search is over. I'm purchasing this product for life and stocking up. Highly recommend. Carpet Fresh in The Rumpkin! *a surprise product in my order, thank you Moona! To the outside world (and especially to those at my workplace), I may seem organized, polished and extremely tidy but I'm harbouring a dirty little secret: I loathe house cleaning and avoid it when I can. Seriously there isn't anything wrong with an extra speck of dust on the mantel, a bed you can't bounce a quarter off of, a few fuzzballs in the corners and a little chaotic organization (haha I definitely wasn't a maid or housekeeper in any past life). So you could only imagine my thoughts when I unwrapped this beautifully packaged product. I just had to use this though as it smelled divine so out of curiosity I called a truce against the hate I have for extra seasonal cleaning and tested this mixture against the distinct funk my loveable pack can emit in the air and the autumnal muck they manage to bring in (especially near my front door) and wouldn't you know it this stuff made my kitchen smell flipping amazing and dare I say it, I enjoyed running the sweeper. In fact, I cried "good boys!" when my dogs tracked in the grime and mud because I got to use the sweeper as my dogs just stared at me heads tilted in confusion probably wondering who this crazy lady was that danced and skipped about sniffing the air while the loud annoying machine rumbled away. Oh wait, I'm not saying I love cleaning or am turning over a new leaf, far from it but this Carpet Fresh mixture does make the chore a tad less unpleasant and the ultimate reward is my whole room is filled with a fragrance I want to roll around in. I dare say, as long as I have this Carpet Fresh stocked under my sink, my home may be a little tidier in ways. If anything I'm hanging this powder and herbs in all pretty organza bags and placing them in my closets, my vanity drawers, in my car (that is oddly spotless and uncluttered, go figure) and when my dogs and cats aren't looking hiding them high above their pens and boxes. This stuff works! One Note at a Time (Perfumes) -For how large my perfume collection is now, I rarely need to purchase backup oils but I did order another bottle of The Rumpkin! because honestly one bottle is not going to last until next Halloween (it's half gone already and it's only December). Note to self: GET A BOX LOAD NEXT YEAR and hoard and tuck them away in my purse, drawer at work and my car compartment like an Easter Egg hiding Gollum. The Coven (Notes: Bergamot, Bulgarian Rose, Champaca, Spikenard, Vanilla and Frankincense) In the bottle: BERGAMOT, SPICE and RESIN. It's an intoxicating fragrance combination and I could sit here and sniff the jewelled bottle all day. Applied: Each time I wear this special oil, I smell something new and different that catches my attention and today I smell sweet citrus with nuances of powdery rose and frankincense when I take my time. I can clearly detect the rose that has been hiding in The Coven for over a month and as I sit here typing a romantic vanilla is also appearing that swirls with the bergamot and the hints of spice that begin to amp as the hours pass then the scent fades to lovely warm vanilla with resins again (it lasts 12 hours on me). This blend is described as: "rich, sultry and velvety" and that is exactly what I'm receiving. There is something sparkling and magnetic about The Coven but also mysterious and fascinating underneath. It makes me think of an elegant alluring Masquerade Mask and I believe I just found the ideal perfume to ring in the new year with. Extra Samples included with the order, thank you so much Moona! Cauldron Cakes (Gathered Notes/Description: Deliciously sinful Cauldron Cakes oozing with melted Butter, Cinnamon, and Maple and Vanilla glaze, with a crushed nutting topping, and served with piping hot cappuccino and a tiny, tiny touch of Witching mischief!) In the vial: Mmm...FRENCH VANILLA CAPPUCCINO and a drizzle of MAPLE SYRUP. I think we have another gourmand favourite oil here. Applied: Cauldron Cakes is a fragrance that the longer I let the blend meld with my skin the happier I become and by an hour in, I have coworkers yanking at my arm to smell the most realistic cappuccino aroma I have yet to come across from any house of fragrance. It's so cosy and brings to mind a little autumnal coffeehouse next to a European speciality bakery. I must remember that even though I place more on than I can smell at first, Cauldron Cakes amps with time and I was told I could be smelled from across a crowded room at a workplace celebration (this oil upstaged 2 homemade birthday cakes, a row of creamed desserts and cookie tray, in fact, everyone was wondering what smelled so delicious and where it was on the table hehe). I never knew how much I amp maple, butter and vanilla until I placed Cauldron Cakes on my skin. This sublime scent potion is on the list to purchase in the bubbling bath brew and hair de-tangler next year (even though I find my coworkers drooling and searching all over the room with a crazed hungry look in their eyes quite entertaining when I wear the oil form, I want to keep this special delight at home for me to enjoy alone like a good cup of relaxing sweet cappuccino). Maniacal Mamie, Art of Poisoning Oil - (Notes: Hyacinths, Deadly nightshade (belladonna), Atamasco lily, Purple Periwinkle mixed with Oaks and a touch of Opponax & Helichrysum essential oil. (Poisonous flower oils are synthetic fragrances, not real poisonous essential oils) In the vial: A waterside ceremony with deep purple HYACINTHS and LILIES floating in the water. It's a beautiful and slightly unsettling blend. I love it already! Applied: I know this oil is listed under the Halloween collection but this perfume is perfect for spring and I'll be reaching for Maniacal Mamie, Art of Poisoning Oil when the first robin lands in my yard next year. I may any other day curse my chemistry for ruining certain florals but this blend found a devious accomplice with my wonky skin chemistry, together they create a truly wicked scene (think if poor Ophelia returned from the depths of the brook and had her revenge by the light of a full moon). It's hauntingly beautiful (there is even a glint of metal somehow present) and arcane. I want this unique fragrance in a jewelled 3ml bottle, the hair de-tangler and argan oil. Broom Brittle (Gathered Notes/Description: Be the talk of the next Coven meeting with notes of smoldering woods, blended into a toasted Coconut and Pumpkin Pie crumble, magically transformed into a rich buttery toffee brittle! Only a Good Witch would think of that!) In the vial: BUTTER, PUMPKIN and SWEET COCONUT. Applied: I knew my skin chemistry would get me with one of these vials sooner or later for I am a tropical pumpkin slathered in butter with Broom Brittle. I wasn't expecting the coconut to amp like this, it sadly gives me a headache and lasts well into the next day even after a shower. The toffee tries valiantly to come through but it's no match for the ripe coconut (almost smokey sweet) and butter. Perhaps it needs some more careful aging. In any case, if anyone out there loves coconut or is looking for a curious pumpkin blend definitely give Broom Brittle a wave of a wrist I don't think you will be disappointed. For me, oh well can't win them all. UPDATE (June 2019): After several months I re-tried this oil and aging and patience has triumphed again as Broom Brittle has morphed into a crave-worthy scent confectionary reminding me of a crunchy spice sprinkled Samoa cookie with a kiss of pumpkin. The coconut has been tempered with the warm spice and buttery toffee and this blend works perfectly for the summer but also easily transitions my mind away to my favourite season. Mmm another winner in my book and I think another bath time treat come October 2019 Cinnamon Blackberry Crunch (Gathered Notes/Description: A delicious blend of cinnamon sugared blackberries topping an irresistible confectionery crunch!) In the vial: FRESHLY PICKED JUICY BLACKBERRIES tossed in SUGAR and CINNAMON. I want a full bottle now. Please oh please let my chemistry behave because I seriously want to drink the vial. Applied: Mmm YISS! It's buttery, toothsome fruit with spice sprinkled on top and even has realistic crunchy crumbles and squeeze of lemon present. How does this scent crafter create such realistic fragrance confections?! Ah! Reading the About Us section on her site it says she is a certified pastry chef and she certainly does her field proud with creations such as Cinnamon Blackberry Crunch and Cauldron Cakes (plus many others which I will ramble about in 2019). They're scent perfection. I do wish this fantastic blend would last longer on my skin (this perfume and Bonfire were the ones that disappeared the fastest out of this order) so I need to remember that slight disappointment caused solely by my chemistry and to get the bubbling bath brew, hair de-tangler and argan oil in this delectable mixture as soon as those options become available next fall. Bonfire (Gathered Notes/Description: A bonfire is a large controlled outdoor fire, the word comes from "bone fire." The practice is believed to derive from the Celtic festival of Samhain, when animal bones were burnt to ward off evil spirits! Eweoooo, spooky! This scent is a smoky fiery brew, with faint hints of fields of sweet hay and a slight aroma of harvest picked fruits and mulled wine) In the vial: DARK HARVEST FRUITS, SMOKE and SWEET HAY. It's screaming fall to me and "you need this in your hair now!" Applied: We have another lovely mysterious morphing fragrance in Bonfire as it opens with fruit, wine, smoke and the most realistic "up in the hay loft" sweet hay accord I have come across from any house of fragrance yet. It takes me right back to the horse barn of my youth but there are spiced drinks waiting outside and fruit in my hands that are changing all to sliced apples as I sit here typing. Wow, this is nice and as the hours turn this perfume fades slowly and lasts only about 3 to 4 hours. I definitely need Bonfire for my hair in you guessed it, the hair de-tangler (I'm going to have a huge collection of bottles next year from all the releases from this enchanting shop). Another keeper and one to recommend for those that love scents which embody autumn. Yuletide Grove (Gathered Notes/Description: "Talk a walk under the starlight winter sky, where evergreen patches of enchanted winter forests meet exotic far East Sandalwood accords, mingled with soft, woody, smoky, sensual Amber, and wafts of sacred incense, with a touch of spice. This blend is a marriage made in heaven of two heavenly scents (Starlight Woods with Yule Wood)") In the vial: Glorious realistic sticky PINE and WOOD (almost like sawdust or the bottom of a cut off Christmas tree). Could it be I finally found a darker version of one of my favourite perfumes (Falling Stars at Winter Solstice from Alkemia Perfumes)? Applied: Alas, not this time and I'm really beginning to think my skin eats evergreen and balsam notes because here is another oil that once applied the incredible pine transitions immediately to sandalwood, amber and hints of spice in about 7 to 10 minutes. Don't get me wrong, I still really like Yuletide Grove it's definitely a cosy "wrap yourself up and read by the fire" type of meditative fragrance versus a pure atmospheric. I do love the powdery drydown with spice and creamy sandalwood that lasts hours on me and out of pure curiosity, I did dabble in some layering with Yuletide Grove after becoming inspired by others on Reddit. I never attempted deliberately layering fragrances before so it was complete surprise my first scent mashup was a success as Yuletide Grove paired marvellously well with Der Hölle Rache from Sixteen92, my friend even commented saying "not to sound weird but you smell so good tonight". Nothing like leaving with a positive note for the night. Another keeper and I would love to see how Yuletide Grove plays with something dark fruit noted but I'll leave that to another day. *With many thanks to MoonaLisa: A Supernatural Clean for kindly sending me these different scent creations at a discount for sharing my honest thoughts. MoonaLisa: A Supernatural Clean Sixteen92 Welcome to the expansion of my unsettling though strangely beautiful floral garden collection (with one of two transportive bright fragrances for good balance). Ever since I fell hard for Necromancy (feature article coming soon) I've been dashing about Sixteen92's catalogue of the rare, powdery, spicy and sweet gathering different vials with floral nuances. Some of these fragrances are available now in the general listing and others are (hopefully) to be returning for Resurrection 2019 and one is marked to disappear forever due to sourcing components. Vials: Mellifera A Thousand Times More Fair Bridget Bishop The Weird Sisters Mina Harker Lucy Westerna The Heart is a Lonely Hunter One Note at a Time The Weird Sisters *Fall 2017 Collection inspired by Bram Stoker's Dracula/brought back for a limited run in October 2018 (Listed Notes: Iris root, carnation, helichrysum, styrax, ruby-red lips, silk gowns, bone-white sandalwood) In the vial: I swear this vial releases a sinister chortling or clicking sound when I open it, it's so fantastically chilling and another that smells otherworldly. I do get a SWEET WOODEN CARNATION mixed with STYRAX, ORRIS and VIOLETS. This is a fragrance that would have fit in my Ave Victoria poison kit. Applied: What wonderful scent sorcery is this?! Not only do I have quite the unsettling and alluring scent potion on but it contains violets and they aren't some unholy amping note which fights against my chemistry, no these are powdery and wilted and softly morph becoming a "my skin but better" type of freaky sweet fragrance. Wow, if there ever was a perfume inspired by a horror classic The Weird Sisters is it. For anyone that hasn't read Dracula, I won't spoil anything for you but this oil captures a particular iconic scene perfectly and it allows me a special kind of smile walking down the halls at my workplace. This perfume lasts quite a while and many hours later a sandalwood note appears that is almost creamy. I may need to get a full bottle the next Resurrection event as this is a ghostly representation of pale moonlight in a vial. Love it! The Heart is a Lonely Hunter *a limited edition (Listed Notes: Tuberose absolute, soft skin musk, oakmoss, fresh earth, vanilla, iris) *appeared in my one order, thank you so much Claire! In the vial: Delicate TUBEROSE, VANILLA and the familiar SKIN MUSK I recognize from other oils in Sixteen92's past and present catalogue (it smells like expensive vintage hand lotion). This is a pretty spring fragrance combination. Intermission: It seems I learn something new every time I open a vial or bottle from Sixteen92 because The Heart is a Lonely Hunter was the fragrance that may have finally solved an odd mystery for me: why do I smell like musty sweet bananas? Turns out after completely falling head over heels in love with two gardenia heavy creations (reviews coming soon) I sat down and went through every note from E Lucevan Le Stelle, Le Demi-Monde, Paper Moon, The Primrose Path and The Heart is a Lonely Hunter to only discover one note in all of them they shared- Oakmoss. I now believe Oakmoss is the note that dominants in those oils when they touch my skin. I will be revisiting E Lucevan Le Stelle, Le Demi-Monde and others next year in spring to give gardenias another open-minded assessment. Applied: Now that I think I finally solved a truly frustrating puzzle about oakmoss vs. gardenias, I'm trying this vial and really attempting to get past the sweet banana scent that amps on me for a few hours. Once it settles down the earth and tuberose shine through and this is a very nice blend I can't stop sniffing. I think The Heart is a Lonely Hunter will be a lovely scent accessory in my hair or my car for spring as it is a romantic entanglement of floral, earth, powder and vanilla that harkens back to another time and place. Bridget Bishop *from the General Catalogue/ The Salem collection (Listed Notes: Night-blooming flowers, belladonna, bergamot peel, resinous oudh, nutmeg, ambroxan, scarlet musk) In the vial: OUDH, PEPPER and PETALS. It's a very sombre fragrance that reminds me of another that I loved to wear for Easter this year. Applied: Bridget Bishop is indeed darker sister scent of Il Dolce Suono but has a mysterious peppery floral present (instead of polished wood) with nutmeg and a hint of vanilla. Some scents just tell an immediate story when you allow them to meld with your skin and this oil has quite the tale to share and it pairs marvellously well with other amber or musk laced scent potions in my collection. I've found it creates the ultimate dead of winter fragrance when layered under The Castle On The Hill (it smells like a haunted abandoned chapel) and it also works well with the sweet ginger-biscuit and powdery hawthorn in Tituba. Definitely, Bridget Bishop is a hidden gem in Sixteen92's general catalogue that I wished I explored earlier. Mina Harker *Fall 2017 Collection inspired by Bram Stoker's Dracula/brought back for a limited run in October 2018 (Listed Notes: Cold jasmine tea, ripe plum, black violets, pale skin musk) In the vial: PLUM, VIOLETS and VINTAGE SKIN LOTION. Another understated lovely Victorian themed vial that would fit into my Ave Victoria poison kit nicely. This is the scent of a lady who has a lethal secret. Applied: Have I actually found another violet noted perfume that is working with my wonky chemistry? YES, yes dear readers I have! Oh, this is a fantastic scent creation that smells ethereal, beautifully strange AND somehow cold (seriously how does Claire do that?). I admit I was only hoping for the plum to shine through as it is one note I adore and I wanted to sort of scent preview how the plum would treat me when I went ahead and purchased a special edition bottle (review coming very soon). What a delightful surprise, the plum does stand out with a mild dark fruity sweetness and the black violets pair so well with that accord. I do notice that the violets amp over everything presented but mercifully shows some restraint and does not smell like nightmare inducing cough syrup in the slightest (RIP Hydromancy, you shall go to a better place). I must remember that it's BLACK VIOLETS that play so nice with my skin and nose (I must also remember Mina Harker only lasts 6 hours and I need to layer it next time). Putting another scent potion down on the list for full bottle purchase in the future. Lucy Westenra *Fall 2017 Collection inspired by Bram Stoker's Dracula/brought back for a limited run in October 2018 (Listed Notes: Brugmansia flower, night-blooming cereus, oud, guaiacwood, honey, fennel, stone) *Straight from Sixteen92's page: a component for this fragrance has become more difficult to source; we may not be able to bring this fragrance back after this release. In the vial: FLORALS, HONEY and STONE. Definitely another cold atmospheric. Applied: Lucy Westenra is described as "An ethereal and haunting green floral" and that is indeed true, it is certainly green with the fennel that amps and carries a medicinal quality with it. I want to say it almost smells like absinthe on me but then the stones amplifies with the honey and this turns into another fragrance that has a chilling story to share. As always Sixteen92's realistic honey and stone notes are to die for and this perfume is unlike anything smelling in my collection, I'm just not certain I like it. There is something that keeps me smelling it though and revisiting the vial but I don't think I will be purchasing a full bottle. It may a little too unique for me (I do have to admit my limits and I think Lucy Westenra is one perfume that reaches that). To be clear, I don't hate this oil, I love the scene this scent combination captures. It may be another that will wear better in my hair. I will try that idea next year after this vial has a long peaceful rest. A Thousand Times More Fair *from the General Catalogue but since the publication of this article this fragrance has been listed to be discontinued/soon to be removed from the General Catalogue (Listed Notes: Honeysuckle nectar, magnolia blossom, passion flower, white peach skin, ripe plum, bright vanilla bean, delicate musk) *appeared in my one order, thank you so much Claire! In the vial: FUZZY SPARKLING FRUIT and BRIGHT FLORALS, such a happy fragrance for summer. Applied: A Thousand Times More Fair is something that hits the memory bank and I have to shift through flavors, colors and packaging and this perfume smells exactly like- Fruit Stripe Chewing Gum. I wasn't expecting that but as I get older nostalgia in any form is becoming so important to me (I just read a fascinating article about why we love and search out nostalgic things) and I really enjoy this oil. I can also see why it is a best-seller it's youthful, clean and a delightful matchup of juicy fruit and florals. Must jot down to add to all the above mentioned, that this perfume has one impressive throw and lasts even through a shower. Not a creepy or chilling floral in the slightest but some days you need a little sunshine and happy memories; think of a dainty daisy or buttercup in a patch of shadowed branches and thorns. Mellifera *from the General Catalogue (Listed Notes: Wildflower Honey Accord (not vegan), Violet, Jasmine Sambac, Vanilla Infused Sugar, Sandalwood) In the vial: Ah, SUGAR Ah, HONEY, HONEY. Here is another bright sunny perfume but it also has vintage pin-up quality to it with the VIOLET and JASMINE. A pin-up in summer? Now I'm all the more intrigued and want to go style my hair in Victory Rolls. Applied: Oh Sixteen92, your honey note is simply incredible and I can't wait to get Swarm in the next Resurrection event. The violets and jasmine amp on me with Mellifera but that was expected and it has improved immensely since I received the vial back in May. It does remind me of Blood & Honey but I believe that is only because of the honey in both love me and stays well into the next day. That pin-up quality is still there (with an addition of creamy sandalwood) and I like to don red lipstick and nail polish when I wear this perfume with delicate pearl studs to finish off the look. Again not a freaky scent creation but only transportive and one to recommend. Sixteen92 Sets the ground rules for modern horror There is no denying that Bram Stoker's Dracula is the one and only novel in anyone's quick reference list of classic Vampire stories to recommend. It really has it all: a dark ancient castle with many secrets, red glowing eyes, dangerous seduction, an insatiable unholy keeper of the night with supernatural powers, mystery on the high seas, a mental asylum and a countdown to possible doom and damnation. It is also a story to reach for if you desire a novel that fills you with dread, unease and awe but it may not be all exactly what you always thought set the ground rules for modern horror. If you are prepared and finally ready to sit down with this classic, the beginning is where Dracula shines in name and infamy, you will immediately recognize the details and actions that make Vampires such a horribly fascinating subject to hear mentioned in any context and as you lean in more for the shadowy mysteries of Count Dracula's castle, the well-known superstitions (plus a little brutal history thrown in) surrounding the region of Transylvania these may also capture your full attention. In truth, there are many memorable vivid scenes in those starter chapters that it makes me want to love this book more or say something else positive but alas as soon as the tides turn and the action moves away from one fantastical location to another and more characters are introduced that is when something shifts and no following scene seems to recapture that powerful drama or vivid quality from the introduction (one crypt description comes close but I think it is because modern silver screen interpretations always amplifies that one iconic scene and it becomes hard to forget or ignore). At that point, Dracula becomes an unfortunate battle to finish and yes I conquered the pages and added this title to my shelves but alot of patience was required. This was my second time tackling Dracula and I did enjoy and appreciate it more on my second attempt versus years ago but long parts seem so out of place, the dialogue can be headache-inducing (I can still hear Dr. Van Helsing chattering away in my mind months later) and the ending is so quick that I didn't realize it was over until the short epilogue. I also wasn't so keen about the awkward breaks or switches of characters and finally was I dreaming or is Dracula a forced romance? Definitely not what I was expecting but I found it rewarding to read and I still oddly recommend this classic of horror (that beginning is something else!) -purchased and read on Nook EGP/October 2018 "A Lannister always pays his debts" A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 3) was THE edition in this series that caught in my throat as it contained such excitement and threw me in a whirl regarding what was ever considered "safe or honored" in a book as the plot lines tangled and familiar characters returned to take another spin on the fickle wheel of fate. Years later this tome is still the title I savour after A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1) and I can't recommend it enough. There are however a couple minor negatives in A Storm of Swords that keeps this part of the epic becoming a 5 star read mostly it comes down to the side stories and to be honest, they aren't that thrilling as the rest of this volume but everyone has their favourite characters and places on the map of the Seven Kingdoms. Without giving too much away, a lot happens within these pages that were actually inspired by real-life historical events (just like the rest of this excellent series). The facts are blurred and hidden in plain sight but Mr Martin proves that dark history can serve as gripping fiction. His pen is sharp and the wine is ready to be poured, so relax, wash the dust off from your other travels and get ready for another round. Just remember, "A Lannister always pays his debts". -purchased and read on kindle EGP/August 2018 Poesie Perfume Recently I fell hard for organic loose leaf tea and I can thank Poesie Perfume (and Vida Pour Tea) for this next collection in my pantry. Blends: Twice to Tea Mrs. Darcy Netherfield Fearless Geneva *incomplete collection not pictured or purchased is Ghost Story from the Mary Shelley’s Nightmare release. Twice to Tea *the tea that launched me on a tea loving journey into so many different flavours and a whole new collection to share. Who knew tea could taste this good!
Mrs. Darcy: ginger rose hibiscus rhubarb herbal tea (Ingredients: organic ginger, rose, hibiscus, hawthorne, rhubarb root) I'm finding more and more I adore anything with ginger and rhubarb together and here in this pink tinted tincture is one lovely marriage of flavours. I get the tartness from the rhubarb and hibiscus and a slight zing with the ginger and this is helping me clear the frosty blues nicely. It is also one drink I've been brewing to ward off the nasty colds and flu season and another blend marked down for future repurchase from Poesie (I hope there are more tea blends to come for the next season and fragrance collection). Curious Mixing: It's delightful with a twist of lime and honey! Netherfield: rooibos tea (Ingredients: rooibos, natural vanilla & almond flavor, pieces of apples, peach & raspberries, hibiscus) Marking one more tea blend down to carefully ration out (I'm kicking myself for not picking up more when I had the chance) as Netherfield is another combination that doesn't even taste like tea and is one I would highly recommend to anyone who is curious about trying delicious blends to be enjoyed ice cold or piping hot. This package creates a dark peachy pink brew that is fruity but refined, a little tart with the raspberries, peach and hibiscus but smooth and refreshing (something I'm going to be reaching for throughout the year). Fearless: apple spice chamomile tea (Ingredients: apple, hibiscus, rose petals, rosehips, chamomile, cinnamon chips) Now this is one heck of a good tea! Fearless smells divine in the bag alone with the sweet dried apple, chamomile and dusting of cinnamon and it's easy to go over the recommended teaspoonful as the bag is chocked full of tiny pieces of odds and bits of fruit, plants and flowers. It promises so much and delivers a perfectly tart sweet apple cinnamon delight that is a distinct rosy pink in my cup and I just made another and am thinking of a third. Highly recommend! Geneva: rosemary vanilla green tea (Ingredients: vanilla, rosemary, fair trade green tea) Ah, rosemary you are one herb that can do it all: season food, make my garden smell beautiful, clean the air, serve as a fine bath time component, ease headaches, be a unique perfume oil choice AND make a mighty fine tea ingredient. Oh this is nice and another blend I will be carefully rationing (the bags are very generously sized so luckily I don't have fear of running out anytime soon). For me Geneva is bliss and the perfect refreshing drink with some smooth vanilla (a kick of green tea) to allow me to relax, clear my mind and enjoy watching the blustery weather outside my window. This calls for some 19th-century themed reading. It's so difficult to choose a favorite out of all the above lovely creations but my top three are: Twice to Tea, Fearless, Mrs. Darcy AND Netherfield are tied for third in my book. They are all so good! Perfume: Creatures Comforts by Poesie Perfume (Listed Notes: "a pastry shop filled with sugar cookies, pumpkin pie, apple tarts, homemade marshmallows, + sticky toffee pudding") *a surprise free sample I found in my order, thank you so much Poesie Perfume! Some days you just want to smell like a pastry and Creature Comforts is one perfume I have been reaching for this autumn for an ultra cozy escape. When applied this oil is like waltzing up to a bakery counter and being given a hand wrapped freshly baked cookie with a dusting of flour on the bottom. That realistic aroma of (as I can only describe as one of my favourite treats to bake) a Russian tea cake cookie is divine in every fashion (it's ready for dipping into hot cocoa if I had any.) I don't want to leave that section but my nose is pulled next to apple turnovers with gooey golden toffee pudding mixed with marshmallows. My chemistry decides where my senses will stay at that point as the buttery toffee amps and the apple fades into sweet powdery marshmallows. Mmm...a definite keeper! *With many thanks to Poesie Perfume for kindly sending me these teas at a discount for sharing my honest thoughts. Poesie Perfume Alkemia Perfumes alkemia.etsy.com/ Full Bottles: Citrus Alchemy 2018 Halloween Alchemy 2018 Samples: The Lover Tells of the Rose Tranquil Idyll Sorcière Rouge Roll in the Hay Feuillemort Buosni The Center of the Universe Ambre D'Automne Vespertilia Blue Moon Eclipse Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure Dustsceawung Season of the Witch All Hallows Eve October 2018 Blood Moon Eclipse Combined Thoughts: These vials and bottles have been peacefully aging and waiting for the day to be shared. Some are from limited collections, marked to be discontinued or are on sale now. One scent at a time: Citrus Alchemy 2018 (Listed Notes and Description: a sunny blend of lemon and linden blossom, fresh ginger aldehydes, blood orange, grapefruit, chamomile, neroli, freesia, and an uplifting splash of bergamot) *a surprise bottle with one order, thank you so much Alkemia! In the bottle: An overall delightful mosaic of citruses but the intoxicating LEMON and GINGER bubbles are what catch my full attention. It's so lovely and summery. Applied: Oh wow, this is stunning and I get the lemony aldehydes which are refreshing and add to the description: "sunshine in a bottle". There is also a buried note of lemon verbena present that adds a subtle hint of herbal spice to everything (sadly it fades so fast as soon as it is noticed) and I want to go put on a summer dress and walk around with a sun parasol (yes even in the dreary months of December-March). It has aged extraordinarily well (it was a tad soapy when it first arrived- I think I was amping the linden blossom and freesia the most under the citrus) but now it is one of the brightest noted creations in my collection. When it dries down there is more of a sweetness that comes through (not exactly candy but noticeable). I will be reaching for Citrus Alchemy at times throughout winter to remember sunshine and then in spring to remind myself of bubbly warmth. Halloween Alchemy 2018 (Listed Notes and Description: a gourmand blend of autumn spices, Halloween treats, vanilla incense, and a little woodsmoke) *A seasonal treat I found in one order, thank you Alkemia you are the best! In the bottle: A collage of Halloween and autumnal treats. The MAPLE rises to be noticed first then SPICED MARSHMALLOW and WOODSMOKE. Gah, you know how to spoil us Alkemia! Applied: Mmm...give me a minute. This is delicious smelling and I want to pour this oil over my head right now. I don't know where spiced maple pastries were hiding in the bottle but my skin presents them to enjoy and I also get something savoury (it almost smells like pumpkin bread) with the woodsmoke. The spiced vanilla and sticky kiss of marshmallow are the drizzled icing to the whole confection and as it dries down Halloween Alchemy smells similar to Pumpkin Strumpet which is one of my all-time favourite perfumes from any house of fragrance. This could very well be a long lost smokey sweet sister scent and I can't wait to see how this beauty ages. The Lover Tells Of The Rose (Listed Notes: wild roses, a touch of lemon verbena, white pearl tea leaves, delicate white patchouli, and a springtime rebirth of new greens and wet mosses) In the vial: Dew kissed ROSES nestled in a bed of MOSS and LEMON VERBENA. It's another stunning spring to summer blend. Applied: Anyone that knows me is familiar with my love affair with lemon verbena and it remains one of the elusive primary note I have been searching for in an indie fragrance, sadly The Lover Tells Of The Rose is understandably more roses than verbena but it is still pretty and one floral perfume to recommend. On me, the roses are fresh and clean and the moss accord is extremely realistic. I clearly get spring greens and as this oil dries the white tea and patchouli appear more with the roses. It almost smells green and papery floral as the hours pass. I wish the verbena would stay but still, I really like this scent potion and will wear it in spring. Tranquil Idyll (Listed Notes: Asian pear blossom, lychee fruits, flowering freesia, evening moonflower, Beach Naupaka, and sensuous white amber with a gently sedative dusting of nutmeg) *Listed to discontinued soon, be sure to try this perfume if it interests you before it disappears. In the vial: SALTY but breezy FREESIA, LYCHEE and AMBER. It is definitely in the beachy floral realm. Applied: The more this perfume ages the more I'm liking it. My skin pulls the nutmeg forward and the powderiness of the moonflower with amber and pear really makes me smile. This is a very expensive smelling combination. It does somewhat remind me of Carmen-7 but more summer ocean versus sweet expensive indulgences. I don't have many beachy scents so this one is unique and will stay in my summer/warm weather cache or when I want to impress trend-following relatives. Sorcière Rouge (Listed Notes: Tibetan agar-wood, and Dragon's Blood infused with Rock Rose and dark amber) In the vial: Sweet DRAGON'S BLOOD and ROSE. I have been wanting this vial for a long time. Applied: Oh a little patient aging has done this fragrance wonders and I see why it is highly recommended by so many. On me, the dragon's blood is most dominant and to those who never smelled that note before, it almost reminds me of bubbles from a wand and a hint of balsamic sweetness (once you smell it in one vial or bottle you can pick that note out of any creation, it's very distinct). There is also something dusty and salty in this oil that adds to the arcane quality of this perfume. The rose is warmed by the amber and I will be donning red or black velvet when I wear Sorcière Rouge out. It definitely deserves the recommendations and positive reactions. Roll in the Hay (Listed Notes: dried hay, fresh green grass, early summer wildflower honey, vanilla grass, vanilla leaf, and wild poppy) In the vial: HAY and VANILLA. Here is another vial I'm been anticipating for a long time. Applied: Once again the power of ageing continues to astound me because this perfume is finally staying on my skin and I'm in love with the dried hay with the romantic warm vanilla. I'm not getting any distinct honey or wildflowers but I still love this combination and what my chemistry is amplifying. There is a mint-like note that I recognize from Peaches in the Summer Wind and I'll be placing Roll in the Hay next to in the late summer to early fall collection. Another keeper. Early Fall 2018: Can I just say the Early Fall 2018 release from Alkemia Perfumes was one of my favourite packs I have received this year from any seasonal collection. Every one of these vials contain a classy and extremely wearable representation of Autumn (work setting safe). If you love well-blended ambers, aquatics that smell cool and refreshing, elegantly presented spice, a nostalgic but also adult gourmand that pulls your nose down to stay at your skin and have been looking for an intriguing science themed scent phenomenon- grab this collection now and let Alkemia welcome you to Autumn in true style. Feuillemort (Listed Notes: Dying leaves, smoked autumnal spices, dried grasses and fungi, Tibetan incense, cedarwood, rum soaked agarwood, and borneol) In the vial: The release of autumn in all its splendour with DRIED LEAVES, SWEET SPICES and WOODS. I'm in love already. Applied: This is it, this is the professional autumnal fragrance I have been looking for when I'm not draped in Necromancy from Sixteen92. I feel like an Autumnal Queen when I wear this oil and I love walking onto the floor robed in this special perfume. There is a realistic apple cider note entwined with dark amber that is getting stronger as my vial ages and the dying leaves with cedar grounds all the accords only pulling me deeper into the best time of the year. Feuillemort is so aptly named and I need to order a bottle as soon as my vial is empty. This is how you step out and greet a season with true style! Buosni (Listed Notes: Shortbread cookies, orange blossom infused icing, warm caramel, red apples, sugar pumpkins, candied ginger marzipan and cardamon-nutmeg spiced patchouli) In the vial: CARDAMON, APPLE, CARAMEL and an undercurrent of ORANGE ICING. It's such a delectable blend. Applied: Here is another tempting creation that smells so realistic and straight from a bakery counter. On me, the caramel and icing amps the most and I can pick out the ginger and nutmeg. The apple disappears on me immediately but the orange blossom stays and pairs well with the marzipan and cookie accord that begins to appear at 10 minutes. The spiced patchouli comes forward to stay in about 45 minutes and this perfume lasts around 8 to 10 hours on me. There is also an impressive throw with this oil but I'm not sure I would want a full bottle (I still like it and will be saving the vial for next year). The Center Of The Universe (Listed Notes: Raspberries, Rum, Hot Metal, Ozone, Gun Powder, and Charcoal) In the vial: Savoory RASPBERRIES, METAL and OZONE. Applied: Alkemia promised an "out there" fragrance and they delivered as this perfume is full of the unexpected. On me, my chemistry seems to have found a worthy challenge of wonky with this scent interpretation of space as it turns The Center of the Universe from muted tart raspberries with metal and charcoal to a savoury fruit and a curious coldness that seals the notes. The rum also makes an appearance with the gun powder but it never turns masculine nor overly feminine. As my vial is aging the charcoal seems to attach more to the savoury fruit amping the most and this perfume lasts well into the next day. This is such a unique berry fragrance. I know others were concerned this oil may have been a little too avant-garde but there isn't a tremendous throw with The Center of the Universe and it is more like your own private morphing scent show to the heavens above. I will be getting a full bottle once my vial runs out. Ambre D'Automne (Listed Notes: Woodsmoked amber infused for thirteen lunar cycles with tobacco leaf, cinnamon vine, green bayberries, chaga, birch tar, maple sap) In the vial: CINNAMON, MAPLE and TOBACCO, here is another I think I'm already falling for. Applied: Oh my, Alkemia is just taking my senses away with their fall fragrances this year. Ambre D'Autumne is amazing as I smell like smoked mint-honey (the bayberry is there in the backdrop as well as the spicy cinnamon and a smear of tar overall adding the woodsy aspect of this creation). It's rich but very work appropriate and I never knew I loved ambers until I opened a vial from Alkemia. I'm going to say it, they are the best house of fragrance for ambers. They know what they are doing and showcase that art and knowledge beautifully in perfumes such as Amber D'Automne. Another clear winner in my book and I need a bottle. Vespertilia (Listed Notes: Tart quince, Asian pear, and wild apple infused with black and jasmine teas in an autumnal unfolding of marigolds, Golden Ray lilies, palo santo, oakmoss, bamboo, and golden amberwood) In the vial: APPLE, JASMINE, LILLY and PEAR. It is so expensive smelling, fingers crossed my chemistry plays nice. Applied: I love the fragrance in the vial but sadly my chemistry attaches to the jasmine and I smell like expensive high-end hair conditioner. I'm hoping a long rest will subdue the jasmine (I've had tremendous luck with other vials that star a jasmine note so I believe this vial needs some extra patience, there is still something so magnetic and classic about this perfume) and more fruit will appear next year. I will revisit this oil another day. If you love jasmine Vespertilia needs to be on your vanity. Blue Moon Eclipse (Listed Notes/Description: the coolness of ferns and delicate irises beside tumbling woodland streams scattered with mossy rocks, water lilies, flowering rushes, black willow, ginger musk, and a whispering breeze of lemon verbena infused aldehydes gathered into a tarnished antique silver pitcher filled with early autumn chrysanthemums) *A limited edition fragrance In the vial: One of the best aquatic scents I have yet to come across. It's tart, dark green and strangely beautiful. Not one note stands out, this is an oil that tells a comprehensive story you can't wait to lean in to hear. Applied: Blue Moon Eclipse starts out a watery bubbly verbena over silver that shifts to white florals and dries down to unfortunate soap or hair product. How I wish my chemistry would make the first 20 minutes experience stay as I adore that green herbaceous with silver metal scent combination. I still love to wear this perfume to work and I have high hopes it will age or deepen in the coming months. You have no idea how much I want a full bottle. Perhaps this is one oil I could use in a scent locket or wear solely in my hair. Interesting ideas, I must experiment another day. Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure (Listed Notes: Rare Japanese boudoir incenses, luxurious caramel pralines, vanilla orchids, bergamot, orris root, candied lemon peel, and a splash of champagne) In the vial: BERGAMOT, ORRIS, LEMON and a silky creamy CARAMEL that I know is going to love my skin. This is a very aptly named fragrance. Applied: Oh! Now, this is a combination I could wear out with a secret little smirk. It's sultry and but sweetly refined and it reminds me of Ghost Fire and Luminae. Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure is a gorgeous balance between those two familiar fragrances with a trace of bergamot and captivating boudoir odds and bits. On me, as expected the delicious dreamy caramel amps (this is one oil with an impressive throw and a tiny dab goes a long way) and melds so wonderfully with the delicate citrus tinted powder. As it dries, the scent warms becoming a seductive caramel amber and this perfume lasts well into the next day for me. Another keeper and on the list for when the vial runs out. I can see Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure being a fan classic ranking right up there with Luminae and Ghost Fire once the word gets out. It's one of those scents that will be oh so good to you. Dustsceawung (Listed Notes/Description: The scent of forbidden explorations and an olfactory meditation on dust... attic air, the inside of old trunks, abandoned haylofts, library stacks, and abandoned buildings) In the vial: PEANUT DUST and WOOD, it's salty and sweet. I believe I had the same reaction to Stag Moon. Let's hope my chemistry turns this into a seductive little number to hoard for another day. Applied: I really must learn to not go solely by what the vial wand holds because my skin has unleashed one flipping impressive atmospheric that immediately makes me think of walking into an old abandoned dusty crawl space, you know something is there in the dark just beyond the flickering light you carry and it's the only thing giving you hope and reassurance you are safe. The wood note smells like an cobwebbed covered wooden shelf that holds jars filled with the macabre and strange (blame the time of the year or my love of horror movies but think the scene in Silence of the Lambs when Agent Starling is exploring the shelves of secrets in the abandoned warehouse). Dustsceawung is a pretty awesome fragrance especially if you love mystery, dusty wood, a trace of resin sweetness and desire a real feast for the fiendish imagination. My dark little heart is very pleased right now. Season Of The Witch (Listed Notes: Black pine pitch, dark myrrh, aged black amber, and ritual Samhain incense blended with Black Cavendish and Perique tobaccos, protective tsuga, divinatory bay leaves, and intuition enhancing black cardamon) In the vial: SWEET PINE, MYRRH and CARDAMON. What an exquisite marriage of dark accords. Applied: I must admit I was expecting a black spicy resinous midnight collaboration with the listed notes but on me the myrrh amps and creates an unexpected sweetness with the black pine pitch and I can detect the bay, a tobacco that is mild but deep and smokey and there is also the incense that is smouldering in the background perhaps adding to the mild smokiness of the tobacco. Must also jot down, this is another powerful scent potion where a tiny dab goes far. Oddly, Season Of The Witch reminds me of a long lost darker ((but strangely sweeter) sister scent of Falling Stars At Winter Solstice (or Falling Stars On Winter Solstice depending on the year you purchased it in)). I'm interested to see how this complex blending will age further and if other notes will appear in the coming months (I would love to use this oil on my gloomy themed scarves). *Intermission: For the next vial, I wanted to do a comparison between 2018's version of one of my favourite fragrance recipes to reach for and 2017's. All Hallows Eve October 2018 (Listed Notes: Warm Toasted Marshmallows, Drifting Woodsmoke, Black Licorice, Star Anise, Cardamon Pods, Sugared Amber, Tonka Beans, and Patchouli Infused Bourbon Vanilla) AND All Hallows Eve 2017 (Listed Notes: Bourbon Vanilla, Tonka Bean, Cardamon Pods, Star Anise, Candied Fennel Seeds, Roasted Marshmallows, and Smoked Amber) I know this review is late but here were my thoughts: Okay it is officially the season of phantasmagorical images, dark luring promises, wisps of mystery and surprises from all corners that make me want more because I have my All Hallows Eve release from Alkemia and wow what a night and day difference between last year's recipe to this year's. 2018's version is proving to be more of a morphing smokey sweet enigma and I know it's not listed but I swear I can smell orange (it opens very similar to Trick or Treat with the mandarin orange peel and licorice) and the sugared amber is really taking to my chemistry amping the most with the toasted marshmallow and dash of anise. 2018's mixture is definitely more sweet and grounded with pretty vanilla. My bottle from 2017's release has been aging a complete year but I compared my notes from shortly after it arrived last October to today and there isn't much a noticeable difference, it's still a suggestively wicked medley (that star anise and woodsmoke are my ultimate weaknesses). On me, there is an unabashed flexing display of crushed cardamon in 2017's recipe that is missing in the 2018 version, a sticky touch of smoked melted marshmallow and a teasing kiss of spice to keep me coming back. It's more gourmand to my nose (darker and sorry my favorite of the two but I still plan to eventually hunt down a bottle of 2018's as it's akin to a bright orange and dusk purple streaked sky versus the mischievous winds on a moonlit night where anything can happen; they are that different and both deserve praise). I guess when it comes down to deciding which is the right bottle and recipe of All Hallows Eve for someone, they must answer that fun question of are you a good witch or a bad witch tonight? Blood Moon Eclipse (Listed Notes: Blood Tarnished Silver and Strange Dry Musks) *Limited Edition, no longer available in the catalogue In the vial: I don't even know how to explain this fragrance, it's positively eerie and dark. I love it. Applied: Holy Cats this is unlike any perfume in my collection and the more it ages the more I'm loving it. Alkemia completely caught me off guard with this mysterious vial and on me, the musks dominant and I can detect a clear metal accord. This is one fascinating fragrance that lasts for hours and seriously unnerves those around me (hehe). Blood Moon Eclipse is not for everyday wear but calls for some spooky celebration or event. I regret not wearing this oil more this year (when it first arrived my chemistry turned this perfume into a mad coconut science experiment but aging as always triumphs in the end). I will be carefully tucking this vial away and saving it for next October or a horror reading or movie marathon. Alkemia Perfumes alkemia.etsy.com/ |
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28th of January 2023) NOTES/COMBINATIONS and Stones CURRENTLY ON THE HUNT FOR: Naughty Licorice/Star Anise Cardamom Cardamom Cake with Roses Smoky Honey & Leather Leather and Florals Pomegranate Colder Tuberose scents Smoked Florals with Cinnamon and Honey Graham Cracker and Incense Double strand of Rose Quartz or Moonstones or Black Tourmaline Chainmaille Jewellery Houses of Fragrance and Interest on the Horizon (shops that contain such temptations): LurkerAndStrange Good Spirit Wolf Rapt In Maille ToadStoolSoaps DSH Perfume Baphomet&Co Harvest Moon Haven Granny Hootenanny's Shop
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