With every joy I find in the Indie realm there has to be of course some sorrow and regret and so it goes with Parchment Studios/Latherati. I was too late in trying this shop that offered an array of fragrances and bath and body products inspired by classic literature because once I finally decided on my first purchase they announced shortly after that they were closing. I hope someday to see this shop open once again. I loved the next items I wish to share which included the best nail polish I have ever used and a fragrance that will be accompanying me to different events. Adieu, Parchment Studios, you are well missed! These were my final thoughts... Parchment Nail Polish in Hyacinth I fully admit I was completely taken by the photos popping up on social media of this color and I had to have it even though I hadn't painted my nails in nearly 8 years. Taking a little extra care (adding some dietary changes to my nightly lunches at work and massaging alot of vintage based hand cream on my nails and hands; our mothers were right all along) I was able to grow my nails out to a surprising length so I decided it was time to treat myself. My polish shipped within hours of being ordered and arrived a couple days later which was impressive. Ah, but the true test was the color and how well it would preform. Color: On the website it is the ideal shade of a spring hyacinth in full bloom but in reality it is darker in the bottle and more greyish-deep mauve than I was expecting but I adore any hue of purple and it called out to my gloomy little self that loves "mourning Victorian colours". Transfer: I was out of practice with steadying a nail brush and figuring out how much to apply at one time but this particular applicator brush was extremely forgiving (and very comfortable in my hand as the top of the bottle is tapered and almost feels like a thick classic pen) as well as the formula that spread nicely and it took only 2 coats to get full coverage. Final color reveal and Picture It.: The polish dried quickly which was quite impressive as I was ready to set aside my whole evening and made sure all domestic duties were finished before I sat down to literally watch paint dry but my nails were dry before I fell asleep and there was no mystery imprints found anywhere the next morning. So after all said and done the shade changed to a stormy grey purple in the light and smoky purple out in the sun plus oddly reminded me of something and in the following days of me dancing around admiring the flawless shine (with no top coat required) it finally hit me! Hyacinth looks like Ursula's (Yes, THAT Ursula, and you're welcome if Poor Unfortunate Souls is stuck in your head the rest of the day) skin tone and yes I shared this observation with my friend who just rolled her eyes and laughed saying "only you" but I don't care this nail polish had me under a spell with the gorgeous unique shade (it really doesn't take much to make me happy or entertain me, haha). So how long did it last?: Even with washing dishes and a pack of mud loving dogs, the polish lasted over a week with minimal chipping and finally on the 8th day, one huge chip was clearly noticeable so I tried to repair it throughout the day but just made a mess so I tried removing the polish but it wouldn't budge no matter how much I soaked my nails. I emailed Julie and within minutes (her customer service is amazing to say the least) had an answer that I needed Acetone Nail Polish Remover so off I went into the night for a grocery store run and she was absolutely correct. It melted off with no annoying lingering hidden stains. Would I purchase Hyacinth again?: Absolutely, this is the best nail polish I ever used (once upon a time I used to paint my nails every 4 days in every color of the rainbow and could do some fancy things with a toothpick so I'm very familiar with the top commercial polishes that chipped on the first day even with a top coat). *Along with my bottle of Hyacinth I received a sample of the newest fragrance called White Gloves which is inspired by a true treasured classic (my second favorite novel by Edith Wharton) and again I sorely wish I visited Parchment Studios (formerly Latherati) MUCH sooner... "...fastened with a single gardenia. She dropped her eyes to the immense bouquet of lilies-of-the-valley on her knee, and Newland Archer saw her white-gloved finger-tips touch the flowers softly." - Edith Wharton, The Age of Innocence Listed Fragrance Notes: PROLOGUE: bergamot, green stems BODY: gardenia, lily of the valley, orange blossom, tuberose EPILOGUE: amber, sandalwood, cedar, musk In the vial: Tart and sweet BERGAMOT with buttery GARDENIA and TUBEROSE. At the moment it's not quite what I would envision from the Gilded Age but it's lovely none the less. Applied: I was mistaken White Gloves would indeed fit into the parlours and be found on the social climbers and dollar princesses we love to read and watch documentaries about. It definitely has a vintage elegance to it and is a fine selection for the late spring to summer months. I would call White Gloves more of a citrus-floral (with a trace of realistic flower stems peeking through) and as I sit here the amber appears along with the cedar on the dry down which warms this blend and adds another level of the unexpected. I do wish it lasted longer on my skin (about 2 to 3 hours) but still White Gloves will be joining me at historical events and be displayed next to Alkemia's La Belle Époque in my travelling portmanteau. |
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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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