Take a wild guess what rare note hardly ever seen or oddly ever dared to be tamed and captured within the indie realm had my full attention when Spirit & Venom announced their Winter 2021 collection. If you guessed CRANBERRY you would be correct! I have a special affinity for cranberry fragrances and I also fell hard for this little shop of delicious horrors and dark whimsy's bath oil and lip balm in 2021 so I had to fill my stocking with all the festive pampering treats. These were my happy thoughts as I slathered and bit away, haha Cranberry Gingerale Bath/Body Oil and Cranberry Fluff lip balm Mmm, I am a little cranberry whore and I don't care who knows it. These are fun and festive pampering treats with the realistic tartness of cranberry cut thru with either the effervescent peppery scent of ginger ale or the taste of melted marshmallows (with a hint of apple). Both formulas are my favourite from any indie shop- the body oil is not only akin to slipping into a shimmery satin nightgown with skin-loving ingredients and maroon mica swirled all through the frosted bottle but the lip balm is the final delicious topping that tackles winter tortured lips or simply those of us who have a bad habit of biting their lips when they are not even aware of it. These really were the perfect self-care gifts I needed this winter. Pear & Brown Sugar lip balm Amazing lip balm recipe but the smell was a bit lacking in the anticipated pear area for me so I gave it to a family member who took one lick and claimed it as hers, haha. I was okay to let that balm go and was delighted to hear not only the taste but the formula worked wonders and impressed such a normally finicky gift recipient. S'more-Hees lip balm This was a repurchase from earlier in 2021 and it's still absolutely delectable and realistic! I get the honeyed graham cracker with a hint of roasted marshmallow more than anything with the scent from the tube but when applied all the promised notes come out and it tastes divine with a buttery smack of the lips. Winter Witch perfume oil sample (White tea, ghostly lilac, winter cranberry, ethereal vanilla, juicy pomegranate, pink peppercorn and a squeeze of pink grapefruit) This was a generous free sample found nestled in my order and I was hoping to get this scent in a future bath/body oil order soon for all the rare notes listed but sadly I get an overbalance of white tea and something reminding me of another scent I tried from this shop that turned out not as a choice pick and I think I will just surrender Winter Witch to a deep conditioning treatment one of these nights and use up the vial. "Sanitize Me" gel hand cleanser in Peppermint Mocha This was a free gift with purchase and this gel cleanser is the best hand sanitizer I have in my purse, it smells incredible of realistic creamy peppermint (another weakness of mine) and melted cocoa AND exceeds the CDC recommendation of alcohol percentage with 70% BUT somehow doesn't dry out my hands! Indie Magic! I also love the mini sparkles that spangle my hands after each use but that's just another added little bonus, haha. Spirit & Venom Olfactory Arts It just takes one unique note listing to get me knocking at a new shop's door and when Twisted Wonderland Perfumery shared a post about a creative spin on ice cream and it was listed as a body oil- I HAD to have it. Black Pepper and Vanilla Ice Cream? That sounded like a heavenly patchwork of sweet and warm spice that I didn't have anything resembling in my vast collection...but oh bother, it was listed under another season's catalogue and looked to be sold out. With pepper and vanilla swirling in my twisted brain, I took a complete shot in the dark and messaged the owner to inquire if one bottle was still available and to my utter delight this mad scent-scientist was an absolute sweetie and offered to make me a custom order! This was only the beginning in the months that followed, come along and let me tell you about my discoveries at Spirit & Venom Olfactory Arts (formerly named Twisted Wonderland). Venom Body & Bath Oil (previously named 'Black Pepper Vanilla Bean Ice Cream') Is a must-have if you love sugary vanilla ice cream with an unexpected edge. The black pepper adds a sinister dark twist to the creamy vanilla and I won't lie it's quite addicting and deliciously wicked!
*Every order it seems an additional sample is tucked inside the packaging along with stickers! (thank you, Spirit & Venom!) Fool this blend is dubbed but you definitely would not feel a fool trying this perfume if you love peach, bubbles and a hint of sugared herbs. On me, this is a bright zippy fruit fragrance that brings to mind a Peach and Guava La Croix on a hot summer afternoon. It hits the spot for something bright and tropical but approachable without coconut and to my amazement the peach is staying true and not morphing into cat urine. I do however wish this fragrance lasted longer as it taps out at 4 hours. Fool was something completely out of my comfort zone but ended up a keeper. The Rest Is Confetti Body and Bath Oil (Notes: A cup of white tea, elegant white musk, marshmallow buttercream cupcakes, & soft rose petals) The bottle contains this intriguing ghostly shimmery oil that flashes green in the light (like an orb) and the fragrance of this oil dries down to a lovely delicate almond cake with rose buttercream fragrance but first the white tea with white musk does give a clean and fresh opening that can be off-putting. The longer this bottle ages, the more I'm enjoying slathering The Rest Is Confetti as the marshmallow sweetness is becoming more noticeable with the soft rose months later which is exactly what I was hoping for when I ordered. Basic Witch Body and Body Oil (Notes: A giant pumpkin milkshake with a side of sugar cookies slathered in decandent pumpkin flavored buttercream) Just as with The Rest Is Confetti, this blend gets better the more it ages. I think it was the hidden almond that was throwing off my nose the first couple months with Basic Witch but tonight I'm happy to report, it's creamy, buttery and sugary pumpkin with a distinct nutmeg heart and I'm happily coated in fragrant orange shimmery oil. The hidden almond is still there but is more muted and falls behind of the top and heart notes. I will note that the bottles are the devil to open if you have RA or limited strength in your hands. Good news they don't spill or drip, bad news, you may need help opening them each time you wish to slather yourself. *I quickly found out it was a better plan to order samples in different fragrances THEN purchase the matching body oils if I fell hard for them. The perfume vials arrived in a wrapped box with little extra details and was ready for gift-giving if you ordered for that purpose. Speaking of packaging, I love the gothic but whimsical elements this shop puts into its labels, boxes and organza bags. It's just that extra touch of some dark flair that catches the eye! Perfume Oils: Ghost (Notes: A mixture of light + dark vanilla notes to create a deep vanilla aroma reminiscent of vanilla extract) As it says on the tin, however there is a chemical woody note with alcohol hiding underneath which takes a few moments to settle down when first applied. A little goes a long way on me as well and this oil fades within 3 hours. I'm marking this vanilla perfume down to add to a deep conditioner/whipped soap treatment this coming week. I think this oil would be divine in my curls versus on my skin. Venom (Notes: Black pepper essential oil combined with sweet vanilla notes making for a sweet fragrance with a sting) Ah, the sweet sinister pairing of pepper and ice cream, how oddly comforting! On me, the pepper is immediately apparent with the vanilla ice cream serving as a creamy backdrop that appears more forward as the warm earthiness of the black pepper fades back but never completely disappears even 7 hours later. No surprise this turned out to be my overall top favourite perfume oil from this shop and I need this topsy-turvy scent in everything! Spirit (Notes and Description: A simple yet beautiful aroma composed of synthetic ambergris. Reminiscent of ozonic/skin musk with hints of amber. If you enjoy a certain mainstream 'not a perfume' this is a must have). Yep, I know that scent, it's Iso E Super with a hidden cedarwood and vanilla base. I was hoping for more amber to shine through with salty ambergris but it's a strange chemical wood note rising to my nose that I recognize from the beginning of Ghost. Spirit is intriguing but I don't think for me. For longevity, this oil vanishes within an hour on my skin. Mistress of the Dark (Notes: A sexy seductive blend of spun sugar, dragons blood, and patchouli) *a free sample with my one order Why am I feeling like in I'm in the Templar's Tomb with a row of goblets and I must pick one? Okay, let's try again, haha. I had such unexpected fantastic luck with Fool, I'm grabbing something completely out of my comfort zone with spun sugar and... I chose wisely, as I really like the playful but darkly seductive qualities of Mistress of the Dark! Yay! Oh thank the shining perfume stars as this one is sweet but suggestive with the dragons blood and soft patchouli and lasts well past 8 hours on my skin. I now wish I owned a tight black velvet dress to match this slinky little perfume, ah wardrobe goals for 2021. Nevermore (Notes: A beautiful light woodsy musk combined with fresh red rose and a dash of sweet tobacco) If I wasn't already completely smitten by another tobacco and rose perfume from Redwood Alchemy (review coming soon), I would consider a full bottle of Nevermore as this is another surprising alluring fragrance that is hard to stop sneaking sniffs of when no one is looking. This is bringing to mind the lost figure of Lenore from The Raven at a Jazz Night Club in the 30s or 40s, bathed in blue spotlights. The rose is sweet and velvety and the tobacco is leaning more cigarette cut versus pipe tobacco but it's lovely all the same. This one is a keeper and one to recommend. Graveyard Smash (Notes and Description: A scent reminiscent of a nice stroll through the local cemetery. Crisp leaves in the air, mossy gravestones, freshly dug plots, graveyard flowers, and a hint of your pumpkin latte) In the vial I definitely detect the spiced pumpkin latte with wet dirt and moss and on my skin more realistic ancient weathered stone hits my nose. It's an interesting autumnal atmospheric and morphs hours later to reveal a funeral lily note that lasts nearly 10 hours. I do have another perfume that is similar from another shop so I'm undecided on Graveyard Smash in a full size but I will be keeping the vial for next fall, what dark little heart doesn't want to collect and show off all the convincing cemetery scents from across the indie realm? Black Flame Candle (Notes: Crunchy leaves, evening rain, dusty books, cobweb musk, fall spice, a candle lit after 3 centuries by a virgin) Anyone that knows me, knows if there is a Hocus Pocus reference mentioned in a fragrance catalogue then it shall be MINE! After being impressed with the realistic earthy notes in Graveyard Smash I circled back for this vial when the Halloween collection was announced and I wasn't disappointed. All the atmospheric elements are there telling one amazing scent story with thick aged leather and a hidden savoury note amping on my skin, I have to keep checking the listed notes because I swear I smell bread in an oven with the ancient dusty leather book laying on top of the stove serving as a fiendish cook book. The cobweb musk is sticky with the fall spice in the strands and the muddy leaves serves as the base with a swirl of incense and smoke. I don't detect any waxiness from a candle. Just like Graveyard Smash, this ode to a treasured film is a keeper and one to show off next October. Light As A Feather (Notes: A witchin' sleepover, clove cigarettes, fluffy pillows, buttered popcorn, burning candles, and pints of ice cream.) *a free sample found nestled in another order Right away, I get the smokey clove, butter, vanilla creaminess (and even a hint of hidden dragon's blood) however there is an unexpected sweet bubblegum note that is overwhelming the witchy top scents. Sadly this isn't a late teenage edgy version with a twist of nostalgic gourmand I was hoping for (I was really hoping for realistic ice cream or marshmallow). This oil is more playful "baby witch" on first application. After a few hours it transforms thankfully as the powdery bazooka bubblegum fades away and the creamy vanilla with clove and incense comes out to play. I think this one will be amazing by next Fall. Lip Balms: *Besides the body and bath oils, I fell hard for this shop's stellar lip balm formulas and scents/flavours. I went back twice for different orders and even grabbed some for Christmas gifts which went over wildly well. Rest In Pieces lip balm (flavour: Reeses Pieces) *says "In Pieces" on the site, but my tube says "Rest In Pieces" Yisss this is exactly what I wanted when I ordered. It smells exactly like the inside of a bitten Reeses Pieces candy. The taste is muted which I understand because of allergy concerns, but I still love this product. For performance I have to applaud the formula, it's definitely one of the best lip products I have tried from the indie realm. Does it beat my go-to from Curious Apothecary? No, but Rest In Pieces is second on the list and I want to try the other yummy sounding flavours Spirit & Venom offers. S'more-Hees lip balm (flavour: S'mores) Absolutely delectable and realistic! I get the honeyed graham cracker with a hint of roasted marshmallow more than anything with the scent from the tube but when applied all the promised notes come out and it tastes divine with a buttery smack of the lips. I wish both of these lip balm flavours came in the body and bath oils, until then I'll be stocking up for the seasons. Fingers crossed a chocolate easter bunny flavour is coming for spring or lemon cake. Spirit and Venom Olfactory Arts |
Currently Reading:
Also listening to:
Disclaimers
In accordance with FTC Guidelines, I disclose how I obtained every title for review at As The Final Page Turns (whether that be by ARC, purchased (on nook, kindle or specially ordered hardbacks) Audible version or simply borrowed at my local library). Please note: titles reviewed that are ARCS (Advanced Reader Copies) are free review copies of books that are given by publishers (these ARCS can be found at NetGalley or Edelweiss). Categories
All
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
|