Alchemic Muse (I'll keep this introduction short as I can't wait to gush about the scent treasures to be found at this next house of fragrance.) Floral-gourmands and hyacinth perfection were all I sought when I enquired on an indie focused forum and I was directed to see Alchemic Muse. Interesting enough that enquiry was posted at the perfect moment as this shop just unveiled their Kabloom! collection and I placed a very small introductory order of a single hair mist bottle which then turned into a mad dash back to my screen to order more once I uncapped the bottle and smelled a soap sample. Here is my current trove of scent indulgences to be shortly joined by a parade of PUMPKINS soon...here we go again, haha. One Note at a Time
Ostara in Hair Mist/Styling Spray and Perfume Oil (Description and notes: The eternal embodiment of spring pays tribute to you with a mix of hyacinth blossoms, myrtle, and wild heather fused with the soft green foliage of moss and ivy, gently grounded by a warm and earthy base of clove, cinnamon, and myrrh) Simply put, this is Easter and Spring-time in a bottle and THE crowning jewel of my floral collection. The hyacinth accord is exactly as promised and I have found another holy grail for myself. For scent composition, the hyacinths are the stars of the show in Ostara that are warmed by the green notes along the spice and each layer is perfectly balanced creating a symphony and soothing lullaby to the senses. For any differences between the mist and oil, the hair mist is definitely stronger for me (when applied it's like sleeping on an intoxicating bouquet of freshly bloomed sun-warmed hyacinths) and the fragrance lasts all night into the next day versus the oil that fades away within 3 to 4 hours on my skin and needs reapplied. Dreamcatcher soap sample and Hair Mist/Styling Spray (Description and notes: Snare your dreams, no matter the time! Wild honeysuckle flowers with sugared citrus notes of lemon and bergamot peel at play against a sheer base of orange blossoms, muguet and crisp green leaves.) *The soap sample arrived with my first order (thank you so much, Alchemic Muse!) and then was shortly followed by a purchase of the hair mist after one night's performance with the Ostara bottle. This shop excels at realistic smelling florals and Dreamcatcher is one impressive honeysuckle blend that sweeps me away to summertime in the country. The citrus is more pronounced in the soap bar versus in my hair and in regards to the soap formula, we have another keeper as it's gentle and non-drying leaving my skin silky smooth with no tight feeling and no need to add any type of moisturizer after use. I do wish the soap didn't melt away so fast but that only gives me an excuse to purchase the large bars. The fragrance of the hair mist is predominantly photo-realistic honeysuckle with lily of the valley and orange blossom to my nose while others have commented I smell like honeysuckle and incense (either way I'm not complaining and very pleased). For performance the formula seems to work better for me as a styling mist versus detangler. Now that's not saying the mist doesn't detangle, it certainly does (and the scent lasts) but it does leave a slightly stiff effect on my hair when simply brushed in. That may sound negative but it is ideal for creating Marcel Waves that go all the way to the crown of my head. I feel I channel Zelda Fitzgerald with that effect. Another keeper for my vanity and I'm anxious to get my nose into a Lovecraft bottle. The following items arrived with my second order (thank you for everything, Alchemic Muse!) and will be full sized purchases. The whole Kabloom! collection is coming home to me. Cloud Nine soap sample (Description and Notes: An ethereal clean and creamy white floral blend with billowing white blossoms of Victorian lilacs with wisps of sweet jasmine, white rose, white violet and cherry heliotrope. Floating beneath is a thick layer of fresh cream raining onto a bed of white raspberries.) I'm happy to say, the formula of the soap is consistent across the board and the scent of Cloud Nine is as I can only describe what a spring angel would smell like; it's floral, dreamy AND even contains violets that behaved with my chemistry. No cough syrup but only creamy classic white and light purple florals. I think in addition to the soap bar I need Cloud Nine in the hair mist. Into the basket it all goes (my pocketbook is really doomed come Black Friday this year). Orange Blossom Tea soap sample (Description and Notes: An exquisite, sultry scented blend of orange blossom petals with bergamot, muguet lily, and fresh green notes over a heart of robust black tea accented by a sheer, earthy base of oak, sweet hay, and light musk) I think it is safe to say, 2019 is the year of Orange Flower/Blossoms for my bath and body collections and Orange Blossom Tea is another creation I need to add to my basket in different formats as this one is sweet and feminine with the orange blossom and the underlying tea stays true and adds a unique warmth to the floral and green notes. I'm curious to see if the fragrance would morph on my skin or if the hay would appear more. Only one way to find out. Turkish Delight bath melt (Description and Notes: Jellied candy flavored with rose water and coated with powdered sugar) This was a first for me as I never used a bath melt before and I'm happy to say Turkish Delight is the beginning of another collection for myself. Not only did this melt smell divine (and last quite awhile when broken up- 4 baths in total I got enjoy with it) but hints of pretty sugared rosewater still lingered on my skin an hour later leaving my water filled sanctuary. I admit I'm on a severe rose kick right now and this melt hit the spot (it's like bathing in rose petals and a bit of sugar). It also softened my skin to a petal finish (even my elbows) and works just as well as bath salts for my tired muscles and sore joints. Needless to say I will be purchasing Turkish Delight and exploring more releases from this charming shop. Alchemic Muse "Every love story is a ghost story" Can we truly fathom someone else's suffering and inner pain when it comes to grief or when we read a famous poem or witness a monument of lost love, do we only project those ideals and expectations onto our own pain and relate without questioning? When do we let go? The Lost History of Dreams is one of those stories that hits hard and leaves you with many thoughts, long pauses of recollections on interests and can be called "soul-baring". Set in Victorian England we follow various characters who experience haunting loss and abandonment in different degrees and planes. If you love Wuthering Heights, works of Poe, Du Maurier, Ovid and Byron, this novel is for you as this is a grand sweeping and atmospheric gothic tale with mystery, rich depth, complex symbolism and some unexpected swoon-worthy moments that make us all hope to find our own "locus amoenus" someday. With many thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley who sent me an advanced copy of The Lost History of Dreams -EGP/January 2019 |
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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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