MoonaLisa: A Supernatural Clean Time to share all of the decadence and a small serving of the dreamy springtime gourmands from MoonaLisa! Bubbling Brew Salt Soak in Lemon Poundcake with Carmelized Sugar (Gathered Notes and Description: Rich yellow pound cake with zesty Lemon EO, and a caramelized sugar crunch!) The scent is more delicate than I was hoping but I love the initial wafts of sweet tart lemon cake with warm caramel when the bubbles form and I can't deny this soak softens my skin and melts away any tension (like buttah for my joints and tight muscles). Next LTEC release I'm getting this fragrance in the EdP perfume form or in a detangler (I actually prefer Lemon Poundcake with Carmelized Sugar to the Lemon Sugar Cookie fragrance which I will share my thoughts on shortly). I know it is silly but I must admit I'm absolutely captivated by the artwork on the bag which has a picture of decadently dressed ladies (one is a radiant young Marie Antoinette all in her iconic finery) from the 18th century complete with colorful taffeta, farthingales, boned corsets and elaborate hairpieces. I wish I could capture the true magnificence of Moona's packaging. Perfume Oil in Aurelia (Gathered Notes and Description: Delicious ripe raspberries top this lovely raspberry jam filled white wedding cake, doused with vanilla cream, and topped with dried red rose petals and a hint of sandalwood ambered musk) Ah! How do I find the right words to describe an olfactory masterpiece and explain a true scent love story? Let me try: The sweetness and tartness of the raspberries and realistic buttercream in Aurelia are tempered beautifully with the hint of strewed rose petals, sandalwood and amber (that amps more in the crooks of my arms versus wrists or neck) easily bringing to mind raspberry sherbet (even a hint of passionfruit) on top of white cake fit for royalty. Aurelia is a complete surprise win in my book (I'm usually more drawn to dark and moody perfumes especially at the end of winter), I never knew how much joy I would get out of smelling like a walking talking frilly valentine. This beautiful scent masterpiece just melted away the winter blues for me and I can't recommend this heavenly oil enough especially if you love floral gourmands. Holy Grail status (for those wondering that's seven heavenly holy grail fragrances I have discovered at this shop). Argan Oil Hair Rescue in Aurelia So after I fell hard for my sample of Aurelia I had to get the argan oil and if possible this fragrance is even better in my curls. When applied to my own bouffant it is transformed into a fragrant billowing tower of realistic fresh raspberries and rich buttercream with stewn roses that lasts all night and I must share that after several days of slathering and stealing sniffs from the bottle(s) it finally hit me why I love Aurelia so much- it smells exactly like one of the greatest desserts I ever had the pleasure to have on my plate years ago at a special event with added rose petals and I want to drown in this fragrance. Nothing like being reunited with food memories and having incredible shine and softness to your curls. Two free samples nestled in these above orders, thank you so much MoonaLisa! Mini Guest Soap (Listed Ingredients and Notes: African Black Soap, Colloidal Oatmeal, Frankincense and Rose Oils) Where was this bar on the website because I would have purchased a full sized version. I am officially on the hunt for frankicense and rose soap now as this tiny golden coloured square holds a timeless combination that is pure mediatative and perfect for the tub. As with all of this shop's soap creations, it's extremely gentle to my sensitive skin and not one breakout to report. Basically my skin just drinks in this soap and I can't wait to grab it and race for my water filled sanctuary. Mead Moon (Gathered Notes and Description: This full moon is said to be the signal for harvest of wild strawberries. In Europe, you may also hear it called the Honey Moon, Mead Moon or the Full Rose Moon. This scent is inspired by the romance of Mead and the Strawberry Moon, notes of Wild Strawberries, Wild Raw Honey, Rose, Cedar, Oud and spice) This is a rare perfume in my collection and I can't honestly say I have anything like it to compare to so going by the notes that amp on me, it's a tobacco honey and strawberry medley with a resiny rose heart. Depending on how the winds are blowing outside I catch a strawberry accord that smells realistic and it brings back fond memories of baking with freshly picked strawberries and there is also a dirty earthy honey I can't stop sniffing. This oil can be camphorous but I personally love that about it. Found my special fragrance for June 17th. Up next, boxes of florals and a relaxing treasure for the bath to recommend. Get ready to slather and soak, springtime has officially arrived... Bath Salts in Sea Witch (Gathered Notes and Description: The relaxing and invigorating at the same time, with a fresh spray of oceanic scent is made with essential oils of Cypress and Spruce. The salts are a blend of exotic sea salts and DEAD SEA salts, Noirmoutier salts, which both are unbelievably rich with minerals and essential oils of Cypress and Spruce) I've had my eye on this item ever since I learned about MoonaLisa last October and let me tell you the wait was definitely worth it and I must remember to hoard as many jars I can next year. I wasn't expecting to be pampered by such a grounding fragrance that smells earthy yet oceanic and my home spa experience is admittedly more entertaining now than any bath should be as the "blooming" dark ruby coloured seaweed takes me away along with the soothing salts that just ease away ever ache and care. You want to feel like a pampered sea enchanter (good or bad, your choice) get these salts and lean back and relax. Ah! This jar will be in the proud empty-indie-pile in no time. Spray-in Hair Spring Detangler in Lemon Sugar Cookie (Gathered Notes and Description: Deliciously fresh and zesty exclusive blend of cold pressed Lemon essential oil, and a blend of scrumptious cookie fragrance oils makes this a mouthwatering combination, but do not eat!) I'm still not quite sure about this fragrance as I get more iced animal cracker versus any chewy lemon sugar dusted cookie, oddly. I like it but I'm looking for a combination of cookie and cake I think, maybe even with a hint of cheesecake, something tart and strong. I know that scent combination exists. In any case, the detangler will be used until the last drop. Who doesn't want to smell like an Iced Animal Cracker? Spray-in Hair Spring Detangler and Perfume Oil in Indigo Wine (Gathered Notes and Description: A fresh and gloriously blue blend of Hydrangea's and Hyacinths!) I purchased Indigo Wine at the exact same time as another hyacinth fragrance was released from a different shop and thought I would have a good old fashioned hyacinth battle royale on my vanity and head but it was a knockout by first sniff and the title goes to ...Ostara by Alchemic Muse (reviews coming soon). I know I'm shocked as well but I have to be honest, Indigo Wine although realistic in the gorgeous diamond studded bottle this is more wet garden and greenery than I wanted on my skin. In my hair the wet greenery is tempered and although exceedingly pretty it may be a little too fresh and clean for me leaning toward hair conditioner smelling which in a way works out perfectly for a hair item. Perhaps the lilac and hyacinth blend I have read about from the Summer release last year will be a better match for me. Spray-in Hair Spring Detangler in Bee's Knees (Gathered Notes and Description: Honey, honeysuckle and hyacinth) As it says on the tin, this is a rich and heady mixture of golden honey, honeysuckle and hyacinth. Out of the three detanglers I purchased from this release, Bee's Knees is my choice pick and I plan to get an argan oil of this lovely fragrance next year. *The following items and vials were found nestled in my orders, thank you so much, Moona! Bug Resist Balm (Ingredients: Cocoabutter, Beeswax, Coconut & Almond Oil, Essential Oils of Lavender, Peppermint and Lemongrass) Mint Chocalate Chip, baby! Oh yum, wait this is bug balm? Yes, dear readers, this small glass jar holds one delectable mixture that works wonders to repel late spring insects and is perfect for outside events as the scent stays close to my skin. Tried and tested as mosquitos and invisible biting flies find me a delicacy, I have been dabbing a little on when I go out on the porch to look at the moon or watch the fireflies late at night and not one bite around my ankles. I have also been using this as a curl pomade because why not? And yes at times I want to eat my hair, love this scent (I can't get enough peppermint and chocolate in my life). I'm definitely taking this balm with me for the upcoming Fourth of July cookouts and packing it away for camping. Katherine (Listed Notes: Amber, Cocoa, Woods and Rose) All hail the Queen of Gourmands as this scent artist can do chocolate notes like no other. This is long lasting regal decadence and brings to mind S'mores & Hot Cocoa but the rich Valentine's Day version and Katherine is goes down on the list as another full bottle (plus bath salts or scrub) purchase eventually. The rose, sandalwood and warm amber in this perfume is another level of captured romance and is a timeless combination. It's absolutely magnificent and a gourmand-floral to recommend. Alexandria (Gathered Notes and Description: Soft, woody, mossy, floral, and about 13 other components, with hints of ambergris, dry old book pages and a touch of intoxicating sweet labdanum) I have finally found a book fragrance without any leather and it somehow smells like scattered book pages in the winds. There is a realistic moss note in the opening that I could roll around in and I'm also in love with the wood accord in this blend. True to the description Alexandria is a soft, woody with dry book pages and a kiss of resins. I will definitely be using this oil for reading and relaxing. I wonder how this fragrance would transform in the bath? Only one way to find out, on the list it goes. Ramo's Raspberry & Rose (Gathered Notes and Description: Inspired by Famed New Orleans barman Henry C. Ramos, said to have invented this rich, potent, and frothy egg white and, sugary and cream cocktail in the 1880s, with my twist of fresh, and zesty Rhubarb, a touch of Bulgarian Rose absolute, and a touch of Vetiver to ground it out) Potent is a great way to describe this perfume on first application but it is also addicting as I can't stop smelling my wrist. Who knew Bulgarian Rose and Rhurbarb would create such a perfect garden matchup. As it dries down the tartness with floral settles and morphs into an effervescent creamy and sugary raspberry scent, what wondeful scent socrery is this? I can honestly say, I have nothing like Ramo's Raspberry & Rose in my whole collection or knew anything like this blend existed. Mmm it's so lovely and unique. A perfect scent cocktail for summer! Don't Get Your Knickers In A Twist (Gathered Notes & Description: This unusual scent is fresh and a wakeup call! Essential oils of: Fresh Lemon, Cardamom, Coriander, Patchouli & Bergamot) Dream lemon verbena and sassafras scent, is that really you?! Mmm this smells like fresh squeezed sweet lemonade and spicy lemon verbena braided with sassafras. I could happily drown in this fragrance. This is country summertime and rambling through the woods, all in one vial. Please send me everything in this fragrance. Everyone can leave now, show's over, oh wait I need to mention about the patchouli note that stays until the next afternoon with a spicy pepper note. Where has Don't Get You Knickers In A Twist been all my life? Holy Grail number eight, right here. The Strange South You know what they say: You can take the lady out of the country but you can't take the country out of the lady...er they say that right? Well in any case, The Strange South spoke to my "down in the holler" heart with their aesthetic, intriguing note choices and of course the obvious inspirations taken from folklore and ghost stories (plus they have a Hocus Pocus and The Frighteners collection!). I admit I was reading from the shadows others' impressions on Reddit for quite a while curating a special list and only finally pounced when a huge sale was announced (I should have ordered long before that), here is my current trove of the eerie, haunting and beautiful scent stories by The Strange South. And this is only Chapter One. Vials Antebellum Mama Poor Dove Darling The Shell's Here, But The Nut Is Gone Dead Men Only Play The Blues Plaster 300 Years Put A Spell On You Je Veux Mon Livre Slipped Between His Teeth One Note A Time Antebellum (Listed Notes: Peeling wallpaper, dusty cedar cabinets, pipe smoke, lavender, and wisteria) In the vial: A lovely curtain of heady sweet WISTERIA to open the scene along with a SPICY HERBAL and DUSTY WOOD combination. Applied: This is the scent of beautiful remnants of long forgotten love letters tucked away in a cedar chest. The wisteria smells akin to lilac (non-soapy) and the dusty cedar is incredibly realistic in this creation. Although the opening of Antebellum is brief this oil captures a romantic spring in bloom then the dry down is like years have past so quickly and the memories are being revisited and explored by another generation. Absolutely poetry in a vial and it is getting stronger and even deeper with patience. I would love a full bottle eventually. Mama (Listed Notes: Dandelions, iced tea, gingersnap crumbs and jam fingerprints on a little lost girl's cotton dress) In the vial: A glass of iced SWEET LEMON TEA on a table scattered with SPICY GINGERSNAP CRUMBS and Summer SUNSHINE Applied: Mama is more than a random scent story for me as this perfume reminds me so much of a beloved family friend who was the epitome of an aged southern belle and flower child. She could always be found greeting all from the porch with a glass of iced tea in her hand and welcoming smile while Janis Joplin, the Doors or The Beatles played on her stereo from inside the house. Not only have I found a tea blend that plays well with my finicky chemistry, I have been unexpectedly reconnected with good summertime memories and I adore the realistic bright dandelion note in Mama plus the slight spice from the gingersnaps that comes out more after the drydown. It's like a visit to an old friend and an afternoon of porch swinging watching the hummingbirds dart about, all in a vial. Another future full bottle purchase. Miss you so much, E but I know you are dirty dancing with Jim Morrison and Patrick Swayze right now. Poor Dove (Listed Notes: Silver fir, paper wings, tuberose, sugared lilacs, tonka bean, and amber) In the vial: TUBEROSE, AMBER, VANILLA and delicate LILAC Applied: I have read so many reviews about this lovely oil and how it sweeps those away with a floral veil that lasts all day on them but sadly Poor Dove is the one perfume from this lot that doesn't stay more than 5 minutes on my skin and barely lasts 20 minutes in my curls. For that brief time it's gorgeous and indeed ethereal. If I could get this to stay on me I would purchase a full bottle. For curiosity purposes I will be trying the Meadowfoam oil form of Poor Dove the next time I order from this shop, so stay tuned. Darling (Listed Notes: Violet, bitter pomegranate seeds, marshmallow fluff, and frost) In the vial: Cold POWDERY VIOLETS, a DARK SWEET FRUIT and whipped MARSHMALLOW Applied: I can see why this blend is a best seller as it is creamy sweet and powdery with a hint of the unexpected. It's also an impressive shapeshifting fragrance that admittedly catches me off guard just when I think the scent is gone it amps with a different note for another round and lasts a total of 12 hours on me. I'm also thrilled to share that even though Darling contains violets the dark sweetness of the pomegranate and ozone accord from the frost seems to keep the floral aspect in check and I don't smell like a walking cough syrup bottle! In fact, I received random compliments the other night at work and I have to agree I do smell nice. I may experiment more with my vial before committing to full bottle though, just in case that was a fluke (I don't trust you violets, you promise so much and turn into a cruel trickster on my skin...oh, you do smell pretty in Darling though). The Shell's Here, But The Nut Is Gone (Listed Notes: Spilled honey (vegan), brown sugar, and cinnamon over apple skins and peanut dust) In the vial: SPICED APPLE and SALTY PEANUT DUST Applied: Admit it, you giggle when you see this epitaph on a gravestone and can't resist the call of peanut dust..no? Okay, well give it to me then. This perfume is a visit to one of my favourite seasons and makes my mouth water as it smells like sticky pie filling with a creative crust and I'm happy to note that peanuts amp on me and I smell like crunchy roasted peanut butter with brown sugar and cinnamon for a few hours. There is also a wisp of smoke I can detect at certain times and for an extra seasonal escape I have been layering The Shell's Here, But The Nut Is Gone under MX Perfume's Scarecrow. They pair so well together and I can't get enough. Can't we skip summer and go straight to fall? I'm ready and slathered. Dead Men Only Play The Blues (Listed Notes: Menthol cigarettes, sassafras, brown sugar and coconut husk, tuberose and honeysuckle, vanilla, teak wood, and sandalwood) In the vial: COCONUT and a hint of MENTHOL. Should I be worried? Applied: In truth, I zoned out and zoomed in on the listed sassafras when I was choosing my final vials as that note is so rare to see in the indie realm for some reason. Alas, the coconut amps with the cigarettes on me along with something waxy smelling and I get not the worst thing to ever touch my skin but still something unpleasant to my nose and I can only wear this a few minutes then scrub otherwise Dead Men Only Play The Blues will stay on me until the next day. I may offer this vial to a friend who collects coconut heavy fragrances and misses the scent of cigarettes. For me, my search continues for a sassafras perfume. (**please remember everyone's skin chemistry is different and what my chemistry does with one note may not happen on someone else. That's the unique beauty of perfume oils, they react with everyone differently- don't hesitate to try a sample of something if it interests you). Plaster (Listed Notes: Mud pie with a pecan crust topped with whipped cream, tart berries, and widow's blood) In the vial: BERRY TOOTSIE ROLL and WHIPPED CREAM Applied: First to note, I don't get any widow's blood or pecans, I get berries and waxy taffy. If I search my memory bank it smells like a combination of the bottom of a Halloween bucket and those wax lips you always traded to younger relatives that didn't know a kit kat or sweet tarts were far more valuable than the wax lips or those large hard popcorn balls from last year. For a revisit back to Halloween when you were allowed to traipse to house to house with snow to your knees and limited supervision, this is a decent fragrance (I do love the whipped cream note that comes out an hour or two later after application) but I don't want a full bottle. I should have went with the Black Cat Oil, Dear Bones or River Song, oh well next round and I will keep an eye out for another perfume from The Strange South with this amazing cream accord listed. 300 Years (Listed Notes: Candle wax shrouded in dust, chilled earth, and brittle black fur) [strikes best Winifred Sanderson pose] 'Tis Time! In the vial: SMOKE and INKY DARKNESS with a pair of golden eyes watching you. The scent of an abandoned house on a cold windy night of mischief. Applied: There is definitely smokey leathery patchouli in this blend and I get some type of burnt wood note with a drop of sweet dragon's blood. 300 Years is the scent to wear for when you miss the cold chill of autumn or are blasting Rob Zombie's Dragula from your car. If there is any musk in this perfume, my nose isn't sophisticated enough to pick it up but I do get the hint of candle wax and 300 Years indeed smells like a dusty black candle in an abandoned house. As this oil is aging more ashes are appearing on the dry down and I will be wearing 300 Years more, using the entire vial before thinking of purchasing this for my vanity. It's not exactly an office safe fragrance but it works splendidly as a sleep potion scent. Put A Spell On You (Listed Notes: Spiked punch, nutmeg, dragon's blood, black musk, and star anise) In the vial: Mmm...as it says on the tin, FRUIT PUNCH, STAR ANISE and sweet and spicy NUTMEG with a drop of DRAGON'S BLOOD Applied: Put A Spell On You starts out with a spicy star anise that makes me dance in my chair and it serves as a marvelous introduction to the dark punch note that swirls and dips throughout the hours. While the dragon's blood and nutmeg indeed puts a spell on my senses and apparently on others because I have heard over the wall at work "does anyone smell punch, is there is party I didn't know about?", so the throw is impressive and into the basket this perfume goes for another day. This is the fragrance to wear when you want to smell like a pretty little witch covered in black sparkly confetti. Je Veux Mon Livre (Listed Notes: Tea leaves and sage pressed between the ancient pages of a leather-bound grimoire) In the vial: LEATHER from an old dusty boot, whew that is strong. Applied: Aging has done this perfume wonders as I can detect the lemony sage with a wisp of incense under the leather now and the brittle dusty pages are coming through more as well. Je Veux Mon Livre is a leather dominant fragrance but I'm happy to share, it doesn't give me a headache. I have quite a few other bottles of book fragrances from other shops but I still like Je Veux Mon Livre. At the same time though it doesn't smell as dark as I'd hoped and surprisingly despite the leather this oil fades quickly on my skin. In truth, this smells more like shiny polished pointy toed shoes versus a book but I love the hidden incense and sage with book page notes complete with ink in this blend. Slipped Between His Teeth (Listed Notes: Ambergris, white florals, cedarwood, bone meal, blackcurrant, and marjoram) *A free sample found in my first order, thank you so much The Strange South! In the vial: Spicy creamy white florals. I've never smelled anything like this before. Applied: Hands down my favourite vial of them all from this shop and Slipped Between His Teeth will be a future purchase. The Strange South has a way with florals, wood, ambergris and herbs and Slipped Between His Teeth beautifully showcases those notes. I never thought of marjoram in a perfume oil but this accord supports the cedarwood and creates an intoxicating spicy wood scent I just want to rub all over myself. Now I must admit it does smell in a way fresh and clean but I honestly don't mind that and I think it only adds to the creamy elegance of this blend. Absolutely work place setting appropriate and is still unique while telling a haunting story all its own. I can't recommend this perfume enough. The Strange South Valentine's Day, love or hate it, there is no denying that day inspires some special themed releases (especially in the realm of Indie Fragrance) and so it goes with the Bordello box by Strange Fire & Fumery. When I saw teasers for this release I decided to make this box my first purchase of 2019. I know it's May but better late than never...so welcome, to the Bordello. One Note at a Time:
The Parlour (Incense) Scent Profile: Lavender, French Vanilla and Vetiver Ladies and Gentleman, we have a new favourite incense blend by Jinx as The Parlour accomplishes what I thought never possible and that is a seductive dreamy lavender in smoke form. I have many types of lavender scents in my collection but nothing like The Parlour. True to its name, this is welcoming bringing to mind vast plush velvet seating and that french vanilla coiled within the smoke which dances from my incense tower is another level of intoxicating and addictive. Mme. Margueritte (Parfum) Top notes of lemon, bergamot, orange blossom, mint and rosemary. Heart notes of clary sage, jasmine and ylang ylang. Base notes of civet and oakmoss So we have been enchanted by The Parlour and now we will be received by Mme. Margueritte, that is a jasmine heavy scent which really amplifies on my skin along with the underlying oakmoss. It's a fresh dominant and memorable fragrance. If I concentrate I can get a trace amount of bergamot but the more it sits the floral aspects take over along with the earthy morphing oakmoss that can go from shaded to sharp on me. I'm not entirely sure about this perfume at the moment, it may need more aging or a special event to be worn to (or someone who loves jasmine dominant perfumes to fully appreciate its complex beauty). Eau de Cologne (Parfum) An exquisite and delicately balanced blend of neroli and French vanilla This was the vial I was waiting for and I was not disappointed as Eau de Cologne is a genteel blend that could be childish with the listed notes but it is definitely refined and can be worn in the workplace setting. It's creamy whipped vanilla that is swirled with a sweet neroli and it ended up as my second favourite blend out of the collection. I feel this scent will be divine to add to the bathtub or be swept up in my hair during the summer months. Otto of Roses (Parfum) Pure Bulgarian Rose essential oil diluted in fractionated coconut oil Can't have Valentine's Day without an image of freshly strewn rose petals and that is exactly what this perfume smells of. There is also something suggestive about this fragrance and no surprise it was my choice pick out of the box and I've worn this oil the most. As much as I adore it, sadly my chemistry devours it like a box of discounted candy. I've had slightly better luck running this oil through my curls but that only gains me a few more hours to enjoy the timeless mystique of Otto of Roses. Still a keeper and one to recommend! Fougère du Étrange (Parfum) A traditional base of lavender, coumarin and oakmoss with vanilla infused oak, and Malaysian pomegranate ...Ahem well this creation may be my third favourite but this is the vial I want to dum...excuse me, I mean offer my fella to wear. It's elegant but feral in ways and like a tall drink of water in a frock coat complete with hat and cane. Woah, this is wicked and brings to mind a moody antihero from classic Gothic fiction. The pomegranate adds an intriguing dark sweetness that I need more of in my oil cache. I can't stop sniffing this vial and my arm. The Commandant (Parfum) Rosewood, bourbon, old chair leather and rich sweet tobacco If there ever was a scent that perfectly matched this iconic line:"Now they'll retreat into a cloud of smoke and congratulate each other on being masters of the universe.", The Commandant is it. This smells like a Victorian or Edwardian Smoking Room complete with alcohol that even burns the back of my throat when I smell it. The Commandant certainly tells a striking dignified story but I think this oil is a tad too adventurous for me. Boudoir (Candle) Dreamy lavender and black amber on top of a base of vetiver infused, with casket aged dragonsblood. We were greeted by The Parlour and here we are to lose all sense of decorum with Boudoir as that dragonsblood and amber is otherworldly paired with the familiar unique lavender. This is a fragrance to remember and I'm sad my candle is nearly spent. I must remember to purchase the candle melts soon before this alluring scent disappears. Strange Fire & Fumery Red, white, shiny gold paper all aglow and plaid wrapping along with gorgeous vintage artwork on bottles and bags plus candy nestled with every order! It's time to review all the self-care treats and sniff some captured memories. *Spray-in-Hair Detangler in Gingerbread Man When it comes to detanglers MoonaLisa's formula reigns on my vanity and tames my unruly locks with a supernormal ability that I can't recommend enough to everyone to try for themselves. I do seem to run through my bottles very quickly (about 1 bottle every 2 months) so I make it a necessary purchase from every release to pick up a few detanglers at a time. For winter, I knew I was going to be on the hunt for my holy grail gingerbread fragrance and even though I like Gingerbread Man it isn't THE ONE. When sprayed more citrus is released with cinnamon and I smell more of a spicy lemonade mixture versus a realistic molasses warm cookie fragrance. It may not be ideal for winter for me but I think Gingerbread Man would be divine in the hot summer months. In any case, I used the entire bottle and would repurchase it. *4in1 Shower Gel/Bubble Bath/Shampoo/Cleaner in Gingerbread Man This was my first bottle purchase of the 4in1 and I must say this product is lovely as a bubble bath, shower gel and did surprisingly well as a laundry soap (and the scent lasted on my towels!) but didn't work as well as a shampoo on my thick fine hair, sadly. It may be because I don't have high water pressure in my home but the thin consistency was not easy to get in and out of my hair (I think I'm just a whipped soap type of gal when it comes to my long mane and always will be). In regards to the fragrance again I like Gingerbread Man but I wish it would be more holiday treat versus spicy lemonade. *Argan Oil Winter Hair Rescue in Sugared Plums Another staple on my vanity is the Argan Oil Hair Rescue and when I saw Sugared Plums in the list I immediately placed it in my basket as I have been craving plum with spice. This is exactly what I always envisioned Plum Duff or Skilly ‘n duff to smell like from my favorite book series growing up (Redwall). It's sweet plums, apricots, figs and different spices (my hair amps the dark plums anise and the cardamon). It's delightful, takes my imagination away to enchanting wintertide feasts and the formula is another perfect self-care product in my book. Whoa skilly’n’duff, that’s the stuff, To keep nearby when things get rough! *Bubbling Bath Brew in Snuggler If you haven't guessed by now I am a gourmand fiend and I find dessert scents my ultimate happy time and place escape (especially for the tub) so when I fell hard for the Bubbling Bath Brew in *The Rumpkin! I knew I had to gather a few bags for the unforgiving months to come in different seasonal aromas. Snuggler was at the top of my list to get as I could never decline hot cocoa with peppermint (one of my ultimate guilty pleasures in life). Ah! This brew is divine in every way possible and is like sinking then floating in a bag of melted Andes Chocolate Candies or the inside of a classic York Peppermint Pattie. The added effect of the peppermint bubbles soothing my tired tight muscles and sore joints is a welcome bonus and the cocoa note is completely on point. Simply put, this allows me to forget I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, the cold outside world and is another lifetime repurchase. *Bubbling Bath Brew in S’mores & Hot Cocoa I know it sounds silly but every time I reluctantly leave my water filled sanctuary I believe I just experienced the closest I will ever come to relaxing in a cup of frothy hot cocoa when I use S'mores & Hot Cocoa. Yes it's true and these salts (in any fragrance) just take my imagination away along with my tired muscles, stiff joints and dry skin (it's insane my skin is softer in winter than it ever was in summer). Easily the Bubbling Bath Brews are one of my favourite purchases of 2018 and I want to stock up on every gourmand scented bag from every release and stay in my sweet smelling sanctuary for as long as possible. Mini Guest Soap in Krampus Night! A sample soap that appeared in my order, thank you MoonaLisa! Those souls following my ramblings (thank you all for reading!) know I don't have the greatest luck when it comes to soap and my ultra-sensitive skin but it's a Christmas miracle or Yule Blessing as I can use this shop's soap with not a problem to report and woah is Krampus Night! a nifty morphing little bar of soap. Let's first talk about the presentation that was about the size of a bar of fancy gourmand wrapped chocolate and it absolutely pained me to rip the gold foil as the vintage artwork on top was an old German print I would have loved to of saved for a seasonal bookmark of Krampus riding a sleigh filled with naughty children in a bucket but I wasn't gentle enough and the wrapping fell away to reveal a lump of coal-black soap which was an adorable touch! The texture was smooth and yes I raced off to the tub to use it. The scent was a collage of sweet nostalgic resins with a drop of suede and patchouli and the texture was another creative touch as it was milled with something akin to wood that brushes your skin, gently exfoliating and cleverly plays into the Krampus legend. Now, that is real soapart right there and I hope it returns next year as I want a full sized bar. *above order purchased at full price *Snuggler (Gathered Notes and Description: The drink of choice while wintering in North Beach, San Francisco! Rich dark hot cocoa and peppermint schnapps) So having never tried any of the winter releases I purchased all of these items completely by how I was blown away with the Halloween release and MoonaLisa's supernatural talent to capture realistic gourmand scents in different bottles and here is another I can't recommend enough. In the tub, Snuggler is more Andes Chocolates and cooling Peppermint Pattie with a twist of creamy cocoa but on my skin, I'm instantly swept back to one of the greatest tasting cakes I ever had on my plate at New Year's Eve party long ago. If anyone has ever had the pleasure to try a certain mint chocolate cake in gold foil supposedly from a specialty Chicago bakery that is no longer in business (according to my great aunt), you know that unforgettable aroma I'm talking about. It melted in your mouth and there were chips of dark chocolate in the cake that somehow carried a pop of peppermint that wasn't candy-like but only another level of heavenly dessert. Gah, I miss that cake (if I could taste it just one more time or find a similar recipe) and I can't stop smelling this oil as it smells exactly like it. Snuggler is another holy grail perfume for me, a treasured time in scent form and it only seems to somehow get better (even deeper) with age. A Happy Little Accident (curious pairings): Snuggler + Sixteen92's Habanera (Aldehydes, guava, bergamot flower, water hyacinth, sparkling jasmine, wild clover)= a flower straight out of Willy Wonka's dream garden! Holy cats, why hasn't anyone tried this before, the mint in Snuggler melds so perfectly with the aldehydes in Habanera and the delicate jasmine along with the water hyacinth makes a cool refreshing unique "aquatic" blending while the realistic cocoa pairs beautifully with the guava in Habanera. I smell pretty and delicious, a chocolate flower under a bubbly waterfall...Mmm... *Kris Kringle (Gathered Notes and Description: Deep in the Northern Black Forest, Kris Kringle leaves a trail of enchanting aromas as he gathers our Yuletide delights!! Blend of various Woodland Accords, Yuletide Spices, Vetiver, and Douglas Fir essential oil!) If this is what Kris Kringle smelled like in the olden days no wonder he had a gaggle of children following him, wanting him in their homes and became an iconic legend! Mmm this is pine, spices and warm baked orange cookies to me. On my skin the pine fades but unexpectedly stays (what holiday magic is this?) in the background and the old fashioned orange drop cookie moves forward taking me completely away to once happy holidays and baking up a storm for family wedding celebrations at the same time. If there ever was a perfect cozy winter scent, Kris Kringle is it. This perfume also lasts well into the next night (yes night!) and I swear I smell marshmallow and apple at one point swirled in the notes. Even though the description may sound more playful, I'm here to tell you this is also entirely work setting appropriate and get ready for questions such as: "what smells so good?" and "who smells like Christmas?". Another excellent selection for sleep as well and I have this fragrance on my list for the bath brew and lotion next winter. *Sugared Plums (Gathered Notes and Description: Delicious and seasonal confectionery concoction of traditional Sugared Plum recipe of Almond, ripe Plums, Apricots, Figs, powdered sugar, anise, fennel, caraway and cardamon) I swear everything I ordered from this release makes me so hungry and tempts me to lick and nibble the displayed contents. It's all so incredibly realistic smelling and Sugared Plums is another I could take a bite of right now. If you adore fruit scents or the smell of fruit compotes ready for the stove top or oven this one is for you as the apricot and spiced plum amps on me the most, yum! I also detect something akin to cherry but I think that is the almond note. Sugared Plums is definitely the most playful scent blend I ordered and that's fine with me. When it comes to skin versus hair for this fragrance, I prefer the complexity of notes my locks unleash and I will be getting another argan oil bottle in 2019. *S’mores & Hot Cocoa (Gathered Notes and Description: Classic marshmallow, buttery graham crackers and rich chocolate paired with steaming hot cocoa) Short and sweet: HOLY GRAIL status as this is the most realistic hot cocoa perfume I have found in the indie fragrance realm. It's magnificient with a warm rich depth of chocolate that lasts on my skin until the next afternoon and never turns chalky or waxy. There is also a heavenly fluffy marshmallow accord that swirls with the cocoa and trace of butter that all tricks me into thinking I have hot cocoa in the microwave or on the stove top I forgot about, nope 'tis I who smells so delicious and I can't recommend this gourmand oil enough to those with a sweet tooth and desire a little revisit to happier days of your youth. Iced Gingerbread (Gathered Notes and Description: Realistic Gingerbread blend with mild nostalgic Yuletide spice and white icing) A sample vial that appeared in my order, thank you MoonaLisa! In the vial: As it says on the tin, VANILLA ICING and warm and sweet GINGERBREAD Applied: The search is over, THIS is the gingerbread perfume of my dreams I have been searching for ever since I stepped foot into the indie perfume realm. We have here the ideal gingerbread scent sealed in a vial along with a whiff of iced animal crackers I fondly remember and even a trace of butter and old-fashioned vanilla extract that appears after 6 hours. Needless to say, I want a gallon of Iced Gingerbread to hoard away and will be purchasing a full bottle of perfume as well as any and all bath treats; it's warm, comforting, incredibly realistic AND it stays on my skin more than 10 minutes (I finally have a gingerbread scent confection I can wear on my skin versus in my hair). So that's 3 holy grail fragrances down and I can't wait to see what I unexpectedly fall in love with next from MoonaLisa (come on, lemon cake or creme cookie!). *above order purchased at full price Argan Oil Winter Hair Rescue in Snow Ice The more I explore Moona's seasonal catalogues the more I'm finding I want to test fragrances out first in my curls before I purchase the perfume bottles. My hair seems to unlock hidden notes in different scent potions and I couldn't wait to take Snow Ice for a whirl and I wasn't disappointed. This is warm sweet realistic homemade ice cream in a bag! It's amazing and I plan on repurchasing it in every form next winter if I can. I'll go more into the qualities of the fragrance a little bit later but I have to again recommend another stunning hair product with this argan formula, it adds incredible shine, smooths out the frizz and this is a lifetime repurchase for me like the detanglers. Spray-in Hair Detangler in Gilded Pear Gilded Pear is dulcet savory fruit, the right amount of warm spice and everything nice. I love how my hair just glows in the lamplight when I spray this formula into my locks and my hair has never been this soft and tangle-free (seriously where has this product been all my life?). This is a must try if you have fine hair. I now have a cabinet shelf filled with different amazing scents I rotate throughout the week and I want twice the many more. Spray-in Hair Detangler in Whole So this is the purchase (in conjunction with Orange Flower from LittleBits *review coming very soon) that launched me on Orange Blossom collecting crusade as I fell hard for that note at first sniff. Whole is a lovely uplifting fragrance that you just want to wrap yourself in and never be without. I'll admit I sort of zone out when I have Whole sprayed in my braid (it lasts forever in my curls too!) and I can be found with my nose pressed into my hair losing all track of time. If you love the scent of floral oranges, Whole is a must to have on your vanity or in your tub. I'm trying so hard to conserve my bottle of detangler until December but I think that is an impossible notion and it will be the next empty bottle. Gingerbread Man (Gathered Notes and Description: This is an all natural version of the traditional holiday scent! Made with all natural absolutes, co2's and essential oils of- Fractionated Coconut oil, Allspice, Ginger, Nutmeg, Clove, Cinnamon, Sweet Orange, Butter AB, Vanilla Ab, and a touch of Vetiver) Earlier I mentioned how Gingerbread Man in the detangler, 4in1 and bath brew all smelled liked spicy lemonade to me and interestingly enough my skin allows the cookie aspect of this oil to become more noticeable by each passing month. I can definitely smell the nutmeg and cinnamon along with vanilla and butter (it's more of a bowl of gingerbread dough vs. a baked impression). As the oil dries down more orange comes forward and again it doesn't take my mind immediately to winter or summer, no, this time it goes to autumn. I'm curious to pair this oil with perhaps Pumpkin Strumpet, The Bell Witch or the vial of broom flower another shop kindly sent me. Okay, let's skip summer and go straight to fall, please. Extra samples included with different orders, thank you so much Moona! Rosemary Lavender (Natural Rosemary infused perfumers alcohol spray with Wild Lavender essential oil) Exactly as it says on the tin and this is a lovely example of natural perfumery. The notes blend seemlessly together creating another ideal dream potion that I spray on everything including myself. It reminds me of the natural herb waters you find at the Herb and Flower Festivals in June. I also can't stop looking at the vintage artwork of the garden florals in septia ink. A gorgeous calming fragrance and an equally gorgeous bottle to display. Cranberry Spiced Shortbread (Gathered Notes and Desciption: Juicy ripe Cranberries ready to burst with a subtle touch of Christmas spices topping warm and buttery shortbread cookie) In the vial: Effervescent SPICED CRANBERRY and BUTTERY COOKIE Applied: Here is another vial I could easily drink as this smells like some inventive child dipped their homemade shortbread cookie in a glass of sparkling cranberry juice during a Christmas party (I'm not the only one that used to do that, right?) Suprisingly this doesn't smell soggy in the least and somehow mixes the tart sweetness of the fruit with the holiday spices and buttery cookie to create one lovely scent combination. I could see myself getting this fragrance in the bath brew or sugar scrub parfait and I must say Cranberry Spiced Shortbread is great in the work place setting; I like to think of it as a playful sparkly brooch type of scent. It adds just the right amount of fun holiday pop to your attire. Winter Solstice 2018 version (Gathered Notes and Description: Tune into quiet Winter mysteries with a blend of different sacred resins, such as Frankincense and myrrh from around the world, Nutmeg and Labdanum Absolute) In the vial: Citrusy FRANKINCENSE and MYRRH with a hint of SMOKE Applied: At first there is burst of citrus and resins but as it dries something creamy and wood-like (perhaps unlisted sandalwood?) catches my attention and Winter Solstice become a calming somber fragrance that I love to dab on for sleep. I'm kicking myself for not wearing this more to work last year as this oil stays close and has an almost mediatative and regal quality to it. I must remember to wear this perfume for the coming fall into winter. I also bet this would smell flipping amazing on a man. Note to self... Gingernutter (Gathered Notes and Description: Crumbly soft, warm Ginger Milk and Sugar cookies with Hazelnut Marshmallows) In the vial: GINGER, HAZELNUT and VANILLA Applied: I want to say I love this but the more I try Gingernutter it falls into the like category as there is something that sticks out that I can't place. I do enjoy the spiciness of this oil but wish it lasted longer on my skin and I could figure out what that odd note is that my chemistry has latched onto. It does smell warm and holiday-like but the more I sit here the more I don't think Gingernutter is for me. Can't win them all. Snow Ice (Gathered Notes and Description: Fond memories Moona has when a child at camp during the Nevada snows, making natural "ice cream" from ice cold snow, condensed milk, Sugar and Vanilla extract. This scent is reminiscent of that: sweet crystallized vanilla sugar and cream) In the vial: Homemade Ice cream! I'll take a gallon and bucket now, please. Applied: Hold on, I'm still slathering...Mmm! What can I say this is another holy grail perfume for me as this is most delectable vanilla I have encountered in the indie realm [claps]. Snow Ice is sublime, a true masterpiece as it's dreamy and gourmand but never childish or cloying and anyone could wear this as it isn't heavy. I want to call this "lace ice cream" because it's so pretty, finishes off any look and yet so delicous smelling. I know this is a winter scent but I could happily wear this oil all year round and I really want to experiment with different perfumes to see what kinds of "lace ice creams" I could make. As you probably already guessed I have Snow Ice on the list to get EVERYTHING in come winter. Hands down my favourite sample vial in this batch. *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 One Note at a Time: Necromancy *from the General Catalogue (Notes: Datura metel, ceremonial incense, funeral flowers, benzoin resin, ancient spirit boards, oud) If there ever was a Victorian or Edwardian Ghost scent out in the indie fragrance world to collect and cherish for myself Necromancy is definitely it as this creation creates visions of waltzing spirits, elaborate final ceremonies and tragic romance tales for the ages. In the bottle, this scent potion is a bit deceiving with incense, resin and a curious floral peeking behind everything and you may call Necromancy "pretty" at this point of time but once applied the captivating element of this perfume is released with a creamy narcotic floral (with a trace of vanilla and a drop of sweet dragon's blood) leading the way to another place and time then it all makes sense why Necromancy has graced the pages of a popular fashion forward magazine and comes highly recommended in certain circles. In regards to the general public's opinion concerning this oil, it's a clear winner (especially in the professional work setting) and acts like a billboard to stunning scent artistry to be found within the realm of indie perfumes. This is a true Holy Grail fragrance for me. Brava Claire! One Good Scare *limited edition that was brought back as part of the Halloween Favorites collection 2018 (Notes: Glowing jack-o-lanterns, charred marshmallows, roasted pumpkin seeds, falling leaves, campfire smoke) I've shared quite a bit about the strangely beautiful and elegant part of my perfume collection but really haven't written much about the fun playful corner so for a double feature about my favourite perfumes, I have to gush about One Good Scare as this is one (if not the best) morphing atmospheric gourmands I currently own and I just want to pour the bottle over my head while singing my own version of "Pour Some Sugar on Me" (how about "Pour Some Pumpkin On Me" and yes I whip my hair to the thumping chords in my head). I'm sticky creepy sweet from my head to my feet when I wear this scent confection and I love every second! One Good Scare opens with a realistic campfire smoke that then changes to frost-laced dead leaves with pumpkin flesh to nutty pumpkin seeds and dries down to a crave-worthy confection of marshmallow (and perhaps warm sandalwood?) that remains all day. It paints a scene straight from the silver screen of classic horror (accompanied by a little rock and metal music for good measure) and I couldn't be more pleased (this is also one perfume I'm not afraid to approach someone with and say either "Behold Halloween!" or "Smell Me!") I can't recommend this one enough. Sixteen92 Sixteen92 has provided me with some unexpected holy grail fragrances (Necromancy, Telepathy, Mercy Lewis, Lycanthrope, Baba Yaga, *One Good Scare and *Ligeia) but I haven't opened anything that contained a certain level of pure nostalgia such as the Halloween Limited Edition Collection: The Sisters. Not only did one my childhood dreams come true with "smelly stuff about the Sanderson Sisters" but I found a new scent love affair with gardenias and I couldn't be more pleased. These are the complex captured essences and iconic scenes of the Sanderson Sisters in all their memorable glory (Brava Claire!). One Note at a Time:
Winifred (Notes: Iron-distilled patchouli, davana, tomato leaf, crushed petals, dried plum, whirling candle smoke, crumbled gravestones) *currently available at the 2019 Resurrection Pre-Order event until January 18th When applied I immediately get a warm leafy plum, a distinct peppery tomato leaf note, a trace of dustiness from the gravestone and some type of watery white floral. This is swirling plum and green skirts in a graveyard under a pale moon. Depending on where I apply the oil to my skin, a light smoke note rises up with more fresh green tomato leaf and in my piled up hair, it's a complex patchwork of realistic plum and seductive unknown florals. Winifred is quite magnetic and I love to either wear this fragrance while relaxing with a good themed book or before sleeping the day away preparing for long work nights. Hours later or when I wake I'm greeted by something akin to dark purple velvet and dirt encrusted iron. I wonder if this arcane scent potion is what the wicked fiery charmer would have worn when she was courting poor Billy Butcherson (before she poisoned him)? When I'm not enjoying this oil at home, I'm going to be dabbing this perfume on for special occasions throughout the year and placing You Who Swallowed a Falling Star on my Resurrection 2020 list (it was mentioned Winifred and You Who Swallowed a Falling Star share the same mood and I need more dark fruit-floral atmospherics in my collection). Sarah (Notes: Threads of golden flax, heliotrope blossom, Angel’s trumpet, wilted gardenia, rice milk, dried orris, broom straw) *currently available at the 2019 Resurrection Pre-Order event until January 18th This limited edition opens with a warm savory bread-like note (akin to the one in Sarah Good) that then morphs slowly to creamy heliotrope and it's a little sweet but refined (innocent, playful but hiding an alluring secret underneath the hint of sweetness). My skin unlocks the gardenia and yes it does amp but thankfully doesn't run amok with my senses, it stays true to what others have been telling me gardenia can be and that is a beautiful buttery floral and Sarah lasts until the next morning. There is also a dreamy quality to this oil as it lulls my imagination and I'm so happy I took a chance on this bottle and completed my The Sisters collection (it turned out to be my personal favorite of the trio). I now need more gardenias in my life and a 10ml bottle of Sarah because it has become one of my go-tos for the workplace setting or when I simply need an enchanting oil to brush into my hair. Mary (Notes: Marshmallow root, milky chai, praline, sticky toffee, fallen maple leaves, firewood, the chocolate-covered finger of a man named Clark) *currently available at the 2019 Resurrection Pre-Order event until Janury 18th If I can pull my nose away from this bottle long enough ('tis a gourmand lover's dream, creamy and sticky treats that tempt just once more sniff) and apply the oil I'm greeted by melted milk chocolate, creamy buttery toffee and autumn woods (taking my time there could be a trace of warm sandalwood at the heart of this perfume) that pulls this crave-worthy creation into the atmospheric realm that Sixteen92 excels at. The caramel and marshmallow amp on me enough that I catch the attention of hungry coworkers when I wear this confectionery scent delight out and I have been asked several times if I had expensive tempered chocolates at my desk (especially after midnight). Must also jot down, Mary lasts the longest on me from the trio with Sarah a close second and Winifred crumbling to dust at around 8 hours. For all the sweet notes listed there is under the warm and comforting aspects of Mary something dangerous and it easily brings to mind the one line in the movie "Come out, my dear. We will not harm thee" (voiced by Winifred Sanderson/Bette Midler); perfectly capturing the essence of Mary Sanderson as she has the power to smell out children, talk sweetly and conjure some real devilry with her sisters if any poor child wandered too close to their cottage in the forest. This is also a fun fragrance, nicely matched to Mary's quirky facial expressions and her comical one-liners in the treasured film. I can definitely see myself reaching for this perfume quite often especially when I get cravings for something creamy sugary and with a trace of autumn atmospheric but refined...or if I want to watch my coworkers drool (they had the same reaction to One Good Scare *review coming soon which this delectable smelling bottle certainly shares some similarities to in complexity and overall mood.) Sixteen92 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 When asked for the perfect birthday gift to present a lady who obsesses over certain parts of history, adores to be pampered in such a way and has an unsettling proclivity for reading different genres and seeking out trivia all about lovely deadly poisons, what would you get? Why the Ave Victoria kit by the wicked brilliant minds at The Poisoners Guild of course and here it is in all its dark splendour... Cyanide (Notes: Creamy oleander blossoms, absinthe liqueur, and iron-distilled patchouli delicately bathed in a non-toxic perfumer's accord of potassium cyanide) -created by Alkemia Perfumes Ah, the scent of what you would imagine waiting in a marked gentleman's cup from a jilted Victorian lover. What a delightful sinister oil for my collection. On me, Cyanide morphs from fruity almond to (as I can only describe as) absinthe-soaked marshmallows and shards of metal. The oleander creates more of a vanilla powdery finish hours later and I would say this perfume is more in the realm of spring to summer but I will be reaching for Cyanide when winter settles in as well. It's deceptively sweet, pretty and smells positively lethal. This scent potion captures the theme magnificently and is one to wear to keep others guessing. Laudanum (Notes: Opium, saffron, ambergris accord, black currant, plum, bergamot, nutmeg, vanilla, black oak, cedar, smoked patchouli, amber, amyris, black pepper, vetiver, white musk) -created by Hexennacht This is no sweet lullaby in a bottle but one mysterious seductive fragrance that should come with accessories, preferably a racy black or red negligee and thigh high silk stockings and garters to wear. The offered notes may say or give the impression of innocent and perhaps slightly spicy or fruity sweet but Laudanum becomes completely boudoir-worthy and burlesque when this beyond intriguing blend touches your skin. Wow, this is something else! On me, the white musk commands the show and as the minutes tick by the amber and nutmeg slowly come forth with plum and depending on where I place the oil many other notes appear and morph as well (going from powdery to boozy), turning my head and making me desire it all. I feel so confident wanting to dive into the back of my wardrobe to explore all the while singing "Let me be good to you" and "I wanna be loved by you". Hours later, it's fit for a fearless mistress or a lady of the evening and I can see myself wearing this oil with a little special smile when I attend different historical reenactments (it has that vintage pinup or old glamour quality you just don't find anymore in this modern world and deserves to be placed in an authentic crystal atomizer). Laudanum is one perfume that brings out the desire to visit your hidden secret side and it may just surprise you what that side is. Boop-boop-a-doop! Morphine (Notes: Steamed milk, lavender buds, honeyed apricots, chamomile tea, honey, white amber) -created by Hexennacht With some patient aging, Morphine has softened and is like finding the fluffiest elegant blanket you can and wrapping yourself in it. Depending on where I place the oil the sweet apricot or lavender with milk amps (I'm in love with the soothing lavender warmed milk combination I can distinctly smell in the crook of my arms, while my wrists project the sweet amber and apricot). Yes, a creamy (maybe even a little buttery) quality is present with the steamed milk that smells honestly hot then warm (I can even taste it on the back of my tongue, that in itself is so nifty!) and it only pulls me into peace and pleasant visions. It also lasts quite a while (going on 8 hours now). Morphine is definitely a soothing complex blend that deserves more attention and is delightful if you love apricot, sweet amber, lightly drizzled honey (NO beeswax or that disappointing candle wax scent that can come from honey notes) and lavender infused milk . It also beautifully showcases some serious scent artistry. What a joy to have this bottle in my cache of sleep scent potions. Opium ("A house blend of cask-aged dragonsblood, a subued perfumed haze of jasmine and devil's trumpet.") -created by Strange Fire and Fumery My first ever incense and every time now I burn one of these sticks (I need to order more, I'm almost out) I want to gather a bunch of silk and velvet pillows build a huge pile of them and just fall back. This fragrance combination is just divine in every way. For me, I can only describe Opium as floral marshmallows. It's light (ideal if you are curious about trying incense), inviting and plain unique. Plus each stick burns nearly an hour. I see this as the beginning of another collection *more thoughts to follow in the coming months as this was indeed only the beginning of my incense scent journey. Ether candle (An ethereal blend of elderflower, moonflower and ozone) -created by Strange Fire & Fumery For a small votive, this candle releases an impressive throw that can cover a whole kitchen. The scent is clean, crisp and even a little addicting. Each time I light it, it seems to clear the room of any heaviness and I'm beginning to really fall for anything with moonflower listed in a creation. It's powdery but somehow vintage, haunting but also comforting. 3 Curated Teas Earl Grey De La Creme Tea (Rooibos tea, cornflowers, vanilla extract, bergamot extract) -from Steepologie I'm still a tea novice and Earl Grey De La Creme may be exactly someone else's ideal blend but my taste choice is still developing and I think this is a tad too robust for me. Brewing, chilling the tea then carbonating adds an interesting flavour to everything but I'm not sure I would recommend that (it oddly tastes like tobacco). Well, that was a failed experiment but this tea definitely wakes me up and keeps my senses alert. Maybe it needs more honey or dash of milk to temper the harsh smokiness. Lemon Mint Cooler Tea (Lemon peel, mint leaves, lemon myrtle) -from Steepologie Oh, that's much better and here is one blend that I can't stop sipping and saying "Mmm!". This is a mighty fine brew that is refreshing but has some spice to it and surprisingly matches the weather today as it is a cosy drink to clear your senses with. Hot or chilled and bubbly Lemon Mint Cooler Tea is another future repurchase. Royal Velvet Tea (Green peony white tea, black currant pieces, cornflowers, passion fruit extract, bergamot extract) -from Steepologie Ah, saved the best for last as this tea is so gorgeous and refined. I've never tasted anything like it and it makes a flipping amazing bubbly tea that I love to take to work or sit sipping while I type away. I think I prefer fruity teas or smooth vanilla blends and Royal Velvet Tea is the crown jewel of delicous fruit tea in my pantry. I get every note and there is an unexpected floral taste that is subtle and lovely. I'm rationing the bag as I don't know if I will ever find another tea like this. *In addition to the above-listed fragrant items my box was filled with beautiful dried flowers, a darling handkerchief that is in my purse right now, violet pastille candies (also in my purse) and entertaining ephemera regarding the Victorian Era. Overall, this lady was quite pleased with her birthday gift and is looking forward to the next deadly historical event to be showcased in scent and creative fiction. Highly recommend. Poesie Perfume Tell me there is a house of fragrance out there that caters to those that love the classics of the library shelves or legends of old and I'll show you my pocketbook. And so it goes with this next shop that caught my attention a couple months ago with a promised collective take on Pride & Prejudice and an offering of inspired teas. From the lovely welcoming aesthetic down to the attention to note selection in the oils that cleverly corresponds with certain titles, silver screen royalty, Norwegian Mythos and more, Poesie Perfume is one house of fragrance on the horizon I can't wait to share just like a good book you can't put down or stop thinking about after turning the final page. Pemberley *from the Fools in Love collection (Listed Notes: Crushed Tomato Leaf, Flowering Woodbine, Wisteria, Peony Petals, Oak and Ivy Leaf) In the vial: A summery burst of FRUIT with PEONY and WISTERIA. It beautifully conveys a summer garden in full bloom with a promise of a romantic meeting in the making that will blossom into a tale for the ages. Applied: Immediately I'm graced with a juicy freshness that melds so well with a little spiciness of tomato leaf, fallen petals of peonies and a gentle curtain of wisteria that closes upon my senses with a lilac-like note that keeps my nose to my wrist. Pemberley is sublime in every fashion and to my surprise gets even better somehow as it dries with a creaminess that lasts well into the night. Poesie Perfume promised and delivered with this perfume. What a fantastic introduction vial. This is one fragrance that will be accompanying me on a journey of a lifetime when I someday travel to the UK and stay a spell at Chatsworth House or sit at the steps of the Temple of Apollo in Stourhead Garden (all iconic spots for the secret hopeless romantics of the world to see). Twice to Tea *from the Fools in Love collection (Listed Notes: Earl Grey Tea, Lavender Absolute, Vanilla Syrup, and Milk) In the vial: Exactly as it says on the tin-EARL GREY TEA, LAVENDER and creamy VANILLA. I never had a London Fog before but I think I need to hunt one down this week. Twice to Tea is so stately and this wand I'm holding has one of the best tea scents I have smelled yet from any house of fragrance. I'm not sure what will happen when applied but I'm ready...well maybe after a couple more sniffs. *Intermission: When I first tried Twice to Tea, it sadly disappeared from my skin almost immediately. Needless to say, I was devastated but ah when will I learn the power of aging these types of oils because I tested it again the other morning (almost a little over a month since it first arrived) and it stayed. Not only did it stay but well let it take us away... Applied: I don't know how these scentcrafters do it but Twice to Tea smells hot on my skin and the earl grey is the real deal with the bergamot amping bringing my nose closer to experience the strong tea and the lavender present. That's English Lavender from the garden I can smell and I can't stop smiling, it's magnificent! I can also detect the milk with vanilla and I know which perfume I will be wearing on cold windy days coming and pouring (excuse me) dabbing on my many scarves as I see about finding a London Fog someplace. Fine Eyes *from the Fools in Love collection (Listed Notes: Rhubarb, Tuberose and Ginger) *this was a free vial with my first purchase, thank you so much Poesie Perfumes! In the vial: Tart RHUBARB and GINGER. It's a sparkling summer creation that I'm so happy I have in my seasonal cache and can't wait to try on. Applied: Here is another perfume that will be accompanying on my journeys or a nice holiday away from the real world. Sparkling ginger leads the way and the rhubarb seals my decision that yes I adore that note in perfume and will be searching for it from now on for summer blends. As this superb oil dries the tuberose is evident and it creates a floral ginger combination that I wish came in every form of body care products imaginable (candle, bath product and aura mist etc.). This whole collection is so refined and Fine Eyes is just one of its many shining stars. Elizabeth *from the Fools in Love collection (Listed Notes: Lilac, Heliotrope, Mimosa, Fresh Earth, Grass and Clover) In the vial: Here it is the perfume that called to me the most when I saw this collection released and I get...Sun-drenched GRASS, that warmness I detect must be from the heliotrope. At the moment I'm not getting any anticipated lilac but something curious steals over my mind when I smell this perfume as I'm reminded of Easter celebrations for some reason. That alone makes me smile. Hopefully, my skin chemistry will behave and tone down the grass and clover to bring forward the other notes listed. (Intermission: Sadly that was not to be as my wonky chemistry caused the clover from Elizabeth to overtake everything and I admitted defeat at the moment. Out of curiosity, I tried this oil again after a month.) Applied: The clover and grass have calmed down and heliotrope comes forward now. There seems to be a floral trying valiantly to battle through as well. Elizabeth still holds a memory of my youth at Easter in many ways and I think more aging is only needed before this interesting perfume is pure magic. I can tell there is something there in Elizabeth that I'm going to love in the end and it just needs a long peaceful rest. Twice to Tea (Ingredients: organic lavender, black tea, vanilla, bergamot, orange peel, blue cornflower petals. ) I have dabbled in tea before with some admitted indifference when trying to drink commercial brews out of necessity to keep awake past midnight at work. If offered tea or coffee, I would usually choose the coffee to bottled blends or cheap bags that all taste the same in the cup and paid a heavy price every time and would be wide awake in the middle of the next day when I should have been getting my rest for my upcoming night shift. That in itself was dangerous as I was so tired driving in, functioning on the floor at work and coming home in the morning. Well, I'm happy to say those days and worries are thankfully over and I'm only purchasing loose leaf tea (and any other blends that appear) from Poesie Perfumes now and forever as I have never tasted anything as delightful as Twice to Tea before, seriously this is what tea tastes like? I'm bewitched body and soul! Now in truth, I'm not preparing this tea in the traditional sense. Lady Catherine de Bourgh would faint dead away if she could see but it is still very humid outside after all and I have been brewing a tiny amount (a little of the sealed contents goes a long way) letting it cool, adding a spot of locally harvested honey then carbonating it to create a one of a kind beverage to beat this insufferable late summer heat with. It's divine when chilled and I have others ask when they smell it how it tastes and if they can try it. I get all the flavours combined in delicious aromatic bubbles that tickle my nose and the smooth vanilla lingers on the tongue. This is one refreshing comforting drink that helps me focus and achieve positive results before the end of the night. As Autumn slowly approaches I have been experimenting with temperature and am slowly switching over to going the traditional route of drinking this blend hot with no carbonation and in the end, Twice to Tea is fantastic no matter how you drink it. Highly Recommended. Femme Dangereuse *from the General Catalogue (Listed Notes: Iris, Exotic Spices, and skin-warmed Leather Driving Gloves) In the vial: There goes one of those wonderful and curious lost scent memories again. Absolutely a transporting oil that goes to the Art Deco period. It's IRIS with SPICE and LEATHER. Confident and seductive. Applied: This is a pearls and silk or satin dress type of fragrance. Complex seductive refinement in a vial and for some mysterious reason I'm thinking I want to wear Femme Dangereuse in winter with a fashionable cape coat and cloche hat. The iris note is simply captivating. Not your everyday perfume but one for very special occasions and events. Thought & Memory *from the General Catalogue (Listed Notes: Lavender, Anise, Cardamom, Vetiver, Galbanum, Leather, Balsamic Woods) In the vial: Battle-scarred LEATHER, BALSAM and SPICED LAVENDER. This is more masculine than I was anticipating but I still like it for the obvious herbs and earth that I can pick up. Applied: Thought & Memory would be fantastic on a man as this is a warrior's scent. No warrior poet but a serious survivor of war. The lavender and leather amp on my skin at first and there is a salt note coming through. The exotic spice note also makes an appearance and the more I'm wearing this oil the more I like it. This is one perfume that when the right mood strikes (not wanting to be questioned or crossed) I will be reaching for. Tiny Phantom *from the General Catalogue (Listed Notes: Pink Roses, Marshmallow Buttercream, Pale White Musk, Antique Mahogany) In the vial: FLORAL and fluffy MARSHMALLOW. What is it about roses and sweetness that creates such timeless magic? I have a very good feeling about this perfume. Applied: Tiny Phantom may just have to be my first bottle purchase from this shop, it's such a sweet elegant perfume and out of all the vials I wore to work from Poesie Perfume, Tiny Phantom was complimented on the most about (followed by Pemberley, Fine Eyes and Twice to Tea). On me, the buttercream, musk and mahogany stand out after the delicate rose fades but never disappears completely. To be clear, this is not a childish bakery scent potion (however delightful those can be at times), oh no like all the vials I tried and listed in this article Tiny Phantom is a well-blended polished fragrance and completely wearable in the workplace setting. It's also comforting, familiar and mysterious in many ways and so aptly named. Poesie Perfume MX Perfume mxperfume.etsy.com SUGAR HICCUP (Listed Notes: Rosewood, Sugar, Ginger, Moroccan Rose, Civet (*animal-friendly/synthetic), Amber, Musk, Ambergris (* animal-friendly/synthetic)) Thoughts: I can only describe SUGAR HICCUP as wearable ethereal gossamer, a beautiful reminder of the lost past, posh for the office setting (or a night out) and a unique sugary amber floral I can wear year-round with not one headache or regret. It may sound strange but this is one fragrance that becomes a part of you (only better) and it seriously has to be experienced to get the full mysterious effect. I can't get enough of this rare jewel. Bravo MX Perfume! SCARECROW (Listed Notes: Red Apple, Orange, Anise, Hay Absolute, Tobacco, Fenugreek, Cardamom, Vanilla, Vetiver) Thoughts: SCARECROW by MX Perfume is everything my dark little heart has been desiring in a fall fragrance and I want to live in the bottle. The compliments just keep rolling in when I wear this wonder and SCARECROW is exactly how I'm beating the heat this summer. On me, the realistic hay blended with spice and vanilla are most dominant after the perfect mash of fruit fades and if I could stop slathering this holy grail creation over my arms and in my hair (plus belting out "This is Halloween" from The Nightmare Before Christmas) all long enough I can also detect a wisp of smokiness in this oil that only pulls me deeper into a maze of country fall-related memories; it's just so good! Bravo MX Perfume! mxperfume.etsy.com THE BLACK DEATH FRAGRANCE: Autumn Leaves Time from initial lighting to noticeable throw in a large room with fans: Around 7 minutes Colour of Wax: Black THE BLACK DEATH by Werther & Gray somehow captures the moment when decayed leaves begin to turn dusty and blow in the winds. There is even a drop of patchouli I can detect which adds to the overall effect and I know the perfect candle I'll be burning when I pick up another title on The Great Mortality. Also, the artwork is superb and a must-have decor item for any morbid history collector. SÉANCE FRAGRANCE: Sage, Amber and Smoke Time from initial lighting to noticeable throw in a large room with fans: Around 5-6 minutes Colour of Wax: Midnight Blue Out of the five candles, I was presented with, (in lightning fast time and each artfully packaged) SÉANCE is my favourite out of the jars. I feel I could sit at my desk and pen a full novel with that obscure beauty burning away. The scent that emanates from the candle is truly otherworldly and I can easily imagine a story centred around a mystic, a widow's hopes of reuniting with a lost love from the great war and a circle of dark secrets about to be revealed. I will definitely be repurchasing this powdery creation. LONDON, 1888 FRAGRANCE: Rich lacquered wood, velvety floral notes and seductive fruit Time from initial lighting to noticeable throw in a large room with fans: Around 7-8 minutes Colour of Wax: Maroon For the armchair investigators of unsolved bygone crimes or infamous mysteries, there is no finer selection of candle to cosy up beside than LONDON, 1888 by Werther & Gray. The exact notes of this candle are an alluring mystery all its own (my nose does detect a trace of plum and bergamot) but ultimately this jar tempts you to turn another page or stay to ponder on one more theory long after the lamp chain should be pulled for the night. Exactly what I was hoping for. REIGN OF TERROR FRAGRANCE: Cake, Frosting, Amber, Wood Time from initial lighting to noticeable throw in a large room with fans: Around 4-5 minutes Colour of Wax: Red REIGN OF TERROR along with four other history and seasonally inspired jars from this enchanting shop were all a birthday gift to myself and I finally got my cake with this intriguing candle. Ah but not just any cake, the scent of REIGN OF TERROR is refined and unlike any bakery temptation you will ever find. HALLOWEEN WITCH FRAGRANCE: Pumpkin Bread, Spice Time from initial lighting to noticeable throw in a large room with fans: Around 8-9 minutes Colour of Wax: Golden Brown HALLOWEEN WITCH puts a spell on fall and gourmand fragrance seekers alike with warm delicious nostalgia. This is one comforting jar with not an overwhelming throw but one that beckons just enough for a few more minutes of cozy reading and daydreaming of autumn or cooler weather to come. One whiff and you'll be gone to buy another candle from this amazing shop and I ain't lyin'. Ladies and Gentlemen may I introduce to you a couple of amazing shops and the talented scent genius behind them who wears many hats in the realm of indie fragrance. From candles to perfume this artist somehow conjures and bottles the essences of bygone eras and themes ranging from the demure to the downright macabre with a distinct fashion that I can't put down in any form whether it be my TITANIC inspired candle or my holy grail autumn perfume better known as SCARECROW (Yes, the long search is over!) The various bottles, vials and jars that can be found in his shops are beyond unique along with the fragrance branding that calls out to an old soul like me and to even hard to please trend forward relatives who walk in and ask: "what smells so good?" There really is bound to be a new olfactory addiction waiting for everyone within Werther & Gray, The Candle Parlour or MX Perfume. I admit I only was admiring the historical and culture-inspired candles at Werther & Gray (wertherandgray.etsy.com) ever since I joined ETSY and never thought I would be pulled into so many new wonderful choices of creative note profiles for my home and my own finally realized personal style but here we are and I can tell this is only the beginning of some extraordinary collections that I can't wait to display. Bravo on everything Charles! Werther & Gray wertherandgray.etsy.com The Candle Parlour candleparlour.com/ What better place to start a fragrance journey than where the heart is and our own sanctuaries away from the mad world. You know what is missing though? A flickering candle to cosy up beside and lend some timeless elegance to that personal space. If you are an armchair explorer of the past or simply love the classics Werther & Gray and The Candle Parlour are the places to see as the selections range from sweet florals to the darkly inspired (but dignified) fragrances and everything in between to grace your abode. On ETSY you will find a smaller listing that then leads to the huge library of other luxury candle options (and needful things) at The Candle Parlour. I have to admit after falling hard for the next history influenced creations I'm about to gush about, I have already begun to compile a list of future purchases ((that Jack the Ripper inspired candle, The Black Death jar scented with autumn leaves, Jane Austen and Pumpkin Spice canister (along with so many others) all need to be in my home)). TITANIC FRAGRANCE: Salt Water, Plum, Clove Leaf, Blue Amber Time from initial lighting to noticeable throw in a large room with fans: Around 7 minutes The gorgeous artwork on the jar alone is enough to take this historymagpie over the moon but the contents are just magnificent and make my senses swoon. The elegant ambience that radiates from TITANIC is perfect in my book and is exactly what I have been waiting to see for years from a candle (beloved history and unparalleled fragrance). The blending of plum with a hint of clove and salty amber creates an aquatic feeling without it being overwhelming or screaming "OCEAN" like other candles on the market that have always given me a horrible headache. Not one headache to report thankfully with this lovely soothing creation and it will always be a part of my home decor and I'm throwing out any Yankee Candles. POWDERED WIG FRAGRANCE: Orris & Orange Blossom Time from initial lighting to noticeable throw in a large room with fans: Around 8 minutes What can I say? I can never turn away from lovely illustrations and the decorative label featuring the brooding gentleman with his admiring lady on the jar of POWDERED WIG immediately caught my eye and made me think of an earlier version of Heathcliff and Isabella Linton from Wuthering Heights. It certainly looked like it had a story to tell and the fascinating trivia notes about the use of orange blossom and orris in actual wigs intrigued me all the more (plus I have been searching for a powdery candle with a meaning for a long time). Let me tell you the jar is even more stunning in person and the scent profile of POWDERED WIG is indeed soft and demure with such a beautiful welcoming quality from the delicate orange blossom and powdery orris. Not an overwhelming fragrance by any means but just a terrific starter candle for those curious about this fine collection of scents and historical inspirations. MX Perfume mxperfume.etsy.com Some things can't be merely explained or properly described they only need to be experienced and if you give MX Perfume a curious wave of the wrist you will quickly understand what I mean. I will say these marvellous perfumes hold such a captivating mysterious collective quality about them and for whatever theme, clever name, fragrance profile or iconic image that grabs your attention; you are in for a rare treat. BLASPHEMY (Listed Notes: Orange, Apricot, Osmanthus, Davana, Clove, Black Pepper, Ginger, Myrrh, Vanilla, Labdanum) In the vial: CLOVE, BLACK PEPPER, MYRRH and an undercurrent of dark FRUIT that melds so well into the spice and resins, it's positively wicked and divine! Applied: If you are a "spice fiend" who can't help slathering on fragrances with some heat and giving your nose a much-needed wakeup, grab BLASPHEMY and take your place inside the fire with MX Perfume (you won't regret it). On me, this oil opens with a mash of zesty spice and warm fruit that I can't pull my nose away from and as this scent potion dries it actually gets more pronounced akin to a growing flame with an underlining black pepper and something herbaceous stoking and giving it an extra kick on my skin. When it fades hours later, the final call goes to a faint peppery vanilla giving this wonderfully complex perfume a lasting soothing quality you can't wait to smell again. I love wearing this creation in the workplace setting or just standing on the breezeway letting the well-blended list of notes swirl with the wind and this fragrance is going right into my basket of "you need this". FULL MOON (Listed Notes: Thyme, Orris Tincture, White Lotus, Night Jasmine, Violet, Styrax, Ambergris (*animal-friendly/synthetic), Copaiba Balsam) In the vial: THYME, VIOLET and AMBERGRIS, it has a lovely obscure property to it that I'm excited to try. Hopefully, my skin chemistry behaves with the violet. Here we go... Applied: The more I wear FULL MOON and allow it to age, the more I'm falling under its spell. This and PAPER MOON (review to follow shortly) are both, unlike anything I have ever had the pleasure to smell before with the thyme amping on my skin and creating a pure elemental quality that adds another facet to seek out for my growing perfume collection. If PAPER MOON is the summer to early autumn version of the presentation of the moon in my mind, then FULL MOON is the intricate mysterious fall to winter arrangement with a herbaceous opening then unique florals, powder and a barely detectable sprig of balsam under everything. I will definitely be wearing FULL MOON for the Total Lunar Eclipse (the longest of the 21st century) happening at the end of this month (Friday, July 27th). SUGAR HICCUP (Listed Notes: Rosewood, Sugar, Ginger, Moroccan Rose, Civet (*animal-friendly/synthetic), Amber, Musk, Ambergris (* animal-friendly/synthetic)) In the vial: I don't want to get too excited but seriously, where has this fragrance been all my life?! It's so well blended but my nose clearly favours the ROSE and SUGARY AMBER that I absolutely love and fingers crossed it plays well with my chemistry. Applied: Could it be? Have I finally stumbled across a rose perfume that I can wear with no painful regrets or one that doesn't smell like hairspray? YES! Yes, I have. Complete thoughts fail me as I sit here and forgive me if I ramble or forego the "this opens with" but no simple description will do this haunting masterpiece justice (you just need to experience it for yourself). For me, SUGAR HICCUP is like wearable ethereal gossamer, a beautiful reminder of the lost past and I'm going to wear this floral scent year round. There is a warmth to the notes that will transition well for the colder months but there is also something so perfect about it for summer and spring (the ginger?). This jewel needs to come home to me as soon as possible and be nestled alongside my professional/confidence in a bottle cache of treasured fragrances (*full feature article coming soon if I can articulate on this wonder). SCARECROW (Listed Notes: Red Apple, Orange, Anise, Hay Absolute, Tobacco, Fenugreek, Cardamom, Vanilla, Vetiver) In the vial: Realistic COUNTRY FALL in all its spectacular glory! It's: breathtaking pastoral landscapes, climbing apple trees, long solitary walks in the hollow, haunted hayrides, apple festivals with spiced treats, corn mazes, ghost trails all magnificently captured and released in a flood of additional images. Just fragrance nirvana with special nostalgic properties and I want to live in the vial. Applied: I am truly in the presence of an evil scent genius who has somehow conjured into existence my autumn holy grail fragrance. It only took a year to stumble across this gem and as I dab (then paint then downright slather this fragrance on) and bask in everything this vial has to offer, I sorely wish SCARECROW came in multiple forms (candle, hair and bath for starters) because I'm seriously ready to just dump the vial over my head right now as I'm typing; it's so good! After going through pages on my extensive trove of fall themed oils, believe it or not, SCARECROW is the first to contain hay absolute and I'm delighted to share that it amps on my skin along with vanilla, cardamom and vetiver. If I can pull my nose away long enough and try to concentrate there is also something slightly smoky about it (the tobacco?) Sadly I must admit my treacherous skin chemistry causes this scent of my dreams to fade faster than the other vials I sampled in my pack but I have learned how to combat that baleful side of my chemical makeup with tricks that work for these few poor unfortunate oils and all I have left to say is: Take my money now MX Perfume! (*full feature coming soon on the 5ml bottle) ZOMBIE FEAST (Listed Notes: Hyssop, Thyme, Rum, Cognac, Coconut, Hazelnut, White Chocolate, Vanilla) In the vial: COCONUT, WHITE CHOCOLATE, HAZELNUT and VANILLA with a drop of booze in the background. ZOMBIE FEAST is definitely the gourmand option of the samples. I have no idea how this is going to play out but I'm excited to have it. Applied: You know I've always wondered what zombies smell in the air as they chase around potential victims on the screen and I should have known it would be something crave-worthy and positively yummy. On me, ZOMBIE FEAST is not "tropical" even with the coconut, it's akin to a decadent expensive creamy vanilla truffle with shredded coconut and hazelnut adorning it. A great choice for those of us who are wary of coconut and the "beachy realm" (no beach or suntanning lotion here just a toothsome confection that is sure to garner compliments). Like all the vials I tried ZOMBIE FEAST is very wearable in this insufferable summer heat and is another fragrance I will be reaching for when I'm not dousing myself in SCARECROW (hope the bottle lasts until fall). WHITE SUNSHINE (Listed Notes: Bergamot, Grapefruit, Geranium, Iris, Jasmine, White Musk, Civet (*animal-friendly/synthetic), Oakmoss, Patchouli, Vanilla, Labdanum) In the vial: CITRUS and FLORALS that carry a summer breeze with it. I have a strong feeling I'm going to love this. Applied: It took me several times wearing WHITE SUNSHINE to figure out what this stunning fragrance reminded me of and it may sound odd but two things come to mind anymore when I'm enjoying this superbly blended creation, one is if the magical bioluminescence of a firefly had a scent it would be WHITE SUNSHINE and the other is the multi-faceted piece of symbolism known as the "green light" in The Great Gatsby. There is a romantic aspect to this fragrance that is both dreamy and complex but still ethereal (just out of reach) and I simply adore it. Into the basket, you go WHITE SUNSHINE and now I want to go outside and reread The Great Gatsby for the 180th time. DARK & STORMY (Listed Notes: Petrichor, Bergamot, Pear, Gardenia, Patchouli, Blue Musk, Leather (*animal-friendly/synthetic), Amber) *Too late did I see that gardenia was a listed note and for those readers following my ramblings, you will recall gardenia and I haven't played well in the recent past. Oh dear now I'm worried. In the vial: ...Did I receive the right vial? What is that exquisite note greeting me under the lovely petrichor, patchouli and bergamot? If this is what gardenias really smell like please get me a huge bouquet of them. I hate to get excited but it's impossible not to. Fingers and toes crossed... Applied: This may be called DARK & STORMY and I should be cursing my chemistry right now for turning this anticipated perfume into a calming spring rainshower versus a violent storm but oddly I'm not, I'm actually quite smitten as I sit here. On me, DARK & STORMY takes me away to a charming Old Hollywood set with a legendary starlet lounging in the parlour as a refreshing rain hits the window. Her trademark fragrance is creamy gardenia and it gently follows in her wake and lingers on the leather-bound script on the table as she moves to each new scene ready for her closeup. Overall another vintage romance in the making and I think MX Perfume just helped me turn a huge corner on appreciating a certain floral. Into the basket. BIZZARO (Listed Notes: Tangerine, Clary Sage, Raspberry, Mango, Jasmine, Gardenia, Cardamom, Olibanum, Blue Musk, Ambergris (*animal-friendly/synthetic)) In the vial: FRANKINCENSE, CARDAMOM, SAGE. There is probably a fruit note as well but my nose loves to single out resins, spice and herbs in anything. I'm extremely intrigued by this vial. Applied: Clary Sage greets me first and steers BIZZARO into the masculine realm (I bet this would smell amazing on a man) but as it dries the gardenia glides over along with the jasmine and an unknown fruit note slowly turning this fragrance on me to more feminine with a sprinkle of warm spice from the cardamom. It smells so expensive and I think it will only get better with aging. BLOOD LUST (Listed Notes: Wormwood, Tarragon, Citrus, Ajowan, Plum Blossom, Jasmine, Olibanum, Patchouli, Oudwood, Vanilla) In the vial: This strangely fascinating vial keeps changing every time I open it to test. Right now I detect JASMINE, CITRUS, PATCHOULI and TARRAGON. And now there's OUDWOOD. If BLOOD LUST is morphing already I can't wait to try it on. Applied: On me, jasmine commands the show for several minutes along with wormwood then prized plum and a twist of citrus slowly appears. When BLOOD LUST completely dries vanilla, oudwood and earthy patchouli stay the longest and keeps my nose down to my wrist. Like BIZZARO this perfume smells expensive and is one of the more masculine vials but still appropriate for a lady. Victorian Fragrance Co. *Sadly this line has been discontinued but it is definitely worth sharing. A special thank you to the owner for allowing me the chance to sample and enjoy these perfumes centred around my favourite era of time* PAPER MOON (Listed Notes: Honey, Almond, Thyme, Pear, Tonka Bean, Vanilla, Musk) I've always had some kind of unexplainable connection to the moon and I'm so happy the owner sent this creamy otherworldly creation to me. PAPER MOON is so aptly named as it has this beautifully strange and wonderful papery-powdery quality to it and I can't stop smelling my wrists. This perfume is like an invisible strand of pearls that serves as the perfect final accessory to stand apart from the mundane but still stay classy and stately in any setting (also compliments any attire choice). I absolutely adore it! DAPPER (Listed Notes: Bergamot, Lemon, Herbs, Carnation, Rose, Cedar, Sandalwood, Labdanum) I dab some DAPPER on when I'm dressed to the nines and want to beat the summer heat with something fancy and formal noted. I've already put a noticeable dent in the bottle so this will be another fragrance I'll be rationing but it is well worth it with the spicy and a smoke-like floral that opens with a delightful citrus and herbaceous note combination that actually stays on my finicky skin. Hours later, the florals with spice slowly fade and the final call goes to the sandalwood and cedar that stays into the next morning. They don't make vintage smelling perfumes like this anymore which is truly a shame. THE MOORS ( Listed Notes: Heather, Lilac, Sandalwood, Tonka Bean) *still currently aging but it is very promising with a floral mossy noted mixture that makes me want to hop a plane to the UK so badly (and probably never come back) to see the real moors. AUTUMN EVENTIDE (Listed Notes: Hay, Plum, Apple, Orange, Cinnamon, Clove, Musk, Blonde Tobacco) I can never have too many spiced apple oils and AUTUMN EVENTIDE is a classic that I will tuck into my fall trove. This perfume lasts longer in my hair and I love walking around in a halo of warmth and fruit with a scattering of tobacco. Definitely a keeper in my book. BLACK BOMBAZINE (Listed Notes: Frankincense, Labdanum, Black Musk, Clove, Plum, Rosewood) In the vial, this oil is a boozy floral with clove but completely transforms once it hits the skin and BLACK BOMBAZINE is for the plum and wood note lovers. It is meant to heavy and acts upon the imagination creating visions of stopped clocks and covered mirrors. Another keeper for reading certain subjects of interest. STILL LIFE (Listed Notes: Oakmoss, Narcissus, Musk, Peony, Lily, Mandarin) This fragrance starts off with a burst of addicting sharp lemon and peony that then dries down to a vintage scent collage leaning toward more powdery on me but still noticeably floral. This is a good oil to wake up and start the day with. TEA & CRUMPETS (Listed Notes: Black Tea, Milk, Musk, Red Apple, Orange) True to its name TEA & CRUMPETS is steeped tea with a splash of lemon and milk. A great summer alternative to the tropical fruits and sweet gourmands. I don't know what it is about apples and oranges that never seem to fair well with my temperamental skin chemistry (they sadly fade very quickly). Oh well, atleast my hair can smell like tea and fruit. Alkemia Perfumes
alkemia.etsy.com Thoughts: -You would be forgiven for thinking this marvellous creation is solely gourmand as the first sniff is luscious dark cacao and fresh lavender blooms with a hint of cardamon you can't seem to put down but Fleurs Historiques et Cacao is so much more and is full of surprises once it hits the skin. Right away a stately presence emerges from this blending stimulating the senses further along with your imagination sweeping you back to a courtly era others only dream they could present in a bottle then this crafted beauty fondly bids you farewell hours later with a soft floral-powdery wave akin to from a delicate lace handkerchief. Overall, absolutely inspiring and lovely for summer. Brava Alkemia! One scent at a time: Fleurs Historiques et Cacao *ULTIME version (Listed Notes: Dark Cacao, French Lavender Flowers, Black Cardamon Pods, Tea with Lemon Peel, Grapefruit Blossom and Vanilla Musk. In the bottle: FRENCH LAVENDER BLOOMS and ground dark CACOA with a hint of CARDAMON waiting in the background, it's sophisticated and a little heady. I can easily tell how this scent mixture would ensnare a king (it's simply memorable and beautifully addictive--Madame de Pompadour knew exactly what she was doing with this historic fragrance recipe). I must don lace and gold tonight, Fleurs Historiques et Cacao definitely demands my best! Applied: What we are presented with is an unapologetic feminine fragrance that commands your attention and sweeps you away to another time and place when it hits the skin. I immediately get the decadent cacao with the floral of the lavender blooms and these two play amazingly well with one another creating visions of a gilded French boudoir back in the 18th century with an open large window directly facing a summer parterre. There is something very airy even delicate about Fleurs Historiques et Cacao but at the same time, confident and I'm astonished the cacao is lasting on my skin (I must remember to purchase the ULTIME again if cacao is a listed note). I must also stop as I am getting looks from my coworkers as I obsessively sniff my wrists and move my hair so the blended poetry of the notes (now accompanied by a warm cardamon and noticeable bright citrus) takes me away each time my curls move. You know what, let them look, I don't care; this is a special night and I desired a fragrance that said "I have arrived in life" and Fleurs Historiques et Cacao is exactly what I wanted and will mean something whenever I wear it. Later long into the night, the floral and slight sweetness (that never resembles the scent of a bakery) takes on a wisp of romantic vanilla musk and then this perfume slowly fades with a glorious powdery finish that follows me out the door and into the light of dawn. Absolutely this is a special bottle for my collection and I can tell it will only get better with age (doesn't everything?) alkemia.etsy.com Sixteen92
sixteen92.com/ Thoughts: -Adding another chapter to my book of perfume discoveries or self-realizations and this one is titled LYCANTHROPE. Joining the pantheon of treasured oils, this particular bottle allows my romantic imagination to run wild in a moonlit forest and believe me I don't want to leave. Weaving its mysterious magic on my senses and into my dreams, simply this is a fragrance that deserves the highest praise and is too good to not share. Brava Sixteen92! One scent at a time: Lycanthrope (Listed Notes: Monkshood, warm fur, tuber, elm bark, Artemisia, Galbanum, weathered rock and silver moonlight) *A special limited edition fragrance that won't return until September 13, 2019. In the bottle: Realistic RAIN DRENCHED MOSS, STONE, DAMP BARK and an impression you are being watched from the partially moonlit shadows. Applied: Whoever said Friday the 13th was unlucky obviously doesn't collect perfume oils or ever had the opportunity to come across Lycanthrope by Sixteen92 because this is a scent masterpiece and a lucky find indeed! You know an oil is exceptional when you close your eyes and are immediately swept away to another place or time and Lycanthrope is one of the most transporting bottles I currently own. Scent is suggestive (in many ways) but for me, this opens with wet stones against ancient trees and you can hear the rumble of thunder in the distance and the leaves rustling with the stirred wind. For those of us who love nothing more than staring up at the moon late at night and feeling some kind of unexplainable pull, this perfume can serve as the perfect backdrop. As this oil dries, the darkness of the notes intensify and it reminds me of The Castle of the Hill (also by Sixteen92) but Lycanthrope is strangely warmer and more inviting. There are also additional mineral and green notes that lurk within this unique fragrance which become noticeable at certain times and for some reason, I feel protected whenever I wear this. I like to think this special oil as a talisman against negative thoughts and I seek it out if I feel apprehensive or need a restful day (or night) of sleep. It really is a soothing almost pensive blend for anyone who favours enigmatic atmospherics. sixteen92.com/collections/limited-editions For those of us who love history, legends of old or just enjoy smelling amazing, allow me to introduce you to a charming shop that caters to anyone who wishes to be pampered by products with ingredients straight from nature and inspired by Norse mythology. One look and you will know you have arrived at a unique destination and one whiff from the carefully arranged parcel (complete with a personal thank you note and other noticeable touches) that appears at your doorstep is enough to set you on a journey down another deeper tunnel in this strangely wonderful rabbit warren of indie fragrances and scent artistry. This (and more) is what you will discover at Valhalla Soap Co. (valhallasoap.com/). I am currently on my second "plunder" from this bewitching store and am planning out my third and fourth in the coming months. What I have found has become a part of my daily relaxing routine and the final touches I reach for when I go out the door into the modern world. You can tell allot of attention goes into each packed parcel and every time I open a jar, bottle or unwrap a marbled bar of soap it becomes an experience and reconnection to the lost past. I have to admit their excellent customer service practices invited me from the shadows of just window shopping and the owners' skills and knowledge of harnessing the ancient properties of herbs, spices, delicate florals and creative blendings continue to impress and keep me coming back. Victorian Lilac (Listed Notes and Description: "Straight up true old fashioned lilac. No powdery, perfume scent. Imagine true heirloom lilacs growing in front of a 1920's Victorian with all the gingerbread trim and paint.") A crown jewel of my perfume collection, Victorian Lilac by Valhalla Soap Co. is the heavenly spring scent I have been desperately searching for. It's as it says on the tin and this natural fragrance is everything I could wish for, it's nostalgia and every beautiful definition in the dictionary. It's like a sigh or gentle whisper on the skin. From beginning to end this uncomplicated perfume is magnificent and I feel such quiet strength when I wear it. Pixie Vials Wishing Star Farmer's Daughter Persian Pear Amber & Vanilla 7 Sins from Sunday valhallasoap.com/aromatic-body-oils/ Wishing Star (Listed Notes and Description: Star Anise and Lavender, "All natural Anise and Lavender combine equally to create a very earthy, Gothic scent. Both scents are rooted firmly in the element of Air, making them very good for any kind of emotional, mental or psychic work.") Wishing Star contains my weaknesses being Star Anise and Lavender and when these distinct notes combine it's otherworldly! In the vial, the lavender which is rich and herbal is most dominant but when applied the star anise takes over and pulls me only deeper into this alluring and relaxing medley. Absolutely one of my new favourites to recommend (fantastic for tension headaches). Farmer's Daughter (Listed Notes: Peaches, Oranges, Sweet Cream, Amber, Wild Violets, Musk, Vanilla Sugar and Honey) Farmer's Daughter is a lovely soft blend that is ideal for spring/summer and the professional setting. On me this oil dries down to a gorgeous powder with a realistic cream note and light lingering peach vanilla scent. Overall, an unexpected favourite as it is truly an enchanting balance of delicate and feminine without smelling too youthful or sweet. Persian Pear (Listed Notes: Anjou Pears, Lady Apples, Coconut, Vanilla Bean) In the vial, Persian Pear resembles the fragrance of a homemade compote with juicy pears and tart flesh of a freshly bitten (or chopped) apple with a drop of lemon. When applied an unexpected spice note appears that depending on your mindset and chemistry may read as "fizzy" but on me this is more of a late summer to early autumn harvest evoking combination of fresh fruit and warmth. This perfume is the most gourmand scented out of the pixie vials I received from this shop and I would be interested to find out if the sweetness is tempered in the soap bar form or is magnified in the detangler. Amber Vanilla (Listed Notes: Vanilla, Spices and Amber) Despite this oil containing vanilla this is not a gourmand fragrance or a playful perfume. Amber Vanilla is mature and striking (outrageously romantic), opening with a dreamy powderiness that then quickly warms revealing a hidden musk-like note that can read more masculine than feminine but is wonderful to relax with after a long day. On me, Amber Vanilla dries down to a warm sandalwood with amber that lasts for hours. 7 Sins from Sunday (Listed Notes: Jasmine, Lavender, Amber, Vanilla, Sandalwood, Patchouli and Dark Cocoa Bean) In the vial, the lavender, amber and vanilla are most noticeable and if you happen to love the scent of freshly picked from the garden herbs, you will fall hard for Valhalla Soap Co.'s lavender note (I know I have). I can't get enough of it especially in 7 Sins from Sunday and Wishing Star. Applied the jasmine with lavender is centre stage with a very light dusting of cocoa but it seems as soon as it is noticed the delicious dark accord disappears sadly (my chemistry unfortunately always gobbles up chocolate notes). The sandalwood then commands the show along with the vanilla and amber lasting well into the next day. Overall a keeper for falling asleep with and I would love to try this fragrance in the bubbling bath melts. valhallasoap.com/scrubs/ The Honey & Herbs Organic Sugar Scrub is pretty enough to tempt a nibble out of the jar, smells like a step back to long-forgotten practices and above all allows you to just forget the outside modern world to focus on some much-needed pampering and relaxation time. Get ready for something so divine in every fashion that I can't recommend it enough to those who adore the inspirative and comforting aromas of rosemary, apricot, lavender and honey. Together these ingredients take me away and when I finally leave my water filled sanctuary my skin glows and I'm completely recharged with a light hint of herbs lingering on my warm skin and relaxed muscles. It is the sensation and scent experience only nature can provide and Valhalla Soap Co. has created the perfect formula in my book with their Honey & Herbs Organic Sugar Scrub. Try it for yourself and you'll begin hoarding jars like me. valhallasoap.com/the-real-deal-whipped-soap-shampoo/ My hair has never looked, smelled and felt so good all thanks to the independent shop products I have been using this year. Add another to my highly recommended success shelf because "The Real Deal" Whipped Soap & Shampoo by Valhalla Soap Co. has just replaced conventional shampoo and conditioner in my book and everyone needs to know about this wonderful creation. Getting straight to the reason for my excitement, the contents from this generously sized jar adds volume and incredible softness to my temperamental curls and because I ordered the Naken or Unscented (5 oz.) option I can mix a couple drops from any vial or bottle from my perfume oil collection into a spoonful of whipped soap to only later come out from behind the shower curtain smelling like my favourite scent potions ready for anything. valhallasoap.com/soaps/ If there ever was a lost art it is soap making, watch a video or attend a seminar on this fascinating process and it will give you a new appreciation for the lovely marbled bar of colour and fragrance you hold in your hand. Right now I have four bars (three sample sizes and one full sized) from this enchanting shop and each one is different in texture, appearance and scent profile. What they all share is they undoubtedly leave my skin soft with no tightness or any oily residue left behind and haven't stirred up any embarrassing skin problems that commercial soaps can have in store for those of us with sensitive skin. As mentioned above the scent profiles differ and here's what I have found. Alfheim (Notes: Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, Citrus and Peppermint) *this (and a wrapped bar marked "unscented") were free samples that appeared in my first plunder box, thank you so much Donna and Matt!) For me, Alfheim is bright and refreshing with the citrus (you can even see specks of peel in the soap) and I prefer to use this little sample in the morning when I get home after a long night. It's extremely gentle and washes away my stubborn makeup with a mint and lemon lather that is almost edible (seriously everything this shop creates smells like you could eat it or close your eyes and inhale it all day long). I then follow up with my special moisturizer and serum (from Organic Fields of Heather) in those spots that are either dry or oily (depending on the day). I love that Alfheim has tea tree which wakes my nose up and gets me ready for the scent escape oils I put on before I go back into the dark to sleep the day away. *Unscented is destined to go to the child of a good friend who loves anything green and is allergic and sensitive to mainstream soaps and detergents. I have carefully tested and retested other soaps from this shop so hopefully this little wrapped bar will help and he will love it and ask for the special "dinosaur coloured soap" his auntie found for him. Green Witch (Description: "Sweet and earthy. Bright, bubbly citus notes combine with clean and green herbals, earthy florals and grounded with a smidge of forest floor. This effervecent bit of magick will have you longing to get outdoors and conjer some green, earthy magick of your own.") *this was a free sample that appeared in my second plunder, thank you so much Donna and Matt! I absolutely love these types of fragrance puzzles such as Green Witch. Right away I lose myself in the herbs and dried florals on top of the sample and the different shades of natural green in the soap (it looks like a cutaway piece of precious gemstone). I can see dried lavender buds, dandelion petals, perhaps marigold as well? The scent really reveals itself when water is applied and patchouli comes out and lingers on my skin along with hints of lemon with lavender. Green Witch is so aptly named as the notes combine to create a summer glade with a kindly barefoot earth witch leading you deeper into the forest as the cooling shadows from sun-dappled trees dance across your path. A very soothing and atmospheric fragrance. Lavender (Notes: heavenly unmussed with lavender) *I was fortunate to grab one of the last remaining bars from the "Oops" batch, that was meant to be Wishing Star. Excuse me as I just inhale the bag this soap is currently placed in. Ah, I can't express in this mere post how much I adore this soap and scent. THIS is how lavender is meant to be captured in a pure pampering form just waiting to be enjoyed. Nature created one of the most perfect fragrances with this herb and in my humble opinion it is best alone to delight and seduce those who appreciate and have been searching for such majestic simplicity. Like the rest of the different soaps I have just shared above, Lavender leaves my sensitive skin soft and not tight with no greasy residue or new breakouts and is marvellous to relax with after a long day (or night). This particular bar is extremely fragrant and is pure art with the crushed lavender buds peeking out of the bottom layer and a muted violet shade nestled on top with a star anise pod and even more lavender buds gracing everything. It's pretty enough to display in anyone's guest bathroom welcoming company but I want this beauty all to myself and I will take care and learn how to heat up the bar and cut it with a knife then store away the smaller chunks. Discover something just for you: Don't forget to explore this page and find out about Valhalla Soap Co.'s Plunder Point Program which I absolutely love and really appreciate as I plan out my next box of goods that need to be on my vanity. valhallasoap.com/faqs/ How about a custom oil? That's right this shop has this awesome opportunity available. What sounds like a dream blend to you? valhallasoap.com/custom-aromatic-oil-blend/ Have no idea where to even start? The Sales page may be exactly what you are looking for, here you will find a mystery bag of different products to experiment with and discover a new fragrance or luxurious bath treat all for yourself. valhallasoap.com/sale/ Sixteen92
sixteen92.com/ Full Bottles: Telepathy Baba Yaga Vials: Mercy Lewis La Llorona Blood & Honey Combined Thoughts: These strangely beautiful fragrances may not seem to fit a single category to anyone else and you are right they each have different note profiles from floral to a little gourmand with an edge but they all have a mysterious depth about them and changed my mind about exploring different combinations of components and inspirations taken from nature, legends and history that all can be somehow placed in a vial or bottle by independent fragrance mistresses and masters. Absolutely every one of these perfumes are too good not to share and deserve a treasured/featured label. Brava Sixteen92! One scent at a time: Telepathy *from the Winter 2017 collection (Listed Notes: Winter narcissus, tonka bean, immortelle flower, sleet, ozone, white amber) In the vial/bottle: Crystallized MINT with a hidden green note underneath. This is a combination that is allowing my mind to clear and fits the concept and name perfectly as a "distant feeling". Applied: *This is truly a unique perfume and I had to hurry to jot down each time something morphed and surprised me with Telepathy. This exceptional fragrance starts out a clear frozen green (resembling mint) with a slight peppery note underneath that was completely hidden in the vial and the overall impression this perfume gives is marked as: "icy and like glass" (think standing in a secret Victorian winter garden that is blanketed with snow but there is life underneath the white and glass). I've reached for this vial and bottle throughout this never-ending winter/pseudo spring and each time I can detect the ozone adding to the seasonal mood and I don't know how these mistresses and masters of olfactory magic do it but you can smell the actual frost on the petals in this secret garden. The heat from my skin seems to make this scent potion come alive and it reveals so many new facets. Hours later the white amber, tonka course through and get my full attention once again as I'm working and this goes from a frigid graceful snow queen quality to another refined stately essence and stays until the next morning with a faint warmed honey note I don't want to pull my nose away from (I simply adore Sixteen92's honey notes and want to purchase every perfume they have that has that component hidden or is freely displayed on the note list). Absolutely a haunting floral composition that transitions from winter to the wick of spring. Mercy Lewis *from the General Catalogue (Listed Notes: Heliotrope, honeyed tea, rosehips, sugared almond, creamy sandalwood, milky vanilla) *this was a bonus sample that appeared in my second order with this amazing house of fragrance (thank you so much Claire!) In the vial: Sweet ALMONDS, VANILLA, TEA and SANDALWOOD. It's so hard to concentrate as each time I open a vial or bottle from any favoured house of fragrance my imagination races and I forget my intentions of training my nose to pick up different individual notes and only want to slather myself with these types of perfumes. This one, in particular, is a sweet indulgent inviting vial that I can't wait to try. Applied: Marking another fragrance down to get a full bottle of as soon as possible. Right away Mercy Lewis turns to almond vanilla buttercream on my skin but it's strangely not all gourmand (or too young smelling) and it feels just "right" on me. This is a wonderful example of inspired olfactory art that captures home comforts (served on a tray) and has a power of persuasion all its own just like the unassuming figure from history whose false accusations sent several innocents to their tragic deaths, but then again who wouldn't believe a well-mannered smiling servant girl when asked for the truth? Getting back to this superb scent experience, the vanilla along with honeyed tea and grounding sandalwood are blended so expertly and here is another oil that is very work appropriate (the compliments keep on coming whenever I wear this out), a seasonal transitioning wonder and has changed my mind on a note (almonds) that I always thought as a death note on me (thanks to a certain Bath and Body shop or all the years of alcohol drenched lies I have endured from commercial products). Believe it or not, almonds don't smell like rancid things that give you stomach turning headaches, in the right patient hands almonds can actually smell like the perfect garnish to a dessert or unexpected featured perfumes. La Llorona *from the General Catalogue at the time of purchase but has been discontinued and will only be found on the Resurrection sales listing coming January 2019 according to a recent announcement (Listed Notes: Bulgarian and Egyptian rose absolute, pink and white pepper, pink grapefruit, wisteria, cashmere wood, pale amber) In the vial: GRAPEFRUIT and PEPPER (peppery lemonade anyone?) What a great way to wake up the senses heralding something is coming and forget the horrible weather outside (I swear 20 minutes ago I saw green on the ground and my lilacs trying to bud). Applied: Hello spring I finally found you today! Oh I love La Llorona and am saddened this gorgeous creation has been discontinued. I mentioned peppery lemonade when I first opened the vial but the rose that appears after a few minutes blending with pepper and grapefruit is hands down the best true to life "kissed by morning dew roses on the bush" scents I have ever had the pleasure to find. THIS is how a rose perfume should smell (once again the big stores lied and made us accept what they presented in plastic bottles)! It's invigorating but at the same time also touches brilliantly on its inspiration about a legend of a forlorn ghost with a distinct delicate but mysterious quality as the cashmere wood and pale amber slowly surfaces. This is a fragrance that is approachable but also carries a secret when someone gets close...As much as I adore La Llorona, I must admit that it does sadly fade faster than other perfumes in my collection and needs an application of fixative (Alkemia's Perfume Fixative aids nicely) to delight me more than a few hours. That one unfortunate negative aside, I still had to have a full bottle and was lucky enough to purchase one from Sixteen92's site before it was moved to the limited edition vault but I am also hoping that I can get La Llorona in the hair detangler soon (or can figure out how to add it in a bottle of unscented detangler) but if need be I can apply this oil to my locks alone and happily walk around in a halo of pepper, amber and magnificently executed floral. Blood & Honey *from the General Catalogue (Listed Notes: Blood orange, wildflower honey (vegan), pale amber, honeysuckle) *this was a bonus sample that appeared in my first order (thank you so much Claire) and is inspired by the Jazz Age. In the vial: Three classic beauties: HONEYSUCKLE, ORANGE and HONEY. It matches perfectly to spring/summer in the 1920's but is ultimately a very memorable timeless feminine scent combination. Applied: This is such a channelling fragrance as the first name that came to mind when I put this on was Zelda Fitzgerald and in turn, I must mention Daisy Fay Buchanan (the character Zelda is strongly believed to have inspired in The Great Gatsby), it's dazzling, fascinating and even a little extravagant. Once again Sixteen92 surprises me as Blood & Honey captivates my imagination and works with some unseen power on my chemistry because the orange and honey are staying and not turning waxy (I must note that this perfume lasts 12+ hours on me). The honeysuckle is just lovely, the amber light but romantic and I would love to own the supernatural hair serum in this fragrance for summer because I would be a beautiful little fool whenever I wore it. Baba Yaga *from the General Catalogue (Listed Notes: Fiery dragon’s blood incense, sweet woodsmoke, dried herbs, dripping candle wax, forest dirt) In the vial: I'm not sure what I'm smelling it's a collection of ancient mystery, it's not smokey and it's not floral or spicy it has a scent category all its own. Applied: Right away there is a sharpness or medicinal quality but that quickly is swept away and becomes something completely unexpected which is powdery bubbles with a hint of candle wax and maybe rose? Perhaps this perfume taps into and conforms to your secret comforts and yes powder or any rose and pretty rainbow shifting bubbles from a wand are three of my secret forgotten comforts (judge as you will but you could have entertained me for days as a child if you gave me a bottle of bubbles to blow into the winds and the powder and rose reminds me of a missed loved one), the candle wax is just an unfortunate thing my chemistry always latches onto but is not overly noticeable at the moment and is not that bad. Hours later I am finally getting the earthiness and something is definitely reminding me of a soft rose (finally realized after wearing this perfume and comparing it to others it must be the dragon's blood). It's actually quite lovely not scary or a sharp scent. I'm always on the hunt for scents that can help me fall asleep in the morning after bracing the long night hours and this Bone Mother has been a surprising giver of pleasant vivid dreams. This and The Wild Atlantic Way by Alkemia Perfumes are the two bottles I have been wearing the most after chaotic work nights and whether I feel sentimental when I finally get in the door or desire a complete romantic escape, I know which perfect oil in my slowly growing collection to reach for. sixteen92.com Alkemia Perfumes
alkemia.esty.com Bottles and Sample: Queen of Hearts The Wild Atlantic Way Apsara Temptation Combined Thoughts: Looking outside it's no wonder the poor robins and early spring florals are confused and reluctant to show themselves completely, one day it's all sunshine and a burst of green everywhere the next ice, snow and wild winds. Ah, but inside my home sitting in front of my antique vanity it is truly one of my favourite seasons all in different forms (gourmands, atmospheric, florals and powders) and I love walking around and falling asleep with these fragrances that help melt away any remaining winter blues and allow my imagination to race to dream destinations or locales. One scent at a time: Queen of Hearts (Listed Notes: Brandied Black Cherries and Praline Tart) *this delectable fragrance has been sadly discontinued but it may reappear different times of the year Thoughts: -Queen of Hearts is pure dreamy nostalgia in a bottle that needed to join my collection. This is such a close your eyes and let the winter blues melt away type of fragrance that is sure to gather admirers. I absolutely adore this and recommend it to those who need a smile and getting in the mood for new beginnings. Absolutely too good to not share. Brava Alkemia! In the vial/bottle: Where has this fragrance been all my life? It may be only two listed notes but Queen of Hearts is blended so expertly and I'm in love with the combination of CHERRIES and PRALINES. I seriously can't stop smelling this and smiling, it's wonderfully dreamy and exactly what I needed. Applied: This has to be one of the most nostalgic and comforting perfumes that has joined my collection and it took me a couple times wearing Queen of Hearts to realize why- it smells exactly like cherry fruit snacks I loved as a child. It's such a realistic fruit fragrance (that in no way resembles anything medicinal, like so many other cherry noted fragrances can turn into) but at the same time, there is an undernote that appears (dark wood with vanilla) that pulls Queen of Hearts into a toothsome adult realm and it can be a little surprisingly alluring. Absolute fantastic magic for the winter blues but I can easily see myself wearing this perfume all year around. Alkemia does it again! The Wild Atlantic Way (Listed Notes: Yellow Gorse, Faerie Hawthorn, Broom, Bog Myrtle, Peat Moss, and Oceanic Ambergris) Thoughts: -Here is a love letter to dream destinations and the romantic imagination. On me, I can only describe The Wild Atlantic Way as beautiful dirty butter with an enveloping earthy-coconut to late spring essence that I want to seriously bathe in. I also get a slight smokey moss note in this and distinct wisps of natural aquatics as it dries. I have been wearing this curious scent potion to relax with after long chaotic work nights and I drift off to sleep thinking of romantic forest, glen and vale scenes from cinematic favourites. Just absolutely phenomenal and deserves a TREASURED/FEATURED label. Brava Alkemia! In the vial/bottle: Pulled up MOSS and COCONUT. I want to roll around in this, it's so hard to describe why I love this fragrance (and it may sound strange but honestly I don't care). The bottle contains just an incredibly romantic and soothing medley that makes me want to hop a plane right now or learn a new language. Applied: Absolutely I want to bathe in this and see the inspiration for this beautiful atmospheric perfume. On me, a dirty butter note greets me first that keeps my nose down to my wrist and has me close my eyes, I also get a smoky moss note that mixes with a splash of salt that makes me think of a breathtaking natural landscape of vale with seaside just over the horizon. After multiple times of wearing The Wild Atlantic Way, I decided to use this superb oil to fall asleep in the morning. The note combination has been such a success that I guess I trained my mind to believe it is time for bed anytime I wear this anymore. Overall, I can't get enough of this perfume and wish I could live in the bottle. Apsara (Listed Notes: Darjeeling Tea and Purple Hyacinths) Thoughts: -Apsara is the type of fragrance I love to show off as I can walk in a crowded room and know no other woman present will be wearing my perfume (or theirs will ever smell the same as mine, thanks to complex skin chemistries). It moves into the empire of avant-garde with a delicate dance between spring air and water which is a different change for me but at the same time it is elegant and memorable. Too good not to share and deserves a TREASURED/FEATURED label. Brava Alkemia! In the bottle: Finally gorgeous HYACINTHS I have found you! I don't know why this isn't a popular note in any perfume, it's amazing and deserves the highest praise. Getting back to the whole presented scent potion, this bottle is ethereal spring in my book with a dose of TEA. What an interesting note blending. Applied: Apsara is the type of fragrance I love to show off as I can walk in a crowded room and know no other woman present will be wearing my perfume (or theirs will ever smell the same as mine, thanks to complex skin chemistries). It moves into the empire of avant-garde which is a different change for me but at the same time it is elegant and memorable. A new unique jewel for my collection. On me, the tea is more pronounced which slightly makes me sad as I have been searching everywhere for a true hyacinth perfume to call my own but still oddly I love Apsara as it brings to mind having exotic tea on a veranda bordered by hyacinths after a spring rain shower. A true keeper, perfect for spring and a classy way to stand out from the mundane. Temptation (Listed Notes: Crème de Violet Macarons, White Chocolate, Candied Parma Violets) Thoughts: -This final perfume I wish to share may be already familiar to readers as it was visited once last year when I first found Alkemia's fabulous shop. I wasn't too sure about the vial but time has worked some astonishing magic and Temptation is now a true favourite. It's hard to explain what makes this fragrance so special but I can't wear this without shedding a tear. This is warm hugs, kisses with bright red lipstick and an empty chair no one will ever fill. Thank you Alkemia for creating such a masterpiece that seems heaven-sent. In the vial: Gourmand BABY POWDER and WHITE CHOCOLATE with LIPSTICK (Violets). It's familiar and instantly comforting. A perfect combination of home baking and classic beauty items. Applied: I know ordinary days and personal milestones or celebrations will never be the same or mean what they could have been but this perfume is almost like someone very special is near me and I can hear "put your thinking cap on" as I'm leaving for work. Temptation is very soothing and all this vial is missing is a hint of peppermint to be complete in my book. It captures the essence of innocence, kindness and I must have a full bottle when the vial is empty. alkemia.etsy.com Full Bottles: Falling Stars at Winter Solstice Yuletide Blessing 2017 Combined Thoughts: Sometimes we hold on to and treasure simple things that allow good memories into our dreams and follow us when we are awake with softly whispered tidings of encouragement and love. These are the fragrances that provide me with just that whenever I wear them and bring me back to: once happy holidays, smiling faces, dancing to polka music, festoons of sparkly poinsettias and rooms filled with warmth and traditions. One scent at a time: -This first fragrance is a holiday snapshot in a bottle for me as this makes me think of standing next to the fireplace and hanging ornaments (with such care and childish innocent but terrible decoration sense) on the freshly standing tree with snow melting on the floor and autumn leaves still stuck in the branches from being dragged in through the field. It's incredibly atmospheric and I don't want to open my eyes to realize those days are long gone. It's so strange how memory can be attached to a scent and Falling Stars at Winter Solstice acts like a balm for me this time of year and I don't ever want to be without this fragrance as it is one I love to read with and fall asleep wearing. Absolutely this is too good to not share and deserves a special TREASURED/FEATURED label. Brava and thank you Alkemia! Falling Stars at Winter Solstice (Listed Notes: Balsam Pine, Dark myrrh, Somalian Frankincense, Snow, Woodsmoke) What I'm hoping for: I have quite the perfume oil collection now that spans from spring to fall and I need something "wintery". The pine with myrrh, frankincense and woodsmoke seem to be a safe exploration plus the lovely name caught my full attention. In the vial/bottle: WOODSMOKE and PINE, just like the name it's gorgeous. I can't help but think of sled riding, decorating the perfect tree and once happy holidays. Applied: Oh Falling Stars at Winter Solstice is magical, the woodsmoke is my favourite but the pine with teasing myrrh and frankincense are all beautiful accompanying notes and this in no way resembles a cheap candle, it's more complex and so much deeper than I was expecting. This is without a doubt one of the most comforting scents that has joined my collection. I wish I could wear the fragrance every day in winter to work but I currently sit by someone who is highly allergic to pine scents and I must be respectful of that. I will keep this jewel at home to fall asleep with as I can only have the sweetest dreams and relaxing hours cuddled up with a good book when wearing Falling Stars at Winter Solstice. Words that come to mind: windswept snowy hills, twinkling stars, childish wonder, joyous reunions One scent at a time: -Finally, I must share this chance gem that holds past, present and future lost memories and is like a soothing melody from another place and time. It's everything bright you want to hold close especially into the new year. I don't know if there is already a name for the fragrant essence of hope or spirit of Christmas but it should be Yuletide Blessing 2017 by Alkemia Perfumes. Brava Alkemia! Yuletide Blessing 2017 (Listed Notes: Pears, Apples, Cinnamon, Clove, Black Currant, Gingerbread, Oakwood, Balsam Pine and Woodsmoke) What I'm hoping for and what called to me: When I saw the Yuletide collection show up on December 1st this was one of the first perfumes I placed in my basket because all the listed notes called out to me and I was completely charmed by the descriptions of the unique meanings of each note, it sounds like an ancient potion of good luck and prosperity for the new year (all things I can never turn down and the special pricing sweetens the pot). I would love to find a perfume that perhaps smells like a pomander but would be happy with smoke and pine with a fruitiness. In the bottle: There must be some kind of luck or magic infused in this bottle as Yuletide Blessing 2017 is the Holiday/Christmas perfume I have been searching for. It's FRUIT, SPICE, RESIN and is absolutely magnificent! This is everything I was hoping to find. I can't stop smelling this oil, each time I slowly move the uncapped bottle there is something else that surfaces and I can't help but close my eyes and enjoy every second. I could seriously just sit here and smell the bottle all day long. Applied: Yuletide Blessing 2017 is stunning, the spiced pear with pine greets me first and I'm in love with everything this perfume has to offer. It also makes me shed a tear but a happy one as I know someone very special who I miss everyday would have absolutely loved this oil and found such joy reading about the different meanings of each note and I can think of only good memories right now. Yuletide Blessing 2017 continues to change from light to deep and it's almost like a nearly forgotten melody is playing around me that I can't place. As this perfume dries I get the gingerbread with the smallest hint of woodsmoke but then my chemistry brings back the pine with apple and currant which is the last to leave me the next day. I can't write enough how much I'm enjoying this perfume and yes I'm getting looks at work as I can't stop smelling myself but I don't care (curiously the person who I mentioned earlier who is highly allergic to pine scents hasn't sneezed or complained but still I wear only the smallest dabs when I know he is in the room). Share the wealth as I tell everyone about this lovely wonder and I will be purchasing a backup bottle of this year's formula before it's all gone. Words that come to mind: comfort and joy, highest star, essence of the season, Victorian Christmas Ball alkemia.etsy.com Full Bottles and one sample *soon to be a full bottle purchase December 2017 La Belle Époque Les Courtisanes The Raven Combined Thoughts: These three gems all share something exceptional about them: they are all transporting and are mettle in a bottle (or vial) and can unlock your secret self (or reveal the unknown). Each also tells their own unique story to the wearer with a diversity of: warmth, coolness, floral, spice and amber. They might not be for everyone but I invite anyone to just see where these three beauties will lead you in memory, emotion, style and exploration into unfamiliar history (or legend). You may be surprised by the end of the day (or night) what you learn. One scent at a time: -This perfume I wish to formally introduce to the modern audience is one I can't stop reaching for (the full-size bottle is peacefully aging at the moment but the sample only has a few drops left) as it is floral sophistication at its finest. This is no childhood romp in the garden but a perfect scent passage to another time and place. One of my absolute favourites that is poise, romance and refinement gorgeously captured in a bottle (you can't help but hold your head high when you walk into a room with this powdery vision because ladies and gentlemen this is La Belle Époque by Alkemia Perfumes). Brava Alkemia! La Belle Époque: (Listed Notes: Jasmine Sambac, Tuberose, Iris, Rose, and Lily of the Valley blended with Plum, Apricot, Tahitian Vanilla, Blonde Amber, Bitter Almond, Oakmoss and Powdery Musk) What I'm hoping for: To experience a glimmer of the Gilded Age which this fragrance is said to be an ode to. I love how Alkemia describes perfumes in their catalogue, you're sure to find a time, a place or emotion that you want desperately to visit or become a part of your personal style. In the vial/bottle: FLORAL POWDER and RESIN that just harkens back to a splendid time of courtliness, swishing gowns, tipped hats and frivolous ventures. Applied: Class and distinction with the FLORAL, it is what you wished your skin smelled naturally like. Definitely a mature fragrance and is by no means a childhood romp in the garden, this is romantic and earthy with the RESIN which my skin seems to respond positively to. I'm faintly getting a fruit (APRICOT is my guess as it seems to really amp on my skin). I'm still "training my nose" but I'm getting a hint of VANILLA as well. This is not your everyday scent and it demands your best attire and adornments but also rewards you with confidence that lasts long after that final wisp of something special leaves you the next day. Words that come to mind: THE Mrs Astor's ball, classic romantic elegance, extravagant powdery floral, First Four Hundred, Ormolu One scent at a time: -This next fragrance loves to accompany me to work and is beautiful confidence in a bottle. Like all my favourites it does require some patient aging but this particular perfume has garnered the most compliments out of any in my oil collection and I must say it is well worth the wait to reveal something beyond irresistible and memorable. Too good to not share and deserves a special TREASURED/FEATURED label. Brava Alkemia! Les Courtisanes (Listed Notes: Pear, Peach Blossom, Apricot, Lychees, Nutmeg, White Amber, White Florals, and sweet Woods.) What I was hoping for and what called to me: This was another curious wandering around Alkemia's shelves of popular recommendations. My chemistry seems to warm toward gourmands so this also may work in my favor plus because of Alkemia I no longer fear amber and can put those horrible memories of sharp headaches from certain commercial spray nightmares behind me forever (never will I step foot in an over-marketed bath and scent store again). I'm ready to try anything but I must say I'm really excited about the nutmeg note listed (I can never have too many of those in my autumn cache.) In the vial/bottle: PEAR, AMBER, SWEETNESS but with WARMTH and a hit of SPICE- oh this is exquisite. There is a surprising empowering quality to it with a secret behind closed doors essence but something tells me it will need some aging which is okay I can wait (I think...well maybe after a couple more sniffs). Applied: *a few weeks later I took it out to the public and to one important work-related travel venture: This is a perfect scent for the end of summer into the colder snap of fall, I love this. The fruit pairs splendidly with the amber and I get that flourish of nutmeg that makes this a great autumn fragrance (summer warmth meets approaching golden harvest). I also get a warm vanilla note but it is not listed among the ones on the page (maybe oleander? I know I can smell vanilla and I was even asked one night if I had vanilla on.) This perfume pulses warmth on me as well and it smells so expensive but wears well with anything. A sure full bottle purchase and future article (more people need to try this). Words that come to mind: confidence in a bottle, keyhole secrets, empowering warmth, late summer into winter One scent at a time: -Last but certainly not least is one fragrance that is an entrancing beautifully wicked ode to everything black as black. It brings to mind lost traditions and that certain myths and legends could be true (albeit only slightly exaggerated to bring you closer to the fire and a travelling bard). The collection of spice, floral, leather and ink also skips into the mists of time and could be the haunting scent associated with favoured ghost stories and the ominous feeling of waiting nightly shadows and the unknown. If there ever was a perfect perfume for a real or imagined villainess this would be it. Too good to not share and deserves a special TREASURED/FEATURED label. Brava Alkemia! The Raven (Listed Notes: Ebony Heartwood, Black Amber, Piper Nigrum, Blackseed (habbatul barakah), Black Bengal Cardamon, Black Ink, Nigella (Black Coriander), Black Iris, Violet Leaves, and Leather (*animal-friendly)) What I was hoping for and what called to me: After losing all reason with Book of Shadows and All Hallow's Eve (October 2017), I found I really enjoy certain notes (or finally found perfumes that work with the particular notes that never agreed with me) and I went searching for something possibly similar in Alkemia's extensive library. The peppercorn, ink and various notes in The Raven seemed worth a try and suitable for this time of year. In the vial/bottle: I have no idea what I'm smelling but I love it! It's not one note but a collage of murkiness that conjures visions of dark haunted forests and forgotten practices. It's somehow GREEN-BLACK, I don't know how to explain it. Alkemia what majick have you unleashed? Applied: This is it, this is the scent I have been waiting for! It's the essence of every real and imagined villainess in history and legends. It's beauty, cunning, power and dangerous seduction. Oddly I still can't identify one note but I really get that GREEN-BLACK impression again with images of legendary Avalon then shifts to a mist swirled surrounded tower and then a lone piano playing but no one is in the room. This perfume certainly contains a labyrinth of secrets, stories and will definitely be a full bottle purchase. Words that come to mind: Midnight Vamp, late summer to spring, Villainess, black swan, she-wolf, Dark Queen alkemia.etsy.com Full Bottles: Smoke & Mirrors Book of Shadows All Hallow's Eve (October 2017) One scent at a time: -Like a classic strand of pearls, Smoke & Mirrors compliments all it touches with coolness to the skin that then warms to become an embodiment of your personal style and is a reminder of days gone by. It is a phenomenal fragrance that is beautifully simple but powerfully evoking and comforting that can be worn alone but blends with and adds some mystique or delicious depth to practically any perfume. I'm smitten and this is a staple scent I don't ever want to run out of. Too good to not share and deserves a special TREASURED/FEATURED label. Brava Alkemia! Smoke & Mirrors (Listed Notes: Woodsmoke and Vanilla) What I was hoping for: Certain scents allow me to go to a happy memory and woodsmoke is one aroma that takes me to childhood camping trips, special cookouts and late night talks beside the fireside. It may not sound like much but I just want a real woodsmoke scent with rustling leaves and bright moonlight coming to mind as soon as I get a familiar wisp. In the bottle: Absolute bliss! Better than I expected as this takes me to late summer to fall country cookouts with hot savoury food, music, dancing by the firelight and losing yourself in staring at the night skies. The WOODSMOKE is dead on. Simple but beautiful. Applied: I get that glorious woodsmoke as the front welcoming note and that's all I need but I do faintly get a fleeting whisper of vanilla that adds a sweetness to this peaceful blend. I read that this perfume is meant to layer with others and I can't wait to see what perfumes perform well together with this wonder. Words that come to mind: smoky bliss, tranquil starry nights, years of wonder, classic staple Curious Discoveries (what perfumes performs well with another): Pumpkin Strumpet and Smoke & Mirrors (add a little mystery to your spicy pumpkin) Honeycakes for Harvest Moon and Smoke & Mirrors (gourmand meets smokey depth) Au Lait and Smoke & Mirrors (really captures home baked goodness) Bonefire Toffees and Woodsmoked Oud and Smoke & Mirrors (boosts that hidden wisp of smoke) Cidre D' Automne and Smoke & Mirrors (creates an apple orchard bonfire at dusk) Gaea and Smoke & Mirrors (spring meets the best scent of autumn, creates verdant with memories of wind and the night) Black Magic Woman and Smoke & Mirrors (plum, smoke and roses- entrancing in the best way) Trick or Treat and Smoke & Mirrors (smokey orange licorice- yum!) Patchouli Cacao and Smoke & Mirrors (creates a baking gourmand fragrance- smoke, caramel, chocolate and earth- amazing!) Book of Shadows and Smoke & Mirrors (a candlelit room filled with escapes to other times and worlds and a mysterious dark stranger waiting in the shadows) The Raven and Smoke & Mirrors (together its black as black that transports you to an ancient empowering ceremony deep in the forest) -This next perfume I would like to introduce is one I love to wear when the evening clouds begin to bank and I can feel a snap of cold in the wind with the encroaching night. It's utterly transporting to your most ultimate room of desires filled with mystery, adventure and is a strangely beautiful ode to our swoon-worthy affairs with others' stories. Like your favourite type of novel, you won't be able to put it down. Too good not to share and deserves a special FEATURED/TREASURED label. Brava Alkemia! Book of Shadows- (Listed Notes: Parchment Paper, Antique ink, Leather bindings (*animal-friendly), and Rare Incenses) What I was hoping for and what called to me: I have been looking everywhere for a convincing "old book smell" and when I saw the late season (Autumn/Halloween collection) was released I knew I had to try this. Alkemia has already captured my childhood (and admittedly a few of my secret desires) in different surprising bottles so let's see if they can give me a treat and not a trick. In the vial/bottle: Fellow written/printed word fanciers (okay book lovers aka: we proud novel sniffers) rejoice and get a bottle of Book of Shadows now because this is our beautifully strange sanctuary that we have been waiting for! Absolutely as promised, it magnificent. It's like turning an aged book and fanning the pages as fast as you can. It's crumbly, it's dusty and loved! Applied: This has to be the most complex perfume that has joined my collection. I get every note but it transforms and shifts creating images of different types of genres of literature. There's bitter almond from your classic murder mystery (how about some cyanide with your tea?), violets from a tragic gothic romance, some type of sweet fruit (grape?) from your cookbook shelf and so many other unfamiliar notes that I have yet to explore in the shadows. Interestingly, the leather is pronounced on me and this is one of the strongest throwing fragrances I have, it loves to twirl and snag at other bottles so I will have to remember that or I will have quiet florals with leather (interesting concept...but not at this time). A tiny dab is all I need. Words that come to mind: Pagemistress, dark library in a bottle, grimoire of strange beauty -All Hallow's Eve (October 2017) is everything I love in a bottle: a dark luring promise, wisps of mystery and a release of images that surprise and make me want more. This may be my first bottle of the hugely popular recipe to capture the season and nostalgia but it certainly will not be my last. Too good not to share and deserves a special FEATURED/TREASURED label. Brava Alkemia! All Hallow's Eve (October 2017) (Listed Notes: Bourbon Vanilla, Tonka Bean, Cardamon Pods, Star Anise, Candied Fennel Seeds, Roasted Marshmallows, and Smoked Amber) What I was hoping for and what called to me: More and more I am falling deeply into the addictive properties of perfume oils (especially from Alkemia) and I think I lost all reason when I saw the late season (Autumn/Halloween) collection because before I knew it I was almost breaking my mouse hitting BUY IT NOW and a few days later running to the mailbox and ripping open my large package with childlike excitement (seriously Alkemia, you have me acting like a naughty spoiled child when I know I'm getting an order from you. Thank you for that.) This particular perfume was a "never tried before" purchase that called to me in all the right ways: roasted marshmallow, smoked amber, vanilla and my weakness- star anise). How could I resist? In the bottle/Applied: I'm still learning how to properly apply perfume oils and without a dropper or rollerball (too late did I see they were available all along, I just hit the BUY IT NOW without reading that option on the page) getting the right amount out of the bottle is not easy (I think I may have spilled a little too much on my wrist and tried rubbing the excess in my hair). Ah but as the old saying goes "some mistakes are worth making" because wow this is an ancient incantation in a bottle that might be innocent playful seasonal scent entertainment on someone else but on me this another suggestively wicked medley (that star anise and woodsmoke are my ultimate weaknesses) and I'm pretty sure if you've fallen already for Caveau Des Innocents you will swoon over All Hallow's Eve (October 2017). If the run soaked pears and deepening properties of coffee in Caveau Des Innocents didn't work the smokey and sweet qualities of All Hallow's Eve (October 2017) may be more for you. On me there is an unabashed flexing display of crushed cardamon, a sticky touch of smoked melted marshmallow and a teasing kiss of spice to keep me coming back and believe me I will be back next year for the next batch of this devious mix and purchasing another bottle of this seasonal treat very soon (ultime version with a rollerball). Words that come to mind: phantasmagorical, rites of the ancients, smokey spiced visit of All Hallow's Eves past, mischievous winds alkemia.etsy.com Alkemia Perfumes alkemia.etsy.com/ -This next fragrance has quickly found a special place in my secret dark little heart as this perfume is just a sinful patchwork that pulls me into depths of shadowy niches of imagination and doesn't let me go. It is no surprise that this was the one fragrance I finished the entire sample vial (thank you so much Alkemia for allowing samples) in only a few days and even with a full sized bottle this will probably also be the first perfume I will need to reorder shortly because even as I am typing this review I'm just slathering myself with it (oh excuse me I'm not slathering, I'm using the justification in my head that "I'm testing it properly"). I have been continually reaching for this as the weather outside my windows mirrors my favorite type of novel. It's positively wicked, complex, transporting and too good to not share and deserves a special TREASURED/FEATURED label. Brava Alkemia! CAVEAU DES INNOCENTS- Listed Notes: (Labdanum, Vanilla Incense, Tobacco, Coffee, Rum Soaked Pears, Caramel) Combined Thoughts: I’m still experimenting with what I think I like and this I LOVE and want to live in the bottle! CAVEAU DES INNOCENTS is a sinful transporting delight that I want to return to again and again. It beckons with a clever aroma patchwork that I didn’t even know existed (or thought would work together) and calls to my side that loves gloom and alluring mystery but also unexpectedly reaches out and drags me down to unfamiliar levels of imagination with a fiendish seductive quality that I can’t (or want) to escape. The pear and yet almost salty caramel with vanilla are very dominant on me and the intoxicating coffee that comes out with the anise, tabac and incense make this fragrance wicked and just marvelous. I feel truly unique when I wear this and this is my ideal fragrance for the end of summer well into the colder months. What I was hoping for: This was another curious browsing within Alkemia's diverse library of perfumes (there is a fragrance for everyone to be found there). Reading the notes the Vanilla and Coffee along with soaked Pears and Caramel call out to me the most, hoping this is something I could wear for fall (never can have enough different scents for my favorite season). The description is also too much to ignore as well- a debauched underground club in 1905 Paris; here I come. In the vial: This is so complex and unlike anything I have ever encountered, this is an evilly brilliant masterpiece! *many minutes later of me just smelling the vial and saying YES! as well as fighting the urge to dump it on my head or buying 50 no a 105 full sized bottles or demanding a clawfoot tub of it made so I could bathe in it, I came back to my senses and tried to focus on the individual notes* I get the CARAMEL and a pressing of soaked PEARS and a spilling of the best dark COFFEE I have ever smelled. There is also a sweeping bow of STAR ANISE that I'm falling for in first time of my life. I should have tried this sooner! Applied: Welcome to CAVEAU DES INNOCENTS! If this was what the underground hub of elicit desires and wicked intentions smelled like: I WOULDN'T EVER WANT TO LEAVE OR SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY AGAIN! *fighting the urge again to bathe in this* The caramel and coffee with pear really stand out on me and the anise pulls me deeper into this gloom filled amazing place. This is perfect for the end of summer well into fall and winter. As it dries the coffee and anise with warm caramel dipped pears comes out the most and I even smell the uncleaned spattered wood that is listed in the description. This is the ultimate transporting scent and completely unique. Exactly what I have been searching for. Words that come to mind: enrapturing gloom, unique mystery, end of summer to spring, wickedly marvelous and fiendish in every perfect way alkemia.etsy.com Sibérie Perfumes siberieperfumes.etsy.com/ (the ETSY store is currently unavailable but the wonderful owner IS taking orders at her personal site) siberieperfume.indiemade.com/content/artisan-perfume-made-love-magic-alchemy -This early fall gift to myself is one fragrance I admittedly couldn't put down once I opened the securely prepared parcel which arrived nary a spill even from such a long distance (Canada). It came nestled along with the jewel that is BOLEYN and has been one fragrance that I crave anytime I want a guilt-free scent treat. Too good not to share and deserves a special FEATURED/TREASURED label. Brava Sibérie! MADAME CITROUILLE- Listed Notes: (Pumpkin, Chocolate Drizzle, Gingerbread Spice) Combined Thoughts: MADAME CITROUILLE by Sibérie Perfumes is indeed a perfect name for this olfactory confection because this is one spicy and sweet lady who knows exactly how to turn men's heads and temp anyone for just one more sniff with her delectable notes. You may be surprised who stops and compliments when you show this perfume off. Absolutely delicious with an easy comparison to pumpkin chocolate chip spice cookies from your favorite specialty bakery. So good and a treat for Fall (or anytime you get a craving for guilt-free indulgences)! What I was hoping for: After entering into the alluring world of perfume oils and falling under the spell of SABRINA (also by Sibérie), I couldn't resist that this fragrance had more gourmand notes and hoping my luck wouldn't run out, I put in an order and crossed my fingers for another prized potion of scent. In the bottle: MELTED CHOCOLATE with PUMPKIN and delectable GINGERBREAD with a dusting of CINNAMON. Amazing exactly as promised. I can't wait to put this one on. Applied: It's so strangely fantastic how chemistry affects oils because this turns to the most delicious smelling buttery cookies on me (the spices really stand out). A scent I must take to the waiting public and see the effect as I smell exactly like a seasonal specialty listing from a little well known bakery in my area and everyone will recognize the aroma but they will not know it is me as I walk past. As it dries the pumpkin seems to fade more (but that seems to happen with pumpkin scents for me sadly or they go totally waxy on me) but it's still there and the chocolate and gingerbread make up for the slight disappearing act of this lady. I absolutely love this! Words that come to mind: delicious, holiday, spicy and gourmand comfort siberieperfumes.etsy.com/ *(the ETSY store is currently unavailable but the wonderful owner IS taking orders at her personal site and fall is right around the corner a perfect time to get your scarves and wraps prepared with magical aromas that stay with you and become a part of you or stock up and perfectly age some scents for next spring and summer (remember the longer they sit the better) Don't forget about samples: this shop also generously allows small vials of different listed perfumes that range from Arthurian Legend, Bohemian, Gothic inspired to Historical and beyond along with a full bottle order. And don't hesitate to ask questions or for suggestions from this owner (or any perfume shop owner) if you aren't sure about what might work for you or even how to wear perfume oils. It never hurts to ask as they know their potions. siberieperfume.indiemade.com/content/artisan-perfume-made-love-magic-alchemy Alkemia Perfumes alkemia.etsy.com/ -This summer treat was first sampled and quickly purchased in full size (and I was also gifted 2 more samples with the order- thank you so much Alkemia for allowing little vials of future temptation with every order) right after I received a honest and prompt answer about one of the notes listed (White Poppy) from the amazing owner. No question is considered silly and she was very helpful in regards to my final decision to sample and purchase this fragrance and another I had been wondering about (and those two have become treasured favorites). Always appreciate to find excellent customer service and Alkemia has one of the best. Too good not to share and deserves a special FEATURED/TREASURED label. Brava Alkemia! ECHOED ECTASY- Listed Notes: (Wild Strawberry, Ginger Flower, Artemisia, Melon and White Poppy) Combined Thoughts: I’m officially addicted to Alkemia Perfumes as I am among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars with ECHOED ECSTASY. This is what I imagine the lazy summer afternoon rendezvous between Gatsby and Daisy would have smelled like, pure carefree indulgent decadence and a splash of romantic expectation. Just perfect for this beautiful little fool. What I was hoping for: I was initially tempted by what others were saying about this summer fragrance release and decided to sample it first. I'm was hoping for a perfect summer blend for the sweltering summer weather we were experiencing, something light and refreshing would be great to find. In the vial: SPARKLING GINGER ALE with CITRUS and MELON. It has a decadent quality of a care-free celebration or rendezvous under a weeping willow on a breezy summer day. I have a feeling I'm going to love this. Applied: This is such a bright and uplifting fragrance, the bubbly ginger ale turns to light strawberry adorned champagne and swaying floral in the background. I absolutely love this and it reminds me of one of my favorite scenes in a cherished book. Words that come to mind: bright, playful, decadent, dreamlike, care-free, sparkling summer alkemia.etsy.com Sibérie Perfumes siberieperfumes.etsy.com/ (the ETSY store is currently unavailable but the wonderful owner IS taking orders at her personal site) siberieperfume.indiemade.com/content/artisan-perfume-made-love-magic-alchemy -This selection is one that first called to me with a magnetic name and quickly became one that had me asking "where have you been all my life?" with one of the listed notes (PATCHOULI). This is another unique perfume that proved to me the importance of exploring unfamiliar realms of scent (you never know what you may like or know when you will be reminded of something special you lost). Too good to not share and deserves a special label of TREASURED/FEATURED. Brava Sibérie! BOLEYN- Listed Notes: (Dark Cocoa, Caramel, Patchouli, French Vanilla, Myrrh, Labdanum, Frankincense) Combined Thoughts: BOLEYN by Sibérie Perfumes truly aims to win your favor and for me she did just that with an elegant spicy throw that lasted an impressive 12+ hours. This is one fragrance that has me feeling confident, nostalgic and I can't hide a secret little smile when I walk into a room. A real complex blend that has quickly become a personal favorite. Don't be afraid of any unfamiliar notes in this regal beauty, this perfume displays the best of the unique described scents and depending on the curious the dark cocoa, caramel, vanilla with patchouli and lingering whispers of amber laced resins all weaves the most irresistible spell from the lost past. Overall, a strangely beautiful ode to a maligned figure of history and fascinating legends that still inspires and rules the world's imagination. What drew me and what I was hoping for: While quickly realising that on ETSY you can find practically anything, one afternoon I thought I would press my luck and try to search for historical themed perfumes, BOLEYN was among the top results. Reading the listed notes I became even more convinced I needed to try this as one of the notes was PATCHOULI a mysterious word that I had come across in numerous types of fiction and one in particular (oddly enough titled The Memory Of Scent) described this note in such passionate verse that I admit I have been dying to find an opportunity to try this scent ever since reading those pages. The dark cocoa, caramel, french vanilla and resins were just an added bonus along of course with anything associated to Anne Boleyn (one of my favorite names to read about). So with all that in mind when I made my first order on ETSY from this shop I made sure I asked if I could try a sample of BOLEYN (I was slightly cautious still having one horribly disappointing experience with another popular indie perfume shop just that week so I didn't order a full bottle at that moment, don't worry it wasn't SIBERIE or ALKEMIA and to be respectful to difference of opinion I will not reveal the name or mention it again). In the vial: One of the most gorgeous complex SPICE smells I have ever encountered, I can clearly detect the luscious DARK COCOA dusting with CARAMEL. There is this different but very comforting note I am getting that is making me smile. All good signs. Applied: Oh there is that alluring and comforting note again now and it really likes my skin, what is that? I know I have smelled this before and twines so elegantly with the sweeter notes. This perfume is very suggestive and it's easy to imagine Anne Boleyn confidently walking into a private chapel (brought to mind by the familiar frankincense and myrrh) on a grey overcast autumn day and kneeling amongst the dusty books and dirt collected on the stone floor that's it, it's antiqued earth, like exploring old houses or one of my favorite childhood hiding spots. It's a marvelous refined spicy almost smoky earthy scent that is beautifully matched with the dark cocoa, caramel and french vanilla. I love this, where has this been all my life? This is truly unique with a regal quality of yesteryear and we shall never be apart again. Words that come to mind: Autumn Queen, regal spice, confident, mystery, aloof siberieperfumes.etsy.com/ *(the ETSY store is currently unavailable but the wonderful owner IS taking orders at her personal site and fall is right around the corner a perfect time to get your scarves and wraps prepared with magical aromas that stay with you and become a part of you or stock up and perfectly age some scents for next spring and summer (remember the longer they sit the better) Don't forget about samples: this shop also generously allows small vials of different listed perfumes that range from medieval, bohemian, gothic inspired to historical and beyond along with a full bottle order. And don't hesitate to ask questions or for suggestions from this owner if you aren't sure about what might work for you or even how to wear perfume oils. It never hurts to ask. siberieperfume.indiemade.com/content/artisan-perfume-made-love-magic-alchemy Alkemia Perfumes alkemia.etsy.com/ -This fragrance I am about to introduce has become something I find myself seeking out if I want to be pampered and perhaps escape reality for a time (joining the elite pantheon with CAVEAU DES INNOCENTS and LA BELLE ÉPOQUE- two other entrancing master works by Alkemia). The notes that combine in this heady perfume are ones that I honestly could just lose myself in the transporting quality of. It's aptly named as it is so intoxicating, (no, there is no actual alcohol content in the notes) it is just olfactory ambrosia that acts as a balm for stormy moods and I have become a devotee to this. Too good to not share and deserves a special label of FEATURED/TREASURED. Brava Alkemia! BACCHANTE- Listed Notes: (Blueberries, Oakmoss, Wild Ivy, Lavender, Tonka, and Forest Fungi) Combined Thoughts: BACCHANTE by Alkemia Perfumes is an olfactory masterpiece! It’s a perfect mysterious summer blend that surprises how much it can tickle the senses conjuring a lush jovial scene leaving you feeling regal but benevolent and finally above all has you begging to come back for more. True magic on my skin and I absolutely love everything about this heady perfume and won’t be found without it on my vanity dresser. Ladies if any description of scents or something happens to catch your eye in Alkemia’s extensive library of fragrances try it with a sample. Don’t be afraid to explore unfamiliar notes or fight the temptation to learn something about yourself. We all deserve a little something special and Alkemia knows exactly how to treat you right. What I was hoping for: When I picked this sample, I was looking for a scent for summer and the lavender note listed caught my full attention but I was still weary after years of the commercial scene with perfumes that I tended to shy away from notes that I thought would smell one way and disappoint (blueberry was one such note that never smelled real to me within any mass marketed selection). This was one of my first experiments with scent that I'm ashamed to say I didn't expect much from. FIRST IMPRESSIONS: In the vial: FRESH PICKED BLUEBERRIES and EARTH, you can't help but inhale. It's sublime! The effect is like smelling a bunch of hyacinths or lilacs for the first time (I even double checked to see if hyacinths were listed because it's almost floral) Applied: This is otherworldly and transports you to an indulgent level of realisation. It's amazing and something I never want to be without. I can't believe something like this exists...(*many minutes later of just closing my eyes and waxing poetic, I came back) I don't get the individual notes exactly it's just a harmonious union of season, emotion and imagination. Words that come to mind: transporting, heady, Woodland Goddess, lush, late spring to early fall, treasure *I purchased a full size of this and was surprised the effect was amplified within the bottle and it only got better within the months I forced myself to let allow it to age. Months later and it's still exquisite in every way as the notes come together and with my chemistry the earth element is slightly more detectable now (the other night I caught the underlying forest vegetation and I must comment that this unexpected favorite lasts on me for 12+ hours). The lavender that initially beckoned me to this perfume is there but blends beautifully with the blueberry. Please Alkemia never stop making this! 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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