Around the Vanity Table: A Winter's Ball (The Marble Gallery at Pemberley cocoa butter soap)12/27/2019
The Marble Gallery at Pemberley Cocoa Butter Body Soap by B. Perry Studios. 3.5oz (Scent notes: Cold stone - petrichor, and earth - at the heart of a bright dance with lemon, pomegranate, verbena, and apple.) Lemon Verbena is one of my favourite notes to hoard away so when I saw that cherished herb mixed with petrichor and earth, I knew we were going to get along. The fear I always harbour that a new soap formula would wreak havoc on my sensitive skin was always there leading up to the day I finally treated myself and shut out the outside world to relax away from a stressful and emotional filled week but the prospect of encountering and indulging in a spicy herb and rain scent filled sanctuary overweighed the worry and I'm very happy to jot down, The Marble Gallery at Pemberley was pure bliss! So many positives with this soap bar but above all it played nice with my skin, passing my face, elbow and feet challenge with flying colours (not one dry itchy spot), the fragrance is what it says on the tin- realistic earth (the ultra-comforting aroma lingers on the skin even after leaving the tub), aromatic lemon verbena, wet stone and other fall and winter fruits in the background and to round out the top mentions- the quarter-sized piece I cut away from the marbled hued bar didn't melt immediately when it came in contact with the water (so this bar will last quite a while and I'm going to save it for those times I just need to escape) and only created a generous lather that rinsed cleanly away. I'm familiar with the cinematic scene this slice of soap is named after and as I allowed this blend take me away, I could easily imagine the marble gallery at Pemberley and lose myself in the energized gamut of elements each note represented. It's not every day you get to enjoy a soap bar that not only smells incredible but also takes you away to a poignant scene. Now that's scent artistry and I would purchase this mosaic of herbal spice, earth, wet stone and fruits in a heartbeat if it was offered in a perfume bottle, hair oil or a pot of whipped soap. Sharing notes of interest: When it comes to the various silver screen adaptations of Pride & Prejudice many locales were reportedly filmed for the infamous estate known as Pemberley. Most recently the 2005 version used Chatsworth House for the gorgeous exterior scenes and Wilton House for the equally stunning interior portions. Interestingly, Chatsworth House is strongly believed to be the original inspiration of Pemberley and I fully intend to find out how these grand houses compare to one another as I have formed a list of places of interest I must see when I travel to the UK someday. Sadly, the fictional Netherfield Park has no historical estate to visit, however, there are plenty of themed balls and events to see with the same name. My list continues to grow, I swear I will not be returning when I get there. So many wonderful things to see and each step it seems in the UK has a fascinating history or story attached to it. I can't wait! The Gentlemen of Derbyshire Hair Oil by Libertine Bath Haus .1oz glass bottle. (Scent notes: Tobacco leaf, leather, regal clove, and warm oakwood.) Ingredients: Avocado oil, Argan oil, meadow foam seed oil, jojoba, sweet almond, apricot kernel seed oil, grapeseed, fragrance, Vit E We've had the pleasure to get well acquainted with inspired fragrances of the main characters of Pride and Prejudice now let us get to know the scents about the complex love interests of several sisters of Bennet, Bingley and surrounding county households. First up is Libertine Bath Haus's The Gentlemen of Derbyshire and on application, this is a slightly smoky and somehow smooth tobacco and clove dominant blend in my curls with sweet leather lingering in the background. Ah! There is nothing like the rich elegant scent of tobacco in various forms and The Gentlemen of Derbyshire nicely showcases that note. In terms of the longevity of the aroma of fresh tobacco, warm clove and leather, it is sadly short-lived (nearly an hour and a half), however, the shine that follows from a small application of this oil is not. I'm already familiar with this shop's hair care product formula and for me, it can be a touch drying if I use it right after washing my hair with say whipped soap so I save it and only use a few drops at a time when the natural oils begin to build up too much (my hair type is a mixture of dry and oily). It seems to soak up the grease and adds an incredibly healthy shine to my waist-length locks. Another keeper! Truth Universally Acknowledged EDP by Deconstructing Eden. 5ml bottle (Scent notes: Rosewood and mahogany bookshelves, Russian leather chairs, a simple eau de cologne of English lavender, Bergamot, and fougere accord, a glass of cognac, a river of scotch, and tobacco absolute.) It's the infamous opening to Pride and Prejudice: "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." and here we have an...how do I put this as ladylike as possible? An extremely seductive interpretation of the above quote and one that materializes a debonair scent character right from the bottle you would never want to leave if you met him in real life. This is a cultured fragrance with a lavender forward opening on me and in the bottle is a rich leather, bergamot and booze heavy blend. I could happily sniff the bottle all day and can't stop spritzing myself to get that burst of herbal spice with the lavender, antique rosewood and the smoky tobacco absolute that appears after a few moments. Curiously after about 10 minutes, Truth Universally Acknowledged sweetens on my skin becoming almost floral (with a backing of leather and tobacco) so if anyone was wondering this perfume is unexpectedly unisex and overall extremely wearable (lavender is so wonderfully versatile). Longevity overall varies for me, about 10 hours on my skin and much longer in my hair and on my clothes. It was no surprise Truth Universally Acknowledged was one of my top picks from the A Winter's Ball (Pride, Prejudice & Perfume) collection; I can't recommend this perfume enough. Sharing Notes of Interest and surrounding mysteries: Another entertaining mystery stemming from the pages of Pride & Prejudice is: Who was the inspiration of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy? Every year many theories to names are introduced as suspects, my personal favourite possible personality is an Irish politician and Judge named Thomas Lefroy. It may have been a short-lived flirtation (one of swirling holiday balls and dances in December 1795) between Austen and Lefroy and not exactly as deep a romantic connection such as Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy shared in the end but, you know what they say, you never forget your first attraction and there is always truth in everything (and letters do still survive between Jane Austen and her sister Cassandra that mention Lefroy in a puzzling light). So it is quite possible that the complex character we all have come to love through the generations could have very well been based on Thomas Lefroy (I hate speculation but it is sure fun to debate and think about, don't you agree?) *In 2007, a creative adaptation of this theory was brought to the silver screen called Becoming Jane and I fully intend to watch this film as soon as time permits (how did I miss this film?!). There is also a Semi-Biography listed Becoming Jane Austen by Hunter Spence that I wish to pick up for next year's December Austen themed reading in honour of Miss Austen's birthday (December 16th). If perhaps Mr Darcy was based on an Irish politician and Judge, were George Wickham, William Collins or Charles Bingley based on anyone Austen knew? Although some speculate it was Austen's own brother, Henry Thomas Austen, who served as unfortunate inspiration (he was a militia officer and clergyman) and very well possibly was turned into Mr William Collins in the pages; I love the other idea of Shakespeare's Proteus and Valentine from The Two Gentlemen of Verona being used for certain plot points in the story. There are many similarities between the awkward and tumultuous brotherly relationship between the characters and it seems throughout history there are tales of men brought up as brothers then they choose different paths with one later returning bent on destroying the other. Regarding Charles Bingley, there doesn't seem to be any clear figure identified either, he is just the contrast to Darcy with his open friendliness and charm wherein Mr. Darcy, he is a complex personality that in the end you can't help but fall for and proves the adage "Don't judge a book by its cover" plus is a central theme in Pride and Prejudice. In the end, it is known that Austen used many different past literary pieces for ideas for her storylines and characters in her novels, so the true identity of George Wickham, William Collins or Charles Bingley are all collective entertaining mysteries and discussion subjects forever attached to the pages of this novel of first impressions and manners. And without further ado, Lizzy’s Fine Dark Eyes Perfume Oil by Sucreabeille. 5ml bottle. (Scent notes: Orchids and chamomile blend with lavender, ylang ylang and hyssop. Peach blossom, sandalwood, and sparkling aldehyde bring lift and depth.) On opening, the lavender is immediately apparent and it is sweetened with the peach, hyssop and ylang ylang creating an understated playful elegance that is then amplified with the sparkling aldehyde which indeed brings this blend "lift and depth". The true magic in this oil occurs an hour later when this lovely vintage quality takes hold with the lingering dry lavender along with the grounding creamy sandalwood and at that point, I'm smitten by this "beautiful expression of dark eyes" and can't stop sneaking sniffs when no one at my work setting is looking but then again let them look. Despite this fragrance being inspired by Miss Elizabeth Bennet's dark eyes, this fragrance is delightfully light and magnetic at the same time. For longevity, this perfume lasts 6 hours on my skin and considerably more (about 13 hours) when placed in my curls and my locks hold onto the sweetened bubbly aldehydes longer. A wonderful introduction to the scent artistry to be found in this collection. Two Dances with Darcy Perfume Oil by Poesie Perfume . 5ml bottle. (Scent notes: a splash of her lavender water, a hint of his Regency cologne and pipe tobacco, the polished dance floor, flushed skin, and is that...the perfect pear?) And now we move onto the ballroom floor and take a turn with Two Dances with Darcy that on application lavender appears along with a dribble of pear juice and the realistic pipe tobacco that now amplifies on my skin completely sweeping me away to a compelling scent story I don't want to leave. There is something about the magical marriage of lavender and pipe tobacco that I can't resist in any blend and in Two Dances with Darcy, these notes entwine beautifully and yet are somehow improved with the addition of pear (and a possible hidden airy vanilla?). The polished floor is evident on the dry down which holds a nostalgic quality for myself as I think back on ballet lessons and later one particular locale filled with entertaining thumping music as we whirled around the wooden rink while lights flashed in time to catchy tunes. In terms of this blend conveying the utter captivating dance of emotions from this crucial scene between Lizzy and Mr. Darcy, this oil bottles that moment wonderfully. On me, Two Dances with Darcy leans more feminine with the lavender, pear and hidden vanilla I keep getting wafts of, the tobacco and cologne fades into the background giving way to the familiar comforting herb and fruit at first then becomes more noticeable as hours later go by adding some interesting warm supporting contrast. For longevity, Two Dances with Darcy lasts around 4 to 5 hours and stays close to enjoy and sweep me away to one of my favourite scenes in a treasured novel. *The A Winter's Ball (Pride, Prejudice & Perfume) collection is currently available for purchase Sharing Notes of Interest: Did you know that First Impressions was the original title of Pride and Prejudice? At age 21, Miss Jane Austen's father submitted her manuscript to a publisher but it was rejected for various reasons and wasn't resubmitted for consideration until 14 years later after Austen's success with Sense and Sensibility. She also worried her novel too frivolous writing “The work is rather too light, and bright, and sparkling...It wants shade; it wants to be stretched out here and there with a long chapter of sense, if it could be had.” I don't know about anyone else, but I think she succeeded on all levels and showed the world her genius with wit, romantic flair and a book like a fine box of sweets you can't put down and something one must experience. Speaking of publishing, it is a sad little known fact that Jane Austen never submitted her works with her name, she only signed them "By a Lady" or in the case of Pride and Prejudice- “by the author of Sense and Sensibility.” Her identity was revealed to the public by her brother only after her death. I would be remiss to not share a darker note of interest that in the mysterious death of Miss Austen which to this day is still being debated upon. On July 18 1817, Austen passed away at the age of 41 (only 4 years after the publication of her masterwork, Pride and Prejudice). Was she poisoned by arsenic, whether by the common practice of adding the caustic heavy metal to prescribed and easily purchased medicines (or simply drinking water supplies or wearing coloured fabrics) in 19th-century England or was it done with malicious purpose by someone she trusted? Did she succumb to an underlying condition or undiagnosed chronic disease (Addison's disease)? We may never know the whole story, all we do that is a brilliant author and shining pen was silenced that day and her works have caused a sensation of fandom and scent inspiration and beauty inspiration (such as the A Winter's Ball collection). It's a shame this authoress (like so many other writers) will never know the impact their words have on the public and each new generation. For further reading, I recommend: The Real Jane Austen: A Life in Small Things by Paula Byrne, What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew: From Fox Hunting to Whist—the Facts of Daily Life in 19th-Century England by Daniel Pool and Fashion Victims: The Dangers of Dress Past and Present by Alison Matthews David For inspiring music (I enjoyed these playlists while typing out the above and following fragrance and beauty items reviews), see: 1, 2, 3 and 4 Obscura Hortus Obscura Hortus speaks to my autumn loving heart through and through and I had the most enlightening conversations with the shop owner who made my birthday one to remember as I received a box filled with beautiful dried flowers and lavender buds, treasures (stones and crystals that mean something to the cancer sign, the dreamer and for the moon), scent stories and history. I couldn't be more pleased with this order and can't recommend this little charming shop enough. Thank you, Corrine for everything! (You made this historymagpie and moon child beam). Jewellery Pieces Pumpkin Patch Mini Bell Jar Necklace This necklace is a perfect wearable keepsake to carry around with me to remind me of my favourite season and brings to mind a captured scene of the trees and pumpkins from The Nightmare Before Christmas or Sleepy Hollow and needless to say, I have been wearing it at every opportunity possible. It's extremely light and has a lovely dark emerald drop at the end of the chain which drapes on the back of my neck and adds a touch of extra sparkle. Despite its dainty appearance, this piece can take on an curious toddler (who is a little Autumn Person in the making) with no problem and can serve as an entertaining ornament for a full afternoon. Custom Jewellery Set This whole set is inspired by the Swan's Song legend (as well as a special connection I shared with a dearly missed loved one who collected swans) and it looks like it has been pulled from the vaults of the Romanovs'. The materials used are freshwater pearls, opalite beads and mother of pearl. I wanted a statement piece that looked like it belonged in another era with a romantic feel to it and I also wanted it to be moody, ethereal and haunting with the illusion of rain droplets or ripples and white creamy/silver with flashes from moonlight coming from the stones. A huge tall order and Corrine came through with these gorgeous creations that no camera can truly capture the flash and brilliance of. When I wear these pieces, I feel like someone special is smiling and nodding at me from above. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect birthday gift. Candles The Sweetness Milk & Flower Candle (notes: mulberry, blackberry, citrus, and cream) This candle which appeared in my first order is sublime, to say the least as it smells like summer berries in sweetened milk and has a throw that is impressive and fills my entire downstairs with one inviting fragrance. It also has caught the eye er nose of a relative who never compliments my indie candles and I had to purchase 2 jars for her after I had seen her on different occasions trying to leave with my candle in hand, haha. In addition to the incredible fragrance this jar holds, it has one nifty element added that are real flower petals and small fern fronds pressed against the sides of the glass and as the flame dances in a darkened room the light shines through the petals creating one lovely display to relax by and just stare at. My only negative is I wish the jars were larger (they are 4 oz.) but they are mighty and hold their own for quite a while of time when burning and the owner has offered to sell me a beast-sized candle (my relative also wants one), so that will be coming home to me to enjoy as soon as our current candle jars go empty. Trick or Treat Halloween Candle (no exact listed notes) This adorable little tealight candle appeared in my second order and it smells like pumpkin snickerdoodle cookies. The throw isn't as pronounced as The Sweetness but I still enjoy hovering near it and reading next to it. In this candle, there are tiny pieces of dried petals on top that sink into the wax when melted and I would love this blend in a perfume or a milk candle. I'm curious if the 4 oz. size would have a greater throw versus a tealight (I am not going to lie, I want that pumpkin jar the larger candle is sold in to display on my desk). Dark Orchid Milk Candle (notes: deep dark orchids, creamy vanilla, and sugar) A tealight version of Dark Orchid appeared in my friend's personalized gift box that I ordered and I only had a few seconds to inhale but wow this candle smelled darkly beautiful, floral and mysterious. I could detect it as soon as I accidentally opened the box and when I wrapped it back up and gave it to my friend she kept inquiring what perfume I was wearing and if she could borrow it. I had to hide a smile as she kept asking what I was wearing and if I could get her a bottle then her nose went straight to the box and inside was the tealight wrapped in a fancy gauze bag. I don't think I have ever seen anyone run so fast to light a candle in my life, haha. Fragrance Oils *These blends (made of a base of grapeseed and jojoba oils) are more for ritual purposes and relaxation so the longevity is about 2 hours or more depending on where I dab them and the throw is more like a whisper rather than a cloud that could anger or disturb others. I appreciate all that because my workplace has a ridiculously strict fragrance policy and I love to smell this shop's creations in my hair when I turn or sneak sniffs when no one is looking. As the colder months are creeping in, I can't wait to experiment with this blends on my scarves, cowls and of course dabbing a bit on my pillows. Samhain (A blend of herbs, spices, and resins reminiscent of a chilly night in a pumpkin patch) There is nothing more relaxing for myself than the scent of warm cinnamon and in Samhain the note is front and center on application however it soon drifts into a delightful medley of vanilla, nutmeg and clove creating an ultra-cosy fragrance that I love to lose myself in when I need some cheering up. For me, Samhain is traditional and my childhood memories of fall in a vial and it may be a simpler combination of notes but they are mixed expertly and it never smells overwhelming or any note is overbalanced by another which is impressive because I amp cinnamon and nutmeg. Dandelion Wine (Sweet and tart pear, freesia, plum, wormwood, sunshine and green leaves, part magic, part nostalgia, and the bitter-sweet summer.) This is classy summertime with a lovely plum and pear combination that shifts to realistic greenery and woody herbs after a few minutes then dries down to a wistful heady floral. I wasn't expecting to like this as much as I do with the listed freesia and recalling past experiences with commercial blends that listed freesia but once again indies have shown me there is nothing to fear with florals and I'm happy to jot down, not one headache. This is is floral sunshine to my senses and a keeper. Sarah, Mary, and Winifred (An odd, sweet floral and spicy scent, perfect for prowling the chilly streets on Halloween night in search of mangy black felines and little snot nosed kids who call people ugly. Rose, lavender, jasmine, cinnamon, vanilla, ylang-ylang, dragon’s blood, clove, amber and musk) Sorcière Rouge, is that you? Ah no, there is realistic lavender, jasmine and cinnamon that becomes detectable a few moments after application however I am getting that warm plushy velvet impression I always received with Sorcière Rouge, interesting. I believe it's the rose and dragon's blood reminding me of the other fragrance and as always the dragon's blood is turning to bubbles from a wand with my chemistry with a hint of rose of its own. I know this is an ancient scent recipe however it still shares its sultry dreamy secrets with its wearer and brings to mind something Sarah Sanderson would wear. 'Tis another keeper! Misselthwaite Manor (Dark patchouli and amber, the beautiful gloom and earthy sweetness of old wood, neroli, lavender, and a ghosting of rose. Sweet, dreamy, with an antique charm) The Secret Garden will always have a place on my bookshelf and in my dark little heart so imagine my excitement to see Misselthwaite Manor listed and with lavender. On application, this creation brings to mind opening an antique chest with lavender and neroli sachets laid out on top of clothing dusted and coloured ivory with age. It's oddly comforting and the addition of realistic dried roses and a dry down of warm amber creates a stately fragrance I will be placing on my pillowcases for the colder months to come or into my scented bookmarkers for when I'm enjoying another escape into a beloved topic of history or revisiting a beloved setting I yearn to see someday. Mr. Moundshroud and Joe Pipkin (Spiced apple, pumpkin pie, vanilla, and hay open the scent. Smoky patchouli and anise create a dark and alluring middle, sandalwood and a hint of dead leaves reminiscent of the ghosts of Halloween’s past round it out!) I'm rather picky about apple fragrances and Mr. Moundshroud and Joe Pipkin is impressive, smelling like realistic apple skin and flesh dusted with spices (no sharp soap or fake candy here). I also get the hay with vanilla and anise with creamy sandalwood in the background keeping the spices nicely tempered. I'm not sure if my nose is playing seasonal tricks but I detect a kiss of black pepper that is unlisted. Overall, it's very well blended but the only thing is I wish it lasted longer on my skin, ah well into my curls, unscented whipped soap and onto my spooky warm scarves Mr. Moundshroud and Joe Pipkin all goes. The Autumn People (The strong scent of disturbed earth, moss, and spice as though Mr Dark and his horrible carnival clawed their way out through the forest floor. Ancient frankincense and amber create a strange fog that billows from the midnight steam engine. It mixes with hints of sweet apples, pumpkins, and black tea that hover in the atmosphere around the sleepy autumn town. The presence of dark patchouli and vanilla lingers in the shadows with the dust witch. This scent is weird, wonderful, and unisex. Perfect for the Dust Witches and Mr. Darks of The October Country!) A sweet spice opens this fragrance then distinct notes of tea, sliced apples and resins appears on the mid dry down and finally an earthy patchouli stays along with warmed vanilla amber as well as a ghosting of spice for a good 2 to 3 hours. As its name implies, it is an excellent companion for the howling winds and Mr. Moundshroud and Joe Pipkin. For preference between the two, I find myself reaching for Mr. Moundshroud and Joe Pipkin but nod in approval to both well-blended creations overall. Baba Yaga's Broom (Woody, resinous, sweet, and earthy, like the ancient birch forest she resides in. The scents and herbs correspond with Baba Yaga herself: birch, vetiver, sandalwood, patchouli, frankincense, vanilla, and bergamot.) I just adore all of these themes of poetry, memories of old houses and Slavic folklore and Baba Yaga smells like the fragrance that greets me every morning after work when I open my bedroom door: cinnamon broom, resins, a little something elegant and ancient wood. Welcome home this blend says, you're safe in your realm now. This is the scent of my lair. The Lady in White (A floral, sweet, deeply haunting and otherworldly blend of spicy carnation, freesia, peach, black cardamom, and dreamy tonka bean. Like a whisper from another world, a spirit in a long white gown passing through walls, her sweetness lingering long after she vanishes.) This was the first vial I pulled out of the carefully curated box and no surprise I adore this! It's spicy, woody and floral on the opening with no dreaded soap rearing anytime and the florals are so fresh and inviting. It was a proper introduction to what this shop could create and how they brilliantly and expertly handled florals that usually sent me a rip-roaring headache (freesia and carnation) but this lady proved there was nothing to fear and I knew I found something special. In regards to the throw and longevity The Lady in White is one of the longest-lasting oils in the catalogue and is also a morpher and a trickster as it is barely noticeable when applied staying close to the skin but a few hours later I receive this powdery elegant (even a little unexpectedly sweet) enveloping farewell to end the night. A true keeper! Crow's Wings (Comforting and delicate, like the dark and iridescent purple and blues seen in crow feathers, warm, sweet, and magical: blackberry, vanilla, patchouli, violet, cinnamon, chocolate, and musk.) The applicator wand holds incredible notes of chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon and backing of fruit but alas my skin chemistry just eats Crow's Wings at first and then only amplifies the violet and turns the chocolate waxy. I can't comment on the musk as I can never identify that element in any perfume from across the realm and the blackberry is overshadowed by the violet on me. I still like this oil and have plans for this blend as a curl oil (my hair amps spice and patchouli and I'm honestly impressed even with the violets they are more soft and powdery versus turning to cough syrup) but as a skin blend this, unfortunately, wasn't a favourite. Ode to a Snowy Evening (A magical blend of earthy trees like juniper and balsam fir, swirl among the scent of mints, spices, mulled fruits, hot cocoa, and the evening winter wind. Wear it while cozied up with a great book of poetry, while trudging snowy forest paths in search of the most perfect tree, while making snow angels, or sleigh riding!) I'm in love with all of these poetic descriptions and names of perfumes in this charming shop's scent library and I wish every one of these blends would play nice with my finicky chemistry but my skin has found notes to tease and torment with me and this time it's the chocolate, pine and juniper which are turning waxy and muted on me. Why?! There is a unique green mystery note that is still present along with comforting mint keeping me sniffing my arms but it's unfortunately fleeting. Does anyone wish to trade skin chemistries? I'm pretty fed up with mine. Rue St. Ann (Dedicated to the ghosts of St Ann Street and the legend of voodoo queen Marie Laveau. Gardenia, soft florals, hints of citrus and spices, ginger, sandalwood, benzoin, frankincense, and myrrh.) Oh, there we go! This is one sultry mysterious gardenia blend and instant love. I wore Rue St. Ann quite a bit this past summer as it strangely works in brutal heat and humidity with the subtle citrus, ginger and frankincense that smells revitalizing but still somehow dark with the buttery seductive gardenia. Why didn't I start collecting gardenias sooner? Another crowning jewel right here for my floral oil collection. The Witching Time of Night (An earthy blend of frankincense, patchouli, and black pepper is the fertile ground where blueberries and lavender sprigs grow. Hints of amber and heady ylang-ylang, spice, and ancient resins create a mysterious and transformative blend. This perfume is a shape-shifter, beautifully odd, and unique.) 2019 was without a doubt the year of blueberry, gardenia and lavender for me as I finally realized I am a fiend for all of these types of notes and must hoard them all like some fierce earth covered beast as I do the same with pumpkins. I can't get enough and The Witching Time of Night is another fine example and vial that will disappear quickly especially with the realistic blueberry amping along with black pepper and lavender. I'm honestly not sure what ylang ylang smells like so I can't identify it but I can say the background of frankincense and amber finishes off this beauty perfectly creating a hooded figure on the moors collecting fruit and herbs under a clouded moon. Grimoire (Inspired by ancient books of magic and invocation. The scent of black tea, tobacco, and aged leather. Earthy patchouli, sweet heliotrope, smoky clove, lavender, ancient spice, and incense smoke.) The longer this blend ages the more I'm falling for it. Right away I'm getting more early spring to summer book reading with Grimoire which suites me just fine as I already have Book of Shadows for the wicked winds and racing clouds at night during November. The heliotrope adds a delicate sweetness to the black tea and worn leather and the dried lavender takes this perfume to another level of lovely and magical. Finally happy to report with Grimoire, the black tea does not turn soapy on me and smells straight from a bag with a fancy label. Setting The Watch (Inspired by ancient midsummer fire celebrations. Sandalwood, cedar, lime, Bergamot, plum, spice, and hibiscus) In the vial and on application, Setting The Watch is a revisit to my childhood as I'm reunited with the unmistakable scent of sweet lime popsicles from a certain brand that that was in a clear tube with white lettering. Mmm, this is a part of summertime I had long forgotten as the lime is so energizing and I'm 5 years old again swinging on my Baba and Pap's porch while the windchimes clank and jingle and rainbow bubbles dance in the breeze. It's such a happy scent and the more this oil dries it moves in the garden or woods with the bergamot, plum and sandalwood as the lime fades away (time machine now, please!). Setting The Watch is going right next to Bombus pensylvanicus (American Bumblebee) for unexpectedly capturing summer childhood memories perfectly. Sleep and Poetry (Wind blows the scent of lilacs from an open window into a warm house filled with the sweetness of shortbread cookies, honey, chamomile tea and cinnamon.) Of course, the lilacs fade immediately on me but when first applied they are lovely and realistic with no soapy pinching headaches to report. I get the crumbs from a shortbread cookie, realistic cinnamon bark and even a drop of honeyed tea. It's a sweet and calming blend bringing to mind a folksy kindly figure pottering about in her kitchen. I just wish Sleep and Poetry lasted longer on my skin, here's another oil for my hair. Oh, that's better and the warm honey amps in my curls. Another keeper! The Owls Are Not What They Seem (Weird, extremely woodsy, deep, and unisex. Notes of Benzoin, Patchouli, Douglas Fir, Juniper, and vanilla) This blend is taking me on an evening walk into the hollow looking for deer scrapes in November with my father. The patchouli and vanilla are the most dominant notes on me with the fir and juniper fading quickly into the background. It's like sitting in the packed dirt among the old pine nettles listening to the sounds of the early night. Very comforting and another I wished stayed longer on my skin. Queen Mab (Essential oils of lavender, cedar, peppermint, jasmine, and vanilla intended to calm the mind, aid in deep sleep, and create vivid dreams.) I've had intense vivid dreams for as long as I can remember so I can't comment on how well this oil works for dreamwork but I can gush about the delightful peppermint, lavender and vanilla that opens this blend that helps me relax after a long week. For those curious, the jasmine drifts in the background adding a floral sweetness and peeks out on occasion along with the cedar. Queen Mab is another unique lavender collage to hoard away. To The Lighthouse (Unisex, fresh, and reminiscent of salty air, driftwood and seaweed washed upon the shore. Sea salt, petitgrain, lavender, lime, and sage.) I have never stepped foot on a beach or seen an ocean in this lifetime so I can't say how realistic this is to a setting, however, I can't help but love the salt, sandy dirt note that is amping on my skin. For aquatic medleys, To The Lighthouse is quite interesting that is doesn't resemble soap on me and has the quality as I can only describe as "natural". It tells a dreamy scent story I wish to learn more about and I truly hope this is what a stormy beach smells like. Walpurgisnacht (Tobacco, honey, aromatic woods and spices, and a touch of rosemary. Sweet spring, fresh air, and a dash of hell fire!) Tobacco and honey seekers look no further than Walpurgisnacht as this spring golden honey and a scattering of fresh tobacco from a pipe. The rosemary is hidden on me and I amp the honey and something bringing to mind a floral; perhaps even unlisted sandalwood is waiting on the dry down as well. Mmm, it smells like honey tea sticks on me and a pouch of pipe tobacco which is all extremely comforting and reminding me of March winds and April showers. The First Hint of Spring (An attempt to bottle a spring morning. Dewey grass, muddy earth, sweet floral wisps of lavender and violet, and damp wood) Well, this attempt described above is truly ace and I can't stop huffing my wrist. This is the scent of fresh sun-warmed grass with sweet lavender and powdery violet on the breeze. Wow, this is gorgeous and the best atmospheric of spring grass I have come across in the indie realm. I just want to roll around in this fragrance and stare up at the scuttling fluffy clouds. The First Hint of Spring is a must to try if you having been searching for a little vial or bottle to hide away and remind yourself in the dead of winter of the magic to soon arrive. Brava, Corrine! Once Upon A Midnight Dreary (Patchouli and anise conjure the image of a dark chamber, and a stately raven repeating “nevermore”, bergamot for wisdom, a ghosting of lavender and violets for the nagging memory of Lenore, and clove for the dying embers who wrought their ghosts upon the floor.) I could bathe in star anise and Once Upon A Midnight Dreary is a fine example of that mysterious spice that just sweeps me away along with lavender and clove. I usually amp patchouli and violets to the heavens but this and a few others from the scent library of this curious shop have me excited to see violets listed in the description; that in itself is well worth mentioning and applauding. I know which special scarf this gem is going on. Stay Off The Moors (Inspired by full moon nights when werewolves lurk in fog, out for blood! A deep, arguably more masculine blend of peony, cypress, patchouli, black sandalwood, musk, and oud wood.) The above notes create a delight for my fiendish little imagination as it conjures a brooding Gothic anti-hero who let's be frank is a cool drink of water with a sweeping top hat, whew this one is seductive smelling. It's like this extremely debonair mysterious Victorian Gentleman has entered your life but has a dark side when he leads you into the moonlight that you should fear but can't stay away from. I already asked if the scent artist could create a hot vampire gent scent next. Ahem, I'll be tucking Stay Off The Moors away for future use, haha. Dear all available men, WEAR STAY OFF THE MOORS! Lady Anne's Ghost Garden (A smoky rose, gardenia and coffee brew, punctuated by wisps of sandalwood and vetiver ghosts, cardamon, tonka bean, and a hint of clove.) This perfume is inspired by a fascinating 17th-century woman, however, on me, this blend brings to mind a haunting 1920's Jazz Singer all in shimmer under the smokey spotlight. The coffee melds beautifully with the cardamon, sandalwood and florals, sweeping me away to another era and I feel I could croon and sway wearing Lady Anne's Ghost Garden. I must also note here's another impressive mixture of notes that usually go oh so wrong on me but somehow magically create something unique and to recommend. The Ride-by-Nights (The faintest hint of cinnamon swirls in a breeze of oakmoss, sandalwood, neroli, sage, and hay. Patchouli and hints of lofty tree tops, night air, damp earth, and myrrh. This isn’t a typical spicy autumnal scent. It’s fresh and crisp, reminding one of the magic that lingers in the air in autumn, especially on Halloween night!) Cinnamon is another note I can't get enough of and it swirls wonderfully with the neroli, hay, myrrh and patchouli ending as a sweet fruit fragrance with a spooky playful undercurrent. It smells like airy candy matching the poem of the same name and is another oil I will be using for my curls. Top Picks (in no particular order): The Lady in White, Rue St. Ann, Stay Off The Moors, Misselthwaite Manor, Baba Yaga's Broom, Setting The Watch, To The Lighthouse, The First Hint of Spring and Samhain Shiny Stones And Special Meaning Crystals And finally, I present my collection of 20 special stones and crystals selected by the owner that means something to the cancer sign, the dreamer and for the moon of course. *Each stone was individually wrapped and labelled with either a specific meaning attached or accompanied by a fascinating myth surrounding the stone or crystal. These shiny items arrived with an adorable bottle of incense and a palo santo wood piece with lavender that not only smells incredible but is for "cleansing you space". I'm not honestly sure how to review crystals so I'll just post my thoughts on the certain stones which I guess have "selected" me and have become something very special for me. Satin Spar (Selenite)- I asked for a stone that would remind me of the moon and Selenite is it with its white glowing brilliance that looks like I'm holding a beam of moonlight. Here's what was shared about this stone: "Satin Spar (Selenite) was named after the Greek Goddess of the moon Selene. It seriously looks like you're holding a bit of the moon in your hand! So lovely *Don't get it wet, it dissolves" she also mentioned "it's a great stone for cancer zodiac, aids in psychic abilities, connection to the moon" **Just a brief note from a crystal novice: This stone is very soft versus say Kyanite and WILL break. So a little caution isn't a bad idea. Handle gently. Rose Quartz- This stone is probably my favourite as I find the most mysterious comforting energy from it and I know this sounds bizarre but when I'm holding it, it's like I'm holding the hand again of a loved one I miss every day. It even warms up and the added weight in my palm creates this amazing experience. I don't know if a stone can "remind you of someone's essence or spirit" but Rose Quartz is my Baba. Here's what was shared about this stone: "Nurturing, grounding energy, cancer stone, soothing and peaceful". There is also a wonderful myth attached to Rose Quartz that involves Aphrodite (you can read it on Obscura Hortus's site as well as many other fascinating legends connected to each stone and crystal available for purchase). Labradorite- If Selenite is the clear beam of glowing moonlight then Labradorite brings to mind the moon behind night clouds. It has this aura about it that shines and flashes and I would love a cabochon necklace of this dark protective stone set in a satellite style with perhaps carnelian drops or moonstone. Here's what was shared about this stone: "Inuit people once believed the Northern Lights fell from the sky and became trapped within the stone. It's like holding a piece of the night sky!" also "Stone of transformation, bringer of light, spirit communication/protection". Lapis Lazuli- This was a complete surprise addition that has been a lovely stone to hold while I'm either browsing the wide web or typing out my thoughts as I am now. It's a nifty inspiration stone which I would love to start collecting jewellery pieces (and a pen) of soon. Here's what was shared about this stone: "Mined as early as the millenium B.C./was ground into powder for blue paint pigment during the Renaissance/adorned the funeral mask and sarcophagus of King Tut (Egyptians used it n funeral rituals)/was believed to be the starry night sky and flesh of the gods." "Enhances the mind and creativity. Wonderful stone for writers". Black Kyanite- To me, this stone looks like a shard of coal and iron melded together. If Rose Quartz is my Baba, Kyanite lets me think of my Pap. I'm eyeing that Kyanite necklace on the site hard at the moment but would love a pair of stone earrings to match. Here's what was shared about this stone: "Black Kyanite for protection and clearing negative energy". Optical Calcite- When I first browsed this curious shop's full listing this was the initial stone that caught my eye and I loved the trivia that was posted about it. Here's what was shared about this stone: "Vikings used it as a compass to navigate the open sea. By passing light through calcite, even on cloudy days, it's possible to detect polarization rings to locate the sun". "Excellent cancer zodiac stone, aids in self-expression and keeping emotions in check". Dominican Amber- Yes, I did dance and seal clap in pure glee when I saw a piece of genuine amber was added to my order. Jurassic Park is one of my top five favourite films and I already collect amber jewellery. Don't look at me like that! When you are holding amber polished or not, you are holding the world's history in your hand. It's millions of years old and it's feather-light which is also so flipping neat about it. Here's what was shared about this stone: "Beauty, longevity, cleansing. Put under a black light! (it looks so cool)" Note to self get a blacklight. Larvikite (Norwegian Moonstone)- This was another stone that immediately caught my attention when I saw the photograph of this unique speckled stone. The legend of it being another fallen piece of the moon had me revisiting the page for weeks before I finally decided to contact the owner for this huge custom order. Here's what was shared about this stone: "Hightens the senses, elemental magic- clarity & meditation". Herkimer Diamonds- I received one and the other was found in my friend's curated box (she is a Gemini and stones attached to her sign and for different reasons I asked for were selected: Green Opal, Tiger's Eye, Rose Quartz, Emerald). Wait until you hear why this stone is so different from others. Here's what was shared about this stone: "Herkimer Diamonds create a cosmic link between friends and loved ones. You and --- both have one, so you'll always be in tune no matter the distance". "Spiritual wholeness, high vibrational healing stone". Overall this whole custom birthday order was more than I could have asked for to find. This was the first time in years that I smiled on my birthday and I can't recommend this little shop enough whether you are looking for a unique scent, stone or some trinket with various purpose and meaning. Obscura Hortus Stereoplasm While other indie shops may have thought ancient lost civilizations, conspiracy theories and strange magnificent beasts of legend and lore weren't exactly spring theme fragrance material, one shop said it could be done and dared to go completely outside the box this past spring release. Taking notes from the elements (and perhaps an appendage or claw from some intergalactic being and a Cryptid yet to be fully identified) Stereoplasm presented 6 blends in 2 collections. The following were my overall thoughts and of course some added history for your amusement... Bottles World's Fair 1893 Sleeping Giants Eye of the Sahara One Note at a Time World's Fair 1893 (Plum brandy, genisteae, melted steel, powdered porcelain and stained glass) There be violets in this as it's the first note that hits my nose along with the plum brandy that adds a sharpness to the powderiness of the unlisted floral. The genisteae (or broom) gives this blend just a hint of a cola herbal smell. The metal and the plum brandy dance back and forth as this oil dries and I'm in love with this bottle. All around applauds to Stereoplasm for the attention to historical notes as this brings to mind an elegant lady walking along the bright lights of the World's Fair. If certain literary characters were allowed to escape their pages, I would say this is the fragrance worn by Irene Adler touring the Chicago Columbian Exposition, it's inventive and has a little of a seductive mysterious streak (perfect for the getting the attention of a certain detective). Passing the knowledge along: The World's Fair 1893 was an influential social and cultural event that attracted millions of people from across the world to a massive 6 month event built to showcase technological advancements in about every field you can think of and had a profound effect on architecture, sanitation, the arts, Chicago's self-image, and optimism in American industrial companies (it was also rumored the fair may have had some intergalactic ingenuity displayed and not everything showcased was as it seemed). One set of infamous names involved with the fair was Louis Comfort Tiffany who designed along with Clara Driscoll an incredible chapel of stained glass and screens depicting different scenes from the bible and images of nature unlike the world had ever seen before. Another fascinating note to share is while the bright lights of the fair blazed a true con-artist turned murderer stalked the edges of the grounds taking in tenants and sightseers to his building built for one purpose and after they signed a contract, they were never seen again. The name of this con-artist was Herman Webster Mudgett (and crime history will remember him as Dr H. H. Holmes). For titles on the subject of the Chicago Columbian Exposition, Louis Comfort Tiffany, Clara Driscoll and of course H. H. Holmes, I highly recommend: The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson, A New Light on Tiffany: Clara Driscoll and the Tiffany Girls by Martin Eidelber, Nina Gray and Margaret K. Hofer, Clara and Mr Tiffany by Susan Vreeland, Noon at Tiffany's by Echo Heron and Depraved by Harold Schechter Sleeping Giants (Stone moss, bearded iris, carbon, wildflowers and petrified wood) In the bottle it's moss and sweet narcotic like wildflowers that sweeps me away to a lonely field staring at a huge rock formation that could very well have extraterrestrial origins, ancient connections or it could be just be a case of Pareidolia. Once applied this oil takes on a vintage powdery perfume element and the green notes sink into the back ground. I love this scent at this moment but alas the full dry down resembles soap on me. I've had tremendous luck of placing this oil in my unscented argan hair oils and whipped soaps. Out of the bottles in these collections Sleeping Giants and Ogopogo were the most "spring forward" fragrances, capturing the season in a unique way as only this shop can. Eye of the Sahara (Ancient spice, lovegrass, ambergris and sea salt beneath hot sand) I'm ashamed to admit I never heard of this amazing circular feature located in the Western Sahara desert before this collection of perfumes was announced. The Eye of the Sahara (the Richat Structure or Eye of Africa) can be seen from space and is believed by many to be the secret location of Atlantis. This perfume based on the dome of stones that predates life on earth has been a smash hit for me and something I keep reaching for. It may have to do with the alluring concept of world travel as Eye of the Sahara smells so exotic (with a trace of tempting spice and warm comforting dust) or it could be that this oil is somehow vintage smelling and makes me long for another time. I saw someone was asking for everyone's adventurous mood fragrances on Reddit, well Eye of the Sahara is my answer. It brings to mind an early 20th-century woman of travel (Agatha Christie visiting the sands and tombs of Egypt) or that a bottle would be found on a vanity next to intriguing artifacts and a dusty roll of tools of a silver screen heroine, ready to go for the next exciting treasure hunt. What ever the reason, I'm so happy I went with my gut and purchased the Buried/Lost Civilizations collection. Dare I say, it has been one of my personal favourite releases this year from any shop. Vials and Bottles Mothman Ozark Howler Ogopogo One Note at a Time Mothman (Grey vetiver, phalaenopsis, red cardamom and a hint of sulphur) I know the legend of the collapse of the Silver Bridge in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. I've seen the movie and yes, I do watch for red glowing eyes when I'm driving at late at night. Mothman is probably the more recognized name in this collection and boy, does he get an eerie clean fragrance. In the vial it's fresh and sweet with vanilla but when applied this awesome unexpected "buzzing" element comes out of nowhere and it smells like the window metal screen of a porch door (don't ask me why I know that smell, haha). Mothman tells a scent story of clean laundry being hung on the line and then some fantastical beast screeching out of the dark and flies past eyes blazing and antennae "buzzing". Unique notes and impression aside this is still extremely wearable and I like it but I'm just not sure this oil is for completely me. I have a friend who loves and treasures "clean and fresh" perfumes, so Mothman may have a new home soon if they get along. Ozark Howler (Fallen dogwood leaves, warm fur and white horehound) This fragrance is inspired by a huge hulking black beast that lives in the remote mountains of Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. I'll fully admit I zoned in on the white horehound that was listed and had visions of anise and decaying leaves dancing in my head when I ordered. The presentation of my the bottles was so creative as they arrived in a box marked "live animals" with adorable little googly eyes attached on top, I was pretty excited to crack this blend open and I could only describe it as "hot man dog/cat". Not the best description to ever come from my pen but there it was, the aroma of a shaggy strangely attractive canine/feline man. Months later the dried wet leaves are more dominant now and I get the shaggy warm fur on the long dry down. It's something else and a must try for those that like an atmospheric with an alluring animalistic side- think if Vincent from (1987) Beauty and the Beast (does anyone remember that show?) moved out of the sewer and into the remote mountains still reading and reciting poetry (I need to get out more). Ogopogo (Cool Rippling lake, water lily, seaweed and snake skin) It's an ultra entertaining word to say really fast and thanks to the show Unsolved Mysteries, I'm fully aware of this monster of the deeps of the Canadian waters. When it comes to the fragrance, I'm downright blown away how realistic the lake water accord is and this unexplained creamy white floral that keeps catching my attention. I dare say it's pretty and definitely beguiling. There is something in this that reminds me of The Sky is Falling and I think it's an unlisted "ozone" accord and I can detect a sweet stone note hiding just beneath everything else. I also love how this reminds me of carefree days fishing off the dock with bare toes dangling just above the water, ready to pull back and run for my dear little life if I saw something moving in the water. (true confession time- I'm a water sign but I'm terrified of deep dark water and up until this year never really appreciated aquatic fragrances but Ogopogo can stay on my vanity). This was my choice pick out of the Cryptid collection and will be joining me when I travel or when I miss that familiar mud and lake scent of fishing in April. Stereoplasm FEATURED Houses of Fragrance on the Horizon: Nui Cobalt Designs ("Magical scents & sundries.")9/6/2019
Sometimes a house of fragrance finds you and so it goes with this next shop who contacted me on Reddit. I admit I had heard of Nui Cobalt Designs within the IMAM forum and I was enamored by their aesthetic and themes but I didn't know anyone who had sampled their wares and I put them on the list for "someday", well someday just happened and I can't thank Forest and Josh from Nui Cobalt Designs enough for sending me a box filled with samples to ramble about and lose myself in... The time has come to talk of many things of realistic smelling herbs, a magnetic Art Deco theme that branches off into bewitching collections and stellar honey, fruit and florals accords that have quickly become my favourites to dab and slather this summer. This is one shop that you can truly say: "Expect the unexpected"... One Note at a Time Pixie (The wing'ed Fae folk of Cornwall and Devon. An apple orchard in bloom, spring grasses alive with some unearthly glow, vanilla bean offertory cakes and sparkling honey mead)*Fragrance currently listed on the site I first fell for this blend Midsummer's Night and I haven't stopped slathering it since. This one is floral graham crackers that last around 6 hours on my skin and 8 to 10 hours in my piled-up hair. The apple blossom note is extremely realistic and I found another honey treasure to hoard. Do I see a full bottle in my future?: Oh my, yes! Although it reminds me of Alkemia's Honeycakes for Harvest Moon, no candle note appears after the dry down and I would call Pixie the summer version of the two. I prefer Pixie and the visions it conjures of the legendary apple orchards of Avalon; this will be travelling with me when I go to Glastonbury someday. Hummingbird (A surprisingly bold blend for courage and confidence. Darting from oleander to orange blossom with ripe nectarine, hibiscus tea, and traces of tuberose)*Fragrance NOT currently listed on the site; limited edition Despite the description of being bold, on me, Hummingbird is "kind and demure" and when first applied it brings to mind something a classic Disney Princess would wear as she twirls around the dance floor full of dreams and a song in her heart. That all changes at about 2 hours when it morphs to lovely orange blossoms (with a little grit) that get stronger as additional hours go by. Overall it changed to a professional and pretty fragrance that stayed close to my skin. Do I see a bottle in my future?: Despite how lovely and captivating Hummingbird morphed into towards the end of the night, I don't think this blend is for me now but truth be told, I would have had two bottles and a third on the way a decade ago. I'm content with just the vial. Oya (A traditional Louisiana infusion to honour the Lwa of Lightning and call forth her power. Ozone and petrichor sharpen the edges of cardamom, green pepper, and sage, while black cherry and pipe tobacco sweeten the base. Wear this scent to bring the thunder and awaken your sacred fury.)*Fragrance currently listed on the site Oya is unlike anything I have smelled before and it has a special place in my collection for the cherry pipe tobacco and spicy rain note this holds. It's unique as I had hoped and I have moved this oil into my rotation of sleep perfumes. That combination of green pepper, cardamom and black cherry makes my mouth water. This one brings the thunder to my senses! Do I see a bottle in my future?: Not a bottle but another vial when this one runs out. Come Hither (In the time-honored tradition of Love Me, Come to Me, and Follow Me Boy hoodoo oils, this is an irresistibly sensual blend for getting - and keeping - someone's attention. Wild pink roses glistening with dew, Southern sweet tea, candied ginger and a gentle touch of clove. This oil is additionally infused with rose quartz, the classic choice for unconditional love. It encourages self-care and assists in maintaining a warm, receptive demeanor. Wear as a beguiling perfume or warm in a diffuser to evoke an air of romance.)*Fragrance currently listed on the site The unmistakable scent of pink roses and sweet tea opens Come Hither that then gains some familiar spice with the clove and ginger. It also has an aldehyde aspect but thankfully that burns down an hour in. I want to say Come Hither is too clean and fresh smelling for me but I oddly like it and will keep it to add a little spice and mystery to my locks. Do I see a bottle in my future?: Not at this time but if this comes in hair oil, candle or bath salts, here's my pocketbook. Grey Cat (An ode to my very own regal and ridiculous familiars. Dry smoked vanilla, fluffy marshmallow creme, fresh blueberries, the gentlest touch of lavender and a warm cup of Earl Grey. Wear this comforting blend to attract friendship, allies, and supportive people. It's a potent addition to a Honey Jar or any spellcraft for sweetening relationships.)*Fragrance currently listed on the site Mmm smoky blueberries and tea you need to come home to me. Grey Cat is exceptional with a fruit that could steer into the overpowering candy realm with the marshmallow but stays true to freshly picked blueberries next to a cup of Earl Grey and a swirl of bonfire smoke in the background. The anticipated marshmallow with lavender appears on the long dry down that aids as another sleep scent potion in the end. I'm quite impressed the tea hasn't turned into something from my nightmares. Do I see a bottle in my future?: Let's see I finally found a tea blend that plays nice with my chemistry AND it has marshmallow with lavender and smoked blueberries. Yes, you can bet you will see a bottle featured soon. Queen Bee (An opulent blend to evoke confidence, poise, and effortless grace. Creamy white gardenia and fluffy whipped honey)*Fragrance NOT currently listed on the site; seasonal edition I was hoping for a summer version of Sixteen92's Ligeia but instead, have been united with sweet innocent nostalgia as this oil smells like a new baby doll in the warm sunlight on me. I didn't think I would find this familiar aroma until I finally got around to Rose Mallow or Violet Mallow from Solstice Scents but here it is taking me back and bringing my new favourite buttery floral to enjoy as well this summer. This one lasts quite a while as well, fading away completely at 10 hours. Do I see a bottle in my future?: Possibly next year, yes. Although I adore the powdery element of Queen Bee, I'm curious to find out if the luscious gardenia will strengthen after some patient aging (all signs are pointing to yes and I can tell this perfume is going to be heady, just what I have been desiring for a summer gardenia fragrance). Invoking The Muse (This high-powered potion is a paean to the mighty goddesses of creativity and inspiration. Incense and olive leaves lifted by white copal, ancient oak, Mysore sandalwood, and vanilla orchid. This oil is additionally infused with fulgurite: the "lightning stone." Formed as lightning strikes the earth, this mineral facilitates a connection between intellect and Higher Mind. Wear this distinctly Mediterranean scent to dispel performance anxiety. It invokes flashes of insight and banishes creative blocks.)*Fragrance currently listed on the site Warm sandalwood, vanilla and a note resembling mint opens on my skin and I can't help but bring my nose closer as incense curls up to greet me after a few minutes. I'm curious if that is Palo Santo that is reading as mint and at the same time what is registering as "Cola or Root Beer" to my nose. I've smelled something like this before...Oh, Alkemia's A Darkness Burning was slightly similar on me but Invoking the Muse has more of a romantic vanilla at the base and after sometime olive appears (totally guessing but it smells like olive oil). I know this oil is for creativity and getting things done but I've moved it into the corner of my collection dedicated to relaxing and reading. There is something very meditative about the scent potion. Do I see a bottle in my future?: Not at this time, I'm content with just a vial. Malarkey (A comforting scent to ease your mind and sooth your nerves after dealing with dishonest people. Bread and Butter Pudding: twice-baked slices of soft white bread, salted butter, rich vanilla custard with a modest sprinkle of nutmeg and cinnamon)*Fragrance NOT currently listed on the site; limited edition In the vial I get the unexpected scent of fruit, butter and warm toasted bread; it's only when I allow it to meld with my chemistry something magical happens and it morphs to spiced bread pudding with realistic thick vanilla custard and the distinct aroma of freshly prepared french toast but the vanilla custard and light cinnamon stand out the most. Hours later I get a creamy crumbly nutmeg and a richer vanilla base (and I swear a drop of warm honey). It's something else and a tribute to British culinary traditions and old-fashioned baking secrets. Malarkey is never sharp, overly sweet or spicy, waxy or artificial smelling and just like Poppycock, it's perfectly executed. Do I see a bottle in my future?: Absolutely, yes next year (my pocketbook took a hit this summer). I always try to envision what the food from one my all-time favourite cinematic treasures would smell like and Malarkey is what I would be drinking if I were invited to attend the lost boys' dinner from HOOK. It's straight out of my dreams as this is happy thoughts and warm hugs. [says with nose to wrist] It's Bangarang. Dark Mistress (An homage to the Dominant Feminine that evokes indomitable confidence. Spiced pomegranate and stiletto steel swirled in Cabernet over a foundation of leather and mahogany musk.)*Fragrance currently listed on the site Oh, hello Midnight Vamp! I thought this blend would be sweeter for some reason but the realistic metal is adding a dangerous element along with the leather. Dark Mistress is untamed and seductive, I like it and I'm thrilled to find a pomegranate fragrance that carries a bit of a bite. Do I see a bottle in my future?: Not a bottle but another vial as I find this strangely beautiful blend something out of my comfort zone but is still captivating to my senses and I will wear it for special occasions and events (where is a Vampire themed Masquerade Ball when you need one?) This is going next to Alkemia's The Raven which makes me feel like a dangerous Evil Queen. Robin's Egg (A gently protective blend to support you through life's transitions. Dainty forget-me-nots and Lily of the Valley, a dollop of whipped blueberry creme, and a cozy birch nest tucked into a flowering dogwood tree.)*Fragrance NOT currently listed on the site; limited edition Here is another oil that showcases Nui Cobalt's superb blueberry note and this time it's folded carefully in a creamy floral that I love to place in my curls. It's outrageously romantic smelling but still works for the professional setting. I do notice birch goes powdery on me (like in Sixteen92's Aeromancy) but Robin's Egg is a definite keeper. I can't get enough powdery wonders from the indie realm. Do I see a bottle in my future?: Yes, next year if I start saving now. I want so many different magical blends from this shop. I would also absolutely purchase this in a candle. Tryptophan (A soothing sleep blend to lull you into a deep and restorative night's rest. Softest sandalwood, warm vanilla and clary sage are accented by precious blue chamomile and subtle french lavender. Please note: there is no actual tryptophan in this fragrance.)*Fragrance currently listed on the site This oil smells like smooth buttery caramel and lavender on me. The creamy sandalwood catches my attention a few moments after application and true to its name, Tryptophan lulls my senses to a relaxed state and off to bed. I must jot down this scent potion only lasts so long but I do get a subtle note of lingering mint-caramel when I wake hours later. Do I see a bottle in my future?: Yes, eventually. Feu Follet (The Cajun version of Will o' the Wisp, a luminous inhabitant of swamps and marshlands who's said to lure travellers to a watery grave. Sultry southern magnolia, wild muscadine, honeysuckle, and Spanish moss clinging to the trees.)*Fragrance currently SOLD OUT on the site When will I learn to not go solely by what the applicator wand holds because Feu Follet is another perfume that morphs and flickers on my skin going from floral to deep dark fruit and back to a watery moss note then ending as floral sweet tea that all brings my nose closer. I'm still training my nose and I can only guess the floral that is amping on me is the magnolia (it kind of reminds me of gardenias with a small lemon heart). Feu Follet is a bit heady but I like it. Our family friend who was a true southern belle would have loved this. Do I see a bottle in my future?: I would rather wear this fragrance as a toast to my departed friend and am happy with the vial at this time. Now I know what magnolias smell like. Indie Mood: Giulia (Unabashed refinement and sheer elegance. White santal and sunwashed teak edged with vetiver, silk, and chilled Earl Grey)*Fragrance currently listed on the site I'm still deciphering this expensive smelling blend as I get a not unpleasant soap combination that stays close to my skin. Tea can turn into sudsy aldehydes and despite the other above-listed successes with Earl Grey listed, I don't think this one is for me. I'm going to pass this vial along to a friend who loves and hoards these types of elegant "clean and fresh" mixtures (I believe she will be very pleased with Giulia). There is a different blend in Nui Cobalt's catalogue for everyone. (**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). Wings of the Morrigan (Goddess of victory, courage, and sovereignty. If honored appropriately, she may strengthen the righteous warrior and stand as a fierce protectress of the land. If angered, she may portend certain doom. Soft, smokey leather with a splash of red wine, an offering of black cherries and bitter chocolate, the steel and stone of the battlefield. Wear this enchanted scent to summon your valor and claim your crown.)*Fragrance NOT currently listed on the site; seasonal edition Smokey patchouli, leather and unsweetened cherry wine open the scene and it's like some awesome beast unfolds her wings with a smirk on her red-black lips. You can't look away and you know she is there to wreak vengeance on foolish mortals but you can't move and are compelled to bow down. This fragrance isn't for the weak and I'm shocked I have taken such a shine to this perfume. Wings of the Morrigan plays wonderfully on my fiendish little imagination and I must admit I love Nui Cobalt's leather accord. The chocolate is extremely subtle and only appears under different conditions on my skin. Hours later the steel and stone (and hint of smoke) is all that remains with the leather bringing to mind a battlefield of yore. Do I see a bottle in my future?: Eventually. Just like Alkemia's The Raven, Dark Mistress will be for special occasions, reading certain topics and writing. The Bees' Cotillion (So fancy! This ebullient blend evokes mirth and merriment to highlight your most endearing qualities. Succulent pears simmering in spring honey with the gentlest breeze of lily carried in a homespun infusion of honeysuckle flowers)*Fragrance NOT currently listed on the site; seasonal edition Well I just found a kindred spirit fragrance to join Alkemia's Les Courtisanes for my favourite pear perfume as The Bee's Cotillion is an intoxicating blend of fruit, honey (I can't get enough of Nui Cobalt's honey fragrances; I want to hoard them all like a shimmery amber dragon) and florals. I always wear Les Courtisanes near the end of summer well into fall and winter for special conferences so The Bee's Cotillion fills in that seasonal gap and I know this sounds odd but this scent is lucky as good things seem to happen when I don it. It's professional and positively unique and says I have arrived in life while also staying approachable. Do I see a bottle in my future?: Yes, The Bees' Cotillion will be joining my collection next year. Horsefeathers (A sumptuous scent to help you keep your cool when people try to pull the wool over your eyes. A traditional Arctic Roll: vanilla bean ice cream wrapped in a blanket of yellow sponge cake and a layer of vibrant red raspberry jam.)*Fragrance NOT currently listed on the site; limited edition Can I just say that this shop executes gourmands beautifully and Horsefeathers is another where I could lick my arm. In the vial, it's admittingly a little rough medicinal smelling but once it has a few moments to settle this oil takes on a buttery cake quality with fresh raspberries spread on top and quickly shoots to one of the top raspberry cake perfumes I have tried (it will join MoonaLisa's Aurelia in my dream gourmand section). I amp the butter but hours later a clear vanilla ice cream aroma makes me dance in my chair, yisss! I must also note Horsefeathers does not turn waxy or artificial at any time. Do I see a bottle in my future?: Yes, if Aurelia were ever discontinued. I would love a candle of this fragrance for my bedroom or a jar of bath salts. Vila (The beautiful silver-haired faeries of Slavic folklore who may choose to align themselves with worthy humans, or unleash fury upon the unworthy. Apricots preserved with cardamom, clove, and brown sugar, dewy Bulgarian roses, and luminous white silk.)*Fragrance currently listed on the site This is such a lovely blend that morphs from a fruity-floral jam that somehow smells creamy to warm spicy-wooden roses with every other gentle gust of wind. Vila has been accompanying me quite a bit to my workplace and I love it all the more that is based on Slavic faeries that can either be benevolent or unholy demons. Saying that, I'm happy to report on me, Vila is ethereal, expensive smelling without turning into soap and utterly beguiling (I can't get enough Bulgarian rose blends). Do I see a bottle in my future?: One word, yes. Flummery (A truly delicious scent to help you gain perspective when people try to twist the truth. Highland Flummery: toasted oats and warm heather honey folded gently into whipped cream and drizzled with a shot of Drambuie.)*Fragrance NOT currently listed on the site; limited edition With all the above successes, there are always those vials that end up unfortunate cases to report and I'm very sad to say Flummery hit all the wrong notes on my skin and nose (yeasty beer and unexplained musty banana with an absence of honey or oats appearing at any time of testing). Needless to say, Flummery will not be sadly joining my collection but I do hope someone else out there appreciates this homage to proud Scottish baking traditions (What a shame, I wanted to wear this to the Highland Festival this year, can someone recommend a heather honey perfume, please?). (**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). Road Opener (This time-honored classic is renowned for its power to clear away obstructions and banish energy blocks. It illuminates the path to success in all areas. Scent notes of warm lemon tarts with the subtle freshness of green herbs and a base of smooth frankincense.) *Fragrance currently listed on the site Tart lemon, frankincense and rosemary, take me away! I mean this in the most positive way- this smells like Liquid Gold lemon wood polish and I am one happy lady. It's intoxicating and divine. As time goes on, the lemon tarts come out a little more and resembles an unsweetened dessert. The frankincense is indeed smooth and it's like an open window during spring cleaning folded on top with lemon dessert waiting to be enjoyed (for those curious, Road Opener DOES mellow down about 10 minutes and fades relatively quickly versus the other oils I've tried from this shop). I have been enjoying a drop or two in my bathwater to wake me up. Do I see a full bottle in my future?: Most likely when my generously sized vial is empty. I do have another fragrance similar to this on my list to purchase soon but I do want the Road Opener eventually. Indie Mood: Liv (The fecundity of the untamed forest at twilight. Earthy patchouli, deep incense, wild blackcurrants, and the lingering smoke of a maplewood fire.)*Fragrance currently listed on the site Just like Invoking the Muse there is a clear mint-like note that attaches to my chemistry and I'm almost positive it is Palo Santo (Poesie's Serene Lace carried the same mint-like note that was later identified as palo santo) and this round it has a distinctive maplewood note backing it creating a sticky sweet mint-maple wood combination. The realistic smoke from a bonfire appears shortly after with a subtle patchouli scent. I don't get any blackcurrants as the smoky maplewood amps on me the most and Liv does smell like twilight in autumn with an ancient forest reaching into the sky. This is going next to Alkemia's Ambre d'Automne and Sixteen92's Sarah Good. Do I see a full bottle in my future?: Not at this time, I'm content with just a vial. I may change my mind this coming fall. Poppycock (A bright fragrance to banish confusion and illuminate the whole truth. Lemon Meringue Pie: frothy citrus sweetness in a toasted almond crust, with white vanilla peaks gently browned under a blowtorch.)*Fragrance NOT currently listed on the site; limited edition As it says on the tin, Poppycock is a sugary lemon scent confection that shifts to varying degrees of desserts on my wrists and crooks of my arms. It's not waxy or sharp and I get either vanilla cake with decorative swirls of citrus or textbook perfect whipped lemon meringue with a crunchy almond shell. The longevity is also impressive as this scent fades in about 4 to 5 hours on my skin making this the longest-lasting lemon dessert perfume I have found yet for myself (usually lemon dessert oils are gone on me before I leave the house). There is also a distinct heavenly smoke note with toasted almonds that is last to leave me for the night and I have been wearing Poppycock quite a bit this summer. Do I see a bottle in my future?: Yes, next year this one will be mine and displayed next to Malarkey. Little Brown Rabbit (An auspicious blend for abundance and great good fortune. Nutmeg and tonka bean nuzzle up against fluffy marshmallow, cottonflower, pink pepper, and a trace of carrot seed.)*Fragrance NOT currently listed on the site; limited edition I must agree with others' thoughts on this perfume as a comforting laundry note with carrot is the first thing that hits my nose and it does bring to mind Beatrix Potter's classic tale of Peter Rabbit. I've never smelled anything like this and I should be disappointed in the cottonflower which has attached to my chemistry but I don't hate this oil. Perhaps Little Brown Rabbit appreciates my efforts and not pulling away from the laundry soap note because within an hour I'm rewarded with creamy crumbly nutmeg, a kiss of pepper and realistic marshmallow that just makes me huff my wrists. Out of all the vials, Little Brown Rabbit lasts the longest clocking in at 13 hours on my skin and even longer in my hair. I will be wearing Little Brown Rabbit at Eastertime and again in autumn. Do I see a bottle in my future?: I want to say yes, if only that laundry note that hits a tad hard, in the beginning, would be swallowed more by the unique carrot, nutmeg and marshmallow, I would be throwing my pocketbook at the screen. Perhaps Little Brown Rabbit needs some patient aging. I'll decide next year. Indie Mood (The dynamic harmony of light and shadow. Lapsang souchong tea, sumptuous velvet, labdanum and tonka punctuated by precious Peru balsam.)*Fragrance currently listed on the site Ooh, I like this. I know it's not listed but I smell sweet cinnamon that swirls with the dark tea and balsam. Once it dries down it dances back and forth between sweetness and dark resins. With the balsam, Indie Mood doesn't last very long on my skin about 3 to 4 hours but does fair better in my curls. This vial is going right next to Sixteen92's Spirits of the Dead for its brilliant display of flickering light and dark qualities (with a tea blend that loves me). Do I see a bottle in my future?: My pocketbook wants me to say no but my dark little soul and nose say, Yes (but only long after the vial is empty). The Bee's Knees (A lively blend to brighten the mood and lift your spirits. Leaves of lemon balm and crushed coriander seeds accompany lavender scones with spring harvest honey and a scant drop of green cognac. Wear this scent to chase away the doldrums and banish the blues.)*Fragrance NOT currently listed on the site; seasonal edition Here it is, the perfume I haven't shut up about or stopped dancing around with since it arrived. Simply put this is one of the most realistic honey and old English lavender oils I have found in the indie realm. On me, The Bee's Knees is sun-warmed dark golden honey drizzled over sugar-dusted lavender scones, I don't get any cognac or additional herbs and if they are there, they are blended in so seamlessly and expertly. It's magnificent and has been placed next to MoonaLisa's The Rumpkin! for the best lavender in my collection. Every time I wear it I imagine an English garden scene in summer and The Bee's Knees brightens my mood as described. *I purchased a bottle and it is another crowning jewel of my perfume cache. What can I say it was love at first sniff and I fell hard. Hulda (An ode to the woodland seductress of Scandinavian legend. Slender white birch limbs, lily of the valley, pale angelica glistening with dew, cloud berry and icy moonlit waters.)*Fragrance currently listed on the site/this sample arrived with my purchased bottle of The Bee's Knees I'm still deciphering Hulda as I get a very fresh smelling powdery aquatic that at times can resemble gum on me. It's certainly elegant and crisp and I adore the birch note that appears hours later with the lily but I think it will be passed along to a friend (part of me wants desperately to keep it at the same time and I just may for my locks- I love heady lily of the valley). Do I see a bottle in my future?: Not at this time, I'm content with just a vial. Menehune (Roasted macadamia nuts, teakwood, coconut palm, and ripe pineapple)*Fragrance currently listed on the site/this sample arrived with another purchase of home and bath items I will share my thoughts on another day Despite the gourmand notes this is a "your skin but better" version for summer. It's light and fresh smelling (even a little salty scented) without turning to soap or suntanning lotion. I'm also thrilled to report with Menehune I amp the roasted macadamia nuts and I have definitely reached for this vial more than I thought for the workplace setting. Nui Cobalt Designs has changed my mind about quite a few different scent profiles I thought "I could never pull off". Turns out I can! Do I see a bottle in my future?: Yes, I just may. *With many thanks to Nui Cobalt Designs for kindly sending me all of these different scent creations and starting a very long prologue to another scent love story for me. Nui Cobalt Designs With every joy I find in the Indie realm there has to be of course some sorrow and regret and so it goes with Parchment Studios/Latherati. I was too late in trying this shop that offered an array of fragrances and bath and body products inspired by classic literature because once I finally decided on my first purchase they announced shortly after that they were closing. I hope someday to see this shop open once again. I loved the next items I wish to share which included the best nail polish I have ever used and a fragrance that will be accompanying me to different events. Adieu, Parchment Studios, you are well missed! These were my final thoughts... Parchment Nail Polish in Hyacinth I fully admit I was completely taken by the photos popping up on social media of this color and I had to have it even though I hadn't painted my nails in nearly 8 years. Taking a little extra care (adding some dietary changes to my nightly lunches at work and massaging alot of vintage based hand cream on my nails and hands; our mothers were right all along) I was able to grow my nails out to a surprising length so I decided it was time to treat myself. My polish shipped within hours of being ordered and arrived a couple days later which was impressive. Ah, but the true test was the color and how well it would preform. Color: On the website it is the ideal shade of a spring hyacinth in full bloom but in reality it is darker in the bottle and more greyish-deep mauve than I was expecting but I adore any hue of purple and it called out to my gloomy little self that loves "mourning Victorian colours". Transfer: I was out of practice with steadying a nail brush and figuring out how much to apply at one time but this particular applicator brush was extremely forgiving (and very comfortable in my hand as the top of the bottle is tapered and almost feels like a thick classic pen) as well as the formula that spread nicely and it took only 2 coats to get full coverage. Final color reveal and Picture It.: The polish dried quickly which was quite impressive as I was ready to set aside my whole evening and made sure all domestic duties were finished before I sat down to literally watch paint dry but my nails were dry before I fell asleep and there was no mystery imprints found anywhere the next morning. So after all said and done the shade changed to a stormy grey purple in the light and smoky purple out in the sun plus oddly reminded me of something and in the following days of me dancing around admiring the flawless shine (with no top coat required) it finally hit me! Hyacinth looks like Ursula's (Yes, THAT Ursula, and you're welcome if Poor Unfortunate Souls is stuck in your head the rest of the day) skin tone and yes I shared this observation with my friend who just rolled her eyes and laughed saying "only you" but I don't care this nail polish had me under a spell with the gorgeous unique shade (it really doesn't take much to make me happy or entertain me, haha). So how long did it last?: Even with washing dishes and a pack of mud loving dogs, the polish lasted over a week with minimal chipping and finally on the 8th day, one huge chip was clearly noticeable so I tried to repair it throughout the day but just made a mess so I tried removing the polish but it wouldn't budge no matter how much I soaked my nails. I emailed Julie and within minutes (her customer service is amazing to say the least) had an answer that I needed Acetone Nail Polish Remover so off I went into the night for a grocery store run and she was absolutely correct. It melted off with no annoying lingering hidden stains. Would I purchase Hyacinth again?: Absolutely, this is the best nail polish I ever used (once upon a time I used to paint my nails every 4 days in every color of the rainbow and could do some fancy things with a toothpick so I'm very familiar with the top commercial polishes that chipped on the first day even with a top coat). *Along with my bottle of Hyacinth I received a sample of the newest fragrance called White Gloves which is inspired by a true treasured classic (my second favorite novel by Edith Wharton) and again I sorely wish I visited Parchment Studios (formerly Latherati) MUCH sooner... "...fastened with a single gardenia. She dropped her eyes to the immense bouquet of lilies-of-the-valley on her knee, and Newland Archer saw her white-gloved finger-tips touch the flowers softly." - Edith Wharton, The Age of Innocence Listed Fragrance Notes: PROLOGUE: bergamot, green stems BODY: gardenia, lily of the valley, orange blossom, tuberose EPILOGUE: amber, sandalwood, cedar, musk In the vial: Tart and sweet BERGAMOT with buttery GARDENIA and TUBEROSE. At the moment it's not quite what I would envision from the Gilded Age but it's lovely none the less. Applied: I was mistaken White Gloves would indeed fit into the parlours and be found on the social climbers and dollar princesses we love to read and watch documentaries about. It definitely has a vintage elegance to it and is a fine selection for the late spring to summer months. I would call White Gloves more of a citrus-floral (with a trace of realistic flower stems peeking through) and as I sit here the amber appears along with the cedar on the dry down which warms this blend and adds another level of the unexpected. I do wish it lasted longer on my skin (about 2 to 3 hours) but still White Gloves will be joining me at historical events and be displayed next to Alkemia's La Belle Époque in my travelling portmanteau. Stereoplasm is the shop to see if you desire unique but completely wearable fragrances a little off the beaten path. I found this intriguing shop through a forum on Reddit and each time I order I find myself in the presence of a talented scent artistry that should to be placed among the greats and they only continue to evolve and somehow improve with every release. This is one of the rare brands that even though a creation may not work with my skin chemistry, I still find it impressive and unlike anything I have opened before but yet contains memories I had long forgotten existed and I keep coming back for more. Yes, I know I am shamelessly gushing but I must be honest, Stereoplasm (and another house of fragrance to be reviewed shortly called Nui Cobalt Designs) have made me excited about indie perfumes once again. So without further ado, this is Part I of my trove. Vials: Mogwai Charades The Sky is Falling The Velveteen Stranger Last Dance *These adorable sized vials were found nestled among my first order (thank you so much, Meaghan!) that happened to be a special custom fragrance that will be featured as soon as it is finalized. One Note at a Time Mogwai (Listed Notes: Mulled Eastern spice poured over baby crab apple peel, wild chestnut and resinous champa. Scattered and falling ashes of burnt sage, wild hemlock and ancient dark jade) It is no secret that apple is a note I tend to either ignore or find limited success with, so imagine my surprise when I opened Mogwai and was reunited with the aroma of a variety of apple I had long forgotten about and it somehow magically agreed with my skin when applied. For those not familiar with crab apple, they carry a sour and tart fragrance and the apple itself is extremely hard (great for making jellies out of as well throwing and pelting first crushes with). In Mogwai, the sourness and tartness is punched up and warmed by exotic spices and the distinct creamy nuttiness of tough chestnut with incense is also detected as this blend dries. It's a very mysterious perfume that has a strangely alluring side to it and indeed smells "green" and brings to mind a ritual storefront in autumn. A great introductory scent from this curious shop and a keeper. Charades (Listed Notes: Classic purple lilac, lazy handfuls of new grass, slippery stone moss, heliotrope and peppery geranium leaf) Even though I was taken by Mogwai, I'm very sorry to report my experience with Charades turned out to the complete opposite as my chemistry turned this lovely sounding creation into a soapy headache that lasted forever on me. Pity it smells gorgeous in the vial, others have raved about this perfume (I'm so jealous) and I adore heliotrope and geraniums. I don't think lilacs and I are exactly meant to be in the indie world (I have 2 blends right now that somehow work) and if I want to smell like them I will need to tie a basket of them around my neck. It's just one of those special fragrances in nature (like daffodils) that can't be truly bottled (or that my finicky chemistry will allow me to fully enjoy). (**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). The Sky is Falling (Listed Notes: Pink ozone, trampled tulips, skyline crocus and delicate candy shells) I may rant and lament over my finicky chemistry that seems to absolutely despise me at times and finds fiendish delight in turning beautiful sounding blends into scent nightmares so you can only guess at my reaction when the Silly Rabbits collection tamed the savage beast and they all were surprise successes (The Sky is Falling turned out to be my favorite out of the trio). This one opens with sweet comforting chocolate eggs very like Jordan Almonds or those dreamy Cadbury Mini Eggs you hoard and gobble down during Easter-time and dew drenched green stems of crocus and nodding vibrant tulips. It's a wonderful nostalgic combination that for me takes me back to childhood wearing pastel Sunday finery with Mary Jane shoes padding among the flower beds, hunting for Easter Eggs and sweets hidden in the greenery. The Sky is Falling is a postcard fragrance, it really is and is tied up with a fitting bow when an unexpected nifty pink ozone accord hits hours later which brings to mind a science exhibit I attended years ago that allowed you to experience the inside of a cloud. Don't believe me, try The Sky is Falling for yourself and see where it takes you in imagine and memories. Brava, Meaghan! Velveteen Stranger (Listed Notes: Stolen peaches, yellow marshmallow, chopped cedar, blackberry aftershave and cigar smoke) In the vial it's syrupy sweet peaches, creamy marshmallow and something a little masculine but on me, Velveteen Stranger is pretty peach sugar-encrusted marshmallow Peeps on a cedar plank with a hit of cigar smoke floating in the background. It tells a story and I can see why it was a smash hit this past spring as it's playful with the creative note lineup and morphs ever so slightly each time you dab it on. In terms on longevity, Velveteen Stranger is the longest lasting out of the collection and I can detect it 10 hours later. Another keeper! Last Dance (Listed Notes: Vintage amber, creamy heliotrope, bubbly champagne, and freshly picked wildflowers) When it comes to Last Dance, I'm not sure if it's the classic song of Donna Summer playing in my head or the frothy creamy floral with powder in this blend but to me this is an Easter wedding reception in a vial. It's unapologetically feminine and carries a vintage lacy vein that is perfect for formal occasions or the workplace setting. As it is aging there is also a familiar sweet element peeking through a couple hours after application that can also be found as the candy shells in The Sky is Falling. Last Dance is too pretty to lounge around in your night clothes to wear, it calls for a string of pearls and celebratory music to set it off right. Unlike anything I have in my collection. Stereoplasm Nothing brings me out of the shadows and into a shop's door more than a cleverly hidden-in-plain-view reference to a special topic of interest and Libertine Bath Haus had one delicious sounding siren call in the form of "Gardens of the Red Keep" which promised "lemon cake". If you aren't familiar with what this is ascribing to, please sit a spell with a tome from A Song of Ice and Fire (skip the show, there I said it). After becoming entranced by that simple description, I found myself continually visiting the extensive scent catalogue over the following days and recognizing other witty references (and applaudable research in regards to a few historical names/places). The notes sounded wonderful for several blends and I have been meaning to try a sugar scrub so I messaged the owner with quite a few questions about skin sensitivity, ingredients availability, fragrance transfer comparisons between items and of course commended her for use of the name of Gardens of the Red Keep (fingers crossed a Cersei creation appears someday in the catalogue) and I must say Libertine's customer service is phenomenal! I placed a small introductory order after that and was over the moon with the extras that unexpectedly appeared in my parcel (complete with a personalized thank you card; it's those little touches to be found in indie boxes that keep me returning). I don't know where to start as I fell hard for so many things, it's another collection in the making. This is a shop to watch and this is a long overdue review! *Please note: Gardens of the Red Keep and Wisteria Lane are no longer available in the General Catalogue and have been discontinued since I ordered in April 2019 Body Polish in Gardens of the Red Keep (Description: "Lemon Cake") So here it is, the jar that started a Lemon Cake Battle Royale in my bathtub and came out the new reigning queen of sweet and tart desserts in my book! This blend is addictive and brings to mind a heavenly marriage of Country Time Lemonade Cake and pretty pale-yellow Petit Fours you see displayed at certain gatherings in summer. It's sweet with just the right amount of tartness and I swear I can smell a squeezing of lime in this. In regards to the scrub formula, this was a first time experience for myself and I must say, I will never be without a jar of scrub again. I feel so pampered and my skin is even more moisturized after using this formula. My elbows and heels are petal-soft (especially after rubbing in the body butter) and I'm thrilled to jot down that the fragrance that so bewitched me lasts an hour on my skin. For those who still have never tried a sugar scrub the longer you leave the fragrance to soak into the sugar- the more you will fall in love in the end. Additional Notes: The try-it size of the jars may fit in your palm but are very generous and I have had several months of use out of the jar(s). A one-half scoop of scrub has been plenty for each bath. Would I repurchase?: Absolutely, yes and I plan to get jars of Persephone and Peppermint Marshmallows at the next release. I'm trying to conserve my precious jar of Gardens of the Red Keep but it's just too good. Body Butter in Gardens of the Red Keep (Description: "Lemon Cake") Up until my parcel from Libertine Bath Haus arrived I was using a collage of various lotions that ranged from thick goat's milk, shiitake mushroom extract with collagen and pure shea butter, these all pale in the results I have received from this body butter. I do believe I have found another holy grail self-care item for myself. Not one breakout to report, my rough hands from constant hand washing from my profession are now always soft, supple (the creases on my knuckles are gone- my hands look younger) and I get constant compliments when I shake hands with doctors (that's one way to get noticed and be remembered, haha). The only negative is the delectable magical fragrance of Gardens of the Red Keep doesn't stay true in this form, it morphs to buttery salty popcorn on my skin within 20 minutes with a light trace of cake in the background (my chemistry always amps butter in everything). I'm curious to see if Peppermint Marshmallows will change. Only one way to find out. Additional Notes: The try-it size of the jars may fit in your palm but are very generously filled and I have had several months of use out of the jar(s). Not very much body butter is needed to get full silky coverage of an area. Would I repurchase?: Yes. Another lifetime repurchase item for myself. The following appeared in my first order (Thank you so much for everything, Libertine Bath Haus!) Hair Glace in Gardens of the Red Keep (Description: "Lemon Cake") It will truly be a sad day when the bottle and jars run out of Gardens of the Red Keep because it has been discontinued. I haven't been able to find anything that compares to this ultra-realistic tart and sweet lemon cake aroma and Gardens of the Red Keep is a scent indulgence for myself. I'm hoping to find another kind of luscious uplifting dessert oil soon so I stop reaching for this gem and also racing off to the tub with the body polish then slathering my legs and arms with the body butter. I don't think any form of this confection is going to last throughout the summer. In regards to the hair glace, it can be a touch drying if I use it right after washing my hair with say soap fluff so I save it and only use a few spritzes at a time when the natural oils begin to build up too much. It seems to soak up the grease and adds incredible shine and lasting fragrance to my locks (if I left it I can still smell it for a half a week). Would I purchase a full bottle?: Yes to the Hair Glace. Come Black Friday bottles of Peppermint Marshmallows and The Ascension are coming home to me (and if my friend loves the jar of Nannerbean I'm getting her soon then she will be receiving a bottle in her stocking). Hair Glace in Wisteria Lane (Description and Notes: (heavily flowering wisteria trees, intermingled with soft, almost indistinguishable rose petals, and spicy jasmine) With all the above successes, there are always those creations that end up unfortunate cases to report and I'm very sad to say Wisteria Lane hit all the wrong notes with my nose and Jasmine has officially joined the list of notes to watch for myself as my chemistry turned this lovely sounding blend into something very unpleasant and triggered my head. [Sigh] I know that happens but I was very excited about Wisteria Lane joining my vanity (curse you skin chemistry). Hair Glace in The Ascension (Description and Notes: Bergamot and sparkling orange, lilac and primrose, violet petals and snowdrops, perched atop three musks and small bundles of twigs.) This fragrance is an enigma that I'm gladly still trying to decipher as the notes are so well blended creating an airy, ethereal but yet earthy floral quality that has fully caught my attention and found a place on my list of "must haves" before the end of this year. My nose isn't as trained as I thought as The Ascension is unlike anything in my extensive collection and I can't single out a single note (when I think I'm smelling orange blossom it switches to apple skin and garden fresh roses). Even though it's a hair glace, I admit I have been spraying it all over, haha. Would I purchase a full bottle?: Yes and in as many different formats as I can get (I never tried a linen spray but this and Peppermint Marshmallows would be divine for my house). Soap Bar in Salty Betch (Scent Description: This black soap is scented with a santal Shea blend, that comes across as a soft coconut milk with almonds and vanilla) I know it sounds strange but Salty Betch smells like Typhoon Lagoon Water Park at Disney World. I don't even remember that much about that trip but this bar resurfaced that salty coconut and water scent that stayed on my skin when I flew home. I like it but sadly my skin doesn't exactly embrace the formula as it dries out fast on my arms and legs. I guess I can only use this bar on my feet. Would I purchase a full sized bar?: Unfortunately no, as my skin is too sensitive for this soap blend. It smells lovely though. Soap Bar in Fresh Strawberry and Poppyseeds As it says on the tin, this bar contains actual strawberries and poppyseeds that adds a light gentle exfoliation to a delicate fruit fragrance. The soap bar formula has been wonderful on my sensitive skin and indeed smells like sugar dusted strawberries and a kiss of coconut and shea. Would I purchase a full bar?: Yes, not only does it lather nicely and rinse away with no residue but it also works on my face and removed my mascara. Lip Scrub in Huckleberry Buttercreme So here's another first for me as I can't believe I have gone this long in my life without any kind of sugar scrub for my body before. This one goes on my lips and yes there is a level of learning how to apply but I find using over a sink works best or in the bath tub as the wet sugar crystals get everywhere. I do admit I have taken a more than proper taste of the berry scented scrub and it is indeed yummy. As for the results my lips (that have taken a hit since I started using lip stains) they are more smooth feeling, moisturized and I haven't broken out once with this scrub around my mouth. One final thing to admit, I have used this as an experimental mini body scrub and yes it works wonderfully (is there anything sugar can't do?) Would I purchase a jar?: Yes and no surprise it would be pumpkin or peppermint Silky Body Spritz in Blueberry Spritzer (Description and Notes: Fresh blueberries, sprigs of rosemary and thyme, and a sparkling cocktail) I was expecting a dark herbal fruit laced fragrance but have been surprised by this charming shop once again as this is playful and effervescent with a clear refreshing thyme note, a hint of rosemary (along with seltzer water) and the blueberry smells more like sugar-dusted berries ready for jam or pie. It's lovely for the hot summer months and the scent lasts until the next day on my legs (I use this as an after shaving moisturizing spray). I have also been using the silky body spritz on my hair ends. Would I purchase a full bottle?: Not at this time, I'm content with the extremely generous sized sample bottle. Silky Body Spritz in Peppermint Marshmallows (Description and Notes: Squishy and sweet, with a bright punch of peppermint and creamy mallowy puffs) Peppermint Marshmallows is more than a gourmand, it's soothing, creamy and awakening all at the same time. Simply put, this is sweet peppermint aromatherapy for me and I want this fragrance in everything. The peppermint is strong but not overwhelming and isn't like candy or exactly a true peppermint extract scent either- it somehow finds a divine balance and gets even better when the realistic powdery marshmallow and underlying vanilla appears about an hour later. I love this. Must note about the impressive performance of the spray that adds a lovely light layer of moisture and this fragrance lasts 10 hours on my skin and into the next night in my hair. Would I purchase a full bottle?: Yes, here's my pocketbook. Send it all. Libertine Bath Haus It was inevitable I would find my way to the black-ribboned door of Little And Grim as their Memento Mori aesthetic cried out to my dark little Gothic heart but I can thank the Poisoners Guild for making our meeting a lot sooner when they featured an extraordinary soap sculpture on their page. Up until that point in my life, I never knew soap could be more than a simple square or a small rose shape for the upstairs guest bathroom but indies triumph and surprise once again with changing everything I knew about something and creating an item worth displaying. I may not be able to use that soap art on a count of the Glycerin used but I can sure admire it, I mean come on, it's a pile of detailed skulls that look straight out of a fantasy novel or the dank crypts under London or Paris. I fully admit I couldn't stop eyeing each new scented item after that and nearly broke my mouse in the excitement that perfumes were being added to the catalogue. To my utter delight, they had a lilac fragrance and pumpkin and anyone who knows me wouldn't be surprised those were the ones I grabbed first. These were my impressions... One Note At a Time
The Sad Hour (Description and Notes: A covered mirror, a stopped clock, and a black sash upon the door. Fragrant mourning bouquets, gentle women's finishing powder, and the sweetness of a final kiss. Notes of lilac, amber, and vanilla.) This bottle has become a soothing favourite as it's a clean warm creamy blend that I would put into the same realm as Slipped Between His Teeth from The Strange South (a respectful fresh perfume that doesn't give me a headache or something intrusive to those around me but one that makes me feel only clean and elegant). The lilacs are so lovely but disappear on my skin (after 10 minutes) while the other notes amp creating another powdery perfume to hoard away that harkens back to classics. Overall, a beautiful ode to a lost era and season. *The following vials appeared in my first order, thank you so much, Little And Grim! Tell-Tale (Description and Notes: A taste of feverish autumn: Blood pounding, madness rising, a heart thumping beneath a warm wooden floor. Notes of pumpkin, apples, oak leaves, oak moss, cedar, musk, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and brown sugar.) Hello, pumpkin my old friend, you always cheer me up and I can't stay away from you (nor do I want to). Supporting the familiar comforting fruit is a dose of creamy nutmeg, apple, cinnamon and brown sugar. There is also some undernotes of cedar and rustling dead leaves that are becoming more noticeable as the vial ages. My only slight disappointment is Tell-Tale is so fleeting on my skin like a gust of autumnal wind (in my hair about 5-6 hours though). I hope the lotion is available in the coming months in this fragrance because this is like the perfect early seasonal blanket scent for me and I want to slather it. Botanomancy (Divination by burning plants) (Description and Notes: Fruit-laced herbal smoke and spicy glowing embers. Notes of fig, apple, lemon, ginger, sage, frankincense, caramel, cinnamon, and smoke.) The ghosts of the autumn season speak to me with this creation as my chemistry pulls the apple, sage, smoke, cinnamon and frankincense notes forward on first application. The apple is dominant with something that smells of poached figs then a smoky combination of sage and frankincense swirl into the scene keeping my nose to my wrist. An hour later a snap of ginger is detectable with warm caramel and the cinnamon stays true lingering the most out of the notes (Botanomancy and The Sad Hour lasted the longest on me). Another keeper! Mount Auburn (Description and Notes: A dizzying array of all the flora that buds in Massachusetts. Fragrant, fruity blossoms and towering trees shading gentle, winding paths. Notes of raspberry, melon, honeysuckle, lilac, wisteria, and spruce.) In the vial, this blend promises so much sweet fruit and pine but alas after a few moments on my skin some mystery note turns sharp and then Mount Auburn fades completely away in under 30 minutes. I have had better luck with this pretty blend in my curls giving me a total of 4 hours to enjoy (the lilac and spruce remind me of The Strange South's Poor Dove, which also oddly disappears on my skin). If this fragrance ever was released in a bath bomb or salt it would be mine. Little And Grim MX Perfume It's time for a revisit to one nifty shop that offers creative blends with an old Hollywood horror glam twist (and something a little more this round). One Note At a Time Monster Bride (Listed Notes: Green Apple, Peony, Sweet Pea, Rose, Musk, *Castoreum, *Ambergris *animal-friendly) The only way I can describe MONSTER BRIDE is Cruella de Vil with peony and sweet pea, she is a fashionable high-end beast, that reminds me of an extremely expensive perfume but with a sinister twist. A crackling of lightning and musk...it's really growing on me. Premature Burial (Listed Notes: Bay Leaf, Turmeric, Pimento, Magnolia, Ylang, Black Pine, Costus Root, Patchouli, Vanilla, Musk) I admit when PREMATURE BURIAL arrived it carried more of a soapy quality in the vial that frightened me but I must say this oil has vastly changed from a couple months ago. Now each time I dab it on, something else catches my attention with this oil, tonight it's black tangled roots after an opening of realistic pine and something being "tattered and torn" about PREMATURE BURIAL. I think this oddly comforting blend is in the unisex realm of fragrance and as equally strange as it sounds, I would wear this perfume to a brunch in a stormy graveyard. It's broken-down and somehow fancy smelling at the same sniff and pause; another surprise keeper in my dark little book. Black Sun (Listed Notes: Red Mandarin, Black Tea, Ginger Root, Rose, Incense, Cistus, Benzoin, Black Musk) In the vial BLACK SUN promises so much as it's black tea with incense and sweet benzoin (this has been the vial I have been anticipating for quite awhile). Once applied the lovely rose comes forward with the ginger and it's akin to a warm sweet floral tea that amps for a few moments on me and then changes completely over to sharp soap and stays that way for hours (thanks skin chemistry, hate you too). Overall, a rare miss for me from MX Perfume. I'm interested to read others impressions on this creation, the tea and rose note would be magic on anyone else and I'm jealous. (**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). Amber Decay (Listed Notes: Mandarin, Orange, Honey, Tobacco, Lily Of The Valley, Myrrh, Cedarwood, Amber, Agarwood) The applicator wands holds wondrous notes of juicy and sweet orange, honey and lily of the valley that call out from another elegant time period and I can't wait to slather. When applied AMBER DECAY is unapologetically feminine with honey-glazed orange blossom and warm ambered tobacco that all brings to mind the final days of summer. Hours later it's soft and powdery lily of the valley with a woody base; it's so pretty. This is a definite future purchase after the vial runs out. Warm Leatherette (Listed Notes: *Leather, Metallic Notes, Birch, Vanilla, Tonka Bean, Sandalwood, Carnation, Black Pepper *animal-friendly) As it says on the tin, this is one chic leather and vanilla fragrance that has become my go-to when I want to step out in another persona for the night (or blast 80's and early 90's music from Cher). The creamy spicy carnation with leather and vanilla amp on me the most and it's a surprise win for my senses. I would call WARM LEATHERETTE more of a unisex fragrance and I'm very curious what notes would amp on a man. It's also a fabulous sleep scent potion. Into the basket it goes. Rubedo (Listed Notes: Pink Grapefruit, Mandarin, Rose, Melon, Honey, Musk, Sandalwood, Benzoin, Oakmoss, Ambergris) I'm going to concede the title of favourite of this round to RUBEDO (WARM LEATHERETTE in a close second) with its honeyed grapefruit, melon and complex rose stealing away my nose and straight into the lineup of perfumes to wear for the workplace RUBEDO is placed. It almost smells sparkly on my wrist like a precious jewel catching the light with also some underlying snap and sizzle and I waited far too long to add RUBEDO to my collection. Cemetery Lip Salve in Vampy Vanilla *This shop has it all and I'm thrilled to see these types of upcoming body and scent indulgences for dark little hearts everywhere. Thank you so much, The Candle Parlour for sending this sample of lip salve. This salve has been one of my go-tos this hot drying summer and I would purchase it. The formula is not overly soft or hard or oily and it doesn't break out the skin around my mouth. The scent is a light vanilla that doesn't interrupt midnight lunches with any unpleasant contrasting flavour or waxiness and provides a nice barrier of moisture to my lips (since discovering lip stains my lips constantly need moisturized and I reach for Vampy Vanilla quite a bit throughout the night). Looking at the other available flavours I'm intrigued by "Poison Garden" and hope it's peppermint in disguise. I'll be sure to share my findings (fingers crossed this shop will release bath delights or incense next). MX Perfume Alchemic Muse (I'll keep this introduction short as I can't wait to gush about the scent treasures to be found at this next house of fragrance.) Floral-gourmands and hyacinth perfection were all I sought when I enquired on an indie focused forum and I was directed to see Alchemic Muse. Interesting enough that enquiry was posted at the perfect moment as this shop just unveiled their Kabloom! collection and I placed a very small introductory order of a single hair mist bottle which then turned into a mad dash back to my screen to order more once I uncapped the bottle and smelled a soap sample. Here is my current trove of scent indulgences to be shortly joined by a parade of PUMPKINS soon...here we go again, haha. One Note at a Time
Ostara in Hair Mist/Styling Spray and Perfume Oil (Description and notes: The eternal embodiment of spring pays tribute to you with a mix of hyacinth blossoms, myrtle, and wild heather fused with the soft green foliage of moss and ivy, gently grounded by a warm and earthy base of clove, cinnamon, and myrrh) Simply put, this is Easter and Spring-time in a bottle and THE crowning jewel of my floral collection. The hyacinth accord is exactly as promised and I have found another holy grail for myself. For scent composition, the hyacinths are the stars of the show in Ostara that are warmed by the green notes along the spice and each layer is perfectly balanced creating a symphony and soothing lullaby to the senses. For any differences between the mist and oil, the hair mist is definitely stronger for me (when applied it's like sleeping on an intoxicating bouquet of freshly bloomed sun-warmed hyacinths) and the fragrance lasts all night into the next day versus the oil that fades away within 3 to 4 hours on my skin and needs reapplied. Dreamcatcher soap sample and Hair Mist/Styling Spray (Description and notes: Snare your dreams, no matter the time! Wild honeysuckle flowers with sugared citrus notes of lemon and bergamot peel at play against a sheer base of orange blossoms, muguet and crisp green leaves.) *The soap sample arrived with my first order (thank you so much, Alchemic Muse!) and then was shortly followed by a purchase of the hair mist after one night's performance with the Ostara bottle. This shop excels at realistic smelling florals and Dreamcatcher is one impressive honeysuckle blend that sweeps me away to summertime in the country. The citrus is more pronounced in the soap bar versus in my hair and in regards to the soap formula, we have another keeper as it's gentle and non-drying leaving my skin silky smooth with no tight feeling and no need to add any type of moisturizer after use. I do wish the soap didn't melt away so fast but that only gives me an excuse to purchase the large bars. The fragrance of the hair mist is predominantly photo-realistic honeysuckle with lily of the valley and orange blossom to my nose while others have commented I smell like honeysuckle and incense (either way I'm not complaining and very pleased). For performance the formula seems to work better for me as a styling mist versus detangler. Now that's not saying the mist doesn't detangle, it certainly does (and the scent lasts) but it does leave a slightly stiff effect on my hair when simply brushed in. That may sound negative but it is ideal for creating Marcel Waves that go all the way to the crown of my head. I feel I channel Zelda Fitzgerald with that effect. Another keeper for my vanity and I'm anxious to get my nose into a Lovecraft bottle. The following items arrived with my second order (thank you for everything, Alchemic Muse!) and will be full sized purchases. The whole Kabloom! collection is coming home to me. Cloud Nine soap sample (Description and Notes: An ethereal clean and creamy white floral blend with billowing white blossoms of Victorian lilacs with wisps of sweet jasmine, white rose, white violet and cherry heliotrope. Floating beneath is a thick layer of fresh cream raining onto a bed of white raspberries.) I'm happy to say, the formula of the soap is consistent across the board and the scent of Cloud Nine is as I can only describe what a spring angel would smell like; it's floral, dreamy AND even contains violets that behaved with my chemistry. No cough syrup but only creamy classic white and light purple florals. I think in addition to the soap bar I need Cloud Nine in the hair mist. Into the basket it all goes (my pocketbook is really doomed come Black Friday this year). Orange Blossom Tea soap sample (Description and Notes: An exquisite, sultry scented blend of orange blossom petals with bergamot, muguet lily, and fresh green notes over a heart of robust black tea accented by a sheer, earthy base of oak, sweet hay, and light musk) I think it is safe to say, 2019 is the year of Orange Flower/Blossoms for my bath and body collections and Orange Blossom Tea is another creation I need to add to my basket in different formats as this one is sweet and feminine with the orange blossom and the underlying tea stays true and adds a unique warmth to the floral and green notes. I'm curious to see if the fragrance would morph on my skin or if the hay would appear more. Only one way to find out. Turkish Delight bath melt (Description and Notes: Jellied candy flavored with rose water and coated with powdered sugar) This was a first for me as I never used a bath melt before and I'm happy to say Turkish Delight is the beginning of another collection for myself. Not only did this melt smell divine (and last quite awhile when broken up- 4 baths in total I got enjoy with it) but hints of pretty sugared rosewater still lingered on my skin an hour later leaving my water filled sanctuary. I admit I'm on a severe rose kick right now and this melt hit the spot (it's like bathing in rose petals and a bit of sugar). It also softened my skin to a petal finish (even my elbows) and works just as well as bath salts for my tired muscles and sore joints. Needless to say I will be purchasing Turkish Delight and exploring more releases from this charming shop. Alchemic Muse It is a truth universally acknowledged that a lady in possession of unwanted creases and dry skin must be in want of a fabulous cream and serum. Whether that lady (or gentleman) is only just noticing them for the first time in the mirror or has lived with skin changes for awhile because they do not believe there can possibly to a solution or relief to such a common unwelcome thing, LittleBits is there for us when you need a little special something from researched nature (the tried and true historical recipes) and thank goodness because this lady needed that little something badly. Being a certain age when my skin seems to have a mind of its own I started noticing lines, dryness with dullness in places which all began to make me self-conscious and that is a terrible feeling. To my favourite marketplace platform I went a haunting and I really do believe in perfect timing because one of my first searches brought me the listing of the 24kt Gold Egyptian Serum from LittleBits and I honestly couldn't leave the page alone, so after contacting the owner with quite a few questions and personal concerns about how well her products would fair well on my sensitive skin, I purchased my first introductory sampling which shortly after became the largest haul I have ever ordered from any indie shop. Long story short, these amazing items have worked wonders for me and like my mom, grandmothers and aunts whom all found their own favorite skin creams/serums/powders that never left their vanities and handbags, I have found mine! 24kt Gold Egyptian Serum Egyptian Oil Listed Materials: 24kt Gold, Myrrh, Frankincense, Egyptian Geranium, Grape Seed Oil Appearance/Fragrance: In the amber bottle that comes with a handy long cosmetic pipette the contents are a yellow colour with actual gold flakes floating in the oil that fill the entire space of the bottle when shaken (you are sure to get flashes of gold in every application). The scent is true frankincense that is a sharp smelling resin and this serum also has an intoxicating lemon-like note present. It's instantly relaxing for me and I love to wear this oil to go to sleep. Performance/Results: THIS is the product I sorely wish I found years ago so I could have staved off some of the unpleasant permanent signs on my skin but overall this serum performs amazingly well and I love adding this bottle to my morning routine before I slip back to bed to get ready for another shift. The gold actually dissolves into my skin and I noticed positive results within a week of using this item (I can wear this all over my face even my chin, along my jawline and nose). It doesn't fight my sensitive skin but soaks right in and even helped with the annoying roughness on my cheeks and helps keep acne at bay. I think this is the oil that has helped soften the crease in my eyebrows the most in conjunction with the 1896 Cleopatra's Enamel. Would I repurchase?: YES *Side Note: In addition to the positive results I have noticed in the mirror and can feel when I touch my face, I adore the history that is incorporated into the selection of the materials used and I found the facts supplied on the product's pages absolutely fascinating (I could read all day long about the healthful properties of herbs and resins). A Lily Pomatum For Wrinkles 1772 Fine Line Salve Listed Materials: Vitamin E, Jojoba Oil, Almond Oil, Therapeutic Grade *White Lily Oil, Organic White Beeswax, Organic Natural WI Honey Appearance/Fragrance: I first received this item in a small beautifully labelled bag then I upgraded to a jar size as soon as it ran out. The cream is a creamy white that requires a quick stir with a plastic spoon and the fragrance is a dreamy delicate lily with powder. The adorable jar is about the size of a lip balm. It's not very large but the contents last quite a while and I can't argue about the moisturizing effect it holds. Performance/Results: I readily admit I have no idea what I'm doing with creams/serum/salves or know if I'm overdoing it with layering everything but I do love to experiment where these items perform best and the Lily Pomatum seems to go best on my cheeks, along my jawline (my skin is tight as a drum again!), neck and on that blasted line between my eyebrows that was so deep looking before I found LittleBits. Would I repurchase?: YES Side Note: *I do take caution when I use this pomatum around my cat (it does contain actual white lily oil and ground root) so I make sure to wash my hands and keep him away from woozing around my face (same with my dogs)- it never hurts to be a little more careful when it comes to lilies and cats (or dogs). 1896 Cleopatra's Enamel Listed Materials: Almond Oil, Rose Water, Myrrh, Honey, Bees Wax, Rose Appearance/Fragrance: As the same with the Lily cream, I first ordered this as a sample then upgraded to a small jar that looks so lovely displayed on my 120+-year-old vanity. The scent is hard to truly describe, it's very light and sweet creamy wax with a hint of almond. The contents of the jar are opaque ivory that is thick and pliable (can be rolled around your fingers to make a ball before applying) but quickly spreads when gently pushed into the skin. I like to use this one of the most noticeable lines as it fills the creases in completely and (in my mind) plumps up those areas. I use a small plastic spoon to take small scrapes of the salve before applying. A little goes a long way. Performance/Results: As you probably can tell I've never used many skin care products (except acne creams and generic makeup) so I'm still learning where and how to use everything. Through some morning testing, I found this enamel does not fair well on my cheeks, chin or nose but it does work nicely on my forehead, elbows, back of my hands (even as a cuticle oil/cream) and this is another item I love to fall asleep wearing. Would I repurchase?: YES 1772 Cold Cream Orange Flower - Toilet De Flora Body Cream Listed Materials: Virgins Wax, Jojoba, Almond Oil, Orange Flower Water, Ben, Jasmine, Orange Appearance/Fragrance: When I opened my first parcel from LBCC I think this cream leaked a tiny bit from the small sample bag (soon then after replaced with a large purchased jar) as it was the first heavenly aroma that greeted me when I opened the box. I believe this scented item (along with MoonaLisa's creation known as Whole) is what set me on a frantic search for anything with orange blossom listed. It's incredible and so historically important if you take the time to read about the famous women who favoured that fragrance. The cream is thin and is an almost transparent white in colour (and it is the same in the jar). Performance/Results: I had to research how to correctly use and delve into my memory to remember how my Baba used her creams but I think I have it now: a nice slightly thick application over my makeup (concentrating around my eyes), a few minutes of enjoying the aforementioned amazing scent composition then a hot to touch washcloth to wipe the cream away starting at my cheeks then leaving my eyes last. This cold cream works wonderfully well at melting away my stubborn mascara and I definitely notice a moisturizing effect when I use it. Would I repurchase?: YES *Full Disclosure: Makeup scares me. There I said it. I've never really worn that much and when any other time I played around I would look like well more of a horrific parody of a lady of the evening versus polished or never felt like myself and that I had this heavy itchy mask on I couldn't wait to get off. I've also never had any luck finding a shade that would match my skin (I'm extremely cool toned) or one that didn't look like cake batter when applied then later left me with painful welts. I've used a gamut of commercial makeup brands over the years and my most recent was Bare Minerals for powder, blush and lipstick. 1912 Sultana Cold Cream Listed Materials: Jojoba Oil, Bees Wax, Almond Oil, Cocoa Butter, Orange Flower Water, Peru Balsam Appearance/Fragrance: This was one of the only products I didn't get to purchase as a smaller sample first and I had no idea what to expect when I opened the beautiful frosted jar so I'm thrilled to say this light fawn coloured cream smells like expensive melted gourmand chocolate! The consistency is simply fascinating as it starts out somewhat solid for a cream but as soon as it touches the skin, it melts like butter (a little goes a very long way and there is a trace of balsam and orange if I concentrate to find the notes). Performance/Results: I would love to sing the praises of the results for this cold cream on myself but sadly this is the only product I purchased that I had a negative reaction to (figures). So instead of my face or elbows, I use this cream on my feet and I really like the softness around my heels and I also have been experimenting with this jar on my cuticles and on my legs. I did get one-half day of use for this formula as an intended cold cream and yes it works to remove makeup, so ignore the rambling lady who has weird unpredictable skin; you want a jar and want to feel you are slathering your face in expensive chocolate, get it. Would I repurchase?: Sadly, no. Only due to the fact that my skin still delights in tormenting me. 1908 Rose Complexion Powder Listed Materials: Rice Powder, Rose Powder, Sandal Wood, Organic Rose, Organic Rose Petals, Natural Essential Oil Appearance/Fragrance: The finely ground powder is a delicate shade of fitting rose and the scent is an equally light floral with a barely-there touch of warm sandalwood. The tin is nicely sized (gorgeously designed) and I feel I will get perhaps a full year out of the contents. Performance/Results: Where has this product been all my life!? It matches my skin tone perfectly and even blurs some imperfections. I love I can touch my face and actually feel my skin versus a greasy mask and I'm impressed it actually absorbs the oil that I work up when I'm dashing about the floor at my workplace. The real test will be this summer and I may have to reapply here and there throughout the day but we shall see. Would I repurchase?: YES (this is a lifetime repurchase for me and I hope it is never discontinued) 1922 Setting Powder Listed Materials: French Talc, Organic Lemon Oil, Organic Bergamot Oil Appearance/Fragrance: Finely ground powder with minute dark specks in it. There isn't a discernable scent to it but maybe it does in the tin which I don't own. It also has a silky feeling to it when touched. Performance/Results: Alone this powder achieves the ethereal appearance that was popular during the 1920's so I think I will use this for events and if I'm lucky be wearing this for the Great Gatsby New Year's themed parties at the end of this year. In the meantime, I do like to carefully layer this over the 1908 powder in spots as it adds a little more protection against oil on my forehead and along my hairline. I really need to buff and blend to get an even look if used all over but I do like this product. Would I repurchase? YES especially if the 100% Pure Pearl Powder was ever discontinued. 100% Pure Pearl Powder Listed Materials: As it says on the tin- PEARLS Appearance: I don't how she did it but I'm holding actual crushed pearls with this product and about to blend them over my face. You can't get more fancy feeling than using real 24kt gold and crushed pearls in self-care and makeup. I love this shop! Performance/Results: Here is another item I have searched years for and wish I found much sooner. This powder works so well over the 1908 formula and blurs some of my scarring. It also softens the pores on my nose that I can't seem to get rid of completely. Finally must mention a few words about the handy mini cosmetic puff that is included with this tin, it adds another touch of refinement and again I feel so fancy and "right" when I use these products. Would I repurchase?: YES Liquid Bloom of Roses 1780 - 1958 Vintage Lip Stain/Cheek Stain Listed Materials: Carmine, Rose Water, Essence of Roses, Organic Rose Oil Appearance/Fragrance: The contents are a deep red with an undertone of blue. The scent is incredible, to say the least, I wish I had a perfume that matched this bottle exactly. It's floral of course but it's so much more and that is true rose water I can smell; you seriously need to smell it for yourself to understand. In terms of the bottle, it's perfect to display and I love that the packaging is a reproduction of the actual label that was used in the 18th century. Performance/Results: Confession time- one full application of this stain and I threw away my powder blush and lipstick I have been using for years. There is no comparison and I can't recommend this bottle enough for those out there that are cool toned (this stain was made for us). I'm still puzzling out how many layers to apply but I think I'm satisfied with 4 to 6 and I'm happy to say that even though I apply the stain with my finger it doesn't transfer to my work clothing if I happen to adjust my name badge or the bedding which I was worried about (if it does I don't notice or it's a very light spot of pink). For durability, this stain lasts the whole night and if I would let it go I wouldn't be surprised if it lasted into the next afternoon- never had that happen with any commercial blush. I also never had a blush that well made me look like I'm blushing and this Liquid Bloom of Roses does just that, it looks so natural on and yes it also adds a fresh bitten look to my lips (no lipstick I ever tried produced that before). The only negative is this product is drying to my skin and lips but I feel that is a small price to pay and easily remedied when I don't have it on plus that's what lip balm is for. Would I repurchase?: YES (another lifetime repurchase item) 1922 Vegetal Red Rose Liquid Rouge Listed Materials: Carmine, Natural Rose Oil, Organic Rose Water Appearance/Fragrance: Very similar to the 1780-1958 stain but it's brighter in that deep red and can be described as "berry pink" (think freshly squeezed or mashed strawberries). The scent is the same as 1780-1958 formula but it may be a little subdued in ways. Performance/Results: I purchased a sample vial as I loved the red "fresh bitten" look on my lips but wanted it darker, this rouge works and I get my desired look after about 3 coatings. Oddly this stain transfers more when I touch things so I do use caution. Should mention with both stains they last all night even with eating and drinking. Finally, I'm sure to keep a lip balm near with this liquid rouge/lip stain. Would I purchase a bottle?: YES One Note at a Time 1920's Lilies & Lilac Toilet Water This ultra-delicate oil leaves just enough of a lovely spring imprint on my mind and I keep returning to it. I love this one all for different reasons than what I was initially looking for in an oil (I want this bottle for after shaving and to sprinkle on my bed sheets, so into the basket it goes for my birthday or Black Friday). For a perfume to wear throughout the day, it's pretty as a lilac perfume should be but hardly has any longevity (even in my hair I get 2 hours tops) and as much as I love lilies, they upstage the lilac. I have my fingers crossed the upcoming lilac perfume will be exactly what I'm looking for. Bouquet de I'Imperatrice Josephine perfume (Natural Rose Oil, Natural Rosewood Oil, Organic Rose Petals, Natural Jasmine Oil, Natural Sandalwood, Organic Almond Oil and Musk) I only have a sample of this magnificent perfume but soon I will have a bottle as this is a timeless fragrance which transports my imagination far away and I feel like absolute royalty when I wear it. There is a delicate rose that brushes the skin and the jasmine with sandalwood adds a warm romantic complexity to Bouquet de I'Imperatrice Josephine that I haven't experienced in anything within my collection. I appreciate this is by no means a brash rendering of the notes that would usually give me a headache or scream soap to my nose, every note is blended so well creating an elegant softness that I have been searching for and finally found. Jane Austen's Garden perfume (Rose, Lavender, Forest, Orange, Lilac, Rose Geranium, Jasmine, Rosemary and Voilet) Ahh! This is what I could only imagine a real English garden to smell like (velvety roses overhanging a garden wall and woody lavender bordering the walk with geraniums and deep purple violets in the window box) and I will be taking this enchanting oil with me when I travel to Bath and Hampshire someday. This is the type of perfume to wear on those days when you have many responsibilities but for a time you would rather let my mind relax and enjoy the sunshine. Jamie's Passion perfume (No listed notes but it described as: "This lovely light amber perfume oil is uniquely based on an original 18th-century love potion and mixed with the popular scents of the 1940's.") I'm still trying to decipher this oil as I get a waft of lemon thyme of first application then a clean warm amber emerges and amps (or glows) then it fades down to something akin to violets. It lasts about 2 hours on my skin and about 4 hours in my hair. Here is another oil I will be taking with me when I travel. Orange Flower Oil *I can't speak highly enough about the customer service practices at this shop because when I fell hard for the scent in 1772 Orange Blossom cold cream I sent a message to the shop owner to see if I could get a perfume to smell exactly like the jar. Not only could she recommend an oil but she even offered to dilute a specially prepared oil for me and add it to my custom order (thank you so much, Alicia!). Marking down another note I'm completely enamoured with and need more of in my collection. This oil is fantastic for everyday wear (especially in the workplace setting) but I've found I prefer to keep this gem at home and allow this bottle to banish any negative mood (that citrus note is sublime) and revitalize my creativity (wearing it right now as I type away). Bulgarian (Otto) Rose Oil *Here is another oil that was specially recommended by Alicia at LittleBits as I asked if she had a perfume that matched the scent in the Liquid Bloom of Roses, she suggested the Josephine Perfume along with many others including this oil. Overall Bouquet de I'Imperatrice Josephine comes the closest to matching but I still like the Bulgarian (Otto) Rose Oil. When applied it isn't the sharp caustic florals it's actually a dainty rose and reminds me more of petals rather than a full stemmed rose. I am finding that rose oils fade fast on my skin so this is another fragrance I love to brush into my hair (my hair also seems to unlock the hidden spiciness from the roses which I love). I will definitely be wearing this when I attend different events this year. There you have it, my whole current trove of self-care, oils and makeup from LittleBits/LBCC Historical Apothecary. I've had tremendous success overall and I will be heading back to visit this charming shop again soon, I feel like I have reconnected with a lost piece of myself when I use these items and there are still so many other products I want to explore and learn more about.
LittleBits/LBCC Historical Apothecary The Poison Garden collection: Aconitum Atropa Belladonna Conium Maculatum Datura Metel Nerium Oleander One Note at a Time Aconitum (Listed Notes: Wolfsbane, tangled roots, wildflower field, metal, storm, rock, black fur, wild musk) In the vial: FRESH CUT SUN-WARMED GRASS and swaying MEADOW GREENS Applied: Aconitum is an instant summertime snapshot as this brings to mind my Pap mowing the grass just before a thunderstorm hits with me just staring into the grey-black churning sky watching "angels bowl" as my grandfather always called it, the cut grass I can smell is incredibly realistic and I can detect a distinct storm element in this. It's at this point where I have my nose to wrist in complete nostalgic bliss with happy tears that a sweet stone note with an almost sudsy quality rises and hits hard and stays for nearly 8 hours. Up until that point I would have purchased a full bottle or gallon but I'm not a fan of the sudsy wet gravel rock scent that overtakes every other note. I must also jot down that Aconitum does not smell like my treasured Lycanthrope and I can't pick up any black fur, flowers or musk. A Happy Little Accident (curious pairing and saving grace): Aconitum + Alkemia Perfumes' Bacchante (High bush blueberries, wild ivy, Spanish lavender, aged oakmoss, tonka, decaying bark, and forest fungi)= storm watching while picking blueberries deep in the forest. The odd sweet soapy stone note is thankfully tempered with the realistic juicy blueberries and it creates a whole new fragrance I love to mix before I shut out the sun and sleep the day away for night shift. Atropa Belladonna (Listed Notes: Nightshade berry, narcotic flowers, green tomato, green pepper, soil, broomstick, velvet plum) In the vial: COLD DEW-DRENCHED TOMATO LEAF and GREEN PEPPER Applied: This at first smells like canning green peppers in the basement with garden soil still on your shoes. Again an incredibly realistic blend that creates a distinct scene. As this oil dries I amp the green pepper and the potting soil accord with a dark plum slowly coming out behind all the spicy greenery. I don't get any flowers or berries but I do get the "velvet" impression and something that stays cold smelling. I was secretly hoping Atropa Belladonna would be a long lost sister scent to Winifred but where Winifred is green and purple velvet floral skirts fluttering across the silver-white moon over a graveyard, Atropa Belladonna is planted in a wet garden and may hold a deadly secret, depending on who you ask. I love that despite them sharing similiar notes they tell completely different tales. This one is a keeper but I need to remember to watch what other fragrance this vial touchs as the scent of spicy green pepper gets on everything and lingers! Conium Maculatum (Listed Notes: Hemlock flower, citrus blossom, coumarin, lavender spike, tobacco leaf, castoreum, oak, bergamot, dried iris) In the vial: CITRUS BLOSSOM, BERGAMOT and LAVENDER. It brings to mind Every Frozen Heart with that nifty frozen citrus ice pop fragrance. Applied: Ah! There's the promised lavender but it is a fleeting note as this strange mix of citrus and orris amps creating something sweet and freaky. I'm not sure I care for Conium Maculatum as that blend of citrus triggers my head. It's also leaning toward too masculine smelling for me but thankfully it doesn't last more than a few hours before it fades to lovely powder. I think I will use this in the oil warmer, it smells better in the vial versus my skin sadly. Datura Metel (Listed Notes: Datura blossom, sweet almond, rosewater, sugar cube, vanilla orchid, moth wing, wild honeycomb) In the vial: ALMOND, HONEY WATER and unlisted HONEYSUCKLE Applied: I do believe we have found a favourite vial in this collection for I am a deadly smelling hummingbird with Datura Metel and love it! I can't get enough of Sixteen92's honey and almond accords and here they are beautifully meshed. There is definitely something mysterious and floral in this blend and I'm falling hard for the drydown that has warm vanilla and powder. It almost smells like nectar from a honeysuckle vine but that note isn't listed. Wretched timing to be cautious of extra spending otherwise I would get a few items with this fragrance. Oh well, there is always the Resurrection event and this vial should get me through the summer unless I dump it on my head like I have been resisting to do since it arrived. Mmm Datura Metel is so pretty (it's in the same vintage vein of Mellifera), why aren't more people gushing about this gem? A must try if you love sweet honey scents. Nerium Oleander (Listed Notes: White & pink oleander, heliotrope, apple seed, sweet custard, pineapple, thyme, coconut water) In the vial: APPLE, VANILLA and a drop of PINEAPPLE JUICE Applied: Mmm... I guess I saved the best two for last as Nerium Oleander is another favourite which completely shocks me because it has coconut and pineapple yet somehow this blend works. Right away this perfume opens with a realistic apple note with creamy thick custard then the coconut and pineapple ring around this scent dessert making me question everything I ever thought about coconut fragrances. I guess I really don't hate them all and it all depends what accords they are paired with or the scent artist because this oil is divine and I will wear this. Oh, this oil reminds me of another surprise hit coconut blended perfume from last year- Really Most Sincerely Dead. Nerium Oleander is missing the honey, poppy seeds and licorice but it's fluffy and delicious smelling just like Really Most Sincerely Dead. If asked I would say this perfume smells exactly like what you would imagine would be on the judging table at The Great British Bake Off. Another keeper and a vial I could drink! And that concludes my year with The Circle program. I learned quite a bit throughout the months of sniffing, dabbing and slathering at different times those 27 different fragrances and could ramble all day about my personal discoveries but the main truth I must admit to myself is I'm a Halloween/Fall and Spring type of collector and prefer those seasons/releases to all others and wish there was an option available to purchase those early seasonal collections solely. Looking at the notes within the several releases I have a better success rate with spices, florals and quasi gourmands than for example pine or stone. My journey is over but I highly recommend The Circle to anyone that is able and ready to explore many facets and profiles of fragrances (with additional added perks for joining, who doesn't love coupons?). You never know what you will unexpectedly fall for and this subscription was a unique opportunity to learn something new about myself (I adore gardenias now and can't get enough of them, found my Victorian or Edwardian Ghost dream perfume and real successes with coconut accords, which all is huge). I hope to read everyone else's impressions plus personal scent journeys sometime and who knows if the Half Circle program ever returns, I may again see those lovely mysterious black boxes someday waiting for me. Thank you all for reading and don't worry this isn't the end of me purchasing from Sixteen92 (that will never be) this was just something I needed to share in case anyone was curious why I won't be contributing early Sixteen92 reviews for the year. I'm happy to wait just like everyone else. 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. Vials Ethereal Lace Ivory Lace Lemon Lace Pink Lace Serene Lace Tea-Stained Lace Crowned (from the Bonny & Buxom collection) One Note At A Time
Ethereal Lace (white lilac + old books, Vanille, antique lace) In the vial: LEATHER and an AIRY SWEET LOTION scent Applied: This was the vial I was anticipating the most when I ordered but alas no lilac is detectable on me versus so many others I have seen gush about Ethereal Lace. I get a not so pleasant combination of glossy leather and something reminding me of my workplace with a sweet powder finish. In regards to the vanilla, it does occasionally peek out behind the thick leather scent but it is more conceptual than I had hoped. There is still something vintage I like about Ethereal Lace but ultimately I don't think this one is keeper for me. (**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). Ivory Lace (three vanillas lashed with amber honey + wrapped in antique lace) In the vial: SWEET POWDERY HONEY and faded VANILLA with WARMTH Applied: Ah! This is a better vial showcasing the elegant lace accord with warm vanilla. Ivory Lace is indeed lovely and romantic without being overpowering (almost a "your skin but better" type of fragrance) and I can detect the faded white florals and a drop of "greenness". It brings to mind the iconic lace ruffs you see in paintings and swaying Queen Anne's lace out in the fields. In terms of longevity, Ivory Lace (don't you adore these gorgeous names?) lasts around 6 hours on me. This would be perfect for those looking for a sweet understated scent that adds just the right amount of something special to finish off a positive day (or night). Lemon Lace (sweet-tart lemon combines with sweet Vanille + antique lace) In the vial: LEMON CURD and creamy POWDER Applied: For a brief time Lemon Lace brings to mind a lemon chiffon creme filling then it disappears to leave a still sweet powdery vanilla that lasts around 3 hours on me. I have to admit it may be my favourite vial out of them all for the workplace setting. It's calming and perfect for spring. Pink Lace (juicy strawberries + pink champagne, Vanille, antique lace) In the vial: STRAWBERRY NERDS CANDIES and CHAMPAGNE Applied: We have a morpher here as Pink Lace warms up with your skin creating a dulcet but refined fruity scent with a smooth vanilla in the background (I want to call this Strawberry Blush). What is it about fruit scents this time of the year? I can't get enough of them and Pink Lace is another keeper for my collection and for my candle warmer. Serene Lace (palo santo incense + a haze of cedar smoke, Vanille, antique lace) In the vial: MINTY WOOD, SMOKE and VANILLA Applied: The longer I allow Serene Lace to age the more the mint-like wood swirls with church smoke in this blend and I must admit I'm smitten with this creation and so is my cat. This is his choice pick as he won't stop woozing all over my arm when I wear this oil. Serene Lace is a fantastic sleep scent (especially in the oil warmer) and relaxing meditative fragrance for those days you just lock yourself away from the mad world. Tea-Stained Lace (rich pipe tobacco + black tea leaves, Vanille, antique lace) In the vial: MINT TEA and VANILLA Applied: Oh, a little bit of unexpected nostalgia for me as I can detect my dad's pipe tobacco and a wisp of smoke in this oil. It's not the true scent of Captain Black Gold but it's pretty darn close. Next the tannic tea intertwines with the pipe smoke and that crystalline vanilla comes out on the long drydown. Tea-Stained Lace is certainly one of the more polished tea fragrances I have tried. Unfortunately, this blend doesn't last more than 2 hours on me but I still enjoy that brief time it takes me back to another time. Crowned (inspired by Jane Seymour) --a clean blend of lavender, mint and grapefruit, fluffy marshmallow, royal sandalwood *this was a free sample that appeared in my order, thank you Poesie Perfume! I'm not entirely sure about Crowned as I amp the tart grapefruit with mint and am still searching for the lavender I can smell in the vial along with any marshmallow or sandalwood. On me, sadly there just isn't any complexity (and there is a mystery waxy note that I'm not fond of that continues to catch my attention) but I can see why others have been gushing about Crowned (it's uplifting and playful but also has a little mystique to it) and I do enjoy this oil in my warmer. It really sweeps away the cobwebs and aids in the mood of spring cleaning and letting some light in. Tudor Rose cherry rose vanilla cocoa black tea (organic black tea, cocoa nibs, natural vanilla flavor, strawberry pieces, apple pieces, hibiscus, rose petals, lemongrass) *this was a free sample that appeared in my order, thank you Poesie Perfume! I'm still training my palate with brewed teas so I can't honestly say I get all of the individual flavours in this cozy smelling mix but all around this is a great way to wake up and sit down to enjoy (I could happily sniff the mini bag alone all day). Is it my favourite from all the teas I tried from Poesie or any other charming shop? No- Twice to Tea, Fearless and Royale Velvet still reign over all in my pantry but I still quite like Tudor Rose though as it reminds me of Albert + Victoria without the spice (Mmm need to go brew a cup of that gem), is an applaudable capturing of a fascinating topic and if it returns someday, I may spring for a bag (this does make a fine delicous dark fruity brew). How can I not collect something that has cocoa and roses listed? *With many thanks to Poesie Perfume for kindly sending me these perfumes at a discount for sharing my honest thoughts. Poesie Perfume 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 Poesie Perfume Recently I fell hard for organic loose leaf tea and I can thank Poesie Perfume (and Vida Pour Tea) for this next collection in my pantry. Blends: Twice to Tea Osborne House Albert + Victoria London Smoke + Fog Twice to Tea *the tea that launched me on a tea loving journey into so many different flavours and a whole new collection to share. Who knew tea could taste this good!
Osborne House: lavender rose vanilla rooibos tea (Ingredients: organic rooibos, lavender. rose buds, natural vanilla flavor) This sophisticated brew starts out with an herbal sweetness that quickly develops on the tongue to a woody smokey vanilla with lavender. I don't get any floral nuances with Osborne House but I do love the smoky quality of this tea that takes it into the perfect wintertime treat. When bubbles are added this blend unexpectedly tastes like woody smoked marshmallows! Another keeper for my pantry. Albert + Victoria: black tea (*Ingredients: roasted chestnuts, cinnamon, vanilla and black tea) Now this is a fine delicious brew! I admit I was a tad concerned when I read the description after purchasing the bag (all I saw was chestnut, cinnamon plus the reference to Albert and Victoria and into the basket this blend went) as they mentioned this medley was robust but to me, this dark tinted tea tastes just like homemade cinnamon raisin nut bread (especially with a drop of added honey) and I'm in love. For cozy factor, Albert + Victoria gets a solid 10 and I would love this warm comforting scent combination in a perfume or bath product. I know it seems silly but I'm still new to tea and I never knew it could be savory or taste this good. Highly recommend. London Smoke + Fog: london fog + lapsang souchong (Ingredients: black tea, vanilla, bergamot, orange peel, blue cornflower petals, lapsang souchong) Compared to Albert + Victoria, London Smoke + Fog is what I would call robust as this blend hits the tongue with a familiar taste of my favourite Twice to Tea but there is more heaviness to this medley versus the others. It definitely calls for a dark winter night of reading but I'm not sure I would repurchase it after my bag is empty. I prefer its dainty and more sweeter sister tea blend of Twice to Tea and I don't think I'm ready to collect more lapsang souchong tea mixes just yet. Maybe I'll retry London Smoke + Fog after I train my palate some more or I may try my hand at making a bath tea, it does smell lovely in the bag and when it is piping hot with a dollop of honey. Perfume: Windsor by Poesie Perfume (Listed Notes: sweet balsam fir, benzoin resin, white amber, Christmas cookies, vanilla creme) *a surprise free sample I found in my order, thank you so much Poesie Perfume! In the vial this perfume promises sweet creme, balsam and amber but alas my chemistry devours this oil and all I can smell is a lotion-like buttery vanilla note and warm amber that fades surprisingly fast. I'm convinced balsam is a note I will never get to fully enjoy outside of inhaling a freshly cut Christmas tree or a homemade wreath and my dreams of smelling like a walking talking Christmas tree all aglow will never come true. Curse you, skin chemistry! All is lost on my skin but I do enjoy this oil in my candle warmer as it adds just the right amount of elegant seasonal atmosphere to my bedroom. I just wished it stayed on my skin and followed me out the door. *With many thanks to Poesie Perfume for kindly sending me these teas at a discount for sharing my honest thoughts. Poesie Perfume Winter 2018 Collection Ultima Thule The Fall of the House of Usher Ligeia The Raven Spirits of the Dead Ulalume One Note at a Time: Ultima Thule *The Circle exclusive fragrance for 2018 (Listed Notes: Burning black woods, warm resins, cashmere musk, chestnut, clove bud, black pepper, toasted vanilla) In the bottle: VANILLA, RESINS and PEPPER. Yes, Sir! I'm ready to slather. Applied: On opening, I get a black, grey and sepia colour variation with this oil which is pretty nifty and it matches the iconic 1848 Daguerreotype of Edgar Allan Poe. It makes me think of a piece of memento mori on the mantel with sad phonograph music playing while a plate of Christmas treats grows colder next to a snow-covered window. The chestnuts and a warm sandalwood accord amplify on me with a hidden salt-like note and the dark vanilla which also brings this intriguing blend into the gourmand realm. It definitely heralds the theme for a cold winter's eve thinking of being surrounded by ghosts of loved ones or lost opportunities. This is creative genius! The Fall of the House of Usher (Listed Notes: Pine and fir needle, frozen hemlock, amyris, sweet myrrh, shadowed stone, precious woods) In the vial: RESINS and Sixteen92's infamous STONE accord. This could very well be a sweet pine sister scent of The Castle on the Hill. Applied: We wanted gothic winter and here it is as The Fall of the House of Usher is shaded sentinel pine against a cold stone wall. The pine note is incredibly realistic and how I wish it would stay more than a few minutes on my skin before being overtaken by sweet powdery myrrh but that is how the cards fall with this fragrance. I still like this perfume as I enjoy the imagery it conjures which is an abandoned mausoleum with a lone pine tree growing beside it. I love the stories that each vial and bottle seems to hold that comes from Sixteen92. Ligeia (Listed Notes: Ash, gardenia, opium haze, aldehydes, white iris, honeycomb, ambergris, cold skin) In the vial: GARDENIA, OPIUM and POWDER...You already know I love this. Applied: It's no secret I fell hard for Ligeia and haven't shut up about it since November but let's just for the sake of formality go through my full thoughts. This perfume starts out with a cold buttery gardenia that sparkles with aldehydes (I keep getting visions of a darkened room bathed in eerie moonlight with a pristine gardenia in a snowglobe sitting on a shelf and once you flip the ornate globe the snowflakes turn to ash inside; still can't fathom what haunting melody this beautiful object would play though, perhaps a forbidden waltz?), there is a distinct metal note that collides with the aldehydes and ambergris which amp on me for an hour giving this scent potion a dangerous animalistic element then a creamy honey arrives that takes me to another realm of happiness. Hours later the slight buttery sweetness is still present and I can detect the ash and a little powder. It's absolutely gorgeous, a complete masterpiece and I'll be picking up a full bottle once my vial runs out, Ligeia will be joining Necromancy, Telepathy, Sarah and Aeromancy as my perfect floral atmospherics that capture the season and my imagination. With such tremendous recent luck with white florals I need to revisit a few more vials, I really think I'll be singing more praises of florals soon. The Raven (Listed Notes: Tea leaf, plum wine, silver mirror, library dust, dried tobacco, black feather) In the vial: DUST, METAL and seductive PLUM WINE. Applied: Mmm... that plum note is sublime and I'm so grateful it amplifies on me with the distinct metal note. As this oil dries more atmospheric elements are released as the the dust and tea leaves come more forward to mix with the plum. I also smell something akin to rosewood but I don't see it listed. This is another vial that tells a story and I love that it smells oily blackish-purple like the iridescent sheen on a raven. I'll be definitely wearing this creation in fall as I don all of my Poe themed accessories. Spirits of the Dead (Listed Notes: Lapsang souchong, guaiac wood, saffron, black birch, Italian bergamot, styrax, vanilla pod) In the vial: I want to say TOBACCO or OUD with a sweet VANILLA. Applied: Oh this fragrance is strangely captivating and one I can't put down. I think I just found the epitome of a struggle against light and darkness with notes. I love how Spirits of the Dead morphs with distinct flickers of light (from the bergamot and romantic vanilla) that battles against being swallowed completely by something eerie, deep and smokey. An ideal early winter selection and another excellent disturbing and poetic oil that is sure to unnerve and intrigue company. Ulalume (Listed Notes: Moonflower, toasted almond, tonka bean, sweet fennel, narcissus, mourning veils) In the vial: ALMOND, FENNEL and OPIUM. For those that missed out on Lucy Westenra I think you would love this. Applied: Confession time- I love sweet almond in baking (I could sniff an open bottle all day long) and Ulalume holds one eerily sweet almond note that immediately takes my mind away to what cyanide may have smelled like on someone's breath. Depending on company I could see myself wearing this with a sinister little smile as I pull at my pearl necklace and let it drop back, it's a commanding fragrance that I'm sure will get some attention and garner some side looks. I oddly like it and will be wearing this oil in the colder months and while attending different events for my favourite time of the year. Holiday 2018 Collection Inside A Snowflake (Like the One on Your Sleeve) I Made My Family Disappear... Such A Misfit You Serious, Clark? (**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- please don't hesitate to try a sample of something if it interests you). **Inside A Snowflake (Like the One on Your Sleeve) (Listed Notes: Snow flurries, holiday spices, evergreen forests, mistletoe, fuzzy green musk) -Inspired by the film: How The Grinch Stole Christmas *Side note: The vial is GREEN! What a delightful added touch In the vial: A mystery FRUIT, subtle SPICE, PINE NEEDLES and BUBBLEGUM? Applied: "What is that note?" That is exactly I've been saying for the past several months when I tried wearing this fragrance and I think I finally figured out what I'm smelling, it's TEABERRY. This smells like a light version of teaberry gum when first applied then dries down to a waxy spice pine combination. I'm really not sure I like it to be honest, it's too "safe" and I can only think of seeing someone wearing an itchy looking holiday sweater at an office Christmas party. You know that person wearing it wants to go wild but is held back because of those attending. For a Grinch inspired scent I was hoping for mean or mischievous notes to hit my nose, this is more after the Grinch grew a heart and became a polite member of society...whompwhomp... wait why do I smell fuzzy pickle relish? Okay that is different. This oil may work better in my hair, I'll need to try that or this could work in the bathtub. I Made My Family Disappear... (Listed Notes: French toast, dark coffee, flannel pajamas, marshmallow, frost, shattered ornaments, I hope we didn’t forget anything...) -Inspired by the film: Home Alone In the vial: [makes embarrassing noises while almost sticking the wand up my nose because how amazing it smells] Mmm...Oh wow that is realistic FRENCH TOAST with COFFEE and a hint of PINE Applied: [looks down at arm] WHY DO YOU HATE ME?! Once again my chemistry has betrayed me after giving me hope this fragrance would be magic on me and after a brief amping it is completely gone after 10 minutes. Well for that short time it was incredible and it smelled like buttery french toast and fresh brewed coffee with a nifty realistic fluffy flannel note and marshmallow. If I stick my nose right to my skin I can smell a faint pine note and maybe marshmallow with a drop of coffee but it's barely there. I think I need to order that scent locket soon or mix this in my hair mist spray. This is basically the adult equivalent of getting coal in my stocking instead of a treat. I'm pretty sad right now. **Such A Misfit (Listed Notes: Frosted sugar cookies, marshmallow fluff, vanilla bean, fresh candy canes, creamy white cocoa, a twinkling red nose) -Inspired by the film: Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer In the vial: PEPPERMINT and VANILLA with COCOA Applied: Ack, chalky chocolate! I'm just not having luck with this collection sadly as I amp chalky smelling chocolate and a waxy vanilla then it disappears in 5 minutes. Perhaps these vials need a longer rest and will be better next winter. Or maybe winter/Christmas scents are just not for me. You Serious, Clark? (Listed Notes: Lukewarm spiked cider, leftover pie filling, frosty window panes, fresh firewood, family arguments) -Inspired by the film: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation In the vial: APPLE CIDER and PINE Applied: Saved the best for last as I get a frosty pane of glass on the opening of this oil (how does Claire do that?!) and wafts of realistic buttery flaky pie crust that lasts about 4 hours. 8 hours and I can still smell wisps of apple spice and soft pine. I really like You Serious, Clark? and could see myself purchasing the detangler or hair serum in this comforting fragrance as the pine is more dominant in my hair and on my scarf rather than on my skin. I would definitely recommend this oil to anyone nervous about strong apple scents, this one is lovely and low key. Sixteen92 Willow WaxCraft While other candle melt shops may pour a single note of cotton candy into their products, stick a spooky sounding name on a fancy label and then ship it out weeks later. Willow WaxCraft dares to go outside of the box and offer blended notes of barn wood, murky water, death lilies, champagne, aged tobacco etc. which all pay creative homage to different themes that are then shipped out insanely fast, presented beautifully AND smell as promised! Imagine that! That's all why I return to this wonderful shop and this time the Falloween collection needed to come home to me. As always the packaging was beyond lovely (the exotic candy and free sample greatly appreciated) and my favourites out of the bunch were Unmask!, Ulalume's Tomb *see review here, and 7 Days Thank you Samantha for thinking and going outside the box. Unmask! (Described as: "A polished roque mallet, aged wood and vanilla, hearth embers, pine, evergreen topiary animals, rich merlot, and sparkling champagne. Great party, isn’t it?!") *Now available in the General Catalogue Willow WaxCraft promised a scene from an iconic horror novel and they delivered with Unmask! Walking into my bedroom is like entering a historic New Year's Eve party set in the mountains and I can detect every note. The fresh cut boughs of an evergreen greet me first followed by a wisp of smoke and bubbly champagne. The more I stand in the doorway I expect to hear music from Glenn Miller fill the air or to find a pile of confetti at my feet, the sweet wine and wood notes slowly appear next pulling me into another world and the vanilla and embers are a nice departing combination. Unmask! definitely creates an atmosphere I don't want to leave and I'm so happy it has joined the general catalogue. It's my personal favourite from this enchanting shop. 7 Days (Described as: "A dusty barn, decaying wood and hay, an ancient stone well, dark water, burning leaves, and videotape. She never sleeps.") *Limited Seasonal Edition This shop truely excels at going completely outside the box with their listed notes and 7 Days is one melt you just have to experience to get the full effect. For me, each time I open my bedroom door I'm taken back to my grandmother's ancient barn and staring into inky darkness. That dusty barn description is dead on as well as the stone well and hay. I don't get any smoke, leaves or that distinct odd scent of used video tapes I somehow remember but if you want a creepy abandoned barn with stone walls and a prickling sense of something dark in the water, get 7 Days and be prepared for a scent journey. Victorian Smoking Room (Described as: "Where the menfolk retreat into a cloud of smoke and congratulate themselves on being masters of the universe…dark wood panels, tall shelves of worldly literature, opulent leather armchairs, and velvet, velvet everywhere. Black pepper, patchouli, vetiver, sweet tobacco and pipe smoke with hints of cherry and vanilla, rich bourbon, and deep brown sugar.") *Available in the General Catalogue How could I resist a clever hidden little reference to one of my favorite movies in the description but alas Victorian Smoking Room gives me a bad headache and I can't be in a room more than a few minutes at a time when it is melting. I was hoping for more tobacco and either the bourbon or the heavy leather accord just doesn't make my heart go on (sorry, sorry couldn't resist), a rare miss with this fabulous shop. Oh well, can't win them all. Pumpkin Latte (Described as: "It’s officially the season of that omnipresent autumnal coffee drink- sweet pumpkin, rich coffee, fall spices (cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and clove), all topped with mounds of whipped cream and drizzled with caramel. Cozy up.") *a free sample that appeared in my order, thank you so much Willow WaxCraft! *Limited Seasonal Edition Even though I can't drink heavily caffeinated beverages I still enjoy smelling them and Pumpkin Latte is true to life with a spicy creamy combination that fills an entire room and upstairs with one delicious pumpkin aroma. The coffee note is dark as promised but lightened with the whipped cream and spices that call for just one more sniff before leaving for the night. It almost reminds me of Liber Arcana without the leather note. A true fall staple that I need to get a full clamshell of eventually. As soon, as I saw the winter collection I had to try several and the sampler was the perfect option for that desire. My package arrived lightning fast and was presented in such a pretty fashion (I love the new willow vine ribbon choice). Upon opening the carefully packed parcel, I could immediately smell something divine waiting and I couldn't decide if that was exactly Whoopie, a Zeppelin! or The Christmas Tree Emporium of the Midwest (turns out it was a heavenly mashup of both). Each scent shot was nicely sized and the stand out favourites were The Long Night, The Christmas Tree Emporium of the Midwest and Breathe Before You Leave. The Long Night (Described as: "A warm light in the darkness of Winter Solstice: Balsam fir, sacred frankincense and myrrh, beeswax candles, sweet oud, blood orange, clove, cinnamon leaf, and vanilla") *Available in the General Catalogue As the snow swirled and blew this past winter, I found The Long Night was exactly what I needed to melt the frosty winter blues that always arrives with the howling winds and pelting ice. Right away, the realistic pine pulls me away from the outside world and when the familiar frankincense, myrrh with spicy bright orange appears it all transforms my bedroom into a much needed sanctuary and just makes my senses glow with memories of once happy holidays and cherished visions. I can't help but smile as this candle melt holds a very special fragrance combination for me. I'm so thankful it can be found in the general catalogue listing now; it's so lovely and a comforting treasure (I wish there was a perfume oil that could match these notes; it's perfect in my book). Whoopie, a Zeppelin! (Described as: "Plunge into the cornucopia! The scent of sugarplums, tart pomegranate, cinnamon glazed doughnuts, gingerbread, a swig of a buttered hot toddy, and unbridled avarice".) *Limited Seasonal Edition This was one of the first fragrances to catch my attention as the fruit notes are dominant with a tangy sweetness that fills a whole upstairs and lingers in the air after the wax warmer is turned off for the night. It is indeed the smell of holiday delights with a swig of something extra to warm you up and if you love lightly spiced plum or pomegranate join me in keeping an eye out for this creation's hopeful return next winter. The Christmas Tree Emporium of the Midwest (Described as: "Take a trip to the lot and find that one glorious tree (not one where all the needles fall off). A variety of evergreens, mistletoe, hot cocoa, roasted chestnuts, and a whisper of gasoline and motor oil.) *Limited Seasonal Edition I realize not every winter creation from this release could make it to the general catalogue but I really wish The Christmas Tree Emporium of the Midwest could have made the cut because my bedroom is delicious realistic smelling cocoa, evergreens and yes even carries a spot of motor oil that hangs in the air. It's simply marvellous! Overall, a brilliant mixture that captures an iconic scene from my favorite Christmas movie and reminds me of driving around looking at twinkling lights and themed displays so long ago. A definite repurchase for me and one to recommend. Lost on the Moor (Described as: "The haunting, chilling scent of the wild Yorkshire moor-heather, lavender, moss, chamomile, ozone, juniper and elderflower.") *Available in the General Catalogue Please allow me to interrupt this humble review with my favourite quote from this classic (or pretty much from any work I ever picked up): "Catherine Earnshaw, may you not rest as long as I am living; you said I killed you—haunt me, then! The murdered do haunt their murderers, I believe. I know that ghosts have wandered on earth. Be with me always—take any form—drive me mad!" [Sigh] Now that's a book and even though Lost on the Moor is described as haunting and chilling for me this was the fragrance I melted when I was desperately seeking spring this past winter. Saying that, I will admit this melt was more fresh and bright (even a touch soapy) than I was desiring but the more time I spent in its company, the more I oddly liked it and was drawn to it. In the end, Lost on the Moor definitely brings to mind warm spring sunshine on a green landscape where one can clear their mind and be half-savage and hardy, and free again. I do believe I need a clamshell pack of this. Breathe Before You Leave (Described as: "I was given this mantra to repeat to myself during a particularly stressful time in my life. So often we rush out in the morning without taking a moment to compose ourselves, and it sets a frazzled tone for the entire day. He told me, “slow down, and breathe before you leave.” Juicy pear combined with bright and zesty yuzu, lemon verbena, ginseng, and cleansing sage, grounded with hibiscus tea. Breathe deep.") *a free sample nestled among my scent shots and exotic candy, thank you Willow WaxCraft, you know how to spoil us! *Available in the General Catalogue This sparkly square appeared in my order and it is one uplifting tart citrus blend that wakes my senses and pulls my nose toward my upstairs (it has an impressive throw when I open the door). I can clearly smell the lemon verbena, ginseng and bright fruits (it is almost an effervescent scent but with a hint of spice) even where I sit typing and just like Lost on the Moor it reminds me of warm spring sunshine. Perfect for this time of the year when nature can't decide if it's 60 degrees or 14 degrees with dangerous ice and everything is brown or gray. I need to order a full clamshell as I want Breathe Before You Leave (so aptly named) throughout my home (or in my car) the entire year round. Willow WaxCraft Alkemia Perfumes Full Bottles: Yule Alchemy 2018 Pear Alchemy Samples: Gothique Forest Patchouli Kāmavaśya Misdeeds After Midnight NSFW Oudh Arboreal Promises by Candlelight Ambre Extrait Madam X Green Carnation Combined Thoughts: These vials and bottles have been peacefully aging and waiting for the day to be shared. Some are from limited collections, have been discontinued or are on sale now. One Note at a Time: Yule Alchemy 2018 (Listed Notes: Boozy fruitcake, crushed pine needles, biscotti, and spiced amber) *a special seasonal treat I found nestled among my one order, thank you Alkemia, you are the best! In the bottle: CHRISTMAS TABLE DESSERTS and strewn PINE NEEDLES Applied: The rich cake with biscotti notes are the first to get my full attention then a classic calming pine comes forward to captivate my senses and take me away to happier times. It's a gourmand with a trace of earthiness to treasure. As Yule Alchemy 2018 dries down the spiced amber is the dominant note that stays with me for hours and eventually turns to lovely powder with a hint of fruit-laced spice to keep things interesting. I need to wear this oil more often, this is exactly how you celebrate the season. Pear Alchemy (Listed Notes: Spiced Bartlett pears, white amber, green cardamon, and ?) *a surprise bottle with one order, thank you so much Alkemia! In the bottle: Golden PEARS drizzled with CARAMEL and AMBER. It's warm and completely enticing. I could sniff the bottle all day and night. Applied: I want to say this smells like bubbly pear champagne sprinkled with spice but I don't think that exists, it is a whole new kind of exquisite and fancy smelling but alas this oil only lasts so long on my skin (2 to 3 hours tops) which is very rare for me when it comes to Alkemia. I've had better luck brushing Pear Alchemy into my hair as it surrounds me with the most gorgeous halo of regal pear and spiced creamy amber that lasts until the next morning. Gothique (Listed Notes: Somalian frankincense, styrax benzoin, Arabian myrrh, cassia, spikenard, canella, Liquidambar orientalis, labdanum, Atlas cedar, and vetiver) In the vial: SWEET MYRRH, FRANKINCENSE and something akin to GINGER SMOKE, it reminds me of a combination of the opening of Darkness Shining in Brightness and Falling Stars on Winter Solstice. Applied: sigh...my kingdom for a dark woody smoky frankincense in perfume or candle melt form. This was the vial I was anticipating from the Yule release and sadly Gothique isn't THE ONE for me but it is still very close in some ways and exceedingly lovely all the same. I believe the myrrh is what is pulling as sparkly golden or even effervescent on my skin and I'm getting faint traces of smoke from a swinging metal thurible but it's not the scent of nights before and after Holy Supper I remember (I hope it is exactly that for someone else though). My search continues. In regards to this vial, I still plan to keep it as Gothique reminds me quite of bit of Darkness Shining in Brightness which is one of my favourite perfumes and since that particular creation is currently marked to be discontinued Gothique may stand in with its recognizable inspiration and calming resiny sweetness. Forest Patchouli (Listed Notes: Siberian pine, balsam fir, mistletoe, iron distilled patchouli and fire cured spices) In the vial: Soft FIR branches, ORANGE and EARTH. It smells like an expensive living rustic Christmas wreath. Applied: On opening a distinct orange note entwines with a freshly cut pine bough and I'm one happy lady walking around with an aura of citrus and camphorous forest. The spice eventually peeks out along with a familiar metal encrusted dirt accord I recognize from the general catalogue then oddly enough this dries down to what I can only call vintage Old Spice with a drop of citrus. Completely unexpected and I would dearly love to smell this fragrance on a man's collar...still one happy lady but now looking for a fella to pou...I mean dab this on, hehe. I'll be saving this for a special day along with: Salem, Lycanthrope, Warm Leatherette, Foxcroft, Stag Moon and Three Treasures. Kāmavaśya (Private Reserve) (Listed Notes: Leather infused dark amber, botanical pheromones, cumin, nutmeg, ambergris, tobacco, vanilla musk, grains of paradise, and civette (cruelty-free civet)). In the vial: *takes a moment* I do believe we have another fragrance to join the "someday collection". Ahem, take me away now! Applied: In 2017 Alkemia unveiled Darkness Shining in Brightness which for me conjured a story of a distinguished Edwardian tea that ended behind closed boudoir doors, now in 2018 I am taken outside space and time with a seductive leather and mysterious caramel concoction that makes me huff my arm and tempts me to go put on the pink and black garter I received in my Bordello Box from Strange Fire & Fumery. Whew! This is unlike anything in my collection and it sort of scares me how much I like it to be honest, haha! It's feral, dirty, primal and not meant for innocent play. I would never wear Kāmavaśya in the workplace setting but this certainly is a welcome confidence boost. Leave it to Alkemia to release something so untamed and adventurous during the holidays (I can't wait to see what Sharra has in store for 2019). Misdeeds After Midnight (Listed Notes: Coffee liqueur, white rum, creme de bergamot, Black Forest raspberries, salted caramel, Arabian rosewater, vetiver root, vanilla musk and golden amber) In the vial: COFFEE LIQUEUR and SALTED FRUIT, here's another fragrance I don't have anything similar to in my collection. Applied: This yule collection features quite a few curious pairings with caramel and Misdeeds After Midnight continues that theme with a luscious salted caramel note swirled under smooth coffee liqueur, rosewater and tart raspberries (I amp caramel so it's the most prominent note as the oil dries); it smells good enough to drink. It's absolutely dreamy but almost a little too much for me as a tiny dab is all I need of this oil. Misdeeds After Midnight is definitely a delicious and cosy scent potion that keeps my nose down to my arm (and dangerously close to Kāmavaśya) which sweeps me away to a sophisticated cocktail bar long after hours and in front of a lone violinist playing his tortured soul out to an empty room (are there violins at a cocktail bar? I've never been to one but that's what I would imagine there to be, so let's go with it). A definite favourite out of this release and a keeper. NSFW (Described as: "A libidinous yet delicate vintage style musk blend for all genders. Suggestively alluring with a flirtatious wink of naughty".) In the vial: I want to say fluffy SOAP BUBBLES but it's so much more than that. It smells fresh and clean but nothing like laundry. Applied: I never knew I could fall for a crisp "musk" that has intriguing nuances of creamy fresh powder and a hint of underlying spice but I have! Atleast, I think this is musk I'm smelling as I am still training my nose (it sort of smells warm). In any case, true to its description NSFW is also undoubtedly delicate, unobtrusive but somehow magnetic (very similar to Luminae and Enigma in ways but not sweet nor carries that nifty "flickering" candlelit butter effect and impression on my skin like in Luminae but as it dries down it does have a wisp of Enigma's cedar note) and I think I just turned to another chapter for my collection and fragrance preference (especially for the workplace). NSFW is quite impressive overall. Oudh Arboreal (Private Reserve) (Listed Notes: Piñon and Siberian pine needles, heartwood, black oudh, bois de rose, anthoxanthum, smoked orange peel, dark ambergris, Andalusian rock rose, agarwood, cardamon, tolu balsam, tonka and 10 year aged black patchouli.) In the vial: AGARWOOD and MINT. It's not for the meek. Applied: I know this perfume was a runaway smash on ETSY but this vial has not been kind to my head and of course, it lasts almost 2 days on my skin, so there's that. It has a distinct high-end vintage quality that I could see appealing to others but unfortunately, it's not for me although I really wish it would be. I honestly can't identify a single note which proves I'm not ready for this level of master perfumery and will never be welcome in other groups on the web or in certain shops. Perhaps it just needs a long rest and I will brave Oudh Arboreal again next winter. Promises by Candlelight (Listed Notes: Amaretto liqueur, Madagascar vanilla beans, yuzu, quince, Monoi Tiare and white amber) In the vial: A fancy ALMOND DESSERT with tropical FLORAL accents. Think the night island version of The Great British Bake Off. Applied: Mmm...Golden caramel again and it's paired with almond, amber, vanilla and dainty flowers this round. As it dries down the amber appears at the forefront of the other notes and something buttery as well. Unfortunately, Promises by Candlelight doesn't last past a few hours on me but I still love this vial. I also adore the name (I know silly but it's true) and found this is one fantastic oil to wear before going to bed. Sweet decadent pleasant dreams await. Ambre Extrait *100% Natural Perfume Oil (Listed Notes: North African Rock Rose, Cambodian Agarwood, Prussian Amber resin, Madagascar Vanilla, Nepalese Spikenard, Somalian Opopanax, Tunisian Liquidambar, Himalayan Cedar, and Honduran Styrax) In the vial: POLISHED CHURCH PEWS, my great uncle's WOOD SHOP, INTRICATE WOOD SCULPTURES at the autumn festival, unexplored ATTIC/CRAWL spaces and EUROPEAN CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS. It's a beautiful ode to all the greatest warm comforting wood scents I have ever experienced. Applied: This oil is definitely a crown jewel find and I would love to own a bottle. On me, there is a sweetness to the wood accords and something akin to aged paper with citrus and butter that catches my full attention and hours later I smell a romantic vanilla with an earthy undertone. For some reason, I want to wear this perfume for Easter. Ambre Extrait would be fascinating to layer with perhaps Smoke & Mirrors or my single note of orange blossom I acquired from LittleBits. This is without a doubt a treasured vial and I will be saving it for special occasions and report back if I discover any nifty combinations. Madam X (Listed Notes: Bergamot, mandarin, dark violet, Italian iris, black orchid, Japanese incense, orris root, sueded musk, white sandalwood, Tahitian vanilla, and pale patchouli) In the vial: VIOLETS and TEA? That must be BERGAMOT I'm detecting. Lovely as its inspiration. Applied: Of course the violets hold sway over all (curse you, skin chemistry) and I can't really identify any other scent, there may be the mandarin and bergamot trying valiantly to come forward if I take my time to concentrate but it's a strong floral amping at the moment. Surprisingly Madam X is not giving me a headache or is an example of how sharp violets can be (shudders when thinks about Hydromancy), no this is soft, pretty and inviting. I also love that Madam X is vintage in a certain way and I'll be wearing this perfume to special historical events. This will go into my Gilded Age or Old New York part of my collection, I could see Consuelo Vanderbilt Balsan or my old friend Lily Bart wearing this perfume. Green Carnation (Listed Notes: Carnations, dianthus, absinthe, green patchouli, and bay rum) In the vial: ABSINTHE, RUM and something resembling HAY in summer? Maybe it is just me being homesick but this smells like a horse barn in the best possible way. Applied: The horse barn with sweet fresh hay quality of this oil lingers for a few minutes then Green Carnation morphs to velvety plush carnations and anise or fennel from the absinthe. The green fairy is strong in the Green Carnation and it unexpectedly satisfies my craving for that distinct note. An hour in and the rum is tangling with the patchouli and spicy dianthus, here is another for my collection as Green Carnation is a clear keeper and I'm going to leave a reminder for myself to pick this fragrance up for next St. Patrick's Day to wear. Ultimately, I can easily see why this perfume is so popular, it's a unique unisex blend with interesting florals aspects and a kiss of the green fairy. Alkemia Perfumes 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 For the past several months I have been carefully hoarding away an assortment of unique home fragrances to properly lift or match any mood I may have during the year and what an exciting venture it has turned out to be. I stumbled upon quite a few indie shops that had creative takes on atmospherics, unbelievable true to life gourmands and ones that charmed me overall with their aesthetics and presentation. These were the first finds along my journey into the candle melt realm and the beginning of a whole new kind of collection for my home and imagination. Strange Fire & Fumery Existential Dread- (description on site: "You wouldn't believe me if I told you.") *Available in the General Catalogue I'll admit it, I purchased Existential Dread solely based on the cryptic description and I couldn't be more pleased with the unique aroma that greets me that smells of dead flowers with wilted stems and something warm or slightly resembling new spring grass (perhaps heliotrope?). It's oddly comforting and perfectly natural smelling (this is a must if anyone has been looking for an "everything returns to/from the earth" type of fragrance). The throw is wonderful and Existential Dread makes me want to curl up with a good dark mystery novel every time I'm in its presence. This wasn't the first complex fragrant item I have had the pleasure to have in my home from this scentcrafter as I fell hard for the Opium incense and Ether candle I received in my Ave Victoria Box and I've been consistently amazed by this scent artist's way with florals. I can't wait to for the Victorian Brothel-Valentine's Day box I ordered to arrive at my doorstep in the coming weeks (bring me all the rosemary, orange blossom, french vanilla, rosewood and dreamy lavender creations). As for Existential Dread, I would repurchase this melt and also try it in the perfume form. Rook- (Wet leaves, musky black feathers, slow vetiver, a stiff branch, the slow death-creep of Autumn, a fussy Underworld messenger.) *Available in the General Catalogue With a description like that, I had visions of a square of wax containing the darkly captivating aromas that I have found in Welcome to Burkittsville and I Be The Witch of the Wood from Sixteen92 but alas this black-purple melt is more fresh in nature and I can only describe Rook as "witchy laundry" as I get nice smelling clothes tumbling in a dryer but the vetiver does pull the mystery and gloom into the scene which I love but it's not enough. Overall pleasant, an interesting atmospheric you will never find for sale in a commercial setting and completely unexpected but not for me sadly. I think Rook would be a fantastic first candle melt option for someone who loves clean and refreshing scents. Oh well, my search begins again for a realistic creepy forest blend in square form. Willow WaxCraft Liber Arcana- (Leather, Pumpkin, Herbs, Cauldron Smoke) *Available in the General Catalogue My love of bargains and the thought of my home smelling like pumpkin, herbs and cauldron smoke landed this order in my basket and into my warmer less than a week as this shop has lightning-fast shipping. The packaging is just darling to behold as I secretly adore anything to do with swans so this storefront had me from the stamping of the emblem on the envelope then continued to spoil me with the exotic candy tucked in my order and finally took me away to a fancy European styled coffee shop in fall with Liber Arcana. The leather is the most dominant note but the other anticipated accords are there adding to the overall effect but I do wish the pumpkin and smoke were more forward. Not sure I will repurchase this particular melt but that's okay as this shop has a vast catalogue to explore (and I did just that, reviews coming soon). Sleepy Hollow Day- (Petrichor, moss and vines, distant woodsmoke, wet wood, and a damp persistent drizzle) *Available in the General Catalogue -was a free mini tart sample (Thank you Willow WaxCraft!) Hm I'm beginning to think that finding a true to life smelling rainstorm in a candle melt may become a white whale for me as Sleepy Hollow Day is registering as soap just like Rook. Perhaps the general public doesn't want their homes to smell like mud, decaying leaves and damp roots from an ancient fog draped Hollow but this lady sure does and I don't give up easily so I'm fully prepared to track down that elusive distinct aroma that resurrects a beloved scent memory for me in any candle/stick of incense/or melt out there. Sleepy Hollow Day and Rook are more pleasant conceptual or artistic renderings (pretty paintings of a scene) which may be exactly what someone else may desire for their own idea of relaxation. Oh well, onward we go. Yule Log- (Woodsmoke and marshmallow, hot buttered rum, sweet maple toddy, and creamy spiced eggnog) *LIMITED EDITION/DISCONTINUED Oh yum! I'm so grateful the owner sent this in my mystery pack. It's divine in every way and makes my bedroom smell like a coffeehouse/bakery at Christmas time. The smoke and sweet marshmallow are undernotes to the buttered rum and spices and this was my second favorite melt in the bag. Sadly, I believe this blend has been discontinued as I looked for it over the holidays and it did not return in any listing- so here's one cup of aromatic wax I'll be saving to use. Harvest Hayride- (Leaves, crisp apple cider, pumpkin, and salty-sweet kettle corn) *LIMITED EDITION This cornflower blue cut of wax is an autumn mosaic of delicious apple cider (with just the right amount of spice), something resembling hay and buttery seasonal treats that surround me in a perfect fall atmosphere I sorely missed last year. Harvest Hayride is so relaxing and I was crushed to learn this was another limited edition scent mashup I now need to carefully hoard away. I honestly wish I tried this shop earlier and grabbed larger sized options of 3 out of the 4 cups (or shots as they are referred to at Willow WaxCraft) I received in my first order. Anarchy’s Child- (Nougat-y trick or treat candy, smashed pumpkins, and fall leaves) *LIMITED SEASONAL EDITION This blend just wasn't for me but it definitely creates a story with the scents of overly sweet candy and a gust of crunchy fall leaves. It's sweet mischief and misrule on All Hallows' Eve. I'm not sure why I get hints of leather when this blend turns to a burgundy sparkly liquid but it can give me a headache. Anarchy's Child and Ulalume’s Tomb (and I think Harvest Hayride) are the only 2 (or 3) resurrected fragrances and can be seen in the Halloween collection. Ulalume’s Tomb- (Vanilla, black tea, white pepper, cold stone, dust, and lily) *LIMITED SEASONAL EDITION This aromatic item was my choice pick out of the mystery pack and I immediately ordered another after falling under this blend's spell for the first time. If anyone out there is a Poe devotee Willow WaxCraft presented one amazing ode to such a beautiful tragic poem (complete with a silver shaped star on top of the pale white wax) with Ulalume's Tomb. It carries a lovely melancholic element and served as the ideal blend to read certain gothic novels by (most notably mirroring the crypt scenes between Lucy Westenra and Arthur Holmwood in Dracula and the sense of haunting loss and abandonment in The Lost History of Dreams perfectly). In sense of notes, the pepper lends to the idea of grit you could imagine coming from the floors of a forgotten tomb and yes there is dustiness on wilted sweetly decaying lilies (I am an official hunter of lily perfumes and candles now). There is also a striking vanilla accord that swirls around creating the impression of cold moonlight. Quite impressive overall and I need to order a larger size clamshell next fall. Bonjour Wax Co. Autumn In Paris- (Spiced Pumpkin Souffle & warmed toasted Baguettes) *LIMITED SEASONAL RELEASE This blend is just incredible and gladdens my spirit while making me so hungry whenever I melt it. It's extremely realistic smelling (BEST baked bread note I have found yet in perfume or candle form) and the cut up tart pieces throws a delectable aroma from my bedroom to the downstairs. The scent doesn't last as long as the other melts I have tested though which is disheartening but while it lasts, Autumn in Paris is easily one of my top 3 favorites from all the candle shops I've visited. I just wish it lasted longer (still plan to get a wax "loaf" of Autumn in Paris next fall and in the meantime sneaking sniffs of the uncapped sparkly contents). Familiar Spirit- (Pear, Pink Pepper, Orange Blossom, Coffee, Sweet Licorice, Resinous Cedarwood and Cashmere Wood) *LIMITED EDITION Holy cats this one packs a punch! There is nothing subtle or tame about Familiar Spirit and I want to love it but honestly, it's not for me. In the cup, it's a stunning collage of woods, sweet floral and pepper (I would love to find that combination in a perfume oil) but when it's unleashed in the melter the cashmere and cedar woods wreck havoc on my head and it smells extremely masculine in nature. This is incredible scent artistry displayed that creates a story and matches the name but sorry no, I don't care for the melted fragrance at all and sadly Familiar Spirit will be leaving my house never to return. I guess I need to watch out for those notes in any future order especially the base ones. Foolish Mortals- (Hazelnut Coffee, Marshmallow Fireside and French Baguettes) *LIMITED EDITION Bonjour Wax Co. excels at bread and marshmallow notes and Foolish Mortals is another choice pick I would repurchase. The marshmallow is the strongest scent I notice and the coffee along with the realistic bread note are more of underlying accords to the whole scent confection. It's sweet, decadent and makes me smile plus makes me hungry for a heavy breakfast. The throw and scent last a bit longer than Autumn in Paris and Fluffernutter. Now I need a hazelnut coffee perfume with marshmallow and bread Mmmm! Fluffernutter- (Creamy Peanut Butter & Marshmallow Fluff on Toasted Bread) *LIMITED SEASONAL EDITION As I get older I want to surround myself in special kinds of comforts and nostalgia and that is especially true for scents in my home. Fluffernutter matches all the above desires and I have found a real gem stumbling upon this wax company and melt. Who knew it was possible to scent my sanctuary away from the mad world in the unmistakable aroma of toasted peanut butter and marshmallow sandwiches! Another future repurchase item and one I love to sneak sniffs of. |
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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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