*Reviews composed in December 2020 I was over the moon when the owner of PULP Fragrance asked me if I would be interested in reviewing their debut collections and this little house of fragrance shot me to the stars when I found a holy grail perfume featuring a note I never thought I would be able to wear and enjoy, but I'm jumping ahead of myself. Here were my full thoughts on PULP Fragrance, where scent does indeed tell a story. For longevity, everything lasted far beyond it took me to eat the delicious Canadian sourced treats that were included (haha), but it all seriousness the oils stayed noticeable between 4 hours (Autumn Morning and Haunted Hills) to over 12+ hours (Ensnare and Portrait of Josette). Presentation: Speaks for itself. A sleek and creative nod to late mid-century fiction with specific themes translated over perfectly with the label designs, matching fonts and addition of a gorgeous themed bookmark. They nailed this particular aesthetic. One Note At A Time: Portrait of Josette (Ethereal white amber, dry wood of a long-abandoned seaside house, a hint of orris, and the lingering memory of jasmine perfume.) This was my inaugural dip into this house of fragrance and I was taken on quite the scent journey as Portrait of Josette opens on the skin with a nifty "flickering" effect of the orris, salt and dry wood and white floral that first disappears faintly then reappears with a strikingly beautiful quality that lasts the entire night and lingers into the morning hours. It brings to mind an expensive European perfume worn by the bygone elite and forlorn ghosts of lost eras of elegance staring out in the depths of the rolling sea. Brava, is all I can say! Autumn Morning (Warm mug of hot chocolate, bowl of slightly spiced oatmeal, bouquet of carnations, and a cosy blanket on your lap. (Cinnamon & clove in trace amounts only.) The longer this oil rested the better it became as today it's a lovely spiced creamy froth from a cup of hot chocolate surrounded by scattered carnation petals and hints of crystallized maple syrup. It paints a cozy scene and as the hours tick by the tactile aroma of a fleece blanket appears along with strength of the velvety touch of the carnation petals and slightly toasted rolled oats. The soft chocolate note is the first to fade within minutes but the sweet spice blend of the cinnamon and carnation anchors my nose to my wrists as I have a serious craving for cinnamon blends this season like never before making Autumn Morning a keeper and one to recommend. Embrace (A kindly kitchen witch who invites you in from the cold, feeds you pumpkin shortbread with butter, apricot preserves, and brown sugar & then sends you safely on your way. (Non-vegan butter CO2 & contains cinnamon.) One dab and I want to stay in the kindly witch's house and learn all about her locked away recipes as Embrace is a country cupboard of delights. I smell apricot preserves with a hint of orange marmalade, spiced maple syrup, buttered cookies and even the wood from a cupboard's shelf. I don't get pumpkin it's more of the dulcet apricot with hidden maple syrup and spice amplifying on me with a dry down of realistic brown sugar and butter. I have come to adore the scent of apricots and cinnamon in my hair so I will be using Embrace in my unscented argan oil and escaping to a quaint warm country house when the winds howl this upcoming winter. Haunted Hills (Juicy red apples, creamy caramel, wicked dark musk, black pepper, vetiver, and a sprinkle of baking spices. (Contains cinnamon & clove.) Just like Autumn Morning, Haunted Hills benefitted with a little patience as the strange grape note (I recall from childhood) that hit my nose the first week I received my parcel is all but gone and I smell the skin of a red mackintosh apple and the buttery caramel and woody warm undernotes of vetiver and black pepper. It's an interesting blend (I especially love the addition of the black pepper) but sadly not one of my favourites. Darkly complex but somehow not for my skin. I think I would love this in a hair product though and will be experimenting in the coming months. Women in Dresses Running From Houses (Gooey marshmallows over a roaring bonfire, heliotrope, aged patchouli, and a whisper of anise.) One of the greatest dubbed perfumes in the indie realm and my chemistry just doesn't want to play nice. My favourite parts of Women in Dresses Running From Houses are the marshmallowy heliotrope, the seductive anise and the dry down of realistic dug up dirt and the underneath of wet autumnal grass attached but alas it takes a bit to get to those elements as my chemistry latches onto the unpleasant opening that is hard to explain. I read so many favourable reviews on Women in Dresses Running From Houses but in the end, I must admit to myself, this one is not for me. Oh, bother. **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). Ensnare (Embrace's darker sister at the other end of the woods, who lures you in with the promise of maple sugar sweets then latches the door behind you. Rich dark oud, labdanum, and a line of salt at the door.) Ensnare, teach me your ways! I smell like smokey peppered maple sugar and salted butterscotch. Now, this is marvellous and I love the resins that come out to play on the dry down with the amplifying maple sugar and butterscotch. There is certainly something naughty in this with a bit of leather and an almost acidic-balsamic entwined pine which is giving all the aforementioned sweet notes something wickedly grounding and unique. Good thing I have fallen under *Ensnare'*s spell because she lasts a good 12+ hours and I'm perfectly okay with that. South Star (Sweet creamy peach, vanilla beans, liatrix, & a woody-ambrette accord, all topped off with a hint of cinnamon. (Contains cinnamon.) This one morphs a hundred different with the peach from fresh juice dribbled into vanilla batter to those peach saver candies I remember from the 90s that were extremely limited edition around Easter-tide and then back to soft somehow adult smelling dessert, but it all never churns up any hint of cat urine which my skin usually changes peach blends into. South Star is stunning and I adore the woody-spicy warmth of the cinnamon and ambrette. I believe I have finally found my perfect peach perfume and I can't wait to layer this over a dab of Alkemia's C24 and wait coyly for the results while all dolled up, hehe. Mark my words, PULP Fragrance is a house to watch! Bewitching Amber (A darker take on classic amber with labdanum, an overdose of non-gourmand vanilla, woody vetiver, pine bark, cardamom and sandalwood musk.) One of the things this shop of olfactory delights excels at is vintage-esque blends with slightly altered updates that pleases so many in a crowd and Bewitching Amber is a perfect example. There are hallmarks on a classic perfume base but the top notes and heart of the blend are tweaked just enough that it can never be confused with the scent of handbag of an older woman. On me, I'm finding labdanum "pops and fizzes" with a caramel finish and I can clearly smell that nifty effect with Bewitching Amber as my skin warms up this oil. The pine becomes more apparent as well I as sit here typing and the dry down the sandalwood takes centre stage with the romantic vanilla and classic amber. No surprise I love this perfume and recommend it. Eagle Hill Cemetery (An ivy-covered mausoleum, old paving stones, cool damp soil, a creaky iron gate, faded bouquets, & the spark of a match freshly-lit to see your way.) Another thing PULP Fragrance excels at is green notes and if you want an earthy atmospheric here's your blend. I get the photorealistic grass with dirt, flaking iron and I know it's not listed but I swear I smell old fashioned lawnmower blade oil and gasoline. My beloved grandfather used to tend hallowed grounds whilst I tagged along and would play in the grass clumps and tried not to step on anyone's face as I walked between the gravestones. Eagle Hill Cemetery smells like the real thing and continues to surprise me as it morphs in an hour to a realistic haunting floral bouquet of faded jasmine and lilies (and perhaps a stem of lilac as well?) I wasn't expecting any of this and am quite impressed! House on Widows Hill (Brandy as plummy as Roger's accent, old oak paneling, dusty thick carpets, a thread of incense & a roaring fire in the hearth.) Another atmospheric but for those looking for a good libatious twist and wanting to feel a bit like masters of the universe. You want a good brandy note, here it is and as you lose yourself in the oaky finish the promised dusty thick carpets, incense and ashes from the hearth hit the nose. Curiously a dark plum note also materializes in the long dry down that immediately makes me think of my english grandmother's kitchen during the colder months. Another keeper and one for my "to be worn when reading or watching specific historical films" corner of my collection. Cathedral of Trees (Crisp cold air, cedar tips, pine boughs, towering fir and spruce, snow-strewn forest floor, & smoke-less sacred resins of frankincense and myrrh.) In the vial, I get snapped off boughs of fir and pine needles mixed with lemony frankincense and myrrh and all I can say is, get on my skin and take me away to an enchanted forest! Frankincense and pine blends help me sleep for some unknown reason and I have been dabbing myself all over with Cathedral of Trees and sleeping soundly as the winds outside are starting to pick up. On my skin, the fir and pine rise first and then frankincense takes its place next to cheery myrrh and finally a familiar fuzziness of labdanum appears and I am one happy sleepy lady as my mind relaxes. And To All A Good Night (Sugary and gently-spiced holiday cookies fresh from the oven and drizzled with caramel, creamy egg nog spiked with coffee liqueur and sprinkled with a dash of nutmeg and cardamom, & the smooth, pale, aged wood of a well-loved rolling pin. (Allergen note: contains traces of cinnamon and clove.) Mmm! May I introduce everyone to holiday baking in a vial? Oh my, yes And To All A Good Night is a buttery, boozy medley with sweets and spice and everything nice for the holiday season. I even smell the unmistakable aromas of buttery pine aged wood, crushed nutmeg and vanilla from my great-grandfather's rolling pin I use for my seasonal baking. Now that's flipping amazing, no other indie shop has presented that note and experience. _______________________________________________________ Top 3 picks: South Star (and I ordered a full bottle), Portrait of Josette and...it's a tie between Cathedral of Trees and And To All A Good Night Thank you so much PULP Fragrance for allowing me access to these collections (and helping me find a holy grail perfume) Comments are closed.
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In accordance with FTC Guidelines, I disclose how I obtained every title for review at As The Final Page Turns (whether that be by ARC, purchased (on nook, kindle or specially ordered hardbacks) Audible version or simply borrowed at my local library). Please note: titles reviewed that are ARCS (Advanced Reader Copies) are free review copies of books that are given by publishers (these ARCS can be found at NetGalley or Edelweiss). Categories
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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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