Scents by Seasons: May 2013

Friday, May 31, 2013

Violette Market Candles on Etsy (4 types left)

I totally missed these last week. They released Tuesday and are very limited edition but only 1 has sold out so far.

~ Sunset Over the Grandstand- "Dusty vanilla, organic local Ohio honey, sun scorched sandalwood, golden vanilla, tumbleweeds, aged boot leather, saffron, and rodeo dust lifted into the air among the peach and pink clouds of the sunset."

~ Mermaid Water- "The splash of the Atlantic Ocean mingling with a young girl's perfume, hints of flavored cotton candy, the taffy pull, candy apples, and penny candies drift among delicate aquatic musks."

~ Taffy Pull- "An array of colorful taffy swirling through the taffy pull in the sweet flavors of: Bourbon vanilla, vanilla cream, pink sugar cane, lemon blossom, orange cream, raspberry truffle, blueberry, and caramel."

~ Midway- "A sweet, nostalgia-inducing array of sugared elephant ears, funnel cake, pink cotton candy, candied apples, black cherry tartlets, the heat of August, and laughter carried into the night sky."

~ Strawberry Cotton Candy- "Clouds of pink cotton candy infused with ripe farm strawberries, pink sugar cane, fruity musk and gardenia cream."

PSA: Paintbox Soapworks Summer Update is June 1

PSA: The Bathing Garden's next restock is June 3rd

Alchemic Muse: Summer Collection 5/27 + Sale

The summer collection debuted Monday, May 27th. All seven scents will be offered in a new Body & Hair Mist with aloe vera and Irish moss instead of a Body Gloss.

Bali Ha’i (sea salt soap, soap, foaming scrub, whip, mist, perfume)
A tempting blend of sweet flowers and creamy, exotic drinks… juicy tropical fruits and island blossoms drenched in coconut milk and vanilla cream with a touch of praline.

Castaway (sea salt soap, soap, foaming scrub, whip, mist, perfume)
Lost in paradise… creamy coconut milk and ripe banana amidst a light breezy veil of island orchids awash in the salty, summer essence of sand and sea.

Mango Tea (sea salt soap, soap, foaming scrub, whip, mist, perfume)
Drink in the aroma and the atmosphere of the islands. Sweet, juicy mango fruit immersed in iced sweet tea softened with a touch of sultry vanilla bean and creamy white musk.

Pineapple Milk (sea salt soap, soap, foaming scrub, whip, mist, perfume)
Evocative of gentle south sea breezes, swaying palm trees, and flowing grass skirts. A perfect blend of fresh, tangy pineapple enveloped in rich and creamy milk sweetened with raw sugarcane.

Tiki Moon (soap, foaming scrub, whip, mist, perfume)
Straight from the islands to entice your senses… freshly cracked coconut floating on a faint undercurrent of island fruits will have you dreaming of the tropics.

Tropicana (sea salt soap, soap, foaming scrub, whip, mist, perfume)
Delight in the spirit of the tropics… exotic plumeria blossoms infused with sweet orange and juicy red ohelo berries underscored by a white floral bouquet of gardenia, honeysuckle and jasmine with a whisper of soft vanilla and musk.

Waikiki (sea salt soap, soap, foaming scrub, whip, mist, perfume)
Surf’s Up! Sparkling island lime and freshly cracked coconut drenched in summer sunshine and splashed with salty ocean spray.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A mini collection of sweet and floral scents available in cold process soap, body whip, and perfume oil only!

Cantaloupe Lily
Ripe and juicy summer cantaloupe and a heady bouquet of Asiatic lilies.

Crape Myrtle
Sweet scented and papery blossoms of summer. Fresh top notes of cucumber, melon, iris and lemon, softened with honeysuckle nectar, fresh cotton, freesia, grasses, moss and woods.

Olive Blossom
This perfect spa scent... a fresh and green floral bouquet with top notes of neroli, bergamot, orange and mandarin, an herbal heart of thyme, and an astringent base of myrrh, grasses and woods.

Peach-Mango Lassi
Refreshing and sweet... A concoction of peach and mango puree blended with rich, creamery milk sweetened with golden honey.

Silver Buttonwood
Reminiscent of a lush summer forest. Buttery white blossoms and soft green foliage grounded with a touch of mossy woods.

If you would like to try them out first, they are now available in the Soap Sampler and Perfume Oil Sampler.

And of course, I want everything from the 1st section + Peach-Mango Lassi. Maybe it's time for my 1st Alchemic Muse order?

Alchemic Muse Summer

Also, Alchemic Muse added more items to their sale section this week:

Alchemic Muse Sale

There are also 2 returning all natural cold process soaps:
~ Thaiphoon- Lemongrass & Massoia Bark Soap
Inspired by the classic spa treatments of Thailand, this all natural soap will whisk you away from the everyday! A lush and tropical fusion of tangy, refreshing lemongrass essential oil and sweet massoia extract creates an exotic, delectable scent.

~ Caribbean- Be you a pirate or a tourist, this soap speaks across the ages… tangy key limes afloat fresh ginger, cardamom, and black peppercorns with a drop of smoky vetiver.
Awash with creamy coconut milk for a lush, creamy lather and French green clay to cleanse away impurities.
A stimulating cocktail of tangy key lime blended with fresh ginger and cardamom spiked with black spice and a drop of smoky vetiver.

PSAs:

~ If you follow Lathers & Lights on Facebook, she's starting to add specials

~ Today is the last day to order the Musks or Sweets collections from Blooddrop, May scents from Lathers & Lights or any scrub is on sale at The Soap Box Co.

http://www.blooddrop.com/
http://www.lathersnlights.com/
http://www.thesoapboxco.com/

New Haus of Gloi Summer Notes for Perfume Made for You 5/30

Haus of Gloi allows you to order a custom perfume made of 4 notes. They released new summer notes yesterday:

~ Jasmine (yay!)
~ Lemon
~ Gardenia (yay)
~ Honeysuckle
~ Pineapple
~ Kaffir Lime Leaf
~ Lychee
~ Honey (yum)
~ Banana

Arcana Great Expectations Update- May 2013 + Rhinestone Housewife's Arcana Exclusives

2 New Arcana scents at Rhinestone Housewife:
~ Genteel- The well-bred housewife who pens perfect thank you notes and always matches her carpet to her drapes. Aniseed, 2 vanillas, dry amber, sugar, cashmere musk with wisps of fine sandalwood and cedarwood.

~ Vulgar- The tatted up housewife who swears like a sailor and plays punk rock at all times "so the kids will be smart." Dirty cherry with dark chocolate, vanilla-infused marshmallow, honey, pepper, patchouli and a hint of smoky bacon.

Rhinestone Housewife

Great Expectation scents:
~ Young Rantipole:  Pause you who read this, and think for a moment of the long chain of iron or gold, of thorn or flowers, that would never have bound you, but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day. The scent of foolish new money and bad choices belying a loyal heart beneath. Sour cherry, black musk, brown musk, cocoa absolute, and kush.

~ Magwitch:  Hold your noise! cried a terrible voice, as a man started up from among the graves at the side of the church porch. Keep still, you little devil, or I'll cut your throat! Rich pipe tobacco, sea water, tobacco flowers, and black roses.

~ Miss Havisham:  So she sat, corpse-like, as we played at cards; the frillings and trimmings on her bridal dress, looking like earthy paper. Withered gardenias with star jasmine, chamomile, ivory musk, and pearl musk.

~Estella:
Am I pretty?
Yes, I think you are very pretty.
Am I insulting?
Not so much as you were last time, said I.
Quietly stunning ambre blanc and vanilla bean with a kiss of cognac.

~ Love Her, Love Her, Love Her:  If she tears your heart to pieces -- and as it gets older and stronger, it will tear deeper -- love her, love her, love her! An inexorable enchantment of 3 honeys in a base of rich, smoky resins.

~ A Pale Young Gentleman:  Come and fight, said the pale young gentleman. What could I do but follow him? Violets, amber, coconut husks, frankincense, and white peach.

~ Gargery's Forge:  It was not because I was faithful, but because Joe was faithful, that I never ran away and went for a soldier or a sailor. Glowing red amber and boozy musk with incense, iron, salt, and smoke.

~ Pumblechook: We shook hands for the hundredth time at least, and he ordered a carter out of my way with the greatest indignation. An overblown, buffoonish, Pumblechookian mix of oats, wheat, brown sugar, cinnamon, black pepper, apricot, bitter cacao, and a drop of blackseed oil.

~ Walworth Castle:  I think it was the smallest house I ever saw; with the queerest gothic windows (by far the greater part of them sham) and a gothic door, almost too small to get in at. The warm, masculine, homey scent of sweet bayberry, chestnut honey, goat milk, treacle, coffee bean, and clove.

~ Clara:  She really was a most charming girl, and might have passed for a captive fairy, whom that truculent Ogre, Old Barley, had pressed into his service. Vanilla-infused sugar cookies and tea with tiny hints of banana, apricot, and lavender.

~ What Larks!  Dear old Pip, old chap, said Joe, you and me was ever friends. And when you're well enough to go out for a ride -- what larks! A happy blend of English strawberries and salted milk caramels strewn across polished wood.

Lathers & Lights Iced Lemon Biscotti Body Lotion

Just got back from an exhausting road trip. I ended up giving my niece a bath and tested one of the packets from my May Lathers & Lights order. Iced Lemon Biscotti almost made it into my order but as bakery scents aren't really my thing so I dropped it. I had some regret until I tried this. If you have a Nob Hill or Raley's next to you, you might have seen or tried their large frosted sugar cookies. They come in a couple colors and seasonal flavors. They're delicious if you eat half of one and no more. It's the most sugar I've ever come across in a cookie. The frosting is ridiculous sweet. They make a lemon flavor. This body lotion smells exactly how those cookies taste- ridiculously sweet, lemony frosted sugar cookies.

I'm glad I didn't order it, it isn't me. But it is a very good lemon bakery scent or if you like very sweet scents. Within an hour (I'm not sure how long I was chasing a 2-year-old), you're left with a sweet sugar skin scent with no lemony aspect. Very good, pretty true (if by biscotti you meant sugar cookies) but not my type.

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Lathers & Lights Mojito Tiki Bar Update

This is a little late, but I wanted to write it down anyway. New scents for the tiki bar. All May LE scents go away on Saturday!

There are Mojito Mania Sugar Scrubs and Cooling Lotion (has aloe & menthol for a cooling effect) in the following flavors:
*~ Bloody Mojito- Fresh muddled mint with blood orange juice, a splash of cherry, and a twist of lime. Scrub features orange peel and mint leaves.

*~ Blue Mojito- A sweetly herbal take on the classic mojito! Sweet blueberries muddled with mint leaves are combined with lavender syrup and a splash of lime. Scrub features blueberry fiber and mint leaves.

*~ Island Mojito- A refreshing sip for hot summer days! Zesty tart lime, cane sugar syrup, and fresh coconut milk is iced and garnished with cooling mint. Scrub features coconut extract and mint leaves.

~ Mango Mojito- New for 2013! Our exclusive mint mojito blend gets the sweet treatment with the addition of fresh pureed mango! Scrub features mango extract and mint leaves.

~ Melon Mojito- New for 2013! The requisite lime and mint blend is made even more refreshing with the addition of sweet melon and cucumber! Scrub features cucumber and mint leaves.

~ Mint Mojito- Muddled mint leaves join sparkling soda and a twist of lime. Scrub features lime peel and mint leaves.

~ Pineapple Mojito- Fresh pineapple slices, brown sugar and mint leaves are muddled together and topped with a splash of soda and key lime juice. Scrub features pineapple extract and mint leaves.

~ Strawberry Mojito- Muddled strawberries and fresh mint with a splash of lime. Scrub features strawberry extract and mint leaves.

Friday, May 17, 2013

BPAL Honey Moon May 2013 Update

I want 1 of everything as usual lol
Copied directly from BPAL's tumblr:
http://blackphoenixalchemylab.tumblr.com/post/50686211004/bpal-honey-moon-update-is-live

HONEY MOON 2013
From honey sprang this Plant to life; with honey now we dig thee up.
Make us as sweet as honey, for from honey hast thou been produced.
My tongue hath honey at the tip, and sweetest honey at the root:
Thou yieldest to my wish and will, and shalt be mine and only mine.
My coming in is honey-sweet and honey-sweet, my going forth:
My voice and words are sweet: I fain would be like honey in my look.
Sweeter am I than honey, yet more full of sweets than licorice:
So mayst thou love me as a branch full of all sweets, and only me.
Around thee have I girt a zone of sugar-cane to banish hate.
That thou mayst be in love with me, my darling never to depart.
- Hymns of the Atharva Veda, XXXIV

Honey Moon contains five different honeys, ranging from pale and sweet to deep and heady, with hints of jasmine, white gardenia, Hawaiian white ginger and thyme.

SINGLE NOTE: PASSION FLOWER
An elegant botanical sigil representing the crucifixion of Christ, this plant is said to grant blessings of peace and love (philía and storge) to a home, especially when grown around the door, gate, or fence.

SINGLE NOTE: SUMATRAN RED PATCHOULI
Sexy, dirty, much-maligned and much-loved patchouliâ€¦ oh, how you get a bad rap. Though some associate you with head shops and Dead show parking lots, you really are so much more:

You are utilized in Chinese medicine to normalize the flow of qi.

In aromatherapy, you are used to diffuse stress, bring comfort and succor, and alleviate depression.

You inspire lust, passion, and carnality, and create a veil of sexual intrigue unmatched by any other fragrance.

You correspond with Saturn and Earth, facilitating grounding, stability, and protection, as well as the acquisition of property and money.

You form the oft-unrecognized basis of innumerable perfumes, adding a unique depth and sensuality, sometimes imperceptibly.

Your olfactory profile is incredibly fluid, ranging from mossy and gritty to wine-rich and voluptuous, and you age like a glorious silver screen goddess.

So the next time someone tells you that you smell like an unwashed hippie, Patchouli, just smile your enigmatic smile. The enlightened know how amazing you are.

SINGLE NOTE: WILD DANDELION
Simple and fresh and fair from winter’s close
emerging,
As if no artifice of fashion, business, politics,
had ever been,
Forth from its sunny nook of shelter’d grass -
innocent, golden, calm as the dawn,
The spring’s first dandelion shows its trustful
face.
- Walt Whitman

A scent as fresh as spring and as radiant as summer: the splendor of a crown of golden petals, the tartness of sap and pungent greens, and the gentle touch of white seed florets drifting in the breeze.

We’re going to be posting an etsy boom concurrent with this update! We are happy to combine etsy and BPAL orders - just email us with the info on the orders you’ll be combining!

Alchemy Lab and Trading Post are busy prepping some exciting new (and old!) stuff for summer, so keep your eyes peeled!

Shower Post #4: Blooddrop January's Child Bath Sparkler; Blooddrop Amaterasu Bath Soak; Moonalisa Coffee Butter Scrub; Lathers & Lights Coconut Mangosteen Olive & Honey Shampoo; Lathers & Lights Damask Rose Argan Infusion Creme Conditioner; Lathers & Lights Coconut Margarita Margarita Mixers Salt Scrub; Lathers & Lights Strawberry Sunrise Sugar Scrub; Lathers & Lights Banana Sugar Bath Mousse; Lathers & Lights Black Coconut Body Butter

I mixed a bath last night with a Blooddrop Bath Sparkler. First off, these things are huge! They're the size (if not the weight) of a hockey puck. I dropped one under the running water, it fizzed and broke up easily (it also turned my bath water dark pink- slightly unnerving). I have no idea what the smell was suppose to be though because I got nothing. Absolutely nothing. I don't know if it's my fault since I had these since at least February. It's my first negative experience with Blooddrop because every other product is wonderful (including my dearly missed Milk Powder Bath Soak).

Here's what the official description is: Beautiful and warming carnation absolute and vanilla create an exquisite bathing experience which leaves you exiting the bath smelling truly incredible, gorgeous and sexy!
Carnation and vanilla absolutes, sugar sprinkles.
So I added in some Blooddrop Bath Soak. I have the Salted Caramel and Lady Slipper (both excellent) but decided to use my Amaterasu this time. Very citrusy and refreshing for a late spring bath. There are sunflower petals in the soak so they swirl around the bath water. (P.S. Blooddrop is having a 15% discount this weekend- check out the facebook page)

Here's the description and ingredients: Amaterasu is the Shinto goddess of the sun and these bath salts bear her name because I created them as a means of relaxing, soothing, and reviving your body and mind from mental and muscular darkness associated to anxiety, stress, and general malaises. These bath salts are made of a mixture of extra fine dead sea salt to ease muscles, a fragrant, anti-anxiety, rejuvenating and healing blend of citrus and floral oils, and a touch of sunflower petals to remind you of the golden days to come. Use for mental and/or physical fatigue!

Ingredients: Sodium Chloride (Dead Sea Salt), Theobroma cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Citrus reticulata (Tangerine) Oil, Citrus sinensis (Sweet Orange) Oil, Gardenia grandiflora (Gardenia) Oil, Citrus aurantifolia (Lime) Oil, Citrus bergamia (Bergamot) Oil, Citrus aurantium (Neroli) Oil , Citrus aurantium (Petitgrain) Oil, Helianthus annus (Sunflower) petals.

I finally used up the last of my Moonalisa Coffee Butter Scrub (another sorely missed item- already reviewed).

Then I tried out as many of my Lathers & Lights products as possible.

I washed my hair with the L&L Olive & Honey Shampoo in Coconut Mangosteen (Creamy coconut blended with the peachy, citrusy aroma of mangosteen). Not a lot of coconut, mostly bright citrus (you know it's not orangey or grapefruit or lemon/lime) with a creamy background. I haven't used it enough to review this as a product fully.

I used the new Argan Infusion Creme Conditioner in Damask Rose (Rich velvet rose intertwines with a blend of jasmine and iris while sensual patchouli adds warm texture to the bouquet and sparkling citrus brightens the composition. A lingering base of amber and musk is balanced with exotic sandalwood to add lasting sensuality.). This is a very powdery rose scent (I would have sworn the other floral was violet but I suppose it was the iris). I get the rose, amber and sandalwood/patchouli vibe. It smells like a very feminine hippie shop (but light on the hippie). I really love it but if rose and amber are not your friends, this won't be either. The conditioner is a great hair mask. I applied it after I washed my hair in the shower, filled up the bathtub, spent another 20-30min in there and then washed it out. My hair is soft and shiny but definitely not greasy or oily 24 hours later.

Tried out my new Margarita Mixers Salt Scrub in Coconut Margarita. I don't usually buy salt scrubs but I thought since it's a margarita scent it was appropriate (you can also get this in sugar). I realized why I don't buy salt scrubs. Because if you have any cuts or shaving accidents, it will burn like raging pits of unholy hell. I don't have anything that resembles sensitive skin, I scrub every other day and this stung. Smelled great but putting my leg back into the hot water was not. I will probably use this up on my back and arms but it's never going anywhere never my legs ever again. As for the scent, lots of lime and salt (that may be the salt in the scrub fyi) with a very slight boozy undertone. I'm realizing that her coconut is super light, it adds milkiness to other scents which I really like but the coconut/vanilla scents where you can pick up the coconut are kinda plasticy.

So I switched to the Strawberry Sunrise Sugar Scrub (Juicy berries and blood orange combine to start your day in a bright way!). Oh, this so good... Have you ever wanted to bathe yourself in a Strawberry Orange Julius? No? Why ever not? Actually, I didn't realize I wanted to either until that moment. It was slightly artificial (not in a bad way) but in a strawberry-orange smoothie way. I didn't get blood orange, it smelled like naval oranges to me. It's seriously wonderful. Get some. As well documented, I have serious love for L&L's sugar scrubs- they're scrubby and well scented but clean rinsing and non-greasy. And I added strawberry seeds to my scrub!

I washed and shaved with the Banana Sugar Bath Mousse (The best banana fragrance EVER! A delicious blend of ripe banana,hints of brown sugar, and rich vanilla cream topped off with toasted marshmallow.). Bath mousse isn't my favorite shaving cream, I think Haus of Gloi tops that (though I have not tried L&L's shaving butter), but it works, it lathers, it doesn't gunk up my razor and it's also well-scented. While I liked this banana scent much better than the Banana Orchid from last week, I still hate banana. Well at least I tried to like it. It's sugary banana- the title is perfect. It's not candy banana either.

Lotion of the Night: Black Coconut Body Butter (Fresh coconut cream speckled with Madagascar vanilla beans, East Indian patchouli and light musk.). Mmmm... Milky coconut (yes, I actually got non-plastic non-foody coconut- maybe non-foody is the key here) with a sexy comfy warm background. I need a bigger tub of this. Each note is well blended and well represented, no one note stomping out the rest.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Lathers & Lights Banana Orchid; Lathers & Lights Coral Beach Reviews

I used 2 more sample packets yesterday (and arrived home to find my latest order from LL plus a ton more packets!).

Lathers & Lights Banana Orchid is not available on the site yet, which means it was either part of the General Catalog before she changed to a seasonal GC and it might be back later in summer or it is an LE for an upcoming month. Full disclosure: I hate banana. Like extremely. Almost as much as I hate pumpkin. It's not a dislike, I find the smell to be kin to rotten garbage. That being said, I'm always willing to try because I find that certain blends can make things bearable. I ordered a Banana Sugar bath mousse (kinda like a soapy shaving mousse) because it's a wash-off scent and I thought it would be a nice tropical addition to my bath. Anyway, Banana Orchid (it was a body lotion sample) hit me in the face full force with banana. I don't know if the "orchid" part was suppose to be orchid or vanilla orchid or just a floral background but I got nothing but banana. And I hated it, it reminded me of those banana shaped candies you could get from store candy machines. Ugh. Luckily, I put this on my legs and when it dried the scent was gone. So you need not fear if you don't want to walk around all day smelling like bananas. If you happen to like banana, I'm sure you'll want to try this as it is primarily a banana only scent.

Lathers & Lights Coral Beach is available as part of the seasonal GC. The official description is "A beautiful blending of tropical flowers, clean island breezes, smooth citrus, and light touches of vanilla. This fragrance isn't fruity, foody, or flowery...it's juuuust right for a perfect summer day!" I got this in a very thick mango body butter which might be a new formula coming out I'm not sure but I definitely like it. My nose must have been broken after the banana because I swear I got fruity. Very fruity- probably pineapple. It was very good and very light. It was screaming pineapple to me but it was definitely fruity. It dried down to a light pineapple skin scent that was very pretty but also my sister really liked it. I'm not a fruity scent person but if I was, this would be my office scent. Pretty but light.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Links

Shower Post #3: Moonalisa Peach Paradise 4-in-1; Moonalisa The Gate Hair Conditioner; Lathers & Lights Green Tea Sugar Scrub; Lathers & Lights Chamomile Tea Body Butter; Lathers & Lights Lychee Tea Dry Oil Mist

I've been on vacation so I haven't had my supply to use really. My sister's allergic to mostly everything and can't stand anything scented strongly. But here's the products I took with me:

~ Moonalisa 4-in-1 in Peach Paradise. As well established here, I love Moonalisa's 4-in-1s as shampoo. Peach Paradise's official description is sweet peaches in syrup doused with creamy coconut milk. I definitely get a soft peach in a milky cream. A very pretty well blended peaches and cream scent and really perfect for early summer. However, this last time I used it I think I got kettle corn? No really, like sweet popcorn. Like a carnival. It was actually pretty good being that I hate eating kettle corn but I wasn't expecting it. Maybe my nose was off because every other time I've gotten peaches and cream.

~ Moonalisa Hair Conditioner in The Gate
Official description- Shades are known for enticing innocent passersby to come hither so they can posses their souls and be able to walk among the living. Starting with fresh and deadly Delphinium and blending with Oak moss for deceptive warmth and enticement, ending with cool and tomb-like Osmathus flower.
A very light white floral. I've reviewed this before.

~ Lathers & Lights Sugar Scrub Mini in Green Tea. I got this mini scrub in my April Tea Party sampler set. So fresh and calming! I love LL's sugar scrubs because they're very scrubby and clean rinsing. They may not moisturize as well as Moonalisa or Haunt but I like that it sloughs everything off and I can apply a different scented lotion that doesn't conflict with this. The tea scent here is a very true almost powdery green tea, none of that strong black tea scent as in the other scents in the sampler. She has a Green Tea & Ginger scent that I think would be perfect in a sugar scrub or as a nighttime lotion.

~ Lathers & Lights Body Butter Sample in Chamomile Tea. A sample packet from my last order. Very light herbal tea scent. The body butter is to die for as usual, very thick and non-greasy. The scent is extremely light in a good way and perfect for bedtime. It's very unoffensive for others.

~ Lathers & Lights Dry Oil Mist Mini in Lychee Tea. I've reviewed this before as well. Very strong fruity black tea. I think it's been getting stronger. The fruity's almost too much for me now.

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Lathers & Lights Tahitian Coconut

I used a sample packet of Tahitian Coconut this morning. I was in a rush and didn't write down what type of lotion it was but probably one of the thinner ones.

Official description- We've blended our creamy, fresh coconut with the captivating aroma of Tahitian tiare blossoms. Paradise in a bottle doesn't even begin to do it justice!

All of the other coconuts I tried from Lathers & Lights this summer have had a suntan lotion coconut scent to them which I find pleasant. This however smells like pure fresh coconut, no suntan lotion in sight. The tiare adds a light vanilla/floral background (if you didn't read the notes beforehand I think you would maybe detect a light floral or mistake it for a vanilla background. I doubt you could identify the floral at all).

Verdict- Ugh, I wish I had gotten this in my order (which should be at my house Monday- meaning a week TAT which I think is great for a big sale). Very coconutty with an awesome vanilla background. Lovely light floral for those who might otherwise not like them. Good coconut scent if you hate suntan lotion scents.

Haus of Gloi Summer Update 5/12

Beguiled- lemon cake, buttermilk, raspberry coulis, cardamom, pink peppercorn
~ Perfume Oil
~ Bubbling Scrub
~ Pumpkin Butter
~ Whipped Soap

Narcosa- tonka, black vanilla, 3 jasmines, tuberose, ylang ylang
~ Perfume Oil
~ Pumpkin Butter

Sanctum- muskmelon, coconut water infused with bergamot flower, kaffir lime, ho wood, benzoin
~ Perfume Oil
~ Pumpkin Butter
~ Bubbling Scrub
~ Whipped Soap

Sol- dry gingergrass, litsea cubeba, neroli, frankincense tears, saffron infused honey, rosemary, cinnamon bark
~ Perfume Oil
~ Bubbling Scrub
~ Soap
~ Pumpkin Butter
~ Whipped Soap

The Brier Path- sun drenched trail, berries, woods rose, rich forest loam, ozone, dark amber, cream
~ Perfume Oil
~ Bubbling Scrub
~ Pumpkin Butter
~ Whipped Soap

Zazz- tart cranberry, pink grapefruit, sparkling champagne, crushed ginger root
~ Perfume Oil
~ Bubbling Scrub
~ Soap
~ Pumpkin Butter
~ Whipped Soap

I ended up ordering perfume oils & pumpkin butters in Narcosa, Sol, Sanctum and Brier Path. I have enough whipped soap to fill a bathtub at the moment and I don't like HoG's scrubs (not scrubby enough for me). I may have to try the sugar exfoliants again to be sure when fall comes around.

Buy at Haus of Gloi

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Really Late Nocturne Alchemy May Update

I received my decants from the April Update & haven't tried them, I'll try to get that done when I get back from vacation next week. I did wear the Jasmine Kobalt & it's wonderful. I'll do a fuller review but if you like jasmine, this is a big winner

Anyway, new May update
~ Akhenaten Incense ~ Lily, Magnolia, White Ginger, Amber, Kudzu Blossom, White Lotus, White Amber, Coriander, Frankincense, Apricot, Grapefruit and a hint of Peach. We wanted to make this a rich aromatic perfume but remain a confident scent combining elements of incense ritual by adding a touch of White Sage and in the vein of Japanese Incense or beautiful Egyptian Incense and Japanese Yuzu, we wanted to give the empyrean notes a gorgeous incense dedication.

*~ Azure Ankh *RESURRECTED* ~ Egyptian Musk of the original Nokturne single note, ether of Egyptian Sandalwood and far east wind arising and exhaling from the Nile and slumbering into the subtle spice of Nokturne: Crimson (Egyptian Red Musk). Azure Ankh is blended into a deeper scent by taking deep Red Musk and dark Black Musk, Red Amber and added aged Crimson (Egyptian Red Musk) and sifting them all together and slowly dropping them into the Ankh perfume until a natural division occurs. (Sold Out)

*~ Bastet's Garden Spring: Coconut Santalum ~ Exotic Coconut Husk, Coconut Cream, Santalum Gold (new Nokturne to come), Rich Tahitian Vanilla, drop of Kobalt (Vanilla Orchid), Santalum White and a drop of Orange Blossom Absolute.

*~ Cerulean Ankh *RESURRECTED* ~ Egyptian Musk of the original Nokturne single note, ether of Egyptian Sandalwood and far east wind arising and exhaling from the Nile and slumbering into the subtle spice of Nokturne: Crimson (Egyptian Red Musk). Cerulean Ankh is blended into a deeper scent by taking deep Vanilla, Crystal (Vanilla Musk) and Moonstone (Vanilla Bean), added aged Sapphire (Amber Musk) and sifting them all together and slowly dropping them into the Ankh perfume until a natural division occurs. (Sold Out)

*~ ISIS X ~ The scent of sweet Egyptian orchid, the red of Egyptian Musk and the heart of pale amber. We've taken the original recipe and added the X treatment of: Crystal (Vanilla Musk), Kobalt (Vanilla Orchid), Moonstone (Vanilla Bean), and Vanilla Santalum. Vanilla, Vanilla, Vanilla and Vanilla Sandalwood - oh and a little Spun Fog Sugar. For this and Osiris X, Crystalline (Egyptian Vanilla Orchid Resin) and a little of that new Sandalwood (Santalum Gold).

*~ Osiris X ~ Egyptian Sandalwood, Egyptian cola root, sweet almond oil and the air above the Nile resurrecting life into the world. Heliotrope, basil, amber and bergamot breathe through a touch of cardamom. A subtle spice scent with nuances of NA Granite and White Benzoin Resin NA Blend. We've taken the original recipe and added the X treatment of: Crystal (Vanilla Musk), Kobalt (Vanilla Orchid), Moonstone (Vanilla Bean), and Vanilla Santalum. Vanilla, Vanilla, Vanilla and Vanilla Sandalwood - oh and a little Spun Fog Sugar. For this and Isis X, Crystalline (Egyptian Vanilla Orchid Resin) and a little of that new Sandalwood (Santalum Gold).

*~ Purnima Crystal ~ NA Accord Pink Sugar, NA Accord Blue Sugar, White Apricot, Egyptian Cedar, Italian Bergamot, Blue Coriander, Spun Egyptian Sugar, Black Fig and aged beautifully; Nokturne: Crystal (Egyptian Vanilla & Musk)

*~ Purnima Kobalt ~ NA Accord Pink Sugar, NA Accord Blue Sugar, White Apricot, Egyptian Cedar, Italian Bergamot, Blue Coriander, Spun Egyptian Sugar, Black Fig and aged beautifully; Nokturne: Kobalt (Egyptian Vanilla Orchid imported from Cairo, Egypt)

*~ Purnima Santalum ~ NA Accord Pink Sugar, NA Accord Blue Sugar, White Apricot, Egyptian Cedar, Italian Bergamot, Blue Coriander, Spun Egyptian Sugar, Black Fig and aged beautifully; Nokturne: Santalum (Rich Egyptian Sandalwood from Aswan, Egypt)

~ Scroll of Bastet ~ Aged NA Scroll of Thoth Amber Resin (a glorious White Amber), Sweet French Vanilla Bean Fleck sifted, Nokturne: Crystal (Vanilla Musk), Nepalese Amber, Yellow Mandarin Absolute, Black Teak, Elemi Absolute, Genet Absolute, Tamanu Fruit and a drop of Sweet Fennel.

*~ Temple NA: Affirmation ~ This perfume is built from many layers of beautiful imported Indian and Egyptian Incense based oils. Dark Sandalwoods, Pure rich warm smoke, Musk Incense, Musk Florals and Egyptian Woods. For Temple NA: Affirmation we blended the deep sensual Red Musk (Nokturne: Kashmir), a drop of sensual Black Honey and a touch of Egyptian Red Musk (Nokturne: Crimson - lightly spiced red skin musk) for the affirmation of the self.

~ Zodiac: Taurus ~ The floating scent of Snow Musk bonds with N3 Musk (a softer Egyptian Musk) to give a safe home beneath the middle notes of White Amber, Blue Amber and Egyptian Frankincense tears - rapturous is a cup of Tibetan and Egyptian Black Tea and warm exotic Haitian Vetiver as opening notes for this warm and soft resin Zodiac Blend.

I want to try most of these but I won't order until I test my April decants & determine if I really like the company.

Buy at Nocturne Alchemy

Lathers & Lights Sale 5/11-12

For orders up to $30, save 15%

For orders between $30 and $60, save 20%

For orders between $60 and $120, save 25%

For orders over $120, save 30%

For all orders shipping to US destinations, you'll also enjoy free shipping on orders over $75! Your discounted total must be $75 before shipping will be deducted in the cart.

And a new Mother's Touch Triple Twisting Foaming Sugar Scrub- 11oz for $15
Layers are Lullaby, Baby Powder & Bedtime Bath.

Buy at Lathers & Lights

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Lathers & Lights Flip Flops Body Yogurt; Lathers & Lights Lychee Tea Dry Oil Mist; Lathers & Lights Cantaloupe Lily Dry Oil Mist

Tonight's testing combo included a sample packet of Lathers & Lights Flip Flops Body Yogurt.
Official scent description- Tropical coconut and rich vanilla, the perfect scent for a day on the beach!

I already posted my feelings on the body yogurt (very nice but I prefer richer body butters) and my Cinco de Mayo order included an Argan Infusion Hair Serum in Flip Flops. I wanted a neutral but summery scent that would go with any perfume or leftover conditioner scent. Coconut and vanilla sounded pretty neutral. The scent is definitely that suntan lotion scent I got from Coconut Breeze. It's almost a little nutty and definitely kinda artificial but I do like it (I just realized "definitely kinda" is an oxymoron). You know when you want to describe something as artificial suntan lotion but you mean it in the best possible way? That's how I feel about this. I glad I choose this scent for the hair serum. It's super light and won't conflict with anything. You could really wear this around people who don't like any scents.

I also used the dry oil mist from my Tea Party sampler. Full disclosure- I don't like lychee and I would never order this. However, it's also very light. The dry oil mist is so light itself that I had to rub it in to check that I got something on me. It dries ridiculously quickly and is completely non-greasy. I added a second coat just to make sure I got everywhere. This would be great for outdoors during the summer for a quick spritz of moisture. The scent is not heavy on the tea which I was expecting sure I briefly tried the Blackberry Tea Body Butter and the tea was a very strong black tea scent. I got a very light fruity scent. I couldn't identify it as lychee and that was a good thing in my book.

I used the Cantaloupe Lily a few days ago and raved about it on a bath & body forum. The dry oil mist is the same as above and again I wasn't thrilled to try this scent. I hate Bath & Body Works' melon scents. I mean I despise them. They smell like bad fruity pre-teen perfumes to me. So naturally, I thought I hated melon scents (BPAL's melon is also not-so-fun, I'm really not a fruity kinda girl). I do love white florals, including lily. This is wonderful, a pure melon scent (I wanted to say honeydew however) with a light white floral background which made it much more bearable. I really like this. I'll use the whole bottle (1oz goes a long way in these).

I love Lathers & Lights samplers because I get to try trial sizes of things I would never order in full ones. Plus I'm going on vacation & these are perfect sizes. I'm really excited for all the coconut items I ordered.

Shower Post #2- Haus of Gloi White Blueberry Butterbomb; Moonalisa Lavender Love Bubbling Bath Brew; Moonalisa Dr. Bombay 4-in-1 Gel; Moonalisa The Gate Hair Conditioner; Haunt Doe Sugar Polish; Haus of Gloi Who Needs Love Whipped Soap; Bathed & Infused Aztec Cocoa Bath Whip

~ Used a Haus of Gloi Butterbomb tonight in White Blueberry. I previously used the rose one they sold when these first came out and I fell in love. It made the water milky and soft and it smells the entire bathroom up with fresh roses. White Blueberry also made my water milky and soft but not so much on the scent. I think it was creamy but it died down so fast I can't be sure. To be honest, I didn't expect much since it's a white scent (and therefore I suspected it would be light) but I did hope for more blueberry. I wouldn't buy this scent again but I definitely love the butterbombs.

~ So then I added in about 1/3-1/2 a bag of Moonalisa Lavender Love Bubbling Bath Brew I got from the Valentine's sale. It was a rich herbal lavender and perfect for an evening bath. As with others I've used, it added a lot of bubbles and this time the scent lasted longer. Maybe I should stick to "stronger" notes and just stay away from fruity/citrus ones? I might actually repurchase this one, though I have a bottle of French Lavender Disappearing Bath Oil I'm going to try first.

~ I used Moonalisa's Dr. Bombay 4-in-1 Gel to wash my hair (see my full review)

~ Moonalisa The Gate Hair Conditioner- I'll do a fuller review of these once I use it a couple times but the scent was very pretty. I got a very light white floral scent, nothing distinctive but a scent I'm glad I picked for spring. I also have a Dusting Powder in this scent. It was a thick rich conditioner.
Official scent description- Shades are known for enticing innocent passersby to come hither so they can possess their souls and be able to walk among the living. Starting with fresh and deadly Delphinium and blending with Oak moss for deceptive warmth and enticement, ending with cool and tomb-like Osmathus flower

~ Haunt Doe Sugar Scrub (see my full review)

~ Finally finished up my Haus of Gloi Who Needs Love whipped soap (chocolate/raspberry scent). I have several whipped soaps from their Valentine collection & the recent spring reverie. Makes a great shaving lather.

~ Ran out of the HoG soap halfway through shaving my legs so I had to switch to a Bathed & Infused Bath Whip I'm also trying to use it. This one is from the winter scent list and is suppose to be a Mexican spicy cocoa but I seriously don't get any scent and it's not just old, I never got a real scent from it. I thought maybe it needed to cure but it just didn't develop. It also doesn't melt very well in my opinion. There are just much better products out there. I've been disappointed in every BI product I've received. Every scent has been weird and even though I've tried curing (letting it sit and the scent develop). They're still weird. I don't think I'll order again. Lathers & Lights does the same business model (changing LE scents every month) & I love the products and most of the scents I've tried.

Haunt Spring Collection 5/7

Coming Soon- 9pm ET
~ The Briar Wood- blackest wild berries, tangled thorny branches, holy basil, anise, clove leaf
Soap with rose petals, cornflower petals and blackberry leaf- $6.50 (4.5oz)

~ Meadow Violet- ethereal wild violet, soft clover, green grass
Soap- $6.50 (4.5oz)

~ Star & Thicket- plump forest blackberries, wild strawberries, darkly ambered vanilla incense, shadowed wood
Perfume Oil- $12
Skin Glossing Oil- $13 (4oz)

~ Legend- apple orchards, dandelion fluff in the air, warm chamomile tea, linden blossoms, dried apricot, blue tansy, sweet clover, rock moss
Soap with crushed dandelion leaf and chamomile flower powder- $6.50 (4.5oz)
Perfume Oil- $12
Sugar Scrub with apricot seed powder- $12 (7oz)
Skin Glossing Oil- $13 (4oz)

~ Lady Grey- sweet Darjeeling tea, tart lemon & bergamot, rosewater, wild honey, tea cookie
Soap with black tea and rose petals- $6.50 (4.5oz)
Perfume Oil- $12
Sugar Scrub- $12 (7oz)
Skin Glossing Oil- $13 (4oz)

~ May Queen- forest berries of black, blue and elder, silver needle tea, hawthorn bower, moist earth, sweet davana flowers
Perfume Oil- $12
Sugar Scrub with blueberry seeds- $12 (7oz)
Skin Glossing Oil- $13 (4oz)

~ Milkflower- French lavender, caramelized milk, lavender flower honey, resinous copaiba balsam
Soap with lavender flower honey- $6.50 (4.5oz)

~ Lavender Marshmallow- powdery marshmallows infused with Lavender Kashmir, cocoa absolute
Skin Glossing Oil- $13 (4oz)

~ Lip Lusts- $3.50 each
Blueberry Honeysuckle- summer blueberries, delicate honeysuckle blossoms, jasmine petals, clementine
Milk & Nectar- peach & mango nectars, sweet milk, honey, cardamom, nutmeg
Good Witch- mints and sweet herbs (peppermint, anise, spearmint, basil, eucalyptus & coriander)

Buy at Haunt

Shower Post #1: Moonalisa Coffee Butter Scrub; Lathers & Lights April Showers Shower Creme; Moonalisa Strawberry Sugar Shortcake Bubbling Bath Brew; Blooddrop Milk & Honey Softening Soak; BPTP L'Eau de Engouement Bath Oil; Moonalisa Strawberry Sugar Shortcake Bath Truffle

I'm thinking of occasionally posted what I'm using in my shower since I change them so frequently. Here's the 1st:

~ Mixed a bath with Moonalisa Strawberry Sugar Shortcake Bubbling Bath Brew- lots of bubbles like the Grapefruit Haven, initial strawberry NesQuik scent (which I loved) but again faded quickly. I probably won't buy anymore of these bath powders. The bubbles are great but I just can't justify the price.

~ Added Blooddrop Milk & Honey Softening Soak. Awww, I finished my bottle. I love this stuff. It makes the water milky and creamy (but no real scent), lasted probably 5-6 baths for $15. Unfortunately, she's sold out of this. I think it was for the winter release and hopefully it comes back.

~ Added BPTP L'Eau de Engouement Bath Oil because I wanted more scent. Scent description is: pink strawberries, sugarcane and candyfloss. It added a light sweet pink strawberry scent. My whole bath smelled like the color pink really. Really springy and a very light strawberry (kinda artificial but like sniffing one of those strawberry-scented toys or strawberry milk- kinda enjoyable, strangely enough). This was from the 2012 Lupercalia release (Bath oils last forever! It only takes a tiny amount to scent a bath or cover my entire body)

~ Lathers & Lights April Showers Shower Creme- I got this in one of my sampler packs. Scent description: carnation, lily, white grapefruit, jasmine, tuberose, cyclamen, violet, vanilla beans, E Indian sandalwood, rose crystals, sexy musk.
Actually, I got a slightly floral aquatic. Nothing else really but it was very pretty and fresh smelling. I really like it. I would re-order, especially as a shower product scent.

~ Moonalisa Coffee Butter Scrub. I got this in the winter release and I have 1 more use of it. It's a perfect scrub for me, very scrubby! Has lots of ground coffee beans in it and a strong coffee scent. It also leaves a very thin barrier on my skin afterwards which is nice if you don't want to apply more lotion but it's thin enough that you can without it interfering. I would reorder in a heartbeat, I'm glad it wasn't LE.

~ I received a Moonalisa Strawberry Sugar Shortcake Bath Truffle in one of the Easter baskets I ordered. I was going to add it to my bath but I read on the Moonalisa forum that it could be used as a moisturizer as well since it was purely cocoa butter with scent. The truffle was about 1/4 the size of my hand and it covered my entire body and then some. I'm serious. I melted instantly (I applied it immediately after my shower). The strawberry milk scent was very strong and lasted hours even until the next morning. The cocoa butter was extremely moisturizing and very greasy. Since I applied this after my shower in the evening, the greasiness was fine but I wouldn't suggest this for daytime use. Can't wait to try my others. I hope she starts selling these.

Lathers & Lights Coconut Breeze Review

I received a sample packet of Coconut Breeze in my last order. It's not available on the website at the moment (it was either part of the General Catalogue that got removed since she switched to only having bestsellers and seasonal GC scents or it will be available maybe next month)

My packet was for the Body Yogurt. I usually buy the Body Butter because I prefer heavier creams. The yogurt is definitely thinner, probably thinner than the Body Lotion as well. It dries very quickly if you're looking for that. It's also non-greasy.

The initial scent was a blast of coconut, reminded me of suntan lotion. I'm dying for summer scents right now so I really like it. As it dries down, there's an ozone undertone beneath the coconut. Like coconut and air if that makes sense. It makes the scent very light and airy, perfect if you don't want anything heavy. Completely dry, it's a very light coconut (slightly plastic- probably what reminded me of suntan lotion in the beginning).

Verdict- I like it. I don't really like ozone/aquatic scents so if the coconut was mixed with something else I'd probably like that better. If it becomes available next month I may buy this as a shampoo. Aquatics for shower products are awesome in hot months.

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Lathers & Lights Samplers

I ordered the 2 samplers available in April from Lathers & Lights: Spring Fever and Tea Party. There are $25 a piece but there was a sale going on so I basically got free shipping.

Each of her orders contains a seasonal mini rubber ducky, this one is taking a bath and she always includes samples

Spring Fever includes:
~ 2.4oz Buttercup Blossom Body Butter (super floral, smells wonderful)
~ 1oz Lilac Blossom Body Lotion
~ 1oz Dry Oil Mist in Cantaloupe Mist (never thought I'd like melon scents, I hate the ones at BBW, but this is lovely)
~ 5ml Perfume Oil in Raspberry Violet
~ 2oz April Shower Shower Creme (smells pretty and fresh)
~ 2.5oz Spring Rain Sugar Scrub (fresh aquatic, kinda unisex)

Tea Party includes:
~ 2.4oz Blackberry Tea Body Butter (very fruity, but also very strong black tea)
~ 1oz Black Pearl Tea Body Lotion
~ 2oz Lychee Tea Dry Oil Mist
~ 5ml Perfume in Darjeeling Tea
~ 2oz Rooibos Tea Shower Creme
~ 2.5oz Green Tea Sugar Scrub

Buy at Lathers & Lights

Solstice Scents Late Spring Update 5/4

Taken directly from the Solstice Scents Blog:
GARDENIA ENFLEURAGE .25 ml PREMIUM SAMPLES
(Gardenia sold in premium samples only. These are our regular perfume sample vials filled 1/4 of the way full. See diagram below. There is a limited quantity. This stock is from our 2012 enfleurage process. We are currently enfleuraging many more gardenias for 2013. Due to limited stock, we are only offering premium samples for all who would like to experience this amazing flower. It will be more expensive than our typical perfume samples due to the intense amount of labor and thousands of gardenia petals involved. Read on for more details about this amazing essence and the process).
Solstice Scents is proud to offer gardenia essence from our homegrown pesticide-free gardenia flowers. Three different gardenia varieties (Gardenia jasminoides, Gardenia brighamii and Gardenia radicans) were used to create this 100% natural essence. Utilizing the principles of the centuries-old practice of enfleurage, we developed a unique technique to capture the fragrance of creamy white gardenia flowers in full bloom.

Enfleurage requires thousands upon thousands of gardenia petals to be infused in fat (vegetable source). Each tray takes multiple infusions and the petals must be replaced frequently. It is a very laborious process and this first step mandates a minimum of 6 weeks of dedication during the gardenia blooming season, which occurs mid-April to the beginning of June. The flowers are hand-harvested each morning for maximum potency. The premium samples offered on this listing are from our 2012 batch of flowers. We are currently working on enfleuraging the gardenias that are now blooming and the 2013 batch will be available in the future.

Due to the amount of time, effort and dedication required in this process, enfleurage is rarely practiced today. Processing thousands of petals only yields a very small amount of precious absolute, making it impractical for the commercial market. It is a true labor of love. Solstice Scents is one of only a few companies in the world to offer this rare fragrance.

This highly concentrated perfume is milky white in color and presented in perfumer's alcohol. You'll experience a strong burst of gardenia on initial application. The aroma of the gardenia flower is unable to be extracted through the process of steam distillation meaning that there is no such thing as gardenia essential oil. In the rare instances gardenia is offered in the marketplace, it is a solvent extracted absolute or concrete that does not capture the true aroma of the flower. The solvent extraction process degrades the delicate fragrance and yields a product that does resemble a gardenia aroma with much heavier green notes but is nowhere near as realistic as the gardenia aroma produced via enfleurage. Our process captures the character of the flower as closely as possible, exuding the sweetness of the velvety white petals with a very delicate and subtle green note.

This perfume is for natural essence enthusiasts who have wished for a true-smelling gardenia fragrance. It does not have the longevity and sillage of its synthetic counterparts and after 15 to 30 minutes its profile tends to hug closer to the skin. Most people should experience 2+ hours of wear when following these steps:

1. This sample yields several uses. Shake vial before application.

2. Apply liberally to posterior of arm/wrist, as opposed to pulse point of wrist, for maximum longevity.

3. Application to skin directly from vial is more effective than multiple swipes of wand applicator and will give you a stronger, longer lasting fragrance.

This fragrance may solidify in very cold temperatures. Should this occur, you may hold the vial vertically in a hot water bath and perfume will liquify quickly. Make sure water does not come near cap or get into the vial.

Some additional photos of the process will be included on the listing when it is available on the website.

MIDNIGHT OIL PREMIUM 5ml PERFUME (100% natural in Perfumer's Alcohol)
Cocoa Absolute, Blood Orange EO, Yellow Mandarin EO, Aged Patchouli EO, Labdanum Absolute, Coffee EO & Mushroom Absolute

SHAKE BEFORE EACH USE AS PRODUCT WILL SETTLE.

Midnight Oil was originally offered as a scrub in our autumn collection. I have formulated this scent to be enjoyed as a perfume. It is solely comprised of essential oils and absolutes. It is a deep, earthy, rich and citrusy fragrance. The cocoa, patchouli and mushroom absolute provide a dark, dank base for the bright blood orange and mandarin essential oils. A touch of labdanum adds a subtle sticky resinous quality to the scent. The cocoa and chocolatey-earthy smelling mushroom absolute combine with the orange to lend this scent a strong gourmand quality while the aged patchouli adds a deep musky and sooty character. The coffee EO in this blend is very subtle and works to add to the rich base.

The blood orange and mandarin oils give a citrusy burst to the initial application. The citrus is prominent for about 20 minutes or so. The dry down is dark, earthy and sweet with a slight hint of citrus. This fragrance contains a very small amount of tonka bean absolute as a fixative.

Midnight Oil is blended in perfumer's alcohol. Please shake gently before each use as the cocoa absolute will settle to the bottom. A few shakes will quickly and easily disperse the scent evenly. Unisex.

Cocoa absolute may stain lighter colored clothing and skin. When applying perfume, rub perfume in quickly as it is easier to work into skin with less chance of staining.

PRIVATE EYE PREMIUM 5 ml PERFUME (100% natural blend in Perfumer's alcohol)
Cocoa Absolute, Myrrh EO, Pink Pepper EO, Black Pepper EO, Tonka absolute, Buddha Wood, Tobacco absolute, Coffee EO, Guiacwood, Rosewood EO, etc.

SHAKE BEFORE EACH USE AS PRODUCT WILL SETTLE. NOT FOR USE BY WOMEN WHO ARE PREGNANT OR NURSING.

I'm obsessed with this scent. It is so unique and avant garde and I'm thrilled with how it came out. I'm not putting all of this on the listing but wanted to mention it here.

A mix of vices: dark chocolate, black coffee and cigarettes wrapped in a worn leather bomber jacket and staked out in a tan '72 Buick Skylark on a humid night. Radio static white noise crackling through the speakers, cigarette ashes on the car door. Later: a dark office. Neon lights cut sharply through the shadows. The hot bulb of the film projector heats up. Rotating reels emanate the familiar smell of warm celluloid and dust motes, flying just inches away from the lens.

Private Eye is a raw, gritty and unusual fragrance that radiates atmosphere and mystery. This inspired scent is spicy, earthy, sweet and slightly smoky with the faintest trace of leather. An all natural blend of resinous myrrh, rich cacao, effervescent pink pepper, black pepper, tobacco absolute, coffee essential oil, choya loban, guaiacwood, tonka bean, aged patchouli, rosewood and the woody, candied clove-like scent of buddha wood essential oil, Private Eye seeks to take you on a suspenseful journey full of mystery, into a dark and tangled world of unraveling secrets.

This is a very complex scent. Multiple notes arise on initial application: a blast of pink and black peppers, chocolate and coffee are followed quickly by heavy, resinous myrrh. Immediately thereafter the bright rosewood emerges, hovering above a gloriously smooth worn leather and smoke blend. After a few minutes you can still pick out several of these notes but the spicy buddha wood begins to edge up next to the rosewood. After this stage, the blend will develop a slightly sweeter profile while still remaining dark and complex. The spicy notes remain throughout the life of the perfume and are dominant, particularly the buddha wood. After it has been on for a while the tonka bean will begin to add a soft creamy caramelic note. Private Eye has incredible staying power. Unisex.

Cocoa absolute may stain lighter colored clothing and skin. When applying perfume, rub perfume in quickly as it is easier to work into skin with less chance of staining.

Private Eye contains spice oils. A slight warming sensation may be present on initial application for individuals with sensitive skin. This should not cause any great discomfort or be a lasting sensation.

REFORMULATED BLENDS:

NEW & IMPROVED Vanilla Pipe Tobacco! Much lighter and sweeter blend with tamer tobacco notes. Read full description for changes. If you didn't care for the original VPT, you may enjoy this one! AND, if you're allergic to vanilla absolute like I am, this blend does not contain any!

VANILLA PIPE TOBACCO PREMIUM 5 ml FRAGRANCE (in Rice Bran carrier oil)
Vanilla, Tobacco Absolute, Tonka Bean Absolute & Sweet Clover Absolute

SHAKE BEFORE EACH USE FOR BEST RESULTS

Vanilla Pipe Tobacco has been completely reformulated from its original incarnation while preserving a general similarity and using several of the same notes. It is offered in a rice bran carrier oil in lieu of perfumer's alcohol. This blend contains vanilla fragrance oil, tobacco absolute, tonka bean absolute and sweet clover absolute. It is a much lighter. smoother and sweeter blend with tamer tobacco notes.

On cold sniff and initial application, a sweet, dry tobacco note blooms on top of a beautiful vanilla base. The divine vanilla becomes stronger the longer this perfume is on the skin. The coumarin hay-like note of sweet clover absolute paired with warm tonka bean adds a dimension to this scent that makes it smell exactly like a sack of moist fresh vanilla flavored pipe tobacco. It is truly exquisite and a must try for anyone looking for a realistic and wearable pipe tobacco fragrance (unlit, not smoky).

The longer Vanilla Pipe Tobacco wears on the skin, the sweeter it becomes. VPT has good tenacity but hugs closer to the skin. It is a very pleasing authentic scent that is amazing worn alone or for layering. Unisex.

You may notice small black flecks suspended in this blend. These are simply small bits of tonka and sweet clover absolutes and nothing to be concerned about.

The return of:

CONJURE (!)
A Magical Blend of Vanilla, Amber, Cedar, Spices & Cauldron Smoke

This scent has been reformulated from the original version. It is very similar, especially on the dry down, but it is a little smoother and slightly softer. One of the primary oils in this blend was discontinued by a supplier so I have modified it to contain many of the original oils along with a few additional notes.

Conjure is a very soft and magical incensey blend consisting of 16 fragrance and essential oils including several mild non-foody vanillas, golden amber, labdanum absolute and warm cedar with a faint wisp of cauldron smoke, allspice EO, Sandalwood EO and FO, Moroccan Rose EO, guaiacwood, agarwood and several other special supporting notes. It is very sexy, mysterious and intriguing. Unisex.

Perfume, Body Ganache, Burnishing Glace and for the first time: Whipped Soap!

ALSO AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME:

PHARAOH WHIPPED SOAP
Egyptian Musk, Honey & Frankincense Essential Oil

Most of you already know this but, this oil has been reformulated from the original blend as of 2013. It smells very close to the original, almost identical.

Pharaoh is a fragrance comprised primarily of the long-established, popular and neutral scent of Egyptian Musk spiked with just a few drops of Frankincense Essential Oil and a splash of honey far in the background. It is a beautiful, very soft fragrance that is perfect for wearing when you're looking for something understated and muted but would like to smell clean. It is a truly wonderful unisex fragrance that has a slight tinge of the exotic and is clean, fresh, mild, natural and has just the slightest hint of a floral. The honey is a very mild natural honey and does not contain the almond notes that other honey blends have. A great neutral scent to have in your collection.

Buy at Solstice Scents
(I ended up getting samples of the gardenia, midnight and private eye)