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 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)

Lathers & Lights May Update 5/4

New Tiki Bar Collection:
~ Island Punch Facial Mask- red wine, strawberries, pineapple, peach, banana, mango, kaolin clay, coconut milk, honey- $15
~ Margarita Mixers (Body Yogurt, Shower Creme, Scrubs- sugar or salt)
Coconut- creamy coconut milk, lime, tequila (Scrub- lime powder/ground coconut)
Lime- lime, tequila, salt (Scrub- lime powder)
Mango- mango, lime, tequila (Scrub- mango extract/lime powder)
Naked Iguana- lime, melon liqueur, tequila, blue curacao, rum (Scrub- lime powder)
Peach- peach, lime, tequila (Scrub- peach extract/lime powder)
Pomegranate- pomegranate, tequila, lime (Scrub- pomegranate extract/lime powder)
Strawberry- strawberry, lime, tequila (Scrub- lime powder/strawberry extract)
Margarita Ice
Maui Margarita
~ Midnight Margaritas Triple Twist Foaming Sugar Scrub- mango rita, lime margarita & strawberry margarita- $15

Triple Twist Foaming Sugar Scrubs:
~ Strawberry Patch- strawberry sunrise, strawberry festival, sugared strawberries
~ Strawberry Shortcake- strawberries, vanilla cream, angel food cake

LE Scents:
~ Apricot Vanilla- warm fruity apricot, sweet sugary vanilla
~ Banana Sugar- banana, brown sugar, vanilla cream, toasted marshmallow
~ Black Coconut- coconut cream, Madagascar vanilla beans, E Indian patchouli, lt musk
~ Blue Lagoon- sparkling blue waters, salty aquatic, fresh marine, soft florals
~ Bora Bora- sweet pineapple, acai berry, mango zest, passion fruit, yuzu zest, green apple, orchid leaves
~ Coconut Amande- warming sensuous almond, coconut milk, white jasmine, rosewood, ylang ylang, vanilla bean, tonka, heliotrope, musk
~ Coconut Mangosteen- creamy coconut, peachy citrusy mangosteen
~ Coconut Yuzu- Japanese grapefruit, creamy coconut custard
~ Damask Rose- rich velvet rose, jasmine, iris, patchouli, warm, sparkling citrus, amber, musk, exotic sandalwood, sensuality
~ Flip Flops- tropical coconut, rich vanilla
~ Fresh Lemonade- lemons, sugar
~ Gardenia
~ Lemon Blueberry Bread- sweet bread, lemon, blueberries
~ Maui Margarita- strawberries, mango, kiwi, lime
~ Pineapple Cilantro- pineapple juice, cilantro
~ Pineapple Smoothie- pineapple, vanilla cream, caramelized sugar, sugared vanilla beans
~ Rose in Bloom- powdery rose, jasmine, vanilla, sandalwood
~ Strawberry Buttercream- vanilla buttercream, strawberry
~ Strawberry Festival- sweet strawberry cotton candy
~ Strawberry Rhubarb- berries, rhubarb, spun sugar
~ Strawberry Shortcake- golden angel cake, vanilla cream, sugared berries
~ Strawberry Sunrise- strawberries, blood orange
~ Tequila Lime- lime, salt, tequila
~ Twinkle Toes- yellow cream-filled sponge cake sugar bombs

The General Catalogue has also been revamped. I believe it will also change seasonal but not monthly like the LE. Here's Spring/Summer

GC:
~ Alkmare- sweet white jasmine, honeysuckle
~ American Dream- vanilla, earthiness, lavender, clary sage
~ Avabathe- clean fresh lemongrass
~ Bath Off!- violet, jasmine
~ Beach Blonde- tropical tanning oil, fruit smoothies
~ Beach Bunny- banana daiquiris, pina coladas, suntan oil
~ Berry Blush- dark berries, vanilla
~ Blackberry Lemonade- lemonade, vanilla, sugar, blackberries, wild green vines
~ Buttercream Cupcake- buttery vanilla frosting, white cupcake
~ Candy Clouds- strawberry-drizzled sundae, creme brulee, marshmallow fluff
~ Candy Fairy- sticky sweet glittering sugar
~ Chocolate Bliss- milk chocolate
~ Chocolate Silk- dark & milk chocolates, cream, sugar
~ Cocomilk- coconut milk, sugar, vanilla
~ Coconut Custard- coconut cream, sugar, vanilla
~ Coconut Queen- coconut milk, tiare blossoms, sandalwood
~ Coral Beach- tropical flowers, clean island breezes, citrus, vanilla
~ Creamy Coconut- sweet coconut
~ Egyptian Musk- warm, sensual musk
~ Endless Summer- salty sea air, jasmine, citrus laced suntan oil
~ Faded Denim- fresh air, clean water, sweet florals, crisp citrus, lavender, herbal moss, bergamot
~ Fig Leaf- ylang ylang, orange blossom, fig
~ Flannel Pajamas- fresh clean cotton, sweet sugary vanilla, cool crisp air
~ Hawaiian Cupcake- vanilla cupcake, sweet pineapple, coconut buttercream
~ Hey Sugar!- sweet/tart sugared lemon creme, cookie crust
~ Honey Bee Sweet- sweet wildflower honey, toasty toffee
~ Hula Honey- coconut oil, cocoa butter, Tahitian gardenia, jasmine, salty night air
~ Iced Lemon Biscotti- Italian cookie, lemon zest, lemon juice
~ Iced Mint Tea- sweetened mint tea
~ Indonesian Teak- sweet exotic wood, ozone, rosewood, musky sandalwood, teakwood, vanilla
~ Island Nectar- tropical flowers, sweet coconut, island fruits
~ Island Princess- sweet creamy coconut, lei flowers
~ Italian Cream Cake- egg & buttermilk cake, coconut cream cheese, nuts
~ Lavender Honey- lavender, thick golden honey
~ Lemon Cupcake- cakes, tart lemon curd, sweet buttercream frosting
~ Lime Margarita- lime juice, tequila, sea salt
~ Luau Lani- creamed coconut, banana, pineapple, warm woods, pikake petals
~ Macapuno Sorbet- coconut meat, lychee berries, jackfruit, mango, fruits, sugar, shaved ice, milk, ice cream
~ Mango Lassi- mango, sweet cream, citrus, spice
~ Mint Mojito- mint, sparkling soda, lime
~ Marshmallow Noel- marshmallow, vanilla bean, caramel sugar, cream
~ Oats & Honey
~ Out on a Limb- musky floral, lemon, sweet orange, green herbal, warm earthy, musk, vanilla
~ Pink Sand Beach- pink sugar, rich vanilla creme, marshmallow, coconut
~ Pizzelle- Italian waffle cookies
~ Pumpkin Paradise- pumpkin cream pie, toasted coconut
~ Raspberry Lemonade- sweet tart lemonade, raspberry
~ Red Velvet Cake- cocoa-infused cake, cream cheese frosting
~ Rice Flower- coconut, rice flower, creamy vanilla, warm musk, soft alluring
~ Rock Candy- super sweet fruity candy, vanilla
~ Rose Jelly- citrus, red rose petals, strawberry, clear musky undertones, vanilla
~ Rose Milk- pastry cream, whipped cream, rose syrup, rose water
~ Satsuma Guava- fruity green notes, guava, citrus, sweet jasmine, neroli, musk, sandalwood
~ Snow Drops- almond icing, powdered sugar, rose petals
~ Soft Sugar- sweet cotton candy, sugary vanilla
~ Stiletto Blonde- seductive, sultry, white flowers, violets, warm musky base
~ Sugar Beach- coconut milk, marshmallow, vanilla, amber, coconut, sugar
~ Sultana's Secret- sweet woodland strawberry, jasmine, rose, lavender, ginger, rare woods, musk, lemon zest
~ Tahitian Coconut- creamy coconut, Tahitian tiare blossoms
~ Tahitian Daiquiri- coconut, cherry, pineapple, mango, papaya
~ Temptation Isle- sultry seductive, coconuts, sweet vanilla, amber
~ Thai Retreat- lemongrass, creamy vanilla
~ Vanilla Bliss- buttery vanilla, warm caramelized sugar, vanilla orchid
~ Vanilla Fusion- sugared vanilla beans, caramel, rich cream, musk, sexy amber
~ Vanilla Indulgence- sugared vanilla beans, soft musk
~ Vanilla Mandarin- warm vanilla, mandarin, warm bourbon
~ Vanilla Spirit- smoky vanilla tobacco, vanilla, spices, benzoin, frankincese, cedar, pink pepper, bergamot, Bulgarian rose, ylang ylang
~ Vanilla Tiare- rich vanilla, exotic Tiare petals, warm amber, musk

Moonalisa Easter/Spring 2013

My Moonalisa package got there this week! The packaging is always beautiful.

Easter Basket grass, artificial rose petals & beautiful printed cards!

Each item is wrapped in colored tissue paper or gold foil paper

Each has a pretty stamp.

Sorry, you couldn't read the stamp in person either.

Fronts of the printed cards

Back of the cards

I like that she wraps all of the bottles in sealed bags in case of leaks, it sucks to wait for a package to find that most of the labels & bottles are sticky because one leaked. Cross-contamination also sucks.

2 8oz bottles of 4-in-1 Gel in Peach Paradise and Bunny Killer

2 4oz bottles of Hair Conditioner in Bali Cloud and The Gate

2 Butter Rich Creams in Bees Knees (which I sniffed & fell in love with... smells like real fresh honeysuckles and honey) and Vantasia

Disappearing Bath Oil in French Lavender (comes with a pump)

Dusting Powder in The Gate (beautiful tube- I want a vanity full of these)

Samples!!! New scent called The Spice which rumor has it will be part of a retro Sci-Fi collection this summer with retro posters. This is a bath salts and scrub sample pack.

Lip Butters (which I need a constant supply of) in Violet and Rose Milk.

BPAL Planting Moon Update 4/22

I won't be reviewing planting moon (much too earthy for me) but I will have the single note & lunar eclipse.

PLANTING MOON 2013
As is the garden such is the gardener,
A man's nature runs either to herbs or to weeds. - Francis Bacon

This Full Moon marks a time for new growth, both within nature and within our spirits. It is a time of fertility and fruitfulness, for sowing seeds to ensure blessings and bounty later in the year.

The scent of Planting Moon is that of summer squashes, pole beans, kohlrabi, tomato leaves, peppery arugula, upturned earth, and sun-warmed herbs. 

LUNAR ECLIPSE: APRIL 2013
Luna's lovely, pale face crowned by a sliver of umbral shadow and veiled by penumbral shadow: white musk, mugwort, iris, white tea, and silvered yarrow with black amber, Indonesian patchouli, fir resin, and blackcurrant.

SINGLE NOTE: SWEET ALYSSUM
Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature. - Gérard de Nerval A lush carpet of foam-white and dusky purple blossoms: this is the gentle, joyous scent of spring-blooming sweet alyssum.

Buy at BPAL

Conjure Oils Update 4/22 & 4/30

Conjure Oils updated with new spring scents last week. The owner gave birth a week before and has resurrected nursery scents to celebrate plus Goth in Trees, an annual Earth Day-ish scent and two birthday scents. Plus, the old spring lineup from last year is back up. Unfortunately, since there are no decant circles (her TAT is very unpredictable and communication can get spotty so most decanters are no longer willing to run circles. I'm hoping this changes before summer), I won't have scents to test.

Goth in Trees- Earth Day 2013- $25

With a title inspired by a blog I once saw, Goths in Trees was our first ever Earth Day limited edition from 2012! Using all natural, organic/wild crafted oils, we've resurrected the finest just for you. We'll also be donating $3 from each sale to SAVE THE ORANGUTAN, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the habitat and well being of these wonderful and precious creatures.

Deep and earthy amyris and balsam peru, gritty patchouli, ho wood and oakmoss brightened with olibanum, sweet orange and a subtle drop of ylang ylang sunshine!

Le Sacre du Printemps- Resurrected- $19ea

Scents inspired by the fevered passions of composer Igor Stravinsky and choreographer Vaslav Nijinski

Le Sacre du Printemps, or the Rite of Spring, is a legendary ballet rife with sexuality, virility, primal, ancient magics and pagan revelry. Penned in 1913, it is one of the best examples of musical innovation that heralded the Modern period of music. It has inspired many - from Fantasia to Frank Zappa - and continues to ignite the hearts and minds of artists to this day.

We at Conjure can think of no better devotion to Spring than to create a fragrance collection based on this wonderful and exhilarating work of fine art. This is a conceptual line, offering Conjure's interpretation of the music, the myth and the meaning that resounds within the imagination.

Enjoy the rebirth and the rapture.

Danses des Adolescentes

The Dance of the Young Girls; a study in innocence.

Creamy orchid, soft skin musk, a blush of pink jasmine, white tea, candy floss and the finest gowns of raw silk and linen.

Jeu du Rapt

Ritual of Abduction; thief of hearts. Evocative of the myth of Persephone and the betrayal and agony she felt as she was spirited away to the underworld.

Crimson pomegranate, Moroccan fig, smoked vanilla sugar, soft moss, amber resin, aged black tea and opium poppy resin.

Rondes Printanières

Spring Rounds. Warm, sweet and renewing as the first day of Spring. This is the scent of hope.

Vanilla cream, pink hyacinth, ruby grapefruit, scarlet hibiscus, cake flour, caramelized coconut and raspberry infused patchouli.

Jeux des Cités Rivales

The Games of the Two Rival Tribes.

Spirited and spiced candied violets, bitter cloves, cassis and red sandalwood spar with black currant, ylang ylang, vanilla orchid, gunpowder and dried wild grasses.

Cortège du Sage

Procession of the Oldest and Wisest One. We revere the wisdom of the ages and respect our elders.

We honor the Old Ones: clary and desert sages, chaparral, creosote, ancient wood, faded leather and cactus flower sweetened with desiccated fireweed honey.

Adoration de la Terre

The Kiss of the Earth. Earthbound and beautiful; the blue dot in a sea of black that we call home.

Warm and golden as a summer's sunset: peach blossom honey, chthonic amber resin, toasted basmati rice, cured tobacco, sweet tea and blonde patchouli.

Danse de la Terre

Dancing Out of the Underworld. Persephone is free and the world is reborn in joyous celebration.

Escape the darkness with rejuvenating black Assam tea, dark coconut husk, aged vanilla resin, sacred sandalwood temple incense, earthen musk and shaved red mandarin zest.

Cercles Mystérieux des Adolescentes

Circle of the Mystical Maidens.

The Celtic festivals of Samhain and Beltaine are historically the two times during the year when the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead are at their thinnest. May 1st invites more than ancestral spirits - it carries the spirits of earth Elementals - faeries, gnomes, sprites and other creatures of myth as spring rains and gentle blossoms are carried on the perfumed breeze.

The Spring Maidens dance this eternal dance and weave into their rhythm the magic of the season working the rites that further weaken the veil making the world of seen and unseen indistinguishable.

"We gather in a strict formation, hold hands in a circle
and at twilight we all we all walk around the stones.
Spirits dance and bodies roll, hallucinations curtsey
as the river priestess consecrates the bones."

~ Casting the Runes, Legendary Pink Dots

Exotic tuberose, pink peony, lychee fruit, orange blossom, vanilla bean, tonka, strawberry blossom, bergamot and sugar cane.

Glorification de l'Élue

Naming and Glorifying the Chosen One who is the Golden Child, the May Queen, the Sacred Divine within; the Holy Fire of Spirit that links us with All-That-Is.

Glory be: golden saffron, antique patchouli, white honey, orris root, toasted almond, khus and splendid olibanum.

Evocation des Ancêtres

Evoking the Spirits of the Ancestors. We stand on the shoulders of our ancestors through love, adoration and veneration our predecessors are lifted, elevated, given light and eternal life.

Revere and honor: dried pomegranate rind crushed and perfumed with linden blossom, red spikenard, aloes wood, Egyptian sandalwood, sweet myrrh and Kyphi incense.

Action Rituelle des Ancêtres

Ritual of the Ancestors. Our ancestral rituals are remembered on a cellular level. Deep DNA memories are celebrated during the heart of the darkest night lasting until the break of iridescent dawn.

Honor those that have passed on with white sandalwood, red willow, amyris, palo santo, patchouli blossom, Himalayan cedar, ylang ylang, opoponax and ginseng.

Danse Sacrale

Sacrificial Dance of the Chosen One.

Sacred and uplifting: crystal amber, blue lavender, cyclamen, white sage, honeydew, vanilla musk, candied violets and a gentle heart of white rose tea.

Le Sacre du Printemps will be available until June 21st

Nursery Scents- $19ea

LITTLE BOY BLUE

Little Boy Blue, come blow your horn.
The sheep's in the meadow, the cow's in the corn.
Where is the boy that looks after the sheep?
"He's under the haystack, fast asleep."
Will you wake him?
"No, not I; For if I do, he'll be sure to cry."
Golden spun cornflower honey, hay absolute, dandelion, French lavender and vanilla infused amber.

WHAT ARE LITTLE BOYS MADE OF?

What are little boys made of? 
What are little boys made of?
Slugs and snails And puppy-dogs' tails, 
That's what little boys are made of.
Mud pies, petrichor and patchouli mischief

ALL AROUND THE MULLBERRY BUSH

All around the mulberry bush
The monkey chased the weasel.
The monkey thought 'twas all in fun.
Pop! goes the weasel.
A penny for a spool of thread,
A penny for a needle.
That's the way the money goes.
Pop! goes the weasel.
Up and down the City Road,
In and out of the Eagle,
That's the way the money goes.
Pop! goes the weasel.
Half a pound of tuppenney rice,
Half a pound of treacle,
Mix it up and make it nice,
Pop! goes the weasel.
Juicy ripe mulberries, toasted rice and a trace of treacle warmed with fig and a light dusting of nutmeg and clove

BAT BAT COME UNDER MY HAT

Bat, bat, come under my hat,
And I'll give you a slice of bacon;
And when I bake,
I'll give you a cake,
If I am not mistaken. 

Devil's food cake, chocolate ganache, Conjure Oils' Apothecary dragon's blood and jasmine blossom musk

CURLY LOCKS

Curly Locks, Curly Locks,
Will you be mine?
You shall not wash dishes,
Nor feed the swine,
But sit on a cushion
And sew a fine seam,
And sup upon strawberries,
Sugar, and cream. 

Raw sugar and vanilla bourbon extract are whipped into sweet cream clouds and served on fresh strawberry-filled tarts

HEY DIDDLE DIDDLE

Hey, diddle, diddle,
The cat and the fiddle,
The cow jumped over the moon.
The little dog laughed
To see such sport,
And the dish ran away with the spoon.
Crystallized ginger, Indian sandalwood, black amber, vanilla resin and coconut milk.

THE ITSY BITSY SPIDER

Itsy Bitsy spider climbed up the water spout
Down came the rain and washed the spider out
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain
Now Itsy Bitsy spider went up the spout again 

Night Queen, lily of the valley, rain musk and ozone

LITTLE MISS MUFFET

Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet
Eating her curds and whey,
Along came a spider,
Who sat down beside her
And frightened Miss Muffet away
Steel cut oats, Conjure Oils' Apothecary Raw Honey, whole milk, succulent black raspberry and orange blossoms

MARY MARY QUITE CONTRARY

Mary Mary quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells and cockle shells
And pretty maids all in a row.
Red patchouli, mandarin orange, frankincense, vanilla blossom, tobacco leaf, brown sugar and pink peppercorns

RING AROUND THE ROSY

Ring around the rosy
A pocketful of posies
"Ashes, Ashes"
We all fall down!

Black rose incense, night blooming cereus, sweet pea, teakwood and orris root

STAR LIGHT, STAR BRIGHT

Star Light Star bright,
The first star I see tonight,
I wish I may, I wish I might,
Have the wish I wish tonight.

Stargazer lily, sugar cane, black amber, red patchouli, butter cream and black tea

THE OWL AND THE PUSSY CAT

The Owl and the Pussycat went to sea
In a beautiful pea-green boat,
They took some honey, and plenty of money,
Wrapped up in a five pound note.
The Owl looked up to the stars above,
And sang to a small guitar,
"O lovely Pussy! O Pussy, my love,
What a beautiful Pussy you are, you are, you are,
What a beautiful Pussy you are."
Pussy said to the Owl "You elegant fowl,
How charmingly sweet you sing.
O let us be married, too long we have tarried;
But what shall we do for a ring?"
They sailed away, for a year and a day,
To the land where the Bong-tree grows,
And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood
With a ring at the end of his nose, his nose, his nose,
With a ring at the end of his nose.
"Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling your ring?"
Said the Piggy, "I will"
So they took it away, and were married next day
By the Turkey who lives on the hill.
They dined on mince, and slices of quince,
Which they ate with a runcible spoon.
And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand.
They danced by the light of the moon, the moon, the moon,
They danced by the light of the moon.

Honey rose, quince fruit, sparkling bergamot, sweet myrrh, a dark, calm sea and luminous moonlight musk

TWINKLE TWINKLE LITLLE STAR

Twinkle twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are?
Up above the world so high , like a diamond in the sky
When the blazing sun is gone, when he nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light, twinkle, twinkle all the night.
Then the traveler in the dark, thanks you for your tiny spark,
He could not see which way to go, if you did not twinkle so.
In the dark blue sky you keep, and often through my curtains peep,
For you never shut your eye, 'till the sun is in the sky.
As your bright and tiny spark lights the traveler in the dark,
Though I know not what you are - twinkle, twinkle little star

Valencia orange, golden frankincense, white amber, white grapefruit, opalescent musk and a shower of glowing sandalwood stars drifting in deep labdanum and oud ocean

WHAT ARE LITTLE GIRLS MADE OF?

What are little girls made of?
Sugar and spice,
And everything nice,
That's what little girls are made of.

Steamed milk, chai spice, vanilla bean infused simple syrup and a sprinkling of powdered honey

Birthday Scents- $19ea
Sugar and Filigree

Happy Third Birthday, Miss Lucy!

Lucy, what else is there to say that I didn't say these last two years to you? With each passing year, I witness your journey from dependent infancy to an independent young girl. In your eyes I can catch fleeting glimpses of the woman you will become, and while I know that day is still a long distance away, a part of me agonizes over the feeling that time is blasting past in leaps and bounds while another part of myself feels the days slide by slowly, imperceptibly, achingly slow.

It is my wish for you on your third birthday that you continue to grow into the kind hearted, warm and loving person that you are and that now that you are a big sister, you will teach your younger brother how to shine in the world as you do.

Lucy, you're sugar and filigree to me - It's how you sweetly turn and twist through time, continually imbedding yourself deeper and deeper into my heart. Never let go.

I love you, sweet girl,

Mama

Aged vanilla infused musk, pink candy floss, quince, rock candy and angel food cake

Moody Bastard

On April 21st, my dear hubs turned 30. And while he may be in deep denial over it, I still find cause for celebration! (And yes, my husband, my daughter and my son were are all born in April within two weeks of one another!) Sterling's birthday falls on the cusp between Aries and Taurus which I believe gives him a tendency to be rather intense and moody. (Sterling shares a birthday with Robert Smith from the Cure and we all know what kind of reputation that guy has for being melancholy and cantankerous! There just may be something in the stars that day.)

In honor of all the gloomy curmudgeons of the world, I present Moody Bastard, a blend most dark and brooding.

Black patchouli, smoked vanilla resin, shredded tobacco, oakmoss, teak, black tea and Indian sandalwood.

Buy at Conjure Oils

Solstice Scents Cascade of Gold Review

Solstice Scents Cascade of Gold is part of their Spring 2013 collection. It is a premium fragrance and I received 1/4 full imp in my sampler pack (Non-premium imps are full, premium ones are 1/4).

The official description is sandalwood, white sandalwood, honeysuckle, champa & white lotus.

Cascade of Gold is an utterly amazing, 100% natural and exquisite blend of essential oils, absolutes and Indian attars blended in our rice bran carrier oil.  Notes of sandalwood, white sandalwood, honeysuckle, champa and white lotus combine to form a divine and meditative scent that is also very sensual.  Cascade of Gold has a base of exotic incensey woods with a very strong amber note that has subtle balsamic undertones.  The floral notes are delicately blended so as to add just the right exotic touch to the warm wood and amber notes.  It smells like bottled sunset with the last of the days' golden orange rays peeking out mixed with humid deep south air that has been perfumed by a concentration of mid spring blooms.  You can almost literally feel a warmth radiating from your skin with this scent on.  The champa is the finest quality I've found and it contributes a delicate edge of spice to the blend as well.  The florals serenely float at the top of the blend adding a velvety white note for the first 10 minutes.  Their voice becomes softer and evolves to a relatively stable blend without morphing that smells warm, sweet, ambery, golden, robust, full bodied, exotic, floral and extremely sexy.  Cascade of Gold would make a wonderful blend for yoga, meditation, scrying or just before bed as it has a natural harmony and almost trance inducing properties.  

In the imp- woodsy perfume-y

Wet- very heavy on initial application, very perfume-y

Drying- I thought I got a frankincense/resin background without the scent notes. I suppose that's my interpretation of the sandalwood and champa mix? Now reading the notes, I'm definitely getting the "exotic incensey woods". I get a hint of spice as well but nothing I could identify and definitely not cinnamon.

Dry- I don't get warm. I wanted to but its just woodsy incense. And it faded really fast on me.

Verdict- It's nice. Yeah, that's as good of a feeling as I get. I love the idea of a warm exotic desert scent, but I didn't get sexy warm. I got department store perfume version of warm exotic desert scent. I also didn't like that it faded fast on me even after I reapplied a 2nd time. It's a premium fragrance so I don't have a lot and it's more expensive.

Buy Here at Solstice Scents

Moonalisa Chocolate Strudel 4-in-1

Moonalisa's Chocolate Strudel 4-in-1 is also a mini 4oz size I received in the Chocolate Lovers Easter Basket.

Official scent description is Delicious Chocolate & coconut with a hint of flaky buttery pastry.

I've been using the 4-in-1s as shampoo (read my earlier Dr. Bombay review) and I'm still surprised how well it lathers since etailers are notoriously less bubbly than retailer products. I didn't get any coconut from this but tons of chocolate and pastry. I hate chocolate scents in other etailers but Moonalisa chocolate is so real and actually good. This smells pretty delicious. 


Usually $11 for 8oz.
Unfortunately, the ingredient list is very tiny and hard to read. I can't find an ingredient list on the website.

Verdict: I'll buy this scent again in any product!