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Monday, October 27, 2014

Moonalisa Halloween Release


My very first Moonalisa order is tucked safely under my belt. In the past, I had read dozens of reviews about this being a popular vendor who's product flies off the virtual shelves. Especially during a Halloween release. I had no idea what to expect so I quickly chose three products based on names alone.



Sleepy Hallow Soy Tart clamshell: I had no idea what the notes might be but I counted on spooky goodness. This does not disappoint. It smells like a Jack 'O Lantern that has been lit all night, frightening little children and goblins away. Pumpkin, lightly toasted with candle fire.


Where's My Pie free sample: This was in the drawstring bag with a stick of candy and a business card. I totally thought it was wax and was going gaga over it. But after taking the photos and editing them, I read that it was soap! I quickly took it in the shower and was amazed. The dark base is full of exfoliating granules that smell and feel like fine sugared cinnamon. THE SMELL. Oh. Pure, unadulterated sweet cinnamon. I  kept looking around the shower to see if my cinnamon broom crept in there and was hiding in a corner (she's insanely jealous of my Nimbus 2000). I have never used a straight up cinnamon soap but I am in love. It tingled with goodness. It lathered well and rinsed just as beautifully.



My haste tricked me. When I was ordering I knew I wanted a wax tart, a soap and a hair conditioner. I think by now y'all know I am into musky, minty, earthy, different scents. I am not a bakery or fruity fan in body care or perfume in general. There are of course exceptions but this was not the time for that. I found the scent Wicked Amber in both the soap and conditioner and thought "Oh, yes, warm and rich amber. Come to mama." I should have read the scent description. It turned out that it is a predominately apple scent with a hint of amber and was misnamed on the website and the invoice. It was supposed to read Wicked Apple. I did not know this. I opened my package and my face fell a little. Apple? Hm. I messaged Moonalisa and explained that I received the wrong scent. I ordered Amber, not Apple. She told me it was the same scent description and that it was a simple naming error. I told her it was my bad since I went based off of the name, not even bothering to read the scent descriptions. She VERY generously refunded my order amount. I was NOT expecting that. At all. I told her thank you and that I would be back. Excellent customer service.
Wicked Apple Hair Conditioner: The scent, though the same in the soap and the conditioner, smells differently in each medium. In the conditioner is it much more bakery and apple crisp smelling. Can I say how weird it feels to wash my hair with apple crisp? The conditioner itself is a dream. Thick, nice slip and moisturizing. A little goes a longer way than I am "conditioned" to experience (you like that? yeah, I am punny). I plan on ordering her conditioner again. I still love my FuturePrimitive conditioner but I am a free agent. I like having choices. My curls enjoy both formulas, even though they are different.



Wicked Apple Soap: I think this is a hot process soap. The mica/glycerin swirls remind me of the first and only melt and pour soaps I made years ago as Christmas gifts. I cut off a decent sized hunk and used it in the shower. The scent in soap form is less bakery and a little more apple and musk and amber. I enjoy it much much more in the soap form. This bar lathered copious amounts of soft white fluffy foam. It did leave my skin squeaky clean with just the tiniest bit of tightness but nothing that bothered me. I love staring at those colors and swirling clouds of shimmering aqua. It looks like a potion simmering in a magical cauldron frozen in time.



Have you tried Moonalisa? Any recommendations? Does she do a Christmas release? Hope you have a splendid last week of October!

30 comments:

  1. Wow, fun order! Ooh, the top on the Wicked Amber soap, it looks like the northern lights. Moona's soaps are melt and pour, maybe because it gives her the most control over their look. She went to art school and likes to push the boundaries on it. Looking forward to seeing the cozy goodness you get for the holidays.

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    1. I was going to say that's not hot process. You can usually tell hot process soaps by their sort of lumpy texture and look, like oatmeal pressed into a mold.

      ~Deb

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    2. That is cool she has an art background. Melt and pour it is then. I was not which one, just knew it wasn't cold. I hope her Yule stuff stays up a while. I want to smell O'Tannenbaum.

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    3. By the way when you're running low on salts, Solstice Scents' awesome fir salts are out. Their salts are super highly scented with Virginia cedarwood, patchouli, oakmoss absolute, spruce, cypress, amyris, rosewood, violet leaf absolute, rosemary, lavender, vetiver, marjoram and Himalayan cedar.

      They have a jar of grapefruit salts that is amazing also, with 3 kinds of grapefruit oils.

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    4. Oh Jean!!!! You tantalize me with descriptions of fir bath salts! Be still my pine loving heart. I did cave and get O' Tannenbaum 4 in 1 from Moonalisa. Could not help it.

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  2. I just went to the website and the Yule stuff is out, I guess it came out this weekend. Snuggler is one of my favorites, it smells like Andes mint chocolate.

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    1. I enjoyed that one mint chocolate one you gave me a and it surprised me as I do not typically enjoy chocolate scents.

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  3. Er, the first part of the Yule sale is tonight at 9:30, the listings up are for internationals. Some of the posts on Facebook are long so it takes a bit to figure out what's going on, lol.

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  4. Lots more spice, woot! http://www.moonalisa.com/pages/new-and-retro-yule-holiday-scents-2013

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  5. I've never ordered from there myself but I have had some things to try from Jean, and maybe from Lynda back in the day. This used to be one of the impossible ones to order from. Is it still like that?

    I've decided that since I can't seem to get into bar soaps again, I'll try handcrafted body washes instead. Now I need to start looking for vendors that offer them. I know of two off the top of my head.

    ~Deb

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    1. It's way better, very calm now. Everything is made to order and the counts are set high, I don't see much sell out right away. After a few days the listings are closed and then she makes enough for what's sold.

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    2. Moona does body washes, btw, they're called 4-in-1's.

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    3. Oooh! I will have to check them out! Thanks. =)

      ~Deb

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    4. Deb, sounds like you might have ordered but if not, Pumpkin Batter is a good one.

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  6. I've never ordered from this company but I heard a lot of positive reviews. That's not hp soap. It's definitely mp. (i'm a soapmaker) I think most of her stuff are bases. But everyone seems to love them. Enjoy

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    1. Hi Yasmine! Thanks! Do you still make soaps? Do you sell? Have any favorite soapers?

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    2. No I don't sell anymore. But I enjoy Missouri River Soap, Nature's Art Homemade.

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    3. I enjoy Missouri River too. Beautiful, great soap. Deb enjoys Nature's Art too. I keep meaning to try them. Thank you Yasmine!

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  7. ooooooo... the sleepy hollow sounds divine!! (side note: do you watch Sleepy Hollow? i'm totally addicted to that show..)

    the apple soap is gorgeous!! but you know that i love glitter!! ^_^

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    1. It is a pleasantly creepy smell. I NEED to watch Sleepy Hallow and a million other shows. Hoping Santa brings a new TV so I can get Netflix and be plugged in to some sweet shows.

      Yes! You are my glitter girl <3 I love sparklies too!!!!

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    2. Butting in here to say that I love Sleepy Hollow. I saw something hinting that Crane might be doing yoga in tonight's episode. I gotta see that!!!!

      ~Deb

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    3. Aaahhhh! What station does it come on? Can I hop in mid stride!!??

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    4. Sleepy Hollow comes on FOX.. couldnt tell you what day, i just watch for my Hulu button to say "new show!" lol. I would watch starting at Season 1.. or else you're going to be very lost.. plus you'll miss all the "NO WAY!" moments! i love this show because i cant predict whats going to happen next!

      Deb, yoga!?!?! oh my goodness... i cant wait to watch!! Crane is totally swoon worthy!

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    5. Oh I've heard good things about Sleepy Hollow, but I haven't watched it yet!!

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  9. So many cool things!! I know it's not what you wanted, but that soap is so pretty!! Glad the owner made it right, that's great! I like the smell of apple crisp, but I'm not sure if I'd like washing my hair with it, LOL! :-)

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    1. It is a strange sensation! But I am overall, happy with the experience. Going to read scent descriptions next time for sure!

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  10. Had no idea she made wax! WOW! Very cool order, look at those colors and details. That bar of soap is GORGEOUS. Her customer service sounds incredible, fantastic of her to refund you. I just placed my first order from her a few weeks ago, after the Halloween restock. I wanted to get Where's My Pie, but decided against it. Bummer! I will haul when I get mine. :D

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    1. She has great stuff! Can't wait to see your haul!! I ended up grabbing a 4-in-1 and a sugar scrub. The sugar scrub is Where's My Pie. Woot!

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