Thursday, June 30, 2016

Ebb & Flow: June

The highs and lows of the month.


Skincare:
Ole Henriksen eye cream for day, eye gel for night

Makeup:
Jack Black Mint Lip Balm with SPF

Perfume:
Tribute by Love Potion Magickal Perfumerie

Scrub:
Candied Rose Petals by Handmade in Florida

Bath Bomb:
Patchouli Oudh bath bomb by Handmade in Florida

Lotion:
Marshmallow Rose by Haus of Gloi

Wax:
All my Sniff My Tart peppermint blends... they are really making the house smell amazing and psych me out into thinking I am cooler during these hot days. They are going to open soooooon!

Candle:
Bath and Body Works Peace candles by my tub.

Drinking:
Boba tea, finally got on board with it.

Eating:
Fuji or Pink Crisp Apples

Reading:
Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

Watching:
Ripper Street and Mr. Selfridge 

Listening:
Outlander soundtrack like a million times.

Wearing:
Yoga pants, sports bras, flip flops. My summer uniform.

Awaiting:
The Cleveland trip! Eating at the Westside Market, hanging out with family and Jacqui, smelling perfumes, seeing an apple tree, Amish country, castles in parks, more food, candle stores, and food.

Dreading:
The summer flying by so fast. WHY?!?!?!?!

Hit:
Aftelier Chef's Essences Chocolate Absolute spray, it makes my coffee, steak and teas taste divine. Everyone I make coffee for has been telling me that it "tastes so good, what coffee is this?" Hint: it's not just the coffee. 

Miss:
Lush Love and Light hand cream, it smells like bitter neroli tied up in burnt plastic bags. I was trying to fight my way through it but Adam told me it stunk so I gave up. I am dumping it and keeping the pot for trade-in on a fresh face mask. 

Low:
My grandmother, Nano, passing away. She taught me how to play piano, how to set a table, and how to persevere through hardships. She was a socialite who threw festive Christmas Eve and Thanksgiving celebrations. She dressed up for Halloween and the kids loved stopping by on the way to trick-or-treat. She was an artist who could paint a a hauntingly beautiful still life, like the one she painted that is pictured above that hangs in Scarlette's room. She was a crafter who embossed and stamped her own holiday cards and invitations to luncheons. She wore Shalimar. She took me to church. She loved poodles (I remember her getting their nails painted and sitting for portraits with crystal encrusted collars). She didn't take a whole lot of bullshit from anyone except PaPa but she loved just as fiercely. Sadly, after many decades of smoking her health declined rapidly and she spent the last decade of her life in a nursing home. She always lit up when we went to visit her and never made us feel bad when it was time to leave, even though we all knew she did not really enjoy where she was living. Savanna and I were the last people to see her, only minutes before she passed. I have comfort knowing I said good-bye and that I love her and that I thanked her. 
Rest in peace Gloria Virgil Metziere Erskine.

High:
Watching my girls with their noses in a book, asking to go to the library, carrying books in the car to read while running errands, books on the floor by the toilets, books on the coffee table while they read quietly in the morning waiting for us to wake up, saving money to buy a certain book. Their love of books blooming and growing and me, praying it never ceases. My high is knowing that my girls love to read.

What did June bring you? Any highs or lows? Hits or misses?

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

FuturePrimitive: Summer Release, Indian Temple Attar and The Warrior


I kept my summer order from FuturePrimitive simple: Indian Temple Attar (a staple scent for me) and The Warrior. 

I prefer to use Tiggy's Three In One Whipped Cream Soap as shampoo then use the Conditioning Hair Rinse in the same scent. I purchased these at full price, 6.95 pounds for the cream soap and 9.25 pounds for the rinse. All the summer scents are currently marked down and the pounds to dollar rate is pretty good right now, so I went ahead and ordered a couple more conditioners from the sale. Looking back on past posts, I see that this is the third summer in a row I have ordered Indian Temple Attar. I love the dark labdanum enhanced rose petals, exotic and plush and full of beauty. I will continue to order it every summer if she releases it.


The Warrior boasts woods, spice and resins. The frankincense is aged and accompanies smoked wood, salty tang and I love it. In fact, it is in my rotation right now. 

The Three In One cleans hair without stripping it, is great for shaving and of course, as soap. It manages to be dense yet light as air. The Conditioning Hair Rinse offers nice slip for finger combing wet hair, a must for my curly hair, as well as moisturizing but not weighing hair down. My holy grail of indie conditioner.


The Warrior bar soap was 5.50 pounds. A past review can be read here. I love the new look. Very rustic and lovely, like the masts, canvas and wood of a ship. Tiggy is a master soaper. Abundant lather, strong scent and wonderful skin feel.




Love my FuturePrimitive bar soaps.


Two free samples slivers in Amish Friendship Bread and Lemon Squares.

Amish Friendship Bread, light on the bread notes but sweetly spiced and dotted with dried fruits. Comforting.

Lemon Squares, sweet shortbread crust topped with lemon curd, zesty and sweet. I believe this one is in her new palm free formula. I am excited to test this one out. I may review it more in depth later once I use it. 

I am thrilled to be stocked back up on shampoo and conditioner. Have you tried any indie vendor conditioners? What have you been washing your hair with lately? 

Saturday, June 25, 2016

Warmed Wax: Glitterati and Rosegirls


Glitterati Strawberry Cotton Candy was very yummy! It smelled just like its name, densely flavored strawberry candies spun out into a cloud of pink cotton candy. Sugary sweet but not overly so with a hint of multi-berry tones. I would repurchase this blend for sure. It threw medium-strong in my kitchen and living area.


Rosegirls Whiskers on Kittens, I am not sure of the scent description as I could not find much online but it reminds me of a Yankee Candle Christmas scent. I pick up apples, cranberries, very light spice and very light evergreen. I enjoyed it. The throw was about medium to medium-light in my bedroom. I liked it but would not repurchase probably.


Rosegirls Twilight Woods November Rain, is a fresh scent. Nice and clean like laundry but that slight sweet warmth given by Twilight Woods. It had a medium throw in my kitchen. I would probably repurchase for a nice laundry day scent. 

Anyone ordering from Rosegirls on Wednesday the 29th? Pumpkin Milkshake is drawing me in. Amy and Donna at Sniff My Tarts mentioned opening again for custom orders soon too. I know I will be getting more peppermint blends and maybe some spicy ones too. Dessa's, Sweet Fixations, Alamo Caldelaria and maybe Sugar & Spice are beckoning for orders as well. I am feeling the call for fall. How about you? Plotting any fall-ish orders? 

Friday, June 24, 2016

Haus of Gloi: Summer Release with Refreshers and Pumpkin Butters


For the past couple of summers I have neglected trying a wildly popular Haus of Gloi scent, Beguiled. When the latest HoG newsletter swooped into my email inbox and I saw Beguiled, Marshmallow Rose and a peppermint and a lavender Refresher, I knew it was time to rectify that oversight and splurge on a few of those others.


I have never used the Refreshers before, but the idea of them really appealed to me for this summer. They were reformulated for this release, but as this is my first time using them I have no idea how they compare to the past formula. They come in 4 ounce bottles.

Chillax- Notes: A blend of two vanillas, amber and Bulgarian lavender.
Mmmmmm.... yes, baby. Olde time apothecary lavender buds ground and mixed with vanilla bean pods and powdery sweet amber. The amber really deepens and highlights the duskiness of the lavender. The spray itself is a delightful milky hue that does need to be shaken before enjoyed. Applied liberally, it leaves my skin cool and soft, like a lightly mentholated sheen. The chill wears off in about 10-15 minutes but leaves the aroma behind for about and hour, when a light lingering sweetness remains. I will be buying more and using all summer for sure. They are $8.00 each and now they are out in the General Catalog fragrances... Moon Dog and a few more were just ordered. I am a bad, bad girl. Chillax and a few of the Summer scents are still on offer too.

Peppermint Wood- Notes: Local peppermint, crushed clary sage, and cedarwood.
I have watched Adam open and sniff this one twice when he didn't realize I was looking. I think he likes it. What starts out as a Peppermint Patty quickly looses the creaminess and develops an airy herbal mint tone with help from the sage, yet manages to retain some sugar. Cedarwood contributes an austere headspace. Regretting not getting two bottles of this beauty. Wow. Sadly it is sold out.


Ahhhh, my beloved pumpkin butter body creams. I always keep one of these bad boys on my nightstand for post-nocturnal ablutions. Currently I have Satyr near my bedside and am quite loving the deep orange resinous scent.  I chose the mini sizes  (2 oz) for Beguiled and Marshmallow Rose, $5.00 each.

Beguiled- Notes: Lemon cake made with the tang of fresh buttermilk and raspberry coulis, with cardamom and pink peppercorns.
Tart lemon curd and gooey cake drizzled with raspberry sauce. The cardamom and pink peppercorn add pizazz to this decadent gourmand treat. I will love using this in the fall and winter to slather on my skin for a tasty treat. It may be too sweet bakery for me to wear during the hot summer though. Florida heat and humidity can slay the stoutest creature.

Marshmallow Rose- Notes: Homemade marshmallow and rosewater.
Delicious. The clarity of the rosewater adds a sheer beauty to the sweet vanilla bean marshmallows. This jar is going on my nightstand right now.


Free sample of Driftwood- Notes: Sun bleached driftwood, dry black musk, warm sand, dune grasses, and damp oceanic breeze.
Gorgeous. Salt encrusted driftwood, sweetgrass and musk so deep it smells of ancient frankincense and other resins. Not really overly ozonic or aquatic, which is nice. I could sport this for sure.

Did you buy anything from the Haus' Summer Release? Whatchoo think of the Refreshers?? Sounds like something you might enjoy? You know how I like my tingles. Cool, sweet, minty tingles. Ahhhhhh.

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Verdant Faerie: Enchanted Botanical Perfumes

These samples were sent free, to experience as a friend, I am choosing to blog my experience. 


Doreen, the Verdant Faerie, has been one of my favorite accounts to follow on IG the past couple of years. Her whimsical eye for natural and magical beauty always make me smile. We chat from time to time since we share a love of mermaids and fairies. She began working with natural perfumery a while back but she just recently opened up for business on Etsy. I immediately favorited her shop and began perusing which to sample, however, before I ordered, she lovingly sent me some to wear as a gift. They are indeed enchanting, let me tell you about them.

Invisioning Roses- Notes: Bulgarian rose, neroli, sandalwood, frankincense, Madagascar vanilla, cardamom, pink peppercorn, bergamot, sweet orange.
Pink pepper and spice infuse a crisp gin, served neat. The bergamot showing a boozy side in the opening. A lush heart of rose burgeons, alive with the cinnamon bark velour of petals, neroli sharpness mimicking green sepals and the resinous heart of stamens that reach for the light. The sandalwood dry down is beautiful, showing green facets and vanilla bean smoothness. A beautiful rose.

Dryad- Notes: Cedar, fir, lavender graced with the spirit of fern, violet leaf, cassie flower, oakmoss, tonka bean, patchouli.
Dryad is in the fougere family, those scents that were created by imagination to envision what ferns would smell like if they had a scent. Doreen did a fabulous job bringing the verdant fern to aromatic life. It starts out earthy and damp, the perfect habitat for those prehistoric plants. Then fuzzy green tendrils manifest from the forest floor, redolent of leaves and stems and soft leathery underbellies. Oakmoss then wraps around the leathery ferns and the dryads who dwell there, offering warmth and serenity. A charming scent I will love wearing.

Anam Cara- Notes: Petit grain, lavender, citrus, coffee, rose, amber, vanilla.
Anam Cara is celtic for "soul friend." It opens sharp and clean with petit grain and lavender. The lavender is wonderfully herbal and good medicine for the soul. A rose peeps through with a cool menthol breeze that turns warms when your Anam Cara arrives with a hot cup of coffee, roasted and dark then magically sweetened cream and sugar. A comfort. Vanilla and amber merge for the base, your dear friend sharing a Werther's to end the afternoon on a sweet note.

Dusk Blossom- Notes: Jasmine, tuberose, beeswax, orange blossom, ginger, coriander, lime, sandalwood, tobacco, patchouli.
Sparkling spiced aldehydes bubble up for the opening, light, ephemeral and dreamy. Dusky orange blossom and neroli pull through the star bursts of the gingery bright top notes, merging with the jasmine and tuberose to create a hauntingly beautiful aura. The white florals shine in the night under the silver orb of moonlight. Patchouli and sandalwood are earthy and velvety, blended brilliantly. A scent for magical evenings.

Most scents are offered in various sizes: 1 ml sample daubers are $7, 5 ml splashes are $30, 8 ml sprays are $45, and 15 ml sprays are $75.


If you are looking for an all natural fragrance choice and desire the small scale, hand mixed and poured experience, then give the Verdant Faerie a go. Doreen also writes a blog about her mystical adventures, it is quite the pleasurable read! Which of these all natural, faerie inspired scents would you like to sample? 

Monday, June 20, 2016

Society6: Laptop Skin


I bought a used 2011 MacBook Air recently and one of the first things I wanted to do was get a skin for it. Yes, yes... priorities. Society6 was a no-brainer. I really enjoy their unique offerings and featured artists. Normally I am fandom driven but this time the magical forest scenes and cats kept vying for my attention. I ended up choosing "The Fog" by littleclyde. At the time everything in the store was 15% off and free shipping so the $30 skin was marked down to $25.50. The sticker is nice quality and is removable/reposition-able. I just adore the giant fog kitty traipsing about the little medieval village. It almost reminds me of Hogsmeade... so maybe I didn't stray too far from my fandoms. If you sign up for the Society6 newsletter they will send you updates of sales and free shipping and various codes. They carry artwork on mugs, phone cases (good quality!), pillows, shirts, techie gear and much more.

Here are a few others I am dreamy headed over (all photos from Society6):





Have you ever shopped on Society6? Do you know any of the artists? What are some of your favorites?

Saturday, June 18, 2016

Solstice Scents: Lavender Vanilla Burnishing Glace'


Angela at Solstice Scents has been rocking it in the niche perfume world. Her creation of EDP's in some of their most popular fragrances has transformed the indie vendor into a full fledged perfume house that deservedly has garnered much acclaim in the perfume community. With perfumery as the new focus, the bath and body lines have been postponed understandably and perhaps indefinitely. It has been a while since any bath salts or lotions have been offered. When the new summer release was announced and I saw my beloved Lavender Vanilla pop up in the Burnished Glace' Bath and Body Oil I quickly went to the site and grabbed one. I also picked up two EDP 3 ml sample sprays. 

Lavender Vanilla varies from perfumer to perfumer. Some are more gourmand, some more herbal. Solstice Scent's definitely claims one of my top three versions. Wonderfully balanced herbal fresh lavender with transparent vanilla syrup that imparts a calm relaxation and the oil leaves the skin quenched and satiny. It can be used in the bath as well (it may leave the tub slippery) but I really just want to fall asleep with it surrounding my body like a slumber inducing aura. I did wear it out to the mall last night and got a compliment on my scent. The Burnishing Glace' is $16.00, Lavender Vanilla is out but Cameo is still being offered and sounds like a beautiful gourmand rose.


Smokey Mountain Mallow- Notes: Fossilized amber resin, wood smoke, lapsang souchong CO2, guaiacwood, labdanum, nutmeg EO marshmallow. 
Sweet and smokey. Lapsang souchong tea is one of my favorite black teas and this scent captures it perfectly with an added dollop of sweetened whipped cream and a couple of toasted marshmallows floating on top. Aged pines form glowing embers in the belly of a stone fire-pit, located behind a cabin in the North Carolina Smokey Mountains. The heat and light from the fire chases away the chilly mist, but the cup of steaming hot lapsang souchong warms the soul from the inside out. Sweet with vanilla infused sugar crystals and added cream, this scent will be utterly perfect for the coming fall and winter weather. A 5 ml bottle of perfume oil is $16.00, 3 ml EDP spray is $8.75 (what I purchased), the 60 ml EDP version is not offered at the moment. 

Snowshoe Pass- Notes: White amber, white musk, vanilla accord, peppermint cream, cold winds.
Oh, love. This beauty starts out like a brisk sweeping wind, chilly and rejuvenating and slightly sweet with vanilla. As it reaches the heart, those sly vanilla tones really deepen and reveal their wooden bones. Velveteen amber and musk, like the down of a white rabbit, finish out the base notes. I would wear this in any season. For the spring and summer Florida heat it would offer a sweet cooling effect, in the winter it would bring to mind candy canes and sweet holiday treats. A lovely fragrance. A full sized 60 ml EDP bottle is $55.00, the 3 ml EDP spray is $8.75.


Thornwood Thicket- Notes: Blackberries, amber, oud, guaiacwood, oakmoss.
I chose this as my free sample scent. It only comes in the perfume oil formula, 5 ml for $16, and has recently been reformulated. It is really quite lovely. Dark sweet blackberries, ripe and swollen with nectar braced by smokey deep oud and guaiacwood, while the amber and oakmoss lend serrated leaves and tiny thorns of green to the scent. Rustic noir. I imagine a sloe eyed wild woman with brambles in her hair trailing a bouquet of scent like Thornwood Thicket. I will definitely be looking to add this to my scent wardrobe, it would wear beautifully in late summer and fall. 

Solstice Scents does rustic, natural, moody and dark fragrances like no other. Do you enjoy scents like that? Have you tried Solstice Scents? Which ones should I sample next?

Friday, June 17, 2016

Melting Basket 68


Wax tarts from the CFTKR basket that I would buy again in a heartbeat: Serendipity Marshmallow Delight, Merlin's Forest, Cedar Sage and Blackberry, Bayberry Black Forest, Fig and Cassis, Apple Cobbler Delight, and  Celtic Moonspice. I would also repurchase the CLK's Warm Winter Vanilla Sugar.

Glitterati- Blueberry Cobbler
Glitterati- Autumn Caramel
Glitterati- Raspberry Sangria
Glitterati- Cotton Candy Strawberry
Glitterati- Rebel Yell
Glitterati- Thriller
Vintage Chic Scents- Blanche and Baby Jane
Vintage Chic Scents- The Evil Queen
Sassy Girl Aroma- Blueberry/Watermelon/Cotton Candy
Sassy Girl Aroma- Mango/Papaya/Strawberry/Cotton Candy Frosting
Sniff  My Tarts- Christmas Wish/Mrs. Claus Peppermint Cookies/Marshmallow Noel & Candy
Sniff My Tarts- Peppermint/Sweet Lavender/Rosemary Mint/Spearmint & Eucalyptus
L3 Waxy Wonders- Naughty List
Rosegirls- Kaelyn's Scotcheroos
Rosegirls-I Can't Help Falling in Love
Rosegirls- Whiskers on Kittens
Rosegirls- Raspberry Summer Sunshine
Rosegirls- Twilight Woods November Rain
Rosegirls- Cheers!

This basket is made entirely of recently gifted wax from my friends Sunnee (Fragrance Obsessed) and Liz (Furianne). I am really excited to melt these, as they both gave me some amazing wax and I am so grateful. If you would like a melted review of any of these scents please let me know in the comments.

Even though I am only one week into summer, I feel like I have been getting a lot done. We built our home in 2005 and chose pretty basic options: linoleum, cheap carpet, white walls. About the only thing we upgraded were the cabinets and knock down ceilings. Little by little we have been updating our ten year old home. A few years ago we had laminate flooring installed, last year it was tile in the bathrooms and new toilets, this year it was new carpet in the bedrooms and painting. I started with Savanna's room.


She was ready to be rid of the blue seashell room (I did some scallops, starfish and bubbles on one wall when she was a toddler). We bought her a new full size bed and let her pick the bedding (that was in the clearance section of Sears- only $37 for her set, it was 75% off) and her bedroom color. She went with Dusky Violet (Lavender?). The bookcase had to be repainted. It belonged to my great grandmother, Granny Conrad.


The dresser and nightstands needed to be repainted too. These were a hand-me-down from Adam's close friend. His ex-girlfriend moved out and left them behind. I was more than happy to give them a home. The walls are pretty bare right now. I am going to paint her a few paintings on canvas, she wants Fawkes and Harry Potter catching a snitch, and then string up some fairy lights on some hooks from her ceiling.


Beardie lives on the floor now instead of on her dresser. She had a hard time reaching him up there so I figured this would work better. Scarlette was lizard gazing.


She doesn't have a headboard, but we will probably keep it that way. There are just so many other things we need to update and a headboard is not necessary for us. I finished painting the guest bathroom. It was in browns with a faux textured finish but now is a solid ice grey light blue shade. Right now I am gearing up to start painting Scarlette's bedroom, she chose teal. The master bedroom and bathroom, in a greenish grey, will be last. I love the gratification of seeing a room transformed in a just a couple days with new paint and refinished furniture. 

Do you have any home projects going? Are you interested in seeing Scarlette's room when it is done? 

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Love Potion Magickal Perfumerie: April 2016 Collection

These perfumes were provided free by Love Potion Perfumes for an honest review.


The April 2016 Love Potion Magickal Perfumerie collection star struck me with its mystical and nebulous vibe. I feel like everyday is a new adventure when I wear these beautiful creations. From the artistic labels to the incredible juice within, I can see that Mara puts all her passion and creativity into her work.


Age of Aquarius- Notes: Patchouli, amber, vanilla absolute, vanilla bean, cannabis, purple desert sage, camellia, clove bud.
A complex yet grounding aroma. The cucumber aquatic freshness of camellias are braced by the herbal sage and sweet vanilla. Smokey patchouli and rich amber create a soothing foundation that threads throughout the fragrance. Once the scent settles a bit, crackling clove and airy cannabis arise. Oh, I love that clove. Spiced sweet patchouli is carried around on my skin for the duration. This scent is pure magic. I can see myself wearing this around the holidays to bring cheer and year 'round as a mood enhancer.

Time Turner- Notes: Spikenard, labdanum, tonka, coconut.
A dark, woody coconut that starts out with a tap root quality that deepens into an ebony licorice root hint. Raw coconut, fibrous brown shell and sticky dark labdanum are the stars here, make no mistake. Labdanum's noir amber effluvia is sweetened by tonka and coconut. A time turner that transports me to a pirate's life of yore in the old Caribbean: dark, ritualistic and dangerous. 

Aurora- Lavender, marshmallow, buttercream, white amber.
This was one I just knew I would love based on the notes alone. It opens like a delicate vanilla bean petit four filled with buttercream and garnished with crystallized lavender buds. The lavender maintains a mellow clarity that is both sweet and airy. White amber materializes towards the dry down with a powdery soft musk. A lovely, lovely scent.


Tribute- Notes: Oud, frankincense, tobacco, vanilla.
Ooooooooh my sexy beast on a stick. This is the dark, woody, intriguing type of scent that my heart pitter patters over. Slightly smokey deep woods brought to my nose by the oud, resinous frankincense and a whisper of pipe tobacco all brewed and aged in oak barrels. I just cannot stop inhaling the crooks of my arms where this nestles in warmth and gives me the side eye. Yeah, I know you are there sexy beast and I love you.

Mystic Mountain- Notes: Tulip, honeysuckle, water lily, olive blossom, wisteria, green vegetable musk, ozone, hedione.
A mystic, misty mountain that brings The Shire to mind: green rolling hills, bulb flowers dotting the doorways of hobbit holes with splashes of yellow, red and orange and a quietly chattering brook rambling through the meadow. Honeysuckle, lily and wisteria unroll verdant tones and watery hues. Ozone lends the fog that creeps around the shire on silent paws as evening pushes the sun away. The outdoors that can be worn on your flesh like a cloak. 

Morning Star- Notes: Cucumber, basil, spearmint, lemongrass, white patchouli.
Wow. What a rejuvenating fragrance! Like an iced glass of spring water infused with mint leaves, and thin half moons of lemon and cucumber after a sweltering day in the Florida summer heat, this scent quenches. Spearmint  tingles my nose first, while the cucumber and herbs standout on my skin the most. This scent will certainly grace my sun warmed skin this summer.


Electric Heat- Notes: Purple prickly pear, berries, orange blossom honey, pink sugar, sandalwood, bamboo leaf tea, copulins.
Electric Heat brings to mind a late July evening sitting on the porch watching heat lightening flicker in the dark sky while enjoying the company of a friend and a shared summer cocktail. Sunny pear and tender wild berries lend their nectar to the concoction, sweetened with mild orange blossom honey and rock candy crystals. Various flora surrounding the porch let off their night aromas in anticipation of the coming storm. Bamboo tea illustrates the moment the skies open and water pours down to the sleeping dark earth, wet and cooling.

Elara- China musk, teak, paperwhites, tuberose, tea rose, Magnet pheromone. 
White roses. Elara smells like an armful of pristine white roses, without a blemish and full of heady fragrant beauty.  Clean musk and blonde woods support the subtle rose, jasmine and tuberose notes. A truly beautiful scent that would be fitting for a beach wedding. I wish I had had this scent when I got married 12 years ago. I am glad to have it now. It will be worn on the next date night for sure.


New 2016- Notes: Milk extract accord, lavender, vanilla, oakmoss.
I must admit I was very hesitant about enjoying this when I read the description and I saw "baby." I tend to be very leery of newborn/baby scents. For some reason I just can't get on with them. Maybe I inhaled too much Johnson & Johnson when my girls were wee babes. Thankfully this did not remind me of bathing fiascos or a million and one diaper changes. It reminded me of a much better version of a well known Lavender Vanilla. New 2016, to my nose, is a creamy, slightly powdery, lavender vanilla musk. A perfect bedtime scent to slather on after my own nightly bathing ritual. 

Rose Dust- Notes: Roses, champagne, sandalwood, myrrh, oakmoss, vanilla, musk, sugar, woodsmoke, Popularity potion. 
Rose Dust is a knockout! Sugar encrusted burgundy rose petals lifted by golden aldehydic champagne bubbles. Glace' seduction. The midnight rose and champagne celebration is deepened with myrrh, musk and the ebony wisp of woodsmoke that adds voluptuous curves. Sultry. I love it.

Lariel- Notes: Orange blossom, ylang ylang, caramel, vanilla, green coconut water, teak, smoked sugar cane.
Bright and delicious, this fruity floral features caramelized oranges and tropical blossoms. The gourmand blood orange and caramel opening reveals orange blossoms and coconuts underneath. The teak and sugar cane smooth out the finish. Brilliant fragrance. 

Sample daubers can be purchased for $5.00 (1.5 ml), one ounce sprays are $39.95, and 1/3 ounce concentrated perfume oils are $24.95. This collection is still being offered on the site, as well as a newer June collection that features many seaside themed scents, including a mermaid. To keep abreast of releases and join in on Love Potion chatter, join their Facebook group

Which of these stellar scents calls out for you to wear? Some of my favorites in this collection include: Tribute, Age of Aquarius, Aurora, Rose Dust, Elara and Lariel. I very much enjoyed them all though and will be wearing them this summer to bring beauty to my days. 

Monday, June 13, 2016

The Bathing Garden: Pixie Dust Bundle




I am late posting today, sorry! The first week of summer break and look at me... slacking on the job. But all for good reasons I swear. I ran to go pick up a used Macbook Air that my mom and I had ordered, then I began painting our guest bathroom. This summer I am re-painting the girls' bedrooms, the guest bathroom and the master bedroom. I am happy to say I am almost done with the bathroom. My arms were aching from doing the ceiling so I am taking a break... to show you my Bathing Garden April scent of the month bundle. I know it is no longer offered, but Shannon often brings back her scents in a rotation, and I know this one will be offered again in the future at some point. 


I love the scent of the month bundles. For $17.50 it included a full scrub, lotion and wax clamshell. Pixie Dust is a scent I have never tried but had read good reviews regarding so I decided to branch out and try it.

Pixie Dust- I was a bad girl and did not save the scent description for this but suffice it to say it is aquatic, green and fresh. Each iteration of the scent is slightly different based on the product. In the tart, Pixie Dust smells like aloe and lemon and a bit of floral musk. Quite lovely! In the scrub I detect a smidgen of tart lime and more earthy greenery. With the lotion, it leans more cucumber slices in ice water. Overall, it is a fresh watery green fragrance that I think will be very nice this summer in my home and on my skin.


The glitter shot.


I also snuck in one more Victorian Midway tart before they left. This was $2.00 and has been chatted about in a previous order.


Free Samples:

2 ounce Pirate Punch scrub- gah, so yummy!

Prosecco Berries- A musk laced fruity floral melange of strawberries, citrus, vanilla and quiet flowers and greenery.

Summer Melon and Mint- Cool crisp melons, sugar and crushed herbal mint leaves. 

Loving this tiny order. I did finally grab some of her ocean themed tarts. I do see a few in her new collections that will probably get ordered next month. I missed out on the Pink Sugared Pie crust scent of the month for May, but it ends up she added that to a new collection any way. Have you tried Pixie Dust? What do you think of green aquatic scents?

Sunday, June 12, 2016

Sonoma Scent Studio: Nostalgie


Sonoma Scent Studio Nostalgie embodies the scent of a by-gone era.  Have you ever wandered the disheveled aisles of a musty antique store only to spy the cut crystal call of a vintage perfume bottle? This very scenario has happened to me more than once but alas, when I pick up that bottle I discover it is empty, only holding the vapors of the long ago worn scent. Spirits of bergamot, jasmine, oakmoss and patchouli whisper their stories under my nose, teasing and taunting me. Thankfully, Laurie reconstructed the queenly fragrances of the past, using their sculpted bones but molding them  with softer rounded curves and light. Modern takes on vintage fragrances are trending right now, so Laurie was well ahead of her time in the making of this beautiful chypre.

Notes: Aldehydes, Indian jasmine sambac absolute, Bulgarian rose absolute, peach, violet flower, violet leaf absolute, tonka, French beeswax absolute, natural oakmoss absolute, aged Indian patchouli, East Indian Mysore sandalwood, leather, vanilla, orris, myrrh, vetiver and musk. 

Golden aldehydes, velvety crisp, lift off of creamy jasmine and plush rose petals. The soft fuzzy nuzzle of peach adds ripeness to the petals and the violet leaf contributes a fresh green realism to the bouquet. Immediately, Nostalgie can be recognized as a burnished treasure trove of elegance skimming the surface of the skin like a veil of gold leaf, shimmering and glowing. Beeswax and oakmoss lay a bronzed edging to the golden top notes with their honeyed wild fougere musk. Tender tendrils of ferns and feral forest plantlings, that include patchouli and the orris root of iris, unfurl their natural perfume in secret, in greens and golds and bronze. Softly spiced amber and sandalwood trace copper glints with a soft patina as a finishing touch to the art that is Nostalgie. 

This fragrance is heavy on natural ingredients. The projection is pretty good, with a healthy sillage and a lasting longevity. 
1ml dauber- $4.50
3 ml spray- $13.50
5 ml travel spray- $21.00
17 ml bottle- $55.00
34 ml bottle- $105.00

This feel like a special occasion fragrance. I would wear this to weddings or moments that I would love to mark and honor with a meaningful perfume. 

Friday, June 10, 2016

Sniff My Tarts: Spring Custom Loaf Order



Sniff My Tarts opened up for custom loaf orders on March 11th of this year. There were two sizes to choose from, a 28 ounce loaf for $23.80 or a 16 ounce loaf for $16.20. There was a limit of four loaves no matter which size was chosen. I ordered 2 small loaves and one large. This order arrived a couple of weeks ago, so about a solid 3 months. I very much enjoy my orders from Sniff My Tarts so the customization and quality wax definitely make the wait worth it for me, personally. I have a feeling they will be opening again soon so I am trying to put my blending cap on. 


The first small(ish) loaf is in  Pink Noel, Marshmallow Noel, and Pink Sugar Baby. It weighed in a 16.6 ounces. It is a pink sugar lover's dream. SMT seriously has the best Pink Sugar out there. I also get nosegasms from their Marshmallow Noel so I tend to blend it with everything. Marshmallow ice cream with thick clotted vanilla bean cream plopped on top and garnished with clouds of pink air spun cotton candy. Delish, divine, and decadent, darling.


The second small loaf scents I chose included: Marshmallow Noel (not surprised are you?), Vanilla Marshmallow Smoothie, and Sweet Lavender Marshmallow Cake. Can one have too much marshmallow? Certainly not. Especially when it is paired with lavender. Now, really this is all about the marshmallow and bit of vanilla. The lavender is just lightly sprinkled in the aroma, much like the buds on the loaf. The lavender lends a touch of soothing calm in a sea of sweet. Excellent. This loaf weighed 17.9 ounces.


The big mamajama loaf HAD to be a trademark SMT pink peppermint blend. The only question was how would I blend it. I think I have made at least four or more variations on pink peppermint. For this one I chose: Peppermint Swizzle Sticks, Pink Sugar Baby and (classic) Peppermint. I enjoy SMT's Marshmallow Noel and Candy scent too, as it contains peppermint but I recently ordered a plain piped heart in Peppermint Swizzle Sticks and it was so yummy I wanted to try it out in a pink peppermint blend. It worked wonderfully! I'll be honest, this one is more about the icy minty blast rather than the pink sugar but I love it. The pink sugar adds a sweet musky note that keeps this from being straight up Altoids in a warmer. (Though I really wouldn't mind that at all.) This loaf weighed 28.2 ounces. LOVE it!


Amy and Donna both work hard and they are active in their Facebook group and really pay attention to detail. One example of that was when I had mentioned that I felt the Dragon's Blood scent they had was a touch flowery instead of more earthy. It was not a dig at all, just my own personal opinion, but Donna wanted to test out a new one and she gave me two blends using it. And I am in love! This first one is Dragon's Blood blended with Cinnamon Sticks. It brings to mind walks on a fall day, earthy, spicy and a festival of delight. I had no idea how wonderful these two could blend. Thank you, Donna.


The second blend is Dragon's Blood, Butterbrickle and Celtic Orange Spice. I cooed out loud when I saw this. I actually wanted to blend Dragon's Blood and Butterbrickle but I never got around to it. The orange here features prominently with some spice and warmth. I like this one and will use it as inspiration for the next Sniff My Tart opening.


Free sample in Gain Laundry, Blue Sugar, Pink Sugar. Clean to a T. The blue sugar musk and anise and woody notes tone down the Gain a tad but really it smells like sexy man laundry day. In the best possible way.


Sniff My Tarts bags are sporting new labels and I quite like them. The design is simple yet cute. 


This last free sample is in Sugar Cookie Dough Bread which is in this super adorable mini frosted cookie shape. How did I miss these guys?! They are a perfect 2 ounce size to cut in half and toss in the warmers. Or for a melting hound like myself, just toss in whole. This scent is very potent and heavy on the bread. Caramel, butterbrickle and a nod to zucchini bread can be detected as well. I will use this for blending more than likely. It is a great blending scent. 

Any Sniff My Tarting going on in your house? If you have not ordered from this vendor yet, you are missing out. These ladies know how to rock the fragrance oils and wax. Plus custom blending is a dying option and I am thankful to have it here. What scents are you wanting to try your hand at blending with? Do you plan on ordering at their next opening? 

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Haus of Gloi: Birthday and Selkie Soaps


These Haus of Gloi soaps were a part of those winnings I received in the Facebook jewelry group I mentioned in the Moonalisa post. These are my very first full sized Haus of Gloi bar soaps. In the past I was gifted a sliver of Parking from Lauren but I cannot recall any other Haus soaps that I have tried though I probably have at some point. Haus soaps run $5 to $6 a bar.


Haus Birthday- Wild Cascadian huckleberries, buttercream frosting, clove spiced cake and wisps of incense all grounded into a base of Haus Amber. 
With a description like that, how can it not be delectable? And look how lovely. The dark berries and toothsome cake are balanced with golden amber and incense, sweet, resinous and seductive. It lathered like a dream, slicking immediately and gratifyingly when water touched the sliver. White billowing lather churned from between my rubbing hands. It cleaned wonderfully and rinsed clean and complete without residue. Unfortunately, this bar is no longer for sale but there are several other Haus Birthday products left and they are catching my eye.



Selkie- The break of waves, gurgling sea foam, kelp, rain tinged air, sand smoothed driftwood and wild sage. 
An oceanic delight. The soft herbal greenery of sage buffets the ozone and aquatic notes. This makes a brilliant clean soap scent that is refreshing and a touch stormy. It performed just like Haus Birthday, lathering quickly and melding with the water instantly to decrease the amount of friction needed to generate abundant lather. It was not soft and melty at all, just very pliant to the water and easy to work with. This scent is still on the site under the Spring release. It is $6.00.


Have you ordered from Haus of Gloi lately? I did grab a two refreshers from the Summer release, my first time trying those, and two small body butters. I cannot wait to share with you guys. Have you tried their refreshers? What do you think?