Another easy peasy
Handmade in Florida pre-order is in the books. I did repurchase several items so I will just glaze over those and spend more time focusing on the newer items if that is ok with y'all. I don't remember when this pre-order took place... I want to say in November? I misplaced my invoice and email like a naughty blogger. But it arrived around Christmas and was a joy to open.
I did pick Adam up another Moroccan Mint bar of soap ($8), I ordered more Serenity (an amazing spearmint blend $6 for three tarts), Ritual Lavender (soothing herbal velvet lavender $5.50), Lavender Ice (a mellowly minted lavender $5.50) and French Oak & Vanilla (a sweet woodsy delight $5.50).
The Winter Wonderland mystery sampler was the number one item I was eager to buy this go 'round. Zahida teased the most adorable pastel winter village homes and I just knew I needed to have them. They ran $25 per bag and held about 15 ounces of wax.
Adorable gilded snowflakes came in packages of 3 or 4 and weighed just under an ounce each.
Frosted Berries- Notes: Sweet and spicy blend of berries, amber, vanilla, cinnamon and caramelized sugar.
This is a charming blend of fruits and spice and sweetness. I love how the caramel adds an element of richness that is unique in a spiced fruit blend like this. I am normally a seasonal melter but this will go in when I am craving a deep comfort scent.
Warm Mittens- Notes: Warm mittens, a toasty fireplace, crisp greenery and musky base notes.
This is a fresh take on winter. It does manage to be warm yet clean, herbal and musky. It smells like a cashmere sweater that has just been shed after a day out in the snowy woods. Warm skin and ozonic snow. I did not think this would throw well on cold, so I put two snowflakes in the warmer and headed to church. When we returned the house smelled fresh and lovely and just like Warm Mittens. It threw a solid medium in the kitchen and living area. It was much better than anticipated and that is always nice.
The Sugar Mill- Notes: Caramelized sugar, warm vanilla, gooey marshmallow and crisp peppermint.
This one was more subtle that I anticipated on cold. I pick up a cooling soft mint and a touch of plastic vanilla. I melted the house version of this scent in the kitchen and living room warmers and got a surprisingly nice throw of medium in the large areas. The plastic note melted away to reveal a nice creamy vanilla. Very little mint made an appearance in the large area but it might show up better in a smaller room. I liked the scent and would buy it again.
Welcome Winter- Notes: Crisp Pine needles wrapped in warm spices.
This smells like Bath & Body Works Winter candle to me and I love it. Evergreen needles and spice and citrus and a touch of smoke.
Merry Main Street- Notes: Blackcurrants, raspberries and apples blended with creamy vanilla peppermint and warm musk.
The blackcurrants and raspberries are wonderfully tart and plump. They pair well with the muted vanilla and beautiful musk. This is a merry Main Street but perhaps in a quaint French village with a touch of refinement and elegance. I don't get much peppermint but maybe it helps to lift the scent so it isn't heavy or syrupy or cloying... because it is not any of those despite the sweet fruits.
Wonderland- Notes: Sweet orange, cinnamon and clove with creamy French vanilla and warm musk.
This is another unique take on a fruit and spice delight. It is as if instead of a fresh juicy pomander you have the dried orange peels and dusty curls of cinnamon bark sitting in a cupboard in a hand hewn wooden box. The musk and clove combine to make a dusky wooden image. I quite like it.
The Sugar Mill (already melted and reviewed above).
Frosted Gingerbread- Notes: Vanilla frosting, cinnamon sticks, toasted graham crackers and juicy raisins.
I thoroughly enjoy this toothsome blend. It brings to mind scents like Hansel & Gretel's House and frosted graham crackers. This one is a touch less sweet and a pinch more bready and yeasty.
Peppermint Place- Notes: Apples, berries, peppermint, pine, clove and warm firewood.
I was reading Jay's review of her Handmade in Florida haul and saw she had this scent. I got excited when I realized I had it in my Winter Wonderland pack. Jay mentioned that this reminds her of Radiant Red Maple and I can see that too. The peppermint in this is a nice addition! I love how the woods and touch of smoke and sweetness really sing with this one.
Pistachio Macaron whipped sugar scrub ($8) smells like a French delight. It makes the past four seasons of binge watching The Great British Baking Show come to life under my nose. The rose is candied and the pistachio has the most subtle almond marizpan and chewy sugar cookie aroma. The edges are gilded with the light tang of sunny lemon and garnished with one ripe raspberry. I love this scent.
A sample of Iced Berry Bliss came along with my order too and it smells scrumptious. Like a warm gooey cinnamon roll drizzled with a dark mixed berry syrup.
Free Samples:
Orange Scone- Notes: Freshly baked scone with sweet cranberries, warm butter and a drizzle of orange icing.
The cranberries and orange are vibrant and tart, juicy and mouth puckering in their realism. They are backed by a thick and warm crumbly scone, a touch sweet and definitely bready. This almost reminds me of French baguette and hot orange danish having a baby.
Mischief- Notes: Dark patchouli, sandalwood, citrus, vetiver and black pepper.
This is a fabulous dupe for Lush's Lord of Misrule. I love this classic take on creamy sweet vanilla patchouli and black pepper.
Florida Winter- Notes: Juniper berries, fresh eucalyptus, spearmint, sage, midnight jasmine and oakmoss.
This is a lovely fresh and dewy aquatic. No harsh tones at all. Just dripping petals and streams of cool sweet spring water. That fresh Florida water right out of the aquifer and filtered by water cress and limestone. Delish. Good enough to bottle.
Blackberry Cream Puffs- Notes: Flaky puff pastry, blackberry jam, whipped cream and powdered sugar.
A nice rendition of a fruity bakery pastry. The blackberry jam smells like something I would want to spread on my buttered toast. Seedless and midnight purple jam, dizzyingly lush and dark, sweet and plump. It is quieted a touch by the cream and vanilla and that soft whisper of thin pastry. It would make Mary and Paul proud.
I am sad to say I withheld and refrained from ordering during the most recent opening at Handmade in Florida. I am truly trying to stick to my low-buy, especially since Savanna has chosen a Lord of the Rings themed birthday party. I have been spending my money on party favors and a Gandalf costume among other things. Shhhhh... don't tell her! But once Zahida has her Valentine's things out for delivery and she opens up again, I will be there. Ready to sniff and melt, bath and scrub. Did you buy anything?
If you were to plan a Lord of the Rings or Hobbit birthday party, what would you include? So far I have tea tins from Adagio, lapel pins, miniature versions of The Hobbit book, full sized versions of The Hobbit book and the most adorable hobbit hole cookies ever seen.