Monday, April 29, 2019

Arcana Wildcraft: Green Dream Collection

These perfumes were sent gratis from Julia at Arcana Wildcraft. All opinions are my own. 


Julia at Arcana Wildcraft used cannabis as her muse to cultivate an innovative and dreamy spring collection unlike any other I have had the joy to experience. Please don't think these are head shop aromas or all smell like that one time behind the bowling alley in high school. These don't smell like skeezy bars or Grateful Dead concerts but instead utilize the full array of notes and nuances that fresh varieties of the cannabis plant can possess. No actual cannabis was used in the compositions of these perfumes.


Beta- Endorphins- Notes: When these are released into your brain, food begins to smell and taste irresistible, causing the side effect known as the munchies. Chocolate milk, salty popcorn, cold vanilla ice cream, peanut brittle and a drizzle of caramel sauce. $28

From the bottle comes a holograph of buckeyes, those candy balls of homemade peanut butter yumminess coated in milk chocolate. Dipped onto the skin the chocolate briefly takes on a boozy aspect before turning into salted peanuts and Cracker Jack. The dry down melts into creamy peanut butter with just a hint of that saltiness lingering on the palate. 


Rose Petal Blunt- Notes: Delicately beautiful and delicious, this is probably how fairies partake. Dewy red rose petals and fresh green stems evolve into a heart of soft tuberose and Silver Haze accord. $28 

In the bottle the tuberose has a jammy almost fruity tone to its heady richness and the green Silver Haze accord twines like wild ivy around it. On the skin the tuberose looses that fruitiness and the jammy aspects morph into turpentine laced petals. I love how wild and raucous this one is. In the heart the roses and tuberose merge into a halo of honeyed lemon softness. Now I see where the fairies come in. The wanton beginning spirals down into a vulnerable core then drifts down like dandelion seeds to a bed of sweet green hay, almost with a creamy edge like coumarin or tonka. A magical fragrance.


Chillum- Notes: High in the Himalayas, herb is often smoked in a cylindrical pipe called a chillum, as it has been for thousands of years. Opening with a whoosh of cool blue pine, then expanding into a heart of sensual Yeti fur, animalic mountain musk, Himalayan cedarwood and Himalayan Gold accord. $28

Based on notes alone this was the one I was about to pop into my cart immediately. It was also the one I wore first, right off the bat. I will warn you, in my desire to douse I did go a little overboard and smelled myself all day long. To the point that even cuddling the cat later that night, Savanna mentioned that Toddles smelled amazing. A little bit goes a long way on this one. 

From the bottle an angora blanket pours forth in a rippling soft body of tactile bliss that carries the perfume of dried sage and conifer laden air within its warp and weft. Draped onto the skin that sage green hue pushes and pulls with pillowy amber resins and a growl of something a tad naughty. The growl possesses tones of leather and warm pelts, skin musk and smudge. It is beautiful and smooth, velvety and rich.

It exceeds all my expectations and they were high. It is dead sexy.


Coconut Chalice- Notes: Created from a coconut shell, this traditional Jamaican water pipe represents the elements of earth, air, fire and water. Green coconut, coconut husk, rich Cuban vanilla, dark Muscovado sugar and Lamb's Breath accord. $28

The aroma lifting from the vials speaks of coconut cream and custard eaten from a fresh coconut hull by the shore. Cracked onto the wrists the perfume drizzles out with a sap filled greenness the likes of broad banana leaves. The tropical foliage fans out to reveal the coconut within, allowing the sharp green tones to mellow and pool into cool creamy coconut sweetness. As the coconuts settle they oxidize with sepia and caramel tones that hint at vanilla and tawny richness. This perfume feels like it moves from a cool dew filled island dawn to a warm glowing tropical sunset as it develops. Sharp green and vibrant to dark sweet and placid. 


Shiva's Trident- Notes: Indian sandalwood, Nag Champa incense and Hindu Kush accord. $28

A hand rolled incense cone forged with sandalwood chips, beeswax, resins and plumeria warms and sends its tendrils of incense smoke up into the air when the cap is removed and a whiff is taken. Wrapped around the wrists the incense slinks like velvet cords but then the kush comes in and gives it a slightly sour and skanky edge that brings interest to the scent. It reminds me of green quinine in a tonic water. A sour bitterness that pushes the palate into tasting more and experiencing more when paired with the plush softness of the Nag Champa and incense accords. It dries into a grassy vetiver hued sandalwood that embodies serenity. 


Waterfall- Notes: The green dankness of resin, wet leaves, lichen, water-drenched tree moss, fucus, French seaweed absolute and Northern Lights accord. $28

This is one of those scents that I fall for immediately. It reminds me of the hiking I did a week or so ago. Those streams I forged and the wet muck underfoot and the soil teeming with earthworms, ferns and cypress knees jutting out of swampy wetlands like the fringe and fingers of Titans reemerging from the earth. Water, soil, flora and mycelium. Splashed onto the flesh oakmoss glows brilliantly with its flush green aroma, almost dewy and water beaded in its turgidity. The heart sinks down into the loamy leaf litter and begins to sketch out soil and its inhabitants. Before it gets too earthy the mineral aspects of sea plants wash in with a lap or two of clarity. It almost reads like lavender and parsley growing by the ocean in a cottage garden, with clumps of salted water weed resting on the edges of the driftwood barrier that serves as a garden gate. It is beautiful and watery and green while maintaining a grounding of musk and ambrette that keeps it from being sharp or overtly aquatic. The drydown veers back to that stunning oakmoss beginning. I find it a joy to wear. 


I am loving this collection from Julia. It makes for an innovative spring release with its green tones that are complemented by various themes. 

 I am giving away Beta-Endorphines and Shiva's Trident as well as an autographed book called Ash by C.G. Blade. The gifts will come with chocolate for mandatory reading snacks and some tea for warmth and joy since the book may be a bit scary. This book was a gift from a dear friend who also happens to promote for authors. This is being given with her knowledge and gratitude. 


To enter please comment with your favorite scent notes at the moment or your favorite book from either this year or last year. I am currently loving juniper, pine, mint and bookish smelling perfume notes. I loved reading two books in particular so far this year: Burial Rites by Hannah Kent and Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood. Leave your comment below by May 5th and I will draw that evening. 

37 comments:

  1. These all sound so lovely! Thank you so much for posting them💗Had my eye on these beauties and love the bottle art too! Right now I really love cedar, vanilla, and honeysuckle notes. And as for books I started rereading a few that I have unpacked and started Abbey Lubbers, Banshees, & Boggarts: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Fairies✨

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    1. Absolutely! My pleasure. I love cedar too. Honeysuckle always reminds me of summertime. <3 That book sounds lovely! I recently picked up a gnome book but a fairy book shouldn't be too faraway.

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    2. Congrats Ariel! Please send me your address so I can mail out your goodies! xoxo

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  2. I'm currently loving any fresh and green earthy scents...anything that embraces the robustness of Spring...I don't love florals but I adore the smell of honeysuckle floating through the air. As far as books go, I'm going to tackle the Game of Thrones books..I watch it, but it's fun to see the differences between the show and the books

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    1. Yes! Another honeysuckle fan! Love it. I do need to expand my honeysuckle perfumes. I think I only have one or two. The books are AMAZING. I have read then several years ago and they were so great.

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    2. I just got NAVAs Honeysuckle Crystalline...it's not exactly true honeysuckle because of all the different ones blended in it, but it is pretty...and I don't usually do floral perfumes. It reminds me of a Jessica McClintock perfume I used to wear when I was in my 20's 😊

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    3. Oooooo! That sounds lovely though! Sometimes I like a mainstream smelling perfume once in a while. I might have to sample that one. <3

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  3. I'm fairly new to the magical world of indies, but I've been loving cherry, cotton candy, and leathers/woods. And I'm planning on rereading my favorite series this year: Clive Barker's Abarat!

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    1. Great notes!! I am a huge fan of leather and woods too. And cotton candy!! Enjoy your book. I have a couple of Clive Baker inspired scents he did with Nocturne Alchemy that I love.

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  4. Ah, I was so curious about this collection, thank you for reviewing. <3
    I didn't grab any bottles or decants of this collection, but did indulge in Strange Fire & Fumery's 4/20 preorder of cannabis inspired incense and perfume. I'm looking forward to whenever it arrives, I can't recall the TAT. lol

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    1. You're welcome! I hope I got them out in time. This is a really neat collection. But it sounds like you scratched the cannabis itch at Strange Fire! Cool! I hope you let me know how they are.

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  5. Thank you for reviewing these! I was very curious about them. I have always been a cedar scent lover. I love how crisp and cool it smells. I have also fallen for lavender. I use it a lot in my daughter's diffuser! The two accents that caught you, Chillum and Waterfall caught my eye too! But I wouldn't mind trying something new either. Thank you for this opportunity!

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    1. You are welcome! Thank you for stopping by! I love lavender too. It is such a soothing scent. highly recommend Chillum and Waterfall. They are incredible scents. <3

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  6. Thank you so much for reviewing these! I was a bit on the fence, but looks like I might need to pick up Rose Petal Blunt and Coconut Chalice after all.

    I am entirely enthralled by Black Leopard Red Wolf by Marlon James. People pitched it as Game of Thrones in Africa, but it is so much more than that. Intense, gorgeously evocative, spellbinding and completely unique.

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    1. Thank you for swinging by!! Rose Petal Blunt is straight up loveliness. I hope you decide to try them out.

      I will have to check out that book! I have not read many books set in Africa other than Congo and maybe a handful of others. It sounds amazing. <3

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  7. Hi ! I just purchased two of her scents.. mutiny and silk knickers..
    I have been searching for a feminine version of black pepper .. aside from purchasing very expensive gyspy water.. I have been trying to blend black pepper essential oil in with other things..
    Black pepper
    Cedar
    And orange...
    I'm kinda obsessed with scents ��

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    1. Black pepper is such a lovely scent isn't it?! Gypsy Water is a stunning fragrance too but I have managed to avoid biting that bullet as well. I hope you like your choices!!! Thank you for stopping by, the scent obsessed are always welcome here.

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  8. My favorite scent note right now is yellow cake. I've been layering Arcana's yellow cake LN over all sorts of items in my collection. I'm also getting a sample of the marshmallow LN soon which I am very excited about!!!

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    1. YUM! I have her Cake Lust and it is one of my all-time favorite scents. I adore Julia's Marshmallow LN!!! I hope you like it! Imagine layering those two!! Yellow Cake with Marshmallow.... wowza. I am drooling already. <3

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  9. I am SO into bookish smells right now and also marshmallow, cedar, incense, and resins. I’ve been reading The Kingkiller Chronical books again for the hundredth time because I just love it so much!

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    1. YES! I like book scents as well. CHI Candles makes some of the most realistic book scents I have ever experienced. You listed some of my very favorite notes. I have not read that series. Off to jot it down.

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  10. I’m loving coconut lately! I’m so ready for Summer vibes and coconut makes me feel like I’m scantily clad on a beach on a hot Summer night❤️ I’ve also just finished the Alice Network, such a great read!

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    1. You might just like Coconut Chalice!!! <3 It is a beauty. I have not read the Alice Network. Off to google it.

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  11. I love mint, rose, and cotton candy right now! And reading History of the World in 100 Species by Christopher Lloyd

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    1. Nice note choices!! I adore mint too. That book sounds cool. I need an environmental non-fiction for my reading prompt. I will check into it.

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  12. My favorite book this year has been the mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson. I love rose notes and gourmands, especially marshmallow! I’m waiting to get samples of rose petal blunt and coconut chalice. I loved reading your reviews!

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    1. Sanderson is a genius. Have you read any of his other work?

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    2. Mistborn is a cool name. Writing that one down too! I hope you love Rose Petal and Coconut Chalice. Rose Petal is so dreamy!! And Coconut Chalice will get some major wear this summer. Thank you for your kind words!! I have not read any Brandon Sanderson but I absolutely will now. Writing his name down so I can look for him in our local used book store.

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  13. While my all-time favorite scent notes are forest ones, I'm really digging rose and lilac notes right now. There are not nearly enough lilac perfumes out there, lemme tell ya.

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    1. Like you, forest scents really appeal to me all year through. Rose and I have a tumultuous relationship but I certainly have some rose perfumes I love. I just tend to be picky with them. Lilac is one I need to explore more of. Any suggestions?

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  14. I'm loving grapefruit and lime scents right now - citrus with a hint of bitterness.

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  15. I love vanilla, tea rose, plum, lime zest, sandalwood, frankincense, and vetiver. I'm currently reading The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston and it's pretty good so far!

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    1. Nice note choices!! I love plum and spice together. Sounds like a great book! I will have to check it out.

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  16. I love anything sweet and gourmand! Right now I'm really especially loving chocolate, almond, caramel. Favorite book this year was a series... Red Sister and Grey Sister by Mark Lawrence.

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    1. Mmmmmm, caramel. I am such a sucker for caramel in perfume and wax. I will have to look into that series. Sounds good.

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  17. Congrats Ariel!! Your name was randomly drawn for the giveaway! Thank you everyone for entering. More giveaways to come later in the month. <3

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