Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Arcana Wildcraft: Snow Witch Collection

 These perfumes were sent to me gratis as a gift from Julia, all opinions are my own.


Julia at Arcana Wildcraft composed a line of Snow Witch scents for wintertime and they are quiet lovely! All of them are scent to snuggle by. They run $26 for a 5ml bottle.


Snow Witch: Ritual- Notes: A dark, mysterious mix of blackened amber resin, wild-harvested fir and spruce branches, aged iron-distilled patchouli, frankincense tears, and bitter orange nectar.
Immediately I know I am in for a treat. From the vial lifts up the most clear and smooth patchouli, heavy with forest gifts of fir and orange pith. It is a Yule wreath woven with the most fragrant bounty of the woods. Graced on the flesh the bitter and pithy orange peels jolt the senses and feel alive. The tangy citrus pulls the mossy patchouli out of the darkness. The sourness of the wild orange give way to a subtle sweetness in the heart, merging beautifully with the dark vanillic amber. A faint specter of incense and fir haunts the borders of the heart. As it settles into the base the amber and orange become chewy and sweet, reveling in the dark sticky patchouli. This is a wonderful scent that will be worn often.


Snow Witch: Moonrise- Notes: Cold, pale lunar musk, white amber, fluffy snow, Boswellia sacra, silken robes, purple iris, soft cedar, and Egyptian blue chamomile.
Fresh chamomile flowers crushed between the fingers with an eerie halo of musk rises from the bottle on first whiff. On the skin a similar silhouette is reflected but more roots are entangled in the scent and cottony fabric emerges as well. Like glimpses of a flowing spirit between the portal that dwells betwixt trees. The opening is uncanny and peculiar. Right as I try to dissect it the heart unlocks to divulge a dried bouquet of feral irises tied with twine and sighing their melancholy thoughts into the night. Austere tear drops of frankincense mingle with the iris to create a gauzy texture fit for a moonbeam. As it dries down the lunar musk hovers like a tender fog, clean, fresh and silvery. Moonrise is a delicate and serene perfume, evocative of tenderness and maybe even a touch of longing. 


Snow Witch: Hinterland- Notes: Far afield from her home this is where a witch harvests her spell supplies. Wild woodland roses, loamy forest floor, wild-gathered green mosses, and golden vetiver.
Incredibly authentic smells of damp fecund earth spring up when sniffing this perfume straight from the bottle. Bits of twig and moss, sprigs of dainty seedlings and dewy lichen all give a nod to the life giving soil. Julia is a deft hand at soil and loam accords. This one sings with vitality. Planted into the skin the gentle green buds of roses open. These are petite cottage roses that grow in wild and tangled abandon their diminutive faces alight with mischief and potent medicine. I love the fresh green aspect of these roses. They are not overly heady nor overly refined. The roses are embraced by the nourishing soil and dwell within a bed of springy mosses and leaf litter. If you are looking to add an earthy rose with lush green hues and warm brown tones to your collection this is it. 


Snow Witch: Sleigh- Notes: A twinkling, sugar-encrusted blend of fluffy pink candyfloss, creamy Madagascar vanilla, frozen coconut musk, and a single bright red cherry.
Ambrosia salad in a tiny glass vial. Spoonfuls of creamy sweet whipped dessert studded with ruby cherries slides into Edward's confused mouth. This smells exactly like the backyard BBQ scene of Edward Scissorhands. On the skin the coconut husk is tropical and sweet like a blended colada concoction with a garnish of greenery. It slips into a stunning musk on my skin that is reminiscent of Turkish Delight. A bit floral, softly ethereal and of course, dulcet and delicate with notes of pistachio and honeyed coconut. These are the treats offered by the Snow Witch on the sleigh in Narnia. It dries into a silken candied vanilla that is infused with coconut musk and I want to inhale it as often as I possibly can. This is the fist cherry scent I have truly loved.


Snow Witch: Familiar- Notes: The scent of a witch and her animal companions snuggling on a quiet, snow-muffled day. Cafe au lait, vanilla-infused cheesecake, a soft woolen blanket, and warm fur. 

When unstoppered the aromas of roasted coffee beans and tonka beans appear. They harbor in a cashmere scarf. Sepia toned vanilla woods provide a shadowed vignette that surrounds the scent. On the skin a creamy latte is served right up, foamy in its sweetness with extra spoonfuls of sugar. Almost immediately the thick vanilla cheesecake arrives. It possesses a hint of salty richness around the edges, perhaps it is the crust or some caramel sea salt hidden in the layers. On my skin at this point it *almost* leans towards popcorn. The cheesecake slowly morphs into warm wool blankets that hold a bit of lanolin and the scent of clean scalps within. These are the purring and huffing familiars gathered around while the cafe au lait steams in cupped hands, pooled into a favorite vessel. It dries down into the cozy scent of the family snuggle blanket. You know the one that the pets sleep on, the youngsters steal to make forts and mom wraps herself up in on slow mornings. This blanket has hosted countless sips of coffee and teas and furry companions. It is sweet, musky, creamy yet has a tender clarity. I adore the drydown on this one. It is fantastic.


Snow Witch: Embers- Notes: The cozy scents of a winter witch's cottage hearth. Rich, sticky caramel, smoky Japanese Hiba woods, warm cardamom, and pink Himalayan sea salt.
In the vial arises wood and salt with a glowing greenness that could be green cardamom pods and vetiver. It smells of a mossy seaside fire on chilly windswept cliffs. On the wrists the green bitter cardamom pods burst into ashes, scorched caramel bubbles around the edges. There is a slight acridness to the charred wood that is realistic. Biting herbaceous sap from nightshades wink in the dying ambers. What strange offerings are being set aflame here? 

I truly enjoy each and every one of this beauties. I do have to say that Ritual, Familiar, Sleigh and Moonrise are my top favorites though. I will be chatting about some more winter collection scents from Arcana tomorrow. There will be a wax/perfume giveaway here at the end of the year as a small last celebration that 2020 will be closing out. Which of these do you think would be your favorite?

9 comments:

  1. You're making Snow Witch: Familiar sound so cozy and I may just get this based on your amazing description! (As I usually do after reading most of your descriptions lol) Have a wonderful holiday!

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    1. Hi Kristin! Familiar is pretty cozy. I hope you had a wonderful holiday! It feels like it goes by so very fast. <3 Hoping 2021 is kind to you!

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  2. I'm trying to resist Moonrise. I love iris scents. Sigh!...

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    1. I love iris scents too, Brooke! It is so lovely and ethereal. I feel like it will be a nice transition scent between winter and spring. Hope you had a wonderful holiday!!

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  3. I don’t normally love cherry scents but you’re making me really want to try Sleigh! Great reviews as always!

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    1. Hi AshB! I don't normally like cherry either. I don't think I have ANY perfumes with cherry that I have tried and kept but this one will stay put for sure. Sleigh is mmmmmmmm. Hope you had a great holiday season!! <3

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  4. I think I ordered decants of Hinterland, Ritual and Embers. I cannot wait for them to arrive!

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    1. I hope you like them all!! They are lovely scents. Embers might have to grow on me some. I will keep revisiting it. Hinterland is a breathtaking rose and Ritual is incredible. I love it. Hope you had a great holiday! May 2021 offer you abundant love and good health.

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    2. Thank you! Much much love to you and yours for all the great things 2021 will hold for you all. Happy New Year!!
      I've tested Embers and Ritual so far. Embers is def my favorite that I may just need to full size! It works so great with my body chemistry.
      I still have to test Hinterland- I honestly don't know why I haven't yet. lol That rose note may be subconsciously scaring me.. ha! Still trying to find rose scents that work well on me. ;)

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