Sihaya & Co. Summer Box: It's Practically Magic

This box was sent free for reviewing purposes from Sihaya & Co. All opinions are my own.

Sihaya & Company's curated summer box of indie and artisan makers was themed "It's Practically Magic" and contained some really fun and unique items.

Three postcards featuring art by the Carterhaugh School of Folklore and the Fantastic came tied with twine and a sprig of blue silk flowers. The cards display poetry or play scenes typed up and framed by artwork or photography. Not sure of the actual value/price but they are on thick cardstock and beautifully rendered.

A fun witchy brew of tea came in the box that has me excited to try it, Cherie Anne Designs Butterfly Pea Tea is a blend with apple, carrot and ginger pieces, bean peels, goji berries, raisins and butterfly pea blossoms. It steeps up a blue hue that turns purple when lemon is added. $6.75

A lovely lip tint from Wild Rose Herbs in Roseberry came in the box. It is an all natural, vegetarian product tinted with natural ingredients like alkanet, elderberry and rosehips. It imparts a soft rosy hue to the lips that looks natural and blushed. It has a nice slip and feels cushiony on the lips. I will happily use it all up and explore their other shades. If you sign up for their newsletter you get 10% off. $5.95

A witch bottle from Vasilion Apothecary containing lavender (for luck), salt (for cleansing), rose (for love), calendula (to attract love and success), peony (for self-love and good fortune), hibiscus (for harmony) and a small quartz was sheathed into a muslin bag. $5.99

Glamourkin is a shop on Etsy ran by Bridget Essex. She made and contributed a handmade wooden decoupaged pendant crafted with old fairy tale books. $12.00

Dreaming Tree SoapWorks is an artisan brand that I have tried and enjoyed in the past. I used this bubbling bath melt the other night int he tub and it was awesome. This bah truffle was scented in Midnight Margaritas which smelled like limewood and dark summer skies. It bubbled and frothed in high mounds of white clouds and made the water silky smooth. I used the whole bar at once but cutting it in half would have been adequate. Not sure of value since Dreaming Tree isn't currently open. 

 Sucreabeille is an indie company that has been gaining traction as of late. Much like Femme Fatale this is a webstore that features artisan and indie makers from bath and body to perfume, home fragrance and more. Sucreabeille also has creation of their own such as this perfume called Fall In Love Whenever You Can. $12

Fall In Love Whenever You Can- Notes: A rich, sultry vanilla, a perfect red rose, spicy coumarin, a touch of labdanum and a whisper of wormwood.

From the cobalt vial blooms a dark mahogany rose amid powdery green wormwood fronds. On the tender skin of the wrists the green sap of the wormwood, softly bitter and pleasantly pungent, remains tied closely to the dark silken rose. The labdanum creates the dark spaces and pockets of warmth while the vanilla gently rounds the fragrance out. It is a lovely scent.

One of my favorite parts of a Sihaya & Company box is the candle included by Sihaya. $12

It's Practically Magic- Notes: A sprinkle of rosemary, a blanket of lavender, a plume of sage smoke and a palm full of pink rose petals. 

That teal glitter. So gorgeous! I like that both the perfume in this box and the candle both nod to rose. The candle is a sweeter rose, more plummy and jammy and framed by the sweet sage and smooth lavender and rosemary, it really shines. I have not burned it yet but plan to very soon.

Another thoughtfully assembled box of treats from Sihaya & Co. I am already anticipating her fall box which will be on pre-order August 1st for about $65. 

This box reminds me that I need to read the book Practical Magic. I loved the movie but once I found out Alice Hoffman wrote the book first it threw me for a loop. Have you read it? Do you enjoy Alice Hoffman books?

Witch Baby Soap: Bath Bombs

Told ya there would be more Witch Baby coming. I picked up five bath bombs. There are a few Life Flower bath bombs left but I tend to save those for when my period is slamming me. These are my fun time bath bombs. 

Candy Quartz- Notes: Pink cotton candy. $10

This is my kind of cotton candy. It has a bite of chewy vanilla tonka to it along with the candy floss. There is a rose quartz inside this bath bomb. The pink mica shimmer is beautiful on this bath bomb and happily it does not create a glitter bomb. This beauty fizzed energetically and made the waters smell like the most delicious sinister cotton candy. The crystal quartz inside revealed itself to be in the shape of a heart and is the cutest dang thing ever. I would repurchase this in a heartbeat.

Psychic- Notes: Amber and lavender essential oil. $7.75

This is a repurchase for me. I quite enjoyed it the last time I had it. Amber that runs more musky than resinous, paired with calm lavender vanilla. 

Dragon's Blood- Notes:Dragon's blood resin. $8

A light floral dragon's blood that floats about with incense and carnations. I believe that is a quartz embedded in the top, or it could be a citrine... I can't really see it that well yet until I use it. 

Blood & Milk- Notes: Blood orange and coconut. $6.50

A smooth coconut milk with powdery light flowers echoing behind the tropical creaminess. Not too much orange on cold sniff but it does lend some depth.

Death- Notes: Blood red apples. $8

Dried MacIntosh apples. This bath bomb made an incredible bath experience. The yellow and black coffin exploded into a frothy maroon explosion once it hit the water.

It made for a fun bath that I would love to experience again. 

I look forward to using the rest of these over the summer. 

What are some of your favorite bath bombs?

Obscurus: Bath, Body and Wax Tarts from Femme Fatale

These products were sent free of charge from Femme Fatale in exchange for photographs, all opinions my own. 

Femme Fatale Cosmetics is an Australian based company that sells indie products from bath and body to nail polishes, makeup to perfumes and even wax tarts. If you are looking for a new way to explore some really talented makers Femme Fatale is a wonderful outlet to do just that. Sophie, the owner of Femme Fatale recently debuted her own in-house brand of bath, body, perfume and home fragrance via a line called Obscurus. The Obscurus line is vegan, cruelty free and handmade. It has a dark edgy styling that features the arcane and mysterious. Today I have a sampling of various products to show you. Prices are in AUD, but I will put the US price in parenthesis after the product. I want to start with the wax tarts since I was totally surprised to see these in the box I was sent. The wax is soy and comes in the clamshell format.

Superstition- Notes: Citrus, agave and lavender with woody warmth, musk and amber. ($7.37)

This scent conveys what many oceanside fragrances attempt to capture but in a more realistic and refined manner. The citrus smells of lightly aged bergamot and paired with the lavender it paints landscapes of sunsets in Tuscany or glowing coastlines off the coast of France. I think it may be the agave that lends the salt encrusted atmosphere. It is a beautifully rendered aroma. Once melted, it performs a mercurial transformation, a bit of the sweetness in the citrus comes out and plays dreamily with the lavender. The amber and musk pulls through more the whole scent becomes elevated. One cube threw medium-strong in the bathroom and two cubes threw medium in the larger kitchen and living area. We had gone grocery shopping about an hour after I put this scent in the warmers. We came back and I started cubing a cantaloup I purchased and kept catching streamers of this magnificent perfume as the A/C would kick on and off. I finally realized it wasn't me (or rather my own perfume I should day), but Superstition. I want to smell like Superstition. It has a very elegant high class style.

Astral- Notes: White florals with hidden rose crystals and musk. 

An antique hand tatted bridal veil of tiny white and palest pink roses cascades back through generations of women, each with a fluttering heart of nerves stitched next to hope, youthful eyes luminous with ancient knowledge. The effluvia of gossamer roses floating like a trail of love's musk behind them. This is a gauzy pale rose that was utterly lovely to melt in the bedroom. Two cubes gave a medium-strong throw. The rose was not cloying, too peppery or overbearing, but wonderfully blended and softly sweet. Somehow it calmed me as I would float in and out of the bedroom as I was going about my evening routine. I discovered that this wax needs some nurture time while melting. Be patient and it will bloom and unfurl. 

Out of Body Experience- Notes: Freshly baked cinnamon buns drizzled with lemon and vanilla icing and a dash of orange zest. 

Sniffing this wax tart does indeed provide my senses with an out of body experience. Experiences of the past, Christmas mornings where cinnamon and clove pricked citrus fruits in a wooden bowl grace the same table as piping hot cinnamon rolls ready to make eager fingers and lips sticky with their sweetness. The vividness of the oranges and lemons and spice really liven up the comforting bakery aspects. This is not your typical Hot Orange Danish scent. I am saving this one to kick off fall. 

These lidded tubs are about 3 ounces and hold bath bombs called Tub Transmutation. They contain moisturizing almond oil and bloom in lovely shades of color. 

Agoraphobia- Notes: Sweet citrus bubbles and ginger ale, fizzing ripe red grapes, tart blood plums and lily. ($6.14)

My mouth waters when I open the lid and inhale this effervescent fruity libation. The ginger ale is unmistakable and forms the foundation of the brew. Sliced lemons and sweet sparkling grape juice join the ginger ale to create something I want to imbibe, but even better, I get to bathe in it. I am tucking this one away for an evening bath when I need an extra little pep, but I did use the next one...

Red Moon- Notes: Warm buttermilk doughnuts rolled in sticky sugar and oozing strawberry and raspberry jam. 

This is definitely an aroma I could get down on more in a wax tart format than bath and body care, but it is still well done. Tart and tangy raspberries merge with crispy fried donuts. In the tub this bath bomb fizzed and whirled with verve, turning the waters a candied watermelon pink tint. The fruits rose up out of the water and bakery notes dappled the steam. It was a fun bath and I will be looking to pick up some of these bath bombs in other scents that would be more my bathing ritual style. It was an excellent bath bomb and I like the way these are packaged. They make for easier storage than the spheres. 

Purge Potion is a thick consistency sugar scrub made from Australian cane sugar, grapeseed oil, avocado oil and shea butter. 

Tunguska- Notes: Forest greens with lime and winter berries, floral heart blended with ozone, green apple and musk. A crisp breeze and wilderness. ($10.65)

Tunguska takes the subtle perfume of evergreen and spruce from faraway woodland tundras and entwines it with ozone pulled in from the northern pole of the Earth's atmosphere. There is a stony chill wetness in the woods, but also an ethereal sweetness. Aquatic apples and airy limes. I love this scent. It is an illuminating scent, an olfactive representation of the teals, lime greens and pulsing indigo hues of an aurora borealis skimming over the snowy evergreen needles, reflecting and refracting like magic. 

I love the styling of this brand. The lids have stickers that reflect the scent within. Tunguska revolves around the phenomenon of the largest meteoritic impact that happened in recorded history. The shooting star is quite lovely but also hints at that event. I love it. 

The consistency of the sugar scrub reminds me of a lighter, more yielding version of The Bathing Garden's sugar scrubs. I can get a nice scoopful with my finger tips and massage it into my skin easily. Its medium sized particulate exfoliates wonderfully and the oils and butters aren't too heavy but add the right amount of moisturizing. It left my skin smooth and soft. I would happily buy this product and do plan on it.

Rota Fortunae- Notes: Jasmine, lily of the valley and rosewood blends with oriental spices and sweet citrus, mellowed with musks and vanilla. The capricious nature of fate. 

Though some say she may be fickle, she smells undeniably opulent. She is shrouded in a velutinous cloak of inviting jasmine woods. This is not tropical, heady jasmine but the ghost of jasmine long ago dried, a token from a former lover that lived a past life tucked behind the curl of an ear. Musky rosewood and the lily of the valley enhance that gossamer jasmine silhouette. Capricious Rota Fortunae is always welcome on skin and in my life. This would be amazing as a bath treat or bedroom fragrance. 

Check out this art! An arcane wheel of fate. Love. 

It is hard for me to capture the lovely subtle mica shimmer in this scrub but it is very nice. Not gaudy or over the top at all. Just right. 

I am impressed with the Obscurus line from Sophie of Femme Fatale. I can tell she put a lot of thought into her scents, ingredients and brand. I have not looked into the shipping yet, but the pricing of the products is more than fair with the exception of the wax tarts, those are a touch high when looking at market prices, but in my opinion not too high for me as I would pay extra for these types of boutique scents that blow me away. The packaging is top notch. The stories behind the scents add mystery and that extra level of detail I admire. 

Tomorrow I am going to feature Obscurus' Spring 2018 perfume oil line. Come by and check it out. 

Have you ordered from Femme Fatale? What lines do they carry that you love and I need to try?

Life Flower: Bath Bombs

Let's just say that this weekend is all about those California based companies that feel strongly about a high quality, all natural product. Life Flower utilizes therapeutic grade essential oils in conjunction with CBD oil to create skin care and body health products that relax and rejuvenate. 

Cate Be is where this came from. Cate Be is one of my favorite humans on the Earth and I have not even met her. Strange I know. But hear me out. Watching her practice self care, create beauty, enjoy nature and find laughter in the little things brings me joy. It makes me laugh out loud that there are people with happiness, wit and a no-nonsense approach to life out there and I watch it unfold right before my eyes in her IG stories. I laugh! With joy! She has helped me to embrace my femininity in places I have been scared to look. She has made me curious about natural healing. She really is pretty darn cool.

And she totally enabled me on these bath bombs. 

And I couldn't be happier.

I went for the bundle of bath bombs that include five best sellers for $60. They sell for $15 each so the bundle is getting one free. I also added one more to my bundle. These bath bombs all include 50mg of CBD oil. Most have a crystal embedded. The best part is that they are rich with essential oils and smell fantastic. I also quite enjoy the botanical bits. When I use these fizzing masters they impart a rich and luxurious scent to the bath and leave a layer of oils on the surface of the water that then cling to the skin and feel emollient and nourishing. I don't use lotion after I bath with these bad boys. The scent lingers and it really is a chill experience. I picked these up when there was a 20% off coupon code.

Flower Child brims with peppermint, eucalyptus and rosemary oils and holds a quartz crystal within. I have not used this one yet as I have an inkling it might be favorite of the bunch based on the oils. 

Save the best for last and all that.

Crystal Visions features geranium and other floral essential oils as well as a smoky quartz. I used this one and I picked up lavender in this bath bomb once it hit the water. It smelled like a lavender and geranium dream. White flower blossoms (mums it looked like) and lavender buds floated all about like a garden pond. I would happily get this one again.

Limonene is a vibrant blend of lemon, tea tree and lemongrass essential oils that embraces a citrine point. Rose petals and jasmine buds make a nest for the stone. Savanna picked up on the lemongrass as soon as she walked into my bedroom when I used this one. It is potent and very sunny. Very lemony. I loved it. The citrine in it is pretty too.

Aphrodite features rosemary and other essential oils. Rose petals and a rose quartz make the perfect accompaniment to this lusty bath bomb that is purported to be an aphrodisiac. This one is tucked away for later enjoyment.

Sativa is a breathtaking blend of sage, peppermint and eucalyptus essential oils with lemongrass and sage and eucalyptus botanicals loaded on top. I use this one up first and it was bliss. The peppermint and eucalyptus opened up my senses and immediately calmed my mind. The velvety sage was deep and mossy. I will be buying this one again without a doubt. This one was part of the bundle. *Edit. I did buy it again.

The one bath bomb I bought separately was Hypnosis, a lavender centric bath bomb meant to induce sleepiness and relaxation. Savanna immediately claimed the amethyst once I get around to using this beauty. I am saving this one or my next bought of painful PMS. 

Ok. So I totally enabled myself when writing this. I went ahead and bought another bundle. Yep. Sure did. Without a coupon code. I loved these bath bombs so much I started breaking into them before I could even take pictures of all of them! Seriously. These are spellbinding. 

Do you have any favorite all natural bath bombs? Are you using CBD for pain or anxiety? Talk to me about your bathing ritual. Mine happens at night. Includes a few candles and a fat book and something smelly in the tub with the hottest water I can get. Low lights. Pure nirvana.

Blooddrop: Spring Collection Bath and Body

Opening up a box that looks like this is pretty much just like Christmas. The beautifully feminine florals and hues are well coordinated and striking in their display. I need to remember Blooddrop for my next bout of gifting. A box like this would make a lovely birthday gift. 

As I previously mentioned a few days ago, I partook of Blooddrop's spring collection restock. Astrid, the owner and perfumer behind the brand, teased a new bath product. And as I am always on the hunt for new bathing goodies to add to my nighttime ritual, I made sure to attend this restock. This particular restock also featured Astrid's wildly popular Whinnies line of perfumes which merge marshmallows and ponies... how cute is that?! I didn't pick up any Whinnies but I am sure I will come to regret that. I did pick up plenty, however, so let's check out what was in this beautifully packaged box.

Mousse de Bain  in Marshmallow with Smoky Copal and Vanilla Caramel $12.50 for 8 ounces

This is a creamy whipped soap that can be used as a shaving cream as well. It is delightfully light yet custard like in its texture. When I scoop some out with my fingers it is stiff and keeps its peaks like a well beaten meringue but is the creamy texture of gelato when being worked into a billowy lather. The scent of caramel and wooden cork-like copal resin lifts up from the scent. It really is perfect for shaving. I love the way it left my legs silky smooth.

 Astrid is currently stocked with marshmallow varieties in this product. 

Ahhhhhh... here she is. The new bath concoction I simply could not pass up. This potioin is called "Froth" and it is a bubbling milk bath soak, 6.5 ounces is $18.50 and comes in three scents with a common marshmallow thread.

Marshmallow, honey, smoky vanilla, ginger, oakmoss and sandalwood is the first one that caught my eye. I dumped about a tablespoon into hot running water and it immediately bubbled and frothed and birthed a mound of lacy bubbles that I happily sank down into, armed with a good book and a few candles. The scent of creamy honey sweetened woods wafted up from the steaming pool of water and the milky warmth caressed the skin. After reading about a chapter or so the bubbles dissipated and the steaming milky waters were left. I truly love a milk bath. This reminded me of the delicious Haunt milk bath I was gifted years and years ago, but even better with the bubbling and frothing added.

I also fell in love with the marshamallow, blackberry jam, crushed violets and thyme Froth. I used this in a bath too (guys, this stuff is really, really good) and the blackberries smelled so lovely against the powdery sweet violets. It was a dreamy bathing ritual to be sure.

A generous perk of purchasing $50 or more from Blooddrop is the inclusion of a Merci perfume. I received Merci No. 140. The notes of the Merci fragrances are unknown, which is fun! I am going to interpret what I smell, which may very well be different what you would smell. In fact, case in point, I asked my husband what he sniffed and my daughter too and we all three had vastly different answers. 

In the bottle, my nose picks up a brown sugar and tobacco vibe with a hint of earthy vetiver lurking about. Adam smells chocolate and coffee. Savanna smells creamy campfire smoke. On the skin I get a sweetly smoky tobacco and grassy vetiver still. I love it. There are tones of vanilla and the husk of coconut, a murkiness and woods. The drydown reveals a decantly chewy vanilla pipe tobacco aroma. This is soooo sexy and warm and perfect for my tastes. I will wear this one with utter abandon for sure. 

A little while back I did pick up this bath truffle ($5) in Soft with notes of violet, vanilla, heliotrope, birch and rice flower. These are melty, fizzying, bubbling bath treats that weigh about one ounce. The scent is primarily a sweet candied violet that is feminine and serene.

It felt amazing in the bath tub. It is definitely a quality bath melt, but I wouldn't say it was terribly fizzy or bubbly but it did froth a bit. It left the skin silky smooth and moisturized. I didn't have to use any lotion before bed, which I usually do. There was a slight purple oil on the rim of the tub but it was very easy to rub it away with my hand as the water ran out and did not stain. What I liked best was that after I got out of the tub and put on my jammies, Adam snuggled up to me and told me how good I smelled. So Astrid, if you ever want to make a perfume from this scent I would happily scoop it up. <3

Astrid kindly included this bar soap in my order. 

Eggnog & Spiced Rum is $6.50 and weighs about 5 ounces. These are glycerin based bars and heavy with emollient oils and proteins. This bar smells of sweet and creamy and gently spiced eggnog with a glug of rum for holiday cheer. It lathers beautifully, a bounty of bubbles with very little coaxing. It feels like firm putty on the skin, sleek and bouncy. It rinses clean and is a joy to bathe with. I will certainly be back for another bar in the future. 

I am as happy as a June bug in the tall summer grass with this Blooddrop order. 

Have you discovered any new bath potions lately? 

Ariana Victoria Rose: Winter Bath Bombs

Ariana Victoria Rose released some more of her hidden ring bath bombs a little bit ago and I picked up two. I have blogged these in past, I want to say around August. I mentioned before about how I am totally not into the cosmetic jewelry, kinda cheap and tacky looking, hidden jewelry candles and bath bombs but these totally don't count because the rings are handmade from precious metals and stones and the bath bombs are handmade as well with nourishing butters and oils. I chose two in size 10 for $30 each. They always come in a beautifully packed and decorated box which is perfect for gift giving. 

The bath bombs were scented in Frost Bite this go 'round and smelled like fruity woods and soft snow. No minty leanings but it still manages to smell cool and sweet. The coconut oil makes it almost feel like a bath melt but there is still plenty of fizzing action. I like that the shimmer was kept to a minimum in this bath bomb. 

Inside the bath bomb in a tiny plastic cup and lid that hold the sterling silver handmade ring inside. The rings range in value from $10-$100 and can vary in size up to a half size. For example, the sized 10 can be from 10 to 10 1/2. Though I do find her rings to run on the small side. One ring fits my ring finger which is a solid size 9. 

I totally lucked out and got one of the rings I was eyeing most...

... this gorgeous faceted moonstone! Look at that blue flash in the lower right half of the stone. Yummy!

This more simple, yet lovely ring has a stone that flashes clear, aqua, green and sometimes purple depending on the angle and light. Not sure what it is but I like it. It feels like a delicate fairy ring when I wear it. This one fits my ring finger nicely. 

I am thrilled once again with my AVR purchase. My sister actually bought me one of her raincloud necklaces which I will feature in the new year. 

Were you a fan of mystery items when you were younger? Would you splurge on a $30 bath bomb in the hopes of scoring a gorgeous ring? Obviously I am one of those. I enjoy the thrill of the unknown like that sometimes.