Femme Fatale Cosmetics: Emporium Boxes

These products were sent to me free for reviewing purposes. All opinions my own.

Many companies make beauty boxes, from Sephora to Birchbox and even indie vendors are getting in on the action. I like Femme Fatale Cosmetic's unique take on the typical beauty box. They have four categories you can choose from: Aroma Emporium (home fragrances), Bath + Body Emporium (bath, shower and personal care), Beauty Emporium (facial products) and Perfume Emporium (perfume samples). Each set comes with a bag that contains 3 sample products. These are no longer offered as a subscription, but as a single purchase item. Because they are broken up into four choices the cost is kept lower than their past Emporium Boxes. The price will fluctuate based on the items' value within. These two ranged from $10-$14. The theme for August was "gemstones" and September's theme will be "horoscopes." I was sent The Aroma and Perfume options for review. 

The Aroma bag came with two wax tarts and a sample room spray. I enjoy the gemstone theme as the placard within and the bag itself was beautifully showcased.

First up is an Herba Apotheca scent in Fortuna which features notes of chamomile, sage, citrus and vanilla. The stones studded into the wax are yellow aventurine which enhance luck and prosperity. This wax tart was inspired by Yellow Aventurine. This soy blend wax tart comes out of the lidded container easily and smells of creamy lemon and herbs. There is an earthy tang combined with what smells like warm lemony tea served with a glug of cream. It is unique and I very much like it. This tart threw medium-strong in my bedroom.

An Obscurus Soy Wax Melt in Mirror Veil was in the bag too. Mirror Veil contains white violets, patchouli, tigerlily and casaba melon. This scent was created with Rainbow Quartz in mind. I love tarts in this size and shape. Both this one and the one above are about 0.7 ounces of wax in a snap lid container. The aroma from this tart is ethereal and lovely. Gauzy lily and delicate violets are augmented by a light honeydew flavor. Beautiful. It threw medium in the guest bathroom.

Poesie Perfume offered up a linen/room spray in the fragrance Amethyst which holds within itself blue poppy, violet flavored marshmallows rolled in powdery icing sugar, creamy orris root, tangerine and a hint of licorice. Sprayed into the air it gives off the aroma of earthen violets pooled at the feet of trees in a small forest. The violets have a blue hue to their tiny heart shaped faces, is this the anise and blue poppy working together?  A few sprays makes a room smell magical. I am a fan of Poesie Perfume Mists and happy to have a travel sized one to take to work. 

The Perfume Emporium bag is smaller than the Aroma Emporium bag since it only needs to hold three tiny perfume sample vials. The theme is consistent with gemstones as the focus. 

Amethystos from Twisted Wonderland possesses notes of Concord grape, white musk, calming lavender, vanilla bean and a hint of hibiscus. Candied grapes and fruity hibiscus tea scent the skin when applied. It is a sweet, tart and vibrant aroma. A touch of lemon citrus twists about.

Poesie Perfume also contributed work to the perfume bag with Pink Opal, which features pink grapefruit dipped in vanilla sugar, strawberry slices, peony blooms and hibiscus tea. Pink Opal starts out as a grapefruit creamsicle then floral musks slink in. The peony and strawberries fuse completely so that they are as one. The grapefruit fades away leaving the vanilla cream behind to mingle with the berries and flowers. 

The final scent in this sampler is from a new-to-me house called Woodland Wytchery who operates out of Etsy. The perfumer, Ruth, was inspired by labradorite and created Earthly Treasures with notes of blood orange, oudh, fig and Bulgarian rose with hint of honey, wildflowers and vanilla. Figs drenched in honey emerges upon initial dabbing. Tupelo honey over green figs with vanilla coconut tones. Soft florals mingle about in the heart and the dry down. 

All three of these scents were lovely interpretations of various gemstones. 

I think the Emporium boxes are a great way to sample a variety of vendors and creators without breaking the bank. I love the detail and effort put into them to produce a cohesive theme. I cannot wait to see what this month's horoscope line up showcases. Are you doing any type of sampling service? 

Sihaya & Co.: Journey Into Mystery Summer Box

This box was provided to me gratis in exchange for photography. All opinions my own.

Last year I purchased a Sisterhood of the Moon fall box from Sihaya and Company and loved every last bit of it (review here). 

Sihaya and Company offers seasonal boxes in a pre-order, single purchase format which I really enjoy for its ease and simplicity. The summer box was themed Journey Into Mystery and had an enchanted fantasy feel with a dash of European forest and castle whimsy ($65).

This box included eight items from six vendors. Almost all of them were full sized products. 

I will start with the edible portion, a generous 12-pack of Honey Lavender Shortbread Cookies from Whimsy & Spice out of Brooklyn ($8.50). These cookies are the perfect accompaniment with hot tea or coffee. They have a buttery delicate soft crunch. The lavender and honey are merely wisps of flavor highlighting the butter. Delish.

At the bottom of the basket you can see two tiny jars of cosmetics. These are from Crow & Pebble, a UK based handcrafted cosmetics company. They included exclusive half sizes of an eyeshadow ($4) and a highlighter ($6.25). 

The eyeshadow is in Asleep Under the Willow which looks the color of lemony spring grass with golden shimmer highlights. It is a beautiful green shade that has nice color payoff and lasts for hours even without a primer. 

The highlighter is in The River Daughter and holds a pearlescent pink hue, the color of the heart of a seashell, with hazy golden shimmer. This is a touch pale for me to use as blush but does act as a wonderful highlighter as it is meant to be. It is easy to blend and does not make me look like a disco ball. I don't often use indie makeup but these were exciting to try out.

Sihaya and Company not only curates these brilliant seasonal boxes but the owner, Christina, also creates her own line of jewelry and candles. This locket necklace features silver plated findings and a color shifting resin cabochon. I am not sure of the exact value of the necklace but there is a similar silver locket, here, for $42. 

Poesie Perfumes is a perfume house I have reviewed before in the past so when I saw this room and linen spray I was excited. This 4 ounce vegan fragrance mist can be used as a body spray as well. 

Queen of Air + Darkness- Notes: A veil of mystery and enchantment. Deadly nightshade berries, hypnotic dragon's blood resin, cold earth, deep forest and a hint of blackest leather. ($12)

This is gorgeous. Sweet dark berries and floral yet earthy dragon's blood lulls the senses into quietude. I sprayed this on my pillow and in my room and it was lovely. It lingered delicately on my pillowcase for most of the evening and long enough for me to fall asleep. I will be buying more of these for sure. I see that Poesie Perfumes has these in stock in many other fragrances (plus free shipping).

I have burned and enjoyed a few Sihaya and Company candles. They come in sturdy tins with lovely labels; they are about 8 ounces and burn 30-35 hours and run $12 each. 

The Unicorn- Notes: Only those truly pure of heart can glimpse a unicorn. A sweet and innocent confection of rainbow sherbet topped with coconut shavings and a cherry.

A bright and fruity treat where the coconut shavings give it a slight bakery tone. The cherry is creamy and almost like serendipity. It certainly smells "pink" and youthful. It burned beautifully, like they all do, with a steady flame and a slow melting wax pool. The scent threw medium-strong in my bedroom and mostly smelled of candied fruits, festive and jovial. The coconut just added a mellow creaminess and did not come over as bakery once melted. A magical summer scent.

An exclusive nail polish from Blush Lacquers featured in the box. This 5-free artisan nail polish vendor created Evenstar, a blushing periwinkle shade with violet highlights, electric blue microflakes and holographic pigment. It has a nice wide brush, much like OPI. Two regular coats was enough to cover visible nail line and achieve a beautiful shimmery opaque look. It dried reasonably fast. It wore well, staying chip free without a top coat for several days. Evenstar is a fitting name as it does glow mysteriously and beautifully. Blush nail polishes run anywhere from $8.50 to $13.

A four ounce vegan body lotion from Latherati lied nestled in the box.

Celaena's Chambers- Notes: Lotus blossom, rose, nutmeg, mahogany and rosewood. ($8)

This scent was inspired by the Throne of Glass series by Sara  Maas... which I desperately need to finish. I ended up stopping at book three waiting for the next to come out and know I think two more did. Oops! I am rather impressed by the scent blending here. The lotus blossom is decidedly aquatic and watery but it is warmed and tempered by the subtle spice and rich wood. The rose lends a vintage nostalgia to the scent. No one note overpowers the other and it melds together to smell elegant and sophisticated. The cream is silken and thick yet easily spreadable on the skin. It sinks right in and is a great formula for summer time. I will be back to Latherati, they sell wax tarts, lip balms, milk bath soaks and even bookish gifts, as most of the scents are inspired by literature. 

The value of this box is about $60 not including the necklace. If the necklace is around $45 then the total value of the box hovers around $105. 

Everything in the Sihaya and Company box is high quality and very tasteful. The Autumn Delights box is debuting today, August 1st, and will include a gourmand collection of scents and flavors, everything apple, pumpkin, caramel and coffee. This is one for the foodies and fall lovers. Check it out here today!

Have you tried a Sihaya and Company box yet? Do you enjoy seasonal box offerings? 

Lasting Scent Candles: Winter Order Aroma Mists

I placed an order during Lasting Scent Candles last pre-order back in October. They arrived a couple weeks ago. Since then Pam has announced that was the last pre-order she will be having. Lasting Scent Candles closed a couple years ago due to some health concerns and then Pam opened back up. I am not sure if that will be an option for her again this time. I am thankful I placed an order as I did not know it may be my last. Pam may still open up for RTS with her leftover stock. That is why I will be continuing to review my last purchase. These Aroma Mists turned into one of my favorite items to have on hand in my office, in my car and in my bathroom. They were handy on vacation too for sprucing up musty cabins. Aroma Mists run $6.75 each. 

Mint Mallow Creme- This one is mint, vanilla sugar and marshmallow fluff. This strong sweet mint does have a spearmint lean. It is similar to the Buttermint Candies scent I have below but Buttermint Candies is more creamy and buttery. Mint Mallow Creme leans more spearmint and crisp.

Candy Land Dreamin'- I love this one to the moon and back. Especially in a room and linen spray. I picked up two. Candy Land Dreamin' blends beautifully sweet herbal lavender, peppermint and subtle vanilla sugar. The lavender blooms the most in this format with that cool peppermint tingle to lift it. 

Toasted Embers- Lasting Scent Candle's Toasted Embers remains one of my favorite Marshmallow Fireside dupes. I love having it in an Aroma Mist. Smoky embers, smooth woods and sweet airy marshmallows slowly toasting over the flames. 

Cranberry Citrus Balsam- Christmas in a bottle. Good grief. I forget how much I love this scent. Cheerful crimson cranberries and jolly citrus fruits merge with evergreens and fresh cut wreaths. 

Pink Sugared Spruce- I adore this fragrance but sadly it has not been throwing well for me in the wax format. It is bloody brilliant in the Aroma Mist. Pink sugar crystals, pillowy cotton candy and caramel drizzles decorating festive spruce trees. 

Cabin Fever- I currently have this one in my Jeep. It is a gorgeous spiced woods fragrance that warms me in the cool weather and smells amazing in a car. One spritz is enough to scent the whole vehicle. This bottle is a back up for the one I have in there now. I also used this particular scent when we stayed in Tennessee last summer to freshen up the cabin. Apt, eh?

Buttermint Candies- Just like the pastel after dinner treats that melt on the tongue. Extra buttery and vanilla laden with a hint of cooling peppermint. 

I forget what type of contest there was going on in the Facebook group, but it turned out that I won and the prize was a loaf in Winter White Cake. This is a great scent. More for the vanilla mint lovers who like their vanilla heavier than the mint. It is a stunningly gorgeous loaf of wax and the nice thing about Lasting Scent Candle's soft wax is that it cut like buttah. 

I will be posting the wax tarts I picked up tomorrow. I must say 2018 has seemed to be a year of change for many of my favorite artisan creators. Laurie at Sonoma Scent Studio, Kyme at Bohemienne Life and now Pam at Lasting Scent Candles. I will miss them all terribly but wish them all much love and success. 

Do you use room or linen sprays? 

Lasting Scent Candles: January Pre-Order

I placed a small order with Lasting Scent Candles back in January. Most of these are repurchases and I will not be going into their scent in any great depth since I have in the past. Some that are new to me I will, though. I purchased 2 ounce scent shots for $2.65 each. Shipping is a flat rate of $9.75. Pam hustled hard through some sickness to get these out to her customers. Her hard work and diligence are appreciated. I hope she is enjoying a much needed rest right now. 

Sweet Kisses, divine cakes covered in frosting and sweet kisses, a slightly ambiguous description but I love it. It is a heavy hitting vanilla scent with a touch of richness from a caramel tone. Love it.

Cream Filled is a fried donut filled with lemon cream and topped with powdered sugar. It is seriously one amazing smelling lemon bakery scent. Heavier on the tart yet sweet lemon curd but with enough donut to know it is a baked good. I melted half of a 2 ounce scent shot in the kitchen and it threw medium-strong. I wanted to eat it.

Purple Haze combines Mint Mallow Creme and lavender buds. Purple Haze was a new one for this opening. And it does not disappoint. Mint Mallow Creme is a strong throwing creamy spearmint scent, add in some of LSC's incredibly lovely herbal lavender buds and I am sold. 

Passionate smells fantastic! A lavender patchouli blend that is sweet, honeyed and refined. Passionate folds in orange blossom, sandalwood, sweet neroli, agave nectar and woods with the lavender and patchouli to create an elegant scent that is perfect for the bedroom or even a sophisticated home atmosphere. I normally get a nice throw from this one.

Amber Lights is another new one at this opening. It is a golden amber and vanilla cream blend. I got one of each this time but two of this scent. It is more amber than vanilla for sure but enough vanilla to round of some of amber's sharper edges. It smells a little musky, a little incense and a little woody and immensely beautiful. I hope this one comes back. 

Fire Roasted Strawberry, yet another newbie, takes strawberries dips them in marshmallow goo and roasts them over a campfire. How could I not want to try that? On first sniff it is mostly ultra sweet and sassy strawberries but further inhaling reveals those pillows of toasted marshmallow. I don't get much campfire on cold but that may come forth more when melted. 

Blackberry Ren Ten is a tall glass of iced tea brimming with blackberry syrup and slices of candied plums floating on top. It is tart and dark and the tea pulls through nicely. There is a slight juicy grape tone to the blackberries and plums and I love it. Realistic and delectable. 

Serenity twines lavender and Green Mint Confetti (not sure what all is in that but it smells less creamy and more candied than Mint Mallow Creme with that spearmint twist). Overall Serenity has a similar vibe as Purple Haze but more sweet and sugary and less herbal to my nose. It is lovely and I picked it up in the Aroma Mist too. 

Bliss is an old time favorite of wedding cake, vanilla cream and a small smattering of lavender. A repurchase every time. 

Southern Belle takes LSC's decadent wedding cake and tops it with sugared white flowers. The effect is very subtle and smells incredible. Mostly dense moist vanilla cake with just a teeny hint of peonies and delicate florals. Love!

Serenity Aroma Mist is $6.75 each and lasts a very long time. We use Savanna's Aroma Mist every other night and it is still going strong months and months later. This one will be for my vehicle. The scent is strong and one pump will last hours in a small space.

Free Samples in:

Mint Mallow Creme, an ultra creamy spearmint delight. Almost creme de menthe in feel. 

Candyland Dreamin' is another one a adore. Lavender and mint and sweetness. I melted it before bed the other night and it threw medium-strong. 

Did you pre-order any Lasting Scent Candles? What are your faves? Are you going to try and get in on the RTS from this pre-sale? Those loaves look soooo gooood!