Sihaya & Company: Spring Box

This box was sent free in exchange for photographs, all opinions are my own.

Christina at Sihaya & Company continues to roll out one of my very favorite curated indie maker seasonal boxes. I love how she not only includes bath and body but all tasty treats, home fragrance and more with a very cohesive feel. This spring her box was called: The Mystic's Dream.

Christina crafts some of my favorite candles. I love to burn them on my nightstand and on my desk. They throw nicely and look lovely with her shimmering glitter overspray. 

The Mystic's Dream- Notes: A blend for those seeking adventure and wonder behind the veil of slumber. Spicy cardamom, Bulgarian rose, soft cedar, warm vanilla, and a touch of pistachio under a swirl of smoke. 9 oz $13

A lovely gourmand rose. A dusting of cardamom and vanilla tinted pistachio graces the rounded fullness of dark roses. It smells like browsing a quaint French bakery where vases of homegrown roses mingle with the meltingly tasty scents emanating from the display cases.  I look forward to burning this one right after I finish up Amber Woods from Sihaya & Co. that is on my nightstand.

Sihaya & Co. moisturizing lip color in Oneroi- A sheer wash of lavender tinted mauve with delicate purple sparkles and lavender caramel flavor. $6.50

A very flattering shade of plummy dark pink on my lips. The shimmer adds a touch of sheen and the flavor is very mild. I love the cushiony slip of the lip color. It feels light and easy on the lips as well as moisturizing. I enjoy wearing these for an easy pop of color. 

Leccare Lollipops on Etsy in Honey Cardamom, Peppered Plum and Blood Orange Ginger. $4.05 for three.

I love tiny gourmet lollipops. I sampled the Honey Cardamom and it was divine. The cardamom was peppery and bright and paired with the sweet mellow honey it made for a tastebud tingling treat. I look forward to the plum on next. 

Deconstructing Eden perfume in Dream- Notes: Tonka bean butter, Bulgarian lavender, lavender maillette, chamomile, and helichrysum. 9ml for $15.50

I have been meaning to sample Deconstructing Eden for a while now but the samples I picked up ages ago ended up languishing too long and then I misplaced them somewhere. I love that is a lavender based perfume. The lavender is floaty and supple, smells just like the lavender growing in my garden. It is braced with buttery shortbread cookies. I know that is not in the notes but that is what comes to my nose. The delicate feathery chamomile petals come into the background reminding me of sleepy tea. This is a wonderful scent to wear for calming and for sheer joy to those lavender lovers like myself.

Nui Cobalt Pathworking Bath Potion- Notes: Angelica, frankincense, copal, calendula, and a gentle touch of jasmine in a homespun infusion of mugwort. 20g is about $5 (4 oz is $22)

I don't have a bath in which to pour this beautiful bath potion but I did rub some on my skin kind of like an exfoliant and it was heavenly. The frankincense and jasmine are a match made in heaven. The oils in this potion left my skin soft and lightly scented. If I could buy this in a large amount and bathe in it I would be one happy camper.  

Paintbox Soapworks soap in The Distant Stars and the Violet Flame- Notes: Purple incense, crystalline violet, amber, and sweet blackberry. $7

I used to poo poo glycerine soaps but between Paintbox Soapworks and Moonalisa, I amend my ways. Paintbox Soapworks' luxury glycerin soaps are just that, a luxury. They bubble and froth in copious clouds of suds and they smell amazing. Plus the ease of cleaning and rinsing is pretty sweet too. I admit I do fall into a semi-state of mesmerism when I gaze into the mica swirls that look like galaxies of stardust inside these bars of soap. I put this bar in my shower along with my Future Primitive soaps so add a fruity balance to the mints. This bar smells of dark, sweet blackberries and a sigh of violet incense. It is truly a lovely fragrance. The berries come forward most prominently for sure. 

Luvmilk sugar scrub in Dream Walker- Notes: Sun ripened apricot, creamy coconut milk, oak, cedar, moss and a squeeze of citron. (Not sure of cost as their website is down.)

I enjoy the consistency of the Luvmilk scrub. It is like a slurry of sugary scrubbiness. The scent in the jar smells of bready coconut and I am not a huge fan of it, but once I slather it on in the shower it does bloom into a peaches and cream. I think the milk component and the apricots combine to initially make a strange melange of yeasty scent but then it does mellow and the apricots plump up into their fuzzy, peachy, juicy form. The creaminess smooths out into something more yummy. I don't ever really get the oak, moss and cedar though.

 I noticed when trying to locate the cost on these that the Luvmilk owner is going through a rough patch with a loss of a loved one and some massive COVID-19 shipping delays on supplies. My condolences, my thoughts are with you. 

I love this box! It is dreamy and lush. So much magic to behold! This box ran $60 shipped and the product value exceeds that amount given an estimate on the scrub. Christina's next box will come out in May and you should treat yourself to it. <3

Sihaya and Company: Sisterhood of the Moon Box

This monthly curated box was given gratis in exchange for photographs from Sihaya & Company. All opinions are my own.

I am going to be showing the last two Sihaya and Company boxes I got out of order. Since Halloween creeps so near I wanted to showcase this most recent Sisterhood of the Moon box first. I will feature the Autumn Jewels box in November in a week or so. This is the third year I have received the Sisterhood of the Moon box and I fall further in love with it each year. The abundant spookiness, the fall flavors, the attention to detail and darkness. It all enchants me. 

Dryad Tea can be counted on to contribute a delightful tea called Black Cats and Pointy Hats that is redolent of spiced cider. Overripe apples, mulling spices, blackberry and lime leaves and jasmine all blend with black tea leaves to make a divine autumnal draught. $6.50

Little and Grim contributed a 4 ounce glycerin soap called The Augur in the scent Botanomancy which features fig, apple, lemon, ginger, sage, frankincense, caramel, cinnamon and smoke. It is a smoky fruity darkling. The fig and apple are tempered by herbs, yet the caramel and soft spice induce a temptation of their own. The smoke and incense lend a mysterious air to the fruits and herbs. I am putting this in my shower right now. $8.50

Sixteen92 is a perfume house that holds a special place in my collection. I appreciate the stony musks, chilly ozones, crisp leaves and foggy atmospherics that Claire creates. She also has a deft hand at woods, soil and smoky leathers. Not to mention metallics and other interesting bits. 

The Witching Hour- Notes: Dense fog, charcoal ash, a burned cedar chest, sacred willow, knotted roots, silver needle and a salt circle beneath a starless sky. 6ml $14

Sharp green sap, herbaceous and bitter, bite like the cracking whip of Devil's Snare. The stinging teeth are tempered by the dense metallic twang of midnight fog, mincing in on dewy padded feet. This slinks from the bottle and smells similar on the wrists when freshly anointed. The green crystalized sap dissolves into warm embers and lush woods. Claire's smoky woods scents are never heavy or cloying but rather sniffed through the filter of a crisp cool nighttime sky, where night winds cleanse the smoke and trees and mosses, dappling them in silvery moonlight and briskness. This is the witching hour. Where nocturnal hearts beat quietly and black eyes reflect the moon. 

A Black Phillip enamel pin from The Pickety Witch came in the box. $10. I love the cascade of fall leaves cresting his bust. 

I have been watching Christina of Sihaya and Company tinker with the idea of creating tinted lip balms for a couple months now. I ordered her Harry Potter lip balms a while back (strangely I am hesitant to break the seals as I am sure I will fall madly in love and then never be able to get them again). I love seeing the process of her adding mica and flavors, increasing shade pigments or adding shimmer. I love this plummy creation that she included in the box. The deep red-purple tone can be layered to create a vampy shimmery look or a light swipe can impart a slightly bruised blush to the lips. I appreciate the slip and cushion of this moisturizing lip color. $6.50.

So so sad to not have a bath tub to soak in. I really and truly miss my beloved salt baths. Bubble baths. Milk baths. Baths. I wonder if this sudden lack of magnesium from my salt baths is giving me trouble. Oh well. One day. 

This amazing ritual bath potion from Cattail Apothecary called Awaken Intuition blends mugwort, mullein, lavender, clove, sage, yarrow and patchouli into a bath time treat. $8. 

A bath time treat I will have to wait a long while to use but I think it will be worth it.

Ah! The candle. I always look forward to sniffing the Sihaya and Company candle that inevitably accompanies these boxes. The Thinning of the Veil stitches together carved pumpkins, smoky oudh, black amber and smoldering dragon's blood resin. $13. This is a haunting aroma that mimics the scent of a rotted out blackened log where unknown creatures dwell. Ashen smoke, pitch black soil, ebony wood and singed resins all weave into dark shadows. I have burned this candle before and loved it then as I love it now.

This is a great box filled with amazing items. Individually these run about $66.50 but the box is $65. The most alluring part of the box is the limited edition nature of certain items like The Thinning of the Veil, the enamel pin, the lip color, and the Sixteen92 perfume, which can only be had through this box. I am very happy with everything and will use it all up.

What items in the Sisterhood of the Moon box most appeal to you? Do you see any favorite makers in here?

Laurel and Lime Snail Mail Society

Katie Kelly from Laurel & Lime is a talented and kind silversmith that I have featured a few times here on my blog. She used to live not too far from me in Clearwater but recently relocated to Portland, Oregon. She kicked around an idea on Instagram that involved sending out small kindnesses via snail mail and getting back to tangible relationships in this virtual age. She followed up by created the Snail Mail Society. It is a monthly mailing of anything that strikes Katie's fancy. She will package it up with care and surprise you along the way.

I quickly hopped on the inaugural one-year option at a very low price point. She sent out a questionnaire and I happily filled it out. She mentioned sending out things like tea, treats, smellies and once every third month a handmade jewelry item made by her. There is currently a 6 month option for $84 or a 12 month option for $144. 

Upon opening the first month's gift I was merrily greeted with homemade confetti and a sweet hand written note. I was utterly shocked to see that the very first item was already jewelry! I love these molten silver studs. They are about the size of a regular Oxford shirt button, bigger than I usually wear and that makes them very special in my collection. I really love them. 

I am beyond thrilled to have a special little something come in the mail over the next year as I go through a transition of my own. Being the nerd I am I have a box ready for Katie too. I figure if we are going to be part of a society, she might welcome some goodies as well. 

If you like a sweet surprise, $12/month isn't half bad at all for something to brighten a day. 

Sihaya & Company: Sisterhood of the Moon Box

 This box was provided gratis from Sihaya & Co in exchange for photographs. All opinions my own.

The Sisterhood of the Moon box from Sihaya & Co is my favorite box of the season. I picked this box up last year and reviewed it here. This year's box is just as wonderfully wicked. The box was $65 and sold out pretty fast. 

Dryad Tea in Black Cats and Pointy Hats ($6.50 for 1 ounce) along with the Sugar Cube Skulls from Dem Bones  ($3) are repeats from last year's box. The tea is a festive and smooth spiced apple black tea with fruity notes and the sugar skulls dissolve easily and one skull is perfect for sweetening up one cup.

Moonalisa 4IN1 Fine Bubble Wash in Forager's Grove ($6.95) was a very pleasant surprise. This 4 ounce bubbling wash can be used as a shampoo, shower gel, bubble bath or fabric cleaner. Forager's Grove includes dank woods, balsamic aromas of resinous twigs and leaves, toasted sugared wild blackberries and roasted coffee. Plump blackberries with crystal droplets of juice shining under their bellies sit next to a steaming mug of coffee. The coffee and blackberry mixture is tempered by the resins and moves it from foodie to gourmand. The amber backdrop along with the dark berries and subtle coffee truly do make for an autumnal aroma. I used this Bubble Wash in the bath tub for a few nights in a row and it gave birth to the fattest mountain of white bubbles and smelled amazing. It made for some very nice full moon bubble baths, indeed.

Sihaya & Co and Paintbox Soap Works have collaborated with products and fragrances lately and the combo has been exciting. One of the results is this fabulous Paintbox Soap Works glycerin soap scented in Sihaya's fragrance Sisterhood of the Moon ($6) which blends amber, crackling fires, woody oakmoss and warm vanilla. I unwrapped this soap and used it immediately. It is my new fall time favorite. The glycerin soap is bouncy and smooth and lathers up with a nourishing richness. There is a fine silver teal mica within the dark soap, making for beautiful gazing. The scent is just as good as I remember it from the candle. It is a surprisingly sweet resinous scent. I almost feel like there is the barest hint of leaves and stewed autumn fruits within the ember and amber and sugar. It is incredible. Happy to bathe with it.

Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab contributed a 5 ml perfume ($26) to the box.

Song of the Morrigan- Notes: Dusky patchouli, bone-white Hojari frankincense, rose thorns, rue and mugwort.

From the bottle, Song of the Morrigan whispers with a breath of herbs, dried and fresh, earthen and pungent. Tarragon and wormwood twine with sanguine rose petals and patchouli. A heady and primal aroma. Anointed on the skin, the herbage surfaces in the same manner as from the bottle, green with sap and life. It expands into a golden green haze of woody absinthe and powdery frankincense all while holding onto the spirit of the loam. As it dries down it mellows with faint tonka sweetness. It is a haunting scent.

Sihaya & Co always tucks a candle inside their seasonal boxes and I always look forward to using it. This year's Sisterhood of the Moon box candle is The Thinning of the Veil ($12) and it comes in an 8 ounce tin.

The Thinning of the Veil- Notes: Carved pumpkins, smoky oudh, black amber and smoldering dragon's blood resin.

This candle is amazing. It just might be my favorite Sihaya candle to date. It is smoky and dark and full of ominous shadows. The oudh and resins make up the corporeal portion of the scent while the pumpkin offers just a wisp of a spirit to sweeten and lighten the darkness just a smidgen. The throw is excellent and it scents my whole bedroom. It burns will with no tunneling and a strong flame.

There was also a purple shimmer lipgloss from Apocalyptic Beauty in the shade Hex ($12), which is a liquid lipstick with a violet hue and red shimmer. The lipstick has a pleasant violet/grape/anise aroma to it. It feels plush on the lips when applied then dried into a matte finish. The shade is more flattering on my lips than I assumed it would be. I would probably apply a gloss on top because my old lady lips don't take to matte finishes well at all and it feels a touch drying. I will be happy to use this lipstick on fun occasions.

An enamel black cat pin from Cat Coven ($10) was curled up on the bottom of the box waiting to be adopted. 

Sihaya & Co curates wonderful seasonal boxes. This box is valued at around $82.50 so it is a nice deal. The winter box is going to be incredible. The theme is hygge and will include Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, Haus of Gloi, Immortal Mountain, Latherati, Lumina Noctis, Sydney Grace and Sihaya & Co. It will go on sale November 1st at 9am EST (first 25 boxes) and then a 7pm EST (the remaining 25 boxes) for $67 each. These will ship at the end of November. 

Are you ready for some winter hygge? Some comfort and joy?

Haunted House

Back in high school and college, going to Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights was the thing to do to induce peeing of the pants. My girlfriends and I or Adam and I would wait an hour to two in line in order to enter frightfully orchestrated haunted houses that usually had a theme from a movie or show or myth. The jump scares are what always sent me a hollering. I am still easy to scare with a sudden touch on the shoulder or unexpected noise. 

I love the aesthetic of a run down gothic haunted house. And real abandoned places lure me in. 

Do you have any haunted house experiences?

The Poisoner's Guild: Ave Victoria

I am a card holding member of The Poisoner's Guild. No, no. Adam is fine. No need to rush off and alert the authorities. The wizard cops need not fear this mellow muggle. The Poisoner's Guild is a group of scentcrafters that curate boxes of fragrant darkling offerings. I missed the inaugural box but this second collection made it to my doorstep. It is named Ave Victoria, how was I to miss a Victorian themed aroma experience? The box was $45 and arrived a little later than predicted due to some supplying issues. Not a problem for me as they kept the FB group posted, however if I was not a member I would have been concerned.

The box arrived and exceeded my breathless expectations. Especially in the packaging arena.

All the dried botanicals were simply lovely. And see how there is a handkerchief that wraps around the description cards? After traveling about with the incense the hankie was so pleasantly scented.

A sticker and two artistic cards arrived in the box. One tells the tale of a Victorian era female poisoner and the other sets the tone for the box with a deathly dessert. Then of course is my membership card.

Alkemia created a perfume oil for the box in the scent Cyanide.

Cyanide- Notes: Creamy oleander blossoms, absinthe liqueur and iron distilled patchouli delicately bathed in a non-toxic perfumer's accord of potassium cyanide. 

From the amber vial rises up the aroma of sweet and boozy almond. Grazed onto the delicate skin of the wrists arises powdery almond sweetness and lightly spiced absinthe. The heart of Cyanide releases a narcotic flower perfume that is powdery with a lemony honey nectar oozing from its intimate bosom. As the toxin runs through its course it dries down into that clear patchouli with subtle traces of the oleander lingering softly on the fringes.

My first vials of Hexennacht perfumes arrived via this experience in the scents Morphine and Laudanum.

Morphine- Notes: Steamed milk, lavender buds, honeyed apricots, chamomile tea, honey and white amber.

Sweet chewy dried apricots and creamy lavender float up like a hazy dream from the dram. applied topically, Morphine emerges with milky notes that merge with peachy apricot to create a peaches and cream blend with honey drizzled on top. The heart of Morphine holds candied lavender amid the apricots and honey. It is delicious and crystalline and I want to like it like a lollipop. The dry down gets a touch earthier once chamomile seeps in but stays nicely sweet.

Laudanum- Notes: Opium, saffron, ambergris accord, black currant, plum, bergamot, nutmeg, vanilla, black oak, cedar, smoked patchouli, amber, amyris, black pepper, vetiver and white musk. 

I love this scent. Laudanum fragrances always appeal to me. From the vial an intoxicating vapor smolders with darkness, black opium and ebony amber. On the skin the opium wraps its sooty smoothness around the senses. It possesses an ambery warmth that turns slightly animalic from the ambergris accord. Laudanum is dark and cozy, woodsy and warm, smoldering with resins. It is gorgeous.

Strange Fire & Fumery included a travel tin candle and incense.

The candle is in Ether which blends elderflower, moonflower and ozone. This small tin scented my bedroom with beautiful gauzy flowers and freshness. It is a lovely candle and burns well.

Opium incense features dragon's blood, jasmine and devil's trumpet. Twenty sticks were generously included and they smell excellent and burn easily yet slowly. Opium produced a heady resinous incense that filled the room wonderfully. 

A tin of handcrafted teas and four parma violet candies were the last bits of divinity to emerge from the petal strewn box. 

Steepology teas in Earl Grey de la Creme, Lemon Mint Cooler and Royal Velvet.  I steeped and drank the Lemon Mint Cooler and it was nice. It turned a bright pinkish red color and had that fruity taste that Celestial Seasonings Lemon Zinger has. If it was more of a lemon and mint I probably would have enjoyed it a touch more but I do look forward to drinking the other two. 

The parma violet candies are a pleasant hard candy treat. I will happily enjoy them. 

I am happy with this purchase. The box was presented beautifully with great attention to detail. The items within are all crafted with passion and talent. I would be up for purchasing another Poisoner's Guild box in the future.

Wick & Fable: Wanderlust Box

Wick & Fable is a company I have had some experiences with before. They craft literature based candles and also curate monthly subscription boxes. A friend told me about a Studio Ghibli box they released about a year ago. I picked it up and enjoyed it. Their 2 ounce candles were perfect for my nightstand and they threw well. I didn't blog about it but I very much liked it. I bought some BOGO 1/2 off candles a few weeks ago and also spied a fun Wanderlust box that featured fantasy themes. They have Essentials boxes for $24.99 and Deluxe boxes for $49.99. Often a 10% off coupon can be found online from various brand reps. I have used Melody10 and a few others. 

I used a 10% off code for this Deluxe box and after the $5 shipping it was pretty much $50 even. It came shipped in a huge priority box and I almost didn't recognize what it was. That is because one of the items in the box was a huge circular towel with a fringe on it. It was a Lord of the Rings towel so I was totally stoked. Sorry I didn't take a photo. But it was cool. 

What is also cool is the artwork. The box itself ended up being an Alice in Wonderland theme while the information card was more whimsical fairytale. 

Two art cards came in the box. One is from Harry Potter and the other is from Six of Crows but I am still pretending it is Harry Potter. It kind of reminds me of when they were on the roof of Borgin and Burkes spying on Draco. I am always up for some Burrow reminiscing so naturally that one is my favorite. Some of my treasured scenes in the book are of Molly singing to the warbling Celestina Warbeck while darning socks or slicing root vegetables for dinner by magic. 

My friend Sandra has extolled the virtues of The Night Circus and I am ready to hunt it down. After all, there is a pillowcase in my possession now with that theme. It is quite large, no wimpy pillow cases here. I would say it fits a standard 20" or so square pillow. If I ever get a designated library room I would totally use this pillow in there.

Candles! Wick & Fable makes pretty candles. I just love the labels and they often do well for me. 

Hogwarts- Notes: Baked goods blended with lemon flower and sea salt with nuances of jojoba, coconut, cherry wood and melon blossom. 4 oz

The notes are an interesting blend. Fresh bakery? But the overall scent pleasantly comes off as a picnic on a spring day with a plate of lemon squares to enjoy. Having burned these candles before, I am familiar with their quality and it is nice to say they are pleasantly consistent. They burn very well, with strong wicks and an easy wax pool. The wax pool though... it is something to behold. As the wax melts a fine galaxy of glitter starts to fountain up from the center and moves out to the edges. In the smaller 2 ounce candles it does it quite rapidly and in this 4 ounce one it moves more slowly. Once I burned this candle the lemon bakery reminded me of the treacle tarts I made several years ago. A mellow sweet bakery with the barest hint of lemon zest for subtle flavor. The soft florals paired surprisingly well with this. The throw was medium-strong by the bath tub. Incidentally, it made for an excellent bubble bath scent. Lightly refreshing and subtly sweet.

Narnia Palace- Notes: A warm and cool blend of woodsy cypress, rosemary sprigs, sugar mint and oak moss resin. 2 oz

This is one of my favorite scents in the box. I enjoyed reading the Chronicles of Narnia and having this wintery sweet scent that matches it is wonderful. The mint is very mellow but the sugared herbs and woods are lovely. I am saving this one for nightstand burning this winter. Maybe my birthday?

Middle Earth- Notes: A super strong scent with top notes of fresh breezes and bottom notes of herbs, earthy rain and citrus. 2 oz

A sweet clean aroma with vague lemon tones. It reminds me a little of that yuzu bubble bar from Lush that I like. Definitely a little Lushy. Creamy clean citrus. I like it. 

Faerie Realm- Notes: Hints of slightly sweet dandelion and wildflowers are blended with lemon and creamy vanilla. 2 oz

The citrus in this one is very zesty and not as creamy and mellow as Middle Earth. This reminds me of the Celestial Seasonings Lemon Zinger tea that has nuances of hibiscus and raspberry along with the strong lemon. This one burned beautifully and threw medium-strong in the office. I had this going for the one hour live chat Montessori class I was attending and within that time it had formed a nice wax pool and aroma in the room. The lemon was a touch too herbal and sharp for my liking but I will still burn it up. Check out the video below to see that glitter bubbling up in the wax.

Terrasen- Notes: A very fresh and delicate blend of wildflowers and whispers of forest pine on a background of fresh ozone and soft citrus. 2 oz

This one possesses watery notes that feel more like aloe and mellow cactus and sea salt. I burned this one on my nightstand. I love these two ounce sizes. They fit perfectly in these Turkish candle holders my friend Ashley gifted me from when she lived there. This one burned evenly and beautifully. It threw medium-strong in my bedroom. The scent retained it cold throw impression and was relaxing. 

I liked the theme, though the Wanderland seemed a bit all over the place. Happily there were a few of my fandoms and the towel and candles were worth it alone. The candles seemed to be lemon focused which was suitable for summer offerings. They currently have a Hogwarts box up on the website (yep I bought it) and it looks to be pretty darn sweet. 

Keep your peepers peeled for some random Wick & Fable candle reviews. I have several to feature as fall rolls in. Have you tried Wick & Fable? Are you currently trying out any subscription boxes? 

Riddles Tea Shoppe: The Auror Tea Society- Summer Manifest

Riddle's Tea Shoppe first became known to me via Jay at The Scented Library. She posted a couple times about the Deatheaters Tea Club quarterly boxes and I kept meaning to try them out. I finally got my stuff together and placed an order for the summer box. That is when I realized that Riddle's Tea Shoppe also had an Auror Tea Society box. I sprang for the Auror one while Jay snagged the Deatheater one. Check out what came in my box down below if you are curious about how the wizard cops take their tea and pop over to Jay's blog today to see what the wild evil baddies enjoy in their afternoon cuppa. Apparently the baddies have a yacht club too.

Jay's blog can be found here. Check out this amazing shot of her Deatheaters Tea Club box that she took.

These boxes release quarterly like I mentioned above. They are a one time pre-order purchase, but I did notice the Etsy store mentioned that changes are coming in August. Not sure what that will be about. The box was $37 plus $7 shipping. The box was said to include two novelty tea items, one large tea pouch, one enamel pin and four additional surprise items.

I quite appreciate the level of detail that went into the making of this box. All items were themed as if you were camping in a forbidden forest with your closest auror buddies. There were two cards, one to set the stage and another that listed the items, buried in the bottom of the box was a sticker that read "Magical Observer" and each item appeared just right to set the mood. It is obvious that this was curated by a true Potterhead.

All the items in the box were hits for me.

A stylish cork trimmed tote emerged from the bottom of the box. I will be using it to usher my planner, books, iPad and materials to and from school.

A colorful postcard with impressive art (I keep looking at the Forbidden Forest lettering thinking I should put on some 3-D glasses to get a full effect) which will soon be hanging on my desk cork-board.

Forbidden Forest Elixir tea sprouted from the box. This rooibos based tea contains rose hips, hibiscus, apple pieces, vanilla, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries and forest berries and is decaffeinated which makes it perfect for evening sipping. I love two things about this bag already: the adorable artwork with mushrooms and the fact it is SEALED.  Can I tell you what a pet peeve it is becoming when I order handcrafted items that come in these bags and they aren't even sealed? All they have to do it run a flat iron over it. I have had mushroom cocoa spill everywhere, bath powders dump out and all sorts of messes in my orders because these bags weren't sealed at the top. So thank you Juli and Joe. Thank you.  

The enamel pin is very cute. I spy some spell-o-tape, a broken sad wand and perhaps some Adhaesus' Extra Sticky Wand Glue. This will be fun to put on my classroom cork-board too.

Three bewitching tins came in the box. The tiniest tin features Molly's Miniature Marshmallows from The Auror Junior Scouts that add a mother's touch to any tea time. These are the tiny crunchy dehydrated marshmallows you find in instant hot cocoa pouches and can buy by the jar full in a grocery store. So once this tin is emptied I can happily restock it on my own. I love the tin. 

Two larger tins contain teas. The first up is Shacklebolt S'Mores which is a black tea and oolong tea blend with added cinnamon bark, ginger root, vanilla, gingerbread, cocoa nibs, orange peels and chocolate. It tastes amazing. The black tea is smooth and flavorful. It has a touch of spice and the chocolate gives it more of a wooden tone rather than a hot cocoa vibe. There is a clarity to this tea that makes it taste as if it has been steeped in spring water. A brilliant tea for fall fireside enjoyment. A black spiced tea with a touch of dark woodsy chocolate.

Barty's Bonfire Blend is a father and son tradition and merges black tea with lapsang souchong along with cloves, ginger root, cardamom, caramel and cinnamon bark. Lapsang souchong is a favorite tea blend of mine and this one is fabulous. This version has less pine and a softer smoke. The gentle smokiness is set off nicely by the warmth of the clove which comes in whole buds in the tea. Clove buds make me weak in the knees. The tea has a nice overall tannic mineral quality that makes it a pleasant rustic experience. An apt bonfire blend to be sure. 

I am beyond thrilled with this experience and will be back for more. If the summer box was this good I can only imagine how fabulous the autumn box will be. I am off to read Jay's blog and probably fall in love again with the dark side. 

Have you had any cool Harry Potter box experiences? Please share!