Strange Invisible Perfumes: Galatea

Galatea begets an image of a bitter-orange tree corridor. Blossoms opening from a balmy night of late spring. Dark silhouettes of lovers loosely hold hands, fingers intertwined. Boozy thoughts dance above them. The trees emit their balsam, finally released from the first true heat of the season. The bark has become balm and essence. It’s a lovely vision, a bit [...]

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Roxana Illuminated Perfume: Lyra

My sister’s birthday was a few days ago, and she’s particularly enjoyable to shop for because she loves fragrance as much as I do. After considering the many new natural scents I have come to love over the past several months, I settled on Illuminated Perfume’s Lyra for her gift. Ultimately it was an easy decision because [...]

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Vetiver Variations: Honoré des Prés and In Fiore

Vetiver can be somewhat of a chameleon in fragrances. The essential oil from the roots of this grass unfurls as soft and powdery or deep and earthy, sometimes even nutty or bitter. Because it is one of my favorite fragrance notes, I love to seek it out in all of its permutations, and Chaman’s Party and Vetiver [...]

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Vespertina Giveaway Winners

 
The winners of the Vespertina Giveaway have been chosen! Congratulations Lindsay, winner of the liquid 1gm sample and Wende, winner of the solid 1gm sample. Roxana of Illuminated Perfume will be in touch with you soon.
 
Thanks to everyone for your participation.
~posted by Trish
image from artmagick.com

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Josie Maran Plumping Lipgloss and Eye Liner

* Currently Josie Maran Cosmetics is non-compliant in their Compact for Safe Cosmetics.  Additionally, Josie Maran cosmetics does not appear to be as green as they are marketing themselves to be because of their use of ingredients such as polybutene, butylene glycol, hexylene glycol, and synthetic D&C dyes. Please see the article Greenwasher Exposed: Josie Maran [...]

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Roxana Illuminated Perfume: Vespertina Giveaway

Roxana Villa, creator of Illuminated Perfume, has quickly become one of my favorite natural perfumers. I have reviewed her wonderful fragrance  Vespertina in this month’s issue of Sniffapalooza Magazine and I hope you all find yourselves hitting this link to read why I am so smitten by it.
 
Roxana has been very generous to offer Scent [...]

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Ayala Moriel Parfums: Hanami

The sun rarely shines in April as brightly in the Northwest as it did the day Hanami arrived. It was also the day I planned to take my boys to the Japanese Gardens, so the sample’s arrival felt inspired. After gingerly opening the padded envelope, Hanami immediately went on my wrists and neck. And then stepping outside, I [...]

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IFRA 43rd Amendment. A few natural perfumers weigh in.

The International Fragrance Association (IFRA) represents the fragrance industry and puts out guidelines for safe usage of fragrant chemicals and essential oils in perfumes and skincare. Recently, they released their 43rd amendment, which has caused an uproar in the perfume blogging community. This amendment puts restrictions on the use of several natural ingredients like oakmoss, [...]

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HAIR

Hair. Let’s face it. It’s a big deal. I dropped my non-green products cold-turkey. No problem. Sure, I still spritz a Guerlain or Chanel perfume once in a while, but my everyday products that didn’t make the environmentally friendly cut? Gone. Except one thing. My hair products. I clung onto those silicones and heavy weight [...]

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Download the Catalog for Mandy Aftel’s Living Perfume Exhibit

If you would like a sneak peek at the catalog for Mandy Aftel’s Living Perfume Exhibit  at Bendel’s from April 18-May 11, click on this link and it is yours!

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Aftelier’s Orchid Solid Perfume

This winter I read Mandy Aftel’s Essence and Alchemy and not only learned a great deal about natural perfumery and its history, but I also found myself reveling in its mystical and spiritual aspects. Ms. Aftel’s book takes you on a journey of the natural perfumer as alchemist. Converting raw matter into something more pure [...]

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Pacifica Egyptian Bergamot Rose & French Lilac

Pacifica has introduced Egyptian Bergamot Rose into its perfume and body butter line this spring. It has been a favorite scented soap and candle for years, but Pacifica’s perfumer and co-owner Brook Harvey-Taylor decided it was time to expand its horizons. Personally, I am glad she did because Egyptian Bergamot Rose is a lovely ambery floral fragrance [...]

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