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 Hive readers a giveaway. One lucky reader will receive a 1gm sample of Verpertina in liquid form and another will receive a 1gm solid. The Vespertina solid has not been released yet, so this is particularly special. The winner will have to wait a little bit longer for Roxana to fine tune the formulation, but it will be worth the wait as you will be testing it before anyone else gets the chance!
In order to enter, simply read the Vespertina review in Sniffapalooza Magazine, or read about Vespertina on the Roxana Illuminated Perfume website or blog. Then come back here and post a comment on why you would like to try this wonderful fragrance.
You have until 10pm on April 22nd to enter. The winners will be announced on April 23rd. Good luck!
Update: Winners have been chosen!
Posted by ~Trish
Indolic jasmine, earthy leather, floral woodiness… Vespertina sounds right up my alley! I’ve never even heard of Roxana but her fragrances have me suddenly intrigued. I’d love to try them all.
Please enter me in the draw!
Hey Chelsey,
Really really mild on the indoles though. The jasmine is so pretty in the drydown and blends nicely with the leather quality. You’ll read in her notes on her blog that some people get more woods. I can definitely see how this would change with people’s chemistry, and even daily on the same person.
It’s so lovely!
~T
I had the pleasure of meeting Roxana during the Fall Ball Sniffapalooza event in NYC. The scents she brought with her for us to sample were divine. Vespertina sounds no less so. I am particularly fond of jasmine &/or leather scents. both of them together with woody notes…..mmmmmm!
Sign me up for that!
Fall Ball 2009 here I come! I hope…
And hope to meet Roxana too someday. How great you got to meet her. Do you remember what your favorite was?
Thanks for visiting!
~T
I have a small sample of Vespertina. It’s quite lovely. The description of “citrusy, sparkly, subtly spicy topnotes . . .conjure up an image of a mythical orange blossom wine…” is just right. I have been trying several of Roxana’s scents, and they are all very intriguing.
Thanks Peg! Vespertina is special isn’t it? Kind of mystical and earthy at the same time.
I’m glad you came by and good luck in the drawing.
~T
I too met Roxana at Sniffa Fall Ball 2008 . Incredible dedication , dazzling talent…and she’s a mom !!!
I would like to own a FB of every one of her creations .
“Vespertina is the most beautiful floral I’ve ever smelled ” is what I think I stated on my blog last November….
Chaparral , honey toned sunshine…
Q…leaves in the fall…
Vera…lavender and the earth at sunset….
waxing poetic at the thought !!!
Please enter me in the drawing . Thank you .
Carol,
You shall be entered!
Roxana’s fragrances are poetic aren’t they? I commented over on Non-Blonde’s blog (she is reviewing Illuminated Perfume right now) that whichever one I am wearing becomes my favorite.
Cheers,
~T
Roxana’s passion for what she does is very inspiring in her interview. I love that her perfumes are truely natural, I would love to try them. I’d love the chance to win this!
Good luck Sydney! Her passion and commitment to natural perfumery are truly inspiring.
~T
Roxana’s perfume’s sound wonderful! I would love to win a sample of Vespertina. Thanks!
Hi CL!
They are wonderful and you are entered, good luck!
~T
Hi T,
From your review:
—->The citrusy, sparkly, subtly spicy topnotes of Verspertina conjure up an image of a mythical orange blossom wine that would be served during communion in a medieval church. Intoxicating, but reverent. <—-
That’s one communion I would make reservations for! ;0
Must sample.
~Dawn
Ha! I know, let’s all commune together
Hugs,
~T
p.s.
Forgot to say that your descritpion that I quoted above is the main reason I would love to sniff the Vespertina. Second reason is that I am on an orange blossom kick and I have been loving sampling a bunch of different ones. My 2 current faves which are world’s apart are L’Artisan Fleur d’Oranger 2005 and Liz Zorn Moroccan Orange.
~Dawn
I would love to try this one from Roxana, it’s one I haven’t had a chance to sample yet. The blend of orange blossom, jasmine and leather with woods sounds so promising, and yet I bet it will be nothing like what I expect. That’s what’s so great about her scents — you can’t really imagine what they’ll smell like just from the notes.
You’re so right Amy, Roxana is full of surprises!
Cheers,
~T
Orange blossom, jasmine and leather sounds like it was custom made for me! Sounds positively gorgeous and I’d love the opportunity to sample to lovely concoction!
Hi Lindsay,
You’re entered! Good luck and thanks for stopping by
~T
I’ve been curious about these frags for a while. Anything with orange blossom, and I’m your girl! I would love to try this scent.
Kathleen,
Illuminated Perfumes are worth checking out. You can get her adorable mini solid set on etsy if you don’t win the giveaway.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23323021
Take care and good luck!
~T
I love citruses, and would love to try this citrus, which sounds like it has a lot more than oranges or lemons going on! Thanks for the chance.
Yes Laura, it is a complex but lovely florally citrus fragrance. Roxana said it best herself…
“orange woven with flowers, grounded by earth”
~T
Trish,
I continue to be inspired by your blog and your writing! I was so enchanted that I decided to skip the drawing and went right to Roxana’s web site and purchased a sampler. It’s quite reasonably priced. Now I’ll get to try three of her scents.
Heidi,
That is great you got the sampler! Is Veserptina in it? If it’s not, and you want to try it, I can still put you in the drawing.
Let me know,
~T
Please enter me in the drawing. Since I have not bought perfume in 25 years, maybe it’s about time I wore some again. The description makes my mouth water- maybe I’m hungry too, but I like the sound of it!
Jane,
Roxana’s fragrances will be a great place to get reacquainted with scent. They are nothing like department store perfumes. I’ll put you in the drawing! Yay!
~T
Sounds like a great perfume! What a great idea for a giveaway! -Carly
Hi Carly!
Nice blog you have
Good luck in the drawing!
~T
always looking for a lovely new scent! especially au naturel… especially recommended by my fragrant friend, trish!
hannah
My dear H!
I think you would love this one, good luck
~T
I love the correlation between art, music and perfume, so this sounds really interesting. The combination of a natural, cruelty-free perfume with earthy and floral notes sounds wonderful. Please enter me in the drawing, and I’ll look for her other samples on her website. Thanks!
Linda,
You’re entered! Enjoy perusing Roxana’s website and thanks for stopping by!
~T
Thank you for giving us a chance to win one of your creations! I found your site via the article about your family on Etsy:)
I have been wearing the same “satsuma” scented perfume oil for years now and while Citrus/floral scents are still my favorite I would love to try something different..Sometimes music can be the soundtrack to your life and scents are like that for me. I certain smell can take me back to childhood or a specific memory . It’s time for something different to reflect who I am now, especially since my husband said just the other day that my perfume reminded him of when we first dated! I guess you could say I’m in a perfume rut:)
Like you the smell of rain and lavender are among my favorites as well. Hope you have a wonderful week!
Hi Christine,
Yes, it’s very sweet of Roxana to do this giveaway for ScentHive readers! Here is the link to that article on etsy for others to check out:
http://www.etsy.com/storque/handmade-life/mother-daughter-grandmother-shops-crocheting-the-generation–3750/
Thanks and good luck!
~T
Thank you so much for introducing this line to me, the story of Vespertina’s conception was engrossing. I would love to explore this scent (as well as her others). Please enter my name in the draw.
Cheers,
Dea
Thanks for reading about it Dea! You are entered in the drawing, and I wish you luck.
Best,
Trish
Hello
I have been enjoying your Blog and Newsletters!!
I only use Natural Perfumes and love trying new ones. I have read about Vespertine and it sounds amazing. I am looking forward to visiting again!!
Thank You:)
Hi Crystal,
Roxana is the one with the newsletter and if anyone else is interested in receiving it, just go to the bottom of her website here: http://www.illuminatedperfume.com/ where it says “join” and you’ll get signed up!
~T
PS: You’re in the drawing
My Mom is an inspiration to me and I created a perfume for her that I’m giving her this Mother’s Day. I love Jasmine and Roxana’s perfumes sound wonderful. I would love to sample them all! Thanks so much for the giveaway!
Blessings!
Penny
Penny,
How lucky your mom is!!
Take care and good luck in the giveaway,
~T
Thank you so much … but I’m the lucky one!
please enter me in the draw
JBE
You’re in my dear!!
~T
A note from Roxana about my recent order from her sent me over here and I’m very glad it did. A chance to win a beautiful scent, and a new blog to read. Hooray!
Please put me in the draw!
Thanks for coming over
And yes, another opportunity to spend more time on the computer, LOL!
~T
P.S. Pikake! I forgot this was you. What a beautiful hive/home you’ve made for yourself over here. I think I peeked in at the beginning and then forgot to come back–but I’ll remember now!
Thank you so much…any chance you’ll be posting again? I am a huge Paul Klee fan as well. Love his work!
~T
Oh, thank you so much for the encouragement! I actually have four or five unfinished post drafts in my file. I keep waiting for a big project I’m working on to come to a close, but as you can see, it’s been almost a year and I’m still plugging away at a series of deadlines, so I’ll either have to woman up and do both or make peace and wait… So far I’ve taken the peaceful, lazy path.
OMG…and I’m a little slow on the uptake! Just put two and two together. I forgot sweetlife= my pal over at POL and PST. Wow.
Sometimes the peaceful path is best, you’re hardly lazy I’m sure
~T
Hi!
!
I would love to enter the draw: “orange woven with flowers”…hum…delicious (but I’m outside the US: I don’t if I can partecipate)!
I saw the link to your blog in RV’s website: I’m so glad I discovered it
International entries are fine!!
Cheers,
~T
The fact that it’s described as “moody, haunting, and medieval in tone” does it for me. That and the floral woodiness pretty much get me.
I love moody fragrances too
And woody florals, my favorite!
~T
When I look for a scent, I look for an emotional response and connection. The fact that Roxana states her purpose is to become one with the Divine, shows that she too is looking for an emotional connection with her fragrances. I’m curious to see if her creations invoke the same response in me… or similar positive emotional response (connection). Please enter me in the drawing. Peace.
Yes, Roxana’s spirit really shows through in her creations. I hope you get the chance to experience them
~T
I love perfumes inspired by other art forms, so would be very excited to try this and become inspired myself! It helps that it sounds absolutely delicious as well!
Stacey,
You should check out my post on Ayala’s Hanami perfume. Roxana was also involved in the “Perfume in a Poem” project. It’s very interesting and inspiring.
~T
sound intriguing – i love trying new fragrances!
Roxana creates an illuminated line of exclusive, signature fragrances along with extraordinary custom perfumes.
Cheers Debbie, thanks for entering!
~T
All of Roxana’s perfumes are simply heavenly… I met Roxana at Comicon last summer and sampled many of them, and ordered some as well. I love all of them … they are hermetic works of art!
Blessings…
Adriane
I love your blog Adriane! Thanks for coming by and good luck in the giveaway
~T