Collect your pollen. Fly away inspired.
Posted in Jordan Samuel Fragrances on Aug 22nd, 2010
Jordan Samuel Fragrances was created by Jordan Pacitti, a former corps de ballet member of the Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle. When I say “former” I mean he just retired from the company this summer and is now focusing on his business full time. Jordan Samuel launched in 2007 while Pacitti was still dancing with PNB, [...]
Posted in Vireo on Aug 15th, 2010
Kaitlyn ni Donovan is a musician and natural perfumer, as well as a fellow Portlander. It seems like the Pacific Northwest would be fertile ground for botanical alchemy, but she is the first that I have discovered from my environs. Actually, I found Kaitlyn via a reader’s suggestion and am thankful for the tip (thanks [...]
Posted in Liz Earle on Jul 12th, 2010
Congrats to Pamela, you have won a full bottle of Liz Earle’s Botanical Essence No. 1. I decided to draw two other names as well, so Alyssa and Margaret, I will send you 5ml decants as a 2nd prize! Posted by ~Trish
Posted in Aftelier on Jun 27th, 2010
The lucky winners are Amy H, Carly, Lisa BTB and Linda of kindlyindulgeme.com. I’d like to say thank you so much for everyone’s input. I know Mandy appreciates it greatly. Posted by ~Trish image from Mandy Aftel’s collection
Posted in Roxana Illuminated Perfume on Jun 11th, 2010
Roxana Villa, of Roxana Illuminated Perfume, is the creator behind one of my favorite lavender perfumes, Vera. I reviewed the liquid formulation of Vera this past fall, and am elated that Roxana is now offering it as a solid in addition to the liquid perfume. Organic lavender from Ojai is used in the formulations and [...]
Posted in Patyka Organic Perfume on Apr 29th, 2010
Amber perfumes typically have a base of labdanum, benzoin, and vanilla, sometimes with a balsamic note added for extra warmth. They tend to be powdery, full of depth, and natural amber blends are particularly soft and soothing. Because of amber’s coziness, I thought I preferred it in the colder winter months. Enter Patyka’s Ambré to [...]
Posted in Ayala Moriel Parfums, In Fiore, Kahina Giving Beauty, Roxana Illuminated Perfume, Strange Invisible Perfumes, Velvet and Sweet Pea on Apr 15th, 2010
Growing up in Phoenix, one scent above all others sang “spring.” Orange blossoms. Their melody is beautiful and lush and the desert air becomes saturated with the intoxicating perfume of these tender white blossoms every spring. If you’ve never been to the Phoenix area, the orange trees are a funny site as the trunks need [...]
Posted in Ajne on Apr 13th, 2010
OK, so enough about nail polish! Let’s get back to natural perfumes. Ahh, Printemps. You’re the lovely hippie chick who I admired from afar in college. Beautiful with your long flaxen hair and low slung jeans before they were today’s standard fare. But you’re all grown up now. Sophisticated. Complex. Yet, still clinging to your [...]
Posted in Velvet and Sweet Pea on Apr 6th, 2010
One of my favorite natural perfumers, Laurie Stern of Velvet & Sweet Pea, has created gift sets for spring that would make an ideal gift for Mother’s Day. My choice would be the one pictured above, the Rose Jasmine Perfume & Passionflower Gift Set and I actually have one tempting me. But it’s not for [...]
Posted in Roxana Illuminated Perfume on Mar 20th, 2010
If you read Roxana’s blog post regarding her inspiration for GreenWitch, you will find it was named after the book “GreenWitch” by Susan Cooper. It so moved Roxana, that she shifted her creation of a green perfume with an oakmoss base, a chypre (Sheep-ra) in other words, to one a little more oceanic. I appreciate [...]
Posted in Soivohlé/Liz Zorn on Mar 8th, 2010
Liz Zorn might be the most intriguing perfumer I have come across. Her fragrances are complex, unexpected and have a definite intelligence behind them. Never have I applied one of her perfumes and thought, “Ah yes, that’s what I thought this would smell like.” Pink Praline is no exception. The first time I wore it [...]
Posted in Ayala Moriel Parfums on Feb 10th, 2010
Tropical florals like tuberose, gardenia, and jasmine can easily overwhelm a perfume with their intense headiness. Sometimes the intensity is beautifully crafted, such as in Fracas, but that iconic tuberose perfume is challenging for many people to wear and still feel like they are in their own skin. Ayala Sender, the nose behind Ayala Moriel [...]
Posted in DSH/Dawn Spencer Hurwitz on Jan 29th, 2010
Dawn Spencer Hurwitz of DSH Perfumes flew under my naturals-loving radar until a few months ago. One of her purely botanical gems that I discovered is Chinoise. Dawn refers to this perfume as “a quiet and contemplative moment amongst groves of whispering camphor trees; a grounding aroma.” I have yet to experience such a moment in [...]
Posted in Tallulah Jane on Jan 18th, 2010
Now that the world of natural perfume has really taken off, there is speculation regarding the “greenness” of some of them. For those of us who prefer naturals, we have our own individual barometers as to what is “green” enough. Only you can decide what works best for you in terms of your lifestyle and [...]
Posted in Anya's Garden on Dec 31st, 2009
I’m writing this review on the eve of the blue moon and the new year. This is also the day I decided to try MoonDance from Anya’s Garden for the first time. Coincidence? If it was, it was a subconscious bleary-eyed one this morning. Reaching for my sample I thought I was going to experience [...]
Posted in Aftelier on Dec 28th, 2009
Mandy Aftel, creator of Aftelier Perfumes, is a true artist. Her fragrances are interesting, thought provoking, and ultimately beautiful, and each time I wear one I adore her fragrances just a little more. I’m certain Mandy’s Fig has more than the listed notes of fir absolute, jasmine sambac and yuzu in its blend, but knowing [...]
Posted in DS & Durga on Nov 22nd, 2009
My maternal grandfather made my grandmother a cedar chest when they were fifteen years old. He had the interior quilted and lined at a funeral parlor which I find both fascinating and macabre. (Where else would you have that sort of thing done I wonder?) Both of my grandparents are dead now, all of them [...]
Posted in Artemisia Natural Perfume on Sep 25th, 2009
Ondine. An ondine is a water nymph, beautiful and immortal according to German folklore. Ondine is also the namesake of a natural fragrance worthy of adorning that nymph. That is if the water girl likes to be anointed with milky blossoms washed over transparent woods. Lisa Fong, creator of Ondine and her line Artemisia Natural [...]
Posted in Roxana Illuminated Perfume on Sep 21st, 2009
FIVE A.M. IN THE PINEWOODS I’d seen their hoofprints in the deep needles and knew they ended the long night under the pines, walking like two mute and beautiful women toward the deeper woods, so I got up in the dark and went there. They came slowly down the hill and looked at me sitting [...]
Posted in Essentially Me on Sep 17th, 2009
Essentially Me is a one stop shopping website for all things perfume. If you need botanical extraits, they’ve got ‘em. Pure absolutes… they’re available there also. Are you in need of a pipette, some smelling strips, or a blending bottle? They’ve got all that too. Basically, if you’ve ever wanted to become a mad perfume [...]
