Presently Sublime

Anje Organic Perfumes not only smell incredible, each perfume is a key scent that is supported by other scents, and are beautifully packaged but contain non-synthetic oils and absolutes and can be purchased as either a perfume (denatured spirits) or oil (organic jojoba).  I will admit that it was the perfume bottle as jewelry that attracted.

Priced between $40 and $120.00.

Click on title to go to site

Finally I Smell

After weeks of trying to find a perfume that I want to wear and wearing various single note oils I have finally settled on wearing a perfume oil by Nemat International called Musk Amber. It has a heady incense like smell that lasts and lasts and lasts. It constantly garners compliments but more importantly makes me smile all day long since the scent reminds me of someone I use to love who was constantly surrounded by an cloud of copal incense, but that's another story for another blog.

I selected the 1/3oz/10 ml glass bottle of this scent from a full line of 3 size options that Wholefoods carries. Their costs run from $6 to $14.00, which is a bargain considering the quality and the longivity of this perfume oil.

I recommend a visit and a sniff

Oiled and Scented

Even after all the perfume sampling I have yet to purchase a new fragrance. While I continue to weigh my options and follow my nose instead of going sans scent each day I reach into my collection of ATTAR BAZAAR fragrance oils and dab on which ever single note oil I am drawn to. Sometimes I wear two or three layered atop each other. Because I am really enjoying the results I am in no hurry to even purchase someone elses fragrance and I am even considering just re-stocking these wonderful oils as my supply depletes with use.

If interested, you can buy them directly from ATTAR BAZAAR's site, but I have also seen them at Whole Foods. http://www.attarbazaar.com/
I really love their connoisseur collections kits. They contain 6 drams of beautiful enticing fragrance oils that you can mix or match or wear alone and each kit only cost $19.95 plus shipping. http://www.attarbazaar.com/cgi-bin/hazel.cgi/hzpi/u/HzSt01130n111711110n120U0n101110120m15171711/hazel.cgi?action=serve&item=fragrances/connoisseur.htm

Still Hunting ...

At the time of this post I still haven't purchased a new perfume. I am still on the hunt and until I find something worth investing almost $100 in I will be wearing the Lancome Magnifique Perfume sample I received. I like the rose and grassy scents which combine to produce a musky floral aroma but it seems to fade as the days progresses. I like perfumes that linger. Despite this I totally recommend a stop at Lacome counter for a spritz.

The Scent of the Season

I now have it in my head that I need to start wearing a new perfume. I am a Guerlain woman but after an over powering experience a few weeks back with L’Instant and a blah-blah self reaction to my standard Shalimar I’ve decided to look for a perfume made by another company. 

For me the search always begins with a list of scents I love and prefer to wear and ends with the addition of scents I find myself drawn to at the time. Season, time of year and current events in my life always affect the list.  Most of the scents I wear have distinct notes of amber, vanilla or sandalwood. Though I am also attracted to fruit and floral scents I prefer ones that aren’t too bright. I prefer spice to floral so the fruit or floral notes can't be the first notes that hits you. 

While flipping through the pile of fashion magazines this Sunday I allowed my nose to begin to shop and sniffed my way through each scented card it came across, sniffing a coffee bean in between to clear my noses scent memory. I think I have found a prime candidate, Secret Obsession by Calvin Klein.

Before I peeled back the scented flap I feared I would be assaulted with an updated version of the 1980’s Obsession but was relieved and pleasantly surprised to find this new addition to CK’s perfume line is nothing like the original obsession. It is a dry oriental perfume with an earthy spiced bottom (amber, vanilla, sandalwood, mace) that settles the floral (rose, jasmine, tuberose) and fruit (plum, orange) notes making for sexy earthy perfume. I rubbed the small card on various pulse points and liked the lingering aroma but before I go out and spend the $72 for 3.4oz or $55 for 1.7oz of eau de parfum spray I have 5 more fragranced cards to wear.

Ylang Ylang Lotion Lotion

Regardless of the length of the trip when I travel I prefer to bring a carry on size suitcase and because of this I am very aware of what I pack. I usually have no problem packing clothing since most of the pieces I own can be mixed and matched to create a number of ensembles. Packing grooming and beauty products is where I can have issue. This time rather than fill a small 4oz travel bottle with some of the lotion I normally use, into the goody bag I went and pulled out the sample tube of Akhassa's Ylang Ylang Body Lotion. Akhassa products are suppose to combine the 4 natural elements, air, water, fire, earth, to offer balanced healing properties for body and mind. Their Ylang Ylang Body Lotion is part of their nurturing series.

Ylang Ylang is a strong femine scent that either one loves or hates. It can be overpowering but if balanced with just the right fragrances can also be a delicate and lasting memory. Akhassa's Ylang Ylang lotion has a strong ylang ylang presence that tapers to a halo as it is applied and warms against the skin. This shea butter based lotion also incorporates bergamont, geranium and lavender oils. Though I found the scent pleasant and strong enough to stand on its own I did not find the lotion itself to be anything spectacular. To be honest it didn't leave my skin as moist and supple as the body butters I usually reach for.

If you're interested in trying this lotion here is its posting on Akhassa's sites -

http://store.akhassausa.com/e1n.html

Wading in the Scented Water

I dabble in mixing and using my own herb teas, tinctures and soaks and maintain a small collection of essential oils and dried herbs that I use in my kitchen witchery. Much of what I use I have I ordered from St. John’s Botanicals - http://www.stjohnsbotanicals.com/

I was introduced to this amazing supplier by my dear, old friend Bernie. Many moons ago she and her partner ran an amazing herb and apothecary store on 2nd Street in the East Village. The store is long gone but B’s lessons will always remain with me.

St. John’s Botanicals is located in Maryland and they offer the most amazing selection of organic and natural products for use in mixing and making your own health and beauty items. In addition to carrying dried organically grown herbs and hand made tinctures they also sell some amazing ready for use products. One of the items I love and buy is their Florida Water #1.

Florida Water #1 is a heavy bottomed cinnamon based floral scent that goes on light and lingers. In the hot summer months I fill and refrigerate a spritzer bottle with the water. A few sprays from the cold bottle refreshes even on the hottest day. During the winter a few cinnamon laced drops makes even the quickest hot bath a luxury and lightly spraying the scent onto the bedseets before crawling back into bed with the Sunday morning paper perks me up just long enough to finish the coffee and crossword before relaxing into a nap.(OK so I never finish the crossword)

I encourage you have a look at their web site and try as many of their wonderful things as possible. They also have a great catalog that I keep as a resource.

http://www.stjohnsbotanicals.com/frame-store.tmpl