A few quick smellies reviews:
You guys. The New York vote that happened? The one of epic fail? Like. Cannot deal right now. I've had a pretty crappy few days, body-wise, and I've been crampy and cranky and not able to get warm, so this was seriously the straw that had me locking myself in the bathroom with a warm tub and some kleenex. Reality? I am so done with you.
On a somewhat brighter note, I did get a fairly sizeable sale last night, which allowed me to turn over a fairly sizeable donation into the kitty fund I wrote about in last night's HALP post. (Update: the kitty has a fairly serious bowel condition that will require expensive upkeep, but the vet bills thus far have been covered.) I have since seen a few more entirely worthy but somewhat more private HALP posts, but as my bills are covered for the month, I am going to donate the next few sales to others. It just feels like the freaking right thing to do. I'm going to be posting a few more pairs of earrings tomorrow afternoon. This is my contribution to making the world just an iota less sucky.
But, in the interest of escapism, I have a few smellies reviews to share.
Haunt Gloaming Soap:: The time of day when the quickly darkening landscape meets with a glowing, ember sky. vanilla, dark patchouli, amber, mandarin orange and red cloves. I liked this more than I thought I would, based on my reaction to the perfume oil, which is patchouli-heavy. This actually was mostly red clove and orange, with a little bit of vanilla-y patchouli grounding it. Great Haunt soap moisture. I will miss Haunt when Erin closes up for good.
The Garden Bath scrub in Sugar Cookie:: Unbelievably realistic sugar cookie fragrance with baked sugar, butter, spices, a hint of vanilla, and a barely-there kiss of mint. It's SPOOKY. Like, for real. It's seriously, a less-boozy version of Spooky. I LOVES IT. Also, The Garden Bath has the best winter-skin scrub base, bar none. It's thick like cookie dough, very scrubby, and exquisitely moisturizing. The only thing I can think of that holds a candle to it is Villainess's warming scrub base... ooh, it's almost GingerSnapped time.
The Garden Bath scrub in Winter Woods:: Winter wonderland in a bottle! Imagine a long walk through a winter forest and fill your senses with rich woods & greens - Siberian fir, balsam, cypress, and pine needle scents with a hint of cinnamon, cardamom, and other winter spices to warm you up. The PERFECT compliment to all of BPAL's snowy blends, this is a lovely pine scrub! The answer to my pine cravings!
MadHatter Soaps Midnight in the Pumpkin Patch Scrub:: I thought I was going to be all about this, but there's a subtle caramel note in all the foody, buttery pumpkin that killed it for me. Jason likes it, though, so I gifted it to him. The scrub base is pretty standard, but up to snuff. She has had a really hard time keeping her items in stock, though, so despite my wanting to try her Tudor soaps, I doubt I'll be back.
BL Soaps' Christmas Pine Soap:: Spicy Cinnamon blends amazingly with cool Pine in this gorgeously swirled green bar of handmade soap. Really moisturizing soap base? Check. Was lovely, reminiscent of Arcana & Haunt. Pretty and well-packaged? Check! Scent... nonexistant. Seriously, no scent whatsover. I was sad.
LUSH Lil' Lush Pud Bath Ballistic:: This little bomb is a lovely dessert bath complete with holly leaf (a sugar one) and spicy cloves, fresh lemon and rose for guilt-free indulgence. Dear Lush, I buy so few of your items these days, but I still occasionally am wooed by the instant gratification your store offers. Why must this divinely scented chocolate pudding bath bomb make my bathwater look like poo? WHYYYY?
LUSH shower Emotibomb in Too Drunk:: Too Drunk is the one to lob in the shower with your partner when they come home after a few too many. Simulating fennel and peppermint oils provide them with a dose of sobriety so they're better able to, well you know. Anyways, it's also swell for hangovers or when you're feeling a little sluggish to really liven you up; peppermint oil puts you back on your feet and brings some mental clarity so you can remember what happened the night before. Smells diviiiiiiine in the shower and really was eye-opening. Unfortunately, it lasts 2 minutes. Tops. Not worth the price tag.
Woodcrafts and Candles wax tarts in Bayberry:: A blend of fir and balsam with delicate spicy undertones of nutmeg and ginger. A warm and spicy holiday tradition. PERFEEEEEECTION. I got tarts in several of their other piney scents, but this one, thus far is the clear, uncontested winner. Balsam + spice. NOTHING BETTER. Must have in mass quantities.
On a somewhat brighter note, I did get a fairly sizeable sale last night, which allowed me to turn over a fairly sizeable donation into the kitty fund I wrote about in last night's HALP post. (Update: the kitty has a fairly serious bowel condition that will require expensive upkeep, but the vet bills thus far have been covered.) I have since seen a few more entirely worthy but somewhat more private HALP posts, but as my bills are covered for the month, I am going to donate the next few sales to others. It just feels like the freaking right thing to do. I'm going to be posting a few more pairs of earrings tomorrow afternoon. This is my contribution to making the world just an iota less sucky.
But, in the interest of escapism, I have a few smellies reviews to share.
Haunt Gloaming Soap:: The time of day when the quickly darkening landscape meets with a glowing, ember sky. vanilla, dark patchouli, amber, mandarin orange and red cloves. I liked this more than I thought I would, based on my reaction to the perfume oil, which is patchouli-heavy. This actually was mostly red clove and orange, with a little bit of vanilla-y patchouli grounding it. Great Haunt soap moisture. I will miss Haunt when Erin closes up for good.
The Garden Bath scrub in Sugar Cookie:: Unbelievably realistic sugar cookie fragrance with baked sugar, butter, spices, a hint of vanilla, and a barely-there kiss of mint. It's SPOOKY. Like, for real. It's seriously, a less-boozy version of Spooky. I LOVES IT. Also, The Garden Bath has the best winter-skin scrub base, bar none. It's thick like cookie dough, very scrubby, and exquisitely moisturizing. The only thing I can think of that holds a candle to it is Villainess's warming scrub base... ooh, it's almost GingerSnapped time.
The Garden Bath scrub in Winter Woods:: Winter wonderland in a bottle! Imagine a long walk through a winter forest and fill your senses with rich woods & greens - Siberian fir, balsam, cypress, and pine needle scents with a hint of cinnamon, cardamom, and other winter spices to warm you up. The PERFECT compliment to all of BPAL's snowy blends, this is a lovely pine scrub! The answer to my pine cravings!
MadHatter Soaps Midnight in the Pumpkin Patch Scrub:: I thought I was going to be all about this, but there's a subtle caramel note in all the foody, buttery pumpkin that killed it for me. Jason likes it, though, so I gifted it to him. The scrub base is pretty standard, but up to snuff. She has had a really hard time keeping her items in stock, though, so despite my wanting to try her Tudor soaps, I doubt I'll be back.
BL Soaps' Christmas Pine Soap:: Spicy Cinnamon blends amazingly with cool Pine in this gorgeously swirled green bar of handmade soap. Really moisturizing soap base? Check. Was lovely, reminiscent of Arcana & Haunt. Pretty and well-packaged? Check! Scent... nonexistant. Seriously, no scent whatsover. I was sad.
LUSH Lil' Lush Pud Bath Ballistic:: This little bomb is a lovely dessert bath complete with holly leaf (a sugar one) and spicy cloves, fresh lemon and rose for guilt-free indulgence. Dear Lush, I buy so few of your items these days, but I still occasionally am wooed by the instant gratification your store offers. Why must this divinely scented chocolate pudding bath bomb make my bathwater look like poo? WHYYYY?
LUSH shower Emotibomb in Too Drunk:: Too Drunk is the one to lob in the shower with your partner when they come home after a few too many. Simulating fennel and peppermint oils provide them with a dose of sobriety so they're better able to, well you know. Anyways, it's also swell for hangovers or when you're feeling a little sluggish to really liven you up; peppermint oil puts you back on your feet and brings some mental clarity so you can remember what happened the night before. Smells diviiiiiiine in the shower and really was eye-opening. Unfortunately, it lasts 2 minutes. Tops. Not worth the price tag.
Woodcrafts and Candles wax tarts in Bayberry:: A blend of fir and balsam with delicate spicy undertones of nutmeg and ginger. A warm and spicy holiday tradition. PERFEEEEEECTION. I got tarts in several of their other piney scents, but this one, thus far is the clear, uncontested winner. Balsam + spice. NOTHING BETTER. Must have in mass quantities.