Saturday, December 31, 2011

Kleancolor for Christmas






Layered on like this:
Kleancolor in Cobalt - night sky!

Sally Hansen Glass Slippers - snowflakes!

China Glaze Fairy Dust - stars!

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Etsy SNS is up!

Etsy is a fantastic network of shops which carry mostly handmade items. I love to browse and shop there, especially when there is a sale!
Each Saturday at about 6pm Central time, a post is created in the Etsy community forums which allows shopkeepers to post their specials for Saturday night! Typically each shop has a special code for their sale, but on occasion you'll find a shop that has already marked their items at the discounted price for you. The sales last until Sunday morning 6am, so you have all evening to browse around and choose things you may want! If you don't have an Etsy membership, its free and really easy to sign up. Just look for the Register link button near the Etsy logo in the top left corner. Once registered, you're ready to purchase and participate!

Well, what are you waiting for? Go check out the Saturday Night Specials for today!

Check out the Etsy SNS

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Happy Button Soap Company

Just got it today and well, this is the first time I've written a same day review - I think. Yep, that excited about it!


First opened

Top layer removed

All out of the box, such a sweet note from Bree!

All unwrapped. And that's my happy lil haul!
Free samples!
We all love samples, yes? So let's review those first!
Gingerbread Brulee - The classic creaminess of a Brulee mingled with Gingerbread...
--On cold sniff I get a hit of goeey caramel and then I smell cookie. Not picking up a lot of spice, but that is fantastic in my book! I cannot wait to use this in the shower tomorrow morning. I think this will really blossom and be spectacular!

Peppermint Frosting - The sweetest Buttercream icing covered in Candy Cane bits!
--Mm Buttercream, sugar and cool refreshing peppermint on top! Gah, I bet this would be so freaking awesome with molten chocolate shower gel in the shower! Can you imagine!?

I love their shampoo and conditioner and so I ordered more in my very favorite scent.
I've reviewed it before but since I cannot say enough about it, here's why I like these:

My hair type: Just past the shoulder, color treated, oily roots, dry ends, some flyaways, thick yet fine, a little wavy but I flat iron it straight. Tangles are usually an issue, I have an allergic reaction (facial skin breaks out in itchy bumps) to most shampoos, some conditioners make my scalp itch several hours after washing or the ends of my hair make my face itch. Volume is difficult to achieve.

I never thought I would ever find hair care to fix all my problems, but I did!
The shampoo and conditioner allow me to have oil free roots all day long, and half the day the next day. Adding a little pea sized amt of conditioner to the ends before I blow dry smooths out the dry ends. It gives enough moisture that I do not see any apparent heat damage from blow drying or flat ironing. Its color safe. No tangles - I can run my pick through after towel drying with no issues. No bumps, no breakouts, no itching. I don't have to use any other products on my hair; and it has volume, is super shiney, soft and squeaky clean!

The conditioner can be compared to IOE's Plush in how it works, but I find that IOE's makes my face itch and HBSC leaves my hair slightly more silky and shiney. Its light and rinses clean and leaves a little fragrance behind, yum!

Definitely my holy grail combo!


"The Cool scent of falling leaves mingled with warm homemade pumpkin pie..."
The lotion is really nice and creamy, holds a stiff peek on its own and is not greasy at all.
Autumn Harvest is intoxicating and comforting, every single time I smell it. So with this order I got both poo and dish AND a lotion. Now my world will smell like heaven all day!>


Nazarene solid perfume - The scent of Frankincense, Myrrh, and Patchouli mingled with Orange blossoms and musk in the night air.
--I was really hoping for lots of Frank and Myrrh and less Patch, but the Patch note is predominant after I've worn it for several minutes. I have found though, that by layering this with my Autumn Harvest lotion its irresistable! AH is really enhanced by the Patch note which blends so well it doesn't stick out like a single note anymore. Similar in concept to Haus Peach Mama. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the twist up container, no more icky fingers dipping in a tin. Simple and clean to apply! Definitely wearing this tomorrow with my AH lotion. Yum!


I will admit, I was quite skeptical of the lip butters because I'm particular with lip balm. Greasy, watery, texture, taste, feel, and how do my lips feel when its worn off? I have a huge (over 100) collection so I don't like to order them unless I know its going to be awesome.
I took the leap though, because all HBSC products have been spectacular so far. And it rings true with these! comparable in quality to Haunt and Haus of Gloi. Its creamy, melts to my lips on contact but doesn't turn watery. My lips immediately feel soft and moisturized and it seems to stay on as long as others. They're sweetened so they taste good too!

Red Velvet Cake Lip butter - I opened and tried this one and it smells and tastes like chocolate cake with creamy frosting. Yummy!
Butter Toffee Crunch Lip butter - This will be opened once the rvc is all used up! Keeping it sealed, and oh I left the seal in the photo so you could all see how it looks. One of those heat shrink wraps with perforation. :)

I hope you enjoyed my review!

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Happy Button Soap Company (2nd review)

Short and sweet review, I'm in a rush, but I wanted to put -something- up about this order. Its fabulous! Arrived super fast!

Everything is lovely, the rose scent is sooo fresh picked. I'm in love with it.
The Missus smells clean and fresh, not foody to my nose at all, love it. Autumn Harvest has more pumpkin in it now, I think its perfect and Oubliette is fresh and a little herbal, great for shampoo.

I LOVE everything! Scented so nicely! The shampoo is pearly ^.^ And you Bree was right, Thirteen o'clock is such a beautiful fresh picked rose, I LOVE using it in the shower!
I like how she tweaked the Autumn Harvest scent, I think its just right! Bliss!

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Moonalisa Rockabilly Reorder

Obligatory box opening photos! :D



Some of these scents are reorders and were reviewed in previous blog posts


Perfume Sprays

Lemming Crack - reorder

Mermaid's Tale - reorder (same scent as pacific bath salts)





Potion Lotions:

Blueberry Hill - Delicious, warm blueberry syrup, butter and pancakes, slurp.... this one is a straight up fragrance that is so good on its own, I never had the heart to add a thing. (Rockabilly)

--This smells like a blueberry pastry and is a little too much butter and syrup for my tastes in the pot lot, but I love the soap; where the blueberry is dominant and the maple/pancakes are nearly hidden in the background.


Candied Violets - Sugared violets adorning a Chamborde raspberry liqueur soaked butter sponge cake. (Drive Thru Moo)

--I really love this, I can smell the soft powdery violets and something sweet and sugary. Not getting a cake note, but it could come out when worn. Haven't tested this one yet.


Tea Reader - reorder


Soap - gorgeous, foamy and velvety!

Blueberry Hill - reviewed above





Hair Conditioner - Not sure if this did it or the 4n1, but one of them dried my hair like woah.

Cantaloupe Cooler - reorder



Handmade Creams and Butters:

Monoi Tiare Tahiti Coconut Vanilla - coconut butter cream scented in Coconut & Vanilla. Mmmmmmm, a great oil to go with your coco-coconutty goodness!!! (Rockabilly)

--I was very disappointed in this. Its runny, costly, stays on the surface of my skin and remains greasy to the touch. =/


Perfume Oil:

Duchess of Willowdale - Notes are reminiscent of old Victorian parlors, Honey, Amber, Pipe Tobacco but with added notes of deep, dark, rich chocolates. (Original Scent list)

--I really LOVE this scent! Finally a honey note that doesn't smell like pee on me! I accidentally bought a second one before this order came, and I am glad I did! On cold sniff I do smell the tobacco but when worn its gone and all I smell is glorious chocolate and amber. I'm in heaven! Plus, the extra bottle is prettier (blue w/gold cap) than the one I received. xD




Bath Butter

Peach Paradise - Sweet peaches in syrup doused with creamy coconut milk. (Drive Thru Moo)

--Very very peachy and sweet like candy! Would be perfect for summertime.





4 in 1

Orange Cloud - Lovely and soothing coconut oil, sea salt , almond oil , Baking soda, citric acid, corn starch, toasted orange peel, Sweet Orange Peel, Ylang Ylang and Vanilla essential oils. (Original scent list)

--I can definitely smell the sharp orange peel, but it has been softened a bit by the vanilla. Its not quite dreamsicle-esqe, as I think this is more realistic like a cup of fresh sliced oranges with a dollop of whipped cream. :)


Banishing oil:

Sanctuary - Sandalwood, Agar Wood, Rose and deep forest mulch. (Halloween 2011)

--do not like sandalwood, but this has a heavy rose scent. The drydown is a bit powdery. Its nice for a fresh/floral, but not my kind of "reach for" scent. I can imagine it will make a great massage oil, since the fragrance is not heavy.


Solid Perfume:

Sleepy Hallow - Experience the legend with this solid perfume flying Ointment reminiscent of smoldering seasoned oakwood fires, warmed leather from fierce riding through the eastern woodside and the distinct aroma of roasted spiced pumpkin flesh and smoldering marshmallows. (Halloween 2011)

--I can smell most of the notes in the pot, but when I put it on it goes smoke. Nothing but smoke. I think I might blend my cp marshmallow with this. :D


The whole order together:

Monday, October 10, 2011

Front Porch Candle Company Review



Tat was a little slow because she had a huge bogo sale, but I think she is generally fairly quick from what I have read. I love her tarts just on cold sniff alone, they were all packed in cello baggies with twist ties, no staples yay!

I did ask about a custom blended scent via email but she didn't respond to me, the sale was going to end so I had to go ahead and order. She still hasn't replied to my request, but I'll just blame the chaos of her sale for that. xD

Black Cherry Bomb - Huge throw from with Black Cherry Bomb! Amazing sharp black cherry aroma.
--This smells just like black cherry kool-aid! (my fave kool-aid) Loving it, and I think its going to be super strong. The cold throw is pretty amazing on this tart!

Lime Citrus - blend of Lime and Citrus Explosion(Strong blend of tangerine, pineapple and kumquats. Watch out for the Citrus Explosion....!! )
--Very lime, very citrus and STRONG cold throw! I think this will be awesome hot!

Funnel Cake - Walk to the Funnel Cake Cart at your local carnival and this is what you'll smell. The wonderful aroma of funnel cake sprinkled with powder sugar. So real it will make you hungry!
--Lighter cold throw than the first two, but definitely fried dough and powdered sugar. yum!

Grapes & Huckleberries - A sweet blend of tart ripe grapes and sour huckleberries. Wonderful fruity aroma!
--Oh this is good! It smells just like one would expect. If you've not ever eaten or sniffed a huckleberr, they are very similar to blueberries on a bit more tart. Mixed with grape for added sweetness, this smells good enough to eat!

Pink Key Lime Pie - description not listed, but I am smelling this through the cello wrap and my gosh its strong! Pink sugar mixed with key lime for a brighter more tart pink sugary treat! Yumm!

Raspberry Lime - Sweet blend of Raspberries, Lime, with Vanilla undertones.
--Mouthwatering! I read about a sherbet made with these two fruits once and have longed for it since. This tart just made that longing into a real craving. I must seek some! I think this tart will be super strong when hot.

Blackberry Bubble Gum - no description available, but it smells like Bubblicious bubble gum if they made a blackberry flavored one! Very yummy and great cold throw on this!

tea & cookies -
--I smell tea, lemon, and vanilla shortbread, nice throw while cold! Very yummy smelling!

tea & crumpets -
--I ordered this to see the difference from the one above, and this one has the tea and lemon but is quite a bit more buttery like an english biscuit. Both of them smell fantasticly yummy and have a good cold throw!

Blackberry Sugar - no description available, Marmalade or sugary jam? yes please! Smells good enough to slather it on a piece of toast and gobble it up! Very good cold throw!

Freebie is not labeled! lol
Its the layered scallop in the photo, it smells very bakery like buttercream and vanilla. :) yum!

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Beaux Savons Frais Review

http://www.etsy.com/shop/beauxsavonsfrais
and on facebook



I actually ordered twice, so part of this is my order and part of it was completely different items than what I ordered, I got someone else's package! I let Lacey know and she promptly refunded me for the package + shipping that was sent in error. I was still a little sad because I was very excited about several things in my real order. =/

I'm only going to review scents that I like, because what could I say good about a scent that I normally do not like? right?

Starbucks coffee clamshell - this is straight up coffee. No cream, no sugar, simply black coffee. Its very yummy and inviting. Lovin it! Haven't melted it just yet, but I'm thinking it might be great for tomorrow morning in prep for the CP sale! :D

Whipped Creme Soap in Fruit Loops - this, I ordered. One for me and one for Teresa. (little did she know!) It smells absolutely delicious, better than real fruit loops cereal. So fruity and sweet! :D YUM! I love the texture of this soap as well. Its quite different than others I have tried.

Bath salts in Papaya Dragon Fruit - another item I ordered and lemme tell ya, this is sooo sweet and tropical smelling, I could live in it! :D I soo need to hit the tub and try these out!

Solid Bubble Bath in Cotton Candy - This stuff smells yummy but the texture is so neat! Its like Play-doh!! This will be fun in the bath! :D (this was an item I ordered)

Tarts in Pink Sugared Vanilla Cupcake - smells like pink sugar and vbn. Yum!

Tarts in Strawberry Shortcake - very yummy and sweet smelling! Strawberries and cake, I could bite this one! I think it will have a pretty good hot throw.

Tarts in Chocolate Chip Cookie - This one is a lighter scent but it smells just like a fresh baked chocolate chip cookie!

Tarts in Blue Cotton Candy - these smell a little raspberry and a little sweet to me. I prefer straight up cotton candy to this, but these smell rather good. :)

Other stuff I received:
Caramel apple foaming hand soap, its good I just don't care much for apple scents.

Bag of Peppermint Patty tart crumbles

Cinnamon Roll Tarts

Pumpkin Crunch Cake clamshells x2 - I am keeping one of these, but I don't care a lot for cinnamon, will see how it melts. :)

Peppermint Candy skull and crossbone tarts

Caramel Lip Balm

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Buggy Town Candles



I saw this tart on her facebook page for sale and thought I would give them a try. 1.50 w/free shipping, not much risk right? wrong! because now I want to HAUL from them! lol

Here is her website: http://www.buggytowncandles.com/

Christmas Hearth = This scent will take you back to the magic of Christmas Eve and sure to be come a classic holiday fragrance. Christmas Hearth combines orange & spices from the kitchen, a touch of Christmas tree and a dash of earthiness from the fireplace. This fragrance oil is infused with natural orange, cinnamon, and pine essential oils
--This is really every scent that Christmas brings with it. Smokey fireplaces, pine, apple cider, and baked goods. Its really a trip down memory lane! So cozy and yummy.
The scent description is no longer on her page since I bought the tart, and there isn't a way that I can see my facebook shopping history from what I can tell.

Cindy's Apple Pie was a freebie, which I did not expect for such a cheap order!
Aroma of Cindy's homemade apple pie straight from the oven.
--This one is very cinnamon and very apple, with a touch of sweet sugar but not candy like.

I love the souffle cup packaging, the labels are soo cute, the way the wax looks soft and silky almost, and how heavily scented these appear. I am so excited to melt the CH tart, saving it for right around Christmas though, I'm gonna be antsy! lol

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Jojoelle Haul and Review

I completely forgot to post my review here and on my blog. xD So.. here it is!

http://jojoelle.com/

Ultra Luxe Lotion - Very think, spreads well and takes a while before it starts absorbing so it doesn't take much on initial application; which I think is pretty cool! The scent though is not as strong or long lasting as other etailers I have tried. I really like the base though, its very nice!

Hair and body mist - This fades so fast, it makes me kind of sad. It lasted about 20 minutes if that. I had to press my nose to my arm to smell it. =/ I even did the spray it down my shirt trick and its not clinging to the fabric either. Very very faint. I might use this for a linen spray, it'd be nice for that on my sheets so its not overpowering while I sleep. :)

EDP - Strong, long lasting! Definitely would purchase a full size if I find a fave scent, after trying the minis.

Scrub - Very scrubby, moderately bubbly. Love the jojoba beads! They scrub and scrub even after the sugar has all melted. She mixes these throughout the scrub, so you get lots of them!

English Tea - signature - Black Keemun tea with fresh lemon slices!
--This smells just like Moona's Tea Reader (though I think she adds a shortbread note) and Haunt's Lady Grey! Wahoooooo a dupe! :D I love this scent its just like described tea and lemon slices, soooo yummy! Perfect for summertime, or any time really! Fresh and citrusy! It had kind of faded a little though after an hour, but most citrus scents tend to do that. Very bright and strong at first, then a soft drydown.

Lavender Cotton Candy - signature - Soft lavender floating in sweet cotton candy.
--JJE's lavender is a little on the herbal side, so the cotton candy note really sweetens it up! On application the edp smells more foody and sweet than in the bottle. Oo its changing on me..I smell a toasty note! Yum! :D

Lavender Marshmallow - signature - Lavender and fluffy soft marshmallows!
This is closer to Haunt's than LSC's is, but still different. I love it though! The scrub is really nice and scrubby esp with the little jojoba beads in it! They will scrub til I say I'm done! lol This one bubbles up what I would consider a moderate amount. Not quite enough for shaving, but good enough for cleansing. :)

Magnificent Marshmallow - This is the best marshmallow we've ever smelled! Ooey gooey, fluffy white marshmallows!
--this is sweeter than other marshmallows I have sniffed, and it has a very faint hint of plastic. The scent is quite light and a little difficult to smell in the jar. This is all based on in jar sniff, I have not tried this yet.

Sugar Rush - signature - Lemon sugar, caramel, cotton candy, and vanilla, with a wisp of egyptian musk! Unique!
--Ooo lawdy this is yummy! Its very bright lemon, sweetened up with the cotton candy, and grounded by the musk which is very light in this. The edp is super strong on application and I think the vanilla is coming through a little more now that I've had it on a few minutes. I don't smell the caramel note and if I didn't know to look for the musk, I wouldn't know it was there. This might be a reorder in full size edp!

Lavender Cream Cake - signature - A luscious blend of vanilla ice cream, caramel, marshmallow, sugar, lavender, and cake!
--This smells wonderfully delicious in the jar/bottle and smells great on too! I layered the lotion with the body spray, used the scrub in the shower and after about 20 minutes it has faded. Very difficult to smell unless I stick my nose to my arm. I have to say this smells almost identical to my purple boxed delites blend from sudsy's, only JJe's is softened by the Lavender. I much prefer the pbd from Sudsy's, and I'm sure I could get lavender added to it!

Freebie Ultra Luxe Lotion:
Pink Champagne - A pink iced champagne mixed with raspberry, cranberry, and sweet sugar crystals.
--This smells like a bag of gummy bears upon opening and you catch that first whiff! I LOVE gummy bear and I love this scent!

Tat was fast! She told me 5/7 day and I got my order in less.
8/29 just before midnight is when I purchased. I got cns on 9/1 and it all arrived today 9/3.

She was very friendly throughout communication via email and facebook both. Her products are of good quality for the most part (save for body spray) and she sent a freebie and sucker! :) She packed with those green peanuts, which is awesome because they are biodegradable! :D

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Happy Button Soap Company review

Happy Button Soap company
Shop - opening early October
Blog
Facebook

This company is owned and operated by the blue's very own sharkdiver

I was lucky enough to swap for a preview scrub from Bree, and boy was I stoked! After having tried a sample from tgirl, I was dying to get my hands on a full size!
Bree was a pleasure to work with, and when the package arrived it was so cute with all the buttons and ephemera!
Happy Button scrubs are to die for! Very scrubby, very foamy and very nicely scented! This and Lasting Scent Candles are my two favorites of all etailer scrubs I have tried.
IOE, SCBB, TBG, Sudsy's, and Sheri's Soap Opera are all a close second.

Now for the scents!
County Fair - All my favorite treats from the County Fair all mingled together for a deliciously luxurious scrub! Sugary Cotton Candy, buttery funnel Cakes, and gooey Caramel apples...
--This smells very yummy, the apple is dominant but I can definitely smell the deep fried dough, powdered sugar and cotton candy as well as the gooey golden caramel. And just look at how its topped! It sparkles like jewelry, its so gorgeous!

Freebies:
Vermont Pecan Pie - Rich maple syrup drizzled over decadent Pecan pie...mmmm!
--Pecans and rich crust, oh yum! This is a very rich treat for the shower!

Autumn Harvest - The Cool scent of falling leaves mingled with warm homemade pumpkin pie...
--Crisp and Clean, maybe just barely smokey, and a bit peppery. I don't smell pumpkin pie, but it definitely smells like fall to me. I really like this one!

Monday, September 26, 2011

Tara's Candle Cottage haul and scent review

Tara's Candle Cottage

I ordered tarts when she was doing a bonus bag giveaway w/ a certain number of facebook likes.
The tat was decent based on the huge response she got, 8/11 paid -- arrived 8/27. Everything was packaged very cute and arrive in great condition. I also askedd for custom labels since she advertises they are free on her home page, but she didn't make them or respond to my request. Its ok though, I am sure she was super busy.
I am keeping the review simple so I can pump it out faster. I am backlogged, as you can tell by the dates above. eep!



Canteloupe - no descrip available.
--very sweet and melony

Candy Corn--Just like opening a bag of real candy corn. Capturing the delicious, comforting sweetness of the classic Fall treat.
--smells a lot like buttercream frosting

Peeps--Butter creme and vanilla bean are folded into fluffy white marshmallow and sweet sugar to tempt the senses
--definitely sugary marshmallow

Purple Cow--Remember those grape popsicles with vanilla ice cream inside from when you were small? If so then you'll appreciate this sweet and nostalgic scent.
--this smells delicious and is my favorite from this order. It smells like grape pixie stix to me!

German Chocolate Chip Cookies--50% Chocolate Chip Cookies,25% Caramel Sugar Crunch, 25% Bahama Coconut.
--very delicious coconut and chocolate - I got three of these!

Lime Frosted Marshmallow Cake--50% Toasted Marshmallow, 25% Birthday Cake,25% Key Lime Pie.
--smells like I expected it to, which seems to be a rarity for this scent blend. She does it very well! So glad I got three of these!

Cake Batter Ice Cream - no descrip available.
--smells just like the ice cream from coldstone, yum!

Raspberry Zinger - no descrip available.
--a classic fave for tarts, coconut, raspberry and twinkies! :D

cold throw on all of these is not super strong but decent, and I haven't experienced the hot throw yet. I will definitely be melting some soonish and will try my best to report back with how that went. :)

Bonus Bag contained three tarts, a room spray and some candies!
Cranberry Apple Marmalade Room Spray - smells like apples and red hots! This reminds me of the wassail drink we have around Christmas time. :)

Pumpkin Crunch Cake - The aroma of creamy pumpkin pie filling with rich eagle brand milk; surrounded with freshly baked yellow cake, melted butter, pecans, and hints of spice.
--I get a little pumpkin and a lot of cinnamon in this one

Iced Cinnamon Rolls - Warm cinnamon sticky bun drizzled with sweet white frosting.
--sweet, bready and very cinnamony!

Grandma's Swiggin' Eggnog - no descrip available.
--this one is not overly cinnamony, but is creamy and sweet smelling.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Haus of Gloi Autumn reorder

http://hausofgloi.com/
Small Autumn Reorder

I've reviewed Pixie Sorcerer and Olde Cider Haus before, and I really wanted to love Pixie Sorcerer. I had heard mixed reviews on it where most of the folks that got the pumpkin butter, liked it. Knowing that sometimes scents smell differently in different products, I decided to get a small jar and try again. I still get very strong peanut butter on initial application and jar sniff. After some wear I can still smell it, but its not nearly as strong as it was. I cannot smell coffee in this at all. I really need to immerse myself in this scent one evening, I think I'm beginning to like it but still on the fence.

Madcap Garden - A lively blend, pure black tea chilled with peppermint and the tiniest spike of honey*.
--I am sure loving tea scents lately, and this is one of them! So yummy I could drink it! This will go perfectly with my Haunt Lady Grey oil spray and Jojoelle edp of English tea. I'm barely smelling the peppermint note, which was the only thing that worried me as my skin is sensitive to peppermint. Should be fine to use on my legs like I usually do w/scrubs. Not sure I'd wear this scent in perfume, but I think it'll be awesome for a morning shower wake up!

Freebie sample (I requested this one and they obliged!)
Satyr - Absolutely fiendish creature! And quite frolicsome: Italian blood orange drizzled with blackened vanilla.
--Definitely blood orange! The dark vanilla mentioned, almost smells chocolatey. I think I'm going to like this when I try it out!

Haus of Gloi never cease to amaze me. You may remember my mention of the missing muslin bags from my prior order? Well, lookie there! :D How awesome is that, they sent them to me!!


Another awesome order, even if I can't yet love Pixie Sorcerer - its not their fault! I am going to try to love it though. One evening soon. :)


Thursday, September 22, 2011

Sudsy's Haul and Scent Review

http://www.etsy.com/shop/sudsysoapscents
Ordered: 7/12
cns 8/14
arrived 8/20 - she sent extra freebies because of the long tat. She kept me informed throughout. This order had a few disappointments as you'll see in my review. The largest of those though was that the box wreaked of cigarette smoke. The tarts, the plastic overwraps, the plastic bottles and the wooden rose were all permeated with it. I have let it sit, because I have learned that sitting and airing out will rid the smoke smell. All my stuff no longer smells like smoke, except for the wood rose; I can still pick up a trace of it. Out of three packages, this is the only one that smelled like smoke, so I really think that its happening somewhere in the transport.

This is partly why I put off writing this review, I wanted to be truthful, yet tactful. I also did not want to deal with or stir up any drama over these comments. I didn't contact her, because really there isn't much she could do. I don't like giving negative comments, but feel they are necessary to keep the review up front and honest. So there it is, my underwear showing. :P

Will I order from Sudsy's again? Absolutely yes, soon as I'm off this no buy. I really really want a LOT of her autumn scents and I'm probably going to miss out on them, like the black sugar OMG.


(4 oz) scrubs
Pink Flamingo x2 - Fragrance oil for candles and soap. A whimsical blend of citrus and cherry. Like a sunny day in Florida!
When I got the wax tart from Sudsy's in my last order, it smelled just like a scent my mom and I loved that was discontinued. So I placed my order for products for my mom and myself, 2 of each thing. Sadly, the scrub and the lotion don't smell like the wax did to me. This scent is very cherry and very sweet. Its nice, just not what I was expecting. (one jar had no scent label) The spray and shower gel smell like the wax did though. Love those!


4 oz Silky body spray
Pink Flamingo x2 (reviewed above)

Purple boxed deLites-Buttery vanilla cookies covered with intoxicating caramel, sprinkled with toasted coconut and laced with chocolate stripes. (Jen's blend, a Sudsy's exclusive)
--This is my scent creation and I absolutely adore it so I ordered a big size of it, but what I received was a 2oz bottle of it instead. It got mixed up with the Sweet tooth fairy scent, which is in the 4oz and was supposed to have been in the 2 oz size. Its ok, because I love them both, just a little disappointing that there was the mix up.

Silky Body splash 2oz (This is similar to a dry oil spray, soaks in pretty quickly and leaves skin feeling powdery soft)
Sweet Tooth Fairy - Strawberry cotton candy with a sprinkling of pink bubble gum. Our interpretation of a fragrance by a popular co.
--I really adore this scent, it smells like cotton candy to me. This was a reorder. :)

Silky Body splash 1oz
Kisses - Rich french vanilla, vanilla extract, 2 types of amber including resin, and dark Egyptian musk. A Sudsy's Soaps creation, you'll find yourself addicted to this! This is strong on the amber and dries down to a sensual blend of all notes.
--I really absolute LOVE this fragrance! Its everything it is described to be and then some! If you like amber and vanilla, this is a must try!

Pink sugar and Watermelon blended - I requested this custom blend and I'm VERY pleased with it! Its sooo yummy smelling, better than I expected! :D Absolutely LOVE it! Perfect for a summer scent, but I am going to wear it through the winter too!

Body Spray 1 oz
Faeries - Luscious blend of confectioners sugar paired with fruit syrup of wild berry, orange crush, black cherries & tangerine are molded into vanilla taffy create a sweet tooth, bubble gum dream!
--I get berries, vanilla pudding and orange slices all mixed in a big bowl and topped with sugar sprinkles. Very yummy scent!

Boston Scream Pie - This spooky treat creates tempting desire. Rich butter cream is warmed with a hint of spice and lifted by fruity tone for gourmand appeal. A vanilla custard background is enriched with hints of coconut milk to support the creamy signature of the creation. A Sudsy's exclusive for Halloween.
--Smells like spiced banana taffy to me. Not exactly what I had expected but I'll probably wear it. :)

bubble gum - An aroma of a sweet, juicy childhood bazooka bubblegum.
--Definitely bubble gum, I can even smell that powdery dust from the freshly unwrapped squares.

egyptian musk- Warm, sensual and very calming. Rich and full-bodied, it is a mysterious and haunting fragrance. You will imagine Cleopatra, herself, wearing this regal fragrance. It is often used to assist your focus on the spiritual side of life.
--I ordered this because I have not ever smelled this as a single note, and I really do love it. Its soft and clean smelling, unlike most musks that I've sniffed. This is definitely the one used in the MM Musk scent from Sudsy's. I could layer this with all kinds of scents! Can't wait to experiment!

fig- Pure essence of Mediterranean Italian Fig sun baked & bursting with fragrance! Earthy essence & oh so sensual.
--I have not ever smelled fig before, so I dont really have anything to compare it to. The fragrance is kind of like a dark fruit, a little on the warmer side and almost musky, but not. It has a certain ethereal clean lingering in the background. Very nice, can't wait to try it out. I think it will be perfect for autumn.

flirty pink - Our Pink Sugary mingling with Egyptian Musk. A Sudsy's Soaps blend.
--I first saw this one reviewed by smiles and it struck my curiosity. I am so glad because it is an awesome scent! The musk really enhances the strength of the pink sugar. Who would have thought?!

koolade - This fragrance takes in the rainbow of flavors and back to that perfect summer day
--Smells a lot like a freshly opened packet of red koolade. Yum!

lick me all over - A wonderful exotic fragrance with base notes of raspberry, cantaloupe, and watermelon, middle notes of jasmine and violet, and fresh top notes of grapefruit and kumquat.
--Smells almost exactly like the Champagne scent that I got from Sudsy's in one of my previous orders. Its clean yet softened by the florals.

scandalous - Our Pink Sugar type flirts with our sweet, Sweet Orange and drops a sexy note with Gardenia. A Sudsy's Soaps blend. Contains essential oil.
--Definitely pink sugar and orange, but I'm not picking up the gardenia as a single note. It must be light and blend well with the other two scents. I like this one, a nice spin on pink sugar. :)

4 oz Lotion (really liking the lotions, they are light and absorb quickly)
MM musk - love this, its a reorder. :)

Purple boxed deLites - reorder
Pink Chocolates - reorder
Pink Flamingo x2 - reviewed above
Pink Macaroon - reorder

4 oz shower gel - very watery compared to prior shower gels I got from Sudsy's.
MM Musk - reorder
Pink Flamingo x2 - reviewed above

freebies
pinkest flamingo on the block 4oz scrub - no scent description
--Very very sweet and very cherry.

fruit loops 1oz body splash - This fragrance begins with top notes of lemon rinds, lime, and grapefruit; middle notes of lemongrass, lily, and verbena; and base notes of vanilla sugar. Wow!
--Just like the cereal! Loving this, so glad she sent it!

bird of paradise 1oz silky spray - Fruity top and middle notes of strawberries, pomegranates with a creamy vanilla base. Everyone who sniffs this falls in love.
--Delicious! Sweet, fruity and yummy! Another one that I'm glad she sent to me! I would not have ordered this one based on decription.

wax tart scallop Vanilla Insanity - The label got smudged by me, so I'm not completely sure of the name of this. It smells like a very caramelized vanilla. Yummy!

wax tart strawberry candy - no description but it smells just like you would expect it to!

a little over 2ml of blood orange eo. - I've never sniffed this on its own, its very very tart and citrusy.

Rootbeer float shooting star - Icy flakes of rootbeer topped with luscious vanilla ice cream and drizzles of rootbeer syrup.
--exactly that! Just like a rootbeer float. Very Yummy!

She also sent a wooden rose that had been scented in Faeries scent.



Saturday, September 17, 2011

Lathers & Lights Haul and Review

Lathers & Lights webshop
Ordered 7/31 arrived 8/20
First, I love their small size sampler packs. I wish all companies did this or something similar. I have so much bath/body product, that I prefer to get smaller sizes when I can as long as they are priced at a good value.
Second, I like their labels, very easy to read, nice quality, full ingredient lists, and are pretty smudgeproof.
Third, I like both the lotions and the creams. Very soft feeling, absorb well, and feel luxurious.
Creams are: 4.5 oz. $9.25 and 9 oz. $16.00
Lotions are: 2 fl oz. Bottle / $5.50 4 fl oz. Bottle $7.50 / 8 fl oz. Pump Bottle $14.00
The lotion is just a hair lighter than the butter, but it is still a fairly thick heavy lotion.
Since they are similar in consistency, I would definitely opt for the lotions if I were going to order full sizes.
I also requested a sample of the coconut saffron, and not only did they include one, but they gave a TON of samples!
They even let a little happy duck ride along in my package! :D too cute!



body cream sampler:
Mexican Lime Pure, sweetened key lime juice.
--Very straight up lime, its not sweet in a sugary way, but sweet like a real lime smells.

Marshmallow Creme (no scent description)
--smells a little chemical-like will let this dry down and come back to it. Yep, its better now. Sweet and creamy, smells a lot like an angel food cake!

Candy Corn We've sourced the most perfect rendition of this addictive Halloween treat of corn syrup, sugar, honey and buttery vanilla. Our best-selling fall fragrance for several years!
--This doesn't smell like candy corn to me, it smells more like the brown sugar crumbles my mom puts on top of apple pie Or like the pie crust McDonald's pies have. Jas said it smells like sweet bread to him, I could definitely pick up a kind of sweet yeasty baked scent. I sniffed my bowl of candy corn afterward and they smell nothing alike. I still enjoy this scent though, its nice and bakery smelling!

Lemon Squares Tart lemon baked with rich, creamy vanilla and sugar with a garnish of freshly shredded coconut.
--I compared this to my Moona Lemming crack and its missing the crust note that Moona's version has. Other than that, it is the same lemon and coconut. Side by side, this one actually grabs my vote because its a stronger more prominent lemon/coconut, where the crust note in Moo's really tones down the lemon and coconut. Jas prefers Moo's blend, because it smells like a whole pie.




Lotion sampler:
Pirate Booty - cedar and oak, a touch of citrus and tropical fruits, and spiced rum.
--Very fresh smelling to me and familiar but I cannot figure out where I have smelled this before. I thought the wood note would be warm and earthy, but they're really more bright and uplifting. I would say this could pass for a spa type scent. I like it quite a bit!

Ginger Milk Spicy white ginger meets warm amber and smooth vanilla in a light, but wonderful fragrance!
--BBW Rice Flower and Shea dupe, I'd say 100% exact but I don't have rfas here to compare.

Halo Halo - This favorite Filipino dessert combines coconut meat, lychee berries, jackfruit, mango, and other fruits with sugar, shaved ice and milk. A scoop of ice cream on top completes this luscious concoction!
--I got this scent previously in a scrub from MCS and absolutely loved the scent. When I saw it on LL scentlist, I HAD to have a lotion too! Absolutely sweet and candy like but not completely sugary, there's a lot of vanilla in this too. LOVE IT!!

Pink Sand Beach - Pink sugar crystals with rich vanilla creme, marshmallow, and fresh cracked coconut.
--Just like you'd expect this to smell, very lovely! Excuse me while I go huff. xD Super Yummy!


Wednesday, September 7, 2011

The Bathing Garden Haul and Review

http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheBathingGarden

The goods:



TLDR: Pleasure to deal with Shannon, Lightening fast tat (3bd) and shipping, wonderful products, nommy scents and heaps of freebies. :)

Long Version, see below.


Tarts


All of these are cold sniff reviews. :)
Pistachio Almond Pudding - This scent is a yummy blend of sharp almond, sweet pistachios, and cake!
--This is pretty heavy on the almond and its very creamy and sweet. This scent is the reason I placed my order. I just HAD to have it! Definitely worth ordering, possible reorder.
1 cube, hot throw is throwing to the other end of the house!!! This is very rare. I think there have been at most, four others that have done this, 2 of them were from PFS and one Aunti Di's. Color me impressed!

The Masquerade - Inspired by my love of Carnival...I bring you a wax tart with bubbling champagne, grapefruit, orange zests, and peppery tangerine; middle notes of strawberries, apples, pears, rose petals and jasmine; with sexy bottom notes of vetiver, white musk, and ylang ylang.
--Wonderfully clean and fresh smelling! I get citrus, but its light and not overpowering. I do get the middle and bottom notes kind of as a blend all together. I think those are what add the soft clean feeling to this scent. I love it!

Parisian Strawberry Fields - Running through the countrysides of Paris you will find the most succulent strawberries ever. This tart is a blend of juicy, fresh strawberries, tropical white peaches, succulent mango fruit, and rich vanilla beans.
--This smells like juicy ripe strawberries dipped in sugar. Sooo yummy! Had I known this, I'd have gotten a scrub in this one too. My gosh it smells good enough to bite! When I stop and try to pick out the single notes mentioned its really difficult to, because I keep smelling that sugared strawberry right in front of my nose, ready to have a bite of it. I can smell the peach/mango and perhaps the vanilla. This is so perfectly blended though, its really tough to pick those out and I would have no idea they were there if it wasn't listed. This is a reorder if it throws well when warmed.

Lavender Martini - Mouth watering martini scent blended with 100% lavender essential oil. Topped with a piece of pretty purple glass and little sparkling flowers.
--my tart's design looks quite a bit different from her photo, but I think it is lovely all the same. It smells absolutely wonderful. Its like a really fruity lavender if that makes any sense. I have not ever smelled anything quite like this. Its citrusy and tart, but I cannot figure out which citrus fruit. Maybe a blend of a few? I get an awesome lavender scent as the middle note and that velvety-like scent of lavender as the bottom. Truly unique, if you're a lavender lover or citrus lover I suggest you try it. I think you'll love it!

Pink Pomegranate - A sparkling, bright pomegranate having a tart citrus note and ending with complex woody notes. Topped with a pretty pink flower. This one is beautiful!
--It really is a beautiful scent, but for me its very sweet up front, a lot like pink sugar. I smell citrus, but its very soft and creamy and I'm not smelling a woody note. Perhaps hot melting it will change, but I absolutely adore how it smells! Right now, I'd put this in the foody/gourmand range rather than fruit. Can't wait to melt this one!

Cranberry Fig - This scent is my personal favorite! Super strong and amazing all year long. The tart bite of Cranberries and the sweet, mild allure of Fig. Cranberries and Figs are made even more striking by adding a smattering of Blood Orange and Pink Grapefruit notes to the mix.
--I remembered her saying that this was her favorite as soon as I saw the iridescent heart shaped glitter on the top! I really like this scent as well and think it would be a great scent for when company is over. Its not too sweet, not too bright. Its very inviting and almost warm, yet the citrus notes perk it up into a happy scent too. I can see why its Shannon's favorite! I am going to share some of this one with my mom too, I think she will love it!





Scrubs:

All the scrubs seem to be moisturizing but not greasy or oil slicky at all. They do contain some butters like shea or aloe, so I can definitely see why my skin feels moisturized after using them. I also noticed that with the two I tried out, the scent lingered on my hands and was noticable. This is the first bubbling scrub that I have noticed this with! Pretty awesome! Speaking of bubbles, they're there but they are scarce. This is more of a creamy lotiony kind of scrub, but not greasy at all. I don't know how she did it! Its unusal compared to my other scrubs, that's for sure, and I quite like it!



Pistachio Almond Pudding - This scent is a yummy blend of sharp almond, sweet pistachios, and cake!
--just as awesome smelling as the tart! So sweet, yet has that creaminess that nuts have. The scrub is a gorgeous color of green topped with little green pearls.



The Masquerade - Inspired by my love of Carnival...I bring you a wax tart with bubbling champagne, grapefruit, orange zests, and peppery tangerine; middle notes of strawberries, apples, pears, rose petals and jasmine; with sexy bottom notes of vetiver, white musk, and ylang ylang.
--same as the tart, wonderfully clean smelling! Tried this one on my hands too, and the scent is lingering after washing! woohoo! She mixed a colorful blend of jojoba beads throughout the scrub and then topped it with more! A fun little party in a jar! :D This was a custom request, but she has listed two more jars of this scrub in her shop!



A Spoonful of Sugar - This scent is almost spot on for LUSH Snow Fairy. Sweet, sugary, and absolutely wonderful!!
--I have never smelled Lush's version but I have sniffed MCS and CFTKRs and they all smell just like this one! I love how it smells so much! I tested this on my hands and the scent was there after I washed. Awesome sauce! This scent is always giong to be a little special to me. The MCS scrub I got in it, was the first big scrub I purchased online and I loved it!



Bubbling Butter Brew - My interpretation of Harry Potter's Butter Beer. Sweet clotted cream, salted caramel, rich butterscotch, and a touch of bubbling cream soda. Not only does it smell divine but the aloe butter makes this scrub feel amazing on your skin too!
--Teresa, you will love this! I can smell every scent note she mentions singly, and when I'm not looking for the single notes it smells simply delicious! I get the salty caramel, the cream, the bubbles, the butterscotch - it smells just like the cupcakes I baked! :) And now I'm off to hunt down a spoon. kidding! This scrub is topped with little pearls and teeny white jojoba beads. Love those jjbeads! :D



Guava & Raspberry Supreme - A bottom layer of fresh raspberry is topped with a succulent layer of guava. Love, love, love this one!!
--Me too!! :D Someone at MUA suggested this would be great in a scrub (was that L?), so I made note of it and finally ordered. So thank you very much whomever you were, you were right. Its freaking awesome! So fruity and bright, with just the right amount of tartness. The raspberry smells real and the guava smells sweet just like the juice I drank for breakfast on my first day visiting Hawaii. Done in split side by side style, the scrub has tiny red jojoba beads blended throughout and sprinkled on top! :D



All freebies:
Cherry Blossom Kiwi and Green Tea - This beautiful sugar scrub weighs over 8 ounces and is full of skin loving ingredients. I have added shea butter as well as ground green tea and rose petals. The bottom layer is scented in green tea. The top pink layer is scented with Kiwi and Cherry blossom and is sprinkled with rose petals.
--I was really surprised by this one, as its not my typical scent choice. However; it smells really lovely! And just look at how beautiful it is! Topped with rose petals and all! Very girly, softly sweet and feminine. The green tea layer is underneath and so I'm wondering if it smells different than what I'm smelling on top. I'm sure I'll like it too though! I love the colors, and I can see those big sugar crystals on the top too. I am so glad she sent this, because I wouldn't have ordered it myself. So very pretty and lovely smelling!




Nantucker Briar Bake Shop - These wax tarts are topped with cute little bakery pieces and sprinkled with cinnamon.
This manages to smell like an exotic bake shop with notes of butter, almond, mandarin orange, lemon, herbaceous lime, and pineapple with nutty notes, maple, clove, cinnamon, spicy berry notes, sage, lavender, jasmine, and ozonic notes, with a dry down of creamy vanilla coconut, amber woods, cedar leaf, cedarwood, sandalwood, and exotic musks.
--This was on my list of possibles when I was narrowing and it got bumped. I'm so happy that Shannon included it as a freebie. I really really like it! I don't get cinnamon on cold sniff at all, which is super awesome and makes Jen happy. :) It really does smell like a bakery that makes everything from fruit tarts, to chocolate ganache cake and coffee. Creaky wooden floors and tropical themed birthday cakes. Oh look! Oatmeal raisin cookies and fresh bread too! Loving this one for sure! :D

Very generous piece of Blue Hawaiian soap, golden sandy top and turquoise blue ocean bottom (forgot to put it in the photo!)

six assorted mini tarts, no idea what scent they are but they smell good, and are quite cute! I get a coffee note, a creamy vanilla, perhaps an almond note and something fruity. :D