Sunday, July 31, 2011

Alchemic Muse haul and review

Alchemic Muse Shop at Etsy








Ginger Gelato - Mini Foaming Body Scrub - Crunchy crystals of cane sugar enveloping hot ginger over a heart of sweet vanilla cream swirled in golden amber and Tolu balsam with a pinch of Italian lemon and anisette.
--this looks a little oily in the jar but its not. It foams up really nice and rinses clean. Love the scent as well, a nice sharp ginger sweetened up and then softened by a vanilla base.




Ambrosia - Mini Cream Soap - Surround yourself with the food of the gods! Luscious nectars of apricot and white peach amidst intoxicating mimosa and plum blossoms accented with a splash of ruby red grapefruit and a faint breath of spring air.
--Love how their cream soaps perform, very sudsy and clean rinsing. Leave my hands feeling soft and refreshed. Sweet, yet light and somewhat floral. Very refreshing scent, perfect for springtime!



Bamboo Pear - Mini Body Whip - As refreshing as spring rain… exotic green woods and leaves fused with the scrumptious, juicy scent of ripe pears and refined with a drop of herbal tarragon.
--A hint of green, but mostly creamy with a juicy dripping pear. This one was kind of a risk scent-wise for me, but I really like it!

Perfume oils:
Carnival - Relive the days of swing sets and carousel rides with this fun-loving scent from childhood. Sweet pink grapefruit, cotton candy, and lemon drops afloat a heart of sticky caramel, red berries, and fig leaves in a warm, comforting base of bourbon vanilla and white musk.
--I'm getting mostly a lemon cream type scent. I don't pick up caramel or red berries at all, cotton candy maybe because there is something there sweetening up the lemon, I'm not picking up musk either or the bourbon. Just sweet sugar, lemon and creamy vanilla. I love this type of lemony scent! In the bottle its about the same, but I'm picking up a little greenery, perhaps the fig leaves.

Black Strap - Submit to the sultry and inviting aroma of this enticing creation. Caramelized brown sugar, sweet blackstrap molasses and creamy coconut milk dripping over ripe Moroccan figs floating on a base of vanilla beans and soft white musk.
--sweet and dark, definitely smell the fig in this one. Quite reminiscent of brown sugar and fig, but more caramelized and sweeter. Must be the molasses! I'm now getting a saltiness, still no coconut or white musk. Lovely scent though! In the bottle its about the same as on my skin, I even pick up that saltiness in there. ;)

Lovecraft -Dark mysteries abound, but there are some things that Man was meant to know. Provincial lavender blossoms grounded in fresh pumpkin, sweet cream, and blackstrap molasses with a thick dusting of harvest spice.
--I get a sort of leather top note but it quickly fades to cinnamon pumpkin. In the bottle I can smell lavender but not on my skin. Not crazy about how this changes on me since I don't really care much for cinnamon.

Freebie:
soap sliver in Carnival

Savor small order review


Savor on Etsy


Savor ran a special through the day where they posted certain products through the day in limited amounts at a discounted price! I had forgotten about it until the last two hours, but it was so fun watching for the items to be listed and being ready to pounce!
I had my eye on this soap for a long while now, as well as the pistachio rosewater cake soap. I was lucky enough to snag a bar! The tat was great, the CS was great - I'm very happy with my purchase!

Lychee Rose Goat's Milk Soap - a fruity and floral combo of exotic lychee and romantic red roses. Almost like a raspberry or cherry in its sweet scent, the lychee note dances perfectly with the lush and fragrant rose.
This soap is made with creamy goat's milk.
Size:5 oz

I got this on the Savor Saver Saturday and I love how this smells. Soft rose with a tart top note of lychee. I haven't used it yet, but Savor gets a lot of raves so I've no doubt it'll be great. :)

I got a freebie of pistachio and rosewater cake soap which smells just like the rose cake I eat at a little greek restaurant every weekend. How did she know?! Loving it, and may need to order more. :)

Sarah's Wax N Wix haul and review

Sarah's Wax N Wix at facebook
(hopefully the link will work, if not just use the fb search bar!)

Tat was quick, custom blends included!
Very communicative, and fast with emails! Pleasant and very open to scent suggestions.




I requested several custom blends and Sarah delivered! :D The descriptions below are my own.

Lavender Luxury and toasted marshmallow blended - A fresh, not herbal, smelling lavendar blended with toasted marshmallow. definitely yummy! I'm loving lav/marsh blends of just about any kind lately.

hot fudge brownie and toasted marshmallow blended - omg, this smells like hot cocoa, dead on. I absolutely LOVE it!

kiwi watermelon and coconut lime verbena blended - very fruity and cheery, exactly what I was after with this blend!

pink sugar, strawberry cheesecake and toasted marshmallow blended - OMG I am in love here. Sweet strawberries, gooey marshmallows, and rich sinful cheesecake, plus pink sugar! More please! I love this on cold sniff, its a dessert lover's dream!

pumpkin apple butter and toasted marshmallow blended - I asked for this blending thinking that the marshmallow might soften up what is usually a very cinnamony pumpkin, but this one is still very cinnamony. It smells great, I'm just not real crazy about cinnamon scents right now. xD

7 up pound cake - I get lemon, lime and then I get a sweet cakey scent - I'm thinking light and fluffy white cake more so than heavy yellow pound cake. Loving this!

pink fizz- this is pink sugar and 7up pound cake blended, very yummy!

pink pancakes - I get a really creamy buttercream note in this and sweet cake - I'm guessing the pancakes are buttermilk pancakes! There's just a hint of pink sugar, which I think is good, otherwise this might be overly sweet. Very nice blend!

Freebies:
Sweet Orange Chili Pepper - yummy orange with a kick. I like it!
Cucumber Melon - just like the bbw scent.

I've melted a pink fizz tart from this haul and it had good throw and was long lasting like my other favorite etailers. Her wax is quite unusual, its solid and doesn't feel squishy like most soy melts. Its almost got this powdery/silky texture to it. How cool is that? All the scents were very strong on cold sniff. I have had these at least 2-3 weeks, and the cups have cracked on a few, she has since changed containers.
I could definitely see a reorder from Sarah's Wax n Wix in the future.

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Sherri's Soap Opera

Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/SherisSoapOpera


The soap and scrub are both scented in pink sugar, my very favorite scent! Sherri's dupe is excellent! Noms!

Bar soap: cold processed, very creamy with great lather. I love it!
Scrub: Nice and scrubby, love the texture and bubbling action going on here! :)
Freebie: a slice of orange creamsicle soap, it smells yummy and is just as nice of a soap as the pink sugar bar.

See the scrub close up!


Both of these photos were taken after use, I just could not wait - had to use them immediately! :) The soap had a piece about a quarter inch thick cut off of one end and the scrub has a huge scoop out of it.

Many thanks to Sherri, for wonderful products, fast shipping and great customer service!

Friday, July 22, 2011

Crazy Rumors Lip Balm

I ordered these from Heartsy on one of their special sale deals.
I have more than 140 lipbalms, but never tried this brand. I like it pretty well, it has long staying power and its not greasy or waxy feeling.
I have opened up the rootbeer one, and it smells great, and is sweetened so it tastes like rootbeer too!


Thursday, July 21, 2011

Moonalisa Haul and Review

And we're sitting in the theatre awaiting the curtain to rise! (box opening photos)







lemming crack pot lot and hydrating mist - Indulge in a generous slice of a creamy lemon tart with buttery ground walnut scrub crust and topped with soft Coconut Cream.
--I absolutely love this scent, it smells like lemon meringue pie topped with coconut. I even smell a crisp almost sugared crust. Just like the soap I got from the other dtm sale. This pot lot is a new formula which I like, but it needs a lot of time to soak in when using it for my hands. I preferred the older formula more, but this one is nice. The mist is a dry oil and its wonderfully scented and feels great, absorbs really quickly.

bongo poppy cake pot lot - Delicious, lemon poppy seed cake, drowned in an unhealthy dose of lightly spiced cream cheese icing dripping all over it! Does contain real essential and fragrance oils. Due to the heavy use of vanilla in this one, this scent does discolor soaps and scrubs after time.
--very similar to the lemming crack without the crust. I like this one a lot but lemming crack wins between these two.

guava guava goddess dbo - Juicy, ripe and delicious with just a little bit of tartness
--smells really good, it is a fresh ripe guava scent with just enough tartness to brighten it up a little. I haven't tried the dbo yet, but it looks luxurious!

jello shot 4n1 - Strawberry , Rhubarb, Tangerine EO, Passion Fruit and Guava
--very fruity and very red berry smelling. Its juicy smelling too, stashed for later use. :)

chocolate strudel soap and 4n1 - (aka Schokoladenstrudel) - Delicious Chocolate & coconut with a hint of flaky buttery pastry! Oil turns dark chocolate brown in gel and lotion but has no effect on product.
--Someone give me a spoon! This smells good enough to eat, picking up all the scent notes described. I really like her 4n1s they have plenty of slip and huge lather, skin feels soft after use. I haven't tried any of the soap yet, but this bar is huge! Its bigger than the palm of my hand and at least an inch and half thick, if not more. Its gorgeous too, just look at it! Jas has also tried to lay claim to this bar of soap! He's hooked on etailer bar soaps now and has his own stash!



Freebies:
Cantaloupe Cooler detangling spray - this smells so yummy! Very candy like and melony.
Seaspray Toner - reminiscent of sea salts, I've tried this a couple times and I really like it!

This is my second order from Moona and I have really enjoyed everything I have received. She's very communicative and caring about her customers' needs and questions - and just look at how she packs our orders! I did a previous review where I compared the box opening to Disney World, it really is a treat to receive a MooPoo box!

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Butterbeer cupcakes? Yes please!

I made these starting on Sunday and did one step each day.
So Sunday I baked the cupcakes, Monday made the ganache and stuffed the cupcakes with it, Tuesday made the frosting, took some photos and then nommed one! I mostly did these by myself, but Jas helped me out by gathering up ingredients and measuring utensils. :) I hope you enjoy this virtual bite!







Recipe from http://amybites.com/?p=623

I noticed that she also has a recipe for golden snitch cake pops! Too cute!
http://amybites.com/?p=1606

Monday, July 18, 2011

Haus of Gloi Haul and Review

Haus of Gloi
Fast tat as always, less than a week.
Excellent CS.
Loved everything!
TLDR:skip the wall of text and scroll down for eye candy!

We had a little mix up with shipping, but the team of Haus handled it with care and grace. They never cease to amaze me with their customer service. :)



White Raspberry Soap (two bars, one still in tissue) - Tart raspberry and a clean cream accord.
--I really love this soap's scent and I know I love HoG's soap, win win!

Haus Amber Pumpkin Butter - Rich and sultry amber, our own hand blended accord.
--This amber is to die for, completely sultry like she says and quite intoxicating. I LOVE HoG's hand crafted, made from scratch pumpkin butter and this scent is going general catalog! Woohoo! I won't have to ration it out, after all. :D

Boca Chica Pumpkin Butter - Rich gardenia blossom, red mandarin, coconut cream and ripe banana. This sounds super fruity, but it is surprisingly not so!
--Definitely Gardenia! I think the fruit scents enhance the power of the Gardenia, a very nice compliment to it. This is a floral that I wear despite my chemistry amping it like woah. I love Gardenia, because it reminds me of many things special to me. When I was little, Jungle Gardenia perfume was one of the first ones that I wore, and it belonged to my Grandma. Its her favorite/signature scent. Second to that, I have visited Hawaii twice and this scent really takes me back there to that relaxed and beautiful place. Britton has perfectly captured this scent which has brought back many of my precious memories.

Lavender Sugar Pumpkin Butter - Gentle Bulgarian lavender and a heaping spoonful of pure cane sugar.
--Very yummy smelling, I get caramelized sugar and a soft lavender. I was unsure at jar sniff, but I've worn it now and LOVE it.

Moon Dog Perfume Oil - Solar storms erupt: pure cracked coconut, dry sandalwood essence, heated with nutmeg and clove.
--I really love this scent! It reminds me somewhat of HoG's Picaroon, but warmer - not quite as bright. Its comforting and warm, but I think it'd be perfect for summer time too, quite a flexible scent!

Beguiled perfume oil sample freebie - Lemon cake made with the tang of fresh buttermilk and raspberry coulis - an otherwise innocent cake corrupted by cardamon and deceptive pink peppercorns.
--Love this, my second vial of it woohoo! Many thanks to Matt and Britton :D

I love everything I received, as usual! Haus is one of my very favorite etailers. I absolutely cannot wait until the Fall preview! I hear its going to be up sometime early August and then the products released around mid August. :D


These products were bought with my own money and my review was not influenced by anyone or anything other than the products and my own experience.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Bungalow Haul and Review

Bungalow Bath and Body
Ordered July 1, Received July 9


I really like her packaging, the clear bottles/jars with black tops are attractive. The labels are cute and nice, ingredients are listed on each product. These were packaged with colorful tissue paper in a priority box. No extras, but that's alright - this was a Heartsy purchase. :) She went out of her way to accommodate a prior request I'd made too, great customer service and fairly quick tat. I love it when they send a handwritten note along with my order, its such a personalized touch and shows they took time and care with my purchase.


Premium Body Lotion - made with Avocado oil, Jojoba and Aloe Vera - feels great on the skin ~ moisturizes but doesn't leave you feeling greasy & it's 96% natural!
--this lotion really surprised me. I didn't expect it to be such a nice lotion. Its fairly thick for a lotion, glides on very nicely and soaks in quickly. It leaves my skin smelling wonderful and feeling soft.

Cake Batter - Smells just like a cake getting ready to go in the oven - cake batter, warm vanilla, and some sugar
--I love this one, its sweet and gooey smelling just like cake batter. I think this is my favorite scent from this order.

Viva La Juicy (type) - A perfect harmony of golden amber, egyptian musk, sparkling citrus, lily of the valley, pink jasmine, and warm woods
--It is everything the description says, I think this one is a little sexy smelling and would be a good evening dinner date scent.


creamy moisturizing body butter - made with Shea butter, beeswax, coconut oil, jojoba oil, sunflower oil, and vitamin E. Nourishes the skin without feeling overly greasy (great on feet too!). Silicone Free, Paraben Free & SLS Free
--She has discontinuned this because it doesn't play well with all of her scent oils, but she is looking for a base to replace it. She was out when I initially asked her about a listing for it. A few days later she convoed me and said she had two jars worth left after filling the orders that were before mine, so I jumped on them! Glad I did, its really heavy and thick, very luxurious feeling! Its not greasy at all, love it! I just hope her replacement is as good as this one was.



Banana Cream Pie - Smells just as tasty as the real thing - a yummy blend of Banana, Vanilla, Apple, Sandalwood, & Rum
--Can I have a bite please? This smells really great! I'm not picking up the rum but that's alright with me! I totally need a bite of banana cream pie now. xD

Snickerdoodle Cupcake - Snickerdoodle Cupcake is made with rich notes of caramel and cream with a dash of praline and nutmeg that are finished with base notes of cocoa & vanilla ~ can you say YUM!
--Smells just like her description. I was hesitant because snickerdoodle cookies are dusted with cinnamon and I don't usually like cinnamon in my body products. (home frag, yes, body no!) Her description does not list cinnamon so I took the chance and am very pleased! I do not smell cinnamon in this at all, just yummy caramelly vanilla cake - score! A snickerdoodle I can love. :)

These products were bought with my own money and my review was not influenced by anyone or anything other than the products and my own experience.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Sudsy's Soaps and Scents, Haul #3

Website: Sudsy's Soaps and Scents


I left out about 7 bottles, so there's more scents listed below than pictured. Just too many to fit!

Body Sprays:
Banana Cream Pie - A delectable blend of ripe banana, creamy mounds of vanilla, hint of apple and a base of sandalwood & rum.
-- this is yummy creamy gooey smelling banana cream pie covered in meringue, quite sweet and almost like you had a spoon full of pie in front of your mouth getting ready to nom on it.

Blue Sugary - A wonderful harmony of caramelized sugar and vanilla blended with heady notes of cedar and tonka bean. The heart of the fragrance is rich with energetic notes of licorice, patchouli, lavender and coriander, freshened with crisp bergamot and mandarin, and finished with soothing notes of anise. Our interpretation of a scent by a popular co.
--Not my typical choice of scent, but I thought I'd take a chance with this one. I smell just about everything listed except the patchouli. The licorice is warmed up by the caramel/vanilla, cedar brightens it just a bit and I get a hint of lavender though difficult to detect - I don't smell orange and dono what bergamot smells like on its own. I'm thinking fun halloween scent with this one!

Champagne - Smells so much like the real thing that you could swear the bubbles are tickling your nose! The is a slightly sweet and effervescent.
--soft and a little powdery to my nose, definitely girly and feminine. Surprisingly, it did not make me sneeze! I wore it one day this week and loved every minute of it!

Frozen Margarita - Essential oil of Lime and Mandarin Orange; including notes of Southern Valencia, Lemon, and Sea Salt; followed by middle notes of frothy iced Guava Nectar, Strawberries, and Pineapple; all sitting on base notes of Brown Sugar, Vanilla Rum, and Musk.
-- I get straight up tart lime. I really like this one! Tart and lime don't sound to me like something I would like, but I totally do. :) I get a hint of the strawberry, orange and pineapple but I'm not detecting musk, brown sugar or rum. I am pleasantly surprised at this one!

Jamaica Me Crazy - Top notes of mandarin, Mexican lime, tangerine, and kumquat; middle and base notes of watermelon, tart green apples, cantaloupe, and honeydew melon.
--Very fruity and bright, ready for summer! I think this would be awesome in a scrub for that morning wake me up feeling while showering. Very refreshing!

MM Musk - A special blend of marshmallow with secret notes. Very much a "Gourmand". A Sudsy's Soaps blend. Our #1 best seller!
--Bottled heaven! I don't typically like musk much but this got so many raves here I had to try it and they're absolutely right. This is the most wonderfully well balanced marshmallow scent ever. Its clean, sweet, I can just imagine biting into a giant fluffy marshmallow when I sniff this. Gah its yummy, I've already ordered more products in this scent.

Pinkberry Mimosa - Sweet strawberries, fuchsia raspberries, tart pomegranate, sparkling citrus fizz and effervescent mimosa. Delish!
--Very sweet and very fruity and pink! I really like this one a lot. Great for summer time, its sweet but the floral lightens it up so that its not too heavy.

Sweet Strawberry - A farmer's fresh blend of strawberry, raw sugar cane with a hint of green apple and vine.
--I'm not crazy about apple but I ordered anyway. This smells to me like a blend of snow angel and apples. I might try wearing it, but not lovin bottle sniff.

Violet Cotton Candy - Fluffy mounds of cotton candy laced with sweet, shy violet. A Sudsy's blend.
--Just like the description, sweet fruity cotton candy with a hint of a soft powdery violet. I haven't tried it yet but I would guess that this is one of those scents where you need to be intimately close to smell it. ;)
Galaxy of Stars - An explosion of citrus and floral. Uplifting aromas of lime, orange and cognac. Our intrepretation of a scent by a popular company.
--another shot at stretching my scent limits. This one smells like a cleaner I used to use, maybe Fantastic brand or an orange cleaner. I don't recall but I am thinking I probably won't want to wear this one.

Raspberry Zinger - This wonderful creative scent begins with sweet raspberry and toasted coconut, middle notes of buttercream frosting, and bottom notes of freshly baked yellow sponge cake. Makes you very hungry!
--a new favorite of mine for sure. This is so super yummy smelling I could totally eat it. Very close cousin of my Pink Macaroon!

Shampurest - Capturing the calming and relaxing aroma of soft rose petals surrounded by lavender, jasmine, ylang ylang and bergamot on a background of exotic patchouli. Our version of a scent by a popular company.
--another "outside the box" scent for me, its really really green and herbal smelling. I'm thinking I need to layer it with something sweet, it smells a bit clinical to me. =/

Shelter Me - After a crazy day away from home there's nothing better than the comfort of your home. Instant relaxation with this uplifting and comforting fragrance blend of black currant, cassis and fresh citrus tones of orange and bergamot. Our intrepretation of a scent by a popular company.
--trying to step outside my sweet fruity foody box with this one, but...no dice. First I get licorice, then I get pot. Yep, it smells like cannabis to me. blech, Jas sniffed and understood where I got that scent idea, so maybe its not just me. Anyone want a decant?! rofl, j/k

Sugar Plum Dreams - A sweet mixture of plums sprinkled with sugar as they dance through the dreams of a child as they lay asleep the night before Christmas.
--this is spicy and very plum like and sweet. No cinnamon notes, just some kind of rich spice. Perfect for autumn and perhaps Christmas time. I could totally see layering this with peppermint to frost it up or with white chocolate to make it richer. mmmm!

Wood Berry - An explosion of wild blackberries and strawberries, combined with just the right amount of earthy woods.
--at first I wasn't sure about this one, but I really like it now that I've had it for a few days and sniffed it a few more times. Its definitely got a lot of berries going on and the woodsy scent is soft, not sharp or super earthy. Its well balanced, and I think will be great for a kind of pre-fall scent or early spring.

Berry Vanilla - This summery blend includes wild blueberry, bergamot, juicy blackberry, vanilla cream, raspberry sugar and buttermilk musk. Our interpretation of a scent by a popular company.
--I ordered this hoping for a bbw dupe, as they were out of the spray when I hit the sale. This does not disappoint! It smells just like it, if its not exact its pretty darn near!

Pink Macaroon - A mouth-watering blend of our Pink Sugary surrounded by fresh shredded coconut and warm baked sugar cookie.
--sinful! I had to have every product in this scent, ya know. lol

Custom blends I requested:
Lavender dream cake blend - scent notes: vanilla ice cream, caramel, marshmallow, sugar, lavender, and cake. I requested this because of all the talk about the no longer obtainable jje scent I've never sniffed. (jje sold and will be reopening btw) So I can't compare it, but I can tell you that it smells very much like the Haus of Gloi Lavender Sugar scent. I wore the HoG pumpkin butter today and this spray and they were perfect together. :) I was on the fence about this one and the hog pb at bottle sniff for a day or so, but I really do like it. Its got a caramel note which is distinct, a nice floral lavender and some vanilla to soften it up.

ripe raspberries and chocolate blend - She's named it Chocolate Raspberry Drizzle, and it smells just like a dark chocolate truffle with a raspberry center. Yum!

pink sugar and chocolate blend - She's named it Pink Chocolates and it is delicious smelling! Its like dark chocolate and milk chocolate swirled together all melty and gooey then sprinkled with pink sugar. I really LOVE this one. :)

banana cream pie and chocolate blend - Now named Chocolate Banana Cream, smells just like you'd expect - good enough to bite! :D I'm happy with this one too.


shower gels - I love her shower gels! So bubbly and slick enough for my bath pouf to not scratch me. Ya know, some soaps just aren't slick enough for my tastes. lol I've already reviewed these scents in previous reviews, so I'm only gonna do that last one, and its an awesome one!
pink macaroon
purple boxed delites
escape
tropical guava
sweet tooth fairy - Strawberry cotton candy with a sprinkling of pink bubble gum. Our interpretation of a fragrance by a popular co.
--why did I not order this sooner? It is absolutely wonderful! Very sweet, very yummy - I've already ordered more products in this scent. :)


clamshell tarts-
Mt. Dew - Soda with a jolt, this classic lemon & lime fizzy pop is so good you will swear you can smell the caffeine and feel the bubbles tickle your nose.
--definitely lime and lemon! Smells fresh and citrusy, yum!

Pink flamingo - Ripe cherries, freshly squeezed orange juice and pink lemonade!
--my gosh I've been melting this since the day I got my order, which I think was Monday. Its still throwing in the room its in and its still absolutely lovely! Ashley suggested this scent to me and I am so glad she did.This is a dupe to my mom and I's beloved Roseberry scent that has been so elusive to us. I am so super happy about this, I could hug and kiss her if she were here! Mwaks to you Ash!

Black Currant - A simply amazing fragrance with strong top notes of black currants, strawberries and mulberries; middle notes of Granny Smith apples; bottom notes of rose and jasmine.
--I like this one really well, its a soft kind of berry scent. It will be great to melt on a chilly fall evening. :)

I got a free sample of sugar cubes and these are way better than the first batch I got. These are perfection! I mushed a piece off to wash my hands with and I love it! I am excited to try them out in the shower.

These products were bought with my own money and my review was not influenced by anyone or anything other than the products and my own experience.

Monday, July 11, 2011

CFTKR Haul and Review

http://candlesfromthekeepingroom.com/
Ordered 7/1
Arrived 7/9

Before I get started, I've not smelled any of the original LUSH scents mentioned in my review so I can't give a comparison.

I also didn't take a family photo, it wouldn't all fit on my mini studio table. o.o

So first up, freebies!

I was pretty overwhelmed at how many were in this box! My first order with her was about the same size and I received three or four single tarts. This blew me away. :)

Trisha's Pink Cake - my friend Trisha came up with this blend...and it is yummy....a mix of our yummy sweet white cake and our infamous pink sugar....this is excellent.
~~oh my, this is delicious! pink sugar and cake, yes two helpings please!

Caramelized Apple Praline - our sweet apple mixed with a caramel and pralines..sweet yet has the apple to tone down the sweetness.. excellent!
~~oh yeah, this is very yummy, very autumn! Saving this one for fall!

Vanilla Sugar Cookie - A super rich, buttery vanilla cookie with sugar crystals on the bottom notes
~~definitely super rich, and perhaps a touch caramelly smelling to me.

Pink Sugar Passion Berry - a fabulous new blend, many different kind of sweet berries...and blended with our infamous pink sugar..after melting this scent...you will have a passion for berries
~~yay for a dupe in my order! I love this scent and will probably order more when these are gone.

Amish Friendship Bread - the aroma of fresh baked bread with notes of raisin, nut, and a hint of strawberry. This is not a yeast type bread, more of a sweet dessert bread.
~~Very cinnamon-y with a sweet bread background. Very nice and homey smelling.

Raspberry Coconut Cake - our yummy cake, topped with sweet raspberries..they coconut mixed with a sweet cream cheese frosting
~~Yummy as described, but the coconut has a barely there bit of a plasticy smell to it. I like it anyway!

Exotic Passion Fruit - A body shop type-a exotic tropical blend of pineapples, strawberries, peaches, orange and coconunt making this a fun flirty scent.
~~I smell banana in this too, its super yummy! perhaps a reorder.

Cranberry Zucchini Bread - our sweet spiced cranberry with our fresh Zucchini Bread, with notes of freshly grated zucchini, cinnamon and spices.
~~ a little spicy a little tart and sweet comforting zucchini bread. yummy!

Carol offered these samplers as a one time deal, so I got two of them. There are ten tarts in each bag. I thought it would be a great way for me to get acquainted with Lush scents. :)

candy cream - interpretation of Candy Creme type. Fresh citrus highlights thisrich blend of fruit and sugar. Hints of cinnamon create a warm accent for the wild grape accord at the heart of the scent, as rich undertones of fruitwood adds deminsion. Sugared musk blends with creamy strawberry at the base of the fragrance.
~~Just as described, but I'm having trouble picking up the grape scent. I like this one, it'll be a strong melter!

tick tock - interpretation of Tuca Tuca...Orange and Clove add a bright accent to this rich blend of herb and flowers....Sweet Basil balances with the jasmine a theheart of the fragrance, as exotic appeal of patchouli and balsami tones. Amber and sugared vanilla beans are surrounded by sandalwood for a rich, creamy base to the scent.
~~I get jasmine, amber and vanila, not really picking up the patchouli or sandalwood. I like this one pretty well.

I want cake - interpretation of Let them Eat Cake-by Tokyo Milk-This is a delicious upscale vanilla scent. It opens with a soft, sweet blend of sugar cane, coconut milk, vanilla orchid, ending with a note of white musk.
~~I have another dupe of this but from LSC, and they are similar, but I like this one better. Its a little fresher smelling and a little lighter on the musk notes.

Kazi Kazi - interpretation of Karama..best way to describe this fragrance it is a powdery blend of Dragons Blood and Patchouli. This scent is for all you earthy loving fragrance lovers..
~~definitely not for me.You don't want to know what I think this smells like!

Blue Bubblegum Crush - an interpretation of Candy Fluff-remember the days of the blue bubblegum snow cone with more..top notes are fruity with a hint of rose, middle note of jasmine and violet and bottom notes of musk and vanilla.
~~Smells just like the candy fluff in my MCS scrub. This is super yummy and I think it'll burn really strong.

Snow Drops - an interpretation of Snow Cakes. this oil is limited. This is scent is a warm scent, honey,marzipan-almond, rose, cassis and benzoin.
~~I've wanted to sniff this scent for a while now! I like it pretty well, I am getting some cinnamon in this as well as the other notes mentioned.

Liquid Crack - interpretation of Rock Star..Funky and fun frgrance with sweet, fruity notes that leave a fizzy taste in your imagination-pure sugar, reminds me of the old fashion ribbon candy suckers. Yum
~~I really like this one, it smells similar to my mcs scrub of the same scent. a little bubble gummy but mostly fruity, really nice!

B. Better than Ever - an interpretation of B Scent type..This indulgent blend of spice and flowers is sure to please. Grapefruit and orange lead to a classic blend of jasmine, ylang, petit grain, and rose. a blend of warm spices adds intrigue. Soft undertones of moss and musk sweetened with vanilla to create lingering appeal.
~~definitely not for me.You don't want to know what I think this smells like!

Fluff is never enough - interpretation of Keep it Fluffy. Fresh lemon adds sparkle to this luxuriously soft blend. a spiced floral accord at the heart of the fragrance leads to the base of velvet musk, as hints of wood create caressing warmth. A final touch of vanilla sweetens this fragrance.
~~a soft, yet warm inviting and clean scent. Reminds me of something from my tween years, Debbie Gibson Electric Youth perfume.

Cloudy Skies - interpretation of Silver Clouds. A hint of mint lifts this complex blend of fruity floral and spice. Wild rose and orange flower to get a fresh accent of the fir needle, as a spiced wood accord creates dimension with this scent. Rich fruit notes of creamed berry and peach linger with the base notes of clear musk and sensual amber.
~~smells like those spiced gumdrops from around Christmas time! I'd take a bite but I reckon it wouldn't taste like I expect.




1 Im in the Pink No. 43
Pink sugar licorice - a great blend of sweet realistic licorice and our infamous pink sugar
~ as described!

Pink sugared milk - a blend of our yummy sugar milk and pink sugar
~~sweetened condensed milk and ps, yum!

Pink sugared confetti - our yummy pink sugar mixed with confetti frosting... A wonderful, fresh sweet fruity wild berry with top notes of mixed berries, tart lemon, pear and strawberry, a rich, milky butter cream middle note with hints of coconut, banana, plum - rose and maple, and a woody, ambery, musky and sweet sugary vanilla base note.
~~yummy ps and frosted birthday cake!

Pink sugar serendipity - this is a super sweet concoction....sweet thick creamy vanilla with powdered sugar..sweet cherry, sweet orange and citrus...and a hint of fresh coconut...and then all whipped together with our infamous pink sugar
~~this is like the fruity version of pink macaroon, very yummy!

Pink sugared passion berry - a fabulous new blend, many different kind of sweet berries...and blended with our infamous pink sugar..after melting this scent...you will have a passion for berries
~~very nice and fresh, a little greapfuity smelling. I think this will be a nice strong burner!

Pink sugared blueberry - a yummy blend of sweet blueberry and our infamous pink sugar
~~refreshing, I get a light fresh blueberry and ps, I think this one will be strong!

1 New Cakes No. 45
Cotton candy party cakes - our sweet blend of sweet spun cotton candy and a delicious white cake.
~~as described, yum!

Absolutely fabulous cake - The creme de la creme of cakes! Rich, moist white cake with hints of silky, white chocolate and sweet cream; shredded, toasted coconut coated with sweet vanilla nestled inside. This fabulous creation is topped with luscious mounds of rich sweet butter cream frosting.
~~as described, very yummy smelling!

Pink frosted layer cake - Philosophy Type. So decadent! A whisper of sweet pink tickles your nose with your first sniff! A rich accord of cake batter flirts with fresh strawberry jumping head over heels into the sweet undertones of butter cream and vanilla sugar to complete this totally decadent delight!
~~as described, very yummy!

Lemon summer cake - a sweet cake with little zests of lemon and sweet sugars.
~~Wonderfully scented! The best lemon meringue pie you'll ever sniff! This is a reorder and a must have.

Apricot party cake - a sweet baked cake with sweet apricot jam layered in between and an apricot glaze on top..a summery fruity cake.
~~gah this smells so good! It reminds me of those peach ring gummy candies.

Velvet brown sugar nut cake - This fragrance begins with top notes of dark chocolate, strawberry syrup, and red currant; followed by middle notes of cocoa powder, buttermilk, brown sugar , sugar cane and sweet bakery nuts..while sitting on base notes of creamy Tonka bean, and vanilla extract
~~as described, yummy!




Baked Banana Cake - A new creation inspired by one of my wonderful customers, a sweet baked cake, swirled inside the batter sweet ripe bananas and then iced with a creamy banana cream frosting
~~To me this smells just like real bananas, sweetened up a touch by the cake and frosting. I really like this one! blondeangel, have you tried this one out yet?

Creamy comfort - this is a house blend, sweet sugars and sweet cream, blended with bakery flours and love, give you this wonderful comfort scent..creamy and rich.
~~Yep, I really like this one it definitely is comforting. Its kind of a subtle/softened up sweetened condensed milk kind of scent. Lovin it!

Strawberry Milk-This is yummy..sweet cream milk, mixed fresh strawberries..all stirred together to give this a realistic aroma..it really does have the aroma of strawberry milk.
~Smells exactly like strawberry milk, pretty amazing!

Blackberry Jam Flapjacks-we have blended our sweet yummy blackberry jam butter cookie with our yummy flapjack ..a real comfort scent
~~hoooMG! I love this scent! It smells just like buttery pancakes drizzled with maple syrup and blackberry jam. Gah I want to eat this!

Fresh Picked Strawberry-what can I say, this is the best most realistic strawberry around..lingers for hours..and will fill the room right out with this delicious aroma
~~Very very sweet sugared strawberries. I really love this scent but its more of a candy-ish scent to my nose, almost cotton candy like. Gah I should have gotten more than one cuttable cake in this! reorder!

I am very pleased with my purchase and feel that Carol has outdone herself! Her tat was super fast during her grand opening sale and she was very generous with freebies. I love most of what I ordered and can't wait to melt these!

I would definitely recommend CFTKR to others and will may a third order myself eventually!

For my other reviews, hover my username and just click when you see "my reviews" pop up. It will take you to my review mega thread. This review will be added there shortly. Thanks for reading!

These wax melts were bought and paid for by me with my own hard earned money; my opinion is my own and was not influenced by anyone.

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Latherati Haul and Review

Latherati - http://www.etsy.com/shop/LatheratiSoap
ordered 6/25 arrived 7/7
(one week to make the ambition body cream for me, it was out of stock)


Shipping overage of 1.90, and a broken lotion pump, dented cream lids.
I contacted her and within minutes she refunded the shipping and offered to replace the lotion and all three creams.How above and beyond is that for cs? I replied thanking her and said that a replacement pump or flip top cap would be just fine for my lotion bottle. She said she'd probably send a new bottle of lotion if she didn't have an extra pump. Waiting for that to arrive, but I totally trust what she has told me. Her quick action, apologetic and soft toned emails, along with her offer to replace more than half my order totally wowed me.


Body Cream - These are pretty thick and nice, but not overly heavy. They do take a bit to absorb, but when they do my skin feels very soft and smells lovely. They're about the consistency of a thick pudding, and contain some really great skin loving ingredients. Avocado oil, shea butter, jojoba oil, mango seed oil, and glycerin - yes please!

Body Lotion - loose pudding is how I'd describe this but it can still hold a stiff peak. Absorbs quickly and feels nice on the skin. Contains cyclomethicone for that soft powdery/silky feel, shea butter to moisturize, glycerin to draw moisture to the skin and jojoba oil.

Edp - haven't tried it yet. sorry!




lip balm - Sinister - cotton candy and black licorice.
~~I really like this lip balm. Its similar to lip smackers in how it applies and stays on, it doesn't turn greasy/messy like most etailers I've tried. I really dig the oval shaped tube, no more rolling around all over my desk. This one is definitely staying on my desk at home, for that very reason. I wish more etailers would use oval shaped tubes. The flavor is great and her balm contains avocado oil and mango seed butter, two great moisturizing ingredients. It also contains coconut oil (long shelf life) and caster oil but I haven't read about the skin benefits of those two.

sample of Gloom lip balm - honey rose flavored. I sniffed and like it! :D

solid perfume - CELEBRATION - The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald - a party of sparkling champagne, creamy orange and a hint of juicy strawberries
~~I really like this scent the best of all those I ordered. I wish I had gotten it in a body cream too. I have only tried it once so far and I'd say this one didn't have as much longevity compared to an edp or oil, and was quite light after applied.

Fanciful - a gorgeous blend of relaxing lavender, cedarwood, cardamom, warm amber, spicy pepper, vetiver and tonka bean. Herbal and earthy but sweet.
~~She included a solid perfume sample of this so I'll have to compare this to celebration's longevity and throw. This smells like rosemary, lavender and mint to me - reminds me of something I've smelled at a Ren Fair before but I can't place it. Its yummy though. :)

CURIOUSER - Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll - sweet orange marmalade, white cake, tea and a hint of black pepper
~~This is similar in description to HoG's Elevenses and slightly similar in scent, but different enough that its not a dupe. I can smell each single scent in this, except for the black pepper. In the jar, I could take it or leave it but when I wear it I like how it changes on me, to a kind of white chocolatey scent with a hint of orange.

MATCHMAKER - Emma, Jane Austen - ripe strawberries, orchid and a touch of plum
~~I like all the single notes in this, but blended there is something I just don't really love about it. I don't know if its the orchid or plum but one of these things just doesn't belong, at least to my nose. I really want to like this, so I may let it cure a while and come back to it.

Ambition - warm, tangy ginger and tart lemon with a bottom note of cedarwood
~~Lemon fresh pledge is what I get - needs to cure so the cedarwood and ginger can come out to play. :)

Alter Ego Dr. Jekyll version - light and airy with ozone & sea spray notes intermingled with linden blossom
~~I like this one, its light and fresh, almost breezy. If you were relaxing on the front steps of beach house with a nice flowerbed nearby, this is probably how the air around you would smell.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Wahm's Scented Wax haul and review

(Links removed due to company closure)
Tat: super fast for made to order
Overall impression: Made of win!

I stumbled on this company completely by accident - won't you join me in this journey of a new (to me) tart maker?

First I have to say, I was blown away at the cold scent throw these gave -through- all the stuffing and wrapping. It left me quite speechless before I even saw or sniffed everything.



Mmmmmmm YUM! Smell that? Get a good whiff! And just look at the way she has packaged everything, so cheery an bright! I love it!



I spotted the souffle cups first, so reached for those.
Vanilla Berry Mocha - This smells like heaven! (just like its name) The berries, I believe are raspberries, and the coffee in this...omg! It smells like a fresh latte from starbucks - nothing artificial about this. I could totally drink it if it was liquid.

Banana Bread Pudding - A hint of cinnamon, a touch of yeast, and a little banana. Very yummy scent!
If these throw hot like they do cold, I will be a loyal customer for as long as I melt wax. Yep, these two little teeny cups were that impressive to me.



These were all freebies:
Ocean Breeze (frosted cookie, too cute!)- I keep saying I don't like fresh, ozone, or clean smells but I keep finding more of those types of scents that I DO like. So there must be variation within those scent groups. This one, I do like. Its a nice soft, calming oceanic scent.

Butter Pecan Ice Cream - A whole scoop! This certainly smells just like the real thing! Buttery, Vanilla and pecans. And just look how cute!

Pink Strawberry Shake - omg heaven in a tart, strawberries, pink sugar, vanilla shake -- really what could be better? Its a scalloped cute tart, she layered it with red white and blue for july 4th. :)



More frosted cookies, yay!
Pink Sugar Noel - why have I waited so long to order this scent from any tart maker? someone bop me over the head! I absolutely love it!

Coffee Noel - How could I resist this? It also has the wonderfully realistic just made latte scent along with vbn. And just look how cute they are! NOM!



Now for the really special shaped tarts -- PIES!


This one is Banana Berry Zucchini Bread and lemme tell ya, it is made of win. Four layered slices decorated with candies and little wax spheres and the scent, to DIE for! Its a nice sweet banana, berries and Zucchini bread. Its blended in a way that the scents are very well balanced.



Divine Cake - Yummy white cake laced with traces of marshmallow fluff, sweetened raspberries and strawberries, topped off with a delicious buttercream frosting.
~~ Just like its name, its divine! This is a close your eyes and take a huge whiff kind of scent. :)



And lastly, Raspberry Chocolate Chip Ice Cream. Now this one smells just like bittersweet chocolate covered raspberries taste, I kid you not. No plastic or fake fruits here. I absolutely love this one too.

And the family photo:
Those colors in the background is the tissue paper from the box. I ironed and folded it for reuse.


Julie included a hand written note, a typed out thank you note, a business card and a 10% off next purchase, plus three freebie tarts all in scents I adore.


Overall, I am quite blown away. She was very responsive (within minutes) on both facebook and email. Tat was fast for made to order: order placed June 27 // received July 5. Her shipping packaging was top notch, and rivals some high end bath and body etailers. Super friendly, quite a gem.

Opening that box left me completely speechless. Took me two hours from start to finish to write this review. Yep, speechless.


How to find her: (Links removed due to closure)
Her website isn't up yet, but if you visit her facebook page then you will be able to check the discussion tab for scent lists and pricing. :)
She has sale on occasion, so check her place often!

These products were bought with my own hard earned money and my review was not influenced by anyone or anything other than the products and my own experience.

Haus of Gloi - Summer reorder



My second order for Summer items, had to get some Sanctum PB in full size. It was that good!

Sanctum - I get a crisp lime top note and the rest glorious almost candied smelling watermelon. This is a wonderful blend for summer!

Troika - you all know I love this one! :D

Insalata Nocturna - I really am surprised at this scent. I do not like greens or fresh scented things to wear but I really dig this scent. HoG has pleasantly surprised me once again. This is a really bright crisp scent, reminds me of something similar in brightness/tartness as a grapefruit. I barely smell the tomato leaf smell that I expected would be overpowering, but with this its like an afterthought and very subtle. Beautiful scent!

Apothecary - I don't like the smell of leather so I was quite skeptical about getting this one, but its my goal to sniff every scent HoG makes. I'm on the fence with this one - all the other scents in it are really nice, its just when that leather creeps in toward the end, my eyes shut and my face wrinkles up. lol

Depravity (perfume oil) - In the vial, its pretty pungent and the clove is really strong, but I wore this for a day and was so pleasantly surprised with how it developed on my skin. Perhaps not a "go to" or "reach for" scent but I enjoyed wearing it and will use on occasion.

Honeysuckle Lemon Curd free sample - I already have and love this one so, score!

Love their lip balms, not greasy or messy. Just the right amount of soft/firmness and they stay put well.

The Sweet Rosa lip balm is everything I had hoped for. I go to a little Greek restaurant where the owner makes Rose Cake on occasion, but she has been so busy she hasn't had it the last 3 or 4 weeks I've visited. Now I can get my fix til I can get more of her cake!

Haven't opened the Lime soda balm yet, but read rave reviews on it so I got it too. :)

These products were bought with my own hard earned money and my review was not influenced by anyone or anything other than the products and my own experience.