Cocoa Pink - Fear of Cemeteries

Hey there, cute little graveyard ghosties! It is no secret that I'm obsessed with fall and all the indie scents and collections that come with it. I've always adored Halloween, and I wish the entire year could consist of rainy days, crimson leaves, hot tea, apple cider, cuddly sweaters, and everything else like that. To live in imagination land, I reblog pretty autumn photos on Tumblr; and I also wear fall perfumes even in this disgusting summer heat. One perfume that I'm in a serious relationship with, but have yet to do a proper post on until now, is Fear of Cemeteries by Cocoa Pink! Here is the scent description from Cocoa Pink:

Fear Of Cemeteries (Coimetrophobia) - Cool damp graveyard dirt with a single white carnation placed cautiously against an old granite headstone, covered by dying crimson and yellow autumn leaves with a soft whisper of wood smoke carried in a crisp breeze.


Carnation and autumn leaves are the stars of the cold sniff. The autumn leaves note in this perfume is absolutely realistic: you can literally imagine the earthy, damp leaves beneath your feet. Initial application reveals an equally realistic aroma of wet concrete. It's a beautiful ozone note that I've always yearned for in a perfume. There is also a lovely note of cool, damp dirt; though it's not as prominent as the ozone. The autumn leaves are continuing their dance through the air, so it's like walking through a graveyard on a rainy autumn day. The carnation in this blend is soft, but profound- like the voice of one's conscious. It is there to remind those that have passed to know they are not forgotten, and it softens this otherwise dark blend. The drydown is almost entirely the same as the initial application, except the smokiness is unearthed (no pun intended, heh). This perfume is perfect and I hope to get a backup bottle when it's released again.

Ermahgerd! Indie Perfume Collection!

Quick intro before I tackle this madness: I've been debating on posting my indie perfume collection for quite a while. One of the reasons I haven't done so is I didn't know the best way to organize it. Ultimately, I decided on posting about my perfume oils in this post, and I'll post about my solid scents another time. Oh, and perhaps someday I'll write about my sample vials too...They're a huge mess at the moment. It would be a fun mess to post about though! I wanted you guys to know that *you* are the inspiration behind this post. I got some awesome new readers out of nowhere, and a lot of you are pretty perfume ladies- so I thought this post would be fun for us all! :D I want to thank Dee from http://365daysofsmells.blogspot.com/?m=1 and http://yearofthetightarse.blogspot.com/?m=1 for inspiring me to finally get my butt in gear and do this collection post. She is so amazing, and I wish I would have found her blogs in the blogosphere sooner!

Also, before I get started, please note that from being clumsy (i.e. spilling perfume oil on said perfume oil label) and from bringing my little perfume oils along in my purse, some of them look a little worse for the wear. You'll notice that some of the labels have worn off, and that I have attempted to label some of them with a sharpie. So yeah, some of them look ghetto, and I apologize in advance ;)

*Solstice Scents*

 

Above from L to R: Library, Moonlight on the Grove, Shoikan Grove, Manor, Attic, Snowshoe Pass, and Lace Draped Spectre

My Solstice Scents collection contains some of my very favorite perfume oils. Manor and Library are my absolute favorite scents, and I always go to one of them when I cannot decide on a fragrance. I have raved about Solstice Scents many times, so I'm sure you guys don't need me to do any more gushing here :)

 

 

*Haus of Gloi*

 

Above from L to R: Ghost Puffs, Samhain, Spring Tonic 2, Selkie, and Spider Silk

Next, I have my Haus of Gloi perfume oils. One thing I love about my HoG perfume collection is that I have a scent for basically every season (sans winter). Spring Tonic 2 is the absolute perfect spring scent. It smells so fresh and lovely. I received it as a perfume sample last year with my Valentine order, and I absolutely *had* to purchase a full size because my boyfriend and I were obsessed with it. Selkie is an aquatic, oceany scent that is great for the summer. I don't even blink at any other ocean type of scents because Selkie is just perfect. Growing up, my dad taught me how to surf; so Selkie also makes me smile and brings back great memories of surfing in California. For instance, there was one time a seal poked its cute little head out of the water and looked at me with wonder. Another time, my dad and I rode the same wave! It was awesome and very precious to me, because he cannot surf anymore for medical reasons. Samhain is a perfect autumn fragrance. It is very dark and not for everyone, but I think it is beautiful and that it really evokes the image of a perfect fall afternoon with fallen leaves and dreary skies. Ghost Puffs is a great sweet, marshmallowy scent. Spider Silk is a good 'fresh' scent that I think could be worn all year.

 

*OHWTO- Halloween Scents*

 

Above from L to R: Down a Dark Path, Final Girl, Jack in Black, Hungry Ghost, Gracie, and Dudleyville

Okay, I really went overboard when the OHWTO Halloween collection came out in 2012. Embarrassingly enough, I even got a few solid scents along with these perfume oils. I'm just really, really obsessed with Halloween, and when you mix Halloween with indie collections, I'm all over that shit! Down a Dark Path is my favorite out of this selection. Since I am absolutely terrible at describing scents, I will provide the scent description!

Down a Dark Path: It's where many a good scary story starts. Fresh figs, Dried Leaves, Carnations, Oakmoss, Amber, Sage, Black Pepper, Pumpkin, Vanilla, Pomegranate, Beeswax, Rhubarb, Lavender, and the scent of an unidentifiable animal stalking you in the shadows between the trees.

I got that description here; and you can find the rest of the OHWTO Halloween scent descriptions there if you're curious! :)

*OHWTO- Other Perfume Oils*

 

 

Above from L to R: Finnegan's Folly, I Smell Like a Witch, and Maura

Mae

I think I like all three of these scents equally, if that's even possible. I already did a quick review on Finnegan's Folly here, so I will say no more about that. I Smell Like a Witch is absolutely amazing. It's a pretty unique scent that intrigued me when it first came out at the end of 2011. It was my first One Hand Washes the Other order, and I was very impressed! I love the little back story that goes along with it, and it smells just wonderful. I already did a post on this scent during the summer, so I will again provide the link if you guys are interested- Clicky Clicky!

I bought Maura Mae (with Finnegan's Folly) when OHWTO re-opened their etsy to sell limited quantities of a previous spring collection. Here is the scent description- Maura Mae: With her curls of copper, her twinkling eyes, her sweet smile- this is what they mean when they refer to "The luck of the Irish". A sweet and fruity scent, Maura Mae is strongly apricot, with supporting notes of green clover, tea, cut grass, a sprinkling of field flowers- lily of the valley, violet, lavender, as well as a dash of berries, vanilla bean, and the faintest, tiniest, entirely lady-like nip of whiskey. Source- OHWTO blog

 

*Cocoa Pink*

 

Above from L to R: Fear of Cemetaries, Fear of Halloween, Fear of Pumpkins, Black Cat in the Pumpkin Patch, Fear of Witches, and Fear of Ghosts.

As you can see, Fear of Cemetaries is the only bottle that has gotten any love, and that makes me really sad. I adore the scent, so that's not what makes me sad. The fact that none of the other scents worked for me (and they're all full sizes because I'm a noob) is the saddening factor. Black Cat in the Pumpkin Patch is probably one I'd keep, but the other four were just meh. I really want to find good homes for these guys where they will be loved and not neglected! :( Someday, I will. Someday. Here's the Fear of Cemetaries description from cocoapink.net because I LOVE IT LOTS-
Fear Of Cemeteries (Coimetrophobia) - Cool damp graveyard dirt with a single white carnation placed cautiously against an old granite headstone, covered by dying crimson and yellow autumn leaves with a soft whisper of wood smoke carried in a crisp breeze.

*The Morbid the Merrier*

 

 

Above from L to R: Horseman, Morton, and Paramour.

This collection also makes me look like grumpy cat because of all the dramz that went down with TMTM. I won't get into it because there's plenty of places that explain the situation. It just made me sad to see a greatly loved indie company crumble before my eyes. The scent I've worn most is Paramour, because it has notes of blood, red wine,  roses, and gunsmoke (how awesome!) and is very uniquely beautiful. Horseman is my second favorite, though I don't recall the notes. I remember there was something leathery about it that my boyfriend absolutely loved. Morton wasn't bad at all, I was just on the fence about it. I need to whip it out soon to see if age has done it well!

 

*Smell Bent and VApothecary*

 

 

Above from L to R: Ice Station Zebra by Smell Bent, Cemetary Snow by VApothecary

And finally, I have two miscellaneous scents from two different companies. I have already done a post for each of them.  The Ice Station Zebra review can be found right here, while the Cemetary Snow review is over here.

If you are still here, thank you so very much for tagging along with me! I hope this post will be sufficient for the next few days (or until next week) because I have a full week ahead. I'm working nonstop, am attending my boyfriend's nephew's 5th birthday this Thursday, and am going to my boyfriend's family reunion-ish type thing on Saturday! My next couple posts will be on the new Solstice Scents Smoky Mountain Mallow perfume and my Bath and Body Works SAS haul. I'm not sure what day I'll get those up, but let me know what you guys would like to read about first! :)

DISCLAIMER - Every single thang I mentioned in this post was purchased by me for my own personal usage. I am not affiliated with or compensated by any of the companies mentioned. My opinions are always my own and always honest!

My (really detailed) Hair Care Routine

Once upon a time, there was an angsty teenage princess whose hair was free from all things detrimental. Unfortunately, 8 years of extreme color changes made her hair heart-wrenchingly hopeless. After buying countless lotions and potions that promised her the world but ceased to change anything but her bank account status, the princess decided to accept defeat and the fact that her hair was simply beyond repair.

But this fairy tale does have a happy ending. Today, the adult version of our young princess is here to tell you about some things that have helped give her hope for her hair's future!


Before I get into the nitty gritty details of my hair care, I want to add a little disclaimer. I am (obviously) NOT a doctor. If you are concerned about any medical issues you may have, I highly advise seeking a licensed healthcare professional. Also, please note that everyone's hair and body chemistry is quite different, so what worked for me might not work for you (just as what works for you might not work for me). However, I did want to share what has helped me with my hair situation in case it might help someone else out there. :)

The first thing I want to talk about is vitamins and minerals. Both are immensely important for your body to function correctly, and they're even important for the health of your hair. If you are deficient in certain substances your hair needs, it does NOT matter what fancy mask or conditioner you use on it- it will look and feel like crap. And that was one of my main problems. A few years ago, I got my blood tested and found out I had iron deficiency anemia. Without going into too much personal detail, my anemia got a lot worse for me recently- which was really scary. So I simply put myself on iron supplements, and I feel like a new person. I'm not as drained as I used to be (I was always tired no matter how much or little sleep I got) and my hair is amazingly stronger, shinier, and healthier. I also shed a lot of hair before I started taking the iron supplements. My boyfriend would literally pull hair off of my clothes all day from my hair shedding so much. It sucked! Now, barely any of my hair sheds, and it only happens when I brush it. It's pretty interesting how one overlooked mineral has the capacity to make or break your health! If you are curious about iron and the many amazing things it does for your body, I highly recommend reading this article:
http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/minerals/health-benefits-of-iron.html

Above: My iron supplement! Non-constipating.... Woohoo!

Next, I will be discussing the hair care products that have worked the best for me. The products I use on my hair are all from a company called Cocoa Pink, which is an indie bath and body company best known for their foodie type of scents. Since I am not a foodie scent enthusiast, I opt for the more obscure ones. I say this because for the products I am about to mention, you can choose any scent from their current catalogue and have said products scented with it! It's a pretty neat concept.

My boyfriend gets a kick out of this first product, which is called Princess Poo shampoo. The scent of this particular bottle is "The Night Before Christmas."
Actually, to save redundancy, all the products I'm about to mention are in the same scent.

According to the website, http://cocoapink.net/pages.php?pageid=6, The Night Before Christmas is described as follows:

"Delicate Douglas Fir boughs adorned with sparkling festive ornaments warmed by flames of a roaring fireplace while bright candy canes rest next to a plate of vanilla laced sugar cookies set out for Santa's arrival."

Princess Poo shampoo works really well for me, and it's SLS and paraben free. What the heck does that mean, you ask? This is what I got from Cocoa Pink's product description of Princess Poo " 'Sodium Lauryl Sulfate/Sodium Laureth Sulfate: These cheap, harsh detergents, used in shampoos for their foam-building properties, are also used in car washes, as garage floor cleaners, and as engine degreasers. They are often derived from petroleum and can cause eye irritation, scalp irritation, and tangled hair.' ~onesta"

I used my good friend Google to discover what parabens were. Simply put, parabens are preservatives used in a wide array of foods and cosmetics that deter mold/bacteria. There are some studies that link parabens to negative side effects, such as breast cancer. I retrieved this information here:
http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/beauty/skin-and-lifestyle/parabens.htm
So you can click that link if you're interested in leaning more :)

I like that Princess Poo is free from those harmful ingredients, and I also like how well it works on my hair. It makes my hair clean and soft (not to mention smelling quite lovely). This is definitely my HG shampoo. I've been through a few bottles so far. Depending on the size you choose, Princess Poo shampoo is available on Coco Pink's website from $7.50 to $14.00

Above: Cocoa Pink Princess Poo Shampoo

The next product I use on my hair is Cocoa Pink's Argan Therapy Creme conditioner. I received it as a sample with one of my previous orders, and it made my hair so soft and nice that I immediately purchased a full size. I use it as a daily conditioner, combing it through my hair after shampooing in order to distribute the conditioner evenly. I know Argan oil has been incredibly popular for hair care lines lately, and I am pretty sure it's great for your hair. All I know is that it makes my hair feel great and that it works. This conditioner contains Argan oil and coconut oils. :) The price is either $8.50 or $15.00. Again, it depends on the size you select.

Above: Cocoa Pink Argan Therapy Creme' Conditioner

Moving right along, this product is my absolute favorite hair care product ever. It's called Soulmate Hair Rescue Treatment. A few months ago, I read the product description and decided to give it a shot. I couldn't be more happy that I did. This stuff is seriously like magic. It replenished my dry, tangled hair and literally brought it back from the dead. I use this about once a week to deep condition. Sometimes I use it on my dry hair overnight as an extra deep conditioner, which always leaves my hair even more healthy and soft than it usually is. I always get compliments on my hair when I use this little trick! I'm really sad that I don't have much left, as the website is not processing orders until January 14th. I did order more, but I don't want to run out before then! Unlike the other products I mentioned, this treatment is only available in one size at $14.99. For me at least, it was worth every cent!

Above: Cocoa Pink Soulmate Hair Rescue Treatment

Finally, we've reached the last product I use for my hair health, which is the Anti Frizz Styling Serum. I use a nickel-sized drop on my towel-dried hair and comb it through evenly. I have pretty long hair, so most people probably shouldn't need that much. It really gives my hair a bit of an extra "oomf" when it comes to softness, and it also acts as a heat protectant. I don't blow dry my hair unless I am running late for work, but I do straighten my hair once it's dry; so the heat protectant comes in handy. I've accidentally forgotten to use this product in the past, and I noticed my hair wasn't as soft and shiny. This product is either $6.00 for 2 oz. or $14.99 for 4.5 oz.

Above: Cocoa Pink Anti-Frizz Styling Serum

Everything I mentioned (sans the iron, which I purchased from Whole Foods) can be purchased from Cocoa Pink's website: http://cocoapink.net/home.php
Please keep in mind that you can order stuff right now, but it will not be processed until January 14th. At that time, the TAT is 7-10 business days. I think it's important to mention stuff like that just in case anyone decides to try one of the products I write about.

That was A LOT of stuff to write about, but I certainly hope it helped someone in some way. Even if it didn't, I had fun putting this together!

Please let me know what your Holy Grail hair care products are and/or your hair care routine. As always, thanks for reading!



Disclaimer: All products mentioned were purchased by me for my own personal usage. I am not affiliated with or compensated by any of the companies mentioned. All opinions are my own and always honest!

Cocoa Pink Halloween Release!

Hello there! First of all, I'd like to apologize for my lack of updates. My cat decided it would be fun to chew through my laptop charger, so now I'm invading my boyfriend's desktop to update my BLAHg.

In other news, yesterday was my 26th birthday! My boyfriend and I had a really chill day, then went to the strip later on. We walked around, I won 5 bucks (woohoo!), and he bought me the cutest sweater on the planet. Then we went out to dinner at Blueberry Hill. I had a perfect day, and I am so blessed to have him in my life. I can't believe our 5 year anniversary is next month!


Now onto the stuff y'all are actually here for! ;)  Cocoa Pink released their Fall/Halloween fragrances on September 1st, so I ordered 5 perfume oils and my favorite hair treatment.

 

 

Above: Soul Mate conditioning hair treatment and the perfume oils I ordered (which were housed in lovely red and pink organza bags).

 

 

 

 

Above From Left to Right: Soulmate conditioning hair treatment in Black Cat in the Pumpkin Patch, Black Cat in the Pumpkin Patch perfume oil, Fear of Halloween Perfume oil, Fear of Ghosts perfume oil, Fear of Pumpkins perfume oil, Fear of Witches perfume oil, Argan Therapy creme conditioner in Pumpkin Porridge (free sample). and Bubbling Scrub in Pumpkin Fried Ice Cream (free sample).

Above From Left to Right: Soulmate conditioning hair treatment in Black Cat in the Pumpkin Patch, Black Cat in the Pumpkin Patch perfume oil, Fear of Halloween perfume oil, Fear of Ghosts perfume oil, Fear of Pumpkins perfume oil, Fear of Witches perfume oil

Above From Left to Right: Soulmate conditioning hair treatment in Black Cat in the Pumpkin Patch, Black Cat in the Pumpkin Patch perfume oil, Fear of Halloween Perfume oil, Fear of Ghosts perfume oil, Fear of Pumpkins perfume oil, Fear of Witches perfume oil

Scent Descriptions from http://cocoapink.net/pages.php?pageid=6

Black Cat in the Pumpkin Patch ~ Imagine the bestselling scent “Black Kittens” with a splash of sweet pumpkin! This is unexpected, original, and quite amazing!

Fear of Halloween (Samhainophobia) - The tooth ache inducing candy at the bottom of old worn pillowcases and plastic jack o lanterns! Sweet tarts, candy corn, assorted lollipops, melting chocolate and wild raspberry chewing gum.

Fear of Ghosts (Phasmophobia) - Glowing marshmallow orbs and smoky vanilla spectral mists swirl aimlessly around an old bonfire in the Crisp October night air – Fresh vanilla puffed marshmallows, toasted marshmallows, hints of bonfire smoke among scattered sharp grains of white rice to ward unwelcome spirits away.

Fear of Pumpkins (Cucurbitophobia) – Sweet pumpkin entombed inside soft pale cupcakes topped with whipped buttercream frosting next to a frightful blend of sugared pralines and pumpkin bread.

Fear Of Witches (Wiccaphobia) – Warm baked bread fresh from the oven, gentle wisps of bonfire smoke drifting through the frigid autumn air and smooth buttery caramel sprinkled with coarse black sea salt is your best bet in keeping them at bay.



I'm really happy with my Cocoa Pink goodies. This has been the third jar of Soulmate I've ordered, as it works wonders with my damaged-ass hair and makes it feel like it's actually healthy. Plus, I love that I can order it in any scent that's available for the season. I would have saved myself a lot of money and disappointment had I discovered this product sooner! I use it with the Princess Poo shampoo, and I think it's a great combination for my hair. I tried both the samples from my order, and I'm really impressed with the Argan Therapy Creme conditioner. I've used it in my last two showers, and I really feel like it works great. It makes my hair incredibly soft and managable. Cocoa Pink definitely blows my mind when it comes to their hair products! The bubbling scrub sample I received is good too, and I'd say it's comparable to Haus of Gloi's bubbling scrub.

I am still testing out each one of my new perfume oils from this haul, but I'd have to say my favorite so far is Black Cat in the Pumpkin Patch! I'm already a fan of Black Kittens, so the addition of pumpkins just makes a great scent even better!

All items mentioned can currently be found at http://cocoapink.net/home.php

Thanks for taking the time to read my post. I hope you're all having an incredible week and a lovely September.

 

 

DISCLAIMER: All items in this post were purchased by me for my own personal usage. I am not compensated by or affiliated with any of the companies mentioned. All opinions are my own and 100% genuine.