Winslow's by Solstice Scents

Hello cozy cups of hot chocolate! I am here listening to the Bright Eyes Christmas Album (!!!) about to talk to you about one of Solstice Scents' new winter perfumes! Last Sunday, Solstice Scents released their winter perfume collection. They kept with the Foxcroft town theme for the winter collection, which I find so charming. The perfume came with a cute little postcard that included a fabricated version town's current events. LV, you will be intrigued to know that the fire at the Manor is thought to be arson ;) There is also an annual crafts fair held at Winslow's TODAY, which I am sure will be amazing! Too bad I am far across the country. 

The perfume I ordered from the winter collection is called Winslow's. I am very excited about this perfume, and I just knew I had to own it just by reading the description. Let's take a peek at what Solstice Scents has to say about Winslow's.

 Winslow's:

Rows of Christmas Trees, Clove Studded Oranges, Bayberry Tapers, Handcrafted Wreaths & Mistletoe

Winslow's Christmas Tree Farm sits at the base of Mount Willow in the town of Foxcroft.  The annual winter crafts festival at Winslow's offers handmade bayberry candles, rustic wreaths, orange pomanders and much more.  Meandering down the lane leading into Winslow's, you pass rows upon rows of fragrant Christmas trees ready for harvest.

Winslow's is the scent of winter.  Fir, woods, bayberry and mistletoe meld with spicy clove and blood orange essential oil and the result smells effectively like bottled winter.  Winslow's contains fir absolute and essential oil, spruce EO, cedar, a touch of guaiacwood and a blend of several fragrance oils in addition to the bayberry, mistletoe, clove and blood orange.  Fans of our Black Christmas soap will love Winslow's as the fragrance is very similar.  If you enjoy evergreen and/or woods scents or our Shoikan Grove, Covered Bridge and the previously offered Cedar & Siberian Fir fragrance, make sure to try Winslow's.  The combination of bayberry and clove gives the impression of a Victorian Christmas.  Unisex.

Winslow's is all I could ever hope for in a Winter/Holiday/Christmas perfume. I truly adore it, and I
really wish I could describe it much better than I know I'll be able to. I think the Solstice Scents description of this perfume is incredibly accurate. This perfume truly is like bottled winter. It is such a warm and comforting scent. It's like being home for the holidays, sans the cranky family drama. A lovely blend of orange and cloves sizzles on the stovetop while the invitingly fresh spruce scent from the Christmas tree dances throughout the air. This is a very consistent perfume that, to my nose, does not stray from cold sniff to drydown. It is incredibly comforting. I wore it yesterday, and I am happy to report that it lasted all day on me. Solstice Scents definitely makes some of the longest lasting perfumes I've ever worn. The silage is also incredible. I kept getting whiffs of Christmasy awesomeness throughout the day, which I knew to be Winslow's!

Well, I have a bit of a busy day ahead of me, so that's all for now. I hope you all have an absolutely wonderful weekend! Thanks so much for reading!

Disclaimer: All items mentioned were purchased by me, all opinions are my own. 

Solstice Scents ~ Hand of Darkness

Hello, sweet sparkly gems! Though the summers here are long and excruciating, I've never been much of a fan of summer releases. The Autumn collections are my absolute favorite, and I'm okay with smelling like Manor all year! However, there was a huge standout perfume in the Solstice Scents Summer release: Hand of Darkness. I knew I had to have it upon reading the scent description.

The following scent description is from Solstice Scents:

HAND OF DARKNESS PREMIUM FRAGRANCE
Oceanic Accord, Rain Accord, Woods Blend, Black Pitch, Buddha Wood, Lime, Coriander, Tarragon, Amber - 5ml

NOT TO BE USED BY WOMEN WHO ARE PREGNANT OR NURSING. THIS SCENT CONTAINS SEAWEED ABSOLUTE.


The Hand of Darkness is a term coined by seafarers to describe the loss of the guiding light of the moon as it vanishes behind a thick misty veil. The resulting darkness makes the seas treacherous and difficult to navigate. This phenomena strikes fear into the heart of even the most grizzled mariner.

Hand of Darkness is a dark aquatic and woods blend. It opens with a tumultuous and disconcerting blend of oceanic accord (a blend of fragrance oils and seaweed absolute to evoke a realistic scent of the ocean), chilly rainwater, black pitch and the saturated planks of a wooden ship. On initial application expect to be pelted with a strong blast of cold rain and oceanic brine. The black pitch in between each of the ship's planks adds a dank quality at the base while the lime EO provides a jolting top note. After a few minutes, the danger begins to recede as the rain slows and a sliver of moon reveals a promise of visibility. At this stage, the light woods blend comprised of teak, copal and blue cypress begins to emerge along with a splash of sea spray. Shortly thereafter, the moon fully emerges and the calm seas signal the retreat to the dry warm Captain's quarters. Here the true dry down of this evocative scent is revealed. A tendril of spicy buddha wood EO begins to unfurl from the warm wooden base. The buddha wood will grow stronger over time but the dry wood notes remain unchanged. The dry down is achieved very quickly but you have to journey through the story of this scent to get to the finale. You must skin test Hand of Darkness in order to assess its true character. This scent hugs close to the skin and liberal application is recommended. Even though this scent starts out strong and masculine, the dry down is very wearable and may be enjoyed by Women who like darker wood blends.

Hand of Darkness is comprised along with several fragrance oils along with the following essential oils, absolute, CO2s and attars: mitti, blue cypress, copal bark, fossilized amber, swiss stone pine, lime, galbanum, coriander, seaweed, kapur kachari, tarragon and a small amount of lavender absolute.



This is the first premium perfume I have been able to try by Solstice Scents. I absolutely love the inspiration behind this perfume. I'm going to sound like a broken record here, but I really find that Solstice Scents perfumes really take you on a sensory and visual journey; and Hand of Darkness holds true to that.

The cold sniff is a bit perplexing. The lime is quite strong and paired with a mixture danky, mossy, seaweed. It really smells weird... But that's okay, because the initial application and drydown are on a whole new level of cool.

Initial application has kept me on my toes, because this perfume is quite a morpher. It starts with a strong, tropical lime note that immediately morphs into into the most amazing and realistic oceanic aroma. It completely lives up to its name as a "dark aquatic" (the dark woods come in later). The seaweed and oceanic notes give it a realistic scent of an angry, roaring sea. It's really neat, and VERY far from any aquatic scent I've come across. I mean, this is straight up Davey Jones oceanic. There is also a very realistic, ozoney note of pouring rain that so many other perfumes have a hard time achieving.

The drydown truly comes almost instantly in this blend. The dark, woodsy aspect to this perfume unfolds in a very beautiful manner; with the hearts of the ship crew still beating tumultuously. The blend of woods that are supposed to be present at this point are teak, copal and blue cypress. I can definitely detect the teak, though I am not familiar with the other notes (unfortunately). The Buddha wood adds a pleasant and spicy aroma to the already beautiful woody blend this scent has become.

This scent is definitely very dark and equally beautiful. It couldn't be further from the mass produced, light, feminine leaning aquatics like those from Bath and Body Works. And I think that's what's so charming about this perfume. I also like how it morphs beautifully from the initial application to the drydown. It is truly a dark and masculine blend, so this won't be your cup of tea if you're not into that sort of thing :)

Thank you guys for reading. Until next time, take care!

DISCLAIMER- All items 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 honest.

Solstice Scents ~ Attic

Hey there! I don't have another Valentine scent today (You're welcome, miss Nadja! LOL!) I have something from the Solstice Scents autumn collection (specifically the Manor collection) that was released in fall 2012. I ordered Attic with Library in full sizes because I thought I'd like them the best out of the Manor collection. However, I enjoyed Library so much that Attic got overlooked by me, which is incredibly unfortunate because it is a beautiful scent! As always, let's take a peek at the official scent description from Solstice Scents. c:

ATTIC
Vanilla Accord, Western Red Cedar Heartwood EO, Osmanthus Attar, Sandalwood EO

NOT TO BE USED BY WOMEN WHO ARE PREGNANT OR NURSING.
Shake gently before each use. An aged cedar chest filled with fine fabrics, exquisite lace-overlay dresses, heirloom linens and crocheted tops, forgotten in the attic of the manor house. The scent of this cedar chest and the soft mustiness of stored linens with the beautiful, yet faded, perfume of the owner still detectable upon the fabric is captured in the Attic Perfume. A fine vanilla accord is paired with the most gorgeous red cedar heartwood EO, aged sandalwood EO and osmanthus attar. Attic starts out strong, with a burst of the cedar EO and vanilla accord but mellows into a sweet, woody, slightly musty and dusty fragrance that is exquisitely atmospheric. It shares some character with the Manor perfume and fans of Manor may enjoy Attic, especially if they like really gorgeous and true cedar essential oil. This cedar smells just like an aged piece of dried cedarwood and pairs wonderfully with the other notes on the dry down.



                

Solstice Scents - Attic


             
Solstice Scents - Attic
Photo Credit: Solstice Scents


Cedarwood fans, you're in for a treat with this one! Upon initial application, the Cedarwood takes the center stage and sings. It's absolutely gorgeous! There's also a strong mustiness in the background, just as if you unearthed a beautiful chest in the attic that has been long forgotten. What I love about Solstice Scents perfumes (and I'm sure I've mentioned this before) is that they really have a story to tell, and they certainly tell it well. I smell a hint of the vanilla, but just ever so slightly. This perfume whispers about forgotten treasures in an abandoned attic, and smiles as the trinkets are finally unearthed by a curious soul. The scent dies down once it's dry, but it still smells like a dusty cedar chest in the attic. I wore this perfume to work not too long ago, and I enjoyed it throughout the day. I had to reapply it in the afternoon, but that's not a big deal to me because I will cater to a perfume that smells so nice! :D I'm really sad I overlooked this perfume for so long, because it's stunning, unique, and it deserves a huge amount of love!

~Rachel

DISCLAIMER: All items 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!

Solstice Scents ~ Nightgown

I can't believe it's February already! That just makes my head spin. In honor of this new month with the infamous Valentine's Day, I decided to review a scent that was released for Valentine's Day: Nightgown by Solstice Scents! :)

Above- Nightgown sample with my cute teddy bear. Isn't he darling? I saw him at a craft store and just had to buy him. I want to make him into a bracelet.

I've been wanting to try Nightgown for such a long time, so I finally chose it for my sample with Smoky Mountain Mallow. I know a lot of you like Nightgown, and for good reasons! Let's check out the scent description:


NIGHTGOWN
Vanilla, White Chocolate, Tuberose & Tiare Flowers

Shake this perfume gently before use. A sensual and very creamy floral fragrance, Nightgown evokes the image of a gorgeous satin nightie with lace trim. It fits like a second skin and is the perfect attire for lounging and snuggling. This perfume is the representation of the fabric itself: beautiful, plush, sweet and delicate with white velvety petals from exotic flowers that entrance you with aphrodisiac qualities. The floral notes are very creamy, well rounded and tame while still being detectable and not too heady, sharp or perfumey. The dominant notes are a vanilla accord blended with a touch of divine white chocolate. The floral notes are present on initial application and for some time on the skin though on the long term dry down they will recede and the vanillas and white chocolate will be predominant. If you like the vanilla accord in Manor and Snowshoe Pass, it makes a striking appearance in this blend! Nightgown is wispy, innocent and mysterious at once - like feathers and a gently strummed harp.


This perfume is absolutely lovely! I love Solstice Scents' descriptions, because Angela lets you know exactly what to expect from initial application to dry down. It is a very floral fragrance when first applied, but a very beautiful one at that. I get hints of tuberose and another floral note- probably the tiare flowers. Almost immediately, the perfume tames down and turns into that "second skin" that was described in the scent description. It is very soft and suttle, yet overwhelmingly beautiful. It really is perfect for snuggling in bed with your loved one or your kitty cat! I do get the vanilla from Snowshoe Pass in this blend, which is great because I love that perfume too. I think this would be a perfect perfume for any day you don't want to smell too much like perfume and want something more delicate. I sometimes worry that people will get mad at me at work for always smelling like graveyards, ancient libraries, or haunted houses (which my favorite perfumes smell like); so Nightgown would probably be more of a crowd pleaser. I really feel like an outcast at both my jobs. No one else really wears makeup, nail polish, or even perfume.


Speaking of work, I must go get ready for it! Let me know what kind of Valentine edition perfumes you guys love!

~Rachel

DISCLAIMER- Nightgown was a free sample with my purchase of a full size perfume. I am not affiliated or compensated by any of the companies mentioned. All opinions are always my own and always honest!

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!

Solstice Scents Snowshoe Pass Review

Hey hey! So, today I have another perfume review. Solstice Scents released their winter collection on Saturday, 12/1/12. I ordered a full size perfume in Snowshoe Pass, and a whipped soap in the same fragrance (though I'm just reviewing the perfume for the sake of time).

Okie dokie, let's get into the fun stuff, shall we? I'll begin with Solstice Scents' description of Snowshoe Pass, because it will surely surpass my words! This description is from http://www.solsticescents.com/SNOWSHOE-PASS-PERFUME_p_351.html

SNOWSHOE PASS
White Amber, White Musk, Vanilla Accord, Peppermint Cream, Cold Winds

A chilly white blend of an ethereal snow blanket and cold winter winds, Snowshoe Pass combines pale white amber, delicate and smooth white musk, a sweet touch of vanilla and a faint whisper of creamy cold peppermint. The result is a unique take on a winter scent inspired by heavy snows and desolate rural regions. On cold sniff and initial application a creamy peppermint note is detectable as a top note, though it is a careful addition that takes a backseat to the other notes as it wears on the skin, ultimately receding entirely. There is just enough peppermint to enhance the coolness of this plushly white blend. The other notes swirl together to evoke not only a snow covered landscape that may only be traversed with snowshoes and a pioneer spirit, but the calm and intense silence after a snow deep in the wild.

Can we pause for a moment and appreciate that delightful scent description?

Geez, I don't even want to try now. Haha. Okay, let's have a picture-infused intermission. :)

Photo Credit: Solstice Scents

http://www.solsticescents.com/SNOWSHOE-PASS-PERFUME_p_351.html

 

 

 

 

Above: My bottle of Snowshoe Pass. The packaging was amazing. It came with festive colors of crinkley paper, these two vintage bells, and a clipping of an evergreen tree. So festive and adorable!

My take on Snowshoe Pass:

 

Snowshoe Pass, above all, brings the color white to my mind whenever I sniff it. It is so beautiful, unique, and really sexy- a very awesome take on a winter scent. The scent description on the website is spot on about the peppermint being prominent immediately upon cold sniff/initial application; but it quickly runs away to the back to let the white musk and white amber notes become the stars of the show. The vanilla accord is a wonderful addition to this scent, and it really balances everything out.

Snowshoe Pass makes me think of a classy winter tea party in a breathtaking vintage house in the middle of nowhere. While the guests have their tea, snow falls outside, creating a fresh blanket over the already white-with-snow landscape.

Snowshoe Pass is extra awesome, because the 'white' I get when smelling it really reminds me of snow; and it's the only snow I'll get this year :( At least I don't have to shovel it!

Also, the silage is absolutely fantastic, like with all my Solstice Scents perfumes. It's really nice to smell great for hours without having to reapply the product!

I think it's worthwhile to mention that the TAT is absolutely phenomenal with this company. Even though I ordered my products the night of a huge winter release and live all the way across the country from the Solstice Scents wonderland, I got my products 4 days later (and one of those days was a weekend day). Angela is seriously a magical princess.. She makes the greatest perfumes ever, and ships them right away. She's also super sweet and always replies to my messages when I have any comments or questions.

If you so desire, you can also be the proud owner of Snowshoe Pass! Head over to http://www.solsticescents.com to get a whopping 10mL roller ball bottle for just $14 USD. It's a steal, I tell you!


Thanks so much for stopping by and reading! Stay warm, happy, and smell pretty!

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 always my own, and always 100% honest.

 

New Solstice Scents Goodies!

Good day! Today I have pictures of a couple new perfumes I picked up from my beloved Solstice Scents. I ordered these the night I wrote about Manor and received them lightning fast (as usual!). They were packaged in a regular sized bubble mailer with even extra bubble wrap around the perfume for stellar protection. Also enclosed was decorative crimped paper, a business card, post card, and bookmark {all of which were adorned with the beautiful nature-inspired Solstice Scents logo}. The back of the postcard contained a thank you that was personalized with my name, which is always such a thoughtful added touch in my opinion. The perfumes I ordered were Moonlight on the Grove and Shoikan Grove, plus Old Cedar Magus as the free sample.

Contents of my Solstice Scents package And here are the individual perfumes. I don't have an individual picture of Old Cedar Magus, but it can be seen in the picture above (it's a sample bottle housed in a cute little sample bag).

Shoikan Grove Shoikan Grove Scent Description (from http://www.solsticescents.com/SHOIKAN-GROVE-PERFUME-_p_18.html "Shoikan Grove is the eerily dark and maddeningly still wood that protects the Black Wizard's tower from unwanted visitors. Wandering in the cold, damp copse of trees will cause an adventurer to lose control of his sanity, while the remains of those who've ventured before emerge from the Earth, encircle his limbs with unwavering strength and drag him down to where he will never tread anywhere again, in life. This blend is comprised primarily of essential oils. Primary notes of Virginia Cedarwood, Spruce, Siberian Fir, Oak and Vanilla with background notes of Muhuhu EO (very woodsy), Jamarosa Root EO, Sandalwood EO, 2 different Frankincense EOs, Wood Smoke, Copaiba and Peru Balsam. More of a masculine blend but also wonderful for women who appreciate complex woody-smokey-fir scents. The Peru Balsam, Copaiba and Vanilla add a creaminess to smooth out the sharp Spruce and Fir notes. Lovely as a comforting bedtime scent as well." This one is definitely my favorite between the two. I don't feel like I can give either a proper review quite yet, but I will say that it is an absolutely beautiful earthy, woodsy perfume. Upon cold sniff and initial application, the fir makes its debut with a bang and overpowers the other notes. I personally like the fir and don't mind it at this stage, but it certainly settles beautifully on the skin; and after just a short amouont of time, a lovely sweetness shines through (I assume it's the vanilla making itself known). The sweetness doesn't overwhelm the tree notes, rather it bonds together with them magically. It is hauntingly beautiful- it smells like you are in a forest that is as stunningly gorgeous as it is dangerous. Creatures that mankind have only told legends of make their presence known through the foilage- beautiful unicorns and centaurs, butterflies as big as birds, tigers with irredescent rainbow colors in their stripes. However, there is also malevolent danger in this beautiful paradise: werewolves that come out at night and prey on anything (or anyONE) they can find. The sweet smell of smoke lingers in the air from the people trying to ward off the creatures of the night. Shoikan Grove can be summed up in this final thought: Where there is beauty, there is also danger.

Moonlight on the Grove Next, we have Moonlight on the Grove. I absolutely adore Angela's description of this scent, taken from http://www.solsticescents.com/MOONLIGHT-ON-THE-GROVE-PERFUME_p_44.html "Fresh bloomed jasmine envelops you with its sweet and delicate floral fragrance every time you indulge in this perfume, transporting you to a balmy Savannah Summer's Night. This warm and enticing fragrance will have your mind wandering through Bonaventure Cemetery and Forsyth Park, and recalling the hot and sticky nights near the Savannah river or dancing in the moonlight under century old oaks with the ghosts of an abandoned plantation home. In aromatherapy, Jasmine is used in skin care to combat dry, greasy, irritated and sensitive skin. It is believed jasmine can effect the nervous system by fighting depression, nervous exhaustion and stress related conditions and imparting a feeling of optimism and euphoria. Jasmine is associated with love, money and prophetic dreams. This is a wonderful floral scent, light, sweet, sensual and fresh." I haven't accurately tested this one yet, so I can't do a fair description. The most I can say for now is that the Jasmine is *really* strong in this one. It's not a bad thing, especially if you like that particular scent. I'm on the fence about this one so far, but I'm going to be test driving it for a full day soon! As always, I am very happy with my entire Solstice Scents experience. These perfumes were only $10.00 a piece for .35 ounces of product, which is incredible for the amount, the quality, and the customer service. As a quick side note, the SS website asks that pregnant/breastfeeding women to avoid Shoikan Grove (I believe there are certain essential oils in this blend, which is why this is the case). If you have not done so already, please give Solstive Scents a look-see at http://www.solsticescents.com/. Both of these perfumes, among lots of lovely others, can be purchased there. Also, if you missed it, please check out my review of their Manor perfume at http://brighteststarofall.blogspot.com/2012/04/solstice-scents-review-manor.html?m=1 I thank you so very much for reading, and I hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

DISCLAIMER: All products in this post 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 will be.

Solstice Scents Review: Manor

Hello there! Tonight, I am going to be reviewing my absolute favorite perfume and the lovely company that makes it. Brace yourselves for a whole lotta love, because my heart is not big enough to contain my love for Manor by Solstice Scents.

Product photo for Manor, via http://solsticescents.forumotion.com

How freaking awesome is that product photo?! I absolutely love the abandoned house atmosphere just radiating from this picture- not only because it ties into the fragrance description, but because it is immensely clear to me that a lot of time and effort went into making such a neat product photo. Each Solstice Scents perfume actually has their own themed product photo that matches the soul of the scent, which I love. It adds a personal touch and wonderful personality that so often seem to be lacking in mainstream corporations.

Onto the scent description! Now, there are only a handful of people that are truly gifted at describing scents; and I certainly categorize Angela (the amazing lady behind Solstice Scents) as one of those people. This is her description of Manor:

Manor is the scent of a once grand estate, now disheveled, forgotten and left exposed to the elements. The faint scent of previous owners and their esteemed guests - exquisitely perfumed ladies mingling with the intense rich and musky scent of smartly dressed gentlemen - meets rich wood floors and heavy wooden doors long since opened, decaying beadboard and Wainscot topped off with a thin layer of dust. It is very sophisticated and absolutely intoxicating.

Manor is a blend of woody-vanilla musk coupled with an incredible vanilla accord, glorious black agarwood and exquisite aloeswood. The scent is sweet and rich due to the vanillas, woody and incensey from the agar and aloeswood. The black agarwood is literally to die for. On initial application and coldsniff, the agar and aloeswood are a little stronger than they are on the dry down. Manor settles down wonderfully. After hours on the skin it does smell much sweeter due to the vanillas, though the woody/incense element is still detectable. Every single note in this blend is brand new to the shop. The result is a very unique scent that still has the familiar Solstice Scents profile. Fans of Old Cedar Magus will enjoy Manor.

Mmmhmm, there is magic in those adjectives, I tell you! I believe Manor was first introduced as a part of their Autumn 2011 collection, but (thank goodness for me) it is now offered in the General Catalog. I ordered the full size right off the bat because it really seemed like my cup of tea, and it is truly a steal at $15 for .35 ounces. The TAT is honestly incredible, especially for an indie company. I absolutely adore and support indie companies, but it can sometimes be difficult to play the waiting game when you're anticipating an order. I received my order in literally just a few business days. As I recall, it was definitely not more than four days. For those of you that are as impatient as I am, or if time is an issue (i.e. if what you order is a gift for a special occasion or if you plan to wear your new perfume to an upcoming event), Solstice Scents is definitely on the ball with getting your order to you in a more than reasonable amount of time. Additionally, the packaging is professional and the products are neatly and safely packed inside.

My product photo of Manor

Above is my backup (yes, I bought a backup bottle- which I've never done except in this situation because of my spontaneous but deep love affair with Manor) product photo of Manor. I apologize for the lack of quality, it was taken with my iPhone because my digital camera hates me currently. The perfume is housed in a beautifully deep blue glass vial with a roll-on applicator. The glass is pigmented, but the great thing is that it's still clear enough for one to visably see how much product is left.

Manor has a beautiful aroma from cold sniff to dry down, which is great, because it lasts as close to forever as a perfume can get. Seriously, I can still smell it on me the morning after I apply it the day before! It really does smell like a house that was once loved dearly, but now the only guests are of the ghostly variety. And not just any ghosts. You see, these ghosts are literally the best-smelling ghosts you could ever imagine! If you're into the paranormal at all, you might've heard that good scents are reminiscent of, well, GOOD spirits; and these spirits are certainly good. They roam the halls of the once-loved estate, leaving hauntingly beautiful aromas of musk and vanilla in the air. These ghostly scents comingle with the black agarwood and aloeswood and a teensy whiff of dust from the years of abandonment, and they all add up to HEAVEN in a bottle. I can truly not describe this beautiful perfume in a way it certainly deserves, but I can say that it truly does not disappoint.

If you want to try Manor, but don't want the commitment of a full sized bottle, I urge you to pick up a sample. Angela sells her perfumes in sample sizes for just $2.50 a vial. There are also sample packs available for extremely reasonable prices, in case you're wondering! Another lovely thing about Solstice Scents is that you get to choose your own scent in the free perfume sample that comes with all orders, so that would be another option to try a perfume you're interested in if you already have something in your shopping cart. :D

And just when you thought this company was more than a dream, I invite you to wake up and smell the perfume, 'cause Solstice Scents honestly surpasses expectations. Their customer service is the best I've ever come by in any company. I am always promptly greeted with a sweet and professional response whenever I have a product question or even when I just send them a compliment. In my life, quality customer service has been seemingly nonexistent (especially lately), so I definitely appreciate and respect a company that has communication that's as good as their products.

To sum it up, I cannot compliment Solstice Scents enough on how wonderful they are as a company, and I cannot love Manor any more than I already do (lest I spontaneously combust out of love!). If you haven't already done so, please check them out at: http://www.solsticescents.com/


DISCLAIMER: All products mentioned have been purchased by me for my own personal usage. I am in no way affiliated or compensated by this company, nor any company for that matter. My opinions are my own, and most certainly always will be.