la Belle au Bain

The brilliant, kind, and generally lovely Julia of Arcana Wildcraft has created a truly special collection of scents inspired by several revered goddesses and figures of the Norse pantheon, cheekily name Hel’s Belles. It’s a beautiful and dynamic collection, showcasing a wide variety of scents that is sure to offer something suitable for all tastes.

Freyja

Scent description: Beautiful Freyja welcomed the souls of fallen Viking warriors to the afterlife. Golden amber, delicate sea water, astringent white grapefruit, dream poppyseed, and a hint of hemlock spruce.

Freyja has been a beloved scent of mine for years, and I’m so glad that it was rereleased with this collection. Simply put, this is a wonderful and realistic grapefruit blend. Often in perfumes, grapefruit is sugared, but here it is tart and realistic, with lots of zest. This is a cleanness to this scent—with a hint of salt and freshness from the sea water. The sea breeze carries the scent of fresh, delicate fir needles. This scent seems to glow, which may be the effects of the amber, which also brings a hint of sweetness. Freyja is truly gorgeous and is a must-try.

Frigg

Scent description: As beloved queen of the Norse pantheon, Frigg sees into all of the nine worlds and presides over magical powers, motherhood, and marriage. Black tonka bean, raw cashmere wool, French bakery vanilla, soft warm skin, confectionery sugar, and sweet almond.

Frigg smells like warm, clean wool and fluffy, gently-sweetened cream. It’s an atmospheric blend that evokes the cozy feeling of lying in fluffy, clean bed (with a down comforter!) in a busy cottage in winter. The cottage is bustling with baking and laundry, and warmed by the glow of a central hearth. Frigg dries down to a softly-sweetened cream and warm, clean skin. This is so very comforting, but also elegant.

Eir

Scent description: As a healer and guardian deity, Eir's areas of expertise are shamanic rituals, medicine, herbs, and childbirth. A sheer veil of gentle Roman chamomile tea, wild lavender buds, vanilla bean, warm flannel, ivory patchouli, and fresh coconut milk infused with petals of tuberose and magnolia.

Ahhh Eir is so stunning and soothing! I’ve been wearing this one a lot. This is a sweet, mellow, lavender-forward scent with the gentlest, milkiest tuberose and creamy, natural magnolia. The florals here are not harsh, but are sweet, creamy, and heady, just like the real thing. There’s some wild grassiness in the background, likely from the chamomile. This is lunar in feel, and one that I will reach for often!

Lofn

Scent description: The gentle patron of comfort, sweetness, fun, and forbidden love. A single dewy rose rests on a bed of bright violet blossoms, silky velvet, purple iris petals, orris root, apple peel, the arc of a rainbow, and wild berry nectar.

This collection is so stunning that it’s hard to pick a favorite, but Lofn may be my favorite of the bunch! This smells like the best kind of berries—realistic, tart, and a little sweet. These could be blackberries, raspberries, or huckleberries. It smells sparkly and glittery—like a rainbow through a cloud with purple flecks of glitter. The violets are so beautiful and complement the berries so well—they’re a little sweet, a little earth, and soft and pillowy. With wear I begin to smell the rose, and it’s a velvety, deep red rose that gives this scent some serious oomph and elegance. My notes ask: “best thing I’ve ever smelled?” That about sums it up!

Idun

Scent description: The goddess of youth, spring, and renewal. Idun's magical apples keep the entire pantheon looking great and feeling young. Crisp pears and ripe pink apples dripping with juice, loamy black earth warmed by the sun, sacred lotus, young rosemary, fresh green clover, and a primeval forest of conifers: pine, spruce, and fir.

Idun is the scent of a sun-dappled, dew-speckled orchard of ripe apples and juicy pears. These fruits are utterly natural, and make for a simple scent that also somehow manages to paint the complex picture of the orchard in its entirety—fruit, trees, sunlight, dew, soil. This will be a great blend for the transition from summer to fall, and I imagine that it will be much beloved.

Sjöfn

Scent description: A compassionate matron goddess who encourages lovers and brings harmony to all affectionate relationships. Chilled lemon cakes drizzled with vanilla icing, a profusion of hyacinth, lilac, and gardenia petals, creamy sandalwood, a soft pile of pillows, and a touch of carrot seed.

Sjöfn is the scent of my dream life! Sjöfn is the scent of warm, sweet lemon poundcake with a confectioner’s sugar glaze. There’s a gentle and magical clean linen scent and a breezy whisper of flowers. This is a comforting and beautiful blend, as if Julia bottled the scent of a late spring afternoon in a thatched cottage with the doors and windows flung open to welcome the fresh breeze, with clean sheets fluttering on the line, and freshly baked lemon cake on the table. By the end of the day Sjöfn settled into the scent of a moist lemon poundcake decorated with sugared flowers.

Nott

Scent description: For the feminine embodiment of night, a stunning amber accord (holy labdanum resin, midnight Madagascar vanilla, and sweet benzoin) is carefully aged, then sparked with rich black cardamom, a shot of vintage patchouli, and a dark trail of incense.

Nott is rich, slinky, dark, shimmering and resinous. This is the perfume equivalent of wearing swishing velvet robes on your way to a secret meeting in the moonlight. The patchouli in this blend is A+. It’s rich, smooth, dry, and is the perfect complement to the sticky sweetness of the benzoin and labdanum.

Rán

Scent description: The merciless goddess of the sea and the drowned dead. Underground caves filled with incense, tendrils of briny seaweed, slivers of amber emerging from salt-soaked earth, ocean-crashed rock, and damp blonde woods.

When I first opened the bottle of Rán I was greeted with a blast of fragrant seaweed. When applied to the skin, it is truly a stunning blend! Aquatic blends are one of the many areas in which Julia truly excels as a perfumer, and Rán is another beautiful example of that. There is a true sense of brine here, but it is natural and not overwhelming. This blend manages to be dark and atmospheric (think stone cliffs by the seaside), but also pretty and elegant. The amber note is rich and stunning, and I suspect that the incense used may be lightly floral. This is just gorgeous.

Valkyrie

Scent description: Odin's handmaidens who plunge bravely into battle and guide the glorious dead to an afterlife in Fólkvangr or Valhalla. A carpet of velvety green mosses with battered leather armor and a stout wooden shield. The sacred incense of the dead. Translucent tree resin and dry cedar heartwood.

Valkyrie, to my nose, smells of ships and old forests. It smells ancient and fragrant—there are precious woods, with hints of moss and salt—like a ship bearing a cargo of sandalwood. This scent is cozy, elegant, natural, and adventurous! In time I smell the smooth, soft, brown leather, which makes the blend smell even more expensive.

Julia of Arcana Wildcraft released the incredible Meditations on Love collection for Valentine's Day this year, and it has utterly blown me away. I truthfully love each scent, and am enchanted by the tenderness and beauty of this collection.

Trust

Scent description: Lavender-scented kulfi, ruffled red carnations, precious French cognac, ribbons of melted caramel, white amber, fluffy vanilla, clove bud, and brown sugar.

Trust is soft and comforting, but with some intense throw! When first applied, it's the perfect lavender honey ice cream enjoyed on a sunny day in early spring. The carnations bring a lovely warmth and elevate this gentle blend to something magical. When dry, Trust reminds me of the scent of freshly-blown out candles on a buttercream-coated birthday cake. It's like a hug in a bottle!

Touch

Scent description: Golden honey on warm skin, soft brown leather, a baby lambswool sweater, floating layers of sheer silk, grey musk, and lightly smoked sap-frosted woods.

Touch is so very soft and cuddly. It smells like feathers and doe skin. It's the most beautiful, diaphanous musk sweetened with a mellow honey and warmed by the smoothest and softest brown leather and the fluffiest, cuddliest wool sweater (with nary a sharp/clean linen element). This is comfort in a bottle.

Seduce

Scent description: Cafe au lait, delicate neroli, dark crimson musk, oven-toasted brioche, Mexican vanilla, crystalline chunks of rich amber, vintage patchouli, and smooth sandalwood.

Seduce is so powerful! It's a smooth, milky coffee with a glorious punch of glamorous red musk. The patchouli, amber, and brioche seem to meld together for me to create a sense of sticky-sweet caramel.

Muse

Scent description: Delicate, crisp lemon cookies, tart yuzu, velvet blankets, wild-harvested fir tips, warm stones in an ancient forest, sweet coconut water, and wild juniper.

I love this sort of blend. It's a tart, realistic, sugar-coated lemon and yuzu (recalling Lush's Yuzu & Cocoa), softened with a gush of smooth, milky coconut and warmed by a gentle hint of fir. There's a breath of cool juniper giving some extra life to the blend. Muse is life-affirming, refreshing and soothing, and would be lovely in both winter and summer.

Wide-eyed

Scent description: The sweet amazement of the dawning of love. A green meadow wreathed in mist, the beating of butterfly wings, Jasmine sambac, young, ripe strawberries, and a bit of sugar-gilded vetiver.

The jasmine sambac and vetiver were a little intimidating in the bottle, but on skin, I get uber ripe red strawberries on a bed of bright green grass. The jasmine and vetiver are actually very smooth and tame on skin--the jasmine and grass combination begins to smell like nectar-sweet clover. The strawberries are still present but have eased up a bit in strength, and the vetiver all but disappears. It now smells like a bee-filled meadow dotted with clover and strawberries. Wide-eyed is such a happy and sunny blend!

Blush

Scent description: A trail of wild-harvested mosses in an enchanted forest leads to a profusion of tuberose petals, fresh apricots, soft earth, and blushing peaches drizzled with a touch of wildflower honey.

Blush smells like cool rain-spattered peaches and ripe apricots! What I'm reading as rain must be the moss + earth. There's a soft glow of sweet honey and rich, creamy tuberose that gets stronger with wear, as if the scent itself is mimicking the progression of a blush! Lovely. On my skin, Blush ends up smelling like a verdant, showy garden full of peaches and tuberose after a warm rain in late spring.

I used to love burning candles, but for the past decade I haven't used any because I had a pet bird. <3 I've heard great things about Sihaya & Co., and I wanted to get into the snuggly autumnal mood, so I went a little overboard this year. Honestly I first bought only about half of the collection, but I was so impressed with them that I decided to buy the rest...and also I wanted to review them all (for science!). Let my fiscal irresponsibility help you to choose a scent that's right for you! It's going to take me awhile to burn through all of these, so I'll come back and update my reviews as I burn them.

Lamplight Burning Low

Scent description: A candle for the aspiring writer or the voracious reader. The perfect autumn evening curled up and lost in reverie.

Top layer: The perfect London Fog. Steaming hot Earl Grey tea with a dollop of vanilla cream. Middle layer: A cozy library brimming with antique books. Notes of leather, polished woods, and parchment. Bottom layer: a softly crackling fireplace with a subtle note of spiced pumpkin.

These tiered candles are gorgeous! I couldn't pass this one up, as it sounds (and looks!) delightfully cozy. There is little better than reading a good book with a cup of hot tea on a gloomy day. Since I haven't melted this one yet, I only smell the top layer, which is the London Fog scent. I love this one so much that I immediately purchased it in the full glass tumbler. It does smell like Earl Grey tea with a fine vanilla musk! The bergamot note is lovely, and combined with the tea makes for a very elegant scent that will be suitable for any time of year.

Mist & Bramble

Scent description: A journey through a mystical, mist-filled woodland as day turns to night. Top layer: The mist rises in the early morning. Berries, sage, and spice combine with the blond wood of cedar and aspen leaves upon the forest floor. Middle layer: A cabin is reached deep in the heart of the forest. A crackling hearth is laid with aromatic wood, mingling with the faint scent of vanilla and warm amber. Bottom layer: Evening descends, and the mists again rise. You settle in for the night amidst the scent of apple and cinnamon, cooling embers, and a gentle musk.

Mist & Bramble is another beauty! This is the first candle that I chose to burn, because it's so very pretty, and also because I thought the scent would be a nice scent to transition from summer to autumn. It's a lovely subtle and misty berry scent. When unlit, it smells a little cool--like a cool, morning mist. When burning, however, it really blooms and begins to smell magical. It's still misty and a little cool, but the flame brings a lovely warmth to the blend. I smell dry, silvery, oak branches and very subtle berries. I've burned this one for about 3 hours a night for maybe seven total nights, and I'm onto the middle layer of scent, which is just as lovely as the first. I do smell a warm and crackling fire along with the mist, dry woods, and light berries. I will note that this candle is burning beautifully. I've been trimming the wick before each burn, and allowing it to burn for about three hours at a time, and I have experienced no tunneling. The pool is even and spans nearly the entire candle.

Autumn Glory

Scent description: Soft cashmere, toasted vanilla, nutmeg, ginger, amber, tonka bean, and a gentle hint of polished leather.

Autumn Glory is the perfect pumpkin spice blend candle to my nose! It's neither too sweet nor too spicy, but is smooth and snuggly-- basically the perfect typical autumnal candle. This smells much the same when burning, but is extra warm and snuggly!

Ember & Mallow

Scent description: Vanilla marshmallows toasted over a smoky Autumn bonfire.

Oh heavens. I'll admit that this one sounded a little basic/foodie to me, and I at first skipped ordering it. Ember & Mallow is stunning, however. It is the perfect scent of a crackling fire on a cold night in the woods (unlocking some major happy memories from my girl scout days), with just the tiniest hint of floofy sweetness from the marshmallows. This is all about the crackling fire, and it's glorious and atmospheric.

Equinox Reborn

Scent description: Softly falling leaves pair perfectly with a mug of hot apple cider spiced with clove and ginger.

I very nearly did not purchase this one because I don't have a good track record with apple scents, but I was lured in by the falling leaves. I'm glad that I ordered it, because it may be my favorite of the collection! Equinox Reborn is another perfectly autumnal scent. It smells just like hot apple cider, which is a seasonal favorite of mine! The spices are potent, but not overwhelming. I don't speceifically smell the leaves, but there's a soft fuzziness around the edges that may be attributed to their presence. I'm really looking forward to burning this one!

London Fog

Scent description: The perfect drink for a drizzly, gray day. Steaming hot Earl Grey tea with a dollop of vanilla cream.

This is the same scent as the top layer of Lamplight Burning Low, so I'll just copy and paste here! London Fog smells like Earl Grey tea with a fine vanilla musk. The bergamot note is lovely, and combined with the tea makes for a very elegant scent that will be suitable for any time of year.

Persephone Descending

Scent description: Pomegranate, cranberry, and just a touch of dragon's blood to soften the edges.

Okay, this is the perfect autumnal berry blend. It's rich, tart, and juicy all at once. The pomegranate and cranberry combine in such a way as to resemble those super fancy currant candles that were popular years back (made by Votivo or Diptyque maybe? I had the knockoff Williams Sonoma brand version and I loved it!). If I think about it, I can pick out a rich, sweet resin tying everything together, but this is all about the berry. This candle would also be perfect for the holidays!

Sacred Autumn

Scent description: A magical blend of golden amber, pumpkin, sandalwood, and sweetened incense smoke.

Sacred Autumn is stunning! It's a beautiful, non-spicy pumpkin blend. It's so well-blended that it's hard to pick out individual notes, but it's definitely a resins and woods blend with autumnal foodie botanicals (I smell the fresh, sweet pumpkin and also something that I swear smells like acorns!). This is gorgeous and I'm very much looking forward to seeing how it transforms when burned!

Samhain Dusk

Scent description: Dry amber, cassia, clove, the smoke of distant bonfires, and the faintest breath of orange peel.

Samhain Dusk rivals Equinox Reborn for favorite scent of the collection. It's a perfectly moody and atmospheric scent that does evoke nightfall in autumn! It's dry and fragrant with smoldering, smoking woods and resins, and a zesty nip of citrus. A beautiful, haunting, and atypical blend.

Secret Society

Scent description: Leatherbound books, rich mahogany and teak woods, smooth bourbon, and a crackling fireplace.

This smells like a mahogany-paneled fancy smoking parlor in a Victorian mansion! Polished dark woods mingle with a smooth, luxurious leather and sharp bourbon and cigar smoke. I imagine this one will transform when burned, so I'm looking forward to trying it!

Apples Crave Cake

Scent description: Fresh, crisp red apples blended with our Yellow Cake layering note.

This is the perfect autumnal apple bakery scent! To my nose this smells like perfect Red Delicious apples baking in the oven with a hint of cinnamon. The Yellow Cake layering note blends so seamlessly with the apple that I can't pick it apart! I have a hard time finding apple blends that work for me and this one is amazing. It's warm and cozy--a wonderful scent for fall.

Apples Crave Red Musk

Scent description: Candy-red apples and lascivious red musk.

I absolutely expected to not like this one, but it's so good! It smells just like candied apples! The candied portion is bright red and lacquered, and a hint of the crisp, fresh apple is peeking through as if it's been bitten. With time I get more of the red musk, and it's a little warm, incensey, and heady. This has morphed from candied apple at the fair to wicked stepmother offering the apple to Snow White.

Apples Crave Flora

Scent description: A fresh blend of Fuji apple, tropical Tiare blossom, tuberose, bergamot, orange flower, and a touch of vintage patchouli.

Anytime I see "tiare" listed as a note in an Arcana blend, I must try it! This is a gorgeous, atypical, youthful, fruity scent. The apple is crisp and tart, and the florals are gently, creamy, and well-behaved. The tartness of the apple tempers the headiness of the florals, complementing each other to create a scent that evokes joyfulness and the sunny gentleness of a perfect spring day.

Apples Crave the Tropics

Scent description: Lots of green apple and sweet coconut flesh with sexy tuberose, Tahitian Tiare petals, and a drop of lime.

Bananas and apples! Something about this combination of milky coconut and creamy, sweet tuberose reads as yummy ripe banana to my nose. The apple is green, crisp, tart, and delicious. Very quickly the banana-ness begins to smell more like coconut cream and rich tuberose.This is the rich, fragrant summer counterpart to Apples Crave Flora's spring. It's stunning and tropically luxurious.

Marshmallows Scatter

Scent description: Dry vanilla musk and light marshmallows are showered with pale pink sakura petals, tropical orange flowers, and Tahitian tiare blossoms.

Marshmallows Scatter is my very favorite scent of all of the Craves. In my humble opinion, it is the most perfect tropical floral scent ever created. It is the tropical floral of my dreams. It's beachy, waxy, nectar-sweet, creamy, and a little heady. It smells natural and elegant all at the same time. To my nose, this scent is tiare with a capital T--the other notes just serve to support the tiare and to make it smell like its best self. If I had to select just one perfume from my collection to smell like forever, it would be this one.

Marshmallows Scoop

Scent description: Frozen hot chocolate with warm, musky figs, Mexican vanilla, marshmallow creme, and a tiny hint of sweet mint.

Marshmallows Scoop smells a lot like mint chocolate chip ice cream! Somehow to my nose the fig note reads like a warm cookie, so this is basically a mint chocolate chip ice cream cookie sandwich.

Marshmallows Pounce

Scent description: Marshmallows with brown sugar, sweet peaches, and white tea.

This yummy scent would be equally at home in the Peaches Crave collection! This is a delicious scent--it smells like a peachy boba tea! It's sweet and syrupy, but is not too sweet! The white tea is delicate and lovely--providing a bit of nearly floral freshness.

Marshmallows Bite

Scent description: The essence of holiday overindulgence. Sweet honey drizzled over warm cookies, eggnog, cinnamon, nutmeg, marshmallows, and black vanilla.

Marshmallows Bite smells like warm, sticky, golden honey on nutmeg-spiced corn cakes. It does smell like autumnal and holiday baking! The marshmallow element is like the marshmallow topping on a sweet potato casserole--it's a little browned from baking. This scent is utterly delicious.

Marshmallows Smoke

Scent description: Marshmallows with woodsmoke, dry black tea, dead maple leaves, and a hint of vanilla.

This is one of the prettiest woodsmoke blends that I've tried. Soft woodsmoke curls around dey, fragrant woods and leaves while smoking marshmallows are held over the embers. A lovely, atmospheric blend.

Peaches Crave Wild Summers

Scent description: An ode to sunshine, flip flops, and spontaneous, late summer road trips. Cold cherry popsicles, homemade peach marmalade, coconut scented sunscreen, Tahitian vanilla beans, soft, warm air, and a bit of sweetened jasmine.

I knew that I was going to love this one based on the description, and it did not disappoint! This is so, so delicious--it’s like eating homemade peach ice cream on a warm, humid beach (just like the ones here <3). The “warm air” note is truly magical. I’m one of the strange people that actually enjoys the humidity here on the Gulf Coast, and one of my favorite things about it is the smell. The jasmine is the creamy, sweet, demure type that smells more like an actual jasmine flower on the vine than a perfume note. It’s a soft one, and I think that it could win over those who typically don’t love white florals. The coconut is also soft and creamy, and I suspect that it’s responsible for what is giving me the ice cream vibe in this scent. I’m so thrilled with this beautiful new addition to the Craves line! It’s already a firm favorite of mine and will get a lot of wear. <3 

Peaches Crave the Movies

Scent description: An ode to the bygone experience of watching movies in a 1990s era megaplex: the lights go down, the sound goes up, and you are transported into another world. Torn ticket stubs, peach gummy worms, cherry licorice whips, red velvet drapes, buttery popcorn, and smashed candy on the floor.

This scent was reviewed as part of the Daydream collection, but has been added here as well! I thought this scent was going to be overwhelmingly foodie, but I am pleasantly surprised to find it to be complex on my skin--it really is like the entire experience of sitting in the movie theater, snuggled up with your assortment of snacks, waiting for the film reel to flicker on. The peach gummies are most prominent on my skin and they smell true-to-life--sweet, tart, a little gummy/waxy. The buttery popcorn wafts in the background--you’ve handed the bucket to the cinephile to your right while you munch on gummy peach rings. Surrounding all of this is the supremely comforting, lightly fresh but also somehow velvety and luxurious scent of fabric and something mildly papery. These lend some atmosphere to the blend, and the effect is gorgeous. This scent is incredibly nostalgic and comforting for me, and makes me long to go to the movies.

Peaches Crave Dolci

Scent description: Peach gelato and pistachio gelato with 3 golden bakery cakes.

Peaches Crave Dolci is so very delicious, and makes my mouth water!  It smells like cool, sweet peach and rich pistachio ice creams are layered in a fresh, warm waffle cone. It is definitely a gourmand blend, but the freshness of the peach and nuttiness of the pistachio keep this from being toothachingly sweet. The golden bakery cakes are warm from the oven and delicately sweetened with honey. This is one of my favorite gourmand blends of all time.

Peaches Crave Vanilla

Scent description: Sugared peach, glorious vanilla, marshmallows, sweet milk, and sheer musk.

Oh wow. Peaches Crave Vanilla smells just like warm, syrupy peaches on top of rich, homemade vanilla bean ice cream. Simple, yet beautiful and comforting. 

Peaches Crave Beaches

Scent description: Green bamboo, coconut, vanilla musk, citron, lemongrass, bergamot, and dewy peach flesh.

A glorious burst of fresh, ripe, fuzzy peach + smooth coconut + a zip of zesty lemongrass. This is a beautiful, atypical tropical fragrance. The combination of the stalky, green bamboo and the lemongrass calls to mind images of beautiful Pacific beaches. This smells absolutely drinkable--a delicious peach, citrus, and coconut milk savored through a bamboo straw. warm, sunny, golden. drydown is fleshy, juicy peach with some zip and zest from the dry citrus.

Peaches Crave Forests

Scent description: Sweet woodsmoke, juniper, Douglas fir, cedar, wild peachwood, and a few drops of 10 year old patchouli.

Peaches Crave Forests is a crackling, smoking fire fueled by very fragrant woods. This would truthfully be the best smelling fire around. I get just a hint of fresh evergreen--as if there are patches of greenery left on the logs that the fire has not yet reached. There’s a bit of dampness as well, as if the wood’s a little wet and is producing billows of smoke as a result. This is by far one of the most interesting and lovely woodsmoke blends that I have come across.  

Peaches Crave Chthon

Scent description: Smoked amber, black musk, terrestrial musk, oudh, rich spikenard, and subterranean peach.

Moody black musk and earthy spikenard dominate this blend when wet, but quickly some of the sharpness from the spikenard fades away and lets the slinky oudh peep through. Cool, juicy peach begins to shine through the other elements, and it smells almost overripe, which is likely from the oudh. This is masterfully blended. Goth peach, anyone?

Peaches Crave Mambo

Scent description: Cuban tobacco, dark vanilla, sweet rum, tonka, white musk, and sun-warmed peaches.

Ooh yum! This is a peachy vanilla-rum milkshake next to a fine, unlit cigar. Peaches on vacation! Peaches Crave Mambo is warm and sweet. If you love Julia’s lovely, rich, and sweet tobacco and rum notes, you will love this scent! 

Peaches Crave Haint

Scent description: The gossamer sweetness of delicate white peaches with Arcana Wildcraft's Haint (white musk, vanilla musk, Madagascar vanilla, sugarcane, and a faint trail of white pepper).

Haint on its own is such a beautiful and ethereal scent, and Haint + peaches is a gorgeous combination. The tart, juicy, ripe peaches are a lovely complement to Haint’s diaphanous white and vanilla musks and nip of white pepper. Neither element overpowers the other and the resulting blend is truly beautiful. This is an elegant and innocent scent--it’s perhaps something that Daisy Fay may have worn while courting young Gatsby.

Peaches Crave Pirates

Scent description: Arcana Wildcraft's Queen Crossbones (creamy Egyptian musk, wild honey, sweet coconut, exotic resins) with plenty of peach and an extra shot of Egyptian musk.

Mmmm--warm honeyed peaches and coconuts in a golden cloud of musk! This is the scent of Queen Crossbones eating ripe, juicy peaches on the bow of her ship!

Vanilla Craves the Honor of Aphrodite

Scent description: Voluptuous melted caramel coils around softly whipped coconut creme. Sun-warmed Californian wild oranges are laced with honeyed cardamom, then dipped in vanilla beans, Muscovado sugar, and delicate ivory patchouli.

This is a gorgeous scent! The wild oranges are ripe and perfect--a little tart and natural and beautiful. The oranges are on a pillow of delicately cardamom-spiced vanilla and coconut cream, that’s rich and oh-so-very-slightly tropical. The caramel to my nose is barely there and not too sweet, and there’s a subtle grounding earthy element that must be the patchouli. Vanilla Craves the Honor of Aphrodite is a stunning luscious blend.

Vanilla Craves 90s Malls

Scent description: The scent of rebellious young punks and toothachingly sweet innocence. Bright fluorescent lights, glossy watermelon-flavored lip gloss, a ziplock baggie of fresh, green bud, and sticky vanilla-laced marshmallow treats.

Wow, this scent is straight out of my childhood. This takes me back to chewing endless amount of watermelon Hubba Bubba and slathering on Bonne Bell lip gloss. With some time I get the citrusy green of the bud (which is 100% NOT from my childhood, just to be clear!). This is such a happy and joyful blend, conjuring memories of the neon lights and pyramid candles in the Topkapi store!

Vanilla Craves Spring

Scent description: An absurdly delightful blend of two gourmand vanillas, young honeysuckle, pink bubblegum, white amber, a hint of galbanum, and a single drop of sweet mint.

Vanilla Craves Spring is my second favorite scent of all of the Craves! (Marshmallows Scatter is #1!) Spring is my favorite time of year, and Vanilla Craves Spring is a glorious homage to new life, light, and budding flora. Who would have thought that honeysuckle and bubblegum would smell so wonderful together? This bubblegum is pink, powdery, and fresh, like untouched Bazooka, and blends seamlessly with the waxy, heady, nectar-sweet honeysuckle. A kiss of green mint gives the scent some zip and freshness, and of course the smooth vanillas tie everything together to create a blend that smells like hope and happiness. Please do not be scared off the eclectic mix of notes in this blend. I’m no lover of mint or bubblegum, but this scent is more than the sum of its parts--it’s gorgeous and well worth a try. 

Vanilla Craves Terror

Scent description: Creamy vanilla with Arcana Wildcraft’s legendary Holy Terror (burning frankincense, sandalwood, deep myrrh, and dusty beeswax candles).

The frankincense and myrrh is in this one smells like Christmas Eve mass! The dustiness here is really lovely--it’s like a candlelit mass in a beautiful old church... with cookies. The vanilla is not prominent to my nose, but is like a binding agent that ties all of the other elements together. Vanilla Craves Terror is a cuddly, more approachable version of Holy Terror.

Vanilla Craves Sugar Cookies

Scent description: Warm sugar cookies are infused with three gourmand vanillas and a hint of vanilla musk.

Oh this does smell like warm sugar cookies! This is lovely. Warm, buttery, homemade sugar cookies with extra vanilla extract! Simple, yet cozy and wonderful.

Vanilla Craves Fireworks

Scent description: The scent of New Year's Eve. Rich black leather accord, incense-infused dark vanilla, and a splash of champagne.

This blend is magical. It really does smell like a festive winter night. The black leather is of the smooth and silky variety--it’s both cool and cozy and blends beautifully with the pop of champagne. I can’t stop smelling this one--my nose is glued to my wrist! I never go out anymore because of babies + pandemic, but this blend makes me yearn for a fun and carefree night out.

Vanilla Craves Snow Fairies

Scent description: Frozen honey with dry white musk, winter vanilla, opulent amber, snow, vodka, and a sliver of orris root.

Vanilla Craves Snow Fairies smells like snow! This is a fun and magical blend that manages to smell cool and cozy all at once. A crisp and cloudy white musk is kissed with vanilla and sweetened by a subdued honey and made elegant by a hint of orris (a la the glorious Celestite blend) and a smooth, rich amber. A touch of vodka creates the illusion of an icy, snow-covered vista. This is one of my favorites of this collection! It’s smooth and elegant, beautiful, and fun.

Vanilla Craves Warmth

Scent description: Our Garnet Grapefruit blended with dark, smoky, intoxicating vanilla.

I was a little confused when reading that Vanilla Craves Warmth features grapefruit, but now that I’ve tried it, it 100% makes sense. This opens with the most wonderful red, tart, juicy grapefruit note. I’ve loved every grapefruit scent that Julia has created--they’re all punchy and realistic in the best possible way, and Vanilla Craves Warmth is no different. Somehow when combined with this beautiful smoky vanilla, the grapefruit develops a warming quality, almost like burning embers. It’s an intoxicating scent, and a fun experience as well.

Vanilla Craves Mermaid Shoals

Scent description: A gourmand aquatic fantasy. An opening of warm, musky neroli leads to a heart of lemon biscotti, bright tangerine, sunlight glittering on blue water, vanilla, sea foam, briny seaweed absolute, and scattered rose petal incense.

Vanilla Craves Mermaid Shoals is another fine example of Julia’s expertise with aquatic and tropical scents, with some toothsome gourmand elements added to keep things interesting! This is the scent of eating orange creamsicles and iced lemon cookies on the most beautiful tropical beach. The creamsicle is perfection--smooth, sweet vanilla cream and juicy, tart tangerine--and the iced lemon cookies melt a bit in your fingers. The sea breeze carries the scents of sparkling, pearl-crusted foam, and a light hint of waxy pink blossoms. This is a fantasy indeed. An utterly beautiful scent!

Vanilla Craves Grind Shows

Scent description: The edible aromas of a traveling carnival overflowing with oddities and amusements. Vanilla-laced cotton candy, deep fried funnel cakes encrusted with powdered sugar, salty peanuts, kettle corn, and caramel-covered apples.

This scent is also reviewed in the Daydream Collection post, but I’m  including it here as well! Sweet kettle corn, pink cotton candy, and a pop of salty peanut! With time, the kettle corn wins out as the dominant note for me, and it’s wonderful. It smells so realistic that I feel like I’m sticking my nose into a bag of warm, freshly-popped, sweet and salty kettle corn. This is a wonderful and happy carnival scent that makes me yearn for our local fair.

Vanilla Craves Cocoa

Scent description: An elegant twist on chocolate and vanilla. Swanky white amber and sheer vanilla musk with our Hot Cocoa accord (a rich cocoa CO2 infusion melds with the finest dark chocolate and a mug full of fluffy white marshmallows).

Vanilla Craves Cocoa is so, so delicious. The Hot Cocoa layering note is my favorite chocolate scent (it smells like the perfect cup of frothy hot cocoa made with milk, coated in melty marshmallows), and Vanilla Craves Cocoa adds some complexity to it with the hint of opulent amber and kiss of diaphanous vanilla musk. It’s a beautiful scent, and I recommend it for even those who don’t typically love chocolate in perfumes.

Vanilla Craves Gingerbread

Scent description: Rich, gourmand vanilla with Arcana Wildcraft's Gingerbread accord (luxe golden ginger, gingerbread, warm ginger cookies, and delicately piped icing).

Well, this one was unexpected! I get fresh, candied ginger and a squeeze of bright, tart lemon. It smells like sparkling ginger candy or fresh, cool ginger beer. It’s bright and refreshing. With time the freshness of the ginger tames a bit, and I do get some festive, warm, bready goodness. This is artisanal gingerbread made with actual ginger, not the stuff from a box.

Fairytale Luxury Glycerin Soap

Description: A tempting fantasy of rich sugared pumpkin & gently spiced lavender

This is a lovely pumpkin scent--I get a lovely, creamy pumpkin jazzed up with punchy cassia and ginger, and a hint of rich, delicious nutmeg. The lavender is gorgeous and blends beautifully with the pumpkin, lending some freshness. This is a mellow and soothing take on pumpkin, and I love it!

Guy Fawkes Sorbetto Emulsifying Sugar Scrub

Description: Penny for the Guy! Sticky parkin & roasted apples washed down with a bottle of oatmeal stout, a waft of smoke & a shower of sparks on the night air

Guy Fawkes is a delightful gourmand atmospheric blend for fall! To my nose it smells like sweet red apples baking in the oven with caramel (this must be the treacle), warm oatmeal, and a hint of smooth bonfire (this bonfire is not acrid or overwhelming, but a lovely and interesting grounding element to all of the yummy notes!). This is a delicious and unique fall blend, and makes me long for campfires and treats!

Hex on the Beach Luxury Glycerin Soap

Description: Writhing, shea-rubbed bodies casting fevered shadows against blazing firelight on a midnight shore

The scent is wonderful–it’s a bonfire on the beach at night. The shea reads as slightly coconutty and blends seamlessly with the clean, slightly animalic skin musk. The fire is gorgeous and has a realistic charred scent–it’s not sharp or camphorous. There's also a lovely hint of earthy freshness to my nose. Hex on the Beach is a unique blend makes for a perfect transitional scent from summer to fall.

Hiraeth Luxury Glycerin Soap, Sorbetto Emulsifying Sugar Scrub, and Soy Wax Melts

Description: Spicy autumn leaves & bracken underfoot, wild roses & rose hips, & freshly tilled fields in the evening sun

Hiraeth is back--woohoo! I love this scent so much that I purchased nearly every product that was available. This is so, so heartbreakingly beautiful and I would love to use it year-round. It’s a gorgeous, autumnal, deciduous forest scent. I get leaves and woody bracken, some moisture, soil, and a hint of browning rose. It’s atmospheric, relaxing, and clean. It’s moody and broody—evoking the natural aspects of the season.

Nightwalker Luxury Glycerin Soap

Description: A lupine, moon-chasing blend of ghostly white patchouli & oakmoss, a musky breath of nutmeg, & woodland herbs crushed under silent feet

Oof–Nightwalker is another gorgeous forest blend. I also really wish that this one were available year-round–I love to smell like a forest, and I would buy this regularly. This smells like walking through an evergreen forest at nighttime in late fall or early winter. I get a whiff of a cold, clean breeze blowing through the tree boughs.

Once for Yes, Twice for No Luxury Glycerin Soap

Description: Spectral vanilla cream, a haze of copal smoke, cloves, nutmeg, & a cruet of white violet water to cleanse the air

Oh this is lovely! The violet-kissed sweet vanilla cream is cleansed by the airy copal (sweet and woody!) smoke and studded with dark, fragrant cloves. This one smells like a Victorian ghost story! It's a well-furnished parlor with a spectral visitor.

Moonalisa's summer collection this year was small, but mighty! I picked up perfumes and a lip balm in the new scents, and a gorgeous soap in the returning Neptune's Cove scent. The labels this season are stunning! Opening a box of Moona goodies is always a treat, and this collection was especially joyful.

Nirvana Eau de Parfum

Scent description: Calming essential oils of Patchouli, Jasmine, Ylang Ylang and Neroli and added fragrance.

Nirvana opens up with the heady white florals--waxy, tropical jasmine and ylang ylang. The florals are fresh and realistic. There's a pop of tart citrus from the neroli, and a warm, woody grounding element from the patchouli. This patchouli is warm, soft, and smooth, not gnarly. It's a nice complement to the heady florals. This blend is stunning, and one that I will use frequently!

Lychee, Grapefruit and Rose Eau de Parfum

Scent description: Luscious and fresh Lychee fruit tantalizes with tart Grapefruit essential oils, harmonizing beautifully with Turkish Rose Absolute, Amber notes and a soft sandalwood.

Lychee, Grapefuit, and Rose is a delightfully tart realistic grapefruit blend. A touch of lychee lends a little pop of sweetness, and a cloud of soft, velvety rose petals hovers in the background. This is a great scent for summer! It's a little tart, a little sweet, a little clean, and a little soft. I can't wait to try it in bath and body products.

Coastal Rose Eau de Parfum

Scent description: Feel the breeze of a Pacific coast summer drive with this complex, ozonic and earthy scent with a touch of rose.

Coastal Rose was a new blend that debuted last year, and it's already a firm favorite of mine. A love a good rose blend, and this one is beautiful. Lush, soft, velvety, natural-smelling rose petals float on a gorgeous chypre-like breeze--mossy, woody, and airy. This is a stunning blend that I'm so happy to have in my collection.

Peach Mimosa & Amberwood Perfume Oil

Scent description: Sweet and fruity peaches float on a bouquet of Amber, and various woods with nuances of moss, florals and a touch of vanilla musk.

This is a gorgeous, grown-up peach blend! I get a complex peach that is fuzzy, ripe, sweet, and tart (almost a little citrusy), supported by the well-blended musky moss and woods that read chypre-like to my nose. This is a classic sort of blend that is very elegant, but also youthful and joyful with the peach element. A beautiful blend that I hope we see more of!

Nirvana Calm Balm

Scent description: Calming essential oils of Patchouli, Jasmine, Ylang Ylang and Neroli and added fragrance.

This is a handy little multi purpose product! I have used it on the temples for headaches, and also as a quick hand moisturizer. It's a lovely, smooth, and soothing balm. I love the scent so much (reviewed above) and was thrilled when Moona created in perfume form! It smells and feels heavenly. This is a mood lifting product for sure.

Pineapple Whip Lip Butter

Scent description: Moona's version of the iconic, juicy, frozen whip dessert from the famous amusement park! Notes of delicious pineapple, vanilla ice cream, lemon and papaya!

Product description: All flavors are made with Almond Oil, butters vary between natural Cocoa butter and deodorized Cocoa butter,  beeswax, organic mountain forest honey and flavor oil.

Moona's lip butters are so lovely--they melt on the mouth and are soft, soothing, and cooling. I've been using them for nearly ten years and they are by far my favorite lip balms. Pineapple Whip smells delicious! It's syrupy sweet pineapple with an interesting tropical kick from the papaya and a hint of vanilla ice cream!

Neptune's Cove Soap

Scent description: Oceanic salty moss fragrance is blended with Oakmoss concrete and other coniferous botanicals to give it a slightly wet, earthy, cove like scent.

Moona stated that the soap version of this scent is a little different than other versions, and I have to admit that I prefer the soap version! I love Neptune's Cove and was looking forward to trying the soap blend, and it's a beautiful temperate oceanic blend. It smells cool, rocky, briny, and mossy, like the Oregon Coast. This is beautiful, and is a nice change of pace from the typical tropical sort of beach blend.

The lovely Brooke of Sugarspider released two "Sidecar" products (a soap and a ganache) this summer and they are heavenly. I'm going to have to stock up on these beauties before the season ends and we're on to the fall treats!

Fineapples Ganache

Scent description: Sweet pineapple with a summery kiss of green mango.

Fineapples indeed! This one is so dang good. Sugarspider's ganaches are a whipped soap type product. The texture is like a buttercream frosting--thick and spreadable--and it's so dreamy that one has to try to remember that it's not an actual dessert product! I love to use them for shaving. Fineapples is a really nice pineapple scent--it's on the natural end of the pineapple spectrum, smelling more like a freshly cut, ripe pineapple than the canned stuff. The touch of not-quite-ripened mango lends a really nice green tropical vibe to the blend. So, so good y'all.

Sadberries Exfoliating Scrub

Scent description: Frozen blue raspberry slush and a touch of blue bubblegum.

Blue raspberry was always my favorite flavor as a kid (blow pops, Airheads, slushies), and smelling Sadberries is a huge, happy hit of nostalgia for me. It's just like smelling a blue raspberry blow pop when the gum below the candy surface starts becoming visible. A+, both of these! Grab 'em while you can!

Aquila

Scent description: The noble eagle who once carried Jupiter's thunderbolts now soars over the Summer Triangle. Majestic white sage with ropes of kelp, sea spray, vegan beeswax accord, and water from a cold mountain stream.

It's a tough call, but Aquila may be my very favorite of the bunch. Julia's oceanic blends are masterful, and Aquila is no exception. In the bottle, Aquila is very briny, but on the skin the brine settles in and blends beautifully with the other notes. The beeswax is sweet and glowing, smoothing the kelp and sea spray in order to create this stunning and unique beachy blend.

Cygnus

Scent description: The Swan. Of all the myths surrounding Cygnus, our favorite is that he is vain Queen Cassiopeia's pampered pet. Soft, antique amber, rose petal syrup, rose-infused cupcakes, and fluffy white frosting.

Cygnus is a lovely and cheerful blend! I smell lots of light, fluffy, sweet, rose-flavored frosting. The rose syrup is exquisite and perfectly complements the fluffy cake. It's very well-blended--it's neither too sweet nor too rosy. If a pinkish cumulonimbus cloud with gilt-lit edges at dusk were a scent, it would be Cygnus.

Delphinus

Scent description: This matchmaking dolphin convinced beautiful sea-nymph Amphitrite to marry Poseidon. Peach sorbet, sugared coconut milk, and a tiny drop of Key lime.

Simple, summery, and beautiful, Delphinus is a frozen beach drink in perfume form. I get lots of icy peach and a generous squeeze of perfectly tart lime. The coconut milk lends a hint of smooth creaminess. Delphinus has some natural sweetness, but is not a sugar bomb. It reminds me of a local peach ice cream--perfect, natural, sweet peachy goodness without overloading on the sugar.

Lacerta

Scent description: Ancient Greeks identified no constellation in this spot, but Native American Chumash astronomers saw a lizard, while Chinese astronomers recognized Tengshe, the flying dragon-snake. Cassis, strawberry, watermelon, blackcurrant, opium, white musk, and a hint of luminous green scales.

Lacerta is a slippery blend of purple and green--ripe, figgy blackcurrant, rich, purple cassis, and cool, sweet watermelon weave through green stems and a hint of musky opium. This is a beautiful and mature fruity blend--like a bowl of ripe fruit in a still life painting.

Ophiuchus

Scent description: The snake-handler holds the constellation Serpens in the night sky. Blackest vanilla, sweet cream, and patchouli wind around mandarin, tangerine, petitgrain, ginger, citron, and bright frankincense tears.

Ooh this is lovely! In the bottle I smell lots of sweet patchouli, but on skin I get an equal measure of citrus (notably citron, a bright and tart lemon) and some dry, fragrant petitgrain. The sweetness from the vanilla and cream is there, and there's also some lovely and cola-esque rich frankincense. Ophiuchus is complex, well-blended, and elegant.

Piscis Australis

Scent description: The Southern Fish gulps water flowing from the urn of Aquarius. A clean, airy handful of acacia blossoms, neroli, tuberose, asphodel, and native gardenia petals are scattered over banana fruit and white amber.

Piscis Australis is a celebration of Julia's notoriously beautiful white floral blends. I can pick out a hint of gardenia and something lily-esque (the asphodel, perhaps?), but these florals are so well blended and beautiful. The hint of banana lends a lush, tropical, fresh, and fun feel to this blend while the amber elevates it to something truly special. Piscis Australis is a favorite of mine!

Ursa Minor

Scent description: The Little Bear contains the North Star and is well beloved by navigating seafarers. A fluffy, delicate blend of summer peach, frosted lemon cake, white tea, velvety white fur accord, chrysanthemum stems, clover honey, and hints of wild-harvested fir and spruce.

Ursa Minor is a delight of fresh, feathery evergreen fir tips and thick lemon cake surrounded by sliced peaches. This is a well-blended scent that calls to mind the meeting of forest, ocean, and comfort.

Ursa Major

Scent description: Before she became a bear and was placed into the heavens, the Great Bear was the fierce and beautiful hunter, Callisto. A darkly feminine mix of feral black musk, sweet tobacco leaf, wild blackberries, clove bud, and a hint of ursine fur.

Ursa Major is a bold blend of rich, sweet tobacco and ripe, smushy blackberries. A hint of dry clove bud lends a little elegance to the mix. This scent is dark, sweet, and powerful!

Arcana Wildcraft’s beautiful handmade perfumes may be perused and purchased at https://arcanawildcraft.com

I was feeling the need for some springy, atmospheric wax blends to scent my home this spring and summer, so I headed over to Willow WaxCraft and purchased several new-to-me items from their general collection. There were a lot of big hits here, and I'm excited to share them with you.

Desiderium

Scent description: A scent of ardent longing- tuberose, jasmine, vanilla, leather, and honeyed immortelle Absolute, with shadowy whispers of incense smoke, musk, and amber.

Oh wow. This is one of the most beautiful incensey/smoky blends that I've ever smelled. I would love this as a perfume. The smoke is very present, but is not acrid at all. There's a sort of watery quality to it that makes it smell a bit like mist. The rich florals and leather blend seamlessly to create a beautiful scent that evokes antique Southern parlors--hothouse florals, candle smoke, and rich furnishings. Beautiful and unique.

Midsummer Night's Dream

Scent description: A moonlit excursion to the woodland faerie realm-lavender, musk, vanilla, sparkling green moss, and a canopy of wild honeysuckle overhead. Sweet slumbers!

Ooh I love this! It's simple, yet achingly beautiful. Vanilla-kissed nectar-rich honeysuckle blooms with a hint of dew-fresh moss. I could smell this one forever! A subtropical dream.

Lady of the Lake

Scent description: Inspired by the protector of Avalon, the mythical Insula Pomona (island of apples). A blend of earl grey and green teas, apple, hyacinth, ozone, datura, and delicate white musk.

This is a fantastic green apple blend. Lady of the Lake is all about the apple, with the supporting notes cutting any sharpness and smoothing the edges. Green apples, watery musk, and rich, hyacinth (with a touch of that floral spice) make this blend a dream.

The Old Ways

Scent description: Ocean brine, Irish fern, crumbling stone walls hidden by curtains of willow, ivy, and dewy roses, a leather-bound book of secrets.

This is my type of blend. It's cold and atmospheric and beautiful. It smells like moss-covered stone on a cold beach. It absolutely evokes the image on the label--stone ruins on a cold, windswept shore.

Primaveral

Scent description: Those precious and rare late winter days that *almost* feel like spring. Wild honey, morning glory, and sweet cherry blossom with cool garden greens and zesty dill weed.

This is an interesting blend! It's dewy and fresh and gleaming. I get a bit of citrus like lemon zest, dew-dappled greenery, and feathery fresh dill weed. It smells like new growth and the promise of increasing sun in early spring.

Stay Golden!

Scent description: Sea spray and shady pines, mimosas on the lanai, and a complementary blend of sultry magnolia, gentle tea rose, and bright orange blossom. What, were you expecting cheesecake?

This smells just like mimosas made with fresh-squeezed orange juice! There's a hint of blossoms on the breeze, but this is all about the fresh and juicy orange with a fizzy kick from the champagne. This is fun and refreshing!

Paintbox Soapworks recently released some new summery delights as well as some oldies but goodies! As usual I snagged a slew of soaps to use around the house and am delighted to have some fun seasonal smells! Pick-a-Duck is a returning favorite of mine, and Yacht Rock is a new and delightful treat!

Osage Orange

Scent description: A weird, green blend of sour orange, crushed sage, sticky sap, woody lavender & oakmoss

This is a gorgeous citrus botanical blend that is refreshing and clean. The oakmoss grounds the blend and smells green and alive, with fluffy herbal lavender and fresh green sage weaving in and out with a hint of bright, smooth citrus.

Journey in Satchidananda

Scent description:  The deep drone of sandalwood, patchouli, & champaca sprinkled with rose & neroli waters & clarifying geranium leaf

This scent is both heady and clean, familiar (nag champa-esque) and unique. It’s the love child of a metaphysical shop and a garden. Needless to say, I’m in love. It’s expertly blended--I get equal parts smooth sandalwood, heady champaca, refreshing rose and orange blossom water, and crisp, clean geranium leaf. A beautifully scented soap!

Pick-a-Duck

Scent description:  Riotously sweet carnival treats of sticky strawberry taffy, hot sugared donuts, Cracker Jack, & a swirl of smoke from darkened tents

This is a scent that I did not expect to love so much. It sounds like a sugar bomb--and there is for sure a lot of sweet, fried, carnival dough like funnel cakes, and handfuls of caramel popcorn--but it’s all kept in check by the puff of mellow incense and also by the twist of creamy, sticky, pink strawberry. This is perhaps my favorite scent from the whole collection. I’ve got a real thing for sweet treats + incense, and also this scent is just so very happy! It’s carefree and upbeat, like children at a carnival, and I can feel the knots in my stomach ease as I smell it.

Yacht Rock

Scent description: Sun-bleached driftwood, warm ocean breezes, & sunset-hued tropical drinks

I'm not sure what wizardry makes this smell like being on a fancy boat in the 80s, but this absolutely works. What a fun beachy blend! Kinda want to drink it, kinda want to wash with it. This does smell like ocean breezes with florals, daiquiris, and suntan lotion on the wind. Love it.

Secrets of the Sun

Scent description: Rich Indonesian patchouli, musky honey, wild honeysuckle, gardenia, sun-warmed skin

This is sticky and rich and warm and wonderful. Golden, thick honey coating waxy gardenia petals and smooth, rooty patchouli. This would make for a gorgeous and flirty summer perfume blend.

Red Cow

Scent description: Rooty, spicy apothecary cola poured over luscious home made vanilla ice cream with a bright squirt of cherry syrup

Frothy float made with artisanal root beer a la Virgil's brand. Sometimes this smells very much like root beer, and at other times it smells more like cola. In any case, it's a delightful and fun summer treat! After smelling this one I had to hop in the car to grab a root beer float from an old local drive-in joint.

Sundew

Scent description: A soporific, sun-dappled blend of crushed pineapple, honeyed chamomile, hops, swamp milkweed & damp grass

This is like drinking a pineapple-based cocktail on the porch in the middle of summer. The pineapple note is gorgeous--rich and tangy, just like the real thing. Sundew is both fruity and clean, and surprisingly nostalgic. Another beautiful, inspired blend!

I dropped the ball on finishing up this review in a timely manner, and I sincerely apologize! My two small kiddos are a time loop and I definitely still have baby brain (and lack of sleep), and I honestly just forgot to finish this one up. This is a lovely collection though, with one of my very favorite scents (Crickhollow Cottage), and most of these products are still available in the Paintbox Soapworks shop (link at the bottom of the page).

Crickhollow Cottage

Scent description: A rambling, cottage-garden blend of hydrangea, hyacinth, blowsy white peony, creamy milk thistle, Earl Grey tea & a twist of ivy

This was my first favorite indie spring floral blend, and it holds a very special place in my hard. I love it so much. It smells like hope and happiness and new sunshine--like dew-kissed florals and greenery. This smells like the spring garden of my dream home.

The Wooden God

Scent description: A thrusting blend of towering red cedar, rigid cypress, crude patchouli, & a creamy spurt of coconut musk

Beautiful hard woods and the barest hint of husky coconut. Smooth cypress is most prominent, along with a hint of patchouli (it's not too gnarly, but just rooty enough) and a wee bit of airy cedar. This is a calming and refreshing forest scent that's both deep and airy. I'm personally of the opinion that there aren't enough foresty-scented bath and body items, and this one is a beauty!

After-Winter

Scent description: Bruised spearmint leaves, cold pekoe tea, slushy mud and frozen leaf mold

Beautiful iced mint tea with a hint of cool, fresh earth. This one is beautiful, refreshing, and unique!

Lemony Biscuit

Scent description: Tart lemon cream cookies with freshly ground nutmeg & a touch of lemon thyme

This is the best type of lemon bakery scent to my nose--realistic, tart lemon, with just enough sweetness from the cream cookies to keep the tartness in check. It's like the scent of real-life lemon bars--the tartness and sweetness both melding so perfectly that just smelling them makes your mouth water.

Dance of the Hares

Scent description: Wild rabbity musk, tender roots, & damp smoke drifting through echoing woods

I love this one! It’s a new favorite for sure. I get a lot of musk--which is both wild and gnarly and smooth all at once, and smoke (from smoldering incense) and rich woods. This smells like a metaphysical shop, in the best possible way. Like a metaphysical shop in the woods.

Milky

Scent description: Hot sugared milk infused with lychee scented tea leaves

This is lovely--cheerful and uplifting! It is definitely a lychee-scented sugared milk, but I can’t decide if it’s hot or cold. Sometimes it smells cold, and at other times it smells warm. In either case, it’s a beautiful scent. It’s not too sugared--it’s very soft and creamy with a pop of happy candied lychee.

Tristan

Scent description: Sandalwood, caramel, animalic musk, sweet tree roots, and a hint of Cornish violets.

Tristan opens with a flush of smooth, velvety, natural, deep purple violet deepened with a warm musk that is a little cola-esque. The image that this scent conjures for me is that of a young deer—it’s like the scent of the fuzz on new antlers on a fresh spring morning in a meadow at the edge of a forest. This is a potent blend with major throw, and is one of my favorites from the collection.

Isolde

Scent description: White chocolate, pale almond milk, delicate vanilla, cream, and a touch of sheer musk.

Isolde is a beauty. When first applied this is like Jordan almonds and cream, or fine almond extract that’s smooth and rich. In time the blend becomes more creamy and delicate, with the gently sweetened white chocolate coming through and the almond fading a bit into the background. It reminds me of a subtly sweetened (instead of the toothachingly sweet bakery variety) petit four—a vanilla and white chocolate buttercream-iced almond cake delight!

The Kraken

Scent description: Gorgeous smoked vanilla, black vanilla, saltwater, China musk, and black musk.

The Kraken is a much-praised scent, and now I understand the hype! It’s a murky, dark, vanilla blend. When first applied, I smell a potent black musk split into mist by a dry, subtly sweet vanilla. The vanilla becomes more prominent with wear, cutting through and softening the musk. The Kraken is moody, brooding, and elegant. It’s a new favorite of mine and I’m so grateful to have finally tried it.

Marble Flowers

Scent description: Opulent tuberose petals, neroli, sheer bergamot, white amber, pearl musk, and white cognac absolute.

Marble Flowers is a potent blend with phenomenal throw! It’s an atypical floral blend, I really don’t think I’ve smelled anything quite like it. When first applied, it smells both cold and warm at the same time, with the warmth coming from the musk, that reads to my nose like a sheer skin musk. With time, the scent becomes more cold and gleaming, but still maintains a tropical air. This would be beautiful on a warm day.

Fire in His Skull

Scent description: Cinnamon cakes, vanilla icing, crimson musk, light brown sugar, aged patchouli, and maple cookies.

Fire in His Skull is all about the super smooth (with a capital “s”) dark patchouli. It’s dry and fragrant like a sandalwood. There’s some sticky sweetness that reads to my nose like a fine caramel. This smells so familiar and comforting to me. It’s simple and yet complex. It’s really a perfect blend—not overly sweet or woody. This is a gorgeous scent that is going to make a lot of noses happy!

Ringing Wires

Scent description: A cloak of soft velvet is filled with tart pears, sugared lemons, wild-harvested lemongrass, cassis berries, silver coins, and a sliver of driftwood.

Ringing Wires is clean, elegant, refreshing, and ethereal. It’s happy and envigorating. The lemongrass and sugared lemons lend a natural fruity-herbal air, and I’m transported to a fairy spa. I love this blend!

Sabbath Eve

Scent description: Crisp, dead leaves, evening woodsmoke, dark amber, and smoking church incense.

This blend would be at home in a Halloween collection! Warm whorls of smooth woodsmoke and swirling crispy autumnal leaves characterize this gorgeous atmospheric blend. It’s cozy and moody, conjuring the image of a cabin in an autumnal deciduous forest.

Unearthly Lovely

Scent description: Dusty honey, bee pollen, and vanilla bean.

Sticky golden honey and a whiff of delicate pollen like a fine, misty powder. This scent is both delicate and rich at the same time. It’s cozy, glowing, and elegant. It’s a gorgeous scent and I absolutely understand why it’s a classic.