J. Morgyn White

for the @guardian review

When we drop a release that includes dozens of unique perfume blends, we’re never really sure what will take off. Will the favorite be a returning champion, or young upstart? Will spring ever come again? Will Santa start searching the universe for a kinder, gentler species to shower gifts upon? (Can he take us with him?) 

Let’s take it one day at a time. Below you’ll find the list of the hottest picks from our Yule collection, based purely on sales. 

Whether you’re hungry, thirsty, or just want to be left alone (barring, of course, a few ghostly visitors), it turns out we are blending with your needs in mind.  Just as always!

On to the top five: 

#5 - SHATTERED SILENCE

“Unearthly howls reverberate in the shadows of a darkened wood: black cedar, yew berries, juniper and frost-crusted moss, crushed beneath a shaggy spectral black musk.”

#4 - BLACK AND RED CANDY CANES 

“Red musk, star anise, clove bud, labdanum, opium pod, and black patchouli.“

#3 - HEARTHFLAME AND INCENSE

“Crackling almond wood and the deep sweet smoke of burgundy pitch, Austrian amber resin, black copal, and frankincense.“

#2 - BLACKCURRANT GLOGG

“A sweet, dark ember of winter pleasure: port wine, brandy, and bourbon simmered with white sugar, cardamom, cinnamon, clove, orange peel, and wild blackcurrant.”

#1 - BLUEBERRY SUFGANIYOT

“Blueberry-filled sufganiyot, blooping blue with jelly.“

Face

•Sincere smiles reach the whole face, including eyes, while fake smiles generally use only lips

•Tilting of head can symbolize interest

•Overly tilted head can be a sign of sympathy

•Closing eyes or pinching nose means frustration

•When a listener nods, it generally means that they’re interested and paying attention

Eyes

•Lowering of eyes can convey fear, guilt, or submission

•Lowered eyebrows and squinted eyes show that a listener is attempting to figure out what Is going on

•Not looking another person in the eyes shows lack of confidence

•Some tend to blink more often when nervous or trying to evaluate someone else

•Looking directly into someone else’s eyes shows self-assurance

•Wide Eyes show interest or fear

•If irritated during a conversation, a common eye movement is to glance sideways for a few seconds

•Recalling a memory is generally done by looking up and to the right

•Looking directly up can indicate thinking

•Eye contact can be broken if one is insulted or offended

Upper Body

•Pushing back shoulders shows courage

•Open arms shows that the person is approachable

•Folded arms can be a barrier showing that the person doesn’t want to be disrupted

•Resting arms behind the neck shows open-mindedness

•Touching the front of the neck shows that the person is concerned

•If fingers are laced or pressed together, it usually indicates that the person is thinking

Lower Body

•Putting hands on hips can show aggression

•Hips pushed forward shows power and dominance

•Wide stance also shows power and dominance

•Crossed legs either mean relaxed and comfortable, or defensive- depending how tense the muscles are

GIF: Bill Domonkos, 2018