Blossoming Tree

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T10:26:00.001-05:00

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!

Payment Methods

2011-11-30T13:43:00.002-05:00

Remember back in 2008 when Revolution Money Exchange hit the scene and Etsy was all abuzz about the new way to accept payments? It was billed as an alternative to Paypal, without the transaction fees. I was one of those sellers that utilized RME as a payment option for both buying and selling. My sole transaction as a buyer went well. My few transactions as a seller were smooth. Eventually though RME faded into the background. It is now operated by American Express Travel Related Services Company Inc. and goes by the name Serve, offering no fees on most transactions.

From the website:

Signing up for Serve is free. FREE? Yep, free. In fact, with Serve all of these features are free:

Person-to-person money transfers are free
Transfers to and from subaccounts are free
Purchasing online and in stores with the Serve card is free
There are no load fees for funding your account via your checking account
The first ATM withdrawal each month is free; after that it’s $2.00***

So what isn't free?

After January 1, 2012, there will be fees for:

Funding your Serve account with a credit card (2.9% of the amount transferred + $0.30 per transfer)
Getting cash from an ATM (first withdrawal per month is FREE***; after that, it’s $2.00)

Like Paypal, you can add money to your account using a MoneyPak card.

Many crafters who work markets on a regular basis may be familiar with Square. Square is the small card reader that attaches to smartphones and iPads in order to process payments. The app and readers are free. The cost to swipe a card is 2.75% per swipe. The cost to key in information is 3.5% + 15¢. I've read good feedback about Square and although I don't participate in markets at this time I can see this coming in handy.

Another payment option I heard about recently was Dwolla. Dwolla is billed as a cash payment alternative to other online merchant services. The idea is to transfer money bank account to bank account, thus avoiding credit/debit card fees. Money can be sent via email or using a phone number. Facebook connect is also an option. According to the website the fee to receive money is $0.25 per transaction and nothing else. No cost to send money or make withdrawals. You can read an interview with Ben Milne, founder of Dwolla, on Business Insider. Read a breakdown on Drupal.org.

**********

Transfer of funds into linked bank accounts vary from one company to the other. Go to each site, read up on the terms and decide which is best for you.

The Frankincense Trail

2011-10-19T19:36:00.000-04:00

I have posted a BBC documentary on frankincense. This one was filmed in, I believe, 2009 and is hosted by Kate Humble. I think an updated one should be made featuring Trygve Harris (and the ice cream). ;-)

http://blossomingtree.blogspot.com/p/frankincense-trail.html

BBC Perfume Series

2011-09-12T10:33:00.001-04:00

I moved the videos of the BBC Perfume Series to it's own page. Click on the tab from the navigation bar to view. Since there is no option to comment on pages anyone wishing to do so can post them here. :)

Horse Chestnuts aka Night Eyes

2011-08-26T16:00:00.001-04:00

Photo of chestnut on a horse's leg.
Taken from Wikipedia

Horse chestnuts are the knobbly bits or growths found on a horse above the knee area of the front legs and below the hock of the hind legs. They can grow over time and can be soft or dry & brittle. They grow in layers and depending on the texture can be peeled or shaved off (sometimes falling off on their own). Being that chestnuts are growths from the horse's body they carry a bit of the horse's scent in them. Not knowing much about horses I learned recently that horses' scents are individual. I hadn't thought of that before but I guess it makes sense since scents (hahaha did you like that?) can be individual to other living beings. I already had a small chunk that I tinctured a year ago. I wanted more so I put out a request to a group of soapers who are also horse owners. Several said they'd send some to me and yesterday I received an envelope (thank you Shannon) with chestnuts from 4 different horses. I'm really excited about this because just from sniffing the little bags they're in I could tell that each one, while having that horse-y smell, was a bit different in it's scent and odor intensity.

Chestnut from 24 y/o Appaloosa

Learning this made me wonder how differently the tinctures would come out, how much of the horse-y smell would come through in the alcohol. The chestnuts that I have are from horses that range in age from 8-24 yrs. Whether age or breed makes a difference I don't know but I'm thrilled to start this experiment and see what comes of it. There's probably someone's findings on this subject somewhere on the web but I like to do some things myself. :^)

I started working on a white flower accord. The first sample was just the flower essences. The second had horse chestnut tincture added. What I noticed was that in the first sample jasmine came through very strong. In the second the jasmine was tamed while the michelia alba took over. I also noticed it cut some of the headiness of the florals. I haven't done the skin test with these yet but will update when I do.

Note: The name Horse Chestnut also refers to the nut of the Aesculus hippocastanum tree. To learn more about horse chestnut/night eyes you can search "chestnut & night eyes" or "chestnut & horse anatomy".

On The Menu

2011-08-21T21:48:00.002-04:00

Look up on the navigation bar. Now go all the way to the right. Fragrant Fare, cooking with essential oils! Something new coming in September. Bi-weekly posts on food and beverages made with essential oils. Recipes will be posted (if allowed otherwise links provided) along with notes, tips and resources. Yum!

Dear Dawn

2011-08-17T13:11:00.006-04:00

I appreciate your work!

When I compose a blend for my products I use only 100% natural (to the best of my knowledge) aromatics. Ironically two independent perfumers I really admire work with both naturals and synthetics: Dawn Spencer-Hurwitz and Liz Zorn. It's not just about their perfumes either, although they make beautiful compositions. It's about their attitudes. Their character. I don't know either of them personally and I've only gotten a glimpse into their worlds via blogs. Still...I admire them.

Over the past two days a very unfortunate situation was played out publicly between Dawn and The Natural Perfumers Guild. In a nutshell, Dawn's membership in the guild was terminated. A member in good standing it was a bit of a shock to read this when it was posted on Anya McCoy's (president of NPG) blog and NPG's Facebook page. Dawn also made the announcement herself on the DSH Perfume Facebook page. After reading I was a bit bummed at Dawn's leaving the guild then it hit me: terminated. What could have gone on? It's seems as though there were complaints about Dawn's website not following the guild code. Dawn's response can be read HERE. What I find unfortunate is that this whole situation could have been played out in a much better way. Basically, it's all a matter of respect. Person to person. Professional to professional.

This is of course my opinion (yeah, yeah, I know...opinions-a**holes).

1. (concerning one of the complaints) When visiting the DSH website I never had a problem knowing which perfumes were all natural and which were blended.

2. (concerning another complaint) Since I already knew Dawn was a guild member I never paid much attention to where the logo was on site.

Dawn is a fabulous perfumer and there is no doubt that her success will continue. :^)

The Great Smelly Debate - Naturals vs Synthetics

2011-08-16T11:04:00.002-04:00

To quote Monica Miller of Skye Botanicals and Perfume Pharmer:

"‎...so....everybody knows I'm Bi-scentual right? I like both natural and blended scents...."

From the time I took notice of the world of natural perfumery there has been a debate over natural vs synthetic components of perfumes. I know some of you may think I'm beating a dead horse but the subject still comes up often. Almost everyone has an opinion on this, leaning one way or another. I started this post months ago and never finished because I wasn't sure if I could do this justice as a post worth reading or just me rambling on about this or that. But in light of a recent event I felt it was the right time to attempt it. You see, once again there were comments made about the dislike of natural perfumes. But just because one doesn't like that segment of perfumery does it mean it should just go away? On the flip side there are some who feel the use of synthetics should stop all together. Yes, there are aromas that can not be found in nature and are made in labs. And in my opinion there are some naturals that are far superior to synthetics in scent. Truth be told to me the whole subject is tiresome. We wear what we wear because we like it. So why does this debate still come up? Maybe as new perfumistas come around the subject is new to them and worth debating, while most 'old heads' have already buried it and placed a grave stone.

What it boils down to is whether you appreciate all natural, blended or all synthetic perfumes what's most important is the quality of the raw materials used and the ability of the perfumer to make the magic happen. We all know that we can be very passionate about our 'fumes. So does this end the great smelly debate? Of course not. It'll continue to resurface now and again. But I've noticed that there is a growing appreciation for naturals and I love that. And I'll continue to blend with and wear my (and those of other NPers) naturals while eagerly awaiting my sample set from Atelier Cologne.

Safe Cosmetics Act - Again

2011-07-07T18:02:00.000-04:00

Safe Cosmetics Act 2011 :: Statement of Opposition
by Kayla Fioravanti of Essential Wholesale
Kayla breaks it down section by section

Ten reasons why you should not support SCA 2011
by Robert Tisserand

If you Oppose H.R. 2359: Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011 sign the petition

A Visit To The Botanical Gardens

2011-07-05T09:01:00.013-04:00

I planned on spending my 4th lazing around but had a change in plans. So while I was out I made a little detour to the Matthaei Botanical Gardens, University of Michigan Ann Arbor. I had a nice time walking first through the outdoor gardens then in the conservatory, where the tropical plants are located. It was 88 degrees yesterday as I walked around sniffing flowers, including every tuberose I came across. :) But I started to get hot and had this brainiac idea to get out of the hot sun and into the conservatory. Yes, the same conservatory I mentioned above that houses the tropical plants. Not only was it hotter in there than outside it was also humid. By the time I left I felt like someone threw a bucket of water on me. Despite the heavy sweating (lol) I really enjoyed myself and plan to go back next month when more flowers have bloomed.

My first time smelling a honeysuckle.

I was standing next to this osmanthus tree sniffing like crazy trying to find where the gorgeous scent was coming from. I finally turned around and saw it.

A sausage tree. I believe those outer pods break open to reveal flowers on a vine.

Isn't this Winter Wonderland gorgeous?

I snapped this photo on the way out the door. Since I didn't go closer to check it out I have no idea what the name of this tree is but you have to admit it is unique.

A beautiful water lily

They even have a small patch of rice

Now a note about this HUGE agave. I estimate it at about 6 ft high at least and well over 6 feet across. I obviously watch to much SyFy because when I went to the back section where this plant was located I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw it. I was actually nervous about getting close to it in case it reached out to grab me. But curiosity got the better of me (isn't that always the case in those movies?) so I stepped closer. :) And I'm still here lol.

Feed me Seymour!

In The Works - Tea Perfume

2011-06-27T09:31:00.004-04:00

When I first started thinking of characters in Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Night's Dream for the recent scent event I participated in one I thought of focusing on was the Little Indian Boy. A minor character, yes, but one that caused friction between Oberon & Titania. What came to mind was tea, sweetly scented flowers and spices. However I quickly pushed that back because warm and spicy perfume in the summertime just didn't move me. I am however going to work on this for autumn/winter. But what about a tea perfume for summer? That one is in the works. The soothing scent of rooibos, intoxicating jasmine sambac or lotus blossom and perhaps a bit of mint to cools things down.

And for the spicier version there is vanilla, cinnamon, clove and cardamom. Mmmm... I'm not a foody scent person so I'll work to blend these perfumes in such a way that although they will smell like tea you'll be less likely to lick your wrists. :^)

all photos courtesy of Wikipedia

Omumbiri - Namibian Commiphora wildii

2011-06-24T22:33:00.009-04:00

Omumbiri, the name used by the Himba of Namibia, is a resin from the Commiphora wildii, a species of myrrh tree. It has a lemony scent that actually reminds me more of Omani frankincense than myrrh.

It's hard to tell from this picture but the colors vary from a creamy bright lemon yellow to a warm burnt amber to a deep red to black. This was stored with ground resin so it looks a bit 'ashy'.

The resin is very dry to the touch and can be crushed easily into a powder. It becomes very light in weight and floats in the air so I suggest wearing a mask when grinding this up. I used the ground powder to tincture.

Omumbiri oil is also available from Aftelier (under the name Myrrh from Namibia). I diluted the oil to 10% and compared it to the tincture. What I found was the tincture had a cool, fresh and mild lemon-pepper scent while the diluted oil was warmer and more resinous, earthy. On a scent strip the tincture faded quickly while the dilution lasted hours even becoming a bit stronger over time. I can see both having a place in perfume blends depending on what I'm looking to achieve. The resin can be purchased from African Aromatics.

Pineapple Sage

2011-06-23T17:00:00.000-04:00

Not long ago there was talk on the Yahoo Natural Perfumery group about extracting the scent of pineapple sage. Pineapple is my favorite fruit. I love the sweet smell of a fresh cut pineapple and I love the smell of this pineapple scented herb. The subject of the group discussion was distilling. According to Jeanne Rose the hydrosol (or distillate/fragrant water left over after distilling) is very green/herbal smelling without the fruity pineapple scent. I don't have a still so I opted to tincture the leaves. I started this one on June 21. I added 9 grams of pineapple sage to a small jar and poured 160 grams alcohol to cover the leaves. This set for two days before I strained off the alcohol and added new leaved. Weighing the alcohol I had 145 grams after straining. I added new leaves to the jar along with the 145 grams of tincture. I topped it off with more alcohol to bring it back up to 160 grams. Note: I used 100 proof alcohol for this since I was out higher proof.

Alcohol after it had been strained

Tincture poured over new leaves

I will continue until I feel I have gotten as much scent as I can in the alcohol. I'll keep you updated on my progress.

A Midsummer Night's Dream Scent Event Reviews Are Coming In

2011-06-23T11:01:00.000-04:00

I mailed my perfume, Fare Thee Well, Nymph, to six of the eleven bloggers participating in the Midsummer Night's Dream Event. To say that I was a little nervous would be an understatement. Truth is my nerves were shot! :) And I believe I am just a little too anxious. Calm it down girl! Did I think I would get slammed in a review? No, not at all. But it does feel like a first-day-at-school moment. Reading the reviews that have come in so far has put me at ease and motivated me at the same time. I have a long way to go but this event was a good start.

I chose the character Helena as my subject. I found her to be a bit quirky. :) I sympathized with her "plight". I was drawn to her more than any of the other characters and wanted to help her in the same way Oberon wanted to. The difference being that instead of using a flower on the eyes of Demetrius I would use a perfume on Helena, that would draw Demetrius to her.

I have been delighted with the reviews and appreciate the perspectives of the bloggers, as they have more experience with perfume, both all natural and blended, than I do. As I mentioned above this event has motivated me to work harder. Thank you to all the bloggers taking time out to review my perfume. I am so very humbled.

Fare Thee Well, Nymph opens with soft tones and simplicity and with the quickness, a whiff of noted woody undertones simmers through validating Helena emotion transformation.

Felicia M. Hazzard, Fragrance Belles-Lettres: The Magazine

I think Fare Thee is very well done. It's a perfume with a backbone surrounded by passion.

Victoria Jent, EauMG

As Helena worries about things she needent this fragrance opens the “upper chakras” to help a person see things for what they are, rather than what you fear them to be.
Monica Skye Miller, Perfume Pharmer

WOW!!!

Whew, now I need to compose myself and act like a professional. ;-)

UNCORKED ~ Celebrating The Voices of the Natural Perfumers Guild Members

2011-06-01T10:06:00.010-04:00

~How I came to love natural aromatics~

Not long ago I blogged about how I felt like the new kid in school when it came to natural perfumery, or rather perfumery in general. Growing up my mother and grandmothers didn't grow fragrant flowers. The scent of roses, lilacs and others don't transport me back to my childhood. They didn't own any of the classic perfumes. I never received pretty bottles of perfume as gifts. My maternal grandmother was an Avon lady and I remember trying different Avon colognes here and there. My mother had many bottles on her dresser that she hardly ever wore. And while I remember them nothing really stands out that would remind me of her. My experience with scent was purchasing the cheap stuff from drug & convenience stores. Remember Jean Nate and Love's Baby Soft? Up until 2006 my exposure to essential oils was keeping a bottle of tea tree on hand in my first aid kit. Even as popular as lavender is I was only familiar with the synthetic fragrance. I never liked the smell of vanilla until I smelled a real vanilla bean. That was about 12 years ago and I didn't know vanilla absolute even existed. When this blogging event was announced I knew I wanted to join in even though I had no idea what it was going to be about. Then the subject was revealed. I thought 'Uh-oh! This is going to be the shortest blog post.'

In December of 2005 my mother passed away after a battle with cancer. Two weeks later a very close cousin (my mom's niece) passed away suddenly. My family was shocked and saddened. As a result I began to suffer from insomnia. I'm not much of a pill taker. I'd rather try alternative methods first. So I turned to aromatherapy. I searched for websites and articles on the internet that would give me some ideas that would help me to fall asleep. I came across a website that had an offline study introductory aromatherapy course developed by Jeanne Rose. (side note: I didn't know who Jeanne was and remember thinking 'I wonder if she's reputable.' You live & learn lol.) I read all the material I received and ordered samples of essential oils. Being a book lover I sometimes detour from my planned errands and stop by book stores. One day I came upon a used book store and decided to go in just to look around and found a little book on aromatherapy formulas. There was a formulation in it for insomnia. I ordered more samples and blended the oils. I don't really recall if it helped me sleep or not but it smelled really pretty. I started to blend it and add it to an oil burner to scent my home. At that point I stopped blending for any therapeutic affects of aromatherapy and started blending for scent alone. They were really simple blends and at the time I had no idea that there was a segment of perfumery dedicated to naturals. Oddly enough I was introduced to it by a perfumer who blended with synthetics. We both posted on the same soaping forum and he became sort of the forum's perfumery tutor. He posted about the Jean Carles method and explained what it all meant. He pointed me to perfumery groups on Yahoo which is how I found out about the Natural Perfumery group and then the Natural Perfumers Guild.

Coincidence or not, it seems as if the path to naturals chose me instead of me choosing it. Maybe I just moved too slow. Several 'events' took place that pushed me in that direction. It wasn't a hard push either. When I think about it I suppose a love of natural aromatics has always been in me but I didn't pay close attention to it until later on. But once I was immersed in it there was no looking back.

Random tidbit:
I've come across the question many times as to what aromatic(s) I dislike. I can find a place for and appreciate many scents, even those that some find foul. But I have a very hard time smelling fresh cut grass. I just can't stand it. :^)

Participating NPG members

Adam Gottschalk Lord's Jester Inc

Alec Lawless Being Led by the Nose

Anu Prestonia Anu Essentials Blog

Anya McCoy Anya's Garden Perfumes Blog

Charna Ethier Providence Perfume

Christine Ziegler A Little Ol'Factory

Dawn Spencer Hurwitz DSH Notebook

Denise Smith Perfume Journal

Elise Pearlstine Bellyflowers

Emily Pienaar The Western Cape Perfumery Blog

Ida Meister Ça Fleure Bon

Isabelle Gelle Les Parfums d'Isabelle

JoAnne Bassett Natural Perfumes

Julie Longyear From The Bathtub
Karen Williams Aromatics International

Laura Natusch Olive and Oud

Noelle Smith Ellenoire

Robert Tisserand I'm Just Saying

Ross Urrere Olfactory Rescue Service

Susan Stype Aromatherapy Contessa

Trygve Harris Absolute Trygve

Fare Thee Well , Nymph

2011-05-25T21:06:00.025-04:00

My submission for the A Midsummer Night's Dream Perfume Event has been mailed to participating bloggers and now I wait. :) What a relief! I wasn't completely happy with it but I wasn't disappointed either. I'm actually looking forward to participating in other projects like this.

Check out the Perfume Projects page for all the details and I invite you all to stop by the blogs and leave a comment.

Now That 'Nymph' Is Completed

2011-05-24T09:14:00.000-04:00

The perfume for the 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' perfume event is completed and on its way to the bloggers. Now I wait.

My thoughts:

1. Challenges can be hard (I guess that's why its a challenge...duh)

2. The time factor is the real issue

3. It's a learning experience

4. Sometimes things don't work out as planned (sometimes it's better, sometimes it's not)

There are parts of my perfume that I really like. Overall though I wasn't pleased. It needs a lot more time and work but that's the nature of these events. Maybe I'll revisit it at another time. For now I'm moving on to the next 'thing'. :)

Shakespeare and Blossoming Tree

2011-05-19T13:39:00.003-04:00

Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind;

And therefore is wing'd Cupid painted blind:

A Midsummer Night's Dream Act 1, Scene 1

I'll be taking part in a perfume event organized by Amanda Feeley of Essential Alchemy. The theme is the Shakespeare play A Midsummer Night's Dream. The character that I'm focusing on is Helena. Why? Because she seems so quirky to me. :)

The details are under my Perfume Projects page.

Fare thee well, nymph.

Ere he do leave this grove,

Thou shalt fly him and he shall seek thy love.

A Midsummer Night's Dream Act 2, Scene 1

Omumgorwa

2011-05-18T20:03:00.000-04:00

Commiphora crenata-serrata

When I received this commiphora resin I wasn't sure what to do with it. It was new to me and I needed to go through all the steps of evaluating properly. Of course it needed to be tinctured before I could do that. I measured the resin & alcohol and added them to a jar. I tucked it away in a cabinet and completely forgot about it. Months passed before I remembered it was there. It had been tincturing for over a year when I thought to use it in my Nymph (A Midsummer Night's Dream Scent Event) perfume. I used a rather large percentage in my formulation and I must say it adds a rich warmth and mild sweetness to my blend. I like what it adds to my perfume, so much so that I plan to buy more. Anyone interested in purchasing this commiphora resin, along with a couple others can do so from the African Aromatics site. These resins are shipped from South Africa by natural perfumer Sophia Du Toit.

Fare Thee Well, Nymph

2011-05-13T21:04:00.000-04:00

I'm putting the finishing touches on my perfume for the Midsummer Night's Dream Perfume Event. From when I started blending to what I'm finishing with has gone through many changes. My focus was on Helena and several other aspects of the surroundings. I admit I was going to abandon the idea and move on to something else then things started to fall into place. At one point I thought about making a spicy tea scent for the little Indian boy but that would've been to warm for summer. It may show it's face come the fall.

The photo to the left is the flowers of one of the essences being used in this perfume.

Cestrum nocturnum photo from Wikipedia

Medieval Stillroom

2011-04-17T11:27:00.000-04:00

A few years ago I participated in a swap with the theme The Medieval Stillroom. It was very interesting to learn about concoctions made in the 1500s and 1600s. I'd come across online versions of writings by John French and Nicolas Culpepper. Recipes for scented oils and waters, herbal preparations, even food. It was all fascinating. I started thinking about this today and when I went back to all the notes I'd taken on the subject I realized that this swap had been my precursor into the world of natural perfumery. I hadn't forgotten about the swap but I had forgotten about how much this influenced my NP studies. I often attributed my interest to a brief study of aromatherapy. Aromatherapy was the start but it was participating in this swap that really catapulted me into natural perfumery.

What did I contribute?

This is rose sweetwater. It started as an infusion of fresh rosemary and rose petals (the color is from the rose petals). I didn't have what was needed to do a full infusion of all the aromatics so essential oils of orange & lavender and jasmine absolute were used. Sweetwater was used to cleanse hands before meals.

Channeling Shakespeare

2011-04-16T12:03:00.000-04:00

As I recently posted I will be taking part in the Midsummer Night's Dream Perfume Event hosted by Amanda Feeley of Essential Alchemy. Although I've participated in perfume challenges before this is the first that will actually put me and my little scented creation out in the public eye to be critiqued. I'm excited! And nervous. OMG...what if everyone goes crazy over my perfume and HAS to have it? Will I be able to keep up with the demand? Oh no! What if it is universally hated? Will I be banished from the perfuming community forever? Yikes! :^)

Seriously, this is a great opportunity for me to get my name "out there". I KNOW this will be a fun, interesting and enlightening experience and I look forward to it. Now if Mr Shakespeare would kindly step forward I have a few questions to ask.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So, what direction am I going in with this perfume? My initial thoughts run along these lines:
woody, mossy, smoky, musky, damp, herbal, slightly floral and slightly sweet. Of course all this may change by the time I get to the end product, but being that I'm a fan of woody scents that aspect will most likely remain. I haven't based this around any particular character as yet although I have one in mind. I pulled out about 30 essences and will narrow those down as I start to build my perfume. One thing I'm (almost lol) sure of is that this will be oil based.

That's all for now.....

A Midsummer Night's Dream Perfume Event

2011-04-12T20:23:00.000-04:00

Organized by Amanda of Essential Alchemy. Check it out. See a familiar name??? :^)

A Midsummer Night's Dream Scent Event

Gardener's Soap

2011-03-19T09:42:00.021-04:00

Spring is here and gardening has started. Of course we use gloves but there are times when hands are drawn to the dirt and we can't resist lol. This scrubby little bar is made with organic oils and ground lemongrass.

Calling Michigan Perfumistas

2011-03-15T20:48:00.000-04:00

Any interest in an informal meet-up late summer or fall (SE area)? I'd love to connect with others in the area. Out-of-towners would certainly be welcome.

Interested send me an email scentyousay at gmail dot com and we can work out the details.

Salt Bar

2011-03-14T12:28:00.010-04:00

Another of my favorite type of soap is the salt bar. This is made with organic coconut oil & organic cocoa butter. I used four different types of salts for this batch. It didn't come out the prettiest ever but it is for personal use so I don't mind lol.

Coffee Soap

2011-03-12T12:27:00.015-05:00

This is a soap I like to keep in the kitchen. It is my basic soap recipe with organic brewed coffee replacing the water. The coffee grounds were added for a little scrubbiness (see the black specks?). Scented with coffee & nutmeg oil and vanilla absolute.

Rich Body Butter

2011-03-09T09:25:00.022-05:00

I use several types of butters to make my body butters. This whipped butter is made simply with shea and scented with a lovely warm amber blend.

Lavender Facial Cream

2011-03-08T20:23:00.014-05:00

Made with organic oils, aloe vera and botanical extracts Lavender Facial Cream is a lightweight moisturizer for delicate facial skin. It smells great too! :)

Clay Mask

2011-03-07T20:23:00.017-05:00

Sometimes we get oil build-up on our skin. Clays are known to help with drawing out extra oils and toxins. After using a clay mask my skin feels good. Note: clay masks should not be used more than twice a week. I would even suggest no more than once a week. More often than that and too much oil is pulled from you skin causing it to produce more, essentially worsening the problem you used the mask for in the first place. Proper balance is key.

Lavender Castile

2011-03-06T19:59:00.008-05:00

Castile is one of my favorite soaps to make and use because it's so simple and mild. This one is made with organic extra virgin olive oil and simply scented with lavender essential oil.

MPAD intro post

Rose Castile Facial Bar

2011-03-05T20:06:00.002-05:00

Castile soap is one of my favorites. It's mild and doesn't dry my skin. This castile is made with the addition of dried and ground rose petals and scented with gorgeous rose absolute.

Mint Fizzing Foot Soak

2011-03-04T09:25:00.025-05:00

A variations from yesterday's product this foot fizz is left loose. It is made with a bit of menthol for soaking tired achy feet. It also contains soothing oat flour, pink clay and rich, chocolaty smelling cocoa butter.

Bath Fizz (fail)

2011-03-03T21:24:00.033-05:00

OK I never said everything was going to come out perfect lol. Another additive to the bathing experience is this...let's call it a fizzing bath biscuit...made with rice bran oil, out flour, koalin clay and a delicious blend of essential oils. Yeah it looks like a first attempt at making biscuits but it feels nice.

Hmmm...I wonder. If I listed this in my shop would I get noticed by Regretsy? Probably not and I'll waste $0.20.

Onward and Upward

2011-03-03T16:31:00.001-05:00

I've made a few rash business decisions that didn't pan out. I've tried to correct them but to no avail. So what am I to do? Keep it moving, that's what! Sometimes things happen and sometimes we make things happen. Either way we have to deal with the consequences whatever they may be. And sometimes there's no going back. Looking at the whole picture the decisions may not have been as rash after all. Maybe it wasn't so much the fact that they played out but rather the manner in which they played out. Whatever the case I have to roll with it. No more time being wasted. No sweating the small stuff, right? I'll just keep notes for future reference though. ;^)

Natural Perfume Oil

2011-03-02T16:51:00.004-05:00

A blend of jojoba and fractionated coconut oil infused with natural essences to scent body and hair. Compositions available for men and women.

MPAD intro post

Dispersible Bath Oil

2011-03-01T14:21:00.011-05:00

This bath oil has been formulated to disperse in water so there are no little globs of oil sitting on top, floating aimlessly around the tub. :-) Made with rice bran oil, emulsifier and luscious blends of essential oils.

A Quiet Afternoon

2011-02-27T13:13:00.000-05:00

Today is one of those lazy days I want to sit around snuggled under a warm comforter with the remote in my hand and flip from channel to channel, with a hot cup of chai near by. Instead I have plenty of tasks I need to work on. In two days I'll begin March Product-A-Day and I'm very excited about that. New products, new photos and a new outlook on business.

I have also signed up to participate in a perfume project (maybe two) and I can't wait to give it my full attention. I'll give more details on that later. Before I can begin though I have a few other projects to complete. But what's ahead for Blossoming Tree? I'm thinking spring. I'm thinking gardening. I'm thinking crisp clean fresh air. I'm thinking I better get to work before March passes me by. :-)

Enjoy your Sunday!

March Product-A-Day Challenge

2011-02-24T08:44:00.003-05:00

Last month I posted about an article I read in Etsy's Storque: Make Something New Everyday. I get the concept and understand how this can spark creativity but I know I won't do 365 days. So I thought I'd start on a smaller scale. The 31 days of March will see a new product each day. They will all be for personal use but if you like them let me know and I'll make them available in my Etsy & Artfire shops. Who else is up for the challenge?

A Recent Etsy Success Email

2011-02-22T08:01:00.003-05:00

Subject: Team Up and Help Your Shop Grow

I've been thinking more and more about the team I mentioned in an earlier post and decided to just dive in and see what happens. If it doesn't fly at least I tried, right?

The details:

Name

Int'l Crafters of Color Marketplace

About

ICCM is a team for artisans of color worldwide who operate our Etsy businesses full time. We are here to support one another in an effort to build more successful businesses. We promote one another as we do ourselves, share ideas, share tips and to provide a support system.

Team Charter

ICCM is open to Etsy sellers who:

1) are "of color" and have an active Etsy shop with listings

2) dedicate at least 35 hours a week to various aspects of their business

3) abide by the TOU of Etsy.com

4) follow ethical business and manufacturing practices

5) follow truthful labeling & descriptive practices

6) must be an active member allotting at least 1 hr per week toward team activities

7) your business should be a legal entity based on the requirements of your residence

To join:

http://www.etsy.com/teams/8152/intl-crafters-of-color-marketplace

WWW Where Are You?

2011-02-21T15:31:00.000-05:00

48 hours without internet access and I feel like I'm weeks behind. Pitiful, I know. But I'm back! I'll be spending the next hour or so answering emails and will save my blog reading for later tonight.

Another tip I heard during the Etsy Success Symposium (I think I mentioned it in a previous post) was to use Post-It notes for my to-do list. Since I have on hand only the really really small post-its my list looks something like this:

1. photos

2. list

3. soaping

4. perfume blending

I think I can manage that.

More Home Improvement

2011-02-12T09:00:00.009-05:00

Continuing on with tips from Etsy's Success Symposium I'm moving on to one of the lists provided by Vanessa Bertozzi. There are a lot of little details that get overlooked when setting up shop but once they're done you won't have to worry about them, unless they change of course.

-Be present

I'm working on a feasible schedule to offer "office hours" for Etsy buyers. I realize that we all have lives outside of Etsy but I really try to answer any convos right away. It bothers when I have to wait 3 or 4 days to get a response back from someone. In most cases I just move on.

-Have a good name

I think I have that covered LOL.

-Have more than 5 listings in your shop

More products to be listed by Monday.

-Offer a custom listing if possible

This is one I'll have to think more about. Maybe within a month or so I can implement this.

-Write in first person

I admit I was not doing this. I have gone back over my profile and made changes.

-Fill out your profile and tell your story (refine your story)

Done!

-Have an avatar and banner

Also done thanks to Michelle Raine on Etsy.

-Show your location

Done!

More to come. Stay tuned! :-)

Etsy Teams - Aligning With Like-minded Sellers

2011-02-11T18:26:00.006-05:00

~ Meet people with common interests and collaborate ~

taken from Etsy's team page

When I first began selling on Etsy I joined other soap makers from a forum I'd been a member of in forming a street team. We all had something in common: we were soapers/b&b makers and we were all members of a soaping forum. This team carried on for awhile before fizzling out, mostly due to the fact that the members had become busy with sales and manufacturing. Nothing wrong with that. I miss the team though because we all supported one another. Well, we still do just not as an Etsy team. :-)

I joined a couple more teams, one of which is no longer functioning as a members only team but has opened up for buyers and sellers alike who are interested in that specific type of product. Again, nothing wrong with that, but not in line with my idea of a team, so I removed myself from it.

I have since joined two other teams. One is Handmadeology, which has been by far the most active team I've been on. From the first day I joined the discussion section was jumping! I had only one product listed in my shop and that one product had been featured in about 5 treasuries. Wow! My Facebook fan page has grown and I've come across wonderful shops.

In listening to presentations from Etsy's Success Symposium one thing that was mentioned was the idea to align yourself with like-minded sellers. I had been thinking of this even before the symposium and thought long and hard about starting a team based on certain criteria that I can relate to and that I've found to be important (at least to me lol) and very much needed. One thing I've noticed though is that not everyone looks at teams the way I do. For me participating in a team is in a way part of marketing and promoting, reaching a larger audience than I could reach on my own. I also consider my participation within a team to fall under the time allotted for promoting. The problem I find is in those who join teams and don't participate, for any number of reasons. You see, whatever I do in relation to other shops is done with reciprocity in mind. No one is paid to promote the others. We all have to do our part in order for the team to flourish, otherwise why be there. This is why I consider being on a team part of my business' marketing plan. That said I would like to put the call out to those interested in putting together a team who are:

1. People of color (a segment of the population that I personally fall into)

2. Full-time sellers who put about 30-35 hrs/week into various areas of their Etsy businesses (for those whose business is their sole source of income or even a good chunk of it)

note: anyone working to Quit Your Day Job is more than welcome

3. Willing to allot a certain amount of time each week to tend to team business

4. Are dedicated to growing their businesses, sharing ideas and learning

If you want to join forces please send a convo to BlossomingTree on Etsy.

Embrace - Etsy Treasury I Curated

2011-02-10T14:43:00.000-05:00

'Embrace' by BlossomingTree

Love is in the air~

Pink Love Snail Gre... bostoniata $4.99	Embrace Sugarygingersn... $15.00	Embrace Print bostoniata $20.00	The Embrace larkcalderongo... $195.00
Original Charcoal D... Krystyna81 $3000.00	Lover's Embrace... KLynnae $55.00	Warm Embrace Art P... LeeHarwellPhot... $45.00	To Have and To Hold... kellya $30.00
Amore AccidentallyGo... $55.00	Close Embrace 8x8 amyartist $10.00	Blues - Painting Pr... rodistudio $18.00	Drawing of a Couple... Krystyna81 $30.00
Certainty mariadoering $100.00	Infinity - Canvas G... sbottinelli $215.00	FAREWELL linocut WingedLion $70.00	In the Embrace SiennaMorris $75.00

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com A/B image testing.

What I Learned From Etsy's Success Symposium

2011-02-09T14:50:00.004-05:00

This past Tuesday (Feb 8) Etsy held it's Success Symposium from Etsy Labs in Brooklyn, NY. It was webcasted live through Livestream. I spent the first half of the day listening to speakers giving tips on how to be a successful Etsy seller. Some of the more common sense tips had me shaking my head and thinking 'why am I not doing that?' One of the points mentioned was having a complete profile and clear policies posted. I've seen lots of sellers with blank profiles and policies and wondered why they hadn't filled that area in. I have both but after viewing the symposium I went back to my own profile and realized it needs complete revamping.

Listening to Lorrie Veasey's segment she suggested to only use Post-It notes for your to-do list. A short list is more easily completed than a long one. I should know. I'm a list maker and I always seem to have at least 10 things on my to-do list. So I'm going to take Lorrie's advice and put my list on a virtual Post-It note.

Tasks 1-3

Rewrite profile

Rewrite policies

Rewrite announcement

etsy on livestream.com. Broadcast Live Free

Rose Under Any Other Name by ElleAvenue

2011-01-22T15:16:00.000-05:00

My foot soak is included in this awesome treaury. It contains dried rose petals. Fit the theme perfectly.

'Rose Under Any Other Name' by ElleAvenue

Memo / Photo holder... BonAndChi $25.00	Luxury handmade soa... BarSoap $15.00	Ollie -Pet ID tag- ... DoggoneTags $20.00	Red and Bold Vintag... ZurDesigns $24.00
Coffee Flower Neckl... awesleydesigns $15.00	Secret pocket cable... lornawatt $36.00	Customer Appreciati... Rabbithollowpr... $19.76	SALE... Paving Ston... OriginalMischi... $36.00
Herbal Foot Soak BlossomingTree $10.00	Original Watercolor... bonjourfrenchi... $28.00	Handcrafted Custom ... holeestars $2695.95	Hand Embroidered Li... juneatnoon $13.00
Fabric Flower Ring ... gardenmis $19.00	Valentine Flower Cr... mystichintime $6.00	Handmade Ceramic In... GrapeVineCeram... $15.00	Valentines Day Gift... TatterBeans $10.00

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com.

Gifts For My Girlfriends by WineCountryLife

2011-01-22T15:14:00.000-05:00

WineCountryLife shares gifts girlfriends would love, including my foot soak

'Gifts for my girlfriends' by WineCountryLife

This is a collection of beautiful items by talented artisans from Handmadeology team.

Blue bells-sterling... HitchHollowDes... $67.00	Red Wine Soaps - ... Kokolele $11.00	Butterfly Passion -... mysassyglass $30.00	Last Light, Origina... juneatnoon $10.00
Herbal Foot Soak BlossomingTree $10.00	Blue Bird Bliss Wir... KottageKreatio... $26.00	Fine Art Print : To... TatterBeans $15.00	1940's Vintage ... RetroChalet $6.00
A Basket Full of Ap... AngelEllie $16.00	Little Devil daintylikeafox $25.00	SALE... Blue Floral... OriginalMischi... $36.00	White Scallop Shell... MarnieCountryC... $9.50
OOAK Vintage Ring ... rockshanks $40.00	14k Gold Filled Sat... LaurenClarisse $60.00	Gorgeous Larimar B... DOMINICANLOUNG... $75.00	Vintage faux ivory ... cocovintagebou... $8.00

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com.

Naturally In Love by Mystichintime

2011-01-22T15:07:00.000-05:00

Handmadeology member Mystichintime showing love to the team

'Naturally in love' by mystichintime

hanmadeology chain game

Eco Friendly Wool C... betsyandbess $34.00	Herbal Foot Soak BlossomingTree $10.00	Lime Mocha Chunk So... BarSoap $3.50	Wide Hammered Coppe... ZurDesigns $40.00
Romantic Butterfly ... SaharasHeart $20.00	Primitive Black Mag... holeestars $63.95	Handmade Ceramic In... GrapeVineCeram... $15.00	Friendship is Love ... Salzanos $3.95
Rich and cozy wool ... lornawatt $25.00	All natural active ... josiebutter $4.99	Amethyst and emeral... ElleAvenue $21.00	Fine Art Print: Lov... TatterBeans $10.00
SALE... Be-leaf Me.... OriginalMischi... $40.00	Ollie -Pet ID tag- ... DoggoneTags $20.00	Fused Glass Heart a... uniquenique $25.00	Lavender Sachets Or... gardenmis $26.00

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com.

Handmadeology Team Treasury by ZurDesigns

2011-01-22T15:02:00.000-05:00

Thank you ZurDesigns for including my foot soak in this wonderful treasury

'Handmadeology Team Treasury!!' by ZurDesigns

Handmade picks from The Handmadeology Team in honeysuckle pink and brown! Promote Handmadeology Team Chain Game!! http://www.etsy.com/teams/7316/handmadeology/discuss/6753404/

Indulgent handmade ... BarSoap $2.50	Light up your life josiebutter $88.00	Herbal Foot Soak BlossomingTree $10.00	Modern Mesh Belt Bu... TimothyAdamDes... $56.00
Bedouin Hallucinati... ladnamedfelix $20.00	Fireflies Jar origi... bonjourfrenchi... $20.00	Secret pocket winte... lornawatt $36.00	SALE... Red Wine Bo... OriginalMischi... $36.00
Fabric Flower Ring ... gardenmis $19.00	Fine Art Print Sin... TatterBeans $10.00	Cream silk wedding ... SaharasHeart $35.00	Handmade Ceramic In... GrapeVineCeram... $15.00
Pink Girls Flower C... mystichintime $7.00	Wall Cupboard W/Sta... holeestars $149.95	Mokuzai Ninja polym... BonAndChi $9.00	Rosy Pink Venetian ... ElleAvenue $20.00

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com.

Necessary Unnecessary

2011-01-16T09:42:00.002-05:00

Customer service is very important in business. How well you treat your customer can make the difference between a repeat sale and sending the customer to a competitor. I've found that this comes into play more when there is a problem with an order. How well and how fast is the problem resolved. But what happens when all goes well? How do you stand out in the crowd? Going the extra step can make an impression but how much of the 'extra' is necessary?

1. Adding samples (yours or a non-competitor's)

2. Adding a separate thank you card (extra paper)

3. Just handwriting 'Thank You' on the invoice (personal touch)

4. Adding a coupon

What are somethings that you have received with an order that you thought could have been left out?

More Networking Hangouts (for the fashion & accessory minded)

2011-01-10T21:45:00.003-05:00

If you are a member of ThisNext, Style Hive, Sense of Fashion or Kaboodle let's connect!

here ThisNext

here Style Hive

here Sense of Fashion

and

here Kaboodle

Becoming My Own PR Person

2011-01-10T13:37:00.001-05:00

This morning while on Facebook I came across an update from fellow small business owner Chanelle Washington of Indigofera. It was a video clip of Sir Richard Branson. The subject was marketing and Branson's advice was simple for businesses that can't afford a PR person. "If you can't afford a public relations person you just have to become your own public relations person." Being a small business owner one has to wear several hats. It would be nice to be able to hire someone to go out and hype your products but who knows your products better than you? Who is better equipped to go out and not only share the functions of your products but what went into producing them? Who is more passionate about YOUR business? Who serves to gain from the success of YOUR business? I've had many conversations with other small biz owners about missed opportunities. About why certain platforms aren't being used. About why it's so easy to overlook potential customers who just happen to be small biz owners as well. I've had my share of missed opportunities but I plan to change that in 2011. This year you're going to hear a lot more from and about Blossoming Tree Bodycare!

Make Something Everyday

2011-01-08T21:39:00.002-05:00

Storque article on Etsy

Concept: make something new each day for the next 365 days.

I'll say this; it will keep you busy. :^)

Natural Perfume Treasury on Etsy

2011-01-06T14:53:00.000-05:00

'Scented.....Naturally' by BlossomingTree

Etsy natural perfumers

Rosa Botanical Perf... IlluminatedPer... $190.00	Giselle Natural Par... VictoriaJess $185.00	775 - EXTREME, Haut... THERAPEUTATE $220.00	Delilah Essential O... AromaArtisan $18.51
Cocoa Tuberose Natu... ProvidencePerf... $115.00	Tallulah B2. wingandprayerp... $35.00	Jaded - natural per... ForStrangeWome... $25.00	Lavender Pie - One ... Ayala $
The Royal Collectio... joannebassett $35.00	Aurora Botanical Pe... IlluminatedPer... $150.00	ON SALE Aliah Solid... sapobubbles $8.80	CHAKRA 2 - Parfum a... THERAPEUTATE $270.00
Daphnomancer - Natu... DarkStar $9.00	Jitterbug Perfume -... OpusOils $50.00	Eau Contraire Natua... herbalalchemy $22.00	Decadence and Debau... ForStrangeWome... $25.00

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com A/B image testing.

Happy Feet - A Treasury

2010-12-27T02:00:00.007-05:00

My Herbal Foot Soak is included in this neat treasury.

'Happy Feet' by lilladee

Alpaca Wool Insoles... slimchicken $	Total Comfort Every... RedWindmillDes... $15.00	Oatmeal Crochet Leg... mademoiselleme... $	Peppermint Cookies ... savor $
sexy BUTTERFLY TATT... post $13.00	Herbal Foot Soak BlossomingTree $10.00	Blue Yoga Socks, Gr... natalya1905 $28.00	Keyhole Flat HydraHeart $50.00
Natural pumice ston... benforgeydotco... $4.00	$	Country Gent Foot ... HeavenlyHarves... $9.14	SLUGS MENS Solid Br... ThoseAlaskanGi... $18.00
Sidhe Stem Stocking... undertheroot $65.00	Sunset Topaz Wrap -... Kiss2Keep $97.00	Lambswool Slippers ... woolybaby $54.00	Sterling Silver Toe... forkwhisperer $15.00

Generated using Treasury HTML code generator by Whale Shark Websites.

What's Next

2010-12-26T10:02:00.001-05:00

One day after Christmas and I'm already thinking SPRING. Actually I was thinking spring weeks ago lol. I have two, as yet unnamed, perfumes marrying that will be introduced around March or April. Batches of essential oils are being blended for soap. And starting in February I will be including in my line of products 1 lb and 2 lb soap logs for purchase. Also, work begins again on the ol' website. This time around I'm determined to finish it. :-) I'm still on the hunt for the 'perfect' packaging. Either I can't seem to locate what I'm looking for or if I stumble across something I like there is a 1,000,000,000,000,000 piece minimum (ok slightly less than that lol). For example, I found a glass vial for perfume oils that I really like. I have yet to see them in use. That doesn't mean that they aren't, I just haven't seen them. The minimum is more than I can cover. So I continue to search.

2011 is going to be a year of research for me. I've been thinking a lot about the products I want to offer and I'm contemplating sticking with only soap and perfume. I'm going to test things out over the next six months and make a decision then. I'll keep you posted.

Outlaw Perfume Samples Arrived

2010-12-17T15:09:00.000-05:00

Today I went by the post office to pick up my samples from the recent Natural Perfumers Guild's Outlaw Perfumes Project. The sets were put together by Carol at WaftbyCarol (thanks Carol). As usual I opened the package and sniffed each sample before leaving the parking lot. I was anxious to try them so I randomly selected a vial and dabbed on the liquid loveliness. I am currently wearing Belle Star by Lisa Fong of Artemisia Perfume. I'll post more on it in a few days. In the meantime if you haven't checked out the earlier reviews the bloggers' links are posted here.

Incense

2010-12-10T14:50:00.000-05:00

Perfume
1530s, from M.Fr. parfum, from parfumer "to scent," from Prov. perfumar, from L. per- "through" (see per) + fumare "to smoke" (see fume). Earliest use in English was in reference to fumes from something burning. Meaning "fluid containing agreeable essences of flowers, etc., is attested from 1540s. The verb is first recorded 1530s. Related: Perfumed; perfuming.
source Online Etymology Dictionary

"Fumes from something burning"
I was a fan of incense long before I became interested in perfume. It was during my pre-married with children life. I only stopped burning incense after having children since kids and burning resins don't mix. Before the spouse & offspring came into the picture I would often check out any shop I came across that sold cones or sticks. I had several burners at my disposal and kept a decent supply of incense to use whenever I wanted. I knew very little about the process of making incense. I just enjoyed the end product. Recently I placed an order with Mermade Magickal Arts for frankincense resin. It wasn't for the sole purpose of burning, although I had planned on using a tiny bit to burn at a later date. With the order I also received a couple samples of incense. Wow! It really took me back. Since my kids are older now and (most times) know not to mess with my things (lol) I decided to burn a small piece, thanks to Katlyn Breene, owner of Mermade, who also generously added a charcoal block with my order. This prompted me to place an order with Haus of Waft.

My impressions:

Mermade Magickal Arts
Spirit Temple
(from the website) Contains Eastern Aromatics, Aloeswood and Sandalwood and Hougary Frankincense, Borneol Camphor from Japan

First sniff it is very fresh and clean. When burned there is a creaminess that comes through possibly from the sandalwood. I usually notice that when sniffing the oil. It doesn't seem strong when the incense is not burned but once on the charcoal the scent filled several rooms on the main floor and travelled upstairs.

Earth Church
(from the website) Contains Poplar Buds, Fir Needles, Port Orford Cedar, Oman Frankincense, Juniper, Pine Resin, Salupati, Rose petals, Bay Laurel, Cedar, Labdanum & Ylang Ylang

This is also very fresh and complex. I kept sniffing it over and over. It is rightly named as the incense has an earthy aroma when burned.

Haus of Waft
Watching Man
This was described on site as a masculine blend which includes patchouli, oak moss, vetiver and orange blossom, among other materials. I agree that it is masculine with a warm and mildy spicy note. The cone burned for a good 10 minutes. Very nice.

Golden Ground
This one is blended with vetiver, geranium, Amazonian Breuzinho, elemi resin, herbs and spices. The scent of the unburned cones is very light but once on the charcoal it really shines. I adore this one. It is uplifting and comforting.

Heavy Clarity
A generous sample of Heavy Clarity was included with my order. It contains Dragon's Blood, copal, frankincense, Amazonian Breuzinho and spices. Unburned I get the strong spice scent. Burning this one takes me back. :-)

I'm very happy that I got the opportunity to try incense from both of these companies and will definitely purchase more very soon.

My Place In This Smelly World - Random Thoughts

2010-11-24T08:00:00.000-05:00

Disclaimer: This post was written prior to my morning caffeine infusion! I'll try my best not to ramble on but I can't make any promises that my thoughts won't be scattered despite my best efforts. :)

the light bulb moment

I first noticed it when...

No.

It all started when...

Not that either.

Hmmm...

The questions. That's it. All those questions that make me think.

I read blogs. Lots of them. Many are perfume related. I find the commentaries interesting, thought provoking and I enjoy the interaction with others. But in reading/engaging in conversation I've come to realize something. I'm the new kid in school. I've been studying natural perfumery for almost 5 years but that measure of time is not what I'm referring to. As I read these blogs I come across posts about 'back when'.

Back when my mother/father wore _____. I only recall a few.

Back when _____ was all the rage. As far as perfumes geared to adults go I have no idea.

Back before _____ was reformulated. Not a clue!

The classics! Why did they mess with the classics! Huh???

I remember when grandma grew the most fragrant _____ in her garden. Whenever I smell (said fragrant _____) in a perfume it takes me back to my childhood. My grandma grew vegetables.

After reading _____ years ago my path in perfumery was set. Well, if Stephen King had written a horror story around perfume I may have been interested earlier.

When it comes to the old version versus the new version I am clueless and unable to engage in conversation (thus feeling a little 'left out'). When I read about a certain perfume I research as much as I can about it and check the notes (Fragrantica is very useful for this) but still without that scent memory my 'experience' is not complete. I'm not saying I need to smell every perfume on the market just become familiar with some of the more popular ones. But now my question is do I go on a hunt for these talked about perfumes or just chuck it since my interests lie in naturals?

the green-eyed monster

Reading about all these perfumery events around the country let me just get this out of my system. I'm envious because I can't go! And I'm envious of all you peeps that can travel to these events or live close enough to be able to attend. Where are all the events in Michigan? Yeah, yeah, stop laughing. Michigan? Seriously? I guess I'll have to take on the task of putting Michigan on the perfumery map. LOL OK now I'm laughing!

There, I'm done for now. Coffee is calling.

Sensory Questionnaire

2010-11-20T14:25:00.000-05:00

Taken from Yesterday's Perfume and Glass Petal Smoke (who supplied a link to the Sensory Questionnaire posted on Scribd.)

1. What does your sense of smell mean to you?

My sense of smell has more of an affect on me than taste, sight, hearing or touch. My sense of smell can bring up memories that maybe only the sense of taste can come close to.

2. What are some of your strongest scent memories?

A cheap green apple cologne I gave my grandmother for Christmas, the ink from a mimeograph (I was so happy to be picked as student helper lol), nitrous oxide (don't know what triggers this but there are times where it's like I can actually smell it), Lake Erie & Rondeau Bay (summer cottage off the water - damp fishy, sea weedy smell), newborns (plenty of children in the family), mushroom farm

3. What are some of your favorite smells (things in nature, cooking &/or your environment)?

Fresh ginger, ripe pineapple, chlorinated swimming pool water, fresh herbs, highly scented flowers, cocoa butter

4. Do you have any favorite smells that are considered strange?

Green onions

5. Describe one or more of your favorite cooking smells.

Bread baking, coffee brewing, sauteed onions, curry (I don't care much for spicy perfumes but when cooking lots of spice smells so good to me)

6. What smells do you most dislike?

Fresh cut grass, Fendi (smells like Raid to me), Play-Doh, manure, mushroom farm

7. What smell(s) did you first dislike, but learned to love?

Vanilla and cinnamon

8. What mundane smells inspire you?

Fresh air. I breathe in and I breathe out. Breathe in , breathe out. Breathe in...and there is a hint of something. What is that smell? I sniff and sniff. Then I let the bloodhound out to locate it. What is it? Ah ha! Moments like this fire up the brain cells as I try to figure out the mystery scent. In doing so I begin to pull all sorts of images into my mind some of which are far removed from the source of the scent. But the images are there and the ideas start to flow and I begin to create.

9. What scent never fails to take you back in time and why?

Lye. I started getting my hair relaxed when I was a pre-teen. The smell of the relaxing cream was awful. I'm a soaper and whenever I mix my lye solution the thought of getting my hair relaxed often pops into my head.

10. What scents do you associate with memories of loved ones?

My mother had several bottles of perfume & cologne on her dresser but the two I remember most were Red Door and Paloma Picasso.
My dad had only one...Lagerfeld.
One of my cousins always had a bottle of Sung out on her dresser and I would spritz it on almost every time I visited her.

11. What fragrance(s) remind you of growing up?

Sand & Sable. That was what I wore in high school. And some cherry/vanilla cheap stuff I don't remember the name of.
I can't recall the name now but a Giorgio knock-off that several of my high school classmstes wore.
Jergens lotion, Avon Skin So Soft body oil, Avon Imari cologne, Love's Baby Soft & Jean Nate, Zest & Tone soaps, VO5 (comes to mind when ever I smell geranium essential oil)

12. What fragrance(s) remind you of the places you visited on vacation?

Beef smoked sausage with a variety of toppings sold by street vendors in Toronto.

Early Scent Memory

2010-11-19T08:43:00.000-05:00

Both my parents are from large families. Almost all my aunts and uncles cook. Both my grandmothers were still living as I grew up and they were cooking queens as far as I'm concerned. My earliest memories of scents fall in the food category. More specifically the herbs and spices categories. Vanilla, cinnamon, clove, rosemary, etc., were commonly used. I still love the smell of clove and fresh rosemary today. I've had kind of a love-hate relationship with vanilla and cinnamon but we've come to a common ground lately. :)

What really stands out in my mind though is not of my earliest memory but of one I recall from my adolescent years. Many years ago during the Christmas season my mom would take my sister and me to Hudson's department store in downtown Detroit. At that time of year one of the upper floors was set up as a little shop for 'Children Only' to do their Christmas shopping. The parents would give their children money to buy small trinket-like gifts then wait outside this set up until the children finished shopping. This way the parents couldn't see their gifts ahead of time. :) This one particular year I bought my grandmother a green apple cologne. When I purchased it I thought it was the best scent on Earth. I was a kid, what did I know. I still laugh (and cringe) about it to this day. It was green in color and in a clear apple shaped atomizer. Grandmothers are sweet. They don't always tell you when you've given them shit they'd never ever use. When I gave it to her on Christmas she smiled, gave me a big hug and said "Thank you." I was so proud of myself. It never dawned on me that years later that bottle of cologne was still full, yet sitting proudly on my gram's dresser amongst her real cologne.

Scents Of Shakespeare

2010-11-17T12:42:00.000-05:00

The writings of William Shakespeare are filled with references to scent. The highlighted notes are but single components in the compositions. Check the links for more information on each perfume.

note: I have not tried any of these yet so they are not recommendations...just a nod in the perfumers direction.

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."

Romeo and Juliet

Therapeutate Une Rose Pour Sharon

"Hot lavender, mints, savoury, marjoram;"

The Winter's Tale

Strange Invisible Aquarian Roses Eau de Parfum

"That mint."

Love's Labour's Lost

Strange Invisible Atlantic Eau de Parfum

"Coming and going with thy honey breath."

Titus Andronicus

Velvet & Sweet Pea Honey liquid perfume

"Whose smoke, like incense, doth perfume the sky."

Titus Andronicus

Parfums des Beaux Arts Oude Arabique

"Under an oak whose antique root peeps out"

As You Like It

Roxana Illuminated Perfume Q Organic Botanical Perfume
dedicated to the local oaks

'I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!'

2010-11-15T09:38:00.000-05:00

The Natural Perfumers Guild is at it again. The latest NPG collective project was announced today. So what's this project all about? Outlaw Perfumes! NPG perfumers have blended compositions using natural essences that are on the list of restricted or banned aromatics issued by International Fragrance Association (IFRA). Check out the links below as participating bloggers will explain more.

Read an intro here at Perfume Shrine: Outlaw Perfume: Revolutionizing the Industry One Step at Time

Nine of the perfumers who participated in the Mystery of Musk project will be submitting perfumes for this one.

Adam Gottschalk – Lord’s Jester
Alfredo Dupetit – BioScent by dupetit
Anya McCoy – Anya’s Garden Perfumes
Charna Ethier – Providence Perfumes
Dawn Spencer Hurwitz – DSH Perfumes
Elise Pearlstine – Belly Flower Perfumes
Jane Cate - A Wing and a Prayer Perfumes
JoAnne Bassett – JoAnne Bassett Perfumes
Lisa Fong – Artemisia Perfume

Participating Bloggers:

Gaia - The Non Blonde

Donna - The Examiner

Felicia - Fragrance Belles Lettres

Carol - WAFT....what a fragrancefanatic thinks

Ida, Mark & Monica - Ca Fleure Bon

Lucy - Indieperfumes

Beth - Perfume Smellin' Things

Pat - Olfactarama