Roxana Illuminated Perfume: Vera Solid Perfume

Roxana Illuminated Perfume 2 Minutes

Roxana Villa, of Roxana Illuminated Perfume, is the creator behind one of my favorite lavender perfumes, Vera. I reviewed the liquid formulation of Vera this past fall, and am elated that Roxana is now offering it as a solid in addition to the liquid perfume. Organic lavender from Ojai is used in the formulations and lavender lovers in the Southern California area should consider attending the Ojai Lavender Festival on June 26th.



Both the liquid and solid Veras are comforting and unique renditions of lavender, but they do possess subtle differences. Alongside lavender, there are woods, resins, sage, oakmoss and orange blossom that coalesce elegantly in both formulas. In the topnotes, sage predominates the liquid while resins are much more enhanced in the solid. Resins of styrax (benzoin), Peru Balsam and cistus yield a supple aroma whose delicate sweetness hovers over the rich depth of a sunbaked thicket.


The middle notes of the solid continue to explore the resinous nature of Vera, as cistus (the essential oil of the rockrose shrub) becomes heightened in its rich radiance. In contrast, the heart of the liquid finds itself amidst the floral company of orange blossoms which temper the intensely herbaceousness of lavender. This herbal quality quiets even further in the liquid’s drydown which assumes a more powdery form. The solid on the otherhand, veers away from the powder path and into the deeper terrain of woods like cedar, vintage Mysore sandalwood and the aforementioned resins.



Vera in both of its forms are beauties, but I prefer the solid as the union of sweet, intriguing resins with aromatic florals reels me in effortlessly. Impressive longevity is bestowed upon both, but the solid wears closer to the skin. As always, Roxana’s perfumes are 100% natural, made with only the finest organic and/or wildcrafted botanicals.


As a special treat for Scent Hive readers, Roxana is giving away a trio sampler set of Vera, Rosa and Chaparral. As always, you are eligible for extra entries, one each, by following Roxana on Twitter and/or her Blog. Extra entries as well if you follow Scent Hive on Bloglovin, Twitter, Google Friend Connect, Facebook’s Networked Blogs, or subscribe to Scent Hive. Please let me know in your comment what you did so you get the entries you deserve! Drawing will close Sunday June 13th at 9pm PST. We have our winner!


Vera is available at Roxana’s etsy site. $7.50 for a solid perfume mini is $7.50, $25 for a 5gm pot, $65 for a compact, or $150 for a 7gm flacon of the liquid perfume.


Posted by ~Trish

Disclosure: Samples from Roxana Illuminated Perfume were provided for this review. The opinions in this review are my own. I was not financially compensated for this review or any other.

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43 thoughts on “Roxana Illuminated Perfume: Vera Solid Perfume”

  1. Vera sounds like a beautiful tribute to lavender. I’m posting one entry. Thank you to Roxana for her generosity!

  2. I’ve been dying to try Roxana’s perfumes ever since you first introduced them to me! Thanks for the fun giveaway. I follow you and Roxana on Twitter, and I subscribe to Scent Hive, of course!

    1. J,
      You definitely need to try some of Roxana’s scents! Good luck in the draw, you’re down for 4 entries.

      ~T

  3. Oooh, what a lovely giveaway! Thank you, Roxana! I’ve tried Vera in liquid form–it’s wonderful–and would love to see how the solid differs. And I’ve been wanting to try chaparral for ages. (Now I’ve got to go read up on Rosa.)

    I follow Roxana’s blog and on Twitter. And I subscribe to ScentHive and follow you on Twitter, blogloving, FB networked blogs. Sometimes I follow as UrbanEden and sometimes as Laura Natusch.

  4. This solid sounds perfect to me, I love lavender but am always cautious of it in scents. I don’t think I have any worries here, your description sounds marvelous, and I’d love to try the other two as well. I follow Roxana in my google reader. Thanks!

  5. I own Sierra in solid form, and love it. Lavender is a favorite ingredient of mine. Please enter me in the draw. I follow both your blog and Roxana’s. Thanks to you both!

  6. Ooooh Vera in solid form! I’m here sniffing my little sample of the liquid and I imagining the extra depth and warmth the beeswax will add to this already lovely composition. Gorgeous!

    Thanks to you both for yet another wonderful giveaway!

    Extra Entries:
    I follow Roxana on her Blog.
    I follow Scent Hive on Bloglovin, Google Friend Connect, Facebook’s Networked Blogs, and subscribe to Scent Hive

    Warm regards
    Holly

  7. What a great post and lovely giveaway!

    I follow Roxana on Twitter
    I follow her blog
    I follow Scent Hive on Bloglovin
    also on Twitter
    and Google Friend Connect
    as well as Facebook’s Networked Blogs
    I also subscribe to Scent Hive.

    So that is… 7 entries! 😀

    samyrocks92 at msn dot com

  9. Hi Trish,

    I purchased a sampler pack from Roxana a while back which included Vera in liquid form – I found this really uplifting and clean – it made me feel awake and level-headed and I enjoyed the fresh scent – the sage component is lovely (and as you say, quite predominant in the top notes). I’ve run out of that one (as well as the other liquids unfortunately…) and at the time of purchase, Vera had not yet been released as a solid. I’m excited that it has, along with Rosa (which sounds heavenly) and Chaparral (which I’ve only tried as liquid – wonderfully “campfire-ish”, deep and fresh) – would be wonderful to see how it evolves as a solid. Also on my hit list are Page 47 and Smell Me.

    I would love to be entered in this draw and would be delighted to win (I subscribe to both your blog & Roxana’s on email and through Blogger). Either way, I will be stopping by Roxana’s Etsy store to place an order for a 1ml Smell Me and the Flower Full Moon Trio (Rosa, Vera, Page 47) solids very soon. I think it may be very necessary to experience Rosa liquid too…I can imagine it is beyond heavenly!

    I simply cannot emphasize enough how talented Roxana is (I know you must agree). How awesome for someone to be so inspired by nature’s bounty and capable of harnessing it’s beauty and marrying the elements so expertly (and seemingly intuitively) so as to create something completely “transporting” for others to delight in and enjoy! Thank you Roxana!

    Thanks also to you for putting this together and as usual, your descriptions are wonderfully worded and I love that you only (in general) review items that you like or can find something positive about. It’s a great change to see that there is someone out there that doesn’t feel the need to harshly critique other people’s attempts at art (or work of any kind) in a negative or mean way. It’s a great and commendable policy you have! Good on you! 🙂

    1. Laura, thank you so very much for the thoughtful and complementary comment. I don’t feel the need to be critical of small indie perfumers/businesses which is my focus here. I’m not going to praise something I don’t like of course, but I’m also not going to go out of my way to demoralize an already fledgling niche.
      I fully agree with you about Roxana, she is a gem and so talented. Rosa is stunning in both forms!
      Thanks again for supporting Scent Hive and natural perfumery. And…..you’ve got 5 entries!
      Best,
      Trish

  10. Hi Trish, that was a great review of Vera!
    I have tried Roxanna’s Greenwitch, Oak, Chaparral and Sierra, and they are all wonderful. I would love to try Vera and Rosa – and another Chaparral tester would be fab as that is my current favourite.
    I subscribe to both blogs, and follow Scent Hive and Roxanna on Twitter.
    Thank you both for all your hard work!
    Maggie x

    1. Maggie, isn’t Chaparral beautiful? I will be reviewing it in both its form in the near future. I hope you get to try them all 🙂
      That’s 5 entries for you, so good luck!
      Trish

  11. I have high regard for the work of Roxanna and since these are all scents I haven’t tried, I’d love to enter.
    I’m also a follower now of you and Roxanna on twitter (and her blog).

  12. Hello Trish,

    Do please enter me in the draw as I am a fan of natural perfumery but haven’t gotten around to Roxanna’s creations and I would love to remedy that! I don’t have a Twitter account but I have Roxanna on my Facebook and also left a comment on her blog as well. I ‘follow’ you guys on your blogs even though I don’t really follow how to be in this to get so many entires ha 😉 Oh I have a Etsy account too? IDK if that counts? So yeah I love the frenzy that perfume samples create, please consider me in the vast crowd of perfumistas! Good luck to all.
    Truly, Tamara

    zebra_cupcakes@yahoo.com

    1. Tamara, I counted 5 entries for you. If you “heart” Roxana’s shop over at Etsy since you have an account, that would be great!! I think when people put her shop as a favorite, it increases her chances of being featured there.
      Thanks for your support!
      Trish

  13. Hi Trish–I read your guest piece on nstperfume.com, and I am so pleased to have found your blog! I ordered some sample sizes from roxana immediately, of course 🙂 So I would love to win the solids you have from her here! I subscribe to your blog, friended you on facebook, and added you to my google friendconnect. Thank you so much–looking forward to more great info from you!! renee

    1. Renee,
      I am so glad you found Scent Hive through NST! You’ll have to let me know what you think of the samples you ordered 🙂

      Thank you so much for the follows, that makes 4 entries for you.
      Best of luck,
      Trish

  14. These looks wonderful- I love lavender! I have recently become a lover of solid perfumes- so much easier to travel with! Thanks

  15. Hi Trish!

    Another lovely review with a giveaway to boot! =)

    I follow you both on my rss feed, and you via Bloglovin and google friend connect.

    I love Natural Perfume.

  17. These are absolutely beautiful–the presentation for the solid perfume mini has me completely charmed! I imagine they smell just divine 🙂

    1. Maricela, you are right! They smell as pretty as they look 🙂
      Good luck in the drawing,
      Trish

  18. Hi Trish!
    Beautiful review of Roxana’s Vera! I only know the liquid and love it’s resiny dreamyness and how the lavender comes through as it evolves. Rox’s perfumer skills and aesthetics are exquisite!
    XOXO~Laurie

    1. Hi Laurie!
      Thanks for stopping by 🙂
      You deserve to be entered in the drawing!
      Good luck,
      Trish

  19. Oh I would love to try this! It sounds fantastic and lavender is one of my favorites!

    Thanks for the giveaway too! How exciting! I’m following Roxana on twitter (JennyBolech) and on her blog, and I’m following Scent Hive on twitter and google friend connect!

    1. Yay Jenny! Thanks for all the follows! That’s 5 entries.

      Best of luck,
      Trish

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