Can you believe the holiday season is already upon us? Thanksgiving will be here in a heartbeat, and the first night of Hanukkah is December 1st. So it’s time to hop to it and get gifting. I’ve gathered together some of my favorite bloggers (links below) to offer our recommendations for those special items on our to-give lists, and maybe even our own wish-lists. My list includes many price points ranging from $6.50 for a gorgeously scented soap to $325 for a precious limited edition perfume, with lots in between. As you might have guessed, all of my recommendations are 100% natural which means no petrochemicals, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, or parabens.
Urban Eden (Now Oilve and Oud) Shahrazad soap ($6.50 per bar) I recently reviewed Urban Eden soaps and at the time I had just started using my bar of Shahrazad. At this present moment, I have but a tiny sliver left and recently placed an order for another bar so I can continue to bask in its plentiful floral spiciness. Tuberose, frankincense, and cardamom are the standouts in this richly lathering soap that’s perfect for this time of year.
Gabriel’s Aunt tea light sampler. ($9 for a set of 10) After you spend some time at the Gabriel’s Aunt etsy shop, you’ll be glad you can choose 10 different tea lights in your sampler. Nikki Sherritt, creator of GA, has so many scrumptious scents to choose from that it really is hard to pick only a few. My favorite isRoyal Couple ($25 for 8oz candle), a rose and jasmine blend that warms a room with a finespun throw. You can read more about her liquid and solid fragrances here and here.
Wing and Prayer mini sampler ($10 for three 1/8oz rollerball) This has got to be one of the best bargains in the natural perfume world. $10 for three nicely sized fragrances? That’s a steal that we all need to take advantage of! I adore Flowers, a gardenia fragrance with sweet notes of linden and beeswax as well as Bella, a soft blend of verbena and neroli. An individual bottle is $35 for a 1.78oz spray which is also an incredible value for such gorgeous, all natural scents.
Scented Djinn Sahar ($25 for 5ml) This beauty boasts jasmine, sandalwood, and champaca infused with honey and vanilla. Sounds pretty right? It’s also calming and cozy and I love to wear it on cold fall mornings. I reviewed Saharthispast spring if you would like to read more.
evanhealy Sweet Blossom Hydrating Oil($29.95 for 4oz) Smoothing this body oil over freshly showered skin is a pleasure of which I will never tire. Frankincense, neroli and a light touch of ylang ylang intertwine to create a comforting scent that will put a smile on the lucky recipient’s face. And not only is it beautifully fragranced, it is made with cold pressed, organic oils of sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, jojoba and apricot kernel so it feels as good as it smells.
Organic Apoteke Droseros Hydrating Mist ($30 for 5oz) Hyrdosols have become a part of my daily skincare routine. Sometimes I spray it on my skin when it’s dry and I want to apply a body oil (such as evanhealy’s above) and I also mist my face with a hydrosol before using my serum. Currently, Organic Apoteke is my favorite because it’s soothing and hydrating. But honestly, I really love it because it smells so darn good. It’s like there’s a magic honey ingredient in this mist that lasts for hours and swirls around my skin amidst delicate rose petals. I’ve got this in the travel size, and you can be sure it’s going with me on my next plane ride.
DSH PerfumesÉpices d’Hiver ($40 for 1 dram/5 mls or $120 for 1 oz) Épices d’Hiver was launched by DSH Perfumes last fall, and got a lot of wear during the cold months, which here in the Northwest can last well into May. So suffice to say, I wore it many a day. Now that the rain and cold are upon us once more, Épices d’Hiver is back in action, providing me with a cozy spicy go-to fragrance suffused with nutmeg, hay and woods.
Ayala Moriel Parfums Palas Atena ($48 for 4mls or $120 for 9ml flacon) Palas Atena was the first Ayala Moriel fragrance that I fell for, and it still ranks high on my list of favorites of her creations. It’s a classic floriental with notes of patchouli, amber, champaca, cinnamon, jasmine, lavender, neroli, sandalwood, and sweet orange. Each essence flows into the next, moving in continuous harmony like a high quality vintage fragrance.
Intelligent Nutrients Aromatics in Focus ($50 for 0.85 oz) Feel free to spritz this alluring aromatic all over yourself. Mist it on your face, your skin, and your hair and let its organic vitamin e and castor oils hydrate while organic flower oils intoxicate. The neroli jasmine duo is swoon worthy, and so well loved, that I can’t imagine anyone not being thrilled to open up this 100% organic scent.
Roxana Illuminated Perfume’s Rosa Solid ($72 for 5.3 gm solid in a refillable silver compact) Oh lovely Rosa! Such a precious compact made even more so by its contents. If you are a rose lover, or know one, you should feel compelled to give Rosa a serious gander. Rose otto from Turkey and an absolute of rose bourbonica from India grace this sensual solid perfume, as well as woods, oud, vetiver and leather. Its rich and earthy bouquet is full but wears close to the skin. One of my favorite rose perfumes.
Aftelier Perfumes Candide ($150 for 0.25 oz which includes a 2ml mini, the mini is sold separately for $45) Mandy Aftel of Aftelier Perfumes has just launched Candide, and made a personal appearance last night at Bendel’s in NYC to celebrate its release. And believe me, she has much to toast as Candide is truly beautiful. It radiates with sparkling notes of pink grapefruit, blood orange and raspberries all wrapped up in sueded jasmine petals. Its lush and enticing, but cheerful and flirtatious as well. A suggestion of frankincense affords a bit of grounding, but to be sure, Candide is lighthearted through and through.
Strange Invisible Perfumes Elektrou ($325 for 0.25 fl. oz. pure perfume • Available in-store or by phone only. Call toll free: 800.919.7472) Strange Invisible Perfumes has lured me in once before with these limited edition gems. I caved and bought Dimanche last spring, and have not regretted it for a second. It exudes two notes that I can’t seem to get enough of, hay and honey, in a surprisingly sophisticated and provocative manner. Well, if you wish you’d jumped at the chance to get Dimanche, Elektrou is quite similar, with a few distinct differences. Dimanche’s opening is on the sharp side due to the edginess iris sometimes possesses. Elektrou on the other hand is immediately soft with its vanilla and smooth amber accord. Sandalwood plays a large roll in Elektrou’s suppleness, emanating a sensual ease. It’s going to take serious restraint that I am not sure I have to keep myself for purchasing Elektrou as I want every scarf I own to smell just like it. It’s a splurge no doubt, but one that the perfumista in your life (which is probably yourself) will adore.
Please stop by the following blogs for more gift ideas.
Posted by ~Trish
What a lovely list! I see many favorites. Thanks so much for the reminder, Trish. : )
Hey D! As you have just read, I am still loving Sahar, probably my fave from you 🙂
Best,
T
Trish, thank you so, so much–both for including my Shahrazad and for pointing me in the direction of some delicious-sounding, botanically-scented delights. Knowing what some of these ingredients cost, I’m amazed at how affordable some of these are. I don’t have too many bars of Shahrazad in stock right now, but I’m making more this weekend!
Phew! Glad you have more Shahrazad in the works 😀
I hope you have a terrific holiday season,
Trihs
Thanks, Trish! I also wanted to say how floored and honored I am to be in this list with artists whom I admire so much. I can’t tell you how many nights I fell asleep reading Mandy Aftel’s books, or how excited I was the day my samples of Roxana’s Illuminated perfumes arrived.
I too love Urban Eden’s Shahrazad soap; in fact, I used it again this morning. Divine. Thank you for a nice spectrum of lovely gift ideas!
Yay! Another Shahrazad fan. Isn’t it such a lovely treat for the shower? I can’t wait until my new bar arrives.
~T
My comment seems to have been eaten by powers that be on internet. 🙂
I knew this would happen, I would read all the great ideas and then decide it was time to gift myself with some of them. I see several things on your list I’d definitely like to try. Thanks!
Ines, that is so frustrating when that happens! Well, thanks for giving the comment another try, glad it posted this time.
Off to read you recs my dear!
Trish
I am literally just doing my Christmas listing! Sharazade is such a great name for any beauty product- and what a great price. I’m really only just starting to explore natural perfumes but I’m so impressed by the Strange Invisible scents I’ve tried so far.
Rose, SIPs are among my favorites, and definitely worth trying. These limited editions are only available in store though, and I don’t think they sell samples, so it takes a big leap of faith ordering unsniffed for such a costly item. But…that’s what I did with Dimanche (crazy girl that I am) and it paid off 😀
Hugs,
T
I think I need some of the Sharazade soap followed closely by the Sweet Blossom hydrating oil. Decadent!
Two amazing choices Liz! I just put on the evanhealy oil this morning and I can still smell it gently wafting around me 🙂
Trish, again, thank you so much for including my products in your gift guide. I am thrilled that my candles are enjoyed by you. I have to try the Urban Eden soap you mentioned as well as the DSH and SIP perfumes you have listed. Actually, ALL of the perfumes! Always love your posts. Thanks again. xo, Nikki
We must be perfume twins Nikki! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
~T
This is a great list!
Thanks Alyssa, I love them all! 🙂
~T
Nice list! I’ll be checking these out!
Thanks Spirit!
~T
Trish thanks so much for creating this list, inviting me to be part of this blogging event and including Rosa here. I love reading your lists, they point me in just the right direction. Currently I am awaiting a package of Gabriel’s Aunt tea lights and perfume samples , can’t wait!
Hey Roxana! Thanks so much for joining in 🙂
Looking forward to heading over to your blog to read your recs. See you over there!
~T
Trish, I have made a few purchases based on your reviews and have not been disappointed. This is a lovely list of products I must try. I’ve wanted to try candles from Gabriel’s Aunt for some time. The tea light sampler would be perfect to start with. Thank you!
Lisa, I am so glad! Phew 😉
If you do get the samples from GA, please let me know what your faces are!
xo
T
What a plethora of pleasure, Ms. Trish !
I love the variety…
“Auch kleine Dinge “….
Much love in this [ and every] season :-0
Thanks sweetie! Love it when you visit over here at “The Hive” 🙂
Lots of hugs to you,
T
Thank you Trish for mentioning my perfumes, A Wing & A Prayer Perfumes. Wishing you a wonderful holiday season. Warm Regards, Jane
It was my pleasure! Love Bella and Flowers so much! 🙂
~T
Hi Trish,
Thank you for listing Sahar amongst all these other lovely gift-giving worthy products.
Justine (The Scented Djinn)
You are so welcome Justine! Thanks for creating Sahar 😉
~T
That saves me. Thanks for being so sneslbie!