Skylar Perfumes. Keeping it musky.

Skylar Perfumes are relatively new on the scene, and worthy of consideration if you are interested in delving into natural perfumes or if you’re like me and have been a natural devotee for many years now but have longed to bring some musks back into your life. Let me clarify though, Skylar is not 100% natural. Some safe synthetics are used, which means no phthalates and all of the fragrances are vegan and cruelty free. So purists might not be fully on board, but if you are open to this brand, you will find sustainable essences, gorgeous packaging, and a philanthropic mission.

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Anna Zworykina Perfumes

When Anna Zworykina first contacted me about reviewing her perfume line I was certainly intrigued by her. She’s a Russian biochemist (a PhD no less) who has been creating natural fragrances for more than fifteen years and I was not previously familiar with her work. Of course I said yes, and if you’re like me and you peruse Anna’s website, or her etsy store, you will see that she has a great many fragrances to choose from and admittedly I was overwhelmed by the generous samples she sent my way. Thankfully, it has been my absolute pleasure to have spent many months with the perfumes of Anna Zworykina, and I wish I could review all of them as each one is worthy of a dedicated review.

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Amber Tapestry by Mandy Aftel

The first time I smelled the raw material of benzoin, I was flush with bliss. The earthy vanillic scent wafting from the glass jar that housed pieces of the resin was pure heaven to me. I was smitten. Even though that evening was over eight years ago, I can still recall the interplay between soft vanilla and dark soil and I wanted a perfume of only benzoin. Labdanum is another cherished aroma for me, and I was able to smell its raw material that same evening. Labdanum is also a sweet resin, but it’s richer with a leathery smokiness that begs to be worn on a cold night. It probably comes as no surprise that both of these resins are frequently used together in perfumery and make up the the backbone of amber perfumes, and Amber Tapestry is no exception.

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Get to Know Lina Hanson: Interview

This interview with Lina Hanson is part of an event hosted by Bergamot Beauty that includes a YouTube review of Lina’s exceptional line of skin and body care and a giveaway on Instagram. If you are not familiar with Lina Hanson’s Global Beauty, you will discover a line that uses only the purest, highest quality natural ingredients that are ethically sourced and organic, wildcrafted or fair-trade.

Earlier this year I reviewed Satori, Lina’s beautiful all natural perfume that was inspired by her travels throughout Southeast Asia. (Please click the link if you would like to read more about Satori).

I hope you enjoy learning more about Lina as her answers are very thoughtful and quite illuminating. I would also like to take this moment to give her a huge thanks for taking the time to answer these questions, and again to Bergamot Beauty for hosting this giveaway. Don’t forget to pop on over to Instagram to check out the giveaway details! Additionally, you all can take advantage of a 20% discount off all Lina Hanson products at BergamotBeauty.com Nov. 28-Dec.4 with code linahanson16.

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Dilettante by Hiram Green

I received my sample of Dilettante this past June (which tells you how behind I am in my blog reviews) and indeed this was supposed to be a summertime post. The three listed notes of orange flower, petitgrain, and essential oil of orange suggest that this fruity floral perfume would sit perfectly in the pocket of a warm summer night, but this Dilettante has more to offer.

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Balance EDP by Sigil Scent

What first struck me about Sigil Scent was its unique name. Sigil. As gleaned from the website, its name is derived from the Latin word sigillum or seal, “a unique sign infused with personal meaning”. For Patrick Kelly, the creator of Sigil Scent, it signifies the ritual of applying fragrance in order to help set and guide your intention for the day.

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The Boxwalla’s August Beauty Box Review

I hope you enjoy this YouTube review of August’s BoxWalla Beauty Box! This box included products from Odacite, Moss and Biodara, such wonderful green beauty brands. Watch for all the details and visit The Boxwalla if you’d like to subscribe to their October box!

Disclosure: This box was provided to me by the brand. All opinions are my own and I am not financially compensated for my reviews. Post does contain an affiliate link.

Los Feliz Botanicals Reviewed.

Los Feliz is a neighborhood in Los Angeles, not too far from where I went to college, so when the PR gal from Los Feliz Botanicals contacted me, my interest was instantly piqued. When I learned that Krystal Quinn Castro, the creator of LFB, studied with Mandy Aftel, my interest was piqued even more and I knew this was a line I needed to explore.

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Natural Rose Perfumes by Velvet & Sweet Pea and Lalun Naturals

Truth be told, I am not typically drawn to rose perfumes. It’s not that I don’t appreciate or even enjoy the scent of rose, I do. I actually love rose in body and skincare products, but in terms of perfumes being focused on rose, it’s not what I seek out when perusing fragrances. Recently, I had the pleasure of trying out perfume samples from Lalun Naturals and Velvet & Sweet Pea’s Purrfumery, and was quite surprised to be most impressed by their rose offerings.

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Sunset Beach and Lost Lagoon by Ayala Moriel.

We were in Italy recently, and this is one of my favorite shots that I took on the trip. It’s from Francavilla al Mare on the Adriatic coastline and it truly embodies the relaxed nature of our time there. We had such an amazing trip, and if you follow me on instagram, you have probably seen the places we visited in this region as well as Siena and Rome. Incredibly beautiful and such delicious food of course!

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