And the winner is....Simply "Devine"!

A month ago I started out to see if I could come up with a perfume scent I would like, using only pure essential oils. I mixed up 4 different recipes in my kitchen and let them marinate for about 30 days. On Xmas I unveiled the scents and chose a winner.

Perfume #1 was OK but a bit too lemongrassy

Perfume #2 was a little too orangey

Perfume #3 was so awful I threw it in the toilet

and so the winner was Perfume #4
I named it Devine a nickname given to me by my brother

I actually like it a lot. The problem is, I have to get way better in my record keeping because when I went back over my chart....I couldn't figure out exactly which oils I put in the bottle or exactly how many drops of ea (oops). So...I am left guessing the actual contents of Devine. I do remember improvising and putting in more drops of scents I really liked (i.e more rose, amber and neroli) As for the rest of the ingredients, I'm pretty sure they include jasmine, frankincense, chamomile and bergamot.

Oh well. I like it and I have whole bottle of it. So that's a good thing. I'll figure it out next time.

Step into my kitchen

Can you guess what I'm cooking up?

hint...I don't cook!

No, it's not a Thanksgiving turkey. As a matter of fact it has nothing to do with Thanksgiving.

When last I wrote, I told you that I was making some big changes in my life. The biggest being a complete change in diet and my approach to wellness. In conjunction with participating in the healing of my own body, I have also started using essential oils. The oils can be used therapeutically to support physical and emotional well being and are also useful in so many other ways. My plan is to rid myself and my home of the toxic products I have been using and replace them with clean, natural organic, products. 

Another thing I have always loved is creating scents and fragrances. I did this by mixing different fragrances together. Of course I have known for some time that commercial fragrances contains harmful, toxic ingredients but thinking I had no choice, I used them anyway. 

Scent of Danger: Are There Toxic Ingredients in Perfumes and Colognes?

So now I've decided to make my own perfume using essential oils. 

Over the weekend I also made anti aging night serums for my face and neck. Clean and for a fraction of the cost to buy them @ Nordstrom or Macy's!

 With the night cream under my belt, how hard could it be to create a fragrance? 

I scoured the internet watching video after video 

and learned a lot about how to make my own fragrance. 

And, really it's not that difficult

I gathered up all of my oils and set out to whip up a new scent. 

except.....

I didn't follow the directions closely enough as I discovered 

I needed to use alcohol for the recipes I had chosen.

I had not seen that part. Nor had I paid attention to the fact that I also needed distilled water.

So back to the store I went. 

 You can use perfumer's alcohol 

or 

wait for it....

Vodka! 

At least 80 proof. The alcohol helps the scent to evaporate 

I bought a  bottle @ Trader Joe's for $5.99 (don't think I will try drinking it) 

Once I had all of my ingredients. I set them out on my counter top and 

separated them by base, middle and top notes

Snapping a few pics of myself along the way

All kidding aside, it's really not that hard. All you really need to make your own perfume is a good quality oil to use as your base, some quality essential oils (there are many companies out there to choose from) and a non reactive container to put it in. I think glass is better. 

Now I have so many choices that I haven't decided which one I want to make first.

I'll be sure to share the results with you. It also takes about 30 days after you make the fragrance before you can wear it.

I'm shooting for a Xmas reveal! Be sure to stop back by.

Also if you have questions about essential oils and/or want to make your own creams. perfumes. etc. Email me or Leave me message in comments.

Outrageous

Currently Wearing: Diana Vreeland - Outrageously Vibrant

Lots of people like perfume, but only a few people really LOVE it. Perfume lovers want to try all sorts of perfumes and love to talk about them. 

I finally got a chance to check out the new fragrance by Diana Vreeland. I bought the scent called Extravagance Russe but got it home and did not like it (which rarely happens to me).  I think this time it was due to my purchasing the fragrance at Needless markup Neiman Marcus from a very pushy sales man - on my lunch hour. Shopping at Neiman is not like shopping at good ole Nordstrom.  As a perfume lover always on the hunt - I must add that, Neiman Marcus had many interesting fragrances that I was not familiar with, so for that reason I plan to return)

On this day, however, I ended up leaving wtith a fragrance I had not tested on my own body (it was pre sprayed on one of those tester cards) and bought a size much bigger than I wanted at a price I was not prepared to pay. It was $271 (with tax) I have purchased only one other fragrance  that cost as much (a Tom Ford exclsuive for $350). Generally I try to keep my puchases under $150 - $185 max. Coming to my senses - several days later,  I returned to exchange my purchase for Outrageously Vibrant in a smaller size.  Still deciding how much I like the new fragrance but much happier (and $70 richer).

Ain't No Sunshine

Lighthouse Family

I like this version (though not a classic oldie) a remake of the Bill Wither's classic of the same name
always one of my all time favorite songs

Diana Vreeland photo source

Famed for her red lips, red nails and red chinoiserie salon, Diana Vreeland stood out even more for her talents as an editor.

Diana Dalziel, was born in Paris around the turn of the 20th century and died in New York in 1989. In between she lived an extraordinary life that, in classic American fashion, was a triumph of self-invention. 

The Perfumes

The collection of five fragrances available exclusively at Neiman Marcus is the work of Diana Vreeland’s grandson, Alexandar Vreeland, who recently published the book Diana Vreeland Memos. The collection includes fragrances available in colorful flacons, while the compositions are signed by prominent perfumers of the IFF company. The fragrances of the collection by Diana Vreeland (1903 - 1989), famous columnist and editor of Vogue and Harper's Bazaar were named Extravagance Russe, Perfectly Marvelous, Absolutely Vital, Simply Divine and Outrageously Vibrant.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

If you are interested, there is a  2012 documentary movie about Diana called
The Eye Has to Travel

Trailer is below

Whatever you have planned (or don't). Hope you enjoy your weekend! 

Here comes the weekend - Does it make scents?

Happy Friday everyone!

 What are you doing this weekend?

I have a full weekend.  On Saturday I have a hair appointment. Going to experiment with a couple of new styles. I am really bad at changing my hair style and totally uncreative where my hair is concerned.  My hair has gotten so long that I can't think of anything to do with it. The extent of my creativity is the ponytail. Do I wear it high or a low?  B O R I N G!

I'm actually thinking of cutting it to maybe midway down my back.  That won't happen until February (prior to our Costa Rica trip).  At the same time I will touch up the color and redo some highlights. I only color once a year since it is really bad for my hair.

I forwarded a couple of hair style pictures to my Sisterlocks consultant and we discussed the possibility of doing a new style.  We'll see.

My Friday Classic oldie jam pick

is

Crystal Blue Persuasion

Tommy James and the Shondells 1969

On Saturday afternoon we have our regular weekly meeting. This week we have a new member who is thinking of going with us on our Costa Rica exploration trip in Match.

Later that evening we're going to party with some friends who are celebrating  a birthday.

Come Sunday, it's FOOTBALL!

Trying out a head wrap - I did it all myself!
Outfit is jacket, top and pants from Bryn Walker

On another topic, you may have noticed that I added a link on my sidebar called "Currently Wearing" In the future, I plan to use this area to highlight some of my favorite things.
This week I am featuring my favorite (and newest) perfume.  It's called Velvet Rose and Oud by Jo Malone.

Be sure to wash your skin and apply a lotion before applying your perfume since fragrances last longer on clean, moist skin. Apply perfume immediately after a bath or shower, when possible. Otherwise, thoroughly wash and lotion the areas where you plan on applying perfume.

I LOVE a good scent

Here are a few more perfume tips

Don't Rub Your Wrists Together

Rubbing your wrists (which I have a habit of doing)  may limit the length of time your scent lasts. There are three notes that make up a fragrance, and these are also what holds its scent. When you rub your wrists together, the friction and heat burn through the top and middle note, making your perfume spritz a complete waste of time.

Apply to the pulse points

Body heat is the main activator of perfume, therefore applying it to pulse points are your best options. Try applying it to your wrists, neck, behind your knees, ankles and chest. Remember: pick your placement wisely, and don’t overdo it. Try two to three places AT MOST!

Application to your clothes and hair is okay as well, but not ideal as the fragrance won’t be projected as much without your body heat.

Don't Leave the Bottle Out On Your Vanity

This is the first time I've heard this but as pretty as your bottle may be, fragrances last the longest in the refrigerator. Though keeping your scents next to your fruits and veggies may gross you out, it is the best storage option for them. The alternative to is keep them in a dark, cool environment as far away from direct sunlight and heat. The heat from the sun will break down the fragrance faster and can even change the way it smells!

Find Your individual Fragrance Scent

Remember that the way a fragrance smells on someone else is going to be different from how it smells on you. Your body’s chemistry is unique to you and it completes the outcome of the fragrance once it’s applied. A best practice is to try it out before you run out and buy it. Sample, sample sample!

source

How many of you remember the 1969 hit oldie, Crystal Blue Persuasion

by Tommy James and the Shondells 

 (Be sure to click the link to listen to the song)

still good words to live by....

(song lyrics)

Look over yonder

What do you see?

The sun is a'rising

Most definitely

A new day is coming, ooh, ooh

People are changing

Ain't it beautiful, ooh, ooh

Crystal blue persuasion

Whatever you have planned (or don't)...Hope you enjoy your weekend.

Scents and Sensibilities

Bath or Shower?

I love these little soaps from L'Occitane

I bought a couple of the box sets at Christmas and just recently ran out.  During the holiday season the special was buy 2 boxes get one box free. Great deal! Today they were displayed in box sets again, this time for Mother's Day.  The soaps sell individually for $8 each. While I was deciding which scents I wanted to buy, the sales lady approached me and explained that I should buy the box set of 3 because they were only $24. So I grabbed a box, and thinking that I was getting a special 'deal' I quickly added an additional bar.

Deal? Duh, It didn't occur to me until later that 3 X 8 = 24!

Next to clothes, my next most favorite thing is PERFUME and OILS

This ain't your grandma's old toilette water!

This photo shows only a portion of my perfume collection!

I am wild about fragrance!!

The reason I have so many different perfumes is because I layer them. 

My secret is....
I don't layer a couple of fragrances like normal people
Nope
I sometimes layer as many as 4 or 5
(small amounts mixed together in the palm of my hand and then dabbed onto the pulse points)
I am used to the gentle tap on the shoulder by a stranger,
followed by "uh Ms, excuse me but, what fragrance are you wearing?"
tee hee

 No one can ever figure out what I'm wearing.  So confusing.

And I like it like that!

I love candles and burn them often.
I used to make all of my own beeswax candles, to which I would add essential oils. 

If any of you are partial to the scents from Mr Ford, he expanded his fragrance line last year to include about 12-15 new fragrances. The prices range from $212 to $495 (typical TF prices) and are only sold in exclusive stores.
I only have one of the new fragrances but was fortunate enough to have received
samples of a few of the others which I liked as well.
I just don't have the funds to make another TF perfume splurge right now.
but....doesn't mean I won't in the future.

I am a Tom Ford fragrance lover

But my FAVORITE, FAVORITE is Esteban parfums from Paris. Esteban has a number of very exotic scents. You know they know how to make perfume in Paris! I fell in love with Esteban when I was in Paris. I stock up whenever I go over.  If you like perfume take a minute and explore their site. So far I have not seen Esteban carried in any stores but I have been able to order it online from Beauty Encounter (btw - Beauty Encounter has great prices and a wide variety of cosmetic brands - you can even buy the 'tester' size of some fragrance. My tip - buy it if it's available - it comes without the top but tester fragrances are stronger than what they sell you in the stores).

 This is their shop in Le Marais.  I'm inside. There is also one in Saint-Germain-des-Pres

So far at 64, I have not had any use for the mountain of creams, moisturizers, collagen, retinol and eye creams that so many women spend tons of money on. I don't even get facials. But...as of late, I have noticed that my face is beginning to show some signs of aging.  I guess it had to happen sometime.  So I am beginning to investigate new products.

The cosmetics we buy at the stores can be very expensive and have way too many harmful ingredients in them.  In an effort to keep my facial products as natural as possible, I recently began using aloe vera gel as my daily moisturizer.

I use shea butter from Ghana (the one I get is scented with verbena) all over my body and on my face at night as a night cream. It has a bit of an oily feeling but that has not been a problem for me. I also use black soap from Africa.

So far that's all I use for cleansing and moisturizing, however the same problem exists in our make up products. I have to admit, I haven't gone all natural on make up yet as it is more difficult to find the shades I need for my skin tone, but I am looking. I have more make up  n my collection than facial products but not really that much make up if I compare it to what I have seen other women use.  I'm pretty basic. Need to have it all on my face and out the door in less than 10 minutes.  I'll do a post on make up soon.

And maybe even a tutorial. Ooooh

Stay tuned!

What perfume and facial products and make up do you like?

Any secrets to share?