Mélange Perfumes Roll-on Oils

Just when I thought it couldn't get any better, it did. Only weeks ago, I ordered a few Mélange Solid Perfumes from b~glowing. At the same time, I ordered two roll-on oils by Mélange: Blend No. 5: Tahitian Gardenia & White Tea ($18), and Blend No. 12: Frangipani & Gardenia ($18).

Because I was having such a perfume fest with the solids, I set the roll-on oils aside for later. Monday, I had the day off and allowed myself the pleasure of sampling. I think I've mentioned that when I get a lot of new goodies in one fell swoop I like to space out the treats. Am I impressed! Both of my new roll-on fragrances are divine.

Blend No. 12, Frangipani & Gardenia, a seductive frangipani that's also known as plumeria, is blended with the equally beautiful Tahitian gardenia. Imagine the possibiliites of a flower so compelling it lures the Sphinx Moth, together with a gardenia adored for centuries (and one of my mother's favorites - her wedding bouquet was made with gardenias). I imagined, I purchased, and now my nose is like that moth, lingering by my wrist where I leave it a dose of this seductive perfume oil when I apply it.

Blend No. 5, Tahitian Gardenia & White Tea, is just as fabulous. Also known as tiare, fragrant Tahitian gardenia is native to Polynesia. Once reserved for island nobility, these blossoms are celebrated in wedding leis and prized by gardenia lovers. This floral oil is blended with a top note of fresh white tea, toning down the sweetness and giving it a character unlike any other fragrance I have.

There are other oils available. How does Cucumber, Water Lily, White Musk & Grass sound? Or Japanese Tea Rose & Sakura Blossom? What's especially nice about all these lovely perfumes is their price! At only $18, you can try a few without ending up in credit card trouble.

Mélange Roll-On Perfume Oils are inspired by the most coveted fragrance notes in custom blending. Alcohol-free, the oils are formulated in a natural base of coconut oil fractions, which leave the integrity of the fragrance notes intact, and Hawaiian kukui nut oil, a natural antioxidant that adds a rich dimension to the perfume. I am smitten by my Mélange purchases. The solid perfumes and roll-on oils I purchased have suddenly become my everyday scents. I know I'll have to tear myself away from them at some point, but for now, I am celebrating summer with the lush fragrances of tropical islands.

You can read more about Mélange, along with a blending guide, at the Mélange Web site. You can order from b~glowing and Mélange. I'm a b-glowing gal; I love their frequent specials, selection, service, and samples. There may even be a store near you that carries Mélange perfumes. Check out this link.

Photo courtesy of b~glowing

Mélange Solid Perfumes

When I read about Mélange Solid Perfumes ($15), I knew I needed to try them. They are all luxurious, blended with a base of natural beeswax and jojoba oil. The little pots of solid perfume are filled with concentrated fragrance that melts into the skin, dispersing the notes for a long-lasting treat.

You can wear the solid perfumes alone or mix them to create your own custom blend. They are a terrific size to pop into your purse if you want to keep a to-go scent with you.

The 28 solid perfumes are available in four groups: floral, green and citrus, fruit, and warm. Here are just a few of the beautiful floral and green/citrus fragrances available.

• Paperwhite - fresh fragrance of paperwhite narcissus intertwined with green accords
• Honeysuckle - the rich, sweet fragrance of the flowering vine with a citrus top note
• Iris - a eloquent floral note that celebrates the beauty of this enduring flower
• Polynesia - inspired by the tropical blooms of hibiscus and gardenia paired with lush Carambola starfruit
• Lilac - the traditional flower of May; lively and true to the fragrance of the flower
• Japanese Tea Rose - a sparkling rose with green accords
• Frangipani - the seductive fragrance of the plumeria blossom blended with Tahitian gardenia
  
• Melati Jasmine - the exotic fragrance of natural Indian jasmine
• Neroli Blossom & Orange - the singular beauty of the white neroli blossom paired sweet orange essential oil
• Sugandaraja Tuberose - captivating and rich Indian tuberose
• Green Tea - bright and sweet notes of fresh camellia
• Pomegranate & Grapefruit - a perfect balance of citrus with lush pomegranate
  

With a list like that, how do you choose? It's a good thing they are only $15! On my first pass through b~glowing, I ordered four. My second pass is going to be huge.

Melati Jasmine is still on its way. It had briefly sold out after being featured in the July issue of Real Simple magazine in a feature titled Energize Your Life. Alan Hirsch, a neurologist and founder of the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago, had said that jasmine increases beta waves, which makes you more awake and alert. Maybe that's why I have always loved jasmine?

I did receive Paperwhite, Lilac, and Honeysuckle. It's hard to describe my delight as I opened each with a big whiff. I wore Paperwhite the day after it arrived, and I'm pleased to report that the lush, sweet fragrance stayed with me all day!

Mélange Perfumes were created by Perfumer Denise Estrada and inspired by the popular fragrance bars and custom blending services at her previous Southern California retail stores, Mélange Apothecary, 155 South Apothecary, and Essenza. Where have they been all my life?

You can read more about Mélange, along with a blending guide, at the Mélange Web site. You can order from b~glowing and Mélange. I'm a b-glowing gal; I love their frequent specials, selection, service, and samples. There may even be a store near you that carries Mélange perfumes. Check out this link.

Photos courtesy of b~glowing

Royal Apothic Interior Perfume

Royal Apothic's Interior Perfumes ($25) are a model of elegance. Everything about the spray fragrance is classy - the packaging, the label, the atomizer, the bottle, the fragrance itself. Even the edited descriptions below are enticing.

Not too long ago, I ordered two of these from b~glowing, A Cutting Garden and Venetian Grove. Since they came, I have been spraying with abandon!

A Cutting Garden has notes of tuberose, gardenia, star jasmine, lily, iris, and rose. Behind the walls of Windsor lies a botanical masterpiece whose fruits have graced the vases of royalty for centuries. The magical garden is home to white flowers of an indeterminable number of varieties. Planted originally for the monarchy, the blooms yield their scents year-round, delicately perfuming the air with a court full of scent.

Venetian Grove has notes of currant, orange root, orange blossom, and orange fruit. This one's an orange grove the minute you spray it. Behind a palatial Villa in Santorini, Italy, lies a grove where royalty has been known to frolic for centuries. It is in this magical place where the vines of sweet currant intertwine the roots of orange trees, the fragrance of the blossoms blending with the ripe fruit at its base. If you close your eyes, you can almost see the twinkle of lights and flicker of candles as the masked court takes the floor to dance under the stars.

It is said that if you spray these home fragrances liberally throughout your space (home or office), you will adorn your rooms in heady fragrance and evoke the feeling of passed times. It's true! I spray my office, and the first person who walks in says something like, "Your office smells like a garden!" They think the orchids on my desk are providing the heavenly fragrance. They don't realize that the gorgeous orchids have no scent.

I need to order Topiary too! It must have been made for me, with its notes of ivy, hydrangea, and rose. I have to admit that I have always regarded room sprays as too ephemeral, preferring diffusers or candles. These sprays have converted me. I'm hooked now.

You can purchase Royal Apothic Interior Perfumes at b~glowing. There are candles too. What great gifts they will make - if you can stand to give them away! The presentation is as nice as the blissful product.

Photo courtesy of b~glowing

Shanghaijava Collection - Lilas Spiritual Crazystick

A box from b~glowing came last week, and nestled within was a perfect antidote to winter. Lilas Spiritual Crazystick from the Shanghaijava Collection by Crazylibellule & The Poppies ($18) is a solid perfume that screams spring. I had no idea how much I would need that touch of spring this week!

The top note is lilac. Although b~glowing says there is clove in the top note, I really despise clove and don't smell it at all. The heart notes are lilac and lily of the valley, and the base notes are lilac and vanilla. In other words, this fragrance is all about lilacs - from the blue-lavender box to the scent itself, it's a heavenly lilac trip. When I wear it, I feel the euphoria of standing beneath an old-fashioned lilac tree, enveloped by the beautiful flowers and fragrance.

You can dab this solid twist-up perfume anywhere you want. I prefer to put it where I can smell it - on my neck, chest, and wrists.

Imported from Paris, the delightful solid perfume scents from Crazylibellule & The Poppies are five grams of pure delight! Wear one or several to create your own blend (a la Jo Malone) or add one to your favorite perfume for a subtle twist on the familiar.

As I sit here at my computer, inhaling lilac while I listen to a neighbor chiseling the ice on his brick walk, I have visions of spring and new life. Maybe there is something to the word "spiritual" in the name!

You can purchase the Crazylibellule & The Poppies solid perfumes at b~glowing and Amazon.

Photo courtesy of b~glowing