IndieAna- In Search of the HolyGrail

Isn't it funny to be so obsessed with rubbish? I just love empties posts! I enjoy writing them, as well as reading them. As I say goodbye to Feb, I can say good bye to a fairly good chunk of empty packaging (mostly). Skinn Collagenesis ABC Triple Action Peel - Having 4 "syringes" of product in this pack, meant that I only had a month's worth to use. The double barreled packaging was needed to ensure the 2 formulas to be separated, only mixed upon application. I must say that I was not excited by the results, I had high hopes for this peel. I used one application for face and neck, only to discover after watching a demo on TVSN, that it is actually required to use one product for only the face to ensure maximum results. If you want to treat the neck, another one is required. Repurchase? No, I think it's too pricey, especially if I want to treat my neck, I'd only get 2 weeks of use out of each packet.  Jurlique Purely Age-Defying Hand Treatment- L...

Description " A lascivious blend of night flowering New Orleans jasmine and fiery spices igniting a base of red sandalwood and skin musk. " First applied, New Orleans Love Spell has a pungent, green and metallic scent. The spices emerge upon drydown, transforming the green to a hot red.  Sandalwood grounds the perfume as this note does so well. Such an interesting blend. Sexy? Maybe in its most raw, animalistic form. Though, as with perfumes, sexiness is very subjective.

Alkemia " Aphrodesia"  is described as "An intoxicating blend of deep eastern spices, warmed with creamy vanilla and a few drops of golden frankincense." Upon application, this perfume is very incensey, headshop strong. Heading towards being pungent. I'm not a fan of this stage. I like the drydown. It becomes soft, powdery, with the vanilla offering a sweet, syrup-y quality. There's also a metallic, zestiness. It is rather nice.  Feminine and exotic with the eastern spices.  Personally, I don't find Aphrodesia to be a heavily sexy perfume, as I was expecting, but it does have its own appeal. Not enough for me to warrant a full size oil, but I will enjoy the sample.  In the past, being on the fence about a perfume meant a purchase, but now it has to be love before I add to my existing perfume collection.

Have you ever tried a perfume that you were not overly keen on, only to try it again at another point in time to have your opinion change? Well, this was the case when I applied indie perfume (available from Etsy) Alkemia Perfumes " Les Mysteres ". Described as " an opulent, resinous blend of aged frankincense, black figs, labdanum, dark amber, Russian tea, swirled in a trio of sensual musks ." My first impression of this fragrance was that is was too dark and woodsy. Yes, there was a sweetness offered by the fig note, but not enough to balance the bitterness. I put the sample away. That was then.. Months later, I decided to give it another chance. You see, if you haven't tried perfume oils, sometimes they can mellow over time.  Yep, it is still quite dark, but more in a velvety sensual way. The bitterness disappears shortly after application, to reveal a syrupy, incensy fragrance that still retains it's woodsiness. It is beautifully balanc...

Alkemia is an indie perfume oil that is available on Etsy and is well known in the online community as delivering unique, beautifully crafted perfume oils to suit all tastes. " Burning Roses " is described as " A hypnotic immolation of dark red roses and burning incenses- smouldering frankincense, champa, labdanum. Mesmerising, deep sensual.   Rose is not a scent that I associate with sensuality. Yes, it can be lovely, feminine, but it has to be blended just right to stop it from being "nanna's" perfume. This perfume has a blend that manages to be sexy, heady, intoxicating, with the rose still being a distinctive note. The fragrance is long lasting on my skin. Being quite an incensy blend, it isn't for the faint hearted, but I don't find that it knocks everyone out around me. However, after drydown, the perfume takes on a powdery quality, yet retaining it's sensual quality. I only have this in sample size, although I won't repurchas...