Spring Equinox, An Offering To A Goddess And a Green Witch

The Spring Equnix is a time of renewal and hope. In my part of the world there are tiny buds on the trees, first leaves and stems of the daffodils and tulips, and even my underachiever dwarf lilacs that we brought with us from the old house are showing signs of life. Just like in ancient times, we wish for a beautiful and bountiful season (or at least that the local bunnies and groundhogs stay away from our broccoli).

To celebrate the season, Roxana Villa of Roxana Illuminated Perfume has created her own expression of gratitude and hope- a perfume dedicated to Tethys, the Titan goddess who was considered the source of fresh water, the nourisher of the earth and later the sea personified. It's called GreenWitch and inspired by a Susan Cooper book under the same name.

In my own wild imagination, I see all the natural perfumers as green witches and wizards- the kind and earthy type, not the Margaret Hamilton lookalikes. They create magical potions from real materials that come from the earth and sea and connect us to times of authentic beauty. Roxana's choice to base her GreenWitch on the traditional chypre formula is especially fitting and poignant in light of the industry's rejection of oakmoss, among other raw ingredients.

GreenWitch is, indeed, a chypre. It is as green as they come with immeasurable depth and richness. It starts with a sharp bite and a jagged edge that lets you know we're talking botanicals here- none of the mellow stuff you'd find in a mainstream perfume. There are  several additional accords taking it to hidden places- a dirty animalic and a sea green thing that I personally don't fully pick as a note but more as a general tangy feel. And it's green, green, green. I've been wearing it every day since I got the sample and have found that the perfume comes fully into life when I'm outside. It doesn't bloom as much inside the house, but once I'm in the fresh spring air I can smell the full body and impact of the strong base. The lasting power, by the way, is phenomenal.

It has also made me realize how much I miss oakmoss in new perfumes. I love my vintage treasures, but like a true perfume addict I always crave more, and GreenWitch is exactly what I want. My personal hope for the upcoming perfume season is to see a change- a return to artful expression, scents with a spine, character and a story that wasn't composed by a marketing intern.

What do you wish to see in new perfumes? Please share your thoughts and visit the other participating bloggers for their own equinox and GreenWitch impressions:

Perfume Posse (review by Tom from PST)
Bitter Grace Notes (review by Ida Meister)
Scent Hive
The Windsphere Witch
Perfume Shrine
Portland Examiner
Illuminated Perfume Journal

GreenWitch by Roxana Illuminated Perfume ($150, 1/4 oz perfume extract) is available now from Roxana Villa's Etsy store. A portion of each sale of this perfume will go to Greenpeace. I received a sample directly from Roxana.

Photo: A Temple to Tethys by Decrepit Telephone on Flickr.

Spring Equinox, An Offering To A Goddess And a Green Witch

The Spring Equnix is a time of renewal and hope. In my part of the world there are tiny buds on the trees, first leaves and stems of the daffodils and tulips, and even my underachiever dwarf lilacs that we brought with us from the old house are showing signs of life. Just like in ancient times, we wish for a beautiful and bountiful season (or at least that the local bunnies and groundhogs stay away from our broccoli).

To celebrate the season, Roxana Villa of Roxana Illuminated Perfume has created her own expression of gratitude and hope- a perfume dedicated to Tethys, the Titan goddess who was considered the source of fresh water, the nourisher of the earth and later the sea personified. It's called GreenWitch and inspired by a Susan Cooper book under the same name.

In my own wild imagination, I see all the natural perfumers as green witches and wizards- the kind and earthy type, not the Margaret Hamilton lookalikes. They create magical potions from real materials that come from the earth and sea and connect us to times of authentic beauty. Roxana's choice to base her GreenWitch on the traditional chypre formula is especially fitting and poignant in light of the industry's rejection of oakmoss, among other raw ingredients.

GreenWitch is, indeed, a chypre. It is as green as they come with immeasurable depth and richness. It starts with a sharp bite and a jagged edge that lets you know we're talking botanicals here- none of the mellow stuff you'd find in a mainstream perfume. There are  several additional accords taking it to hidden places- a dirty animalic and a sea green thing that I personally don't fully pick as a note but more as a general tangy feel. And it's green, green, green. I've been wearing it every day since I got the sample and have found that the perfume comes fully into life when I'm outside. It doesn't bloom as much inside the house, but once I'm in the fresh spring air I can smell the full body and impact of the strong base. The lasting power, by the way, is phenomenal.

It has also made me realize how much I miss oakmoss in new perfumes. I love my vintage treasures, but like a true perfume addict I always crave more, and GreenWitch is exactly what I want. My personal hope for the upcoming perfume season is to see a change- a return to artful expression, scents with a spine, character and a story that wasn't composed by a marketing intern.

What do you wish to see in new perfumes? Please share your thoughts and visit the other participating bloggers for their own equinox and GreenWitch impressions:

Perfume Posse (review by Tom from PST)
Bitter Grace Notes (review by Ida Meister)
Scent Hive
The Windsphere Witch
Perfume Shrine
Portland Examiner
Illuminated Perfume Journal

GreenWitch by Roxana Illuminated Perfume ($150, 1/4 oz perfume extract) is available now from Roxana Villa's Etsy store. A portion of each sale of this perfume will go to Greenpeace. I received a sample directly from Roxana.

Photo: A Temple to Tethys by Decrepit Telephone on Flickr.

Spring Equinox, An Offering To A Goddess And a Green Witch

The Spring Equnix is a time of renewal and hope. In my part of the world there are tiny buds on the trees, first leaves and stems of the daffodils and tulips, and even my underachiever dwarf lilacs that we brought with us from the old house are showing signs of life. Just like in ancient times, we wish for a beautiful and bountiful season (or at least that the local bunnies and groundhogs stay away from our broccoli).

To celebrate the season, Roxana Villa of Roxana Illuminated Perfume has created her own expression of gratitude and hope- a perfume dedicated to Tethys, the Titan goddess who was considered the source of fresh water, the nourisher of the earth and later the sea personified. It's called GreenWitch and inspired by a Susan Cooper book under the same name.

In my own wild imagination, I see all the natural perfumers as green witches and wizards- the kind and earthy type, not the Margaret Hamilton lookalikes. They create magical potions from real materials that come from the earth and sea and connect us to times of authentic beauty. Roxana's choice to base her GreenWitch on the traditional chypre formula is especially fitting and poignant in light of the industry's rejection of oakmoss, among other raw ingredients.

GreenWitch is, indeed, a chypre. It is as green as they come with immeasurable depth and richness. It starts with a sharp bite and a jagged edge that lets you know we're talking botanicals here- none of the mellow stuff you'd find in a mainstream perfume. There are  several additional accords taking it to hidden places- a dirty animalic and a sea green thing that I personally don't fully pick as a note but more as a general tangy feel. And it's green, green, green. I've been wearing it every day since I got the sample and have found that the perfume comes fully into life when I'm outside. It doesn't bloom as much inside the house, but once I'm in the fresh spring air I can smell the full body and impact of the strong base. The lasting power, by the way, is phenomenal.

It has also made me realize how much I miss oakmoss in new perfumes. I love my vintage treasures, but like a true perfume addict I always crave more, and GreenWitch is exactly what I want. My personal hope for the upcoming perfume season is to see a change- a return to artful expression, scents with a spine, character and a story that wasn't composed by a marketing intern.

What do you wish to see in new perfumes? Please share your thoughts and visit the other participating bloggers for their own equinox and GreenWitch impressions:

Perfume Posse (review by Tom from PST)
Bitter Grace Notes (review by Ida Meister)
Scent Hive
The Windsphere Witch
Perfume Shrine
Portland Examiner
Illuminated Perfume Journal

GreenWitch by Roxana Illuminated Perfume ($150, 1/4 oz perfume extract) is available now from Roxana Villa's Etsy store. A portion of each sale of this perfume will go to Greenpeace. I received a sample directly from Roxana.

Photo: A Temple to Tethys by Decrepit Telephone on Flickr.

The Circle- Moominland Midwinter, Chasing Away The Darkness (And A scent to go with it)

"There are such a lot of things that have no place in summer and autumn and spring. Everything that's a little shy and a little rum. Some kinds of night animals and people that don't fit in with others and that nobody really believes in. They keep out of the way all the year. And then when everything's quiet and white and the nights are long and most people are asleep — then they appear."

— Too-Ticky in Moominland Midwinter

My original intention was to write about Hanukkah, as it is the part of my heritage that relates to the season and the holiday I and my family celebrate. But since I'm not even remotely religious and my interest in latkes and dreidels is fairly limited (the former is bad for the waistline, the latter doesn't make much sense other than as a lame cat toy), I started thinking in more general terms. The season has been celebrated since the dawn of mankind, long before my people started deep frying stuff and putting candles in the window. If you think of it, both practices have purpose: keeping warm and bringing in the light during the time of the year it's bitterly cold outside and the night seems to never end.

Hanukkah and many of the other seasonal holidays are about chasing the darkness away- both the real darkness and the metaphoric one that might settle in our hearts when we tend to cocoon, be less active (while eating those latkes) and start believing winter is never going to end. One of my favorite books of all time, Moominland Midwinter by Finnish author Tove Jansson, explores this theme beautifully.

Little Moomintroll wakes up unexpectedly in the middle of winter, while the rest of his family and almost all the other animals he's ever known are hibernating. The world as he knows it has changed. Moominland is suddenly a scary, dark and lonely place and the sun doesn't shine. Strange creatures have taken residence in the once-familiar places. Something grumpy lives under the sink, The Lady Of The Cold passes by endangering everyone's lives and the Groke takes away every last trace of warmth by sitting on it. At the same time, other creatures are determined to make the best of the situation. Little My has taken up sledging using Moominmamma tea tray and wearing her floral tea cozy, the Hemulen has gotten into skiing and Too-Ticky fishes under the ice and builds a huge bonfire to welcome back the sun. Everyone else just wants Moominmamma's stores of jam, preferably strawberry.

Moomintroll learn valuable lessons about the circle of life, death, overcoming fear and loneliness by living in the moment and finally realizes that at last that sometimes it's best "if things aren't so easy". Eventually most of the jam is gone, but the world awakens and Moominland comes back to life.

My scent of choice for curling up with this book, a blanket and a cat or two is Theorema by Fendi. Yes, it was discontinued, which fits in nicely with the theme of life, cycles and letting go. It's also a beautiful, warm and happy perfume that comforts and celebrates all that is good in the season and reminds us that the sun really comes back, eventually.


A full list of The Circle's participants, past and future:

Sunday - November 29th: Guest blogger Jane Sibbett opens the Circle

Monday - November 30th: Guest blogger Wendel Meldrum

Tuesday - December 1st: Roxana Villa

Wednesday - December 2nd: Guest blogger Ida Meister

Thursday - December 3rd: Memory and Desire, Heather Ettlinger

Friday - December 4th: Memory and Desire, Jason Ettlinger

Saturday - December 5th: Guest blogger Jade Shutes

Sunday - December 6th ST. NICOLAS DAY Eve and Roxana

Monday - December 7th: Indie Perfumes, Lucy Raubertas

Tuesday - December 8th: Scent Hive, Trish

Wednesday - December 9th: Olive Bites, Catherine Ivins

Thursday - December 10th: Perfume Smellin' Things, Tom

Friday - December 11th: Lillyella, Nicole

Saturday - December 12th: The Non-Blonde, Gaia

Sunday - December 13th: Portland Examiner, Donna Hathaway

Monday - December 14th: Xenotees, Noelle

Tuesday - December 15th: The Beauty You Love, Lee

Wednesday - December 16th: Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom, Mrs. B

Thursday - December 17th: The Artful Gypsy, Wendy Amdahl

Friday - December 18th: Perfume Shrine, Helg

Saturday - December 19th: Notes on Shoes, Cake & Perfume, Wendy

Sunday - December 20th: Grindstone Girl's Daily, Kathi Roussel

Monday - December 21st WINTER SOLSTICE: Perfume Smellin' Things, Beth

Tuesday - December 22nd: Guest blogger Davis Alexander

Wednesday - December 23rd: Guest blogger Greg Spalenka, Artist as Brand

Thursday - December 24th: Fringe, Dennice Mankarious

Friday - December 25th: Asking Leah, Leah

The Circle image by Roxana Villa
Illustration from Moominland Midwinter by Tove Jansson

The Circle- Moominland Midwinter, Chasing Away The Darkness (And A scent to go with it)

"There are such a lot of things that have no place in summer and autumn and spring. Everything that's a little shy and a little rum. Some kinds of night animals and people that don't fit in with others and that nobody really believes in. They keep out of the way all the year. And then when everything's quiet and white and the nights are long and most people are asleep — then they appear."

— Too-Ticky in Moominland Midwinter

My original intention was to write about Hanukkah, as it is the part of my heritage that relates to the season and the holiday I and my family celebrate. But since I'm not even remotely religious and my interest in latkes and dreidels is fairly limited (the former is bad for the waistline, the latter doesn't make much sense other than as a lame cat toy), I started thinking in more general terms. The season has been celebrated since the dawn of mankind, long before my people started deep frying stuff and putting candles in the window. If you think of it, both practices have purpose: keeping warm and bringing in the light during the time of the year it's bitterly cold outside and the night seems to never end.

Hanukkah and many of the other seasonal holidays are about chasing the darkness away- both the real darkness and the metaphoric one that might settle in our hearts when we tend to cocoon, be less active (while eating those latkes) and start believing winter is never going to end. One of my favorite books of all time, Moominland Midwinter by Finnish author Tove Jansson, explores this theme beautifully.

Little Moomintroll wakes up unexpectedly in the middle of winter, while the rest of his family and almost all the other animals he's ever known are hibernating. The world as he knows it has changed. Moominland is suddenly a scary, dark and lonely place and the sun doesn't shine. Strange creatures have taken residence in the once-familiar places. Something grumpy lives under the sink, The Lady Of The Cold passes by endangering everyone's lives and the Groke takes away every last trace of warmth by sitting on it. At the same time, other creatures are determined to make the best of the situation. Little My has taken up sledging using Moominmamma tea tray and wearing her floral tea cozy, the Hemulen has gotten into skiing and Too-Ticky fishes under the ice and builds a huge bonfire to welcome back the sun. Everyone else just wants Moominmamma's stores of jam, preferably strawberry.

Moomintroll learn valuable lessons about the circle of life, death, overcoming fear and loneliness by living in the moment and finally realizes that at last that sometimes it's best "if things aren't so easy". Eventually most of the jam is gone, but the world awakens and Moominland comes back to life.

My scent of choice for curling up with this book, a blanket and a cat or two is Theorema by Fendi. Yes, it was discontinued, which fits in nicely with the theme of life, cycles and letting go. It's also a beautiful, warm and happy perfume that comforts and celebrates all that is good in the season and reminds us that the sun really comes back, eventually.


A full list of The Circle's participants, past and future:

Sunday - November 29th: Guest blogger Jane Sibbett opens the Circle

Monday - November 30th: Guest blogger Wendel Meldrum

Tuesday - December 1st: Roxana Villa

Wednesday - December 2nd: Guest blogger Ida Meister

Thursday - December 3rd: Memory and Desire, Heather Ettlinger

Friday - December 4th: Memory and Desire, Jason Ettlinger

Saturday - December 5th: Guest blogger Jade Shutes

Sunday - December 6th ST. NICOLAS DAY Eve and Roxana

Monday - December 7th: Indie Perfumes, Lucy Raubertas

Tuesday - December 8th: Scent Hive, Trish

Wednesday - December 9th: Olive Bites, Catherine Ivins

Thursday - December 10th: Perfume Smellin' Things, Tom

Friday - December 11th: Lillyella, Nicole

Saturday - December 12th: The Non-Blonde, Gaia

Sunday - December 13th: Portland Examiner, Donna Hathaway

Monday - December 14th: Xenotees, Noelle

Tuesday - December 15th: The Beauty You Love, Lee

Wednesday - December 16th: Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom, Mrs. B

Thursday - December 17th: The Artful Gypsy, Wendy Amdahl

Friday - December 18th: Perfume Shrine, Helg

Saturday - December 19th: Notes on Shoes, Cake & Perfume, Wendy

Sunday - December 20th: Grindstone Girl's Daily, Kathi Roussel

Monday - December 21st WINTER SOLSTICE: Perfume Smellin' Things, Beth

Tuesday - December 22nd: Guest blogger Davis Alexander

Wednesday - December 23rd: Guest blogger Greg Spalenka, Artist as Brand

Thursday - December 24th: Fringe, Dennice Mankarious

Friday - December 25th: Asking Leah, Leah

The Circle image by Roxana Villa
Illustration from Moominland Midwinter by Tove Jansson

The Circle- Moominland Midwinter, Chasing Away The Darkness (And A scent to go with it)

"There are such a lot of things that have no place in summer and autumn and spring. Everything that's a little shy and a little rum. Some kinds of night animals and people that don't fit in with others and that nobody really believes in. They keep out of the way all the year. And then when everything's quiet and white and the nights are long and most people are asleep — then they appear."

— Too-Ticky in Moominland Midwinter

My original intention was to write about Hanukkah, as it is the part of my heritage that relates to the season and the holiday I and my family celebrate. But since I'm not even remotely religious and my interest in latkes and dreidels is fairly limited (the former is bad for the waistline, the latter doesn't make much sense other than as a lame cat toy), I started thinking in more general terms. The season has been celebrated since the dawn of mankind, long before my people started deep frying stuff and putting candles in the window. If you think of it, both practices have purpose: keeping warm and bringing in the light during the time of the year it's bitterly cold outside and the night seems to never end.

Hanukkah and many of the other seasonal holidays are about chasing the darkness away- both the real darkness and the metaphoric one that might settle in our hearts when we tend to cocoon, be less active (while eating those latkes) and start believing winter is never going to end. One of my favorite books of all time, Moominland Midwinter by Finnish author Tove Jansson, explores this theme beautifully.

Little Moomintroll wakes up unexpectedly in the middle of winter, while the rest of his family and almost all the other animals he's ever known are hibernating. The world as he knows it has changed. Moominland is suddenly a scary, dark and lonely place and the sun doesn't shine. Strange creatures have taken residence in the once-familiar places. Something grumpy lives under the sink, The Lady Of The Cold passes by endangering everyone's lives and the Groke takes away every last trace of warmth by sitting on it. At the same time, other creatures are determined to make the best of the situation. Little My has taken up sledging using Moominmamma tea tray and wearing her floral tea cozy, the Hemulen has gotten into skiing and Too-Ticky fishes under the ice and builds a huge bonfire to welcome back the sun. Everyone else just wants Moominmamma's stores of jam, preferably strawberry.

Moomintroll learn valuable lessons about the circle of life, death, overcoming fear and loneliness by living in the moment and finally realizes that at last that sometimes it's best "if things aren't so easy". Eventually most of the jam is gone, but the world awakens and Moominland comes back to life.

My scent of choice for curling up with this book, a blanket and a cat or two is Theorema by Fendi. Yes, it was discontinued, which fits in nicely with the theme of life, cycles and letting go. It's also a beautiful, warm and happy perfume that comforts and celebrates all that is good in the season and reminds us that the sun really comes back, eventually.


A full list of The Circle's participants, past and future:

Sunday - November 29th: Guest blogger Jane Sibbett opens the Circle

Monday - November 30th: Guest blogger Wendel Meldrum

Tuesday - December 1st: Roxana Villa

Wednesday - December 2nd: Guest blogger Ida Meister

Thursday - December 3rd: Memory and Desire, Heather Ettlinger

Friday - December 4th: Memory and Desire, Jason Ettlinger

Saturday - December 5th: Guest blogger Jade Shutes

Sunday - December 6th ST. NICOLAS DAY Eve and Roxana

Monday - December 7th: Indie Perfumes, Lucy Raubertas

Tuesday - December 8th: Scent Hive, Trish

Wednesday - December 9th: Olive Bites, Catherine Ivins

Thursday - December 10th: Perfume Smellin' Things, Tom

Friday - December 11th: Lillyella, Nicole

Saturday - December 12th: The Non-Blonde, Gaia

Sunday - December 13th: Portland Examiner, Donna Hathaway

Monday - December 14th: Xenotees, Noelle

Tuesday - December 15th: The Beauty You Love, Lee

Wednesday - December 16th: Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom, Mrs. B

Thursday - December 17th: The Artful Gypsy, Wendy Amdahl

Friday - December 18th: Perfume Shrine, Helg

Saturday - December 19th: Notes on Shoes, Cake & Perfume, Wendy

Sunday - December 20th: Grindstone Girl's Daily, Kathi Roussel

Monday - December 21st WINTER SOLSTICE: Perfume Smellin' Things, Beth

Tuesday - December 22nd: Guest blogger Davis Alexander

Wednesday - December 23rd: Guest blogger Greg Spalenka, Artist as Brand

Thursday - December 24th: Fringe, Dennice Mankarious

Friday - December 25th: Asking Leah, Leah

The Circle image by Roxana Villa
Illustration from Moominland Midwinter by Tove Jansson

Impressions Of Peace

"We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make our world." ~ Buddhist Quote

Today, September 21st, the United Nations International Day of Peace, several bloggers and a natural perfumer are joining forces to bring some good thoughts and beauty.

We each have our way of making peace with ourselves and with the world around us. I like beauty and the people who create it. I try to fill my days with colors, music, perfume, pets and love. Have I mentioned beauty?

An item of such beauty is a natural perfume, created with love and awareness- of the environment, of the people working to produce the raw materials by using organic agriculture and small independent labor all over the planet. Roxana Villa of Roxana Illuminated Perfume has created a special fragrance that is being launched today. It does not have a name other than the international peace symbol. It is made of essential oils that impart a sense of peace through their aroma therapeutic qualities and come from each of the continents.


But do not mistake this scent for a crassly blended oil from a head shop. This is a real perfume and a luxurious one, carefully made of the best raw ingredients. I was incredibly lucky to receive a sample and experience it first hand. I liked it instantly, from the bright and spicy citrus opening that smells alive, happy and invigorating to the sumptuous drydown that is everything I love: Mysore sandalwood (vintage, the real thing), tobacco and vanilla bean. It's sweet, comforting and joyous.

A portion of the proceeds from each of the 7 gram liquid perfume flacons and solid compacts will be given to the POE (Project Peace on Earth) organization to facilitate their vision of a global prayer concert for Peace.

The perfume is available as a pure perfume extract and a solid natural perfume.
7 gram perfume extract $190.00
1 gram perfume extract $30.00

More about the perfume and the project can be found on Roxana Villa's blog, here.

Please also visit the other participating bloggers for their Impressions of Peace:

Bitter Grace Notes

Beth, The Cleveland Examiner

Donna, The Portland Examiner

Indie Perfume

Memory and Desire

Perfume Shrine

Perfume Smellin' Things

Scent Hive

Top image: un.org
Bottle photograph: Roxana Villa

Impressions Of Peace

"We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make our world." ~ Buddhist Quote

Today, September 21st, the United Nations International Day of Peace, several bloggers and a natural perfumer are joining forces to bring some good thoughts and beauty.

We each have our way of making peace with ourselves and with the world around us. I like beauty and the people who create it. I try to fill my days with colors, music, perfume, pets and love. Have I mentioned beauty?

An item of such beauty is a natural perfume, created with love and awareness- of the environment, of the people working to produce the raw materials by using organic agriculture and small independent labor all over the planet. Roxana Villa of Roxana Illuminated Perfume has created a special fragrance that is being launched today. It does not have a name other than the international peace symbol. It is made of essential oils that impart a sense of peace through their aroma therapeutic qualities and come from each of the continents.


But do not mistake this scent for a crassly blended oil from a head shop. This is a real perfume and a luxurious one, carefully made of the best raw ingredients. I was incredibly lucky to receive a sample and experience it first hand. I liked it instantly, from the bright and spicy citrus opening that smells alive, happy and invigorating to the sumptuous drydown that is everything I love: Mysore sandalwood (vintage, the real thing), tobacco and vanilla bean. It's sweet, comforting and joyous.

A portion of the proceeds from each of the 7 gram liquid perfume flacons and solid compacts will be given to the POE (Project Peace on Earth) organization to facilitate their vision of a global prayer concert for Peace.

The perfume is available as a pure perfume extract and a solid natural perfume.
7 gram perfume extract $190.00
1 gram perfume extract $30.00

More about the perfume and the project can be found on Roxana Villa's blog, here.

Please also visit the other participating bloggers for their Impressions of Peace:

Bitter Grace Notes

Beth, The Cleveland Examiner

Donna, The Portland Examiner

Indie Perfume

Memory and Desire

Perfume Shrine

Perfume Smellin' Things

Scent Hive

Top image: un.org
Bottle photograph: Roxana Villa

Impressions Of Peace

"We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make our world." ~ Buddhist Quote

Today, September 21st, the United Nations International Day of Peace, several bloggers and a natural perfumer are joining forces to bring some good thoughts and beauty.

We each have our way of making peace with ourselves and with the world around us. I like beauty and the people who create it. I try to fill my days with colors, music, perfume, pets and love. Have I mentioned beauty?

An item of such beauty is a natural perfume, created with love and awareness- of the environment, of the people working to produce the raw materials by using organic agriculture and small independent labor all over the planet. Roxana Villa of Roxana Illuminated Perfume has created a special fragrance that is being launched today. It does not have a name other than the international peace symbol. It is made of essential oils that impart a sense of peace through their aroma therapeutic qualities and come from each of the continents.


But do not mistake this scent for a crassly blended oil from a head shop. This is a real perfume and a luxurious one, carefully made of the best raw ingredients. I was incredibly lucky to receive a sample and experience it first hand. I liked it instantly, from the bright and spicy citrus opening that smells alive, happy and invigorating to the sumptuous drydown that is everything I love: Mysore sandalwood (vintage, the real thing), tobacco and vanilla bean. It's sweet, comforting and joyous.

A portion of the proceeds from each of the 7 gram liquid perfume flacons and solid compacts will be given to the POE (Project Peace on Earth) organization to facilitate their vision of a global prayer concert for Peace.

The perfume is available as a pure perfume extract and a solid natural perfume.
7 gram perfume extract $190.00
1 gram perfume extract $30.00

More about the perfume and the project can be found on Roxana Villa's blog, here.

Please also visit the other participating bloggers for their Impressions of Peace:

Bitter Grace Notes

Beth, The Cleveland Examiner

Donna, The Portland Examiner

Indie Perfume

Memory and Desire

Perfume Shrine

Perfume Smellin' Things

Scent Hive

Top image: un.org
Bottle photograph: Roxana Villa

Roxana Illuminated Perfume- Part 2

As promised, more botanical goodness from Roxana Illuminated Perfume (Part 1 is here).

Sierra- Sniffing the vial gives a blast of bracing, green citrus. However, on my skin the citrus is sweet, almost candied, and the green element is replaced by a wonderful dirty earth layer. It's warm and soft, and I love the balance between the simple sweetness and the complex depth lurking underneath.

Chaparral might be the most masculine of the bunch. Basically, it's a somewhat smoky herbal incense. It starts quite medicinal and very sharp, but mellows down quickly. Chaparral has a transporting quality- it takes you to a faraway place. In the liquid form there is something that turns sour on my skin after a while, but the solid perfume is smoother and more resinous.

Vespertina is fast becoming a favorite. An orange blossom and incense combination, clean and crisp like a well-made, exquisitely cut white shirt. It might be the most perfumey in the series and very easy to wear. There's something soapy about Vespertina, in the best possible way. For an orange blossom scent, the sillage is pretty minimal, but the staying power is great and it wears beautifully. A solid version is in the works, and I have a feeling it's going to be gorgeous.

Speaking of the solids, I got to try several and loved the way they illuminate one of the star ingredients of the liquid perfumes. There is also a solitary solid, Cimbalom, which doesn't have a liquid twin. On my skin it was a sweet and dirty patchouli, very alive and incredibly sexy. Probably the complete opposite of Vespertina, and I like it just as much. The solid perfume melt into the skin and layer well with the liquid, making them last longer. The scent from most of the Illuminated Perfumes lingers for about three hours. While I thought it was completely gone, some were actually detectable on a sleeve hours later.

Roxana's blog (where I found the photo of the bottles) is a joy to read, especially once you get acquainted with the perfumes and want to learn more about the inspiration for your favorites. There's always a story and artistic references which make the scents more special.

The perfumes and solids can be purchased from Roxana's etsy store.

Roxana Illuminated Perfume- Part 2

As promised, more botanical goodness from Roxana Illuminated Perfume (Part 1 is here).

Sierra- Sniffing the vial gives a blast of bracing, green citrus. However, on my skin the citrus is sweet, almost candied, and the green element is replaced by a wonderful dirty earth layer. It's warm and soft, and I love the balance between the simple sweetness and the complex depth lurking underneath.

Chaparral might be the most masculine of the bunch. Basically, it's a somewhat smoky herbal incense. It starts quite medicinal and very sharp, but mellows down quickly. Chaparral has a transporting quality- it takes you to a faraway place. In the liquid form there is something that turns sour on my skin after a while, but the solid perfume is smoother and more resinous.

Vespertina is fast becoming a favorite. An orange blossom and incense combination, clean and crisp like a well-made, exquisitely cut white shirt. It might be the most perfumey in the series and very easy to wear. There's something soapy about Vespertina, in the best possible way. For an orange blossom scent, the sillage is pretty minimal, but the staying power is great and it wears beautifully. A solid version is in the works, and I have a feeling it's going to be gorgeous.

Speaking of the solids, I got to try several and loved the way they illuminate one of the star ingredients of the liquid perfumes. There is also a solitary solid, Cimbalom, which doesn't have a liquid twin. On my skin it was a sweet and dirty patchouli, very alive and incredibly sexy. Probably the complete opposite of Vespertina, and I like it just as much. The solid perfume melt into the skin and layer well with the liquid, making them last longer. The scent from most of the Illuminated Perfumes lingers for about three hours. While I thought it was completely gone, some were actually detectable on a sleeve hours later.

Roxana's blog (where I found the photo of the bottles) is a joy to read, especially once you get acquainted with the perfumes and want to learn more about the inspiration for your favorites. There's always a story and artistic references which make the scents more special.

The perfumes and solids can be purchased from Roxana's etsy store.

Roxana Illuminated Perfume- Part 2

As promised, more botanical goodness from Roxana Illuminated Perfume (Part 1 is here).

Sierra- Sniffing the vial gives a blast of bracing, green citrus. However, on my skin the citrus is sweet, almost candied, and the green element is replaced by a wonderful dirty earth layer. It's warm and soft, and I love the balance between the simple sweetness and the complex depth lurking underneath.

Chaparral might be the most masculine of the bunch. Basically, it's a somewhat smoky herbal incense. It starts quite medicinal and very sharp, but mellows down quickly. Chaparral has a transporting quality- it takes you to a faraway place. In the liquid form there is something that turns sour on my skin after a while, but the solid perfume is smoother and more resinous.

Vespertina is fast becoming a favorite. An orange blossom and incense combination, clean and crisp like a well-made, exquisitely cut white shirt. It might be the most perfumey in the series and very easy to wear. There's something soapy about Vespertina, in the best possible way. For an orange blossom scent, the sillage is pretty minimal, but the staying power is great and it wears beautifully. A solid version is in the works, and I have a feeling it's going to be gorgeous.

Speaking of the solids, I got to try several and loved the way they illuminate one of the star ingredients of the liquid perfumes. There is also a solitary solid, Cimbalom, which doesn't have a liquid twin. On my skin it was a sweet and dirty patchouli, very alive and incredibly sexy. Probably the complete opposite of Vespertina, and I like it just as much. The solid perfume melt into the skin and layer well with the liquid, making them last longer. The scent from most of the Illuminated Perfumes lingers for about three hours. While I thought it was completely gone, some were actually detectable on a sleeve hours later.

Roxana's blog (where I found the photo of the bottles) is a joy to read, especially once you get acquainted with the perfumes and want to learn more about the inspiration for your favorites. There's always a story and artistic references which make the scents more special.

The perfumes and solids can be purchased from Roxana's etsy store.

Roxana Illuminated Perfume- Part 1

In a time when mainstream and big house perfumery is going to hell in a hand basket, the biggest comfort (and dare I say hope?) comes from the artisans and independent perfumers. They tend to not only be passionate about their artistic vision, but also about the quality of ingredients, many of them natural.

One such perfumer is Roxana Villa of Roxana Illuminated Perfume. Her creations are handmade as are the tinctures she uses for them. The emphasis is on botanical ingredients from the aromatics to the alcohol base. The perfumes are in extrait strength, lively, herbal and full of personality. They smell sharp in the bottle but change and develop on the skin in a way only complex naturals can.

Here's my overview, part one:

Vera- A big lavender with an orange blossom heart. It could have easily gone into soap land, but somehow it never does. Instead, it's an uplifting scent with an aromatherpeutical quality.

Aurora- Sweet and spicy carnation. Fans of Bellodgia and Golconda will appreciate the way the spicy clove-like part mellows down and melts into the skin.

Q- Tom, my scent twin, liked this one best and, unsurprisingly, I think I agree. This is, indeed, the softest side of Chene. While it took me a while to find the musk, once I got it I was smitten. It's gorgeous, gender-less, and from my unwillingness to remove my wrist from my nose, also very addictive.

Lyra- This one feels complex and multifaceted. There's a candied orange in there that doesn't become too sweet. Unlike Tom, I did get the tropical flowers, and surprisingly enough- I liked it. A lot. Out of the four here, Lyra is the strongest and most tenacious, but it stays close enough to the skin to make it very wearable.

Go to Part 2

Roxana Illuminated Perfumes are available from her website (by the same name) and her etsy store: 7 ml of parfum extrait for $190, sample sets are also available, which is what I received as a PR freebie.

Image: Into The Light by Marcia Baldwin

Roxana Illuminated Perfume- Part 1

In a time when mainstream and big house perfumery is going to hell in a hand basket, the biggest comfort (and dare I say hope?) comes from the artisans and independent perfumers. They tend to not only be passionate about their artistic vision, but also about the quality of ingredients, many of them natural.

One such perfumer is Roxana Villa of Roxana Illuminated Perfume. Her creations are handmade as are the tinctures she uses for them. The emphasis is on botanical ingredients from the aromatics to the alcohol base. The perfumes are in extrait strength, lively, herbal and full of personality. They smell sharp in the bottle but change and develop on the skin in a way only complex naturals can.

Here's my overview, part one:

Vera- A big lavender with an orange blossom heart. It could have easily gone into soap land, but somehow it never does. Instead, it's an uplifting scent with an aromatherpeutical quality.

Aurora- Sweet and spicy carnation. Fans of Bellodgia and Golconda will appreciate the way the spicy clove-like part mellows down and melts into the skin.

Q- Tom, my scent twin, liked this one best and, unsurprisingly, I think I agree. This is, indeed, the softest side of Chene. While it took me a while to find the musk, once I got it I was smitten. It's gorgeous, gender-less, and from my unwillingness to remove my wrist from my nose, also very addictive.

Lyra- This one feels complex and multifaceted. There's a candied orange in there that doesn't become too sweet. Unlike Tom, I did get the tropical flowers, and surprisingly enough- I liked it. A lot. Out of the four here, Lyra is the strongest and most tenacious, but it stays close enough to the skin to make it very wearable.

Go to Part 2

Roxana Illuminated Perfumes are available from her website (by the same name) and her etsy store: 7 ml of parfum extrait for $190, sample sets are also available, which is what I received as a PR freebie.

Image: Into The Light by Marcia Baldwin

Roxana Illuminated Perfume- Part 1

In a time when mainstream and big house perfumery is going to hell in a hand basket, the biggest comfort (and dare I say hope?) comes from the artisans and independent perfumers. They tend to not only be passionate about their artistic vision, but also about the quality of ingredients, many of them natural.

One such perfumer is Roxana Villa of Roxana Illuminated Perfume. Her creations are handmade as are the tinctures she uses for them. The emphasis is on botanical ingredients from the aromatics to the alcohol base. The perfumes are in extrait strength, lively, herbal and full of personality. They smell sharp in the bottle but change and develop on the skin in a way only complex naturals can.

Here's my overview, part one:

Vera- A big lavender with an orange blossom heart. It could have easily gone into soap land, but somehow it never does. Instead, it's an uplifting scent with an aromatherpeutical quality.

Aurora- Sweet and spicy carnation. Fans of Bellodgia and Golconda will appreciate the way the spicy clove-like part mellows down and melts into the skin.

Q- Tom, my scent twin, liked this one best and, unsurprisingly, I think I agree. This is, indeed, the softest side of Chene. While it took me a while to find the musk, once I got it I was smitten. It's gorgeous, gender-less, and from my unwillingness to remove my wrist from my nose, also very addictive.

Lyra- This one feels complex and multifaceted. There's a candied orange in there that doesn't become too sweet. Unlike Tom, I did get the tropical flowers, and surprisingly enough- I liked it. A lot. Out of the four here, Lyra is the strongest and most tenacious, but it stays close enough to the skin to make it very wearable.

Go to Part 2

Roxana Illuminated Perfumes are available from her website (by the same name) and her etsy store: 7 ml of parfum extrait for $190, sample sets are also available, which is what I received as a PR freebie.

Image: Into The Light by Marcia Baldwin