Gulsha Skincare & Aroma M Camellia Prickly Pear Face Oil ~ scented body product reviews

Posted by Jessica on 7 September 2017 15 Comments

Gülsha skincare

People tend to have strong feelings about fragrance in their skincare. Some prefer everything unscented; others don’t mind a light scent here or there, providing it doesn’t linger. Personally, I’m happiest when an effective and gentle skincare product also smells good to me. No matter how well a product works, if I dislike the scent, I can’t use it; but if my skin and my nose happen to agree, then I’m delighted.

Since I already love wearing rose perfumes, I’m partial to rose-scented body products and skincare. I’m currently fascinated by Gülsha, a skincare collection made by a Turkey-based family business that has produced raw materials like rose absolute and rose water for the fragrance industry since 1965….

Read the rest of this article »

Aroma M Geisha Vanilla Hinoki ~ fragrance review

Posted by Jessica on 5 May 2016 16 Comments

Shiraike Jigoku of Beppu Jigokumeguri, Beppu, Oita prefecture, Japan

The independent perfume house Aroma M has just released Geisha Vanilla Hinoki, the first addition to its Geisha collection since 2011’s Geisha Amber Rouge. (Just for reference, my personal favorites from this line are Geisha Violet, Geisha Marron and Geisha Noire.) Vanilla Hinoki includes notes of vanilla, bergamot, clove, cardamom, nutmeg, cedarleaf, lavender, leather, patchouli, amyris and cedarwood, and it was created to evoke “the cloudy, floating, sybaritic sensation” of resting in a Japanese hot-spring pool.

Aroma M has never offered a gourmand fragrance before, unless you count the cocoa note in Geisha Violet (really more of a “fleurmand”). I was surprised to see that this new Geisha was vanilla-themed, and I have mixed feelings about vanilla perfumes…

Read the rest of this article »

Aroma M Geisha Vanilla Hinoki ~ new perfume

Posted by Robin on 25 April 2016 11 Comments

Aroma M Geisha Vanilla Hinoki

Indie brand Aroma M will launch Geisha Vanilla Hinoki, a new unisex addition to the brand’s Geisha series, in May…

Read the rest of this article »

Aroma M Voluptuous Nostalgia ~ fragrance review

Posted by Angela on 7 December 2015 61 Comments

Aroma M Voluptuous Nostalgia

There’s a shop in my town that sells perfume oils. The shop is styled to the minimalist, folksy, yet highly curated “Kinfolk” vibe that’s so popular now: raw wood furniture, bleached ceramic bowls, a 1960s credenza, a bearded salesperson sipping a latte from a mason jar and wearing a Ramones tee shirt he bought on eBay for $80.

Uh oh. I feel Grouchy Angela coming on.

“Are these all oils?” I asked when I visited the shop.

“Yeah,” the sales guy said, glancing at me and probably assuming I limited my perfume consumption to Jo Malone and that crazy bottle of Nicki Minaj I picked up after one too many mimosas out with the girls at brunch…

Read the rest of this article »