Hey friends,

This is my last stop on the road of trying out all of the autumn indies. (Note: This is not all of the companies out there, it was just all of them I could afford/not be a hoarder with 59898 pumpkin perfume samples.)

Haus of Gloi appears to be one of the more popular indie perfume and body companies at the moment. It’s run by two people on their own website and has been around for a few years now. They offer perfume oils and other bath products such as whipped soaps, bubbling scrubs, and more.

Haus of Gloi perfume samples range from $2.50-$3, and their full sizes are $12. Their bath product minis are around $4-$5 and full sizes are $8-$10. I think this is super reasonable, especially when in comparison to mainstream perfumes or Bath and Body Works products.

I missed their original Autumn release (this is back before my indie love, when I was twiddling my thumbs and smelling like cheese, I guess), and I had been forewarned to be ready to go when HG restocked their autumn items. So in order to find out why everyone loved this little company (you know, for Science), I did pounce when Haus of Gloi restocked their autumn items, and I got all of their perfume samples and a pumpkin butter. (I think a few hours later it was all sold out, and they restocked a third time.) I’ve been trying them out since then and I’ve definitely been developing some opinions.

Haus of Gloi shipped the day after I ordered it, and I got all my lovely scents 4 days later. I was very impressed with their shipping, especially since I was part of the fall restock madness.

Naturally, I completed this review in a timely manner. (Uhh…Haus of Gloi just launched their Yule products yetersday, oops.) But even though these autumn products aren’t available anymore, it seems many return for future years. So start your wishlists a year early and/or hello 2015 readers who are stumbling on this post now.

Anyway, let’s get real about fall scents now:

Also, I know some of you are already drinking out of Starbucks red cups, but it’s going to be autumn in BeautyonaBeerBudget world for a few more weeks. I’m one of those people that loves enjoying fall up to Thanksgiving. And I’m taking you guys with me!!!

Ghost Puffs- Buttery popcorn and marshmallow goo orbs, presented on a wooden stick.
So I had reallllly high expectations for this guy, because I had heard Ghost Puffs was amazeballs and essentially the Holy Grail of all Fall Scents. And it is pretty great. It starts off smelling like sweet, buttery popcorn but then mellows out into the most delicious rice crispy treat ever. Like a lady/man on Pinterest would totally be making this recipe.

However, I have since discovered in my indie journey, that I am not the hugest fan of straight up sweet, foodie scents. So while I do think Ghost Puffs smells exactly like the gooey wonderment it claims to be, I prefer to layer it with something else, (usually Grimoire from Sugar and Spite Bathery), so it’s not in your face rice krispie treat. Also con: I always want dessert when I wear it. Double con and pro: This scent lasts quite awhile on me, so I want dessert for several hours! Yummy, but a bit too yummy.

The Horseman-Forest and wood, distant fire, smooth saddle leather, brown musk and the lingering scent of a dark gentleman’s cologne on a black woolen coat.
This scent’s description fits it perfectly. It starts out very woodsy and I definitely get a forest a night vibe from it. As it dries, it turns a bit smoky and the leather scent comes out, with just a hint of cologne, (sorry, I’m not picking up the black woolen coat, I’m not that good).

I really enjoy this scent, the woodsy, smoky scent is perfectly balanced and not overpowering. I get about 5 hours out of this one, and it has a good throw. It’s a bit too masculine on me, but I passed it on to Mr. Danger and it smells amazing on him. (It’s his second favorite after Solstice Scent’s Devil’s Tongue).

Also I totally think of Sleepy Hollow when I smell it, so that’s a bonus!

Olde Cider Haus- Oak, sweet drying hay fields, crushed apple pulp and vanilla husks.
I know apple scents and I have some issues, (mainly they last about 20 minutes on me), but I still wanted to try this one. I like the way Cider smells and I want to smell like Cider, gosh darnit!

At first application this is super apple-scented, but crisp apples that you just bit into. The first time I tried this, it went a bit cleaning product on me, but since then I guess my skin is cool now, and it’s just been crisp, delicious apple.

As it dries, the apple scent mellows into a spicy cider and the hay/oak notes start to come out. After about 30 minutes, this is full on yummy, cozy cider. I do really like it, but as predicted this only lasts about an hour on me before it fades away to cider perfume heaven. Note to self: Buy this in some other body product form in 2015.

Persephone’s Descent-Pomegranate, pale musk, narcissus blossom and black amber
I’ve been looking for a fruity/floral that my skin wouldn’t hate, and I was hoping this would be the one. Unfortunately, my skin is still locked in an eternal battle with fruity scents.

Again, when wet on me, this one is almost cloyingly fruity. And on a bad skin chemistry day it veers off into artificial cleaning product scent. However, as it dries it mellows down. I can get the sweet pomegranate notes with the more interesting musk and amber in the background. This only lasts 1-2 hours on me, which is typical of my skin and fruit scents.

This is too sweet and fruity for me as a perfume, but I think it might make a nice pumpkin butter. I probably won’t be repurchasing anything in this scent next year, though. Too fruity for me.

Pumpkin Eater-Cream, glowing pumpkin, rich vanilla bean and the tiniest touch of nutmeg butter.
Pumpkin Eater is exactly what I’m looking for when I want to smell like the traditional fall pumpkin scent. It’s a creamy pumpkin with a bit of a spicy kick at the end, which I assume comes from the nutmeg butter. This leans more towards pumpkin, and not pumpkin pie, so if that’s your jam, you might need to try something else.

Pumpkin Eater doesn’t last that long on me, about 2-3 hours, but it’s a pleasant and cozy scent that reminds me of fall. I don’t live near a pumpkin patch of any kind, but this scent totally evokes that imagery in my mind. Note to self: Wish I had gotten this in some kind of body product!

Pumpkin Queen-Gentle hay pillows, pumpkin, ripe peaches dusted with clove and nutmeg, dried summer herbs, and lastly, a lovely crown of amber.
I don’t know what gentle hay pillows actually are, but fresh hay is the first scent I pick up from this when Pumpkin Queen is wet. The pumpkin, spices and herbs come up next, and in the background a sugary scent that I assume is the peaches. This a very spicy and sweet fall combination, and I definitely feel like I’m on a pumpkin hay ride. (Note: I have been on a hayride, so this is a legit description.)

As Pumpkin Queen dries down, the herbs and spices mellow out more, getting the scent closer to potpourri territory, but it never fully goes there. For some reason, even as the scent dries down the peaches never really come out on me, instead they turn into a maple-like note. Who knows why, but it’s not bad at all.

Overall, I like this better than Pumpkin Eater, because it has a more interesting scent combination, lasts longer than me, and has a better throw. If I wanted to smell full on pumpkiny fall, this is the scent I’m going to reach for.

S’Mores-Reverie Collection- Graham cracker, dark chocolate, burnt marshmallow and a faint touch of woodsmoke.
This was the one scent I picked up from the Reverie Collection. (I figured I already had enough pumpkin smells, so I avoided Pumpkin Patch. And although Golden Corn Cakes sounded good, I also didn’t want the temptation to bite myself.)

Oh. My.

I fully regret not buying this in full size. SHAKING MY FISTS AT SKY.

First of all, I don’t think this scent will be for everyone. But I love smoky, burnt smells, and S’mores is meant for me. It starts off with a strong, sweet marshmallow smell and a rich chocolate note. I do get a faint smell of graham crackers in it as well. Very realistic.

However, as this dries, it goes from pure, sweet dessert, to burnt marshmallow. YES. This was what Ghost Puffs was missing for me. That burnt smoky smell keeps S’Mores from being too cloying, and I love it.

If this is ever offered again, I am so on it. If you know someone who would like to get S’mores off their hands, let me know! Love it.

Spider Silk- delicate water mint, wispy grey musk, crystalline webs of amber, oakmoss, torchwood, copaiba resin, and a touch of withered violet leaf
Hmm, this is very interesting. When it’s wet, the mint is the strongest scent. As it dries, I can definitely smell the amber, oakmoss, violent. The whole combination comes together to make a “green” scent to me, that is it smells very plantlike, and I mean that in a complimentary way.

Instead of spider webs, this actually makes me think of water spiders, (not including a picture- they are creepy), because this scent really reminds me of a cool, pretty pond under moonlight. I don’t know if this aquatic scent is for me, but I can definitely appreciate how minty, interesting, and I want to say, mysterious it is. Interesting, aquatic scent.

Tobac- Tobacco, a wisp of smoke, bourbon vanilla and two cedarwoods
I really thought that I would not like this scent and it would be in Mr. Danger’s pile. It’s very masculine and the tobacco note is pretty strong at first. However, I really love this and I’ve kept it all for myself. (Mr. Danger also think’s it’s “too sweet for dudes”, so it’s all mine.)

When Tobac is wet, I can really smell the tobacco and bourbon vanilla. It’s both strong and sweet at the same time, and it definitely makes me think of someone smoking a pipe in a fancy parlour room. (Pretty sure that’s not historically accurate, but I’m thinking Downton Abbey’s or Sherlock Holmes here.)

As this dries, the vanilla and cedar become more present and it mellows into a sweet atmospheric smell. I think it’s comforting and cozy, hence why I like to put Tobac on before bed.

I really want this in a full size, but I’m afraid it just wouldn’t get much use. My skin loves to amp vanilla and smoke and this is a bit too strong for me to wear to work. However, I will be grabbing another sample next year to enjoy. Love it.

I got a free sample of Absinthe, too. I don’t have much to say about this one other than if you love absinthe, you will be happy with it. It smells exactly like….absinthe! Which I am not a fan of, so moving right along…

My one body product purchase, Ghost Puffs Pumpkin Butter. (I learned my lesson here and will be trying some more from the Yule line.)

Dang. This is super sweet, gooey marshmallow on me. And it has a crazy throw. Mr. Danger can smell me being all Rice Krispy treat from across the room. When I put it on before bed, I still smell like marshmallow in the morning, so it also lasts awhile.

As a lotion, it’s very creamy, thick and moisturizing. I love that this formula is not greasy and dries quickly. I definitely will be getting more pumpkin butters.

Sometimes, the smell is a bit too much for me. I kinda wish I had gotten a Pumpkin Butter in Pumpkin Queen, Olde Cider Haus, or S’mores, (ALL OF THE SMORES) instead. But sometimes I so want to smell like a walking marshmallow, so I’m torn. I think I’ll be layering this bad boy.

 

So overall, I would buy S’mores and Tobac as full size perfumes. I would get Pumpkin Queen, Pumpkin Eater and Olde Haus Cider in bath products. Hey future self, I hope you read this!

I do think Haus of Gloi is pretty awesome. My biggest complaint was that their scents just didn’t last that long on me. That being said, they were still very interesting and well balanced combinations of notes. These guys are clearly pros, and I think they would be a great stop for beginners and seasoned indie lovers alike.

Questions of the Day:
-Do you have/know someone who has a full size of S’mores? Would you sell/give it to me? thnx.
-What do you think of Haus of Gloi’s Autumn Collection? Have you tried anything or are you planning to?
-Have you already moved on to Christmas?

Love,

Rebs!