Hey friends!!!

MY THESIS IS DONE.

The only way I finished it was by bribing myself with perfumes from Solstice Scent’s Winter Collection. I’m not even joking. Every chapter that I did a revision on, I got to smell a scent and write about it. I’ve been working on this thesis for a year and my motivation was pretty low. So thanks Solstice Scents, for helping me complete it!

I’ve written about Solstice Scents before, (AKA my favorite indie perfume company, I’ll just come out and say it), I reviewed their Autumn and Autumn Festival Collections. As before, I ordered the Winter Collection on Saturday and it shipped out on Monday. Shipping itself was a bit slower than usual, (it’s that time of year, friends), but my tired, beleaguered postal service worker delivered it about a week after it shipped. (I’m getting him a Christmas gift, the poor guy is always delivering me something.)

I accidentally placed two orders because I got so excited, (I also bought Whipped Soaps in Corvin’s Apple Fest and Owlcreek Aleworks, plus a full sized Foxcroft Fairgrounds) and Solstice Scents kindly combined my shipping and refunded me the difference. They also included BOTH of the freebie samples I asked for from each order, which they did not have to do. So what I’m saying here, is customer service from Solstice Scents is amazinggggggg.

Anyway, the best part is the scents, so let’s get sniffing.

 

 

Buttered Rum Mallow- Rum, Marshmallow, Nutmeg, Cardamom, Clove, Butter, Cinnamon, Vanilla, Brown Sugar & All Spice

This scent very much reminds me of their Pumpkin Spice Latte scent, but it’s a little deeper. I only get a hint of rum, mostly this smells buttery and the clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg blend together nicely to give it a lovely spicy scent. This is definitely a rich foodie scent, I don’t know if I could wear it everyday, but I will enjoy my sample!

Dark Ginger Spicecake-Gingerbread, Woodsy Musk, Patchouli EO and Vetiver EO

Wow, congratulations Solstice Scents on making the first Vetiver scent I have ever found pleasant. Vetiver blends usually leave me with a headache and burning nose, but this is not overwhelming at all. Also congratulations SS on making gingerbread sexy? This smells very much like gingerbread with dark, musky, earth notes. Kind of foodie, kind of earthy, and kind of sexy. This scent is really interesting, I’m going to have keep sampling this one to decide if it’s a full-sizer.

Flintlock-Tobacco, Saddle Leather, Virginia Cedar, Black Pepper, Woods, Bayberry & Evergreens

I love tobacco and leather notes, but I also don’t want people around me to shout things like, “Is there a lumberjack/kindly grandfather/horseman/pioneer in the house?!”. Fortunately, the bayberry and evergreens keep this from being too masculine on me. It smells like a hike or horseback ride through the cold woods with a sexy mountain man as your guide. (Um, I have now used “sexy” twice to describe perfumes, not really sure what’s going on in my life at the moment.)

Lemon Ginger Creams-Gingersnap Sandwich Cookies Filled With Vanilla-Lemon Cream
Oh my, this smells delicious, and I don’t even like lemon desserts. However if someone presented this to me as a dessert, I would eat it. Daily. The first scent is a rush of tart lemon, but then it mellows out into creamy lemon-vanilla, with just a hint of ginger cookie. And not ginger spice, but I feel like I can smell actual ginger cookies in this. Really, it smells amazing. It’s foodie and sweet, but the lemon and ginger keep it fun and interesting. Why has someone not given me a lemon cookie yet?!?!

Nightstar- Nutmeg, Patchouli, Frankincense, Myrrh, Woods and Lemon
So, I thought I hated Frankincense and Myrrh, but I can apparently appreciate them when mixed nicely with these other notes. This smells very incense-like to me, but instead of being thick and heady, the lemon and nutmeg make it spicy and refreshing. There’s still a strong note in the background, maybe the myrrh, that I find to be a bit too harsh, but I just think these notes really aren’t for me. However, I think if you’re into incense blends you will like this perfume.

Outpost-Sugar Crystals, Spruce, Fir, Soft Woods, Bayberry,  Mistletoe, Amber
Ohhhh, I like this one. At first I get a lot of spruce and green woodsy notes, but then it turns a bit sweet. I’m guessing that’s sugar crystals and bayberry. After awhile it gets a bit woodsy again, but with less of the spruce scent. It remains a bit sweet, slightly herbal and woodsy after that.

Snowmint Mallow-Peppermint, Vanilla Cake, Flaked Coconut, Sugar Cookies & Marshmallow Creme

Mmmm, this is minty and sweet. It reminds me of white chocolate peppermint bark or a Peppermint Patty, sans chocolate. After awhile the mint fades and this mellows out into more of a creamy, vanilla dessert scent. I like this because although it’s a foodie scent, it’s not too heavy, but light and sweet. I also feel like this was probably awesome in lotion or whipped soap. (Note to self: stalk website for potential restocks in lotion/whipped soap.)

Snowshoe Pass-White Amber, White Musk, Vanilla Accord, Peppermint Cream, Cold Winds
This reminds me vaguely of the one mainstream perfume I used to like, (but for the life of me I can’t remember what that was.) I think that’s the white musk and amber I’m smelling that makes me think of traditional perfumes. There’s also a soft, sweet vanilla scent to it. I think this perfume would be good if you need something work appropriate or safe for someone who’s just getting into indies.

Sugarvale-Candied Pecans, Butterscotch, Buttered Rum, Brown Sugar, Maple Syrup, Hot Pralines & Milk Chocolate Cocoa
I’m imagining that Sugarvale is Nightvale’s new rival town. This perfume definitely has a nutty, buttery scent, l’m really picking up on the candied pecans, (I LOVE candied pecans.) It’s sweet, but in that buttery way that toffee or pancakes are. The sweetness is balanced with the butter and cocoa notes, and it is delicious. I am making myself hungry. Help.

Winslow’s- Rows of Christmas Trees, Clove Studded Oranges, Bayberry Tapers, Handcrafted Wreaths & Mistletoe
This reminds me of when I was little, (um, who am I kidding we did this until I was about 21), and my family would go to the Christmas Tree Farm to cut down a tree. We would get hot cider from the little gift shop afterwards. That is a very elaborate memory, but that is what this perfume smells like. Christmas trees and cider with cloves and oranges. I love that many of Solstice Scents’ perfumes conjure images and memories for me, and this perfume really takes me back. I don’t know if this is a great daily scent for me, but I want my whole house to smell like it.

Overall, I am very impressed with the wide range of scents in this collection. There are woodsy, foodie, incense types of perfumes in this Winter Collection, and they all smell amazing. It’s a testament to Solstice Scents’ quality that I was able to enjoy something about every scent, even if they aren’t all my style.

I’m going to wear these for a few more weeks before I place another order, but I’m leaning towards Lemon Ginger Creams and Outpost in full size. Mr. Danger is obsessed with Flintlock, and I’ve got a feeling he might be getting another full-size. (For the record, Solstice Scents rollerballs are the bomb.com, if you were wondering.)

Questions of the Day:
-What are your thoughts on this collection?
-Any favorite winter scents?
-What’s your preferred method of perfume application? I am a rollerball fan now, I don’t know if I can go back!

Love,

Rebs!