Vetiver Essential Oil | Young Living Essential Oils

The Cure Apothecary Face and Neck serum is a local (to me) product that has gained a tiny bit of a cult following on (Eastern Canadian) Instagram. My sister picked it up a while ago and enjoyed it, so I put it on my Christmas list.
I’ve been using it morning and night in place of my moisturizer and so far feel really good about it, though obviously it’s too soon to really know how it will help, I feel like my face already looks more calm and bright.
Here’s a link to the product: https://thecureapothecary.ca/products/the-cure-face-serum
And here’s the ingredients list: Ocymoides (Perilla) Seed Oil, Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin)Seed Oil, Calophyllum Inophyllum (Tamanu) Seed Oil, Barbadensis (Aloe) Leaf Extract, Plant Collagen, Tocopherol, Cananga Odorata (Ylang Ylang) Essential Oil, Vetiver Officinalis (Vetiver) Essential Oil
I don’t know much about many ingredients, and have never used a oil before. What are your thoughts?

I've been using the moisturizer for past 7/8 days and I've realized my skin has been peeling, slightly. It isnt dry and flaky. It's a very thin peel action thing I cant really explain. I've been using it along Mamaearth's bye bye blemishes face moisturizer and 7% Vitamin C serum. AM I DOING ANYTHING WRONG?
Here's the ingredients for the Earth Rhythm moisturizer I use:
Distilled Water, Bidens Pilosa Extract, Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil, Gossypium Herbaceum (Cotton) Seed Oil, Linum Usitatissimum (Linseed) Seed Oil, Caprylic/​Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Benzyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Sorbic Acid
Ingredients for the mama earth bye bye blemishes face cream I use:
Aqua, Glycerin, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Caprylic/​Capric Triglycerides, Glyceryl Monostearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Daisy Flower Extract, Mulberry Extract, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Shea Butter, Lavender Essential Oil, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Patchouli Essential Oil, Vetiver Essential Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Geranium Essential Oil

Obligatory SOTD pic: https://i.imgur.com/YdSiDco.jpg
CREAM: Cyril R. Salter | French Vetiver
BRUSH: Island Bladeworks | Stoya | Elite Razor Manchurian
RAZOR: Gem Damaskeene (1914-1915) | Gem Jr. Elite "Ivory" Handle (ca.1906) | Gem PTFE
POST: Catie's Bubbles | Revolution | Before & After Shave
FRAGRANCE: Talbot Shaving | Authors Ridge EdT
About a week ago, amidst one of my SOTD posts in which I was singing the praises of c_bubbles' Haitian vetiver-loaded 322, NeedsMoreMenthol challenged me to give Cyril R. Salter's French Vetiver a try. While he admitted he'd never experienced 322, he owns a vial of Haitian vetiver essential oil and found that CRS French Vetiver was "the closest [he had] smelled to the pure EO." Intrigued, I picked up a tub.
I've stated on several occasions that 322 is my all-time favorite fragrance. I'm so enamored with this fragrance that I have back-ups of the parfum extrait. Given this, any competitor starts well behind the line in any endeavor to strum that olfactory chord for me.
Unlike NeedsMoreMenthol, I do not own a Haitian vetiver EO sample, so I can't make the direct comparison as to the accuracy of either 322 or CRS to the "pure" EO. Rather, this is intended to impart my impression of CRS French Vetiver to 322.
French Vetiver opens with the expected earthy grassiness anticipated with any singularly vetiver fragrance. At least initially, the earthiness is clean, if that makes any sense. As opposed to being damp, dark, and swampy, it's more closely related to dry earth that's free of any decaying vegetation other than perhaps oak leaves. It then moves to even more grassiness and less earth to the point of smelling like Bermuda hay and warm unshelled peanuts in burlap. As the shave progresses, the fragrance has a brief transitional element that is reminiscent of sun-baked dirt emanating chalky minerals and salt. Holding onto this salt, the fragrance abruptly becomes wet, and even dank, with impressions of thick green moss and smoky seawater-rich tarry black peat. To a vetiver head, you're sold, right? No? Well, then now you're getting the idea of how Haitian vetiver deviates a bit from other varieties. CRS's French Vetiver doesn't dress this up, and as a result, some will find this repulsive. In much that same way a Highland single-malt scotch aficionado may rebuff an Islay.
So how does French Vetiver compare to 322? In a word, marginally. But in all fairness, it's an apples-to-oranges comparison. 322 never claimed to be singularly Haitian vetiver. I've stated previously that with 322 it was love at first whiff, but I would not be surprised that the enormous Haitian vetiver presence immediately turns off some users that may have otherwise come to appreciate it if not love it. (Again, forgive the scotch comparison, but the same thing often occurs in this realm. Subsequent "tastes" uncover previously obscured elements as the subject develops a taste for something they'd previously detested. Hence "acquired taste".)
Compared to French Vetiver, 322 is darker right off the bat. It's also sharper on the top end and carries a distinct bloody-plum richness evocative of Merlot or Syrah wine which is no doubt the perfumer's incorporation of black currant and patchouli. 322 also has a woodiness that has a resinous element making it less distinctly oak and more cedar. This aspect almost completely chokes out the warm peanut, salt, and dusty burlap vibe I detected in the French Vetiver. As complex as my French Vetiver description may be, 322 has much more dynamic range and depth, although as I alluded earlier, a patient nose may be necessary.
I warned you earlier that I'm biased in favor of 322 given my unnatural love affair with it. The reality is I don't dislike CRS French Vetiver at all, but even if I wasn't intentionally making a mental comparison, just using it made me long for 322 as it imparted just enough common elements to remind me of what it was missing. One more very important disclaimer despite the glaring one that I have a long-standing experience with 322, is that I use the extrait routinely. I would dare say that this alone taints my brain's interpretation of the soap because the extrait is a far better medium. I suspect that had I never used the extrait I most likely would not have been able to extract so much, even from the 322 soap.
As to the performance, Cyril R. Salter is a cream and it performs similarly to Art of Shaving's products, and that is to say it's a solid performer. As per my usual pattern, I test lathered with a couple different knots the evening before putting it into use. The lather building is fool-proof as far as creams go. It's fairly easy to break the lather with over watering as well as super hot water. When optimized, it yields a dense, creamy lather. If you get any fluffiness, you've over watered. Slickness, both primary and residual, are both good, but nowhere near the artisan pack leaders. The post shave is moisturizing, but again, nothing to which I'm accustomed in the artisan realm. As specifically compared to Catie's Bubble's Luxury Cream, CRS quite simply can't even compete.
I appreciate NeedsMoreMenthol's recommendation in that it introduced me to another product I might otherwise never have tried and it ultimately satisfied a curiosity. I you hope find my observations useful.
Disclaimer: I purchased this 5.8 oz Cyril R. Salter French Vetiver Shaving Cream from an Amazon seller under Amazon Prime parameters for $17.99 shipped.

Hey all! so I used to use the vetiver essential oil made by Veriditas Botanicals, it was a thick amber color and smelled amazing. But a couple years back, they changed suppliers and the new vetiver oil is thin and smells terrible to me. I haven't found a brand that smells similar to the "old stuff," and I even wrote Veriditas but they said their old supplier isn't around anymore. I'm so sad, this was my favorite smell in the whole world. Anyone know what I'm talking about that could recommend me a brand that smells the same?

Obligatory SOTD pic: https://i.imgur.com/YdSiDco.jpg
CREAM: Cyril R. Salter | French Vetiver
BRUSH: Island Bladeworks | Stoya | Elite Razor Manchurian
RAZOR: Gem Damaskeene (1914-1915) | Gem Jr. Elite "Ivory" Handle (ca.1906) | Gem PTFE
POST: Catie's Bubbles | Revolution | Before & After Shave
FRAGRANCE: Talbot Shaving | Authors Ridge EdT
About a week ago, amidst one of my SOTD posts in which I was singing the praises of c_bubbles' Haitian vetiver-loaded 322, NeedsMoreMenthol challenged me to give Cyril R. Salter's French Vetiver a try. While he admitted he'd never experienced 322, he owns a vial of Haitian vetiver essential oil and found that CRS French Vetiver was "the closest [he had] smelled to the pure EO." Intrigued, I picked up a tub.
I've stated on several occasions that 322 is my all-time favorite fragrance. I'm so enamored with this fragrance that I have back-ups of the parfum extrait. Given this, any competitor starts well behind the line in any endeavor to strum that olfactory chord for me.
Unlike NeedsMoreMenthol, I do not own a Haitian vetiver EO sample, so I can't make the direct comparison as to the accuracy of either 322 or CRS to the "pure" EO. Rather, this is intended to impart my impression of CRS French Vetiver to 322.
French Vetiver opens with the expected earthy grassiness anticipated with any singularly vetiver fragrance. At least initially, the earthiness is clean, if that makes any sense. As opposed to being damp, dark, and swampy, it's more closely related to dry earth that's free of any decaying vegetation other than perhaps oak leaves. It then moves to even more grassiness and less earth to the point of smelling like Bermuda hay and warm unshelled peanuts in burlap. As the shave progresses, the fragrance has a brief transitional element that is reminiscent of sun-baked dirt emanating chalky minerals and salt. Holding onto this salt, the fragrance abruptly becomes wet, and even dank, with impressions of thick green moss and smoky seawater-rich tarry black peat. To a vetiver head, you're sold, right? No? Well, then now you're getting the idea of how Haitian vetiver deviates a bit from other varieties. CRS's French Vetiver doesn't dress this up, and as a result, some will find this repulsive. In much that same way a Highland single-malt scotch aficionado may rebuff an Islay.
So how does French Vetiver compare to 322? In a word, marginally. But in all fairness, it's an apples-to-oranges comparison. 322 never claimed to be singularly Haitian vetiver. I've stated previously that with 322 it was love at first whiff, but I would not be surprised that the enormous Haitian vetiver presence immediately turns off some users that may have otherwise come to appreciate it if not love it. (Again, forgive the scotch comparison, but the same thing often occurs in this realm. Subsequent "tastes" uncover previously obscured elements as the subject develops a taste for something they'd previously detested. Hence "acquired taste".)
Compared to French Vetiver, 322 is darker right off the bat. It's also sharper on the top end and carries a distinct bloody-plum richness evocative of Merlot or Syrah wine which is no doubt the perfumer's incorporation of black currant and patchouli. 322 also has a woodiness that has a resinous element making it less distinctly oak and more cedar. This aspect almost completely chokes out the warm peanut, salt, and dusty burlap vibe I detected in the French Vetiver. As complex as my French Vetiver description may be, 322 has much more dynamic range and depth, although as I alluded earlier, a patient nose may be necessary.
I warned you earlier that I'm biased in favor of 322 given my unnatural love affair with it. The reality is I don't dislike CRS French Vetiver at all, but even if I wasn't intentionally making a mental comparison, just using it made me long for 322 as it imparted just enough common elements to remind me of what it was missing. One more very important disclaimer despite the glaring one that I have a long-standing experience with 322, is that I use the extrait routinely. I would dare say that this alone taints my brain's interpretation of the soap because the extrait is a far better medium. I suspect that had I never used the extrait I most likely would not have been able to extract so much, even from the 322 soap.
As to the performance, Cyril R. Salter is a cream and it performs similarly to Art of Shaving's products, and that is to say it's a solid performer. As per my usual pattern, I test lathered with a couple different knots the evening before putting it into use. The lather building is fool-proof as far as creams go. It's fairly easy to break the lather with over watering as well as super hot water. When optimized, it yields a dense, creamy lather. If you get any fluffiness, you've over watered. Slickness, both primary and residual, are both good, but nowhere near the artisan pack leaders. The post shave is moisturizing, but again, nothing to which I'm accustomed in the artisan realm. As specifically compared to Catie's Bubble's Luxury Cream, CRS quite simply can't even compete.
I appreciate NeedsMoreMenthol's recommendation in that it introduced me to another product I might otherwise never have tried and it ultimately satisfied a curiosity. I you hope find my observations useful.
Disclaimer: I purchased this 5.8 oz Cyril R. Salter French Vetiver Shaving Cream from an Amazon seller under Amazon Prime parameters for $17.99 shipped.

Video Up
The Los Angeles Shaving Company (https://lashavingsoap.com/) has been making shaving soap since 2013. Their influence on the community is deep, having helped several artisans in their soap base creation by posting a detailed guide to soaping (https://www.badgerandblade.com/forum/threads/homemade-shaving-soap-an-illustrated-guide-to-a-test-batch-long-post.330888/). Recently, production of LASSCo soap was transferred to Groomatorium Inc (https://groomatorium.com/). The shave soap formula was updated and improved from the original version. LASSCo can be purchased both from their site, Groomatorium’s site as well as Maggard Razors (http://www.maggardrazors.com/) and West Coast Shaving (https://www.westcoastshaving.com/).
The Black Rose is a rose froward scent with accents of cedar and geranium. This floral dominant scent is a unique take on the rose scent accord. While it opens rose dominant, the cedar acts to impart a woodiness and slight smoky quality to the scent. The geranium adds some “greenness” to the overall bouquet. If you enjoy rose scents, this one will be an instant must have. It is both classic and unique. Scent strength is mid-strong off the sample and remains this way once lathered. Similar scents from around the shaving world are: Mike's Natural Soaps Rose & Cedarwood and RazoRock For Chicago.
With the transfer of soap base production to Groomatorium Inc. the new LASSCo soap base has been improved and still stays true to their vegan soap base roots. The ingredients in the new base are listed as: Stearic Acid, Palm Kernel Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Shea Butter, Castor Oil, Water, Aloe Vera Juice, Essential Oils (Rose Absolute (in Fractionated Coconut Oil), Activated Charcoal, Cedarwood Essential Oil, Geranium Essential Oil, Labdanum Absolute (in Sunflower Oil). Juniper Leaf/Berry Essential Oil, Jasmine Absolute (in Fractionated Coconut Oil), Clove Essential Oil, Vetiver Essential Oil, Lime Essential Oil. ), French Red Clay, Activated Charcoal, Sodium Lactate, Allantoin (comfrey plant). The soap base is a dark grey, imparted by the use of activated charcoal and features French red clay. The firmness is in the middle of the spectrum and the base is of average thirst. When properly dialed in the lather becomes the consistency of whipped cream. Slickness, both primary and residual are very good. Post shave is the star and is very good. It’s hard to discern that this isn’t a tallow soap based on the post shave. The shavescore for the new LASSCo base is an 88. Soap bases with similar performance are Phoenix Artisan Accouterments and Stubble Buster Soaps.
Disclosure: All reviews and impressions must state how the product was acquired whether it be free,
sponsored, promotional, purchased, or otherwise.

• Soap - BLA Shaving Co. The Black Rose (purchased)
• Brush - C&CB “Victorian” (promotional gift)
• Razor - 1924 Patent Ever Ready Shovel Head on Halo (purchased)
• Post - Jeeves of Hudson St. Abyss (gift)

Essential oils are the latest trend to take the beauty industry by storm and with good reason, too. And since these oils are completely natural, their benefits for scalp and hair problems are widely accepted. An essential oil can work well for itchy and dry scalp. Also, essential oils are being used for treating hair loss with amazing results. But for the oils to really work on your hair problems, you need to know how to choose the perfect oil and how to use it for the best results. Essential oils are highly concentrated plant extracts that capture the fragrance and flavor, i.e. the ‘essence’ of its parts such as leaves, stems, flowers, fruit, and bark. Each essential oil has a unique scent and characteristic that makes it a great choice in aromatherapy.
​Difference between Essential Oil and Carrier Oil
Essential oil can be directly used for inhaling in aromatherapy. However, it should not be used directly on the scalp or hair because of its high concentration. It needs a base oil in which a few drops can be added for optimum results. The major difference between an essential oil and a carrier oil is that while the essential oil is extracted from non-fatty parts of the plant such as flowers, fruits, stem, etc., the carrier oil is extracted from the fatty parts such as seeds, kernels, etc. This is why an essential oil is light whereas a carrier oil is greasy. Essential oils can be very potent due to the high concentration of plant essence in it. This is exactly why it needs a carrier oil to dilute it before it can be used directly on hair and skin.
Hair Problem #1 - Dandruff
An itchy scalp, along with scaling scalp skin, and dead skin debris in the hair and on shoulders are common problems many people face. All these symptoms in varying degrees are usually because of dandruff. Dandruff can be caused due to dry scalp skin as well as due to irritated oily skin. It can also be triggered by a fungal infection or due to poor hygiene. Whatever the cause, dandruff is one pesky condition that is difficult to treat and is often recurrent. Especially during winter, dandruff becomes a major hair problem.
Tea tree Oil for dandruff Control
Essential oils have been accepted as an alternative medicine for treating dandruff as well as scalp ringworm. It is used in topical application and with correct and sustained usage, improvement can be noticed. It is quite helpful in soothing the scalp and thus relieving from itchiness.
Hair Problem #2 - Dry Scalp
Dry scalp is a condition that occurs if the scalp skin is not able to produce enough oil to keep the scalp moisturized. It causes flaky scalp and itchiness. It also makes the hair look dull and frizzy because there is no natural oil from the scalp to condition the hair. Dryness can cause the scalp skin to be irritated.
Dry scalp Treatment
Vetiver oil is an essential oil that is very effective in treating dry scalp. It has tranquilizing properties and when mixed with the right carrier oil, it can moisturize the scalp and relieve dryness and itchiness. It is also a great option to bring life back to dull hair.
Control Hair Loss
Hair loss is by far the most common hair-related complaint. Hair loss can be due to a variety of reasons ranging from poor diet and stress to unhealthy scalp conditions and environmental problems. Thus, apart from maintaining healthy habits, it is important to protect the hair from harsh environmental factors, too ​Apart from this, there are several benefits of using essential oils on your hair for preventing hair loss. Peppermint oil is one such oil that can be used as an effective treatment to prevent hair loss.

[US to WORLD][SELL][PERFUME]
No minimum, US shipping is $3.50, International shipping will require a quote. Paypal G&S preferred. Let me know if you have any questions. Currently DISO: NAVA Valentine Vanila Bean Cake, NAVA Nag Champa Seahorse, Arcana Fille de Joie.
FS BOTTLES

• Arcana - Post Tenebras Lux The scent of bright sunshine piercing through majestic conifers in the Boreal forest. Wildcrafted fir balsam, Canadian Douglas fir, red spruce, golden amber, Moroccan cedarwood, wild blackberries, bergamot, blood orange, and citron. $15 [full, a bit above shoulder]
  
• Nui Cobalt Designs - Gingerbread Chateau An exquisite confection crafted in a chic parisian patisserie. Slivered almond roof tiles, maple sugar-glass windows, cinnamon curl millwork, cardamom topiaries, roasted chestnut masonry, and marshmallow creme snow upon the eaves. [full well into neck] $15
  
• Solstice Scents - Snowshoe Pass White Amber, White Musk, Vanilla Accord, Peppermint Cream, Cold Winds $11 SOLD
  
• Solstice Scents - Foxcroft Intense Decaying Leaves, Dry Leaves, Dirt, Wood Smoke, Fir Balsam, Cedar, Cypress Wood, Oakmoss, Patchouli, Vetiver, Rain, Bayberry and more $8 SOLD
  

The following perfumes have been decanted by me into 8ml amber bottles. Please see pictures here !

• Arcana - Strawberries Crave Black Sand Amber resin with black coconut, coconut husks, smoky vetiver, and a sliver of almost-overripe strawberry. [about 4 ml remaining] $13
  
• Haus of Gloi - Depravity clove, nutmeg lurk amongst the sweetest offerings of coconut, on a bed of rich golden amber, laden with dustings of sandalwood and spilled wine. [5ml+ remaining (HoG overfills their bottles)] $8
  

Body Sprays (see pictures here - red line denotes fill level)

• Solstice Scents - Snowshoe Pass (4oz, full to slightly above label) $10

* Luvmilk - Aphrodite's Temple (2oz, full to slightly below label) Honey slathered peaches with a hint of spice and vanilla, rounded out with rose and a touch of sweet burning wood. $4 SOLD
SAMPLES All skin tested 1-3x unless otherwise noted
NAVA
* Olive Leaf & Yuzu Creme (squeaky decant) New Orleans and California Olive Leaf essence, Japanese Yuzu essential oil, Bergamot skin musk, Vanilla Crystalline Cream, Butter accord, Caramel Accord, French Vanilla Bean Absolute, Vanilla Milk accord, Vanilla Orchid, Crystalline Absolute and Vanilla Sugar. $4 SOLD

• Diamond (squeaky) Three different Redwoods, Egyptian Frankincense and pure Cedar. $4.50
  
• Egyptian Musk (squeaky) Single note scent - of PURE Egyptian Musk. The thick, clear and clean mild beautiful scent is the scent of Egypt. Created from Musk Mallow, Ambrette Seed and Musk flower. $4.50
  
• Amethyst (squeaky) Single Note perfume oil built from two notes from a sweet Egyptian Sandalwood and a beautiful earthy Egyptian Teak $4.50
  
• Miranda the Tempest (squeaky) Blueberry-infused-Lemongrass Water, Alexandrian Sea Salt, Blackberry Wine, Crystalline-Amber with Salted Caramel and Egyptian Blue Sugar crystals. $4
  
• Le Macabre Haunted White Cedarwood, Fresh Soil from within a grave, Raw Blue Vetiver, Blood Ripe Pomegranate and Crimson Musk. $4
  

Arcana

• Star Light (murflegirl decant) Sugar cookies infused with Mexican vanilla and sprinkled with tiny hints of peach, fig, and raisin. $3
  
• Winternights (RIS) Feast, give thanks, ward off Frost Giants, or just frolic with this mirthful Northern mix of three vanillas, frosty peppermint, a dab of white musk, and a hint of ripe young berries encased in ice. $3
  
• Gideon (RIS) Apricot, golden amber, and a saucerful of cream. $3SOLD
  
• 3 Drops of Wax (RIS) A clean white shirt, a burning candle flame, melted beeswax, braided hemp wick, old leather, snow, and ash. $3
  

Haus of Gloi

• Nefarious Gingerbread Man Gingerbread dough with red ginger root, black patchouli, sticky resins and swirls of nag champa incense. $1.25
• Ploughman Well worn leather, dirt n' dandelions, carrot, a pinch of tobacco and a light sheen of feral skin musk. $1.25
• Celestina Ripe red apple and Egyptian musk with a hint of fresh rose. $1.25

Solstice Scents

• Foxcroft Fairgrounds Cotton Candy, Cream Soda, Vanilla Taffy, Gridling's Funnel Cakes, Powdered Sugar, Crisp Fall Air, Woodsmoke & a Tendril of Incense. $2 SOLD
• Sirocco Sandalwood, Saffron Threads, Hot Baked Earth, Myrrh, Spices, Oud & Jasmine $2 SOLD
• Outpost Sugar Crystals, Spruce, Fir, Soft Woods, Bayberry, Mistletoe, Amber $2 SOLD
• Dark Ginger Spicecake Gingerbread Cookies crash into a dark earthy corruption of Patchouli and Vetiver Essential Oil and a Woodsy-Earth Musk $2
• Cellar Damp Earth and Stone, Wooden Casks, Cool Fall Air, Crisp Apple, Pear and Broom Corn. $2SOLD
• Hidden Lodge Dry Wood Blend, Oud, Woodsmoke, Spices, Castoreum (Botanical Interpretation) $2
• Gibbon's Boarding School Dusty Wooden Desks, Paper, Carefully Hidden Tobacco Pouch, Dying Fire, Dried Leaves, Leather Chairs, Autumn Breeze $2
• Smoky Mountain Mallow Wood Smoke, Fossilized Amber Resin, Lapsang Souchong CO2, Guaiacwood, Labdanum, Nutmeg EO, Marshmallow $2

Luminous Star Perfumes

• Daytime Tuxedo (RIS) Enchant her with notes of a bouquet of roses, creamy sandalwood, and black pepper. $1.25
• Love (RIS) She's a blinding force of light with notes of white amber, surrounded by yuzu and fresh oranges, in a base of neroli and white wood with a kiss of creamy violets. $1.25

OTHER BRANDS
Possets - Linden Blossom Tea (RIS) Linden tea reminds me of afternoons in Vienna, long shadows and the air filled with a fine honeyed scent of blooming lindens. Refreshing but comforting, it's really only proper at the summery parts of the year. $1

I recently ordered 16 (16!) samples of Lilac and Moss perfumes, and since there aren't many reviews up so far, I thought I'd give it a shot!
General Thoughts: I became curious about this brand after hearing about it in a previous discussion post about indies with good/bad branding. Though it may seem superficial to some, I really appreciate a company with an easy to navigate webpage and well thought out/consistent branding and graphic design- and Lilac and Moss definitely fits the bill!
The 16 samples came in an envelope decorated with floral washi tape, in well labelled 2 ml vials packaged in two ribbon wrapped boxes. The customer service was also excellent- I ordered two sample sets of all types of perfume (the owner, Journey, divides her perfumes into categories such as Dark/Unisex, Fresh/Floral, etc. and then you pick a category and she gives you random samples from that), but forgot to specify my preference for any and all categories except gourmands. I sent an email and got a response almost immediately, and Journey was happy to observe my request, which I really appreciated! (though considering I bought 16 samples, which is almost all of her catalog, I did end up with a handful of gourmands as well...)
All in all I'm really pleased with my order: Fast TAT, excellent CS, and beautiful branding- not to mention the perfumes themselves! So without further ado, here are reviews of the first 8 perfumes, plus the free sample she sent me with my order.
Mossflower
Notes: Like burying your face in lilacs fresh from the ground, lilac and rose are layered on top of moss and dirt. Vetiver essential oil, oakmoss essential oil, agarwood essential oil, rose absolute, fragrance
Bottle: Faint lilacs.
Wet: Lilacs! And maybe moss? Earthy.
Dry: Lilacs and dirt and moss and a little bit of vetiver. This is just like sitting on the slightly damp ground beneath a blooming lilac bush!
Thoughts: I love lilacs, and I LOVE this. Definitely buying a FS.
Latte
Notes: Simply put, it smells like a latte! Has also been described as chai with a dash of espresso. Coffee, cinnamon, vanilla, and clove.
Bottle: Coffee and clove?
Wet: Black coffee- yum!
Dry: Coffee, and a hint of vanilla and spice
Thoughts: I never thought I’d like a coffee scent out of fear of it leaning too sweet, but this is actually really nice! It’s super realistic and cozy, just like taking a sip a steaming latte at a little cafe.
October
Notes: Crisp fall air with roasted pumpkins and dried leaves, with a light sweetness from maple. Allspice, palmarosa, fragrance blend.
Bottle: Toasted spicy pumpkin.
Wet: Fresh, slightly bitter pumpkin, and warm spices.
Dry: Pumpkin spice latte candle :(
Thoughts: I was intrigued by this when it was wet, but it got too sweet for me in the dry down- this one is going to my sister, who loves all things pumpkin spice.
Dove
Notes: Soft and delicate, like the scent of vanilla embedded in a pink sweater. Not particularly floral despite the presence of two absolutes. Rose absolute, jasmine absolute, vanilla, palmarosa.
Bottle: Warm vanilla and a hint of rose.
Wet: Delicate, lightly floral, very fresh and clean.
Dry: The vanilla is much more prominent now, but this is still such a clean and delicate floral scent. And not at all soapy! I really love this one, it’s tickling something in my memory but I don’t know what.
Thoughts: This scent is so.... Comforting? I normally gravitate towards either darker or greener scents, but this perfume does delicate floral without going powdery or soapy (blegh) and I’m really enjoying it.
Phaedra
Notes: Jasmine and brown sugar make a sensual, warm, and sweet base, while lily, bergamot, and clary sage bring the freshness of the valley. Jasmine, bergamot, clary sage, fragrance.
Bottle: Brown sugar and a hint of citrus.
Wet: Brown sugar, bergamot that’s almost like lime?
Dry: Brown sugar, bergamot, a hint of something green and floral.
Thoughts: I definitely smelled the brown sugar! (Sadly, not too keen on it) Don’t know where the lime came from, maybe the bergamot combined with the sage? I almost wish I could find the same perfume but with some sort of base note other than brown sugar, because I love it otherwise.
Garden
Notes: A mixed orchard in full bloom; hyacinth and rose are blended with fresh fruit. Palmarosa, grapefruit, geranium, lemon, fragrance oil.
Bottle: Grapes?
Wet: Grapes? Roses. Reminds me of B&BW
Dry: Grapes have faded to general fruity, rose and lemon are definitely there. A little soapy.
Thoughts: Definitely a fruity rose scent, really reminds me of the smell of walking inside of a B&BW! Pleasant but not my deal.
Haven
Notes: Think of being snuggled up with a cup of coffee in a cabin surrounded by woods and flowers. The warmth of clove, coffee, and vanilla are underscored by the earthiness of violet leaf and oakmoss. Cedarwood, clove, coffee, lavender, vanilla, violet leaf, ylang ylang, oakmoss absolute
Bottle: Very herbal?
Wet: Herby-floral and green and very spicy! Like rolling around in a garden after rain. There’s a hint of vanilla in the background as well.
Dry: Spiciness is toned down a bit, and vanilla gets stronger, and there’s a hint of woods now too- I’m really loving this.
Thoughts: Another full size, I think! Didn’t get any coffee, but I definitely smell the clove as the spiciness, and the vanilla and cedarwood create a lovely warm woody base for the rest of the notes to combine into a beautiful floral-herbal greenness.
Gossamer
Notes: Valentine’s Day 2016. Sophisticated, warm dessert of berries and caramelized cream. Vanilla bourbon, toasted marshmallow, and a dash of coconut are topped off with juicy grapefruit and raspberry, with a few rose petals for garnish. Vanilla bourbon co2, coconut pulp co2, rose absolute, grapefruit, fragrance blend.
Bottle: Boozy raspberries.
Wet: Ripe, sugary raspberries and a hint of citrus.
Dry: This smells like the candy aisle at my local amish bulk store? Sweet candylike raspberry with some added brightness from the grapefruit (literally, like slightly tart raspberry flavored candy), and then creamy coconut marshmallow underneath.
Thoughts: Super sweet and a little artificial to my nose, I’m not very fond of this one, but I can imagine someone who likes gourmands and/or raspberries loving it!
Kismet
Notes: Valentine’s Day 2016. Cocoa absolute is blended with a bouquet of rose, jasmine, and peony. There’s a small bite of almond and peppermint too. Rose absolute, jasmine absolute, almond bitter, cocoa absolute, peppermint, fragrance blend.
Bottle: Mint! Plus a hint of floral and chocolate.
Wet: The chocolate and floral get a lot stronger now, kinda reminiscent of a floral bouquet and an Andes bar? There’s a little cherry in there too.
Dry: Chocolate has faded out, but I notice a hint of almond? Mint is still super strong.
Thoughts: I think my skin really amped the peppermint here, and the almond read as cherry which happens frequently to me. I can pick out the rose and jasmine now though. I feel like I’d love this if my skin chem hadn’t done weird stuff to it!

Hot off yesterday's review of Vetivertal, I decided to do a write-up on another vetiver-based vegan soap: Los Angeles Shaving Soap Company's Bespoke #1.
Vetivertal, as I explained yesterday, exemplifies a very light, crisp, clean side of vetiver's range of scent profiles. I would call it a very 'unisex' scent. Very floral, a little perfumey, but dry and grassy at the same time.
Bespoke #1, in contrast, is very dark, warm, and much 'manlier.' Obviously I don't actually mean to say that anyone's gender should preclude them from enjoying any particular scent profiles, but if you're looking for a decidedly un-perfumey vetiver-scented soap, then Bespoke #1 certainly delivers on that front.
The list of essential oils and scents that go into Bespoke #1 is vast and impressive:
Vetiver Essential Oil 35 million year old Himalayan Amber Oil Frankincense Essential Oil Opopanax (Sweet Myrrh) Clove Essential Oil Pepper Essential Oil Bergamot Essential Oil Patchouli Essential Oil Cedar Essential Oil Vanilla Extract Anise Extract Labdanum Absolute
That's a hell of a lineup. And what's even cooler is that this scent was designed by a customer via a Badger & Blade auction for charity. And if that weren't enough, a percentage of the proceeds from sales apparently continue to go towards cancer research. Very cool.
I love the scent. Lots of vetiver balanced, filled out, and grounded by earthy cedar, pepper, and patchouli and darkly perfumey amber, frankincense, and myrrh. This is certainly a subtle scent with lots going on behind the scenes and that keeps it interesting. If you pay attention throughout the shave you're going to pick up a lot of different characteristics stepping forward over time.
This is a must-have scent for me. Luckily, I just went for it and didn't bother with a sample when I ordered this one.
Here's the one drawback: I'm not getting the performance I want from it. The cushion is there, it's easy to build a lather, but I'm not getting quite the slickness I expect. The LASSco soaps are designed off of the famous Martin de Candre, it is well-reviewed, and I got better performance from Myrkviðr. I think I may have over-loaded. I kept adding water between passes to try and hit the sweet spot, but it was never quite the ball-bearing slippery-between-the-fingers feel I was looking for.
So I'm taking credit for this, but the numbers I put up today have to reflect my experience. If anyone has tips or suggestions, lay it on me.
I will say this, too; even if it never performs better than it did today, I will definitely still use Bespoke #1 just because of how wonderful it smells. I just wouldn't use it on any more than a day's worth of growth.
So, then, to oversimplify:
Los Angeles Shaving Soap Company - Bespoke #1 Scent: 10/10 Lather: 8/10 Cost: $6.22/oz
Wholly Kaw - Vetivertal 1 2 Scent: 10/10 Lather: 9/10 Cost: $4.50/oz
Mickey Lee Soapworks - Unforgiven Scent: 7/10 Lather: 10/10 Cost: $3.64/oz
Barrister & Mann's Latha - Oceana Scent: 6/10 Lather: 10/10 Cost: $2.75/oz
Chiseled Face - Cedar & Spice Scent: 9/10 Lather: 10/10 Cost: $3.25/oz
Chiseled Face - Trade Winds Scent: 7/10 Lather: 10/10 Cost: $3.25/oz
Mickey Lee Soapworks - Drunken Goat 1 2 Scent: 8/10 Lather: 9/10 Cost: $3.64/oz
Dapper Dragon - Black Dragon Scent: 6/10 Lather: 9/10 Cost: $3.50/oz
Maggard Razors - Northern Moss Scent: 8/10 Lather: 9/10 Cost: $4.49/oz
Los Angeles Shaving Soap Company - Myrkviðr Scent: 9/10 Lather: 9/10 Cost: $4.00/oz
Chiseled Face - Sherlock Scent: 9/10 Lather: 10/10 Cost: $3.25/oz
Chiseled Face - Ghost Town Barber Scent: 8/10 Lather: 10/10 Cost: $3.25/oz
Chiseled Face - Summer Storm Scent: 10/10 Lather: 10/10 Cost: $3.25/oz
Strop Shoppe - Austin Scent: 5/10 Lather: 9/10 Cost: $4.25/oz
Mickey Lee Soapworks - Pantie Dropper Scent: 4/10 Lather: 8/10 Cost: $3.64/oz
Barrister & Mann - Seville Scent: 10/10 Lather: 10/10 Cost: $4.00/oz
Barrister & Mann - Leviathan Scent: 9/10 Lather: 10/10 Cost: $4.75/oz
Dapper Dragon - Green Dragon Scent: 8/10 Lather: 9/10 Cost: $3.50/oz
Mickey Lee Soapworks - The Kraken Scent: 7/10 Lather: 8/10 Cost: $3.64/oz
Barrister and Mann - Vetyver Santal Scent: 8/10 Lather: 10/10 Cost: $5.50/oz
Barrister and Mann - Lavanille Scent: 11/10 Lather: 10/10 Cost: $6.00/oz
Also, for full disclosure, I will be updating these scores as my experience broadens and as I revisit these soaps. The criteria is totally subjective.
My collection of samples is large and growing larger. If there's something in there you think is so good that I'm wasting precious time by not trying it yet, let me know. I can use all the input I can get. If you think I've egregiously over or under rated something, let me know. I can and will revisit all of these.

If you had to pick five (and only five!) ingredients to have in your natural skin/body/hair care arsenal, what would you choose?
Mine are:

• Shea butter (because it's a fabulous moisturizer for my body, face, and hair. It can also be used as a lubricant when it's melted at body temperature. Aw yiss)
• Rosehip seed oil (because it's a great source of low-dose vitamin A, which is awesome for my skin; plus it's non-comedogenic for me)
• Vetiver essential oil (because it is the best smell ever)
• Baking soda (because it's a great dry shampoo when combined with cornstarch and EOs, can work as an exfoliant, and is a great deodorant, especially when combined with shea butter and vetiver)
• Witch hazel (because it's a great astringent, a non-drying toner, a first-aid kit staple, and gets rid of inflamed taste buds when I binge on sugar)

There isn't much info on Ferrari's new Vetiver Essence, and I wouldn't have looked at it, had it not been for the sales associate... But it was awesome. Thing is, I don't know much about Vetiver's..
Never thought I'd spend over $100 on cologne until I tested and bought Creed's Aventus. Went today to test Tom Ford's Tuscan Leather, but I don't get the (pricey) appeal of smelling like my leather jacket after a whiskey and smoke.
I've decided to try to understand a little more about scents before I plunge on another bottle. Thinking about trying 100% Vetiver essential oil - is it wearable on it's own? Does it mix well with other frags?
P.S. Going to order some fake Molecule 'Iso E Super' for $10 from Perfumers Apprentice