Bedroom Soap belongs to an entire “Bedroom” line of products made by an Australian company called Dynamo House. When I first spotted it, I couldn’t resist the Modigliani–inspired illustration on its box, and when I opened the box just enough to inhale the soap’s fragrance, I was sufficiently seduced (if you will) to bring it home with me.
Bedroom Soap is blended from coconut oil, palm oil, and sweet almond oil, and its long lasting, finely milled bar produces copious, creamy lather…
Among the many repercussions of severe fragrance addiction is that eventually, your critical eye (nose?) is cast upon everyday functional products you used to enjoy. I find this especially true with haircare products, which tend to be heavily, and often unfortunately, scented. The banana aroma of Joico's Intensive Moisture Treatment conditioner, which I don't think I used to even notice, now nauseates me, and the smell of another longtime favorite, L'Oreal Nature's Therapy Mega Moisture Nurturing Creme, became so unbearable I had to give it up entirely.
So back in December, when I was formatting the article on Perfume: The Best of 2007 and I saw that Kevin had included a jasmine shampoo by Oscar Blandi in his list of favorites, I sat up and took notice…
On a recent morning, I washed my hands with Malin + Goetz Rum Hand Wash just before leaving the house for work. During my commute I caught myself thinking, “Something or someone smells good,” before realizing that I was breathing in the lingering scent of my own hand wash.
The fragrance of Rum Hand Wash is a match to Malin + Goetz’s popular Rum Tonic Eau de Toilette and delightfully potent Dark Rum Candle: it combines top notes of bergamot and plum, middle notes of rum and leather, and a base of amber, patchouli, and milk. The resulting scent is fruity, but not orange-juicy, and sweet, but not cupcake-y…
As the winter continues, I’m trying to heal my chapped hands and ragged cuticles, and I want to prevent those tiny, painful cracks that sometimes emerge on the tips of my fingers during freezing-cold weather. My latest weapon against these aggravating little seasonal afflictions is Badger Body Butter. It has a base of natural ingredients, including jojoba, olive oil, cocoa butter, and beeswax, and its Antique Rose fragrance is mixed from essences of rose otto, patchouli, cardamom, and blood orange.
If you are already a fan of Badger’s popular Chai Rose lip balm (with its scent of cardamom, rose, and vanilla), you will most likely enjoy this Body Butter. The two products aren’t identical, but they smell similar enough to please the same noses…
In the calm after the holiday storm of shopping, socializing, travel, and various overindulgences, a few of us might be looking for simple means of relaxation. This is an ideal time to try the “Relax” products from Clarins, which happens to produce some very fine aromatherapy products alongside its skincare and makeup lines.
The “Relax” Bath & Shower Concentrate, which I’ve been using as a shower gel, is a low-lathering liquid fragranced with essential oils of geranium, basil and petitgrain. The accompanying Body Balm is a creamy lotion, just thick enough to feel indulgent but light enough to be easily absorbed into the skin; its aromatherapeutic essences are the same as those of the Bath & Shower Concentrate, with an additional note of chamomile.
The “Relax” scent is designed to enhance a sense of tranquility…
