I'm Smitten........

I Feel like Gardenia today!

May 12th, 2014
   Do you ever wake up in the morning thinking to yourself  ~ "Today I want to smell like a gardenia! And not just a single flower... oh no! I want to smell like a huge bouquet of gardenias! A whole bush absolutely smothered in blooms! Yes! That's what I want to smell like today!" ?
   What do you mean "no"? You actually NEVER wake up with that thought first and foremost in your brain?     Really?      Why not?      Gardenias are AWESOME!  
   But lets get back on track here. Today is a Gardenia day. I don't know why, but it is. I have Rose days too.... and Lily of the Valley days... and light, green leafy days.... rich resin and incense days... and watch out now! Those drench me to the bone in essential oil of Patchouli days!  Whoooaah! I LOVE THOSE DAYS!!! Patchouli seeping out of every pore...   Wow, got completely distracted there. Hang on a minute... "breathe deep ~ exhale slowly ~ center Self ~ find balance point ~ keep breathing deeply.  Now, refocus thoughts on... what was it again? .... oh yeah. Gardenia. Gardenia, GOT IT! " OK, I'm back. (And now y'all know that patchouli is my drug of choice! hahaha)
   Now I like to use gardenia to lift my spirits.  There is just something about that scent that makes me happy. Perhaps its childhood memories or just how gorgeous those flowers are!  (Hmm, I need to remind myself to plant a couple of bushes around here.  Until then I'll just have to keep wearing my Gardenia by Elizabeth Taylor.)  Also the full moon is approaching. And that plant has immense feminine and lunar energies! 
   They're said to aid in healing. Place a bouquet in the room or just one flower next to the bed. They have a very high spiritual vibration so in that way they can assist in communications with angels, ancestors and helpful spirits.   And, of course, down through history those lovely petals have been used in love spells of all sorts! Considering how lush and sensuous the flower is, I can understand that connection.  Almost forgot, they're said to enhance dreams and ritual dream states too.
    Need to gain some compassion? Either for others or yourself... this is a flower that can help.  Cup a bloom in your hands and inhale deeply. Feel its energy.   I always get the visual of Kwan Yin sitting on a gardenia instead of a lotus!     The scent has a way of wrapping itself around my shoulders like a light, velvety prayer shawl. It gives me great comfort and gladdens my heart.
    Well, there you have it. Gardenia days are good days!

This is my favorite go-to Gardenia fragrance. Always makes me smile!

1st Decant Supplies.

     My little batch of decanting supplies arrived today. Now I can really make a mess! chuckle I didn't really know what I needed, so I guessed at it!  This will be enough for me to get the "feel" of it at least.  
     Certainly seems like it will be easy enough. As usual, just apply common sense. And, as I've learned from experience, don't try to rush through any procedure!!!    I use to mix up my own oils and such, but it never involved any sort of spray apparatus. Will have to get the hang of that maneuver.
     That's where those cute little metal funnels come in. I could not resist! If they turn out to be totally useless, then I can make them into earrings or something of the sort. Jingles for a medicine bag.... the possibilities go on and on. Have some different sized plastic funnels as well. I'll just have to see what works the best.
     Oh no, I just realized that now I have to come up with some way to keep these things relatively organized.    Come to think of it... that's easy! A nice big tackle box should be a great start.  So on my next trip to the store, its off to the camping/fishing department.
     I'll also need a fairly deep box and, in this early stage, a piece of "foam" for the bottom. You know, that crunchy sounding stuff that everyone always used to make Christmas decorations with. I figure if I cut out a piece to fit the box I'm using.... then make impressions, aka holes, that the vials and sprayers can fit down into.  Would like to eventually make that base piece of wood.  Hey! Its a concept. I'm trying to conquer my seeming inability to organize. My brain just isn't wired well for that application. hahahaha
     All in all, this should be lots of fun! Wish me luck!!!!!

Darn These Dust Allergies!!

    About a week ago I made the major decision to start cleaning out both workshops AND both storage areas, one of which is being used as a chicken shed.  Time to get rid of things that no longer serve any real purpose in my life. I need to "lighten the load" so to speak. Get organized and create a wonderful space in which I can make the things that I've been guided to do.   
   And that seemed like a fantastic idea when I decided to do it. But it also seems I forgot all about my dust allergies!  So here I am with my sinuses threatening to commit mutiny. My eyes and skin are itching like crazy .... sheesh!!!! Did I forget to mention that I'm awaiting the arrival of a couple of bottles of perfume? And I can hardly SMELL ANYTHING!  Aarrgh! 
   Oh well, my cleaning project will be ongoing for a few months.  (How did I collect THAT MUCH STUFF?!) And there is repair work to do.   Guess the perfumes can be tucked safely away. Of course, I'll wear my regular "protection" ones and I'll be burning smudge herbs and incense while I'm actually cleaning out those rooms. I doubt very sincerely if I'll be able to detect any of the individual notes of any perfume for some time. But when I get my smudge bowl filled with sage or start burning breuzinho.... the neighbors will be smelling it for a good two or three blocks in every direction!!! hahaha   
    Just hope no one calls the fire department.  Again.... Don't you hate it when you hear the neighbors trying to explain to the firemen.... "But you should have seen the smoke rolling out of those windows! I thought the whole place was on fire!" Oh my, all the attention can be a little embarrassing.   "But sir, I was just purifying my home of negative energies. I don't understand what all the fuss is about!" Yeah, you guessed it. I'm the only one around these parts that does stuff like that. hahaha  And my little corner of the Universe is that much more peaceful because of my actions.  
   Maybe I'll have to make myself a t-shirt that says "Smudge On!" hee hee hee 
   
    

Oh my.....

Vintage Cartier Panthere  Eau de Toilette

   Oh my...... I don't even know what to say. Its so lovely.  And this isn't even the bottle I was talking about. That one still hasn't arrived! (Yes, I'm getting concerned.)     This one has blue panthers.... my favorite color. And I just got  in a vintage insert that contains more perfume that will fit this.

Temporary posting for drummagick..... Histoire d'Amour

First and foremost, let me apologize for my photos! And the lighting is definitely poor. This is a post to supply someone with quick visual reference. My photography skills are severely lacking on the best of days.... this is not one of them. hahaha   Hope they help anyway!

 

   Just a few quick photos that I hope will help in your search. (My parfum stash is tucked away so deep I'm afraid I won't be getting to it any time soon. The parfum bottle rendition I have is a small black glass bottle with frosted clear stopper. Lovely!)
   Above from left to right: older Edt, with small cap. That is the one that has the box with no ingredients listed. The middle is the pre-reformulation bottle that was easy to get until last year. The juice is still beautiful! On the right is a bottle of the Edp. All glass. The stopper is so lovely! Especially compared to the plastic ones! The older the edt bottle, the better quality the plastic top.

    A little closer look. Some of the glass is matte, some not.

    This is the packaging of the latest "good" version. Back and front. Sorry about the lack of flash. In some shots it kept "wiping out" all the print.

   Older version on left. "Daniel Aubusson, Paris".

   Once again, older version on left. Absolutely no ingredients.  The "still good" version has a relatively short list.
   The nasty reformulation is marked made in USA. Long list of ingredients. I have a very low opinion of it!