One Hand Washes The Other

Winter 2011-2012

2011-12-10T20:24:00.000-08:00

It's been awhile since my last blog update, I know! For those of you who still follow OHWTO mainly via this blog, you can get more up-to-the-minute updates by following me on Facebook or via Twitter. I am not sure why but it just seems easier to update there than here... so, there you have it.

Winter is upon us, and here just in time are a few new fragrances, some of which are Limited Editions for the winter months, and some which will be around for the foreseeable future. I didn't feel much like doing a strictly "holiday" collection this year, so there's a couple of fragrances which aren't necessarily "holiday" themed.

* Merry & Bright(LE): Essential oils and absolutes make up this festive scent that will bring you good cheer through the upcoming season. Tangerine, Cardamom, Tonka Bean & Amber

* Waes Hail(LE): Be you healthy! A wonderfully uplifting sentiment, wishing you nothing but good things for the upcoming year. Tart Cranberries, mulling Spices, & Frankincense resin

* Winter Warmer(LE): A winter evening's delight, Winter Warmer brings together scents reminiscent of drinks well-loved for their knack for chasing way the chilly presence of Jack Frost. Figs, Currants, Buttered Rum, Apples, Brandy, Clove, Citrus peel, Ginger, Wheat Ale, Tobacco Absolute & Hops Flower extract

* Festivus(LE): A holiday scent for the rest of us! Celebrants of Festivus typically aren't those who follow a prescribed path, and this fragrance is just for you! In addition to your Feats of Strength and your Aluminum Poles, you can now add "Festivus the Fragrance" to your list of holiday traditions. Festivus, yes! Bagels, no! Creamy Vanilla, Cedarwood, Eastern spices, Patchouli, Sandalwood & Powdery faint Florals

* Goodie Goodie(LE): This was a custom request blend for Grey of LeGothique, spiced gumdrops- you know the ones! This fairly literal scent combines notes of Cinnamon, Peppermint, Anise, Cassia, Sugar & Vanilla (please use caution with this scent as it does contain cinnamon, which can irritate the skin of persons sensitive to it- patch testing is highly recommended before slathering all over yourself)

* Lumberjack(LE): I'm a lumberjack, I work all day... a masculine evergreen scent perfect for the cold wintry months. Balsam Pine, Bay Rum, Black Tea, Fallen Leaves, Musk, Valencia Orange, Spiced Rum, Vanilla

* Visions of Sugarplums(LE): Sweet and fruity, with a little something ethereal thrown in for good measure. Is this real? Are you still asleep? Close your eyes again, and see. Raspberries, Strawberry candies, Sugared Violets, Tuberose, White Musk & damp Moss

* The Cake Is A Lie: But it smells so REAL! Lemon-filled butter cake with thick, fluffy frosting. Lemon, Sugar, Cake batter & Frosting

* I Smell Like A Witch: A special request for Luna of Toxid-Lotus.net, I smell like a Witch came about when a little boy told her that the combination of scents she was wearing made her smell "like a witch". Heh. Red & White Roses, Cotton Candy, Bubble Gum, Smoke, Sandalwood, Patchouli & Vanilla Bean

* Pretty Undead: Another custom blend, this one was for Kayla of Pretty Undead; a young, fresh scent featuring a few of her favorite notes. Blueberries, Black Pepper, Brown Sugar, Nutmeg, Plums, Lavender, Peppermint, Lindenblossom, & Banana

I will also be adding a few new fragrances to the "Stock Scents" list in the next couple of days- a few new Lush & BBW dupes that are to die for! :) Till then!

Halloween 2011

2011-09-25T20:53:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time coming, and rather than keep everyone waiting for a giant "all at once" release I'm just gonna start rolling these babies out as product is made. In keeping with the aforementioned changes to the shop, products will only be available as they are made so that I can get your orders packed and shipped out to you in a timely manner. Any scent not currently on the "Stock Fragrance" or "Private Stock" list is NOT available for adding to the "choose your own scent" products. Stock may run out but I will be restocking as fast as I can when that happens ;)

Without further ado, I present to you, OHWTO's Halloween 2011 collection of smells!

First up are the resurrected-from-the-dead scents from last Halloween, the 2010 collection. I'm also adding a few which up till now have been available year-round; after this season all but one will be retired until next fall.

Coven: a blend of jack-o-lantern, dragon's blood, patchouli and amber, spiked with citrus and grounded out by a drop of dark and smoky vetivert.
Sugar Skulls: a custom fragrance created for a very wonderful customer, this is a blend inspired by Dia de los Muertos, or, the Day of the Dead. You'll smell sweet baked goods, vanilla cookies, anise, and roses- all the scents of a stroll through a Mexican neighborhood at that time of the year. (perfume formats only)
Pumpkin Eater: No, it's got nothing to do with that movie from the 60's... it's more to do with a story. As long as anyone can remember, the tale's been told, every Halloween night one can go up to old Peter's house, past the cemetery and up the hill, through the pumpkin field and the wood just past it, and catch a glimpse of his ghost if you bring him an offering of a pumpkin. Surrounded by pumpkin fragments, they say he can be seen sitting where his body had been found years before, still consuming the flesh of pumpkin after pumpkin, as though he'd never left. This fragrance smells of mangled pumpkin flesh, tilled earth, and a dash of spiced cider, haunted by an apparition of patchouli.
Los Angelitos: Dia de los Angelitos is the celebration of the lives of children who have passed before reaching adulthood, held in conjunction with Dia de Los Muertos. It's common for the family to spend time at the little ones' graves on this day, where they bring gifts and offerings of sweets to their little angels. Much like the idea behind the holiday itself, this fragrance is sweet yet somewhat somber. You'll smell: Honey, white flowers, milk, freshly-turned earth, and hay.
Calaveras: Named for the sugar skulls which adorn the Day of the Dead altars, this fragrance is sweet and spicy. Cinnamon, sugar, orange, and sweet breads dressed up with a smattering of dried roses on a sandalwood altar.
ChocoPumpkin: this is an awesome pumpkin spice and cocoa scent, which smells like a slice of pumpkin pie dipped in chocolate! Of all my Halloween fragrances, this one is probably the "spiciest" in terms of cinnamon and clove notes, but the mellow cocoa balances them out perfectly so that they're not overbearing. Think "Pumpkin Truffle" and you'll have a pretty good idea of what this one smells like
Pumpkin Bread: One of my favorite things about fall is all the pumpkin-based baked goods I get to make. This smells like (almost) all of them, rolled up into one deliciously food-y fragrance! You'll smell Pumpkin, of course, along with Carrot, Clove, Nut, Rum, Bread, Butter and Malt notes; it's enough to make your mouth water!

And new for 2011 are a peculiar bunch of scents, inspired by traditional folklore, contemporary horror, holiday traditions, and all the things that go bump in the night.

Burning Times: "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live"; motivated by fear, or some would say, by greed, the execution of a witch nearly always included the burning of her body, though the method of dispatch may have varied. Vanilla, Clove, Patchouli, Pink Peppercorn, a hint of Suede, Red Musk, Sandalwood, Cinnamon, Cedarwood, and the smoldering Embers of a thousand years.

Solanum: Infectious! The virus responsible for all instances of zombie outbreaks, solanum has a 100% fatality rate, and yet somehow the undead never seem to stink too terribly.The toxicity level of undead flesh slows down the process of decomposition, killing most bacterium foolish enough to try to decompose a zombie. All studies thus far have shown an absence of bacteria in the flesh of the undead. This has the interesting side effect of giving most zombies little offensive smell other than slight flesh decay, due to the absence of the bacteria responsible for body odor and the traditional smell of rotting flesh. Rotting pumpkin, Apple cores, Raspberry, Almond, Madagascar Vanilla, Cardamom, and a hint of Immortelle because zombies never die.

Mirror Witch,Legend says that in order to summon the spirit of Bloody Mary, also known as The Mirror Witch, you must say her name thirteen times in front of a mirror, in the dark; it is said that on the thirteenth repetition she will appear. Upon appearing, the Mirror Witch may do any number of things to her summoners, depending entirely upon her mood upon being awakened. If she's not offended you may get away with a scratch, but offend her and the price may very well be your life. Reverent gifts of Pomegranates, Dried Figs, White Sage, Candied Ginger, and a vision of White Musk.

Hungry Ghost: In Taoism, Hungry Ghosts are ghosts of people who did not find everything they need to survive in the after life. If a person passes on, but does not have enough food, water, shelter, etc., it will come back into the world of the living to feed on the living. They will scare you, and then they will feed on your energy and fear. You get rid of these Hungry Ghosts by performing a ritual; pray or chant and offer food and other things to the Hungry Ghosts, so they will have what they need to survive and move on to their next life. Steaming-hot Green Tea, Lively Lemongrass, and Cardamom, with Peppermint providing a wisp of otherworldly chill.

This Is Halloween: The very essence of Halloween (for a 10 year old), captured in a bottle! Candy Corn, Cinnamon Candies, Fruity Chews, a bite of Chocolate, and Marshmallow Treats.

Bobbing for Apples: A game traditionally played at Halloween parties, bobbing for apples involves a water-filled tub and apples floating in it, waiting for you to pick them up with your teeth. Fun! Fresh Apples, Apple Skin, Bonfire Smoke, Hay Bales, and Tonka Beans.

Green Lady: Poor Elizabeth; after her husband Benjamin didn't return from a trip to town when expected, Elisabeth went out into a terrible storm to find him, and then tragically drowned in a nearby swamp during the search. Some people have questioned the story and wonder if Benjamin may have murdered her and covered up his heinous deed with the drowning alibi. Regardless of exactly what caused her demise, she has been roaming the damned earth for centuries. Appearing to startled visitors as a green mist, which becomes the clearly defined shape of a woman in a green dress, she then gives an otherworldly smile before disappearing just as quickly. Green Bartlett Pears, a basket of Figs, and an apparition of spectral Musk.

Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things: A creepy multimedia fragrance experience, see this video; sweet baby sweet baby sweet baby. Acorns, Oak, Vanilla, Apples, Roasted Spiced Pumpkin, a bit of Musk and a mound of freshly-dug Dirt. Sort of disturbing!

Final Girl: The Final Girl is a horror/slasher film character type which specifically refers to the last female alive to confront the killer; the sole survivor who lives to tell the story. A crushed corsage of Magnolias and Carnations, the Musky Cologne of a Maniac, a whiff of Oil from a freshly-sharpened Chainsaw blade, and the paralyzing scent of Fear.

Santa Muerte: Literally translated, it means Saint Death. Santa Muerte can grant favors no other saint can, such as causing a person to fall in love with you, damage others' property, or even harm or cause the death of someone, but only in the name of justice. In exchange, the petitioner must be in the right and continue to live so. As Señora de la Noche ("Lady of the Night"), she is often invoked by those exposed to the dangers of working at night, such as taxi drivers, mariachi players, bar owners, police, soldiers, and prostitutes. As such, she can protect against assaults, accidents, gun violence and all types of violent death. This is much "darker" than the usual OHWTO scents, and very complex. A Blessed Bounty of Sacred Offerings- Amber, Cinnamon Pastries, Caramel, Carnation, Tuberose, Spices, Chocolate, Tobacco, Labdanum, Church Incense, Dark Patchouli, Vanilla, Musk, Cognac, Fruits, Black Agar, Cardamom, and Lilies.

I will be adding these scents in various products to the Halloween section in the shop over the next week or so (a few are already there) and will be updating Facebook and Twitter when these products are added, so stay tuned!!

Changes, part 1

2011-09-24T10:02:00.000-07:00

It's no secret that I <3 David Bowie. Listen to this song while you read this post, it'll make it 100 times better, really!

I have been mulling this over for weeks now, and have come to the conclusion that I cannot keep going the way that I have been. Rather than wax poetic on you guys, lemme just get right to it- As of October 1, I will no longer be able to offer made-to-order items such as "choose your own scent" solid scents or whipped bathing cremes, etc. It's become just too much to handle for one person.

Things have changed tremendously since our move, and for right now the best thing I can do for OHWTO and myself is cut down on my workload in order to ensure that I can still meet reasonable turnaround times and product quality standards while still bringing you exciting new things, and SALES, and specials, and all of that fun stuff. I debated cutting my fragrance list to like 25% of what it currently is, but I know that I will only end up adding more scents and end up right back where I currently am, which is not what I wanna do. I could also leave things the way they are, with me basically treading water, but that would mean I'll never be able to introduce new products or Private Stock scent blends, and that's not really an acceptable option for me either. So for right now, while this is not my favorite thing to do, this is the best decision I can make for OHWTO- I have my Halloween release running MUCH later than I'd wanted, and am almost dreading the December holiday rush because of this, and that's no good. Time to fix that. This isn't necessarily a permanent change, but it is what I need to do for right now. I hope you all don't hate me for this :(

So, here's what's going to happen. On October 1st-2nd, all "choose your own" products will be deactivated, and I will begin listing products by scent with what I have on hand and ready to ship. Perfume oils, sample oil vials and Snake Oils will still be available in any scent you like, so there's always going to be that option to get your favorites. Solid Scents, Sweet Cream scrubs, Whipped Bathing creme, Soaps... those will all be listed with "on hand" stock only. I will start making them in larger batches so that I can keep a reasonable number of scents on hand and in stock- and having them on hand means a much shorter TAT which will keep all of us happy- I really hate having old orders hanging around waiting to be completed, maybe even more than you hate waiting for them to arrive.

Scent discontinuations- Constance, Corrine, Passiflora, Brass Goggles, & Let them Eat Cake are all being discontinued effective immediately. Current orders will be filled and I'll use any leftovers, if there are any, to make a product or two to list for sale in the soon-to-come "Clearance" section, but when those are gone, they're gone. Additionally, Bitten and Lady Grey have been slightly reformulated; they smell a tiny bit different but are mostly the same as ever and I probably could have gotten away without even mentioning this, but I figure I might as well let you guys know ;)

Recently there has been a lot of interest in ordering Solid Scent samples, and I have been more than happy to oblige those who emailed me about this, but I will not be able to do this any longer, for anyone. I'm sorry! It's far too time-consuming and is incredibly wasteful. I am planning on offering random sample packs of solid scent samples- or maybe I'll add a "sample" option to whichever scents I have in the shop and have samples on hand for? I suppose I could do that too, but either way, I will no longer be able to make solid scent samples to order (Unless you're ordering them in bulk for promotional items or whatever- if this is something you're interested in, let's talk!).

I would LOVE some feedback on this next one from my vegan lifestyle friends. When I lived in CT I was able to obtain bone char-free sugars easily and locally, and used them exclusively for my Sweet Cream scrubs. Now that we are 1,000 miles away from there, I am finding it impossible to locate the stuff at a reasonable cost locally. Would you guys still consider it a "vegan" product if I were to start adding in some white sugar (such as Domino brand) to the mix? I realize it's not technically "vegan" because they use bone char to bleach their sugar, but how many other companies use plain white sugar in their products and don't even mention it? How many vegans consume the stuff and aren't bothered by it? I think I'll probably cross-post this part to facebook and twitter to get as many answers to this as possible, but my inclination is to stop calling this product "vegan" if I'm going to be using white sugar in the mix... but I would love to hear what you all think about this.

Also- the "Vegan Bathing Bars" are going to be discontinued altogether, aside from Limited Edition releases and such. I'm shifting my soapy focus back to "from scratch" soaps, rather than the ones made from a base, so look for the shop to eventually be overrun with them :) Loofah soaps will live on and will be sold as stock allows- probably with a focus on the seasonal LE blends, but also with my top sellers and fan favorites. Maybe a "Scent of the Month" type thing is in order ;)

I am very sorry to have to do this, all of this, but I want to be able to bring out all sorts of fun new things and I just haven't had the time to work on them (or the energy when I finally found the time) and that's not acceptable to me. And the sugar thing, well, that's kind of beyond my control at the moment. I'm hoping that the new goodies and sales I'll be able to offer (finally), will be enough to make up for this inconvenience, and also that this won't really be much of an inconvenience at all for you guys :) Got feedback? I'd love to hear it!

Gonna go work on that Halloween release post now- look for it to go up tonight or tomorrow, for sure! Also, a quick post about shipping using the new site :) And then there will be a Changes, part 2... eventually. Till then!

Third verse, same as the first.

2011-08-21T10:12:00.000-07:00
I'm not gonna spend a lot of time on this, as I really don't want to sound rambly, but- I'm done with Artfire. I thought Etsy was bad when it came to protecting users' privacy, but at least Etsy never revealed buyers' names, addresses and emails to other buyers. I'm hearing it's "not a big deal and not a lot of people were affected" from Artfire, so I'm done. It's a VERY big deal to the people who were affected, and for the site to just not care is well, disappointing. I left Etsy for lesser violations of user privacy and it would be insane of me to stay on Artfire after this snafu, especially considering that many of MY customers were affected. I may reconsider opening the Etsy shop again one day, but in the meantime...

OHWTO.com now points to my own website! It's still being worked on- I'm adding inventory today, in fact, but it's going to be live very soon! I'm still taking time off to catch up with existing orders and get Halloween ready, but when that's all set the site will go live and everyone's info will be 100% safe when making purchases. I'm very excited about this whole thing- and look, there's even an OHWTO forum now! Lots of exciting and BIG changes are in the works, guys! Neat!

(Edited to add: Christie wrote an excellent post about the mess at Artfire; she said it better than I could have, so if you'd like to learn more about why my shop there is now closed, you can do so here: http://cupcakesquirkycorner.blogspot.com/2011/08/sunday-sprinkles-artfire.html)

Summer update, temporary hiatus

2011-08-18T17:15:00.000-07:00
Hi all!

I'm just taking a quick minute to update you on the Summer Scent list- Rose Lemonade and Violette are SOLD OUT! I may be able to squeeze one or two more bottles of perfume oil or tubes of Solid Scent out of them, but for all intents and purposes we can consider them gone. The rest of the Summer LE collection is still available though, at least as of the time of this post, so don't fret- there's still plenty more to sniff!

ALSO- I spaced out and though I meant to add this in my last post, I neglected to do so. Sorry! ALL "perfume oil only" fragrances are now available in Solid Scent as well as Perfume Oil format. This means Mermiad, Besos del Sol, etc etc, as long as it's a scent which is still available. Go nuts!

Additionally, I will be CLOSED from Sunday, 8/21, until approximately 8/27 or so in order to fully catch up on existing orders, and to get a good amount of stock ready for the Halloween release, which I am aiming to put up for sale on August 31. There's lots to do between now and then, so I'll just leave it at that! Till next time!
(pic is totally unrelated; I just like it and didn't want to make this a "text-only" post!)

There's Never Enough Time

2011-07-26T13:32:00.000-07:00
So a couple days ago, I told you that there would be new summer scents being released- finally, here they are! Available immediately, and subject to my usual turnaround time. All are "Private Stock" scents, and most of these were made in very small amounts- some so meager that I'm limiting the formats they'll be available in to perfume oil and solid perfumes. They're here until supplies run out, or September 30, whichever comes first! In order to make room for fall goodies, I won't be remaking most of these until next year, if at all; there's always the possibility for one or two to make it into the regular scent catalog, though, so if after smelling these you realize you can't live without something, please do let me know!

* Passiflora: Punchy passionfruit, ripe raspberries, wild figs, a shot of Earl Grey tea, caressed by the light touch of rich woods and a sprinkling of soft talcum powder. Tart and fruity! (solid scent, perfume oil 5mL, and samples only)

* Scarlett: A deceptively complex blend of Neroli, Cilantro, and Rhubarb. A sweet summertime smell for all the Southern belles.

* Tea Rose Mimosa: Red Tea, white rose, and raw honey; brewed, cooled, and splashed with sparkling champagne and served upon an antique wooden tray. A soft, delicate scent- rose haters, this one might just steal your heart.

* Tilly: Sweet, juicy peaches, rows upon rows of tomato plants ready to harvest, damp earth and Lily-of-the-Valley underfoot, a trail of fragrant honeysuckle, and a locket filled with intoxicating amber. A fruity floral with green notes to cut the sweetness.

* Violette: Wood violets, Leather, and Honeycomb. Simple and sweet, Violette will change on your skin as you wear it, giving each note a chance to take center stage. (solid scent, perfume oil 5mL, and samples only)

* Highland Crest: The clean scent of an Ocean breeze, the waves dashed against the rocks below, ripe with Plumeria blossoms, cliffside Heather, and a worn Suede jacket to cut the chill.

* Latitude: Coconut flesh, lychee, mango and jackfruit, pineapple juice, vanilla, honeysuckle and magnolia. A sweet and tropical fruity-floral fragrance, perfect for the hottest summer days.

* Rose Lemonade: Fresh-squeezed lemons and pink rosebuds, shaken with cubed ice, mixed liberally with chilled sparkling water and warmed by crushed ginger root, garnished for looks with a slice of pink grapefruit. (solid scent, perfume oil 5mL, and samples only)

* Stolen Bouquet: Purple blooms sneakily gathered from the gardens of others while nobody was looking- lilacs and violets, accented with orchids, with a dash of powdery vanilla added to ground the scent.

As for the new Stock scents, here's a couple for now- look for the rest to be added within the next week or so.

* Orange Sapphire: A BBW dupe, Orange Sapphire is described as "Radiant droplets of blood orange shimmer upon sweet sparkling cassis. Sugary nectar and citrus sangria trickle over coral rose petals."

* Fresh Ginger Lime: A BBW dupe, it's a bright citrusy blend of ginger and lime, orange, and apple.

* Sugar Leaf: Notes of Vanilla Sugar, Sparkling Citron, Apple Peel, Sheer Floral, Sensual Woods, Creamy Musk

* Moonlight Path: A BBW dupe, it's described as a sensual women's fragrance infused with lavender, violets, and light musk.

Oh, and look for my emulsifying scrub and snake oil, along with the Black Magic cream (in jars and in bottles), to be added back to stock within a week. I'll also be introducing the next Vanillology blend soon, and reintroducing the Scent of the Week! After that, there's a few new goodies I've got up my sleeves :)

Slow and Steady...

2011-07-22T18:22:00.000-07:00
Wow, it's been awhile since my last update. I've been keeping in touch via Twitter, Facebook, and recently, Google+, but have shamefully been neglecting my blog. This needs to be rectified. So!

We have landed in SC, and are settling in. Boxes full of stuff are still plentiful, but their number is dwindling daily. I'm probably back up to 75-80% of my usual full-time working capacity; I am still missing items and tools, which are somewhere in these boxes. It's nuts.

I have reopened the shop. I'm going slow at adding items back to "stock" so that I don't get overwhelmed, but I'm getting there. Once I'm fully restocked, or at least pretty darn close, look for a grand reopening type sale to occur. Most of the staples are available for purchase now.

I have a few new scents to add. I have a Summer collection which, sadly, isn't going to be available for very long as Fall is fast approaching. I guess this is what happens when you move in the middle of Summer, huh? Jeez. I'll probably end up offering them with very limited options as to the formats, and only while supplies last, so that I don't have to re-blend any of them. At first, this sounds like it might be kind of a bummer, but then there's the part where I remind you that there's new Fall scents on the horizon and that's pretty much the most exciting thing ever :)

Additionally, there are a few new Stock Fragrances I'll be adding to the list as soon as possible. They are: Orange Sapphire (A BBW dupe), Moonlight Path (A BBW Dupe), Fresh Ginger Lime, Sugar Leaf, and a few new L*SH dupes which I have yet to rename. For the time being I'll refer to them by their usual names- look to see Sex Bomb, B Scent, Skinny Dip, and Yummy Yummy Yummy added to the list.

I'm going to start handling Stock Frags a little differently; once they run out, I will replace them with new scents so that my list will be ever-changing. Best-sellers obviously will stay on, but scents which don't have a high demand will not be restocked once my supplies run out. This will ensure a constant rotation of stock, and will guarantee that all fragrances used will be at their freshest. Oh and then there's the obvious benefit of there almost always being something new for you when you come by the shop!

That said, I am discontinuing my current "Mountain Dew" scent. I'll be blending my own version soon, so, never fear! There wasn't anything necessarily wrong with the one I used to have, but it was the only scent (of many) I liked from that particular supplier, and with shipping costs being as high as they are, it just wasn't practical to continue buying just one thing from them, so I've decided to take it in-house. For the time being, I'll be suspending my Mountain Dew Brain soaps, hopefully it won't be for too long though. I may end up using another scent in the meantime, but I'm not sure on that yet.

Let's see... what else? Probably lots, but I don't want to get ahead of myself, so I'm just going to leave it at that for now. Till next time!!

Something New

2011-05-26T06:38:00.000-07:00
Last night I decided to try something different. I released a new fragrance in the Artfire shop, without making an announcement here or anywhere else first. It was pretty interesting to see how quickly word spread without my help :)

What is it? It's Besos del Sol, which means "kisses of sun". The first scent from my summer release, with the rest of them coming after we've relocated. This one should tide you over until then. It's a summery floral blend which is best described as the scent of sun-warmed skin, Besos del Sol is a feminine and flirty scent. Creamy coconut and white gardenia star, supported by notes of white grapefruit, resinous amber, jasmine, a touch of deep, smoky vetivert, and a dash of bourbon vanilla. It's a great summer floral, and is really just the perfect fragrance to wear with little sun dresses or shorty shorts ;) A floral for those who hate florals, Besos del Sol was created as a custom request for Ms Lena, and though I thought I'd hate it, as I'm usually not a huge fan of flowery scents, it's quickly become an obsession, one I'm quite happy to indulge.

This will be a permanent addition to the Private Stock list, but as I'm still in the process of reducing inventory for the move, I do have a very limited supply on hand... for now. Seeing that it's another fragrance blend made up of some rather spendy ingredients, BdS will only be available in leave-on products, perfume oils to start, and I'm going to explore the possibility of creating a less expensive copy that can be used in soaps and scrubs and such.

And, since I'm here writing, a moving update! Our freight trailer has been booked and will be dropped here the 21st of June. If any of you are looking to relocate, I highly recommend looking into ABF's U-Pack service! It's less expensive and far less hassle than a U-Haul truck or trailer, or a traditional moving service. We have a storage unit reserved for all our stuff, and will be getting in the cars and going on the 22nd. The kids' school decided about 2-1/2 weeks ago to let us know that instead of the last day of school being on the 16th, they had rescheduled it for the 20th :/ They eliminated a whole week of vacation time in order to not extend the school year, and then they still wound up extending the school year, ugh. Nobody's really sure how that happened, but it's kind of par for the course with regards to that place. We also found a realtor who has a ton of houses for rent in the area we're going to, so that's pretty exciting. And, yeah, that's where we are with our move, for now. Exciting!

Closing Shoppe, phase 1: COMPLETE

2011-05-15T15:42:00.000-07:00
This is going to be brief; no need to drag it on, we've been talking about this for months, eh? ;)

As of this moment, my shop is officially closed to any and all "choose your scent" items orders. Actually, it will be closed for the next day or two while I take inventory of what's on hand and figure out how best to list it all (while simultaneously filling existing orders, of course). "Choose your own scent" has always kind of been the way I've run my shop- pretty much everything has been made to order, to your requests, so this is going to be weird for me to not do that for awhile. Once orders are caught up on I'll be working on adding some familiar and some new things to the shop, all of which will be made and ready to ship, and listed in available (instead of unlimited) quantities. I look forward to trying something new- hope you guys will, too!

Black Magic soaps, in most formats, WILL BE AVAILABLE until my final closing date (June 9th). As with the other items, they'll be listed in "on hand" quantities, which will allow me to get orders shipped out in 1 or 2 days instead of the up to 14 business days orders have been known to take, especially lately.

Feel free to contact me at onehandwashestheother@comcast.net if you need anything, or have any questions; just be prepared for a wait on my response, as I'm going to be very busy both with shop-things and with life-things for the next week or so. I hate to do it, but I really can't accept any orders for "choose your own fragrance" items- please don't put me in the uncomfortable position of having to turn you down. Any existing orders, of course, are fine; if there are any problems with your order, I will of course be in touch. As always, thanks for your continued support and patronage- you guys are seriously the best, and words fail me when talking about my customers- I usually just default to my standard definition of the greatest thing ever- "awesome" :) I look forward to seeing how this new chapter in OHWTO's existence unfolds, as well as the next, which will be upon us in the coming weeks. I hope you'll (figuratively) join me on this journey!

Till next time!

Vanillology

2011-05-02T16:23:00.000-07:00
Vanillology (from Spanish vainilla, "vanilla"; and Greek λόγος, logos, "knowledge") is a pseudoscience primarily focused on the nature of varieties of vanilla and the subtleties to be found in each. Vanillology also explores the relationship between vanilla and other aromas*.

Do you like the smell of adventure? Not so sure? Well then, how about the smell of vanilla? Of course you love it- who doesn't?

Come with me on an olfactory excursion into the many facets of the familiar aroma, and let's rethink our use of the term "vanilla" to describe things that are boring or plain. My Vanillology series will be a monthly exploration of assorted vanillas, which will be paired with another aroma for your nose's delight. Each month a new pairing will be offered for your consideration, and each pairing will be available in assorted formats. The only constant from month to month will be a trio of 1mL perfume vials- one will be a vanilla, another will be a partner note chosen for that vanilla, and the third will be the two scents blended together. The set of vials will arrive in a labeled slider tin to keep them together and safe (pics soon). Each unique scent blend will be available only during its assigned month in various formats as will be found in the Vanillology section in my Artfire shop.

To kick things off in the month of May, Peppermint and Vanilla will be offered. A warm & buttery vanilla is a wonderful contrast to the cool crispness of peppermint. This combination is sure to please, and you'll have a ball playing with the different ways they can be combined- look for it soon in the Artfire shop!

*not really; vanillology is a completely made up term.

Etsy= back open, reluctantly

2011-04-25T21:32:00.000-07:00
My Etsy shop is open once again. I did it, not because they fixed their site or protected your privacy or stopped ignoring seller concerns about the direction of the site. I did it after a search for "Black Magic Soap" turned up a few suspiciously similar items which weren't there when my shop was still active. I suspect these sellers may have decided to capitalize on my Etsy absence and created products with the same name, and similar ingredients, to rope in any shoppers who were told to "go to Etsy and look for 'Black Magic Soap', it's the best!". Or not, I dunno- I could certainly be wrong, but either way it's too much of a coincidence for me to sit back and do nothing.

It's clear that I need to re-stake my claim to the Black Magic name in Etsy land, so, I've reopened the shop and am stocking ONE bar of Black Magic soap- the 2 oz one. It's the only thing I'll be stocking in the Etsy shop, until I can get a 2lb block made and pics taken- at that point I'll list THAT, remove the 2oz bar, and link to my Artfire shop for customers who don't want a 2lb block of Black Magic soap. :) Maybe I'll turn the Etsy shop into a place to buy OHWTO in bulk from one day, heehee! Anyway, that's all for now- till next time!

We're moving!

2011-04-14T08:05:00.000-07:00

I keep mentioning this as often as I can, that we're moving and I'll be closing up, etc, etc, but I haven't given out any dates yet. Unfortunately it seems that every time I commit to a date for anything, be it a product release or something more significant, like a move, it gets messed with, so I've been a bit reluctant to announce a firm shop closing date. Right now, what I'm thinking is this *pulls out calendar*:

As of May 15th, I will be closed to custom orders. After this date my time will be spent filling any existing orders, and listing stock on hand which is made and ready to ship (in addition to all the moving stuff I have to do as well). This means, if you want 50 bars of soap, or anything that's "choose your own scent", NOW'S the time to order it. I will continue to sell in-stock items after this date, in the hopes of clearing out inventory so that we have less stuff to have to pack up and move 1,000 miles away. I will also (hopefully) be selling off any unwanted inventory for soap/smell-making, such as molds, fragrance oils, raw ingredients, etc etc for pennies on the dollar just to get them into the hands of people who want to use them, so that I don't have to throw them out.

As of June 8th or 9th, the OHWTO shop will be closed, totally closed. This will give me plenty of time to get any last minute orders out the door and still get all our stuff packed and loaded onto a big ol' truck.

The tentative move date is June 18th. We'd probably have a firm date if we weren't winging it on this move, but we totally are, so there's a bit of flexibility here. I am exploring our living space options and am trying to secure at least an apartment if not a house before we go, so that we can move right in and I can set up shop and get back to it. Our original plan was to stay in a hotel for a month and use that time to find a place, being able to check it (and the neighborhood) out in person. We're not moving across town, we're moving close to a thousand miles away from where we are, so we're a little reluctant to commit to a year of living somewhere we can't see in person first. Even with awesome spy tools like Google satellite maps, it's hard to get a feeling for a place over the internet. Because of that, we might still do it this way. And because of that, I really can't offer you a reopen date. Sorry! I *think*, worst case scenario (we do the hotel thing and don't find a place for a month), I should be reopen in August. I am hoping for July. Early July. We shall see what happens.

In the meantime,starting today, I will be stopping all fragrance restocks. If a fragrance goes out of stock before the move, I'll not be restocking it. I really need to get my collection down to a manageable size- I can't put them on the moving truck due to flammability concerns, and I don't have room in my car for all of them ;) Now, more than ever, it's important for you guys to check the fragrance lists before placing an order- I will be literally RUNNING to the blog to mark a scent as "out of stock" as soon as it happens, so that I don't have to disappoint too many of you with emails informing you that the order you just placed can't be filled as requested. I'll also try my best to post the outages to facebook and twitter. If it wasn't already slated for removal from the list, it will be restocked once I'm settled, have no fear!

I think that's all for now. If any of these dates change significantly, I will be sure to update you guys further, but as of this moment, this is the plan. Here's hoping it all works out! Wish me luck! ;)

Spring Scents- Part Deux

2011-04-01T15:02:00.000-07:00

Here we go again! As promised, here is the "Stock Fragrance" scents portion of my Spring release. These will be around until I decide to get rid of them, or until they're discontinued by the makers, whichever comes first. Ready? Here goes-

Sakura: The essence of Japanese cherry blossoms, captured in a wearable fragrance. It's comprised of notes of Melons, Musks, Cherry, tiny green accords, a whisper of Sandalwood and a plethora of Woodland Wildflowers. It's a sweetly floral fragrance which will make you think "Spring" all year long.

Ginger Creme: Sweet, spicy, and luxuriously creamy. This fragrance is amazingly silky and exotic. The scent plays with notes of cream, ginger, and sandalwood and a dry down of soft sensual musk that is a little bit naughty when kissed by spice.

Pikaki: The delicate fragrance of this lovely, delicate white blossom is lightly sweet. Also known as "Plumeria", it's a fragrance that is highly valued in the Hawaiian islands, the one of the most treasured lei flowers. This is a light floral scent; don't confuse it with the BBW version, as this one smells much more like the flowers.

White Lily: Delicate lily blended with other soft florals, freesia, gardenia and violet. A wonderful fragrance for the warmer days!

Frozen Margarita: Lime! As well as triple sec, tequila and a touch of salt. It smells like a margarita should taste, minus the alcohol ;) This scent is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING in soaps and scrubs, you're gonna love it.

Sun-Ripened Cherry: Tart, bright, red cherries, perfectly ripened in the warmth of the sun. Much lighter and fresher than a black cherry fragrance.

Summer Melon Spritzer: This smells like ripe, juicy canteloupe, watermelon, and honeydew melons. Supporting top notes of Japanese Grapefruit, Crisp Apple and Pomelo bring a bright and cheery melding to the bottom note of Tonka Bean. The secret ingredient to this fragrance is Tonic Water (thus the 'spritzer').

Spellbound Woods: A blend of Vanilla, Sandalwood, Amber, Cedarwood and the barest hint of a light Floral on the dry down. This one really surprised me with how much I loved it- at first sniff I didn't think much of it, but after wearing it for awhile I've fallen head over heels. It's just wonderful.

Cedar & Saffron: Fragrant cedar is infused with the sensual smoky scents of patchouli, sandalwood and vetiver, then topped with Eastern spices and a trace of white musk. This is another one I am just enchanted with; it's woody and spicy, leans masculine but is certainly not strictly a "guy's" scent. Do yourself a favor and at least try a sample; this is one I think I'll need to rename because "Cedar and Saffron" just doesn't do it justice.

Oakmoss Sandalwood: A brilliantly-blended unisex scent. Notes of Oakmoss, Sandalwood, Tonka Bean, Cedarwood, Lemon, Petitgrain. It's woody with a hint of cologne and sweetness and I realize that probably sounds strange but the notes play with one another very nicely.

Sea Kelp & Agave: With notes of Agave, Sea Kelp, Ocean Breeze, Citrus Zests, Sparkling Bergamot, Dewy Cyclamen, Soothing Sandalwood, this fragrance is like a bowl of freshly-sliced fruit salad underwater.

I think I should stop now. So, there you go! These fragrances are available NOW, so feel free to order them in any format you like. If you can't tell by reading the descriptions, I'm kind of partial to the Spellbound Woods scent, at least for this week, but there's certainly something in this set for everyone. Cheers!

Springtime Collection

2011-03-20T18:47:00.000-07:00
Spring is here! At long last, this horrible and extra-harsh winter is behind us, or so it seems, anyway. I saw a robin on Friday! However, with New England weather being as unpredictable as it is, I suppose I should probably not count my chicks before they're hatched. There's still the chance for another blizzard or two. Yikes.

This release has been a long time coming; I have several drafts of similar posts to this saved but kept getting interrupted before I could finish one. Originally intended to be a smallish Mid-Winter's release, there are now several scents which have been added in between attempts at a blog post/update, so you'll see scents I'd intended to release this winter along with early summer-inspired scents. Here goes nothing! The following scents will be available as of 3/20; Grab a comfy chair and maybe a snack, as this list is long and there's a lot to go through!

First up are the new additions to the OHWTO "Private Stock" collection. There are 15 in all, and only 4 are of a "Limited Edition" status, so that's 11 new "permanent until they're discontinued" fragrances for you to try. Pricing on all, LE's included, will be in line with my usual "Private Stock" fragrances.

Springtime '11 Limiteds
This collection was inspired by sweet berries and seductively warm amber; each was made in a small batch and these will be available while supplies last.
Ambrelle: A floral scent to welcome Spring's return! Sweet orange blossom and resinous ambers, with a drop of earthy patchouli to add a bit more depth and substance.
Blackberry Patch: A summertime favorite! Sweet, juicy blackberries, spiced oranges, warm vanilla, and a little bit of patchouli.
Berry Amber: Wild strawberries, sun-warmed cherries, white amber, and vine-ripened grapes. It's delightfully tart and sweet, but once the amber appears it takes the edge off the fruitiness.
Raspberry Gingerale: Ripe red raspberries floating up and down in a pitcher of freshly-poured ginger ale, thanks to help from millions of fizzy pinprick bubbles. A touch of blackcurrant adds a syrupy sweetness to the blend without weighing it down. A bright and lively scent!

Now for the other 11 Private Stock scents, all of which will be around until I decide it's time to clean up the list again :) 3 of these will be available in perfume oil format ONLY, they will be marked with an * and also noted at the end of their descriptions as such. Everything else can be put into any product your little hearts desire.

Pasticceria: An Italian pastry shop, the pasticceria has all the best dessert smells in the world. Marzipan, hazelnut, almonds, vanilla, cakes, assorted pastries, frosting, and of course, pure sugar. It's not edible, please don't try.

Let them Eat Cake!*: The sweet smell of revolution! Haughty rose and regal sweet pea, pelted by handfuls of buttery cake and drenched with a white chocolate ganache. (available as a perfume oil only)

Hivemind: The scent of a thousand apiaries in Spring, all the inhabitants functioning with a singular focus. Creamed honey, laced with a buttery vanilla, its sticky sweetness tempered by white musk and a touch of dark patchouli.

Polynesian Punch: This was a one-off I originally blended for the sake of making room in my fragrance storage, and it was only available in bar soap, and then, only a very small amount was ever made available. Of course, as seems to always be the case with these small-batch one-offs I come up with, I fell in love with the fragrance after the fact and have been meaning to bring it back for some time- well, that time has come. A tropical and fruity scent, it's sliced limes and tangerines and oranges and grapefruits and mandarins, chunks of juicy pineapple, all mixed up in a white wine spritzer while the warm island breeze carries the faintest hints of tropical flowers over your way.

Bitten: The scent of an apple orchard after a spring rain, key notes are green apple, honey, rain, and just a nip of black pepper to shake things up.

Lady Grey*: Based on Earl Grey tea, Lady Grey has the bergamot and black tea notes you'd expect in such a scent, along with a touch of lightly floral musk, vanilla bourbon, and Immortelle. (available as a perfume oil only)

Serendipity: You know how you'll sometimes end up with one thing while trying for something else? Yeah, that's serendipity at work. This fragrance came about unintentionally, but the end result was something even better than what I'd been aiming for. A bushel of berries- strawberries, blackberries, currants, a breath of freesia, light musk, herbal sage, mysore sandalwood, and a bit of dank oakmoss.

Fresh: Just-mown clover, succulent mango slices, sweet oranges, and a sprinkling of bee pollen. It's a juicy, green scent perfect for Spring!

Dude: Easily one of my favorite words of all time, Dude is one for the dudes, for sure. Heavy on the masculine with a heaping helping of manly thrown in for good measure. Sweet dark musk, cologne, well-worn leather, cloves, clary sage and a bit of litsea cubeba thrown in to brighten things up a bit.

Jubilee: A green-floral scent, Jubille is comprised of so many different notes it's hard to pick them all out. Bonus points if you can, I guess! A bouquet of roses, creamy white magnolias, yuzu, green foliage, clover, honey, tea, patchouli, and a wee smidge of cinnamon and cedarwood.

Mermaid*: A beautiful marine-floral scent, Mermaid is a fragrance which brings to mind an underwater garden at the bottom of the ocean, or a mermaid's hair. It's perfect for those spring days that feel more like summer. Salt water, linden blossoms, muguet, carnation, white musk, with a base of driftwood and oakmoss.(available as a perfume oil only)

And, that's all for now. A few new Stock scents will be added this week as well. I snuck one in already with "Amazing"- I just couldn't wait anymore to add it to the lineup, but there's a few more coming which I think will really round out the Stock scents line.

Again, just to clarify- "Stock" scents are different from "Private Stock" scents in that I do NOT blend them myself, while the "Private Stock" scents are made by me and are exclusive to OHWTO. "Stock" scents are high-quality fragrance oils which come to me from my suppliers already blended and ready to go- you can find any of the Stock scents I carry being sold by plenty of other B&B places, though most won't state the fact that they're not blending these scents themselves, and many rename them to fit the themes of their shops, so it can be hard to tell if seller A is selling the same scent as sellers B,C, and D. Which is fine, really, I mean, they don't have to state these things, but as a fragrance fiend who sells both original blends and ready-made ones, it's a personal pet peeve of mine to order an indie perfume thinking it sounds amazing, only to get it in the mail and realize it's a Pink Sugar dupe that was renamed by the seller (this hasn't actually happened, I recognize Pink Sugar by its description/notes, but it has happened with other scents). I differentiate between these two fragrance lines so that you guys can make informed purchases from me- I think it's important.

I am currently (in between all my other adventures/projects, that is) working on listings for my Private Stock perfume oils so that I can list them all singly instead of as "choose your own"; this should help to alleviate any confusion between the two Stock/Private Stock lines. Solid Scents will follow shortly after, and eventually I'd LIKE to have each item, at least in the Private Stock line, have its own listing. Then the Stock scents will still probably be a free-for-all, but the line between the two lists will be a bit better defined. So, look for that to happen eventually. I'd say "soon" but it seems that every time I say that word it doesn't happen for, well, the opposite of "soon". Till next time!

Back to the Drawing Board

2011-03-17T06:41:00.000-07:00
Another drive-by post for ya!

I was labeling the much-anticipated Jasmine Flower Balm and for some reason decided to pop one open and look at the product. Much to my surprise there were little crystals of *something* popping up out of the surface. Yikes! I then proceeded to open them all, and sure enough, all but 2 tubes had crystals of one of the fats on the surface. Under a bright light I examined them; it's little tiny balls of fat that melt on contact with skin- it's most likely the notoriously grainy mango butter, but who knows. Here, see?

It just looks gross. Because of this, I will not be selling these, not even at a discount. I know it's just an aesthetic issue, but it just doesn't seem right to sell them now. My sincere apologies to all of you who were hoping to get your hands on one (or ten). I've been using the product with no issues, though, so it's not a total waste. In fact, here's what I'm going to do, since I don't want to have to use all of these myself (I would if there were only like 4 or 5 but I have a BUNCH of them!). With any purchase, request one in the "notes to seller" at checkout and I'll throw one in with your order. This offer is good while supplies last, and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. I have .5oz and .14oz tubes, labeled and ready for sale, and a few .5oz tins which are unlabeled and will remain unlabeled.

Looks like I'm going to need to rethink this formula entirely, first there was the firmness issue, now this. Jasmine Cream will be on hold for awhile, but I'm going take this opportunity to see what I can do to make it a better end product. Till next time!

STOP THAT!

2011-03-16T06:52:00.000-07:00
I am writing a quickie blurb here for now and will replace it later when I have more time with a longer and better-thought out post about Etsy, and its blatant disregard for user privacy. In the meantime, know that I will be closing my shop there in the next week or so, unless they choose to do it for me, as I have already let people know I intend to and Etsy frowns upon sellers linking to other sites they sell from, such as Artfire.

I want to make sure YOUR privately identifying information is safe there. I would NEVER expose your real names to others, your locations, or your favorites or purchase history but Etsy has other ideas. PLEASE, if you haven't already, go log in to your Etsy account, go to "Your Account", Click "Settings", click "Privacy", and make sure that your settings there reflect the level of privacy you desire. Right now, if on signup you chose to give Etsy your real name, it's displayed on your profile- along with your location if you also chose to give them that information. They didn't tell you they would broadcast it to the world but that's exactly what they're doing. If this bothers you, go change it. Click "your account", then "profile", then change your first and last names, if they're there (I left mine blank, thank goodness).

I realize some of you won't care who can see what, and if that's the case, I'm happy for you. I know there are many who would prefer to have a little semblance of privacy on the internet though, and this post is for you guys <3 I am thoroughly embarrassed to have a shop on Etsy right now, and I swear, if I knew the site was going to turn into this kind of circus in 2011, I'd never have signed up in 2007. I apologize, profusely, for ever recommending any of you go to or use that site. It used to be a good place to buy and sell handmade- now it's a great place to stalk people who thought they would be safe on an e-commerce site.

That's all for now, I have a ton of stuff to do today and half of this may not even make sense; I just kind of typed and stopped when I was done. I'll fix it as soon as I can ;)

Here's a link to learn more about this issue: http://consumerist.com/2011/03/you-want-your-real-name-associated-with-your-etsy-purchase-history-right.html

ETA: Here's a couple more for ya, thanks to an Etsian who I will leave nameless because I cba to get their permission to publish their name right now-

Ars Technica - http://arstechnica.com/web/news/2011/03/etsy-users-irked-after-buyers-purchases-exposed-to-the-world.ars

BoingBoing - http://www.boingboing.net/2011/03/15/etsys-privacy-valdez.html

MSNBC - http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/03/15/6273251-e-commerce-site-etsy-exposes-users-shopping-histories

Forbes - http://blogs.forbes.com/kashmirhill/2011/03/15/etsys-experiment-with-social-could-be-costly/

Digital Trends - http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/etsy-comes-under-fire-for-revealing-buyers-names-purchase-histories/

Help Net Security - http://www.net-security.org/secworld.php?id=10746

NY Magazine - http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2011/03/unannounced_privacy_changes_ex.html

NY Convergence - http://nyconvergence.com/2011/03/etsy-exposes-buyers-and-purchases-online.html

Auctionbytes - http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/cab/abn/y11/m03/i15/s02

The Business Insider - http://www.businessinsider.com/etsy-takes-a-page-from-the-facebook-playbook-2011-3

Gizmodo - http://gizmodo.com/5782146/etsy-privacy-catastrophe-reveals-users-full-names-dildo-preferences-and-other-less-embarrassing-purchase-information

Village Voice - http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/03/etsy_privacy_policy_dildos.php

The Mary Sue (awesome new geek chick blog, if you haven't seen it yet) - http://www.themarysue.com/etsy-privacy-settings/

Buzzfeed - http://www.buzzfeed.com/donnad/etsy-new-privacy-policy-not-so-private

About.com - http://antivirus.about.com/b/2011/03/14/the-etsy-trojan.htm

Reputation.com - http://reputation.com/blog/2011/03/15/etsy-privacy-change-shows-users-purchase-histories/

Yahoo - http://news.yahoo.com/s/digitaltrends/20110315/tc_digitaltrends/etsycomesunderfireforrevealingbuyersnamespurchasehistories

Salon.com - http://www.salon.com/entertainment/tv/feature/2011/03/15/etsy_privacy_people_search/

NowPublic - http://www.nowpublic.com/tech-biz/etsy-people-search-privacy-policy-change-exposes-users-2767071.html

Washington Post - http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-tech/post/the-circuit-kerry-hutchinson-introduce-infrastructure-bank-franken-to-propose-new-net-neutrality-bill-free-calls-texts-to-japan/2011/03/08/AB7m9gW_blog.html

Geek Sugar - http://www.geeksugar.com/Etsy-Privacy-Settings-14921901

Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/15/etsy-privacy-debacle-site_n_836277.html

Ars Technica UPDATE: Ars technica Update post

AND here's a few links if you'd like to report Etsy.com for violating standard internet codes of conduct (again, got these from an Etsy person but don't want to post their name w/o their permission and I'm not bothering with getting it right now):

Federal Trade Commission: http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/contact.shtm
https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov
FTC phone: 1-866-653-4261

New York Attorney General: http://www.ag.ny.gov/contact.html

TRUSTe, the organisation which according to Etsy, advised them that the changes were fine (click on button at the bottom): http://clicktoverify.truste.com/pvr.php?page=validate&url=www.etsy.com&sealid=102

Send CNN a news tip: http://us.cnn.com/feedback/tips/index.html

Contacts for blogs writing articles on this issue:
Consumerist: tips [!at] consumerist.com
Ars: http://arstechnica.com/site/contact-ars-technica.ars
Gizmodo: tips [!at] gizmodo.com

Ah, we hardly knew ye!

2011-03-13T20:57:00.000-07:00
A quick note to let you all know that, effective immediately, the following scents will be discontinued:

Peach Tea, Spearmint-Eucalyptus, and Vanillime. Oh and also, Providence. Oops, almost forgot that one.

Any outstanding orders for these scents will of course be filled (I don't think there are any at this moment though), but there will no longer be an option to buy these scents- though if this news hit you like a ton of bricks, please contact me and I'll see what I can do- my supply of these has not been done away with just yet! I love them, and this isn't to say they won't return as limited runs here and there, but they're not selling and I need to make room for a BUNCH of new smells on the Private Stock list. A BUNCH.

Additionally, I did a final inventory on my supply of Be Mine today; I had 19mL after pouring a 5mL bottle for myself to keep. Add to this a 5mL bottle or two already poured, and a couple of samples, and you'll see just how limited this fragrance now is. It won't be available for much longer, so if you loved it, or were curious about it, get it soon. I won't be making it again until next year!

On the plus side- it looks like I won't have to change my lip tints too drastically when my supply of pop! micas runs out, so, yay! I've found a new supplier who carries similar (if not identical) colors, so when the day comes that my current stash runs out, I should be able to integrate micas from this new source with no issue. This is, of course, assuming that they don't also discontinue them, but we'll cross that bridge if and when we come to it!

OH AND BEFORE I FORGET- we're moving in June! More details will come as the big day moves closer, but for now, know that I will be closing down for an undetermined period of time in a couple of months as we prepare to move 1,000 miles away from CT (finally!). Now would be a great time to start plotting your "stocking up" orders, if you have an OHWTO product you absolutely can't live without. There is also the chance that the move will occur sooner, but if all goes as planned, it won't be until AFTER June 16th, the kids' last day of school ;)

St Patty's Day!

2011-03-08T19:24:00.000-08:00
Just in time for St Patrick's Day, two new fragrances are here to bring you a touch of Irish cheer!

For the guys, there's Finnegan's Folly

Here's to the land of the shamrock so green,
Here's to each lad and his darlin colleen,
Here's to the ones we love dearest and most.
May God bless old Ireland, that's this Irishman's toast!
Slainte!

Finnegan's Folly smells of dapper Irish lads and rolling hills of endless green; A clean, masculine scent, with notes of hyacinth, carnation, olive blossoms, violets, rosebuds, musk, and herbs.

And for the ladies, we have Maura Mae.

May flowers always line your path and sunshine light your day.
May songbirds serenade you every step along the way.
May a rainbow run beside you in a sky that's always blue.
And may happiness fill your heart each day your whole life through.

With her curls of copper, her twinkling eyes, her sweet smile- this is what they mean when they refer to "The luck of the Irish". A sweet and fruity scent, Maura Mae is strongly apricot, with supporting notes of green clover, tea, cut grass, a sprinkling of field flowers- lily of the valley, violet, lavender, as well as a dash of berries, vanilla bean, and the faintest, tiniest, entirely lady-like nip of whiskey.

These scents will be available as perfume oil in 5mL amber glass bottles, and 1mL samples. Solid Scents and possibly other products will follow shortly. If these don't go live tonight, they'll be added to the Artfire shop tomorrow. These 2 scents are limited edition, but my supply is much greater than that of Be Mine, so I expect to be able to play around with them a bit more in products , rather than just offering them in perfumes. They're here while they're here, and they'll be gone when they're gone! Happy St Patrick's Day!

New Stuff!

2011-03-04T09:32:00.000-08:00
A few new things will be making their way into the Artfire Shop in the next day or two. Keep an eye out for:

Lip Butter V2.0: For those of you familiar with my products, this is a re-working of my previous Lip Butter recipe. This new formulation is a bit less oily, a bit harder, and a wee bit stingier with application than the old one was. I have been using these new ones ever since I decided enough fiddling had been done with the formula, and I haven't been able to use the old ones since. These are a vast improvement over my old lip butters, not that they weren't awesome, it's just that these are, well, awesomer. I am seriously in love with these and am considering not even selling them to anyone so I can hoard them all for myself. I removed the sweet almond and sunflower oils, and added olive squalane, meadowfoam seed oil, jojoba, and hemp seed oil. It's a wonderful formula and I think you guys are really gonna love it, too.

Sachets: Tiny sacks of scented plastic beads for your drawers, closets, cars (well, maybe not cars, these may melt if they get too hot). These will be available in assorted fragrances so you can make your whole world smell like your favorite OHWTO scent!

Flower Balm: Yep, it's finally done and ready. Known as "Rose Cream" during testing, it's been renamed because there is also a Jasmine version which will be added shortly and keeping the name "rose cream" seemed a bit of a strange thing to do, considering. Available in .14 oz and .5 oz tubes, as well as .5 oz metal tins, no major changes were made to the formula- I simply removed the mica as it was unnecessary. For those unfamiliar with this concept, it's an anhydrous lotion, meaning it is a highly concentrated lotion free of preservatives and fillers. It can be used in a very small amount on wet skin for lotion-like moisturization, mixed with water in your hands for more of a body butter-type feel, or used straight from the container for an intense salve-y kind of barrier. I love multi-purpose products and this is one of the best I've used.

Holiday LE Perfumes: Finnegan's Folly and Maura Mae will be added to the shop just in time for St Patrick's Day! Available in 5mL and 1mL perfume oil format, these will follow "Be Mine" in being Limited Editions which will stick around until my supply of them is exhausted.

Black Magic Breakaway: Per request, I will be offering Black Magic soap bars in breakaway clamshell containers (you commonly see wax tarts sold like this), making them perfect for traveling or sharing with friends.

Wax Tarts: These will be in the same containers as the afore-mentioned Black Magic Breakaway, but these are soy wax tarts for fragrancing your home, not your skin. Well, seeing as they are 100% soy, they probably could be used on your skin but I absolutely do not recommend it- the fragrance load is much higher in these than it is in leave-on body products ;) The breakaway design of the container allows you to use a lot or a little, and you can even blend your own custom scent using a piece of this, and a piece of that- the possibilities there are endless! These are very exciting and I'm so happy to finally be adding them to the shop.

There's a few more things I've been working on, and I still have my Spring release of new smellies, but I don't want to overwhelm myself- if I can get them added then they will be added but for now, this is what's coming VERY SOON :D

Changes to Perfume Oil- effective immediately

2011-02-16T15:12:00.000-08:00
A short and to-the-point post re: changes to a product in my line. (edited 3-14, due to new information becoming available, and yet another increase in price)

As I found out a couple weeks ago, my regular supplier of clear Jojoba oil has unexpectedly raised the price (by ~~150~~200% WTF) on the oil. As it turns out, there is a world-wide shortage of jojoba right now, so as is customary with things in short supply, the pricing has skyrocketed. I use it as a carrier base for my perfume oils. ALL of them. Left with the option of passing this increased cost on to you, or finding an alternative, I've chosen the latter option.

From today onward, all orders for perfume oils/perfume oil samples, unless they happen to already be decanted, will be fragrance in a base of 50% clear Jojoba and 50% Fractionated Coconut oil. Both are clear and odorless oils, and there really shouldn't be any noticeable difference in wearability. If this blend presents problems (I highly doubt it will), then I'll go back to my 100% Jojoba oil base, but will have to raise prices.I will also be replacing the "clear" jojoba with "golden" once my current supply of the clear runs out. This is strictly a color issue, there's no real difference in quality between the two types, just a significant difference in price.

I am going to be closely monitoring this pricing situation and if prices drop on the stuff, I'll most likely revert back to the all-jojoba perfumes I've been making, for simplicitys' sake, but until that happens, this new formula will remain in effect :)

ETA: Here's some in-depth info on Jojoba oil, for all you science-y nerds who find this stuff as interesting as I do: http://www.cd3wd.com/CD3WD_40/CD3WD/AGRIC/B09JOE/EN/B1037_7.HTM

Valentine's Day 2011

2011-01-27T13:41:00.000-08:00
I'd originally said I wasn't doing anything for the shop, scent-wise, for Valentine's Day, but I've had a change of heart. Get it? Ah, puns.

Anyway, in addition to the soon-to-be-completed perfume lockets, I've got one new and exclusive fragrance for V-day. It's incredibly limited in supply, and will only be available as a perfume oil. If I get mobbed with demands to make more of it, I might be convinced to procure replacements for the discontinued ingredients, but if not, then this is a one-time-only kind of thing. Which I think makes it all the more special.

The name? Be Mine. It will be sold in 5mL bottles (which actually contain 5.5mL of oil and still aren't full to the top, it's baffling) and 1mL sample vials, while supplies last, and I'm going to try to get labels done up for these awesome 1/3 oz tall bottles I have, but that may or may not happen. While supplies last means that if supplies last into July, then it will be available in July, but if it sells out in 3 days, then that's it- I have enough of this blend to make about 40-45 5mL bottles, but then take into account samples and the possibility of 1/3oz bottles, and stock may dwindle fairly quickly. I am also toying with the notion of making a small number of solid scents with this blend, but that's another thing which isn't definite yet.

The notes? Lots. And more! To list them all would be insane, so I've only included the most noticeable notes in the "official" description. It's a spicy/fruity/vanilla smell, definitely on the feminine side, but I don't see why the right male couldn't pull this off. It's got florals and greens but not a ton- just enough to move it out of the "I smell like food" category. Be Mine is the smell of a thousand heart-shaped cinnamon red-hots sprinkled liberally on buttercream-frosted cupcakes, accompanied by a bowl of punch, cups of coffee and tea; all served at an antique wooden table laden with roses, jasmine and orange blossoms; the perfect Valentine's Day afternoon teatime treat.

The 5mL (and 1/3oz, if I can get to it) bottles have a waterproof vinyl label printed with the poem "Roses are Red, And Violets, Blue. This perfume is Sweet And so are You!", and they will be tucked inside little organza bags (red, while supplies last) so that they are ready for gift-giving. The 1mL vials will have the new perfume vial labels applied, with the fragrance name written in by hand. Check out the snazzy new 5mL bottles and labels:

These will be up in my Artfire shop later tonight, if all goes as planned, and if not, then they'll be added tomorrow. I should also add- due to the nature of some of the fragrance materials used, you may find a speck or two of vanilla bean found its way into your bottle despite my best efforts- this is perfectly fine and will not affect the scent nor the lifespan of the perfume itself, I just don't want anyone to mistake it for dirt, because ti's not ;)

Oh and the lockets! Each will come with a sample of Be Mine, free of charge. More on those in another post, though. Till then!

Holiday Fragrances- It's about that time

2011-01-18T06:55:00.000-08:00
The Holiday season was kind of "off" for me this year, and in light of this, I've left the Holiday fragrances available longer than I should have. Which you may not have been aware of, considering I didn't make a big deal of them at all :( Poor things, they really deserved better from me! Anyway, I will be removing them from the shop at the end of this month, so if you're interested in any of them, you might want to grab them soon-ish. The following scents are going to disappear, until next winter, in 2 weeks or so:

-Sugarplum Tippler (available only as perfume oil, in 5mL bottles or 1mL sample vials)
-Balsam Apple
-Peppermint Cocoa
-Chestnuts Roasting
-The Ghost of Christmas Past
-Reunion
-And a Partridge in a Pear Tree

Additionally, Pomegranate & Oak is all gone. If enough people ask for it to be brought back, it will be, but it was originally added on a "while supplies last" basis, and that supply has run out. I like it, but I need to make room for new scents, so please be advised it is no longer available, at least until my inbox is flooded with pleas to restock it. I DO still have plenty of the other fall fragrances in stock: Badedas, Interlude, and Falling Leaves- you can see all my seasonal scents here: Limited Editions list (the link is in the left-hand sidebar).

I'm hoping to introduce the mid-winter scents within the next week or so. There's some really awesome stuff in the works, too, so much so, in fact, that I don't think you're going to miss the holiday fragrances one bit.

Oh hey

2011-01-15T06:12:00.000-08:00
Labels.

My bane. Source of my eternal torment. Ask any B&B'er and they'll likely tell you the same. Changes are coming to OHWTO labels, some huge, but the first change to be made is a smallish one. I will no longer be printing labels for "choose your scent" jarred/bottled products and glycerin soaps to order; instead, they will be pre-printed for each product, with a space left out for the scent, and I will write that information in using permanent or paint marker when the time comes- in my slightly-messy block lettering. It just makes things easier that way. If I redesign the labels for the solid scents and lip butters (again) this policy may carry over to them as well, but that's not something that's going to be happening any time soon.

Perfume samples, but not full-sizes, are included in this change; I'll be printing the labels with something along the lines of "perfume sample" and "OHWTO.com" but will write the scent names in by hand as they are ordered. Just thought I'd give you guys a heads up.

It's a lush life...

2011-01-05T14:26:00.000-08:00
...but somebody's got to live it! Eh? EH? Haha sorry for the corniness. This is a quickie update to let you all now I've got a few new smellies, all of which are duplicates for popular scents from Lush. This is the only time I'll be mentioning that name so they don't get all mad and rawr at me, so make a note of this post for future reference ;)

*Tart: Compare to Rock Star, this scent is all sweet and sugar. Creamy vanilla and tart candy notes make up this mouth-watering fragrance. Seriously, get your drool bib ready before using this one.

*Gimme Shelter: Compare to Comforter, this is a fruity dark patchouli scent. Instant relaxation with this uplifting and comforting fragrance with its notes of fresh citrus tones of orange and bergamot leading to the warm heart. Soft floral tones combine with clove and cinnamon as leafy green accents add dramatic texture to the blend. An earthy element is created with patchouli, while fresh minty pennyroyal lifts the spicy tones. Sweet vanilla and soft musk are carefully balanced at the base of the scent. Top notes: orange, bergamot, clove, mint. Middle notes: floral, spice, green, patchouli. Bottom notes: musk, vanilla.

*Honey Crisp: Compare to Honey I Washed the Kids, this is scrumptious toffee and honey. Delectable honey and toffee scent are supported by background notes of fruit and musk. Top notes: citrus, honey-floral bouquet. Middle notes: peach, apple, toffee. Bottom notes: woody, musky.

*Odalisque: Compare to Sultana, this is a fruity-floral scent. Beautiful! A burst of lemon and sweet woodland strawberry balances with floral tones of rose and a hint of lavender as accents of ginger add a creative touch. Undertones of rare woods and a hint of musk create lingering warmth for the scent. Top notes: lemon. Middle notes: strawberry, floral, ginger. Bottom notes: wood, musk.

*Faerie Dust: Compare to Snow Fairy, this one's all sugary bubbly sweetness. This fragrance is the essence of sticky, sweet, mouth-watering sugar dust with a hint of sweet vanilla at the base.

*Nirvana: Compare to Karma, this is a patchouli-based scent. Best described as a blend of Dragon's Blood and Patchouli, this fragrance also has sweet fruity notes to balance out the stronger base notes. Very relaxing, this is just the best when your mood needs to be lifted.

*Beguiled: Compare to Bathos, this is a sweet and floral scent. A captivating blend of violets and jasmine, hints of citrus, spice, and vanilla help to round out the scent and transform it from simply floral to something that is SO much more.

So yeah. These are available as of RIGHT NOW. I had a couple more planned but they were on backorder, so I'll add them to this post, as well as to the regular scent list, once they're available. This should be enough to tide you guys over for now anyway ;) Happy shopping!

ooh shiny!

2011-01-03T14:52:00.000-08:00
Just a small update for you guys today. I've added Coven and Pumpkin Eater to the permanent Private Stock scent catalog; apparently I failed to do that back when it was decided that everyone wanted them to stay on year-round. Oops! Also- 2 new scents are here and ready to buy! I now have "Vanilla Oak", a duplicate of a discontinued Yankee Candle scent, "Happy for Men", a duplicate of the Clinique scent, and "OMG Flowers"... a tongue-in-cheek reference to an earlier entry here, it's a dupe of V&R's "Flowerbomb" and it's absolutely fabulous. Check them out on the Stock fragrances list!

Additionally- I've re-activated the whipped soap and emulsifying scrubs in the Etsy and Artfire shops, as well as custom bar soaps. You may notice that whipped sugar scrub is missing- I'm not sure I want to bring it back at this time. If you're dying for it, let me know at checkout and I'll tell you how to transform the whipped soap into a whipped sugar scrub ;) 8oz jars are back until supplies run out, and 4oz jars will be forthcoming. 2oz'ers are going to be relegated to sample sizes, and will only be available in pre-made scents. Now that the holidays are done, and things have slowed down both in the shop and in life, I'm ready to take on a few more custom orders. If I get overwhelmed with a ton of orders they'll disappear again, but I don't think that's going to be an issue for the near future- guess we'll see how this goes!

That's all for now. I have a ton of new exclusive scents coming soon. None are uber-romantic or anything, so I probably won't be having a "Valentine's" collection this year... I didn't do one last year so it's not like a huge deal, heh. I do have a Limited Edition mini set just for V-day that I'll be adding to the shop/s soon, though! Keep an eye on this space for an announcement of the midwinter collection release date, eh?