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Date

April 06 2017

Written By

Stefanie Grant-Cassel

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8 Reasons Why Natural Perfume is a Beauty Must

Written By Stefanie Grant-Cassel - April 06 2017

adore perfume twinkle apothecary
PERFUME... 
It's a surprisingly sensitive subject. 
Since starting Twinkle Apothecary, I've learned that most people have very strong opinions on fragrance. (We can't help it, it's how our brains are wired!) I've also learned that scent preferences are HIGHLY subjective - for every "yuck" there's an equally enthusiastic "yum." (Seriously, I wish I could record people's reactions to my testers when I go to markets, because it can be pretty hilarious!) 
Some people love to douse themselves in their favorite scent, other's don't like to wear anything at all, and there are a lot of people in-between - who are intrigued by the idea of wearing a personal fragrance but can't find anything they really love, or, are leery of mystery/missing ingredient lists and potentially harmful synthetics full of endocrine disrupting parabens and phthalates.
(This was basically me before I started Twinkle Apothecary.)
So, why bother? I mean, certainly no one needs to wear perfume. But since I personally do kind of need to sell a lot of it, (lol) I figured it was in my best interest to come up with a few reasons why you should buy some.
Here's what I've got: 
1. It's soooooo luxurious. 
Because it is not necessary, it is a complete indulgence. It's the finishing touch of polish on your daily grooming and self care routine. It's a little easy mini ritual that says, "I'm worthy of nice things." All for the low, low price of $15 with free shipping. (That's 2-3 trips to the coffee shop or one fancy cocktail, except it's way healthier - so don't tell me you can't afford it!)
2. It's just fun. 
At least it should be. Try not to take it too seriously? Choosing your perfume is a creative exercise, like choosing your outfit - it's an extension of your unique personal style!  
3. It can change your mood. 
I like science and I'm not super into the woo-woo life, so I try to take aromatherapy with a grain of pink-himalayan salt. However, there's not a doubt in my mind that the (natural, essential oil based) fragrances I wear can enhance or change my mood. My perfumes are the first thing I reach for when I'm feeling anxious or sad. They may not cure my ills or solve my problems, but they do bring me much needed comfort, and if I need help relaxing (or getting energized) they are the perfect little (non-addictive and healthy) pick-me-up! 
4. It brings nature to you. 
Most of us don't get to experience the grounding vibes of a good hike or a walk on the beach every day, so wearing plant essences is a lovely way to connect to the natural world, even when you're stuck at your desk. Speaking of which, 
5. It brings back memories. 
When I was working full time from an office cubicle in Los Angeles, I couldn't leave my house in the mornings without a spritz of a floral perfume that reminded me of weekend walks through my neighborhood. Carrying that weekend memory/feeling into my week made work life so much more bearable for this free spirit. 
I put my own spin on that neighborhood scent with Mulholland. 
French Girl smells like the time I stayed at the Plaza Athénée in Paris.
Adore is loosely based on something I used to wear in my mid 20s when I was involved in an overly dramatic romantic fling. 
Basic reminds me of starting this new venture!  
Blissed reminds me of when I was first falling in love with my boyfriend.
It is truly fascinating to me how scents become entwined with memories in our brains. 
I enjoy being able to change my scent often, so when I come back to an old fragrance in my rotation I get a little surprise, unexpected memory that I didn't even realize existed! 
Is that weird? 
(Maybe don't answer that...) 
If you're an overly sensitive romantic fool like me, and you're not already wearing perfume, I highly recommend treating yourself this sensory experience. 
6. It can set the tone for a new life chapter.  
OK, say you don't want to relive old memories and you're looking for a fresh start. This is the PERFECT time to try a new fragrance! Just as there probably isn't one perfect romantic partner for you, there isn't just ONE perfume that you can wear either.  New scent, new memories, onward and upward! 
7. Natural perfumes are actually good for your skin. 
No need to worry about mystery ingredients and potentially harmful endocrine disrupters here! There's nothing but coconut oil and essential oils in these babies. (I can even make them with jojoba oil if you prefer!) Check out the "key benefits" section of each listing to see the skincare benefits of each ingredient. 
8. You won't smell like everyone else.
As of right now, I have zero intention of getting my handcrafted, artisanal fragrances into every Sephora/Macy's/CVS in the world. I like the idea of keeping it a little bit of a secret. Like, "Ooh, what are you wearing?" "Oh just this cute little indie perfume brand I found online. NBD." Because my customers are way too cool for the mall.
Yeah you are... I see you!   
Y'all are so cool that I bet you can come up with even more reasons why natural perfume is a beauty must-have. 
Post a comment below with your thoughts/stories... I'd love to hear them all! 
-XO- 

Date

March 08 2017

Written By

Stefanie Grant-Cassel

Comments

1 Comment

Understanding Fragrance Notes

Written By Stefanie Grant-Cassel - March 08 2017

understanding fragrance notes twinkle apothecary
Ok, I know that shopping for perfume online isn't exactly easy.
How do you know what you want to smell like if you can't actually smell anything?! 
You can either go with something that looks really cool with an elusive, mysterious, (or missing altogether) description which means you may hate it; 
or - 
stick with something you know... 
Like, lavender. 
Vanilla. 
Patchouli. 
single note perfumes twinkle apothecary
(I think pretty much everyone knows what those smell like?)
But what if you want to try something new?
Be bold!
Change it up!*
Because my perfumes are made with essential oils, you can vary them for their different therapeutic aromatherapy benefits...**
And who doesn't love the idea of changing your scent each season, or wearing a fresh, clean scent during the day, and something a little more sultry at night?!*** 
So how do you sort through the flowery language, exotic sounding names, and mysteriously absent ingredient lists (in some cases) to decide on which sample to try?! 
No idea.**** 
But, I can tell you how to better understand my fragrance notes. 
If you take a look at each of my item listings, I've included a "fragrance notes" section, where I go into detail about what each scent smells like.
To me, at least.
That's the thing. Scent is sooo subjective! I'm not sure that two people ever really smell the same thing. And trying to find the right words to describe a scent is always a challenge.
Bright, creamy, sultry, warm, fresh... 
These words could all mean completely different things to different people! 
(This is why I love it when my customers leave reviews on my website, because maybe y'all can find a better way to describe your favorite scent better than what I've come up with!)
Anyway, if you've ever wondered about the term "notes" in reference to fragrances before, it's basically another way of saying "scents," or "ingredients."  
Think, all of the elements that make up what you're smelling when you sniff a perfume! 
In my "fragrance notes" section on my product listings, I'm also talking about actual notes. Like, I'm making notes on the scent for you, since you can't smell it in person. 
You'll see that each perfume has a top note, middle note, and a bottom note.
The top note is what I call the first impression. 
It's what you smell when you take the very first whiff after you apply the perfume, or maybe what you get when you sniff the bottle before you put anything on. (Which is never an accurate way to tell what it will smell like once you put it on, by the way - don't judge a scent until you try it!)  
Typically, top notes are the lightest element of the fragrance, and it's also what's going to disappear the most quickly. (It has to do with molecule size... but I won't bore you with science today!) Top notes are usually a citrus element, very light floral, or the bright harshness of a spice or herb before it warms up and softens during wear. 
Not all of my fragrances have a traditional top note (such a rebel, I know.) But I still list whatever it is that hits my nose first as the "top." 
Here's where I should add that I often have people say, "I wish my perfume would smell the same all day long." And, I hate to break it to you, but that simply isn't possible. Especially with natural fragrances that don't contain added chemicals. Even if you're wearing a single note fragrance, every individual scent has a top, middle, and base note in itself. So you'll still notice different elements of the lavender, sandalwood, etc., as it wears.
Anyway, 
Once that volatile top note dissipates, you'll begin to notice the middle notes. 
The middle note is what I call the heart of the scent. 
I call it the "heart" because it's almost like the main ingredient to the composition. Almost... 
It's what you smell the most of in the perfume. In-between the lightness of the top notes, and the deep, lasting impression of the base notes.
Typically these are the hearty florals and warmer elements of herbal, spicy scents. They may be the main "smell" that comes to mind when you try to describe the perfume to a friend. Or not... maybe your nose wants to focus on the top or base notes! 
I like to say that the the base note is what lingers behind. 
This will be the very last thing that you smell on your wrist at the end of the day. These tend to be very heavy, woody, deep, rich, strong fragrances. Patchouli, sandalwood, vetiver, and cedar wood are some of my favorites. 
In my lighter perfumes, whatever the heaviest scent is will be the bottom, base note. 
In florcore, it's the ylang ylang. 
In basic, it's the vanilla. 
In duchess, it's the rose! 
If you've ever looked into making your own natural perfume blend, you've probably come across a lot of rules about what percentage of each scent should be the top, middle, or bottom notes... and let me just tell you that I disregard all of that when I'm blending.
I never liked traditional perfumes much anyway, so why would I bother to make something by the "rules?" 
And also... says who, exactly?! Last I checked, there was no perfume police. 
Vegan police, yes. 
Perfume police... not so much. 
That being said, I do always try to have a strong base note element to tie everything together and give the perfume staying power, but, not always. The beauty of the natural, oil based fragrances is that you can simply re-apply if the scent goes away. And it will, eventually. I mean, unless you want to buy something artificial, full of phthalates for added staying power. 
To which I say, no thank you! 
So, does this help at all? 
Of course, if you're still having trouble choosing, another good way to tell what a perfume is going to smell like is to order a sample!
(Keep scrolling to order...) 
Mine are just $3, or, you can buy a sample pack of 4 for $10!
(Pick between sweet, earthy, floral, or herbal.)
I HIGHLY recommend samples.
I'd hate for you to end of with a bottle of perfume that doesn't make you happy! 
And you can always get in touch with me if you need help deciding. 
That's all for now! 
-XO- 
*Side note: I LOVE the idea of changing your fragrances often. Scent memory is so powerful that if you take a break from wearing a favorite perfume and come back to it later, you will probably notice that the scent is tied to memories of the particular time in your life when you last wore it. I think that's really cool. Changing your perfume is also a handy way to start a new chapter after a breakup or major life event.  

**Fun fact: Nasty Woman is the combination of oils I was wearing in an attempt to remain calm and grounded during the presidential debate where that lovely moment in history went down. The next day, I knew exactly what I had to do! 

***SO LUXURIOUS! And the great thing about my perfumes is that they're inexpensive, so you can collect lots and lots to have on hand! 

****This is why I try to make my scents, descriptions, and ingredients as straightforward as possible. I just happen to think that you deserve to know exactly what you're getting, and especially to know what you're putting on your body!   

 

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