New scent has a name: Crystafel

I want to thank you for your wonderful ideas. They definitely got the creative juices flowing. Many of the suggestions were mythical realms from novels, which for copyright infringement reasons, I did not want to completely plagiarize. However, one suggestion, Winterfel, one of the kingdoms in the amazing George R.R. Martin fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire, really struck a chord. Combining that with various words for ice crystals, the name Crystafel evolved.

Gifties are forthcoming for Cari (which means you have to visit Bellingham!), Kay and Linda Sue, whose suggestion of Snowman Poop still has me cracking up.

Contest: Name my New Scent

For all my creative friends and supporters, something fun… Come up with a name for my newest Realms scent and win a gift basket. The scent is a subtle white musk that reminds me of winter, ice crystals and making snow angels in piles of powder. If you have ever visited a magical winter place…or imagined such a place…please post a comment with your best one-word name. Please have your entries in by September 28th. Don’t forget to post a way for me to get in touch with you in case your entry wins!

Introducing two new scents

Pomegranate unleashed

Now out of beta and officially a part of  the Realms Bath and Body Line, are two new scents: Persephone and Fragaria.

Persephone is a wonderful pomegranate — earthy with just a touch of  tartness.

From Greek mythology, Persephone was the daughter of Demeter and Zeus. Hades fell in love with Persephone and abducted her to his underworld kingdom to become his wife. Her mother, Demeter, the Goddess of the Harvest, went into mourning for her lost daughter and in despair, caused all green things to stop growing. Zeus commanded Hades to return Persephone. It was the rule that anyone who consumed food or drink in the Underworld was doomed to spend eternity there. Persephone had no food, but Hades tricked her into eating a few pomegranate seeds while she was still his prisoner and so, because of this, she was condemned to spend four months in the Underworld every year.  This was how seasons came into being.

the lone strawberry

Oregon Strawberry logo

Fragaria is the genus  for strawberries and I thought it would be a perfect name for the scent.  I have added a touch of musk to this scent to mute the sweetness just a little bit. Two nearly teenage young ladies inspired me to make this scent: Leah, my precocious, smart a whip niece, and Chloe, Poem’s darling daughter, who, one day, I know will emerge out of her cocoon.

Loco-Lotion — Dreaming up a new spring scent

Spring bulbs

I’ve been hitting the kitchen lately, working on a new spring scent. You caught me singing the Little Eva song Locomotion , substituting the word “lotion for “motion”: “Everybody’s doing a brand new dance, now. Come on baby, do the loco-lotion” Good thing, you can’t see me dance

mixing madness

I’ve been playing with a Peach/Angel’s Trumpet combination which is yummy…also Pomegranate…and Pear for the summer. Then for the fall, Sandalwood/China Rain (very nicey, oh so spicey).

Also, I’m playing with hard soap. Still in beta, but I’m hoping to add a bar soap as well as shaving soap in a mug for the shaving purists.

People often ask me why my lotion is so silky. Without giving away the special sauce, all my lotions are handmade with Shea Butter, Aloe, Sunflower Oil, Coconut Oil & the secret ingredient: Silk Amino Acids.

Stay tuned, but I have sent off an entry fee into the upcoming Ski to Sea Festival, for the final day, race day Sunday at the street fair in Fairhaven.  I’ve never done anything this big before, so I’m a little nervous. I have one of those vendor tents on order and have been re-stocking.

Also, I’ve put in a jury application for the Coupeville Arts & Crafts Festival, a 2-day affair at the beginning of August. I’ll keep you posted.

Ginger FAIL — Confessions from a lotion maker that just can’t get this scent right

Experiencing Ginger FAIL

I love the spicy aroma of Ginger and have been experimenting since last fall to find just the perfect combination. I have tried 3 different Ginger oils, but whenever I mix them into my lotion base little crystals form. If anyone has any advice, I sure could use the help. Help!

Searching for a fall scent

Every year I’ve lived here in the northwest, there has been one definitive day that says fall has arrived. Today is the day. It’s grey and dripping out, after many glorious days of late summer sun. Every so often driving along, a vine maple pops out among the green, proudly wearing shades of orange and red. At this time of year too, my nose seeks the warmth of rich gourd scents and spice, rather than light florals and summer fruits. So, I’m hunting for a new scent that says autumn.

Autumn on Ellis Street last year

lotions & potions, the realm I’m in

Realms shower gels, lotion and room spray

I’ve always been in love with scents. Ever since I was a little girl and my best friend’s mom let us harvest the petals from her roses to make “perfume,” the fascination has grown. Now, the window ledge in the shower is full of shower gels and the cupboard full of lotions, most all of which are my own making.  I created Realms Bath and Body Line a couple years ago. I started with shower gels and lotions, then added crystal potpourri, and this year added room spray and foaming hand soap. I have these scents so far, but add more all the time. Zangezur is my latest; I just put it in the line-up last week.  It makes a luscious shower gel and hand soap.

- Avalon
Ripe apples from the orchard

- Hanalei
Island pear and coconut

- Luxor
Honeyed citrus

- Ojai
Sweet blackberries blended with southwestern sage

- Coquille
Bright, sweet cranberry melded with an earthy musk

- Zaria
Sensuous ambergris

- Provence
Lavender fields forever

- Kai
Crisp, fresh morning after a hard rain

- Idyllwild
Romantic lavender, rose, violet and musk

- Gaea
Sweet scented spring waters

- Fukushu
Chinese kumquat, bursting with citrus

- NaPali
Mountain jasmine at the source of rivers

- Veracruz
Sweet vanilla orchid

- Mrr
A complex blend of black myrrh, amber and lavender

- Jaffna
Sri Lankan sandalwood

- Shambhala
Nag Champa straight out of the Summer of Love

- Zangezur
Armenian apricot and freesia

Now in beta, thanks to my beaming, beautiful daughter-in-law, Mindy who’s expecting in January — NaPali Satin & Silk Lotion for Moms-to-be, with a healthy dose of Vitamin E oil for elasticity to prevent stretch marks. Give me a few about 4 months and I’ll let you know how it works.