Company Profile: Alchemic Muse

 

As I travel down a long winding path, my nostrils fill with the heady jasmine and honeysuckle scented, damp, autumn air.  I skip along through the rolling mist as my game of tag ensues with the colorfully glowing sprites who light my way.  Under the cloudless night sky dotted with stars and anchored by a brilliant full moon, a sultry dragon flaps its wing as it flies overhead - first darkening the sky with its heavy presence, then quickly filling it with hot orange, yellows and reds with its breath of fire.  Our impromptu game of tag is joined by garden nymphs and playful fairies.  As I follow the gravel trail around the final bend, I see the gypsy's opulent trailer which is surrounded by a luminous glow from an unidentifiable source.  At first I am hesitant... The trailer is so beautiful, but ominous. I tiptoe closer and the door opens, fragrant air engulfs me, laden with ripe juicy fruits, warm spices and mystical aromas.  Her shadow proceeds her majestic presence and then she appears in the doorway.  Stretching out her manicured and adorned hand to me - with a wink and oh so welcoming smile, she guides me into her chamber where a glorious array of bath treats await...

This is how I feel every time I make a purchase from Alchemic Muse. I am unsure if this is the imagery Karen, the owner, wants to evoke, or if I just made it up in my mind, but her branding and labels always remind me of the gypsy fortune teller trailers of folklore - fully of mystery and mystical treasures.

Alchemic Muse opened up its doors on Etsy in 2008 and in the approximately seven years since then, can proudly boast (but never does) having over 17,000 sales.  Fans can now visit either the Etsy store or on Alchemic Muse's website to indulge themselves in the seasonally varying scented potions, lotions and concoctions offered.  From natural ingredients and coloring agents, Alchemic Muse creates cold process soap, body oils, body creams, cream soaps and perfumes in unique and intoxicating fragrance combinations.  Reading the artfully penned fragrance descriptions is an adventure all of its own.

   

 I have numerous favorites from this company including the body whips, cold process soaps and body gloss. My skin tends to be irritated by high levels of propylene glycol.  It can be used as an humectant (an agent that helps draw moisture into your skin and retain it) as well as an ingredient in preservatives.  As a preservative ingredient, the level of propylene glycol in a product is minimal and those I tend to be able to tolerate.  However, if used as a humectant, the levels of it in a product will actually cause me irritation.  This rules out a lot of commercial products and thus my extensive use of handmade body products.

 

photo credit: Alchemic Muse

One handmade product that tends to have high levels of propylene glycol are whipped soaps. Many, but not all handmade products makers tend to use a commercially prepared base for these, which in most cases use propylene glycol as a humectant. This being the case, I always shy away from them. Alchemic Muse changed that for me.

As you may be aware from following my blog and social media, I am a fragrance junkie.  Alchemic Muse only makes cold process soap for their general catalog of items - scents that are offered all year long.  Any of the seasonal scents only come in the cream soaps.  Absolutely loving the Peach Bellini scent, Karen forced compelled me to try their cream soap so that I could have a cleanser and a moisturizer in this fragrance.   Alchemic Muse's cream soap formula is gentle and cleansing and most importantly, non-irritating to my skin.  It does not lather like bar soap, but it is definitely a great alternative, especially when a bar is not available in a specific scent.

For my scent junkie jones, I love their Peach Bellini & Beguile (valentine's day collection),  Pomona (spring collection), Carnival, Mystique, Razzouli & Tropicana (general collection).

Reasonably priced (a 4.5 to 5.5 oz cold process bar is $6.50, 6 oz body whips are $10), high quality items with exotic fragrance offerings make Alchemic Muse an absolute must try for any fan of handmade bath and body products!

Have you tried Alchemic Muse?  What items do you love or are thinking about trying?  Have a recent product haul from them?  Post them on Facebook and tag me, 4 the love of bubbles and I'll share it with the world.  On Instagram, tag me and/or use the hastag #bubblelove and I'll share it as well! 

Peace, Love & Dragonfly wing breezes, LoveBuds!

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Company Profile & Review: Soapy Water

www.lilsoapy.com

Your Body's Clean Slate

In the beginning, there was disbelief.  Shannan happened upon an Ebay listing for natural HOMEMADE soap and she laughed.  Shannan was sure that soap could not be made at home, normal everyday people should not be handling Sodium Hydroxide (lye). Though she laughed, she was intrigued.  Shannan decided to get more information.  Through the assistance of that ebay lister, research, classes and lots of trial and error, Shannan began to make soap...and Lil Soapy was born.

Lil Soapy has been making soap for about 15 years and her business has undergone several name changes - "What's that smell?" & "Smell it like it is" are just a couple.  Now, she has settled with Soapy Water.  She makes a line of cold process soaps and body butters that are made with natural ingredients and smell awesome.

My quote from Lil Soapy

With her business, Lil Soapy promotes her idea of fresh starts, new beginnings and clean slates. This theme is evident in her soap packaging - each shipment contains an motivational quote relating to starting anew.  She also contributes to a charity in her area that provides business attire for youth, who in her words~

"... took a wrong turn in life. That’s ok. We all make mistakes. Through this program they are working on getting back on the right path. The teens in this program are going to job interviews, hearings, graduations etc. They are in need of professional attire. Not only to look their best but to raise their confidence level."

I applaud Lil Soapy for using her business assist these teens.  For a small boutique business owner, the resources can be slim and supporting some causes may not fit well with customers.  However having the courage to support a cause you believe in publicly and through your business is a courageous and awesome act.  By no means is Soapy Water the only business I have come across that incorporates its social consciousness into its business model, but any business I come across that does so, I feel should be applauded.


REVIEW

What about the soap, you say?  To be short and sweet, I love it.  For a more detailed breakdown...

Soapy Water uses a consistent base formula for its soap.  It is full of those good ingredients, shea butter, coconut oil, palm oil, olive oil - things that make a good old fashioned firm bar of soap that lathers well, rinses clean and doesn't strip the moisture from your skin.  It is beautifully colored, but with no frills.  

I will say that my interest can be piqued by an exotic oil or butter in my soap bar and I find those that contain a little clay or silk tend to have a much "slippery" feel to them.  However, good handmade soap is still good handmade soap and those added extras won't make a crappy soap recipe much better.  Soapy water soap bars are great the way they are.

Lil Soapy's bars are a nice size at around 4.5 ounces each and at $7.00 each, they are a decent value.

I received Citrus Burst and Sanctuary fragrances.  Citrus Burst is a lively citrusy, bubbly fragrance similar to "Energy" from Brambleberry.  After bathing with it, I used a body butter I made with "Energy" fragrance and it complimented the fragrance of the soap rather nicely.  I chose the Sanctuary scent because I wanted something outside the "fruity" realm - which I really love, but I love other earthy scents as well.  However, upon receipt, I found it to have a deeper amber smell that I expected, which is not quite for me.  My son, however, quickly usurped the bar.

Overall, this is a company I highly recommend. Have you tried Soapy Water Soap?  If so, let me know about your experience.


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These profiles are compiled based on my personal experiences and research; and unless otherwise noted, do not express the views, opinions or positions of the owners, employees or representatives of this company.  I do my best to thoroughly research all information prior to publishing, however, any of the information contained in this profile may have changed.  All logos and product pictures posted, unless otherwise noted, are my legal property or I have obtained proper authorization for posting.  For further information on this company, its products and services, please contact them directly.

Company Profile & Review: Hejin Body Works

courtesy hejin body works

Hejin Body Works

PREMIUM HEALTHY SKIN CARE

When I stumbled across this company, I was instantly happy!  Not sure if it's the cute little pig or the bubbles in the logo, but when I saw it, I immediately wanted to take part.  Great marketing on the part of Christina and her husband Matt.  Although I've not communicated with them much, just from the look of their shop and the products they produce, their fun-loving spirit endears me to them and hopefully soon, I will have the honor of meeting them (big plans in the works ;). 

 Hejin (pronounced "Hedge In") Body Works' origin story has to do with a pig that liked mud but not using harsh chemicals to clean himself.  Thus he began a journey to create great natural skin care products - Sounds perfectly sound to me!

Every facet of company is creative and playful. I fell in love with the product names just as much as I enjoy the great quality of their soap and the fantastic price!  Hejin body works makes a wide variety of cold process soaps (and yes, variety is the spice of life!) as well as lip balms, lotions, massage oils, bath teas pet shampoos and other skin goodies.  At $3.95 per bar of 4 oz bar of soap and $8.95 for 12 oz of body butter, this company has to have one of the lowest price points I have seen for handmade body products.  Don't let the price fool you, I truly enjoyed their products from the groovy names to the bubblocity (it is a word and I'm sticking to it).  If you're ever in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, stop by their shop, it will be well worth the trip!

REVIEW

I received my box of Hejin Body Works products quickly - their website is clean, and easy to navigate as well as fun to read.  All orders are shipped priority mail with free shipping on orders over $30 and $5 flat rate shipping for orders under $30.

In my box were a bar of Pina Koala, Go Bonkers and the Pink Himalayan Salt Bar. 

courtesy hejin body works

I had been dying to try Pina Koala, it seemed like an extremely unique scent combination of tropical fruit, chili pepper and eucalyptus.  Who would think up something like that?  When using the bar, the scent was great.  Not one of the scents listed stood out or overpowered the others, what I smelled was a cool tropical scent when was reminiscent of a day at the beach.  The bar was firm and lathered well.  It was an excellent shower experience!

courtesy hejin body works

Go Bonkers was next on my list to try.  The description on the website of a deep, fruity scent is pretty accurate.  It was like a tropical fruit explosion of fragrances reminiscent of a fragrance I've used before - "Butt Naked" or even "Jamaican Me Crazy". This bar, though with the same basic recipe as Pina Koala was not as firm as I would have liked.  It however lathered nicely and the color did not transfer on my white wash cloth.

Last, but certainly not least was the Himalayan Salt Bar.

courtesy hejin body works

This bar was like the great awakening, I felt myself coming out of the showering with a ray of light from above and that glorious "ahhhhhhhh" sound echoed in my bathroom.  I am a believer in the need to exfoliate and this bar is perfect for that.  It is scented with peppermint and lemon essential oils that really give you a lift and leave your skin tingly.  Being mostly salt, this bar was extremely firm and just delightful to use.  Because my sensitive skin cannot handle daily washing with soaps that include exfoliants, this is not an everyday cleanser, but is an amazing pick me up when you're feeling a little blah.



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These profiles are compiled based on my personal experiences and research; and unless otherwise noted, do not express the views, opinions or positions of the owners, employees or representatives of this company.  I do my best to thoroughly research all information prior to publishing, however, any of the information contained in this profile may have changed.  All logos and product pictures posted, unless otherwise noted, are my legal property or I have obtained proper authorization for posting.  For further information on this company, its products and services, please contact them directly.

Company Profile, Review & Giveaway!: Unearth Malee

Zen is the word that comes to mind when I think about Unearth Malee.  From the look of the website to the aroma that wafts out of my package when I receive it, it all feels like peace and serenity.

I was drawn to the Unearth Malee Etsy Shop by the unique simplicity of the product packaging. I am a strong believer in the power of packaging as advertising.  I believe in this, because it personally draws me in.  When I see a uniquely packaged bath and body product, I instantly want to know more about it.

Marie, the proprietor of Unearth Malee, grew up in a Thai-American household and through her experiences with Asian culture and cuisine at home, she developed this ethereal line of products including candles, soap, body moisturizers and lip balms.  Using a name her family passed down for generations, Malee - which in Thai is the name of a jasmine flower, Unearth Malee using natural organic and Eco-friendly ingredients to create it's delicate, aromatic offerings.

This principle of naturalness and earth-friendliness echos throughout the line.  Unearth Malee's soaps contain no palm oil because of the adverse impact increased palm harvesting has on the forests of Malaysia, especially the habitats of orangutans.  The packaging for their soap is made from seeded paper that can be planted to grow wildflower even the lip balms and deodorants are packaged in eco-friendly tubes.



 REVIEW
  

The soap arrived wrapped in paper and sealed with this cute sticker

A generous amount of samples is always good in my book

I received a set of 6 soaps (Thai Lime Rosemary & Japanese Citrus Chamomile will be awarded to readers in the giveaway.  I also received Dragon Fruit Green Tea, Bali Flowers, Lavender Lotus Blossom and Papaya Ginger Lemongrass, which I used to develop this review) along with the cocoa butter lip balm.  I was impressed with the care and packaging of the soap when I received it.  (Again, forgive my pictures).  


 

The whole set

Because of the lack of any artificial fragrances, I felt like Bali Flowers and Dragon Fruit Green Tea had a very subtle fragrance, however the ones containing Lavender Lotus Blossom and Papaya Ginger Lemongrass were nicely herbal in fragrance and exhilarating in the shower!

Of note, I did find these bars to not have the exuberant lather of other soaps I have used and they were on the soft side in relation to other cold process soaps.  I am sure this is due to the lack of palm oil and it is not a bad thing, especially if you want to incorporate all natural, vegan products in your routine and lessen your footprint in regards to palm oil consumption.  The soaps produced enough lather for me to feel clean after using them and I will happily add these into my rotation for times when I want to cleanse my soap palette.

Initially, I was concerned that the lip balm container being totally from paper, would not stand up to my daily routine of using it, dropping it in my purse, leaving it in the car, sticking in my pocket, etc., etc.  However, it did stand up to my routine and the lip balm itself was moisturizing. For those sweet addicts, this is not the balm for you as it does not have any flavor added, but it works well and is a great choice for a light lip moisturizer. 

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GIVEAWAY

Unearth Malee Giveaway  

These profiles are compiled based on my personal experiences and research; and unless otherwise noted, do not express the views, opinions or positions of the owners, employees or representatives of this company.  I do my best to thoroughly research all information prior to publishing, however, any of the information contained in this profile may have changed.  All logos and product pictures posted, unless otherwise noted, are my legal property or I have obtained proper authorization for posting.  If not, proper credit has been assigned and photographs are posted to ensure no bandwidth stress to these company's websites. For further information on this company, its products and services, please contact them directly.

Company Profile & Review: Willow and Honey

handmade, soul nourishing skincare with a chef's touch

courtesy willow & honey

"From my heART to your shower" is on the home page of this bath and body artisan's website.  Like many other handmade soap creators you find on Etsy and in local farmer's markets and craft bazaars, the founder of Willow & Honey developed her talent for creating bath and body products through her passion for artistic creation in other forms.  For this young lady, it was food.  She is a trained chef and when her son developed eczema at 18 months, she started working to develop something to soothe his irritation from commercial soaps and lotions (their children being another big reason people begin making handmade skincare items).  
 

Water Lily Bubble Bars courtesy willow & honey

Corey, Willow & Honey's creator, incorporates food items in her bath and body products to boast the nutrient content and healing properties of her products.

 Whenever possible, all of Willow & Honey's products are made with non-gmo/organic oils and butters and are lightly scented with skin safe fragrance/essential oils.

Morning Glory Soap courtesy willow & honey

I was drawn to sample this product line because of the whimsical nature of the products. I really like that she incorporates food and other natural ingredients to the fullest extent.  And how cute is a soap with little eggs on the top?  Her handcrafted items look as sweet as they smell.  I also applaud the awesome contrast of her simple black and white packaging.  It does not overshadow the quaint fanciful nature of the products, yet works well when coupled with her colorfully designed bath treats.



PRODUCT REVIEW

I ordered the mermaid hugs soap bar and orange blossom lip butter.  My packaged arrived from the west coast (I am on the east coast) approximately 5 business days from the date of my order, which is very reasonable.  The order process was a bit more difficult that I would have liked.  The website is as cute as a button, however when you click on a product, the "add to cart" button is not visible until you mouse over it at the bottom of the description.  Once you get that figured out, the rest is smooth sailing.  To top it off I received samples of "Midnight Coal" and "Zen" soap with my order.  As a product junkie I love, and as a business person I absolutely encourage, the sending of samples with orders.  I know that more than 50% of my own personal repeat business with a company is due to receiving a sample of something that I really like and most times it is something I might not have picked just from the description.

 I took these picture of the products I received before having good lighting.  I just don't understand how the lights in my house seem fine enough to live by, but try to take a picture, even with a high quality camera and comes out crappy.  For this I apologize.

I absolutely adore the look of the mermaid hugs soap.  The vibrant blue/green of the soap is like looking into the ocean and the gold on top is a great complimentary color.  The colors washed away clean and though the lather was slightly colored by the soap, it didn't stain my white wash cloth.

This cold process soap bar was 4.5 ounces and extremely firm.  The fragrance was delightful, a blend of "fresh rain, lily of the valley, green botanicals and ocean mist".  It really smelled like fresh ocean air - extremely refreshing.  The fragrance was great in the shower but does not linger very long on the skin.  The lather was excellent, with abundant, large bubbles that left my skin feeling clean and not stripped.  Priced at $8.00, it is a little more that I would usually pay for this size bar.  It is indeed a high quality, great bar of soap, lasting a little longer that the average 6 showers I get from this size bar (I am a lengthy showerer, lol).  The extra bath or 2 is a means for justifying the cost and would not deter me from re-ordering.
 

The orange blossom lip butter has to be one of the cutest lip balms I have ever seen.  That heart in the middle is just so sweet!  Colored with lip safe colorants, it does not color your lips at all.  At $6.00, this was worth every penny!  The butter is easy to apply, goes on easily and doesn't leave a sticky residue.  For the winter, I would like a lip butter that is a little heavier, but for the spring and summer this is great!  Though I am not a fan of tubs of lip balm/butter than I have to stick my hands in - with a lip brush, this stuff is amazing!  Even though the description says it is flavored with orange essential oil, because of the name orange blossom, I was imagining more of a neroli essence.  It is definitely orange but not at all disappointing! 


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These profiles are compiled based on my personal experiences and research; and unless otherwise noted, do not express the views, opinions or positions of the owners, employees or representatives of this company.  I do my best to thoroughly research all information prior to publishing, however, any of the information contained in this profile may have changed.  All logos and product pictures posted, unless otherwise noted, are my legal property or I have obtained proper authorization for posting.  If not, proper credit has been assigned and photographs are posted to ensure no bandwidth stress to these company's websites. For further information on this company, its products and services, please contact them directly.

Company Profile: Petal Bath Boutique *Giveaway*

In 2008, Kia started Beacon Creations.  Now known as Petals Bath Boutique, this company produces some of my favorite handmade soaps and bath & body treats.

I've previously stated elsewhere that Kia creates products for my specific soap addiction.  I LOVE variety - having loads of different fragrances of beautiful soap to choose from is what makes me happy. Literally, every day I visit my soap cupboard to marvel at the beauty and fragrance of my soap collection.  Preparing for my shower each day is an event!

Venom ~
An effervescent blend of juicy cherries and berries highlighted with fresh citrus notes and vanilla

Petals Bath Boutique uses a luxurious master recipe for their soap which creates a firm bar of cold process soap that has a rich, creamy lather and leaves skin clean, soft and moisturized.  This one soap formula allows Kia to focus on creating visually magnificent pieces of soap art with a seasonal rotation of fragrances that means lots of different scents are available throughout the year.

Harlequin ~
Japanese Grapefruit and Citron leaf neatly crushed with Sparkling Mimosa with smoky note of Tobacco, Sugar Cane and Black Vanilla

Custom Loaf of Lychee Red Tea

Another great thing about Petal Bath Boutique is its versatility.  Many of the soaps are made as variations with the master recipe, but Kia also creates some unique soap blends, all natural varieties and even custom loaves.  As a product maker myself, I have a huge stock of fragrance oils and it's great to know that if I want something that Kia doesn't usually offer, she is open to creating something from a scent that I can send to her.

custom loaf of Leaves & Twigs

Kia's talent is not just for creating beautiful soap, she also makes gorgeous wax tarts along with lip balms, lotion and a body custard that is dense, rich and delightful.  Her eye for color combinations, swirl patterns and the little details make each item she creates a masterpiece.

                 

Fruity Rings Wax Tart ~  
Sweetly delectable with juicy Orange Pulp, Summer Berries, Tangerine, Zesty Lime and Vanilla Sugar.

*~*Giveaway*~*

Blowing Bubbles ~ A fruity berry combination of strawberry, blackberry and wild huckleberries touched with a hint of pineapple and soft rose on a sweet caramel bottom.

  
The Petals Bath Boutique Spring 2015 release is happening this Friday (March 27th). Make sure you are following them on social media to get the specific time (it is usually in the evening, EST).  Many of the seasonal collection items sell out within hours of the release launch.

Orangeberry ~ Fresh squeezed Orange Juice and Strawberry Cream supported with succulent notes of tropical fruits and Vanilla Bean

Another reason to follow them on social media is that it will make you eligible for our giveaway.  Three lucky winners will be selected to win fabulous Petals Bath Boutique items including a bar of my exclusive custom loaf of "ENERGY" which is not available as part of the Petals Bath Boutique catalog.  Entry form is below

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Enter to win Petals Bath Boutique items!

 Hurry, contest ends Saturday, March 28th and the winner will be announced that evening. GOOD LUCK!

These profiles are compiled based on my personal experiences and research; and unless otherwise noted, do not express the views, opinions or positions of the owners, employees or representatives of this company.  I do my best to thoroughly research all information prior to publishing, however, any of the information contained in this profile may have changed.  All logos and product pictures posted, unless otherwise noted, are my legal property or I have obtained proper authorization for posting.  If not, proper credit has been assigned and photographs are posted to ensure no bandwidth stress to these company's websites. For further information on this company, its products and services, please contact them directly.

Company Profile: Spicy Pinecone

Company profiles are a snapshot of some of the companies from which I have had the pleasure to experience their products and/or services.

all photos courtesy Spicy Pinecone

Sarah, the owner of Spicy Pinecone, is a self professed hobbyist with a special place in her heart for handmade soap and bath treats, according to her website.  She came up with the company's unusual name when one of her son's became obsessed with pine cones.  He would go on and on about his "spicy" pine cones.  After some time, he explained to her that the pine cones looked "spicy" meaning "spikey".  This cute quip stuck with her and is now the nomenclature for Sarah's hobby turned business.

Spicy Pinecone's Dead Sea Mud Brine Soap Bar

Sarah's commitment to quality products and customer service are the foundation of her business.  She proclaims on her site "If I wouldn't use it, I don't sell it… period." Her dedication to experimentation and research has resulted in a great selection of high quality cold processed handmade soap, bath bombs, lotions, bath melts, candles and more.

Spicy Pinecone's Liam's Toe Jam Shea Butter Salve

Spicy Pinecone has been in operation on Etsy since 2011 and their website carries a copyright year of 2013.  This line offers products featuring great natural ingredients along with brilliant colors, micas and embellishments.  Fun names and playful fragrances are key elements of this company's offerings.  

I have personally used several of her handmade soaps and find them to be well packaged, produce great lather, awesome smelling and skin conditioning.  I will be reviewing these items in depth at a later date.

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These profiles are compiled based on my personal experiences and research; and unless otherwise noted, do not express the views, opinions or positions of the owners, employees or representatives of this company.  I do my best to thoroughly research all information prior to publishing, however, any of the information contained in this profile may have changed.  All logos and product pictures posted, unless otherwise noted, are my legal property or I have obtained proper authorization for posting.  If not, proper credit has been assigned and photographs are posted to ensure no bandwidth stress to these company's websites. For further information on this company, its products and services, please contact them directly.