While the rest of North America swelters under a record-breaking heatwave (no climate change to see here, nosiree!) here in Ontario it’s pretty much summer business as usual. That means it rains a lot, especially on important milestone holidays (can’t wait to see the hurricane that will accompany Canada’s upcoming 150th) alternating with periods of crap heat and brutal humidity. It’s absolutely nothing compared to the conditions that Phoenix is experiencing today, but then again, what is?
So I feel quite fortunate that the heat and humidity in my neck of the global woods is not so oppressive that I can’t enjoy this recently-acquired quartet of Solstice Scents fragrances – and on the Summer Solstice, no less. 😉 No finer time to delightfully delve into a handful of beautiful bakeries, fine florals and one apple-jacked pick for Fall.
As it was with my first Solstice order, I had zero issues with this purchase – it was remarkable only in its unremarkableness. Oh! Except that Solstice quite generously refunded nearly $9.00 in shipping overages, a lovely little treat I discovered only after noticing that a refund had gone through my account; I had had no idea one was coming to me in the first place. It would have been pretty easy for Solstice to not inform me of a potential refund or to simply not issue one at all. But they did, and in the most low-key, efficient and friendliest manner possible. Customer for life with that kind of service, really.
Also? This is a nice little personalized thank-you, and beside it, a thoughtful compendium of perfume-sampling tips (such as the important reminder to let your perfume sit a bit before passing final judgement; like a great stew or a fantastic soup, perfumes need a bit of time to settle and develop after bottling and shipping.)
I picked up four 5 ml perfume oils this time around, with each blue cobalt rollerball retailing for $15.00 US.
And while my heart truly belongs to that most cherished of peppermint-vanillas, Snowmint Mallow, I think I can find a little room in there for these lovely and light summer scents, and that one autumnal outlier.
Starting with the Fall favourite, Corvin’s Apple Fest is a scent I chose so I could layer it with another Solstice fragrance I own, Vanilla Pipe Tobacco. By itself, Vanilla Pipe Tobacco is a sweet and sticky herbal fragrance – heady, like steamy night air rising from a sun-warmed cornfield. I bought it because my grandfather smoked a pipe, and he always smelled a bit like the pouches of pipe tobacco he kept rolled up in the pockets of his Arnold Palmers. Being a farmer, he also often smelled like sweet corn.
But my grandfather smoked highly aromatic cherry tobacco, and what Vanilla Pipe Tobacco was missing was the tart and tangy element only a touch of fruit could provide. So I picked up Corvin’s Apple Fest with the hopes that it would be lovely both on its own and as a blender, and indeed, it’s both of those things. This is a really beautiful apple fragrance – fresh and sweet and juicy, with the barest hint of something tarty, cobbler-y or crisp-y. A great season-jumping addition to my fragrance collection.
An unexpected favourite was Lemon Ginger Creams, a tart and tangy hit of lightly-spiced citrus. This smells exactly like a lemon-glazed gingersnap, if there is such a thing, and if there isn’t, there should be one now! Like, right here with me right now, on a plate, waiting to be eaten.
A more traditional pick for my scent palette was Chantilly Cream, a sumptuous blend of fuzzy peaches, juicy mandarins, lightly-spiced vanilla and whipped cream. This is a gorgeous gourmand fragrance that effortlessly tows the line between lip-smacking dessert and sweet scent, a lovely choice for those not spun by anything with “cake” in its title. Ooh, I love this fragrance – soft and mild and sweet, perfect for those sultry summer evenings.
And finally – as according to the tenants of Beauty Retail Law, there must be at least one per order – we come to the fragrance I am the least jazzed about, Blossom Jam Tea Cakes. Oh, how I wanted to love this scent! It was the first one into my basket, and I also seriously debated picking up a burnishing glace in the same fragrance. But as always, I’m glad I ultimately held off, as there’s just a little something here in this lilac-tinged, lemon tea-and-cake blend that, to my nose, errs awfully close to something approaching powdery baby wipes.
Oddly, though, I don’t dislike this scent. In fact, I find myself returning to my wrists to sniff it time and time again, marveling with each pull at the ever-changing kaleidoscope of fruity, floral and barely bakery notes. It’s kind of delicious, and in hindsight, I might sort of love it. I clearly have some conflicted feelings on the subject of this perfume.
But given that I’m so deeply undecided on Blossom Jam Tea Cakes, I’m going to take Solstice’s fragrance-testing advice and tuck it away for a bit, see how its scent develops in a few months’ time. Provided I don’t, you know, drain the bottle this summer taking undecided whiffs off my wrists (reminder to self: don’t do this in public, it’s weird!)
Once again, just a beautiful, beautiful order from Solstice Scents. It wasn’t my first and it shan’t be my last. Shan’t! I’m just so impressed with their scent offerings and presentation, and their customer service is second to none. A very happy – and deliciously-scented – camper, indeed.
Finger Candy 