Hey Perfume Posse, a couple of years ago I did an Indie Perfumery Gift List and I thought it might be fun to do another Indie Perfumery list this year. So much out there and a lot of it is very reasonably priced. Great gifting for your friends and family who will be thrilled to get something totally unusual and beautiful. I can imagine them bragging right now. What I have done today is give an introduction to each and then used the fragrances copy (in italics). I hope this gives you both my and the perfumers angle.
Most of these wonderful Indie Perfumers also have Gift Certificates so your friends and family can choose their own.
Indie Perfumery Gift List 2015
Photo Stolen Smell Bent
Brent Leonesio of Smell Bent: The 2015 Sample Pack looks fabulous again, Brent is a sexy man and I think he brings something special to Indie Perfumery. Try all 6 of our delightfully festive holiday scents in 4ml travel spray. Dead of Winter (vanilla licorice) Gimel a Break! (woody beeswax) Siberian SheWolf (vanilla ambergris) Werewolf Lumberjack Reclining (robust musk) Winter of Love (old school patchouli) WinterVixen (cocoa hazelnut). Excellent twists on old favourites and only $35 from Smell Bent.
Photo Stolen DSH Perfumes
Dawn Spencer Hurwitz of DSH Perfumes: Noel Enchanté {Enchanted Christmas : Holiday fragrance no.15} comes in a 4oz organic body lotion, doesn’t have to be fragrance to be Indie Perfumery! A rich tuberose floriental chypre. Noel Enchanté starts with a green hit in the topnote as it moves into a tuberose heart. Amber, spices, and a deep oakmoss finish, vintage style, in the drydown. *Definitely a dark take on a white flower and a tuberose that’s great on a man or woman. Noel Enchanté Organic Body lotion 4oz is $18.50, you can add a 3ml deluxe spray for another $18.50, yes $37 for the two. Perfect, from DSH Perfumes.
DSH currently has a coupon code for 20% off with sparkle15
Photo Stolen Olympic Orchids
Ellen Covey of Olympic Orchids: Olympic Orchids Body Balm is the newest thing on the site, looks so enticing and sounds amazing. This 100% natural formula contains shea butter, argan oil, frankincense, and ethically-harvested New Caledonian sandalwood, nothing else. It’s pure, it’s vegan, it’s free of artificial fragrances, preservatives, and additives, and it’s great for a whole host of purposes. It soothes and smooths rough skin, it makes a fantastic makeup base, hair pomade, or lip balm, and it’s just the thing to use to protect your exposed skin if you’re out in the cold doing winter work or sports. 2-ounce translucent cranberry red jar. Only $18 on Olympic Orchids.
Photo Stolen Sonoma Scent Studio
Laurie Erickson of Sonoma Scent Studio: With a great choice of naturals or mixed media Laurie Erickson has a dedicated band of followers. Ireally like her style of Indie Perfumery, it always seems so beautifully smooth. My personal favourite is Tabac Aurea, a gorgeous golden glutinous waft of amber tobacco woods that smells like honey looks. Tabac Aurea has an enticing golden amber drydown and a pipe tobacco note that is enjoyed by women as well as men. It’s smooth and softly gourmand… A 5ml Travel Spray will only set you back $17 at Sonoma Scent Studio
Photo Stolen SOIVOHLE
Liz Zorn of SOIVOHLE: Jasmine Summer is part of the SOIVOHLE Street Collection. It gets quite a bit of wear around here and I’m lucky enough to have Liz Zorn’s painting made in homage to the scent and also called Jasmine Summer. I love that Liz can continue a thriving fine arts life alongside her Indie Perfumery. She is also so freaking lovely. A soft and sensual Jasmine with touch of lime and tropical fruits in the opening, sweet fennel and a hint of muguet in the heart and a dry down of soft vanilla kissed musk. You can grab the 10ml atomiser for only $26 at SOIVOHLE.
Sale on right now at Soivohle – 25% off with the coupon code HOLIDAZE!
Photo Stolen Aftelier
Mandy Aftel for Aftelier: Well Mandy Aftel has done it again, the doyen of Indie Perfumery has hit us with a superb 2015 release. As you may know my all time favourite fragrance is Shalimar. Mandy has re-imagined vanilla with a focus on the smoky and dark heart of the oriental genre, and the tea drinking nomads of the steppes. Imagine if Shalimar had not been born in France but somewhere in Asia. A dry, dense and rasping vanilla that will surprise and delight you with its complexity and nuance. This should be the gift you give yourself for surviving 2015. From $6 – $180 at Aftelier
Photo Stolen LuckyScent
Neela Vermeire at Neela Vermeire Creations: Mohur! I love you. That eye rolling, heart thumping thrill every time I spritz. The magical story and the concentration of highest quality ingredients all curated lovingly by Neela with Bertrand Duchuafour. But the real surprise in Mohur is the subtle “Indian pastry” accord tucked in the petals of its rose garden, with notes of carrot, almond, cardamom and ambrette, lending a tender touch to this majestic composition. If Patou had been Indian, this would have been Joy… LuckyScent has $265/60ml
Photo Stolen Roxana Illuminated Perfume
Roxana at Roxana Illuminated Perfume: Aurora will always remind me of a stunningly languid afternoon spent hanging out with Roxana, her husband Greg (and Tom from Perfume Posse) in their house in California, we chatted, drank matte and sniffed. I get goosebumps remembering. It was like we had found the heart of Indie Perfumerie in the hills around Malibu, heavenly. Aurora solid, natural perfume is an intoxicating golden elixir that is feminine and richly woven. The floral bouquet at the heart of Aurora bridges the amber base with spicy, citrus top notes to produce a carnation inspired fragrance. Roxana’s Illuminated Perfume Etsy site has $35
I hope you enjoyed my Indie Perfumery Gifting list this year. What would you add?
Portia xxx
Hello dear Portia! Thank you ever so much for including me in this line up with my wonderful sisters of scent, what an incredible list. I am have a special gratitude promotion happening right now at my website, 10% off any orders of $25 or more, here is the link:http://illuminatedperfume.com/. The website has a much better range than what’s on Etsy with new items arriving shortly. xo
The secret code to get the discount is THX 🙂
Such an exciting list! Thank you. Will have to try some out
Thank you so much, Portia, for including DSH Perfumes in your indie perfumery list! I’m thrilled to be among these great perfume houses and so pleased to on YOUR list! Happiest Holidays and fragrant hugs to all! oxox
Dawn, you are the sweetest, love your fragrances and will be wearing la Folie de Noel on Christmas Eve to watch the Carols by Candlelight.
Happy Holidays.
Portia xx
Thank you for this list! Literally put samples of most of the gourmand section of DSH into my shopping cart today. Excited to try a few of these other perfume houses. Happy holidays to everyone!!
Hey there CindyB,
Dawn does a stellar line in sweet. I think you’ll be really pleased.
Portia xx
Kindest thanks Portia for including Vanilla Smoke in your stellar selection of indie perfumes for the holidays – I’m honored to be in such fine company! xo Mandy
Mandy, You’re pretty fine company yourself.
Thanks for dropping by and saying hello, it’s always a thrill when you do.
Portia xxx
The vanilla from Mandy really sounds amazingly yummy. I need to dedicate some time to Mandy’s work because I have not had the chance. Slowly working my way through Ellen’s. This US perfumery is a whole different ball game. Bussis.
Heya Cookie Queen,
Yes, the USA seems to have a pechant for excellent indies. I will bring you some Mandy Aftel in Jan.
Portia xx
Yay, Portia! What a great list! I am eyeing several things myself. Thanks so much for putting it together for us.
Hey there Ann,
You’re most welcome.
I hope the things you’re eyeing are the presents under the tree.
Portia xxx
Portia, thank you for posting this! Iv’e been so busy that I haven’t had time to get my holiday gift boxes listed this year, but they’re coming very soon – in fact, my goal is to do some long-deferred updating of my websites over the US Thanksgiving holiday.
-Ellen XXX
Hey Ellen!
WOW! I love it when you drop in.
Give me a yell when the Gift Boxes are up and I’ll tell the world.
Portia xx
I love the list! I have to order from DSH soon. Her Holiday fragrances seem so nice! I have to add to the list Velvet & Sweet Pea. I’m not affiliated, I just love Laurie’s fragrances and I wear them often. Fir-ever Young is perfect for the Holidays!
Fir-ever Young. BEST name ever.
Portia xx
Portia, DSH has a new scent that would be super for winter called The Voices of Trees. She also has a coupon code for 20% off-sparkle15.
OOOH! Sounds lovely, what a sensational name! I’ll put the code in the body of the post. thank you.
Portia xx
And where do I find the ‘Vanilla Smoke,’ Portia is referring to above? I might NEED this. What line?
Hey Starling,
http://www.aftelier.com/ is where you find Vanilla smoke.
Have fun sniffing.
Portia xx
Thank you for the great gift list! I ordered a Bent gift pack sampler!
Hey Starling,
I hope you find a few of Brent’s yummy holiday frags totally float your boat. He’ll be thrilled.
Portia xx
I SO love the sound of Vanilla Smoke, Portia and agree it really should be my present to myself for surviving 2015:)
Tara,
YOU will smell To Die For in Vanilla Smoke. It’s exactly the sultry sex siren that you are.
Portia xx
😀
Love the list, Portia – I’m in full agreement with your choices. I’ve got Jasmine Summer already (and also a bottle of Yin Hao, a lovely jasmine tea scent from an earlier series), several Smell Bent scents, a bottle of SSS Incense Pure, and have really liked the samples I’ve tried from DSH, Neela Vermeire and Olympic Orchids (California Chocolate is yummy).
FYI, there’s a holiday sale on right now at Soivohle – 25% off with the coupon code HOLIDAZE!
To this list, I’d have to add Serena Ava Franco of Ava Luxe – she doesn’t get a lot of press, but her scents are really wonderful, and I’d be desolate if I didn’t have a bottle of No. 23 in my perfume cabinet.
SHIT! I completely forgot Ava Luxe. I love her fragrances too.
Thanks for the reminder!
Portia xxx