Thursday, May 5, 2011

(Closed) Celebrate Mother's Day ~ Esscentual Alchemy Review and Giveaway Ends 5/14 {Extended!}

Every woman loves a beautiful perfume, right? Do you really know what's in your favorite fragrance? If we really knew what all the toxic chemicals were that we use everyday on our skin, I think we'd probably think twice. Well, I'm excited to introduce you to Esscentual Alchemy! Using only safe, raw perfumery materials and NO synthetics, chemicals, or preservatives, these handmade botanical perfumes are a natural alternative for every woman!

My botanical natural perfumes are made by blending pure essential oils and absolutes (derived from plants, flowers and resins, not synthetic fragrance oils) in a base of alcohol or jojoba. My ingredients are locally sourced from plantations that are organic, sustainable or wild, whenever possible.

Synthetic fragrances use chemicals and petroleum byproducts. Companies are not required by law, to list their components. They only appear on labels as ‘parfum’ or ‘fragrance’. There are no long term studies done on these compounds regarding the safety and effect of these chemicals on our bodies. Recently I learned that in the 1970’s, a synthetic musk was developed, and heavily used in main stream perfumes, which after a period of time, was discontinued due to photo-toxicity and neuro-toxicity issues, and the lack of breakdown in the environment. Who’s the test subject for safety? Human beings.

-Artisan Absinthe Dragonfly (Amanda)

Amanda uses detailed descriptions and photos to help convey each scent she creates. I found this to be extremely helpful in learning about each scent before choosing the ones I wished to try. Looking at them again after I received my samples, I found they were spot on and completely described what I was smelling! Here are my first thoughts on the 6 scents I sampled...

Orange Chocolate Roses - A warm, spicy orange surrounded by a floral chocolate mix.

The Delicate Ones - Reminds me of the creamy French-milled bar soap you find in hotel bathrooms but with a more floral scent.


Fleurs - An old fashioned vintage floral scent.


Gourmand Delight - Vanilla, chocolate, and fruity sweet aroma. A tiny bit of mint and floral undertones.


Brass and Bulldog - A spicy cinnamon stick with a bold, masculine character. Very "brassy" as the name suggests.


For the Love of Bees - A sweet honey with a waxy undertone. A light aroma overall.

Just taking a whiff out of each vial does not do them justice at all! I had to actually apply each scent to a piece of paper to get an accurate feel for each one. My favorite scents were For the Love of Bees, and Orange Chocolate Roses. I also enjoyed Brass and Bulldog for a "manly" scent. They were all very different, but I could tell the same artisan created them. Amanda has a very unique variety of scents, and you will enjoy trying them for sure!

Price: The Botanical Perfume Sample 6 Pack is $25.

The Verdict: Amanda at Esscentual Alchemy clearly takes great pride in her meticulous work in creating botanical perfumes. I'm impressed with what she creates and I love that I'm not adding toxic chemicals to my skin with her perfumes. The price is quite high for a full bottle of her perfumes, but then again we probably don't fully know the actual process, cost, and time involved in creating just one handmade-from-scratch, safe perfume!


Buy It!
Check out the entire selection of botanical perfumes at Esscentual Alchemy online.

Win It!
One winner receive a Botanical Perfume Sample 6 Pack of their own! Winner's choice! (ARV $25)


Rules:
-Leave 1 comment per entry
-Include your email address in each entry
-For complete giveaway rules and help entering, please click HERE


To Enter:

Mandatory Entry: (must be done first)

-Tell me what perfume you would love to try from Esscentual Alchemy! (1 entry)

Extra Entries:

-Follow The Reynolds Mom on GFC (1 entry)

-"Like" me on Facebook (1 entry)

-"Like" Esscentual Alchemy on Facebook (1 entry)

-Follow me on Twitter (1 entry)

-Follow Esscentual Alchemy on Twitter (1 entry)

-Tweet the following up to 2 times/day, at least one hour apart please. Please leave the URL of your tweets in separate entries.
#Win a #free Botanical Perfume Sample 6 Pack from Esscentual Alchemy @TheReynoldsMom #Giveaway #natural Ends 5/14 http://tinyurl.com/3fqntfb (1 entry/tweet)

-Subscribe to my blog by email (2 entries) or RSS feed (1 entry)

-Post my button or post about this giveaway on your blog using at least 4 sentences. Please leave a link to your post (2 entries each)

-Make a purchase at Esscentual Alchemy during this giveaway! (10 entries)



Thanks for entering and good luck!


Open to US residents only. This giveaway will end on May 13, 2011 at 10pm PST. Extended! Ends 5/14 Winner will be chosen by Random.org, emailed, and announced on my blog shortly after giveaway ends. The winner has 48 hours to respond to my email or I reserve the right to declare a new winner.

Disclosure: I received the above mentioned product(s) to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received. This is my completely honest opinion above and may be different from yours.

110 comments:

Joy N. said...

lime in the coconut sounds great!
newlanjoyatgmaildotcom

Joy N. said...

follow via gfc
newlanjoyatgmaildotcom

Joy N. said...

subscribe via email
newlanjoyatgmaildotcom

eclairre said...

lime in the coconut sounds sweet!

aperry said...

I'd like Blushing Beauty
missanneperry at gmail.com

aperry said...

I -Follow The Reynolds Mom on GFC
a perry
missanneperry at gmail.com

aperry said...

I Follow you on Twitter @aeperry
missanneperry at gmail.com

aperry said...

I "Like" Esscentual Alchemy on Facebook Anne E, Perry
missanneperry at gmail.com

aperry said...

I "Like" you on Facebook
Anne E, Perry
missanneperry at gmail.com

aperry said...

tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/aeperry/status/66229904559181824
missanneperry at gmail.com

Ginger@gingersnapcrafts.com said...

I'm not sure which one I'd pick. :)

I'm Ginger from over on Ginger Snaps..I'm going to be one of the sponsors for your Made with Love event. I'm so excited. Thought I'd drop by & say hi. :)

I'm following now.

Ginger
gingersnapcrafts.blogspot.com

aperry said...

button on blog
http://modernhippy-aperry.blogspot.com/

missanneperry at gmail.com

Becca said...

i would like to try the vanilla citron
beccascott0312@gmail.com

Becca said...

i follow on GFC as becca scott
beccascott0312@gmail.com

Becca said...

AAF of Reynold's Mom on FB as becca scott
beccascott0312@gmail.com

Becca said...

i like esscentual alchemy on FB as becca scott
beccascott0312@gmail.com

Becca said...

i subscribe to your blog via email #1
beccascott0312@gmail.com

Becca said...

i subscribe to your blog via email #2
beccascott0312@gmail.com

aperry said...

tweet2
http://twitter.com/#!/aeperry/status/66291617631440896
missanneperry at gmail.com

cupcake mama said...

Blue Lemonade!!!!! Wow...I would pick that for all six!
mmjohnson555@gmail.com

cupcake mama said...

I follow Reynolds via GFC
mmjohnson555@gmail.com

cupcake mama said...

I like Reynolds Mom on FB
mmjohnson555@gmail.com

cupcake mama said...

I liked Esscentual Alchemy on FB
mmjohnson555@gmail.com

cupcake mama said...

I subscribe to emails. Entry #1.
mmjohnson555@gmail.com

cupcake mama said...

I subscribe to emails. Entry #2.
mmjohnson555@gmail.com

aperry said...

tweet1
http://twitter.com/#!/aeperry/status/66575884592758784
missanneperry at gmail.com

♡♥♬ Raven In A Blue Room ♬♥♡ said...

I love the Blue Lemonade Botanical Perfume

Thank you for hosting this giveaway

Louis
schnitzomage {at} gmail {dot} com

♡♥♬ Raven In A Blue Room ♬♥♡ said...

Google Friends Connect - following your blog publicly as Louis

schnitzomage {at} gmail {dot} com

♡♥♬ Raven In A Blue Room ♬♥♡ said...

I like Esscentual Alchemy on facebook (Louis Here)

schnitzomage {at} gmail {dot} com

♡♥♬ Raven In A Blue Room ♬♥♡ said...

following you on twitter @left_the_stars

schnitzomage {at} gmail {dot} com

♡♥♬ Raven In A Blue Room ♬♥♡ said...

following @Absinthe_Dragon on twitter @left_the_stars

schnitzomage {at} gmail {dot} com

♡♥♬ Raven In A Blue Room ♬♥♡ said...

I tweeted your giveaway

schnitzomage {at} gmail {dot} com

Maude Lynn said...

I'd love to try the Little Black Dress!

kelli at pfrog dot net

Jessi Gonzalez said...

I'd love to have Blushing Beauty!
lovemyhnk@yahoo.com

Jessi Gonzalez said...

GFC follower~jdm2551
lovemyhnk@yahoo.com

Jessi Gonzalez said...

Like you on FB~Fluffy Bums
lovemyhnk@yahoo.com

Jessi Gonzalez said...

Like Esscentual Alchemy on FB
Fluffy Bums
lovemyhnk@yahoo.com

Jessi Gonzalez said...

Follow Esscentual Alchemy on twitter as @jdm2551
lovemyhnk@yahoo.com

Jessi Gonzalez said...

Email subscriber~lovemyhnk@yahoo.com
#1

Jessi Gonzalez said...

Email subscriber~lovemyhnk@yahoo.com
#2

Jessi Gonzalez said...

tweet~http://twitter.com/#!/jdm2551/status/67675297281089536
lovemyhnk@yahoo.com

aperry said...

tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/aeperry/status/67691789603184640
missanneperry at gmail.com

aperry said...

tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/aeperry/status/68006544293363712
missanneperry at gmail.com

carole said...

like blushing beauty

carole said...

follow u on twitter (gram122)

carole said...

email subscriber #1

Mel said...

"Like" Esscentual Alchemy on Facebook (Melanie Morin)
meltheplux at gmail dot com

Mel said...

email subscriber #1
meltheplux at gmail dot com

Mel said...

GFC follower (melanie morin)
meltheplux at gmail dot com

Mel said...

I'd love to try vanilla citron
meltheplux at gmail dot com

Mel said...

email subscriber #2
meltheplux at gmail dot com

Mel said...

Like you on FB (melanie morin)
meltheplux at gmail dot com

aperry said...

tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/aeperry/status/68493499267432448
missanneperry at gmail.com

Kristie said...

I would love to try Blushing Beauty. kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.

Kristie said...

Follow you on Twitter. kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.

Kristie said...

Follow on GFC. kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.

Kristie said...

Like you on Facebook. kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.

Kristie said...

Follow Essentual Alchemy on Twitter. kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.

Kristie said...

Like Essentual Alchemy on Facebook. kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.

kmogilevski said...

Fave: For the Love of Bees
allnaturalkatie at gmail dot com

kmogilevski said...

Follow sponsor on Twitter (allnaturalkatie)
allnaturalkatie at gmail dot com

kmogilevski said...

Tweeted (http://twitter.com/#!/allnaturalkatie/status/69092627835912194)
allnaturalkatie at gmail dot com

kmogilevski said...

Subscribe to your email with kmogilevski at HOTMAIL - 1
allnaturalkatie at gmail dot com

Jena said...

Blushing beauty sounds great!
jenakaye(at)gmail(dot)com

Jena said...

I follow you via GFC
jenakaye(at)gmail(dot)com

Jena said...

I like you on FB
jenakaye(at)gmail(dot)com

Jena said...

I like esscentual alchemy on FB
jenakaye(at)gmail(dot)com

Jena said...

I follow EA on twitter (@suhodgepodge)
jenakaye(at)gmail(dot)com

Jena said...

I tweeted about the giveaway! (@suhodgepodge)
jenakaye(at)gmail(dot)com

Anja M. said...

Chocolate Hazelnut Twist sounds good.

anjathisandthat at yahoo dot com

Anja M. said...

I like Esscentual Alchemy on Facebook. (Anja M. Anjathisandthat).

anjathisandthat at yahoo dot com

Anja M. said...

I follow Esscentual Alchemy on Twitter. (@anjathisandthat)

anjathisandthat at yahoo dot com

Anja M. said...

I subscribed to your emails.

anjathisandthat at yahoo dot com

Anja M. said...

I subscribed to your emails. #2

anjathisandthat at yahoo dot com

Anja M. said...

I subscribed to your RSS feed via Google Reader.

anjathisandthat at yahoo dot com

Erin S said...

Fleurs sounds nice! erinnsluka@gmail.com

Erin S said...

GFC: esluka
erinnsluka@gmail.com

Erin S said...

Essecntual Alchemy FB follower @ erinn arena Sluka erinnsluka@gmail.com

Erin S said...

Twitter follower @3sonshavei erinnsluka@gmail.com

Erin S said...

EA Twitter follower @3sonshavei erinnsluka@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I'd love to try Kama
ohmiss14 at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

I'm a GFC follower
ohmiss14 at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

I like Esscentual Alchemy on FB
ohmiss14 at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

I follow you on Twitter
amccrenshaw
ohmiss14 at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

I follow Esscentual Alchemy on Twitter
amccrenshaw
ohmiss14 at yahoo dot com

kpintn said...

What interesting names and scents!
I would like to smell "For The Love of Bees"
Karen Dorris
kpintn/at/hotmail/dot/com

kpintn said...

Follow you blog via GFC
kpintn
Karen Dorris
kpintn/at/hotmail/dot/com

kpintn said...

Follow Essential Alchemy on FB
Karen Dorris
kpintn/at/hotmail/dot/com

kpintn said...

Follow you on FB
Karen Dorris
kpintn/at/hotmail/dot/com

kpintn said...

Subscribe to feed in Google Reader
Karen Dorris
kpintn/at/hotmail/dot/com

Stacy said...

orange chocolate roses
gingeroo616 at aol dot com

Stacy said...

fb fan
oursafehaven

Stacy said...

essentual alchemy fb fan
oursafehaven

Stacy said...

follow you on twitter
@searching4

Dana West Young said...

I would Love to try Little Black Dress! Thanks for the giveaway!
dana10879@yahoo.com

Stacy said...

essentual twitter follower
@searching4

Dana West Young said...

I follow via GFC
Dana West
dana10879@yahoo.com

Dana West Young said...

I like you on FB
Dana West
dana10879@yahoo.com

Dana West Young said...

I like Esscentual Alchemy on FB
Dana West
dana10879@yahoo.com

Dana West Young said...

I follow you on Twitter
@SETexasMama
dana10879@yahoo.com

Dana West Young said...

I follow Esscentual Alchemy on Twitter
@SETexasMama
dana10879@yahoo.com

Dana West Young said...

Tweeted!
dana10879@yahoo.com

http://twitter.com/#!/SETexasMama/status/69201130491613184

Dana West Young said...

I subscribe via google reader
Dana West
dana10879@yahoo.com

Dana West Young said...

I subscribe via email
dana10879@yahoo.com
1

Dana West Young said...

I subscribe via email
dana10879@yahoo.com
2

maryjaco1 said...

I would chose blue lemonade.
mary@cire.com

maryjaco1 said...

I Like" Esscentual Alchemy on Facebook-mary jaco
mary@cire.com

maryjaco1 said...

I like you on FB-mary Jaco

maryjaco1 said...

Email 1/2
mary@cire.com

maryjaco1 said...

Email 2/2
mary@cire.com