Midsummer
The longest day of the year for the northern hemisphere and celebrated by many cultures. It is also the last hoorah before the days begin to shorten and all life prepares for a long winter nap. This Midsummer scent is a five-fold tribute to the summer sun and its warm, radiant being. Chamomile, cinnamon, white tea, tangerine and citron.

Midsummer’s Eve
With the Sun long and high in the sky on this day, even at dusk the garden is still warm and fragrant from the summer flowers and blooms. A bed of grass, fuzzy yellow mimosa, wild tiger lilies and marguerites popping up in banks and along barn sides, bee-adored honeysuckle and the wafting of strawberries as they begin to ripen.

PB&J
For fun! Peanut butter, jelly and white bread. (But what jelly you ask? Well, depends on what is on the shelf in the pantry! It could be strawberry, could be grape, could be peach or maybe something a little untraditional such as red currant! The jelly variations will be a suprise!)

The Return of the Meow Benefit Scents
(Please note that these are the oils only. They do not come with the photo or catnip pillows.)

Catnip
My interpretation of felines’ favorite “narcotic” of choice: catnip! This version of the rampant garden herb is cleaner, greener, creamier and a wee bit less earthy. Very lovely!

Miou Miou
Cats are absolutely one of the coziest animals ever! The some how always seem to find the most comfortable and warmest place around even if that means the cushiest spot is another cat or your belly. Inspired by cats’ comfy-cushy-spot-locating super power, this is the ultimate hot cocoa scent. Three different chocolates, whole milk, some heavy cream added for richness, sugar and gently spiced with clove.

Purr
It is so easy to see why we humans have revered cats and even worshipped them. And it’s also easy to see why some individuals become “crazy cat ladies” or “hoarders.” Why wouldn’t you want to be surrounded by such creatures that seem to be as old as the sun or moon and who will slink and curl around you radiating feelings beyond expression? Seriously, I just can’t trust or grasp people who don’t like cats! (Or chocolate for that matter, but that’s another issue.) Purr is that timeless and opulent quality of cats. Sandalwood, cognac, black currant and fig.

The Summer limited edition fragrances will be available until the end of August or so.


Current menu of house fragrances as of June 2008

Antebellum
Why I do declare! ‘Tis a mighty warm evening’ sittin’ here on the porch! A hot summer southern evening thick with fragrant perfume. Ripe round tree fruits and blossoms, creeping honeysuckle, careless wisteria and lilac.

Apparition
A ghostly feminine presence. Chilling rustles of silk and petticoats wafting a faint breath of slightly sweetened florals of a well-traveled lady. Her scent is as mysterious as her veiled presence.

At Denny’s After Rocky
The usual food trip after the RHPS brings a group of all sorts: some Goths, some SCA-ers and Gamers, the really odd old guy who still might live in his mom’s basement and that really hot guy you’re too shy to talk to. The selection of meals ordered was just as bizarre as the people, but one favorite was blueberry pancakes with blueberry syrup and maple syrup!

Bardot
In honor of the brassy French actress, now fervent animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot. In addition to always having great hair, Mme. Bardot has been an extremely important figure behind the legislation that has instituted laws for more humane treatment of animals that are destined for human consuption in France. A deep, vigorous and mature fragrance. Cassia, bitter dark cacao, riz de Basmati, honey, patchouli and pink peppercorn.

Belle Cavaliere
A ride through an English garden. Light and airy florals with leather.

Bisou
Crème de Cassis, crème brulèe, vanilla bean and brown sugar. This is a bit hard to resist.

Buche de Noel
A traditional French desert for le Reveillon de Noel. Insanely decadent and delicious! Hazelnuts, Grand Marnier, genoise, vanille and chocolate.

Bonne Nuit
A soft gentle bedtime scent. Powdered blossoms, spun sugar, lavender and a kiss of vanilla.

Broomstick
Sweet summer apricots, crisp early fall red apples, moist spice cake, clove and brown sugar. Just some of the things any good witch will have in her pantry!

Cafe Zazou
Incredible dark and smooth French roast coffee with whole milk and two sugar cubes, a piece of dark chocolate and a petit gateau sec au marrons. Café Zazou is the perfect response for a little afternoon rest in between visiting Monmartre and Le Centre Pompidou.

Cavity Creeps
Your teeth will ache just smelling this one! Bakery sweets galore: chocolate chip cookies, ice cream and sugar sweetened oatmeal spice bars.

Citrouille
Pumpkin, complementing spices, creams and fresh autumn apple.

Country Bumpkin
A bouquet of peonies, the warm scent of rolled oats and a can of orange pop.

Cutie Patootie
Watermelon, pineapple, pear, lemon and sweet orange all mooshed together to make an ultimate sweet candy scent!

Delicieuse
Thick and sultry honey and vanilla with a sassy kiss of peppermint.

Devonshire Cottage
A quaint stone farm house with a view of the wild ponies. A bountiful bouquet of herbs from the garden, creeping ivy, and a gentle base of clotted cream, sugar and condensed milk.

Eiffel Tower
Amber, fig, peach, caramel and oak moss blended to create a very chic, glamorous and elegant scent preferably while wearing heels.

Festival of Light
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha-olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu l'hadlik neir (shel) chanukah. ("Praised are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the Hanukkah lights.") To honor my husband’s family’s tradition, I wanted to create a Hanukkah scent. This is my favorite Jewish holiday, not for the eight days of gift-giving, but because I enjoy lighting the candles on the menorah each night so much! I created a warm, glowing, ‘golden-orange’ blend with amber, tangerine, honey and a touch of vanilla.

Frida
Red wines sweetened with fruits and a branch of mimosa to tuck behind your ear.

Garden Hoe
With dirty knees and finger nails, sun burnt shoulders and nose you’re just happy to be outside in your garden! Tomato leaf, green bean vines, lettuce and a bit of earthiness for nourishment. No pesticides included.

Hubba Hubba
Hot damn! Whoohoo! Wink, wink. How the heck do you type “sexy whistle?!” A wonderfully sassy and sexy scent. Effervescent ginger ale, mouth puckering cinnamon red hots, black tea and a cheeky sweet muffin!

Happy Birthday
Chocolate cupcakes with vanilla frosting and vanilla cupcakes with chocolate frosting! Great little scent to offer as a birthday gift to a friend. If specified and time allows, the bottle's label may be personalized.

I had a Pony
Fresh and crisp apples, carrots, sweet feed and a flake of hay.

Josephine
My little tribute to the fabulous Josephine Baker and her banana skirt. bananas, French vanilla (mais oui!), giant yellow sunflowers and exotic spice.

Killing Time in Taipei
Not quite cold enough, but better than nothing iced tea with a plate of strange, other-worldy fruit.

L’Shana Tova
May your have a sweet new year! Apples and honey.

Les Ecailles
Green, leafy, and gender-neutral. Basil, fresh ginger, green tea, stephanotis and cucumber.

Les Madeleines
 Really, these should be France’s national “goûter” cake. Madeleines are little vanilla cakes infused with orange blossom water. They are baked in a special pan that forms them in the shape of little shells. My husband fell in love with them when I took him to visit my family in Brittany.

Luna Moth
Giant, nighttime butterfly in all her iridescent and ethereal beauty against a full moon’s glow. Luminescent whites and the palest green shimmer. Bamboo, lettuce, a white trio of tea, ginger and musk plus a sliver of lime.

Peau
Sun-kissed, fruit-kissed and earth-kissed skin. Mango, ginger, aloe, noix de coco and papaya.

Printemps
Cheerful, crisp and sweet. Unusual tropical fruits such as star fruit, commonly delicious raspberry and fresh cucumber.

Ruffles, Bustles & Corsets
A gathering of ladies for an afternoon tea. White orchids, sprigs of lavender and petite vanilla butter cream frosted lemon pastries.

Said the Spider to the Fly
A lovely unsuspecting scent. Gardenia, apple blossom, aloe, and China musk.

Schicksappeal
Oy vey, what she’s got that we don’t?! Schicksa-appeal, baby! A sparkling, bright, clean and just-ever-so-slightly unorthodox blend of green tea, wisteria, ginger ale, sweet grass and a paper thin slice of kiwi.

Scurvy Girl
Arr! This wench be no victim to ye sea vermin o’scurvy! At the last isle the crew set foot upon, she gathered up 7 varieties of citrus fruits with her skirt to hold ‘em all in and didn’t share a single one with any o’ them sea dogs she bloody has to sail with on the bloomin’ brine-crusted raft they call a ship. Ship, me arse!

Second Cousin
This family likes to be extra close! Watermelon, honeysuckle and sweet, irresistible vanilla cream.

Soleil
A light, fresh sunshine scent with peach blossom, tangerine and sunflower.

Star Light, Star Bright
A bouquet of white scents. Milk, cala lily, noix de coco, chamomile flowers and white angel food cupcakes.


Totally Mental, The Series
If your therapist moves out of town or you run out of sessions for the year with your insurance provider or you can’t find a therapist that’s better than talking to a potato, here’s a possible treatment option for your woes! Please note: these scents are meant in good spirit. The creatrice of these scents has spent many years in therapy herself!


La Thailandaise
Lemongrass tempered with luscious lilac.

Translucent
Clear, clean and transparent. White musk, white tea, Lily of the Valley, an  inkling of cucumber and an even slighter inkling of raspberry and lemon.

Unlikely
Moonflower, cucumber, lily asiatique, fig and wisteria. Gentle and fresh.

White Pumpkin
The ghostly vegetable in your garden! Pumpkin with white tea and coconut.

Yellow Kimono
Bright and fresh. Tea, yuzu, pink grapefruit, lemon and a wee bit of pineapple.

The Zodiac Club
I absolutely loved the Zodiac Club in the movie “Bell, Book and Candle.” My husband and I said if we ever opened up our own club, that’s what it would be called. So in honor of the bar we probably won’t ever open, I’ve created this scent. A melange of the esoteric and bohemian: ginger, peppercorn, a backdrop of smoke and sweetened clove cigarettes.

Empress Ming Li Zho’s Sparkling Infusion for Happy Brightness
In a former life as a Zen monk some good 528 years ago or more, I lived in a very, very small region of China. It was a very lush and peaceful place that had a very, very dainty Empress to govern the land, which as I mentioned was very, very small and did not extend beyond the two mountains that cradled the valley of the region. Empress Ming Li Zho was an only child and her parents passed away when she was very young. Although she was raised by kind hearted people of the court, Empress Ming Li Zho missed her parents dearly and named a pair of red pandas after them. As she grew up, but not very much since she was very, very dainty and hence quite petite in size, she paid particular attention to other children who had also lost their parents (or other beloved things) and were having a difficult time smiling or knowing joy. She inquired with some local healers who sent her to the nearly coo-coo old man who did not live in a cave, but in a hole in the ground, who then sent her to talk to the yellow birds in the blue trees who, in turn, chirped a little song about happiness. The Empress translated a recipe from this song. It was the Sparkling Infusion for Happy Brightness. She shared it freely with all and sometimes used it herself on days when she felt she could use a little cheering up: a blend of two gingers, a few pressed leaves of mint and a very, very small piece of crushed lemongrass.

Frau Von Schtinklestein’s Partially Completed Barvarian Love Essence
Yes, it is true that Frau Von Schtinklestein never finished completing this recipe due to her unexpected passing with a bout of scurvy that her husband brought home with him after his long trip on the cold dark Arctic waters searching for the elusive Long-Haired Snowy Whale. In fact, she was creating this Love Essence as a means to keep him closer to home, instead of on the high seas that would hold on to him and his ship for months, sometimes years, at a time. While she did very much enjoy having the stone manor for herself, she found she would also be fraught with anxiety on odd numbered days with no one to tell her jokes to. Her three Guernsey cows never said much, but to chew their cud and the daisies in the garden. A young niece came across Mrs. Von Schtinklestein’s notes and decided to make this oil available anyway. Even if it worked halfway, it was better than not at all! A dessert lovingly made for two: pears poached in vanilla and then caramelized in brown sugar.

Lady Poppycock’s Peculiar Tincture of Questionable Origins
The origin of this oil is a long mystery filled with doubts to its beginnings and how the exact recipe came about. However, it claims to bring bright cheer and the tiniest swell of good luck to the wearer as well as to those who treat the wearer kindly. It is important to note that the wearer of Lady Poppycock’s Peculiar Tincture of Questionable Origins may find herself with kittens following her right up to the doorstep of her home and into the parlor for company and bits of greenery, so it is recommended that the wearer have at least one sprig of catnip at home at all times. Lemongrass, bubblegum, Lily of the Valley and exactly two point three hundred and eighty-two raspberries.

Madame Pompidou’s Elixir Secret pour les Malaises et Crises du Coeur
Passed on to me by my great, great grandmother whom I have never met, Madame Soupiron, this recipe was perfected by the grand Madame Pompidou in 1762. Although believed by the world and French men to be only available to very high class French ladies, in fact all French women have been using this not so secret (to French women, that is) elixir for ages, even prior to the perfected formulation by Mme. Pompidou. This oil is used for any sort of woes of the heart or spirit such as results from tripping in public places, bouchers who sell you the wrong cut of meat, mail that is damaged by the mice in your courier box, any day that ends by being qualifiably described as en merdant, being jilted by a so-called friend or lover or simply getting a hole in one’s stockings or breaking the laces in your corset. Chocolate, mousse au chocolat, various friandises au chocolat and any singular or mix of cordials or liquers remaining in the cabinet in the pantry that you have not already finished off. This fabuleux cure-all will brush all your malaises and crises away!

Mrs. Mary Picklelee’s Uproarious Bottled Bouquet For the Bitter and Bored Widow
(Also equally suited for the bland and sullen old maid.)
Mrs. Picklee began enjoying life very late. Often the term “Merry Widow” would be applied to her despite no one really knowing just what type of undergarments she wore. It simply took Mrs. Picklee a long time to come into her own. In fact, it took her 78 years and two days. At midnight on the second day after her 78th birthday, she sat upright in bed as if a very, very, very fat cat had jumped from the top of the bookshelf next to her bed, right straight down on to Mrs. Picklee’s stomach. That didn’t happen, but that’s how suddenly she woke up. When she did she, she suddenly thought about how cranky and bitter she had become by having spent her entire life (so far) taking care of everyone but herself. Now that her husband was dead and she had no children or family members to tend to, it was high time to start having an uproariously good time. It had to be uproarious since she had a lot of catching up to do good time-wise. Mrs. Picklee’s bottled bouquet is an effervescent and bright blend of red currant, lemon verbena, pear and moonflower.