I’m a fragrance fanatic, and I’m always on the lookout for the next scent that I can add to my stash. Though I occasionally like mainstream scents, I am more often than not intrigued by the unusual including scents made by independent perfumers. A year ago or so, Alkemia Perfume Oil came up probably as a sponsored post on my Facebook feed which makes sense because I’m part of a couple of FB fragrance lovers groups. I like perfume oil because they tend to be longer lasting on my skin that a spray perfume.
I’ve been stalking Alkemia’s Facebook page as well as their Etsy store for quite a while. I am completely taken in by the gorgeous paintings, painting details and illustrations that accompany each of their many perfume oils.
They also include aphorisms and sayings that refer to perfume packaged along with their scents.
I read on the informative fragrance website Fragrantica that Alkemia has 55 scents. Whatever the exact number, Alkemia has a lot to choose from. Some of the scents are limited editions, and some are constants.
Just before Christmas, Alkemia had a promotion where they offered free shipping for purchases over $15. I finally had my chance. There were a few scents I wanted to try. Alkemia samples cost $3-5 each, and it seemed crazy to pay more for shipping than for the samples. I decided on a small 5ml amber bottle of Conjure ($12) and a sample ($3) of The Academy of Pleasure.
Conjure
Alkemia’s heady description of Conjure immediately got to me: “Based on an old hoodoo formula for Come to Me oil used to call and compel love and sexual attraction. An erotic, exotic blend of amber aged with Bourbon vanilla pods, Ceylon cinnamon infused flirtatious aldehydes, Bulgarian roses, rose geranium and vetivert roots, copper distilled patchouli, and a scattering of incense resins.”
I love vanilla, cinnamon, and patchouli for starters, and who could pass up “an old hoodoo formula for Come to Me oil”???
The reviews of this scent are very positive. For me, Conjure is nice, but not quite what I expected. I can definitely smell the incense resins and the dark amber and patchouli. But not so much the Bourbon vanilla and cinnamon, and I’m missing them. It has a sharpness to it that I don’t love and didn’t expect because of the vanilla.
I’ve tried wearing Conjure a few times, and it doesn’t really take hold on my skin though many reviewers mention its sillage and long-lastingness. I’ll give it a go a few more times. Fortunately, it’s a small bottle so I won’t lose much if it doesn’t work out.
The Academy of Pleasure
Now, this one is the winner for me! I love it and it loves me back 😛
Again here’s Alkemia’s description of The Academy of Pleasure: “Secrets from the private rooms of an exquisitely debauched gentleman. An indecent proposal of red and golden ambers infused with a bottle of fine cognac liqueur, a suede waistcoat hurriedly abandoned on an antique chair, a haphazard tangle of bergamot scented linen sheets, cardamon-hashish coffee, and a cedar lined cigar humidor.” Wow, you sure can have a good time in Alkemia-land!
The Academy of Pleasure is a gender-neutral scent, which is probably one of the reasons I like it so much. I can definitely smell the ambers, suede and bergamot. I also think it has a soapy note that I find appealing as well as unique. It reminds me a bit of the expensive, dry, exotic cult favorite L’Air du Desert Marocain by Tauer, but I find The Academy of Pleasure is more wearable for me. This scent gets raves from reviewers on the Alkemia Etsy shop site. I intend to spring for the $12 5ml bottle.
More About Alkemia
I go in for the gender-neutral, heavy oriental fragrances, and most of you, I imagine, do not. But never fear, Alkemia Perfume Oil has lots of florals, fruits, ocean scents, chypres, vanillas, musks, and other fragrance types in their extensive lineup.
Here’s some more info about the company and their fragrances from their Etsy shop:
“Our highly concentrated perfume oils are diverse and designed to conjure a spectrum of emotion and elusive memory. We have perfumes that evoke 1968 Haight Asbury; perfumes worn by 19th century courteseans to attract customers; perfumes based on natural elements like stones, moss, ocean water, and thunderstorms; vanillas that range from sweetly innocent to diabolically dirty; and more.
Alkemia perfume oils are phthalate and paraben free. They are blends of natural essences and safe synthetics and contain no chemical fillers, by-products, or other nastiness.”
Although an indie brand, Alkemia Perfume has also been featured in InStyle Magazine and Everyday with Rachael Ray, and it’s a favorite of Salma Hayek. And now me too!
If you’re a fragrance lover and especially a perfume oil lover, you must check out Alkemia’s Facebook page and Etsy shop. I don’t have any relationship with them, but I think you’d enjoy even looking at the paintings and illustrations and reading their fun descriptions. I wish that Alkemia, located in Amherst MA in the western part of my state, had a storefront so I could go and check out all of their scents in person. But I guess I’ll just try a few more samples.
Have you purchased from Alkemia? Do you like perfume oil?
What an interesting company. The Academy of Pleasure sounds like a really lovely scent!!! I love that they are using paintings to help set the tone for their fragrances!
Lola Seicento recently posted…Juice Beauty Launches USDA Organic Treatment Oil: Receive Yours Free with ANY $125.00 Purchase
It’s a very well done brand. I think you’d enjoy visiting their Etsy shop, Helen. The art work is wonderful, and their scent description are unparalleled IMO.
Their marketing descriptions of the products are interesting and fun. These would make perfect gifts for Valentine’s Day.
yes yes yes, I must add that, Stacie! I keep forgetting that Vday is just around the corner!
Thank you for introducing us to this perfumer! These oils would make an interesting and thoughtful Valentines gift for the right perfume lover!
Judy recently posted…defy & INSPIRE Rock of Love
Yes, Judy, now why didn’t I think of that?! Revision is in order 🙂
I like amber but I’m not a fan of patchouli. Happy to see your thoughts!
Phyrra recently posted…2016 Favorite Beauty Products
I’m probably the complete opposite of you in fragrance style but I am a fragrance lover so I will definitely check out the company.
Cindy (Prime Beauty) recently posted…How To Keep Winter Skin Moisturized On a Budget!
Yes, but they have such variety in scent styles that I know you might find quite a few that could tempt you
If I wore fragrance I’d love the idea of buying those small jars and samples. You never know how something is going to react with your skin chemistry.
MarciaF recently posted…Jesse’s Girl Matte Finish Lip Color in Angelic
I feel the same way. Even the “month” supply sprays from Scentbird are often too big if I don’t like the scent. These are perfect though the packaging isn’t fancy.
It’s nice that they have sample fragrance because I am picky too when it comes to fragrance. I don’t like to smell like everyone does. I have to look into this brand
Although this brand doesn’t have fancy packaging, its fragrances really are unique. I love that too
Thank you for sharing this perfumer with us. I need to go check them out and see what they have in my preferred notes.
Erika recently posted…Affordable Beauty Treat – ColourPop Mile High Super Shock Eye Shadow Collection
While their packaging ain’t much, their creativity is quite wonderful. I think you’d have fun browsing their floral offerings
I’m going to check them out to see what florals they offer!
Babi recently posted…Take A New Look At AVON This New Year!
It’s such a fun Etsy shop to browse, and I know they have lots of florals
I am all about gender neutral scents! I think there’s something so chic about fragrances that combine traditionally feminine and masculine notes. I just added two more unisex fragrances to my collection 🙂
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Eager to find out which gender-neutral scents you’ve been buying lately!