Down the Indie Rabbit Hole

Shop deals on ebay
Current body
shop deals on amazon
Advertise with us
Makeuptalk.com forums

Help Support Makeuptalk.com forums:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Got my Scaredy Cat Trial Vials and OMIGAHD THE CUTE!!! They are seriously the most hardcore-kawaii little things I've seen in eons, and a remarkable amount of shadow is packed very tightly in each. Five of them with shipping came out to an even eight bucks, and I think it was well-spent, especially given how quickly it came. Now if only she did blush!

Also received my order from The Chequered Lily--they will assuredly have my business again, just based upon the personal attention alone. It was a small order--five sample shadows and a tinted lip balm--but as small as the order was, it was fixed up as pretty as if I'd spent fifty dollars, and I received a couple extra samples and a handwritten note thanking me for my business and inviting me to contact the shop with questions. This is what I felt was missing with the Geek Chic order that came in the other day--the level of personal detail, the sense of appreciation and the care that goes into everything from the cute wrappings to the selection of the extras. Those who send extras seem to choose colors based on the selections of the purchased items, and I've received many lovely samples that I've gone back and bought on the strength of the vendor's suggestions.

Now I fully get why so many are so drawn, and so loyal, to the indie producers!

 
My Alchemic Muse order arrived today! I've only had a chance to sample Nostalgia, but it is lovely. It has the floral scent that always reminds me of my Southern aunts growing up, but it is sweeter - without checking the scent notes, I'd definitely say honey is the strongest note, followed by rose and violet. If you like those kind of musky florals, this one is to die for.

I also got samples of Lovecraft, Loukoum, Phantasm and Deadwood. I will weigh in on those when I get finished running errands.

Everything was wrapped nicely, and shipped in Styrofoam peanuts. No leaks, no problems with the shipment at all. All in all, I think she runs a stellar shop, and I highly recommend purchasing from her!

 
Okay ladies, here are my opinions on the actual scents I purchased from Alchemic Muse:

Deadwood: Wild bergamot, clover honey, and a light dusting of spice leading to a heart of warm amber and barley grass grounded in a rich base of black vanilla, musk, teak, and worn brown leather. (From AM scent catalog)

What I smell - Spicy leather with a hint of bergamot and honey. A very odd combination that somehow turns into a really fresh, outdoorsy scent.

Loukoum: Delight in a spellbinding and luxurious treat of freshly juiced lemons tempered with a soft bouquet of red roses and a sprig of sweet mint leaf.

What I smell - I do NOT like citrus scents at all, and you can't miss the lemon in Loukoum. However, on me, the mint comes through just enough to make it pleasant and not astringent. I don't smell the rose, yet, but perhaps after more dry time. (And no, I am not cray buying a citrus scent when I don't like them. Lokoum, or Turkish Delight is one of my favorite desserts!) - This is listed as Limited Edition

Lovecraft: Provincial lavender blossoms grounded in fresh pumpkin, sweet cream, and blackstrap molasses with a thick dusting of harvest spice.

What I smell - None of the lavender, this smells like gingerbread to me. Delicious, delicious gingerbread. I want to eat this scent, it is sooo yummy!

Nostalgia: Step into the past with this relaxing present! Earl Gray tea with sweet cream and a wedge of lemon underscored by a fragrant bouquet of English rose and lavender with lingering smoky notes of tobacco, amber crystals and musk.

What I smell - Mentioned it above, and now that it has dried down a bit the strong honey scent has mellowed and I can tell it is the sweet cream. I am also getting the tobacco and amber, which I seriously love. ETA - Shop owner Karen has mentioned on Facebook that one of the components of this scent was discontinued by the supplier, and it will  be available as a perfume oil until she runs out of the blend.

Phantasm: Impart a truly haunting aura to your presence with this spectral scent. Aged roses and white lilies shrouded in an ethereal mist of cool earth, wet stone, and faint incense with a lingering base of soft, smoky musk.

What I smell - This is the kind of scent I would imagine from something called "nostalgia". The soft, earthy floral scent is exactly what comes to mind when you think "grandma". But it is saved from being musty by the musk and incense, which give heart to the soft floral. This scent is no where near as strong as the other four, but that might be a good thing if you need something light to wear to work. It is actually a really beautiful, wearable scent. Added: In the time it took to type this, during the dry down the musk has become slightly powdery. I know people don't always like that in scents, so keep in mind! - This is listed as Autumn Collection

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Nostalgia sounds wonderful! I know you didn't mention the Earl Gray as really standing out, but I'd still love to try it. EARL GRAY IS MY FAVORITE SCENT EVER! I might be a bit obsessed...

So I did end up making a nice little purchase with Alchemic Muse, my husband talked me into it. He's supportive of my shopping. :p /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

I can't wait, between the Haus of Gloi and this I'll be smelling like autumn/fall for a while! :) /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Allison H said:
Nostalgia sounds wonderful! I know you didn't mention the Earl Gray as really standing out, but I'd still love to try it. EARL GRAY IS MY FAVORITE SCENT EVER! I might be a bit obsessed...

So I did end up making a nice little purchase with Alchemic Muse, my husband talked me into it. He's supportive of my shopping. :p /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

I can't wait, between the Haus of Gloi and this I'll be smelling like autumn/fall for a while! :) /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />
Click to expand...
Those are the best kinds of husbands to have!  The ones that enable/talk you into shopping!

Quick question about the NM VC, if you ordered it is it a monthly recurring charge?  It looks that way through paypal but I was not sure if I have to go in and resub each month or if I will just be charged the 4th of the month unless I cancel.  TIA!

 
rachelshine said:
@@Shalott SHIZAAAAH, Nostalgia sounds ammmmazing. Out to scope the shop and see what damage I can do. 
Click to expand...
It seriously is. I loved them all, but Nostalgia, Deadwood and Phantasm were my faves! :smilehappyyes:

Allison H said:
Nostalgia sounds wonderful! I know you didn't mention the Earl Gray as really standing out, but I'd still love to try it. EARL GRAY IS MY FAVORITE SCENT EVER! I might be a bit obsessed...

So I did end up making a nice little purchase with Alchemic Muse, my husband talked me into it. He's supportive of my shopping. :p /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

I can't wait, between the Haus of Gloi and this I'll be smelling like autumn/fall for a while! :) /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />
Click to expand...
I actually purchased a full size of Nostalgia based on the Earl Grey note, because I love Earl Grey too! But I never noticed any scent of bergamot, although once it dried down, it was easier to smell individual notes. But hey, that is just my skin! Maybe on you, the Earl Grey will come across nice and strong! Can't wait to here what you think of your purchase!

 
Loukoum will probably smell fabulous to me, because I love me some citrus, and I also want to try Nostalgia with that yummy Earl Grey note! Drat this enabling...

 
musiclover8201 said:
All I'm gonna say is take my money TAKE IT ALL!! Automatic with drawl if she has to just... AHHH... *throws handful of money* lol
Click to expand...
It's coming out the same weekend as my next comic con, so I will already be in the mindset/mood to spend lots of money on fannish things!  I've already decided that my Espionage Cosmetics con purchase (they're at pretty much every big con) will be the Eye Spy set and some nail wraps.  I want all of the Masks variations!  And all of the gradiated glitters!  And For Science!  And Make It So!  And Nebulae!  And...  EVERYTHING!

And speaking of Espionage and cons, it's kind of sad, but now that I'm on the Espionage MOAR Kickstarter, I don't feel as compelled to go to Emerald City Comic Con in March next year.  I only buy their stuff when I'm at a con, but I'll probably end up with several cons' worth of shadows at the end of this thing.  So it's *worth* spending $250 now because I'm not going to have to shell out for a con pass, gas, hotel, food, and whatever else I get in the dealers room, not to mention the stress of all of those thousands of people (I think it was 75k this year), right?  (The con I'm going to in two weeks is local, so I can take public transit if I *really* want to.  But I'll almost definitely drive because I don't want to haul all of my purchases home on the bus, and parking is dirt cheap in this town compared to what I got used to paying when I live in Seattle.)

[And about Kickstarters (spoilered because LONG): 

If they don't hit their goal, they don't get the money.  A lot of these campaigns simply do not happen once they come up short.  My brother helped run one -- and is on its board of directors -- that was a startup fundraiser for a nonprofit teen literacy project that combines two of his favorite things:  Reading and pissing off authority figures who want to control what people do.  He was *very* stressed towards the end because they almost didn't hit their goal.  You can't necessarily just shrug and say that you'll pass and just get the things later because sometimes there is no "later."  I've just come to accept that my backer rewards may will most likely come months later.  One of my favorite campaigns was Maze of Games, which estimated delivery in November 2013.  I received the book in July.  It was very much worth the wait.  Now I just add on several months to the estimated delivery and figure out whether that later date is okay.  I'm currently waiting on one campaign with an April 2014 delivery date and another one with a July 2014 delivery date, and I'm fine with that because I probably would not get my dry-erase notebook or police box cupcake sprinkles any other way.  In this case, I hope to get my rewards before the Midsummer exchange, but if not, hey, there's Secret Santa.  They probably will hit their goal, though, because they're already past $40k, and they still have thirty days to go.  There were variants in the last round that were available only to backers, like super glittery Tentacle and Nebulae, so that has changed things for some people.]
 
Surprise pretties are the best pretties!  For some reason I never getting shipping notices when someone ships through Paypal, so I didn't realize that my My Pretty Zombie order had shipped, and now it's here :) /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

I can't play yet, since I have to run off to yoga, but when I get home, hooray!

 
Here's what I got so far to start off a list of release dates for stuff. I don't know of any upcoming sales or I'd definitely put those on the list as well.

Glamour Doll Eyes OTM subscriptions up 9/8

Kiss My Sass College Life V2 release 9/8

Darling Girl Who Ya Gonna Call/OITNB release 9/14 (tentative)

Notoriously Morbid Winchester Gospels/Slay Me release 9/19

Kiss My Sass Fall/Halloween Bath & Body Launch 9/23

Haus of Gloi Fall Part 2 release 9/??

innocent+twisted alchemy subscriptions up 10/1

Notoriously Morbid VC subscriptions up 10/3

Notoriously Morbid Grisly Grimoire release 10/3

Glamour Doll Eyes OTM subscriptions up 10/8

Glamour Doll Eyes Glitter Fix/Halloween release 10/22

Notoriously Morbid A Murder of Crows release 11/14

Glamour Doll Eyes Box Sets (OITNB, Tattoo Parlor, Grease) 12/2

Glamour Doll Eyes/Kiss My Sass PLL collab release 12/2

Notoriously Morbid Christmas release 12/5

Glamour Doll Eyes Mystery Collection release 12/??

Anyone know what the third box set is that GDE is releasing 12/2? I know there's 3, I just can't remember what the last one is.

Also super curious when to expect Shiro's Halloween collection.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
i+ta reposted this status from Eccentric Cosmetics:

Something unexpected popped up, so I going to have another sale! Spend $15 or more to qualified for a 30% discount, using the code "secret". 

Free shipping is still ongoing for samples and eyeshadows until the 13th of September. 

In a month or two I'm going to be releasing something I've been working for quite a while, and it's not eyeshadows. I'm very excited about it!
Click to expand...

Think I might try them out!  :) /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

eta And done. Just got 15 shadow samples plus a clamshell sample of her primer. $14 and free shipping from Melbourne... not bad at all!

 
Last edited by a moderator:

Latest posts

Back
Top