Anya's Garden is an all natural perfumery, led by Anya McCoy of Miami Shores, FL. She is well respected in her field and knows more about natural perfumery than I would even know to ask. And she teaches classes -- and also offers personal consults and bespoke fragrance.
To my knowledge, except for a couple of forays into what might be other naturals, this is my first exposure to natural perfumes with sophistication. And what beautiful perfumes they are!
Anya sent me a packet of samples so I could wrap myself around her scents and get a feel for them.
To do them justice, over the next few days I will review two at a time, so their essences don't get lost.
Everyday for the last week or so, I've worn two different fragrances of hers, one on each wrist, for at least part of the day. I've worn them, I'm sure, in different combinations, but today's treats are Temple and River Cali.
These are a far cry from the synthetic, sometimes plasticky, scents of many modern perfumes. Granted, many modern perfumes are delightful, but they are still somehow different in nature from these exotic scents of Anya's. If you have only ever tried department store brands, you might want to treat yourself to a couple of her samples. You will be immediately embraced in a difference.
Temple
Fragrance Family: Citrus-Incense-Spiced Wood
The rays of hope focus empower and the steady verdant earth beneath the feet gives faith that the path may be sturdy and firm. Find strength in yourself, be your own Temple. Relax, center yourself and find peace. Anya's Garden
Top notes: distilled orange juice, borneol crystals
Heart Notes: aglaia flower, cassia, Ayurvedic herbs and spices
Base Notes: sustainable Laotian and Vietnamese Oud agarwood, earth tincture
Temple is a rich, exotic, woodsy fragrance, with citrus. If you've been reading my blog, you know I love fragrances with sweet orange, patchouli, and oud. This oud is rich and resiny. Lovely that it is from sustainable wood, and isn't denuding a forest somewhere.
In addition to wearing this fragrance on your skin, you can put a drop in a bowl of hot water to scent your room. Perfumeshrine reports that this is lovely. I, however, love it on my skin, and I will just move room to room! Well, perhaps, I will try this drop in hot water later.
3.5 ml parfum extrait is $75.
Temple sample $11
RiverCali
Fragrance Family: Floral-Citrus-Gourmand
If you like rose in a fragrance, this is the one for you! It begins with a lovely green, lime burst, underlaid with rose. It dries down to a warm rose. There's a bit of salt in there somewhere too, like drinking a margarita, salted glass, in a rose garden. When the drink is gone, you are still in the garden.
Anya says that it takes you to a lush desert oasis -- it must be that salt.
It is even better when applied a second time during the day. It jumps the beginning green again, and dries down more complexly. I have not tried applying it heavily the first time, but rather a large drop, then later another large drop. Remember I have samples, not full sizes!
Top notes: African pink peppercorn
Middle notes: Turkish rose otto, lemon, lime and orange leaves
Base notes: Vanuatu sustainable sandalwood, creamy rich African vanilla, sexy musk seed
3.5 ml parfum extrait $60
15 ml edp $125
sample $7
Have you tried any of Anya's fragrances? Have you tried these? Do you have a favorite?
For me, between these two, my favorite is Temple. It is mood-altering for me, being very centered and calming.
You can find more about natural perfumery at Anya's yahoogroup or at Natural Perfumers Guild.
See my review of Fairchild and Pan here.
See my review of MoonDance and StarFlower here.
And see my review of Kaffir here.
Karin
www.savvythinker.com
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Body Oil Special! 3 one-half ounce bottles Coconut Lime Verbena |  |
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Originally posted 2010-05-13 18:25:27.
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