tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544742885245244008.post5614795323530682930..comments2024-02-29T05:12:06.137-05:00Comments on Providence Perfume: The Best & Worst Oils/Absolutes I've Ever Purchased. An Insider's Guide to buying Botanicals Without Wasting MoneyCharnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17469413042646579175noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544742885245244008.post-18502915298934342802013-09-25T11:24:22.100-04:002013-09-25T11:24:22.100-04:00I am not a perfumer: though I love the scents of ...I am not a perfumer: though I love the scents of some of the essences, my main use for them is medicinal. I have ordered quite a bit from White Lotus. I trust them and as noted by some others here, their customer service is outstanding. <br /><br />I did want to bring to people's attention a local (Sedona AZ area) supplier called Wisdom of the Earth. Their stuff is pricey, but is of the very highest quality. They have over 200 pure essences that they get from all over the world, from small suppliers who do this out of devotion. There is nothing they sell that isn't pure enough to put in your mouth! They also handle them very consciously. When it is time to pour, they do so in silence, and if there is any tension between any of them, they work it out before they sit down to do so.<br /><br />There are certain White Lotus essences, like balsam fir, that I use a lot of and daily, and which seem to be comparable to WOTE's, but certain others that don't even smell like the same plant, so I bite the bullet and go to WOTE. They also have a sister company, Shining Sun Aromatherapy, in Santa Fe New Mexico---same suppliers. Check them out when you don't want to have the slightest doubt of something being genuine and of the very highest quality!Jeanne Freelandnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544742885245244008.post-50744921754213924612013-06-01T12:28:58.219-04:002013-06-01T12:28:58.219-04:00I wish there was a more recent update.
This is the...I wish there was a more recent update.<br />This is the first review of EO's that I feel is honest.<br />Most of the other reviews are nothing more than shilling. <br /><br />Thanks for the review and maybe there will be an update at some point.<br /><br />Thanks<br /><br />jhAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544742885245244008.post-60903157161065345272013-04-10T18:04:58.416-04:002013-04-10T18:04:58.416-04:00Hello Charna,
I just stumbled across this blog en...Hello Charna,<br /><br />I just stumbled across this blog entry last night when shopping for a Jasmine Sambac absolute. I am a beginning homemade cosmetic hobbyist (male) and your blog has given me some increased confidence in ordering the low-priced products from Liberty Natural.<br /><br />What are your thoughts about the Sambac absolute from Liberty. I just don't think I can afford the cost of the one from Eden.<br /><br />Thanks!<br /><br />~Jonjonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05274119502072081107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544742885245244008.post-14970300995919347222011-06-06T15:24:48.710-04:002011-06-06T15:24:48.710-04:00Hi Prabha,
Aftelier has rosemary absolute and only...Hi Prabha,<br />Aftelier has rosemary absolute and only sells in small quantities. I think White Lotus has Ginger absolute, but I'll have to double check.Charnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17469413042646579175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544742885245244008.post-73316815357125986082011-03-13T01:10:35.513-05:002011-03-13T01:10:35.513-05:00Thanks for this informative post. Can you please s...Thanks for this informative post. Can you please suggest a source that will sell ginger absolute and rosemary absolute in small quantities?prabhahttp://raindrums111@yahoo.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544742885245244008.post-55922840091944567222011-02-28T16:18:55.160-05:002011-02-28T16:18:55.160-05:00Just discovered your blog and have loved reading i...Just discovered your blog and have loved reading it. I thought this post was particularly great, though now I have even more oils and absolutes I must resist buying, for now. (And the wish list grows ever longer.) I did, of course, at least have to check things out at LN and EB to see what sort of price tags I should plan for in the future. While looking around, I did see a coffee flower absolute on LN's list. Not sure if this is the same one you were pining over, but wanted to pass that info along just in case. Thanks again for this informative and entertaining blog!Mollynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544742885245244008.post-31489385758096165412010-12-06T02:38:01.845-05:002010-12-06T02:38:01.845-05:00Good point, though sometimes it's hard to arri...Good point, though sometimes it's hard to arrive to definite conclusionsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544742885245244008.post-25863808168063890232010-08-16T21:41:29.455-04:002010-08-16T21:41:29.455-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Helenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13051817854054489527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544742885245244008.post-71110915912236346062010-08-16T21:41:21.585-04:002010-08-16T21:41:21.585-04:00Hi Charna, I just discovered your blog and have en...Hi Charna, I just discovered your blog and have enjoyed reading it thoroughly! I wish I had somehow come across your wisdom when I began perfume making as I can certainly relate to the aspect of 'wasting money'.<br /><br />I'm still finding my trustworthy list of resources. When I first began, I was directed to Oils & Soap and Escentials (which Ambrosia mentioned). I ordered from the former first and I can say pretty much every bottle I bought was a write-off. The nauseating scent of first collection put me off natural perfumery and I couldn't bear the thought of blending for a year. I don't think there is anything wrong with the oils per se, but I can see now that the inventory is fairly limited and oils listed as "ylang ylang" or "sandalwood" are actually the cheapest varieties.<br />Escentials at least specifies the variety of their oils more explicitly so you know you're buying ylang ylang extra or Australian/East Indes/Mysore sandalwood and they have really a good reputation here in Australia, but I frankly find their service lacking. I appreciate that they are a small family-run business although sometimes when I'm simply excited to blend, it does hurt a bit to wait days and sometimes weeks for a email response. My last two orders from them placed July and August this year have arrived with several bottles leaked through.<br />I like New Directions because they have a showroom about a 20min drive from where I live and I'm able to sample their oils before I purchase. Their range is also greater than Escentials. They have a nag champa essential oil which is divine and will be finding its way into a sweet woody perfume I have in the works :).<br />I have never heard of Auroma before and it's certainly piqued my interest. I noticed that their website is under construction. Has that only recently gone under construction or has it been that way for ages?Helenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13051817854054489527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544742885245244008.post-70460947942833822562010-08-07T12:24:06.605-04:002010-08-07T12:24:06.605-04:00I've found that ordering oils from anywhere is...I've found that ordering oils from anywhere is a roll of the dice. It depends entirely on the batch, at the time, and can change with the same product from the same company the next time they get a new supply. If they're ordering a huge amount each time (i.e. 55 gallons) the supply will be consistent while this batch lasts but when they reorder it can change drastically.Sonsahttp://www.freshlynatural.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544742885245244008.post-20869791674630205622010-08-06T17:27:41.617-04:002010-08-06T17:27:41.617-04:00Thank you all for your comments and recommendation...Thank you all for your comments and recommendations! Unfortunately blogger doesn't let me reply individually to each comment, so I emailed some of you directly (those whose comments came with an email return address) and I guess I'll post one general thanks to all. Maggie, thanks for your tip on AT's frankincense. I was just about to place an order there. Perfect timing! Ambrosia, have you tried Auroma's boronia? They're the only place I can find that carries boronia.Charnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17469413042646579175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544742885245244008.post-72981063830038297022010-08-06T09:35:22.493-04:002010-08-06T09:35:22.493-04:00Thanks for sharing your "frank" comments...Thanks for sharing your "frank" comments! As for a great frankincense, try the Boswellia frereana from Oman that Butch Owens offers. It has a citrus top note that transitions to a church-y incense after about an hour. Fascinating. I also like the Boswellia serrata CO2 from India that EB carries. Very sweet and smooth. I'm not fond of Boswellia carterii in general. Tends to be high octane and pierces my nasal passages.Maggie Mahboubiannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544742885245244008.post-58395454229207337592010-08-04T13:18:20.396-04:002010-08-04T13:18:20.396-04:00Have others had the same experience with New Direc...Have others had the same experience with New Directions? Is it all of their products or just certain ones that are not as good? I am curious because I have used their oils and while I like them very much, the scent dissipates rather quickly!SarahGnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544742885245244008.post-89409267820745689372010-08-04T06:02:08.686-04:002010-08-04T06:02:08.686-04:00Wonderful post Charna!
My best has been stunnin...Wonderful post Charna! <br /><br />My best has been stunning Turkish Rose Absolute from Anatolian Treasures [I'm hording a couple of ounces I've purchased over the last few years....]; EB's Genet and Orris. Oh and some rather fine high altitude french lavender right from the source [I just happened to be up in the mountains in southern France recently... *grin*].<br /><br />Worst would be Rose Maroc from the same place Ambrosia purchased the oil from here in Oz. All I can say is it ain't all rose to be sure! Sigh, I really should have sent it back but never got around to it.<br /><br />I don't purchase essences much from my homeland Australian suppliers any more and buy mostly from EB, WLA and few others in the US. I get highly frustrated that many suppliers won't allow samples. And then there are those who look promising but then you find them trying to sell essences that WE all know are impossible and highly suspect. Makes me grumpy lol. ;-P<br /><br />HHJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08199742449752826540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544742885245244008.post-16029622946323770632010-08-03T09:34:02.809-04:002010-08-03T09:34:02.809-04:00ARGH. I just lost my comment.
Well long story ...ARGH. I just lost my comment. <br /><br />Well long story short, this is a wonderful resource, and I wanted to mention that I recently ordered from Samara Botane, and was so pleased with the quality, and they also sent some nice samples too.<br /><br />AmandaMama Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06893171514580208546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544742885245244008.post-21099753183600261172010-08-03T07:41:23.988-04:002010-08-03T07:41:23.988-04:00Great and useful post!
I have collected a few thin...Great and useful post!<br />I have collected a few things myself, for personal pleasure/education, and have had some good experiences from Eden and Liberty. I love the White Lotus articles and have yet to order from them because of their $100 minimum but I know they care and watch over their offerings very closely. I recall from time to time that Anya has had some of her garden materials on offer.indieperfumeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16933060392329498890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544742885245244008.post-1898035951379265802010-08-03T07:20:20.692-04:002010-08-03T07:20:20.692-04:00This is a lovely, measured post Charna!
Well, yo...This is a lovely, measured post Charna! <br /><br />Well, you probably already read my worsts and one of my bests. I'll add the LN tonka abs to the worsts ... And the WLA fir balsam abs to the bests!<br /><br />Those are among of the few where I've had the opportunity to compare different ones from different companies and noticed a really marked difference in my reaction to them. (But then I'm such a noob, you have to take what I say with a grain of salt! :o)<br /><br />I was really interested in what you said about the LN carnation. I have a small sample of it, and find it nicely strong. I was puzzled when I read someone saying carnation was an extremely delicate scent, because that wasn't my experience of it at all ... So now I guess maybe they just have a different one from somewhere else that really is delicate?Johanna Knoxhttp://starcooked.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544742885245244008.post-77862784371289260142010-08-02T20:15:23.203-04:002010-08-02T20:15:23.203-04:00It's amazing how much the different oils and a...It's amazing how much the different oils and absolutes can vary from supplier to supplier...and even from lot to lot!<br />I originally bought THE BEST Rose Maroc ever from an Australian company called Escentials of Australia....beautiful, soft, with a deep rose colour....the next batch I ordered was yellow! and has a sharp top note with none of the softness I had fallen in love with!!!<br />I was furious and sent it back with a complaining phone call, and got some garbled explanation of different years harvests etc...<br />I've had mixed results from the Australian version of New Directions too...<br />My favourites at present are an Ozzie company called Auroma, and White Lotus and Eden Botanicals partly because their customer service is great! But BOY is their ordering system a pain! (which reminds me, I need to sort out payment for another Eden order...mutter...GET PAYPAL AND ONLINE ORDERING!!!)Ambrosiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12560196932876503822noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8544742885245244008.post-33908641619253505182010-08-02T19:50:51.058-04:002010-08-02T19:50:51.058-04:00I have to agree with you on White Lotus and Eden B...I have to agree with you on White Lotus and Eden Botanicals. Two of my favorites by far. I've purchased from EOU several times. I just received an order yesterday and wasn't too pleased with it. I do like EOU's floral waxes. With Liberty some I like some I don't. They're never my first choice though.Lisa Abdul-Quddushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13898431687048520515noreply@blogger.com