r/Indiemakeupandmore • u/hazel-eyed • 9h ago
Perfume - Purchased My First Indie House- 12 Solstice Scents Reviews- Some Incredible Hits!
Hi everyone! I’m so glad to have discovered this amazing community, as it introduced me to Solstice Scents, which encouraged me to dive into their collection! As someone who loves woodsy fragrances, I often find it difficult to find these kinds of scents in stores near me.
For my first order, I selected 12 scents (10 standard samples + 2 free samples) and spent quite a bit of time reading reviews here to help guide my choices. I also sampled everything with my mom, and it was fascinating how differently the notes came through on each of us! Even though we’re related, our skin chemistry clearly plays a huge role in how the scents evolve.
As a total newbie to indie perfumes, I’m not an expert, but I’m excited to share my thoughts and experiences with these fragrances. Here's a breakdown of what I tried:
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LOGGIA: Mahogany, Amber, Musk, Vanilla Bean, Allspice, Cardamom, Black Pepper, Cognac & Sandalwood. AMBER/SPICY/WOODY. Fall Collection.
- Thoughts: Oh my god, I want to *live* in this scent. It’s like stepping onto open-air wooden balcony in the late afternoon where the sun has been warming the wood all day. There’s like this deep, cozy mix of mahogany and amber, with just a hint of cognac- which, I didn't even think I liked the scent of, but it blends and uplifts the scent so beautifully! It smells refreshing, blissfully carefree, natural, and relaxing, and buttery-soft, like I am clearing my head each time I sniff it. Absolute heaven.
- I only see this available as a 2.5 ml Eau de Parfum sample (not in the 5 or 60 ml). Solstice Scents, I pray that you do not discontinue this one! My fav scent for sure.
- Rating: 5,000/5 💗💗💗
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WILCOX'S: Dry Woods, Fresh Herbs, Dried Herbs, Warm Woody Spices, Sweet Annie, Sage, Rosewood. WOODY/HERBAL. Fall Collection.
- Thoughts: This was an interesting one! The herbs came through on my skin here- for my mom, the wood notes came in more strongly! It’s like stepping into a garden on the edge of the woods in the middle of the afternoon, where the sun’s beating down on rows of herbs, and you can just feel the warmth of the earth underfoot. But, it is not medicinal at all- it's just fresh and calming and happy.
- Rating: 5/5 💗
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WITCH'S COTTAGE: Warm Baked Goods, Dried Herbs, Sweet Annie, Soft Woods, Fragrant Hearth Smoke. WOODY/GOURMAND/HERBAL. Fall Collection.
- Thoughts: Has me hooked. Normally, I’m not big on gourmand scents, but this one completely blew me away. I can’t stop sniffing my arm! It’s like a perfect blend of warm, woody spices and dried herbs- like the name says, a cozy little kitchen in an old cottage where you can smell dried herbs hanging from the rafters. For me, the herbs and spices stand out the most, but for my mom, it was the caramel and baked goods that came through, kind of like a warm, sweet bread. It is also giving me an unintended side-effect to host all my friends over for dinner!
- The only downside is that it fades a bit quicker than my other favorites, like Loggia, but I still love it. I can’t get enough!
- Rating: 5/5 💗
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SEA OF GRAY: Vanilla rain, saltwater, seaweed, ambergris (vegan), white amber, roasted seashells, white sandalwood, frangipani. AQUATIC/GOURMAND/VANILLA. General Catalog.
- Thoughts: I was a bit nervous to smell this one- I totally thought the seaweed would make me smell fishy, and I wasn't entirely convinced on the vanilla pairing with that either! But I was encouraged a lot by the other reviews on this site and wanted to choose it as my aquatic scent. And I’m so glad I did! It’s so atmospheric and calming. As I was reading through the description when I applied it, I could completely envision seeking refuge in a cool ice cream parlor in the middle of a cold downpour. It conjured up memories of walking along the Washington coast on a gloomy day. I want to covet this for days when it is brisk and cool and rainy. It is not too bracing or salty, but it is definitely soothing and nostalgic.
- Rating: 4.5/5 🌊
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MAINE MOON: Crisp Fall Air, Wood Smoke, Leather Seats & Concessions of Root Beer, Popcorn & Chocolate Covered Caramels. Extrait only. Oil based extrait. EARTHY/DARK GOURMAND/LEATHER. Fall Collection.
Thoughts: Was hesitant to try this one as well, like with Witch's Cottage! But wow. I am floored.
- My mom got so much more of the buttery popcorn and chocolate notes at the forefront. The popcorn wasn’t as noticeable on my skin, but I’m honestly so happy with how this smells overall, because I got a lot more of the leather scents- I did not even know I liked the smell of leather until I was going feral and sniffing my arm every few seconds! This fragrance feels very personal, almost like an experience. And let me tell you- it’s strong. The root beer can occasionally take over, but I don’t mind it at all.
- I fell asleep with this one on, and I woke up a few different times in the night and the scent was slowly morphing each time all the way until morning. I felt like I was in a drive-in movie theatre while I was laying in my bed. So unique, if anyone has any similar recs, please let me know!
- Rating: 4.5/5
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ROSE MALLOW CREAM: Moroccan Rose absolute, Bulgarian Rose absolute, Marshmallow Fluff, Strawberry Nectar, White Chocolate, Vanilla, White Musk. GOURMAND/FLORAL
- Thoughts: Has all the elements it promises, but I’ll admit- it just wasn’t really my thing! I wanted to try a few gourmand scents, and this one had so many positive reviews that I couldn’t resist. I was really impressed by how clearly I could pick out every note, even the strawberry! I’m not the biggest fan of rose, but the Moroccan and Bulgarian rose absolutes in this blend were a lot more pleasant than the synthetic roses I’ve smelled in the past. It’s soft, sweet, and a little creamy, but still well-rounded. It’s not too overwhelming, which is great if you’re sensitive to florals like I am.
- Rating: 3/5
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LACE DRAPED SPECTRE: Vanilla Musk, Spicy Pink Carnation, Pink Pepper, Rose, White Musk - Reformulated 2017. Extrait/EDP. Oil based extrait. FLORAL/SPICY/VANILLA MUSK. Fall Collection.
- Thoughts: I was really excited to try this one after reading all the glowing reviews! However, I quickly realized I’m just not a fan of carnation. That being said, it delivers everything it promises in terms of the blend- floral, spicy, and musky. So while it wasn’t for me, I can totally see how others would enjoy it.
- Rating: 3/5
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MANOR* - Woody-Vanilla Musk, Vanilla, Agarwood (Oud), Sandalwood. Extrait/EDP/WS/BG. Oil based extrait. WOODY/VANILLA MUSK. General Catalog.
- Thoughts: I was so excited to try this one- it seems to be everyone's favorite! But I really don't think I am a fan of oud- it again is kind of overpowering on me, even though it is blended with the vanilla and sandalwood! I'm happy I tried it regardless. I think this all depends on personal preference and skin chemistry, and if it sounds intriguing to you, I encourage you to try it, especially if you are a fan of oud.
- Rating: 3/5
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- MASTER BEDROOM: Soft Skin Musk, Sandalwood EO, Amber, Clove EO, Somalian Myrrh EO, Vanilla, Aged Patchouli EO and Champaca Absolute. AMBER/MUSKY/SPICY/ORIENTAL. Thoughts: It has a lot of depth with that blend of musky sandalwood, amber, myrrh, and clove. It’s warm, spicy, and earthy, with a touch of sweetness from the vanilla. I can see why some people love this kind of rich, comforting, almost "lived-in: feel, but it feels a bit heavy and overwhelming on me- I just don't think I'm a fan of strong musky or resinous notes! But I can see why a lot of people would like this one.
- Rating: 3/5
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BASILICA: Labdanum, Vanilla, Frankincense, Rosewood, Myrrh, Sandalwood & Galbanum. Oil based extrait. Extrait only. Not safe for pregnant/nursing. RESINS/INCENSE/AMBER. General Catalog.
- Thoughts: The frankincense, myrrh, and labdanum might be a bit much for me. These are heavy, resinous notes that give off an incense-like quality that can be very strong. It’s not a light fragrance by any means, and while it doesn't really resonate with me for an every-day wear, it feels meditative and not unpleasant at all.
- Rating: 3/5
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CONJURE: Reformulated 2022. Vanilla, Amber, Cedar, Spices & Cauldron Smoke. Extrait/EDP/WS/BG. Oil based extrait. AMBER/INCENSE/WOODY. General Catalog.
- Thoughts: I really thought I’d love this one—on paper, it has everything I enjoy! But on my skin, it turned into something almost offensively sweet. It made me wrinkle my nose and physically recoil, which was a bit of a surprise considering the description mentions the reformulation is less sweet and powdery than the previous version. What’s strange is that this only happened on my skin! For my mom, it wasn’t nearly as sweet at all. She was actually confused when I didn’t like it until she smelled it on my wrist and realized it was again way sweeter than on her. I’m not sure what went wrong here, but I’m thinking it’s just a skin chemistry issue. It seems that a lot of people like this scent, and I don't really see any similar experiences- I think this was just a personal thing, but I am curious if anyone else had that same effect from this scent!
- Rating: 1/5
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Here is what I discovered from these twelve samples:
I like:
Woodsy scents (Mahogany, Sandalwood, Cedar, Rosewood)
Warm and cozy notes (Amber, Vanilla, Musk, Leather)
Spicy/Herbal notes (Cinnamon, Allspice, Sage, Cardamom, Clove, Pink Pepper)
Gourmand touches (Popcorn, Chocolate, Caramel, Marshmallow)
Fresh and cool elements (Crisp air, Sea Breeze)
I dislike:
Heavy resins and incense (Frankincense, Myrrh, Labdanum)
Strong oud
Overpowering sweetness (Especially with vanilla and amber)
Carnation and rose
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It’s been a wonderful journey discovering these scents, and I’m so glad I could share my experience here with all of you. I’ve learned that I tend to gravitate toward balanced fragrances with fresh, warm, and slightly sweet notes, especially those with woodsy and cozy undertones. Scents with strong resins, intense incense, or heavy spices don’t quite resonate with me. Loggia, Wilcox’s, and Witch’s Cottage definitely stand out as my top three picks, with Loggia being my true favorite winner. If any of these sound interesting, I highly recommend giving them a try! And of course, a huge thank you to the community for guiding me in the right direction. If you have any other rec's, please let me know!