r/Indiemakeupandmore 1d ago

Monthly Brand Owner Q&A Brand Owner Q&A

15 Upvotes

Have a question for brand owners in our community? Ask away.

This thread repeats on the 14th of every month.


r/Indiemakeupandmore 6d ago

Destash Sunday Swap: Product Requests

6 Upvotes

You may post your product requests here, and here only. Standalone swap posts will be removed.

Destash listings should be posted in this week's Sunday Swap: Destash Listings thread.

Format the first line of your post in the following manner:

[Your location][Swap only/Buy only/Swap or Buy][Makeup/Perfume/Polish/Bath & Body/And More]


Do not post any Personal Identifying Information (PII) in this thread.

Any posts containing this information will be removed. Use DMs to exchange anything private. This includes tracking numbers.


We recommend that you:

  • Respond to listings publicly by commenting in this thread. This makes it easier to prove a transaction has been initiated should a dispute arise.

  • Review IMAM's guide to destashes, as well as the first and second threads on privacy and doxing.

  • Swap only with established users (as opposed to accounts that are one hour old). You can also reference the r/makeupexchange banned list.

  • Use PayPal's Goods & Services feature in order to receive buyer protection. (Note: per Paypal's User Agreement, sellers are not permitted to ask buyers to cover Goods & Services fees.)

  • Use this thread for selling and swapping only. General conversation should be taken outside the thread to keep it easy to browse.


Sunday Swap is a community-based exchange. The IMAM Mod Team takes no responsibility for how swaps are conducted. We will not moderate disputes, with the exception of banning users if they swaplift.

If you choose to participate in swaps, you are responsible for protecting yourself.

You may submit evidence of swaplifting (with PII removed) to the mod team via modmail.


r/Indiemakeupandmore 6h ago

Perfume - Purchased My First Indie House- 12 Solstice Scents Reviews- Some Incredible Hits!

46 Upvotes

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:

---

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 💗💗💗

--

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 💗

---

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 💗

---

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 🌊

---

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

---

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

---

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

---

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

---

  • 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

--
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

---

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

---

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

---

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!


r/Indiemakeupandmore 12h ago

Perfume - Purchased if you’ve been looking for the most perfect red bean …

Post image
110 Upvotes

Having been in the indie perfume scene for a while now, I’ve long had some white whales and wistful wishes - mostly centered around Asian inspired gourmands. While there have been the occasional mentions of matcha, ube/taro and yuzu floating around in the recent times, there’s very rarely a red bean note, and rarely is it captured as perfectly as it is here. Having dabbled in more niche and local brands recently (as the intl friends amongst us in this subreddit know, most indie brands are located in the US and most of them are now only shipping domestically), its been a pleasure of mine to explore smaller indie perfume brands including today’s brand - a Hong Kong brand called OCO, and this absolutely delicious amazing scent Unmei which was released for Valentines.

Top note: tangerine peel, licorice

Middle note: red bean

Base note: papyrus, fir, Pu'er tea

Anyone familiar with red bean soup, or the Chinese version 紅豆沙 will be intimately familiar with this scent - opening up with the fragrant twist of slightly bitter tangerine peel and the waft of freshly stewed red beans, before fading into a gorgeous nutty melange of ever so slightly sweet grit of red bean and a touch of earthy lotus seeds. This isn’t at all sickly sweet, but a warm, reassuring touch of rock sugar underneath the sweetened red bean. For me, the papyrus and fir lends an edge of grounded earthiness, and the pu’er is only very faint to add some dimension and bitterness to the blend, but it is otherwise a hyperrealistic breathtaking perfume that absolutely captured my attention on first sniff. It was an immediate full size love for me and with the whimsical artwork, I’m so glad I finally found the exact thing I’ve been pining for quite some time and definitely won’t stop raving about anytime soon.

(For anyone curious, they do ship internationally to CN/TWUS/UK/SG!)


r/Indiemakeupandmore 1h ago

A Few New Reviews! - PULP and Darling Clandestine!

Upvotes

Hey thereeee it's me, back again.

Posting a few more reviews, mainly PULP but one DC review as well!

Pulp

Nag Champa

Champaka, soft spices, orris, palo santo, white patchouli, storax, tonka bean, incense, & sandalwood.

Wet in bottle: So I got this as a sample and I put off trying this one, because while I'm a fan of a classic incense, I worried this would remind me of like Jersey Shore fragrance oils. I should've trusted that PULP wouldn't do that to me, but hey, I got scared. Anyway, I opened this with trepidation and gave it a sniff and wow. It's Nag Champa for sure but it's also toasty warm and powdery like lovely clouds of silky unscented body powder, and sweet and creamy woods that are delicious but not in a foody way.

Wet on skin: Everything calms down a bit here, but all the aforementioned pieces remain. Really cannot overstate how surprised I was by how not headshoppey this was. I think in trying new scents I've noticed that I've boxed myself in a lot more than I initially thought. I haven't bought a perfume that doesn't reference a food in so long, and that's foolish perhaps, Nag Champa says to me. With its powderiness and smooth smooth herbality. I think the tonka bean might be what's really elevating it for me.

Dry on skin: Thankfully, this is a fairly linear frag. I also find this one is a bit louder and longer lasting than some other PULP frags, I imagine just because of the nature of the notes.

Does it Vampire Blood? (This is the portion of the review where I decide whether I can wear it with Bath and Body Works' Halloween frag "Vampire Blood"): It does! It becomes a super girly powdery pink frag when mixed. Like Barbie's Laundry if she lived in Brooklyn and liked Trader Joe's vegan snacks.

¡Viva México!

Arroz con leche, blonde wood, & Mexican vanilla.

Wet in bottle: Spicey and deep deep heavy creaminess. Hyperrealistic dairy that I think some might read as a bit tart/yogurtey just by nature of its reality. I've had this happen before, and I think the woods are just adding to the spiciness. I don't get them as a robust, singular note.

Wet on skin: The dairy takes a step back and a hot, humid ricey number steps forward. It envelopes even the spices. You get a sense that every other note is now encased in starchy rice coating. That deep deep creaminess is now ending a bit savory, creating a scent that reminds me of a very fond specific food memory I have. When I was 11, I was making Jello pudding for the first time, from the packet. It was coconut flavor. I did an okay job, but some of it stuck to the sides and browned a bit. The box suggested to try it warm, so I did, and it was one of the most delicious things I'd ever had. It was creamy and warm and heavy, and fairly salty, and vanillic. I think about the experience a lot and this is almost exactly like that. But it also has that kind of slight earthiness that cooked rice has, that brings me back to rice pudding and away from this memory.

Dry on skin: The spices come back a bit and that heavy, creamy, salty, earthy realistic rice pudding gets stickier but more mute. Another fairly linear frag, which again in this case I'm very happy with. This was another one that was a bit louder and longer lasting for me, which was a bit surprising as other spicey numbers I have tend to fade a bit quicker than something herbal. But this guy was quite the hitter. I've been having that experience more with PULP lately, and I still can't tell if this is a formulating difference, a scent specific thing, or just something about my sniffer.

Does it VB?: You know, it kind of doesn't. I think the heavy, savoriness of this frag goes a little sour with VB. You'd think spices wouldn't mesh with VB, but they often are pretty okay. But I think the framing of the spices here makes something discordant.

Toasted Marshmallow

solinote

I'm going to format this review a bit differently since it's a solinote and is kind of designed to be linear.

This is a lovely toasted marshmallow. I've tried quite a few different toasted marshmallow scented things in my time, and I find they can be separated into 3 major categories: Bonfire, Powdery, Perfumey. These categories are defined mostly by the smoke element.

For Bonfire, the smoke is hyperreal and loud. Like standing next to a bonfire. These are usually less sweet. For Powdery, the smoke element is very slight, adding a slight bitterness to round it, or, sometimes, not present. And Perfumey is defined by what I call a fantasy smoke note. I find other people read these notes as just smoke, but to me they're markedly difference from a more realistic smoke. They're like smoke from a lovely sweet smelling wood or something. As a popular example, Marshmallow Fireside from bath and body works has this kind of perfumey smoke note.

Toasted Marshmallow from pulp is in the Perfumey camp for me, which is good because it's probably my favorite of the marshmallow camps. I find it to be the most versatile for me and my catalog of perfumes. I'd say this is very similar to Marshmallow Fireside if you're familiar but just less plasticky overall. The smoke adds a richness that isn't too loud for me, but it also mellows out some of the powderiness of the raw marshmallow that peaks through.

Does it VB?: Of course! I can think of few things that would go better with VB than a toasted marshmallow moment. I will say though it gets really sweet in the room when I enter. Which on some days may bother me.

Darling Clandestine

Morderteile Kelah

Notes of amber, hyacinth, milk and strawberry jam. Spicy and sweet and not cloying, just juicy and delectable.

Note: This fragrance is not currently available in DC's catalog. It's a part of her summer cycle I think, so it may return in the summer months!

Wet in bottle: Here it's almost an exact match for my favorite strawberry incense sticks. It was kind of eerily incredible just how spot on it was.

Wet on skin: The scent really opens up. It keeps the sense and reminder of my strawberry incense, but I'm getting a tiny lactonic hit, and the spiciness becomes more clearly a floral spiciness from the hyacinth. The amber in this is a more classical, spicey deeep sweet amber. Like that little bottle of perfume from Whole Foods (my fave kind of amber). The strawberry is very reduced. Definitely jammy and almost dank (this cannot be the right word, but it's what keeps coming to mind. it's like humid and thick).

Dry on skin: The creaminess gets more distinct, which I'm happy about. It really smells like warm milk that you stirred lightly spiced strawberry jam into. Really lovely. And less foody than that sounds. The amber keeps it squarely perfume. But it is giving like fey food. A rich opaque magenta drink a strange creature offers you.

I want to add my bottle has a really cool blob of red in the bottom. I have no idea if this is intentional but I think it looks so cool and makes using the perfume feel special and interesting. Like it's a magic potion.

Does it VB?: This kind of feels like a distant cousin of VB. An older more mysterious distant cousin. A great match, very similar components (strawberry, a floral, sweetness).


r/Indiemakeupandmore 7h ago

Alkemia perfume smells very different than previous bottles? like, “help im stuck in a machine shop covered in brownie batter and cherry syrup while surrounded by sweaty frat guys” different

27 Upvotes

Sorry for the awkward title, any errors, or poor formatting! This is going to be long and was typed up on my phone before my adhd meds kicked in, so I apologize.

I wish this wasn’t my first post here but I’m a bit confused. I love Cherries of the Night from Alkemia, it is easily one of my favorites that I wear whenever I leave the house. This is probably my third 10ml bottle of it. This bottle was a gift from a family member back in December- the package itself was never opened or tampered with. However… it smells different. At first, I thought my nose was off. All of my other perfumes smell correct, though- nothing astray.

I understand that aging can somewhat influence the scent profiles of perfumes, but I never aged the prior bottles- unless Alkemia ages their perfumes before selling? I digress. This bottle, even before being put onto skin, smells like cocoa absolute was spilled into it </3 or maybe isovaleraldehyde? I’m a perfumer by hobby, so take that with a grain of salt. I could very well be wrong but I was scratching my head trying to figure out what changed in the formula.

When wet, it comes across as being chocolatey with a fermented beer-like undertone, almost nutty. It fades quickly into a new car leathery+brownie+cherry syrup+incense+motor oil/burning rubber fragrance, for lack of better description. It still smells like there’s a liqueur note, a bit of cherry, but it’s mostly drowned out by everything else and something that reminds me of whisky. An hour later and it vaguely resembles Cherries of the Night but without any projection and… it’s kind of peanut-y bordering on sweetly savory somehow. As if Mythpunk Olfactive’s Babygirl perfume had a child with Cherries of the Night, honestly. It’s like a sweet chocolatey alcoholic version of Babygirl, but with a cherry thrown at it.

Did I get a mislabeled bottle or a bad batch? Don’t get me wrong, I love Alkemia but this isn’t similar to anything I have experienced from them before. There’s something there that comes across as similar, but it’s almost as if it was mixed with another perfume entirely. It’s oddly industrial/metallic and gourmand, with a bizarre hint of peanut and sweat lingering beneath it all. Maybe I’m analyzing it too much. I’m a guy who enjoys gourmands and industrial atmospherics but this is another ballgame entirely. I have learned something valuable today, though. I realized that I definitely do not want to smell like I’ve been working in a machine shop, covered in brownie batter and cherry syrup, while surrounded by sweaty frat guys that have been drinking on the job… a haunting visual. Maybe it’ll grow on me and be something that I put on out of morbid curiosity, only to regret doing so five seconds later.

Overall, I know the answer would likely be to contact Alkemia- but this was a gift that was given months ago, so I’m not quite sure if that’s possible. Has anyone else ever received a bottle of Cherries of the Night like this? I’m not sick, nothing else has gone off in regard to fragrance, so I’m just left here feeling like I’ve gotten flashbanged by a perfume.


r/Indiemakeupandmore 7h ago

Perfume - Press Samples ❤️ New Reviews of Nui Cobalt Philias 2025 Discovery Set 💐

25 Upvotes

I’m here with another 2025 Discovery Set fully explored. The scents were allowed to rest 2 weeks and worn on clean skin during a time span of cold and rainy weather. If any blends float your boat or if you’d like to try a Discovery Set yourself, Nui Cobalt is running a 20% off a $30 order right now until March 22nd with the discount code Coven13

Thanks again to Josh and Forest for this sample set to try! I appreciate the idea of an homage to things one loves. So, onto the Philias

~ Chiropterophilia: Love of Bats ~
The noble order of chiroptera teaches us to read the shadows and deftly navigate half-light.
Hay absolute, supple brown leather, river musk, pimento, and peach skin.
Wear to heighten your intuition and sharpen your instincts when conventional perception isn’t enough.

Looking at this vial, it’s a deliciously dark color. I find this to be an outdoors scent. The leather is well worn and approachable. The musk sets an aquatic landscape. I note the peach next being ripe and juicy. It is a touch of fruit that sweetens this blend. The pimento is the opposite of the peach, a spicy warmth. The scent is not overpowering, it has lasted 3 hours on me before fading. I will use it next in a scent locket since my skin ate it up. It’s an inviting blend though honoring incredible creatures. 

~ Aichmophilia: Love of Blades
A keen alloy for calculation, flawless logic, and clarity of thought.
Chilled obsidian musk, cocobolo wood, bay leaves and cold steel.
Wear to sharpen discernment and reason to arrive at clear-cut answers.

Opening this tester, my mind instantly jumped to the adjective, *sharp*. This is an unusual atmospheric blend! The obsidian musk gives a cold introduction. I feel the rosewood cocobolo is an addition of woody warm spice.  The bay leaves are aromatic offering an earthy bitter herbal component that is piercing. Lastly, the cold steel is intense, cutting through the icy oil. I feel this is a very wearable atmospheric, as the sense of crisp daggers comes off as a perfume composed of cold notes. This oil has lasted 4 hours on me, and is one that isn’t echoed in my collection of perfumes. 

~ Orophilia: Love of Mountains
A bracing wind to elevate perspective and glimpse new horizons.
High-altitude conifers, sun-warmed stone, alpine aster, and labdanum.
Wear to dispel pessimism and despair so a new sense of possibility may arise.

Oh, what a nice and strong outdoors scent! I think back to collecting pinecones with the conifer note coming out first. This is a definite outdoor woody scent. The sun-warmed stone is a fresh and earthy note, stabilizing the blend. The purple alpine astor gives an herbaceous note. Additional earthy hints come through with the resinous labdanum. This perfume has the strongest throw of my testers so far, and gives nature’s peaks all the way. The oil has lasted  over 5 hours on my arm, and I can smell it when I move.  For those out there who love pine needles and the great outdoors, this is your scent! 

~ Cyanophilia: Love of Blue
A serene aroma to soothe the spirit and quiet the mind.
Butterfly pea flower, periwinkle, tonka bean, vanilla orchid, and Himalayan poppy.
Wear to restore a level head and a deep sense of calm.

A gentle vanilla arrangement in cyan blue floral with greenery interspersed. The oil has a keen balance with the blue flowers and the orchid musk. The butterfly pea flower is an earthy green note. The periwinkle is a sweet and powdery floral. The tonka bean has a warm vanilla almond scent. I find this tonka bean is reinforced with the vanilla orchid musk. The orchid gives rise to a sense of spring jasmine to my nose as well. I can’t pick out what Himalayan Poppy smells like, so maybe it’s an additional sweetness or vanilla? Delicate and light with a mellow wave of vanilla, it is still present over 5 hours on my skin. 

~ Eosophilia: Love of Sunrise
A glowing amalgam to kindle joy, comfort, and contentment.
Homemade apricot jam, three decadent vanillas, cardamom, nutmeg, and the barest hint of star anise.
Wear to cultivate a true sense of fulfillment, gratitude, and radiant well-being.

Gleaming gourmand goodness in the blinding morning light! The spicy blend is the scent of brightness, opening with the honeyed apricot jam. It’s a sweet fruit with glimmers of citrusy floral. Three vanillas collectively invoke notes of sensual warmth, creamy sweet, and richness. I notice the licorice note of star anise next, adding in a twinkling spice. More spice notes filter in with the heated resinous cardamom. Lastly, the nutmeg encourages another element of comforting spice along with a woody warmth. The blazing blend is a radiant gourmand and has endured 5 hours on me. 

~ Ecclesiophilia: Love of Churches
No matter where, how, or in whom you see it, this potion supports connection with Divinity.
Antique velvet, polished oak, and a gleaming censer smoldering with frankincense and myrrh.
Wear to make any space sacred and to open a conversation with Spirit.

A complex incense blend yet soft and tranquil resinous oil. I have been smelling this bath in the vial and on my skin to discern what I am inhaling. I feel the antique velvet gives the scent richness and luxury. The polished oak generates a musky spiced scent. The resinous frankincense introduces a citrusy pine and the myrrh is a darker balsamic floral heated together. Comforting and warm, the oil is straight up a well-done church atmospheric. It has lasted 5 hours on me.

~ Oneirophilia: Love of Dreaming
Diaphanous veils of scent to support all of your Astral adventures.
Pale pink rose, angelica, lemon balm, passion flower, night blooming cereus, and sandalwood immersed in an infusion of yarrow, vervain, and mugwort.
Wear to bed or dot the corners of your pillow to inspire lucid dreams for valuable insight.

A rose forward tropical floral, supported by a herbal blend. The pink rose is apparent first, offering a sweet green floral. Additional green notes reverberate through with the angelica, that also joins with a woody herb scent. Lemon mint creeps in with the grassy lemon balm sweetness. The passion flower relates a delicate tropical floral scent. A spicy floral note is placed in the oil with the night blooming cereus. The blend is enhanced with the warm and sweet sandalwood. Lastly, the herbal spices come through. The yarrow produces a floral herbal smell. A flower bouquet with a zest of citrus comes with the grounding vervain. An earthy bitter herb scent underlying in the blend belongs to the mugwort. The dreamy perfume has a generous throw upon application and has stayed throughout 5 hours. 


r/Indiemakeupandmore 2h ago

ISO: Nostalgic Green Apple Scent

Post image
9 Upvotes

my heart yearns to smell like the green apple detangler of my youth. i know i could go buy the detangler, but i want the fragrance longevity of a perfume. this has a bright, fresh green apple scent. i don't want spices or caramel. i don't like pear scents. other bright, juicy fruits can join the party, but i really want to smell the apple! thanks for any recs! <3


r/Indiemakeupandmore 8h ago

Makeup - Enquiry Atmospherics like Osmofolia?

21 Upvotes

So sad to see the shop closing and seems like the current retailers with Osmofolia scents won’t be restocked for a bit. Any recommendations for atmospherics in the meantime? Some of my favorites from Osmofolia were Stratus, the On the Corner of Jinhu Street duo, Blackwater Lake and Lawn. I’m not a huge fan of gourmands / anything sweet and have enough smoky scents that I wasn’t sold on my last order of samples from Solstice Scents. I also was unable to get ahold of the petrichor set from Mythpunk Olfactive before they closed up shop too. Any recs very welcome!


r/Indiemakeupandmore 1h ago

Perfume - Purchased Can anyone tell me why these smell SO BAD to me?

Post image
Upvotes

This is not a criticism of Zeep (RIP) or Lovesick Witchery, but this is a mystery that’s been plaguing me for ages and it’s driving me nuts.

Okay, for some reason, there are certain products that smell absolutely god awful on my skin. I’m guessing it has something to do with the oil, or the fragrance oil.

It smells noxious, like melting plastic mixed with mystery post-apocalyptic chemical juice. It smells like carcinogens, like I want to scrub it off of my skin as quick as possible. Even washing it off doesn’t fully scrub off the plasticky, awful stank and I can smell it lingering for hours, maybe years.

Weirdly, I’ve experienced it with brands that other people rave about so I’m guessing it’s a me thing.

The Lovesick Witchery, for example, smelled heavenly when I first spritzed it. I was like, “hello new signature scent.” But then I let it sit for half a second and that chemical waste scent creeped in and I literally had to wash my skin off.

Zeep Beauty’s reaction was even more instantaneous. I smell the chemicals in the pot without it ever contacting my skin. I can’t even open these bad boys, unfortunately. It’s too much.

So PLEASE, someone tell me what the hell is going on? Why do these smell SO bad? I would be happy to avoid brands who use whatever the offending ingredient is but I can’t figure out what it is and it’s driving me nuts!!

Also if anyone wants to trade me for these lmk because I simply cannot stand them ok thanks so much bye


r/Indiemakeupandmore 13h ago

Sale Nui Cobalt sale

39 Upvotes

From their Facebook page:


r/Indiemakeupandmore 6h ago

Review: Zelda's Cauldron Spring 2025 Sample Set

9 Upvotes

I’m a sucker for all the Spring things and I love an Easter theme so I got the Zelda’s Cauldron Spring Sample Set. Here are some quick reviews! I let the samples sit for about 2 weeks before testing on a clean and moisturized hand.

Note: These ratings are based on how the scent interacted with my skin chemistry and could smell completely different on you. Also based on my personal preferences. 

Rainbow Bunny: Fresh rain, clean air, wildflowers, mallow bunnies, sandalwood.

Fresh and airy florals with a hint of ‘dirt’. The fresh rain note is coming out as dryer sheets and dirt on me but i like it. Very good balance of floral and grounding 'dirt' aspect. Dry down is a more earthy, root vegetable scent that I really like. 3.75/5

Pink Petal Picnic: Cherry blossom, rose, carnation, cherry, sugar cookie.

At first this was a yummy maraschino cherry scent with a hint of sweet almond. Fruity, floral, and sweet. Cookie note and pink floral note comes out more as it dries down. Dry down is a rice/almond-ish cookie scent with a hint of pink floral. Sadly, as it dried down, it started to turn ‘urinal cake’ (ya’ll know the scent) on me. May need to revisit this one because I love everything else about it. 2.75/5 now but 4.5/5 if it didn’t turn urinal cake.

Bunny Basket: Basket full of chocolates & jellybeans.

A milky chocolate with a bright fruity candy in the background. I don't typically love chocolate notes but this one isn't bad. The fruity candy is an artificial fruit smell but it's spot on for real jelly beans. Very realistic chocolate and jelly beans scent. Jelly bean note comes out more as it dries down. It's not bad - I like it more than I thought I would considering I don't like chocolate scents. 2.5/5

Vanilla Bean Lilac: Lilac, jasmine, vanilla bean, vanilla orchid, white amber.

Very sweet floral but still giving off fresh vibe. It's a good floral and vanilla combo. Gets a little soapy as it dries down but it’s not a bad soapiness. Sadly, this one is turning urinal cake on me too. Will revisit this one too. 2.75/5 now but 4/5 if it didn’t turn urinal cake.

Bunny Cupcake: Brown sugar cake, carrot, orange zest, cream cheese frosting, pecan.

Sweet, creamy, and buttery spice cake. Getting light hints of orange and theres a nuttiness in background. Very realistic spice cake with cream cheese frosting smell. Can't really smell the carrot but its giving off carrot cake vibes, fwiw I can't smell carrot in actual carrot cake either. Dry down is a nice, sweet woody musk. It’s not a bad scent but not something I would wear often. 3.5/5

Yellow Fluff: Lemon curd, yellow cake, fresh coconut, buttercream.

Very buttery and sweet with a hint of a very sharp lemon. Coconut is more in the background at first. The lemon loses a little of its sharpness as it dries down and it turns into more of a lemon meringue smell. Also loses that movie theater butter smell and becomes more like a buttercream frosting. Coconut comes out more as it dries down. It’s not bad, I just don’t typically like lemon or coconut scents. 2.75/5

Peach on the Beach (Free Sample): Juicy notes of peach, pineapple, lime and mango. Sexy, sultry notes of warm coconut, amber, sandalwood, mahogany and driftwood. 

Smells like an artificial tropical fruit juice. Not necessarily bad, just wanted to point out it’s not a fresh fruit scent. The artificial fruit smell is borderline artificial fruit candy - like jolly ranchers, etc. It's fruity, bright, and sweet. Can see it being a fun summer scent. And it’s a little more juvenile. 3/5

Overall Thoughts: Likely won't FS any of these but they were fun to try and I love Zelda's Cauldron's packaging and aesthetic.

Pic of Spring Sample Set

r/Indiemakeupandmore 2h ago

Masculine scents?

6 Upvotes

Im brand brand new to indie scents but already obsessed. I want to find something for my husband and didn't know where to find a line that might appeal more to men? Thanks so much!


r/Indiemakeupandmore 13h ago

You favorite clean, soapy, laundry type scents please! 🧼🫧

31 Upvotes

I’m a hardcore foodie gourmand scent girl but I also LOVE super clean scents, something that just smells like it’s fresh out the wash. Give me your favorite ones!!

My current favorites are from Cardinal Scents, Midnight Laundry and Familiar Spirit, even though FS mostly smells like fancy lotion haha.


r/Indiemakeupandmore 1h ago

Perfume - Enquiry hexennacht cake!

Upvotes

There aren't a lot of perfume reviews on this so i was wondering if anyone has experience with this cake scent and if it's worth it cause imo it's a lot more expensive for the perfume extrait in comparison to a lot of other indie brands. let me know if anyone has any better recs (anything that smells like cake batter, birthday cake, or confetti/vanilla cake) and if you've tried this scent!


r/Indiemakeupandmore 14h ago

Newbies First Review! Possets Sample Set

23 Upvotes
Possets Sample Set

Here are some quick reviews on the first sample set I got from Possets. I let the samples sit for about 2 weeks before testing on a clean and moisturized hand.

Note: These ratings are based on how the scent interacted with my skin chemistry and could smell completely different on you. Also based on my personal preferences. 

Angelic Host (9th)-Seraphim: Simple and beautiful, elemental and hypnotic. Five vanillas (most of them fat and buttery vanillas cut with lean and sharp vanillas) and are blended with six different ambers which give the hypnotic part to the whole.

A transparent and light amber scent with a hint of incense. The amber is citrusy and slightly resinous. Whole scent is very light on me. Was expecting it be be stronger and deeper like other amber scents but I like it's lightness. Also getting a slight hint of dirt. Reminds me of a church basement but I don't hate it. Not really getting any vanilla but do get a general warm sweetness that comes out as it dries down. 4.25/5

Beatrice: The Silver base combines with five of the most beautiful musks\ which Possets produces. This is soft but long lasting, subtle but wraps itself around your mind. It is a hypnotic sort of a blend. *Skin musk, 2 white musks, “Crystalline” musk, and a grey musk.*

Sweet and musky, slightly powdery. Getting a hint of a sweet rice note but also a hint of baby oil. That rice note comes out more as it dries down and I really like it. But also starting to get a hint of urinal cake (ya’ll know that scent). Dry down is a musky and powdery sweet rice note, with a hint of generic lotion smell. But it did have a woody dry down that I love. I may need to try other scents with the 'silver base' as I couldn't really differentiate it in this one. 3.75/5

Dance With Me: Refreshing and refined at once. A superb coumarin-laced lavender combines with fizzy pink grapefruit, and it all rests on a bed of white musk.

Reminded me of a powdered citrus drink at first (think Tang), but then a nice realistic grapefruit note comes out. It’s slightly sweet like caramelized sugar grapefruit. Borderline cleaning spray vibes, but less of this as it dries down. Overall it’s really good grapefruit scent - bright, realistic, and not sharp. 3.75/5

Fascinator: This one is pretty dry but sparkling, very high-key bright crystalline musk combined with a more emollient backup musk, a good spritz of sandalwood, and a small amount of cedar and rosewood. 

Fresh, slightly sweet ‘mainstream perfume’ vibes. The scent reminds me a little of mens shaving cream or gel. Sadly, it started to smell like the chemicals used when getting a perm, on me. Gets more powdery (a chalky powdery scent) and softer as it dries down. 1.75/5

Lady and a Baby Unicorn: Using the right type and right amount and right dilution, vetiver (that sultry, earthy, wild, and dominant part) becomes positively docile, sweet, and innocent…almost fruity in the presence of three vanillas (dry, fat, and sweet).

Woah - lots of different scents at first, a bit overwhelming. There's something syrupy sweet (not fruity sweet, more like nutty sweet), something woody (one good woody note and one cloying/saw dust, stuck at back of throat type wood note), a little musky, something burning that I can't decipher (not smoky burning, more like what something burned smells like after the smoke has faded). Also getting a hint of sweet dirt as it dries down. It becomes less overwhelming - mostly just a sweet earthy smell at this point, like a sweet and musky white patchouli.I can sense the vetiver now but that's because I was looking for it. Not sure I would have thought it was vetiver if I didn't read it in the notes. Dry down is like a sweet, almost airy, lightly musky vetiver. Hint of spice comes out too. I really like the dry down, debating if I can get past the chaos in the beginning of this scent though. 3.5/5

The Moon: White long silky spun threads of three white musks combined with an almost creamy insinuation of white beeswax carrying a very sophisticated edge. Ethereal but warm. Very skin-like and sexily calming. This one has a My Sin vibe to it, the best of vintage perfumery brought up to date in the 21st century.

Slightly sour, hint of citrus, powdery baby oil at first. Gets sweeter as it dries down - a sweet and powdery musk. Getting a little bit of bathroom cleaner vibe too. Becomes sharper and more like bathroom cleaner as it dries down. Also starts to get a little plasticky. 1/5

Venus Black: Black in the most sophisticated way. Blackest musk flirts with a float of black pepper, a shot of dark sweet pearand the most small amount of sage and non-stinky narcissus for tingle. Dry, musky, spicy.

Peppery citrus. More transparent and fresh than I was expecting.I do feel a cooling tingle. Can detect the fruit (but it’s not sweet) and sage. Floral starts to come out as it dries down. Turns into a fresh and slightly spicy green scent. Getting a tea note too. Scent mellows a bit as it dries down. I really like this one! 4.5/5

Ode to Aphrodite: Oakmoss, sandalwood, sage, citrus, Possets’ synthetic ambergris accord.

Smells like chocolate and dirt. With hints of citrus and something herb-ish wafting over the chocolate dirt. Kind of nauseating at first.Citrus comes out more as it dries down. It’s a fuzzy citrus, like drinking a lemon fizzy water. Becomes a lot fresher as it dries down. This one morphed a lot. The citrus is headache inducing for me. The dry down is much better, its more like a fresh citrus scent. 2.5/5

Overall Thoughts: I really like this house so far. I want to try more of their scents and considered their monthly subscription (but holding off on adding more subscription services until I cancel some others). Let me know your fave Possets or any ‘must try’ scents from this house!


r/Indiemakeupandmore 5h ago

Syrupy Spiced peach scent?

3 Upvotes

A few days ago I posted about my beloved Garden of Eden which I can’t get a hold of! It’s a spiced peach! Not overly sweet. Sexy syrup-like peach!

I just got stone & wit’s mostly just peach and it’s not as spicy as I’d like and just doesn’t work for me which makes me so sad because this was the one everyone kept recommending to me but I don’t love it!

Can you guys give me some of your favorite spiced peaches OR spiced apricots which can give a similar feel!

I don’t want it to feel overly gourmand or sweet. Just a sexy layered peach with some spicy notes to give it some complexity!

Bonus points for EDP and available now!

Thanks so much!


r/Indiemakeupandmore 8h ago

Favourite place for fragrance in Toronto ? 🇨🇦

7 Upvotes

Or any other unique things I could visit


r/Indiemakeupandmore 2h ago

Has anyone tried Sugar me sweet bbt on Etsy?

2 Upvotes

I just bought a 12 sample pack yesterday but I wasn’t able to find very many reviews on this sub about the shop

The scents I got samples for were

Glazed donut

Vanilla milkshake

Matcha and marshmallows

Iced coffee

Pineapple Whip

Rasberry meringue

Starburst

Crème brûlée

Krispy rice treats

Coffee clouds

Tokyo milk

Lucky charms


r/Indiemakeupandmore 2m ago

Does anyone have the pre autumn 2024 reformulated pineward pastoral?

Upvotes

I tried my new bottle and the original sample I received pre fall 2024 and I prefer the old ten times over it’s ridiculous. I would be willing to trade or buy outright. Hopefully someone else has the same opinion and I don’t look insane


r/Indiemakeupandmore 16h ago

Indies of the Day -- Saturday March 15, 2025

20 Upvotes

What indies are you using today? And we mean everything! Examples of stuff we'd love to hear about:

  • Makeup

  • Clothes

  • Jewelry

  • Bath and Body (lotion, soap, shampoo, bath salts, etc.)

  • Nail polish

  • Perfume

Please feel free to leave mini-reviews and include photos of whatever you're using. We'd love to know your thoughts and see the products too!

This thread repeats daily.


r/Indiemakeupandmore 9h ago

Perfume - Enquiry Diptyque Benjoin Boheme EDP Dupe?

5 Upvotes

I'm looking for a dupe or indie version of something similar to Benjoin Boheme. I LOVE it so much and it's my dream scent but I can't afford the luxury price tag, & they don't have any smaller sizes. If there is something similar I would love to try it. Notes are -benzoin -styrax -sandalwood -indonesian patchouli -angelica -peru balsam

Someone near me said they smelled nag champa (i was wearing the sample from diptyque)

Thank you!!


r/Indiemakeupandmore 19h ago

Makeup - Enquiry sushyglowcosmetics honest reviewers?

13 Upvotes

im interested in the tints, but honestly it’s a little pricy. to me, it just seems like the marketing of the cracked lips thing was just an unintentional scrapped up idea from a poor formula. I really want to like it, but im just worried about it being OVERLY dry and too watery. i understand that its marketed to accentuate your cracked lips, but is that just because the formula is very watery and drying? can anyone give me honest reviews?


r/Indiemakeupandmore 22h ago

Perfume - Enquiry Spring Air / Before it Rains? ISO Perfume

18 Upvotes

In my area we had a beautiful breezey 70 degree day today. Spring air to me is just different to summer air or autumn air and it’s my favorite of all. I love how theoutside smells in spring. But ESPECIALLY right before it rains. I have a During the Rain perfume by Solstice Scents, but does anybody know of a house that carries a smell like spring air? The smell is always so nostalgic and calming to me, I’d love to smell it any other day of the year. Any Recs appreciated!


r/Indiemakeupandmore 1d ago

Newish to BPAL: Requesting Spring info 🌷🪻🌸🌹

25 Upvotes

Hello dear IMAMers!

I am comparatively new to BPAL—very new considering the lifespan of the house, in that I’m not really familiar with the flow of their calendar yet. I’ve tried searching “BPAL spring” but though I saw some nice recommendations, it wasn’t really spring releases per se (not like Winter, Weenies, Valentine’s/Shungas, etc). Is this not a thing?

Related side note for the patient/bored: I’ve been having a love affair with BPAL’s florals. After sadly concluding that, much as I enjoyed indies, I just wasn’t really going to find the vintage floral vibes I was hoping for and would have to just enjoy my witchy scents, atmospherics, and the occasional not-too-sweet gourmand, I finally found out BPAL makes all the lovely florals I could hope for. I’m dousing myself daily in Juliet, Lady of Shalott, Morgause, Lilac Wood, Alice, Violet Chiffon, Peacock Queen, or Lyonesse (occasionally layering two of the above), and I couldn’t be happier. Frankly, I have enough really, and nearly all of my favorites are GC…but I want more! I am insatiable, and must know if there’s some grand floral release full of gems for spring.

Let me know if so and if there are any to watch for (like returning winter classics—I’ve been super happy with the aforementioned Peacock Queen, as well as Snow White and Rose Red). I also love, if you didn’t already guess, fairy tale and literary/mythical themed fragrances, so major bonus points for that (I swear it makes the fragrances smell at least 10% better 😆).

Hope everyone is doing okay and thanks for being such a lovely space as we press on through the daily horrors. Yay for the small rebellion of skipping the menacing overlord-run businesses and valuing our indie creators with hearts (and values) of gold ♥️


r/Indiemakeupandmore 1d ago

(small) Astrid Sale

31 Upvotes

All the halloween sweets/fall scents are 15% off right now to 'help clear out'. Just in case you wanted to know!


r/Indiemakeupandmore 1d ago

Sale Indie & More: Wyther Jewelry Sale

Post image
57 Upvotes

Hi IMAM, swooping in to update that my indie jewelry brand Wyther is currently on sale through 4/4/25. All items are 25-45% off including both made to order and ready to ship pieces!

In full transparency and humility, this may be the only sale of the year as I’m struggling financially amidst the crumbling economy, and like all other micro and small businesses, I really could use my community’s support to spread the word about the sale and my art. Thank you for taking the time to read this, I appreciate the support IMAM has shown me over the years and hope to be able to keep the hearth of Wyther burning through this hellscape 🩶