Friday, May 27, 2011

The Zen of Bee Keeping

Zen bee keeping in Hong Kong, this little video is instantly calming and uplifting.

Nokia - HK Honey from The Silentlights on Vimeo.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

How to use Illuminated Solid Perfume


Lovely Grace of London Make Up Girl has done a little You Tube video about how to use my solid natural perfumes. I've pasted it here for you to have a look-see, please share and comment if you feel inspired. Don't you just love her accent!

Friday, May 20, 2011

Jeffrey Jones (1947-2011)


Jeffrey Jones, a great talent and titan of the Fantasy Sci-Fi arts community has departed from our Earthy realm. He leaves an amazing legacy of artwork behind him for all of us to continue to appreciate him by during our brief time here. My particular favorites the images of women he so beautifully captured. His feel and draftmanship of the female form is quite exquisite.

I never had the opportunity to meet Jeffrey in person, although he was part of the same community of artists as Greg at Comic Con and the Allen Spiegel Fines Arts gang. Jeffrey, along with others like Frank Frazetta, are part of the legacy of master artists who found their niche in the Fantasy and SciFi arenas. Although I am no expert in this field, in my opinion, they were instrumental in the creation of that niche, particularly Frank, which spawned a huge industry. Both Jeffry and Frank have inspired a tremendous amount of artists and will both be remembered with great respect and fondness.

I hope they have both found peace and are still creating magnificent works in the astral.

Drawing ©Jeffrey Jones

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Amberesque


Due to popular demand I introduce to you Aumbre as a liquid perfume. The plan was to release this later in the month, however, I have gotten so many requests that the course has altered.
At the moment Aumbre is available in 1 gram and 7 gram weights as well as in the trio sampler pack. I am planning another format, however, that will depend on if the samples coming this way meet my extremely high criteria. We shall see, a compromise between aesthetics and availability may be in the near future.


Here are the specs on Aumbre, for details on the orchestration please follow this link here on the blog.

Off to Serendip we go and return with natural botanical perfume titled Ambre for my hombre who chants Aum in the morning and at night. The fragrance contains a synergy of twenty different botanical ingredients. The notes are warm, balsamic, sweet, tobacco and a hint incense smoke The feel is nurturing and exotic.


This true natural botanical perfume does not last on the skin like synthetic perfumes or perfumes not labeled correctly. Since this is an "authentic" nature perfume, made without ANY synthetics, isolates or animal ingredients the longevity may only be a short time. The length of evaporation on the skin is different for everyone. On me and some of my clients Aumbre lasts for up to twelve hours, however, this may not be true for you.


This natural perfume was originally created as a signature scent for my husband, artist Greg Spalenka. There are 7 grams by weight of this luxurious fragrance in a French glass flacon. The perfume is purple gift box ready to give a a gift to yourself or someone special. Also included is an 8.5 x 11 printed information paper which is folded and sealed with the signature bee wax seal.


Fragrance Family: Amber Essences: Resin, Wood and Vanilla.


This is a pure vital nature perfume created with essential oils, absolutes and C02 extracts all from the plant world. I combine my essences and accords with organic, beverage grade alcohol. Layer one of the solid illuminated perfumes over this to extend the lasting performance. All items are handcrafted by my own hands in a smoke and pet-free environment.

Photos ©Roxana Villa, Illustration ©Greg Spalenka

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Flower Moon


The moon is currently illuminated in the floral splendor of Spring. Orbiting counter clockwise around the Earth the current full moon phase is ideal for sweeping away all those influences that no longer serve. It is also an ideal time to visualize yourself protected and tuning into your intuition.

Naming the full moons is a tradition seen in various cultures throughout the world, although the most popular stems from the Farmers Almanac of 1792. The "Full Flower Moon" refers to the bounty of flowers currently trending in the Springtime of the Northern Hemisphere.


I've chosen to formerly launch and encode the new Page47 liquid with the imprint of this illuminated Moon, although the perfume is associated with a sunshine and the beach. I'll be putting the glass jar with this first edition out this evening so that it is infused with this evenings silvery lunar luminescence.

"Page 47 is a playful amber laced with candied orange blossoms and honeyed jasmine.
How lovely to have a fresh amber option for the summertime! "
Trish, ScentHive

Master Gregorio is still finishing up the image which will ultimately illuminate Page 47, stay tuned for that little visual treat which will eventually be included with all order of the new fume.

Of all the perfumes I've created I find I reach for Page 47 more often than any other, with Chaparral solid a close second. I put a small drop of the new liquid on yesterday and found it to open very sweet with a burst of citrus which mellowed in about five minutes moving into the rich floral and amber notes.

"Oh! How I love Page 47 solid and just when I thought it could not get better Roxana has released the liquid version. Page 47 liquid opens up with a bright citrus scent of oranges warmed in the sun. After a few moments the incandescent jasmine sambac and ylang ylang poke their heads out to shine in the sun and while playing in the warmth of the labdanum and the vintage mysore sandalwood. As the drydown continues the beauty of the seaweed luminates giving Page 47 the depth of the ocean. Page 47 is one of the most stunning perfumes: luminous, feminine and refreshing. Perfect for summer or anytime of the year."
~ Angie

Page 47 is one of the most popular perfumes with customers but not the fragrance bloggers. I believe this is because the bloggers tend to be more interested in fragrances that are ground breaking and unusual. Thus I have included two impressions above, one from Trish of Scent Hive and one from Angie, a loyal customer. If you have impressions to share please include them in the comments.


The synergy for both the solid and the liquid is completely botanical, although there is some sea shell and seaweed. There are nineteen individual notes derived from resins, flowers, rinds, seeds and woods along with my Faux Ambergris accord which is composed of eight essences. The Faux Ambergris accord is featured in many other illuminated perfumes as well. I also used a handmade tincture of vanilla orchid beans from Tahiti.


Where GreenWitch is of the Sea, Page47 is of the sandy beach at the waters edge. The aroma reminds me of days long ago when I was a junior lifeguard during the summer at Zuma beach in Malibu. There is a particular aroma that my skin would take on from the salt water drying on my skin from the sun, that is the aroma of Page 47.


Intending a radiant full moon with the scent of long Summer days spent on the sandy shores of the Pacific. Many thanks to both Angie and Trish for providing a quote. More posts about Page 47 here at the journal: Page by Page, Sweet Serenity, Page 47, and Turn the Page.

Images: Greg Spalenka, Radiant Moon by Edward Robert Hughes, Page47 liquid flacon and vanilla bean photos by Roxana Villa, The Piper and the Nymphs by John Reinhard Weguelin

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Heaven and Earth

Salvia apiana, Sacred White sage

It's a glorious day in the woodland, the native sages in the garden are the top bloomers at the moment. All the rain in the autumn and winter helped them to get well established. I'm in awe at how big some of the plants have gotten and inspired to plant many more. Autumn is the ideal time to plant California natives because after flowering in the Spring they move into their "dormant" sleep cycle. This is opposite from all the typical non native plants sold at the nurseries.

Quercus agrifolia

The three of us were in the kitchen when I looked out the window and noticed two red tail hawks circling in the cerulean sky. The amazing color deep blue shade of the celestial heavens beckoned me outside as I remembered to take a look at the Matilija Poppies. The large papier-mache flowers of these native poppies look a bit like fried eggs, they are quite spectacular. This will be the first time they bloom since I planted them about two years ago. I am so excited I can barely stand it.

Matilija Poppy, Romneya coulteri

The garden is now starting to look like an authentic, native, sagebrush yard. Every time I go out there I am filled with joy. The aroma is woody and sagey and the most prominent sound is the hum of the honey bees along with birdsong.

Salvia clevelandii, Musk Sage or Salvia leucophylla Purple Sage (?)

Artemesia californica

Some of the early blooming natives, like the Ceanothus are starting to shift from flowering to the berry/seed phase. The flowers provide nectar and pollen while the seeds are food for the birds.

Salvia mellifera, Black Sage, Salvia clevelandii, Musk Sage or Salvia leucophylla Purple Sage (?)

I have planted so many different sages in the garden that I can't quite tell from these photos which is which. If you take a stroll in the garden with me I can tell you which one it is. The Salvia clevelandii has an amazing musky odor. I love the smell of all of them but that clevelandii is really interesting. After I've been meandering amongst the plants I waft the most beautiful natural sage perfume, which lasts through out the day. The honey bee botanical perfume I've been working on has a thread of sage in it sticthed with wood and honey notes.

As soon as the Matilija poppies bloom I'll be back with more photos, perhaps as early as tomorrow!

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Page by Page


Here are the first set of photos for the Page 47 botanical perfume in hte new liquid format. I'm doing a few more today and will have the illumination by Maestro Spalenka to share soon too.



"Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

I used shells, vanilla beans and jasmine flowers in the imagery since those are all notes within the perfume. The shells are for the "beachy" quality, which reminds me of those youthful days spent on Malibu Beach during the summer as a junior lifeguard. The aroma is how my skin would smell after a day of sun, sand and surf. Not sure if this aspect will be revealed on others skin, I'm super curious, thus please let me know either by leaving a comment or sending me a private note.




Although the nectarous, amber fragrance doesn't officially debut until the Full Flower Moon on May 17th, I've started listing the various sizes it in the E-shop for those who desire it right away.


There are more photos from yesterdays shoot on my Flickr collection, I took quite a lot.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Sweet Serenity


"If there's a book you really want to read but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it." ~Toni Morrison

Page 47, in all her abundant floral grandeur is back. I'm thrilled, as this is my very favorite of all the illuminated perfumes I've created. Appropriately so, since the fragrance was formulated to my specifications a couple years ago as a celebratory Birth day perfume. Read more about Page 47 solid at these two links here at the journal:

Page 47
Turn the Page


"I know every book of mine by its smell,
and I have but to put my nose between the pages
to be reminded of all sorts of things."

~George Robert Gissing


The liquid will be making an appearance soon, although I haven't decided exactly when, need to consult the stars. One of the best aspects of being an uber niche, independent creator is that you can make your own decisions and be spontaneous.


I just realized that there is no illumination to accompany Page 47, hmmm, must speak with Master Gregorio and get on that right away.

Photos and images ©RoxanaVilla

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Make it Real


"Drawing is putting a line round an idea." ~Henri Matisse

Here at the little house in the woods we are quite rich with ideas, on a daily basis. The only challenge is funding these creative ideas that flows endlessly from our minds. The list I have for perfumes and their marketing is quite long, in some cases they have been hibernating for twelve years, waiting for their moment.

A pile of rocks ceases to be a rock
when somebody contemplates it with the idea of a cathedral in mind.
~Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Today I share one little idea that didn't need funding, just some extra time. It is the new handout for the solid perfumes and I'm super happy with it. The design is a bit more sophisticated and harkens back to when I did letterpress printing and the use of ding bats for borders. More visual upgrades our on the way as new products are on the horizon.

Monday, May 2, 2011

Illuminated Perfume Reviews


Here is a list of reviews and such, organized by botanical natural perfume name, it will be updated regularly. If I am missing one of your favorites, please let me know.

IMPROMPTU 1st edition
The Non-Blonde

VERA
Perfume Smellin' Things VERA: May Flowers, Madam
Trish at Scent Hive
Blogdorf Goodman

AURORA liquid
Fragrance Bouquet

VESPERTINA liquid
Fragrance Bouquet
Scent Hive: Vespertina™

VESPERTINA solid and liquid
Perfume Smellin' Things VESPERTINA: Perfume, Art & Music




Roxana Illuminated Perfume
May 2010 issue of C Magazine, pg 54
Perfume Smellin’ Things
Memory and Desire: Perfume in a Poem Project
Memory and Desire: Entirely Green
Perfume Shrine
The Non-Blonde: Part One
The Non-Blonde: Part Two
Holistic Beekeeping with Illuminated Perfume at the Etsy blog

SIERRA SOLID GOLD
Perfume Shrine
The Frisky Blog



CHAPARRAL
A Real Bodice Ripper, Perfume Smellin' Things
Creating Chaparral® Fragrantica
Trish at Scent Hive

"Q"
Topanga Messenger: The Oaky Scent of Philanthropy
Perfume Smellin' Things
Q is featured at the Examiner.com - USA

PHOENIX MYSTER
Perfume Smellin' Things

BLOSSOM Eau de Cologne
Tom at Perfume Smellin' Things

LYRA
Find a list by following this link here at the journal.
Scent Hive
The Pink Room

ROSA & SIERRA
Indie Perfumes

CIMBALOM liquid
Perfume Smellin' Things



GRACING the DAWN
Beth at The Cleveland Examiner
Donna at Perfume Smelling Things
Trish at Scent Hive
Lucy at Indie Perfumes
Elena at Perfume Shrine
and
Ida at CaFleurBon

GREEN WITCH liquid
The Windesphere Witch
Perfume Smellin' Things
Scent Hive

GREEN WITCH solid
The Windesphere Witch
Perfume Smellin' Things
Scent Hive

To BEE
The Perfume Magazine
Tom at Perfume Posse
Lucy at Indie Perfume
Trish at Scent Hive
Donna at Perfume Smellin' Things
Margi MacDonald at Perfume Pharmer
Jade Shutes at the IDA blog
Elena at Perfume Shrine
Now Smell This
Eyeliner on a Cat



HEDERA HELIX
Donna at Perfume Smellin' Things
Perfume devoted to PEACE: Impressions of Peace
Memory and Desire
Perfume Smellin' Things
Scent Hive
The Non-Blonde: Impressions of Peace
Indie Perfumes