Figure 1 Noir Autumn GIVEAWAY

To celebrate the grandeur of Mother Earth as we enter the luminous season of gold I have a luxury giveaway for you of Figure 1: Noir Solid Perfume in the Round Compact of your choice!

If you aren’t familiar with Figure 1: Noir and the benefits and plant perfume, test it out in our super cute solid perfume sample sets. Here's a quote from a customer:

"You have outdone yourself with this fragrance!
Each morning I put the scent on my wrists, tracing the veins there that look like roots,
and I am reminded of my rootedness to the earth.
Such a gift.  Thank you!"
~ Sarah

Figure 1: Noir contains notes of the wet mossy earth found in an ancient cemetery in Prague where the bones of alchemists lay restless and waiting. Leaves, roots and woods thickly braided with enchantments invoked amongst creatures roaming wild. Lush, mouth watering fruits picked just before ripening when a hint of the sour is a perfect contrast to the impending, yet hidden sweetness of human skin.

TO ENTER via Instagram
1. Follow @illuminatedperfume (we will check)
2. Like the giveaway photo here
3. Tag friends in separate comments {the more friends you tag the better chance you have to win}
4. Bonus Entry #1: share the instagram post to your story and tag @illuminatedperfume

If you do not have an instagram account then you may enter by creating a Figure 1: Noir Pin Board on Pinterest, OR do both!!

TO ENTER via Pinterest
1. Create a board on Pinterest that either evokes the essence of Figure 1 Noir perfume

Feel free to use any imagery from the my site, this journal, Greg's site, etc. If you need inspiration there is the Figure 1 Noir Lookbook at my Figure 1 Noir pin board.

2. Submit your beautiful creation, or creations, via e-mail (roxana at illuminatedperfume.com) with a link to your board by September 22nd at 11:59pm PST

The person who creates the most beautiful board will win their choice of a solid perfume round tin or one of the Eau de Parfum bottles with 6 grams of fragrance.

Fine print 
Giveaway ends on the Autumn Equinox, September 22nd at 11:59pm PST & the Winner will be randomly selected and announced on Wednesday September 25th
Winner will be tagged in our instagram stories and posted here at the journal! Good Luck!! 🍀 👏🏼
Must have a US mailing address, unless you would like to pay international shipping costs.

A Feature and Perfume Course Giveaway

Eden Botanicals has an interview with me on their blog and is hosting a special giveaway of my course with the kit! Details on the giveaway is at the bottom of this post.

Want to learn about authentic botanical perfume, the history of healing and fragrance, alchemy, how to tap into your inner artist and learn to create scented potions from nature? Then don't miss your chance to win free access to the online course, 'Art of Botanical Perfume' created and designed by me for YOU! 

With a value of over $600, this one of a kind, multi-media course was designed with a feast of beautiful imagery along with extensive texts, links to external sources, a slide show, designed handouts, a fragrance wheel, videos and the special kit of 27 essential oils, absolutes and C02 extracts provided by Eden Botanicals.

For your chance to win free access to this course, like EdenBotanicals on Facebook or follow them on Instagram and comment on the 'Art of Botanical Perfume' post on their blog by 12/5/16. One winner will be randomly selected, good luck!!

Vera Anniversary 2015 Winners

Hello dear friends, I have the names of the winners, but first...thank you to every single one of you who participated in this celebration in one way or another. I'm so grateful for each of you!

The PinBoard Winner is Jennifer

See her beautiful board here

I had my husband Greg and daughter Eve each select their favorite and then compared notes. Although all of them were beautiful, all three of us choose Jennifer's as the most evocative board for Vera.

The winners of the Vera mini compact or liquid perfume vial are:

Swan Lake Vintage

Stix and String 

Those two gals were chosen by the randomizer from over 100 different entries, including lots of multiples.

Congrats to the fortunate winners and once again, many thanks to every single person who participated. Please come back again in a few months or so for another much more succinct giveaway.

If you are one of the lucky ones mentioned above please e-mail me with your mailing address: roxana (at) illuminatedperfume.com.

Vera PinBoards

We have seven glorious pinboards for Vera. It's going to be soooo hard to choose one!!! Let me know which one YOU feel represents the fragrance the best.

Brenda:

https://www.pinterest.com/mzbloom/the-essence-of-vera/

Iris:

https://www.pinterest.com/irisdevoogd/where-lavender-takes-me/

Mihaela

https://www.pinterest.com/signorinascent/vera/

Victoria

https://www.pinterest.com/vadelew1491/dreaming-of-vera/

Beatriz

https://www.pinterest.com/beatrizf/vera-perfume-inspired/

Yvonne

https://www.pinterest.com/yahill1/lavender-dreams-vera-by-roxana-illuminated-perfume/

Jennifer

https://www.pinterest.com/lottchenloo/ode-to-vera/

Giveaway Reminder

This is a heads up to remind you of two things....

1. I'm doing a really generous giveaway surrounding Vera, highly recommend you all get on it. I'm giving away a round compact of Vera for the person who creates the most beautiful board on Pinterest about the fragrance. Only one board has been submitted so far (It's a beauty!) thus, if you can create one as pretty your chances of winning are pretty high. Read details about the giveaway and all the different ways to enter here.

2. The Ojai Lavender Festival is this Saturday, although I won't be exhibiting this year, I highly recommend attending and stopping by the perfumery just off the 101 on your way up or down.

VERA Anniversary Celebration 2015

In mid June of 2007 with the help of my friend and graphic designer Terese Harris I launched the website, blog and Vera on the morning of the Ojai Lavender Festival. In honor of that blessed day, lavender and the fabulous journey, here is an anniversary celebration with something for everyone.

The first part of the celebration is a free sample of the Vera natural solid in any order of $25 or over (not including tax or shipping). This is in addition to any other free sample that may be part of your order. To get the sample please include a note with your order upon checkout either via Etsy or my website.

For the second part of the festivities I will be giving away Vera perfume related gifts to four lucky winners. If you are one of the lucky winners you can choose from these two prizes:

- Vera liquid in glass vial, 1 gram by weight
- Vera mini compact solid perfume

- The grand prize is a Vera solid perfume round compact, valued at $195, this prize will go to the most beautiful Pin Board creation, see #1 below.

There are several ways to enter:

(1) PIN BOARD
- Create a board on Pinterest that either evokes the essence of Vera.
- Feel free to use any imagery from the website, this journal, Greg's site, etc. I've started a Vera Pin Board that you can use for reference here. Submit your beautiful creation, or creations, via e-mail (roxana at illuminatedperfume.com) with a link to your board by June 27th 12pm PST.
- The person who creates the most beautiful board will receive the Vera Solid Perfume Round Compact. If you have previously won a Pin It to Win It contest you may enter this contest.

(2) INSTAGRAM

1. Follow @illuminatedperfume on Instagram  2. tag a friend below 3. Repost with @repostapp, tag us @illuminatedperfume and include the hashtags #vera #lavender #giveaway Do all three get THREE entries, or ONE each.

(3) COMMENT
Leave a comment of this blog post and tell me what new product or fragrance you would like to see manifest, ONE entry.

(4) PURCHASE
Any purchase of $25 as of today June 17th, will receive ONE entry. If your entry is for $50 that will count as TWO, if $75 that will count as THREE, etc.

(5) REVIEW
Review one of your favorite Illuminated Perfumes on Make Up Alley, Fragrantica or other major perfume forum (THREE entries per each review). Reviews must be dated June 17, 2015 or there after. Please email me the link to confirm: roxana at illuminatedperfume.com

(6) FOLLOW
Follow this journal or the Roxana Illuminated Perfume on Instagram and you will receive ONE entry per each one. If you already are a follower please let me know.

(7) SHARE
Share this celebration on a social media site with a link to to this post and you will receive ONE entry.

(8) MENTION
Mention this celebration on your blog or any social media platform with a link to to this post and you will receive ONE entry. Please email me the link to confirm: roxana at illuminatedperfume.com

The fine print...

1. The deadline for entering is June 27, 2015 (The day of the Ojai Lavender Festival this year), at 12 pm (PST).
2. Once the pin boards have been looked at all entries will be placed into a random drawing via the "randomizer" and announced on this blog, twitter, instagram and facebook.

Thank you for your support over the years!

Tree of Life Botanical Perfume Draw

Michelyn of the fragrance blog Cafleurebon has published my review of the Beyond Aromatics Conference. There is a giveaway for 1 gram by weight of Hedera helix or Q in a glass vial as part of the article. Please head on over to this link at Cafleurebon if you'd like to enter the contest.

I chose Q and Hedera helix because they are both part of my Tree Ogham series which you can read more about here. Tuesday, September 30th, is the start of the Tree Month of Ivy, Hedera helix.

Argentina vs Germany

Will it be my homeland of Argentina that takes the cup or Germany during this Sundays soccer match? Either way, it's bound to be a fun game and there's always the handsome Lionel Messi. 

Check out the latest post at CaFleurBon by the ever so witty Michelyn Camen where the new edition of Blossom is part of a giveaway related to the big match between Germany and Argentina this Sunday. While I represent the southern hemisphere with Blossom on the other side of the Atlantic and way up north is one of my soul sister perfumers Tanja of April Aromatics representing Germany.

Blossom EdC photo: Roxana Villa, Lionel Messi photo: SoccerKidz

Perfume Feature & Giveaway

Katie over at The Green Product Junkie has a little feature and giveaway happening on her new site. Please head on over if you'd like a chance to win one of my trio sampler sets. If you choose to accept this mission be sure to list three of your all time favorite plant scents.

Here is a link to a review Katie did last year when she first came across my work.

Impromptu Review at APJ

There's an Impromptu review and giveaway over at Australian Perfume Junkies happening right now. Entries Close Sunday 4th May 2014 10pm Australian EST and winners will be announced in a separate post.

The Recruits

I've recruited some ladies with great taste for judging all the beautiful boards that are being submitted for the Pin it to Win it contest. These fine ladies will be evaluating each of the Fig. 1: Noir natural perfume boards and voting for the one that they feel represents the fragrance the best.

Gaia - The Non-Blonde

Jessica - The model of the Figure 1: Noir illuminations 

Lucy - Indie Perfumes

Trish - Scent Hive

Victoria Allen - Artist/Designer 

Victoria - EauMg

Yosh - Perfumer
and
N.H. at Beauty Huile

If you haven't entered this fun contest for a chance to win a bottle of the brand new Figure 1: Noir Eau de Parfum, check out the details here at this post.

Chiaroscuro Giveaway Winners

Thank you to all who graciously shared their input on selecting the best ad image to represent the new Chairoscuro natural perfume! After assembling all the names of those who entered we put the list into the Randomizer gods selected Deborah and Babette as the lucky recipients of the perfume sampler and print.

Greg and I went through all comments posted on the blogs, facebook and private messages. The overall ad image most liked was #1, posted above this paragraph.

Chiaroscuro Ad and Giveaway

Greg, the illuminator of my fragrances, has created a promotional image for Chiaroscuro. Instead of just one, he has been quite abundant and produced five variations. We would love some feedback as to which one you feel represents this light/dark natural perfume the best.

Thus, to tempt you to participate, Greg is offering a signed print and I am offering a solid and liquid sampler as part of a giveaway. To participate please head on over at his Spalenka blog and leave a comment telling us which image best represents the spirit of Chiaroscuro. If you have sampled the perfume tell us when and where you sampled it in your response and you will receive two entries!

The randomizer will choose one winner for the print and one for the sampler. If you prefer the print over the sampler or vice versa be sure to mention that in the comment.

Fan of the Month

In August I had mentioned in a post that if readers commented on a couple of perfume features I would enter them in a draw. Since I became really busy shortly there after, I did not post about this until now.

The randomizer choose Caile as the winner. Congrats! Please let me know if you prefer Hedera helix or Gracing the Dawn?

Due to my negligence in getting back to you all, I've decided to honor each person who was entered with a free Hedera helix or Gracing the Dawn sample in their next order. Just give me a heads up when you do an order.

In other news, I've decided to honor a fan each month with a 20% coupon for the e-shop. To be chosen as "Fan of the Month" I will be mindful of items 1-4 done by fans in September, each candidates name will be entered in the Randomizer, unless one of you stands out.

1) Positive comments on new perfume features in the blogosphere, via twitter and my FB fan page.

2) Blog features.

3) Pins of Illuminated Perfume imagery on Pinterest, extra points if you create an Illuminated Perfume board, or board for one of a perfume in my line.

4) Any other really fantastic way to get the word out about Illuminated Perfume will also be considered, especially since you all are so creative.

To be entered, keep in mind:

- I am pretty much a one person show and sometimes get really, really busy. Thus my responses slow down to a snails pace.

- Please inform me if you do any of the above mentioned 1-4 items either here in a comment or via e-mail: roxana (at) illuminatedperfume (dot) com

- Individuals chosen as Fan of the Month cannot be selected more than once in a calendar year.

A Feature and a Giveaway

 At the Artisan Fragrance Salon in San Francisco I met and spoke with lots of bloggers and writers, one of them was Tama Blough. Tama is the organizer of the SFSniff events, a contributor to the fragrance blog CaFleureBon and has an amazing bee tattoo on her left leg.

While sniffing some of my perfumes at the salon she asked if I had ever been featured on CaFleureBon. One thing led to another and thus, here is the feature along with a giveaway. Many thanks to the principal editor Michelyn Camen and Tama for the suggestion.

 CaFleureBon Profiles in American Perfumery: Roxana Villa of Roxana Illuminated Perfume + Draw

For the Love of Ivy

A bit of poetic entanglement, a Hedera helix review by Donna Hathaway:

" It reminds me of her wonderful sea chypre GreenWitch, but Hedera Helix takes another direction. Instead of being of the sea, it is essentially of the forest, a walk in magical woodland where every step brings up the aroma of the greenery underfoot and the slightest breeze brings the scent of living things in all their mystery”

Read the review in its entirety directly at Perfume Smellin' Things and leave a comment to be entered in a draw for a sample set including Hedera helix the solid and liquid.

Image: La Pia de' Tolomei by Dante Gabriel Rossetti via Artmagick

A clover and one bee

Friend and colleague Jade Shutes has shared impressions of To Bee natural perfume over at her blog and is hosting a giveaway which is open to those all over the world.

Here is a sweet poem by Emily Dickenson, which in her life time foraging honey bees were thought to be males, not females. Thus, instead of the word his substitute her.

XCVII
To make a prairie it takes a clover and one bee, -
One clover, and a bee,
And revery.
The revery alone will do
If bees are few.
His labor is a chant,
His idleness a tune;
Oh, for a bee’s experience
Of clovers and of noon
~ Emily Dickenson

Image:
Flowers of June by Sir Frank Dicksee British, I used this image because Jade was born on June 1st was given the birth name June.

Vera Winners!

Many thanks to everyone who participated in the Anniversary celebration. The numerous entries were submitted into "the randomizer" which choose four lucky recipients of Vera natural perfume. If for some reason any of these individuals fail to respond then I have four more back up winners from the list.

Drum roll please.......the first winner is Diana who loves the combo of citrus and soft floral. Our second winner is Margaret who would love to see something rosey, maybe a bath oil. I'm thinking Margaret should definitely check out Rosa solid natural perfume and Vespertina. The third lucky recipient is Ginger who will probably be really happy with Vera since she likes herbal scents. Forth in our round up is Marija who would like to see Kramer's "The Beach" cologne come to fruition. Hmmm, since I didn't watch Seinfeld I don't know this scent and must do some research as I am very curious! In the meantime my two beachy scents are GreenWitch and Page47...the latter being my personal favorite.

Once again, many thanks to everyone who participated in all the various forms. I am super grateful. I invite you back to upcoming To Bee giveaways which many friends and fans will be hosting throughout July.

Anniversary Celebration!

Four years ago on this day the journal, the website and Vera were launched at the Ojai Lavender Festival. It has been an interesting and wild ride, very much like the childrens book The Wind and the Willows. "Alternately slow moving and fast paced" is how Wikipedia describes the novel with a "mixture of mysticism, adventure, morality, and camaraderie." All this and more can be applied to the last four years of illuminating the world with the how, what, when, where and why of botanical perfume.

To mark the occasion I have some festivities planned which include some play and gifts for the next week as we wind ourselves to the release of the new Bee inspired natural perfume.

The first part of the celebration is a free sample of the Vera natural solid in any order of $25 or over (not including tax or shipping). This is in addition to any other free sample that may be part of your order.


For the second part of the festivities I will be giving away Vera perfume related gifts to four lucky winners. If you are one of the lucky winners you can choose from these prizes:
- 1 gram vial of Vera liquid
- Honey bee pot of Vera solid
- A brand new mini compact with a tin of Vera solid (Pictured below, this is assuming they arrive. My supplier has been a major flake since last November!)


There are several ways to enter:

(1) Leave a comment of this blog post and tell me what new product or fragrance you would like to see manifest, ONE entry.

(2) Any purchase of $25 as of June 15th, will receive ONE entry. If your entry is for $50 that will count as TWO, if $75 that will count as THREE, etc.

(3) Review one of your favorite Illuminated Perfumes on Make Up Alley, Perfume of Life or another major perfume forum (THREE entries per each review). Reviews must be dated June 15, 2011 or there after. Please email me the link to confirm: roxanailluminatedperfume.com

(4) Follow this journal, my tweets or the Roxana Illuminated Perfume facebook fanpage and you will receive ONE entry per each one. If you already are a follower please let me know.

(5) Tweet this celebration on Twitter with a link to to this post and you will receive ONE entry.

(6) Mention this celebration on your blog with a link to to this post and you will receive ONE entry. Please email me the link to confirm: roxanailluminatedperfume.com

(7) Mention tthis celebration on Facebook with a link to to this post and you will receive ONE entry. Please email me the link to confirm: roxanailluminatedperfume.com

(8) Answer any of these questions by sending an to e-mail: roxanailluminatedperfume.com
a. What other flash animation appeared on the front page of the Illuminated Perfume website other than the one which is currently featured? TWO entries for a correct answer.
b. What are the names of my favorite perfumes? ONE entry for a correct answer.
c. Which fragrance blog or publication was the first to mention Roxana Illuminated Perfume? ONE entry for a correct answer.

The fine print...

1. The deadline for entering is June 26, 2011, at 10 pm (PST).
2. Entries will be placed into a random drawing and announced on this blog, twitter and facebook.

Thank you for your support over the years!

Images ©RoxanaVilla

Cimbalom Winner

It's Friday and the weather here in southern California is sunny and warm, finally! On this day, associated with the Goddess of love and beauty, I have used the Randomizer to select a winner of the Cimbalom giveaway.

The winner mentioned she would like to try Chaparral, her name is Margaret. Congratulations to Margaret who has won a Cimbalom mini solid sample and many thanks to everyone who stopped by to enter.

Over at Perfume Smellin' Things stay tuned on Sunday when Beth will be revealing the winner of her tangent giveaway for a Cimbalom liquid and solid sample.

Image: Photo of jasmine sambac flowers from my garden, these were used for a tincture featured in Cimbalom liquid perfume.