Little Round Bee Lockets finally get perfume!

It took awhile for me to get this together and I am still working out some of the details, but, for the most part they are ready. Introducing the little round bee lockets with perfumed felts!

In the early nineties when I was first introduced to aromatherapy I wore a filigree locket necklace that had a piece of felt inside saturated with essential oil. For years I've been thinking this would be a great way to add scent to the little round lockets but didn't have time to set down and do it.

Well, here they are. If you order one please let me know what you think. I'll soon be offering the little felts individually so that they can be purchased separately.

The Blessing & The Challenge

The blessing and the challenge I hear most from my customers is that they LOVE all the samples in their set and then can't decide which to go with. Here's an example from todays feedback...

"Wow! Buying this sample pack has only increased my dilemma. They all smell so fantastic. I pick one out as my favorite then smell them all again and another becomes my favorite. They are complex and wonderfully every changing. Really quality fragrances."

The solution to this dilemma is to use the little mini compact or locket necklace so that you can economically swap out different fragrances as your temperament changes.

Gem-toned bee lockets are back!

The little round lockets are back in emerald green, teal and purple. I'm working on a little scent insert for them but haven't quite perfected it yet. Also back in stock are the Purple bee and Chiaroscuro perfume lockets.

In the meantime Greg and I are finishing up the Vespertina Lookbook to coincide with the release of the Eau de Parfum, more on that in the morrow.

Solid Perfume Art Lockets are Back!

Three of the solid perfume art lockets are now back in stock. I'm taking these up to the Beyond Aromatics conference in Seattle where I will have a booth. Since they tend to sell out, I suggest not delaying too long to get one.

Silver Filigree

The vintage inspired filigree perfume locket is now available in the silver finish. Perfect for travel or when you want to have something pretty to anoint yourself with without the need to reach into a bag or pocket. Since I am so sensitive to scent I find this locket particularly useful because the fragrance gently wafts out of the delicate ornamental brass filigree so there is no need to open it. Gently hold the locket up to the nose, breath and be instantly transported to a fragrant meadow, beach, etc. For further enchantment, open and apply the creamy elixir to your pulse points.

Summer Breeze

At the end of May we set up two photo shoots with two different models. The first was with one of my "Summer" color tribe sisters Sophie Fletcher and the second was a second shoot with Savanah. Regrettably the secondary shoot didn't happen, but the good news is we did a follow up session with Sophie and between the two days have loads of imagery to work with.

Above is a sneak peak, more arriving as soon!

Photo: Greg Spalenka

Model: Sophie Fletcher

Flowers: Rebecca from Flower Power Studio

Location: The Agoura Antique Mart

Perfume Locket: Roxana Illuminated Perfume

White Wedding

When we went to do the shoot at The Agoura Antique Mart we did some photos of our pretty model Savanah wearing a vintage nightgown that belonged to my mother, the diamond pattern solid perfume locket and some flower crowns from Emily of WhichGoose. I'm saving most of the photos for another project I'm working on but here's a little preview.

Silver Lockets

All the components for the new silver lockets have arrived thus I did the photos this afternoon and posted the locket on the website and E-shop. Silver is a bit tricky to photograph, the color easily picks up the warm light so that the locket takes on a brass tone even though it is silver.

I'm not sure if these will become a pertinent part of the line or not, it all depends if it is something you all are wanting. I know that these will look fabulous on those of us who are embracing our foxy, silver hair color as well as those with super dark or black hair.

Metal Work

All four of the little oval, natural perfume lockets are currently in stock. I've also just ordered the diamond pattern in silver by special request, thus I'll have a limited number of those available soon.

Another item we are evaluating is more lockets and compacts with imagery. If there is a particular image you'd like to see on a locket or oval compact please send me a note or leave a comment and I will consider it.

Its been crazy busy here with holiday orders, birthday celebrations, my daughter Eve back in town from college and Christmas prep. I'm intending to get back to regular blogging, perfume updates and new products once the new year begins.

Pure Fume Locket Heaven

The new perfume lockets are here, these feature a well for a solid perfume tin combined with a resin coated luminescent image. There are currently three face designs: a purple and green honey bee and the new Figure 1: Noir image. I've just listed all the models in the jewelry section of the E-shop.

Victorian & Edwardian

The Etsy featured seller this weekend has been the shop Vera Vague, is comprised of the dynamic duo Vera & Victor Vague, aka Anastasia and Eric, in Kalamazoo. Their focus is on the Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco period items. I've been a long time fan of their shop and photos...mostly the Victorian boots or these Edwardian black leather "Witch" shoes from 1910.

As I was checking out the feature when all of a sudden I noticed that Anastasia was wearing our Victorian inspired perfume locket in the photo of them! I know its ours because about a month ago Eric bought it filled with Vespertina, obviously for Anastasia, what a perfect fragrance for her.

Besides the fabulous items they offer you gotta love their sense of style!

 All photos except the Victorian inspired perfume locket belong the VeraVague.

Things Remembered

As a special request large oval lockets were created with an illumination of GreenWitch and Gregs Bee Quan Yin. Only two of each were made to test the waters to see if there is interest in these pieces. One of each of these is currently for sale, or was when I wrote this. More are available upon special request.

Large oval emerald green bee lockets (pictured above) have been created and listed in the E-shop they are scheduled to arrive this week.

If you desire a specific illuminated image that Greg or I have created placed in a large oval locket please let me know and we can have it made for you. I'm thinking the original Vespertina image or the white honey comb picture might look real fine. New lockets and perfume cases will be debuting soon. The first batch is a very limited edition with more arriving after the holidays.

Since both Greg and I ship items out of the studio, we can combine shipping by giving us a heads up.

Creature Comforts

The solid chocolate perfume experiment from last week seems to be "aging" well with a strong possibility to move forward with them. I'm waiting to see if there is any separation of the chocolate and cocoa butter, what is called "blooming" in the chocolate world.

In the meantime I've been working on other treats. First off there are a few new lockets and cases in town. The little round bee lockets are back with the big sister I am calling large oval. The image for these lockets is printed on a very special metallic paper that makes the honey bee extra luminous, especially with the resin coating. This beautiful large oval will be available in a bright green color next week.

The Victorian inspired, diamond pattern locket is back in stock as a necklace, although I am having challenges getting it as a mini compact. Thus, there are only a few mini compacts currently left, I'm working on getting more, or finding an alternative.

The large oval solid perfume case is now available in the same tapestry pattern that is on the round cases. Regrettably the brocade pattern is not being made anymore.

Last, and certainly a thrill to share, soon I will have these large oval solid perfume cases with the honey bee in resin featured on the top in rich jewel tones of purple, burgundy and emerald green. The honey bee image looks very velvety and lush. I can't wait to show them to you as thing are quite exquisite! Here is a glimpse of the case, put on your "visualizing hat" to imagine the resin coated bee image in the top oval recess with your favorite solid "illuminated" perfume inside the case.

Sign of Four

There are now four different styles of the natural solid perfume lockets in stock. The newest addition is a filigree locket that allows the scent to waft out more than the other three due to the openings in the filigree.


The etymology of word filigree appears to stem from the Spanish "filigrana, from "filar", to spin, and grano, the grain or principal fibre of the material"1. Although this locket face is called filigree it isn't quite as delicate as the real fine filigree you see coming from Europe, Greece and the middle East, probably because they are machine made.


I shot the photos on a very old burgundy colored book because they remind me of Lady Mary from Downton Abbey and I associate that particular color of red with her.

1 Wikipedia

Images ©RoxanaVilla

Portable Magic

Sweet, little book necklace lockets featuring the iconic bee have just arrived in my shop. These are handmade by Lori using archival prints that I send her. The base locket is made here in America by a family owned manufacturer. I had Lori add 16 and 20 inch rolo chains to them.

"Books are the bees which carry the quickening pollen from one to another mind."
~James Russell Lowell

When you open them there are two recesses to add you favorite photos, artwork and or a tiny love note for your beloved.

"Books let us into their souls and lay open to us the secrets of our own."
~ William Hazlitt

"Books are a uniquely portable magic."
~Stephen King

Speaking of books, Martha the knitter of our crochet pouches for our natural perfume, has just created the most beautiful bookmarks. I can't decide which is my favorite, perhaps this one featuring an oak leaf and acorn.


Ah, and more book inspiration, here is a sweet animated short created by illustrator William Joyce titled "The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr Morris Lessmore", enjoy!

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore from Moonbot Studios on Vimeo.

Photo images of Locket and Bookmark ©Roxana Villa