Ack! I am cut off from the world!

Random blog:

It's an absolutely gorgeous day today. The jasmine is blooming like crazy. There are so many birds around the neighborhood that I wish I had a very nice camera to capture their beauty. On our morning walk Maggie and I headed out happily. Truth be told, I was quite annoyed and needed to get out. Since 8 am this morning my ISP service has been down. Apparently they are aware and "working" on it, but it's been 3 hours and 20 minutes and I still can't get any work done. I have orders waiting to process and ship but I can't get to them. Aaack! I feel like I am going crazy. Instead of getting pissed off I am going to remember to blue-green dragonfly that we saw earlier and it was so cool I wished I could have it land in the palm of my hand. If only for a few seconds. Breathe ... breathe ...

Cox Communications High Speed Internet - I don't like you today.

I hate feeling so dependent on technology.

Magnolias in bloom! Happy May and a Special

I truly love the light, airy, light sweetness of the regal magnolia flower.

Maggie (our dog) and I pass the trees each day on our walks and delight in the sight and aroma of this beauty! We wait patiently as they bloom.

 

My Skin Soap Studio has new soap in stock now and a MAY SPECIAL!

CUSTOM PERFUME DESIGN SALE begins May 1st 2011 and ends at midnight May 15th 2011.

$25 off signature custom perfume design orders! Use code CUSTOMPERFUME1 at checkout

March free shipping sale at My Skin Soap Studio

Happy Spring Everyone!


Please take advantage of our FREE SHIPPING sale going on now at My Skin Soap Studio.

This sale includes all international and domestic orders of $40 dollars or more, excludes tex, shipping and discounts. Sale ends 4-24-2011.

We were interviewed and want to share!

Hi Everyone,

My little business was interviewed recently and I just have to share!

Hope you enjoy it. Let me know!

http://scentualsoundtracks.wordpress.com/

House guest tampers work flow!

We have a house guest. A little 10 month old boy named Chuy. It's been 24 hours. Give me strength, patience, caffeine, Natures Miracle Stain and Odor Remover and a timer that goes off every 15 minutes so I don't have to watch the clock myself.

Damn You, Ylang ylang

I was readying to sit down and begin some perfume work today and forgot the midnight madness blending flurry from last night. Carefully picking up a handful of pipettes to clear the table, it happened. The damn ylang ylang(1st) again. It not only got on my hand but on my clothing. I went I washed my hands, again and again. I changed my clothes. Nope.
I wiped my fingers down with alcohol and I even wiped around my nose in case I had accidentally touched my face. Wash, rinse repeat.
DAMN YOU, YLANG YLANG! I do not need you today and you are now banished to the cabinet and not allowed out. I can smell you from here. I am off to change - again.

Wikipedia:

The name ylang-ylang is derived from Tagalog, either from the word ilang, meaning "wilderness", alluding to its natural habitat, or the word ilang-ilan, meaning "rare", suggestive of its exceptionally delicate scent.[citation needed] A more widely accepted translation is "flower of flowers".[3] The plant is native to the Philippines and Indonesia and is commonly grown in Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia.

I'm no artist, but ...

Managed to get some soap made this week! 3 new soap selections will be ready in 4 weeks! I admit to not being as happy with the final look of the soaps upon completion but that's what you get when you work with natural colorants in cold process soap-making. Sometimes it's a surprise. It's probably why I still love cutting new logs of soap each time.

1- A sunshine yellow bar with all natural colorants as always Lavender Mailette, 5-fold Sicilian Orange and May Chang essential oils. Rich in avocado and olive oils.This bar is more lavender than citrus right now. We shall see how it smooths out over the curing time.

2- A dark yellow bar - Plumeria blend, 5x orange and ginger essential oils. A touch of pink Argelitz clay. Rich in avocado and olive oils.

3- A a cream colored bar with subtle wisps of gray - 5x Sicilian Lemon, fresh ginger co2, black tea blend. Rich in avocado and olive oils. My husband says this bar smells just like fresh apricots to him! I found that interesting since I happen to love the scent of fresh apricots. Bonus!

Off to pack an order and work on 2 custom natural perfume orders in progress.

Hope you are warm and dry. We are set for rain all this next week. Rained all night.

Tracy

Waxing poetic

I know what you must be thinking ... this chick never updates her blog. I know, I know, it's been too long -- but I am back!

February 15th happens to be my brothers birthday. My Aunts birthday is on Feb 14th, Valentines Day!

Well, would you believe my new sister, Paulette's birthday is also on Feb 15th?! Kind of wild! Some of you may recall reading my story here back in late April or May of last year. I found my biological family after 41 years and have a full sister who is 10 months older than me. I grew up in a great family as the youngest child of 3. My two older brothers and me as the baby.

I can't tell you how my life has changed in a way I never thought it would. It is still very surreal.

So, this brings me to Valentine's Day. It is an over sensationalized commercial holiday I am first to admit. However, I am an undeniable romantic deep at heart. My husband and I don't often do anything for the day and it suits us just fine for the most part. Except, all of the sudden I am feeling all gooey and sentimental. Perhaps I have been huffing too much jasmine sambac absolute.

What scent says love to you? I am not a rose girl because it often triggers headaches for me but I can use in in tiny amounts in a formula.

The scents that say love to me would by jasmine sambac, cardamom, cocoa absolute, vetiver, spices, orange blossom, tuberose absolute. I could go on and on so I guess I will just stop there.

Visit the website to catch our Valentine's Days Sale being posted now through midnight 2-15-2011.

Check out AromaArtisan 15% OFF SALE

My Skin Soap Studio is running a sale for the month of December! Free shipping on all domestic orders until the end of the month! For our international friends check out our shop at Etsy, AromaArtisan for 15% off your order!

Support
http://www.etsyonsale.com/shop/AromaArtisan

October smells so nice!

So it's been ages since I have written. Sorry. But, I have been busily toiling away on projects of perfume, soaps, hair conditioners, etc.

Today I am working with a new mens perfume oil which centers on 2 species aged cedarwood essential oils paired with aged myrrh and an organic vanilla bean infusion. Soothing and very smooth so far. I still need a name for this perfume as well as a new Osmanthus Absolute perfume I am finishing up soon! I would say it is a modern flor-iental if I had to classify it. I am very excited about both these new perfumes.

I do love this time of year. I have a special fondness for October. Having grown up a native southern Californian there is something about the change in the air that makes me so happy. The seasons are very subtle here and wind picks up speed bringing in scent of eucalyptus and the local trees, along with the occasional burning leaves or billowing fireplace. Brings to mind something warm in hand to sip. Perhaps a mug of Chai Tea or a nice cup of coffee, hot chocolate or apple cider.

Ahhh, October we love you. Enjoy our October Sale on now at My Skin Soap Studio $5.00 off any bottle of perfume

www.myskinsoapstudio.com. Can't decide? How about a gift certificate?

Last day of school and a perfume review that made our day!

Today is the last day of school! Summer vacation and my son will be overjoyed at about 1 pm today! I think I am as excited as he is. Working this morning we received some feedback on our perfumes that made our day!

I have completely fallen in love with your work!!!!!! Mirth has an all-true, authentic vanilla scent with sophisticated woody notes... a dream! The free Delilah sample that you included (THANK YOU!!!) has stolen my heart! Its a very sexy scent that makes me feel like 1000000$ ;) At first it hits me with a crisp, citrus(y) scent that fades away with seconds giving its way to a deep, yet fresh & sensual aroma that stays on me for hours and hours! I LOVE IT! I have NEVER fallen in love with a fragrance so quickly and utterly like I did with Delilah! I am definitely coming back to get the full size bottle :))) Even Eden (yet another free sample - you are way too generous) and although I 'm not into floral scents... smelled GREAT on my skin... what can I say, one can NOT go wrong with your perfumes!!! You are so talented and sweet and kind... THANK YOU! Very fast shipping to Greece and great packaging too ;)

Thanks Yovanka!

Almost summer vacation ...

Nine more days until summer vacation for Evan! This week he will have a final concert for band with his clarinet. Being in band has been a good and sometimes difficult learning experience for him. I think he picks up quite easily and has a natural talent for reading music and instruments. Maybe percussion or guitar next year. He isn't liking the music director as much now. He is strict. Yep. That's the way the cookie crumbles. He is so excited for v-a-c-a-t-i-o-n! I am excited we won't have to get up with the alarm for awhile. Woot!!

Until next time, I am off to work with some summer essential oil blends. I think keylime and friends.

Tracy

Nepal perfume perfect for the arrival of summer

Nepal is my latest limited edition perfume perfect for the arrival of summer.

I've been judiciously coddling my last reserves of my 10+ year old sandalwood stash. Australian sandalwood was quite nice at the 5 year mark of aging and has lost many of the undesired higher, sharper notes that Australian sandalwood is known to have. Now at over 10 years old it is all smoothness and rich wood with a soft inviting mood. Evocative of warm breezy evenings that never quite cool off.

The top note in our newest perfume, Nepal, is the juicy sweetness, yet subtle floral, of gorgeous clemintine co2. Clemintine is a type of seedless mandarin sometimes called Christmas Oranges in California. Clementine cozies up to exotic cardamom and incense-y, complex labdamum absolute, also sometimes called rockrose.

Fresh ginger co2 mingles with lightly sweet strawberry jam-like notes of fir balsam absolute and opulent white cognac all marrying smoothly with Himalayan cedar wood, amber, creamy vanilla co2, deep woods of nagarmotha, aged amyris, a hint of rich tobacco leaf absolute all blanketed in 10 year old Ausralian sandalwood and vanatu sandalwood.


Place any order with us from now until the end of May and receive a free sample of Nepal while supplies last! Also enjoy our free shipping on all orders of $50 until May 31 2010 midnight P.S.T.

Finding my biological roots after 41 years

I was put up for adoption in 1968. I was born with (mild) cerebral palsy, 2 months premature and weighed 2 pounds at birth. The cerebral palsy diagnosis would not come until later when I was about 2 years old. After birth, I spent a good deal of time in the ICU, then went into the foster care system and lived with a foster family until I was 18 months old when I actually was adopted by my parents.

We are a small family, just my Mom and Dad and 2 older brothers. My parents wanted a girl and had 2 boys already, so they decided to adopt me. It seems I always grew up knowing I was adopted. My Mom always made me feel special because I was especially "chosen". I did not grow up angry about it, but, it *did* make me wonder things. Did I look like someone? Did I have siblings? What is my medical history? Well, you can imagine the types of things you may want to know about your biological family. I knew nothing. Adoptions were still "closed" in the 60's it was difficult to find out much of anything. When I was in my 20's I had contacted the county requesting my records but all they had available to send me was my birth certificate. When it arrived, I was disappointed to learn it had my adoptive parents name on it and no biological information for me to pursue. I placed a couple of notices over the years on some adoption registry websites and searched adoption registry sites in case someone may be looking for me. I never found anything and had resolved myself to the fact that I would not find my birth parents. I was okay with it honestly, except that as I got older, more and more health issues began to arise where having some genetic information could be very helpful and that had always bothered me.

Now the story jumps way ahead to 3 weeks ago. My husband and I began watching the TV show, "Who Do You Think You Are?" and he began saying how he was really interested to trace his Swedish / Norwegian roots. After talking it over with his parents they decided they were interested as well so he signed up for an international account at ancestry.dot.com. It's kind of expensive so they would do 2 months worth of research and call it done. I was not really into it personally, but it makes my hubby happy so that's what matters most. We are working on our respective computers one night after dinner and Dave casually says, " I sent your birth information to a lady named Judy in San Diego who runs an adoption registry search and she thinks she *may have a couple of possible matches* for your birth mother." I look at him just blinking, not knowing what to say exactly, and I said, "You did what, why did you do that?" He repeats himself and says he's felt so badly because he's been working on his family tree gathering so much information and each time he would come to our family (myself, dh, son) he had no information to fill in for me. It's late when he tells me all this and I am tired, so I go to bed.

The next morning there is an email from Judy the woman from the adoption search registry and she has narrowed things down to one birth name, my Mothers last name only. The next 3 nights, DH and I get online and begin hunting that last name. He gets on ancestry and I am on the web. He's searching birth records, marriage records, death records and I am trying to do the same. We work on some possible leads but at this point nothing is confirmed for certain. I give up around midnight and go to sleep. Next thing I know I am being awoken by a yelling, ecstatic husband who says to me: "I think you have a sister, I found a message, and I think I just found her, come see, come see, I found a photo!!! I get up out of my bed, get dressed and shuffle out to the PC and look at the pic. Hmmm. Could be, but I don't know. I am skeptical at this point and Dave is saying he sees such a resemblance between us, that he got chills when he found the picture. Where does he find the picture and message? On an old message board of ancestrydotcom's website.

Here is the message that was posted. Notice the date is 10 years ago.
[quote]Posted:15 Jun 2000 LOOKING FOR SISTER DOB 11-11-68 IN SAN DIEGO FEMALE BIRTH NAME TRACY L. XXXXXXX WAS PUT UP FOR ADOPTION 1969?. PLEASE IF YOU HAVE ANY INFO REGARDING FAMILY MEMBERS, E-MAIL ME[/quote]

Well, when I saw that message with my first and middle name and correct birth date and birth place I knew it was someone looking for me. I was absolutely floored. I can not explain the feelings. Even now almost 3 weeks later, I am still trying to put it all into words and it's absolutely surreal.


I've had a good life, a somewhat typical, yet great childhood with wonderful parents who are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary at the end of May. I married and had a son with a wonderful man whom I have been with for the last 18 years. His parents are still married and have been together for as long as my parents.

I am so very blessed and fortunate to have had all this. Much more fortunate than my new siblings were and I guess that is the guilt that I feel. My bio mom could have so easily aborted me and she chose not too. She made the very, very difficult choice to put me up for adoption so that I may grow up to live a life with the medical care that I needed ... A life she knew that she was not in a position to provide at the time. She took a huge chance and always wondered if I was happy. I understand, and I am not angry or upset, for I am grateful. More than I could ever express in words. Thank you Mary Lee for taking a chance on me. May you rest in peace.

Edited to add: My bio mother, Mary Lee, passed away at age 38 when I would have been a freshman/sophomore in high school.

Busy with Nepal

You can't rush art!

My favorite line from Toy Story which our son must have watched thousands of times!

Lately I have been working on completion of a limited edition perfume called, Nepal.

This new perfume is grounded by two species of Sandalwood, Vanauta and Australian, Vanilla co2, Himalayan cedarwood, amryis, vanilla and just a mere hint of rich tobacco leaf absolute.

Nepal also features key player, labdanum absolute which has an earthy sweet incense aroma that is variously described as complex, sweet woodsy, ambergris, animalic, musky and sometimes leathery.

A foundation of Sandalwoods, Labdanum absolute, cardamom, clemintine co2, vanilla co2 are supported by strawberry jam-like notes of fir balsam absolute, french white cognac, fresh ginger root co2, Brazilian orange, amyris and a drop of cinnamon.

Ingredients: Fractionated coconut oil, jojoba oil, amber resin, essential oils of vanauta sandalwood, Australian sandalwood, cardamom, labdanum absolute amyris, clementine co2, himalayan cedarwood, ginger co2, white cognac, vanilla co2, 5-fold orange, fir balsam absolute, tobacco absolute, nagarmotha, tocopherol(vitamin e).

I hope to do yet, one more straining before bottling. I look forward to sharing it with you!

Tracy