Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World aka The '07 Holiday Update

Helloooo Darlings!

Just for you-- an update so merry, it could not be silenced! (Admittedly, no one really tried to silence it, but it stayed festive and alert just in case!)

Everything was created with one goal in mind: how can we bring feelings of unexpected delight to Arcana's adored customers, fans and friends? I hope we pulled it off.


Holiday Collection 2007


The Scents:

Arctic Bear Perfume Oil (Limited Edition): Cave in to shivery pleasures with this festively icy blend straight from the North Pole. A playful mix of aromatic Northern bayberry, frosted Siberian fir needle oil and the dry freshness of snowy woods. Hail the Great Arctic Bear!

Frozen Heart Perfume Oil (Limited Edition): The essence of a snow queen’s glacial affections. An enchanted concoction of spiky black pepper, cold peppermint, icy watermelon, pale vanilla and pearl musk. Beware of glittering women in sleighs who promise you the world.

La Befana Perfume Oil (Limited Edition): Notes of ripe apricot, Sicilian blood orange, dark chocolate, smoked vanilla, and toasted biscotti combine to evoke la Befana, the Christmas witch of Italy who slides down chimneys to leave sweets for very good children and lumps of coal for the very bad.

Pax Mundi Perfume Oil (Limited Edition): A prayerful ode to world peace. Smoky frankincense, bay laurel, myrtle pepper, peach nectar, myrrh, balsam of peru, Atlas cedarwood and gentle copaiba.

Solstice Sugar Perfume Oil (Limited Edition): Rejoice in the return of the sweet sun-child throughout all the jolly festivals of the Winter Solstice. The scent of warmest celebrations and Yuletide feasts with notes of toasty almonds, apple cakes, baking spices and honeyed mead.

The Ulda Perfume Oil (Limited Edition): The elusive fairy folk of the Nordic Sapmi region are said to live underneath the Earth and travel in reindeer-drawn sleighs tinkling with silver bells. With white almond, resinous Baltic amber, crisp bayberry, warm cardamom and pink pepper.

Winter Malaise Perfume Oil (Limited Edition): Sigh. A carb-laden base of syrupy sweet mango and thick, rich vanilla is prodded with cinnamon, clove, black anise and iron-distilled patchouli. Perfect for that date with your light box.

Winter Mirth Perfume Oil (Limited Edition): The scent of favorite scarves, gleeful snow days, and a lighthearted whirl of holiday parties: green coconut, baked pumpkin, nutmeg, red patchouli and brightest lemongrass.


The Soaps:

Arctic Bear Soap (Limited Edition): Cave in to shivery pleasures with this festively icy blend straight from the North Pole. A playful mix of aromatic Northern bayberry, frosted Siberian fir needle oil and the dry freshness of snowy woods. With coconut milk, white macadamia oil and sweet almond oil. Hail the Great Arctic Bear!

Solstice Sugar Soap (Limited Edition): Rejoice in the return of the sweet sun-child throughout all the jolly festivals of the Winter Solstice. The scent of warmest celebrations and Yuletide feasts with notes of toasty almonds, apple cakes, baking spices and honeyed mead. Enriched with sweet almond oil, coconut milk and a merry dusting of gold mica.

The Ulda Soap (Limited Edition): The elusive fairy folk of the Nordic Sapmi region are said to live underneath the Earth and travel in reindeer-drawn sleighs tinkling with silver bells. With white almond, resinous Baltic amber, crisp bayberry, warm cardamom, pink pepper, soothing macadamia oil and fragrant cedar tips.

Winter Malaise Soap (Limited Edition): Sigh. A carb-laden base of syrupy sweet mango and thick, rich vanilla is prodded with cinnamon, clove, black anise, iron-distilled patchouli, smoky shea butter and consolatory buttermilk. Perfect for that date with your light box.

Winter Mirth Soap (Limited Edition): The scent of favorite scarves, gleeful snow days, and a lighthearted whirl of holiday parties: green coconut, baked pumpkin, nutmeg, red patchouli and brightest lemongrass. Enriched with coconut milk and cheerfully scrubby organic oats.

The Scrubs:

Frozen Heart Scrub (Limited Edition): The essence of a snow queen’s glacial affections. An enchanted concoction of spiky black pepper, cold peppermint, icy watermelon, pale vanilla and pearl musk. Beware of glittering women in sleighs who promise you the world. Made with shea butter, cane sugar, vanilla beans and cooling menthol crystals.

La Befana Scrub (Limited Edition): Notes of ripe apricot, Sicilian blood orange, dark chocolate, smoked vanilla, and toasted biscotti combine to evoke la Befana, the Christmas witch of Italy who slides down chimneys to leave sweets for very good children and lumps of coal for the very bad. Made with shea butter, cane sugar and finely-ground apricot kernels.

Solstice Sugar Scrub (Limited Edition): Rejoice in the return of the sweet sun-child throughout all the jolly festivals of the Winter Solstice. The scent of warmest celebrations and Yuletide feasts with notes of toasty almonds, apple cakes, baking spices and honeyed mead. Made with shea butter, cane sugar and apple extract.

Winter Mirth Scrub (Limited Edition): The scent of favorite scarves, gleeful snow days, and a lighthearted whirl of holiday parties: green coconut, baked pumpkin, nutmeg, red patchouli and brightest lemongrass. Made with mango butter, cane sugar and ground coconut.


The Exclusive:

One final blend, found only at Magical Omaha...

Fezziwig Perfume Oil (Limited Edition): All rosy cheeks, frolicsome dances and convivial jokes. Spiced gingerbread, honey, treacle, raspberry ale, warm cardamom, sweet benzoin and aged vetiver.

Fezziwig Sugar Scrub (Limited Edition): All rosy cheeks, frolicsome dances and convivial jokes. Spiced gingerbread, honey, treacle, raspberry ale, warm cardamom, sweet benzoin and aged vetiver. Made with mango butter, cane sugar, ginger root and raspberry fruit.

Coming very, very soon to the following online retailers:



www.buyolympia.com
www.thesoapboxco.com
www.magicalomaha.com
www.goreydetails.net

Available until mid-Januaryish* or until we run out of stock.

*Hopefully by now everyone has heard me say at least once that since we sell wholesale and don't know when the Arcana retailers will sell through their stock, we cannot give exact ending dates for limiteds.


With gladsome tidings and much love,
Julia

x-posted from
The Arcana LJ Community

Hallowe'en!

Crossposted from the Arcana LJ Community.

Having received a plethora of emails on this subject, all I can say is bless your cider-swilling, pumpkin-carving, darling orange and black striped hearts for being so excited for this update. I am eternally yours in spooky Hallowe'enness.

The Scents:

Caffeinated Death Perfume (Limited Edition): A fatally wired combination of cocoa absolute, coffee, chai spices, Bourbon vanilla and white cognac. You can sleep when you’re dead.

Guy Fawkes Perfume (Limited Edition):
Remember, remember
The fifth of November
Revisit the Gunpowder Plot with this intense mix of smoky bonfire revels, dry apple cider, aged vetiver, black coffee and cold, damp November earth. A penny for the guy!

Haint Perfume (Limited Edition): The sweet, melancholy essence of a Southern ghost drifting through dark mountain hollows and crumbling neo-classical mansions. White musk, vanilla musk, Madagascar vanilla, sugarcane, and a faint trail of white pepper.

Holy Terror Perfume (Limited Edition): There are utterly somber and fearsome spirits which are known to haunt certain long-deserted chapels, monasteries and abbeys. An unsettling, austere blend of burning frankincense, sandalwood, deep myrrh and dusty beeswax candles.

Little Ghoulie Perfume (Limited Edition): All the scents of a small, terribly excited newbie to the trick-or-treat scene. Jack o’ Lanterns, ginger cookies, chocolate candy and a frisson of overwhelming delight.

Zombie’s Cucumber Perfume (Limited Edition): The poisonous thornapple, known in the voodoo world as concombre zombie, carries a wicked and perverse reputation. Our homage to this narcotic night-bloomer reeks of Egyptian musk, Haitian vetiver, crisp apples, sweet clove, black pepper and a host of dark spices.

The Soaps:

Caffeinated Life Soap (Limited Edition): Stay awake for the spookiest part of the night with this hopped-up brew of espresso, chocolate, chai, Bourbon vanilla, black cocoa butter, finely ground organic oats, Fair Trade coffee, sweet almond oil and buttermilk. You can sleep when you’re dead.

Miasma Soap (Limited Edition):
Into my heart an air that kills
From yon far country blows
What are those blue remembered hills,
What spires, what farms are those?*
Dark amber and black coconut swirl through atmospheric sea air, sweetly rotting fruits, rich coconut milk and autumnally smoky Fair Trade shea butter.
*A.E. Housman

Zombie’s Cucumber Soap (Limited Edition): The poisonous thornapple, known in the voodoo world as concombre zombie, has a wicked and perverse reputation. Our homage to this narcotic night-bloomer reeks of Egyptian musk, Haitian vetiver, crisp apples, sweet clove, black pepper, buttermilk and a host of dark spices.

The Scrubs:

Dia de los Muertos Scrub (Limited Edition): Though Spanish conquistadores tried to put the kibosh on this Aztec ritual for the dead, the holiday not only endured but retained its flamingly pagan core. Celebrate, honor, and even laugh at death with our fusion of spices, honey, tobacco and dark chocolate. Made with organic cocoa and pure cane sugar.

Guy Fawkes Scrub (Limited Edition):
Remember, remember
The fifth of November
Revisit the Gunpowder Plot with this intense mix of smoky bonfire revels, dry apple cider, aged vetiver, black coffee and cold, damp November earth. Made with shea butter, cane sugar and apple extract. A penny for the guy!

Haint Scrub (Limited Edition): The sweet, melancholy essence of a Southern ghost drifting through dark mountain hollows and crumbling neo-classical mansions. White musk, vanilla musk, Madagascar vanilla, sugarcane, and a faint trail of white pepper. Made with cane sugar, shea butter and finely ground vanilla beans.

Little Ghoulie Scrub (Limited Edition): All the scents of a small, terribly excited newbie to the trick-or-treat scene. Jack o’ Lanterns, ginger cookies, chocolate candy and a frisson of overwhelming delight. Made with mango butter, ginger extract and softly-exfoliating brown sugar.

You'll notice that Caffeinated Life & Death have similarities. While many of the notes are the same, the end results are unique enough that each warranted its own (albeit linked) name.

The usual suspects:

Magical Omaha
Buy Olympia
Gorey Details
The Soap Box


In other news, Grasshopper soap and Jane & Tarzan soap are slated for discontinuation in the coming months. However, both perfume blends will remain for the time being.

Also, after this season ends, Dia de los Muertos and Sleepy Hollow will be discontinued in both soap and perfume until further notice. They may return yearly as seasonals, but at this point should simply be considered discontinued.

Love,
Julia

Ye Olde Update: Part 1

Hello my sweets!


At last, your long and patiently awaited update lies shimmering ahead. On August 17th, I will put up the descriptions of the new items and begin shipping these very same delectables to our retailers, who will then pass said goodness on to you. Most of the new items are available in very limited quantities-- just enough to get us all through the next month or so until it's time for the Hallowe'en update.

In other news, Shipwrecked is being discontinued in both soap and perfume. You can still find it staggering down the beach at various shops and etailers, but it's headed out to sea very soon.


The following are slated for discontinuation in the coming months. I realize a more precise date would be preferable, but it's impossible to say when the retailers will sell through the rest of their stock.

Avalon soap and perfume

Byzantium soap

Persephone's Flowers soap

Spitfire soap


See you very soon for Part 2!

xoxo,

Julia

Crossposted to the Arcana LJ Community: http://community.livejournal.com/arcanasoapslove/

Changes are Afoot!

My dears,

You hear about it, you know it happens to others, but you just never think it's going to happen to you.

Yes, I'm talking about price increases.

Due to rising costs in both materials and operating, the price of Arcana's soaps, 5 ml perfume blends and 10 ml perfume blends are going up. (Layering notes will stay the same.) I can't say exactly how much prices will go up in retail terms, as all the retailers set their own prices.

For over 3 years the price of soap has stayed the same while ingredient costs have gone up and up. So it really is time.

xoxoxo,
Julia

The Great Purge

Hello sweethearts,

First, note that the e-tail and retail lists on the site have been updated. So very many places to find a wee fix!

Second, I know discontinuations are not your favorite thing, but it's time to clear some shelves in anticipation of spring. The dates for discontinuations reflect, as always, the time when these goods will no longer be available to our retailers. The retailers may sell out of their stock sooner or later than the dates given.

I was going to send the winter blends on their merry way in mid-January, but since I've been remiss in announcing that, let's give them a slight reprieve, shall we? As of January 31st, the following will retire to rest in their little snow caves until next Yule:

Arctic Bear
Hogmanay
La Befana
Solstice Sugar
The Ulda
Winternights

The following layering notes will also be retired (probably forever) on January 31st:

Eggnog
Citrus Creme

Also on January 31st (but you knew that, didn't you?), the following limited editions will finally come to the end of the line:

Espionage
Revival

Finally: If you used to buy Spitfire soap and found it not quite strong enough, you are in luck. The scent just got stronger and the color got redder. I know! As if it wasn't exciting enough!

xoxox,
Julia

Crossposted to Arcana Soaps Love LJ Community. Come on over and join us!

Sources Galorces

New places to find Arcana!

Buy Olympia

The Soap Box Company

Stumpy and Scurvy's Pirate Shop

Gorey Details @ House
3315 SE Hawthorne Blvd– Space #30, Portland, OR 97214
(503) 256-3122

Gorey Details @ Stars & Splendid
7027 SE Milwaukie Ave– Space #8, Portland, OR 97202
(503) 256-3122

Greg's
8218 N Lombard St, Portland, OR 97203
(503) 289-7510

Remember Salem
127 Essex St, Salem, MA 01970
(978) 741-1170

Whole Foods Market
7380 SW Bridgeport Rd, Tigard, OR 97224
(503) 639-6500

These new stores will be added soon to the retail list on Arcana Soaps. Yes, the aforementioned list will finally be edited, added to, cleaned up, and generally buffed, since it has been sadly out of date for far too long. I don't want you zooming over to one of the stores listed, excited to do some serious sniffing, only to find the very shop itself was razed to the ground 6 months earlier and there's not a damn thing to sniff except scorched earth. You so don't need that.

xoxo,
Julia

Edited to add the address of the new Greg's on North Lombard, as promised. Also, you might like to come over and join us at a charming spot for which I can't take any credit, as it came to two wonderful UK customers in a dream (similar to Coleridge with Kubla Khan): click here to go to a stately pleasure dome of Arcana reviews and swappage.

Sic Itur Ad Astra

Darlings,

I have sad news to share. Last Friday, my mother made a sudden departure from this world. Please light a candle or say a prayer for her soul's safe passage into the next world.

My mom was full of life. She was strong, quick-witted, open-hearted, opinionated and eccentric. She adored books, music, art, her family, and her beloved granddaughter. As a teacher and a librarian, she believed in education and was ardently opposed to censorship. She believed in the power of strong women to overcome anything. She had a soft spot for stray people and continually impressed upon us that all are equally deserving of love. She carried books, conversation, friendship and laughter to everyone she met-- so many people are readers today because of her. As one of her smaller legacies, her influence is woven through Arcana Soaps, from descriptions she helped to write to the gorgeous perfumes she wore throughout my childhood to her love of history, literature and fantasy which she passed down to me.

Thanks, Mom, for all of the good advice and all of the forgiveness you gave me. I hope that right now you are singing as much as you want to, dancing in 3 inch heels with a roster of tall, clever men, joking, swimming, reading, reciting poetry, playing the piano, and telling the best stories anybody's ever heard.

Love,
Julia