Getting into the swing of things after the holidays…
I’m still working on end-of-year paperwork in between orders, and I’m sending out some testers of the new ET reformulation. I decided to keep Ambre Noir the same and will be restocking it on the site soon. The Encens Tranquille formula needs to change though because the moss needs to be updated, and I actually prefer the new version. I’ll see what testers think. I narrowed it down to the version with a small touch of vanilla but no elemi, so the notes list reads like this: frankincense, myrrh, sandalwood, cedar, ambergris, labdanum, cistus, angelica root, guaiacwood, orris, oakmoss, patchouli, vanilla, musk. It’s still a woodsy, resinous incense scent with lots of frankincense, but to me it is smoother than the original.
Many of my suppliers are closed for inventory counting until Thursday so I’m still waiting to talk with my bottle supplier about finding a new shape for the half oz. I spotted a couple other half oz options that look possible and will just need to see if they are any less prone to the leaning neck issue. And I’m still waiting for some kilos of oils from France to ship, but I hope to have them by the end of this month.
My cold isn’t too bad but present enough to make it impossible to blend for a few more days. I can’t wait to get back to normal sniffing. I did get to have a nice visit with family over new year’s weekend though.
I forgot to mention my favorite high-tech purchase of 2009 in my “best of” post a few days ago: a Transcend Storejet backup hard drive. My very old backup drive died a few months ago so I got this new one, and wow have they advanced in technology over the last 8 years! It’s palm sized, has lots more storage space, and doesn’t take very long to back up my files. It plugs in via usb and requires no other power source the way the old one did. So far I’m really happy with it. I picked it after a quick scan of cnet reviews so I’m glad it worked out.
I’ll post an update on ET when I hear some feedback. I’ll be sending out more testers — just getting started on sending them out.
Hi Laurie,
Sounds like wonderful things coming up in 2010!
Your nose can probably use a break anyway. Your sense of smell may return with a whole new perspective, so that wouldn’t be a bad thing at all.
Take care and get well soon!
a:)
Thanks Ann! I just discovered this post from you in the spam filter for the blog and I was able to release it. Now I know what happens to the posts you do from your work computer! I hadn’t seen them in there before, but now I can check for that. Anyway, thanks for the good wishes. It’s Sat eve and I’m feeling better tonight, but still not clear enough to blend and evaluate scents — can’t wait to be back to normal.
Well! I’m certainly glad to know that it didn’t just disappear into the “void” or some black hole somewhere.
a:)
Just tried the new ET tester this morning – it was quite different from the original, with a bit of the Serge Lutens fruity/mentholated opening, then drying down into a lovely frankincense scent. I like it!
Hi Tara,
Glad you like it! The opening is a little unusual before it settles down, mostly because it has so much frankincense and that starts with a bang. Once it settles, the drydown gets to be a cozy woodsy incense for me.
It has the new cistus oil that the original did not, and that changes it quite a bit. The sandalwood accord is also different. The tester vials are just starting to get to people, so I’ll see how it goes. Just two people have reported back so far (you are the second). So far so good, but I’m sure it will be different for various people.
Thanks for sniffing! 🙂
Forgot to mention I also have a version with an elemi topnote that helps soften that frankincense opening. I’ll give that one another test sniff.