Drugstore Cowgirl: More Cheap Recs
We love cheap thrills!
Hi, Dames Nation! Sophie is taking this week off and since I am way behind on offering cheap perfume recommendations, we decided to make the latest issue of Drugstore Cowgirl, usually a perk for paying subscribers, a freebie for alllllllll our beloved subscribers. I apologize for falling behind on DC issues; it won’t happen again. (It will probably happen again, come on, Karen, stop lying.)
First off, please allow me to recommend yet another sweet/woody, good for all genders find from, you guessed it, Bath and Body Works. It’s a seasonal selection for Halloween and it’s called Wicked Vanilla Woods — fragrance notes are “magical vanilla, glowing amberwood and enchanted pink pepper” and it claims to smell like “walking through a haunted forest on a sweet, spooky night,” sure, why not. It’s a spicier, less boozy version of my beloved Bonfire Bash and I’m into it. The lotions appear to be sold on on the site but maybe you have a local B&BW or maybe you just want the fine frag spray or shower gel.
If you want to smell like straight up Pixy Stix, may I recommend another Halloween limited edition? Enchanted Candy Potion is still available in a candle, shower gel, hand soap, and “wallflower,” which I don’t use, do any readers? Thoughts? Fragrance notes are “spellbinding sugar, bewitched berries and whipped pixie dust” and it smells like “a magically sweet and fruity witch's brew,” AKA Pixy Stix. I have way too many things that smell like ndy and I rarely want to actually smell like candy but I appreciate a straight-up candy scent.
And now…answers to some requests!
Shelley writes: Rose, amber, ambergris, musk, bergamot, almond, heliotrope, tonka bean, pine, galbanum
Damn, Shelley! What a list! Ok, I have some good options for a few of these. The Ambergris from Demeter is really nice, although I have no idea how authentic it is. It’s wonderful to mix with other things, too. I love this entry on ambergris from The Perfume Society, including this quote from chemist Gunther Ohloff who describes ambergris as “humid, earthy, faecal, marine, algoid, tobacco-like, sandalwood-like, sweet, animal, musky and radiant.” THE DREAM, mostly.
I think I’ve mentioned my love of B&BW’s Almond Blossom, which is an online exclusive, so wait for a sale. Dr. Teal’s Shea Butter & Almond Oil is weirdly kind of hard to find so snatch it up when you can; it’s less floral than Almond Blossom and has more of a straight up marzipan/almond extract smell, if that’s your jam.
Lush’s Guardian of the Forest doesn’t specifically mention pine, but I smelled it recently and it’s a very excellent, well, forest scent with definite hints of pine. It’s also not cheap, per se, but it is cheaper than a lot of scents so I’m going to offer it up. I’m also going to recommend it to reader Nezka who writes “Autumn is my absolute favorite season. However, I don't like that so many of autumn scents want me to smell like a pie or a cookie: overt fruity or food scents just aren't me (I'm looking at you, BBW, autumn scents...) I want something crisp, but warm, maybe slightly sweet. Like...going on a hike in the forest while wearing a warm sweater/flannel type of scent.” I feel like Guardian of the Forest layered with a nice vanilla would give you the vibe of which you write? I want to try it myself.
As always, please send in your requests and I’ll do my best to answer in a TIMELY and APPROPRIATE manner, yeesh. Happy Friday, friends.