It seems like Christmas was just a couple of weeks ago. Oh wait! It was! Nonetheless, time keeps charging forward, bringing with it another scintillating Conjure Oils update!
This update o'love is more than likely the largest update in the history of Conjure Oils and I do it all for you!
Available only in pairs - $37.50 a set
Antony & Cleo
According to legend it was love at first sight between Cleopatra, the last Pharaoh of Egypt and Marc Antony, the Roman General and friend of Julius Caesar. The two would eventually marry, have three children and as a family, rule much of the region.
The truth is lost in the mists of history, but some say that Marc Antony killed himself by falling on his sword when he heard a false rumor that his beloved Cleopatra had died. Others say that when the tides of war turned against the couple, they escaped together then, to avoid capture, Marc Antony committed suicide. When Cleopatra, who by this time was already imprisoned by Octavian and could no longer bear the grief of her dwindling empire, heard the news about the death of her dear Marc Antony she poisoned herself by snake bite. With the help of her sympathetic servants, she hid a small asp in a basket of figs, donned her royal robes, reclined upon her couch of gold and placed the venomous snake upon her breast.
Antony
A complex and ancient stymmata recreated to commemorate the general: juniper berries macerated in a base of sandalwood imported from the Far East, royal musk, cyclamen, sweet flag, blue lavender, myrtle, cypress, labdanum and victorious bay laurel.
A complex and ancient stymmata recreated to commemorate the general: juniper berries macerated in a base of sandalwood imported from the Far East, royal musk, cyclamen, sweet flag, blue lavender, myrtle, cypress, labdanum and victorious bay laurel.
Cleo
Cleopatra understood the power of scent and utilized it to her advantage. It is said she first met Marc Antony upon a ship equipped with large billowing incense censers and perfumed sails that scented the entire port.
Cleopatra understood the power of scent and utilized it to her advantage. It is said she first met Marc Antony upon a ship equipped with large billowing incense censers and perfumed sails that scented the entire port.
A legendary queen, seductress, mathematician and strategist, Cleopatra is remembered in this beguiling fragrance: Egyptian sandalwood, myrrh resin, honeysuckle, orris root, serpentine cinnamon and black fig.
The Breath of Isis & The Jewel of Osiris
No other gods could boast of love as deep and pure as the love shared by Isis and Osirs. Out of jealousy, Osiris was murdered by his brother, Set, and his body was divided into fourteen parts and scattered to the four corners. Isis, stricken ill with grief and despair, frantically searched the world over for her lover's body parts. She discovered all but one, as the phallus of Osiris had been eaten by a fish! Undaunted, crafty Isis fashioned a new phallus for her husband out of pure gold. She then embalmed him and with one giant breath filled with love, passion, longing, grief and ecstasy, brought Osiris back to life to rule the Underworld.
The Breath of Isis
Lotus root, tonka bean, sweet pea blossoms, neroli, black currant absolute and an opoponax tear drop.
Lotus root, tonka bean, sweet pea blossoms, neroli, black currant absolute and an opoponax tear drop.
The Jewel of Osiris
Guiacwood, oakmoss, black patchouli, crimson plum, golden bergamot and cassia
Guiacwood, oakmoss, black patchouli, crimson plum, golden bergamot and cassia
Khosrow & Shirin
Khosrow and Shirin are two lovers immortalized by ancient Persian poets. Khosrow is a handsome prince who is taken with tales of a beautiful princess living in a nearby kingdom. Khosrow, anxious to meet his future bride, can wait no longer and travels with his best friend to Shirin's land to meet her. Shirin is then courted with Khosrow's amazing feats of strength and daring until at long last, she's convinced that he's truly her soul mate.
Khosrow
Bold cardamom cream is exalted with scarlet carnation, golden frankincense and amber resin.
Bold cardamom cream is exalted with scarlet carnation, golden frankincense and amber resin.
Shirin
Sweet and seductive: silken jasmine, royal rose, gentle geranium, vanilla blossom, red musk, sweet patchouli and molten honey.
Sweet and seductive: silken jasmine, royal rose, gentle geranium, vanilla blossom, red musk, sweet patchouli and molten honey.
Sir Lancelot & Lady Guinevere
Torn between their loyalty to King Arthur and their desire for one another, it can be argued that the love between Guinevere and Lancelot weakened the integrity of the Round Table. Truly star-crossed lovers from the start, Lancelot and Guinevere never had a chance. Even after the death of Arthur, Lancelot was denied a final kiss from his beloved as she'd joined a convent with the intention of never seeing the face of Lancelot again.
Sir Lancelot
Aged leather, almond, shining musk, nutmeg, black tea, vanilla sugar and smoked sandalwood.
Aged leather, almond, shining musk, nutmeg, black tea, vanilla sugar and smoked sandalwood.
Lady Guinevere
Tuberose, sweet cream, juicy apricot, cherry blossoms, rosewood and the softest blush of pink grapefruit.
Tuberose, sweet cream, juicy apricot, cherry blossoms, rosewood and the softest blush of pink grapefruit.
$17.50 per 5ml
Aishiteru 2011
Japanese
a serene floral and tea scent - cherry blossoms, ozone, sweet osmanthus, green tea, jasmine blossoms, wisteria and bamboo leaves
Aloha Wau Ia Oi 2011
Hawaiian
Gorgeous and opulent pikake blossoms, ti leaves, umi'umi-o-dole, maile vine, Hawaiian ginger and coconut cream, rounded out with a splash of pineapple.
Gorgeous and opulent pikake blossoms, ti leaves, umi'umi-o-dole, maile vine, Hawaiian ginger and coconut cream, rounded out with a splash of pineapple.
Ana Moajaba Bik 2011
Moroccan
A complex and mysterious melange of black musk incense, white sandalwood, spicy red carnation, oud, and Moroccan geranium with a sparkle of sweet orange.
Don Juan 2011
This sultry Spanish libertine's seductive folly led him straight to the gates of Hell, however the magnetic allure of his eponymous fragrance is nothing short of Heavenly.
Saffron and sable Moorish woods are seduced by bundles of white lavender, masculine amber and black musk.
Harlot 2011
Biblically, harlots were devoted prostitutes who worked in service of the great goddess Astarte, the Syrian Venus.
Temple incense, dried blood red roses, labdanum, osmanthus, tuberose and oud.
Mahal Kita 2011
Tagalog
Capturing the heart of the rainforest - teakwood is blended with lush orchid and coconut water, sweetened with starfruit and papaya nectar.
Ravished 2011
Seduced by a scoundrel on the Seven Seas; a bodice-ripper in it's own right. Passionate pirate kisses plunder the depths of her black heart.
Sweltering Tahitian vanilla heat, a mahogany headboard, silken crimson sheets pulled tight and notes of golden honey ooze over mouth-watering coconut mounds.
Sarang Heyo 2011
Korean
Sacred and beneficent - the slightest whispers of pine resin, cinnamon and thyme merge with the holy scents of aloeswood, red sandalwood and magnolia.
Scarlet Woman 2011
The Thelemic Mother of Abominations - the Consort of Chaos.
Red roses, jasmine sambac, deep red ginger, ambergris, champagne, Himalayan cedar, patchouli and a kiss of violet.
Seni Seviyorum 2011
Turkish
Nearly as delectable as baklava - orange blossom honey is slathered between layers of dried figs, almonds, apricots and quince.
Sheela-Na-Gig 2011
She first appeared in the 11th or 12th century as a stone carving found on churches, castles and gates in Britain and Ireland and was believed to be an apotropaic charm – a true testament to the female mysteries.
Sheela-Na-Gig, often considered as a Goddess, is a powerful symbol of a woman's relationship with her sexuality, her body and the power that lies therein. She is depicted as a grinning bald woman displaying her exaggerated vulva for the world to behold. Imagine what would happen if we were proudly willing to share the most sacred parts of ourselves without reservation. Allow Sheela's bold defiance of misogyny to empower you!
A daring mix of enchanted herbs and flowers sacred to the ancient Celts of the British Isles evoke he feeling of watching the sun set behind the towering megaliths of Stonehenge: rolling green hills, dusky heather, the gossamer fruit of the Sidhe and sacred vervain.
Shunga 2011
Shunga were sexually explicit Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints produced in the 16th and 19th centuries. Men and women from all stations in life took great pleasure in these erotic "pillow books" as they were often given as gifts to newly-wedded couples. The lascivious images in these books were highly idealized, stylized and featured innumerable steamy situations with raw desire and opulent fantasy.
A suggestive blend of impassioned dark amber resin clinging to delicate white ginger lilies as tendrils of Asian opium smoke swirl about the charged atmosphere.
Táim In nGrá Leát 2011
Irish Gaelic
An inspired scent that evokes swirling mists through ancient apple orchards, oak leaves, cool rain and emerald moss.
Te Ubesc 2011
Romanian
Romanian
A truly spellbinding brew of dog rose, cherry bark and mandrake compounded in a base of vanilla bean, tonka, witchgrass and sweet myrrh resin.
Wo Ai Ni 2011
Mandarin Chinese
Gentle, soft, pure - white chrysanthemum is blended with sweet sandalwood, white opium, and mandarin orange with just a suggestion of warming ginger and clove.
A Mid-Winter Reprieve
$17.50 per 5ml
Delicious, but certainly not edible!
Madame Blavatsky's Sbiten
Wishing You Were Here
$20 per 5ml
$17.50 per 5ml
Delicious, but certainly not edible!
Api Morado para Pachamama
As sweet and ancient as the soft light of the rising sun that caresses the Andes, Api Morado is a thick, nourishing beverage with impressive Incan ancestry. Beloved in Bolivia, Api Morado is served at breakfast with fresh hand-made pastries.
To honor our Earth Mother: wholesome ground purple corn is gently simmered in fresh milk with the rinds of pineapples and oranges and infused with comforting sweet clove, piquant cinnamon, a splash of lemon juice and a spoon of succulent raw sugar. Actually, make that two.
Bruja Zarate's Agua Dulce
A soothing time-honored Costa Rican breakfast drink. Agua Dulce, literally, "sweet water" is as simple and as elegant as its name.
Raw milled cane juice, tapa de dulce, is dissolved in the warmth of pure water fresh off the boil and served with juicy pink grapefruit.
Honrar a los Muertos
Atole is a masa-based beverage enjoyed on the Yucatan peninsula since pre-Colombian times. While it comes in many variations, the basic ingredients are consistent. Often left as an ofrenda to the spirits during el Dia de los Muertos, atole is a customary and welcome gift for the ancestors.
Masa harina is blended into hot milk, sugared with piloncillo and imbued with the ancient flavors of Mexican cinnamon and pure vanilla.
Intrigue in Tangiers
The preparation and presentation of tea in Morocco has been elevated to an art form known as Ataí. The careful attention and love that goes into the preparation of Moroccan mint tea is integral to Moroccan culture. It is expected that one enjoy at least three servings of tea per sitting, as each glass has its own unique flavor and color that changes as the steeping tea ages. In fact, this is ritual is immortalized in this proverb:
The preparation and presentation of tea in Morocco has been elevated to an art form known as Ataí. The careful attention and love that goes into the preparation of Moroccan mint tea is integral to Moroccan culture. It is expected that one enjoy at least three servings of tea per sitting, as each glass has its own unique flavor and color that changes as the steeping tea ages. In fact, this is ritual is immortalized in this proverb:
"Le premier verre est aussi amer que la vie,
le deuxième est aussi fort que l'amour,
le troisième est aussi doux que la mort."
le deuxième est aussi fort que l'amour,
le troisième est aussi doux que la mort."
"The first glass is as bitter as life,
the second glass is as strong as love,
the third glass is as gentle as death."
the second glass is as strong as love,
the third glass is as gentle as death."
Chinese gunpowder green tea is boiled with cane sugar and blended with fresh peppermint leaves lightly accentuated with louiza and wormwood.
{Thank you to The Chameleons for inspiring the name!}
Madame Blavatsky's Sbiten
Dating back to the 1100's, sbiten has been a fixture enjoyed in Russian culture for ages. It is a mead-like beverage shared hot with friends and family on cold winter nights. I think if I had three wishes, one of them would be to go back in time to share a cup and a conversation with master occultist Madame Blavatsky.
Five different varieties of honey: orange blossom, clover, peach blossom, blackberry and wildflower honey boiled in fresh water with blackberry jam and spiced with ginger root and warming clove.
Midnight Chai With Kali Ma
As top contender for India's favorite hot libation, Masala chai is a staple in the region's cuisine. Chai is so prevalent that you could swing a cinnamon stick and hit a chai walla. These peddlers can be found in most train and bus stations as well as busy intersections. In fact, chai is so integral to the culture that to decline an offer to share a cuppa is considered quite rude, so when Kali calls, say yes!
Darjeeling black tea is steeped in sacred cow milk and saturated with ancestral spices: cinnamon sticks, clove buds, nutmeg, vanilla beans, elachi pods, pink peppercorns, fennel seeds and brown sugar.
Sahlab Au Set
Sahlab is ubiquitous throughout the Middle East and Mediterranean. In Egypt, it is the remedy for the biting cold of desert nights. Ancient and enduring; perhaps the goddess Isis warmed the baby Horus with sweet sahlab.
Fresh goat milk thickened with orchid root accord, kyphi honey, orange blossom and rose water and sprinkling of toasted coconut caramel.
Sarabba Sulawesi
Enjoyed by many on Indonesia's Sunda Island, Sarabba is a hot and spicy evening pick-me-up.
The fire of Indonesian ginger is ignited with white peppercorns then quenched with sugared coconut milk.
Stregare Bicerìn
Born in the Piedmontese region of Italy famous for its chocolatier's, il Bicerìn is Turin's take on simple hot chocolate, where in the early part of the 16th century, Signore Philbert served hot chocolate to laud an Italian victory over the French. In the 1700's espresso and frothy whipped cream were added and il Bicerìn as we know it was born.
The aroma of an Italian cafe, leather and fine tobacco, creates an elegant ambience as we wait for our order to arrive: indulgent layers of bittersweet chocolate and gianduja slowly melted into whole milk and topped with Italian espresso and heavenly whipped cream. Bellissimo!
Tae Draíochta
Éire's elixir for what ails ye. Truly, here's nothing quite like a Hot Toddy in the evening to shake a stubborn cold, or the winter blues. Triple the whiskey and it might be a magical cure for everything, if you can remember what was wrong in the first place!
Malty Assam black tea is fortified with a shot of Irish whiskey and spiced with clove studded lemon rinds. Stirred with a cinnamon stick and served piping hot.
Vajrayana Victual
Po Cha, or Yak Butter Tea is a staple in Tibet and surounding regions. It has a salty and tangy flavor and is purple, oily and thick with the consistency of porridge, Po Cha is consumed thoughout the day and as with most teas, it is rude to refuse a cup. in fact, it is customary for your host to top of your tea with each sip. This high calorie beverage well suited to the high altitudes and the butter keeps lips from chapping, so you can smooch the smooth lips of all the smiling rinpoches. Or not. Many people add tsampa, a barley flour, to their tea, stirring it with their fingers until they mix up a fat delicious dumpling in the tea bowl. Bread and tea in the same cup. How's that for convenience?
A drop of creamy Yak butter accord is churned with thick black tea and served whilst contemplating impermanence in the ancient temple atmosphere thick with ages of incense and prayer.
$20 per 5ml
Departure: Seat 13c "I never thought saying good-bye could be so cruel! I wish I could settle in and enjoy the journey but I am still uncertain about my intentional lack of an itinerary. No one shall accuse me of being a bore! I hope for random encounters, rich adventures and perhaps some wild revelries that can pierce my shell. This is my sole existence and I wish to partake heartily. Wishing you were here, H." Sweet Asian sandalwood drenched in creamy Casablanca lilies with a shimmer of citrus anticipation. | |
Mischief In Laced Boots "Two weeks had passed without incident until last night found me wandering, quite unexpectedly, though dark thoroughfares in pursuit of new footwear - I will not be going into how I lost my last pair - let's just attribute it to the fine wine! They have lovely shops here, and lovelier clerks. To bloom like the rose with no thorns! Wishing you were here, H." Kumquat peels and magnolia blossoms steal through patchouli's dark shadow to meet up with succulent summer fruits and bold pink peppercorns in the darkening twilight. | |
Camping in Corsets "The flowers here are heavy on their branches and appear to be very ready to be plucked and enjoyed. The weather has dried out long enough for myself and a new companion to head to the mountains for a few days of fresh air, sunshine, and privacy! I was quite improperly dressed for such a trek - so I made it a point to be as properly undressed as possible! Oh the scandal! Wishing you were here, H." Fiery resins and wisps of vanilla smoke are sweetened by white amber and and a touch of wild lavender. | |
Naughty Amongst Novels "You might think that my various romps would be filling all of my days (and nights!) but you'd be sorely mistaken. I am still an insatiable bookworm! The quiet stacks on the fourth floor are a perfect place to ...study. I do believe that my shell has thoroughly cracked well past any attempts to restore it. Good riddance! Wishing you were here, H." Exotic volumes of leather-bound books topple over enough layers of clove, spiced musk, black coconut and antique furnishings enough to make a librarian swoon! | |
Arrival: Gate 23 "At long last, I make my way back to the place I have called home for ages. So often during my trip I longed to change my name, my residence, my identity. I wished to reinvent myself - dissolve into the fray and be led by the enticement of the lights and their myriad colors that flickered through the night. I wanted to become that which I thought I could never be. However, throughout my travels, I have discovered that the reason why I could never become the person I wanted to be was because I was already her. Wishing you were here, H." Orange blossoms and black sandalwood cozy up together on a leather sofa under a soft patchouli throw - oh so very glad to finally be home. _____________________________________________________________________________ And that should do it! All the best, Vajra |
