Some Of The Best Non-Toxic Perfumes...Woman, You're Gonna Smell SO Good!

If you've ever said that you can't replace your favorite perfume with a natural one because you don't know where to look for one, I hope I can guide you in the right direction.  I've gotten so many emails from women saying that fragrance is the one thing (along with mascara and concealer) that they can't seem to replace.  Nonsense, I say!  Not only will you find something you'll love, but once you start wearing a natural perfume, your nose will get itchy when you smell someone get on the elevator with something you used to think smelled so darn good. 

THEE FLORALS

Jasminas by Intelligent Nutrients - Must love Jasmine. We're talking serious Jasmine here. Pretty and super concentrated, this opaque amber perfume comes in the perfect little bottle.  You need just the tiniest bit to smell so pretty and fresh.  Apply behind the ears or in the hair.  $45

Prima Ballerina by Strange Invisible Perfumes - I'm constantly sniffing my wrist while I'm wearing this as I keep getting a faint hint of rose and I'm liking it.  With rose, sage, lime and botanical musk, it's a gorgeous rose powderish perfume with a modern twist!   $150

EARTHY & HERBAL

Prima by Osmia Organics - Okay, I'm highlighting Prima, but I have to say that I found all of Osmia Organics' perfumes to smell earthy, herbal, fresh and just full of nature.  Sarah, the line's founder, definitely gets inspired by her Colorado surroundings.  If you're an Earthy girl, put your bags down as you've arrived, woman.  $75

Woodland by Forager Botanicals - This unisex fragrances has notes of cedar wood, high alps lavender and sweet, rich herbs.  Casey Coyle, the woman behind Forager Botanicals, is a Brooklyn-based graphic designer who longed for more natural, simple fragrances. $120

FUN, PLAYFUL & SEX-AY!

Love Coconut by  Honoré des Prés - My favorite perfume.  No, you won't smell like you've just slathered on tacky sun oil from the Eighties.  It's light, subtle and just so pretty...ah! 100% natural and organic.  $95

Vamp `a NY by Honoré des Prés -  How to explain?  Hmmm...fun and feisty, it's described as having Tuberose and rum.  Allow me to just say that if you can get your hands on a sample, chances are you'll fall in love pretty fast & will be getting yourself a bottle, you sexy woman!  $98

CHAMOMILE

333 by Tallulah Jane - If you like chamomile and lavender, you're going to love this.  I got hooked as soon as I tried a sample and have been through many bottles.  Eleanor, the creator of Tallulah Jane, also has these available in awesome body oils and Eau De Parfum.  $58

CITRUS

Halona by Tallulah Jane - Lime, fresh ginger and spices.  This is a gorgeous scent that is uplifting and happy.  If you like citrus and peppy scents, you'll love Halona.  I also have the body oil...I highly recommend.  $48

Urban Organic by A Perfume Organic - With lemon sorbet, bourbon, lime peel, basil ginger and smoky vetiver, I think this is next on my list to purchase.  I'm a citrusy girl, what can I say?  $65

Trip by Honoré des Prés - 100% natural and organic, this delish perfume is all about pure tangerine extracts, Mediterranean oranges, yellow and green lemons and spicy pepper taken from trees in the Philippine Islands.  Although I love this, keep in mind that citrus scents don't last very long and will need to be reapplied.  $84

WARM & SPICY

Trusque by Osmia Organics - Fruity, Spanish lavender and plant-based musk. Perfect for the upcoming cooler months...seriously well-made perfume here.   $150

Mejica by A Perfume Organic - I'm smelling gorgeous spices (clove?) mixed with Vanilla...but real Vanilla, not what synthetics have made us believe it smells like.  This is the real deal.  I'm thinking this is going to be perfect for Fall/Winter.  $65

ELIXIR/BODY OIL

Aiyana by Tallulah Jane - Pure Moroccan Rose,Vanilla, hints of pear and Rock Rose all brightened with a delicate scent of Italian Lemon. This is super feminine and hard to describe.  I love wearing it.  Also comes in a perfume, but I covet the body oil!  It's hydrating and feels amazing on the skin...you'll love sniffing your forearm during the day!  $38

Lina Hanson Global Body Serum - Again, not a conventional perfume, this body oil smells so good that I had to add it in here.  With Vanilla, Yuzu and grapefruit, I'm looking forward to Lina making this a perfume soon...and if I'm correct, I think she's doing just that!  $63

Nuture by Intelligent Nutrients - Not a conventional perfume, this is an anti-aging total body elixir serum and it smells just wonderful.  Lavender, sweet orange and geranium.  Subtle, pretty and relaxing.  $30

My Favorite Green & Natural Products: The All Stars!

So my last post was all about my my repurchases, but there's so many products that I just can't live without and I buy over and over.

Rahua Shampoo & Conditioner - I have lots of hair and I just find that this really cleans, hydrates and doesn't leave my hair feeling weighed down or oily like lots of natural shampoos usually do.  I always have a stash of these.

Intelligent Nutrients Plant Stem Cell Renewal Complex -  This really, really plumps up the skin, if only temporarily.  Just spot treat the areas where you need it.  I like to put this on before bed.  It smells great, too.  Full review here.  

The People's Pharmacy Milk of Magnesia Deodorant - I checked this out with my homeopathic doctor and she agreed that it's awesome.  This is the only thing that has ever worked for me.  It creates an environment where the bacteria that make you stink can't live!  It's not going to stop you from sweating, but it will stop the stink AND no staining!

Sanre Rosy Fresh Toner - By far, one of my absolute favorites.  Currently, I have about 4 of them in my stash.  The ingredients are stellar and it really hydrates.  Great, great toner and super natural!

Acure Organics Brightening Facial Scrub - A fairly new favorite, I love keeping this in the shower.  Lots and lots of tiny beads exfoliate your face in this seaweed-colored scrub.  Your skin will feel really, really soft and it's just so handy in the shower.

Kahina Organic Beauty's Toner - This toner really, really hydrates the skin and is a real treat.  I love everything that this company makes.  If you haven't tried it yet, go do!

Talllulah Jane's Halona Body Oil - If you like the smell of citrus, you'll love this body oil.  It smells great, slides on perfectly and dries in good time.  It also comes in a beautiful glass bottle that you'll love having in your bathroom.  Super natural ingredients, too.

Naturopathica's Vitamin K Eye Cream - I have several friends hooked on this melon-smelling eye cream.  I love it;  it brightens, smells great and it works!  

Honore des Pres Love Coconut - My favorite natural perfume.  In fact, I just bought another from Spirit Beauty Lounge about an hour ago.  It's perfect for summer and the smell of coconut is rich and subtle....nothing 80s here.

DeVita Solar SPF 30 Face Cream- I added this to my last post and this one...must really like it. Does not feel like an SPF at all.  Feels like a smooth lotion and I adore it.

SkinnySkinny Rosemary Mint Foot Scrub - This really works...especially if you're going to be running around in flip flops all summer long and like the look of clean, hydrated feet.  A super scrub, your feet will be smooooooth.  Trust me.

O.R.G. Skincare's Face Exfoliator - Please check my recent blog post on this innovative product.  I find that if I'm heading out for a special night, this gives me a smooth foundation.  It's also very cool how it works...check out my review for the details.

SW Basics Moisturizer - Use before bed and wake up without any redness and soft skin.  I love this line with their 3 ingredients - olive oil, coconut oil and shea butter.  Ahhh...

SW Basics Toner - This balances the pH in your skin, hydrates and cleans up everything!  It's a staple for me.

SW Basics Cleanser - Natural ingredients, cleans, hydrates and so easy to use.  This is what they mean when they say "clean and green."

Kahina Living Beauty Argan Oil - You will need no other oil for your skin.  This is argan oil in its purest and most natural state.  A bonus is that the bottle looks gorgeous.  I've written plenty of posts about this product...click around!  

The Green Product Junkie's Medicine Cabinet

THE GREEN PRODUCT JUNKIE'S MEDICINE CABINET

Moving is never fun.  Especially if you live in New York City and are moving from 1,300 sq. feet to about 469 sq feet...yeah, like that.  So, one of my biggest issues was where to fit in all of my natural and organic skin care, makeup and body products.  

I've decided to post a picture.  Now this is just a picture of the medicine cabinet...there's several shelves of my stash (I don't like to be out of anything, clearly).  

Can you recognize any products that you know and love?  I've got my Dr. Hauschka, Pai, Dr. Akalitis, Lotus Wei, Living Nature, Patyka, Sprout Skincare, Acure Organics, Kahina Giving Beauty, Naturopathica, Preserve toothbrush, Intelligent Nutrients, Pangea, Honore des Pres, Tallulah Jane, Rahua, Buddha Nose, DeVita, Skinnyskinny and some things I can't make out!

Would love to hear about what you love, what you think I should try and see your green medicine cabinet!

Excessive? Perhaps, but everyone's got their thing, right?

Best Natural Body Creams & Oils I've Tried...So Far: Patyka, Tallulah Jane & Acure Organics

There's nothing like scrubbing up in the shower and then getting out and putting on some delicious-smelling natural body cream (or oil if you have the drying time).  Here's a few of my favorites:

PATYKA
I'm loving body oils lately but honestly, they take some time to dry and putting clothing on when it's not fully absorbed is going to leave you with some oily-smelling clothes down the road.  So, I usually use my creams when I'm on the the run, and my oils when I've got some time to lollygag around.  One of my favorites that I usually put on before bed is Patyka's Precious Woods Body Oil.  This oil smells subtle and so pretty.  Patyka recommends that you put this on before bed to activate cell regeneration.  Not sure how that works, but I do know that my skin is super, super soft and has a nice hydrated glow the next morning.  It's a little steep in price (around $65) but it's well worth it.  I treat this stuff like it's liquid gold.

TALLULAH JANE
Hmm...I love smelling like a lemon grove.  I do, I do!  Tallulah Jane's Halona Body Oil is wonderful.  I just used it this weekend whilst away and after my shower my friend came into the bathroom and said, "I love how you leave a room and it smells like lemon."
I love the consistency of this oil and how well it hydrates.  It comes in a gorgeous glass bottle (not ideal for my travel, but when there's a will, there is a way).  BTW, try their perfumes, too.  My favorite is 333.  $38 

ACURE ORGANICS

I find that many of the organic and natural products I buy aren't exactly what I'd consider inexpensive.  I really was made aware of it when after a week at my friend's beach house he said, "Okay, your skin looks awesome, I'm sold.  What is all of this stuff and how much does it cost?"  After adding it all up, it was a small fortune.  But there's one company that is truly wonderful and so, so affordable.  In fact, I would have to say that Acure Organics is even more affordable than stuff that you'd purchase in a drugstore (and without all the nasty chemicals).  I am a huge fan of their Mandarin Orange & Mango Body Cream.  Not only does this smell great, but it is organic, natural and really hydrates.  The consistency is perfect.  And, for a mere $9.99, it's totally affordable.  Make sure to check out their other products, too.  I'm a huge fan!

*I purchased all of these products myself.  All opinions are my own!

Tallulah Jane Natural Perfumes & Body Oils - YUM!

I stopped wearing perfume shortly after being with someone who didn't like the citrusy scent I was wearing at the time. Looking back, I'm actually really thankful for that because it saved me years of breathing in the nasty chemicals that make up most of the perfumes that are out there. 

Tallulah Jane 333 was the first natural perfume that I fell in love with after getting a sample from Spirit Beauty Lounge. I've always loved the smell of chamomile, citrus and lavender. Not surprisingly, I found out that 333 is made from a blend of three different types of chamomile, lavender and three citrus essences. I was hooked. So, I bought several bottles and always have someone saying, "Your hair smells so good." (I've got a habit of spraying in my hair - lasts longer).  

Not long after that, I got a sample of their Halona Body Oil and immediately loved that, too.  It's got such a citrusy smell (lime and ginger) and the oil absorbs really fast, so you don't have to stand around waiting to get dressed.  The other day my Halona perfume arrived (different packaging - small with a roller ball) and I love it. About the size of a lipstick, it's so easy to carry around.

I haven't tried their other fragrances, but I'm sure they're all amazing and you'll find one or several that you'll love. The company uses only 100% natural ingredients, no synthetics, all products are Vegan and are free of parabens, phthalates and petrochemicals.

Oh, cute story: one day I was in Bigelow Chemists in NYC and as I was exiting, the owner of Tallulah Jane, Eleanor Jane, attempted to stop me to chat about her brand as they were new to Bigelow. I was in a bit of a rush as I had an appointment and quickly said, "Oh, yes, I have several bottles of the 333 at home and of your body oil that starts with an 'H'." "Halona?" she said surprised. "Yes." She was beaming and told me how much that made her day and I knew exactly how she felt. I find that there's nothing cooler than buying from small, local companies making great, natural products. Being an independent musician myself, I understand how good it feels when someone gives you a chance...and loves what you do.

I purchased these products myself and all opinions are my own!