The Best Indie Perfumes on Etsy

"Tarot" Steampunk perfume from BirdcageandLabyrinth

I love perfume! Who doesn't? Making it and wearing it are some of my favorite hobbies. And since commercial perfumes can be quite unhealthy, organic perfumes, natural perfumes, and botanical perfumes are quickly rising in popularity and making a huge niche market for themselves on Etsy and other hand-made goods websites.  While there are over 200 shops on Etsy that sell perfume and scents, I am obligated to say that not all perfumes are created equal. Those that I am listing are either all-natural or mostly natural and have a less mass-produced feel than some of the shops. I have not tried perfumes from all of these shops, but from the sellers profiles I can tell that healthy personalized scents in small batches are their priority.  So here are just some of my favorite (and the best) perfume sellers on Etsy:


BirdcageandLabyrinth: Steampunk and Gothic perfumerie.  I can vouch for how awesome these perfumes are; I make them!

What's on your Christmas wishlist?

Now that Black Friday is over, it's time for those of us who did't spent the day after Thanksgiving attacking each other in Kohl's and Walmart to get our Christmas shopping done.  I hope you all partook in "Small Business Saturday" and supported your local small businesses (and online small businesses), as supporting small business is one of the best ways to stimulate our waning economy and support indie artisans.

And now of course is the fabulous Cyber Monday, the biggest day of online sales in the year, and there are plenty of places online, from Amazon to Etsy shoppes, that are offering specials on Cyber Monday you just can't miss!  So if you need a little inspiration for your Christmas lists this year, here is a little rundown of what the Lonely Alchemist is buying online this year (both for myself and for gifts):

The Best Perfumes on Etsy

"Tarot" Steampunk perfume from BirdcageandLabyrinth

I love perfume! Who doesn't? Making it and wearing it are some of my favorite hobbies. And since commercial perfumes can be quite unhealthy, organic perfumes, natural perfumes, and botanical perfumes are quickly rising in popularity and making a huge niche market for themselves on Etsy and other hand-made goods websites. While there are over 200 shops on Etsy that sell perfume and scents, I am obligated to say that not all perfumes are created equal. Those that I am listing are either all-natural or mostly natural and have a less mass-produced feel than some of the shops. I have not tried perfumes from all of these shops, but from the sellers profiles I can tell that healthy personalized scents in small batches are their priority.  So here are just some of my favorite (and the best) perfume sellers on Etsy:

BirdcageandLabyrinth: Steampunk and Gothic perfumerie.  I can vouch for how awesome these perfumes are; I make them!

PacificPerfumes.Etsy.com: New Zealand Award Winning & Handcrafted Solid Perfumes in various themes.  I've never tried these, but they look lovely.

scodioli: Madame Scodioli makes unique and intriguing perfumes, soaps, etc...  I've never tried these, but they look lovely.

pixxxiepieandposie: Fantastical fragrance creations from the land of the fairies.  I've never tried these, but they look very whimsical.

GreenManNaturals: Eco-friendly literary themed solid perfumes and perfume oils.  I can vouch for how awesome these perfumes are; I make them!

ForStrangeWomen: Natural Perfumery - Forest & Victorian-Inspired.  I've tried some of these and they are definitely an acquired taste.  Some people love them.  Some people don't.  I happen to love them.

ArabesqueAromas: A Botanical Apothecary.  I've never tried these, but they look lovely.
 
ofravensandvultures: Hand-made aromatherapy, fragrant, and metaphysical oil.  I've never tried these, but they look lovely.

Maoli: Fun and Natural Perfumes made with Aloha.  I've never tried these, but they look lovely.

Ciao!
The Lonely Alchemist 

Vote with your wallet!

This is one of the best consumer information sites I've ever found. Better World Shopper provides guides on how to "vote with your wallet" and make a positive difference in the world through your purchases. They have charts of the 20 best and 20 worst companies in the USA based on their five methods of evaluation (in the image below). The information they provide can help you become a more informed and conscientious shopper.

And can you guess who makes the top of their list for best company? Seventh Generation cleaning products! So next time you have to wipe some grease off the stove, clean it with something that's good for the planet. And who takes the cake for worst company overall? Exxon Mobile. No surprise there.

Let me be the first to admit that when I go to the grocery store, I'm not always thinking about what is best for the planet. I'm usually thinking about how I can eat healthily on a tight budget. But with the handy guide from Better World Shopper printed and tucked in my wallet, I will have tangible reminder to think of health, cost, and global impact equally. Sometimes all it takes to make a real difference is a little gentle reminder. Next time I go to the store, I'll try to buy more from Sprouts and Stater Bros., not from Walmart (#3 on the "bad" list). This may seem like a little difference, but if each consumer makes a tiny impact, we end up creating a landslide of validation for safer companies and condemnation for unsafe ones. We have more power in our wallets than we realize.




Caio!

The Lonely Alchemist