Fragrance Oils: D thru H

This fragrance is way, way more than the sum of its parts. Grapefruity? Yes. Gingery? Yes. But in addition, there's a musky, woody drydown that's absolutely to die for, and that lives on long after the grapefruit and ginger are but fond memories. This blend begins with sparkling green notes coupled with tart pink grapefruit, leading to a middle of ginger, rose, plum, lily, and lavender. The unusual bottom complex of white musk and fruitwood rounds the fragrance out beautifully and has amazing staying power. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would have to give this fragrance a 27! Sophisticated and upscale, yet totally likable and most definitely addictive -- I would put this fragrance up against anything even the priciest boutique brands have to offer -- yes, it's that good. Don't judge this one out of the bottle, though -- it really comes alive when you put it to use. Our Grapefruit Ginger fragrance is lovely in shampoo, shower gel, and M&P soap; pretty good in CP soap; and mind-blowingly fantastic in stay-on-the-skin applications like lotion, body butter, and perfume (haven't tried it in candles, yet, but it's most definitely compatible with wax). Flashpoint: 146º F.

Fresher than a spring breeze blowing across a mountain meadow high in the Colorado Rockies! I decided this is a must-have fragrance after a recent foray to the mall, and was thrilled that the perfumers were able to come up with such a knock-out duplication. This blend begins with fresh-floral, bright citrus, and leafy green top notes, leading to a heart of water lily, jasmine, and eucalytpus. The fragrance ends with bottom notes of musk and soft woods. Lovers of fresh scents like Irish Spring, Tide, and Cool Citrus Basil, rejoice -- you have found your new king! NOTE: The tiny test bar of CP soap I made with Green Clover & Aloe has been filling my home office with the most wonderful waves of fresh, clean, green, refreshing scent -- a far cry from the room's usual aroma of open Dorito's bags and sleeping dogs. Powerful, and powerfully good! Doesn't discolor CP soap, either -- excellent! Flashpoint: >200º F.

Our first-ever duplication of a fragrance from the venerable (and extremely pricey) House of Creed. This fine men's fragrance begins with a sprig of Dublin ivy, joined with green notes of verbena and violet leaves. Woody, balsamic Mysore cardamom creates a sweet-spicy middle, winding down to a well-defined, smooth bottom of sandalwood and amber. Bottom line: A truly accurate re-creation of the VERY upscale, very green real thing, and guaranteed to turn any man into a bare-chested Riverdance-type hottie (and by "guaranteed," I of course mean "vaguely implied," my lawyer tells me). Flashpoint: 190º F.

Juicy and tropical as all get-out! Our wonderfully fruity guava is strong and true. Great on its own, or try blending it with our Mandarin Orange, Coconut, Pineapple, or Mango fragrances for fruit smoothie soap, shampoo, candles, etc. Flashpoint: >200º F.

Here's the backstory: Whilst shopping at a fancy-schmancy department store, several Hermes samples were very kindly included with my purchase. Upon returning home and going through the bag, what to my wondering nostrils did appear but the most intriguing, the most beguiling, the most likable scent that I had stumbled upon in years and years? I tore through the samples, unstoppering each to see which was responsible for the aroma that had me swooning. It was Eau des Merveilles, and I think our re-creation is every bit as good as the real thing. Eau des Merveilles is unusual in that the perfumers who created it purposely built it upside-down, so that bottom notes would be the top notes. Thus the fragrance opens with woody notes of vetiver, oak, and cedar, which quickly lead to a sweet, sultry middle of ambergris, with lemon, orange, elemi, and pink pepper in the finish. The lack of floral notes in the blend -- while being interesting, and unusual -- also makes the scent unisex for those who have a metrosexual bent. Why the Hermes original version of this scent isn't on every neck and wrist in the free world is beyond me -- yes, it's that good. Our re-creation isn't cheap (although it's much cheaper than the "real thing"), but it's well worth the price -- if you can even put a price on transporting yourself to a nirvana of gorgeous, mind-bending scent! Flashpoint: 186º F.

Strong and stable, which is a rarity among honey fragrances. Great on its own, but eminently suited to blending -- try mixing it with other fragrances we offer to produce Honey Vanilla, Honey and Lemon, Honey and Orange Blossom, etc. BOTTOM LINE: Most honey fragrances simply vanish in soap, but this one's been fortified and is quite tenacious. Flashpoint: >200º F.

This strong, sweet, fresh floral smells like a field of wildflowers on a breezy spring day. Holds up quite well in soap. Flashpoint: 190F. BLENDING TIP: Combine Honeysuckle with our Red Rose fragrance oil and just a touch of patchouli essential oil for a "Honeysuckle Rose" blend.

At long last -- our most-requested fragrance duplication! The exclusive, over-the-top Hotel Costes is located in the heart of Paris, and their house perfume -- in its deep red bottle with chunky glass stopper -- became an immediate cult classic upon its introduction in 2004. We received more requests to duplicate this super-complex, super-chic fragrance than any other. It took six months of tinkering and refining, but at long last, we're delighted to offer you our interpretation of this stunning blend (and if you've never smelled the real thing, you're in for an amazing treat!). Our blend opens with spicy green top notes of natural cypress, basil, cardamom, lemon, nutmeg, black pepper, and cinnamon oil. The top notes give way to a spicy floral middle of rose and jasmine along with essential oils of lavender and clove bud. The bottom notes of this fragrance -- which create an amazing accord that lasts and lasts -- consist of essential oils of sandalwood, cedarwood, and patchouli, sweetened with a bit of synthetic musk. This fragrance is truly unique -- it's almost like three fragrances in one as a medley of bright, green essential oils give way to an irresistible spice blend, which then leads to a long-lived, soapy clean, woodsy drydown. Stays stunning and true in cold-process soap! Flashpoint: >200º F.

Hyacinth is a fresh, white, clean, intense floral, and the quintessential scent of spring. After extensive searching and testing, this is the ONLY hyacinth fragrance we ever got our hands on that didn't mutate most hideously in cold-process soap -- this one stays true and strong. A delight in soaps, candles, and toiletries; delivers an almost unparalleled bang for the buck. PERSONAL NOTE: After buying many hyacinth plants that quickly drooped and died, now I don't bother -- a couple drops of Hyacinth fragrance on a cotton ball or vintage handkerchief and my powder room, guest room, and kitchen smell like a veritable greenhouse in April. Flashpoint: 162º F. While Hyacinth is outstanding on its own, it's also a terrific blender; here it plays a key part in a blend that we call "not your grandmother's rose fragrance": Elizabethan Rose 4 parts Sweet Cakes True Rose Fragrance 2 parts Sweet Cakes Lavender Breeze Fragrance 1 part Sweet Cakes Hyacinth Fragrance This blend is fresh and new, yet it has a romantic charm. It has the time-tested fragrance of roses, yet is loved by people who usually don't care for rose fragrances. And Hyacinth will brighten up any floral blend. This Elizabethan Rose blend will transport you into a summer garden on a warm breezy night. If you'd like to substitute a different rose scent, you can use 5 parts Sweet Cakes Rose Petals, or 3 parts Sweet Cakes Red Rose.