I recently received more fragrances from Theme, including a small bottle of Amuse, my very favorite of all of them. I was heartbroken when my miniature Amuse ran out -- not only do I adore the scent, with its soft vanilla topnote and undertones of Play-Doh (oh, yes!), but "amuse" is one of my favorite words. It's as if it was created for me. ;)
I've always loved the purity of Theme's fragrances -- see my first post about them. Sarong is another favorite, and similar to Amuse with its vanilla topnote but it's a bit more exotic, tropical. The descriptions are what you receive, and while they may not be as poetic as BPAL's or Scents by the Sea's, I think they match the freshness and simplicity of the fragrances. They are definitely fragrances for the modern woman.
This time around, I decided to try some from Theme's newest, second line of fragrances, Melodie. Called "vintage," I was intrigued, and ordered four minis.
Three of them I had to scrub off within ten minutes. They made me nauseous and gave me an instant headache.
I don't think I should summarily dismiss this line, as there are surely women out there who will find them beautiful. Just like with Theme, they are long-lasting, and a little goes a long way. But unlike Theme, I don't find them "pure" or "fresh." They were cloying and complicated, and reminded me of my grandmother's fragrances. In other words, they are exactly what I am not looking for in a perfume, and the opposite of Theme.
When I originally came across Theme and got my first set of minis to try, I knew I'd struck gold. Finally, a line of perfumes that isn't heavy or, well, too perfumey. And as an added bonus, when I wear Sarong or Amuse, the Mr. can't stop putting his nose in my cleavage or at the back of my neck or wherever I happen to have sprayed it. He finds them sexy, and I get so many compliments and "What perfume is that?" when I wear them.
But again, there are surely women who will find the Melodie line their perfect fragrance brand. And out of four, there was one I liked: Vanilla Souffle. No surprise, the vanilla again! The other three I tried were Fig Charming, Linen and Lace, and Peach Petals. I found Fig Charming so offensive that I not only had to shower and scrub it off, but I had to put the clothes I'd been wearing in the basement, as I could still smell them in the hamper.
I highly recommend Theme. Amuse is my favorite, and she ships super, SUPER fast. She's very friendly and communicative, and will even custom-blend perfumes (see her Etsy page). Also, every order I've received has come with one or two freebies, such as the Honey Balm this time (yummm...) and coupons for future orders. And I should add that a freebie of Melodie's lip balm, with its faint rose scent, has become practically my favorite lip balm ever.
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In other news, I've had back problems for some time, and it's behaving badly again. B has been doing a bit of massage each night in bed, which helps, and then four days ago I started doing yoga again. I haven't practiced in quite some time, so I feel a bit sore from stretching my legs, especially (I am the least flexible person on the planet), but it's a good sore. And it absolutely helps my back. Today I decided that I should do it twice a day instead of once in the evening, and I added some reps with light hand weights afterwards. I think I need to not only stretch, but build up strength in my back. That should help.
I've also got a knee problem, which scares me, as it's been going on for months, and we're planning on going to Disney in October. Disney is... a helluva lot of walking. Right now, I can't make it around the block. I'm getting a knee brace today, and some joint supplements (as if I don't take enough vitamins already), and hoping that the yoga will improve the knee as well. Wish me well, and if anyone has any helpful hints about improving flexibility or dealing with pain/discomfort, hit me with it. As long as it doesn't involve seeing a doctor, as I don't have insurance. :) Oh, to be poor in America. Greatest country on Earth!
