Friday, September 26, 2008

Harry Slatkin’s Home Scents for Fall

You all probably know about my obsession with pumpkin scents (yes, still looking for a pumpkin skin scent, by the way...) by now. A couple of weeks ago I included L’Occitane’s Pumpkin Chestnut candle in the Harvest Moon PFTO feature, the only product I know of from which I get my pumpkin kicks so far. The press release for Harry Slatkin’s brand new fall home scents has me all excited however! Finally pumpkin is getting a lot more attention! I can promise you that if these products come my way there’ll definitely be a review as I am very anxious to smell them, but until then I can at least introduce the line to you.

The product I am most excited about is this one, simply called Pumpkin. The scent sounds absolutely delicious, featuring notes of fresh pumpkin, ground cinnamon, brown sugar and vanilla cream. Can I just say YUM? I also love the look of this product and imagine that it would look fantastic in the center of a decorative Fall centerpiece of fruits and nuts. (Yes, in my head I am a domestic goddess who regularly puts together beautiful seasonal centerpieces for her home. Don’t ask about the reality of the situation. Just know that if you actually are that woman, you have my envious respect. D’you hear that, mom?) Retails at 19.50 dollars.

I generally don’t get along very well with caramel notes, but if the fruity notes of this candle manage to cut the sweetness of the caramel, this should be very beautiful indeed. Caramel Pumpkin combines whipped pumpkin puree, buttery caramel and a succulent seasonal fruit medley of ripe plum, crisp apple and juicy nectarine. I love the look of this product as well, imagining it would sit just perfectly in a country-style kitchen. Retails at 12.50 dollars.

May I just re-assert for the third time that Harry Slatkin has done a beautiful job with the appearance of these new products? How cute and adorable as well as perfect for autumn is this acorn shaped candle jar? This one features notes of golden nectar, juicy mandarin and red delicious apple are paired with toasted cinnamon stick, mulled cider spices and freshly harvested red berries and retails for 12.50 dollars.

Harry Slatkin’s new fall line also includes autumnal leaf-scented bars of soaps and in anticipation of Halloween, a number of whimsical votives and wallflowers. If you are planning to decorate the house for the children, my favorite product is probably this Snow Globe, featuring a naughty light-up pumpkin and “snowflakes” shaped like bats! I tend to find many of the Halloween decorations out there pretty tacky, but this little object is truly delightful instead!

PS: If you hadn’t noticed, the first sentence of this post includes a cry for help. No, seriously. If you know of a fragrance featuring pumpkin, you have to tell me.


23 comments:

The Daily Connoisseur said...

Ooh I adore pumpkin scents too- I actually looked for the L'Occitane candle you wrote about because it sounded so divine but I'm not sure they are available in the U.S. currently... will keep a look out for these... such a fab fall scent for the home!

Ines said...

I was thinking, I've eaten them, seen them so many times in gardens and now I can't recall the smell. It seems to me that in real life their smell is really lightweight or is it possible my nose just doesn't register it that much...?
I really have to get my hands on one of these pumpkin candles to try it out. :)

Unknown said...

I have to ask Divina have you tried Pacifica's Carribean Sugar Pumpkin? If I remember right it smells quite good; here is there description for it "Lemon-sugar laced with maple and nutmeg brighten the warm fleshy pumpkin notes in this modern blend." Man now I want some pumpkin.

Anonymous said...

Dear Div, please send me an e-mail to shitrit5050@yahoo.com
I would like to send you back 2 delicious easy to make brazilian pumpkin recipes.
kisses,
Simone.

ScentScelf said...

Hmmm...your desire for a pumpkin scent has me thinking...unfortunately, thinking that doesn't result in a fragrance for you...but pondering what we think of when we think of "pumpkin." Usually, it's the pie, right, and not the flesh as it is scooped out, or even the puree (homemade or out of a can)?

There's got to be something you can layer with a milky cinnamon & spice scent...the spices need a hint of nutmeg, or some equivalent...and the "something" needs a rich, vegetal, of the earth, quality. Toss in a hint of the "bread" that is Apres L'Ondee (gives you the pie crust)...

Where does your nose goes when you imagine your pumpkin perfume?

Anonymous said...

Bath and Body Works has a Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin scent in their signature collection. Unfortunately, there's no edt like the rest of their signature scents, but there is a body splash and all the accompanying lotions, bath gels and home products. I have an older version in different packaging than the one currently offered on the Web site (hopefully repackaged doesn't also mean reformulated), and I don't find it sweet at all despite the name. The Web site lists the notes as: "warm, spiced pumpkin, crisp apple and juicy cranberry." To my nose and on my skin, I get cinnamon and pumpkin with hints of apple and clove. I can't really identify any particular notes on the drydown, but I do feel cosy after smelling it after a few hours and it does indeed give the impression of being warm and subtly spiced. The longevity is surprisingly quite good for a body spray especially when layered with the other products (at least, for me it is anyway). Hope that helps and good luck :)!

Anonymous said...

Demeter has a Pumpkin Pie, not sure whether that would be close enough. The inside of a fresh pumpkin is obviously an entirely different smell!

ScentScelf said...

I just noticed someone offering Pumpkin Pie on the MUA swap board...

Divina said...

Hi Daily! When they first came out (a couple of years ago I think?) I thought these candles were limited edition, but they are still sold around here both in the official Occitane shops (which tend to remove objects as soon as they discontinue them) as well as at other locations such as spas that sell their products. What a pity that you cannot find it over there :( It really is a yummy candle.

Divina said...

Ines, I'll be honest, I don't cook with pumpkin so often myself, mostly because I don't have a clue how to prepare it! One of my best friends (she is from Costa Ricca) makes wonderful, wonderful soup with pumkin and my american friends love to make pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread around this time of year. I love the buttery, earthy smell of the soup and bread and the spicy, sweet smell of the pie... I do get the unique scent that the pumpkin provides each time cause I don't find it in other things, but I'd be hard-pressed to tell you what a fresh one smells like! However the slightly rotten smell of a pumpkin lantern from last years halloween party that was forgotten outside a friend's door is very much imprinted in my mind still! LOL!

Divina said...

Hey Jen! No, I haven't tried this one! I'll see if I can get it (I can only get a few Pacifica products around here).

Divina said...

Simone, how kind of you to offer! :) I'll mail you tonight!

Divina said...

Scentself, exactly as you imagined, I am mostly thinking of the cooked versions of pumpkin: Pumpkin soup, pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread. (Oh, how I love pumpkin bread and it seems you hit the nail right on the head with your idea about a bready note!)

Divina said...

Anna what a great suggestion! I don't have too big of a problem with the edt issue: I really like B&BW body splashes and find the ones I tried to be long-lasting and very pleasant. They wear very much like light scents and I enjoy spraying them. I only hope the cranberry is not too prominent!

Divina said...

Hey March! Demeter... hmm.... am I wrong to think that they have stopped delivering to Europe? I got so pissed off at them about a year and half ago that I have stopped considering them at all. Longevity is a big issue with a lot of their scents too. However I am desperate for a nice Pumpkin find so I will definitely look for it. There is a small number of UK e-tailers that sell Demeter scents here in Europe and maybe they also sell this one. Thank you for the suggestion!

Divina said...

I've never swapped at MUA... but maybe now is the right time to start, LOL! I'll do a search, thanks for the heads up!

Anonymous said...

Hi there- I'm not a usual reader but I stumbled on your page and had to reply because I too have been looking for pumpkin scents this year. Definitely check out Bath and Body Works- I tried the Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin last weekend and found that while it wasn't my favorite at first, it was great once it wore down a little (very sweet on me, but with enough pumpkin still). They also have another pumpkin fragrance called The Perfect Autumn Pumpkin or something along those lines, and that seems to have more pumpkin in it. The candles at BBW are adorable too. Also, Philosophy has a Pumpkin Spice body wash that I've heard (but don't sadly know firsthand) is fantastic, so check that out if you have access to it. Unfortunately, that's all I've got: I don't know a single pumpkin-like perfume.

Divina said...

Amanda thank you so much for all the information - it's really appreciated! I went looking for the Philosophy body wash yesterday but I couldn't find it. (I only know of one shop that stocks philosophy products around here) I'll look online next though :)

marchlion said...

Hey, hon -- Robin at Now Smell This has this morning a pumpkin fragrance, Pumpkin Patch, made by a MUA member. Maybe that person could make you a more generic Pumpkin?

Divina said...

March you sweetheart! I was just over there 5 mins ago commenting that I am definitely gonna try the Pumpkin Patch if they deliver to Europe! Asking for something bespoke would be a great idea.. Her prices are very reasonable too! :) Thank you so much for thinking of me! BIG hugs!

marchlion said...

You're welcome. I know what it's like to want something and not be able to find it... one of these days I'm going to find me someone to make me a fragrance with a drop of durian in it. Just a drop. Durian is one of those smells that is almost unbearable, and yet so compelling I can't stop thinking about it.

marchlion said...

Me, back again! Went by BBW to smell all those things. I skipped all the fall spice scents, of which they have several... there are three pumpkins I saw.

The Caramel Pumpkin is IMO too caramel-ly. I mean, it's nice if you like caramel, but it could be any caramel gourmand scent.

The Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin (? I think that's what it's called) is like pumpkin pie spice, which is the spices you can buy preassembled for your pie baking -- I think it's cloves, cinnamon, maybe nutmeg and allspice? But not so much pumpkin, though it smells lovely.

The pumpkin CANDLE you showed, and that line, are called The Perfect Autumn Pumpkin and, while they have some spice, it smells much more of actual pumpkin flesh and less spice. There is a room spray for $3 and some other stuff. I was trying various products for these and some man literally followed me down the hall of the mall, telling my how great I smelled! So we know what men like -- baked goods. :-)

btw I love pumpkin and eat it a lot -- it's quite good for you. I am lazy and buy the canned kind, which is very easy to find over here. Pies, bread, soup, etc.

marchlion said...

PS and then I'll stop .. that wonderful acorn is part of the Leaves collection (fall leaves? autumn leaves?) a nice, not overly sweet non-foody background smell. Sort of generic American fall :-) I couldn't really identify it. It doesn't smell like burning leaves or leaves on the ground, it's not a "realism" scent like Demeter.