Reinventing the Wheel

As I pore over website after website looking for fragrance oils that meet the standard my little gem of a fragrance company has set, I find it frustratingly difficult to find companies that check all the boxes. The boxes include: clean fragrances, cruelty-free, made in the USA, preferably from a small business, and, let's not forget, great customer service. I keep kicking the proverbial can down the road when deciding because I hope my little company will return to operations. However, it is time to face reality, dear reader. Some of your favorite scents may have to go. 

The most popular and most difficult to replace is Sandalwood. The sandalwood we use is exceptional. It isn't just one-dimensional and woody like so many others. It has depth, with top notes of sandalwood, middle notes of jasmine and vetiver, and a soft, warm finish that I simply cannot find anywhere else. I fear I am going to have to replace my pumpkin sandalwood fall scent. I love this scent. Of all the fall seasonals, this one is my personal favorite. I am working hard, dear reader, but I am afraid we may have to go in a different direction. 

Another seasonal favorite is Blueberry Verbena. This scent is extraordinary, and I know you all love it. I am struggling to find a good blueberry scent, let alone one with verbena. Perhaps I can create a version I find acceptable, but it won't be our exact well-loved scent. Sigh. That one may be a completely new creation as well. 

Don't get me started on my fall and winter line-ups. I believe I will have to reinvent the wheel with all my favorite holiday scents. I enjoy creating new scents and have lovely ideas, but without the oils from my favorite company, I am at a loss. I haven't started reviewing the regular inventory I need to replace. I can't go there quite yet. We have enough oils to create at least two more batches of each, so I have some time. 

In the meantime, either The Bibbed Wonder or I check our favorite fragrance company's website every day to see if they have posted any updates or reopened for business. Sigh. There is a lot of change happening all at once, and it is making my little tweaky brain tweakier than usual. The Bibbed Wonder and I take turns not being able to sleep. I write lists, do research, and make more lists. The Bibbed Wonder stays very, very busy. At least we aren't tweaking out at the same time. When we tweak out at the same time, it isn't good. 

So, dear reader, the search for amazing, clean, USA-made oils continues. I will keep you informed when our regular inventory must change. I'll give you a heads-up so you can stock up or mentally prepare for the changes. In the meantime, are there any scents you would love to see created? Any issues you would like to see addressed? As long as change is going to happen, you may as well have a say in what you would like to see changed. I'm open to suggestions. Please feel free to comment in the blog, in an email, or on Facebook Messenger. 

On this spring Monday, stay safe, be smart, share your ideas, keep working on the hard stuff, and keep washing your hands.