One of my favorite indie lines, Providence Perfume Co. has launched an organic botanical bath and body line. This new line contains shower gels, body lotions and hand creams. I’m going to quote the perfumer, Charna Ethier on the creation of the line:
I approached creating the fragrance for the bodycare line like creating perfumes. I wanted each scent to be nuanced and hoped to buck the idea that natural products are unsophisticated and simplistic. Just because a lotion is natural and made with organic ingredients doesn’t mean it needs to smell of lavender or lemongrass, right?”
Right. There is nothing wrong with a natural lavender scented body product, but I have been longing for someone to make more complex, more “perfume like” body products using natural essences. Many “commercial” perfumes have corresponding auxiliary products but many indies don’t.
The line consists of 5 fragrances and here are my impressions:
Chai Cocoa has notes of cooca, vanilla, ginger, cardamom and cinnamon bark.
When I first sniffed this one, I actually said, “OMG”. It’s a spicy chai hot chocolate. I know this may sound “simple” but it’s so divine. This is one for the gourmand lovers.
My PPC layering recommendations: Cocoa Tuberose, Osmanthus Oolong, Ginger Lily and Rose Bohème. – It smells amazing with Cocoa Tuberose.
Other perfume layering suggestions: Diptyque Eau Duelle, Pacifica Mexican Cocoa, Serge Lutens 5 O’Clock Gingembre and Caron Poivre. – Goes well with anything with vanilla, chocolate, spices and some roses.
Gin & Tonic has notes of lime juice, bergamot, orange juice, lily, jasmine and juniper berry.
This is a heady, refreshing lime. It’s like a fantasy, “out of this world” lily. Imagine a heady Easter lily submerged in a Gin & Tonic. This stuff is pretty awesome. It smells effervescent and fizzy, like a lemon/lime soda. I find the lotion more floral than the shower gel.
My PPC layering recommendations: Branch & Vine and Eva Luna.
Other layering suggestions: Thierry Mugler Cologne, Sisley Eau de Campagne, Serge Lutens Un Lys and Vero Profumo Mito. – Goes well with eau de colognes, white florals and ozonic fragrances.
Sandalwood has notes of real sandalwood.
This is a simple yet high-quality sandalwood. It’s not as complex as the other offerings but I see why it’s in the line. It will layer nicely with any of your perfumes.
My PPC layering recommendations: Rose Bohème, Divine, Hindu Honeysuckle, Moss Gown and Tabac Citron. – It will layer with any of the PPC fragrances nicely.
Other layering suggestions: Diptyque Tam Dao, Serge Lutens Un Fille de Berlin, CREED Bois de Portugal, Aftelier Honey Blossom and Malle par Dries Van Noten. – Goes well with everything. Seriously.
Stonefruit & Ylang has notes of ylang ylang, peach, apricot and rosewood.
This is a heady ylang-ylang with hints of ripe peaches. This is a ylang-ylang lover’s dream body product. I have noticed that in the shower gel, the ylang is more pronounced. And in the body lotion, the peach is more pronounced.
My PPC layering recommendations: Mouselline Peche, Divine and Ginger Lily.
Other layering suggestions: Piguet Bandit, Amouage Honor Woman, Tom Ford Neroli Portofino, Malle Geranium Pour Monsieur. – Goes well with leathery chypres, white florals, coconut and cool/minty scents.
Fern has notes of lavender, tonka, patchouli, oakmoss, rose, cedarwood, geranium, spearmint and galbanum. It’s an nod to the classic fougère.
This is a complex “green” fragrance. I get minty herbs, sharp galbanum and an earthy oakmoss. It’s complex just like perfume. I’ve noticed that the shower gel has a hint more patchouli than the lotion. And when the lotion “dries down” on my skin, I get a a teeny bit of rose.
My PPC layering recommendations: Branch & Vine, Eva Luna, Moss Gown, Tabac Citron and Rose Bohème
Other layering suggestions: Estee Lauder Aliage, Parfums DelRae Eau Illuminée, Chanel No. 19, Serge Lutens Sa Majeste la Rose and Caron Tabac Blonde – Goes well with mossy scents, roses, iris and of course, fougeres.
My favorite scent is Fern even though I like them all. I could see wanting to smell like Chai Cocoa in the winter and like Stonefruit & Ylang in the summer.
Body Lotion is vegan and 97% organic. Moisturizes with olive oil, aloe, coconut and jojoba oil. It’s a lightweight, moisturizing lotion. Retails for $36.
Bath and Shower Gel is vegan, 92% organic and contains no sulfates. It lathers and rinses off effortlessly. One of the best all-natural shower gels that I’ve ever used. Retails for $30.
Hand Cream is 90% vegan. Moisturizes with shea, kokum, mango and cocoa butters. This is a rich butter that is thick but not sticky or heavy. It’s a great hand cream. Retails for $24.
All of these are available at Providence Perfume Co. Samples are also available for purchase.
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Charna is amazing. there is just absolutely NOTHING out of this house which i do not LOVE. <3 <3 <3
I agree with you. I think the line is stellar. I also feel that over the past few years that Charna has really found “her voice”. She has launched some amazing scents over the past few years. I’m not saying the previous ones are bad, I’m saying that she has exceeded good and went into the realm of great.
This brand has been on my to-try list since last week when I was randomly clicking through your older pages 😉 I found the review for Hindu Honeysuckle but after looking through the other scents, everything sounds amazing.
Hindu Honeysuckle is such a “happy” fragrance for me. I need to bust it out on these dreary days like today!