SaraWen Review

SaraWen is a Canadian indie perfumier. She makes a range of fandom inspired scents, as well as some randoms and charity scents (for animal charities). A percentage of her proceeds go to animal charities (see here).

She held a Boxing Day sale and after lusting over SaraWen scents for quite a while I just had to. Obviously. To let it go would just have been rude. Naturally I picked up the Supernatural inspired collection, plus one of the limited winter scents.

This is the packaging that my order came in, the Supernatural inspired scents were all wrapped together (as that was one pack) and the christmas scent was the separately wrapped one. I really liked the pretty tissue paper, and it's a great unity of branding across the whole range.

Descriptions in italics are from the site, and I added my own limited interpretation of how the scent developed on my skin chemistry.

First up, the Supernatural scents. Also known as the Demon Hunter set.

Team Free Will, forever confused. It's a good thing they're pretty.

DEMON'S BANE - The deep roar of an Impala's engine is heard over the hill. The scent of leather-upholstered seats, oud, and sweet benzoin marks the coming of Demon's Bane. He's armed with the tools to do the job and a grim determination to see it done, yet always ready to crack a joke while exorcising demons. After which, Demon's Bane sidles up to a roadside cafe's counter with the smell of black pepper and honey in the air. It's dessert first for this guy ... One apple pie coming up!

In the vial very leathery and almost incensey but there's a definite note of cinnamon in there. On skin more of the sweetness and cinnamon comes out, with that masculine leathery undertone still present. As it dries and develops it smells more like warm leather with that perfume oud/benzoin starting to rize to the surface.

FALLEN ANGEL - Unassuming. Soft-spoken. Fallen Angel from Heaven. When he appears you are lovingly embraced by the fragrance of allspice and honey. Then, lingering traces of frankincense and patchouli with the hint of sugar puts one at ease. This fragrance will keep your guardian angel close to you at all times. Even during the apocalypse!

Sweet flowery incense in vial. Wet on skin the floral notes vanish and it's more insensey, spice develops fast. Spicy incense. Smells how I imagine a temple in the desert or middle east would smell, or at least those depicted in movies.

WAYWARD SON - Never one to give up on a brother, friend or something more, the Wayward Son brings comfort and protection with the scent of musk, leather and sandalwood. Yet, he shows vulnerability, and the fragrance of honey and sweet coffee will draw another closer. Finally, the Wayward Son's knowledge is apparent from the aroma of aged paper upon his person, obtained from studying forgotten texts. For one can never know too much about the things that lurk in the dark ...

Starts sweet, an in vial is sweet very honey note, quickly turns into musk and old paper on the skin. Dry down is papery and manly, with just that lingering smell of honey. Masculine. This is how I imagine sitting next to Sam in the library of the bunker or in Bobby's place with a load of books smells, if you tried to inhale Sam's musk.

YULETIDE BLISS - The scent of the holiday season - delicious mulled apple cider with warmed spiced rum. In the background is a hint of candied almonds and sweet sugared pears by the Yuletide fireplace. Join the festivities and walk in through the parlour!

Wonderful strong spicy sweet fruit smell in the vial. Wet smell lots of the almond, like sticking your nose in amaretto. As it dries the fruit comes out to the forefront. Really does smell like cider as it dries down, but in a nice way, like Rekorderlig or Koppaberg not Strongbow.

All last for most of the day on my skin and have a decent throw/sillage (which is the real word?!). If I put this on my wrist and lean on my hand I can smell it strongly. So anyone who hugged you could smell these perfumes, but they're not overpowering you all day.

The three Supernatural inspired scents can all be purchased from SaraWen.com
Sample vials are $C4.50
Full sizes are $C13.50
She also sells sample sets.