“Perfume is like cocktails without the hangover, like chocolate without the calories, like an affair without tears, like a vacation from which you never have to come back”

cbenjasuwan, http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/

Marian Bendeth

First of all: Happy New Year! I hope you all had amazing Christmasses and New Years, and that 2015 is going to treat you well. I have loads of stuff planned for this year, including a Secret Project that I hope to let you in on soon, as well as (of course) as many new perfumes as I can possibly make!

Now, to business! I mentioned over the Christmas period on Facebook and Twitter that I was going to be changing the way I make my perfume oils in 2015. Don't worry – you're going to have the same amazing scents, but I've finally been able to do something I've wanted to do since...well, since opening Common Brimstone really, and that's change the type of carrier oil I use.

Allmy Common Brimstone regular perfumes will now be mixed in a blend of fractionated coconut oil and vitamin E oil. All Raw Brimstoneperfumes will be mixed in golden jojoba oil. I've already started transitioning from sweet almond oil to the new carriers, so going forward you can expect the same perfumes you know and love, but with a new and superior carrier!

Why the change? Well, first and foremost, fractionated coconut oil is feather-light so it absorbs readily into your skin, and the fractionated nature of this oil means it has an indefinite shelf-life, unlike some other vegetable oils. Combine that with the amber bottles my perfumes come in, and your perfume is going to be perfectly preserved for a very long time! In addition, it's silky, non-greasy, and highly nourishing for your skin. Add in a touch of vitamin E and my perfumes are now even kinder to your skin.

As for jojoba oil, it has an almost endless list of health and beautybenefits. It also closely resembles the oils of our own skin and is naturally protective, making it great for sensitive skin. My aim for the Raw Brimstone line has always been 100% natural and 100% awesome, and jojobo oil makes the perfect carrier oil to complement the essential oils, absolutes, and CO2s I use.

What does this mean for you? You will see a small price increase across the shop. I've ummed-and-ahhed about this for a long time. Part of the ethos I started Common Brimstone with was “affordable luxury.” I wanted to make perfumes for people like me – people who loved them, but couldn't afford to spend a small fortune on them. I believe I've kept to that ideal with this change, but of course I have to be realistic about my outgoings! And I do believe that I'm giving you a better product all round.

As a final word, I want to say that I wouldn't be able to make these changes – or work on my Secret Project – without all your enthusiasm, support, and love, and that means the world to me! I hope you'll stick with me through 2015 to see where Common Brimstone can go next.