Okay, inaugural post time! For my first review I’ll be profiling one of the indie perfumers I’ve been patronizing for the longest… 13 Gypsies Perfumery. Currently available through Artfire, I’ve been purchasing scents from Darla (the proprietess) since she had an Etsy shop. I first heard of her scents through BPAL.org (the forum site for Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab oils) and thought I’d give them a whirl as they’re quite a bit less expensive.

The aesthetic for 13 Gypsies is darker than some perfumers. I’d say gothic/magical type scents and packaging. This is right up my alley, as I’ve always loved the darker side of things. 13 Gypsies brings back fond memories of going to the touristy side of Salem, MA… or the “witchcraft” store in nearby Woodstock, NY.

I purchased the scents listed below during a 33% off sale. One of the biggest selling points for these oils, for me personally, is that the sample sizes are in cute little 1/2 drams instead of the usual vials. All scents appear to be diluted in fractionated coconut oil.

This is how the three samples were packaged. In a cute little moon and stars bag, and then in tissue paper sealed with washi tape. A freebie sample was included as well, in a standard vial.

These are the unwrapped lovelies. Sealed with plumbers tape, they seem to be leak-proof and the tape comes off easily without residue.

The scents and my thoughts (store description first):

4456 – a blend of incense, blackberry, and peony, with a teeny tiny bit of cedar

My thoughts: Out of the bottle, straight blackberry candles. On my skin, the scent develops into a smokey, incense blackberry. The blackberry has a very “home fragrance” smell that kind of overpowers the rest. I don’t get the peony or cedar much, if at all. I do like the scent, but it is a bit more intensely berry than I’d wear everyday.

Air – a blend of lavender, ozone notes, & ambrette seed.

My thoughts: Lavender out of the bottle. Once on my skin, I love this. It’s a true lavender and the ozone makes it pop. The lavender dissipates, however, and I’m left with a nice powdery, slightly musky scent from the ambrette seed. This is more of a skin scent than one with high sillage, but it has long lasting power. I can smell it the next morning if I really stick my nose to my skin.

Tainted Love – a blend of light red musks, sweet musk, ambrette seed, & pheromones (plant derived). (The site indicates this will soon be discontinued due to unavailability of ingredients)

My thoughts: Barely any scent in the bottle. Out, it is a beautiful skin musk. If you were looking for something to mimic the musk component of white musk without the flowers, it would be this scent. Perfect for layering with other scents to give them a good base.

Halloween Patchouli – free sample I can’t find on the site

My thoughts: Patchouli and spices. This lasts a long time due to the patchouli component. Unfortunately, my skin amps patchouli like nothing else, and if I’m not in the mood for it – that can be a problem. I also can’t seem to remove patchouli from my skin when I want to. This is a great, aged patchouli scent, long lasting. Not something I’d wear in the summer however.

Final Thoughts:

These are great scents for those who enjoy the classic, incense and hippy scents that can be found in head shops and similar stores. The scents are a bit more simple than from some other indie perfumers, but they are still good quality and work well with the aesthetic of the shop. These scents remind me of my teen years, and for that alone I enjoy them immensely. They aren’t the same plain musks and patchouli, however, and that’s what makes me come back.

The shop is currently 44% off until July 1st, for those wanting to try 13 Gypsies out!

Disclaimer: All indie items have been purchased by me as a consumer. No special consideration has been given to any shops or owners. I have not been compensated for this blog post.