moonarcana

I also do not mean any disrespect to the loyal customers of H&EE - I have tried several of the scents, mostly in the very generous sample sizes and purchased a few of the body products (which I think are awesome) and bought a couple of the layering notes which I like quite well. I agree that the products as a whole have no comparison to BPAL, either in composition or concept. I've never tried 'Underpants' but I did offer words of support to Michele privately during that whole exchange. But the 13/Thirteen thing was kinda cheesy. Whether or not it's a violation of any trademark or copyright or how quickly she responded to correct the conflict...the fact remains that it wasn't a very original idea and seeing as how many customers Michele has cultivated from the BPAL forum, I would think that she should have shown a little more respect for an idea that is a traditional offering from a company that she says she adores.

Although I kept quiet during the discussion, I was personally rather put off by the whole ambergris thing - it's illegal in this country ( . period) her defense that it's non-kill ambergris does not matter.

The main thing that really stymies me is what's up with ALL the lost orders? How can one company have that many things go "lost" and everybody still thinks that it's getting lost by the postal service? Once it happened to me is when I really noticed other people posting about similar lost orders and how she was nice enough to include more products free with what she resent. I'm NOT accusing - but I simply cannot help but question what seems to be a pattern.

I really don't feel any urgency to PM her for an explanation...my computer always glitched out whenever I tried to access it it anyway, so I deleted my membership there. I have decided that the manner she has chosen to conduct her business through this forum is not something I wish to support through buying her products anymore. This was something I was considering before the information posted in the past couple of days. And it's not likely that I'll be visiting the H&EE thread anymore. I will still enjoy the two bottles of layering notes I bought recently and the remnants of my tub of Fairy Queen body butter. I don't hold any ill feelings toward Michele and I hope that elsewhere on the forum, I can continue the friendly interactions I enjoy with those of you who I know are loyal H&EE customers.

Thank you for posting this information in one place. I share the concerns as well, which have nothing to do about the quality of the H&EE products - but mainly for the way that this board has been used to promote the business. I don't frequent many of the other e-tailer threads here on a regular basis (except for Villianess) but from what I have noticed, none of them use functions of this forum to conduct business. When I had problems with my order a few months ago, the only way I was able to make communicate with Michele was through PM from THIS FORUM...I was not comfortable with that - why is somebody who has a day job as an IT manager unable to straighten out problems with their e-mail so they can address communication with their customers properly? I tried joining the discussion board set up for the company but always had problem accessing it.

If Michele ever reads my comments, I'm sure she will think I'm being highly ungrateful because of the manner in which my previously mentioned problem order was "resolved". I don't want to go into details - but what I ended up getting was probably about $50 worth of product MORE than what I paid for and I had stated beforehand that I did not wish to receive extra products to compensate - it makes me feel very uncomfortable. Others say that she does it to be nice, but (in my opinion) nice is including a few samples or maybe with a really large order a full size body product or bottle of oil. Since my own problem order, I've noticed other posts that mention lost or delayed orders being resent and including a bunch of free product. This is one way to balance out poor customer service, but it just doesn't sit well with me. Does nobody else wonder how so many orders can come up "lost in the mail"? I've placed another order since which was received in good time (still with no shipping notice sent) but I've been sitting on the fence about doing business with this company for a couple of months now - but seeing the things itemized here on your blog posting has sealed my decision.

And for the folks who remain loyal fans of the product and support Michele, I'm truly glad that their experience has been positive - I'm not trying deflate the squee. But it makes me sad to think that if Michele had chosen to abide by the forum rules and not done things to circumvent the system then very little of the various brouhaha would have ever occurred. She is not being 'targeted' by the admin/mods - many of which have a good deal of legal expertise on top of good ol' common sense. Heck, I recently received a 'warning' for a rule that I was ignorant of...I didn't get my back up and think that I was being singled out - I just went "Doh! what an idiot I am!" and learned from the error and moved on. A forum member can choose to work out any issues they have behind the scenes and without it being evident to anyone besides the parties involved. I think it's pretty obvious that anxious1's continued disregard for the rules and policies of this forum (whether blatant or ignorant) is what has created the recurring 'drama' in the H&EE thread...not the mods and not the people posting viable questions about products or voicing concerns about the owner of the company.

Bengal

first sniff: cinnamon rolls...fresh and gooey delicious.

tested wet: the cinnamon spikes a bit and the sweet takes a back seat.

tested dry: soft cinnamon and clove (hello clove, glad to smell ya!) and a fabulous light sweetness that holds it all together in a way that the dubious 1 out of those 10 dentists probably would go ahead and recommend.

conclusion: Totally wasn't expecting to like this one as much as I do. Definitely seeking an imp soon and can see this as potential bottle fodder.

4/5

Bastet

first sniff: omg! Almonds and spice! This is the one of the bunch that I was most eager to try...and so far it meets my expectation.

tested wet: now I can smell the amber and musk, the Almonds are taking a back seat as the oil settles into my skin.

tested dry: As it dries, the scent develops into a gorgeous harmony...I can actually pick up most of the fragrance notes listed in the description but not one of them is more predominate than any other.

conclusion: This one is going on my bottle wish list. My cats aren't even in the room to influence my decision.

The big cat (Bengal) nearly won out this round, but I have to give my vote for Best of the Bunch to Bastet! Meow!

5/5

Alice - reviewed from my own bottle

first sniff: soft and sweet creamy floral.

tested wet: afternoon tea in a secret garden....sweet with extra cream please.

tested dry: less cream and more floral...light and wafting and oh so purely sweet and innocent. After awhile the spicy note of carnation makes an appearance and the fragrance settles into a nice and light powdery wisp.

conclusion: I have much love for this scent.

5/5

Al-Shairan

first sniff: cinnamon...not sweet, just strong cinnamon.

tested wet: still cinnamon...maybe a touch of other dry bark spiciness, like maybe clove, but definitely no fruit. (peaches?...oranges? um...sorry but they're lost in the cinnamon)

tested dry: the cinnamon has mellowed nicely now, and I can smell a faint incense note...rather ethereal in relationship to the spicy note. Never did find the fruit notes on this one.

conclusion: the end result was nice, but more in a comforting room scent sort of way. I like cinnamon, but not when it overpowers everything else. This one is not for me.

1/5

Ahathoor

first sniff: citrus (lemon?) balanced with myrrh or frankincense - not exactly sure of the notes but that's what I'd guess.

tested wet: the resiny smell comes out more, nearly eclipsing the bright citrus note. A very pleasing scent.

tested dry: stays nice throughout - sometimes the lemon whiffs and sometimes the dry resin wafts.

conclusion: I might look up an imp of this sometime, but there's others I like better.

3/5

Kurukulla

first sniff: like sweet white wine.

tested wet: this is totally fruity -I don't smell rose at all. It's grapes and orchard fruit...nothing heavy - but still very full and lovely.

tested dry: I find it completely mystifying that someone who loves florals as much as I do does not smell ANY flower notes in a big bouquet of lotus blossoms and roses. (scratches head) but I will have to say that this is one of the nicest fruity scents I've tried.

conclusion: This goes on my imp wish list...

...as well as gets my vote for Best in the Bunch!

4/5

Djinn

first sniff: this one is interesting, compelling even - I can't identify components, but despite the name I'm not afraid to try it.

tested wet: it does have a firey soul...a real invasive and permeating. It doesn't feel or smell "hot" like spicy or woody, but it's like the electricity that bounces off the flames as they crackle and dance under a night sky.

tested dry: the sparks fly for quite awhile and then settles innocuously into a pile of lightly powdered ash. Then *poof* the whole thing suddenly disappears.

Conclusion: If an imp should happen to cross my path I'd enjoy dancing in the flames with Djinn again.

3/5

Dee

first sniff: medicinally antiseptic. Not sure I want to put this on my skin.

tested wet: but I did and it smelled like strong aftershave wet on my skin.

tested dry: but it mellows nicely. it now has an attractive scent - definitely more of a man's cologne (at least in my opinion) It has a rugged sophistication about it.

conclusion: I wouldn't wear it, but I would recommend or give as a gift to a quy who appreciates fragrance.

additional note - this one is really hard to wash the smell off

2/5

Cobra Lily

first sniff: beautiful floral - bright and summery!

tested wet: much the same like sticking your face in a big garden bouquet.

tested dry: a light incense-y note starts to emerge and give the fragrance more depth and complexity.

conclusion: I like this - it's going on my imp list!

3/5

Bon Vivant

first sniff: pink sugary lolipops. not at all unpleasant but a real girly girl scent.

tested wet: Reminds me of when I was a kid and had 'Little Kiddle' dolls that came in plastic perfume bottles that opened like a clamshell.

tested dry: primary scent does not change much, but it seems to fade pretty quickly.

conclusion: I wouldn't wear this myself, but I don't find it offensive.

2/5

Urd

first sniff: ooh yeah, head shop patchouli and nag champa at it's head buzzy best...I can tell I'm going to like this already.

tested wet: this is quite an ideal presentation of patchouli...it's not the heavy incense that hangs in the air and permeates every porous surface it touches kind of head shop smell - it's the 'good stuff' that's kept behind the counter.

Tested dry: the scent just keeps being awesome...I LOVE it! conclusion: Definitely searching out an imp soon, but I can see a bottle of this in my future.

Voting this one Best in the Bunch!

4/5

Tzadikim Nistarim

first sniff: fruity - very clear and fresh like white grape juice.

tested wet: there's a mixture of things going on here, overall still fruity but there's a slight incense whiff and a mild bright floral note overlayed with a nice leafy herbaceousness.

tested dry: I really can't quite describe it...it's a very 'live' kind of herbal smell. conclusion: I very much like this and will put it on my imp wish list.

3/5

Skuld

first sniff: sweet...like cherry lifesavers taste. Nothing at all what I was expecting from the description.

tested wet: something turned plastic on me, I'm thinking it's the combo of the ylang ylang and honey. I smell no musk what-so-ever here.

tested dry: I start smelling a faint musk but it's overpowered by the smell of plastic goo.

conclusion: This one doesn't like me at all...I'd have to take a pass on any imp that came my way.

0/5

Port Au Prince

first sniff: spicy (clove, cinnamon - all those woody bark type of spices) and slightly tropical

tested wet: like chewing on cinnamon toothpicks after the HOT spice of the cinnamon is gone.

tested dry: definite clove now - not sweet, but dry and spicy. conclusion: Nice smell - I like it...enough to get an imp, but probably not a bottle.

3/5

Penny Dreadful

first sniff: oh my god this smells just like copper!

tested wet: metallic dirt.

tested dry: more earthy, like the smell of the dirt that clings to the tangled roots of the weeds being pulled as you get the garden ready for planting. Very strong...makes my skin tingle a bit.

conclusion: It's interesting and I like the aroma - but I highly doubt that I could wear this as perfume.

3/5

Oberon

first sniff: soapy men's aftershave.

tested wet: soapy men's aftershave.

tested dry: not as soapy but still men's aftershave. A very nice and appealing aftershave, but...

conclusion: nothing I want to wear.

2/5