November 11, 2009

The Muse’s Gift Guide: Unique Gifts From Etailers Part 1

Muse's Gift

Hello dears.

It’s so very early to worry about the gift giving season isn’t it?� But I really want to get a jump start on Gift Giving Guides this year and one particular guide that REALLY needs an extra early preview is my Unique Guide to Gift Giving via Etailers.

I love Etailers ummm wait scratch that….I’m addicted to Etailers.� What are Etailers?� Etailers are basically smaller shops or homegrowns as I refer to them.� It’s normally run by a single person sometimes two and products are handmade in most cases from scratch.�� These products include bath and body goodies, perfumes, perfume oils, and in some cases even cosmetics.� I love purchasing gifts from Etailers because it makes the gift giving experience really unique and special because seriously some of these items just can’t be purchased in any store or shop you’d find at the mall.

I’m also starting this guide a little earlier because many of these shops are popular and they sometimes have a lead shipping time which takes anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks (or more) to get your items since they are being freshly made.��� I’ve personally shopped from these stores myself however I can’t vouch for their shipping time so please if you’re gifting someone do take the shipping time into consideration prior to ordering.�� Again, this is why this particular gift guide is going up early.

In other news…

I’ll be doing other gift guides over the next month and into December.� Hopefully you’ll find each of these guides a helpful way to discover some great presents for friends and family.� If you have an idea for a particular guide I’d love to hear it, do comment and share.

Jump ahead for the Muse’s Gift Guide to Unique Gifts From Etailers around the Internet!

Let me start my guide by introducing you to Isle of Eden. I haven’t placed an order from Isle of Eden in a very long time simply because in my experience the shipping time was VERY bad. It takes anywhere from 3-6 weeks to get in order or at least that was the case for me. I don’t mind waiting for the order but when it’s for gifts it was a problem. It has a huge cult following and the products are very, very nice but the shipping does present a problem. I’m telling you about this one a bit early as there may still be time to squeeze an order in and get it in time for Christmas.

The products are pretty much body scrubs, whipped body creams, shampoos, perfumes, etc…all the items are handmade and blended with interesting scents that you won’t find anywhere else. I’ve tried pretty much all that she offers and I’ve always been quite pleased aside from as I mentioned above the very poor shipping times. These are a nice, unique gift idea none the less.

She promises her turn around for shipment is 10 days if it’s true or not I can’t relate back to you.

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Visit Isle of Eden at www.isleofeden.com

Now one of absolutely favorite places to shop for the Holidays would be Margarita Bloom. I don’t have a friend alive who won’t turn and ask “but didn’t you buy me some Margarita Bloom for my stocking?” Indeed, it’s a rather addicting little shop. With a wide array of handmade moisturizers, lip treatments, bath and body goodies, and much, much more, you won’t have a shortage for gift ideas here. Plus did I mention the vintage pin up girl style packaging is so me? Shipping is very fast in my experience and the owner is a joy to deal with, a real sweetie.

Visit Margarita Bloom at www.margarita-bloom.com

Some items on my wish list from Margarita Bloom:

Sake Couture Soap ($8.50)
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CupCake Love Soap ($8.50)
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Oh My I Smell Delicious Roll On Perfumes in Strawberry Angel Cake and Vanilla Sprinkles ($12.95 Each)
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Margarita Bloom’s Fabulous Little Box of Goodies ($19.99 for 10 “surprise” MB samples and one full size bath product)
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I can’t tell you how long I’ve been ordering from Red, White and Blue Bonnet which is an E-bay online Bath Shop run by a lovely little lady named Carol. She makes the cheapest bath bombs and bubble bars around town plus they are tops in my books. She has a slew of scents to choose from plus other very fun and exciting bath goodies but the Muse highly recommends her Bubble Bars, inexpensive and awesome stocking stuffers and gifts!

Visit Red, White, and Blue Bonnet at http://stores.ebay.com/Soft-And-Sudsy-Bath-And-More

My fav item? The “You Choose Bubble Bars” for $3.50 each. Choose a fragrance from the extensive scent list (100’s to choose from) and she’ll make it for your fresh!
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I also love the Cherry Cordial Bath Bomb as the cherry is actual a tiny piece of soap so after the bomb fizzes away you can use the soap to wash with.
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Pumpkin Mousse Bubble Bath Bar is another of my favs for this time of the year!
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If perfume is your deal…hey wait this isn’t for you! It’s supposed to be a gift! If perfume is your friend’s (or family’s) deal you can’t do better than stopping by Starring Fragrances for some foody and deliciously scented perfumes made by Ashley Peldon herself. These fragrances are some of the best I’ve tried with wonderful throw and linger but keep in mine they are sweet and foody with scents like Banana Bread Sundae. Coconut Vanilla Custard Creme, and Pink Marshmallow these are sure to tickle your sweet tooth. For an even more customized gift you can get Ashley to make a perfume for you or a friend, cousin, sister….just tell her notes you like or what scents you love and she’ll create a personalized perfume just for you!

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Visit Starring at www.starringfragrances.com

For a deeper review see my Starring Fragrance Review.

Little Shop of Beauty located in Canada has always had me at the front page. I click on and proceed to want to buy almost instantly. So hard saying no to the cute vintage packaging and interesting little products they sell in the bath and body arena. Loves it! Shipping is a tad on the slow side but it’s been a while in between my last order so it could have improved. They have really unique items that would make a super gift.

My fav is the custom beauty bar which allows you to custom scent any number of items from moisturizers to shampoo to body sprays! Love, love personal beauty!

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Visit the Little Shop of Beauty at www.littleshopofbeauty.com

Most Doctor’s wouldn’t consider adding sweet next to their name but this Doctor doesn’t mind in the least. Doctor Sweet Tooth is a fav little shop of mine that sells many a fine bath and body treat and even fragrance, scrubs, and more and of course you guessed it…in really SWEET scents!

The Doctor is in at www.doctorsweettooth.com

My favs:

Handmade Wedding Cake Scented Cupcake Soaps ($8)
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Handmade Body Splash and Hair Perfume ($5.25) Try out scents like Cotton Candy, Fruit Loops, and Jelly Bean (Love!)
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Flavored LipGloss ($5.50) Love Gummy Bears, Grape, and Cherry Pie
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Well I sure do hope you had fun with this post and maybe located a unique and fabulous gift for a friend (or for yourself). I’ll be bringing you a second part in this series shortly with other unique offerings found around the Internet. Do tell me if you hauling anything!

Disclosure: Please take note links included in this post are NOT affiliate links. They are simply links to online stores I’ve shopped from in the past and enjoyed. I do not make money from these stores, I am not paid to post about them nor do they even know they’ll be featured on my blog, this is a simple and fun gift guide created by me.

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • sparklingpinkgorilla

    Ooo these all look so good! Thanks for the heads up, I love gift guides! Have you ever tried LoveLeeSoaps on Etsy? She makes soaps that look just like everything from cupcakes and donuts to chicken wings and hotdogs.

    • the Muse

      hey sparklingpinkgorilla 😀 YES! She’s fab…there is another girl who also makes food soaps, I got a set of eggs and baco once 😀 haha!

  • Andrea

    Wow! What a great post, Muse!

    The post made me hungry for cupcakes and sweets though and that’s no good for my “I’m eating healthy” goal…hmm, perhaps I will make pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting….

    🙂

  • Hailee

    Omg thank you…great guide!! I’m gonna check all them out, and I’m not gonna lie, I’ll be looking for myself. 😀

  • Mollie

    I totally agree with you! Etailers are the best. 🙂

    There’s one I really like on Etsy called MagickalRealism perfumes. Their flagship blend is called Zombie Repellent, isn’t that awesome? LOL. Of course they have other very good smelling blends… I got one called Sappho a while back and it smelled ah-mazing, but I don’t think they make it anymore.

    • the Muse

      heck yes mollie. beauty on the cheap and awesome stuff. AND OF COURSE! I love the Lemon Pop! One thing I do hate is her packaging yak! wish she had cuter packaging. I never tried Sappho or Zombie Repellent as I think both have patchouli, me no likey, but I swear I wanted to buy the zombie one for the same alone!!!!!!

      • Mollie

        YAY! 🙂 I got the Zombie Repellant for my brother when he started playing Left4Dead… hehe. Sappho had a little bit of patchouli in it, but there was so much other stuff in there that I hardly noticed it on me. I got a sample of Lemon Pop too, it was like a lemon drop. (I’m so creative with descriptions.)

        I think the roller ball vials are really the only way they can do the packaging… but the labels are still cool.

        • the Muse

          l4d=AWESOME 😀 I hate patchouli so I avoid it when possible 😀 roller balls are always a good thing, less mess but I’d have liked cuter labels 🙂

  • Lisa

    I really enjoyed this! Especially the cupcake soaps. They are so adorable! I am definitely going to have have to order the two different kinds, my neighbor is a big baker and is known as the Cupcake Lady so how perfect! Almost too perfect as I know I couldn’t bare to ruin them. Soap on a pedestal kinda thing I suppose.

    • the Muse

      lisa I’m so glad you enjoyed this 😀 Omg she’ll love these!!!!!!!!! Last year I did a soap cake present as a house warming gift. I put them on a fancy plate and placed them in a cake box wrapped with ribbon from a local bakery 😀

  • Fresco Phyrra

    Yay I’m glad I’m not the only one to get a gift guide out early! I love yours 🙂

    • the Muse

      ha 😀 go right ahead Lisa! most bakeries will even give you the box for free…just buy a cookie or something and ask them if they have an extra cake box handy that you could buy, in most cases they’ll say sure and won’t even charge!

  • dina

    all of these look great! thanks so much muse 🙂
    my wallet however is cursng me and my internet-wandering fingers 😉