Roasts and Toasts - Roundup

Roasts and Toasts was a blast - and now that we're done I wanted to gather everything together in an easy-to-peruse round-up post. As part of the er, 'experience' I framed the review sets (one roast perfume, and one toast perfume) in a narrative about my totally real and not at all fictional trip to Sucreabeille's private island laboratory. I might have had some Jules Verne on the brain when I decided on how to recount this adventure.

So without further adieu:

( Full reviews, writing, explanations etc behind the relevant links )

S/O to Sucreabeille for providing this image upon special request

THE TEASER [ LINK]

Recently I found upon my doorstep a curious envelope sealed with the finest, sparkliest wax. Inlaid in the wax was the familiar mark of a bee.

I opened it and within was a letter issuing a curious summons to a set of geographical coordinates and a plane ticket to a small island off the Pacific coast which shall not be named for reasons that may soon become apparent...

THE ANNOUNCEMENT [ LINK ]

Some of you have already heard my account of that fateful adventure in which I was issued a Gentlefolk’s Challenge. I’m sure you have questions! And I’m sure those of you just tuning in have even more questions.

It’s time for some answers...

DAY ONE: DECONSTRUCTING EDEN PRESENTS LA LA LAND VS CITY OF NIGHT [ LINK ]

A set of contrasts themed around the city of Los Angeles

- La La Land: Orange flowers and raspberries floating in champagne, on a table of sandalwood, bamboo, and amber, wrapped in tonka bean and cashmere with a squeeze of citron peel.

vs

- City of Night: Burning magazine pages, asphalt, urine, and feces under a crystal night sky.

DAY TWO: LIBERTINE BATH HAUS PRESENTS VANILLA BOURBON SMOKED COFFEE VS. SATURDAY MORNING CARTOONS WITH A HANGOVER [ LINK ]

A set of contrasts about Saturday mornings after a night of debauchery:

- Vanilla Bourbon Smoked Coffee: Creamy smooth smoked vanilla, the remnants of last night’s bourbon, sandalwood, a soft leather chaise and freshly smoked espresso beans.

vs.

- Saturday Morning Cartoons with a Hangover: The same luxuriant notes from the toast... with some extra bourbon, Froot Loops, Cap’n Crunch, Rice Krispies, and a searing headache.

DAY THREE: B. PERRY STUDIOS PRESENTS A SNOBALL'S CHANCE ( IN HELL) VS. THE DEVIL'S LETTUCE [ LINK ]

A take on ... two senses of "baked" . The first is a decadent, straight gourmand the second is that gourmand "baked" in a very different way...

- A Snoball’s Chance (In Hell) : Devil’s food cake piped with cream cheese icing, wrapped in homemade raspberry marshmallow then tossed in coconut.

vs.

- The Devil’s Lettuce : A Snoball's Chance ( In Hell ), reeking of patchouli oil, burning incense, and marijuana smoke.

DAY FOUR: SUCREABEILLE PRESENTS CUP OF AMBITION VS CUP OF DESPERATION [ LINK ]

A contrast on two different cuppas.

Cup of Ambition : Toasted marshmallow, three kinds of coffee, dark chocolate.

vs.

Cup of Desperation: The same coffee drenched in gasoline and whiskey.

DAY FIVE: SIHAYA AND COMPANY PRESENTS A GOOD DAY WITH THE BABY VS. A BAD DAY WITH THE BABY [ LINK]

A contrast in two different child care days...

A Good Day with the Baby: Toasted vanilla puff treats, lavender shampoo, baby-powder scented lotion, and marshmallow sweet baby giggles.

vs.

A Bad Day With the Baby : The fungal remnants of the bottle you forgot in the bottom of the travel bag, spit-up on your shirt, several stinky diaper blowouts and a screaming child that warrants about a gallon of coffee - once freshly roasted, now cold and stale.

---

I also want to take a moment to say thank-you to all of you following along with Roasts and Toasts. This has been a huge blast. I want to thank Andrea of Sucreabeille for organizing this (it was a huge undertaking!), and Brooke of B. Perry Studios, Chris of Sihaya and Company, Toni of Deconstructing Eden, and Jenn of Libertine Bath Haus for all participating. This took a ton of work from them coming up with new scents and getting samples to me on a deadline. We did this all in about a month and a half y'all!