Kheimistrii - First Haul!

i don't post about them as frequently on here, but apart from perfumes, another area of interest that's been growing for me has been indie bath and body products. 

while the nature of independent brands can lead to product effectiveness being more hit or miss due to a larger potential variance between brands, i find that the good indie brands can be surprisingly transparent with issues such as animal testing, ethical ingredient sourcing and the extent of harsh chemicals (if any) used in their products, compared to the relative opacity of significantly larger mass-market brands.

enter kheimistrii, an independent gourmand bath and body brand that sells a wide range of products from artisan soaks and scrubs to body care products such as deodorants and moisturisers. their niche production allows for better-tailored formulations that may be harder to find in the mainstream realm, as well as having the unique element of being scented in their own house scents. plus, i love that their products are cruelty-free and for a large part vegan-friendly, and with the meaningful goal of "bringing back the simplicity of basic body care, without all of the harsh chemicals of mass-production and their inferior ingredients".

i had been eyeing their products ever since i saw them on Sucreabeille's Indie Marketplace late last year, so when the owner Kheim reached out to me on Instagram to ask if i would be interested in reviewing some samples, i was really honoured to accept. i also decided to take the opportunity to buy two perfume oil discovery packs with five samples apiece, and some hair care products to try for my own use.

i love their elegantly minimalist labels and professional-yet-approachable branding; their website is also very easy to browse and has great photos showing the colours and textures of the different products. the product descriptions are packed with information on the ingredients and benefits, and many of them have a "how to use" section that clearly and concisely explains the recommended approaches to get the best results.

kheimistrii offers both local (US) and international shipping at prevailing rates. i had placed my order through Instagram direct messaging and a separate invoice rather than through their shop system, so i can't speak to ordinary turnaround time... but if my experience is anything to go by, it was beyond impressive that i received a shipping notification just over twelve hours after having made payment (and taking into account timezones, too!)

i've been having some issues with a dry scalp (some shedding of hair and skin, and the occasional itchiness) as well as dry and damaged hair, so i decided to get a good suite of hair care products from kheimistrii:

• 4 oz of Revitalizing Scalp Elixir (a root stimulating oil to target hair, scalp & follicle, combat scalp dryness, promote hair growth & restore balance in both hair and scalp)

• 2 oz of Honey Hair Toffee (a decadent deep-conditioning lotion that is a superb hydratant)

i had also wanted to purchase a smaller size of their Blueberry Grape Rice Water (ordinarily only sold in 17 oz and larger packaging) and had offered to pay a pro-rated amount, so i was surprised and extremely grateful to find that Kheim had included a smaller 4 oz bottle of this for me free of charge.

Kheim also sent me 2 oz of her Milk Wasted Whip'd Creme Body Wash without charge, for review, as well as three perfume oil samples, the first being from their general collection and also two new ones:

• Immortal (Blonde amber, mandarin peel, vanilla pod, blonde woods, jasmine vine, cassis & tonka bean. Softly gender-neutral.)

• Weirdass Energy (You know. That person that walks into the room, and you start to feel it in the pit of your stomach? The ex or soon-to-be-ex that shows up unexpectedly to hangout with your mutual friends? OR...that person that you want to sink your teeth into because they're so freaking yummy-looking shows up on the arms of your bestie or that BITCH that you cannot stand?! THAT! This awkward moment doesn't smell weird at all. It smells fantabulous of cassia bark, black ash wood, hemp flower, ginger root, patchouli leaf and cardamom seed. Gender-neutral.)

• Black Brownie (Our Black Brownie scent is comprised of fudge brownie batter chock full of caramelized black figs & drizzled with black honey.)

the two perfume oil discovery packs i bought also contained the following:

• Honeychild (Warm, sweet cream & honeysuckle nectar.)

• Tibetan Black Tea (Exotic, hypnotic & erotic is one way to describe this unique blend of dark warmth. Brazilian pepper, Vietnamese champak, birch resin and tropical woods make up this perfect rendition of ceylon chai. Pure. Strong. Black. Tea. If you are a lover of black tea, this fragrance is for you. Many of you have requested an authentic, strong, dark tea without any added notes. Well, here you go! Strong enough for men, suitably adorned by women…)

• Vamp (An earthy and intoxicating blend of Egyptian geranium, French lavender & Indonesian black patchouli. This one keeps you coming back for just one more sniff. Essential oil blend. Gender-neutral.)

• Let's Scare Jessica Half to Death (Transitioning from summer to autumn, this delicate floral begins with an aqueous accord, wafts into a floral dance of muguet, orange blossom and potted hydrangea and then pirouettes into a dry-down of musk & sandalwood.)

• Strange Weather (Autumn into winter, the weather is kinda strange. The crisp leaves have transitioned from the trees, blown to the ground by brisk winds. It’s like taking a stroll through the woods, with the crunch of acorns, cedar bark and pine cones underfoot. Throw in some sweet musk and vanilla to add interest, and sweeten it up a bit.)

• Switchcraft (Amber & decadent vanilla,  and the ever-popular pairing of dark patchouli and orange. A natural blend of plant extracts & essential oils. Gender-neutral.)

• Witching Hour (The enchanter, conjuring up dark images that are only imaginable in the deepest corners of one's mind. A huge black cauldron set upon crackling warm woods, as brisk, but dry winds whisk smoky sandalwood across damp fallen leaves with a faint echo of charred raspberry marshmallow, while entrancing heliotrope concludes the bewitching. Gender-neutral.)

• Ice Witch (White birch, mandarin lokum, vanilla bean and African pear.)

• Cozy Cashmere Comforter (It’s so cozy & warm. Creamy, comforting and alluring. A soft blend of spicy, ambery, woodsy cashmeran, sweet caramel and creamy vanilla sugar. Tantalizingly gender-neutral.)

• Rivendell (Wild strawberry, sugarcane, amber musk, cedar wood, patchouli. "Rivendell is a place of peace and learning, not a stronghold of battle." and this is what I believe the beautifully androgynous woodland elves of the Last Homely House smelled of. Gender-neutral.)

everything arrived in great condition, with all the bath and body products shrink-wrapped around their sprays / lids to prevent accidental spillage or damage in transit.

==

this review is of some products that i had purchased at a discount with my own money, and some additional products for review received for free (as disclosed above) that were included with my purchase. i didn’t receive any incentives for writing this. i’m not affiliated with kheimistrii and as always, all opinions remain my own.

kheimistrii's website is available here.

all information correct at time of publishing.