Sheep-y (review and giveaway)
When I set out to take this picture, it took me several minutes to assemble all the various bits. I knew where the camera was, and I knew where the wee gray basket was (in the pile of photo props on the third shelf of the yarn closet, of course, where else would it be). But one of the tins had moved to the drawer beside the bed. The other was in the kitchen. The third was in the bathroom. And the lip balms were hanging out in my purse and desk drawer. This is actually a very good sign.When Alicia Landi first wrote to ask if I’d like to take a look at her body bars and lip balms, I was a tiny bit hesitant. I tend to be a bit particular about those sorts of things. Some might say obnoxiously picky. But I prefer particular. It makes me sound ever so much more reasonable. You see, I don’t like most smelly things. Or rather, I don’t like smelly things that smell like floral potions…I don’t mind smelly things that smell like actual flowers…or better yet, plants…or best of all, plants you eat. But we chatted, and it seems Alicia feels much the same way as I do about these things, so we decided to try.
But I still had secret concerns. Because in addition to having feelings about how things should smell, I also have feelings about how both body bars and lip balms should behave. I actually want them to do opposite things. I want my lip balms to go on and stay on. I want to still feel it on there half an hour later, doing its job, keeping me all soft and smooth. But for lotion, I want it to go on, sink in, and disappear. I want to have the lovely soft skin feeling, but without the sense that there is something sitting on top of my skin. I totally realize that these are contradicting goals, and I sort of don’t expect them to actually work out.
But with Alicia’s goodies, it totally did. The lip balm lasts beautifully (and I say this as a lip biter, which I’m sure you are not, so it will likely work even better for you). The body bars soak right in and leave me feeling soft but not sticky. And both smell delicious while I’m using them, but don’t have a strong lingering fragrance. That’s pretty much exactly what I’m looking for. Add in the fact that they’re both made with lanolin (hence the adorable sheep on the logo), and I’m smitten.
Alicia would like to send one of you a body bar and a lip balm of your own. I tried the unscented (which has just the faintest hint of honey about it, I’m guessing that’s from the beeswax, and I very much like it), the lavender, and the spearmint body bars, and the lavender and lemon lime lip balms (I told you I liked plants you could eat). But because scents are such a personal thing, Alicia’s going to let you pick your own. Head over to the Sweet Sheep Shop and check out all the options (I suspect a bar of the black tea will be in my future). Leave a comment here letting me know which one you’d like (and maybe either tell me I’m bonkers to be so picky or reassure me that you’re picky too), and someone will get a delightful surprise in the mail!
Comments left between now and the end of the day (eastern time) Tuesday, October 7th, 2014 will be entered to win. I’ll pick a winner, contact them to get their addresses, and arrange to get the goodies to them. If you’re leaving a comment, be sure to use a real email address so I can contact you if you’ve won (I won’t do anything with those email addresses besides notify the winner). If I do get in touch with you, I need to hear back from you within 72 hours or I will pick a new winner and contact them. And, because Alicia is very nice indeed, this is open to folks anywhere in the world.
Heavens NO – you’re not picky! Things, whether they be yarn, food, clothing or scents have to appeal to our core. I love light natural smells – lavender is my favorite. Heavy scents (on others or myself) set off my allergies and I stuff up.
As someone who spends all her time outdoors and has really dry skin I’m forever looking for good lip balms. And I too bite my lips and I reaalllly have dry skin. And I love a hint of honey so I’d definitely say unscented… Or do I mean lavender??? Hard to pick
I love that there is a cinnamon chai scent – sounds delectable!
Ooo, that one and that one and . . . but actually I stopped at sandalwood vanilla. Have always loved sandalwood so it has to be that one!
Yummy, apple butter!
Put me down for lavender … I need to be reminded to relax!
Lemon lime. Reminds me of Mom’s Meyer lemon tree.
Lavender is the best!!! No need to have an over powering scent when you leave a room. Thanks!!!
You are not picky at all! Scent is a way personal thing (I personally cannot handle lavender, migraines). However, that sweet almond sounds /amazing/ and would love to try it.
Lavender is always a safe bet, but check out the chipotle caramel! If I was the adventurous type …. There are some scents that I just won’t wear, but unlike you, I’m not too picky … can’t afford to be! What’s on sale or what my sister hands down is what a wear!
I’d love to try the crisp pear body bar and the lemon lime lip balm. One of my favorite things to do at fiber festivals is check out (and always come home with!) body products from small producers. I will look forward to ordering from the Sweet Sheep Body Shoppe if I don’t see them in person somewhere!
Mmm, lemon cake! Although that might be a bad idea, since just reading the words makes me want to eat lemon cake. Smelling it might be much, much more dangerous. Shockingly, I want to try most of those fragrances! I think if forced to pick, I’d try Turkish mocha body bar and lemon lime lip balm.
Deeply in love with the idea of an Apple Butter lotion =)
I share your particular pickiness, but the favors certainly sound enticing. I would pick Green Tea or U scented, and may indeed order some.
Thanks for this! I need to stock up on a good hand lotion for the coming cold weather and I have similar pickiness with scents and sensations. Citrus really is such a nice smell for lotions and soaps, isn’t it? I saw a carnation one on Alicia’s site and that actually may be the one I’m going to try, because carnations always smell like cloves to me (well, the ones that aren’t greenhouse-grown).
I’d pick the cinnamon chai lotion bar. Nice.
wahoomerryf on Ravelry
Sweet almond? Black tea? Lavender…… so many of my favourite scents.
And I am also wicked picky about scents. Right out of art school I was a color mixer for large maker of scented candles but didn’t last because I couldn’t handle so many of the smells.
Thanks so much for the review, Hunter, I’m glad you like them! 🙂 And I should mention that if you’re planning to be at the IndieUntangled pre-Rhinebeck trunk show, a selection of my lotions will be there to sniff in person (though sadly, I will not be there myself because I have a wedding to attend elsewhere).
I have gotten more picky too with time, especially with scents. Anything too chemical, too strong, and I get a headache.
I would love to try the Coconut Lime lotion, and the Coconut lip balm. Yummy! Thanks for opening this to the whole world. 😉
I will be remembering this shop. I like the combination of familiar and unusual scents. My choice to try would be the cinnamon chai (have you tried David’s Tea cinnamon chai tea? If not, you should.)
I would adore a lemon lime bar. Once upon a time Fa produced such an item and I loved it. But alas, times change and so do commercial fragrances. And I agree with you about lotions; smell great going on, no lingering stickiness.
Carnation bar! I love floral scents….
Toasted coconut lip balm, yum.
I am sort of picky, I like natural scents, not chemically (is that a word?). And I don’t like food scents mixed with non-food scents, does that make sense?
Ooh, this is so generous! I would love the Cinnamon Chai body bar and the Lemon Lime lip balm.
…And now I have to go make a cup of tea…
I love all things citrus, so the lemon cake sounds perfect to me. I was given a lanolin-containing bar as a gift, and it works super well to spot remove spills from my hand knits in addition to just being a great soap.
I don’t think you are picky at all. You just want well designed products that function properly, and you actually know what that means.