Fragrance Review: Living Libations Being Free is Lots of Fun + Perfume is Essential Draw

ron obadia&nadine artemis

Ron Obadia and Nadine Artemis

What happens when the former tour yoga instructor for Bare Naked Ladies and one of the most fragrant of Canadian flower children meet? The world becomes full of Living Libations.  Ron Obadia and Nadine Artemis are on a mission of joy, and you are about to be enlisted (you're in good company, including Alanis Morrisette.)  Nadine has assembled one of the most impressive lines of all natural products I have come across. Their work together provides yogic balance between utilitarian necessity and olfactory gluttony under the name Living Libations.

antique botanical print

Fillipo Arena

There is an imaginary line where botanical perfume and aromatherapy are supposedly severed one being somehow “lesser” and the other high art. I will offer one is used medicinally while the other adornment. I have the feeling Living Libations believes the coat you wear for warmth in winter can be functional high art. I stand corrected.

Enjoying the colorful visuals and numerous offerings on their website, it's hard to not feel as if you have already imbibed something as that sense of joy I am talking about starts to wash over you.  They are hip, hippy and serious about the products they produce. Being Free Is Lots of Fun capsulizes this in both name and perfume. While freedom as concept is an ongoing definition, we all agree it is a state we all desire both in the outer and inner worlds.  Politics aside, standing in nature- free from the onslaught of the modern world- we feel an inner spaciousness which bursts forth from a grapefruit and lemon enhanced linden.

iris goddess of the rainbow and sky

Iris,  Norse Goddess of the Rainbow

Aroma-therapeutically clearing both your mental and olfactory slates, the lofty citrus gives to iris, which bridges into the heart accord. A beautiful spring note named after the Goddess of the rainbow (it is a rainbow bridge which connects heaven and earth in Norse mythology), iris is powder, it is the puff and push into heart accord. Ylang ylang and jasmine wait for you on the other side of the iris bridge– the ultimate floral pot of gold.  Indolic girls behaving in the charming way children do at tea parties, their best manners a part of the game. Each taking turn being heard and pouring from a kettle of a vanilla bean tea.

flower goddess karl bangs

Flower Goddess by Karl Bang

Calming and universally appeasing, orris rooted vanilla is the base on which this exercise in the very serious work of child's play rests. An aroma which leads us to the freedom to relax, to enjoy- assured we are not “lesser” for claiming the joy of breathing, inhaling, imbibing the very libations of being alive.  From Living Libations:  “Let freedom reign! Unleash internal sunshine with every inhalation of this blooming botanical beauty. Fresh and floral with sunny citrus hues, Being Free Is Lots of Fun petal perfume invokes vibrant joy in everyone!”

Notes: Organic: linden, jasmine, ylang ylang, grapefruit, iris and vanilla.

Einsof, Natural Perfume Editor

Disclosure: Sample from Living Libations

Art Direction-Michelyn Camen Today is International Day of Happiness..Get happy!!!

being-free2

And for everyone, a draw for 5mL of Being Free Is Lots of Fun for a ÇaFleureBon reader anywhere in the world. To enter please leave a comment with what makes you happy, where you live and  what you enjoyed about Einsof’s review.  Draw closes March 22, 2015 (maybe it will feel more like spring…please)

We announce the winners only on site and our Facebook page, so like CaFleureBon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize will just be spilled perfume

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25 comments

  • Amy Leonhardt says:

    I like being outdoors and the idea of perfume with aromatherapy benefits is interesting. I’m in Brea, CA.

  • I felt a sense of relief that I saw the phrase “Being Free Is Lots of Fun” it made me recall my 70’s hippie days and those memories make me very happy indeed. I loved the re-affirmation of the review that perfume is not just about smelling good but feeling good too. Im in the UK and thank you for the chance to enter the draw.

  • Strange timing – I just heard of this company for the first time yesterday. Their shampoos get great reviews in the green beauty world so I placed am order. There was so much on the site, I didn’t even see the perfume. Thanks for highlighting this! Having green beauty options makes me happy 🙂 I live in the US. Thanks for the draw!

  • Fazal Cheema says:

    Being happy to me is appreciating this life every day. When Einsoff reveals the perfume has orris-rooted vanilla as the base, I really though Ron and Nadine have made a great choice in going for vanilla base because vanilla has been known to bring calm to people, thus, makes sense for the perfume that emphasizes happiness and liberation..thanks for the lovely draw. i am in the US

  • I am generally a pretty happy guy, happy to be living where I do, doing what I want and able to pursue my perfume passion with abandon. I love the idea of this scent, and reading about it conjured up visions of my quasi bohemian life in San Francisco in the 60’s & 70”s. I’m in the USA.

  • Sheetal Solai says:

    Loved your review , it gives me a mixed vibes coming from nature. This perfum brings out the entire nature trapped in a bottle and once let loose just spreads a calm floral bliss. It’s more like my nature , I have my energy trapped and spreading it to all by helping and calming and being there caring for people brings me happiness. Just like yoga which works in our energy and channels it to bring peace , I use my energy to help and care – bringing happiness to all around. Wish to see more from you. I am in the US but my roots from India. Good luck .

  • I like the review, very nice. A lot of things can make me happy. For example my family, my animals, to be with my friends together somewhere, to be outside in the nature, etc. I very like the organic perfumes, and an aromatherapy could be very joyful. I’m from Europe.

  • I like pictures you’ve chosen for review. My dog and spring sun makes me happy. Greetings from Poland

  • Dancing makes me happy. A good tango or a good samba. And travel. What really interested me was the discussion of the line between aromatherapy and botanical perfume. Always happy to try a linden scent. I’m in the US.

  • I love the idea of an inner spaciousness, in this busy chaotic world. Lately, seeing my baby soon learn new things everyday had been my greatest source of happiness. He is at that golden age (10.5 months) where they seem to grow and learn by the hour! Thanks so much for the generous giveaway, in in the US!

  • I strive to be happy in all circumstances. 🙂 The review reminds me of the early ’70s. I love to try anyhing with grapefruit in it. USA

  • Lovely review! I have heard of Nadine Artemis for quite a while, and their offerings sound terriffic. Being in my garden, with my those I love and my kitties, makes me happy!

  • Roseinrose says:

    Orris rooted vanilla as the base of this aroma “which leads us to the freedom to relax, to enjoy- assured we are not “lesser” for claiming the joy of breathing, inhaling, imbibing the very libations of being alive”. Yes indeed who doesn’t want to feel free and happy and this is what I really enjoyed inEinsof’s review
    Nature and the coming of spring and even more summer makes me truly happy, a freshly roasted cup of coffee makes me happy, kind, noble people make me happy, good music makes me happy, chocolate makes me happy, fine perfumes make me happy, happy children and well treated animals make me happy, end of misery makes me happy.
    I live in EU and I wish you all in Cafleurebon team to be happy and always to have reasons to be happy 🙂

  • I like sunny skies of Florida and I loved the pictures and the aromatherapy discussion of the review.

  • What makes me happy is being around all of my family. It’s just a very comforting, and very entertaining, environment. I also love fresh and floral scents, so this one sounds like a real winner! With warm weather on the way, it would make the perfect spring/summer fragrance. I’m in Canada and thank you very much for the draw!

  • Thank you for this review. I hadn’t heard of the company at all, and I’ve just had a nice time browsing the website.

    I’m made happy by too many things to list, but they include smelling cut grass or linden trees in the summer. So this perfume should qualify, according to the notes given in the review.

    I’m in the UK. Thanks for the draw!

  • I am a big believer in scent being a mood setter/lifter. I will have to explore this line further. I love nature and my hour and a half walk in our local botanic garden which I try to do every day is my own personal meditation/feel good/happy break. In the USA. Thank you.

  • Perfume and yoga make me happy 🙂 I am in the US, thank you! I like the connection made in the review between perfumery and aromatherapy.

  • ChanteusedesIles says:

    I’m not entering the draw, just want to say what a great review of one of my favourite Canadian green companies! Highly recommend Living Libations, i have loved the essential oils I have tried from them, also great smelling skincare (i like Everybody Loves the Sunshine) and even some neat dental care products too.

  • Cynthia Richardson says:

    A long, rainy afternoon with a great book and a hot latte makes me happy. I live in the US and I enjoyed Einsof’s review and his thoughts on botanical perfumes and aromatherapy.

  • Today the sun and the blooming freesia in my neighborhood make me happy. I live in the US. Thank you, Einsof, for the joyful review and for the reminder that fragrance makes happiness when it is used for adornment, self-improvement, or both.

  • Seing the smile on the face of my daughter makes me happy!
    I like the idea that scents can clear both my mental and olfactory slates, and that certainly put Living Libations on my to-try list.
    I am in Bulgaria (EU), thanks for the draw1

  • I am a Canadian reader

    What truly makes me happy is family. I love seeing them all, especially since we don’t see each other much. So Thanksgiving and Christmas are both incredible days for me.

    I love how this fragrance sounds so calming and pure, makes me visualize of relaxing in a hammock, with a refreshing breeze in the air.

    Thanks for the draw!

  • What makes me happy are my nieces and nephews. They’re so bright and happy and always make me smile! This perfume sounds very pure and natural, which I really enjoy. I’m in Canada and thank you very much for the draw.