At Christmastime, there are certain aromas you expect. Peppermint, gingerbread, and spruce all have their place, but sometimes you need to forget about the expected and go a little bolder.

As you have probably guessed by now, I avoid basic. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes an Original Lip Balm is just what you need, but on the whole, I want an experience. Why have pumpkin spice when you can have Pumpkin Cider? Why have messy scrubs when you can have a convenient tube? And why make someone’s Christmas gift a body product that smells like any ol’ Christmas product out there, when it could smell (and sparkle) like the very first Christmas gifts ever given?

Magi Shimmer Balm is a blend of frankincense and myrrh, with notes of jasmine, patchouli, and sandalwood, all swirled with a regal golden shimmer. To be honest, I had to tone it waaaaay down as I was informed by a reliable source (my mom) that I originally made the fragrance too intense. What can I say? I like bold! And believe me, it’s still a bold fragrance, deep and rich and opulent. To that I’ve added lots of fine golden shimmer, enough to give a definite holiday sparkle without looking like an actual glitter bomb went off!

I don’t feel that this is an everyday item for most people, but I think it’s perfect for a holiday party, where you want to smell beautiful and festive, but you don’t necessarily want to smell like Christmas cookies or the tree. It’s also a great gift because it’s not too specific to Christmas, something that can be used and enjoyed year-’round.

Next week is Christmas Eve(!), and we’ll be looking at a more stereotypically Christmassy item: Peppermint Mocha Lip Balm. Cooling and cozy… what more could you want?