Perfumer: Mac McKamey
Size: 0.4 oz./11.33 g
Base: Pumpkinseed oil processed in-house by the brand, cocoa butter and locally-sourced beeswax.
Vegan-friendly: No, due to the beeswax.
Natural or Mixed Media: Mixed media but heavy on the botanicals (noted as “85.3% botanical extracts, oils and resins” by the brand).
Fragrance Description by the Brand: from the official website: “Ghosts, ghouls and goblins will all cackle with glee when they get their hands on this wickedly sweet solid fragrance! Part of our limited edition ‘Things That Go BUMP!’ collection, this sinisterly sweet solid fragrance features our hand-blended ‘Pumpkinhead’ scent, swirled into a skin-nourishing base of infused pumpkinseed oil, cocoa butter and beeswax, for something extra special!”
Notes: Sweet pumpkin, brown sugar, cardamom, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, bitter coffee, smoky amber and “a touch of eldritch horror.”
Longevity: Intimate sillage lasting 4-5 hours. I could still smell this one as a skin scent at the 7 hour mark.
Sillage: opens with arm’s length sillage, quickly settles to intimate (a few inches above skin) and lingers as a skin scent.
Fragrance category: Spicy Amber, Gourmand.
The experience: Pumpkinhead is part of the “Things That Go BUMP!” collection released around Halloween. The collection features multiple fun fragrances and body care products that take inspiration from horror movies and scary lore–Candy Man, Toil and Trouble, Calavera. If you enjoy the scent of Pumpkinhead, the collection also includes a companion salt bar and bath tea featuring compatible notes.
I had previously tried The Raw Spa’s sci-fi/video game-inspired collection of Anointments (solid fragrances, in the brand’s parlance), which created fantasy accords of gunpowder and steel from botanical ingredients. Those scents are worth a try, especially if you dislike sweet scents or florals, but Pumpkinhead is a dramatic departure from those scents, with its realistic sweet pumpkin spice aroma.
What you see is definitely what you get with this fragrance. If you enjoy pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin bars, pumpkin pie, etc., you will enjoy this fragrance. Pumpkinhead is a well-crafted, highly wearable example of a gourmand pumpkin spice fragrance. It reminds me of the pumpkin bread and pumpkin bars (minus the cream cheese icing) that my mom often made around Halloween and Thanksgiving. It’s sweet and spicy, though not as sugary as the gourmand pumpkin offerings from Bath and Body Works at this time of year. I tried it at one of the holiday markets at which The Raw Spa was vending, where I fell in love at first sniff and months later, it’s still a pleasure to wear. The performance is excellent for a mostly botanical scent and while it’s a joyful, festive fragrance for Autumn in particular, it’s not so heavy or sugary that you couldn’t wear it in warmer weather, too.
Of note is that the fragrance is packaged in a biodegradable push-up cardboard tube and packaged in an attractively labeled carboard box. It’s a great example of eco-friendly packaging that still looks sophisticated and professional. Packaging for solids as an indie perfumer is often difficult to source, but The Raw Spa proves a nice result can still be achieved if you’re seeking to avoid plastic.
Occasion(s): this scent works well for daytime and casual occasions. It’s especially nice as a cozy comfort scent. Obviously, it would be a fun fragrance for Halloween festivities, too!
Season(s): Perfect for Fall and Winter wear, but in the solid format, it’s not too overpowering for warmer weather.
Gender considerations (Note: I include this information for people who may find it valuable, though I believe all fragrances are unisex and you should wear what you love): This is a unisex blend.
Where to buy: purchase on the official Cinag’s Alchemic/The Raw Spa website. The brand also has a limited selection of products in its Etsy shop. If you’re in Philadelphia, The Raw Spa is a frequent vendor at the Farmer’s Market in Rittenhouse Square and the seasonal pop-up markets at Dilworth Plaza. Follow the brand on social media or subscribe to their newsletter to keep up with their market schedule.
Price: as of this date of publication, $38.
Availability: the Things That Go BUMP! collection is a Halloween/Autumn seasonal collection. The brand currently ships within the United States only.
All images by me.
Solidly Scented 
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