introducing agua de flora

while scouting for effortlessly romantic valentine bouquets the other day, a click led me to agua de flora, a botanical perfumerie tucked away in a charming yellow cottage on maui. it turns out my stroll through paia town during our maui getaway last spring happened on the boutique's opening day, but, unlucky me crossed hana highway a few blocks too soon to say hello to the lovely ladies at wings hawaii before closing time.

although a visit to agua de flora will have to wait until maui beckons again, the shop already woos with descriptions of its artisanal handcrafted fragrance notes which can be worn alone or layered to create a signature scent. the petite roll-ons are au natural with each bottle filled with blends of hydro-distilled petals, plants and resins. the concentrated elixirs require a little alchemy but the old world process retains the healing properties of each plant to enhance the wearer's well being.

additional fragrance poems tempt from the garland collection's in-house line of perfumes . . . especially ocean flowers and its intoxicating mix of mimosa, neroli and tahitian lime. even more intriguing is the possibility to book a private consulation with ashana, the shop's proprietor and scent goddess, to create a custom scent portrait just for you. quite a besotting gift for your dear valentine or maui-bound sweetheart. 

let's have a peek at the exquisitely packaged offerings, shall we?

kama'aina suffering from vog wafting over from kilauea will want to explore the vog away collection which is formulated to ease symptoms and aid breathing.

while the online shop is nicely stocked with many fragrant possibilities from the boutique, not all offerings find their way online so do inquire if you are searching for an elusive scent.

the valentine's salon on friday evening will be a lovely introduction for maui friends with the launch of agua de flora's newest elixirs including a chocolate rose scented delight.

the price tag for smaller potions starts at $23 with custom perfumes topping out at $200.

• where: 161b hana hwy, paia
• shop hours: tue to sat, 11:30a to 7p

p.s. the romantic storefront is also home to the loveliest potted flowers.

happy hale*days 2010: beauty edition

because everyone has at least one beauty junkie on their gift list:

1 - letarte recently introduced two skincare formulas to pamper parched skin - vanille polynesia blends shea butter, vanilla and sugar into a sweet scented lotion while 'alia hinu mixes argan and coconut oils to hydrate thirsty skin. ($54; shop online w/ free 2-day shipping on continental u.s. orders placed by wed, dec 22nd or in-store at the paia flagship)

2 - cleanse & moisturize your locks with ola's pure shampoo & conditioner formulated with coconut milk, kukui nut oil, and taro extract. ($19; shop online or search for a local stockist)

3 - soap fans will love maui soap company's gorgeous handmade bars made with certified organic oils and essential oils. ($6.49; online only shop online or find at mana foods in paia & whole foods on oahu)

4 - lanikai bath & body mixes green tea leaves and hawaiian sea salt to create its botanical body scrub. ($22.50; shop online & at the kailua flagship)

5 - mini roll-on perfumes from saffron james come in five intoxicating scents inspired by the islands. ($35; shop online or find at soha living in kahala & select anthropologie shops)

and the winners are . . .

eileen from vallejo, lehua from waimea & merissa from honolulu! malie organics' pikake body polish will be on its way to all three lucky ladies to bliss out over the sweetly scented spa treat.

mahalo to all who tried their luck and for all the delightful notes that accompanied your entries. since pikake is beloved by so many, i thought i would post a glimpse of the full pikake collection so you can preview all the possibilities for your malie wishlist.

on that note, you can find the collection online (priced from $28 to $69) and at malie's flagship boutique on kaua'i and its california outpost in the lovely seaside town of san clemente.

• kaua'i shop: 2-2560 kaumuali'i hwy, kalaheo
• shop hours: mon to fri, 9a to 4p & sat, 9a to 2p

• cali shop: 1448 north el camino real, san clemente
• shop hours: mon to fri, 9a to 5p

and, of course, at malie's extensive network of island, mainland and international stockists. japan friends also have their very own online shop.

congratulations eileen, lehua & merissa!

p.s. the star-advertiser just shared tips on growing pikake in this week's garden section. not only was pikake princess kaiulani's favorite flower, it is also drought-resistant and ideal for leeward gardens just in case you have a nice, sunny spot to plant the petite blossoms.

{mahalo dana, lindsey & the malie 'ohana!}

malie organics pikake giveaway

pikake is one of my all time favorite scents and instantly transports me home whenever a hint of its lovely blossom is nearby. back in the day when family and friends could still wish you farewell at the airport gate, my pikake lei would console me on the trip back to the mainland and slowly wither away around a door knob until its enchanting perfume faded away.

happily, our friends at malie organics on kaua'i have always understood just how prized the delicate flower is to both kama'aina and far away friends. over the summer, the malie 'ohana launched their organic pikake collection, and to celebrate malie is gifting three (yes, three!) lucky readers with a luxurious, organic pikake body polish (retail: $45) starring hawaiian sugar; organic jojoba, castor and extra virgin coconut oils; and vitamin e to reveal your skin's hidden glow.

label readers will also appreciate malie's commitment to organic and wildcrafted ingredients, plus the body polish is free of parabens and other synthetic surprises.

giveaway details after the jump!

Click to read more ...

sneak peek: made in hawaii 2010

the made in hawaii festival opens on friday and, after many many clicks, i have compiled a little cheat sheet filled with island vendors to investigate if you plan on strolling the blaisdell this weekend.

1 - honolulu's be aloha transitions from custom alohawear for the japanese market to retro resort looks with the launch of its to kei label. {booth 372}

2 - rock simple koa hoops crafted of local wood gathered on mauna kea by woodworker jeff gomes. {hui 'ike ku'una section}

3 - north shore jewelry designer nilma hunter coaxes recycled sterling silver into puka shell bangles and other budget-friendly pretties. {booth 91}

4 - a member of the sig zane designs 'ohana has left the nest to launch punawai's line of delicate silk chiffon scarves and shawls printed with natural motifs inspired by the big island. {hui 'ike ku'una section}

5 - pretty up your everyday wardrobe with lovely screenprinted tops by noe clothing of oahu. {booth 294/295}

6 - kula-made pala'au's therapeutic skincare nurtures and detoxifies with medicinal hawaiian botanicals. {booth 366}

7 - tuck an everlasting flower in your hair with handmade enameled headbands by geisha fabulous of maui. {booth 386}

8 - uh hilo's kulanui product line offers beauty balms and kitchen deliciousness formulated with ingredients grown by local farmers. {booth 452/453}

9 - designer paula nurse of the big island constructs one-of-a-kind pieces composed of semi-precious, vibrational gemstones from topazes to tourmalines. {booth 94}

10 - tropilicious will be scooping up handcrafted ice cream with 'ono flavors like hawaiian mocha and toasted coconut. {booth 397}

11 - kona paradise candies' description of their chocolate dipped senbei is already tempting my sweet tooth. (order online at pat's island delights.) {booth 63}

12 - salty wahine mixes up gourmet seasoning blends but gets a mention simply for the kaua'i company's cheeky name and lovely logo. {booth 458}

13 - taste the freshly churned butters whipped up by waianae's naked cow dairy and remember to thank me later. {booth 461}

p.s. click back tomorrow for a roundup of festival news from our favorite designers!