Our October 2026 collection features the greats of the poison garden. From mushrooms to deadly nightshade, we will weave a web of baneful magick to enthrall you!
Are you familiar with Absinthe? A now-legalized liquor that has long been rumored to cause madness. No other drink has inspired so much fear, so much awe, and allure as absinthe! Absinthe is an anise-flavored liquor or spirit that is made by steeping wormwood and other aromatic herbs in alcohol.The drink is distinguished by its dazzling emerald green clarity owing to its high chlorophyll content. Its notoriety in the cocktail world is partly myth and also partly due to flawed science. See, the wormwood in absinthe does contain the botanical compound thujone which is technically a toxic substance (historically used as an anti-parasitic). The effect of this drink was related to the degree of dilution, the amount imbibed, and the frequency of drinking. Avid drinkers of absinthe were believed to suffer from a condition called “absinthism”, characterized by addiction, hyper-excitability, and hallucinations. Absinthe was thus blamed for Van Gogh’s ear-lopping incident and the filling of asylums across Europe - people driven insane by the drink. However, the truth is that most of the suffering was due to alcoholism and unscrupulous manufacturers who added cheap and actually poisonous ingredients to stretch their profits. By the early 1900’s, the drink was banned worldwide (in conjunction with the Prohibition Era here in the U.S. and temperance movements in Europe). Absinthe regained legal status in the U.S. in 2007 with the stipulation that it contain no thujone (although wormwood is still used in production overseas).
When we think of arsenic today, it’s pretty much synonymous with poison, right?. But in the 19th century, people considered small doses of arsenic safe and used it for diverse products, from face powder to rat poison. The so-called “King of Poisons” (aka “inheritance powder) led the Victorian era to being known as the “golden age of poisonings”. Yeah, an untold number of people (ahem, mainly husbands) were laid to rest during this time as a result of rampant arsenic use. The substance was both cheap and easy to obtain from any grocery store or pharmacy. Importantly for the poisoner, arsenic has no telltale scent or taste. Its symptoms were similar to any one of the most common diseases of the time. One could administer the poison over time, causing a steady building of symptoms that were easily seen as the expected progression of a natural illness. It wasn’t until 1836 that the Marsh Test became the standard for detecting the poison in autopsies and regulation of its sale with the Arsenic Act of 1851, at which time arsenic lost its favor amongst poisoners.
But even new restrictions on arsenic’s availability apparently did not dampen the Victorians’ obsession with this ubiquitous substance. They still embraced it in cosmetics, medications, and richly colored pigments that were used in fabrics and wallpaper (oh yes and toys, too!). They loved how arsenic wallpaper in the bedroom kept the flies and bedbugs under control (because those bugs died from toxic exposure!). It’s horrifying to think of all the people that died due to the popularity of this substance - from miners to garment workers, artists and toy makers, children dying in their own cribs due to inhaling arsenic vapors from the walls in their nurseries and fashionable women dropping dead from wearing one too many green dresses. Yikes!
Captivating and sophisticated is the vibe of our Absinthe & Arsenic bars. Our A&A soap boasts the same vivid green hues that arsenic was known for in mesmerizing swirls with wisps of black and sickly yellow. The scent opens with delicate saffron threads, sweet-spicy anise, and citrus zest. A spicy thread of cinnamon and clove wraps around the dark heart of luscious black currant and blackberries. Whispers of earthy, green basil, pungent fennel and bright balsam punctuate the sweetness. The finish is an inescapable embrace of warmth and intensity - dark musk, tonka, amberwood, and frankincense. You might become obsessed with this one. ;)
ART CREDIT: vintage absinthe ad poster; Arsenic green 19th century wallpaper designed by William Morris
Approx 4-4.5oz bar
Handcrafted soap will continue to evaporate water and lose weight over time. This makes for a finer, harder, and longer lasting bar.
Ingredients: Distilled water, Coconut oil, Hi-oleic Sunflower oil, Olive oil, Sodium hydroxide*, Shea butter, Avocado oil, Mango butter, Kokum butter, Castor oil, Fragrance, Citric acid, Sodium lactate, Titanium dioxide & Mica
*None remains in final product
This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.