Yule and the Goddess: Exploring the Feminine Energies of the Holiday

Yule is one of the most important holidays celebrated by pagans. It is commonly associated with the winter solstice, which occurs around December 21st in the Northern Hemisphere. Yule marks the longest night of the year and symbolizes the return of the sun and the lengthening of days. During Yule, pagans come together to honor the cycles of nature and the changing seasons. It is a time to celebrate rebirth and renewal, as well as to reflect on the year that has passed. Many pagan traditions view the winter solstice as a time of great power and magic.

L'Instant Magic (Eau de Parfum) is a popular perfume by Guerlain for women and was released in 2007. The scent is powdery-floral. The longevity is above-average. It is being marketed by LVMH. Pronunciation

Before using a Guerlain product, please read the ingredient list on the packaging of your product to be sure that the ingredients are appropriate for your personal use. For years I did not dare to ask her for this wonderful scent - such a class thing, besides I did not have a nice divorce - and discovered it by chance and many blind purchases of powdery scents on suspicion to find it myself.

Many pagan traditions view the winter solstice as a time of great power and magic. Yule is often celebrated with various rituals and ceremonies. One common practice is the lighting of a Yule log, which represents the returning light and warmth of the sun.

L'Instant Magic
Guerlain (2007)

I was about to write a “meh” review about L'Instant Magic when I realized that my bottle is damn near empty, so I guess I like it more than I think I do. Or, I should say, I find it useful. Guerlain has always excelled at what the French like to call “boudoir perfumes,” Shalimar being the Queen Mum of the clan, and LIM shows her grandmother's DNA, not so much in its accords as in its obvious intention.

Vintage boudoir perfumes were, I think, supposed to smell suggestive of sexual fluids and such, but since we as a culture are all about clean linen and all these crazy new vaginal wash products these days, I guess LIM is what we're intended to wear while we rumple our eleventymillion thread count sheets and artfully muss our hair. I don't wear it for that particular purpose–it's basically fluffy neroli-almonds-heliotrope-benzoin inflected baby powder, so not really what gives me a stiffy–but it sometimes coincides with such activities, as I like to wear it to bed, because it is a comfort perfume with childhood bedtime associations.

I am a grade A insomniac who has a highly ritualized bedtime routine that I have been refining for decades, one crucial element of which is this type of scent, which is why I own so many: Teint de Neige, Sweet Dreams, Musc Intense, Mona di Orio's Musc and also her Vanille–anything with girly girl billows of powder will do. (Variety is also key, as one insomnia episode requires changing the bedtime perfume for a while, because I'll start associating not sleeping with whatever I wore on a bad night). I know some people actually wear this kind of thing in the daytime, and picture them dressing like Kimmie Roberts/Lucy in Twin Peaks, with her deranged cardigans and big floof of blonde hair. No offense if this is your daytime jam. At least you're scenting.

But LIM is mostly utilitarian for me, strange as that may sound. Because I have a lot of similar fragrances to compare it with, I'll reiterate that it has an unusual amount of orange/neroli for a powdery floral musc, and I can smell the genetic connection to Guerlain's original L'Instant, a sexy Orangesicle with a hint of suntanned skin (go for the EDT or the parfum). For some reason, it also reminds me
of Tauer's Orange Star, a perfume that I believe may now be discontinued, perhaps because Andy T and I were the only people that loved it. I wish I'd gotten a bottle when I could have.

Guerlain excels at this kind of perfume. Opulent comfort is kind of their wheelhouse, so if you are looking for a delicious nighttime (as in PJs and fuzzy slippers, not skimpy undies and stockings), I can enthusiastically recommend it. It is a nice break from the usual rose-violet accords that usually make up
these scents, and it works like a charm. Hell, i'm falling asleep just writing this, so please excuse any typos.

I have to admit that I initially expected more from LIM, as it was one of those legendary discontinued Guerlains that I thought I would never get to smell. Huzzah to the house for bringing it back. I suspect this is the kind of thing that Sylvie Delacourte is trying to do with her Musc series, as she art directed this year while at Guerlain, and that brings me to my final point. The difference in quality between her muscs and this one is staggering. Even at its least intellectually challenging and likely most artificially concocted, Guerlain's materials are superlative. If you must have quasi infantile powder, or just want to round our your L'Instant or Guerlain collection, this one is worth it. It also makes a great linen-pillow/closet freshener–not obnoxiously functional, but not recognizably “perfumery.”

If I spray on LIM at bedtime, it is still very much with me in the morning, so it is consistent with the kind of excellent staying power Guerlain is known for–feathery little things (aside from some of their eaux) are not what this house is about. It clings well to my pillow and sheets and feels like an olfactory hybrid of high tech customizable sleep surface mattress and old fashioned feather bed. Simple, direct, but very nice work for what it is. Four softly glowing ceiling lamp stars, and two peachy-pink thumbs up (with Maribou sleeves, natch). Zzzzzzzzzz .

Piercing, juicy, citrusy bergamot. Darkish rose & freesia quickly move in. Slight bitterness underneath.
The bitter tinge doesn't last long. This scent becomes almost piercingly sweet, just that "fast". Rose dances. Sweet almond, almost like marzipan shows up then. It zips up from the base tier with musks following close behind.
The almond becomes even stronger in time, with a bit of some fresh-cut wood aromas intermingled. The almond is intriguing and it holds my interest for a few hours.

Floral / almond / baby powder accord, much later. I enjoy this one!

Magic mostly smells like benzoin baby powder with a touch of floral almond heliotrope and signature Guerlain greens on top, ending up more amber as vanilla and sandalwood join the powdery benzoin later.

I don't think it's possible to review L'Instant Magic without reviewing Guerlain's entire history and how it fits in.

I can see how vintage Guerlain enthusiasts would find this simplistic compared to the baroque masterpieces so beloved in their catalog, but this is also gorgeously put together with just enough nods to Guerlain's historical grandeur that it's better by leaps and bounds than the cherry marshmallow fluff they've been focused on in the 10 or so years since this came out.

I don't want to artificially down-vote Magic just because it's no Mitsouko, but also don't want to artificially up-vote it just for being better than Mon Guerlain. In the end, I'm voting thumbs up, because I do really like how this is put together. It exists at a point midway between super-powdery barbershop ambers like Caswell Massey's Tricorn and the modern niche nutty richness of Tom Ford's Fucking Fabulous, a mid-point that I find quite delightful.

At first I didn't care for it then a wore a sweater I had sprayed it on a week later and I thought “ What is this?” I figured out it was the sample my SA had sent with my 2018 Muguet purchase so I tried it again. I loved it. Especially the base. I am usually a Parfum/ Extrait snob in Guerlain because I the initial spray of EDP is often off putting. So I bought the Parfum in this an fell in love. Now I purchase from an EBay seller every tester of Parfum he has. We can't get the Parfum in the US. I wear this one at least once a week. It is a no frills powder with a touch of Almond and earthy wood that lasts forever clothing and in hair. Definitely a female scent.
The base notes are worth the wait❤️

On my skin this is a bergamot-almond scent straight from the beginning, with the focus being on the almond. A pleasant almond, unidimensional and straight without any facets or change over time.

In the drydown a white musky impression is added, which blends in quite nicely with the rest but stays in the background.

I get moderate sillage, good projection and an excellent eleven hours of longevity on my skin.

This is quite a pleasant scent for warmer autumn days, whose strong point consists of the very good performance. Its drawback is the somewhat synthetic nature of the notes, as well as the fact that apart form the almond the rest is ultra-generic. 2.75/5

Banal and uselessPale powdery unoriginal mediocrity at its best.Pros: AnyCons: Boring synthetic fruity/floral almondy powder."

. the signal scent of my divorce lawyer - which thrilled me when I first entered her office.
For years I did not dare to ask her for this wonderful scent - such a class thing, besides I did not have a nice divorce - and discovered it by chance and many blind purchases of powdery scents on suspicion to find it myself

The log is usually burned for several days, with a piece saved to kindle the next year's Yule fire. Another important element of Yule is the decorating of evergreen trees, which symbolize life in the midst of winter. Pagan traditions often include the hanging of various ornaments and lights on the tree, similar to modern Christmas traditions. Feasting and gift-giving are also common during Yule. The feasts are typically held with loved ones and friends, and traditional foods are often prepared and shared. Gift exchanges are a way to show appreciation for one another and to spread joy and abundance during the holiday season. Overall, Yule is a joyful and festive time for pagans to come together and celebrate the cycles of nature and the return of light. It is a time to honor the past, embrace the present, and look forward to the future. Whether through rituals, ceremonies, or simple celebrations, pagans use Yule as a way to connect with nature and celebrate the beauty and magic of the winter season..

Reviews for "Winter Magick: Harnessing the Energy of Yule for Spells and Rituals"

1. Sarah - 2/5 stars

I was really excited to learn more about the Yule holiday and its origins, but this book left me disappointed. The information provided was very limited and lacked depth. I was hoping for a more in-depth exploration of the holiday's traditions, rituals, and historical significance, but instead, I found myself reading a brief overview with little substance. Additionally, I felt that the writing style was dry and lacked engagement, making it hard for me to connect with the content. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book for anyone looking to gain a deeper understanding of the Yule holiday.

2. John - 3/5 stars

As someone who is new to pagan holidays, I thought this book would be a great introductory read. However, I found it to be a bit scattered and unclear. The author jumped from one topic to another without providing much context or explanation. I was left with more questions than answers. While I appreciated the effort to include some historical background, it lacked depth and felt rushed. If you're already familiar with the Yule holiday and are looking for a quick refresher, this book might be sufficient. But if you're seeking a comprehensive and coherent guide, I would recommend looking elsewhere.

3. Emily - 2/5 stars

I found "What is the pagan holiday Yule" to be quite superficial in its approach to the topic. The book only scratched the surface of the subject matter, providing basic information that can be easily found with a quick internet search. I was hoping for a more in-depth exploration of the traditions, symbolism, and practices associated with the Yule holiday, but unfortunately, this book fell short. Additionally, I felt that the writing style lacked excitement and failed to capture my interest. Overall, I was left wanting more from this book and would not recommend it to those looking for a thorough understanding of the Yule holiday.

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