Out of (south) Africa
I have some serious catching up to do here...
Made it back home in one piece. The most I've ever traveled in one trip - been on the plane 7 times in one week.
While doing the last minute retail therapy I discovered a little shop, "Rain- created for living" at the Victoria Wharf Center. The place reminds me of Lush(display of soaps and edible looking soap that is-- without the rainbow colours of bathbombs and what not. A very neutral/beigy/brown chocolate colour theme shop. Instant LOVE! (sorry i did not take photos of the shop because ya know i just hate looking all touristy) :P
Came away with a very nice clean, yet not quiet cotton-y just got the laundry done clean scent soap. I believe it's the saffron in Saffron & Tangerine that is giving me the soft, clean, gentle impression. Snapped a bar(now I wish I could have bought more than one)
There is also a section delicated for aromatherapy. Rain offered essential oil blends and oils that target specific problems (stress blend, passion blend, etc). The vanilla blend is a very rich, creamy, yet a tad spicy oil I just got to have. Sniffed the "Passion" blend which reminds me exactly like BPAL's Akuma!(minus the rapsberry maybe..but that blood orange and neroli are definitely there. Strangely enough, Akuma worked wonder in SA for some odd reasons..i ended up wearing the scent most of the times. I packed at least 6 imps!). Maybe it's the dry climate..it's tad bitter on me here in the U.S. of A. Strange strange!)
Two items come to the price of R70, which rougly translates to something like $7 USD!!!!! ( 4.2 oz soap was R25 & 10ml oil R45). Yeh I cannot stress enough how affordable South Africa is.(even good food)
I googled and found some places that carry Rain products, but with 3x the price :)
www.artisanemporia.com/shop.php
hbfhome.com/body_and_bath/natural_soaps_collection
ps: I just didnt care for any of the Rooibos-items.(scent wise)