Jasmine + Vanilla Bean Whipped Body Butter

I think I’ve reacted to this more strongly than I have any other materia. I’ve been dealing with a stressful work situation, so I was very happy when this was restocked, as I’ve responded well to other Venus materia. But I realized, after maybe a week or two of daily use, that I was maybe a bit *too* relaxed about my situation to the point of outright avoiding it in favor of mindless distractions. I think this one may work best for me when paired with other material, perhaps Saturn. I will continue experimenting! The scent is very jasmine-forward, and the vanilla amps up the rich, indolic qualities imo. I love the scent of real jasmine, so it’s a treat to use.

I struggle a bit with the smell of this because the jasmine is prominent and I can find that overwhelming sometimes - but under it is a lovely light vanilla smell that is nice. Regardless of the jasmine, I'd say the effects of this are as expected - it makes me feel lighter emotionally but without feeling too indulgent/lazy, which is nice!

At last I feel internal permission to review another item than DA! Makes sense that it would be the series that helped me build a social network/ life! It just makes relating feel like it actually can be easy. Also the butter in particular makes my skin glow and my face look lovely, can't imagine life without it!

After I was put on a mental health medication, I gained a substantial amount of weight that really affected my body image. As a Taurus Rising with Venus placed in the 6th in Libra, I decided to run a series of baths each week on a Venus night with the bath salts and body butter from this series. Even though, in my ignorance and immaturity, I did it initially with the intent of being bestowed beauty (pronounced as: "please let me be skinny again" *eyeroll*), I didn't lose weight. I did, however, gain something far, far more valuable in this process. As the time passed by (it took almost 2 years), I started to CHERISH MY BODY. Not from a shallow place, but from a place of recognition that it is a vessel that carries my soul. I realised that my body has been with me and loved me, unconditionally, even when I didn't treat it well or love it back. It's like my eyes have been opened after a lifetime of blindness. So, my body might not have changed physically, but my relationship with it has been altered forever, in a way I could have never dreamt of before. Oh, and as a side note: as one of the effects of this transformation, I also experienced the best sex of my life (yes, at my "fattest", yes f*ck the patriarchy).

TMI? I find I like to use this in my "areas" as I am experiencing some of the super fun dryness and irritation of perimenopause. Feels indulgent, I'm a fan.
Obvi oily when applied and melting but also doesn't seem to break me out? Jar is lasting a long time

Really have come to rely upon VAD as an everyday support materia. It is relaxing and supportive on its own but layers well with other series (frequently pair with Exalted Luna for leaning into the sensual and Saturn in Aquarius for structure/relational matters) The combo of vanilla and jasmine is otherworldly and stays with you for quite a while after application. Headed into the colder months I use this quite frequently now to restore moisture to my skin after a shower and it really helps combat the dry winter air. Thank you Venus.

The smell of this body butter is just lovely— a light & sweet gourmand scent that lingers a bit longer than other S&S body butters I’ve used. I love the smell so much that I *definitely* went overboard with it when I first received it…which honestly made me forgetful and easily distracted. I felt ditzy, and after a handful of days of heavy application I realized I was acting like a bit of an airhead.
I didn’t feel that way in the moment, though! In the moment I felt buzzy and bright. But overuse/wearing alone without other materia made me flighty, flaky, and scatterbrained.
Consequently, I learned to utilize this materia in the optimal way for me personally: I use a small amount of this body butter as a second energetic layer, and apply a different S&S product beforehand (I really like combining it with Azure Dragon or Luminous Crown, and recently started experimenting with Saturn in Aquarius). When used like this, VAD makes me chatty and social— but in an engaged, compelling way instead of being all over the place.
It turns out my natal chart is not very compatible with this particular election, and I also think some of the more negative aspects I experienced were caused by a contraindication of sorts between VAD & the (several) psych meds I take daily.
Anyway, I am just happy and relieved that I figured out a way to interact positively with this body butter!

All of the body butters I’ve tried are wonderful, but for me, this one takes the cake (and kind of smells like one, too!). The jasmine and vanilla is my favorite scent, and while energetically it’s less insulating than Butter Ocean or Exalted Luna, I like the fact that the energy is carefree in a more breezy kind of way. (My own Venus is in Aquarius, and I have a lot of Saturn-ruled planets.)

I’m reviewing this body butter on behalf of my husband, who’s begun his twenty-year Venus Mahadasha and is going nuts with this series on the advice of a super-reputable astrologer. When I tell you how he loooooves this stuff. I had to let him know he probably shouldn’t lay it on quite so thick since, you know, it’s not free. (This isn’t Aveeno, baby!) But my man is taking extra nice care of himself now—dressing better, getting good haircuts, and treating himself to the nice things he deserves, which is a new one for him. I’ll use a teeny bit sometimes and it’s sooo luscious, scent-wise. This whole series is a joy.

This is a *delicious* body butter. I'd slather myself in it every single day if I weren't worried about burning through it. It is so, so, so lovely! I feel happy, easy-going, and at peace when I wear this. I try to save it for Fridays but I do indulge on non-Venus days too. It helps to soften me if I have to be super social.