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  • Silvertree

    Mod post: No wishlist posts in blogs

    By Silvertree

    Please be aware that we do not permit swap-related content on profiles or in blogs. Please post this content only in the For Sale, Swaps, and Wanted forums, or in the Wishlists topic. ~from Swapping 101  Thanks!
    • 5 comments
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Abstract Associations
 

The Atomic Luau Lounge, The Bar: Blue Fire

Papaya, blueberry, lemongrass, and gin.   Reviewed 05/02/2008   In the bottle: Sugary sweet fruit, lots of gin.   Wet: A hint of sharpness from the gin, but mostly this is syrupy, over-sweet blueberries.   Drydown: I'm all about the sweet foody scents, but this was overkill while it was wet. Thankfully it calmed down as it dried, becoming lighter and less cloying. It's like a blue raspberry slushy, with a dash of gin, some fizzy club soda, and a twist of lemon. This scent is very summery and so much fun, and I got more compliments wearing it today than any other I've tried. It's got great throw, and it lasted all day long without needing to be reapplied.
Rovylern

Rovylern

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Thoughts from Yuggoth
 

Hexennacht 2008: Not sweaty at all!

The Night of the Witches. In the Teutonic calendar, April 30, not October 31, was the night that the witches congregated to celebrate their Work through ecstatic dance, wild music and revelry. The witches fêted with spirits, fairies, and a bevy of otherworldy creatures atop Brockenberg peak in the Harz region of Germany, where they lit an enormous bonfire and cavorted naked until midnight... at which point they donned their robes, boarded their brooms, flying rams and sacred goats, scooped up their cat familiars, and sped off into the night. In later days, it was believed that on this night the witches conjured the devil, who would then select one of them for his bride. This perfume is the scent of the witches' revel: German fir and forest herbs, incense and bonfire smoke, infernal flora, glowing amber, and the wet, glimmering scent of skin warmed by dance.

I definitely get the fir from this when I first put it on. It's a sharp, bright, "clean" scent when wet.
The fir mellows after a few minutes to be much warmer, and less artificial. It's a very pleasant "green" scent at this point.
It stays like this for a half-hour or so and then... disappears. All that's left is a light, slightly musky scent which is hard to place.

Odd behaviour, but very nice!
Jenesis

Jenesis

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Thoughts from Yuggoth
 

Three Witches: Nom Nom Nom

Warm cinnamon, husky clove and white pepper.

I was lucky enough to acquire a bottle of the Resurrected incarnation.

In the vial and wet, this is all CINNAMON. Spicy spicy spice with no sign of the clove or pepper - it's like I upended a pot of cinnamon onto my wrist. As nice as cinnamon is, it's very strong.

On the drydown, the overwhelming cinnamon thankfully fades a little. I can detect a whiff of the clove, and the smooth pepper is coming out to play.

Dry, this is a stunning scent. The cinnamon and clove are still there, over the smooth sweetness of white pepper. So glad I managed to get a bottle!
Jenesis

Jenesis

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Argentwolf's Blog
 

Fae

Category: Bewitching Brews   Oddly enough, the main scent I got from this was...licorice. Weird! I'm trying to think what would make that strange combination to my nose...perhaps the bergamot mixed with the heliotrope, or the oakmoss.   All things considered, however, I did enjoy it; it was soft and delicate on me and had a beguiling femininity to it. It evokes an impish fae quite well in that regard.   It helped that I like bergamot, I think.
Argentwolf

Argentwolf

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Argentwolf's Blog
 

Erato

Category: Discontinued Scents   Straight out from the imp, it smelled like soap. So, at least I smelled clean, albeit with a sharp touch of lye. And that's the way it stayed, the first few days that I wore it.   Today, though, it smelled differently...it actually smelled *good*, and of flowers. (Yes, I tend to persist with scents, even if they don't work right away.) I couldn't really detect any myrrh; I think in the imp I'm mostly smelling ylang ylang and sweet pea. As I put it on, the flowery notes gained a bit of strength, but weren't overpowering in soapiness as they had been before.   Dry, I smell sweet pea, and perhaps rose. There *is* a faint bit of soapiness and powder to it, which keeps it from being perfect...but it's definitely an improvement.   So, hm, something's definitely going on with my body chemistry. The only notes I've previously experienced have been sweet pea and myrrh, so I'm not sure who the culprit is for the strange, intriguing acrobatics that I'm noticing here.   In the end, unfortunately, there was just too much soapiness present to make this one a keeper.
Argentwolf

Argentwolf

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Argentwolf's Blog
 

Azathoth

Category: Picnic In Arkham   At the very beginning, as I first drew breath to sniff it fresh from the imp, I could detect a faintly-sweet, fruity note.   And then...the cedarwood came.   The cedar completely dominates this one for me; I cannot smell anything else. And, oddly enough, the sweetly-earthy note that usually defines cedar for me takes on a sharp, high pitch early on in this blend; it reminds me more of pine trees.   So, nope...this one just didn't work.   (Just between you and me...I found myself thinking, 'This is what Azathoth uses to spray the bathroom with after he uses it'. It's *that* pine-like.)
Argentwolf

Argentwolf

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Argentwolf's Blog
 

Ave Maria Gratia Plena

Category: Ars Amatoria   In the imp I could smell musk and a hint of lemon. It was a very elegant mix.   As it joined with my body chemistry, the lemon grew a little bit stronger. Unfortunately, it grew faint and wore off really quickly. Just not for me.
Argentwolf

Argentwolf

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Argentwolf's Blog
 

Aureus

Category: Bewitching Brews   I smelled mostly cedar and patchouli in this one, with some other vague incense smokiness going on around the edges.   Aureus is golden in the way that a chunk of amber is golden; you get that lovely deep aura of radiant wood and patchouli, dark red-gold and bright orange-gold; and then there are those dark swirls and flecks of smoke and leftover incense embers caught up within it. If you are blessed with skin chemistry that highlights incense and smokiness, I suspect that your senses would be going over and over it, like polishing a smooth stone in your palm.   I, alas, am not one of those people. As seems to be the norm with incense, this faded quickly on me, though the cedar stuck around for a bit.
Argentwolf

Argentwolf

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circe_blue's Blog
 

Ghetto Oven

I'm a klutz. It's one of those days/nights. Everything I touch goes kablooey! So I was trying to bake a cake for my fiance and I'm using this incredibly ghetto oven that's come with my apartment. First, it only goes up to 200 F. Then, once it reaches 200, you have to turn on the stove to "re-ignite" it or something. Then, 7 times out of 10, the temperature keeps going to 450. No matter what you set it to. 450. I don't know why. So, of course, I stupidly decide to bake this cake and at the slightest smell of cooking sets off my fire alarm. WTF. I freak out and attempt to turn it off (can you turn off fire alarms?) or take it down, and blissfully, and before I can get my hands on it it stops.   (In case of actual fire, I'm pleased to discover that the alarm is REALLY FUCKING LOUD and REALLY FUCKING ANNOYING)   But, I decide i need to take it down anyways in case it goes off again while I'm cooking. I balance precariously on a barstool. I think you can see where this is going. I fall, hard. I think I make an embarassing sound like, "whoommoop!!" while I am going down.   If BPAL made a scent called Ghetto Oven it would smell of burnt cake, burnt chicken, and despair (lightly burnt).   I've opened all the windows in the apartment to air it out (it *still* smells like burnt cake), and now I'm going to sleep.
circe_blue

circe_blue

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shinkirou's heart
 

Beginning

I am Shinkirou. I am writing...i guess just to write and shed the melancholy wrapped around my insides like a thick, damp fog. In my time, i haven't seen many wonders, but enough to marvel at considering the length of my exsistance. My friends are few. I have two that i trust. Amber and Amanda. I've had them both for about three years. My only other true friend i've had was killed in a car accident last year; I'd known Tiffany Shaffer since i was 6 years old. Thoughts of the past enshroud my mind, but all of them are painful...you could say i have a negative outlook, and it isn't good for my karma, but nothing good has happened to me for the past 5 years... I call myself Shinkirou, because that is how i feel. Like a mirage. Every time i look in the mirror, i see a face, but no identity. I'm trying to reshape that indentity, to make myself anew. I look out the window and see an overcast sky, and watch the wind shake the trees. I guees now is the appropriate time to reshape myself. Spring is the time of renewal, when pups and kits are born and the trees gain new leaves. Though it will soon storm outside, i know that the storms i have had in my life have wiped alot away, they haven't cleansed or redeemed me in any way. I intend on continuing, though, considering how much the winds and rains have numbed me, it will be fairly easy to mold a new identity. I'm hopefully moving to the same area as my friend Amber. It should be nice. Starting off as a freshman in a new school may seem intimidating to some, but to me it doesn't cause me to flalter a bit. I hope that maybe someday, I'll find someone to hold my heart and appreciate who and what i am, but that doesn't mean I'm looking for someone either. Anyways...that's my first entry. I've only scratched the surface of who i am, but more will come in time. Farewell for now, reader. ~Shinkirou, The Wanderer
shinkirou

shinkirou

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Review Round-up!
 

Ebisu Making Love as Two Octopuses Look On

In the bottle: Sweet, fresh, water-dappled NECTARINES!   On wet: Ohhh...so good. *huffs wrist* Nectarine, oakmoss, skin musk - each note is coming through loud and clear - and they're *wonderful*!   Drydown: Wow, this is fantastic stuff. Such a clean, fresh scent - like fruit juice -infused raindrops. And the musk is so unobtrusive, clinging to my skin, letting that wonderful fruit-water take center stage like a hovering cloud of pure deliciousness. Long-lasting and nothing but gorgeous.   Overall: I've been searching for a really good nectarine blend, but they're few and far between - most are too perfumey, or the other notes smother the delicate fruity goodness. Ebisu is what I've been looking for, and it's also one of the most *perfect* summer scents I've ever come across, too. Lightly sweet, SO incredibly fresh, both airy *and* watery, and just enough musk to ground everything. Perfection. 5/5
furygrrl

furygrrl

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Review Round-up!
 

Cheshire Moon

In the imp: Buttery cake note (similar to Eat Me), and a touch of grapefruit.   On wet: Sweet, tangy grapefruit and...is that what guava smells like? Yum!   Drydown: If pink and yellow were scents, that's what I'd be smelling right now. Cherry blossom's edged out the fruit and taken over as the big star, all soft and pink and sweet like sugar water. There's a touch of something on the sidelines, though - just the barest hint of what I'm thinking is the grapefruit. It's muted - more like what I'd imagine the pith to smell like - less intense, softer, but retaining that grapefruity sharpness/bitterness.   Overall: Definitely a fun, girly scent that could be worn for any occasion. The original cake vibe never manifested on me (thankfully!), so a straight-up blend of sunny pinkness (sweet fruit and even sweeter cherry blossom) was what wafted around me most of the afternoon. Delightful! 4/5
furygrrl

furygrrl

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Diplomatka
 

Gorillas, Genocide Part I

I never really thought about Rwanda before. I mean, I saw the movie and considered the genocide but I never really thought about the country, especially not as a place where I would vacation; but here I was, last Friday, on an Ethiopian flight with my husband and SMP to Kigali.   I had no hand in planning this; my husband got obsessed with the idea of gorilla trekking after some guy from the US Embassy told him about it. I just half-assedly agreed to the trip and SMP decided to join us even though she had seen gorillas in Uganda before. After landing, clearing passport (no visa required for US citizens) and getting our bags, we were out in Kigali. The city is clean (plastic bags having been banned years ago) and spread out. We went to the genocide museum (more on that soon) and after a car breakdown we were on our way to Musazana to the extremely overpriced lodge from which the next day we would set off.   After nearly dying from exhaust being piped into the vehicle and frozen from cold wind blowing in through the window, we arrived about 9pm. The lodge being the only site on the main power grid, I could not see a damn thing and had no idea what was around. After a terrible meal and a much-deserved hot shower we got into bed to be prepared for the next day. By 6:45am we had eaten our terrible, overpriced breakfast and arrived at the Volcanoes National Park office with the 70 other white folk who were going to see golden monkeys, gorillas and (strangely) Dian Fossey’s grave. Our lack of planning and forethought was clearly evident in how we were dressed: although the other tourists were decked out in GoreTex, gators and Patagonia, I was wearing jeans and a gabardine pea coat, my husband had his fleece and SMP had on her trademark plunge neckline and hoop earrings.   As luck would have it, the husband, SMP and I were the only three of the 70 said white folk interested in gorilla trekking that day. We decided to go and see the largest group, which was also the farthest away. We loaded up with our guide for a 30-minute exhaust-filled ride to a small village near one of the volcanoes. We got out at the ranger base, got our armed guards and walking sticks and set off.   Contrary to what you might think about a place like Rwanda, it is really a beautiful country. As we began our walk up the terraced hills where villagers were planting potatoes and chrysanthemum (as mosquito repellant), we started to see the green, rolling landscape and low clouds. After about two hours of climbing at a 75 degree slope and having children run out and scream “ferangu” at us, we reached a big pile of rocks. This, the ranger/guide told us, was the national forest. After this point there could be no eating, no smoking (which we weren’t), no loud talking, and no defecating without first digging a 30 centimeter hole. One of the soldiers hacked down the wall and we went in. Now, I ain’t never been in a rainforest before and the brush was thick; before I could even enter I was besieged with spiders and insects. The guides had to hack their way through the vines and bamboo to make a path for us while radioing the trackers who spend all day with the gorilla pods. We trudged on for about another hour, all the while getting smacked in the face with wet tree limbs, getting hung on vines, having rain trickle down on us, freezing in the cold. It seemed like we were walking in circles, but then we saw it: gorilla poo.   Before long, we stopped and the guide told us to put down our bags and walking sticks. We were here and the gorillas were close. We did as we were told and I stepped around a tree and there they were. A member of the Susa Group   It was like they were waiting for us, all 21 of them. I saw Poppy (a gorilla researched by Dian Fossey) and her baby first. The rest were stretched out in a clearing, relaxing. It was literally a scene out of the best-staged documentary: the mist rolled in, the younger members of the group played with each other and ran towards us. It was simply amazing. We were able to spend an hour with the gorillas, during which time they were mainly eating, yawning, sleeping, scratching themselves and farting. They are extremely sedate creatures (or at least this group was too familiar with humans after years of being researched). There were three silverbacks we could see and the one closest to us had a cold and spent the time we were there picking his nose and eating it. One of the 1-year-old twins ran towards us, turned around, peed in our direction, and then began to make kissing noises and shake her head back and forth with her mouth wide open. The younger gorillas climbed up the trees while the mothers nursed their babies. It’s hard to believe that I actually got to be that close to them—less than four feet from a booger eating silverback!   One of the babies.   We took tons of photos (which I swear I will post) and it was not long before we had to leave. We set off back through the forest and it was a full-on rain by the time we got back to the rock fence boundary. Walking back down, I fell once while SMP fell a record four times down the muddy sides of the hills. When we got back to the car and received our certificates, we were beat, covered in mud, cold and completely wet. Although it took a long hike through the rain and a few thousand dollars, it was worth it.   This morning, while getting ready for work, I saw last night's Nightline program, concidentally about the same trip. You can read about it here.
Confection

Confection

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Thoughts from Yuggoth
 

Frederic: Geek-esque Manliness

For some ridiculous reason, to which, however, I’ve no desire to be disloyal,
Some person in authority, I don’t know who, very likely the Astronomer Royal,
Has decided that, although for such a beastly month as February, twenty-eight days as
a rule are plenty,
One year in every four his days shall be reckoned as nine and twenty.
Through some singular coincidence – I shouldn’t be surprised if it were owing to the
agency of an ill-natured fairy –
You are the victim of this clumsy arrangement, having been born in leap-year, on the
twenty-ninth of February;
And so, by a simple arithmetical process, you’ll easily discover,
That though you’ve lived twenty-one years, yet, if we go by birthdays,you’re only five
and a little bit over!

Alas, poor Frederic the Leapling! -- bound to the merry Pirates of Penzance until his twenty-first birthday.

As his birthday comes around only every four years, so does his scent!

Victorian whimsy and piratical romance: a reluctant seaman’s chypre sloshed with a mix of bay rum, patchouli, amber musk, dark woods, tea rose, and red currant.

The whole thing just screams manliness and sophistication. It is indeed quite dry, with woods and spices, and thankfully completely free of the sickening "Lynx effect" sweetness that so many masculine scents unfortunately have.

Although it is manly, it retains a touch of femininity with the spices and the hint of rose (I normally hate rose, so don't worry, fellow haters, the rose is not prominent at all!). In general it evokes the same feeling as Geek - although the scents are completely dissimilar apart from the woods, it has that same "manly but feminine" feel. I love Geek too, so this is right up my alley!

Looking at the notes, I can't smell any rum at all and I have no idea what chypre is, but the musk, woods and patchouli all make themselves known. The rose and currant show up after the drydown as quirky extras, stopping this from smelling too much like aftershave.

I absolutely adore this blend. I have the one bottle, and I may have to find another as this is just too nice to only get one of, and I bet it'll age fabulously!
Jenesis

Jenesis

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vultureguy's Blog
 

Snakes!

I put some of my Banded Sea Snake decant on today. I kept getting whiffs of myself through the day. I like how I smell! Yumm, I'm glad I've got a bottle coming from a swap. I had to reapply when I got home, didn't want to stop smelling so damn hot! Well, ok, I think I smell so damn hot! And I never thought I'd say that about myself.   I've decided that while I don't have a TON of BPAL I do have a lot and that gently applying small drops here and there just isn't gonna do it! I've decided I should judiciously slather. Not only do I want the glorious scent to last teh whole day and share it with everyone around me, I want to be sure to use my Preciouses so I can justify buying more   Stretching my ear piercings seems to be going well. I have the 12ga black snakes in. I want to stretch further, I'm not sure how far but maybe up to 8ga or 6ga? I think the 12ga definitely look too "femme" on me, although one of my coworkers today said they didn't. Still, I'd like to go up some more. Only problem now is with the job on the possible chopping block, with the offshoring and all that, chances are that I may need to reapply for jobs (internally or externally). Body mod isn't the image most bank staff are supposed to sport. And sadly, nothing that pays decent will allow for it either. So am I going to have pull them out once I get up to whatever gauge I want?   I'm getting excited about getting my Three Witches from our partial swap. Really looking forward to getting it!!
vultureguy

vultureguy

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Abstract Associations
 

April Fool 2008

The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year. - Mark Twain   The Fool is many things, but rarely is he foolish. He is the inscrutable zero, he is innocence perfected, and he is the nothing from which all things are created. It is the Fool that reveals truth and brings wisdom to King Lear, and it is the Fool that finally finds the Holy Grail.   Huckleberry, white rose, tangerine, nicotiana, lemon blossom, and Fool's Parsley.   Reviewed 04/27/2008   Wet: Wow, that's a sharp herbal. Yikes.   Drydown: I'm getting the rose now, a hint of citrus, and a sweetness I'm guessing is the huckleberry. It's still grounded by a green herbal I'm assuming is the parsley, but it's lost that knife-sharp edge that I was getting before. This is definitely not what I was expecting, but it's very pretty and it lasts a really long time.
Rovylern

Rovylern

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Lemonlife's Blog
 

Will call april 20

Darn site issues wiped my last entry & updates.       I went to the willcall for BPAL with J. The Theme was Miskatonic Valley Baseball.   My nose broke a few times from too many fragrances. I had to go outside more than a few times. It was nice to have an objective nose there with me. J talked me out of Violet Ray (turned too "baby powder." Must be the lilac in it, as violets work nicely on me) & April Fool (turned to soap). I would have bought them for their in bottle scent & then not been able to wear them. We also discovered we have completely different body chemistry. Some things were strong on one- faded to nothing on the other. Also, she interprets musk as dirty. I interpret the lighter musks as sexy & the darker as sweat. Oh, and J smelled my boobs, as I couldn't get close enough to smell them. Teehee!   Anyway, I bought Swank for J (it is magic on her skin). I got Moana (a surprise like! It smells gorgeous on me after drydown) & MVJBA (the guppies shirt & pennant as well). And I got a box of Cracker Jack!   I renewed my love for Mock Turtle & Bruised Violet Compound. I also reevaluated my dislike for Eat Me & Drink Me. I remain confused about Drink Me, as it turns to kettle corn on me. But Eat Me turned to chocolate. And I like the name for rude reasons. So, I have new options for later orders.   I have learned I *must* have an objective nose & test for drydown before buying from now on. I'm going to go through my current supply of precious & weed out stuff that doesn't work after drydown & offends the noses of others.
quigza

quigza

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Lemonlife's Blog
 

whee

I'm about to update my list. I got a bunch of imps in swap. One of which is Alice. I had formerly thought Alice smelled "off." But, as I got it in a swap. I figured I ought to try it. It smells light & lovely on me. Very much like the tea I used to drink as a kid. Both floral & food. Yum!   I'm currently wear a bit of the Seraglio imp I got. I'm not sure on this one. It doesn't smell bad. It just is a neutral "perfumey" scent on me. No notes really stand out after it reaches dry down. Kinda sad, as it smells nifty in the imp.   To try: Lady Macbeth Ophelia Veil Endymion   Funny note: My boyfriend (now ex) has my imps of Eos & Fenris Wolf (not ex for the theft! ). I don't mind the fenris being gone. But the Eos? He calls it his "sleepytime" perfume vial. I guess it helps him sleep. LOL
quigza

quigza

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Lemonlife's Blog
 

Will Call

I went to the will call as soon as i got out of overtime at work. I made it at about 9:30. The people there were sooo nice in helping me & not laughing at my sniffing my arms & asking for help with the TAL oils (to help get through work issues).   I tried: March Hare (It smelled so sweet & spicey at first. But then it turned to pure clove, which I haven't been able to stand since I stopped smoking cloves) Bruised violet compound (a prototype, I love this scent. It's violets, but not powdery or extremely girlie... If violet took off the lace gloves, put on wraps, and went to krav maga) Persephone (I can't stand it in the bottle. But I tried it on. It gets better & better as it dries down on me. fruity & rosey in just the right balance) Yvaine (it's so awesome wet. Then it turns to plain ol' magnolia- which I don't like. Then it turns to soap) Tiki queen (this turned into Malibu rum on me after 15 minutes) Screeching Parrot (this hit me like a brick of tropical fruit & nauseated me) Sugar Moon (sweet & light & lovely) Lunar Eclipse (this smelled like dust... then faded to nothing)   I bought: Sugar Moon (one for me, one for Mom) Persephone White Light (TAL) Fiery Wall of Protection (TAL)   Sooner or later I'll start writing reviews. But, for now, the above works.
quigza

quigza

0
meeow712's Blog
 

Sunrise With Sea-Monsters

Sunrise With Sea-Monsters: Ocean mist, kelp, ambergris, amber, white pear, osmanthus, freesia, and seafoam accord.     In the imp: Lots of delicious ocean mist, a bit of kelp, and the seafoam. Not detecting any freesia, pear, or amber in this.   On me: I definitely feel the humor in this, I can visualize funny looking sea-monsters splashing around. This is wonderfully blended, as I can't pick out any notes in particular. It definitely reminds me of the ocean.
meeow712

meeow712

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meeow712's Blog
 

Faith

Faith: Sugared Violets   In the imp: A very sweet sharp violet softened by delicious sugar   On me: True to the imp, smells much like it did in the imp. Soft and sweet, yet still sharp and deliciously violet. I definitely need to get Hope & Faith bottles!
meeow712

meeow712

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