My list of reviews so far, to be updated as I write them.
BLACK PHOENIX ALCHEMY LAB:
Limited Edition:
Sleepy Hollow: Katrina Van Tassel
Yules: Lick it Vigorously
Yules: Rose Red 2010
Yules: Snow White 2010
Yules: The Nutcracker: Klara
Ars Amatoria:
Kabuki
L'École Des Filles
Lolita
Lucy's Kiss
Maiden
Bewitching Brews:
All Night Long
Dana O'Shee
Follow Me Boy
Hurricane
Jolly Roger
Love Me
Diabolus:
Kumiho
Marie
Villain
Excolo:
Persephone
Illyria:
Rosalind
Mad Tea Party:
Alice
Eat Me
Mouses's Long And Sad Tale
The Pool Of Tears
Tweedledum
The Unicorn
Marchen:
The Grave-Pig
Picnic in Arkham:
Herbert West
Rappaccini's Garden:
Baneberry
Hairy Toad Lily
Sin & Salvation:
Faustus
Lust
Oblivion
Wanderlust:
London
GOOD JUDY:
Limited Edition:
Diamond (April 2009)
Fruit Judy
Hanami (Spring 2009)
Ostara (March 2009)
American Gothic:
The Corruption of Having Lived
Forbidden Desire
Shameful Secret
Sins of the Past
Spectral Evidence
Splintered Love
Anime & Manga:
Gosurori
Shoujo
Uke
Curio Shop:
Cursed Cameo
Mephitic Vapors
Pickled Punk
Spirit Bottle: Lhunassi
Voodoo Doll
In The Mood:
Jolt
Love Potent
Lullaby
Woobie
LGBT & More:
B
Femme
Mary Jo's Bakery:
Bread Pudding
Cannoli
Chocolate Chai Muffin
Key Lime Pie
Punk:
Gothic
Pop
Resinate:
Honey Patch
Smooth & Neat
Signature Scents:
Gravy
Starlite Oasis:
Atomic Cheesecake
Lava Rocket
Mond-O-Rama
Unreleased Blends:
First Creation
Woobie
Category: In The Mood
Quantity: sample
Description:
WOOBIE
Every little one (and many of us larger ones) knows the comfort and security (as well as juju) a well-worn woobie can evoke. A woobie can be anything from a favorite blanket to a favorite pair of socks. Good Judy’s Woobie evokes the comfort and security (and the juju) of your favorite woobie. Warm, comforting, and soothing, Woobie surrounds you in a peaceful, secure aroma. Benzoin, vanilla 10x, styrax, labdamnum
Review:
In the bottle: Benzoin, vanilla, and spices.
Wet: The perfume is dark brown, and when I first applied it, it actually left a brown mark on my skin. Fortunately, I rubbed the area with my finger, and the mark disappeared; but still, this is one dark perfume! I smell the vanilla even more than before; but overall, it’s very soft and sweet (well, I guess that’s the point). Appart, from the warm vanilla feeling, it doesn’t smell that much, no matter how much I put on.
Dry: It’s still raw vanilla and benzoin for me. In fact, it makes me think of a vanilla cake on sleeping pills... weird image...
Verdict: Hey Sigg, have you ever thought of turning this one into a soap? I’m sure it could work for bath & relaxation products.
Voodoo Doll
Category: Curio Shop
Quantity: sample
Description:
VOODOO DOLL
Well known in the Voodoo world, this particular doll was used as an effigy to gain influence over a specific person…and, in turn, drove its user mad. Wicked little thing, ain't it? Notice where the pins are placed? Curious indeed. What will you do with such a thing? Suggestions, demands, and desires fulfilled? If it pleases our guest, so shall it be. Mugwort, sweet sage, cotton blossom, dove’s feather
Review:
In the bottle: It’s soft, I smell mostly mugwort and sage. It’s very herbal, yet delicate and feminine.
Wet: Is that rosemary? No, wait, it’s supposed to be sage. I still get some mugwort, and some faint cotton blossom.
Dry: Oops, it’s turning bitter and stronger (too bad, I liked it before, but I suppose the voodoo doll comes with a curse). It’s much more aromatic: lemony, floral, with cedar.
Verdict: It’s an interesting neutral blend, neither masculine nor feminine, and it smells clean. However, this is not a perfume I would wear.
Uke
Category: Anime & Manga
Quantity: sample
Description:
UKE
Whatever flavor, shy or outgoing, Ukes are the younger, more androgynous (even feminine) counterpart in the Boy Love anime genre of Yaoi. Fiercely loyal to their Seme, Ukes can be slightly annoying, but always cute in their devotion. Sexy and hot! Vanilla musk, cotton candy, cherry, cream
Review:
In the bottle: It smells like cherry cupcakes! I smell cherry, vanilla, sugar, and milk, in that order.
Wet: Indeed, it smells like Betty Crocker’s cherry cupcake mix… It’s drying into a mix of candied vanilla musk and cherry cream.
Dry: Now that it’s completely dry, I smell musky vanilla, and less sugar. The cherry note is also less intense.
Verdict: I love this one, it’s so yummy! What? It’s for boys? Who cares! It smells delicious and sweet.
The Corruption of Having Lived
Category: American Gothic
Quantity: sample
Description:
THE CORRUPTION OF HAVING LIVED
Surviving isn’t necessarily living. You fight for purpose, surrounded by the walls of the Old Manse, its endless rooms, trapped and all alone. Nobody left but the voices in your head. Talking to you. Trying to understand. Rationalizing. How did this happen? Why? You have the rest of your life to ponder. The answer is already yours. You’ve chosen your path. You must live with your choice. Fig, black currant, calla lily, vanilla sandalwood
Review:
In the bottle: It’s a moderately strong smell of fig, currant, and sandalwood.
Wet: It’s much softer on my skin, and much more floral (probably the calla lily), with a touch of vanilla, and something sweet and fruity in the background.
Dry: Not bad, it’s floral, yet fruity as soon as the fig comes back, with a little bit of bitterness and darkness.
Verdict: I love this one too! So far, except Forbidden Desire, the American Gothic collection suits me well, and I think I still have 2 samples to try... I'm impatient to see if they're as good as the ones I have tried so far!
Splintered Love
Category: American Gothic
Quantity: sample
Description:
SPLINTERED LOVE
Secrets grow like thorns around the hearts of lovers. Desperate to hide the truth, the spiny garden grows larger, depleting love. Love fails to germinate, to grow. The sewn fruits are bitter. The heart fractures. The splinters cut deep. Rose, pink pepper, spikenard, pomegranate
Review:
In the bottle: At first sniff, I smell rose, with pepper, and a little pomegranate. I don’t know what spikenard is (I’ve heard of its historical uses, but I’ve never smelled it), so I guess it’s the fourth ingredient I can’t quite replace.
Wet: At first, Splintered Love is all sweet. It’s a nice blend of rose and fruity, juicy pomegranate.
Dry: After a while, it turns bittersweet and spicy; I suspect pepper to have something to do with this metamorphosis. Hours later, all that remains is bitter pomegranate leftovers.
Verdict: Oh, I love it! The concept behind it is interesting, and it smells awesome, could I ask for more? Splintered Love goes in my “to buy” list.
Spirit Bottle: Lhunassi
Category: Curio Shop
Quantity: sample
Description:
SPIRIT BOTTLE: LHUNASSI
Also known as a Charm Bottle, these elaborately decorated bottles are known for their healing and good fortune…as well as their powerful voodoo charms. Filled with medicinal herbs and spices, these bottled philtres are further enhanced by the captured spirit that resides in the bottle. Once purchased, you, the Keeper, have complete control over the captured spirit, and the spirit will aid you and you alone. Take heed, because while your spirit will listen only to you, you must also listen to your spirit. Servitude is not forever. Your spirit will let you know when their servitude is complete. When the time comes, make sure to properly bury your Spirit Bottle and come visit Good Judy’s Curio Shoppe to acquire another. We have many more arriving any day now.
This Spirit Bottle boasts the spirit of Lhunassi, powerful Moon Goddess and keeper of the stars. She will guide you on your spiritual journey for increased fertility and appease your need for nurturing and love of others.
Herbs, spices, moonflower, white champa, knotted twine (to bind the spirit)
Review:
In the bottle: It’s very feminine, with a mix of floral and herbal scents.
Wet: It’s already getting more precise: I get moonflower and herbs, with champa in the background. There’s something “old lady-ish” about it, though.
Dry: Now, it’s softer, more herbal, with light champa, and subtle moonflower.
Verdict: It’s very feminine and elegant, I won’t deny that, but it’s a bit too old-fashioned for me.
Spectral Evidence
Category: American Gothic
Quantity: sample
Description:
SPECTRAL EVIDENCE
In the Old Manse, life lingers, quiet and unassuming yet screaming to be heard. Whispered in a whiff of perfume, a lingering scent of flowers wafts where nobody stood. A shimmering shape lends a glimpse of something that once was. Remembered as visions from a dream, the pieces fit together and the story unfolds. Are you listening? Someone’s trying to tell you something. Lilac, violet, peony, shimmering air
Review:
In the bottle: How incredibly soft! It’s light and floral, mostly lilac and peony, with a little bit of sweet violet.
Wet: It smells like a spring day, or a garden of fresh, delicate lilac, violet and peony. It’s adorable!
Dry: As soon as it started to dry, it turned soapy; and then, it disappeared... Too bad.
Verdict: I’m disappointed by the limited throw of this perfume; however, it might still be a good idea for my soap-making hobby.
Smooth & Neat
Category: Resinate
Quantity: sample
Description:
SMOOTH & NEAT
The aromatic flavoring of a fine liqueur, extremely sensual and smooth with a wonderful warming finish. Served neat. Patchouli leaves, bright orange citrus, smooth vanilla, and a splash of hazelnut liqueur.
Review:
In the bottle: Patchouli, orange and hazelnut liqueur.
Wet: Warm orange and sweet vanilla, for the most part; everything else is in the background.
Dry: The patchouli and liqueur come back, but it’s still smooth. It’s not the aggressive patchouli some old ladies are so fond of…
Verdict: It’s well balanced, smooth and clean, with a sweet dose of vanilla and orange. However, patchouli smells old on me, so the sample will probably become lovely soap material.
Sins Of The Past
Category: American Gothic
Quantity: sample
Description:
SINS OF THE PAST
Innocence is lost. The Sins of the Past have yet to be absolved. Weighted and heavy on your heart, they were justified by love and carried out by greed. But, all will be made right. There’s just one more deed to carry out. Simply, one more transgression to erase all the rest. All will be made right again. The Sins of the Past will be put to rest. All fools need to believe. Red apple, aromatic bitters, spearmint, eucalyptus, benzoin.
Review:
In the bottle: Spicy apple and mint, or a minty apple pie.
Wet: It’s cold from the mint. It really smells like apple, with a little bit of warm benzoin and cold eucalyptus. The mix of hot and cold is a bit weird at first, but I got used to it after a minute or two.
Dry: The aromatic bitters appeared, making the apple spicy again. However, it remains foody. I still smell mint, eucalyptus and benzoin, but it's still delicate.
Verdict: Another fruity scent from Good Judy and, as always, an interesting one. In fact, it smells so good, my parents’ dog followed me all-day with her nose up in the air, smelling my trail as if she expected me to get an apple turnover out of my pocket...
Shoujo
Category: Anime & Manga
Quantity: sample
Description:
SHOUJO
Shoujo is all things girly! Images of fairy tales, summer romances, slumber parties, whispered secrets, giggles, best friends, boys, flowers, and those sugary sweet and innocent teenage years. Fushigi Yugi, Ayashi no Ceres, and anything from CLAMP offer Shoujo at its finest! Apricot, sugar cane, candy hearts, white florals.
Review:
In the bottle: It smells like apricot-flavoured candy, mixed with something floral, or a very sweet and fruity herbal tea.
Wet: Hmm, it’s juicy like a fresh fruit, as if you were biting into a delicious apricot. It’s still very surgary sweet, but the flowers balance the candy a little bit.
Dry: It’s so soft and lovely! I can still identify the powdery candy hearts; but overall, it’s a very peaceful blend.
Verdict: It’s soft, delicate, feminine, refreshing, and absolutely perfect for summer. I like it, although I’m afraid that it might be a little bit too young for me… but I do love it, so it’s on my “maybe” list.
Shameful Secret
Category: American Gothic
Quantity: sample
Description:
SHAMEFUL SECRET
We all come with a past. Certainly, some have more to hide than others. What we do with our lives is of no concern to them. Nobody need know your secret. Hide your shame. Stand tall and proud as it turns your stomach sour. Sweet milk, raspberry cream, absinthe, cassia
Review:
In the bottle: I smell cream, cassia, raspberry, and absinthe, in that order. It’s an interesting mix.
Wet: It’s a little bit bitter, but very herbal, from the absinthe; yet very sweet from the milk and cassia. So far, the raspberry is still very far in the background.
Dry: It turned sweeter, more fruity and juicy, but still with a tiny bit of bitterness/sourness underneath, but it’s really whispered like a secret.
Verdict: Oh, I love this one! It fits me so perfectly, how could I give it a bad review?
Pop
Category: Punk
Quantity: sample
Description:
POP
Break out the Dickies and the studded belts! Faux-hawks. Thin ties. Skinny jeans. Chuck Taylors. Eyeliner. Cotton candy flavored cherry-red lipstick. Pink and black. Trucker hats and skull jewelry.
Review:
In the bottle: I smell cherry, something sweet (like sugar maybe?), and a bitter under-note.
Wet: It has turned darker, with a spicy bitterness like clove or pepper. The cherry is almost absent.
Dry: The cherry came back, and I still smell clove… Why am I thinking “cherry cola”?
Verdict: Frankly, this isn’t my thing. I love cherry, and I love spicy scents; but I’m not sure I like the two together. This one just doesn’t work for me.
Pickled Punk
Category: Curio Shop
Quantity: sample
Description:
PICKLED PUNK
When two become one, what once was is now forever...only never to be. Ghastly to some. Fascinating to others. A medical marvel to all. This bicephalic form floats, peaceful, in a man-made womb with a view…perfectly preserved for your curiosity and pleasure. Tangerine, pink pepper, talc
Review:
In the bottle: A lovely, spicy tangerine. I doesn’t smell too fruity or too sweet, but not too spicy either; it’s well balanced.
Wet: It’s orange on my skin! I should have thought about it, it was orange in the bottle. The tangerine is juicy and fruity, but it’s mixed with a spice, and I’m not even sure it’s pepper. In fact, it smells like clove on me. It reminds me of those Christmas ornaments made of whole oranges picked with clove.
Dry: I finally get some of the talc, which separates the ingredients a little bit. Therefore, I can smell the pink pepper better, or at least for what it really is. However, there’s not enough tangerine left (at least in my opinion, and I love tangerine).
Verdict: I can see there’s an interesting concept behind this one, and the smell of it is also very interesting; but unfortunately, it’s not enough to convince me. It works fine as a gender-neutral blend, but it doesn’t suit my skin type very well, and it doesn’t last very long. Too bad.
Ostara
Category: Limited Edition (March 2009)
Quantity: 5ml bottle
Description:
OSTARA
Ostara, or Eostre, is the Goddess of Renewal, from which the name
Easter evolved. In celebration of the movement toward the rising sun (East),
Ostara embodies renewal, rebirth, and fertility. Wild strawberry,
honeysuckle, rice flower, spring rain
Review:
In the bottle: Sweet, honeyed strawberry, with a floral touch underneath.
Wet: So far, the strawberry and florals mix well. The rice flower and spring rain are very subtle, of course, but I did not expect anything else.
Dry: Well, I have to admit this is lovely. It’s sweet, but not too sweet. Because it’s fruity, it might work fine on a young girl.
Verdict: If it was only the strawberry, this perfume would be way too sweet, but the flowers offer just the right balance between serious and playful. It’s a youthful, yummy scent, but it won’t turn you diabetic.
Mond-O-Rama
Category: Starlite Oasis
Quantity: sample
Description:
MOND-O-RAMA
It’s the most…to say the least! The very end! So hot, it’s radioactive! So cool, it’s solid, baby! Citrus fruits, floral blooms, warm resins, bright herbs, and cool spices
Review:
In the bottle: It smells bright and lemony, yet floral, and cool... It may seem confusing, but it fits the description perfectly.
Wet: It’s funny, it reminds me of a perfume spray I had when I was a kid. It’s soft, sweet, floral, and delicate, with a background note of spices. Nothing is strong enough to make the blend fall into a specific category.
Dry: ...And this is when it turns from a child’s perfume to an old lady’s generic floral perfume. Honestly, I don’t know which is worse.
Verdict: Either too young, or too old, or both! I really don’t think this blend is for me.
Mephitic Vapors
Category: Curio Shop
Quantity: sample
Description:
MEPHITIC VAPORS
Careful with that! The contents can be quite dangerous. That bottle has been passed around for generations and nobody is quite sure of how much is left inside. You see, it looks empty. That’s the danger. Bottled hundreds of years ago by an infamous resurrectionist, one whiff of the Mephitic Vapors captured in that bottle would surely bring instant death. You’ll want to make sure you purchase the Good Judy souvenir version. The real one can’t be opened anyway. The lid’s glued on. Accidents do happen though. Authentic Mephitic Vapors: A miasma of graveyard putrescence. Not for sale! Souvenir Version: Black oak, peat moss, graveyard loam, headstones, and damp air. Plenty for everyone!
Review:
In the bottle: It’s very masculine... I do smell the oak and moss very well.
Wet: Yeah, that’s the old-fashioned graveyard caretaker’s favourite cologne. It’s a bit strong, and just so strange on me.
Dry: Ok, I had to wash it off. It was just so absurd on me, even the dog started crying after she smelled me. Enough said.
Verdict: I guess I’ll have to give this one... I don’t doubt this would smell good on a man, and preferably someone fairly older than me, because there really is something old-fashioned about it. It has also a dark/gothic feeling, like taking a walk in a graveyard in late fall, with a coroner passionately telling you all about his most fascinating cases... Well, you get the picture.
Lullaby
Category: In The Mood
Quantity: sample
Description:
LULLABY
Sleep judy. A quiet and relaxing blend to ease your tension and calm your thoughts. Peaceful sleep nourishes the spirit and soothes the soul. Lullaby does just that, without having to sing a single note. Lavender, chamomile, mandarin, jasmine, ylang ylang, rose.
Review:
In the bottle: Hmm… Chamomile, mandarin, lavender, and some other flowers float toward my nose. There’s something comforting and soothing about it right away, that I can not explain to myself, but it seems to work.
Wet: As soon as I put it on, a bitter smell came out of it, so I was quite worried; but, fortunately, it didn’t last long. It then turned into a soothing blend of flowers. The lavender is soft, which is a good thing because I usually don’t like it much, and the mandarin adds a warm touch to it.
Dry: After drydown, I smell the rose and the jasmine a little bit better. The floral scent is stronger, but the drop of mandarine is still there to complement it.
Verdict: At least this one keeps its promises, it’s very calm and peaceful. It could work, to a certain extent, as a neutral blend, even though the flowers make it a bit feminine. On a personal note, the first time I tried it, I was tired and overloaded with work, so it wasn’t a very good time to try it on, I didn’t work much that day (I guess I could have used a little bit of Jolt). But right now, I’m on vacation, and fully able to appreciate it. Would I wear that often? Probably not, but it was fun to try it and see what it does.
Love Potent
Category: In The Mood
Quantity: sample
Description:
LOVE POTENT
Ooh la la! Love is life! Good Judy’s Love Potent is a precursor to the ultimate experience in life. Love for life. Love for yourself. Love for another. Male, female, and everyone in between…however you love, whomever you love… let love shine from the deepest, darkest part of your soul to the infinite far-reaches of the universe. For without love, we have nothing. Rose, spiced musk, bay, violet, gardenia, jasmine, ginger
Review:
In the bottle: Spicy rose and flowers.
Wet: At first, it’s a spicy mix of rose, violet, gardenia, jasmine. Then, I get a faint scent of musk and bay.
Dry: After a while, musk and ginger take over the flowers. I’m still getting a little bit of violet, and maybe another flower, but I don’t know which one.
Verdict: This is sexy, and maybe even empowering; but unfortunately, it doesn’t last very long. The two times I’ve worn this one so far, I kept adding some more on my skin, so the sample is already half-empty. Because of that, I hesitate to buy a bottle. Otherwise, it’s lovely.
Lava Rocket
Category: Starlite Oasis
Quantity: sample
Description:
LAVA ROCKET
Turn it on. Warm it up. Watch it erupt. Get ready for blast off baby! Cassia, clove, black pepper, molten musk, orange lava
Review:
In the bottle: I smell cassia, pepper, clove, and a little bit of musk. So far, it’s alright.
Wet: Hmm, spicy! I get clove and pepper first, then musk.
Dry: Now it’s just old musk...
Verdict: No, not my thing, it’s just too oldish, and maybe a little bit too masculine for me.
Key Lime Pie
Category: Mary Jo's Bakery
Quantity: sample
Description:
KEY LIME PIE
A southern Florida treat loved by all. Fresh, tart key limes blended with sugar, egg yolks and sweetened condensed milk, all poured into a lightly baked graham cracker crust. This one will make your teeth ache!
Review:
In the bottle: An intense smell of sugary graham crust.
Wet: Sugar, cream (or milk), egg, and graham. The lime is very subtle.
Dry: Overall, it doesn’t have much throw, and the lime note quickly fades away.
Verdict: It’s sweet and creamy, but not for me. Another one in the “future soap” box...
Jolt
Category: In The Mood
Quantity: sample
Description:
JOLT
Wake up! Get revved and ready to go go go! Cuban coffee, black tea, double shot of espresso, spices
Review:
In the bottle: It’s spicy; I identify clove and pepper.
Wet: More clove! There’s some dark, maybe even black, coffee behind it.
Dry: Finally, I get the black coffee and black tea, but it’s still very spicy.
Verdict: Overall, it’s masculine-neutral; interesting, but just not my thing.
Honey Patch
Category: Resinate
Quantity: sample
Description:
HONEY PATCH
In the wild, unadulterated lands of the free, grows the honey patchouli tree. Earthy, warm, and golden. Patchouli and two sweet golden honeys.
Review:
In the bottle: Honeyed, sweetened patchouli; yet, the patchouli is quite strong.
Wet: What a sweet honey! I can’t decide if it’s herbal or floral (maybe both?), but I can smell the honey very well, and I can almost imagine its texture. Yum.
Dry: The patchouli comes out as it dries, but it keeps a good balance with the honey.
Verdict: This perfume has a little bit of a borderline personality, always on the edge between honey and patchouli. Honestly, patchouli isn’t my thing, so my enthusiasm was limited from the start. However, I have to admit that this blend is interesting.
Hanami
Category: Limited Edition (Spring 2009)
Quantity: 5ml bottle
Description:
HANAMI
Hanami is the Japanese tradition of viewing the flowering trees. When the Sakura (cherry) and Ume (plum) Trees blossom, spectators arrive in throngs to view the ephemeral and beautiful flowers and picnic on foods and sake. The Hanami tradition is as anticipated and celebrated as Leaf Season in America.
Sakura blossom, ume blossom, sake
Review:
In the bottle: This smells like spring to me, and walking through the apple and cherry trees in bloom. Although, in this case, it’s cherry and plum…
Wet: The flowers are exploding under my nose. The plum came first, and then the cherry.
Dry: I’m still getting a lot of the flowers, but with a little bit of sake as well. It’s strange, but it smells a bit like spray net…
Verdict: Hanami has a serious, mature feeling. I don’t doubt this could be an elegant Japanese woman’s favourite perfume.
Gravy
Category: Signature Scents
Quantity: sample
Description:
GRAVY
Gravy is Good Judy's signature scent! This is some awesome sauce!
Two warm, buttery vanillas folded into creamy cocoa butter and poured over spicy warm resins. Soft and glowing. Warm and comforting. Nice and sweet, with something a little mysterious and dark underneath.
Review:
In the bottle: I smell a mix of spiced vanilla and cocoa butter. It’s very yummy, like warm cookies or cake.
Wet: A warm and very buttery vanilla, with a note of chocolate, and some resins underneath.
Dry: It still smells like warm cake, with a resin under-note. It seems worthy of Mary Jo’s bakery.
Verdict: Gravy is very decadent, and it opens my appetite. However, it’s not as decadent as Atomic Cheesecake, but it has an interesting (or even sexy) spicy aspect.
