This is one of my most favorite houseplants. It's probably the easiest thing to take care of, and if you're nice to it, every once in a while it will do this:
it's known as a "carrion flower", the scientific name is Stapelia gigantea.
Description: Well known clustering succulent having deeply ribbed, fat stems 10-20 cm high, toothed along angles, silky olive green and velvety, with gigantic flowers to 20cm or more across, pale yellow with transverse crimson lines, varialbe in color, with forms more reddish, and covered with purplish or crimson hairs; exuding an offensive odor which attracts its chief pollinator - the fly.
i've never noticed a stench, though.
So the Entire Catalog circle is in action. I have about 20 or so imps that I'm donating to the cause. I'm going to use this blog to record my reviews on all of them, even if I've already done a review. I'm going to try to be anal about it.
Port-au-Prince
wet: almond
drydown: spiced almond, kind of like a bay rum... slightly clovey, still mostly almond. i'm not a huge fan of bay scents, so this one is not really up my alley.
Oberon
wet: detergenty
drydown: light florals, slightly sweet, fairly powdery. it reminds me of an avon soap from childhood. it's a nice, clean scent, it is pretty inoffensive.
Tzadikim Nistarim
wet: sweet, almost bubblegum... i think it's mostly the hyssop
drydown: smells sweet still—somewhere between candy and penicillin. i can't decide if i like it or not. the penicillin note is making me waffle. i wouldn't turn down a bottle of this, but i probably wouldn't seek it out, either.
Penny Dreadful
already reviewed
Urd
already reviewed
Skuld
already reviewed
Rakshasa
wet: rosey-sandalwood. very soft.
drydown: rosey without being overpowering, the sandalwood tempers it nicely. very soft & pretty.
Inferno
wet:cinnamony-almond. kind of like red hots candy.
drydown: the spiciness softens considerably and becomes a bit more floral, but with a cinnamon edge. why do i not own a bottle of this? i am perplexed.
Medea
wet: green floral. it's a bit sharp on the green note, but it's actually quite nice.
drydown: fades quite a bit, but it's a nice & sophisticated floraly perfumey green-ish scent.
Ogun
wet: sweet...and spicy. like melons & black pepper.
drydown: drier—almost like incense or smokey + spice mixed together. it's a bit too heavy on the black pepper for my taste, but it's overall an interesting & unique scent.
Odin
already reviewed
Sheol
wet: very faint. kind of an incense + light floral, but it's barely there
drydown: a bit perfumey... it reminds me ever so slightly of aquanet hair spray. i rather like this. it's kind of a nostalgic scent for me. =)
Les Infortunes de la Vertu
already reviewed
Bliss:
This is one of my staples. Goes on smelling like hot cocoa. Really rich & chocolatey. Makes me want to lick myself. It slowly dissipates, but I generally keep a spray of this in my purse for touchups to stay as chocolatey as possible.
Ravenous:
Wet: Oddly enough, this smelled like leather & bandaids with lemony-citrus notes when I put it on.
Drydown: As it dries, the actual patchouli note come through and it smells less like plastic. The red patchouli starts taking on a slighly herbal/slightly spicy tone to it, but it does have a bit of a musty odor to it. The orange blossom receeds quite a bit, adding a bit of a lightness to it, but it isn't sharp at all.
I'm not sure if it's something I'd ever need a full 5mL of, since I'm not totally sold on the red patchouli. It's an interesting blend, though, and not too far off of something I'd wear regularly.
Crossroads:
Wet: very perfumey-floral.
Dry: The floral is bright & sweet; it's almost citrus-like... I think this is magnolia maybe? There are some slightly earthy/mossy notes in the background.
After a bit, some of the incense notes come out. They're soft and powdery, quite like the incense notes of Sybaris. They obscure the moss notes, but not enough of the florals, which stay fairly bright.
An interesting blend, but a bit too floral for my tastes.
Salome:
Wet: sweet almonds & a bit of jasmine. i really like the wet stage.
Dry: The sweet almond fades quite a bit, and the jasmine becomes more prominent. Then it fades into a weak floral, but the sweetness and warmth of the musk & sandalwood remain.
I think I'd like this a lot more if it had better throw; this on me is a nose-to-wrist scent. I really really really like the musk, and wish it were stronger.
Overall, it's a nice, sweet, pretty blend. It reminds me a bit of Bastet, but a little softer and less "golden" smelling.
Nero:
Wet: very sharp & astringent; smells like eucalyptus
Dry: the eucaltypus-ish scent fades and becomes more herbal and also a bit medicinal. The bay is an interesting note, but not one i'd want to really smell like. Then it fades quickly into nothing. I am not a big fan of this blend.
Masquerade:
Wet: slightly perfumey, can detect orange blossom & patchouli right away.
Dry: the scent becomes a bit spicy, possibly from the carnation. the patchouli is warm and slightly woodsy. Sweet & spicy & earthy all at the same time. The spiciness fades a bit, then it is a warm scent with just a hint of the orange blossom fruitiness.
I really like this one... it might have to be an eventual 5mL.
Faustus:
Wet: soap & oil.
Dry: becomes more spicy as it dries; the cinnamon & frankincense start to appear. It still smells fairly soapy, which oddly enough, I think is due to the violets. I usually love violets in almost any blend, but here they are just not my cup of tea.
After a while, the sharp soap note fades a bit to a warm, spicy scent, but it's a little bit too astringent-smelling for me. It's a neat scent, just not one I think I'd really get much wear out of. This probably would smell amazing on a guy, FWIW.
Masabakes:
Wet: rich, heavy, but sweet. Currants + resins = yay
Dry: Smells a bit like a relative of Lurid. Sweet, but mysterious. The sweetness of the black currants is strong, but not overwhelming, and is balanced nicely by the myrrh. The other notes add almost a dusty, dry base to it. For some reason, I thought I didn't or wouldn't like this blend, but this is actually very much a scent I would wear a lot!
Omen:
Wet: Earthy, powdery patchouli. It almost smells like there is amber in it.
Drydown: Still earthy, but a slight resiny sweetness in the basenote. Nice slightly dirty, dark scent, with just a hint of a soft powdery edge to it.
I don't know why I thought I didn't like this. I've had an imp forever, and now that I've had it on for a while, I really like it. This is dark, deep, mysterious scent love. It reminds me a bit of Odin, FWIW.
Ultraviolet:
Wet: Candied eucalyptus. Medicinal in that "vicks vapo'rub" kind of way, but with a sweetness to it.
Drydown: Minty violets--the mint replaces the eucalyptus, and the violets come out more strongly. The neroli adds a weird quality to the scent, keeping it from being as sweet, but it doesn't very long. this smells a lot like C. Howards violet candies, with just a touch of mint.
This is really nice. I love sweet violet scents, and I think this will be awesome for summer.
Nocnitsa:
Wet: sappy, piney fir trees and sweet wood notes
Drydown: the pine notes remind me a lot of Skadi & Snow Bunny. As it dries, a really nice, sweet fragrance comes out, almost berry-like. A bit later, it smells almost like berry incense and sweet pine. Wow. I'm in love with this blend!
The Raven:
Wet: violets + perfumey iris notes
Drydown: The violets actually manage to stay stronger than the iris. I have avoided a lot of iris blends because it tends to amp up, become insanely perfumey, and drown out all other notes. After a bit, the musk kicks in and lends a fresh-skin note to the blend, which ends up smelling like I had a recent shower & used a violet shower gel. Very soft & pretty!
Pele:
Wet: tropical flowers + suntan lotion
Drydown: soft, exotic floral bouquet. Still reminds me of suntan lotion, but in my mind that's a good thing. This is so not really me, but I'm finding myself in love with the scent. It becomes a little less "coppertone" and more floral, but the flowers are just so wet and sweet and intoxicating, I can't stop sniffing my arm.
It's so pretty! I really want to go to a beach, slather myself with this, dig my toes into the sand, and watch the waves roll in.
Black Lotus:
wet: lotus (bubblegum!), very sweet!
drydown: The lotus picks up a spicy tang from the amber & sandalwood... an unusual scent. After a bit more time, this becomes predominately more wood/resin, but it retains some of the original sweetness from the lotus. It reminds me of a lighter version of Khajahuro (or however you spell that), without the champaca flowers.
I'm really surprised by this. Somehow I've never really tried any of the lotus scents, and I didn't know what to expect. I like the sweetness and the soft floral aspect, mixed with the beautiful resin notes that I often fall for.
Tushnamatay:
Wet: sweet, sandalwoody blend
Drydown: This smells a lot like blend of sweet, almost honeyed (Egyptian?) musk and sandalwood. Why have I gone this long without really trying this blend? Wow. It's a clean, light, fresh scent. The sandalwood is really light, and pretty, without the usual woodsy-spice note to it (which I do like), which just blends so wonderfully with the other mystery notes.
I can't really say anything more, other than to repeat "wow" about 76576 times. It's a bit lighter than scents I usually would wear, but it's just so beautiful!
Pride:
Wet: ROSE. something plasticky in the background
Drydown: The roses are pretty sharp, and the plastic note is still there, but I don't know if it's the narcissus or the roses. Usually BPAL rose blends work pretty well on me. After a bit, the plastic note dissipates, and this is a rose-rose-rose blend. It smells a lot like tea roses, and it stays a bit sharp.
I don't dislike it, but I think I like some of the more complex rose blends a bit better. It is pretty, and if you're a rose lover, you should check it out.
Forbidden Fruit:
Wet: Fruity... bandaids? No, wait, it's bubblegum + fruit.
Drydown: I'm trying to convince myself I don't like this, but every time I take a sniff, I can't be so sure. After a little while, some of the floral notes come out, which are soft & sweet, and there is just a tiny bit of a hint of a resin basenote, that warm, spicy nose-love. There's a wee sharp note of citrus, but it's fairly faint. It keeps getting better the longer it sits on my skin. It's mostly a sweet floral at this stage, and it's really growing on me (WHO AM I??).
Later still, the florals pick up a slightly artificial smell. I can't really explain what it is, or name a specific component that could be a culprit. It's an almost "green" note that is kind of throwing it off for me. However, it's mostly undetectable unless I stick my nose right up against my skin.
Still, it's not a bad scent. I don't know if I'll need a 5mL right this minute, but it's one to contemplate for later.
Antony
Wet: very light. slightly powdery & herbal
Drydown: Sweet & amazing, but not much throw at all. I think I'm mostly getting the basil note, which smells so good. It's sweet, lightly green, and slightly herbal. I'm only slightly picking up any of the resins, but there is a hint of something powdery in the background, but the notes match well with the basil.
I wish this was about 200% stronger; I'd bathe in it.
Thanatos
Wet: murky, herbal, dark (mmm)
Drydown: lightly spicy with a hint of softer ingredients. The rose note in this adds just the right amount of sweetness/lightness, without being super floral. The other notes maintain a deeper, almost woodsy-spiciness. I really like this a lot. It's really well balanced. It's soft without being very girly, and spicy without being uber heavy.
Hymn
Wet: plastic, artificial flowers/floral air freshner
Drydown: Painfully floral. The notes are fairly sharp, strong, and sweet. I generally like rose notes, but in this instance, it's just too much for me to handle. It's fairly cloying and overly flowery in this combination, in a way I can't stand. This is just not for me.
Greed
Wet: earthy, heavy on the patchouli
Drydown: smooth, silky earthiness. A powdery sweetness comes out--the copal, perhaps. This is so earthy and dirty, but sweet and awesome. The patchouli softens up quite a bit, and this rounds out to a nice, mellow fragrance. I think I need to find me a big ol' bottle of this.
Old Scratch (already reviewed)
This in the bottle and on the skin immediately reminded me Villian, another fougere. Except this isn't as citrusy. Instead, it starts out with a very gentle lavender. This settles a bit and becomes less prominent. The rosewood warms up after a while and becomes noticable. I unfortunately didn't get much of the other notes (perhaps another time).
While I did like this a lot, it didn't seem to last all day like a lot of other scents, and had weak-to-minimal throw. I loves me the throw.
It's a nice, subtle scent; this would be amazing on girls who like something light and different, or on boys who want to smell very, very good.
The Queen of Hearts
This is one I'm surprised I haven't tried yet. Then again, I rarely order imps, so I guess leaving it up to chance to smell a specific scent is taking a slim chance with fate.
Wet: floral-cherry. This is mostly floral, but not overwhelmingly so.
Drydown: Lily overload! The lilies smell a little like canned air freshner--that "floral garden escape" type of scent. I am just not a huge floral-scent lover. The cherry's appearance isn't very strong in this scent, which is unfortunate, because I love the note. After a bit of time, the flower notes become a little less cloying, but they are still a bit too sweet & soft & pretty for my tasts. This reminds me a bit of Titania, which I also found to be too light & floral. If you like flowers, this might be up your alley, though.
Death Cap
I'm so excited to try this. I'm a nerd, I know.
Wet: dirt, with almost a sweet chocolately-carob type of note to it.
Drydown: slightly earthy, but it's really mild. There is still an incredibly nice sweetness to it, almost like a light musk. This is so very lovely! I might need a 10mL of this to roll around in. This is a bit lighter than what I usually go for, and it doesn't seem to be very long-lasting, but the combination of the soil notes with the sweetness is just too nice to pass up.
Bow & Crown of Conquest
Already reviewed. This one is a really nice woodsy-vanilla-leather scent that I love and own a 5mL bottle of. <3!
Baneberry
Wet: ozone. slightly greenish, but mostly the ozone is the main note here.
Drydown: Wow, there's a change. Now it smells very sweet, berry like, and almost juicy like a pineapple. There's still a touch of the ozone note, but it's not as noticable anymore. After a bit longer, there's a sharper pine-like note that appears, but it is about equal in strength with the berry note, but doesn't stick around with as much intensity. This is an interesting and rather yummy blend!
Black Hellebore
Wet: really light, but a really nice fresh herbal scent. this scent reminds me of something, but I cannot place what. actually, I think it's a bottle of expensive hair shine mist that I have from England.
Drydown: This is like being hugged by a soft pink sweater. This is not something I'd typically pick out for myself, but the herbal + light notes are really pretty. This is a really nice, non-offensive, light blend. I think I might need some of this for those "I want to smell nice, but not really smell a lot" kind of days.
Opium Poppy
Wet: bandaids + sharp perfume smell
Drydown: I'm not a big fan of opium-type scents, and this one is pretty much straight opium. It's not my taste at all; it ends up smelling soapy, perfumey, and sharp. This reminds me a bit of Debauchery, without the civet.
After a little while, some of the sharpness fades, and it smells more like poppy flowers, but it's still not really my taste.
Melpomene
Wet: Neroli is most evident.
Drydown: Oddly floral, with another note that kind of disrupts it. After a bit it smells like a floral-scented olive oil soap. Not to say it smells bad, but it's just unusual and unexpected. After a while, it does become more of a sweet floral, but not really my type of blend.
Calliope
Wet: Lemon rinds. Something herbal lurking behind the bright citrus notes.
Drydown: more of an herbal lemon, like verbena rather than lemon rinds. After a bit more time, it develops a greener type of herbal scent, probably the thyme. There's a slight coolness to the scent, but it dries down to almost pure thyme. It's an unusual blend, but a bit too heavy on the dry-herbal notes for my taste.
Urania
Wet: sharp, bright floral note
Drydown: a touch of ozone and there is also a hint of cool flowers. I stayed away from this, because I thought with the flower combination + ozone, it would be too cloying and really not my style. But I'm learning that anytime the description says "crystalline" or "glittering" it is worth a shot; these almost always work. And this time, I'm really loving it. It is cool, soft & amazingly beautiful. I think this might be my favorite of all the muses.
Erato
Wet: soft, smooth roses & other flowers.
Drydown: The other floral notes fade slightly and one of the other notes comes into play. I'm not sure which specific ingredient is doing this, but it has almost a clay-like scent to it now, which later adds a dryness to the scent (it must be the orris). I really do like this type of rose used in here, but I think in conjunction with the other floral notes it vascilates between really pretty and a bit too cloying. However, the longer this stays on, the more it seems to be growing on me. It smells like dried flowers and fresh flowers all put together in one bouquet. An interesting blend; if you're a fan of rose scents, this one is really worth a try.
Terpsichore
Wet: Neroli, mostly.
Drydown: Wild. I can't nail down a specific scent, but a combination of sweet, floral, and fruity. I thought neroli & carnation were the two most obvious, but now it seems to be apple blossom and some of the sweeter florals. Sometimes I really like it, sometimes I am more ambivalent; it changes with each sniff. I really can't tell if I like this one. After a bit more time passes, a vanilla-iris scent comes out. It is creamy-sweet-floral now, and gets better the longer it sits. I think I could wear this, even though it confuses me.
Clio
Already own 5mL. Reviewed here. Gilded oranges & parchment blend.
Euterpe
Already reviewed. Pretty creamy-floral.
Chokmah
Wet: sweet and spicy, almost like patchouli + sassafras
Dry: Kind of a root beerish scent, with basenotes that smell a lot like Lust or Sin or Snake Oil. This smells a lot like my favorite scents—the ones towards which I gravitate most frequently. The warmer notes are nicely contrasted by the sweet sassafras and a small drop of warm, rich vanilla. LOVE. This one is destined for a bottle! I never really had any interest in the Sephiroth scents since I know nothing about them, but now that my nose has been introduced, I am one happy gal.
Geburah
Wet: leather; similar but slightly softer than DeSade
Dry: Still leather. I'm not getting much else out of this. I do enjoy leather scents, and this one is a nice, mild, warm note. I already own DeSade, so I don't know if I really need another similar scent, but it is one I will keep in mind when I need a bottle of something to fill out an order.
Hod
Wet: something sweet, and beer? Something is almost hop-like in wet stage.
Dry: This becomes a bit sharper, almost like a frankincense, but reading other reviews, I suppose it is carnation! There is a sweetness which smells a lot like almonds. The sharp note starts to become a warm spice after a bit, and it starts to remind me of a darker, heavier Dana O'Shee having an orgy with Alice and O. It still smells a bit beer-like to me under the sweet honeyed almonds & carnation. It's kind of kinky!
Binah
Wet: a dry spice note, almost like allspice or nutmeg; a resin kind of note too
Dry: There is a dry sweetness now, but it's punctuated by a sharp spice note. This is starting to smell like some of the various Voodoo oils; it has some slightly soapy floral notes and a resiny base, kind of myrrh-like. It reminds me a bit of Erato or Hymn now. A bit too cloying & floral for my tastes, but if you like the swoony florals, you might want to give this a shot.
Yesod
Wet: WHOA, JASMINE.
Dry: Jasmine. After a while, there's more of a green note, but if jasmine is the main component, I won't get much of any other notes. Meh.
Tiphareth
Wet: very light & sweet; the note is familiar but I can't put my finger on it.
Dry: This smells like a distant relative of some of the Yule blends, all thrown together. There's a sweetness that smells a lot like (I'm probably crazy for saying this) my beloved Snow White, under a light spicey-piney-resin type of thing happening. It is kind of soft on me, but that will change if I can get my hands on a bottle. Slatheration will commence!
Netzach
Wet: fainy, soapy, sort of reminds me of Faustus without the spice.
Dry: Waxy floral notes. There's a variety of rose in there for sure, and a few other things that smell a bit too cloying for me. This is a lot like Binah or Hymn; one of those super floral scents that smell more like a candle than something I'd want as a perfume. This is a definite no-go.
Malkuth
Wet: sweet cinnamon, like oatmeal cookies
Dry: still a sweet cinnamon, but sort of incensey now. It's drier in odor, and a bit less sweet. It reminds me of the scent of Samhain in the bottle, before all the woodsy-leafy-apple notes come out. It also reminds me of the herb & incense booth at the Maryland Renaissance Festival. It is really pretty! Another one for the bottle list!
Kether
Wet: smells almost leathery with a bit of resin & spice added
Dry: Powdery, but kind of spicy still. It's like men's cologne made into a dusting powder. A bit later it goes more powdery, and it has an odd sweetness to it that I'm somehow associating with Froot Loops. Yes, my wierd scent associations make this out to smell like fruity cereal & dusting powder. I think I will have to pass.
Chesed
Wet: sweet, but herbal
Dry: Peach pits, or possibly peaches and wood notes. Lovely! There aren't too many peach scents in the catalog, so this makes me very happy. This one smells just like the ripe fruit, skin on, standing in pretty pyramids at the grocery store, with just a hint of a warm red sandalwood as the basenote. Wowza. I am going to need a bottle of this!
TUM
Wet: Grape candy! There's a bit of a dry herbal note to it as well.
Drydown: the grape smells like bubblegum. The herbal note, whatever it could have been, has almost gone, but there's a tinge of it left that's keeping the grape note from being too overwhelming. It's almost got a wine-like quality to it at this point, but it's subdued.
This is an odd blend! It's not sweet, but it's not purely herbal either. I'm just confused. This is one I'd get if I were to use it with ritual connotations rather than to wear as perfume.
AGLAEA
Wet: Fruity fruit fruit. Very candy-like pear.
Drydown: This is still very sweet. The wine/pear & floral notes are almost penicillin-tangy on me, but not too tart and not too sickly, sticky sweet. As it dries, more of the floral notes come in and make it even more tolerable, which is odd since floral blends usually turn me off. It's just so cute! Not something I could see wearing, but totally something I'd pass off to my 15 year-old neice.
SLOTH
Wet: Super heavy, thick vetiver
Drydown: the myrrh appears, and brings with it a bit of a spicy punch. the myrrh is also intensely heavy, and adds a slightly bitter quality to the blend. This is heavy & dark, definitely embodies the qualities of sloth. It does soften quite a bit as it dries, and isn't as toxic smelling as you'd think (for those anti-vetiver people in the crowd). It's nice if you like darker, resin-based blends.
BLUEBEARD
Wet: Violet, just a hint of vetiver and a tiny wisp of lavender
Drydown: surprisingly, the vetiver has been overpowered by the violet! I love violet so much, but it tends to not stand out so much against heavier notes, so this is a nice surprise! It's much softer & prettier than I thought it would be. It is much sweeter than you'd expect for a scent named after a mean jerkyface.
If you like Ultraviolet or The Raven, you'll really love this one too.
GAUEKO
Wet: funky, damp lavender.
Drydown: whoa! the lavender is still there, but it's blended into a smokey, hazy aura of wonderful aroma that I just want to get lost in (sorry for ending a sentence with a preposition; Gaueko made me do it!). I guess it's the nag champa that's the main note that I'm picking out, and the lavender adds a curious sweetness to it, which I am in total love with. I think I may need a bottle of this!
HELLFIRE
Wet: Sweet, gooey pipe tobacco
Dry: The tobacco note becomes sweeter & nicer & a bit drier as it sits on the skin. There's also just a faint aroma of hot, sweet leather, which I totally love in almost every blend. It's a total guy smell, but I think that's part of the appeal. I just want to snuggle with it.
UTRENNYAYA
Wet: soft pretty floral mixed with mint
Drydown: the mint loses most of its power pretty quickly, but the floral notes are there to pick up the slack. there's just a touch of rose, which isn't overwhelming, and an overall soft, pretty, and cool & glittering. Very nice.
REGAN
Wet: soft, floral vanilla
Drydown: soft, rich, vanilla with just a bare hint of a floral note. It's not necessarily a foody vanilla, more of a true vanilla scent overlaid with a light, sweet floral.
already own 5mL
KYOTO
Wet: sweet, soft anise
Drydown: the cherry blossom is pretty faint, and is overall it's like a softer version of Kabuki, which is a blend I love to wear. The combination of the anise + cherry blossom produces a soft pink, but slightly metallic smelling combination. It's really pretty, but I prefer the heavier in-your-face cherry note in Kabuki.
BAYOU
Wet: wet, heavy, sweet floral notes... magnolia? a bit ozoney/aquatic
Drydown: the floral notes fade away, and this starts to smell more and more aquatic as it dries. Not a category I favor; it smells a little too artificially "fresh" to me, and a bit sharp. It's not bad if you like ozone-fresh-aquatic blends, but I typically can't wear them, and this is no exception.
Winners of this batch: Gaueko & Bluebeard!
TOMBSTONE
Wet: dry woods, leather(?), just a hint of sassafras
Drydown: sweet, dry woods. the sassafras isn't really detectable as a single note, but along with the vanilla (almost gooey-seedpod-like) adds a lift to the cedar note, which on its own is usually darker & drier. I really like this a lot. It also reminds me a bit of Chokmah.
BESS
already reviewed; have 5mL; grapey-lemon herbal concoction
LIGHTNING
wet: ozone aquatic, with a slight floral undertone
Dry: oddly enough, this is a bit better than I remember. It isn't quite as sharp, and there's a bit of a floral/clean aroma from it. A bit like hyper-clean laundry. I don't think this is something I'd wear on my skin, but I think it might make a nice room or linen spray!
EPHEMERA
wet: heavily sweet florals, slight fruit note?
Dry: the florals aren't as cloying as I thought they'd be. It's soft & light; quite pretty. Even as much as I love violet, they aren't detectable enough on their own for me. If you're into soft florals, you'd probably like this. As it stands, this is really not my style.
ROSE CROSS
wet: rose, obviously. there's a bit of a playdoh-ish note in the background
Drydown: I really wish I knew what specific type of rose this is, because I think this is a similar one that I've tried in a few other perfumes. I really don't like it. It's super cloying, waxy, sour, and plastic smelling, and I usually love roses. I think it reminds me of Netzach or Hymn, both of which really have started turning me off of floral blends. Not me in the least.
HAMADRYAD
already reviewed; minty floral; on wishlist
DOVE'S HEART
wet: odd florals, almost plastic smelling, possibly rose
dry: this is an odd blend; it smells almost like artificial rose potpourri room spray. Not something I'd personally ever wear as a perfume, though I may invest in some at some point for the magical purposes.
JACK
already reviewed; own 5mL; buttery pumpkin
The only one I liked but didn't already review or own was TOMBSTONE. the rest were kind of gross on me. Ew.
VORTEX
Wet: sharp citrus, very lemony
drydown: softer lemon, something bitter in the background. I'm not getting anything I can describe as creamy or vanilla, unfortunately. Smells mostly like a lemon-flavored lollipop.
MULADHARA (ROOT)
Wet: vetiver!
drydown: mostly vetiver with a bit of spice to it, possibly ginger or pepper. very earthy & grounding.
SWADHISTHANA (SACRAL)
wet: sweet--dragon's blood and something else, possibly a light floral?
dry: sweet florals, mostly. possibly jasmine. it's a bit too sweet for me, but if I were to get this, I'd probably not be really wearing it as perfume anyway.
MANIPURA (SOLAR PLEXUS)
wet: slightly earthy/spicy, i can't put my finger on what this note is. it's almost like vetiver + cinnamon.
drydown: must be ginger; it's gone all spicy-soap on me.
ANAHATA (HEART)
wet: soft, slightly herbal/floral. i can't pick out this note
dry: sweet, very light florals. i can barely smell it anymore, so it's especially hard to pick out anything specific from it at this point.
VISHUDDA (THROAT)
wet: sweet lemon candy
dry: almost disappears in the drydown; it's similar to the Vortex, but much softer. This also loses much of the pretty citrus note and becomes a bit more bitter. Not particularly long-lasting.
AJINA (THIRD EYE)
Wet: medicinal; eucalyptus plus something else herbal
Dry: The "something else" smells a lot like anise or licorice. Very yummy smelling.
SAHASRARA (CROWN)
Wet: oddly, this smells a lot like chicha morada - a sweet purple corn drink popular in south america. maybe it's lotus?
drydown: i can't even smell it anymore! i get a light, super faint woodsy smell, but i'm straining to find any scent on my arm.
A'ARAB ARAQ
wet: woodsy/patchouli, i think. there's a faint sweetness to it too.
dry: much the same as wet. It's a nice sweet & woodsy blend.
*GAMALIEL
wet: ooh. this one is juicy & sweet smelling. like citrus, berry & white musk. love it so far, and i just put it on!
dry: it's really nice. there is a refreshing, juicy quality to it, and a slight creamy backdrop. It's along the lines of Dorian or F5, but more fruity.
THAUMIEL
wet: ozoney, but also something a bit smokey in the background
dry: still very sharp ozone, but the "smokey" has gone and turned very plastic-smelling. I'm not a fan of ozones, so this one is not for me.
*GOLACHAB
wet: juniper berries? it's sweet, but not the typical sweetness encountered with most fruit blends, and there's a super faint evergreen note to it.
dry: still fruity, with a bit of greenery to it. there may even be a bit of spice to it as well. it reminds me a bit of a strawberry Malkuth. Huh.
GHA'AGSHEBLAH
wet: smells like my deodorant...no, seriously. It's kind of a "fresh/clean" scent.
dry: still very sharp floral. I think that some sort of lily may be the culprit. I love it in blends when it adds a cool, "crystaline" note, but here it's just sharp & cloying, which is just overwhelming my nose.
SATHARIEL
wet: florals... and something else. I am becoming more and more horrible at picking out notes.
dry: warm, slightly floral, and slightly resiny. i think it might be myrrh, which tends to go a bit bitter on me. it's not terribly strong, and I'm having a hard time describing it or picking out a note. It's pretty, but just not something that's calling to me.
NAHEMOTH
wet: patchouli, and a berry note? something sweet, at any rate.
dry: the berry note reminds me of red phoenix. it is a bit sour on me, and overwhelming any other notes that might be lurking. There might be a bit of a dry wood/incensey note behind it, but i'm too distracted by berry/plum/whatever fruit this might be.
SAMAEL
wet: uh. not liking this. it's like bad, sour floral notes and socks. that's one way to poison god, i guess.
dry: This is one of the rare oils that just goes totally wrong and awful on me. It's a really floral blend (of the sort that must be made entirely of flowers i dislike, like lilies & irises) backed by possibly honey? But it really smells like old, stale flowers, and dirty laundry. It is a testament to my love of bpal that i've had it on for over an hour to review it. Ugh. Total thumbs down on this one.
THAGIRION
wet: a hint of mint and a hint of citrus. fairly pleasant.
dry: it's still really nice. light, clean, fresh. the mint note isn't quite as strong (which wasn't all that strong to begin with), but it's just barely detectable. This would make an outstanding summer scent! It reminds me a bit of Usher.
GHAGIEL
wet: more floral notes. It smells vaguely familiar, yet I can't pick any note out.
dry: more vague notes! I have no idea what I'm smelling. It's very light with a hint of spice to it. the floral note i'm most able to detect is cool and light, maybe muget? everything else ould be a total guess, and most likely wrong.
Bat-Woman: out of the vial, it's a light, fresh, clean scent. slightly perfumey, but very pretty and soft. Reminds me of very expensive french-milled soap.
drydown: moonflower, soft floral. very pretty! not something i would typically wear, but i wouldn't turn my nose up at a bottle!
Isle of the Dead: sharp fir-tree notes, like a pile of stickey pine needles.
drydown: very faint pine notes, deep heartnote of something sticky and slightly bitter. interesting, but surprisingly soft. it's very classy... i wish it were a bit stronger, though.
Death of Sardanpal: spicy! cassia-type notes over something sweeter, almost like a faint citrusy note, probably the lemongrass.
drydown: vascilates between spicy & sweet (honey/wine), and slightly citrusy, almost like citronella. there's also a note in there that's a bit dry and sweet, like tobacco. it sounds odd, but it is very elegant and sophisticated.
And there was a great cry in Egypt: already reviewed.
Carceri D'Invenzione: a pretty sweetness that smells a lot like the honeysuckle bush that used to grow in the back yard of the house where i grew up. something a little more substantial, powdery, but sweet.
drydown: i want to bathe in this. it is so sweet and soft, slightly tropical. it reminds me a bit of the scent they pipe into the lobby of Treasure Island in las vegas. total winner.
trying to get back on track here...
Elegba
wet: sweet, milky caramel & coconut
dry: still sweet, reminds me a lot of spooky minus the mint.
for some reason i swapped away my bottle. i guess this goes back on the wishlist.
Cairo
wet: soft spices, a little sweet
dry: turned mostly floral with a touch of a resin. almost like a rose incense, but a little too heavy on the rose.
Arachne
this just got discontinued, and it's one that i've always wondered about...
wet: wet, dewy florals, a little ozoney
dry: dry woodsy notes, fresh airy notes. it's very lovely! too bad it's discontinued. it's one of the few vaguely-ozone scents that have ever appealed to me.
Death on a Pale Horse
wet: pale indeed. it's fairly faint, but there's a bit of a citrus note that i can detect, and just a hint of vetiver
dry: this is so incredibly amazing. it's clean, fresh, slightly manly. but absolutely no throw. I'd be all over a 5mL if I could smell it apart from when my nose is pressed up against it.
Desire
wet: powdery neroli
dry: dry, nondescript floral; slightly woodsy, a bit of musk. it's nice but a little too soft for my tastes.
Polyhymnia
wet: lemon candy
dry: the citrusy note is completely gone, but there's a herbal/woodsy note left behind. not too much punch, but pretty all the same.
High John the Conqueror
wet: oddly sweet. since this is presumably made with high john the conqueror root, it thought it would smell more herbal or earthy.
dry: still very sweet. it almost has a suntan lotion kind of aroma to it, oddly enough. i have a high john the conqueror root--it doesn't smell at all like this. it's not a bad scent, but this is one that would probably get relegated to perfume, and not be used for its magical qualities. it doesn't remind me enough of the real root for my brain to make the connection.
I am freaking out that I only have about a day left to order the Sephiroth & Tarots I still want/need.
I have 14 of the 26 tarot oils, but I don't know if it would be wise to order 12 bottles, especially since I'm trying to clear out all my debt right now. I've kind of narrowed it down to 6 bottles (Chariot, Hermit, Justice, Devil, Tower, Ace of Swords) but that's still a lot. Maybe I can get it down to about 3 and just get an imp pack so that I can at least have a wee bit of the missing ones.
As for the Sephiroth, there are about 3 I still want (Hod, Golachab, Gamaliel), and about 3 I could live without, but I'm eh about them (Geburah, A'Arab Zaraq, Nahemoth). I also want to get a backup Chokmah. Anything remotely Snake Oil-ish is something that I need in mass quantities.
eieieieeeee decisions.
