tinyvulture

this scent reminds me of my old job cataloging antique books. often they had been left in someone’s garage too long, and mildew formed on the pages. there’s also something vaguely hoppy (as in beer). so i guess this is the scent of sipping a brew while perusing old, badly-cared-for books . seriously, i can tell that there’s moss and vetiver in this, and some woodsy resins. i also think i smell cedar and licorice (anise?). it’s dry and dusty, yet dank and mossy. not an “everyday” scent for me, but i like how unique and evocative it is.

dry, dusty leather, with ferns and other plant life. my grandmother had ferns and this note is dead-on -- very distinctive. the combination of leather with crisp green notes is always a good thing on a man, i feel. still, it’s not overly masculine. i’d wear it too, although not all of the time. there’s something about it that wakes you up when you sniff it -- i suppose it's the herbal greenery. refreshing, yet sexy and rugged.

this reminds me so much of the GC scent Florence – it’s got that same combination of pine, sweet juicy berries, and powdery amber. Florence has always been a sentimental favorite of mine, so of course i like this as well. and it's not like they're identical. the honey and vanilla give The Illustrated Woman a different kind of sweetness, and the tobacco and resins add depth and complexity. it’s also very similar to Hexennacht ’08, except that the Hex doesn’t have berries. a word of caution for “powder” haters – the amber is QUITE powdery. at first it’s like…have you ever sniffed a Kleenex or a square of toilet tissue and it’s got that powdery, bathroom-y scent? it kind of smells like that. i know, weird association. but it fades, as the pine and berries come out in full force. after a few minutes it just smells like your typical, nice, warm amber. i’m glad i got a bottle. it's not an "everyday" scent for me but i can see myself being very much in the mood for it at certain times, especially when the weather turns cold. highly recommended for pine lovers.

from the reviews, i knew this scent would be perfect for me and really regretted not trying it when it first came out. i’m so glad it has returned two years later. after all this time, it definitely does disappoint! this is the ultimate head shop incense. it reminds me of hanging out with hippies in college . dark patchouli and sweet myrrh are the strongest notes. these are heavy, sticky resins with tons of throw. also, randomly, it smells a bit like coca-cola! now i’m seriously doubting this bottle will last me another two years!

A dark, truly forboding blend of powerful vetiver and head shop patchouli. I don’t smell the ylang ylang or orange. Strangely, I smell something minty and medicinal when first applied. It may just be a facet of the patchouli, which seems more sharp and bitter than usual. I love both of these notes so of course I’m a fan of this combination. Oh, and it reminds me of one of the Dark Candles scents, probably Crypt Moss or Graveyard, I can’t remember which. It’ll be perfect for Halloween.

this does indeed smell like dusty linens. not the #1 thing you want to smell like if your allergies are bothering you in the morning! but i do give points for originality and realism. others mentioned a damp, musty note, but on me it’s actually extremely dry, thanks to the dry woodsy spice of the sandalwood. feeling sneezy now – time to wash it off!

Mushroom gases, swamp mist, green mint, and bog violet. a light, fruity and citrusy scent that reminds me of childhood. i think that’s because it sorta smells like green kool-aid! (there really should've been a "swamp mist" kool-aid flavor, huh?) i don't smell anything like mushroom, mint, or violet. on me, this is juicy fruit -- mango, melon, grapefruit? -- with a splash of cool water and lots of lemon and lime. wet and summery.

I was on a search for the perfect chai tea perfume. Bengal comes close, but it's not strong enough. Clemence is strong. When I first apply Clemence, it's like I'm bathing in strong black tea, flavored with spicy cardamom and clove. And the patchouli and carnation are perfect accents. The patchouli seems "wetter" than usual, almost juicy. Not sure how to describe it. If you love tea scents, pick up Clemence, and be overwhelmed with indulgent tea goodness.

truly a dark, heavy scent as the description implies. nothing subtle about it. a must-have for vetiver fans. its earthiness blends well with the sweet, heady myrrh. i would’ve also guessed that there’s a touch of eucalyptus in this… i smell something minty and medicinal in the background. my husband and i both love vetiver so we’ll be sharing this imp until it's gone.

creamy caramel and fizzy, happy, citrusy orange blossom. i keep waiting for the carnation and iris to make their appearance, but zarita remains strictly a “foody” blend. although the scent description lists sweet cream, i’d recommend this for fans of burnt sugar and caramel as well.

at first this scent is very green and clean, but it dries down to a beautiful floral combination of soft rose and carnation, made springtime-fresh with the addition of ivy. i do love me some carnation, but this is a little too light and wispy for my taste.

i thought this would be quite fruity, but at first all i smell is strong, cinnamony cassia. the lemon peel and mango do appear after a minute, but they’re an odd fit with the cassia. the notes just don’t seem to combine very well. it surprises me that i don’t smell any red musk, which usually amps on my skin. just the cinnamon, lemon, and mango. off to swaps.

a commanding blend of leather and dry, spicy woods, softened only a little by faint florals. i don’t get the honey, amber or berries at all. the leather is so very strong. it’s nice, but not a standout for me among all of the lab’s wonderful leather scents.

i’ll try not to let the fact that my forum name is “tinyvulture” bias my review when i saw the description, i didn’t immediately think “bottle!” but now i’m glad i’ve gotten around to trying a decant before it goes away -- because i may need to stock up. my feelings about frankincense are usually middle-of-the-road, but i’m really loving it here! dry and spicy and resinous, it combines with the various soapy/herbal reeds and fronds to make a subtle yet lovely perfume. it’s very light, like curls of exotic incense smoke wafting through the air, but it leaves a lasting impression. a must-have for frankincense lovers.

this smells like a fruity, spicy potpourri, with a few flower petals thrown in for good measure. i mostly smell the plum and berries, with the lilac and gardenia in the background. i’m usually good at picking out rose or opium notes, but i don’t notice them here. my skin really amps the fruits, which just keep getting sweeter and sweeter. a pretty, home-y, comforting scent.

a soft, creamy coconut, backed with delicate florals and light, warm musk. i’ve never had an opinion about lilac one way or the other, but i have to say it’s really pretty here, in combination with the coconut. minutes later, i’m still not picking up the tea or tobacco. the scent seems to have become sweeter, thanks to the vanilla and tonka. this could become a favorite for when i’m feeling especially “girly”.

floral sprays aren’t usually my thing, but there’s something about this one… it’s a springtime bouquet of white flowers, refreshing and not heavy. the slight fruitiness of osmanthus is noticeable, and there’s a touch of something green and herbal – i’m guessing the ivy – which only adds to the clean freshness of this blend. light, delicate, fades away rather quickly.

when first applied, i smell the creamy caramel and fruity apple blossom. this isn’t an overly foody “caramel apple” scent, however. it’s more subtle and complex than that. the honey is noticeable, although faint. i can’t pick out the amber and skin musk specifically but i know they’re there, adding softness and warmth. i was expecting this to be heavy and sexy along the lines of O, but it’s light and cheery. apple blossom is just such an innocent, happy note, in my opinion, and it’s paired really nicely here with the sweet caramel.

the combination of leather and vetiver is sure to be an instant favorite for my husband. or at least, i hope so the vetiver is dark, earthy, and a little nutty -- very similar to Devil’s Claw which i’m a big fan of. the leather note is sharp and i would say almost astringent, if that’s possible for leather… i’m picturing slick, black leather rather than rugged cowboy leather. the black musk just adds another layer of warmth and sexiness. super hot.

sometimes jasmine works on me, and sometimes it doesn’t. here…not so much. this sort of smells like nail polish remover on me. i can smell a little bit of the rose and the exotic frangipani, but the jasmine is by far the strongest note and unfortunately it’s gone all sour and acidic. off to swaps so it can meet someone it gets along with better.

the ultimate hazelnut scent. i loooove hazelnut. here, it's perfectly enhanced by the sweetness of vanilla and honey. warm, nutty, incredible. the myrrh and sandalwood are noticeable as well. their lovely spicy resins develop more several minutes after application. but the hazelnut is still going strong at that point, too. i'd definitely classify this as a foody scent. must hunt down a bottle.

i’m instantly struck by this blend’s similarity to one of my favorite GC blends, Urd. to me, Dionysia is a more complex and sophisticated take on Urd’s winning combination of juicy purple fruits and patchouli. it will also please fans of Bordello -- BPAL’s plum note is always so lovely! the raspberry is mouthwatering as well. more raspberry scents, please! the benzoin and plum blossom add sweetness and a touch of floral. this is such a pretty, feminine scent. 10 minutes later, it’s mostly plum – yum!

caramel corn studded with peanuts. i think there are also hints of coffee and molasses. super sweet and foody, definitely a cousin of Gluttony and Cockaigne. i wish it was a little more buttery (it’s more like Cracker Jacks than Crunch n’ Munch), but it has great throw and stays true to its original scent without turning to plastic. so, as foody scents go, it’s a keeper.

at first this smells like a basic floral blend, maybe a little herbal, nothing really identifiable. but after a minute, the leather and amber come forward, followed by incense, and make it into something really interesting and sexy. i love the combination of strong masculine leather with the sweet powdery amber. i think i’ve found a floral my husband will actually wear. it’s better than any commercial cologne out there.

it took me a long time to get my hands on a decant and now, in the scorching august heat, i’m instantly nostalgic for a white christmas. that’s how lovely and evocative this scent is. first off, there’s no rose in this. i never heard of hellebore before, but i’d describe its scent as a cross between herbal and evergreen. there’s also a touch of chilly slush, and something floral and fruity (like juicy red berries). finally, there seems to be an intensely sweet and powdery note -- amber, maybe? – that amps up the sweetness of the other notes really beautifully. i don’t know how much justice my description does, but i adore this blend and hope it makes a return in ’08.