tinyvulture

So much jasmine! I like jasmine sometimes, but it’s too much for me in this blend. I really can’t smell too much else. A little bit of tart apple, and a touch of musk to soften and warm. But mostly, it’s jasmine. I can’t smell my beloved myrrh and sandalwood at all, so I’m going to sell this and let someone else give it some love.

The exotic tuberose and champaca (to me, smells like jasmine) are the stars here, but I think the davana is what gives it such a sweet, tropical, fruity note. The honey and vanilla add additional sweetness as well. The amber lays its soft veil over everything and the result is like a more floral, sexier version of Manila. This is for hot climates, for days spent lounging by the pool. Luxurious, yet playful.

in the bottle, the rosewood and sandalwood form a solid base, the violets are pretty, and the herbal chamomile is a nice touch. it smells like a real lady’s perfume, if that makes sense. like one you’d buy in an expensive retail store. bright, floral and womanly. however, my skin hates all citrus, bergamot definitely included. on me, it smells like the rosewood has polished with Lemon Pledge. off to swaps!

Bitter almonds – at first, that’s all I smell. Very similar to Port-Au-Prince minus the aquatic note. Don’t be scared -- the bitterness fades quickly! As it dries, the vanilla and heliotrope are noticeable and it morphs into a sweet, warm, foody scent. The frankincense adds complexity and the cinnamon is hardly there at all – very soft and powdery, not too spicy or overpowering on me. Over time it reminds me a lot of a stronger, longer-lasting Bengal. I might have to get a bottle!

This is truly a unique blend. The warm sweet myrrh forms a nice base. Because of the cypress/juniper combo, I thought it would be more woodsy/pine-y, but it's not. It's more "herbal" or "green." There’s a bitter note that I can’t put my finger on. After about 10 minutes, it reminds me of an Indian restaurant! Hey, that’s a good thing. But what is it? 20 minutes -- now it's very sweet. The myrrh has really come out. The bitterness has gone and it's more floral -- the violets have arrived. I liked it better before. But still, intriguing -- lots of layers.

on first sniff this is quite minty and cool – is there eucalyptus in it? as it mellows, I smell dark, dank wood and some gentle spices, maybe nutmeg? no flowers at all for the first five minutes, then all of a sudden they appear. they're pretty and light, a happy and feminine contrast to the more masculine (in my opinion) herbal/woodsy notes. but there’s no clashing – it all comes together nicely. maybe a little bit too “menthol” for frequent use, however.

This is so lovely (and I’m so glad it doesn’t contain dragon’s blood)! The sweet grains (like in Dana O’Shee) are noticeable, combined with a soft, powdery sort of cinnamon (not sharp or overly spicy at all) and warm, enveloping musk. After it dries, the sandalwood note makes itself felt, adding a further layer of comfort and relaxation. Gorgeous – wish I’d ordered a bottle!

Smells like fallen leaves with undertones of sweet berries, woodsy oak, and the gentlest aquatics. I don’t smell the lilies at all. This scent makes me nostalgic for autumn – there’s a nip in the air and a thunderstorm moving in, leaves to rake and jump in, and comforting potpourri simmering on the stove. A keeper.

At first this is citrusy and I think there's a hint of plum. I say that because it vaguely reminds me of Bordello, except it's sour instead of sweet. As it dries it really reminds me of Black Phoenix, only without the almond. There's a hint of cherries and soap and maybe a touch of rose? A very complex scent to be sure -- it's like applying a bunch of different BPAL scents at once! Pleasant enough, but too sour/citrusy for me to think of it as "sexy." OK, after about 20 minutes, the citrus goes away and it smells like soapy roses.

This is what I’ve come to recognize as the Lab’s aquatic/ozone note, plus the “dirt” scent of vetiver. It’s like smelling freshly upturned earth after a hard, cleansing rain. I like it better than all the other aquatic/ozone scents (except Lightning, my fave as a room scent), but I think it’s too masculine for me.

this reminds me of Geek with a stronger patchouli note. it’s quite mossy and earthy – the oakmoss and juniper notes are apparent -- and slightly sweet because of the honey. very masculine and i'd say it's a cold weather scent. comforting, spicy, warm and dark.

orchids with a touch of sweet currant and spice. i like it all right, but not enough for a bottle. the orchid is very light – like dried orchids rather than fresh blooms, maybe. when i want an orchid scent i’ll go for kitsune-tsuki or magdalene, where the orchid is more lush and powerful.

white roses with undertones of resinous frankincense. this may be my favorite rose scent so far. the rose note is very similar to the one in ouija – it’s clean and soapy, almost tart. i like it a lot, and the frankincense adds depth and makes it more interesting. a beautiful, calming scent.

Sweet raspberry, mostly, with green herbal undertones and just a touch of cedar. It's fresh and light, I can't believe it has vetiver in it. Fruity yet clean; I’d use a shampoo that smells like this. It will probably also make a nice room scent.

Really sweet, really heavy incense. I get a hint of maple syrup – it’s that sweet. I can’t pick out individual notes – myrrh, maybe? It’s long lasting, and I like how dark and mysterious it is in spite of its sweetness.

I smell patchouli mixed with licorice, cinnamon, and something sweet and powdery (the labdanum?). Can’t smell the mandarin or sandalwood, and the cardamom is barely noticeable. It kind of reminds me of licorice flavored Necco wafers. Nice.

to me, this smells exactly like red velvet cake! no cheesecake, no graham cracker -- just rich red cake, heavy on the vanilla. yummy.

i smell juicy pear and soft, sweet amber, with a touch of hyssop. i don’t notice the sage and coriander at all. the sweetness is sort of like juicy fruit gum, as other reviews have noted. it's a pleasant scent, though, not cloying. feminine, slightly exotic, great for summertime.

A sinful, licentious scent: self-indulgent and luxurious. Mingled heady civet and red Egyptian musk, thickened with opium. i can tolerate and even enjoy civet in small doses – such as in Black Annis – but here it’s just way too much for me. the exotic opium in the background is nice, so i'm making a mental note to try more opium scents. but the civet is making me feel slightly ill, so i’ve got to swap this one.

at first it smells like grape juice (the mullein, i’m guessing) mixed with leather. as it dries, it morphs into a sweaty (is there civet in it?), heavy, musky, dirty scent that i really can’t wear. it’s too strong and animalistic and earthy for my taste.

at first this smells very strongly of pine and juniper, reminding me of my beloved Black Forest. as it dries, it morphs into a gentler version of Tombstone. the vanilla and cedar-ish rosewood blend beautifully with the soft, powdery amber. so basically, it's like a blend of two of my favorite scents! i love it and want a big bottle for my husband and i to share.

soft, dry rose with a touch of sweet, tart pomegranate. i think the juicy tartness of the fruit is a great contrast to the prim and proper rose note, and the result is quite seductive and sexy.

minty and musky! wow, the black musk really dominates in this scent. the fir gives it a foresty vibe, and there’s just a hint of spicy clove. i'm not picking up any citrus or cumin. it’s such a jumble of different smells, but i like it, especially on a boy.

lotus always smells like kool-aid on me. in this blend, the jasmine and amber are able to tame the lotus slightly, but it’s still pretty strong. i can’t pick up the citrus, which is surprising since citrus notes are usually also quite strong on my skin. final verdict: jasmine and fruity lotus are not a good combination for me.

the green, herbal sage is the strongest note. i was expecting a bold, fruity blackberry scent, but instead i smell tart, unripened berries, at least at first. as it dries, it gets sweeter but remains quite understated. a sweet, innocent foresty scent.