ladyver

in bottle: complex! wet on skin: kernel/almond, and green almost herbal note (huh?) - i decide the green/herbal note must be the flowers in this one. this then evolves into a pretty almond fragrance with sweet/warm tones from honey, myrrh, saffron etc.. which lasts for ages. it reminds me of serge lutens louve, but with an added warm honey note underneath.

this is one of my favourites so far, expect i'll be reaching for it often in the cooler months! in bottle: sweet, warm, definitely caramel in there! Wet on skin: same plus bit of spice with nose to skin, sweeter further away. Bit later, becomes more sophisticated with delphinium adding to the mix. then it is sweet, spicey, tobaccoy, opiumy, yummy and somehow sophisticated too - and is like that as long as it lasts. can still smell it with nose to wrist at the end of the day! for me it also evokes images of really cool alleys and night spots in big asian cities.

at first there was cocoa and then.. oh my goodness... as a number of others have said it really does smell just like velvet - not inspired by velvet - but actually like the fabric - that's amazing, i like it

bottle: the fruit is dominant, I spot the persimmon, maybe bamboo (not because i am really sure what bamboo smells like but because I spot similarity with a purfume I've tried before) wet on skin: quite complex blend of blossoms, fruit and plant notes which are all there with nothing particularly dominating. the things i can just pick out are wisteria, persimmon, pine, magnolia and bamboo. i was worried about the persimmon because i'm not so keen on eating them - but no problem at all!! dry: still a blend of everything later: still a blend of everything with the plum & cherry blossoms overtaking the wisteria as the most dominant flower This really captures spring in japan in a bottle. i like this!

have to first confess that i am a almond fan, so i bought a bottle without testing as there was pretty high chance i was going to like this one! bottle: yep, bitter almonds. wet on skin: almonds. drying: almonds, patchouli, spot of saffron, cinnamon & incense.. patchouli starting to dominate, but before i need to worry the other flowers and almond are definitely there. interestingly, while the patchouli dominates when my nose is on my wrist, the almond has throw and that's what i notice while doing household chores. almost 2 hours later is is beautiful almond scent back up gorgeous blend of all notes. it has more depth/darkness than my other almond purfumes so a great addition

in bottle: for some reason seems green. wet on skin: initially it is somehow dry and white (this bit is cool!), then i get musk, the myrrh is there too, then the patchouli peeks out. drying: heady patchouli (but only sticking nose up against wrist is it heady) and musk, but the orris root is managing to just balance it out nicely making it a bit wicked. bit later: the myrrh is dominant for a brief moment, mmm... that is a yummy myrrh. but after that it is just patchouli/musk for for almost two hours - what happened to my cool, wicked scent? finally the patchouli/musk mellow & it is nice, but not interesting - i really wanted to capture the first few moments when it was dry and white on my skin or when the orris root was peeking out above the other notes edit: this is doing my head in - a few hours later it is very very faint, but similar to the stage i liked 2nd most with the orris root peeking out - if only it was stronger - will have to test again

it smells just like cinnamon scrolls. warm and comforting, but light. good for falling asleep to (probably not what was intended )

wow - this one is really doing different things on different people! i found it to be a very pretty scent - which was a big surprise with the cyprus and evergreen notes. it either made me think summer dresses or walking through a glasshouse full of beautiful tropical plants and delicate, lightly scented flowers. in bottle: moss and evergreen more dominant wet on skin: very pretty light flowers grounded by water notes and subtle cyprus. as it dries: i spot the evergreen later: the moss appears at the very bottom definitely a keeper which i will try to save for spring/summer (going into winter here) or winter days when i want to be reminded of warmer weather

surprise love! i got this frimp in my last order. i would never have even considered trying this because because of the herb note. i thought this would be either an overpowering herb scent or boring. i was SO wrong!! in bottle: very herbaly!! wet on: herbs - but a nice blend, no one herb is dominant - phew! as it dries the other notes come out - and it develops a beautifully balanced scent - YAY! applied more!!! interestingly i found the herbs more dominant for longer on warm points. also, drying my hair activated a really warm/sweet note that was dominant for a short while this is so beautifully balanced - perfect for evening / night. i will definitely be using up this imp & will consider getting more!

bottle: everything - hard to distinguish. wet on skin: balsam and myrrh dominate, quickly followed by muguet. bit later: the muguet is definitely doiminant. but just as i start to worry it could turn into a powdery floral on me all the other notes come out with the moss and then finally the amber & tonka appearing last. (i wasn't expecting the dominant floral note because i forgot muguet was lily of the valley ) i like this later when the muguet dies down (but still lingers) and i can enjoy the full blend. much much later it is warm and mossy. overall nice. it would be perfect for someone who likes lily of the valley but doesn't like strong floral purfumes

in bottle: wine, sandlewood, teak wet on skin: ivy, the woods & something i can't pick (ozone maybe?), reminds me of polished wood - in a good sentimental way like an old piano or newly restored antique funiture bit later: leathery scent comes through, though the woods and ivy still dominate at least 2 hours later the burnt grass shows through with slightest hint of something sweet which might be the ambergris &/or wine to me this is a unisex, if not a masculine scent - but is very light and warm so i am going to keep this imp for myself

in bottle: lemongrass, sandlewood wet on skin: it is lemongrass, woods, patchouli & hint of rose - the lemongrass is very strong on me. it does smell exactly like fresh lemongrass which i love to cook with but am not sure about wearing bit later: the woods and patchouli are standing up to the lemongrass, but it is still very strong and like i am wearing 3 distinct notes an hour or so later: when the lemongrass finally dies down, what's left reminds me of old-fashioned floral scented soap, like these tiny rose soaps a great aunt would give me every christmas when i was very little - definitely not what i expected unfortunately this one is not for me to wear, though may try it in the oil burner after reading some of the reviews