greenranger

In the vial, it is rich and sweet. Very rich and sweet. On, there's a lot less sweetness and more...depth? Not a floral scent but there's something? Maybe it's the Oud and the oakmoss. On me as it warms up the vanilla comes forward more. It keeps getting less and less sweet. Very strange. I guess the dates aren't as strong on me as they are in the vial. On me, this is becoming an oakmoss and vanilla scent. There might be some ginger in there and the oud is being quiet too. The palm date has become a vague sweetness that might just be the sweetness of the vanilla. Oakmoss isn't what I would have thought to combine with vanilla, but, it certainly makes this an interesting addition to my selection of vanilla scents. BPAL's vanillas like me, and I like them back, mostly. Though sometimes the vanilla note takes over more than it probably should. I think this may grow on me, but, the vanilla may need to step back slightly to make this different enough.

Wet, I liked this far far more than I thought I would. It starts off with a coconut sweetness, but, that is pretty fleeting. It settles down to an almost floral...just enough to notice there are flowers involved. It does smell very white and very elegant. It smells a bit too white and elegant for me maybe, but, it's a bit like the silk dress you have nowhere to wear...but, you have trouble leaving it behind in the store.

I was looking forward to this, as I am a lavender fan and I also love bergamot. I do love the scent, and the heady rich lavender is great...except that the whole thing doesn't even last an hour on me. Drat! It starts of wonderful powerful lavender, and then fades to a lavender/bergamot scent that is a bit more aproachable...and then, on me, it fades completely.

I liked it at first. It seemed very well blended and a nice scent with enough complexity to keep me interested for a little while. However it started off faint and, well, a bit too well behaved. From there it began to vanish entirely. So I checked the notes again and yep, ambergris strikes again. Ah well.

I looked at the list of notes and salivated...it should be fantastic! Except, that on me, ambergris usually kidnaps the scent entirely and makes everything vanish. It starts off sweet, and sexay, and delicious...but I keep waiting for ambergris to swoop in and make off with it. *sniff* Y'know. I don't care. I'll lock this one up tight in a scent locket and ambergris won't be able to steal it!

Plum and wine, such wine! with a bit of wood in the far far background. Ok, I know the other notes well enough that I have finally have isolated what Champaca smells like. Also wow. Very strong scent so far. The Champaca is clearly the dominant note, now, ahead of even the wine that loves my skin. Sweet, tropical and heady.

Sweet, very sweet. The pear, lily ant the grape are probably the culprits for that sweet, candy-like scent it starts off with. The florals and vanilla begin to show up as it warms up on my skin. I suspect this may be a bit too floral for me till it settles down. IF the sandalwood and vanilla come forward in the drydown, then I may like it more.

I tried this and Khrysee today. Krysee was very simple. Melainis is very complex, moody, changeable, and likely to grow on people slowly as they get to know her, and as she matures. I thought the notes had a lot in common with Red Lantern...except that on my skin the two are absolutely NOTHING alike. The caramel and redcurrant never even bother to show up on me. I don't expect those two to last long on my skin anyhow, so maybe it is for the best. I almost bought a bottle of this unsniffed, because of the notes, and I might still eventually spring for a bottle, if I can find the cash. I like it now, but, I suspect I will like it even better once that patchouli calms down a little with age and lets a few other notes through. It smells like the same Patchouli that I smelled in Schwarzer Mond, but with a different slant to it due mostly to the anise, bitter clove, and possibly the teak.

This eventually dries down to just vanilla and amber. It's a simple but classy scent that really likes my skin. It's a floral I can wear, for as long as the orange blossom holds on(a few hours). The vanilla amber is still going strong and seems likely to last the night out at this rate. For me, with my skin chemistry, the closest GC scent would be Dragon's milk. They both are mostly a faintly floral vanilla on me, with the flowers being slightly different, and Khrysee having the amber mixed with the vanilla even in the long dry-down. I like it. I just don't know if I love it well enough to spring for a bottle. Although I do expect this to age very, very well.

A frimp from Lycanthrope with a decant circle purchase. This is my day for finding rose scents that work, I guess. First Red rose and White Rose end up working, and now this. It's lovely. On me it's mostly myrrh and wine, but, the rose and musk are still there. No amping, no over sweetening...it is working. I have a djinn character in an online game and this is actually just about the scent that I had described for her over three and a half years ago.

I was gifted with a partial bottle of this by a generous Lycanthrope. =) Scent-wise, it is bergamot and mint...and possibly lavender? I'm not certain. There's definitely some citrus in this. Workwise, when I sniffed the bottle I felt my brain waking up(and my sinuses clearing, too). This is a very awake and get moving type scent.

Red Rose on one hand, and White Rose on the other. White Rose by itself is a lovely sweet, creamy scent. The rose is behaving so far and not amping. There's a bit of similarity to Katrina from the 2008 Sleepy Hollow scents, but, with less rose. No amping rose at all. If rose is iffy for you, you might give these a try. I think I will be very happy that I gambled on these. When I put both hands together and sniff both? The combination is spicier and a bit more rosy....with still, no amping. I completely see that they are meant to be together. These are two halves of one lovely rose scent...that I can actually wear(There are a few. I am learning to not just reflexively avoid rose, now).

So, Red Rose on one hand, and White Rose on the other. Red Rose by itself is a lovely spicy scent. The rose is behaving so far and not amping. At. All. If you like clove and cinnamon, you might like this one. I think I may be very happy that I gambled on these. When I put both hands together and sniff both? Much sweeter, smoother, and a bit more rosy....with still, no amping. I completely see that they are meant to be together.

Weeeellll..... Lush stores always seem fairly heavy on the floral and fruity sweet top notes. There are other scents that people like to layer with scents like that to give them more base. I think I saw something just today. *goes hunting* Not finding it. Ah well. Anyhow, usually it is the darker scents that people are layering with the floral and fruit ones. Possibly something with Patchouli, woods or Vetiver...If your skin behaves well with those.

There's a recent Limited Edition that had Motor Oil in it... Toad, from the Wind in the Willows set. "Dapper cologne, scorched waistcoat, a bit of pipe tobacco, and motor oil. " It's still up, but, I am unsure as to whether an order for it would go through or if the Swap forum is your best bet. Reviews vary as to whether the cologne or the motor oil are more dominant. You might also look at: Smokestack, from the Phoenix Steamworks and Research section. "Creosote, coal, and industrial waste." Malediction, in Sin and Salvation, "red patchouli and vetivert." Dragon's hide, in Ars Draconis, "Dragon’s blood, leather and a hint of smoke." or possibly Devil's Claw, "A yellow-bright and smoky brown-black scent, horned, pronged and strange." Another Limited Edition to try if you can locate some might be Mechanical Phoenix...Not the Metal Phoenix that is currently up, but, the one from last year(2008) that is no longer available except through swaps. "Copper gears, brass cogs, fused wiring, scorched iron, and motor oil." What actually works may depend greatly upon skin chemistry. Vetiver is an amazing, dark scent, but, it doesn't work for everyone. Patchouli and dragon's blood also work on some, but, not on others.

On me, Crawdad is mostly blueberry, coriander, and vanilla. Unfortunately I don't think I know of anything that combines all those notes in one. You could try Tristran for the coriander and spice part(though it is a Stardust scent, and unimpable, at least it isn't LE) and layer that with something that has the berry and vanilla... Something like Eat me(which is pretty much vanilla cake and rasberry filling) layered with Tristran might possibly aproach the sweet spicy berry scent, even if it isn't exactly "it."

I don't know of one that has all the notes you are looking for. However, "Visiting the Temple of Auspicious Fortune Alone on the Winter Solstice" (Yule 2008, and available till Jan 15th, or in the swaps section after) is reasonably close to the smell of rain in Southern California. You could layer it with something that has the plant smells, perhaps?

You can do a search for the word "chypre" but, I suspect that will only pull up a very few candidates. I looked up the word on Wikipedia to find out more: ------------------ "Chypre is a name used to describe a family (or concept) of perfumes, usually with a top note of citrus and woody base notes derived from oak moss and ambergris... (snippity snip snip) ... Style Modern chypre perfumes have various citrus, herbaceous, floral and animalic notes, but all tend to have a "warm" and "woody" theme, which consists of a base accord of: Oak moss "Amber" (ambergris and related synthetics) Civet or another animalic note is usually added to this accord as a fixative and to give it fullness. The most common modifiers to this basic accord include patchouli, bergamot, rose and rock rose (Cistus ladaniferus).[3] Sub-families of chypre Floral chypre, such as Knowing by Estée Lauder Fruity chypre, such as Rochas Femme by Rochas, Mitsouko by Guerlain, Citrus Bigarrade by Creed, or Liberté by Cacharel Green chypre, such as Chanel No. 19 by Chanel or YSL Y by Yves Saint Laurent Aromatic chypre, such as Sous le Vent by Guerlain or Aromatics Elixir by Clinique Leathery chypre, such as Cuir de Russie by Chanel " From Wikipedia as the definition stands at this moment in time, and edited down somewhat. This might help a little in finding things that are chypres or chypre-like. ------------ Also, you might help a bit by defining what you mean by it as well. A woody scent with a topnote of citrus? That could be "Aelopile", in the Steamworks section. It might also mean something like "Our Winter of Discontent" which also has citrus and woods in it, but a completely and totally different feel. If, by chypre, you mean something with oakmoss, amber, and musk, then you get a different list. "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" comes close, as it is only missing the oakmoss, but, it's limited edition. " The Emathides" comes up, but, I have never tried it, and you'd have to swap for it as it is not a current limited edition. "Penumbra," "Sapphics"and "Lune Noir" come up as well, but, they have the same problem. =) "Faiza, the Black Mamba" also shows up on a search. It's in the Carnivale, so, unimpable, and you'd need to catch it before the carnivale leaves town. "Two Monsters" is a Salon scent. You might be able to find a decant of either of those on the swaps pages. Not very many general catalog scents are coming up with a bare search if I search for all three. If I narrow it down to two I'm sure I'd get more, but, I think a clarification about what "Chypre" is to you might result in more helpful suggestions than a bare list.

It's a little aquatic, but otherwise I thought Lyonesse (Golden vanilla and gilded musk, stargazer lily, white sandalwood, grey amber, elemi, orris root, ambergris and sea moss) had a similar feel to L'Estate (Nepalese amber, vanilla infused amber, golden musk, sandalwood, golden lily, sunflower, and honey myrtle). Lyonesse is one of the Wanderlust blends. You could also try Inez (Golden amber, vanilla musk, myrrh, cedar, carnation, and red sandalwood) -- that's a Carnaval Diabolique and thus will be going away at some point in the not-too-distant future, but at least you still have time to stock up on it if it works for you. L'Estate : Nepalese amber, vanilla infused amber, golden musk, sandalwood, golden lily, sunflower, and honey myrtle. Sunflower (from the Salon) : Sunflower bouquet, black amber, creeping black moss, wilted greenery, and scorched, dry stems. They aren't entirely the same, but, L'Estate was the scent that had me hunting for sunflower scents. You could layer Sunflower with something containing whatever it is missing from what L'Estate shows on your skin. Layering it with Lyonesse or Inez might be very very close, depending on skin chemistry.

I do love the beeswax. My list of beeswax scents include Hanerot Halalu, Ichabod Crane, Hand of Glory, and Luperci. Ah, Luperci.... If my husband wasn't so scent sensitive, I'd put some of that or Hanerot Halalu on now before I go back to bed. Ah well.

The patchouli really comes forward at first. My husband thinks patchouli smells "sharp" and this starts off sharp enough to cut yourself on. The other notes are coming out. This is a strong, no nonsense, shake you up scent at first. It might settle down later...heck it might age into a gorgeous smooth dark scent like Schwarzer Mond. In fact, if you go nuts over Schwarzer Mond, you should probably try this one if you can. Different notes, but, a similar feel, at least at first before the skin chemistry starts messing around with things. It is settling down, slightly. The strange thing? Usually tea hides from me in blends. It usually is only barely apparent to me in things that other people swear smell just like tea. This one? I am getting whiffs of the tea about 5 minutes in. The patchouli is still dominant, but there was a clear whiff of almost pure tea that went by. Pure, black, brewed till it's bitter tea, but, tea. I like this. I'll have to be careful who I wear it around because it is so assertive on me, but, I do like it.

I knew I wanted this. I adore spices, vanilla and wine both love me, and I have found a couple honey scents that made me want more. This made me think it might be like Athens, minus the myrrh, but adding spices. Wine, mulled with lots of honey, spices and citrus rind. It is much spicier than Athens, and without the myrrh it smells very different on my skin. The honey, the wine, and the spices are all apparent on my skin in about equal strength. I'll need to wear this when I can handle the sweetness of the honey, as for me this is sweet. If I were making mulled wine to drink it would have more wine than this, and less honey. As it dries, the wine is fading back and the honey is becoming even more dominant. This is becoming a spiced honey scent. Very tasty smelling, but, also very, very sweet. ~edit~ Compared to Delphi(the nearest GC equivalent, I think, despite the lack of red wine. Athens is only approximate as it lacks the spices and has myrrh and that changes it on me.), Gluhwein is much, much, more honey and less wine and leaves.

Rich, bitter, dark coffee, with whisky. This is so dark it is almost too dark, except for that little bit of sweetness that pulls it back from the edge. It has enough throw that the barista at the coffeehouse could smell it clearly enough across the counter to complement the scent. The very first unsolicited complement I have gotten, and it was a coffee scent in a coffeehouse? This really isn't a bit like Winter of Our Discontent in any note whatsoever, EXCEPT THAT it is the complex bitterness with just enough sweetness to be wearable that I really seem to love about both scents. This also lasts all day long. It doesn't change much over the course of the day, except to lose a bit of throw and maybe possibly get a bit less complex smelling. Maybe the whisky ran out, but, the coffee is still very much there. I have a friend that this would be perfect for. Unfortunately, I dont' think he's getting any of it.

I try about any incense scent I can get my hands on. THIS one is the one I have been looking for. This is The Incense Shop. No. that isn't quite it... This is shopping for incense and resins at an outdoor booth like at a Renn Faire or an SCA event. I can't really say any more. ~edit~ Or maybe I can say more. If I can find a perfume with the same notes of just frankincense, myrrh, styrax, oakmoss and clove, I am buying gallons of it. This is my favorite incense smell. It lingers, and does not change. It is lovely.

Sweet and rich and complex. This is how those bachelor apartments smell in Romance Novels...and definitely do not smell like in real life. Hee hee!