mgrazulis

My immediate impression is that of many high-end oriental blend perfumes. Very classic and well blended--so much so that the florals are indistiguishable in the late drydown. Very much a chypre feel, with a cool damp and deep night air of benzoin. When wet, the salty ambergris stands out with a hint of the orchid. As it begins to dry on the skin, the lily gives off an indolic aroma. Nice interplay of light and dark. Overall, it is much softer than I expected. A subtle mossy floral...I will enjoy the decant. Will likely save this one for special night out. It is somewhat generic, but beautiful, nonetheless.

Well drat! This is foody chestnut on me...I get an itsy bitsy bite of juniper berries, but no green or florals. An undertone of light musk there after a while.

Wet on the skin sweet heather, snapdragon, sage and anise. The floral and herbal aspect very much like The Host of The Air. I get a bit of a coconutty floral in there, maybe from the gorse flower. As it dries down the deep, rich green rowan and ivy settle over the florals and herbs. The oil itself is warm on the skin. I didn't slather it on...so it stayed close. I fully expected to like this one and I was not disappointed. If you love green herbally florals, this one will please you.

I'm just going to say this straight out--I hate that I didn't order a bottle unsniffed. This opens with the scent of leaves, not dried, but changing color, a bit of green just underneath them with the end of summer rose petals, mingling with a small bit of spice from the carnation. The blue and white musk impart a crystalline duskiness to the blend. In the later drydown the grey amber--which smells like ambergris--marries with the vanilla bean to give it depth, creaminess and a soft sweetness. I applied just a little. Apply too much, it might overwhelm your nose. Yes, it does have an expensive perfume feel. What a fabulous blend!

This was very strong when first wet and soapy. But it quickly mellowed into damp muget and plumeria blooms lightly seasoned with sparkly ginger. Very feminine, clean and beautiful tropical flowers, plumeria, hibiscus, pikake...much more gentle than I would have guessed from the early wet phase. I can see this worn by a young woman who loves sweet succulent tropicals. These are just a bit much for my nose. I will have not trouble finding a good home for Pele...

Finally! This is what I wanted Jack to smell like! Ambery spiced pumpkin without the pumpkin candle or buttery pumpkin food aroma...the Queen is powerful, fleshy pumpkin, exerting her power with a wave of zest and citrus, held in queue with spiced amber. A bit drier than Jack, the court jester...the Queen dries down to a muted pumpkin blend. She is rich, golden and a bit exotic.

Ahhh! Stargazer lily...and jasmine. This indoles in the jasmine are strong at first overshadowing the stargazer until the myrtle bends the whites toward the green side and becomes spiced by the clove. The final drydown takes a while but is well worth the wait. The blend is sugared with warm bourbon vanilla, musk and a soft sandalwood base. Quite the change from the wet, evolving into a beautiful warm floral.

When this hits the skin it is all sharp nightblooming jasmine tempered by moonflower. My nose doesn't detect the currant but there is a spiciness once the silky ylang ylang and lily join in. The overall depth of the dreamy white florals is very similar to Luna. Dries into beautifully blended florals mellowed out in a gentle layer of frankincense and sandalwood. Fabulously feminine...and exotic. Medium throw. Perfect for a summer evening out.

Not a fan of this on me...lavender and tonka together is quite lovely with the rosewood. It has the feel of Villain there. However the patchouli and amber on the drydown takes me to the land of powdery fail...

An interesting compilation of notes...melon, gin and a dash of chili pepper straight up, please. No ice with that, bar keep! And while you're at it, add a drizzle of some honey and a tobacco leaf garnish, but singe it first. Strangest drink on the menu...

Onset of herbs with an astringent lemony background. The lemon recedes into creamy shea with a light spruce undertone. Unusually soothing...with the warmth of softly spiced wood. A gentle scent...it won't get you noticed. Fabulously unisex!

Brooding, yet electric: the scent of buried secrets, roiling nightmares, the essence of the Crawling Chaos, the Father of Knives and Locusts, the Hunter in the Dark. This is the blackest of ritual incenses charged with flashes of ozone. This is not what I expected...a bit of lemony essence that dries quickly. A dry vetiver, very dusty and barely singed. Aside from the singed note, I don't get any indication of incense. Meh!

Reading the notes deterred me from trying this one...rightly so! Charred grassy roots...can't get it off fast enough! Reminds me of the leftover ashes from a house fire.

Mantis is so wearable...and amber is one of my notes-of-doom. The intial wet is neroli with herbs. Slightly masculine until the amber and musk sweeten it up in the drydown. A slight touch of powder but not nasal tingling at all. Very subtle...the patchouli is late in and just barely there for the grounding. Light tones of gold and green. I'm very sad this is not around anymore. Would be perfect for late spring and all summer long...

Wet soapy floral at first, then a bouquet of sweet violet, rose and a white musk. At times, a wisp of jasmine sambac, but all-in-all, not a big floral at all...a gentle fairy potion. Another winner from Rappaccini's Garden.