galahad

In The Bottle Musk, ylang ylang On Application This has got the Arabian musk that I love so much. Dry Down The ylang ylang emerges early on sweetened by the honey and the musks give a nice roundness to this. I find ylang ylang difficult but so far so good. It started off so well but this is a miss for me. Rating (0-5) 1

In The Bottle Cocoa, birch, lavender with a touch of citrus. The lavender is quite strong. On Application Dry, rich, bitter cocoa! Nummy Dry Down The birch gives a mentholated bachground to this so it starts to smell like peppermint chocolate. The lavender becomes quite lively a few minutes in and continues to play off the cocoa, birch and vetiver for a while before the vanilla steps in to sweeten things up a tad. Acts IV and V of CD have been incredible and this is no exception. This will be a firm favourite. Rating (0-5) 5

In The Bottle Honey and lilies, alright On Application Strong lily. So far not going to air freshener Dry Down Waivers between air fresher lily to "real" lily. I'm hoping it reins back to the real kind. Really, really unsure about this one. Will pass on to a friend who really likes lily and see what the verdict is. Rating (0-5) 2

In The Bottle Very salty aquatic On Application Cold, salty, bitter Dry Down Kind of perfumey but still with the deep, cold brininess. Most of these aquatics I find to be sharp and difficult to wear. I will have to try this in the summer and see where it goes. Rating (0-5) 2

I have just tried Destroying Angel and it is the oddest thing. A "thin" soil scent. Initial sniff from the imp is definitely fungal. I like it but where would you wear it?

In The Bottle Tea (yay tea) and moss On Application Tea with quite strong ginger and some aromatic herbs. What I thought intially smelled like Shanghai has become more potent. Dry Down The grass and the mosses add an earthy "liveness" to this. The tea stays strong on the initial drydown. Not exactly fresh, more freshness with a deeper earthy undertone. I like very much, especially when it tones down. Rating (0-5) 4.5

In The Bottle Whoa, that's musky! This is the first scent with heliotrope where I can really smell it but it is fleeting. On Application Musk and anise!? Dry Down The peach peaks out about 5 minutes into the drydown to sweeten and soften the mix. What started of scarily strong musk for me softens down pleasantly. Still getting an anise vibe, which is fine for me. I think I like it but on the fence. Rating (0-5) 4

In The Bottle Aromatic herbs and slightly resinous On Application Pleasantly herbal and slightly sweet. Dry Down Much lighter and airier than I expected. Definitely a soft forest scent. Don't really know what to make of it. This one has me stumped so may have to revisit. Rating (0-5) 3

In The Bottle Slightly fruity and earthy On Application Very pepperminty on application and then the earthy vetiver kicks in adding some interest for me. Quite light though. Dry Down Still very, very soft and faint and minty. I am going to let this age a bit and try again. Rating (0-5) 2

In The Bottle Fresh coconut. Faint in the imp. On Application Faintly sweet and buttery with a faint coconut scent. Dry Down As above. Doesn't really do anything and is so faint I can barely smell it. Rating (0-5) 1

In The Bottle Really gentle rose. His might be a rose that works on me! On Application Dusty, candyish rose. Lovely! Dry Down The musk is beautiful and blends nicely with the rose and the spices, taking the edge off the floral note. This is definitely a masculine rose scent. I am totally in love with this one. Who would have thought that a rose scent would make it into my top 10? Rating (0-5) 5

In The Bottle Definitely not melon in the imp but I do get the chili and the juniper/gin On Application Juniper! Dry Down Holy cow. This gets hot and spicy a minute or two into the drydown. Almost a woody/cinnamon aspect to it. 5 minutes into the drydown the tobacco emerges, rounding out the scent. This is really unusual. Further testing is required bt so far, kind of like it. Rating (0-5) 4

In The Bottle Lemony cypress. Quite soft and crisp On Application A quick blast of cypress and then the flowers amp up. Dry Down Initially, the combination of cypress and the flowers is unsettling, but then the moss starts to tone everything down and ground the blend. 5 minutes or so into the drydown, this becomes a bit more aquatic in feel and the flowers become sharper and sweeter. This is going in my "not sure" pile for the moment and I will try again. Could benefit from aging. Rating (0-5) 2.5

In The Bottle Tangy citrus/grapefruity On Application Bitter citrus. Wonderful Dry Down I love grapefruit (along with black pepper, clary sage, yarrow and chamomile oils) but this is even better! The Yuzu is delicious. The tea is playing it's part by giving a depth to this blend. There is very little sweetness to this, which is quite refreshing. Mandarin (Mikan) tends to be sweet, very pale and ephemeral as an oil and it gets lost in this blend. This goes straight into my top 5! Rating (0-5) 5

In The Bottle Difficult to get much out of the imp. A soft green smell, slighly rank On Application Coniferous, probably cypress, as it is quite soft (unlike pine) Dry Down The florals emerge softly as the oil warms, but the flowers smell like they are past their prime, starting to fade, over-ripe and starting to decay. This really is very, very soft and faint - ghostly - but not cold. The overall feel is warm and comforting. I like this but it might be a bit soft for general wear. Rating (0-5) 3.5

In The Bottle Dry soil with something very acidic in the background On Application Very dry, powdery soil. Thin Dry Down Dry and thin, but with a sweetness and perfumey quality. Strange. Methylated spirits/weird acetone, kind of. And most strange of all, I actually like it. Rating (0-5) 3. 5 for the artfulness!

In The Bottle Predominantly ginger with a little pepper and honey On Application The tea really emerges on application as well as the clean linen Dry Down That pepper is lovely. It pokes it's head up every now and then to suprise. Absolutely incredible - constantly changing. One moment there is tea, then the ginger is forefront, then a kick of pepper, then milky ginger/honey/vanilla then tea again. Dizzying. However, underneath it all, always, is the linen. A masterpiece and a must have. Rating (0-5) 5

In The Bottle Sharp and fruity On Application I really get the tea on first application, which is great as I seem to be having difficulty getting ANY tea in the tea blends so far. Dry Down Sweetens as it warms. This is not too fruity with the fig and the patchouli keeping it grounded and slightly earthy - almost becomes a bit peppery towrds the end of the drydown. This is really unusual and absolutely wonderful. Love, love, love! Rating (0-5) 5

In The Bottle I don't get alot of anything in the imp, just a soft waft of vanilla On Application Wow. A nice melding of amber and sandalwood with the vanilla giving a smokey roundness. Dry Down This is my first experience with white sandalwood, I think, and it is DRY and really lovely. Such a shame I don't detect the sweet pea as I love how they smell. Started off as almost masculine and becomes sweet and girly. Still, I like very much and may consider a bottle. Rating (0-5) 4.5

In The Bottle A coolish scent from the imp - cypress, leather On Application The pimento and pepper at the forefront makes for a spicey scent which catches at the back of the throat. Nice! Dry Down A brief stage of leather and musk amping up and then this starts to smell like quite strong cinnamon. This gets really dry and almost woody-spicey as it dries down, smelling more like a wooden chest that has been storing spice then the spices themselves. Love it Rating (0-5) 4.5

In The Bottle Fresh, not quite ripe honeydew On Application Honeydew with something bitter behind it. Very refreshing Dry Down Sweetens and deepens with the bitter edge fading as it warms, almost as if the melon is ripening. Very nice. Rating (0-5) 4.5

In The Bottle Light cherry (thankfully) and vanilla with an undertone of amber. On Application Very different when first applied. Amber first then the cherry with less sweetness than I expected Dry Down Really quite surprisingly light. The cherry dies down after about 5 minutes, but it is still there, and the strawberry wafts up softly. 10 Minutes in and the cherry reappears a bit stronger. I am really liking this one considering the cherry/almond notes do horrible things on my skin. Rating (0-5) 4

In The Bottle Veeery herbal bay, rosemary and pine. On Application Deep and aromatically rich. Resinous Dry Down Sharp and austere. I like the herbalness and resinous quality of this - it smells wild - but not something I would wear. Rating (0-5) 2

Jazz Funeral. I am not a floral guy but this is still my stand out favourite and so unlike anything I have tried so far. Just stunning and seems to be doing some intersting things with aging. Namaste is kind of interesting as well for me. Starts off lemony incense and goes all lemon sherbert on me. I also agree with someones else's vote for Black Annis. Vicious, violet and fantastic.

Actually, I found Namaste went kind of lemon sherberty on me. Sort of incensey then lemony and then soft and creamy sweet lemon.