Ajila

In the bottle - Fresh, lush rose petals, with a hint of sugar. Wet on me - This is a slightly green, slightly spicy rose, made sickly by sugar. Dry on me - Ashes which is odd, because that's what happens to cream and butter notes on me. It does after several hours dry down to a lovely candied rose scent. Overall - I'm not really a rose lover, but after the glories of Faith I had high hopes for Hope. Sadly it was killed by my skin chemistry.

In the bottle - Parma violets, sweet and fruity. Wet on me - The violets become more vibrant, but they are still encrusted in sugar. Dry on me - Sweet and clean, like Antique Lace sprinkled with violets Overall - Absolutely gorgeous, I may attempt to eke this out with AL as it is a tad faint, but otherwise this is outstanding

In the bottle - Cinnamon and cardamon, with just a hint of citrus. Dry on me - There is an immediate puff of gingerbread and then it softens to a light slightly sherbety citrus and cherry blossom scent. Wet on me - Light, sweet, softly powdered cherry blossom. Overall - Nice, but I was hoping for more spice.

In the bottle - The tangerine stands out against a gingery backdrop. Wet on me - A hard smoky backbone fleshed out by the fruit. Dry on me - Sweet florals made faint by a heart of smoky musk. Overall - I liked the dry down, but the overall affect was very faint.

In the bottle - Hard earthy Juniper. Wet on me - A slightly sweeter version of the juniper in the bottle. Dry on me - Earthy, sweet, cleamy, sexy musk. Overall - This is why I should always try everything that passes through my finger tips. I would never have chosen this blend, but it's so sexy it's destracting, I keep sniffing myself

In the bottle - Fresh and grassy if a little bitter. Wet on me - Sharp and slightly sour. It's deeply evocative of it's description. Dry on me - Scorched barren earth. Overall - On me this was an odd unsettling blend like the aftermath of a plague of locusts.

In the bottle - Thick waxy furniture polish. Wet on me - I thought my nose had become suddenly blocked when I applied this, it's very faint. It still smells waxy, but now it's waxy washing powder. Dry on me - It does pick up a little leather and tobacco, but remains soft and predominantly floral. Overall - I had really high hopes for this blend, but I didn't get what I expected at all. The result is nice enough, but I don't see myself reaching for it very often.

In the bottle - Lily and paperwhite narcissus. Wet on me - The high floral scent of the lilac, which becomes slightly soapy. Dry on me - A light pretty floral. Overall - For a blend called Melancholia I thought that this was oddly chirp.

In the bottle - Lush dark blooms with just a hint of foliage. Wet on me - A burst of refreshing fruit, which is quickly smothered by 'so lush they're almost rotting' blooms. Dry on me - The florals run this one, but it disappears very quickly anyway. Overall - This was never likely to be my thing and reminded me to steer clear of night blooming florals.

In the bottle - Myrrh and lemon peel. Wet on me - Fizzy fruit, a touch of lemon peel and just a hint of geranium in the background. Dry on me - For a while it plays around with frothy citrus notes, before drying down to a soft, sensual, slightly spiced skin musk. Overall - A dramatic change in mood on my skin. I do enjoy the dry down, but I'm not convinced I will where this very often.

In the bottle - Lightly boozy leather. Wet on me - Leather, oakmoss and sugar. Dry on me - Clean, washed leather. Overall - This was surprisingly clean and light. Pleasant enough, but not at all what I was expecting.

In the bottle - Cherry blossom with a hint of mint. Wet on me - Something soft and green and slightly bitter that I can't quite identify, backed by the mint. Dry on me - For a while it smells of breath freshener, before smoothing out to a sweet soft honeyed sort of blend. Overall - The final dry down is nice, but very faint. I don't see me wearing this.

In the bottle - Cala lily on a backdrop of ginger. Wet on me - Green fresh smelling lilies. Dry on me - It fades quickly to leave a faint hint of sweetness. Overall - This was gone in a flash, my skin just ate it up.

In the bottle - Ginger, there is something citrusy in the background, but it's predominately ginger. Wet on me - Still ginger appears to be the dominant scent, but slightly soapy. Dry on me - Mostly lightly spiced lilies, before drying down to a barely there sweetness. Overall - I like the spicy start, but I don't really get on with lilies, so this is not for me.

In the bottle - The clean green scent of the osmanthus. Wet on me - Sweet green and powdery. Close to my skin it's all hibiscus, but the waft is fresh lemonade. Dry on me - Mostly a green floral that smells to me of air freshener, but it does finally dry down to a soft sweet pale musky sort of scent with a touch of honey. Overall - I wanted to love this scent, but it just didn't work out on me.

In the bottle - Coconut, I know it's not a listed note, but it's all I can smell. Wet on me - Digestive biscuits with a soft floral on top. Dry on me - Warm and spicy, but slightly sharp (not unlike fresh Snake Oil). Overall - I do like the dry down, but in general this blend doesn't wow me.

In the bottle - The first whiff is sweet and sugary, but then it's overpowered by the vertiver. This is so strong i'm dubious about putting it on at all. Wet on me - Vertiver slightly warmed by the patchouli. Dry on me - Pure vertiver after about 6 hours it does become slightly sweeter, but the vertiver is still dominant. Overall - I'm not that keen on vertiver so this blend isn't really for me.

In the bottle - Grass in the spring sunshine, with a touch of frost in the air. Wet on me - Perhaps unsurprisingly this smells like Beltane 06. It has that same fresh, bright greenness, but this has a little peppery kick in the background. Dry on me - Warm and dry, more spicy than floral, like sweetened incense. Overall - This blend was a real morpher on me and I like the dry down a lot. I think an imp is probably enough for me though.

In the bottle - The spice of frankincense and the cleanness of the chamomile. Wet on me - Soft florals warmed by the frankincense, a very clear scent. Dry on me - Powdery soft and smooth, dominated by the iris. Overall - This was a very pretty scent, but florals are not my style and this was very faint to boot.

In the bottle - Peaches, thick sweet honey and rich dates. Wet on me - Very sweet, almost burnt honey, with just a touch of thyme in the background. Dry on me - Soft rounded fruits all the while focused on the deep honey absolute pulsating at the centre. Overall - The honey makes this a very sensual blend, a sensation heightened by the fact that it's only detectable in very close proximity. If only i had more occasion to be sensual.

In the bottle - Peach and lavender followed by something green and bitter. Wet on me - Soft and powdery green. There is a roundness of the peach blossom, but that's all I can identify. Dry on me - Warm, waxy wood with a hint of spice. Overall - A very unusual scent, and one that I think will grow on me.

Bourbon vanilla, benzoin, caramel, Mysore sandalwood, aged black patchouli, carnation, and iris florentina. In the bottle - Caramel and digestive biscuits. Wet on me - A kind of smokey sweetness backed by pepper and something kind of wintery. Dry on me - Molten sugar very reminiscent of Sugar Skull 04, but with the wood in the background to temper the sweetness. Overall - I like this a lot and will almost certainly by a bottle as I diminish my supply of SS

In the bottle - Sandalwood Wet on me - Sandalwood Dry on me - Light airy florals with a hint of sage? (the soft grasses possibly) Overall - This this an intimate delicate scent, which I like, but don't see me wearing

In the bottle - Apples and wood Wet on me - Warmed cider, softly spiced Dry on me - Crisp autumn air filled with the smoke from a nearby bonfire and softened with the scent of apples and brightened by cranberries Overall - A contradiction, clean and crisp yet earth, spicy and warm yet light and bright. All topped off with a sprinkling of brown sugar

In the bottle - spices, primarily ginger with a hint of orange and buttery pumpkin Wet on me - mainly orange and ginger with a bit of biscuit from the pumpkin and something that smells like celery Dry on me - Creamy pumpkin, rich spices, cut through with fresh, almost astringent orange. There is a dust/ashes moment, but it's covered by the brightness of the orange Overall - This was a much brighter lighter blend than I expected and I liked it. I'm not certain hown much though