Ajila

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

In the bottle - Dirty, murky lavender with just a hint of orange blossom

Wet on me - Muddy herbals with the lavender sitting on them

Dry on me - Slightly sweet earthy blossoms

Overall - A pretty blend, but not something I would wear

Smells - Geraniums

Works - It's hard to say given how erratic my periods and related symptoms are at the best of times, but it's definitely soothing, without making you shut off completely so it's good for work.