pensive

Imp: first impresion was butter cookies... second was butterscotch.. on me, wet: rapid butter turns to milky.. yes, its like dragons milk and a sweeter version of alice all in one go. On me, dry: Cream in a cup. Imp-pression: Lovely, simply lovely. Ivory, not white. Verdict: I wanna keep this and use it and love it while it lasts 'cause this imp is stuffed full.

From the imp: Lemony. On me, wet: Like a lemondrop. On me, drying down: A very happy lemon Impression: No gloom. Where's the gloom? If gloom smells like this, sign me up. Verdict: I know just who'd like this.

Behold, the graciousness of Nity and a swap gone terribly right. Bottle: Ohmyword that's aquatic. In every good way possible. On me, wet: Sharp and tangy. Drydown: Sharp and tangy rapidly mellows out. Not in a lazy way, but in a sneaky, wrap its fingers around you way and present itself in water and dark greens. It is everpresent. Not quite floral. Sort of reminds me of Undertow without the mint layer. And I really like Undertow... and I really do like the way this dries down. Lasting power: Medium. It might be the humidity rapidly sucking everything off my skin and pulling the residual moisture into the air today. (It's nasty, trust me.) Verdict: I don't know what's in it. I don't know if I want to know what's in it. Aquatic fans will probably like this one. This is clean and gorgeous. I could put this in a lotion easily or wear it solo. Pass the bottles this way, for those of you who risked to buy. It's high on my LE list and I do enjoy it. I really hope Kingsport is as lovely!

The first thing I smelled when I broke through the bubblewrap was Gingerbread Poppet. I'd worried that it broke, but no, it really just had to speak up and announce its foody goodness above every other imp in the package. In imp: liquid gingerbread. On me, wet: Spicy goodness. On me, drydown: gingerbread snap cookies Stick to power: Not so high. Verdict: I'd throw this in an oil burner and love it to death, because its foody and delicious and it just doesn't seem to glue itself to my skin. Alas!

I wanted to give this one a couple days before I figured out what I could say about it. pink.owl rocks as a swapper. In the imp: It's pretty and its lavender. Normally I wouldn't be groovy on this but it's so relaxing. Sleep factor: Knocks my tired little butt out Dream factor: I'm actually dreaming, so I know I've hit deep sleep. Night one was weird. Staying asleep: Not so great, currently. One, I'm a light sleeper. Two, I keep falling asleep on the couch. Restfulness factor: I do feel a bit better rested when I do wake up, meaning I'm getting more out of my limited sleep hours. That's a plus. Impression: Love the smell at bedtime. I love how it makes my pajamas smell. Cat: Cat is not overly offended and still sits on me while I'm wearing. Verdict: Will give another few nights test before deciding between 5 and 10ml. It's a keeper alright. Update: It's 10ml in my future. It's not that I'm sleeping through the night or anything. It is however the fact I like what sleep I do get is completely solid. It's not quantity, but it is quality, which I think counts more in my book than being able to claim I slept for eight hours straight. I fall asleep faster too. Anything that turns my busy brain down in a nice, safe, completely natural way ..

imp: sweetness - must be the honey on skin - more cloveish dry - lil more patchouli verdict - I don't mind this but I don't love, love, love it either.. Swappable.

Magnificent three-faced Goddess of Magic, the Dark Moon and the Crossroads. She is the Mother of Witches, and the midnight baying of hounds is her paean. Her compassion is evidenced in her role as Psychopomp for Persephone, and her wrath manifests as Medea's revenge. Deep, buttery almond layered over myrrh and dark musk. In the imp: Omfg. Spicy warm gorgeous. Almondy, though, thus I am concerned. What is it with almonds and me this week? Is it just some tmi-style 'shifting chemistry'? On me, wet: Toasted almond. Very smoky, hazy, sweet-spice. On me, drydown: Musky. Smoky. Tiny slivers of warm almond. Impression: It's like a warmer form of Bastet. Yes and no - not really a good way to describe it. It's like where Bastet is golden and brighter, sunnier, this is like the sunset. More like being out somewhere camping and sitting right by the hugest bonfire, late at night, looking at the stars, knowing you should go back to your tent and forgetting til about a half hour later. Verdict: Mmm. Gimme. This scent is gorgeous.

Named after the primordial ocean of milk where Lord Vishnu reclines upon the thousand-headed Naga. Sweet milk and warm, healing ginger with a touch of golden honey and our blend of Ambrosia. Same swap mix-up, drive by test. Imp: Oh yummy! Bring me some of that tea. On me wet: It's almost like sweet tea. I was hoping for something more chai. Drydown: Still strong tea, no milk, no honey. Verdict: definitely try again at some point, just not sure about this one..

Fantastic randomized gift imp! Thank you! Imp: Earthy and dark On me: Dark, spicy and heavy Drydown: Warm and spicy. Impressions: Root cellar or something. Brown color. Verdict: I really like it. Do I big bottle like it? Not sure yet. I do know someone who may like this a bunch. But if she doesn't I'm asking for it back

Glitter, you wicked little trickster. Yesterday I smelled the imp and got happy pear yummy goodness. Today I smell that awesome bubblegum... and no pear. On me, it goes straight up sweet gum. It also fades really fast. I like the smell, just not on me. I'd offer it out for swap but I want to pass it on to another foody lover who might dig it, but will get a kick out of it for the name. Alas, not my fruit scent I was hoping for.

Due to a swap mixup- I did a driveby on this one before pushing it back out the door, and I had to do it last night before ordering Alice. I do have an imp of this on order, I will be retesting! Sniffed imp: Almondy. On me, wet: Almondy. On me, drydown: Where's the oatmeal, milk, and honey? I was looking forward to some cereal goodness and all I've got is Almond Joy! Verdict: No ma'am, if anyone could knock Alice off of last night's order it would have been you (I had to flip a coin between Alice and Medea, it was that close). I'm going to have to give this one another shake when it comes in my first order, but for now, if I want a bit of almondy goodness, I'm staying with my beloved Bastet. Review, part II Well, whatever it was got corrected nicely with this imp from the lab. I get oatmeal, milk, and maybe some honey. Divine layerage with Villainess Killer Beez.

Surprise-me-imp! Because this came with Alice and they both share carnation, in my brain this will be associated as "Alice's older teenage sister". Imp: Spicy. Plummy. On the desk, cause the imp got a bit spilled: Musky. I have one sexy computer desk. On me: I soaked up that spill with WristSponge 2005 and smelled a bit like plum. Drydown: spicy, musky, like a little black dress without an occasion.. for the moment.. Impressions: Another purple. Silk, not velvet like Medea. Verdict: If this is considered a floral, you non-floral-spicy people may enjoy this. For me: A night time late fall/winter scent. Side note: Carnation appears to be an entirely neutral note on me- either I'm smelling it wrong, or it just vanishes so fast I can't pick it up. I may whiff carnations when I'm next at the grocery store just to be sure. All I know is it didn't pick up in Alice, and it doesn't seem to be predominant in Bathsheba.

Tragic, isn't it. My recommendations - Alice Imp Neo-Tokyo Lightning Snake Oil * O * * I haven't tried these. Just a warning.

Wet: Sweet, sweet sweet. Almost too sweet. My teeth might rot getting near my wrist. Drydown: Milk and honey. The florals did a drive by and waved. Less sweet, more calm. Cat's review: She attempted to lick my wrist while I was scritching her. She's tried to sniff my bottles, play with imps, swat at the imp altoid tin but the licking is way new. Now she's sitting on my lap happilly purring away. Impressions: Girly, innocent. Both of which I am neither. Its pinkish and light cotton dress. It's for those days when I'm tired of all the boy behavior at the office. Verdict: I am keeping this for multiple reasons. I will compare it to Dana and see which of these lovelies need to make residence in the 5ml box. It's sweet, it's happy. It's everything I haven't been lately. That's good enough incentive to remind me that those things are possible.

Fruity and floral - the essence of spring. Personally, there's so much stuff in this I can't pick out any one thing for long. I like the way it floats on me, however it does fade unless you get real close by mid-afternoon. Verdict: Best mixed with a shower oil or lotion for staying power. All things considering, one to put on the bottle list for next spring. I can't see myself reaching for it over the later half of the year, but come spring, I want to smell like this.

After Bastet and Imp I realized my skin loves Amber. Dragon's Blood and Dragon's Milk proved that any dragon blood scent is worth smelling and trying, at least once. It was no surprise: Blood Amber is perfect on me. On first whiff, I got a bit of ambery goodness. Once it hit the skin both notes played nice, stayed nice, and went straight to the lucious category.

All hurray Kimmer for her generous nature and imp of Tarot: The Star! Preconceptions: Like Spooky, like minty.. Imp sniff: Limey! (Blimey? No, just limey.) Wet: Coconutty! Drydown: If you like pina coladas... la la la.. I'm going to stick Spooky on the other hand and see. Impressions: Hm. Spooky's got mint cookie in it. The Star's got lime goodness. The Star smells bright, like summer. Drydown, still sniffing: I found the mint! Verdict: More of both, yes. I likey! All right, no more scents on the bod tonight, lest I end up smelling like a whorehouse.

A lovely half bottle due to some swapping. In the bottle: All cherry, all the time. Hello Dragon's Blood, I know your scent Wet: Cherry dipped in honey. Drying down: Vanillaish honey cherry thing. More drydown: I'm going to look kind of weird walking about with my nose on my wrist or affixed to the bottle. Honey and vanilla all right, with just an itty bitty cherry on top. Impressions: This is pretty yummy! Cat's impression: She's having a bad day. She's not sitting still for anyone. Verdict: Dragon's blood stuff by and large seems to like me, and vice versa.

I thought it was Mee-Go when I first looked at it. (I do Bee-pal too.)

In the imp: Crunchy fall leaf pile, spicy cooking something. Wet: Mm, yum. Spicy. Drying: Oh my. I smell like hot apple cider. (I apples) Impressions: It's fall in an imp. Verdict: The ultimate fall scent. I hope it comes around again.

Imp: Oh, is that what vetiver smells like? Well, I like dragon's blood, and cinnamon, so let's give it a try. Wet: Herby. Dry: Cinnamon - a dark cinnamon. More of a dry cinnamon. Impression: I think I like Wrath better, as far as cinnamon goes. Verdict: Since I already have a good cinnamonny scent, I can swap this away, grateful for the try.

sniff: Whoo. I cannot wear that to work today. I don't care how much it is raining. It smells like dirt - fresh dirt, soaked dirt. It smells like sadness, gloom, and death. Verdict: I'm not sure I'm up for this one in my present frame of mind. For the swap pile.

Preconceptions: Well I do like irises. imp sniff: Yup, iris. Wet: VERY floral. Dry: It certainly is neat, but I don't know. I'm not getting berries either. Doesn't seem very me. Impression: Floral, floral, floral. Verdict: Decided to give this the old scrubby and toss on the Raven for today (which gives me a nice velvety purple feel). Definitely try again before putting in the swap pile... berry, huh. I'd like to get berries out of this.

YES! That's what I'm smelling. I think oceanus is tangier, isn't it? Thank you tarantulove for the imp! Imp: I've smelled something like this before - but it was less pure, less sparkling, and definitely less white. Wet: Crisp, cool, immediately citrusy - then salty, then a bit citrusy again. I think the scents are having a showdown on my skin. Drydown: Still waiting to see what part of the wheel this scent wants to stop on. Impression: pale blue. Cat's verdict: Completely middle of the road. Verdict: Also completely middle of the road. Up for swaps.

In the bottle: Cherry Almond Preconceptions: This one I've had my eye on for a long while, and it is included in my first imp set. To say I have hopes for the scent is an understatement. Wet: Almondy Drydown: I found amber in that almond. And just of bit of cherry coming back, but not much. It's spicy and good. Impressions: lazy, regal cat.. golden Verdict: I am soooooo glad I got this. One for the big bottle list. Pass the incoming imp to someone dying to try it so the yumminess can be shared. I'm doing real good at picking winners lately!