melrose

Herbs and peppers - now waiting hopefully for the fruit, but it disappears into my skin before that can happen. Damn.

In imp and on, wet: Lovely lilacs and a hint of lemon. If only it would stay like this.

Drydown: All the other notes come out. All at once. There are so many of them that I get only a ''it's okay'' vibe. Pity.

So this is copal resin? I need much more of that note! This is so wonderful, a touch too manly on me, but I'll really enjoy the imp. I am now on the lookout for anything containing copal resin.

God-awful horrible on me, and I don't know why. I love all musks, love grapefruit, and can't imagine that strawberry leaf would be the reason for the super-sweet, nausea-inducing smell I'm experiencing.

I am so in love with Coyote. It's a soft, amber, musky, woodsy skin scent. The only thing keeping it from being perfect is that it is SUCH a skin scent that I have to slam my nose into my skin to get a whiff no matter how much I apply.

First on: strong coconut with a trace of spoiled milk.

Near drydown: completely morphs! Cool water with a touch of muguet de bois - love this.

Far drydown: have to put my nose against my arm to smell, but it's lovely, soft, sweet, and deep.

In imp, and on, wet: cedar and smoke (I agree with the previous poster who said it's the cedar wood, not the needles).

Near drydown: dead ringer for my Daddy's aftershave worn when he was young and healthy. I love this part.

Far drydown: very faint, fresh and slightly sweet if I bury my nose in my elbow; doesn't last.

First on, wet: such strong vetiver that I feel momentarily blinded and short of breath, thankfully reined in a bit by a strong, fresh pine, not the juniper kind that makes me nauseous - not washing off because of the pine.

Near drydown: still only the 2 notes, but the pine has more firmly clamped down on the vetiver. Now wanting to see what happens later.

Far drydown: Wow, what a change! The vetiver and pine are faintly in the background. There is a strong scent of smoke and cloves, with a touch of musk.

This is lovely after a few hours, but I probably don't want to revisit the first 2 stages.

I third or fourth Dee. I love Cathedral for its resins, also. My spreadsheet lists Cathedral as ''a less complex, less sweet Dee''.

First on: clove -even though it's not listed, that's the strongest of the many scents I am experiencing. Clove, grounded by something earthy, maybe the amber.

Drydown: a wamr, yummy skin scent. I love this, just with it didn't fade so quickly.

This is horrible with my skin chemistry - smells like some sort of decaying non-human something. I suspect my skin really dislikes melon.

Rancid corn chips - had to run to wash off - soap and water didn't do it, had to use alcohol.

Horrific.

In imp, and on, wet: beautiful sweet cherries.

Almost immediately thereafter: Hurt, burn, itch! Must wash off immediately! The thing is, almond doesn't always do this to me. I am very confused.

In the imp: Caramel corn.

First on, wet: Caramel corn next to a river.

Drydown: soft skin scent.

Nope, not for me.

Add me to the list of ''it's only rose - where's the leather'' complainers.

First on, wet: citrus household cleaner, but top-grade: fresh, cheerful.

Drydown: strong lemon and rose. I know these are not in the listed notes, but my skin chemistry is pretty dumb sometimes.

Far drydown: faint household cleaner.

Overall: not me at all.

I love me some masculine scents, but the Baron is a bit much, even for me. It stays the same from first on to far drydown - spices, carnations, pepper. This would probably be drool-worthy on a guy.

Incredible lasting power.

From first on, wet, all the way through far drydown: Someone poured motor oil onto a hay field. Then, cats walked into the motor oil, got irritated, and peed all over the place.

Were I Demeter, this would NOT bring me happiness nor laughter.

First on, wet: I was afraid this would be so heavy/fruity/sticky, but it's wonderful! It's like walking through a garden on a tropical island while sipping a drink with a little umbrella. The breeze is wafting in off the ocean, and it's heaven.

Drydown: What the heck? Cat urine - where did this come from? Civet isn't listed in the ingredients; besides, civet has always played nicely on me.

Far drydown: Very faint pineapple. What a letdown after a fantastic buildup.

First on, wet: I'm not crazy about this. The lilac rides high above everything else; there's a spicy sweetness that's the meat of the scent, and is interesting; there's a sharp, vegetal smell underneath. It smells fresh, but the scents aren't blending together.

Drydown: winey, spicy, sweet, lovely.

The drydown lasted about 15 minutes. There really is no far drydown, as it fades quickly.

On me, patchouli+apricot=yummy evilness. It also has great lasting power. A bottle may be in order.

I am in love!

I smell like a headshop - musk, spices, a bit of chocolate.

I smell like an old hippie, which is great, since I am an old hippie!

Really lasts. This is the second imp I've tried in a row that belongs in my top 10 category - umm, I think I now have about 50 scents in my top 10.

I figured I would wash this off immediately. I hate the smell of licorice/anise and vetiver tends to overwhelm everything else on me. I have little experience with civet.

My god, I love this! First on, it smells like aftershave my father wore. On drydown, there's no hint of licorice or vetiver. I also don't get anything that smells like lichen.This is incense, earth, and musk.

Dare I say Top 10? Color me gobsmacked.

First on, wet: Fantastic! Fruity, but completely natural, riding on a sea of fresh air, with nary an aquatic note to ruin it.

The drydown was less fruity - very subtle, but lovely.

Unfortunately, it faded away in less than an hour.

First on: blackberry, plastic, and metal, which is surprisingly yummy.

Drydown: fizzy blackberry.

Far drydown: blackberry and, to my nose, red musk. Pretty nice.

I love the smell of booze, but got none from this blend.