zankoku_zen

On me, this was a little soap. It was a strong rose soap, womanly, like stepping fresh out of the shower. Kinda dewy, it had a hint of dirt to it, but overall very fresh.

At the beginning, this was very green, like green shoots. I definitely got a mix of rose/blackberries with a lot of green sap on wet. But it's dried to a very bright woody berry. It's lighter than I would have expected when dried. Very intrigued.

I really get the champagne grapes in this one - this is a deep, sweet wine. Boozy and tasty. It dries into a powdery/honey sweet something. Nuts. I really liked it wet.

This made me think of cocunut sugar cookies. I think it might have been the vanilla. It's light and innocent and makes me think of a virgin before being debauched. I only used, maybe a teaspoon. The bath was light, moisturizing, and the smell was heavenly. My skin is lightly moisturized and I feel very pretty. Definitely a luxury item. I am quite enjoying it, and now I really want to try Gula!

This is the 2005 version. This is a haughty rose. I like this one because it's not overpowering, although it does end up in the rose soap land at the end. I agree with the comments that call this 'classic rose absolute' because that's all I get.

This to me, makes me think of almond cookies. Honey and almonds, and baked goods. Bastet is not a deity I feel any particular affinity to --- but the scent is golden, luxurious and glorious.

I didn't get any blackberry from this at all --- I got a light, delicate floral that I totally loved. Unfortunately the drydown turned into lavender baby powder. BAH.

Wow. The minute I uncorked the little imp, it smelled like the Lush store. It was a heady floral, with distinctive patchouli. It's strong, powerful and in your face. And yet, womanly. I wouldn't want to cross a woman that smelled like this. ADDED Dec. 30: Oh man, this was a dark floral that ended up in as a dirty hippie. Damn patchouli. GRR.

Yes, I do get the rummy/bay, with a slight herbal tinge, but mostly there is a woodiness to this blend. Very masculine. As it dries, it gets this slight dirtiness to it. I can very well see how this is a dock of a dirty city, full of adventure and sea. Me? I'm a landlubber.

I didn't expect to like this. The review that mentions 'jewish jelly donut' has it. It has this honeyed cinnamon/maple syrupy loveliness. Better than Lionesse. But it's got that heavy sort of sweetness to it. Tasty, tasty.

This is such a complex blend. At the beginning, I get a fruity almost peach note with an herbal/spicy base. As it dries, the fruity note sort of blends back into the background and remains this incensey/spicy blend with a hint of honey on it. All and all, this one was blended really well. And yes, it had a vague sense of foreboding. I had a hard time pining it down.

Oh, I can't tell you how much I've coveted this blend - both for the concept, the name and the notes. Guess what? It starts out as a bright happy lemon, shoots off into lemon pledge land and then sort of stays there, except the lemon takes on almost an astringent/dryer sheets quality. WAAAH!

This is a highly menthol/mint combination, very aggressive but it has an herbal/medicinal component to it. Pretty strong throw. I really love this scent and I can see it being very effective. I am going to have to find me some more!

Oh man, this is a dead sexy rose blend. It's a very non-aggressive rose, and the incensey/amber base is to die for. Unfortunately on me, after a while, the incense takes on an almost peppery blend. And there is a trace of something that doesn't seem to agree with me. I can definitely see why this blend is soooo coveted. I can almost wear this, but it's striking out mildly, but enough to make it noticeable. *sigh* I really do wish I could wear this one. I didn't expect to love this and want to make it work. On the right person, this is ultimate seduction.

This one is a sugary light citrus. It has a definite Asian vibe, in the same vein as Fire Pig. Whereas Fire Pig is this juicy gingery fruit love, HGM is more light, delicate and sugary. I didn't think I'd like this, but I do!

Given my previous experience with Smut, I was leary of EOM. EOM does not end up smelling like swarthy male on me though. Huzzah! Instead, it is an intense musky blend with a hint of powder (probably the amber). There's something almost peppery in the blend for me, but the first initial hit was something green (plant like). Pleased as I am with this monkey, it is still not a scent I'd wear. Ah well, monkey will find a new zoo.

Oh man, this would make one hell of a soap. Rose and ylang ylang? This is in your face, but it isn't overly aggressive, simply feminine and full. When I uncorked the imp, I was a little worried, since it smelled like nail polish when I opened it, but upon skin both the rose and ylang ylang bloomed. The rose appears to have more of a staying power than the ylang ylang. Definitely would make a great soap.

I do get the rain and ozone, and mossy and wet rock. It's kind of amazing like that. I think this is more of a masculine scent, but I don't think it's the kind the husband goes for. Anyway, an olfactory experience ALL the way. Wet rock? CHECK (eat your heart out CB). Moss? Check! Rain and ozone? Yes.

I get the comparisons to Shanghai, since that is the GC this reminds me the most of. I do get a crisp tea scent, but unlike Shanghai, this one has a delicate wisteria/cherry blossom overlay. This one is fresh, crisp and definitely Asian. Of all the Asian scents (aside from Fire Pig), this is one of my favorite. Love the cherry blossom in this one.

The SN is interesting. I've had hits and misses with blends containing this note. At the very beginning, it struck me how this was the 'base' note for Ebisu - it's the sweaty, almost dirty, base. The SN is herbal, something slightly damp and mossy. Earth and dirt. Interesting.

This soap was smooth and creamy. I didn't get as much of the fragrance in the shower as I did when I unwrapped it - which was just a smooth, milky coffee, with perhaps a slight woodiness. No dust. Yeah! I had to give up my Misk U oil because the delicious caramel coffee dried to bone-dust and pledge. Very unhappy about that. But I have to say the soap is pretty nice. I wish it had more coffee in it, but overall, it was just a general pleasant smell. Moisturizing. I like.

Unfortunately, I don't have naeelah's luck. I get big dollops of sandalwood and patchouli, with some enticing spikes of honeyed carnations. But overall, still a dirty hippie.

*sigh* I do get some of the rootbeer and cream. Now. At the beginning, it smelled like sweet galvanized rubber. And now it smells of rootbeer and vanilla with a plastic lining underneath. WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH. Where's the delicious creamy rootbeer of my dreams? Where?

I do get the dandelions from this - and something slightly sweet and hoppy. There must be dandelions in Szepasszony because it has that sharp, airy smell to it. Unfortunately, the dandelions dry down. And there's that overriding hoppy/barley kind of smell. *sigh*

Okay, for me I got this dark, and dirty, slightly chilly, mildly rose smell. Mainly it was this root-based, up-turned earth kind of smell that was going on. This, for me, is the smell of rich earth, you know the kind, deep dark brown, almost black, and you can just smell the water and moisture in it. Not a dirt girl, but this was like walking straight into a planting a garden experience.