zankoku_zen

Frimp from the lab. This is a spicy rose at the beginning, that makes me think... hmmm... yes, I can see this being in a Middle Eastern market. After about 45 minutes, the sandalwood jumps to the forefront and dominates, and it's almost all I can smell. Boo on you sandalwood. Boo on you.

Oh man, there is something that I really dig about this scent even though it's not something I typically enjoy. On wet, I get a mish-mash of spices (cinnamon, clove). Somewhere as the wet stage is burning off, I swear I smell something almost boozy about it (are they keeping the spices with the rum?!?) On dry, after about an hour, I get more of the pepper in it. Still cinnamon/clovey. What I like about this is that it's spicy without being too foody. It's also almost masculine about it, since there are no florals. Tobacco is usually a really bad note for me, but it hasn't really made an appearance. I doubt this will ever be made into a bottle, but I think I'm going to truly enjoy my imp! I'm also very curious to see how it plays with Villainess' Jai Mahal. OOOH! Excited about this! ETA: In some ways, Plunder smells like the base of Red Rose, minus the rose. Sometimes I feel like Plunder lacks an element that would make it slightly more feminine.

I get *NO* dirt from this one. At the beginning, it made me think of lilies (not as sharp) but definitely a paper white floral. As it has dried down, it has gotten a sort of lemony alcohol sheen on it. I think this mushroom and I have not worked out.

Buttered popcorn. How does Beth do it? On skin, again, with the buttered popcorn. And it stays close to the skin, which is good because every time I get a whiff, I get really hungry. This oil is amazing because it's a perfume that smells exactly like the description. It said popcorn and I got popcorn. I would never wear this personally because I don't like the rabid hunger pains it gives me. But man, it is TASTY!

This lavender isn't that sharp - but more herby? I swear I smelled some lime/lemon and perhaps chamomile? I only used it on a 2 hour flight and those aren't so bad. But I did want to try it out. It was pleasant and definitely more pleasant that anything else in that airport. In any case, will be dabbing it on the travel pillow for the long flight to Peru and back!

This is such an olfactory experience. At the beginning, and very strongly, I get a whiff of smoke. And then the smoke clears out a bit and I have a bit of sweet and herby earthiness and a light aquatic underneath. The earth and water don't combine really, they simply co-exist together. Same with the smoke - which just sort of floated on the top. I'm glad I got this as a frimp as this is not a scent I'm attracted to. And while I don't love it, I think it was definitely fun to try out for the sheer experience of it.

Oh man, this mix so does not work on me. It's dirty roses and ylang ylang. At the beginning, ylang ylang was pretty strong and sharp, and then it mellowed out. The musk in this is semi-sweet on me, which combined with the roses just makes this sweet rosey musk. Ah, if only I loved roses.

If you don't mind TALs and can get a decant before then, I suggest Charisma. If it's for your dream job, I would definitely use it. Just a little on your chakra points. It works fabulously.

I had an absolutely cracktastic moment thanks to this blend (and maybe I shouldn't be awake before 8 AM). Ego: I smell melon! Id: Melon! Melon! Watermelon? Coconut makes an appearance after five minutes Ego: Is this coconut I smell? Id: Coconut?!?! Evil doom! Get it off me! *runs around* GET IT OFF ME! I'm ALLERGIC! DEATH! AYIIIEEE! Superego: *non-plussed* You're not allergic, you just don't like it. Id: Get it off me! Superego snags Id, conks it out. Ego: Well, it smells like a tropical drink. Superego: *perks up* Pina Colada? Yeah, now I remember why I didn't go crazy and buy a bottle unsniffed. The coconut of doom came and smashed everything. Now it's back to smelling like melon. Still, this is not for me.

I am starting to suspect that me and honey don't get along - because this is a honey ambergris mess on me. The fumey male cologne stage on wet, seems to intensify on me on dry. I so wanted it to work out on us.

*sigh* Okay, at the beginning, this is very ozone and opalescent notes, which I was fond of. And then it dries to a soapy/powdery mix of roses and something honeyed. Yeah, the drydown kills me. *shakes fist at roses* Curse you! I have been foiled again!

At the beginning, this was very violet!driven. And then, on the drydown I got more of the juicy citrus of the mandarin and blood orange. And now it's heading straight into patchouliville! It's like someone took sweet juicy oranges and dropped them into mud. Bwaaah!

I do see a certain similarity with Silence - as if Silence were the base and then lilacs were throw in. On me, this is predominantly lilacs - but it's the smell of lilacs at night, when you step outside and see the big blue sky out there and just inhale lilacs.

Jungle time! Seriously, this smells like musky animals, warm and damp green foliage and exotic flowers. For me, what is missing is the smattering of dirt. Other than that, it's hot, musky with a huge floral overdrapping theme that isn't overwhelming. Too musky for me, but it was fun.

This has the young 'rose' scent - a rose that is still in bud, with a light touch of aquatic. Unfortunately, rose amps up on me and this particular blends smells like rose soap. Ah well...

Ah, this is a bright springtime bouquet. My in-laws have a farm sitting on 100+ acres, I think, and it's got woods and fields and fields that are in wildlife conservation now that they aren't being farmed. During the spring, I like to go up there and pick wildflowers. BAM! You're in a field full of flowers - daffodils, violets, tulips (admittedly these grow in my MIL's garden and I would never dare to pick them), irises and other flowers that are pretty but I can't recognize for the life of me. Unfortunately, I might be allergic to pollen in this blend! It's too strong. This is like picking a bouquet, finding a bee, and running for your dear life as the bee continues to follow you. AIIIEEE.

I am beginning to suspect that sweet pea and I just don't get along. There is something very sugary, very sweet, breezy --- almost headache inducing about this. It's got an aquatic floral vibe, but it smells almost soapy on me. Yup. Annabel and I didn't work out. I was hoping we'd be friends, but she seems very intent on making sure I'm so utterly turned off I will never speak to her again. She didn't have to be THAT mean. A polite "No Thank You" would have worked.

When I first uncapped my decant, this was a very strong amber/honey mix that made me think of O. Applied, it is less sexual than O by a bit, slightly softer. If O is the act, then Anactoria is the aftermath - lazy, hazy, content, replete. That being said, I think something in this blend doesn't agree with me because it's this amber + honey with a slight 'wool sweater' smell to me.

This is a nice, light Asian floral. For me, I can definitely smell the green tea, with swirls of sake and fruits. I think the fruits maybe more plum than red currant. This is slightly powdery on me, but it's a nice soft, very feminine scent. It's kinda flirty, and sexy, but more sex kitten than in your face. Coy. Mmmm. I do think I like this one.

This has to be the most un-pumpkin pumpkin scent that I've ever tried. At the beginning, the pumpkin is there but it lacks the strong buttery note I've come to associate with it. Instead, it smells like pumpkin and ivy and makes me think of old brick buildings covered in ivy. This scent puts me in mind of an autumn day, with crisp wind and dying leaves in the air, in an old ivy-leagueish college. The perfect kind of scent to accompany a pea coat and a multicolored knitted scarf. On the drydown, the pumpkin is barely present and it's a strongly ivy + other plant smell. I have to admit that this scent was an utter surprise. It's not the kind of pumpkin scent I'd be attracted to, but boy oh boy, was it fun! Definitely a fall scent. Definitely a scent for a fun walk on a not-too-windy day when you want to appreciate all the colors of autumn, and look forward to coming back to a warm cup of tea.

I can see why everyone loves this blend! TKO begins with a almost lemon overtone to a fairly strong lavender. After a few minutes however, I can detect an almost vanilla/amber warm base to it. The warm base with foody overtones makes me think a bit of the feeling I get from Fairy Market --- and it immediately made me think of dreams. This is what fairies would use to put humans to sleep. I went to bed at about 9:45 PM... and didn't wake up until 7 AM, even though the alarm was set for 6 AM. Out like a light. I don't know if it was TKO or that we're getting used to a new mattress, but I had a good night's sleep. And I'm snubbing Oneiroi from now on and getting myself some more TKO! ETA: Used it last night. The husband loved the smell of it and wanted some himself. TKO = made.of.win.

I do get the honey sweetbubblegum at the beginning - but it dries to a very mellow honey, and a small shrill top floral top note that makes me think of jasmine (but I'm beginning to think I don't get along with osmanthus!) Other than that, this is soft, subtle and very sexy.

This starts off smelling as a fruity floral (very promising in my book) and dries to a musky, slightly sweet, slightly sandalwoody scent. Pretty, soft, subtle, with a slight Asian vibe to it. Pretty, but unremarkable on me. I think I'll pass this on to someone who will love it more!

I tend to think of myself as a citrus lover. On wet, this is tangerine and tonka, and it dries to a tangerine flower. It's bright, cheery and citrusy. The jasmine has a sharp edge to it, but you have to really, really be sniffing to get at it. Guess what? I don't think I like tangerine that much! I mean, I love to eat it. I eat tangerines a deux because one is never enough. ... And it does make me sad because this is a very beautiful scent.

Ah, for me, alot of snowy scents will be measured against the Ice Queen standard. This one, shares a few commonalities with the IQ. It's got that 'snowy' smell without an aggressive pine, and it also has a softer floral going on. It's like the Darkling Thrush is IQ's little sister - softer, not as chilly, not as aggressive. I don't get a great throw out of it. Even the husband says it smells kinda similar. For me, it's missing the intensity. But other than that, my imp is a keeper. Esp, when I feel like IQ, but may be leary of cutting into my hoard.