zankoku_zen

Dark cocoa, plum, and hints of sage. It's very cocoa-plum to me.

What did you do with the doctor? she asked, and laughed. I thought the Doctor came in here ten minutes ago. Im sorry, I said. I was hungry. And we both laughed. Ill go find her for you, she said. I sat in the doctors office, picking my teeth. After a while the assistant came back. Im sorry, she said. The doctor must have stepped out for a while. Can I make an appointment for you for next week? I shook my head. Ill call, I said. But, for the first time that day, I was not telling the truth. An antiseptic white scent, splattered with blood. This isn't as unusual or out there as I was expecting it to be. It smells, for the most part, like yellowed, dry, dusty/powdery flowers. It distinctly smells yellowy to me. Like finding a trunk of old flowers, yellowed lace, and forgotten letters. The blood is like a hint of sour, fruity, red wine. Every once in a while, I think I smell a grungy metallic, like foil wrapping cigarettes. Mostly, though, this is a sweet, powdery, antique floral smell to me. The blood is like a fruity red wine, and there's bit of white florals, touch of lace and metal. It's like a sweet resin/wine. There's a dusty lace bit that comes out later. Medium throw and medium wear length.

I get a ton of cake and frosting from this. Vanilla frosting to be precise. Very foodie, very gourmand. Great throw, good wear length. For all of you lovers of Cake Smash, check this out.

Strawberry shampoo and a whiff of lavender. It's not very candy-like, but its a sweet blend. Medium throw and wear length.

I get mainly a sugared clove, patchouli, and roses. To me, this is Goth Queen's little sister. For all of those that missed out on Goth Queen, check Wednesday's Child. It's got a very similar base, but it's lighter, and slightly more feminine because of the roses and black cherry. Less stompy in your boots, and more deep eyeliner and mysterious smiles. Good throw and wear length. Vaguely considering a bottle of this.

Green grass (is that sunflowers), touch of poppy, bark, and something that smells almost musty-smoky. This is a very green, very outside blend. For those of you that are craving a woodland forest in the summer, I'd give this a whirl. Good throw and wear length.

Sugary pomegranate. I am so the wrong audience on this. Neither sugary nor pomegranate blends are a thing for me. But if either of those things are for you, I'd give this a whirl. Low throw and average wear length.

Rum, caramel, and vanilla ice cream. There's something that makes me think bananas flambe, but I think its the combination of the boozey caramel plus a touch of vanilla. Good throw and wear length.

Cedar wood and bbq sauce. There's just enough bbq sauce for me to think BBQ. And then the cedar and booze come along. So yeah, this smells like bbq sauce. And now I want bbq chicken.

Sweet Dorian, cool grass, and lavender. It reminds me to the Serpentine, with a fresh grass element to it. If you like either lavender or Dorian, you'll like this. Medium to low throw and good wear length.

Tons of brown leather and cinnamon oudh. This one smells like a Ren Faire. Leather, cinnamon, and just oudh. Very masculine. Great throw and wear length.

I got apricot candy and vanilla marshmallows. It's OK on my hair, but definitely residual oil on my skin turned the vanilla into plastic on my hands. Sweet, very sweet.

Sweet juicy red apple and spice cake. This is mainly a red apple blend with the cardamom spice cake in the background. Not quite foodie, but not entirely apple fruity either. Medium throw and wear length.

Fresh squashes, vines, squash blossom, cucumber, and a whiff beery water. It's fresh and green, and overall pleasant, but somehow not entirely to my liking. BOO HISS NOSE. Boo hiss.

Bright fruity apple/apricot with vanilla marshmallow and slight woodiness from the sugar cane. This is a fresh apple, but there's plenty of foodie elements: the fruits, the marshmallow, and the vanilla. Medium throw and wear length.

I mainly get a white floral oudh (hello apple blossom) layered over sandalwood. This one is a perfumey, Shunga-esque type of apple scent. Elegant, but out of the ordinary. Good throw and wear length.

Champagne with apple, and just a hint of ginger. This one is effervescent, delicious, and oh so cool to drink. (Not literally, but metaphorically speaking). Great throw and wear length.

This to me was a soft, honeyed coconut amber blend with tinges of leather and olive blossom. It was soft, cuddly, and yet strong. Medium throw and wear length.

I definitely got toasted marshmallows, chocolate and graham. This smells like smores. If you love smores, well, you'll love this hair gloss.

I mainly get a musky patchouli with opium and a whiff of lilies. This is a red musk/patchouli heavy blend. Snuggly, female, and very sophisticated. Medium throw and wear length.

No notes. This was available for purchase at NYCC 2017. The Devil starts off as sweet tobacco, brimstome and a touch of musk. As it develops, I swear there is some golden amber in there. It's a very seductive blend. I would not have pegged this as a winner, but like the Pope, this one is a surprise to me. It's smoky, tempting, and delicious.

Going in blind, with no notes. These were available for purchase at NYCC 2017. The Tower is a very smoky blend, definitely has vetiver as well as herbad edge, and I swear there is leather on the drydown. It dries down to a much calmer blend once the smoke dissipates and I think there's some myrrh in here. Good throw and wear length.

Red roses, darkened by black lily. This is a dark, satiny, red rose. Much more mature and sophisticated than what you'd expect. Very vintage style.

Pale green pulp, frankincense and myrrh. This is an odd resinous blend to me. It dries down to a myrrh/frankincense with a touch of amber. Low throw and good wear length.

Oh god, this smells like fresh strawberries, sugar and popcorn. This is definitely a foodie blend. I can't get over the popcorn note in this one. It's soft, but slightly buttery and salty. So this to me smells like strawberry kettle corn. Delicious. Good throw and wear length.