Kikkervisje

Wet: I’ve had two experiences with this. First, I accidentally sloshed it on my thumb. (I’m clumsy.) The original scent was *cinnamon* to the point of being a bit… Christmas candle. Second, when I actually applied it on my wrists and collarbone, I started itching like mad and turned lobster red where I had applied the scent. Dry: The thumb application went to a delicious, somewhat foody cinnamon and cream. I was quite looking forward to actually wearing it in the typical places. But, it never got a chance to dry the second time, as I had to wash it off, because it was making me so physically uncomfortable. Wear Time: 4+ hours on my thumb… Fits Description?: The description is really only the ingredients, so I think it has to… Overall: …Yummy. Softer “feel” to it than expected. But, allergies are no good; so no can do on this one for me. Ouch.

My two allergy problems as of yet have been with Bordello and Chimera. Chimera turns my skin red, red, red; and I itch like nobody's business. Had to wash that one off as best I could. Assuming it's the cinnamon note, as that appears to be a pretty common response. Bordello gives me an intense headache. I really have no idea what note may cause that reaction.

Wet: My first thought is a glittering, brisk fruit scent with something deeper underneath: the musk or snakeskin. The lemon and herbs never really make their presence obvious on me. Dry: A nice... slightly dusty? musk. Wear Time: At least 12 hours. Fits Description?: Seems a very positive scent to me, but I suppose I could imagine a connection to avarice. Overall: Sharp, fruity, and very lively. A really great scent, I think; but not very "me." Recommended, though.

Wet: Originally, aquatic, yes, with something extremely dark, sharp, and rather… off. Dry: The off smell has leveled out to a sharp plant of some type. It no longer smells… dead. This is the first aquatic I’ve tried that actually does smell truly oceanic to me. Odd earthy tones with enough bite to make an oceanic setting believable. Ok, well, I thought it was done morphing. It wasn’t. Now, it’s a creamy… floral? Wear Time: At least 12 hours. Fits Description?: Yes, rather well. There’s just something… unsettling about this scent? And it’s definitely aquatic as noted before. At dry down, this isn’t the case; but as it morphs, I’m sticking with my guns. Overall: Intriguing. Goes from rather unpleasantly sharp to an interesting aquatic to a somewhat… edible floral. The middle phase is my favorite, although I don’t think this one’s likely to become a regular wear.

Wet: Herbal floral. Definitely getting the orange blossom, white rose, jonquil, and carrot seed. Dry: Less of the herbal scent, but otherwise largely unchanged. Wear Time: 5+ hours Fits Description?: Well, it doesn’t make me think of porn, but I can imagine reference to France. I also get the idea of pure feminine florals with an earthy tinge Overall: Well, this one was fine. A new combination for me: the herbals and florals. That said, it just didn’t feel terribly exciting to me. But then, I’m still not a great floral lover, so… that’s probably a decent part of it.

Wet: Smokey bubblegum? Strange. Dry: Smokey, heavy, sweet, soporific. Wear Time: 8+ hours Fits Description?: Doesn’t really make me think of a flower. Or blood. Or Egypt. Overall: This one was really bizarre for me. Just heavy and sleep-inducing. I actually think that it caused my day-long bout of dizziness, although I would need further proof of that. Nonetheless, the dizziness issue was so disturbing, I’m not really up to further testing.

Wet: Yum. Lemony tea with something ever-so-slightly peppery(?) behind it. The musk, I think. First time that a citrus seems to be staying with me, rather than being neutralized. Dry: I can *barely* smell anything. Wear Time: 2 hours maximum. Fits Description?: ...It doesn't make me think of death or embalming at all. Very spring and sunshine. Overall: Another really nice one. Who doesn't want to smell like green tea lemonade? Sadly, the scent lasts for all of 10 seconds.

Wet: Slightly sweet and herbal? Maybe the amber, mint, tea, and orchid? With a slight… sensation of grapefruit? Nothing overt, although I think the main notes I’m getting are probably orchid and leather. The leather seems a touch off on me, but it gives the otherwise fresh blend an animalic edge. Extremely light. I’m guessing wear time is going to be decidedly low. None of the strong citrus that others have reported, but that just lends strength to my theory that my body negates citrus notes. Hard to pick out distinctive notes on this one. Dry: My mind reads the combination as dry/herbal/grape. Wear Time: All day. Fits Description?: I would say initially it had a power and confidence, sort of… “See, I don’t even have to try and I’m better.” But that didn’t last. Overall: Subtle and complex. Something about it reminds me a bit of Bess, but I can’t put my finger on it. (Actually, very Bess-like at the end.) Doesn't do it for me.

Wet: Sparkling fruit and light musk (The fruit never results in smelling like a lollipop or otherwise fake.). I definitely get the white peach and red apple, as well as what I think must be the skin musk? Sort of a full-bodied, oddly sexy just out of the shower smell. The musk is strongest. Dry: Similar, but the fruit tones down. I get the honey and rose when I sniff for it as well. Wear Time: All day. Fits Description?: Sure? Overall: I never would have thought I would like this one, but I really enjoy it. Fruit without sickly sweetness, and enough oomph from the musk to keep it slightly earthy. Another potential favorite.

Wet: Spicy wood with a very pronounced cinnamon scent. No rum or prostitute. Dry: Subtle spice (clove?) and wood with maybe a touch of saltiness? Very warm. More a sensation than a scent. Prior to this stage the cinnamon scent kicked in even more strongly than its initial appearance where it was about even with the wood. Still no rum or prostitute. Wear Time: Barely there at 7.5 hours Fits Description?: It doesn’t necessarily seem as sinful as Port Royal might, but it does seem… adventurous? Overall: Nice, bold, spicy, woody. Nothing girly about this one. The cinnamon/wood combination seems unique to me. This one might grow on me and become a favorite. We shall see.

Wet: Lily. A bit spicy and very warm, though, which I think must be a combination of the rosewood and pale musk. Not getting the lemon peel at all, but I think my skin more or less negates citrus scents. Dry: A touch of sweetness and the incense/powder smell of sandalwood. But *not* the baby powder scent that most sandalwood seems to dry down to on me. Red Mysore sandalwood may prevent my giving up on sandalwood bases. Wear Time: 11+ hours on the collarbone Fits Description?: Hmm… Well, I wouldn’t describe this as pale, delicate, or angelic. If the lemon, jasmine, and pale musk had been the major players on me, I could imagine it might be, though. Overall: A warm, masculine floral. Quite liking this. Goes into my “short list.”

Wet: A toasted, dry coconut scent. *Very* sweet. I… smell like a donut shop. Am getting some of the rum, but I can’t pick out the tobacco (although others seem to). Dry: A pleasant smokiness with a bit of sugar. Wear Time: 5.5+ hours Fits Description?: I love donuts, but they don’t remind me of a divine messenger. Overall: Too foody for me. I actually don’t mind the sweetness so much in this, but I smell edible which is not so much my thing. I do really enjoy the dry down. If it smelled more like that start to finish, I’d be all for it.

Wet: Everything’s coming up roses. Actually, not quite. Rose is the most pronounced, but I am getting the lily and jasmine as well. As for the other notes, I’m not sure, as I doubt I could pick them out. We are talking floral here, though. With a bit of warmth–rose amber? The throw is very rose-y. Dry: Essentially the same. Fits Description?: Sure, why not. Helena can be floral. Overall: I would call this a pretty normal rose floral. Being not-so-fond of rose (which is decidedly fond of me), it's not for me.

Wet: Ok, I can’t describe this one. The musk gives it warmth, and the floral gives it a softness. …It’s a very intriguing scent, but I process it as an ethereal… combination of sensations rather than a given smell (aka warm, soft, etc.). A tiny bit of creaminess coming in from the hazelnut and coconut. Dry: Doesn’t morph much. Fits Description?: It does remind me of a black pearl. A very mysterious, very soft scent–even pale or ghostly. (It does *not* remind me of the Black Pearl, which I think is a good thing.) Overall: I love this, but it’s so faint on me that I don’t plan to purchase a bottle. If it were stronger, it would be full speed ahead love.

Wet: My initial impression is evergreen and rich, wet, recently turned soil (very like that in Destroying Angel). Dry: Oddly sweet. The soil and fir are less pronounced. There may be a floral of some sort in here (to approximate the night air accord?). Pleasant, though. The remaining forest scents with said floral? create a gentle spicy-sweetness. Lightly masculine or an earthier feminine. Fits Description?: It does remind me of a forest at night, rain-dampened. Overall: A darker scent, but comforting. The fir and moss balance well with the soil. That is, the soil is a welcome note; but, unlike with Destroying Angel, I don't feel like I smell like I've been gardening. Instead, in this case, it adds another layer to the overall composition.