mxtine

A bounty of chocolate coins! Dry cocoa and golden amber! 2010 version Imp: Dusty cocoa Wet: Cocoa and amber. Smells a bit like the chocolate note in Boomslang. Dry: It's getting powdery or like a stale chocolate butter cookie. I love the powderiness of amber in a lot of blends, but I don't think it works in this foodie perfume.

Imp: Holy Altoids, Batman! Wet: Holy Peppermint Schnapps, Batman! Dry: Holy Candy Canes, Batman! I didn't get candy canes for xmas last year but this is making me want to eat a whole box. I could never wear this, it's too minty and too strong. And I accidentally got some on my lip and now it's doing that minty burn.

Imp: Soft mint toothpaste Wet: Sugary vanilla wintergreen and mint. Very light musk. Dry: A lot of the mintiness fades, and I'm left with a cool musk with a hint of vanilla-infused sugar. I usually don't wear minty stuff because I feel like Burt's Bees lip balm, but this is a wearable minty scent because it fades into a cool white musk. Not really my thing, but pretty.

Imp: Rotting flowers and fresh pine needles Wet: Lovely vanilla and fir. Something a bit menthol. Dry: Refreshingly cool vanilla. I really enjoyed this one. I can't wear minty stuff because I feel like a tube of toothpaste or my favorite lip balm, Burt's Bees; but it's a lovely pick-me up scent.

2009 version Imp: Soapy Wet: Creamy coconut soap. It's a very cool scent, but I can't smell anything minty. Dry: Nothing changes from wet to dry. It makes me think of a refreshing, crisp snowy day. 2010 version Imp: Almond soap Wet: Marzipan and creamy coconut soap. Dry: Like the 2009 version, the wet to dry stages don't change much. 2010 has a marzipan note that I did not notice in the 2009 version. They are both pretty and very "clean" smelling. I can't say that I'd be reaching for these since clean isn't my cup of tea.

Imp: Fizzy tonic water. Like a gin and tonic. Wet: Same. Dry: I can still smell the gin and tonic sharpness, but I detect a bit of smokey opium beneath. The "fizzy" aspect of this perfume never allows the lovely opium to shine through. That's really unfortunate.

I just skin tested Dragon's Musk from the Ars Draconis line, and I think it's a very close equivalent to The Infernal Lover once it's dry.

Imp: Perfumey. Nothing stands out. Wet: Dragon's Blood, musk and something floral that makes my nose itch. It's very intense, almost syrupy. Dry: The dragon's blood has a vanillic quality to me, so it gets a bit sweeter when it's dry. The musk I can pick out is definitely red musk, and once it's dry it smells like a single note red musk. I love red musk perfumes, and this is very nice but I have 3 bottles of The Infernal Lover which this smells a lot like once dry.

Bottle: Men's cologne Wet: Men's cologne, stronger. I can't pick out much, but there are woods and a bit of vetiver. Dry: Smooth, masculine musk with a faint sweetness if I put my nose right up to the skin. This kind of gives me a headache. I think it would smell better on a man, because it's one of those scents that is super masculine to me. The released version has so much more depth, character and sweetness.

Bottle: Boozy saffron Wet: Sweet vanilla, orchid, and something horribly sharp. I can see from other reviews it wasn't just me that noticed this. I couldn't tell what it is, but rubbing alcohol sounds about right. This phase lasts for 5 or so minutes before it starts to fade. Dry: Sugary, warm, musky vanilla. The final result is a lovely blue cotton-candy perfume, VERY much like Aquolina Pink Sugar. Celeste is a stunner for me once the sharpness wears off. I was reminded of Underpants a few times but they are nothing alike other than the fact that they share the same saffron note. I didn't smell the orris, which is a good thing because I don't think I like it. It has great throw and lasted through a 5 mile run today. I definitely want a backup bottle. ETA. Now that I've properly tested XCDL13, I can say that Celeste is very similar. The big difference is the weird chemical note and the intense sweetness, but it has the same vanilla.

Whip leather, cardamom, patchouli, and bourbon. Bottle: Spicy, dusty cardamom and an unpleasant chemical smell Wet: I smell something that I associate with rugged men's cologne, which I assume to be leather. The cardamom is reminding me of cinnamon, and it's giving off a lovely "fresh cinnamon" spiciness. The patchouli is very faint and the dryness reminds me of the patch in The Coiled Serpent. Dry: The scent faded drastically within the first 5-10 minutes of application. It develops a bit of sweetness on drydown, and I'm happy that I can't smell the leather anymore. This is my first experience with a leather note. I really love the spiciness of cardamom and earthiness of patchouli, but I'm not sold on leather. I swapped this bottle away shortly after my review, then I tested original Spanked and had a "what if it turns out to be THIS good with aging?" moment, so I found another bottle. Now, it's gorgeous. It still has the cardamom but the bourbon has intensified and gives this a sweetness that's like honey but not honey. The leather has calmed down as well, it's no longer chemical but it lends a bit of masculinity to the sweet spiciness. This time it's love.

Bottle: Dusty resins? It's difficult to tell, very light Wet: Clove, cardamom, dry vanilla, balsam and amber. Very spicy but not foody. Cardamom always gives me a "dusty" feel. Dry: The clove is still going strong, and I'm really loving the balsam note that peeks out. Overall it's smooth, spicy, dusty and has just the right amount of sweetness. Very sexy and well-blended. It's definitely going to be a stunner aged. eta: thanks marsmomma

Bottle: Juicy blood orange. Wet: Candied orange peel. Very zesty. Dry: Orange Pez candies! It doesn't last very long and has light throw. I can't wait to layer it with something like my non-red musk Infernal Lover.

Snake Oil has red musk, vanilla and spices but is not as boozy-grapey as Smut Mme Moriarty is has red musk and pomegranate and is within the same red-musk of loveliness family. I know there are more but I can't remember right now.

Mme Moriarty is always a man-magnet for me. Red musk, vanilla bean, pomegranate, patchouli leaf and wild plum. As a matter of fact, I get attention from women when I wear it too. It's truly a beautiful scent.

I get noticed when wearing anything with red musk. Smut, The Infernal Lover, Spellbound and especially Madame Moriarty (huge guy magnet). Also Snake Oil, Banshee Beat, Boo, Tombstone, Underpants, Cake Smash and Velvet Unicorn. Generally, everyone mentions "incense" with the red musks and Snake Oil, Banshee Beat gets "Angel" perfume, and Boo, Tombstone, Cake Smash, Underpants, and Velvet Unicorn are getting "MMM it smells like cake in here".

Glitter. "white wine, heliotrope, d'Anjou pear, and lotus" It's a LE and there's a bottle on ebay now. I love this in the summer.

Boo is so amazing!! I love smelling like a big fluffy marshmallow. I can pick out the cotton and spun sugar notes and a little coconut, but mostly I smell marshmallow. A little goes a long way and the dry scent is so beautiful and comforting.

Wow, perfection. Sniffing the bottle rim, this reminds me of the cream in Underpants and Cake Smash. There's also juicy raspberry and tart pomegranate. It smells the same wet on my skin, but after drying a bit I smell faint red musk, sweet patchouli, a slight powderiness, and creamy vanilla linen. I really love this. I did a happy dance when I smelled it on my skin. I'm definitely going to need multiples of this because it's going to age very well. ETA four-something hours later: Vanilla sugar. SO good.

Wow! I have been on a hiatus and come back to this! So thrilled to start using it. Thank you for your hard work.

Seconded.

This is very thick and heavy. Vetiver almost never works on me, and I can't tell what else I'm smelling in this but it's making me nauseated. It brings up feelings in me that I don't like, which is very strange.

Fresh and Springy, dandelions and fresh cut grass. It's aquatic too, which isn't working with my chemistry.

I'm always looking for the perfect rose blend. Rose Cross is a pure rose and frankincense blend, and I detect some patchouli. This isn't the almighty Spellbound, but it's something I may consider a partial bottle of.

Fizzy orange, pineapple...and caramelly rum. I absolutely loathe caramel, so unfortunately it won't work.