mistressfizz

I have a soft spot for Halflings (my first D&D character was one!) so even though I usually don't like foodie scents, I just had to try this one. Sniff: Thick and mealy, a little buttery Wet: Interesting, there's a sweet note, like raisins. A bit of spice too. It's porridge and pie crust! Dry: I'm getting a hint of plastic as well. But otherwise it stays pretty much the same on drydown. I'd prefer this as a room scent - it's yummy but not quite right on my skin.

Sniff: Bright and herbal. Can't pick out any individual notes. Wet: It smells like...vegetables. I don't know how else to describe this. Not any one particular vegetable, just a general leafy salad smell. This is definitely a new one for me! It's rather pleasant and fresh. Dry: Oak dominates on the drydown. A nice, soft oak - the other components help round it off. This is light with moderate throw. It doesn't seem to be a fully bloomed fragrance on its own, and will definitely benefit from layering.

This is the first scent from Rappaccini's Garden that I've properly tested and reviewed. I don't know if I'll have much luck with this series, but here goes! Sniff: Dewy and green. Very wet, but not a high aquatic note, more like a grassy dampness. Wet: Herbal notes start to come out over the wet green. It's almost like a weak menthol. Dry: Wow, this fades quickly! It stays herbal and green until the end, but within an hour, it's gone. Very refreshing during the wet phase, but I guess to keep it that way, I would need to continually reapply.

Sniff: Faint, light leather, with a sharp tang Wet: Weird, there's something citrus, almost lemon here, though I don't see those in the official notes. The leather is definitely cool and light, with an artificial chemical note. It does have an overall metallic tone. I don't smell any vanilla at all. Dry: Not a very strong scent, with little or no throw. It becomes less sharp over time and leaves a pleasant light musk, with a hint of incense and leather.

Sniff: Light and sharp, but I can't detect any specific notes. Wet: Sweet cherry with a rosy base. I get some of that "cough syrup" smell as well, but thankfully it's not terribly strong. No apparent lavendar, but there's a slightly bitter edge which might be it. Dry: Floral powder and musk. A faintly sour note keeps cropping up as well. I think this is a nice scent, but not really my thing.

Totally agree with these previous recommendations: Phantom Xiuhtecuhtli Medea Two of my favorite floral incense scents are discontinued, but you might find something in swaps/sales: Marae: Vanilla orchid, Monoi tiare, gardenia, and light incense. All Saints: Monastic frankincense and myrrh, Damascus rose, Russian gardenia, cassia, and lily of the valley wafting on a chill Autumn wind. From the CD - Blasphemare Reliquary: Ethiopian myrrh, Damascus rose, boswellia, galbanum, and copal. Eshe: Embalming herbs, black myrrh, white sandalwood, black orchid, paperwhites, tomb dust, and Moroccan jasmine. (the above were both very incensey on me, but balanced out with a pretty floral sweetness) I also like: Eros: Myrrh, lilac, and honey wine with crimson tea leaf and sweet resins. Arcana: Frankincense, rosemary, lavender, neroli, and verbena.

Sniff: Yup, there's rose. Not at all dewy or fresh, but a dirty, smoky rose. Wet: Dark, black rose, with cigarettes wafting in the background. I can't detect any leather at all. Dry: Dries to a powdery rose that is just a bit soapy and simmers. While this is a nice dark rose blend, there are others I prefer. The aforementioned Spellbound comes to mind, as do London, Phantom, Blasphemare Reliquary, and Whip.

Sniff: Sweet incense, almost cloying. Wet: Hi, rose! This bursts into a floral bouquet mixed with sweet myrrh and dry incense. This reminds me a lot of Hymn, but the floral component is stronger and sweeter. Dry: This fades quickly on me. It becomes soapy incense and powdery amber, which I'm not really liking. Normally I do well with florals, and I love incense blends, but this particular combination of the two just isn't working for me.

Sniff: Resin! And more resin! Wet: Dragon's blood and olibanum are really prominent. Instead of a lofty, solemn incense like Cathedral, this is earthy and woodsy, full of roots and greens. I don't get much of a pine scent at all. Dry: Stays pretty much the same, a soft dark resin with hints of dirt and wood. Definitely close kin to Arcana, a solid incense blend for those who dig that kind of smell (like I do!)

I’m so excited to have snagged this one! I fell in love with a tester and finally got my grubby hands on a bottle. Sniff: Exactly as advertised! Black leather, slightly sweet and smoky tobacco, the chemical high of machine oil, a metallic tang of rust, and gritty gruff musk. Wet: Ah, more of the same. I adore leather notes and this is my favorite so far. It’s not as raw as Rogue or DeSade, and lacks the woodsy undertones of Olisbos, Spanked, The Traveller. I find it stronger than leather blends which are cut with lighter ingredients (such as Perversion, Dee, the Riders, Whip). And while manly, this doesn’t have the sophistication of Robotic Scarab or Quincey Morris, which I consider to be “gentlemanly” leather. So, what is this exactly? To me, it’s the leather jacket of a smoker who’s been working with cars all day. And it really turns me on. Dry: Several hours and still going. The throw is pretty strong. The high pitched chemical and rust notes have died down and now it’s pure dark musky leather with just a hint of oil. I imagine this is what Constantine from Hellblazer smells like, after a walk through the slums of London. I love how evocative this is and will definitely be hoarding my bottle and looking for more!

Sniff: Is my nose broken? I get a horrible chemical smell, like windex. I have no idea what is causing this. Whatever it is, it's high pitched and sharp and nasty. Wet: I'm still getting "chemical cleaner" from this. Since I'm not familiar with beeswax or urban musk, perhaps these are the culprits? I can detect hints of spicy sandalwood and a lightness from the tea, but I just can't get past that bathroom cleaner smell. Dry: The sharpness dies down and it does smell a bit warmer, a bit woodsy. But underneath is still an acrid musk. While not entirely unpleasant, this is definitely not for me. Both my nose and my skin don't play well with whatever is in Half-Elf.

Sniff: Tobacco and opium! Very smoky, I can't really smell anything else. Wet: The smokiness is settling down. I'm getting a slightly sweet astringency which must be the green tea and plum. The batch I got is well blended - no individual note is dominanting. Dry: Wow, not expecting this! It dries into an earthy amber that is musky and a bit floral, with hints of smoke and tar. Very interesting, for an "evil" scent, it's ultimately rather light! If you're looking for an opium/tobacco scent, the beginning blast is here, but it doesn't seem to last. This is actually fine by me, and I'm pleasantly surprised by how nice this Evil is!

Sniff: A metallic tang, wet stone mixed with barley. Wet: More of the same. I get a tiny whiff of leather, but mostly this is metal and wet stone. There's also a sharpness developing which I can't quite place. It's almost herbal - perhaps this is the hops? This definitely reminds me of being underground, surrounded by rock and minerals. Dry: After several hours, the bite of the metal is gone, leaving a pleasant mix of leather, stone, and herbal notes. Overall this is very nice on its own, but I imagine it will layer wonderfully as well!

Sniff: Refreshing and spicy, hints of floral/grass. Wet: Blooms into smoky opium and amber. She could be cousin to my beloved Red Lantern, less creamy, and carrying undertones of wood and leather. There's also an herbal, cologne sharpness which I attribute to the ginger and sandalwood. Very heady and exotic, with a shadowy side, the champaca and tobacco certainly give it a darker tinge. I'm liking this very much! Dry: The smokiness fades and I'm glad to say the sharpness is gone as well. I'm left with a rich, musky vanilla. Not sweet or bakery vanilla, but more like a fresh bean flavor. There's hints of spice and flowers, and just a smidge of darkness lurking underneath. I'm finding that vanilla is such a complex note. Sometimes it's just too sugary for me, but then in blends like this, it plays extremely well on my skin.

Sniff: Very light, faintly sweet. Wet: Oh, she is nice! Soft woods, not at all like the pencil shavings you sometimes get with cedar. No pinesol, no dirt, no orangey furniture polish (as you can tell, I've been disappointed by some other wood blends). Instead, a rich ambient smell, like walking into an antique furniture store and sticking your head into an ancient mahogany warddrobe. There's a tartness which I attribute to the apple, though it doesn't really smell like apple. I am truly enjoying huffing my wrist. Dry: The drydown is gorgeous! Gentle woodsy glow that borders on resinous, but without the heaviness or smoke of resin, tempered with a trace of rose and apple blossom. A wonderful blend!

French vanilla, tot house orchids, strawberries, white sandalwood, bergamot, and honey. Sniff: Sweet vanilla cake! Wet: Sweet vanilla cake...with strawberry frosting! Dry: Now I'm getting a more floral, slightly spicy sweet with creamy vanilla undertones. I was afraid this would have that "plastic" red fruit smell, as some others are getting, but Kitty seems to be behaving herself on my skin. I feel Kitty and Celeste are vanilla sisters; Kitty is the bright, sugary, energetic one who walks up to her man and kisses him teasingly in front of his friends, while Celeste bats her lashes from the corner and lures her man into an empty room.

Sniff: Unlike other experiences here, Ninon is very, very faint to me. I can barely smell a hint of smoky musk in the decant. Wet: Now we're talking! Honey musk and tobacco. A little amber, and slightly boozy. Can't pick out any rose or lavendar at all. It's just a little off - I'm not sure how to describe it, but it makes my nose wrinkle. Dry: Musky, a little grassy (I guess that's the orris and hay). Honey usually turns sour on me, but not so here! This becomes surprisingly balanced and warm. Vanilla also makes a quiet appearance. This doesn't last long on me, which is too bad, because I like the musky drydown.

Sniff: Flower petals, light, bordering on aquatic Wet: Ah, there's just a touch of pomegranate sweetness. I can pick out a very floral ylang ylang and something a lot like lilies. There's definitely a "dewy fresh picked bouquet" feel to this one. Dry: There's a little amber, but mostly classic floral soap. Very faint and fades away in a few hours, hardly any throw at all. While it's pleasant, I think there are more complex and interesting floral scents out there.

Sniff: Vanilla bean! It isn't as foodie as I expected. It's musky and almost golden. Less like bakery vanilla and more like the crisp flavor of fresh vanilla ice cream. I totally second the "waffle cone" description. Wet: Still vanilla. Just the right amount of sweet - not quite cotton candy for me, but a gentle sweetness, with a hint of spice and butter. Dry: Definitely musky, soft vanilla and touch of florals. Very pretty!

Sniff: Apple!? There's no apple listed, but I get crisp apple, freshly cut and juicy. It must be the pomegranate and plum. Wet: There's still a strong apple scent. Very sweet and fruity. I can't pick out individual flowers, but there's definitely an overall garden haze Dry: After a few hours, the apple fades away. I'm left with a pleasantly musky powder, just a hint of wet earth and herbs. I was afraid this would turn plastic and overtly sweet, the way the lab's pomegranate note often does on me. But the other elements have tamed the pom and aside from that opening blast, this is a very lovely scent, understated and soft.

Since honey is epic sour fail on my skin, I've been approaching the Courtesans with caution. The notes listed for Virginia seem the safest for me, so I decided to give her a go. Like filigree_shadow, the oil in my decant looks normal. It's a deep caramel brownish/gold, and while it's on the dark side, it isn't opaque. Sniff: Surprisingly earthy! Maybe that's the tonka and sandalwood? There's a sharp herbal bite from the juniper and sage. There's also a bit of smokiness, I think from the tobacco and frankincense. I can't smell the orchid or muguet at all. Wet: The smoke is forming a rich spicy cloud. The earthiness is tempered into warm wood. It's getting a little sweeter now. Slight hint of florals, with a juniper berry pop. Dry: This dries into a mildly sweet musk. The juniper and sage fade into the background. Not much throw, but the soft musk stays all day and I'm rather liking it. She's unlike anything else I've smelled. Definitely complex and odd, in a good way. On the edge of bottle worthy - I think I need to test again before making a final decision.

The bottle I have is a 10 mL cobalt, aged about 2 years. I first smelled this via an empty imp, and though I couldn’t do a skin test, I had to grab a bottle when it was offered for cheap! This review is for the bottle, not the empty imp. Sniff: Wood and earth notes, and whoa, spicy! Wet: Sandalwood is prominent. Just a hint of rose. The initial spicy spike has calmed down. Dry: Soft, warm sandalwood and a rose whisper. There’s just enough spice to smell exotic, in a tasteful, subtle way. The patchouli has matured wonderfully, grounding the scent so it doesn’t become too soapy. Long lasting and medium throw, definitely a keeper!

Sniff: Golden, orange, amber swirls, filtering through flower petals. There's definitely citrus and vanilla, along with yellow blooms and a hint of sweetness. Wet: Citrus and vanilla going strong! I also detect something almost resinous, probably the amber. It's definitely a warm and fuzzy blend, uplifting and substantive. Dry: Dusky, soft vanilla, and the florals have arrived! The citrus is just a hint now. The amber and honey hold up what otherwise would be soapiness. I can't detect particular flowers, but my arm smells like a summer garden luxuriating in sunbeams. It also lasted the whole work day, with just the right amount of throw, where people catch a faint whiff as they talk to you. Liquid sunshine in a bottle, indeed! Definitely one of my favorites.

Sniff: Earthy, mild. Not a very strong tea note. Wet: Much softer than expected! I can't pick out individual elements, only a dry, earthy overtone with faint flowers. Dry: Late night sitting in a wicker chair outside, clouds from the spring rain rolling above, snow capped mountains behind, and a valley of wildflowers below. Yup. This one has a real sense of place, and of darkness settling over earth and flora.

After rolling the imp around for several minutes, finally got the dark globs to disperse! Now for the test... Sniff: chocolate and orange, yum! Wet: chocolate definitely dominates, with a citrus honey bite. Dry: unfortunately, the honey and pomegranate turn this around and i'm left with a dusty, sickly sour aftersmell. alas, the foodie note didn't last.