mistressfizz

This is the res, non-apple version. Sniff: Dark and warm, a mixture of amber and tobacco. The tobacco is quite sooty and smokey. Wet: The tobacco is not as strong now, the blend as a whole seems to lighten on my skin. There's a hint of vanilla, not too sugary or girly, but a nice offset to an otherwise dark scent. In the background, I detect a sharpness, I think that must be from the cognac. I get a very hazy, blurry impression from this phase. Dry: As it dries, this gets progressively lighter and sweeter. The tobacco has turned dusty, almost like incense. There's a tiny hint of citrus or some other fruit that emerges, mixed with the vanilla. A very interesting blend, I think I like the wet phase best, but overall it's a terrific embodiment of the "black lace" concept. Dark and moody, spiked with sweet!

Thank you for posting the Anniversay Phoenix bottles! I ordered all five and I can't wait for them to arrive!

Sniff: Fresh and grassy, just a tad sharp Wet: This really warms up! Lovely and golden, with a soft sweetness. Not sugary or foodie, but a floral sweet, similar to freshly cut petals or tree sap. Light and breezy, I feel like I'm standing outdoors in a field, amid waving wildflowers. It embodies clean and natural, earthy without any "dirt" notes. Dry: Warm with an almost amber quality. Just a bit powdery, with dry grasses lingering. A gentle blend, pleasant and perfect for the spring season.

Sniff: I was expecting strong rose, but this is very astringent. If there's rose here, it's faint and overpowered by spices. The spices are along the flavor of clove or bay leaves or anise, sharp and almost bitter. Wet: The spices start to mellow and now I can detect rose, fresh and dewy, like white and yellow roses climbing up a trestle with hints of smoke in the background. Dry: Softens to a pleasant rose over a backdrop of spices. To my surprise, the rose is not powdery or heady. Overall, this is a pretty, everyday kind of scent, classic and feminine.

My decant of Pumpkin Latte 2011 arrived just a day before a swap which happened to include Pumpkin Latte 2010! So I got to compare the two side-by-side, which was really fun. 2010 Version: Opens nutty and milky, with a soft base of vanilla pumpkin. It has a smoke flavor and dries to a dark spicy coffee. It's very warm and deep. 2011 Version: Whoa, expresso! This starts off bitter with just a whiff of sweetness. But the coffee burns off quickly and this dries to a rich spicy mixture of sweet vanilla and creamy pumpkin. This is lighter than the 2010 version and the spices are stronger, especially the cinnamon. It smells more like the syrup and foam part of the latte. Of the two, I prefer the older one. While I think both are comforting delicious scents, the stronger coffee note suits me, while the newer blend is still a bit too sweet. I'm very curious whether the 2011 will age similarly. I guess only time will tell!

Sniff: Vanilla frosting and cake, sweet and floral with hints of smoke and booze. Wet: So many layers to this blend! The sweetness of frosting mixed with tobacco, light florals, and a sharp alcoholic bite. There's also dry, earthy incense which tempers the sweet nicely. I was afraid this would be all foodie, but it's actually quite evocative and complex - no single note dominates. Dry: The sweetness and booze burn off. Now there's a pleasant hint of vanilla, and this blooms into a desert scent; dusty and warm, with dried spices and smoke and flowers hazy in the distance. The wet phase is pretty, but I think the drydown is even more gorgeous.

Sniff: Tart and sharp, sticky sweet and sugary Wet: This is like fruit juice on me. Not freshly squeezed fruit juice, but the super sweet thick syrupy kind that you would buy to mix from concentrate. The pom is quite strong and the florals are absent, which is surprising since I usually amp rose. Dry: Interesting, this dries to a sweet musk which borders on powder. It's pretty but has too much of a "candy" vibe for me.

Sniff: Woodsy resins. Not much apple, but there's a definite crispy note in the background Wet: This is very much a resin blend, but softened by warm amber and herbs. I still don't get apple exactly, but combined with the ginger and spices, there's something tart which prevents the resin from becoming too harsh or dark. The champaca lends an earthy vibe. Overall, it's a soft spicey incense, muted and warm. Dry: Earthy and powdery, with a slight herbal tint. It's pleasant but given the notes, I was hoping for something more. It's a tad too generic for me.

Sniff: Very light, smells like fresh cut apple slices! Wet: Florals arrive! I can still detect the apple, ripe and juicy, but it's mixed with white flowers. While it doesn't seem "glittering" to me, the bergamot brings a brightness that is refreshing and elevates the tart flavor of the apples. Ylang ylang has a strong presence and works very nicely with the musks to create a gentle wispy blend. It's very pretty and not too sweet. Dry: This dries to a beautiful light musk with lovely hints of flowers and vanilla. It feels a bit tropical at this stage. It's quite faint when dry, but the musks are gorgeous, very warm and soft. This reminds me of Moonshine and Mist (one of my favorite white musks ever!) only with a touch more sweetness and clarity.

Sniff: Faint and light, a dusting of sugar Wet: The pumpkin is more of a supporting note, providing an earthy base and warmth. I'm getting lots of tiare mixed with a light fruity sweetness, charming and bright. This is a pumpkin blend which isn't too foodie - it's decidedly more floral in nature. Dry: Settles to a warm honey musk, soft and sweet and pretty. Not my usual style, but still fun to test. Would definitely recommend for people who like light florals and want their pumpkin without spice.

Sniff: Pomegranate cologne! Refreshing and tart with a musky undertone. Wet: Earthiness comes out a bit more, but it isn’t overwhelming. This is the first pomegranate blend I’ve tried that isn’t too sweet or plastic. This is really well balanced, a clean, light, playfully rugged cologne with hints of flowers and fruit. It reminds me of a sharp wind rushing through a harvest field. Dry: Interesting, this has a tobacco-like flavor when dry, and I can detect a spicy note as well. It’s definitely more dusty when dry, though it still retains some sharpness mixed with a pleasant earthy base. Though this leans on the masculine side for me, it’s a mellow inviting scent that I wouldn’t mind wearing on a regular basis!

Sniff: Oranges and flowers, faint and sweet Wet: Very pretty, lots of citrus but not that fake cleaner citrus you often smell in other products. This is fresh and real, fruity and tart and sweet, overlaid with light florals and just a hint of amber warmth. I don't really get vanilla from this, but it does have a creamy, luscious tone that is rich and delicate at the same time. Dry: The gardenia and spices are stronger now. The citrus fades, it's more like a little splash of orange juice. There's a faint trace of powder and warm musk, but mostly this dries to spicy florals, very elegant and enticing.

Sniff: Heady strong florals, a blast of wisteria Wet: More wisteria - fresh, bright, flowery. Slightly sweet cherry blossoms in the background, but mostly overpowered by the wisteria. This is very pretty and feminine. It's not as heady as I initially thought. It's smells very much like a spring perfume, clean and soft, with a faint aquatic note. Dry: Soapy floral, the sakura comes out stronger now. This is surprisingly not powdery and stays clean and pretty the whole day.

Sniff: Hello, red musk! There's fruit in there somewhere, but I'm getting mostly a dark, maroon muskiness Wet: Now the berries come out to play! Sweet and tart, but not in a foodie or girly manner. This isn't just fruit, but also the vines and leaves and dirt of that fruit, mixed with something dusty and dark. I don't get any alcohol at all, but there's a brandy flavor that does balance the sweetness, providing a warm, earthy base. Dry: A lush berry musk with a hint of dirt, slightly powdery and soft. I really like the mix of musk and sweetness here, it's a little too powerful for everyday wear, but something I would wear to a club or night out.

In honor of the cooler weather around me, I broke out my bar of SGA soap. It's mostly white with about a 1/2 inch band on top of dark red, almost purple, and a dusting of shimmer. Straight out of the package, it smells very sharp, almost ozone. Holding the bar up to my nose, I don't really get much apple, more of a high pitched musk. Wet, the apples start to come out, very crisp and light and ghostly, mixed with sheer musk and just a tiny hint of peppermint. The overall effect is of apples and ice, very refreshing yet chilly at the same time. This is classic Villainess soap and feels exactly like any of their other bars. It is relatively soft yet dense, with a silky, creamy texture that slides on the skin once wet. It has medium lather. It does a good job on oily skin like mine, but I could see it being a bit too strong for dry skin. The scent doesn't last very long afterwards, but it's wonderful while in the shower.

Mist and mellow fruitfulness: mist-swirled, moss-covered bark and dry red leaves, apple pulp and knotty galangal, with poppy juice and nutmeat. Sniff: Mossy, earthy, green Wet: A sweetness emerges that is fruity and almost like vanilla. Now I'm getting leaves and smoke in the background. There's apple, but it's not crisp or tart. This is warm and spicy, more like baked apples than fresh ones. Dry: This dries soft and almost buttery, with the apples fading into a more woodsy blend. This is comforting and very seasonal. > Edit to add scent decription.

Sniff: Very alcoholic! I definitely get sharp booze notes mixed with smoke and tobacco. Wet: It's not as strong as expected! Surprisingly light and I have to slather quite a bit on my wrist to really catch more of the scent. Alcohol is dominant, it's crisp and almost like ozone. A hint of vanilla creeps in, and it's the plastic play-doh kind of vanilla, sharp and acrid, not foodie. Dry: The alcohol burns off in a few hours and I'm left with a dusty, muted musk. Close on the skin, it's dry and gummy, almost sickly sour. But from a distance, it throws off a lovely earthy cigar, which is nice. Nothing really bad about this, but it's also not something I really like.

Sniff: Orange and golden, with a dash of citrus Wet: Orange creamsicle in a bottle! Sweet vanilla, swirled with orange and lemon, a hint of herbs and sharp florals. Has a very "summer" feel, bright and warm. I can detect just a hint of amber and something earthy, almost like a dusting of patchouli. Dry: Vanilla musk and floral powder. Pleasant, but not as good as the yummy wet phase. Probably not one of my favorite blends, but I do love the bottle art!

Sniff: Musky and dark, with a backdrop of chemicals and smoke Wet: Tobacco comes out strong, the leather is high pitched and sharp. Overall, this is very much a dark cologne. There's something slightly sweet, almost like sweat or skin musk. I think that might be the oppoponax, it does have a faintly resinous trace. Dry: The leather disappears. The tobacco settles down. Now it's powdery amber with a swirl of smoke. It doesn't smell bad, but it's not amazing either. A decent blend, but probably not something I'd frequently wear.

Sniff: Oh, heavenly! This smells like a brand new leather purse or shoes. It's shiny and polished and patent. Wet: More of the same. Yum! This is pretty much all leather. I get just a tiny smidge of woodsy flavor, but mostly this is synthetic and hot, almost like vinyl or PVC, but without the plastic. It's rich and luscious, it screams diva and sexy. Dry: Stays pretty true, it gets a little softer, but mainly it's red hot leather all the way! Definitely a keeper for me!

Sniff: Very light, chemical and sharp Wet: Faint, very little throw. The sharpness increases into something like high pitched cedar or pine. I'm also getting the sour note others have mentioned; it's not pleasant. I don't really detect any leather, just a chemical twang that's not very nice. Dry: The sour note intensifies. This dries sharp and sweaty, it doesn't work on me at all. Which is sad, because I normally love leather blends and I usually like sandalwood as well. But this combination of the two is fail on my skin

Sniff: A big whiff of purple and white flowers! Wet: Rich and strong florals, mainly orchid and narcissus. There's also a clarity from the grapefruit and thyme. I definitely sense the warmth of amber mixed with the flowers. This is almost heady, but it manages to keep a certain freshness that allows it to sit lightly on the skin. Dry: The flowers stay strong, with just a hint of pleasant powder. It's gotten warmer and more earthy. This is so charming and pretty, a beautiful mixture of white and purple swirled with gold.

Snake Oil with four mints, bergamot, and green tea. Sniff: A blast of bergamont and mint! Wet: Very much green tea with the citrus bite of bergamont. The mint is not menthol or overtly strong, it's a soft herbal peppermint, very green and fresh. I can detect the snake oil in here, through a hint of spices and earthiness. This is very bright and playful. Dry: Tea and gentle vanilla! Fresh and lovely, the tea provides a slightly dark base upon which herbs and spices are stacked. Very yummy and light!

Snake Oil with red mandarin, myrrh, and almond. Sniff: Sweet almond oil, something earthy and resinous beneath Wet: A spicy, high pitched almond, sweet and creamy. It reminds me of a fruit cake. It has a tart and buttery base, with a sugary, nutty, alcoholic glaze. But somehow it doesn't smell extremely foodie. I don't want to gobble this up. It's more atmospheric - I think the snake oil and incense prevent it from turning into pure cake. Dry: Myrrh totally takes over. It has eaten the fruit cake and pooped out a dusty soft incense with hints of spice and sweetness. It's very pleasant in this phase, I'm just sad the other components don't last. > edit to add scent description.

Sniff: Oh, I am in love! A golden warm resin with a hint of herbs, soft and creamy Wet: This is a desert caravan, traveling along dusty cliffs and dunes, filled with exotic spices and dried woods and rich incense. It's light (well, relatively speaking - for Snake Oil, it's light!) with a warmth like amber and just the right touch of vanilla sweetness. Dry: Pretty much the same gorgeous desert blend, flush with sunlight and sand. The incense is a tad dustier, the orris lends an earthy vibe, and the vanilla a bit stronger, but it retains a mysterious beauty. This is hazy, hypnotic and very evocative. So far, my favorite snake pit blend!