Voleuse

On first application, this is mostly ylang ylang on me. Huh. I don't dislike ylang ylang, but I didn't expect it. As it dries, however, the ylang ylang fades to the background, and something sharp and green takes its place. It's very tropical--I think I can smell the orchid, but there's also something fruity in the blend, as well. Lush and sweet.

In the vial, this smells exactly like a bowlful of dried rose petals. On first application, however, there's also mossy, earthy wet scent--exactly as described. The name is a hint, but this is very evocative of an old cemetary, a little wild on the edges, and the earth squelching a little from a recent rain. Over time, it gets a little mossier, muddier even. The roses are at a distance, now, and they're decaying. This is an incredibly mournful scent. I'm not sure if I like it, exactly, but I am impressed by it.

Ylang ylang, as everybody else has noted. Sharply sweet and intensely floral. Over time, it fades to give jasmine the spotlight. Simple and sensual, but not what I would label seductive.

The musk is strong in this scent, at first, but there's a sharp bite of citrus overlying it. As it dries, it becomes sweeter, and I definitely smell the cloves and the leather. I love this! I'm a huge fan of citrus scents, and the smokiness of this one makes it last so much longer on me. The vetiver is barely there, though it becomes stronger over time, making it sexy, but not overwhelmingly masculine. Every time I sniff my wrist, I catch another combination of notes, and it's always lovely. Complex and spicy and intoxicating. Definitely a keeper.

This is warm and dry and spicy. Definitely very much like the sun. I don't get a lot of throw from it, though, so I have trouble identifying the notes. I think I get cloves in this, and definitely a citrus note. There is also something like pine, which I wouldn't have expected, but it works very well. As it fades away, I catch something that reminds me of incense, but isn't actually like incense, if that makes any sense. Resin, maybe? And a hint of florals as well, but nothing very strong. It ends up being sweet and herbal, while still smelling incredibly bright. I wish it were a little stronger, though.

On first application, this is an amazing aquatic scent, evocative and slightly green. It's beautiful, but it also makes me want to sneeze. I'm not quite skilled enough to pick out the individual notes for this scent, but it is very much like standing at the edge of the ocean, with stone at your feet and wind at your back. I do catch a hint of the wood, and the kelp as well, except it's deeper, prettier than they would smell in reality. I don't think this is quite the blend for me, but it has decent throw, and lasts quite a while on me.

In the bottle, this smells exactly like cheesecake cupcakes, sweet and rich and intoxicating. On first application, the cream cheese is less dominant, but the cake is still definitely there. It's less rich on me, but still stickily sweet. Over time, however, Beaver Moon does what all super-foody scents tend to do on me--it turns faintly plastic, and disappears. (I wonder what exactly causes it. Vanilla of all sorts is okay on me, as is Sugar Skull. Weird.) I suspected this would happen, so I've already promised my bottle away to a friend. I'm glad I bought the bottle, though, because just sniffing it was delight enough for me.

On first application, this is all strawberry, and a hint of booze, as well. As it dries, however, the floral notes come into play, making this a very sweet and innocent floral. Over time, the strawberry actually disappears, leaving only the aftereffect of sweetness. Unfortunately, after that point, it becomes stale and plasticky on my skin. Blech. The initial stages of the scent are lovely, but ultimately, this isn't for me. ETA: Hours later, it's a little more strawberry and a little less plasticky. Not as bad as before, but it still smells artificial. Sigh.

Vanilla, tea, and lavender on first application. This is gorgeous. It's sweet, but tempered by a hint of lemon, and the musks round it out perfectly. I can see why this is so popular. Over time, the scent becomes a little more pure, which I think is due to the lemon and lavender notes. It's still sweet and sensual, but not as obviously. On my skin, it fades quickly, so I'm sure I'd have to slather it. I really must get a bottle of this scent.

On first application, this is a soft lavender, and a hint of musk. I can smell the other floral notes in the blend, but I'm not able to discern them individually. The overall blend is just barely spicy, and quite calming. This is a faint and pretty scent, but I don't think it's for me.

This is really, really viscous in the vial, and dark. I'm oddly fascinated by it. On first application, the cinammon is evident right away, which is interesting, because I expected the patchouli to dominate. Instead, they're almost perfectly balanced. It's heavy and sweetly spicy. After a bit, however, the sandalwood blooms and overtakes the other scents, making this a fascinating, smoky blend. I can't smell the amber specifically, but I think it's what makes this such a warm fragrance. Over time, this becomes a sweet, dark incense, with a strong note of spice. I really like this, and it lasts quite a while on me. I don't know if I'd wear it very often, but I think it merits a bottle.

On first application, this is a cool, aquatic floral. It's slightly sweet, and almost more green than floral. It's incredibly delicate, though, and every time I try to sniff more deeply, pin down the notes of the oil, it slips away. This is a pretty, but tame winter, in contrast to the piney winter scents that I adore. I really like this scent, but it's so elusive on me, I can barely smell it after several minutes.

This is what I had hoped Snake Oil would smell like. Musk, spices, with a strong vanilla note. I did not expect this, given the description, but it fits. It's a gorgeous, dark scent. Over time, the tinge of cinammon becomes stronger, but overall I don't find it to be a foody scent. The sandalwood in the blend balances out the cinammon and vanilla nicely. And over time, it gets smoky and dry. It's sharp and warm and sweet and woodsy, and incredibly seductive. A rich sheen of burgundy red that lurks in the corner of my mind. Gorgeous.

2004 Version Initially, the 2004 version strikes me as more maple on first application, but as it dries, I get a lot more fruit than I did in the 2005 version. This also has the burnt sugar overtone I liked in the 2005 version, but 2004 is more syrupy sweet on me. I do like both, though, and after the drydown, they're quite similar.

This is incredibly autumnal, with an initial bloom of spicy apple cider, and behind it, a brisk breeze of dried leaves and wine. It's sweet and crisp. I barely get any floral notes from this, though, it's all fruit, but not foody. Does that make sense? I love this scent. It's sweet, but rich and spicy. Gorgeous. This is what I wanted Samhain to be.

Light and clean on first application, with a hint of sweetness in the background. I catch the peony right away, and a nice green blooming behind it. There's also a citrus note that I really like, and it gets stronger as time passes. This is incredibly faint on me, though--I have to slather it on just to catch a whiff of it.

2005 Version Oomph. This is leaves moldering underfoot, bare branches overhead, and somewhere in the distance, a bonfire. Cold air, and the stars out above. This is much less dry on me than the 2004 version was, and much darker. I can detect the patchouli, but it's perfectly balanced with the woodsy notes. I still don't get any fruit, aside from an evasive sweet note in the background. I do like this much better, but it's still not quite for me.

On first application, this is golden and so very peachy. Gorgeous. After a bit, the peach ripens and blends with the musk and amber, so it's warmer, more sensual. Definitely a summer scent. This fades quickly on me, so I'd have to slather it to make it last. I do want a bottle, though. I really like this.

Sweet pear and plumeria on first application, with a sharp note I assume is champagne. Then it disappears completely! About fifteen minutes later, however, a quiet pear note begins to bloom again. It's not as sweet as before, and it's actually a little soapy. I like the initial bloom of the scent, but I'm "eh" about the way it ends up.

Sweet, floral, clean, feminine. The gardenia and the vanilla are the strongest notes on me, but they all blend together very well. This is a warm and bright floral, strong but not overpowering.

So very, very floral. Obviously. But it isn't the traditional floral--there's no overpowering rose or lily or carnation (and I like all those floral notes, don't get me wrong). This is a bright and sweet field, a crisp breeze on a hillside, an early sunlit afternoon. Incredibly vibrant and verdant. I'm definitely going to hang onto this imp. Maybe hunt down a bottle. It's gorgeous.

Mistletoe 2004 On first application, this is sharp and fresh and green. This actually reminds me a lot of Yuletide, except without the fruit. I love the scent of mistletoe, the cold prickliness of it, the way it's almost sweet, but not quite. This doesn't fade as quickly as the other Yule scents have done, though like most scents, I'd have to slather it to make it last. It doesn't take any odd turnings, as I feared--it stays perfect and snowy evergreen until it fades away. Mistletoe likes me almost as much as I like it. Mistletoe 2005 I get, essentially, the same scent I got with the 2004 version, IIRC. The only difference is this one has more throw, which might have something to do with the freshness of the blend, as compared to the aged oil. And I still love it! I'm glad I have a bottle now.

2005 Version Unlike the 2004 version, I get a strong rose right away, and then a hint of the incense and resin in the background. The rose fades to the background after a while, but the floral note is still evident, and it blends perfectly with the incense. Warm and floral and a light incense, with the slightest green note. I like this much better than the 2004 version.

Strong fruit and light floral on first application. Citrus in a way that reminds me of Juicy Fruit--and that isn't a bad thing for a first impression. After the initial bloom, the lotus becomes evident, making this a sweet and airy scent. I don't catch any hint of the amber in the beginning--this begins as a cool, breezy scent on me. Over time, however, it warms in tone, so I don't get amber itself, but the effects I associate with amber. Sun warming against a pool of water. A tropical orchard, a marble column, and a moment of peace. It ends up being a warm and sweet floral scent. Lovely.

2004 Version: This is cool and sweet on first application, and I get an nutty cookie note as well. After a while, however, it turns to plastic on me. Not strong plastic, but just reminiscent enough to make my nose wrinkle. 2005 Version: On first application, this is lightly sugared almonds and plastic on me. And sadly, over time, it's the plastic that wins out. It's not unpleasant, but it's still not something I'd wear. Sigh.