achromance

In the vial: It's not snow I'm picking up, but it's something sweet, soft and pure. A very pleasant scent. On my wrist: Creamy and mildly sweet. Still no signs of snow. I think there's some mild vanilla bean in it, but I can't really pinpoint anything else. I feel like I'm smelling a vanilla candle rather that a perfume.

In the vial: Wow, the oil is a gorgeous red colour! How appropriate. This scent doesn't mess around, but comes straight for the kill. I pick up clove the most, but it's made creamier by the dragon's blood and cinnamon. The black pepper comes in for an extra kick when you're down. On my wrist: It's very bitter, but it calms down as it dries. I can pick up all the notes. This is an oil you should apply carefully, as the black pepper has quite a sting to it. The scent vanishes rather quickly, I'm afraid.

In the vial: Vetiver, my love, I can smell you. I find it hard to focus on the other notes, because I really love vetiver, but I can tell there is a spicy edge to this, probably from the clove. On a second sniff, there's also a smoky myrrh veil. On my wrist: The bergamot emerges around a sharp green wood scent. The perfume is surprisingly faint and delicate when it dries.

In the vial: I did not expect such sweetness. The white chocolate and coconut is all I'm picking up at this time. On my wrist: I'm kind of scard putting this on my wrist, because the white chocolate is so strong, but luckily it subsides. Instead I'm now picking up the lilac petals, lettuce, a coconutty white chocolate mix as well as some earth tones. This truly a weird and whimsical scent, which is only appropriate for a unicorn.

In the vial: This is so nice! Caramel and raisins shrouded by a masculine, smoky and spicy veil. I'll have to compare this to Tiresias, the Androgyne later. On my wrist: Smoky! This is nothing at all like Tiresias. The tobacco leaves emerge from the smoke, and then the caramel and raisins return, and there's an earthiness brought in by the sandalwood. Throughout all of this there has been a soapy scent thinly veiling the other notes, which I assume is from the chamomile. Upon drydown, Schmendrick settles into a soapy scent with a caramel eye. Sadly my skin is in the habit of turning many scents into soap and powder.

In the vial: What a unique colour! The oil is red like Wrath, but even deeper. The scent is very fascinating. There's some wood and tobacco in the background with caramel on the top as the dominant note. I'm really looking forward to this experience! On my wrist: Woods coated with caramel, some smoke in the air. This is a confusing scent, at times I love it, other times not so much. I have to say I am most impressed with the lab's caramel; it smells very genuine and dosn't give me anything of an artificial vibe. I was doubtful about it, but it really pulled itself through masterfully. Upon drydown, Tiresias becomes an attractive mix of caramel and tobacco. There's a murky shroud in the background, which I believe to be the sandalwood. After some time, I'm picking up something chilly that's reminiscent of metal. This scent is very complex and keeps on morphing.

In the vial: A very aggressive vetiver that's egged on by the opium. I get no honeysuckle, or any kind of floral at this point. On my wrist: The aggression settles and a smoky honeysuckle blooms through, unexpected. This is completely different than the initial impression. Why is it that florals turn either soapy or powdery on me? The perfume has lost all of its edge on my skin. This just doesn't work on me.

I have to admit, this is one of those scents I was determined to get just because of the name. In this case it's so I can hopefully have this exchange one day: "You smell lovely." "I smell of Troll." That being said, I really like the sound of the notes as well. Let's go! In the vial: Ooh! Murky, murky boreal backwoods, where the troll has built a hut out of moss and branches in which he is cooking a nasty, green stew. Even if that image might not translate to "I want to smell of this", Troll is actually really pretty. On my wrist: My skin translates Troll into a cool boreal haze during a forest stroll, if that makes any sense. Upon drydown it becomes more and more herbal. It's a good scent and I'm happy with the way it reacted with my skin. I don't feel like I smell of Wunderbaum in the least.

In the vial: Smelling this right after Troll is a funny experience, as I find this a beutiful, feminine ans seductive scent. It is definitely green, and yet there's a sweetness to it. I really hope this works on me, because it's a sure contender for my bottle list. On my wrist: It is such a pretty green. It doesn't change much form the initial impression. Dew has fallen on the forest and there are various ripe, red berries. Unfortunately the sweetness is turning a bit artificial on me. The scent turns powdery upon drydown, I'm afraid. Sad that my skin keeps doing this to promising scents. After a few hours, my wrists smell of perfumed soap.

In the vial: Oh yes, that's definitely leather, and a nice leather too. It lingers in my nose like a good wine would on your tongue. On my wrist: Still very leathery, but the leather wears a musky veil. Then there are some of those dry woods too, lurking in the background. I can't find much to say about this; it's a quite simple scent. Nice and straightforward.

The Garden of Death (Hugo Simberg, 1906) NOTE: Image is public domain. In the vial: Amazing! I have never smelled anything sad before, but this has such an effect on me. I honestly get somewhat sorrowful smelling this. Laden with grief is right. Other than that I get some green and, well, somber blooms. The lab description is spot on. On my wrist: I have to repeat myself here: this is just a sad scent. But beautifully so, reminiscing of the good times. Sadly, as it dries down it quickly turns into the same flower powder (whoever coined that term, props to you!) I'm used to from promising florals. Maybe it's an issue with my skin chemistry, I don't know.

In the vial: Oh this is gorgeous! It's like a thick whiff of tropical air with sweet fuit and lush flowers, except there's that extra touch brought in by the musk and the spices. Yummy! On my wrist: Sadly, it turns powdery on me. I can't pick up much other than a faintly floral, powdery scent. It seems to stay that way. Reminds me of Highwayman somewhat. Such a shame; if it had stayed similar to the initial scent, Hell's Belle would've gone to my bottle list.

In the vial: I smell Bailey's and maybe a hint of coffee. There's an overwhelming creamy sweetness that I find quite off-putting. Not a hint of the dusty tomes or the oakwood halls. On my wrist: I tried to apply this very carefully, but the sweetness is still really aggressive. There might be some dusty tomes there, but I can't really get past the top scent enough to determine it. I'm afraid this scent just doesn't work for me. I was looking for tomes and halls with a touch of coffee, and didn't expect the the Irish part of it to be quite this. Conclusion: If you like the smell of Bailey's or creamy, sweet vanilla, this is your scent.

In the vial: It's cucumber and something sweet, the cake maybe? Quite yummy. On my wrist: This is an interesting scent. I can't really pinpoint anything besides the cucumber, but there's a lot going on. It's very fresh smelling and quite light. Very good for a hot summer day. After a few hours: The cake and cookies have come through, and there's still that cucumber. Sadly, I'm still getting no Earl Grey. Overall it's a lovely fresh scent, and I do get that "sitting down at a cafeteria for some snacks" vibe from it, which only brings me memories of good times.

In the vial: Seductive florals. It's quite intense, and I'm allured by it even if I'm not typically a floral person. There's also a steamy quality to the scent On my wrist: The spices are coming through, and they are gorgeous! The scent is feminine, but with a kick. I would even call it sexy. It's delicious; I want to eat my wrist. This is how I like my spices. Paris somehow manages to be steamy and dry at the same time. I love it so far. After a few hours: I can still pick up all the notes I could before. This scent stays strong and beautiful. This scent was really a surprise favourite; I didn't expect to love it like I did.

Wet: Bug spray. The notes sound good, though, and scents tend to morph a lot on me, so I want to give this one a try anyway. On my wrist: Still bug spray I'm afraid, but this would be the nicest smelling bug spray there is. I also smell something humid and green. After a few hours: A bitter green scent, probably the juniper. I never picked up the rose. This just doesn't work for me, I'm afraid. Rome faded very fast on me. Not much after I made the previous evaluation, the scent is completely gone.

Wet: Sharp, merciless smoke. I also get a hint of something sweet and burnt green. On my wrist: The sharpness has gotten really strong, charging right up my nose. This scent is intense. After a few hours: I can't really smell Djinn as much as I can feel it. When I try to smell my wrist, I get very little at first, but the after effect charges at me with full force. Then at times when I least expect it the scent of burnt ruins floats past my nose. While it doesn't really work on its own on me, this would be a very interesting scent to layer over something pretty and floral. I definitely want to keep the imp at least, and I want to give Djinn another go.

I am not too keen on florals, but I'm going to give this one a try because of the vetiver and the leather. Wet: Chemical florals and something green. Not too tempting, but my skin always morphs scents a lot. On my wrist: The florals have turned soft and beautiful, but I can't pick up much else. It's like walking through a well-kept garden of flowers. After a while the cinnamon comes through. It's an unusual combination, almost smelling of melted vanilla ice cream for some strange reason, with the leather giving it softness. That soon fades though, and it's all floral again. Still no vetiver. After a few hours: A pretty floral scent, but nothing special. A bit perfumy. Edit: My mother really liked it, so I gave the imp to her.

Wet: Sweet spices at a busy, hot market place, distant incence smoke. On my wrist: Honey wine and incence, and the laurel branches are really kicking through, opening up my sinuses. After a while the incence becomes most prominent, although all the other notes stick around as well. After a few hours: The honey wine and incence are the only notes still lingering on. It's a sweet, slightly smoky scent.

Wet: Green and smoky deep woods. On my skin: It instantly starts to morph, getting a more powdery scent, but not in a bad way. The woods are still there, but less deep and brighter. I'm also getting some floral. After a few hours: All I'm getting is perfumey floral. Strange, considering that there shouldn't be any. Maybe it's the fruit mixed in with some of the other ingredients, or then my skin chemistry is just playing tricks on me. All in all it's not the kind of scent I was looking for, even though the initial impression was very promising.

Wet: Smoky dark florals, with a hint of bitter sweetness. On my skin: Deep, dark florals and a sharp, cold wind. The sweetness is a distant hint that fades quickly, turning into something burnt. After a few hours: There's only a faint, dark floral left. It's a seductive scent and while it's beautiful and quite expressive, it's not necessarily my thing. I'll have to give it another go sometime.

Wet: Salmiakki (aka salty liqourice, a Nordic/Dutch delicacy)! I definitely get a strong salmiakki vibe from this, alongside some somkiness. Can't wait to try! On my skin: I still get the salmiakki, but it's less prominent. The smokiness is still there, but I am also getting a surprising subtle, sharp, metallic quality, that goes right up my nose like strong menthol, except sweeter and warmer. There's even some sea water there. After a few hours: Deep, smoky, warm, somewhat sweet and humid. The sharpness is gone. Not at all dirty, and not even gritty. I get sensual more than anyhing. I would not recommend this scent to just anyone, but personally I love it. I'm listening to Tom Waits' album "Alice" while wearing this, and the two go together excellently. I feel like I'm sulking at a smoky, dead, run-down seaside tavern with moist wall boards of dark wood, and there's a storm outside. You know, in a good way. Recommended listening for this scent: Edit: It did turn soapy after longer wear, so prepare for re-applying. Edit 2: I wore this a second time and probably applied too much (one drop), because this time around I got the industrial waste smell and it was strong. So as long as you only wear a touch, this should be lovely.