tharsei-thanate

Bought a decant of the 2012 version from kawaiiferreto! Been interested in this for a while despite the fact that, while I haven't tried many of them, the chocolate blends and tobacco blends I've tried haven't quite worked out on me. But I have to say, this isn't bad! Maybe it's because my decant doesn't seem to have any sludge but the cocoa is being reasonable. In fact, this is sweet, perfumey tobacco smoke wafting over a thin layer of sulty cocoa all wrapped in musk. Very sexy, very sweet, yet not all that foody. I honestly didn't think I'd like it this much. I'll have to do more tests to make sure today isn't a fluke, but if this blend keeps getting along with my skin I may have to go looking for a bottle. (:

I just got a partial imp of this in the mail from a forums purchase and I tried a dab and it's SO AMAZINGLY GOOD. There's no soap, there's no powder, there's no artificiality... it's just gorgeously warm, sugar-sweet incense and the most beautiful flowers. This is literally the best floral perfume I've ever tried. I'm both extremely upset I don't have more and extremely happy I have any of it at all. This is a precious treasure, and I'm glad that I can add it to my collection.

Oh, this is fantastic! Bought a partial on a whim and I'm glad I did! I just took a bath with it and it was just this lovely, pink, soft strawberry sweetness- surprisingly luxurious. In fact, this blend is so luxurious that it put the fact that I was in a shoddy, too-shallow bathtub completely out of my mind. I closed my eyes and sunk down and just breathed it in. Then when I got out I put some oil in my hair and my hair smells amazing, like pink strawberries and fluffs of candy floss. It's certainly girly but it's not at all childish. Mmmm, I need to find more of this.

Received this as a frimp from a forumite! In the imp: Lily and cologne are the two notes I can primarily pick out. The other notes are there but well-blended. Very sophisticated and certainly evocative. Wet: Mmmmm, beautiful lilies and sweet opium. Very nice. Drydown: Lily is still dominating but the opium and tobacco are just behind it, adding depth. The cologne is even further in the background, subtle but still recognizable if I concentrate. Dry: The lily is quieting down and melding with the opium and tobacco. The cologne is creeping up and becoming more pronounced. I always find cologne to be a comforting note so this blend is very relaxing right now, haha. Further on: The cologne has joined the lily/opium/tobacco mix, as well as a small splash of sherry. Also, there's a smokiness surrounding it that's a tiny bit sharp but not in a bad way. It also feels a bit dusty now. Crumbling decadence, indeed! I do like this, but I wish the lily stayed at the forefront in the dry stage. The end result is nice but it's not really me. I'm keeping the imp, but I don't see a bottle in my future.

To this day, that night of foolishness is still celebrated! This is a light-hearted scent: apple orchards, bright cranberries, and a touch of warm cider. Thank you, Gateau, for the frimp! This is the 2012 version. In the imp: Oh! That is pure autumn! Warm cider, crisp apples, and the occasional whiff of bright cranberry. And do I detect leaves? Oh, this is lovely. Skin, be nice! Wet: So warm! So juicy! My mouth is watering! I'm seeing orange and red and gold! I just catapulted into October! Drydown: It's cooling down a bit but in the best way. The same elements are there but they're more defined now. They're so sweet and delicious. And the spice from the cider is amping! I'm so happy right now! Why didn't I test this at NYCC?! Dry: Cider spice is dominating, with the occasional waft of crisp apple or cranberry to keep things interesting. This is just amazing. Even blends that are good on me usually aren't this good. Also, this keeps almost veering into potpourri but the fruits keep saving the day. I could cry. This is a phenomenal blend on me. I need a bottle! Ten bottles! ONE MILLION BOTTLES Edit: Hello there, new page! Added in the scent description. (:

I'm in a foodie mood today, time to test this little half-decant I purchased last month! In the imp: DELICIOUS! The cake, the rum, the butterscotch! I just want to drink it all up! Please, skin, please be kind, don't ruin the delicousness. Wet: Very subdued. And a bit... artificial? Weird, I can hardly smell it so I can't really tell what it's doing. It's not like I used a tiny bit, either. Drydown: Wait, it's developing a throw, and I'm catching the crust now. Mmmmmm. There's also that sweetness- it's a bit buttery, a bit creamy, a bit butterscotchy. Actually, this is really nice. Wish it were louder, though. Skin, I know this is delicious, but you don't have to eat it up like this. Dry: Ah, there's that artificial note from the wet stage. Plastic, but thankfully it's not too overbearing. Also, I can definitely smell ice cream now. Cool and creamy. Further on: The plastic is still there but it's way more subdued. There's still ice cream here but now the butterscotch and crust are back. Trying not to lick my wrists right now. I love thiiiiis. If there was no plastic in this at all I'd scour the forums for more. Well. Hm, no, I might go looking for more when I finish this imp. I just sniffed myself again and caught a light whiff of something fruity mixed with the rum and it's making my mouth water. Luckily, my foodie cravings don't happen that often so hopefully this imp lasts for a while, because it is a precious, delicious treasure.

Play-Doh, nooooo Snagged a frimp at this past NYCC, haven't touched it until tonight, and it's Play-Doh. Vanilla can be weird on me sometimes so it's not entirely surprising, but it is disappointing. Luckily, it isn't 100% Play-Doh. The incense is lovely and and smokey and there's a yummy sweetness lurking close to my skin. This is definitely a sexy blend. But it'd be even sexier if the Play-Doh wasn't sitting there and mocking me. Sigh. I guess the best course of action is to put this away and let it age and see what happens.

Whaaa? I haven't reviewed this? Well, it's super yummy! Brightly herbal, with an invigorating kick of ginger and a surprising, delicious sweetness. This scent makes me so happy! I wish it was more than just a squirt but I'll take what I can get.

I bought a decant from a forumite a little while ago and I don't know why I haven't tested this sooner. This is gorgeous. It's a warm, golden rose, but it's not loud or overly perfumey or powdery like some other rose blends are on me. There are other florals mingling nicely with it. There's also a breath of leaves which brings a hint of autumn. Nothing aquatic is coming out on my skin which is fine with me! The rose becomes more subdued as it dries and the other florals are taking the lead. I'm not entirely sure what these other florals are, but they're lovely. The leaves are somewhere in the background, adding marvelous depth. Wait, I think I detect honeysuckle. Be still, my beating heart! When my wallet heals from this year's luper updates, I must find a bottle of this.

Some backstory before I begin: I bought a bottle of Strawberry Moon unsniffed last year the day it went live- it just looked so appealing! When I got it I did a quick review on my tumblr but I reviewed it straight out of the mail and you know how scents can change after they settle. I also like to think my nose is better trained now. Sooo since I'm in a summertime mood today despite the snow still piled up outside, I'm gonna test this again. In the bottle: Mmm, it's like a warm, languid summer day. The strawberries are ridiculously ripe and juicy. Actually, the image I'm getting is a warm, sunny garden littered with squashed strawberries, haha. I can almost hear the cicadas. Also, there's def something green if I concentrate. Very nice. Wet: It's more subdued and cooler than in the bottle, but it's pretty much the same- sunshine, blue skies, and strawberries. It's amazing how good the strawberries smell. They're not that bright, cheerily artificial sort of strawberry that's present in every other strawberry-scented thing. I mean, they don't quite smell like true strawberries on my skin, there's an artificiality to them now that wasn't there in the bottle, but this is nevertheless the nicest strawberry scent I've ever smelled. Dry-down: The other notes are emerging but they're so well-blended with the strawberry that's it hard to pick them out exactly. There's a light green quality, and a very soft floral quality, and a subtle sweetness. These qualities are making the strawberry less loud overall and they're adding wonderful complexity. Dry: Much of the same, but cooler. It's almost like it's spring now instead of summer. Gosh, I wish I could pick this apart better- I guess my trained nose is no match for Beth's masterful blending! So looking back, this review is fairly similar to my first one. Aging hasn't done much to this blend, it seems. Still, it's very lovely. The honey isn't too prominent or cloying, the green aspects aren't screaming at me, the strawberries seem a little bit candylike but they aren't full-on artifical strawberry candy, which is great. Basically, I'm really glad I have my bottle. (: I'm def gonna wear this more this year when the weather warms up!

This blend right here is hands down the best clean blend ever. I love linen blends but sometimes they're a bit too clean- great to have an imp/decant of for when the proper conditions are met (aka I want to clean my room or I just got out of the shower), but not worthy of a bottle. This, though? I need a bottle of this. It's clean but it doesn't scream "BATHROOM!!!" like other linen blends do. A bathroom did come to mind as a mental image but instead of simply seeing tiles and neatly folded towels I pictured myself stepping out of a shower in an enormous white bathroom and wrapping myself in a big, fluffy white towel, the scent of linden blossom body wash lingering heavily in the air. Then as the oil dried on my skin it was like throwing open the windows and enjoying a light breeze while looking out into a beautiful springtime garden filled with fragrant white and yellow flowers illuminated by bright sunlight. This blend is so lovely, so fresh with the perfect amount of floral. There's even a warmth to it, like a light musk, and just the perfect hint of sweetness from the vanilla (which isn't going wonky on me, yay!). I just love that it isn't straight up bathroom and has complexity to it. This is going to be the absolute perfect blend for when the weather warms up. The second I get my next paycheck I am buying a bottle. Thank you to the forumite who gave me a decant- you're a peach!

Got an imp of this from a forumite! After reading all the other reviews I'm really curious about how this'll turn out on my skin, haha. In the imp: Mint! But not a strong mint, it's more like mint leaves growing all over the yard in summertime. Very lovely. Wet: Mint, but it's... dark? It's also a bit astringent. Cool and shadowy is how I'd put it. Dry-down: There's a green quality coming out now. I believe I'm catching a light, powdery rose. The mint is still there and while it's still cool it's not as astringent. And there's something else in here that I can't quite place- it feels like musk but I'm not sure because it's so subtle. Dry: Green stems, mint, soft floral, a hint of dark musk. It's brighter now and makes me think of what a black cat would smell like after rolling around in the garden on a chilly spring morning and getting mint and flowers in its fur. Further on: It's gotten warmer. Also, my skin hasn't completely devoured this like it's wont to do with other blends. I actually really like this. I like the mental image I'm getting with the dry stage- it's really lifting my spirits! The more I smell my wrists the more I like this. I hope subsequent tests yield the same results; this is definitely a blend for those long days at the office. I might have to get a bottle if this blend keeps being good to me.

Before I begin, I just wanna say that I don't really have nightmares, but I have stress and anxiety dreams occasionally. This weekend I had a series of stressful dreams that had me wake up in the morning feeling like I hadn't slept at all. Last night I tried out Baku, which I had received from a forumite last week, to see if it would help. From what I remember, Baku was all lavender at first and then during the drydown it slowly warmed up and became more herbal. But it was a soft, subdued sort of herbal- I didn't catch any gross anise/fennel licorice. I also didn't catch any eucalyptus. It was just a very comforting herbal lavender. Actually, it was so comforting that I fell asleep before it even completely dried, haha. Then I had a lovely dream in which I visited a friend in Baltimore. I recall at one point we went joy riding around the city but it was completely stress-free, which is surprising considering I managed to have a stress dream about grocery shopping of all things a few nights ago. It was so nice to just have fun in a dream for once. Best of all, I woke up feeling completely refreshed. (: I'll do more tests and if I continue having pleasant, stress-free dreams then I'm definitely going to have to get a bottle!

Received an imp of this from a generous forumite! Wow, the oil is really dark. It's a bit intimidating, to be honest! It's like I'm about to dab some wine on my skin. In the imp: Oh, how lovely! This is a fresh, green forest! I can smell pine and grass and leaves and resins! I adore forest blends, so this is wonderful. I can also smell a subtle yet delightful sweetness. I can't quite figure out what it is (is it the lilies? the grape vine? the opium smoke? all of them seamlessly blended together into one gorgeous note?) but it's amazing. If my skin keeps it like this I'll be so happy! Wet: Ah. That's a change. It's grape vine, but it doesn't smell really pleasant. I mean, it's not awful but it's a bit... overripe? It's certainly dark and heavy but not really in a good/sexy way. Luckily it's not disgusting, just a bit unpleasant. Hm, wait, it's getting a bit better. It smells kind of perfumey now. Unless that's another note interacting with the grape? Not sure. Dry-down: I think I'm catching a whiff of the lilies, and if I concentrate I can almost smell the beautiful forest that was in the imp. Also, the grape is getting less dark. There is something in this blend I just can't put my finger on that's really nice. It could be the smoke, I'm not really all that familiar with opium smoke. Dry: The grape is still there but it's brighter. There's even a little tang to it. Also, it's perfumey in a way that's bugging me. It's nice but it's reminding me of something and I just can't figure out what. Maybe I'd be able to pin it down if my skin wasn't drinking it up so quickly. There's barely any throw left. Further on: I can almost smell pine and that beautiful sweetness from the imp but it's so ridiculously light now that I honestly can't tell if it's actually there or I just think it's there. Man, this was so much better in the imp. It's not too bad on my skin but it's just so different from what I was hoping for. Also, I don't think I got much rose, if any. Actually, hold on, I'm gonna cut off a frayed bit at the bottom of my shirt and dab some oil on that and see how it smells there. This could be a blend for a scent locket. Mmmm, forest. No wait a sec, it smells like... eucalyptus?! Nooooo, I don't want that! Where did that come from??? I can't win. Dammit, it smells so amazing in the imp. Still, I'm keeping this imp. I can just sniff it straight-up if I ever need to be transported to a far away forest. I'll do more skin tests, too. Maybe my skin chem is just being weird today. Maybe the oil just needs to age. I'll get that forest on my skin someday, I'm determined to make it happen!

Got an decant from a lovely forumite! In the imp: Yup, like others have said, this is fancy floral-scented soap (mostly violet with rose, specifically). But I don't mind it at all, I think it's pretty, though it's rather strong. Wet: Hmmmm. It's not as loud or as bright as it is in the imp, but it's the same general scent. It's definitely dark and heavy and warm. I think I'm catching that grey musk along with the floral soap. It's more mysterious to me than creepy. Dry-down: Much like the wet stage but it feels dustier. I'm definitely getting the imagery now, only it's moonbeams rather than sunbeams coming through the window. Dry: It's gotten softer and there's another element now. I think this might be the oaken walls? It's also gotten a bit cooler. I really like it overall, but I think it's a bit too heavy for casual use. I'll keep my imp and maybe snag another imp in the future but I don't think I'll be getting a bottle.

Got an imp of this from a super generous forumite! This'll be my first Phoenix blend. In the imp: Interesting. Smells a bit aquatic and somewhat sharp. No particular note is jumping out. Wet: Goes on sharp but not a moment later it smoothes out into lovely, bright honeysuckle. The other florals are gently wafting but they're too soft to really pick out. Dry-down: The florals are all blending together nicely with the musk. None of the notes are particularly overpowering. This is definitely a nocturnal blend, though. Midnight blue is the color I'm getting. Dry: Soft, almost powdery florals. Quite lovely. But man, my skin just drinks everything I put on it. There's not much throw to this, haha. But if I put my wrist to my nose and close my eyes it's like being in a moon-lit field overflowing with blooming flowers. Overall, this is a beautiful blend. Not sure if I want a bottle because I have plenty of florals already, but I'm super glad I have an imp of this. (:

Purchased a bottle from the wonderful Morgstress! I've been dying to try this blend for ages, so I'm really excited I can finally do so. (: In the bottle: A little sweet, a little grassy, a teeeeny bit astringent, with something rich/deep lurking. Pretty nice but nothing I'm thrilled with. Let's see what it does on my skin. Wet: Oh my, this is a very soft blend. It's sweet and has this... this... organic quality???? It's like. I don't know. I'm a bit stumped as to how to describe it. I mean, simply calling it "grass" or "wheat" won't do because isn't quite grass or wheat. I mean, they're there but there's more to it that I can't ascribe to the other notes. Actually, it could be mallow because I've no idea what it smells like. There's also a quality that's like... oh boy, this is bizarre. It's not aquatic at all but it's like... I'm sniffing a shallow puddle? If that makes sense? It doesn't smell like a puddle, it's more of the sensation I'm getting when I sniff my wrist. Dry-down: Much of the same, though it's getting softer and that bizarre puddle sensation is fading a little (evaporating?). Dry: It's very, very soft. If I stick my nose right on my wrist it's a pleasantly powdery sweetness that's very yellow and a bit grassy, but if I hover over the area it's just this vague sort of perfume. Further on: Oh, hello honey! Nice of you to join us! The throw kicks up just a wee tiny bit to accommodate the honey but otherwise nothing much has changed. It's still super soft. So, uh, that was a crazy test run. I'm certainly baffled by that wet stage. I probably sound insane with that shallow water thing but man, I've never smelled anything like that before. It's like the perfume had this really crazy scent texture. I think I need to do more tests before I pass a verdict. [EDIT] I just noticed that I spilled a drop of oil on my shirt (my white work shirt ) but it smells pretty amazing! Sweet grass and hay and amber, mmmm. This would be perfect for a scent locket. Sorry skin, you and Hay Moon can't be roommates but you can be next door neighbors, ok?

Got an imp from a decant circle! The Shivering Boy is a blend I got precisely because the notes didn't wow me. I've found that the blends that work best on me are frimps that I would have never bought. So let's give this a go. In the imp this is a very aquatic blend, but aquatic in the bathroom and linens sense. On my skin, though, this blend goes in a completely different direction. I was expecting a cold scent, or at least a chilly scent, but this blend is ridiculously warm. Like snug under soft blankets in front of the fire warm. I don't know what this boy is shivering about, he seems pretty toasty to me! This blend has a rich, creamy sweetness to it that is rather fruity. I can picture the shivering boy wrapped in blankets and sitting at the hearth while indulging in a decadent dessert, haha. There's also a warm, woody sort of something, but usually I get a hard association with woods and this is soft. Actually, it could be resins. It's also... musky? Incensey? Sorry, this blend is really hard to describe since I'm not really familiar with ozone, labdanum, or benzoin. The longer it's on, the cooler it gets. It's like the fire is dying down and some of the blankets have been tossed away. Also, the dessert's been finished, though the smell of it is still lingering in the air. Everything else has calmed down quite a bit, too. Well, that was certainly one of the most unexpected scent adventures I've been on. I liked it when it was wet and drying down, but it got less enjoyable as it went. Not like it went bad, it just got really muted and a little bit artificial and I wanted it to continue smelling like an evening of fireside dessert-eating. I'm absolutely keeping the imp, but a bottle? Probably not.

Oh, Redoul Honey, how I completely, absolutely, irrevocably adore you. The first time I tested this blend I didn't have high hopes for it- I had tried Daphne Honey before and, not knowing what redoul was, thought this would be the same, namely a loud, screaming green sort of scent. But within seconds of it being on my skin it shot right into my top 3 BPALs blends. It's deliciously ripe berries dripping with juice and drizzled with honey. It's perfect sweetness with a mouth-watering tang. It's blue skies, white clouds, and afternoon sunshine. It's childhood nostalgia. It's wonderful. I'm so glad I got this as a frimp, because I don't think I would have ever tried it otherwise. I need a bottle of this, and soon! My imp is running out, haha.

Got this as a freebie in a decant circle order! In the imp it's bright and soft with a lovely, light sweetness but on my skin it morphs into something less innocent. At first sniff it's baby powder, which I actually rather love, but then there's something darker just under the surface that's floral, musky, and creamy all at once. Behind all that there's a heavily sweet something (honey? hard candies?? it's reminding me of another blend but I can't remember which- maybe Imp?) on the verge of becoming cloying but isn't quite stepping over the line. It's a very warm scent overall and I'm getting dark orange and red color associations. The longer I wear it, the more it brightens up. It's like those dark color associations were drapes covering a window and now they're finally being drawn open. Also, the maybe-it's-honey smell is a bit more subdued but it's at the forefront now with the powder and it feels like the two are fighting to overtake each other but they're trying to be polite about it and instead of punching or shoving each other they're having a gentle pushing match. If the musky, floral, creamy layer of the scent is still here, it's standing quietly behind the maybe-it's-honey and the powder, probably rolling its eyes at the fight it's witnessing. I have no idea what to make of this blend. I don't know if I actually like it or not overall. At least the notes all have personality! I don't think I'll get a bottle but I'll keep the imp for future tests. I definitely wanna wear this to a nightclub and see if anything happens.

Got this in a decant circle! This is my first Lick It. In the imp: It's minty, of course. But it's more like mint leaves than a candy cane, so it's not strong. I like it, though, it's pretty pleasant. Wet: MINT!!!! It's a pure, delicious, super minty candy cane. Sinus-clearing and cold. Yum, just what I wanted! Dry-down: Something creamy emerges, and the scent warms up the tiiiiniest bit. There's something in there that smells a bit plasticy, and I'm pretty sure it's the vanilla. Sometimes vanilla goes weird on me, but I was hoping this blend would be safe. Dry: The mint is just a whisper now and the vanilla is still plastic. It isn't an overbearing plastic, but it's still pretty bothersome. There's not really any warmth/musk, but it's not wonderfully cold either, just a bit chilly. Further on: The plastic fades a bit but doesn't leave entirely. There's also this nice, soft sweetness just underneath but it just can't break through the plastic. Gosh, I'm a bit sad this didn't quite work. Though I did only get it Monday, so maybe it just needs more time to settle? I think I'll let it age a bit before deciding whether or not it goes in the swap pile. [EDIT 7/26/13] Retested this and it works now! There's no plastic, there's that lovely sugar musk others have mentioned, and it's nice and cold. Aging really did the trick. I'm so happy! This is going to go into heavy rotation this December. :-)

Frimp from the lab! Today I was in the mood for a bright/sparkling scent, something to lift my spirits while I'm stuck in a basement office on a cold, cloudy day. I went through my imp pouch and picked out Titania because she seemed like she'd be a bright girl. I checked the notes and the list of fruits alone lifted my spirits- and then I saw there's sweet pea! I can't even begin to tell you guys how much I love sweet pea. I got a bunch of sweet pea body lotions/sprays from Bath and Body Works for Christmas and now I have a bpal with sweet pea! Oh my gosh, I am so excited! However, it's my time of the month which typically means fruits turn into sickly sweet candy, if Imp and the Vine are any indication, but I must try this now. In the imp: Bright, sparkling fruit with a breath of floral. I think the floral is a mix of the sweet pea and rose, but it's hard to tell. Nothing in particular is standing out but even if it remains like this, that's ok with me. It's very cheerful! Wet: SWEET PEA!!!! Loud, bright, wonderful sweet pea and a bit of green grass and a hint of snapdragon! This is so lovely I could cry! Dry-down: Here come the fruits. They smell a bit juicy and darker than the sweet pea. If the wet stage is like being out in the bright sunlight, then the dry-down is like moving to the shade. Dry: It's now fruit candy, very subdued sweet pea, and light musky rose. The fruits here are indeed like how the fruits in Imp and the Vine were during my time of the month tests- sticky hard candies, and not very appealing ones. Luckily, even though the candy is the most prominent right now, it's not making me gag or giving me a headache, so that's good, I guess! When wet this blend is phenomenal. It's exactly what I wanted. Buuuut the dry-down and dry stages weren't all that great. I'm not giving up hope, though, because I know it's just my current skin chem's fault. The Vine was nasty until I retested it at a later date and now it's a favorite. So you know what, I'll give this another go in a week or two and then write up an update. (: In the meantime, I'm going to dab some sweet pea lotion on my wrists and see if it mellows the candy smell, haha. [edit] It's a week later and I'm trying it again. The wet stage is the same but the dry-down has only bare hints of fruit candy and is still mostly sweet pea and snapdragon. Dry it gets very soft and a bit powdery. There's a wee bit of peach hard candy in there and a suggestion of musk and juicy grapes. Its color is green. It's definitely much nicer now, but I was hoping it would wow me more in the dry stages. I don't know about getting a bottle, but I'm definitely keeping the imp. Who knows, maybe this will age really well. (:

I'm at work right now and to get into the Christmas spirit I'm wearing Sugar Cookie 2011 layered with Port Royal. PR is almost all spice on me and SC '11 has some spice too so I smell deliciously of warm cookie dough and copious amount of nutmeg and cinnamon. Yummmm. Not sure about tomorrow, though. I had been planning on wearing either Lick it Softly or Talvikuu but the decants I ordered haven't even been mailed out yet. Maybe I'll just wear Port Royal.

I wore Third Charm yesterday. Today I have Sonnet D'Automne on as a calming post-holiday scent. (:

When I went to NYCC, this was one of the first blends I tried. On my skin it smelled deliciously sweet, a tad green, a bit woody, and there was a hint of cologne. It was amaaaazing. I bought a bottle and I was the happiest girl in the world. But then I tried it on the next day, just a little dab, and what did I get? Acrid smoke and dust. And it wasn’t a nice dust like the dust notes you get in other blends, this was like actual dust, the sort of dust you find under your bed or behind the couch and it makes your throat itch and you can’t stop sneezing. It was like someone took dust bunnies and shoved them in the bottle and shook it around to blend it. I had a massive negative reaction. Still, I put the bottle on my perfume shelf and told myself I should let it age and try again. First I let it age a week, and when I tried it again it was the same. I almost made a sales page just for this blend right then and there but I stayed my hand. It’s been about a month since then. Let’s give it another go. In the bottle: Eugh, smoke and dust. So gross. Skin, you better rectify this. Wet: Still acrid smoke and dust, but with something pleasant breaking through, thank goodness. Drydown: There’s that sweetness I fell in love with! Finally! The dust and smoke have faded significantly but I still feel they’re there, whiiich I’m not too pleased with. I think it might just be a psychosomatic sort of thing (if that's even the right word to use), but recognizing it as such isn't making the feeling go away. Boooo. Dry: The sweetness deepens and there’s a rich sort of woody edge to it now. But there’s also plastic, much like the type I experienced in Miskatonic University. That plastic ruined MU for me. It might be the coffee, or hazelnut. Further on: It gets much warmer, the sweetness is still hanging out, the oak is still richly lingering, and the smokiness comes back a little but it’s not death like in the bottle and wet- it’s actually pretty pleasant. Almost flavorful. I think I’m catching the latte, too. Like, foamed milk. Yum. However, like with the smoke/dust earlier, I can still feel the plastic in there and it’s kinda ruining everything. >:-( I'm not sure how I feel about this one now that I've done a proper test. That gross smoke/dust combo and the dread Miskatonic plastic are playing mind games with me. The blend isn't all that bad in the end, really, but I'm not sure if this is worth keeping in the long run. You know what, I'll keep it for now but if those death notes don't take a hike by Halloweenie season next year then this is getting swapped or sold. [EDIT] Last tried this in November- now it's March and wow, what a change! This is richer now, with no plastic and minimal dust. But I don't think it's really *me*. Also, it's getting a bit less pleasant at it dries. Still way better than it was in November, that's for sure!