dementia_divine

In the bottle: This is really strong on the patchouli, which is a chewy patch. The benzoin note is next in prominence, and then the fig, but I'm not really getting any vanilla from the bottle. I hope that won't be the case on my skin. Wet: Patchouli reigns, followed by the benzoin, and I'm getting a lot more fig on my skin than I did in the bottle. I wondered if this would be similar to A Moment in Time, which also features patchouli, benzoin, and fig. It does have a similarity (without the lavender, of course), but the patchouli in this is far more prominent (and it's smoky and chewy), and the fig and benzoin in this one are stronger, too. The fig seems to be increasing in strength the longer this sits on my skin, but the patchouli and benzoin are preventing it from being too sweet and won't let it completely take over. Dry: This is predominantly smoky patch and fig. The benzoin is still present, but not as strong as the other two notes. There is only a very faint trace of vanilla on my skin. Verdict: I'm not sure what to think of this one yet. I was hoping it would be a lovely vanilla and caramelized patch scent, but I'm not getting much vanilla on my skin. I'm going to keep it, let it age, and see if the vanilla comes out more over time... mainly because it has those similarities to A Moment of Time, which only got better with age.

In the bottle: Honey musk, followed by sweet magnolia, and then the vanilla chiffon. Wet: The honey musk and magnolia are quite strong on my skin, and I'm not able to smell any vanilla at this point. The magnolia is rather perfume-y, for lack of a better term, but the honey musk is helping to tame it, making it a nice, sugary floral. After a few minutes, the vanilla chiffon note emerges, and it's a light, smooth vanilla note. Now I'm really enjoying this! I think the honey musk is the same one found in Capax Infiniti, or maybe it's the combination of the honey musk and the vanilla that remind me of that scent. I agree with Atrous' description of this being delicate and wispy. Dry: The honey musk still reigns, but the vanilla note has made it a lot cozier now, and both notes have helped tame the magnolia, which is a lot softer now. Verdict: I am really glad that I took a chance on this one. I wasn't sure if magnolia would be my cup of tea, or if it would be honey musk all the time, but this is wonderful, and I'm curious to see how it ages!

2016 version. In the bottle: Syrupy vanilla, along with what must be the saffron or some unlisted notes (I have gotten both wintergreen and root beer – but not full-on root beer! – vibes, but other times, it just smells spiced), followed by the vanilla cream. Wet: This kind of reminds me of slightly minty root beer or root beer barrel candies, but not quite. The cream note is stronger on my skin, but isn't as strong as the other notes. The cream note gaining prominence gives this more of a root beer float vibe. I really wasn't expecting this from this scent, but I love root beer, so I'm not complaining. As the scent begins to dry, the vanilla and cream notes are becoming stronger, and the root beer vibe is becoming less root beer-y. Dry: Saffron, vanilla cream goodness. SO GOOD. Verdict: I am so glad I bought a bottle of this one! I knew it would be good, and it didn't disappoint! Now to decide whether or not one bottle will be enough... I'm thinking it won't be.

In the bottle: The cucumber is the most prominent note. The minty green tea resides in the background. It smells nice and refreshing. Wet: The cucumber note is still the strongest, but I get more of the minted green tea on my skin than I did in the bottle. It's like Squirting Cucumber and the green tea note in Shanghai had a baby, with some mint thrown in. Dry: Cucumber continues to be the dominant note, and I'm getting less mint now than I did before. It's a clean, cucumber and green tea scent. Verdict: I thought I would love this, but there's less mint in this than I would have liked. I enjoy it and will be keeping my bottle, as I think it would be great on hot summer days. However, if I had ordered decants instead of a blind bottle, I wouldn't have gotten a bottle, since I already own bottles of Squirting Cucumber and Shanghai.

In the imp: Such flowers. Much wow. Wet: This is sour on me. I figured it would be. I haven't had much luck with rose and lilac when they're paired together. This features a fresh, Rose Red-like rose note. Dry: The rose has calmed down, so it isn't clashing with the lilac and wisteria as much anymore, but that sour twang is still present, even though the scent is smoother during this phase. Verdict: This one just doesn't work with my skin chemistry.

In the decant: Yay! Sarsaparilla! It's hard to pick out the other notes in this one, and I'm not familiar with High John the Conqueror root. But the sarsaparilla, combined with the other sweet notes, makes me think of root beer barrel candies. Wet: Ah. It's so nice and creamy, thanks to the almond milk and sarsaparilla notes. It becomes less creamy over time as the sarsaparilla note becomes the dominant note and the other notes start to peek out in the background. Dry: The sarsaparilla note still reigns, but I can smell the black patchouli, tobacco smoke, coconut, and white pine bark now. I preferred the wet phase of the scent, as it was sweeter and creamier. Verdict: I like it, but not as much as Tombstone or Stimulating Sassafras Strengthener. I'll keep my decant, but I don't think I'll be upgrading to a bottle.

In the imp: I can smell the rosewood, chamomile, red sandalwood, violet, and just a touch of the bergamot. The rosewood is the strongest note in the imp. Wet: The rosewood is still the strongest note, and the chamomile note is rather strong as well. I'm getting more of the bergamot on my skin than I did in the imp. The violet and sandalwood are still present and aren't light by any means, but they aren't as strong as the aforementioned notes. Dry: This is still rosewood dominant, but the chamomile has a lesser role. I'm smelling more of the violet now, and the musk is present during this phase. The sandalwood note deepens the scent. The bergamot note hasn't faded away, but I have to inhale really deeply in order to smell it now. I'm not able to pick out the primrose. Several hours later, the musk rises to the front, making it a very musky rosewood and violet scent. Verdict: I'm not really feeling the combination of the rosewood and violet.

In the imp: I'm smelling the violet, bitter neroli, and iris. I'm not fond of violet and iris, and neroli has a history of being horrible on my skin. But mostly, I smell the violet. Wet: Violet, neroli, and iris reign, with the violet being the strongest. Dry: This is still VIOLET LIKE WHOA on me, but the dark musk has emerged, and there is a hint of sandalwood in the background now. Violet and iris are the main players, though. Verdict: I'm not a violet fan, and this one has plenty of it, so it's not my cup of tea.

In the imp: I'm getting the sun-dried thatching and wood. Wet: Sun-dried thatching and herbs, followed by the wood. It's a warm scent, and more pleasant than I thought it would be, given its name and description. Dry: Same, but even warmer now. It really does smell like a sun-warmed hut. Verdict: I can't see myself reaching for this one, but it's a lot better than I thought it was going to be from the description!

In the imp: The cypress and black narcissus are the first notes to jump out at me, followed by the opoponax, and other florals and resins. Wet: The resins are more prominent on my skin, but the cypress is the dominant note. However, it isn't long before the black narcissus note takes the cypress' place as the most prominent note on my skin. Dry: The black narcissus still reigns, making this a floral-dominant scent, but I can still smell the cypress and resins in the background. Verdict: This one is okay, but not something that grabs me enough to make me want more of it.

In the imp: Fig, cocoa, and then wood. But mostly fig. Wet: The fig reigns, followed by the cocoa, but the cocoa note is far less prominent. Then, the wood notes emerge. Dry: I swear the fig is even stronger and sweeter now. I think the cocoa note has disappeared, and while the wood still remains, it's mostly just FIG LIKE WHOA. Verdict: There's too much fig in this for me.

In the imp: Frankincense and myrrh, but mostly the former. Wet: This is frankincense dominant, but I can smell the myrrh as well. This is a very strong, resin scent. Dry: The frankincense in this is really, really strong. This scent is too sharp to my nose, and it's starting to give me a headache. Verdict: If you like strong resins (especially frankincense), try this. However, this scent just reaffirms that I don't like usually enjoy resin scents without something sweet present (like the vanilla in Hesiod's Phoenix).

In the imp: This is an aquatic, all right. I smell something somewhat lemon-y and there's a salty aspect present as well as what may be a floral. Wet: I think I'm smelling lemon peel. Lots and lots of lemon peel. Then, the floral I thought I was detecting in the imp emerges, adding a sweetness to the scent. Dry: It's a salty, citrusy floral now. Verdict: Not for me.

In the imp: The white tea note is by far the strongest note, followed by a light ginger note. These are the same white tea and ginger notes found in Baobhan Sith. Wet: The ginger note is stronger on my skin than it was in the imp, but the white tea is still really prominent. This is like Baobhan Sith without the awesome grapefruit and apple blossom notes. Dry: This has calmed down significantly. The white tea is still at the front of the scent, but it's softer now, and so is the ginger. It smells like a warm, clean scent. Verdict: I have used imps of this scent before to scent loads of laundry, and I enjoy using it that way. However, this is not a scent that I could see myself reaching for as a skin scent... not as long as Baobhan Sith is available, at least.

I've been afraid to try this one, because of the very realistic cannabis accord note. I feel like now is the time to give it a chance, though! In the decant: Cannabis and patchouli. I feel like my decant has really embraced its hippie self since it has had several months to age. The smoky vanilla note is faint, but present. Wet: HIPPIE LIKE WHOA. The cannabis accord dominates, but the patchouli note isn't far behind. The hemp note is pretty strong as well. Where art thou, vanilla? Dry: The cannabis accord note has gone away, and now the patchouli and hemp reign, with the patchouli being the dominant note. I can smell a bit of the vanilla now, but it isn't a main player on my skin. Verdict: I wanted to see how similar this was to Revenant Rhythm. There is a similarity, with the patchouli and hemp, but I get a lot more hemp from this, the vanilla in this is different, and the presence of the cannabis accord make this a lot more hippie-ish than Revenant Rhythm is on me. I don't want to smell like the cannabis accord at all, so I'll be sticking with Banshee Beat/Revenant Rhythm for my vanilla + patchouli fix.

In the imp: Apricot, followed by the black patchouli. Wet: Same. It doesn't take long for the black patchouli note declares dominion over the apricot note, though, making it a smoky apricot scent. Dry: The black patchouli note reigns, and the apricot note has taken up a background role. Verdict: I'll be sticking with Aristocratic Couple (and what remains of my imp of the beloved March Hare) for my apricot fix, but if you like apricot and enjoy smelling strongly of patchouli, give this a whirl.

In the imp: Almond (but not intensely almond, thanks to the other notes), followed by the floral, oakmoss, musk, and a bit of sandalwood. Wet: The almond is present, but the star jasmine and oakmoss are trying their hardest to overtake it, and they'll probably succeed, as almond doesn't have a lot of longevity on my skin. I'm also getting the Egyptian musk, and the combination of it and the almond remind me somewhat of Bastet. The red sandalwood note is lingering in the background, but it seems to be getting stronger over time. Dry: Just as I predicted, the star jasmine (a non-stinky jasmine!) and moss won out. I have to inhale really deeply to be able to detect the almond note now. The red sandalwood is a lot stronger during this stage of the scent, but the star jasmine and moss are the first notes that jump out to my nose. The musk is still present as well, but I don't get as much Egyptian musk from this as I do in Bastet. Verdict: This one doesn't really grab me. It's yet another scent that proves that star jasmine is a variety of jasmine that works with my skin chemistry, though!

Thanks to Absinthetics for raffling this imp, which she received at one of the movie screenings! In the imp: Black leather like whoa, with a hint of the ghostly chill mentioned in the description. Wet: Smooth, worn black leather, followed by the ghostly chill, which is more prominent on my skin than it was in the imp. Perhaps it is due to white mint? I know I've smelled the note before, but it's difficult to place at the moment. Dry: The leather note has calmed down, I can still smell that ghostly chill, and I can finally smell the pages of the book! Verdict: I'm pleasantly surprised by this one. I am usually not one for leather-dominant scents (unless the scent contains a sweet note), and this one is still too strong on the leather for me, but the chilly note actually goes well with the leather. Since I don't see myself reaching for this one often enough, I'm going pass it onto a friend who enjoys leather and cold notes.

In the decant: Steeped tea leaves and bitter berries. I'm reminded of the tea leaf note from Miss Spink and Forcible's Tea Leaves (which reminds me of a green Earl Grey), but I can't say for sure if these are green tea leaves. The tea leaf note feels a lot darker, but not licorice-y (I sometimes get that vibe from the Lab's black tea note). Wet: The tea note remains the same. The berries aren't quite as bitter on my skin, but there is something about this that says there is something not quite right about this tea. I think there may be bergamot in this as well. Dry: The tea note calms down, and by this point I do think it is steeped black tea leaves that I'm smelling. The berry note is still rather strong and tart, but I think it is smoother in this phase of the scent. Verdict: I'm glad I tried this one, but I don't feel the need to get more of it since I already have Miss Spink and Miss Forcible's Tea Leaves.

In the bottle: A burst of champagne, followed by the smoky vanilla, opium, and cognac notes that say 'this is in the lace family'! The champagne was a lot stronger when this first arrived, but it seems to have mellowed a bit after being allowed to settle for a few weeks. Wet: The champagne note reigns, followed by the opium, smoky vanilla, and cognac. I tend to amp the Lab's champagne note, so I'm glad that I'm able to smell the other notes. I was worried this would be champagne like whoa on me. Dry: The champagne is still the dominant note, but the smoky vanilla note has grown stronger over time. Verdict: I am glad that this isn't a champagne single note on me. I like it, but it doesn't even come close to my beloved Summer Lace (which is probably a good thing, since it means that I don't need to obtain back-ups).

In the imp: This one has a lot of notes! The ones that jump out to my nose are the lemon, red currant, rose, jasmine, and violet. Wet: Oh hai, lemon! I'm getting lemon and florals. I'm not familiar with wisteria, but I can smell the rose, jasmine, orris, and violet. I'm also getting the red currant and a bit of the sandalwood. Alas, it isn't long before the heady jasmine note declares dominion over the other florals, making the scent primarily lemon and jasmine (and not the good kind) on me. Dry: Mostly lemon and jasmine, followed by violet. Verdict: Not mah jam.

In the imp: Ooh, this is really pretty. The pink musk and creamy skin musk notes are the most prominent to my nose, followed by the pale sandalwood note, and a bit of the myrrh. Wet: The musk notes reign, but the sandalwood note is a lot stronger on my skin than it was in the imp. After a while, the myrrh note joins the sandalwood note. The star jasmine note isn't problematic (like some varieties of jasmine can be) and seems to be mingling with the musks. Dry: The resins are more prominent during this phase, but they remain sweetened by the pink musk note, with a bit of creaminess from thanks to the presence of the other musk. Verdict: I really like this one! I just wish the musks in this one were as strong on my skin as they were in the imp. The resins were stronger on my skin than I was expecting, especially during the dry phase. Maybe I'll try it in a scent locket so it won't morph. I don't feel the need to leap for a bottle now, but I'll consider getting one in the future!

In the imp: The violet note is pretty intense, but I'm also smelling other florals, incense, and fruit as well. Wet: Purple like whoa! The violet note is still the most prominent, followed by the fruit. The other florals and the incense are background players at the moment. After a bit, the incense note and night-blooming florals begin to emerge more. Dry: The violet still reigns, but the incense and other floral notes are a lot stronger now. Verdict: This one isn't for me, as I am not a fan of violet, and there's too much of it in this one for my liking.

In the imp: This isn't an in-your-face aquatic. The florals and the fir take it in a different direction, and while I'm not normally a fan of aquatics, I'm looking forward to trying this one. Wet: The ocean water note is more prominent on my skin, making the scent somewhat less sweet, but it still doesn't dominate. The floral notes and fir make me feel like I'm in a forest by the ocean. Then, the sweetness returns – I am thinking it must be the hyacinth note. The star jasmine in this is not a stinky jasmine note on me at all, and for that, I'm relieved. Dry: For some reason, this reminds me a bit of Elf, even though they don't have any listed notes in common. I really like this, and I think it would pair nicely with Elf hair gloss! Verdict: I'm glad I gave this a chance, even though aquatics and I don't normally get along. I enjoy this one, but I will wait and see how quickly I go through my imp before considering a bottle.

Note: I am not familiar with the scent of actual candied apples. I think I've only had caramel apples. In the bottle: A juicy apple. I think this features a red apple note. Wet: Juicy red or red and yellow apples. The apple note somewhat tart, but I don't think it is tart enough to be a green apple. The apple is a lot stronger than the sugar. The candied aspect isn't that prominent, though I can tell that it is there, especially when I compare it to scents like Poisoned Apple. Dry: Sugary red apples. It's a lot sweeter now. I prefer this phase of the scent. Verdict: This one is nice. It's not one of my favorite apple scents, but I think I'll be holding onto my bottle, as I really need some spiceless Weenies in my collection.