dementia_divine

In the imp: The lily and high-pitched wisteria stand out to my nose, backed by the white sandalwood.

Wet: The lily, sharp wisteria, and rose take the center stage. Behind them, I get some of the white sandalwood and frankincense. The wisteria and rose combo is sharp and somewhat sour on me, which confirms my thoughts on it not being a very good note combo on me after having this happen with Ode on Melancholy.

Dry: The floral notes continue to reign, although the wisteria and rose have calmed down slightly, and I am getting a lot more of the white sandalwood than before. The frankincense note is not a really strong variety and seems content with its background role.

Verdict: The rose and wisteria combination is too much for me, even though it does mellow out eventually.

In the imp: I am here for the honeysuckle and buttercup, but all I smell in the imp is jasmine. It’s a soft jasmine, but jasmine nonetheless.

Wet: The jasmine is the most prominent note on me. I can’t smell anything but the jasmine at first, but after a bit, I get a little honeysuckle behind it.

Dry: This is a bright floral scent resting on a bed of soft musk. The jasmine is still the star of the show, but I think I may be smelling the buttercup along with it now. I’m no longer able to pick out any honeysuckle, but I suspect it is adding a bit of brightness and sweetness to the scent.

Verdict: I’m really glad i got to try this one! I think I prefer Eostre of the Dawn, because the honeysuckle plays a bigger role in that scent, so I don’t think I’ll hold on to this one. But it is a pretty spring floral scent.

In the imp: This reminds me of something, although I’m not sure exactly of what yet. I’m getting honeyed, soft, powdery myrrh, some red patchouli, and warm musk. I can smell the floral notes, but they’re not super heady in the vial (which surprises me, especially because there’s tuberose in this).

Wet: The honey, soft myrrh, and warm skin musk are the first notes that leap out at me. Then, I get a bit of patchouli and cognac. After a few minutes, the floral notes emerge. The geranium is sharp, and I think the tuberose is lending a creamy, floral quality to the scent.

Dry: The honey, soft myrrh, and warm skin musk continue to reign, and I am getting a little more cognac than I did before. The geranium and tuberose are present, but haven’t been permitted to stomp all over everything else. I only smell a hint of the red patchouli in the background.

Verdict: I really like this one! I just wish I could think of the scent it reminds me of! I’ll be holding on to my imp and seeing how much I reach for it before I decide if I need more.

In the decant: I was frimped a tester of this from a generous forumite. When I first sniffed this, fresh from the mail, my first thought was, “I fucked up. I should have tried this when it was available!” I’m getting the brown leather, tonka, bourbon vanilla, and a fresh, sweet, pink rose.

Wet: The brown leather and pink rose stand out to me the most, but I’m also getting a fair amount of tonka and bourbon vanilla. As the oil sits on my skin, the pink rose becomes more prominent. As Aviatrix said in her review, this is a pink rose in a vase next to a book rather than a rose being pressed into it.

Dry: The rose ends up being the strongest note for some time, but it does end up calming down somewhat after a while. I’m getting more brown leather, tonka, and vanilla bourbon than I did before. I’m not sure I would think of this one as a book scent, but it is lovely.

Verdict: This is really nice. I won’t actively seek out a bottle of it (because I try not to chase after past LEs as there are always so many new scents on the horizon), but if I ever happen to see one up for swaps, I’d pounce!

In the imp: Watermelon, white sandalwood, sweet pea, and lilac musk with the pale woods and a bit of oakmoss in the background.

Wet: I am getting the watermelon, sandalwood, and lilac musk, with some oakmoss in the background. The oakmoss and woods become more prominent as the scent begins to dry, but the watermelon, sandalwood, and lilac musk are still the main players.

Dry: The watermelon (which reminds me more of Jolly Ranchers than the real thing), lilac musk, oakmoss, and pale woods are the notes I am smelling now. Then, I am able to detect the sweet pea, but it’s not a main player on me.

After several hours, I’m left with some moss, pale woods (there’s a lot of white sandalwood now), lilac musk, and a much fainter watermelon note.

Verdict: The floral, wood, and moss notes kept the watermelon in check, fortunately. This is more pleasant than I thought it would be, but ultimately, it’s not something I’d reach for. I’m glad I was able to try it, though!

In the decant: The white tea note is by far the strongest note to my nose, followed by the honeycomb, and then the vanilla orchid. It reminds me of Snake’s Kiss without the vanilla cream and with the addition of orchid.

Wet: The astringent, lemony, white tea is the most prominent note, followed by the honeycomb. Behind those notes, I get the orchid, but no sandalwood yet.

Dry: The white tea and honeycomb continue to reign, followed by the vanilla orchid. The pale sandalwood has emerged now, but it resides in the background.

After a few hours, I get a little more of the pale sandalwood, but it remains content with its background role.

Verdict: This makes me think of Snake’s Kiss without the vanilla cream that I enjoy from Snake’s Kiss, and with the addition of orchid and a bit of sandalwood. It’s pleasant, but I don’t think I’ll keep the decant, as I know I’d just reach for Snake’s Kiss over this one.

The decant is not labeled with the year, but I am thinking this was likely from the original CD release.

In the decant: Blue lilac and lily of the valley sweetened by the nectarine and backed by the golden musk and green tea.

Wet: The floral notes are the most prominent notes, slightly sweetened by the nectarine (it was stronger in the vial than it is on my skin), and backed by the green tea. As it sits on my skin, the nectarine becomes a little stronger, and the bergamot emerges, making this more of a fruity floral. I’m also getting the musk as the scent dries down.

Dry: The blue lilac is the dominant note, followed by the nectarine and the bergamot, and then the lily. I do get a bit of the beeswax during this phase of the scent, but it’s really just a touch, and these notes are backed by the golden musk and white ginger.

Verdict: This is nice. It’s something I feel the need to grab a bottle of, but I would like to find a decant from the re-release and see what it smells like fresh.

In the imp: Orange, lavender, eucalyptus (I do get a Vicks Vapor Rub vibe from this), and possibly some ginger (there’s some warmth in the background).

Wet: I’m getting orange, lavender, eucalyptus, what I still think may be ginger, orange blossom, and something green. Then it quickly changes to lemon (I’m thinking lemongrass), ginger, lavender, orange blossom, and jasmine. As it dries, the eucalyptus reasserts itself, and I think the green note may be rosemary.

Dry: This is mostly an herbal citrus, lavender, and orange blossom scent on me backed by a soft jasmine. It’s cool, citrus-y, herbal, and floral.

Verdict: I was curious about this one because of the citrus and the lavender, but I vastly prefer Cheshire Cat for a citrus + lavender combo. The orange blossom makes this a bit sharp, and some of the herbs in this aren’t really my cup of tea. Not bad, but not something I’d reach for.

I was lucky to be able to join a SDCC group order for the prototype back in 2013, but I had never smelled the original… until a very generous forumite frimped me a decant! I decided to apply the prototype to one wrist and the released version to the other in order to compare the two.

In the decant: I’m getting something waxy along with green apple that’s backed by some ozonic snow.

Wet: The waxiness is present on my skin, and I wonder if it is supposed to be a lipstick note? I get that waxy quality, the green apple, and then the minty, pine-y, ozonic snow. As it sits on my skin, the waxiness calms down somewhat, and the green apple and snow note become stronger. I get more pine from the snow than I do from the Snow Glass Apples v4 prototype, and the prototype is also sweeter. This makes me think of red lipstick smeared on a green apple that’s been bitten into and left in a snowy, pine forest.

Dry: This is a musky, snowy, green apple scent. There is a glass-y quality to this. The pine part of the snow note is a lot fainter now, which allows me to smell more of the apple than before.

Verdict: I am so glad that I was able to try this and compare it to the prototype I have! The prototype is sweeter, stronger on the apple, and longer lasting, but I think the final version fits its name and description perfectly. I am not going to try hunt down more of this, but I will definitely cherish the decant.

In the decant: The opoponax stands out to me the most, but I can also smell the olibanum (frankincense), moss, tea, and grassy khus. There’s also a bit of spice to this one. I wonder if the tea is spiced?

Wet: I’m getting lots of spice (I am thinking red ginger and cinnamon), opoponax, and black tea leaves.

Dry: The moss, resins, khus (vetiver), and soggy ti are the main players now. The spice is still present, but it is not as strong as it was during the wet phase.

After a while, it becomes greener and earthier. I mostly get the moss, vetiver, soggy ti, and opoponax with some frankincense in the background. The moss and vetiver end up being the strongest notes, and they’re too much for me.

Verdict: This is a really dark, earthy scent. It is too dark and masculine for me, but it’s certainly fitting for Ligur!

In the decant: The sharp, somewhat sour labdanum is by far the strongest note, followed by the black patchouli.

Wet: The labdanum is the most prominent note on me, followed by the patchouli, but I get a bit of the brimstone now. This one is dark, resinous, and somewhat smoky. After a few minutes, the tobacco makes itself known and becomes one of the main players, adding more smokiness to the scent, but the labdanum is still king.

Dry: The labdanum continues to reign, but it has softened considerably. The tobacco is right behind it. The patchouli in this is present, but not a bully. There’s a cinnamon-y warmth and yet also a cool, pine-y vibe, and I am thinking that must be the brimstone. The spicy aspect is something that both Hastur and Ligur share, although it is more potent in Ligur than in Hastur.

Verdict: This is not as menacing as I initially thought it would be. It’s not something I could see myself wearing (the labdanum is too strong for me at first and it is definitely a masculine scent), but I think fans of heavy resins and tobacco would appreciate this one.

I used to have a partial bottle of this, but I swapped it away for something else many years ago, and apparently, I never reviewed it.

In the (carded) imp: The skin must is the dominant note, followed by the dry grass, and then a hint of the mossy berry.

Wet: The skin musk is very prominent, but I’m also getting a lot more dry grass and mossy berry than I did from the vial. I am not particularly fond of berry notes in perfume, but the berry in this is more moss than berry and not cloying or artificial at all.

Dry: The skin musk and the moss notes stand out to me the most.

After a few hours, it remains the same: clean skin musk, moss, and some dry grass. I no longer smell the berry.

Verdict: This is a nice, clean, fresh scent. I think it would be great perfume oil for a child just getting to wear perfume, for those that work in a scent-sensitive environment, or for those that just happen to adore fresh, clean scents! It’s not something I need more of (as I didn’t reach for my partial enough back in 2013), but I do like it.

In the decant: Whoa! This really does smell like a fir Christmas tree, adorned with tinsel and metallic garlands, with a bit of waxy berry and ozone beneath it.

Wet: Yep, it smells like a tinsel-strewn fir tree with some berries! As it sits on my skin, there’s a mentholic vibe beneath the fir note. There’s just a hint of a sharp, metallic note in the background.

Dry: The fir note is not as strong as it was during the wet phase of the scent. The bracing, mentholic quality has gone away, and the berry note is stronger than before (woe)!

After a few hours, what remains is a light, ozonic fir and berry scent (I’m thinking cranberry).

Verdict: I thought I was going to love this after smelling it from the decant and when it was freshly applied, and I would have, too, if it weren’t for those pesky berries!

In the decant: Bitter, fresh grass clippings.

Wet: This is very green. It smells like freshly mown grass and a bit of dirt. I think that some dandelions may have dotted the lawn and gotten mowed down as well, but mostly, it’s GRASS. Freshly cut, dripping (if that makes sense), grass.

Dry: After the blast of grass calms down, this ends up being a light, clean, floral scent on my skin. It’s not dandelions I’m getting, though. It’s softer and reads as a pale, white or yellow floral note to my nose. I prefer this stage of the scent.

Verdict: The grass in this one is too much for me during the wet stage, but it definitely fits its description! I am really glad I got to try this WKAP scent, but I can’t see myself reaching for this one.

In the decant: I’m getting lots of perfume-y lettuce from this. I recognize the note from Rapunzel.

Wet: This is perfume-y, green, and somewhat sharp. I get the lettuce, and after a little bit, I can smell some cucumber as well

Dry: Really perfume-y lettuce and cucumber (although the cucumber is not as strong as it had been). This is a clean, green scent.

Verdict: It was really nice to be able to try another WKAP scent, but I am not feeling the lettuce in this, and I prefer Squirting Cucumber as far as cucumber goes.

This is an old, aged imp.

In the imp: The spicy mulled wine stands out to me the most, with some berry and an evergreen note in the background.

Wet: The spicy mulled wine is the strongest note, but I’m also getting lots of dragon’s blood. Behind those notes, I can smell a bit of waxy berry. Then, after only a few minutes, it smells like mulled wine, dragon’s blood, and evergreens. It makes me think of the holidays. Far behind these notes, I get a bit of leather, and there’s a hint of something sharp in the background that I’m thinking may be the armor note.

Dry: This is really strong on the dragon’s blood (the cherry floral variety) and wine (which is far less spiced now) on me. I’m no longer getting the wonderful juniper and tree notes… or anything else, really.

Verdict: This smelled so promising in the imp and when it was first applied. When the forest-y notes went away, it had a holiday candle vibe to it on my skin, and then my skin amped the dragon’s blood and wine to the point that it just got to be too much for me. On a positive note, at least I didn’t fall in love with it, since it’s discontinued and hard to find?

In the decant: I’m mostly getting the lavender and tobacco from the vial.

Wet: Lavender, tobacco, and lemon-y black musk are the most prominent notes, with the tobacco getting stronger as the oil sits on my skin. As it dries, the copal emerges and adds even more smokiness to the scent.

Dry: The tobacco and copal have gotten a lot stronger and have become the main players. The lavender is still present, but not as strong as it was before. It’s shot through with strong black musk. There’s only a tinge of the dark vanilla.

Verdict: I love lavender, but this too smoky, musky, and masculine for me. There isn’t enough vanilla to tame the darker notes. It was nice to get to try it, though!

In the imp: A mist-enveloped, slightly sweet, citrus-y floral.

Wet: I’m still thinking this is a citrus-y floral (possibly peony?) shrouded in mist. The mist note becomes more prominent as it sits on my skin. There’s also a green aspect to the scent. Overall, it’s a clean, green floral scent with a lemon-y quality to it. I wonder if that quality can be attributed to actual citrus or if there’s white tea in this, which is also somewhat lemon-y to me. If I had to compare it to another scent, I’d say this is like an aquatic Dormouse.

As it begins its drydown, I smell a waxy berry note in the background.

Dry: I think I’m smelling apple blossom, something green, mist, and a bit of waxy berry in the background.

After a while, when it is much softer and evocative of a cool breeze, I can’t help wondering if there’s white mint in this, and I do think it contains white tea now.

Verdict: Empyreal Mist is a nice, clean scent. I’m glad I am not in love with it, since it is discontinued, but it was nice to be able to try it.

In the imp: Bitter mandarin orange and white musk, backed by the white sandalwood and a bit of mango. The mandarin orange in this is so bitter that it makes me think of neroli.

Wet: Bitter mandarin, mango, and white musk. Then, the dry, white sandalwood emerges. This smells like a citrus-y soap infused with bitter orange peel.

Dry: The mandarin isn’t as bitter as it was during the wet phase, but it is still bitter. I’m getting a little more mango now. The white musk is still going strong, and the white sandalwood is stronger than it was before.

Verdict: This is too bitter on my skin, sadly. I am glad that I got a chance to try it, though!

In the imp: Aquatic lime. It reminds me of those lime Freeze Pops.

Wet: It’s lime Freeze Pop on me at first, but then it becomes more aquatic and floral as it sits on my skin.

Dry: This is still very green, but it’s more of a fresh green now. It has a dewy quality to it as well. Like a dewy, pink rose with the stem and leaves still attached.

This ends up getting sweeter on my skin, and violet is the culprit. It ends up being aquatic violet on me either accompanied by a citrus-y floral like peony or with something adding that clean, aquatic vibe in the background with a tinge of citrus.

Verdict: Water of Notre Dame is not something I would reach for again, but it was nice to be able to try it.

I tried this one at Drag Con and thought I got grapefruit from it, so I wanted to try it outside of a convention setting.

In the imp: This does have a glassy feel to it. It’s an aquatic, citrus-y, floral scent to my nose.

Wet: Lime and lily? Or maybe white grapefruit? As the scent sits on my skin, I think white grapefruit is more likely. The lily note and the aquatic vibe become more prominent as the scent begins to dry.

Dry: Glassy, aquatic lily backed by the citrus, which is not as strong as it was before. After a while, I get some moss in the background, and there's some salty sea air at play here as well.

Verdict: Most aquatics do not work for me, but this one does! I don’t need a bottle of this, but I am happy to have an imp of it!

In the decant: I can smell all of the notes in the order they’re listed, although I’m not sure what kind of oil this is supposed to be. Maybe olive? The blood note is not dragon’s blood, to my nose. It’s actually citrus-y to me (maybe blood orange?) with a bit of a metallic tang to it.

Wet: Blood, milk, oil, and a bit of honey. This isn’t as sweet as most milk and honey scents I’ve tried. I do think the blood note consists of a citrus component, maybe blood orange or mandarin, with a bit of a metallic tang to it, but there’s also an incense-y quality to it. As the scent begins its drydown, I get some clove from the blood note.

Dry: The spice I was getting from the blood note calms down and ends up disappearing. This is mostly incense-y, still slightly citrus-y blood, oil (I’m still thinking olive oil), and milk on me, although the scent is sweeter now since the honey decided to come out more.

After a few hours, the honey note becomes stronger and adds a little more sweetness to the scent. I like this stage of the scent the most.

Verdict: I like this! I did not know what to expect from the blood or oil notes, but neither were problematic on me. If this were a tad sweeter, I’d probably want a bottle of it. I am going to hold on to my decant and see how often I reach for it.

In the decant: The snow note stands out the most to me, followed by the milk, and just a tinge of blackberry and candle smoke. The snow note combined with the berry makes me think of Skadi.

Wet: I’m getting the ozonic, pine-y snow, milk, a bit of blackberry, and the warmth of the candle wax and smoke. As it sits on my skin, the milk note gains strength, and as the scent begins its drydown, the slightly smoky candle wax becomes more prominent as well.

Dry: Bright, slushy snow, milk, and candle wax and smoke with just a hint of blackberry.

After a while, it kind of smells like Cap’n Crunch on me thanks to the blackberry combining with the warm milk. But it’s like… a more sophisticated Cap’n Crunch. But I only get that vibe from it when sniffing up close.

Verdict: This is like Skadi’s young sister. I like Skadi more, but this is nice, and I’m really glad I got to try it!

Note: I am not sure what marigolds smell like.

In the decant: The copal note stands out to me the most, followed by the chrysanthemums, myrrh, and a smattering of soil. This is primarily a resin scent to my nose.

Wet: The copal and chrysanthemum notes are the strongest notes on my skin. Behind those notes, I can smell the black soil note. There’s something somewhat medicinal in this on my skin, and I am not sure which note is the cause of it. Is it the marigold note?

Dry: The medicinal vibe has calmed down, but now the scent smells really cool. It’s a cool floral and smoky copal scent, backed by the myrrh and some dark soil.

Verdict: This one is unique. It’s not something I could see myself reaching for, but it was nice to be able to try it.

*edit* I just wanted to comment that, when I tested this, I could still smell it on my arm the next morning!

In the decant: Citrus and herb soap with a bit of blackcurrant. Maybe that’s how the citrus and thyme is interacting with the green musk to my nose.

Wet: I am getting lots of citrus and tea. This one is still reading as soapy to me, sadly. After a few minutes, the blackcurrant note emerges and adds a bit of sweetness to the scent.

Dry: Now I smell like some thyme and citrus-filled sauce for some chicken with some green musk in the background. I think this is the third scent with thyme in it where I’ve amped the thyme, so I guess I officially amp that note.

Verdict: This one just doesn’t work with my skin chemistry. I’m glad I got to try it, though -- it has confirmed that thyme insists on being a main player on me.

*edit* I just wanted to comment that, when I tested this, I could still smell it on my arm the next morning! That's some serious longevity for a scent with several citrus components!