mymymai

ITI: Cloying cream and marzipan with a slightly bitter dusting of nuts on a very sweet carrot cake. Wet: It's very similar on my skin, although the carrot note shyly peaks from underneath the rich and heavy cream, pastry, and nut notes. Dry: After the second reapplication and dry down, the scent is more powdery than any other discernible note, like buttercream dusting powder and a smattering of almonds and dates.

ITI: Well, hello clove. The first note from the imp forcibly assaults my nose. It burns and seethes with the dragon's blood resin and labdanum, under which the patchouli slowly bubbles in below. Wet: Gorgeous! The dragon's blood resin is still strong, but the clove has mellowed out enough to allow the patchouli to blood, creating a spicy, resinous, light sweet dream for anyone who loves Woody Orientals. Dry: After 6 hours, the scent is sweet, resinous, slightly smoky, and just perfection. The resins meld beautifully with soft, slightly powdery labdanum, the the patchouli and clove and a lovely depth to it. On my bottle list you go.

ITI: Oh, I like that. Herbs emerge as the first note, a combination of cumin, turmeric, what I think might be sage, thyme, oregano, parsley, and well worn wood. Wet: The wood warms on my skin ans the cumin and turmeric yield slightly to the more astringent herbs. I pick up something that registers as slightly aquatic and something else that is mildly reminiscent of lemon, under all of it. Dry: This isn't a particularly long-wearing scent. After 4 hours, I get the faint impression of a kitchen infused with only the memory of herbs.

ITI: A blast of honey at the forefront is quickly met by coconut and pear, which softens the honey considerably. It smells like the tropical-flavored Coconut waters that natural food stores sell. Wet: Runts candies and pear. What an odd combination. Dry: As it settles, the coconut meat and pear seem to overtake some of the honey, but there is still the impression of runts that makes this scent a bit too foody for my taste.

ITI: It smells like honey cakes, artificial berry freshener, and fake sugar. It reminds me of the scent of a bathroom in a fancy hotel. Wet: At least the hard candy scent is now that of the cinnamon old-fashioned hard candies that were wrapped in clear paper. Sadly, the beeswax is still honey cake, almost urinal-esque (blame honey notes on my skin), sprayed over with fake strawberry. So far, this is a “No” or me. Dry: The longer it dried, the more than the artificial strawberry emerged. There was still an unmistakable candy and lavatory gist to it that made me want to wash it off. To the swap pile it goes.

ITI: Powdery, but pleasantly so like Lush's Silky Underwear dusting powder. There's a slight soapiness to this from the plum, but the dusting of honey powder and green tea keep the scent well balanced and appealing. Wet: The green tea and white plum are a touch more evident when it touches my skin. Strengthening as it dries, the vanilla flower and ambergris accord work together to create a faint lady-like musky perfume. Dry: The Combination of vanilla and green tea take on a lotion tone as it tries. It's slightly sweetened with the soapy, clean plum. I'm surprised I like this, honestly. It's pleasant, lady-like, and understated.

ITI: I get vanilla cream, that smells almost like marzipan to me (a note I loathe) when paired with the almond blossom. The mimosa is there, but it isn't as strong or as vibrant as I'd like. It's like the impression of a mimosa smothered in creamy pastries. Wet: I'm a bit disappointed, honestly. The scent is sickly sweet initially, almost like children's medicine. I think it might be the mimosa paired with the clear almond blossom and ooey, gooey vanilla. I hope it mellows out. Dry: The vanilla goo note and almond marzipan-tinged note are still present over the faint mimosa some 6 hours later. Sadly, it's just too cloying for my taste.

ITI: Whew, the black pepper is strong here, but the addition of cardamom and vetiver make it darkly aggressive and assertively spicy in a positive way. It reads as a bit masculine for now as I cannot detect the vanilla. Wet: The cardamom jumps out as the top note on my skin, fallowed by the smoky, almost inky vetiver. There's a touch of black pepper, the three notes of which remind me of scored each; however, the addition of faint vanilla keeps the scent from being too desolate. In fact, as it starts to dry on my skin, the vanilla warms up, followed by a sweetened tobacco slinking in from around the edges, shifting the scent to something reminiscent of the best molasses cookie I've ever imagined (without the foody undertones). Dry: After 8 hours, I was expecting something still spicy and forceful. However, what I'm left with is mostly soft and alluring due to the faint vanilla, vetiver, and tobacco. The cardamom keeps the scent from being too innocent.

ITI: I was expecting more leather to this scent. Instead, I'm met with comforting saffron set against myrrh and red musk. The leather is almost an after-note, succumbing to the warm tones of the musks and resin. Wet: It's similar on my skin with a touch more leather, but there's something that reminds me of a good root beer. Interesting. Dry: After a number of hours, the scent is dusty, the myrrh largely burned out, the leather certainly sun-baked. I get it now. What a brilliant progression!

ITI: The red cherry, sandalwood, patchouli and opoponax are all clearly evident in the vial, although the combination of the three remind me of a sweet Dragon's Blood. I do wish the smokiness of the labdanum was a bit more evident because the scent is a bit too sweet for me as it stands. Wet: Ah, it's much more resinous on on my skin, much less cherry, which I'm enjoying. The laudanum is now thick and pendulous, lending the sandalwood and patchouli a more ominous and foreboding tone. Dry: Ah, this is the thickly resinous scent for which I was hoping. Swaths of patchouli coil around the opoponax and sandalwood, woodsy and intoxicating. The cherry adds just a touch of sweet that keeps the scent from being entirely too earthy.

ITB: On first sniff, it does smell like rich cocoa butter, fresh hand-made marshmallows, and gardenia. It's sweetly foody without being too cloying thanks to the white floral tones. Wet: The gardenia is a touch stronger, but it is the rose that starts to sing on my skin, set against the mallow, honey myrtle, and styrax. I feel like the scent becomes a bit more sophisticated on the skin thanks to the other notes, but it also develops a nutty warmth juxtaposed against the cooler florals. There's a part of me that wishes the mallow were stronger, but I feel like that would make it a little too young for me. Dry: It smells like sugared vanilla, sweet frankincense, fresh gardenia, and budding rose with a hint of warmth from the mallow. It's absolutely lovely - feminine, foody, and warm.

Pumpkin: Not a fan particularity, although I would eat pumpkin M&m even though they are off diet. However, I would take white/black decorative pumpkin decor items. Booze: While I don't indulge too often, I'm a fan of absinthe, flavored vodkas, sake (nigori), and red wines. I like some ciders and beers as long as they are not too hops-laden. Hubby, however, adores beer of all types. Yellowstone: I cannot think of anything I might want, unless you can find a zombie buffalo plush. 9/18/15 I know there is a question about "decorating style", but if you're comfortable, could you should us some photos of your spaces? For those of us who like to art and craft, it can be nice to have a visual sense of decorating style! Gothic shabby chic rococo teal Japanese inspired would be the best way I could describe our style. Granted, our house doesn't quite look like that, but it will eventually (lots of pictures below). I have idea pins on my Pinterest. 9/19/15 For those of you who don't drink alcohol, can you specify if you live with any drinkers or ever have alcohol on hand for guests, vs. abstaining and preferring not to have it around at all? I generally have it on hand for guests and don't mind it being around. It will be used, regardless. Are you a fan of the TV show Penny Dreadful? I've never seen it, but I really want to see it / read the comic. What are your coffee and tea preferences? Do you prefer one, the other, both, or neither (and if it's neither, what about things like hot cider and cocoa)? Loose leaf or bags, whole bean or ground? Is caffeine OK? Any gadgetry you're in need of? Any brands or flavors that you particularly love, loathe, or want to try? Yes, a adore tea...like addiction level. I am really fond of David's Tea and Teavanna. I'm not a coffee drinker, but I will on occasion drink cocoa and hot cider, but tea is a multi-time a day event for me. Caffeine is okay; I'm good with gadgets. Flavors - licorice, pu-erhs, Cahi (oh yes, yummy), earl grey, especially the ones with creamy notes like vanilla, mints, matcha of all sorts...the only ones that are hit and miss for me are chamomile in general and most Lipton. What's your sense of humor like? Do you enjoy puns? Play on words? Dirty humor? Dry humor? Who are some of your favorite comedians? I love puns and plays on words. My sense of humor is sarcastic and witty, although I do love off-color jokes. I love Ron Funches and Tim Michin. Do you like board games? If so, which ones? Traditional or more unique? (like Settlers of Catan, Small World, Red Dragon Inn, etc) Yes, more unique, but geeky. Anything related to Cthulhu and DnD would be most welcomed. Is there anything that you specifically do NOT want to receive? Wax tarts (have plenty), makeup that isn't 3 free, stationary, lanyards. Plain or fun socks? Fun socks, please, preferably ones that are gothic, artsy, colorful, and/or whimsical. Name one (or as many as you would like) thing you would like to learn more about? Sewing, honestly. I need to learn to make my own clothes, but I think I need a class. That and soap making using olive oil / goat's milk bases. What one thing you would like to do more of? Go out dancing. What are some things that fascinate you? Or, What would you like to know more about? Fascinate: Aurora Borealis! Shiny, holographic items. Psychological/medical novels (Think Brain on Fire, The Hot Zone) Learning: How to belly dance, how to sew, how to organize my house. 9/20/15 Would you like any cookie butter (just to be clear, store-bought, not home-made, and does contain wheat since it's, y'know, cookie butter)? No thank you. Is there any particular piece (or pieces) of art (painting, photograph, etc) that speaks to you in some way? I really like woodblock prints, my all-time favorite or which is Hokusai's The Great Wave. I'm also fond of PNW Native American artwork, raven depictions, and Manet's women. What kinds of things would you like from the Lilith BPAL or BPTP update (or are you joining a decant circle?) BPTP: En Garde Lilith: Blood and Judgement So Well Commedled, Muse of Fire, My Baby and a Baby Goat Do you want to received knit or crocheted items? If so, could you describe or even link to a couple of items similar to what you would like to receive? Yes, in dark colors like indigo, ink, black, purples and blues. I'd adore something like this, this, this, this, this, or even this. 9/21/15 Would you like anything from Lush? Bubble bars and bath bombs would be amazing. No Rock Star or similar "candy" type scents, most I like most everything else. Do you prefer hand-made or store-bought? I'd love hand made, but the right store-bought item is equally nice. SPICY! Scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being "oh, that's a bit too much black pepper for me" and 10 being "ghost pepper? scorpion pepper? I laugh at these! I love as much heat as you can throw my way!" Where are you? 6-7. I love hot sauce and hot/spicy items. I've been known to eat a dried ghost pepper and teach the rest of the period directly after it. What is your BPAL "Holy Grail"? More of the Goths and De Sade (even a sample). Analog or Digital? Or Both? I'm an analog girl, for the most part. I avoid spending lots of time on my phone and love to read physical copies of books. What scents from other perfume companies are you really wanting to have in your collection and or are just really wanting to test? Companies like NAVA, Arcana, Solstice Scents, Possets, Haus of Gloi etc.....? Haus of Gloi: Spider Silk and Zazz NAVA: Oudhs, Ghost Ship, any of the dino series. Do you have an affinity for any specific animals? Ravens and cats Kitchen Needs or Wants? Not anything I can think of. Makeup! Do you like it, would you want some? If so what brands do you like to wear? Yes, I like it. I tend to wear MAC and have a pretty sizable collection. I'd be interested in some of the velvets/liquids from other companies in crazy blues, greens, and purple colors. I'd also be interested in samples of the loose shadow from Espionage Cosmetics. Chocolate fiends ahoy! What kind of chocolate do you like? Do you like any other things in it or just plain good ole chocolate? Dark all the way, but I welcome additions like chili or curry to mine. Would you be opposed to receiving a ton of Halloween themed items? Yes, please! *Edit* I just went to Michael's for costume supplies and I can say that I want almost everything Halloween there, especially the black/white stripes, the black wreathers. Oh, I just love Halloween goodies. 9/23/15 Would you be interested in any special little thing I might be able to pick up from the Great Lakes Bat Festival this Saturday? Both Janell Cannon (author of Stellaluna and other kids' books) and Fiona Reid (illustrator for lots of animal field guides) will be there, so would you possibly be interested in something like an autographed copy of Stellaluna or one of Cannon's or Reid's other books? Or something from the Organization for Bat Conservation, like a shirt or other swag? Sure, I would welcome anything, really. What items from the Weenie update interest you, should you have to option of getting anything as a gift from your Witch??? Would you be ok with decants, or bottles? Decants would be lovely. The budget is tight, so I'm only able to buy one item for myself. Interested, but cautious: Frosted Pumpkin Spice Cookie Pumpkin Cheesecake Cupcake Apple IV Apple V The Witches Oh, all that is dear, I need this in my life: Sonnet d'Automne 2015 The Vampire Bride The White Witch 2015 Conjuring Up an Armed Skeleton Depart Pour Le Sabbat The Sorceress The Witches' Sabbath Le Femme de Satan Le Ronde de Sabbat Pan T. and the Devil Satan Summoning His Legions What's your favorite scary movie? Or movies, either way. If you don't like horror, what are your favorite movies to watch this time of year? I do like scary and I'm getting my fix with American Horror Story (season 2 so far). My favorite movies this time of year are Beetlejuice, The Addams Family, Nightmare Before Christmas, Labyrinth, and The Dark Crystal. 9/24/15 Blu-ray or DVD? DVD, although I'm prefer Amazon video since my husbands PS3, which we used to use to play my DVDs, is now broken. Game systems - console or computer? Mac/PC? Which console? PC, primarily. Anything through Steam would be amazing! Are you dressing up for Halloween and if so do you need any accessories for if? Yes, I'm dressing up as a Baroque Beetlejuice I could use a satin black tie, bat hair clips, and Beetlejuice rings/necklaces. Otherwise, I have the dress already and I'll be making my hat. Talk to me about bags, what kinds do you like? Sizes and styles? I have a number of them, mostly Tokidoki, which is my aesthetic beyond gothy / creepy (I still would love a coffin purse and a bat mini backpack). I prefer small since I tend to wear goods with pockets or equally convenient hip belts. What are your favorite fandoms and do you want to receive anything related to such? Yes! Star Trek (TNG), Dr. Who, MLP, Hello Kitty, Tokidoki, Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, Merlin, Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli What are you planning to order from the Weenies update? I'm still trying to figure out which one scent I can buy myself. The Last Huzzah of the NY Renaissance Faire happens this weekend and I'm going! Is there anything you might want? (Besides a turkey leg, which won't ship well!) I like those cool fae ear cuffs. Do you like comics or graphic novels? Any issues or collections you want to read? I do enjoy graphic novels. I'd love some Lobo, later Sandman (post Wake), Elfquest, and an other epic tales. Do you like fanfic? Would you like a story written for you as part of your gift? What characters/fandoms/pairings etc do you like? No, sadly. Where do you have wishlists at? If you could please link to them or to a post that links to them. (Amazon, Etsy, Think Geek, Pinterest, Sephora, Lush, BPAL/BPTP, Soap Box Company, everywhere and anywhere!) I have most of my wishlists updated in my signature, but for ease, I'll post them here. Amazon Etsy Think Greek Pinterest Lush Sephora Aveda Phew, that took more time than I'd like to admit. 9/25/15 Let's say you have indicated interest in receiving a hand knitted item. What colors, exactly, do you like? If you could provide color swatches here or to pinterest (or something visual), that would help out a lot. I like black/whites together, blacks, dark teals and purples together. *edit* Okay, I signed up for Ravelry and added a whole bunch of color and pattern ideas that are simply gorgeous in my eyes. I'm under mymymai. Would you rather receive a bunch of little packages through the round, a couple of medium packages, or one big package at the end? Either is fine. For those of us with out-of-country Witchees, would you be happy with receiving a few packages from local to you merchants (say, through Etsy or equivalent)? Sure! Would Witchees like something from IKEA? (Or any other not always accessible by everyone store?) Yes! There is this black baroque mirror that I've been lusting after for years. That or the white frame that's similar in style. If/when you go to the mall, for which store(s) do you beeline? Forever 21 (to check on their black goods), Uniqlo, H+M, Teavanna. Do you receive any subscription boxes (julep, lootcrate, ipsy, birchbox, etc.)? I don't, although I wouldn't mind a geek or both box. I might be okay with a makeup one if it could be natural-based one. Do you like tarts/candles/incense? If so, what type of scents? I'd only be interested in myrrh, amber, or sandalwood incense. I have plenty of tarts at the moment. Is there anything you wish you could have picked up from the Dragon*Con exclusives? A sample of everything. Is there a GC you've been dying to try but haven't got around to yet? No, I've made it most of the way through the GC. The questionnaire asked about gold & silver jewelry, but how do you feel about copper jewelry? Do you like colorful jewelry, or do you prefer to keep it neutral? I might have allergies if it's anything other than a necklace. I'd prefer sterling silver, acrylic, titanium, or surgical steel. We asked about decorating style, but are you interested in receiving decorations for your home? Are you interested in things that go on the wall or things that go on shelves? I have a little wall space and a little shelf space. I'd be interested in something meaningful, or a craft from another country that isn't mass-produced. For instance, I like the hand-carved kokeshi dolls, original paper cut art, and hand-blown glass. Office supplies hound? Pens, pencils, journals, any preference, or favorites? I don't need any at the moment, thank you. Talk to me about socks! Is there anything, dear, dear Witchee, that I can get for you from Sock Dreams? Anything from another place? I adore Sock Dreams. Anything gothy or in dark jewel tones and slightly whimsical would be great. I live near a huuuuge candy store. What kind of candy do you like? Gummies? Caramel? Chocolate? Sour? Sugar-free? Caramel, licorice, dark chocolate, and the blue cola gummies / cinnamon bears if I had to limit myself. 9/26/15 How do you feel about animal products? Not so much animal toys or food, but more like furs, paws, bones, etc. Bone necklace / bracelet might be cool as long as it is gathered humanly. I also like feather accessories for me and the cats. Are you interested in receiving any restaurant.com gift certificates for your area? Since we are super short on cash, that would be lovely. 9/27/15 How do you feel about "toys" - stuffed animals and the like? If they are evil, bring them on. I'm also a fan of Funko figures. What do we want from Paintbox Soapworks? I added some to my Etsy wishlist. If I were to make you some art, would you prefer a frame that hangs or one that sits? And what color/style would you prefer? On the wall, although not too much space left. I prefer sea tones and/or graphic red/blacks/whites. I like PNW style, along with Japanese-inspired content (woodblock prints, paper craft, etc). How do you feel about gourmet marshmallows? No thank you. Are you a slatherer or a dabber? Slatherer if the scent has combinations of myrrh, sandalwood, and ambergris. Otherwise, I'm a dabber. Talk to me, dear witchies, about tea. I know we've covered this a little, but I really need the nitty gritty here- not just companies you like and don't like (Teavana? Adagio? David's? Some tiny place?) but I also want to know the other stuff: top 3 flavors, loose or bagged, the kinds of tea accessories you use- or have always wanted. Be specific. Provide links if necessary. Fellow tea whore here. I have an entire cupboard of it, but then again, I drink 2-3 cups a day and I make a large container of cold tea for my husband every other day. I prefer loose leaf, although I'll never turn down Tea Republic's bagged tea. I like them, David's Tea, Aveda's Calm, Teavanna, and some local Seattle tea companies. I also like my fancy imported teas, including sour plum tea from Japan (need more, but oh my gosh, yum!). I prefer blacks, matcha (the powdered kind), chai, and interesting herbals. I'm not such a fan of whites as I prefer tannins and strong flavors. Accessories: I have a bunch, but there's always room for cute infusers in the shape of sharks, cats, or Cthulhu. 1. David's Tea - Cream of Earl Grey 2. Tali's Chai Masala 3. Yumchaa's Enchanged Forest Is there anything from ThinkGeek that you want??? (especially in the geek points section, 2400 points or under?) I have a wishlist as well. I like anything Dr. Who or anything that lights up. Villainess: Any of their soaps. and scrubs. How does everyone feel about duct tape crafts? Any favorite patterns? Not really a fan. Are there any flowers you especially like? I love Asiatic lilies and camellias. Would you be interested in any cozies or cases (yarn o fabric, not hard cases) for tech stuff (phone, laptop' etc) or for cups/mugs/bottles or anything else similar. No thank you. Would you like Halloween or Day of the Dead themed ornaments or a "bunting"? Absolutely!!! Are there witchees who would like book related gifts like a booklight, bookmark, bookseat or something for your reading gadget,like a cover or a light for example. I could use a booklight. I make handmade journals, mini albums and similar items. Would my witchee be interested in something like that? No thank you. What songs/music/artists/CD's do you like to listen to around Halloween? It doesn't really change from my normal preferences (Dark Wave, Synth Pop Electro Clash, EBM, Industrial). Are you interested in leg warmers at all? My calves are massive, so most don't fit me. I'm talking 17" here. If you can find something gothy or EGL that would fit, then I'd be convinced that you possess magical powers. Is your Halloween style scary, cutesy, folksy, grotesque . . .? I'd say gothic elegance with a touch of cutesy. 10/5/15 I bought the Portal board game last week & it came with a Portal 2 steam free download code. I already have the game on another console & it's one of my favorite series of all time. Soooo, would you want it? We have both already. 10/6/15 Have you read The Martian? Or do you plan on watching the movie? I'm reading it currently and will be seeing it before the end of the month. Pertaining to that, how does everyone feel about such things? Will anyone be participating? How about NaNo swag, is there any you want? No thank you. Honey or beeswax products? Discuss. Both! No honey/beeswax product will be turned down. How do you feel about bumper stickers and car magnets? What do you like--cute, pretty, snarky, geeky/fandomy? Unless it's tentacles, no thank you. Do you have any phobia's that your Witch should be aware of? Clowns. Trading Post Weenies are live! Anything calling to you? Candiru Cove, Dead Leaves and Copal, Dr. Janice, Licorice Whip!! 10/7/15 Speaking of nail things, it that time of year and I am doing my jamberry order, Would you want some Lovely Jamberry's for your nails? No thank you. I have way too much nail polish at the moment. 10/8/15 Do you like or want to try Marmite? Sure.

ITI: Ooh, it's perfume-y and floral, with a pleasant baby oil undertone and slightly spiciness of carnation swaddled in frankincense. Wet: It's warm and sweet on my skin - the notes of coconut, amber, full but slightly waxy vanilla, faint frankincense, and a touch of delightful lemongrass waft up to greet my nose. Very pleasant. Dry: Thankfully, the waxiness of the vanilla dissipates completely under the pointed carnation, spicy patchouli, and warm sandalwood. While it doesn't have much throw it it, it is rather provocative. I'm tempted to add this to my buy list.

ITI: Ugh, that’s way too aquatic for me. It reminds me of toilet bowl clearer combined with overbearing white florals and anti-freeze. Wet: It’s a bit nicer on my skin. I get something along lines of lemon verbena, which I suppose might read as neon. The petrichor is more pronounced and more agreeable but slightly honey-ish. The green/aquatic tone is still present and slightly disconcerting, like grass and crushed nettles. Dry: That’s a negative for me. Floral honey, toilet bowl cleaner, and grime.

ITI: It's sharp and clean, like men's body wash. Wet: The scent doesn't change much once applied to the skin. The eucalyptus and ginger are present, along with something cool and something that does read as metal. Every now and then, I get a subtle whiff of a soft, pleasant musk, but not enough to counteract the overtly masculine tone of the scent. Dry: After 20 minutes, it's back to men's body wash. That's a "no" from me.

ITI: The scent here smells like clean soap and fresh sakura blossoms. It's quite refreshing. Wet: Once applied, the scent remains fairly true to form - soapy and slightly sweeter cherry blossoms, but a subtle combination of metallic ozone and something faintly aquatic emerges, which I was not expecting from the scent notes. Dry: It dries down to heavy soap, very faint cherry blossom. As much as I liked it in the bottle, this is a pass for me.

White patchouli, oudh, vanilla absolute, copaiba balsam, pepperwood, and champaca flower. ITI: I've already used this a few times, but each time I smell it, it reminds me of a wooden cabin in the middle of the Pacific Northwest. The wood is mild and sweet, but also steeped in delicious, earthy patchouli. Unlike most patchouli scents, this one is not overbearing, but balances brilliantly with the champaca, oudh, and copaiba balsam. The vanilla exists as a middle tone in the bottle, which reminds me of scented candles illuminating the wooden cabin at dusk. Wet: On my skin, the patchouli and pepperwod are much stronger, almost to the point of smelling like recent construction, laced with vanilla faint champaca, and just a touch of patchouli. It's interesting how much it's changed from the bottle, but I do hope that the resins amp up a bit more in the dry-down stage. Dry: Now that it's dry, the force of the woods have mellowed considerably, allowing the vanilla - warm and creamy - to soar along with the champaca and balsam, while the oudh and pepperwood settle to low-middle notes and the patchouli adds just enough sweet earthiness to temper the other notes, creating a scent that is as evocative as it is peaceful.

ITI: Hmm, I'm not sure about this one. I do pick up orange, but it's like the Pledge orange. The tobacco paired with hay, however, reminds me of my barn back home, complete with staples that need to be mucked. Wet: The orange is much more dominant on my skin and moves from Pledge to orange zest. Thankfully, the hay is only faintly present under the tobacco, which is functioning as the middle note so far. Dry: By the end of my day, the scent was just sweet orange and a hint of tobacco. It's a 5/10 for me because I really dislike how it smelled when applied wet.

ITI: This is an interesting scent. I can pick up the orange peel and sweet cedar (which reminds me of sweet mint in this iteration) just underneath the dusky tonka and cardamom tea. Wet: Yes, the cardamom tea is spicy and dominant on my skin, although the orange peel adds a perky, zesty acid to the tone to keep it from skewing too oriental. I also pick up just a touch of the mate here, but the sweet cedar isn't as present on my skin as it was in the imp. Dry: After 12 hours, only faint orange and cardamom tea remain. It's a pleasing scent, but I just wish some of the complexity of its wet phase lasted throughout my work day.

ITI: Hmm, that’ interesting. I certainly do get the impression of a light nutty, slightly masculine woody leather (the nagarmotha) on top of a much more unassuming, lighter musk. There is a bit more of a resinous, smoky tone than I had initially anticipated from just those two notes. It reminds me of smoldering frankincense while burning cedar planks for a tasty meal on a dusky twilight eve. Wet: There we go, it reminds me of vetiver, but more resinous and with a touch of leather and tones of musk. Perhaps with just a smattering of a bright copper oil as well. Either way. I like it, although it does remind me of some of the Phoenix Steamworks type scents than something from the Metamorphosis collection. Dry: Wow, the staying power on this one is impressing. I’m at nearly 24 hours and I can clearly pick out a really nice smoky resin. It’s like Vetiver SN, Smokestack, and Myrrh SN all combined to have a really gorgeous love-child.

ITI: Oh, now that's a really lovely bergamot! Often, the Lab's bergamot notes are shy are retiring, but this one is grand and showy, flanked gorgeously by cedar, neroli, and thick tobacco. Wow! Wet: It's similar to what I get in the imp, but the lemon peel peaks though, as does that icky jasmine note that just smells like cheap Glade air freshener. Thankfully, the bergamot and neroli are strong enough to rival the jasmine. I'm keeping the fingers crossed that the jasmine note dies down. Dry: Nope, it's all jasmine air freshener. Boo.

ITI: heady jasmine sambac, tempered licorice, a jumble of florals, and something that reads as slightly animalistic. Intriguing. It's much more feral than I would expect for a butterfly-type scent. Wet: The jasmine sambac is a bit stronger on my skin, but it's certainly a more feminine variety of sambac. The licorice is more star anise than licorice candy, and the entire scent seems powdered by orchids and a really delightful freesia note. Dry: The scent doesn't have a great deal of throw for long. Once it has been dried for four hours, I have to be right up on my wrist to detect much. When there, it's the slight animalistic, floral note with powdered freesia and only the vaguest impression of anise.

ITI: Oh, this one is fabulous! The yuzu is bright, sweet, and delightful paired with the plum and lime. Oh my gosh, I'm starting to panic just a tad that I may have missed out on something incredibly special. Wet: The yuzu and mandarin are just incredibly succulent on my skin while the lime and plum provide a delightful fruity balance to the bright, sparkly, light citrus (lime reads as fuller and darker to me, something that is even a bit savory at times). I''m also picking up wafts of spicy carnation and a blueish musk, although no cedar. This is a stand-out scent so far. Dry: A winner still! Plum peel, mandarin, yuzu, carnation, a gossamer musk, and a faint white thyme. I'm rather miffed that I did not test this earlier as I would have bought a bottle.

ITI: The scent strikes me as somewhat medicinal, which I think stems from the lavender, chamomile, and marjoram. I’m also picking up something that has a faint bubblegum quality, and I’m not sure which note it is. Wet: Bubblegum, sandalwood, marjoram, oudh, cedar, chamomile, and lavender- still too medicinal and oddly sweet for me. I’m not too convinced that this is a keeper at all. Dry: I like this one better now that it has dried. It’s sweeter, but more palatable. The sandalwood is more distinct, the rosewood has appeared and warmed nicely on the skin, while the oudh and lavender have mellowed their medicinal tones and instead settled into something more calming.

ITI: It's light, breezy, refreshingly citrusy with a touch of yummy vanilla. Oh, this is a really wonderful springtime scent or just a great am pick-me-up. Wet: On my skin, the China mus emerges, much more delicate than anticipated. I think that is also do to it's paring with white musk, white florals, verbena, neroli, and sandalwood. It's much less citrusy than in the bottle but more balanced and more refined, like an afternoon tea party underneath a sun-drenched gazebo. Dry: After 4 hours, the scent is still really quite lovely - gentle white florals, subtle lemon verbena, delicate hints of sandalwood, whispers of vanilla and a touch of musk are still distinctly discernible and even have some throw.