CoveredInRain

I knew from the first sniff this was too heavy for me - and that's saying something because I love dark, incensey notes. In the vial: Tobacco - lots and lots. Wet on the skin: The tocacco still dominates, but a hint of the patchouli is coming through. I'm not getting almond at all. Drydown: This one lasts for hours. It took a good three hours for it to mellow on my skin and begin to reveal a hint of sweetness. Maybe that's the almond milk, but it isn't distinctly almond to me. Verdict: Lovely and complex, but not for me.

In the vial: I'm hit by something woody, slighty piney. I'm not getting the lemon at all. Wet on the skin: I'm getting a strong tobacco note. I almost washed it off, thinking it might be too masculine a scent. Dry: A bit of floral has emerged to balance the stronger notes. Slightly smokey, incense effect. Verdict: I like the scent, but imagine I would like it better on my guy.

A new love, O. Heavenly, from the first honeyed whiff in the bottle to the vanilla peaking out wet on the skin and ending up as an hours-long delectable scent when dry. I'm in lust with O.

I think I've found a patchouli scent that I can peacefully coexist with - red patchouli. I usually love scents that have a patchouli note, but get a wretched headache if it is the predominant note. In the vial: Spicy, nice sandalwood lift. Wet on skin: Uh-oh, distinct patchouli note taking the reigns, but it's tempered nicely by the sandalwood. Drydown: Beautiful incense remains. The patchouli is definitely a supporting character in this one. My chemistry is very happy. AB to me is a deadringer for Aveda's Eros, which I adore but find it hard to come by. Fantastic find - this one will be a full bottle purchase.

I can only reiterate what's already been said - there's a reason this is the most popular fragrance. This has to be one of the most beautifully tempered vanilla scents ever. In the bottle: Spicy vanilla Wet on the skin: Incense floating over dark vanilla Drydown: Warm, seductive vanilla mix. The incense is not as strong, but mingles beautifully with the vanilla. Verdict: Good thing I don't mind people invading my personal space - the sniffers and moaners were out in force with this one.

This is the easiest review I've ever written: in the vial, on the skin and dry it smells like soap. Clean soap, no real complexity on me. Damn my chemistry.

I so wanted to like this one - everything in its description appealed to me. It was promising in the imp: a sharp uplifting grapefruit note with an herbal undertone. Wet on the skin it still had a heady citrus vibe. Once dried, a strong floral note emerged and the headache set in. Verdict: Ultimately the floral notes make it a no-go for me.

... Offerings of milk, honey and sweet grains were made to placate these creatures, and it is that the basis of the scent created in their name. In the bottle: Faint honey. A touch of almond? Wet on skin: I'm inhaling hard and not picking up much of anything except the quickly fading honey note. Drydown: Hmm, I've never had this happen before. The scent is virtually non-existent. Thinking I had hit an olafactory wall, I had two others sniff me. Both had to have their noses touch my neck to get even the faintest whiff. Verdict: I love honey scents, but my chemistry just vaporized this one.

In the bottle: Very prominent cherry note on top of a layer of buttercream frosting. Wet on skin: The toffee note begins to dominate with the cherry playing a supporting role. Dry: Slighty smokey, creamy toffee notes linger. Medium throw, lasts a bit longer than average. Verdict: A playful fall foodie scent. I just wish they hadn't mentioned turkey in the description. There's absolutely no turkey detected , but boy does the mention of it linger in my mind.

In the bottle: The musk hits me first, with an undertone of rose. Uh-oh, rose and I are not friends. Wet on skin: The spices start to emerge almost immediately. Nice, complex mix. Drydown: Lovely spice notes dominate; the rose has faded to an almost undetectable supporting role. Verdict: I'm definitely asking it out on a second date.

In imp: Very sharp green note. Not getting sugar, mint or bourbon. Wet on skin: Immediate - and I do mean immediate - morph into baby powder. Drydown: Still baby powder with no sign of mint, sugar or bourbon. Verdict: Hard to work the come-hither vibe when my scent is saying I just stepped out of the nursery. Sigh. I so wanted to love this, but definitely not for me.

This one is definitely complex. The sharpness in the vial was almost offputting, but previous experience told me to give it the skin test. Wet on skin: The previous reviewers who mentioned the root beer/sassafrass note hit on the head. I couldn't discern anything else at this point. 15 minutes on skin: It's mellowing - the root beer is fading and a citrus and incense effect is emerging. Two hours on skin: It has morphed into something lovely. Soft and enticing. Very evocative of an old church - in a good way. The only real downside is the lack of throw. This is a private fragrance - don't expect many comments from those around you. Verdict: I'm in like, not love.