mrsrevshamwow

My experience is similar to Franny, something sweet and beautiful that corrupted a bit by something that you can't describe. Note: this is first impressions right out of the mailbox (for shame!) so I'm excited to see what it develops over time. I love dirt and (inexplicably) violets for their coldness, and I usually strongly dislike sweets. This is sweet without the sugar and earthy (not dirty), and the murky chemical notes lurking underneath give this an edge of saltiness that's really amazing. My husband loves it on me, but he said "I can't believe you got that one," because it's so not my usual fare. Really lovely so far, I'm interested to see what a full day's test and some rest will do.

I'm really looking for a good strong, unsweetened coffee scent, and ... this is not it. This is the smell of my husband's high school bedroom - many layers of Nag Champa (none burned earlier than yesterday), a little musty teenaged-boy funk, and cool air conditioner. I get nothing warm from this, despite all the notes. However! I've slapped it on right out of the mailbox. I'm hoping that resting at the very least but more likely some decent aging will help develop the coffee note. One month edit: OK, it's still my husband's high school bedroom, but it's absolutely captivating. I don't care that I don't get any coffee from it.

What do you think about Bastet? It's been on my to-buy list for forever because of the cardamom. But I steer (sharply) away from sweet things, so Dead Leaves... was a big fail on me.

I was ambivalent about this one until I layered it with Hecate. That combo is stunning and everything I want in my life. On its own, Ghost of a Woman is a scent that seems nice for someone who doesn't like white florals in general. I understand what others say about the juxtaposition of the asphodel mixed with the other earthy notes, but that's what draws me to this scent. The sharp cedar and the sharp floral work really well together while wet and on the dry down. In the middle, it does turn into pencils, which is why I originally was indifferent to it. I like that scent, but it was a little strong. Thankfully short lived, though. Layering with Hecate eliminates this problem. Many hours later, the black musk that I love takes over and lasts forever. Hecate does a similar thing, so it really is the perfect combo. I'm kicking myself that I didn't pick up a full bottle in time...

Wet and during the drydown, the is "the incense that they burn at the Zen center," says my husband. "Is that a bad thing?" I ask. "No," he says, "just familiar." The incense really is nice, but it is decidedly incense. I don't get much wind-swept wood on its own. Long after it's dry, the ambergris and wood make a lovely, smooth grounding blend. Definitely really wearable, as long as the association with the Zen center remains positive for the husband.

This is all moss on me, and I think the beeswax, which I normally enjoy, is adding to the powdery sweetness that is so strong. I don't get any dirt with it, so I layered Graveyard Dirt (which is not sweet on me at all), and it's still covered up by the moss. I don't have much experience with ivy, so I'm not sure if it's missing or if it's contributing to the sweetness. It's too overpowering for me, but nicely evocative.

From the notes, this was an instant win for both my husband and myself (I prefer unisex/masculine-leaning scents). When it arrived, in the bottle it was all sweet with the faintest hint of pine. I'm not good at identifying sweet notes since I don't often wear them, so I can't put my finger on the note exactly. So that was unexpected. We'll see if this changes when it's rested - I'm wearing it after about two weeks of sitting, and it's become winter bubble gum on me. Not to say that it's plastic-y or overly fake, it's just much sweeter than I normally reach for. I might try to find the perfect piney scent in my collection (there are legion) to layer this with.

I recently discovered white patchouli when I got a frimp sniffie of Yucca Giant Skipper. I love its light dirtiness, and it's paired perfectly with the beeswax in Humming Hive. In the imp/wet, I get a slight sweetness from the beeswax. But that quickly dries into what I can only describe as a sticky, dirty, creamy, salty scent. It's the scent equivalent of dragging my finger through cold, fresh-ground peanut butter. It's so comforting to me, and I'm trying to pinpoint why - I think it may remind me of my mother's sewing room. The beeswax that she uses to untangle her hand-sewing threads, the salt from the popcorn that she always has and a little bit of sweat because her client is going to pick up the item any minute now, the dirt and dust accumulated on the machines, a little bit of incense wafting in from my sister trying to mask whatever she was doing, ... It's just so good.

I haven't posted many reviews because I'm still so new at it. This scent is just perfect on me. The dirt and pine are strong in this one when wet on my skin. I love Nosferatu, and this smells like a piney version of that. As it dries, a little bit of nuttiness comes out from the acorns and the pine cones (I guess?), with the sweet/sourness of the berries coming in at the last. The throw is moderate because I'm a dabber not a slatherer, but the wear is quite long. It's a full bottle for me.