Penance

Origin: Lagniappe from BPTP. First sniff: I know this smell and I know that I know it, but (as is the case with so many of the Tarot blends), I can't quite get the name to actually ocme out enough to identify this. It reminds me of a kitchen. Some sort of herb, I believe, although I'm drawing a complete blank on what is is for some reason. I'd say this is pungent and green smelling but...not. Gah, I can't describe this! Wet on skin: So damn familiar...I know I smelled an EO very similar to this not too long ago, but I don't remember what it was. The most I can say is that this is extremely pungent and smells herbal in a way that's almost like a mix of Ricola coughdrops and horehound candy. I know that has to sound unappealing, but it's actually not. That's just the only way I can think of to describe this. Dry down: Most of the herbalness has gone and now this is more like a mix of horehound and some sort of sweet florals. This is very unusual and suprisingly pretty. The bottom line: I would love to know what's in this because it's as pretty as it is unusual.

Preconceived notions: I've been dying to try this since it was released. Based on the description, it sounds like it was made for me and I've got extremely high hopes for this. First sniff: This is incense, but not head shop incense. Exotic incense burning in some far flung Buddhist temple, not the type you pick up at your local Rocky Mudd's. It's almost green smelling somehow, like green tree branches - sappy but woody at the same time. The best way I can think of to describe this is that it's like a temple in some untouched corner of the rainforest - snapped sapling branches and exotic, hand-blended resins smoking in a brazier in some farflung Buddhist temple. Wet on skin: There's still something very reminiscent of the sappy, green smell you get when you break a small branch off a living tree. It's unexpected but strangely beautiful (and not at all what I expected). The incense note is pronounced, but it's not your average, run of the mill incense. This is nothing like Penitence or Cathedral or even Anne Bonny for me, it's more exotic: dryer and less sweet. Dry down: A little bit of this goes a long, long way. I dabbed a tiny bit of this on to test it and I can smell it without getting my nose anywhere near it. The green wood note is gone and I smell dry, exotic incense with an almost cinnamon-like note to it. This reminds me of Lorenzo Villoresi's Incensi for some reason, although this is much better quality (nothing beats BPAL!) and smells far more beautiful - something about the notes seems similar. The bottom line: Beautiful! Very unusual! I love this!

Chaos Theory LXXVII (77) Origin: Mini sniffy from Joseybird. Preconceived notions: All I remember is pine and I really like pine, so I'm hoping to like this one. First sniff: Hmm...that's pine, but it's dangerously close to the cleaning fluid pine note in Jabberwocky that I absolutely despise (it's the olfactory equivalent of nails on a blackboard). It might improve on my skin, but right now things aren't looking good. Wet on skin: A little better. Slightly more like Nocnitsa than Jabberwocky now, but not enough for my to really like this at the moment. It's rare for me to dislike pine unless it smells like a fake Christmas tree, but both Jabberwocky and this one just grate on my sense of smell somehow. Dry down: A little better still, but not improved enough. I have no clue why I dislike this when Josey finds it so beautiful, but maybe it's a blessing in disguise. At least now I won't be beating myself up over passing on this one when I had a crack at the bottle. The bottom line: This is only the second BPAL pine scent that's been unappealing to me and I'd love to know why this and Jabberwocky are so different than BPAL's other pine scents. Oh well, I'm going to look at this as a blessing in disguise. Previously reviewed by Neko and Chirp.

Chaos Theory VIII Origin: Imp from ~AmusedMuse~ Preconceived notions: I honestly don't remember what this is supposed to smell like, so I really don't know what to expect. First sniff: Minty! There seem to be quite a few minty CT2's floating around out there, which is fine by me. This smells very similar to my spearmint CT2 in the imp...there might be something a little grassy in the background of VIII, too, though. Wet on skin: Soft and minty. Like fresh mint leaves, not peppermint oil or candy canes. There is something grassy here, too. It's very subtle, but it's definitely there. It's an unusual combination and I'm not quite sure if it's working for me. Dry down: Grass and mint and something vaguely herbal. This is really unusual. I'm not sure if it's pretty or just plain strange. It's one of those scents and I'm not quite sure how I feel about it. The bottom line: I'm not sure if I like this enough to keep it or not. It's different - very different - but I'm not quite sure that translates to "pretty." Previously reviewed by Olympia301, ~AmusedMuse~ and Gin

Preconceived notions: I don't normally do fruit scents, but because of my complete adoration of March Hare and my love affair with liquor scents, I got a 5mL of this unsniffed and really hope to love it. First sniff: Mmm, this is dead on! It's not fruity like March Hare is fruity; it's boozy with a decidedly liqueur-like apricot note to it. It smells decadent and sophisticated in a comfortable sort of way, like sitting in a wingback chair in front of a roaring fire after a night at the theatre, if that makes sense. The apricot portion is definitely a part of the brandy and not just a fruit note superimposed over the booze, which was what I was slightly nervous about. So far, this is gorgeous! Wet on skin: As soon as Grand Guignol hits my skin, the brandy note amps up, drowning out most of the apricot and making this more boozy and less fruity. Where before it bore a slight resemblance to March Hare with the strong apricot note, it's now definitely a boozy scent with just a touch of fruit. This is very sophisticated smelling somehow. I would have to compare this in feeling to the original Hellfire...a sort of sophisticated, comfortable debauched scent. I don't know how to explain it except to say that while it's undeniably high-class smelling, there's something about it that suggests illicit behavior in darkened parlors. I'm not sure if it's me supplying the imagery or if the scent just conjures that up, but either way I have to admit that I like it. Dry down: Very boozy with just a slight hint of fruit. If I worried that this would be too strong on the fruit, I've definitely been proven wrong. The fruit doesn't jump out at you, it's more subtle, like a shadow in the background that gives the scent depth. This is beautiful. The bottom line: This is sophisticated smelling and not at all foody. It's a serious scent, somehow, and I'm sure it would smell gorgeous on a guy...might have to try it on my husband tonight.

Maybe there's cinnamon in it that isn't listed? That's the only thing I can think of. I'm allergic to almond so I've only really given Hecate a really superficial sniff (the most I could do without making myself sick) and it smelled a tiny bit cinnamon-ish. That's really the only thing I can think of unless you're allergic to myrrh or nut oils.

Preconceived notions: 13 is my lucky (and favorite) number and I was thrilled when this came out, but, based on the reviews, I'm worried. I really don't want to smell like chocolate (white chocolate is fine, but milk chocolate definitely isn't) and the comparisons to chocolate oranges have me worried. Big time. First sniff: Chocolate, ick! The people who've mentioned that this smells like milk chocolate rather than white chocolate are right, unfortunately. I also smell a tiny bit of something fruity in the background that could be either the currant or the orange since it's so hard to isolate. Unless this really changes on my skin, this is going to be a disaster on me. Wet on skin: Strong chocolate and currant in the background. I wanted to love this, but this is so not me that it's not even funny. I despise the smell of chocolate (with a couple of exceptions, most notably Dia De Los Muertos), so this is not working although I'm sure that someone more in love with the smell of chocolate would adore this. Dry down: Chocolate, currants and oranges. There's nothing artificial here and it smells downright juicy but it's really not appealing to me. I was so excited about this, but I just can't love it the way I wanted to. The bottom line: 13's a real heartbreaker for me. I wanted to love this so bad, but I can't even really like it. Chocolate just isn't my thing. At all.

Origin: Imp from brandileigh. Preconceived notions: I waffled over this one right up until the moment the SIA oils were removed from the site because while I love white pepper and like mint quite a bit and have an unexpected (for me, I mean) fondness for Blue Moon (which sounds similar), I was worried about the cucumber and the comparisons to Frost Moon, so I'm curious and not quite sure what to expect. First sniff: Soft, watery mint. Somehow I'm sure that the wateriness comes from the cucumber even though I can't actually smell it. The mints remind me of Ultraviolet - cold and almost glowing smelling somehow. So far this is nice, although I was hoping for a stronger pepper component. Wet on skin: Whoa, that's stronger now! The mint really amps up once it hits my skin and the cucumber comes out in full force without any warning. There's a tiny bit of pepper here, too, but still not as much as I was hoping for. This is very pretty, though, cold and glowing smelling and refreshing somehow. This would make a great summer or winter scent. Dry down: Cucumber and pepper. The mint seems to have gone MIA, but the pepper is coming through much more strongly now that it's gone. I actually really like this in spite of my dislike of cucumber (as a general rule, sometimes I like it) and now I'm regretting not getting a bottle. I had a feeling this was going to happen, but hindsight is 20/20. The bottom line: Chilly and glowing at first and then summery but cool on the drydown. Beautiful and very unusual! I only wish I'd gotten a bottle when I had the chance.

Origin: 5mL from LunaSea. First sniff: Well, whaddya know..."the scent of air and darkness" smells like laundry detergent! Horrifying isn't really the word that comes to mind when I smell this. Clean? Absolutely. Comforting? Possibly. Refreshing? Sure. But horrifying? Not unless you find the idea of doing a load of laundry particularly terrifying. I'm not bad-mouthing this, by the way. I actually love the smell of laundry detergent (and the way Yog-Sothoth smells), I just find it amusing how this scent is so wholesome and comforting to me when the description is so intimidating. Wet on skin: Ooh, no more laundry detergent! Now this is a little more intimidating smelling. It's actually earthy on me strangely enough. I smell vetiver very clearly in this...for some reason I'm reminded of Capricorn, but lighter and more airy. This is really interesting: vetiver and something slightly soapy and laundry detergentish in the background. I'd say the best way to describe this would be as dark and earthy with an airy, clean background. Very unusual! Dry down: The "air" and "earth" smells are more blended now. Where before they were clearly distinct, now they seem almost like the same note...a sort of strange soapy air and dirt hybrid that really does smell rather like a forest at night. I really wasn't expecting this from the way Yog-Sothoth smelled in the bottle, but I'm as impressed as I am surprised. This is undoubtedly a strange combination of notes and one that's hard to describe accurately, but at the same time it's beautiful in a way that would be hard to understand without actually smelling it. The bottom line: Very unusual! The notes are a strange combination but they work. This manages to be both clean and dirty at the same time and I really like it!

I'm allergic to pollen (my eyes tear up, my nose gets stuffy, I sneeze like crazy, all that good stuff) and I love Roadhouse. Never had a problem with it. I'd imagine you'd be okay, but I'd say try a tiny dab first and see if that sets off your allergies before really giving it a serious try.

Chaos Theory CCLXXIV (274) Origin: 5mL courtesy of Lysithea. Preconceived notions: Lysithea described this as being a peppery resin/incense blend, which sounds wonderful, so I've got high hopes. First sniff: Mmm, pepper! Smells like black pepper to me. There's also something sort of sharp in the background...it's definitely resiny, too, though. I'm not sure what it is, but it's beautiful! Wet on skin: Almost all pepper now, but I love pepper so that's fine by me. I get a tiny, tiny bit of something like frankincense in the background, but the main note here is strong, musty black pepper. It's similar to Kweku Anansi, but without the grass and nutmeg. Very unusual. Dry down: Musty, peppery incense. I can't place what resin note this is...the pepper keeps getting in the way when I try to pin this down. Right now, I would say that frankincense is the most likely culprit here...maybe a touch of myrrh, but I'm not sure about that. This is really nice! The bottom line: Yummy! Spicy and musty and warm and resiny and just wonderful. This reminds me of a less sweet version of Villainess' Pyromania smooch. I'm glad I swapped for this!

Chaos Theory CCCXXIX (329) Origin: 5mL borrowed from Subbes for ID purposes. First sniff: There's definitely something strangely spicy in here. I recognize it, I know I do, but the name is escaping me. Not dragon's blood, not cinnamon...it bears a passing resemblance to black pepper, but not quite...actually, that might be it: black pepper mixed with something else that's confusing my nose. It strikes me as being somewhere between herbal and spice and it's naggingly familiar. Wet on skin: This smells almost identical to another BPAL scent and I can't place which one it is...I've tried so many that I can't call up the name in my mind. Floral...a floral I really don't care for. It's...neroli! I absolutely despise neroli - it gives me splitting headaches (that should have been a tip off right away) and I really don't like the smell of it, either. I believe the scent I was thinking of is either Catherine, Succubus or Naiad, although I don't have any of those to compare it to anymore. Dry down: The neroli is still prominent on me (florals love me, even if I don't love them back) but there's more to this...carnation, maybe? I smell a spicy floral behind the neroli, which might explain Subbes' impression of it being like dragon's blood - it's spicy and slightly red smelling while definitely not being dragon's blood. Strangely all of a sudden and completely out of left field I smell black tea (what I mean is that there no warning, it was just there all of a sudden, overpowering the neroli and brining a vague fruitiness - plum maybe? - with it). :icon_eek: The bottom line: Wow, this one is a morpher. It starts out peppery, veers into floral country and then throws in another dash of spice and a surprise splash of fruity black tea in the end. Very complex; definitely a challenge. Not me, but fun to try and pin down! Previously reviewed by Subbes.

Chaos Theory XVIII (18) Origin: 5mL courtesy of Sarada who got it from Mobilejessie. First sniff: Sharp and herbal, but with an undertone that smells like rum. I'm almost positive that there's got to be rum in this because it's a pretty distinct scent and I've not come across anything that really mimicks it. The herbal note seems to be the same odd one that I've gotten from several CT2's that I've tried - I swear, it's haunting me. Wet on skin: Mmm, rum! Sarada was right, there's a definite boozy note here that's pretty prominent. I don't smell any vetiver in here. All I get is rum, maybe some wood and a hint of vanilla (not positive about that one) and a light, light touch of that herbal note I smelled in the bottle. Dry down: The rum note isn't as prominent now. It's settled down into a sort of rum/vanilla/unidentified wood scent that's really very pretty. The vanilla type note (not sure that it is vanilla and not, say, tonka bean or something similar) smells a tiny bit plasticky, but only when my nose is right up against it and not too much even then. The bottom line: Nice! I'd love to know why that damn herbal note is following me, but aside from that this is lovely! Previously reviewed by Sarada and Mobilejessie.

Origin: Lagniappe from the Lab. Preconceived notions: I distinctly dislike two out of three of the listed notes in Nyx, so I don't see this working, but I'll give it a shot. First sniff: Jasmine. Heady, strong jasmine. The myrrh is the next thing I smell and it blends extremely well with the myrrh to the point where they're almost indistinguishable. Giving it a second sniff, I smell the rose, too. It's true rose, not the powdery variety that's among my least favorite notes, but it's still note me. Wet on skin: On me, Nyx is all rose and jasmine, the two notes that I really don't care for in this, but that's no surprise since my skin amps up florals to an insane degree. The rose is also crossing over into powder territory now, too, which makes matters worse for a floral averse gal like me. Dry down: Slightly overripe (I know, a rose isn't fruit, but still) rose and nothing more. Nyx, on me, smells like a rose that's passed its prime and is starting to get limp and squishy along the edges of its petals. There's a hint of powder here, too, but that's the rose coming out, too. My skin loves to amp up powdery florals, wihch is a shame because I hate that particular scent family. The bottom line: Another scent I knew wouldn't work from the get-go. Off to a new home with it.

Origin: Lagniappe from the Lab. Preconceived notions: I really don't expect this to work for me. I really don't care for rose and orange blossom rarely works although I love rosemary. First sniff: Very heavy on the orange blossom (the scent literally makes me cringe half the time and I have no clue why) with undertones of rosemary. This is definitely not going to work for me, I can tell that right now. Wet on skin: No change, still in-your-face orange blossom (which I can't stand) and a heavy dose of rosemary (which I love, but don't care for in this blend). I don't smell any rose, but that's a good thing for me. Catherine's definitely a strong feminine scent. Forceful and womanly and unfortunately not me. At all. Dry down: All I can smell is orange blossom now and it's giving me a headache. I'd thought that only neroli (I recall someone saying there was a difference between the two) gave me migraines, but it looks like I'm either wrong or that this is neroli under the name of orange blossom. The bottom line: I knew this wouldn't work, so it's not a huge surprise that Catherine's not for me, but I'm still disappointed any time a BPAL scent hates me.

Origin: Lagniappe from the Lab. Preconceived notions: I already know that I won't like Hecate and I'm sure it'll make me sick if I even try to really try it out (I'm allergic to almonds) but in the interests of reviewing, I'll give it a quick sniff and review it that way. Impressions: Giving this a quick sniff I smell almond, almond and more almond (no surprise since it's normally all I can smell if there's any at all in a scent), but I can tell there's something else here, too. Something sweetish...must be the myrrh I'm smelling although I can't pin it down since I'm already getting nauseous as it is. This definitely isn't me, but it's not a bad scent, either.

First sniff: Mmm, gorgeous! I can't believe I waited this long to order this. I think I was afraid of the ambergris because I didn't know what it smelled like, but I still can't believe I didn't take a chance on this. Warm and slightly musky with a heavy dusting of sage and basil and a hint of frankincense. This smells like a sexy man although I definitely wouldn't say that this is strictly a masculine scent. I can see myself loving this already. Wet on skin: No real change from in the vial. On me, it's a close cousin of Oisin's, only with warmer musk and a bit of frankincense. Very sexy. I'm going to have to put this on my husband even if it means tying him down and slathering him in it. Dry down: Antony's the most stable scent I've smelled in quite a while. Any changes at all from imp to dry down have been negligable at best, which is wonderful because I love the way it smells in the imp. I can see this making a reasonable replacement for Oisin once mine runs out and this is a definite winner on its own. The bottom line: I sense a bottle of this in my future! Sexy and clean but musky at the same time. I love the combination of musk and herbs. Next step: try it on my husband.

Origin: Lagniappe from the Lab. Preconceived notions: I originally passed on Casanova when it came out because of the anise and lemon peel (both of which I despise) and, to a lesser degree, the bergamot and amber which don't normally work for me, but it does have leather and patchouli, both of which I love, so I'll admit that I'm curious. First sniff: Wow, that's a definite surprise. I smell expensive (if generic, as all commercial perfumes/colognes are to me now) men's cologne! I guess I was expecting something less well-blended. I mean that in a good way - something where the individual notes stood out more clearly, not as in something poorly made. This is actually pretty damn sexy if I do say so myself. Wet on skin: Expensive, sexy men's cologne. I don't know how else to describe it. I catch bits and pieces of the notes, but I only recognize them because I know they're there. I don't generally like the smell of men's cologne, but Casanova is sexy and comforting at the same time It's fresh and clean, brisk and biting and warm and welcoming all at once. This would be sexy as hell on a guy. ::Resolves to slather her husband the first chance she gets:: Dry down: Warmer and more sensual. This is definitely a sexy masculine scent that smells great on me, too, both of which are pleasant surprises. The dry down on this is ten times better than the wet stage. I'm duly impressed. Kudos to Beth! The bottom line: Another reason not to make preconceived judgments about scents. I expected to hate this, but it's sexy as hell.

Origin: Lagniappe from the Lab. Preconceived notions: Right off the bat I know this won't work for me. I don't do florals, especially lotus, which always ends up smelling like bubblegum on me. I'll still give Muse a fair chance, though. First sniff: Lime sprinkled florals with a tiny hint of bubblegum. This is exactly what I'd envisioned, which unfortunately means that I really don't care for muse. Wet on skin: Less lime and far more flowers. Even though I don't like florals, this is preferable when compared with the way Muse smelled in the vial. It's still not me, but it is better. Dry down: All florals now, mainly jasmine. I don't get the horrible bubblegum note I normally get from lotus, which is a good thing, but I still can't see myself enjoying Muse, unfortunately. It's just not me. The bottom line: Exactly what I'd expected, but not for me.

Origin: Lagniappe from the Lab. Preconceived notions: Venom is one of those scents that I've managed to completely ignore without knowing why. Opponax and galbanum are lovely but I'm guessing the jasmine and lime put me off when I first found BPAL. I'm actually quite curious about this now since it's one of those scents that got lost in the whole slew of scents BPAL has to choose from. First sniff: This reminds me somewhat of Queen of Spades. It's got a similar resin and purple fruit kind of smell, but with an added dose of jasmine. I actually like this quite a bit, which is surprising given how much I normally dislike jasmine. Wet on skin: Less like QoS now: heavier on the lime and jasmine and less resinous...it has that same odd powdery resin type of note that I recognize from Noir, although it's not exactly the same - more like in the same vein. I don't like this on me as much as I like it in the vial, which generally means it's a skin chemistry issue and not the scent itself. Dry down: Back to reminding me of a distant cousin of QoS. The two are definitely different, but they both have a similar feel that I like quite a bit. It's sophisticated smelling but not aloof. I like this. The bottom line: Another pleasant surprise. I'm amazed at how some oils turn out and Venom is one of those that caught me pleasantly off guard.

Origin: I got an imp of this from cricketshay. Preconceived notions: I didn't order this both because I'm a tomboy (I hate pink with a passion) and because practically everything in Pink Moon is something I either don't like or don't like to wear as perfume (i.e. sugar and strawberries - delicious, but not me in terms of perfume, normally), but I'm trying every LE that comes out because I just want to experience them all, regardless of the "fit." First sniff: Oh wow, that is sweet. I'm not generally a sweet scent kind of girl (with the exception of Sugar Skull and maybe a couple other scents), so that's not a good thing for me. I smell sugar, honey and some sort of...fluffy smelling florals if that makes sense, with a hint of strawberry in the background. Wet on skin: Less nauseatingly (again, for me, sweet scents tend to nauseate me) sweet and far more wearable in my mind. The honey and sugar are still the most prominent notes here, but the strawberries are putting in a sort of "strawberry ice cream" show in the background. The florals are very subdued with the strong sweet notes drowning out most of their punch (not a bad thing since I don't do florals, either) and the general impression I get is of hazy pink clouds of spun sugar and other sweet treats heaped over a bowl of fresh strawberry ice cream. Dry down: Heavier on the strawberry ice cream and less intense in the sugar and honey area. The florals are getting a bit of showtime, too, and for reasons inexplicable even to me I kind of like this. The bottom line: I'm not sure I'd ever really wear this (too girly), but it really smells rather lovely.

First sniff: My nose is stuffy, but I smell...citrus? It could be ginger since my nose confuses lemon and ginger on a regular basis. There's something slightly musty or dusty here, too, but I can't place it. It's a pleasant sort of smell that really is calming somehow. I'm desperately in need of some relaxation right about now, so hopefully Succor keeps up the good work. Wet on skin: It's not citrus I'm smelling. it's...kind of green smelling. It reminds me vaguely of Tzadikim Nistarim, so I'm thinking...olive? That sounds all wrong...well, not really. Succor means assistance and olive branches represent peace, but I'm probably reading way too much into that particular connection (I'm good at doing that). It's also a bit spicy smelling, almost like there's a hint of clove in here, too. It's actually surprisingly pleasant smelling. Dry down: Just like with Quietude, I'm not sure if it's the power of suggestion or a real aromatherapy response, but I feel wonderful. I've been extremely stressed out lately, but, wearing Succor, I feel very calm and relaxed. And to make a good thing even better, Succor smells wonderful once it dries, like clove and something I can't place, something deep green and ever-so-slightly herbal. The bottom line: Another winner from the Panacea series. Smells beautiful and works beautifully.

Origin: Lagniappe from the Lab. Preconceived notions: There was a point where I would have assumed without hesitation that Sudha Segara would be a disaster on me, but after my positive experiences with White Rabbit, Milk Moon and Chaste Moon, I'm not making any assumptions about this one until I try it. First sniff: Similar to White Rabbit sans tea. I get milk and strong, lemony ginger with a slight bit of honey. I've learned to love White Rabbit, so this might work for me. Wet on skin: Ginger is by far the most prominent note now. It's sharp and lemony and very slightly spicy and it overshadows every other note in here once it hits my skin. it's not bad, but I prefer the scent of Sudha Segara in the bottle. Dry down: The ginger has mellowed and Sudha Segara once again smells similar to White Rabbit sans tea. This really is lovely in spite of what I may have thought at one time. The bottom line: Lovely, but a little too similar to White Rabbit to warrant keeping it (too much perfume, and besides, I love the tea note in White Rabbit), so it'll be finding a new home.

Preconceived notions: I've got high hopes for this one. There's not a single note in here that I'm not crazy about, so hopefully that translates into it being perfect for me. First sniff: A lot lighter than I'd envisioned. Somewhat like Loup Garou meets Neo-Tokyo meets Danse Macabre. It's lovely, but nowhere near as dark as I'd dreamed of it being. I smell bamboo very prominently here, followed by juniper, oakmoss and spanish moss and maybe a hint of spice. This is actually more wearable than I'd envisioned it being, now that I'm thinking about it. Wet on skin: The moss and pepper really come out once Whippoorwill hits my skin and it's much less fresh smelling than it was in the bottle. It's darker now and more marshy, which isn't a bad thing at all, just unexpected since it was so airy smelling in the bottle. Dry down: Spicy moss and wood. This is defintely more like what I'd imagined - dark and intense and ever-so-slightly spicy. So far, this is the only SIA scent that I've tried that's turned out well on me, but it's not really a surprise since this was the one that sounded most likely to work for me.

A sinister, sinuous incense of summoning, a herald and paean to the Primordial Gods of Darkness, Chaos, Madness and Decay. Preconceived notions: This was the first SIA scent that really jumped out at me note-wise since I'm an unrepentant incense lover so I'm really hoping this works for me, especially since the other SIA scents I've tried so far just haven't done much for me for some reason. First sniff: Incense but sweet and musty...almost like musty maple syrup dripped over incense. Normally I adore incense scents, but something about this just isn't...appealing to me, I suppose. I don't care for sweet scents and that combined with the mustiness is just...not quite working for me. Wet on skin: Better, but still sweet and musty. There's some sort of background note in here that's really just not working for me, but I have no clue what it is. None. I'm mystified. Dry down: The syrupy sweet note is gone, but this is still striking a bad note with me. I never thought I'd find myself saying that an incense blend wasn't me, but there's a first time for everything, I guess. This is a bit...cloying, I guess, for me. I prefer dry, heavy incense notes and Al Azif just doesn't fall into that category for me. It's more like...I think the best way to put it is that it smells like the dregs of a dozen different sweet, heady incenses left in the brazier. Not a bad thing necessarily, just not what I want. The bottom line: I never dreamed that I'd say it, but I've met an incense blend I don't care for. It's strangely disconcerting and more than a little sad.