fairnymph

In the bottle: Soft, gentle floral. A little bit sweet, almost aquatic. Delicate and feminine. Wet: Engish garden crossed with wildflowers - it smells both classic and uncultivated. A bit grassy, a bit spicy (carnation?). Slightly soapy edge. Dry: Clover is giving that sweet, cool green aquatic feel, and I think there are some fruit tree blossoms in here. Also, something powdery. Still, it's pretty shady and dewy. Later: Yes, it's more powdery than soapy, in a way that makes me think violet. It's not too strong. I think also a rose note that goes to soap/powder on me. Summary: From a distance, it reminds me a bit of The Phantom Queen or Blue Moon 07, but up close it's slightly powdery-soapy. A very complex and well-blended, light, feminine floral. Low throw. I like it, not sure I love it.

In the bottle: Extremely pale, nearly colourless yellow oil. Sour milk and soapy, salty aquatic. A bit like cologne/aftershave, with some white florals. Vaguely tropical in feel. Not creamy. Wet: Not so much sour as...citrusy! Almost a little sparkling. Lemon and especially lime, I think. Still pretty soapy, but not any soapier than sniffed. The fizziness is delightful. Ignoring the saltiness, this reminds me a notably of Independent. Dry: This really makes me think of the beach. Salt spray, suntan lotion...and also summer cocktails, gin and tonic with lime. From a distance I get wafts of cool green cucumber. Up close it's more salty and a little musky - sharp green musk. Later: Hello, weird green soapy note! Almost like pine or mint, but not quite. In the cold way a lot of snowy winter scents are. It's a bit medicinal. The milk has come out in a more creamy way, possibly with the mentholic stuff as contrast. Summary: I'm undecided. From several inches a way, it's a faintly tropical and creamy, cucumbery, sea-green, salty aquatic that's clean but not too soapy. From a few inches, it's more intensely soapy/musky with a mentholic edge. Good throw. I think I need to wear this as I normally would - on my neck - and not just be testing it on a distal body part. If it's mostly as it is from a distance, it's definitely a keeper. Overall, a very interesting evolution which I enjoy at all stages.

In the bottle: Light yellow oil. Spicy, honeyed, creamy wildflowers. Gorgeous! I get carnation and/or clove (the spice). Not fruity, surprisingly. Wet: Sweeter, spicier, richer. It's an intense, cloying spicy note, which makes me think clove over carnation.The honey is like (appropriately) wildflower honey. I get some daisy, too. The cream is very strong, almost foody. Dry: Something a bit sharp, green and herbal. Sort of stemmy and a bit grassy...dandelion? That almost vanilla-ish, rich cream note has almost completely faded, along with the honey. A bit soapy. Later: Finally a bit of plum emerges, though it's a very meek plum note. It sweetens the blend back up and adds some depth. Still too spicy for me, alas - almost cinnamony. Summary: Spicy (a la Frumious Bandernatch) carnation or clove (or both), over sweet plums and greenish wildflowers (dandelion, daisy) with hints of mild honey and vanilla cream. Decent throw, great longevity. It also sort of reminds me a bit of Hod, thought without the delicious musk. Maybe if you layered FB with this? Of course, it's also a bit more spicy and floral and plummy...

In the bottle: Light peach-coloured oil. Heady, soapy florals and salty aquatic notes. I fear dragon's blood due to floral soap and colour. :\ Wet: Fresh, slightly sharp and heady florals indeed....lilac, maybe also some narcissus and maybe some jonquil. Much more green and floral, less salty/oceanic. Dry: Yeah, still db-heavy floral, going soapy-sharp as it does on my skin. At least it's not sweet. A bit more of the salty aquatic note has emerged. Later: Increasingly soapy-clean and salty-aquatic. It also really amps in throw, greatly. Fortunately some of the heady-floralness dies down. Summary: Salty, aquatic slightly bitter green soap with hints of floral dragon's blood. A bit cologney. It actually dries down quite nicely, and would probably work well on man. Great throw & longevity.

In the bottle: Colourless oil. Fresh, fruity red rose with a hint of wet, new green leaves. Much like Rose Red 05 (*not* the other years, though). Wet: Fruitier, almost like there is freesia or hyacinth in here along with the lush rose, or maybe a some rosehip fruit - it's tart and juicy, and not as floral as I expected. Dry: It's staying fruity! And so, so fresh and youthful, not heavy or rich at all. There's a slightly soapy edge, but it's extremely mild and just make the blend clean, not gross. Later: I agree with Z_Z's 'green apple' observation - although I think it's freesia that gives that feel. I think the cleanness maybe from a linen note - I'm reminded of Dirty. Summary: The crispy, apple-y freesia is probably foremost, with some other sort of clean linen-y florals like plumeria, lush tea rose and citrusy rosehip behind, then more faintly some slightly dewy greenery. Lowish throw & longevity. Unlike most rose scents on my skin, this fades a bit, and the rose doesn't bully the other notes. It's very youthfull and delicate in feel - not a HEY I'M HERE sort of scent a rose can be. More girlish. Definitely getting a bottle and this is now my favourite rose scent.

In the bottle: Extremely pale yellow, nearly colourless oil. Sweet, soft, and floral. I get loads of slightly citrusy osmanthus with a bit of white peach and slightly sharp rosewood. Wet: Still very heavy on the osmanthus. It almost has a greenness to it - very fresh and bright, not like typical osmanthus - maybe something else? A little bit soapy, neroli-like. No vanilla or sandalwood. Dry: Reminds me sort of the lab's nectarine - it's not the syrupy sweet peach note I'm used to. A lot like peach skin, specifically. Still a lot of planty/floral sharpness. And a powdery edge. Later: Oddly mentholic? Must be that sharp green herbal note I can't identify. It's also more soapy, and powdery from the rosewood. The peach has come out a bit more, and this loses a bit of its bitterness. Summary: Slightly sharp & soapy green herbs and strong osmanthus with lighter hints not-quite-ripe peach and powdery rosewood. I don't get much sandalwood or vanilla. Low throw, fades quickly. Much sharper, greener, and soapier than I was hoping for, alas. At least it wasn't sticky sweet! I can vaguely see the Ebisu resemblance. Also vaguely reminds me of the Cup of Death and Eisheth. But it MOST reminds me of Les Bijoux.

In the bottle: Bright sunshine-yellow oil. Rose! And something planty, maybe the straw? It's quite light. There's a sharp tang that could be the gold or the tears - a bit sour. Wet: Same. Sort of sour rose. The tang seems more metallic, the planty note a bit more herbal. Powdery edge - the amber, maybe? Dry: Rose amping! And I think the sour note might actually be citrus in some form? Or possibly it's white rose, which is sort of tart on my skin? Later: It's smoothing out, as more amber emerges to give it warmth and depth. A bit soapy, probably from the aquatic tears. I'm not getting salt. Summary: Oddly warm yet tangy-sour rose and powdery amber with a hint of soap. I don't ever really get a strong metallic or aquatic feel, alas. Good throw & lasting power.

In the bottle: Deep peachy-orange oil. Sweet, creamy, woody, warm. I get loads of rich, creamy caramel, a fair bit of dry, exotic teak, and light, fragrant lotus (not the bubblegum sort). Wet: Less sweet, more woody - the teak is very strong in this, almost cedar or rosewood like in its dry warmth. Less caramel and lotus. Dry: Holy teak! Wow, amping! A little more cream, a very lovely, soft note that's not too rich. And some deep, slightly powdery stuff - amber. A heavy one. Later: Sweetening, but it's not really lotus...it's that caramel note and maybe some vanilla. The cream is amping a bit more, too. Teak is less of a bully. Summary: Dry, warm, somewhat sweet teak with lighter vanilla-caramel-cream and slightly powdery, rich amber. I don't get lotus in the final drydown. Good throw.

In the bottle: Golden oil. Surprisingly tart, candyish. I get wild strawberry more than traditional strawberry. Definitely some bubblegum-lotus, and a strong kick of green tea. Wet: More green and herbal - green tea even more apparent, and the sage too - the latter is a tad sharp/mentholic, while the former is mostly fresh/grassy. Much less sweet. Dry: More and more sage. This reminds me a lot of Bewitched, but less soapy, less sweet and more herbal. It's almost a bit bitter. Not getting any cream or ylang ylang, and lotus has greatly faded. Later: A bit more of the wild strawberry coming out again, although it's going a bit fake/plastic on me as strawberry typically does. It's the same note from Fruit Moon and Bon Vivant Summary: Slightly plasticky, sweet-tart wild strawberry, grassy green tea, and slightly medicinal sage with a whisper of cream beneath it all. Decent throw, good lasting power. Quite nice. If it weren't plasticky, I'd probably keep this. It evolves beautifully for the most part, and the cream works very well when it finally emerges.

In the bottle: Light beigey-peach colour. Smoky/incensey, woody, green, herbal. A little sharp and medicinal. Masculine. Wet: Softer, gentler, sweeter. Also spicy, and a little fruity. Dragon's blood? Getting a bit of soapy floral edge. Still very green/herbal. Dry: Definitely some berries of some sort, and vaguely soapy florals. A bit less herbal. The woods are less dry than it intially, more smooth. Later: Deep musks emerging, but soapiness increasing. I lied about the woods, they're going dry (and warm) again. Summary: Soapy florals, dusty woods, green herbs, and musk with a bit of warm, smoky incense. Not my thing. Good throw, great lasting power.

In the bottle: Pale yellow oil.Tropical, fruity, and sweet-tart. I do get the pina colada thing, totally. The milk has a slightly sour edge. Lots of fig and pomegranate. Wet: Similar, a bit more creamy/rich. The date is more apparent, and the honey and white grape add more sweetness. Same really rich fig note from The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Also reminds me of a sweeter, headier, more tropical Horn of Amalthea Dry: More aromatic/floral, in a really delicious way. Also more exotically tart, pomegranate and yes, I do get pineapple, and maybe even passionfruit. The milkiness is like coconut milk. Later: This reminds me of Shango, too, though it's much lighter and creamier. And Agape, but richer and tarer. Increasingly tart, yes, it's gotta be passionfruit, except it's amping here unlike in Agape where it dies. Summary: Drydown is mostly super tart, exotic passionfruit, creamy fig, sticky sweet white grape and coconut milk, and I think the florals are plumeria and citrusy-fragrant lemon blossom. Insane throw. Gorgeous!

In the bottle: Extremely pale, nearly colourless yellow oil. Sweet, cold floral. A bit of that sort of piney-sharp snow note, a little hairspray-ish. I'm reminded of L'Inverno. Wet: Definitely mentholic, and much greener on my skin. A very cool, refreshing scent. Ivy, I think, adds a sort of wet, green, smooth note. Some mint, for sure. High-pitched white florals. Dry: Increasingly minty - spearmint, but still some piney-sharp-snow. Something else sharply herbal and very green - sage? Still softly sweet, from - honeydew melon! Whoa. Later: Deeply inhaling, it's sinus-clearing and invigorating. The flowers have faded and lost their slightly chemical pitch. I'm still not crazy about the pine, but it's bearable Summary: Mostly this is snowy pine, spearmint , honeydew melon, cucumber, and soft flowers, over a salty musk that emerges in late drydown. This would be great in hot weather. I wish the melon were stronger, but this is a lovely scent that reminds me of this spearmint honey dew body butter I have, if more herbal/green and mentholic.

To my knowledge, this is the Original (2004) version: In the bottle: Light yellow oil. Sweet, fruity, citrusy - and almost sparkling. Definitely some lemon, and lots of heliotrope, a little pear and lotus. Wet: Bright juicy lemonade! With a sparkly edge and touch of pink-feeling lotus. Quite sweet, but not cloying. This is the nicest/truest white wine note - makes me think of Riesling. Dry: That gorgeous tart lemon is holding, while heliotrope is blooming with sweet goldenness...lotus is fading, so this is less bubblegum-sweet than before. Later: I agree that it's a bit like Sweet-Tarts, but IMO, in a good way. Or maybe like hard lemon candies. Getting the pear more now, that same sort of baked-pear note from the Perilous Parlour. Summary: A bit pleasantly powdery the way that sparkly white wines can go on my skin, in drowdown. The lemon fades to be on par with the bubblegum-lotus and golden heliotrope, with softer pear...and some musk (white) comes out of nowhere, sexy as hell! I love the heliotrope, sparkly lemon, pear, wine and eventual musk - but it's a bit too sweet/candyish for me, and the lemon is a touch mentholic. I have to say it and PP are the only pear scents that stay on my skin.

In the imp: Colourless oil. Sweet-tart, sparkling, fruity! Citrus and booze. Lemon-lime sprite/7-up and vodka? Super refreshing. Wet: Sooo sparkling! Very clean, and a little soapy now - reminds me of lemon liquid dishwashing liquid mixed in with the sprite and booze. Happy, bright, airy. Dry: More soapy and cleaner-ish as it dries, and the sparkle is going a bit powdery as the booze fades somewhat. Getting a bit of junipery-gin and something else sort of green that amps. Later: It's definitely gone the way of lemon dishwashing liquid as the lime/initial booze/sparkle fades, but I like that smell myself. It's not in a bad way. Mentholic note is either lavender and/or some form of mint. Summary: Over time, it goes increasingly coldly mentholic/sharp in a very invigorating, sinus-clearing way. Beneath it is the slightly fizzy-sweet, softly powdery, pleasantly soapy lemon detergent. Strong throw & longevity. I don't ever get cola. This becomes increasingly cool/mentholic on my skin - unusual, as most mentholic notes start off strong and fade. There's got to be some other note beyond the gin causing it. I'm reminded very vaguely of Melpomene and a bit less vaguely of Delousing Powder.

Sharp, shining, metallic: rubbed iron with a dry wooden base. In the bottle: Clean, masculine, metallic, tangy. Like aftershave. Hint of underlying woody sweetness. Wet: Very fresh and clean, but a bit softer. Almost citrusy - sweetly so. Some white musk, less metallic. Dry: Drier, warmer, more woody. Slight earthy-must, combined with aquatic notes - smells like a bog. Wood has gone a bit dusty, too. Summary: Softy, woody-metallic. Slightly dusty and aquatic. Definitely masculine. Decent-to-good throw and lasting power. I'm not in love with it...but I do like it.

In the bottle: Pale yellow oil. Sparkly citrus (tangerine?), the tang of chrome (a la TQ), something faintly powdery, some light greenery. Bright & fresh; lightly fruity. Wet: Milder, less zesty-zingy. Less fruity-sweet. The green note is like wet new leaves. Ginger (Hawaiian white) adds a lovely tropical freshness.A touch soapy-clean in an aquatic way, and a light mint note - white mint. Dry: Some more fruit has emerged - papaya? And there has got to be a booze note of some sort - vodka, sake, or my bet - that dry sparkly champagne from the WCWC champagne scents. The chrome has faded substantially. Later: Oh, now I know what that watery green note is - cucumber! Wow, just gorgeous. Sadly, that tangerine note has completely faded. A sort of earthy note now, like how Golden Wave dries down. Maybe gin? Summary: Final drydown is like a sparkling champagne-and-gin cocktail spiked with cucumber, papaya, ginger, and mint - and a hint of shiny chrome. Very light, fun, and unisex, with a summery, tropical feel. Low throw, decent longevity. I would so love multiple bottles of this. I can't imagine this is unreleased if not for component issues or being saved for a special event.

In the bottle: Dark, salty-sandy, floral, a little fruity. I detect some dragon's blood, and maybe some lilies...not really any rose, yew, or earth. Faintly sweet and overall very mild. Wet: Uhhh..spicy! And stronger on the dragon's blood. More bitter and planty, a bit of evergreen - ah, the yew. Soapy lilies. A suggestion of distant, lush red rose. Still salty. Dry: More rose dry, and the yew is less sharp. Still no earth. Sadly, the lilies and dragon's blood are spicy, powdery, heady DOOM on me and I'm off to the sink.

In the bottle: Light yellow oil. Soft, powdery, slightly sweet and somewhat heady floral. Lily, for sure, maybe moonflower as well. Wet: Much the same, maybe a little sweeter. Soapy edge. There's some of that black lily in there, but other lilies too. I almost get a soft vanilla. Dry: Increasingly powder/soap, which effectively makes this seem less sweet. It is incredibly airy in feel. Later: Some musk coming out - vanilla musk, I think - smooths the powder and soap over a bit, and makes this much nicer. It has faded on the whole. Summary: Final drydown is some mixture of LILIES with possibly other light/soapy flowers - but definitely heavy on the lilies - and some very vanilllic musk to cut throw the soap/powder. It varies in throw from light to very light and back to light. Feminine. I disagree with other reviewers - they're no linden, lilac, or lily of the valley here, and I tested against various scents to check. I would not rule out moonflower and/or sweet pea, though, in addition to multiple lilies.

In the bottle: Very pale yellow oil. Cold, fresh, sharp. Cologney, masculine. A bit musky and soapy. Sandalwood galore, galbanum, a tingle of ozone, and a bit of fresh leather. Green ivy too, but light. Wet: Greener, more ivy and grass. Less dry and biting. More ozone and some tangy metal. Ambergris is powerful, musky-soapy. If I strain, there is a hint of thin, slightly sour red wine. I get some wood that reminds me of oak, but subtler - the ebony? Dry: Slow to dry, and becoming more dry in odour, the sandalwood and presumably ebony amping. Less ivy, more grass. It's gone sharp again, though not bitter. Reminds me of expensive aftershave. I can't really pick out the teak. Summary: Definitely a burnt odour, evoking those burnt grasses...VETIVER. And it has decided to amp. Red wine, where have you gone? A harshly dry sandalwood dominates, with bits of vetiver and teak and soapy-musky ambergis. A cruel, masculine scent. Good throw.

Teakwood, oak, black vanilla, and tobacco. In the bottle: Bright light orange coloured oil. Sweet teak and a little vanilla, with the astringent tang of tobacco and some warm, slightly dry oak. Quite rich, and sweet. Wet: A bit softer, more rounded. The vanilla takes on a creaminess, and the teak is more exotic, less sweet. The tobacco is VERY strong, a bit sharp. Dry: Oh god, the teak is amping like crazy! And it reminds me sort of lotus. Sweet and heady. The vanilla is stronger and sweeter, more foody, too. Oak has faded. Later: Unbearable amping of teak and vanilla. SINK. Summary: Crazy strong teak - very rich, cloying, and sweet - with creamy, intense vanilla, and edge of dark tobacco. Whisper of warm, dry oak. Insane throw & longevity.

In the bottle: Very pale yellow oil. Clean, fresh and bright. Lightly sweet and floral, with beautiful citrus. Sandalwood provides a slightly sharp, dry edge, but pleasantly so. This is both aquatic and airy, very much misty, and I get a bit of ozone. Wet: More tart citrus, such gorgeous lemon blossom! The orange blossom is very light, and I don't get any white peach (usually syrupy on me). The sandalwood is more cologney, less sharp. More resins, but they're very light. This reminds me of a tarter/brighter Ether. Dry: Amping, wow! That lemon blossom is strong, but not too strong, and the sweet, floral davana has come out more, giving this a sort of pink feel. I can detect a tiny hint of peach if I sniff very closely. Musks and resins have majorly emerged, yum! Later: This just gets more and more tart-citrusy over time - not in that Lemon Pledge of Doom way, but a very natural, light, juicy way. Musks and resins have amped further. Davana holding - the main sweetening agent - still very little peach. Sandalwood is a bit dusty. Summary: Very bright and refreshing, but also airy and resiny in a comforting manner. Juicy lemon blossom, resins, and holy sexy MUSK dominate in the end, with a bit of sweet davana and dry-sharp sandalwood. Unisex, though it's great on me. Good throw & lasting power. Definitely a bottle buy. I am so impressed by these new RG scents!

In the bottle: Pale yellow oil. Sharply green and woody, with an underlying hint of sweetness. Masculine. A bit mentholic, verging on masculine. Some dark resins, too, almost smoky, that add depth. Wet: Gentler and more appealing, almost with an aquatic quality. More of that dry, woody bark - cedar or rosewood, perhaps? And some spicy note, that's dry, and sort of exotic...ah, ginger, and some allspice. Dry: The ginger has become brighter, almost juicy, though it's still spicy, and thus merges with the spicier, deeper allspice. As for greenery, I've picked out lavender and bergamot, and maybe some basil. Finally a bit of fruit, something dark and berryish - maybe plum? Later: Hello sexy musk, is that you? I think you're black musk. You have that sweet depth. Also, more wood and resin. Tobacco. Benzoin, and something smoky. I do think there's a bit of vetiver, and maybe some frankincense. Summary: Rich black or wild plum - it's there, but it's dark, not overly fruity - with loads of spicy ginger and allspice and dry, warm rosewood (or something similar, possibly oak). A good blend of resin and incense to sweeten and deepen the blend, some vetiver and tobacco to give it an edge, and hints of lavender and bergamot to keep this green and herbal. Good throw, great longevity. It's a lovely, unisex scent that evolves greatly on my skin. Sniffed. it's not appealing, but on my skin it turns into something very nice. Not quite me, but lovely all the same, and probably gorgeous on a man. So far, these new RG scents are WIN!

In the bottle: Pale yellow oil. Sweet, warm, spicy, creamy. A bit foody. Much less fruity than expected. Almond and cinnamon bark for sure, and I almost get a cocoa note. Loads of fig, a really rich fig, and maybe a hint of grape. Wet: A little tarter and fruitier - some apple and pomegranate, and more grape. Still, it's mostly warm/creamy/sweet/rich. Undoubtably the best almond note I've smelled - it's like raw almonds, very pure and white, not benzaldehyde-y or toasted. It's not really nutty, it's more like white coconut. Dry: The fruits come out more and more, and they are really delightful and unique, very well-balanced. I think I'm even getting a bit of tart tamarind, though fig and pomegranate are reigning. The almond remains strongly creamy and...luxurious. That bittersweet edge of dark cocoa holds. Later: This is one of those rare times I can wear cinnamon. It's not spicy here, nor foody, but more aromatic, fragrant - almost perfumey. It adds an exotic warmth, a lush tropical feel. Something earthy and musky here, too, that I find quite sexy - spikenard? Also, there's gotta be musk here, I'm betting white musk. Summary: I struggle to describe this scent with words, because it's very complex and unlike anything else. It is rich and creamy, lightly earthy and musky, almost spicy but not quite, multi-fruity (tart, and juicy, and rich, and sweet and fun), and very fragrant without being floral - it has that light, wafting quality for all its velvety depth. It's also lush and exotic, above all, and perfectly evokes the desired concept. It evolves beautifully on my skin with time, becoming more and more nose-to-wrist by the minute. Great throw & good longevity. Overall, I think this is a scent that is both unique in the BPAL catalogue, and likely to appeal to a wide range of tastes. I am not sure this scent is 'me', but I love smelling it. I would love this in a body cream or such. ETA: Final drydown smells incredibly like Snow White! That exact same cool, white, creamy almond note.

In the bottle: Sweet greenery and some JUICY wild berry. Very green, grassy. Clover and heather and dandelion. Slightly piney juniper. Lovely floral bluebell. I can pick out every single note in this, other than peat which I am not familiar with. Wet: More foresty, with amped juniper. Also more juicy. Intensely grassy green and dewy wet - loads of clover, slightly soapy-clean heather. Dandelion adds a bitter garden-y edge. Only faintly floral. This is very much SPRING! Dry: This is my first experience with cloudberry, and I'd describe it vaguely as a rosy, rosehip-y blackberry - with that brambly sort of wild note - but much softer/lighter and less sweet, and tarter. Very juicy and bright. It's coming out more now, as is the dandelion and heather. Later: More bitter as time goes on. Not unbearably, but it's a bit more of an edge than I would prefer. Bluebell has amped a bit. On the whole, this is quite strong. And it's gone a bit salty. Summary: Final dry down is slightly bitter-spicy dandelion, a strongly salty aquatic note, a bit of slightly soapy clean heather, and clover galore. Very green and very unisex. Fresh and outdoorsy. Great throw & good longevity. Very glad I got a bottle! I was right to order unsniffed. The best new LE scent I've tried in 2009.

09 Version In the bottle: Rotting greenery and flowers, with a bit of soap. Wet: Extremely mild. I'm getting a bit of metal, but it's very light. A bit of lemon rind, but otherwise, this is not very citrusy. I think maybe the floral is rotten, the narcissus and iris? Dry: Most of the listed notes I don't pick up at all. It's very light in throw and overall potency. If I try to block out that powdery floral rot, I get a clean green base. Summary: It goes sort of powdery/plastic and never loses that awful rotting odour. Gray amber goes powdery-soapy, and benzoin adds some sweetness, very mildly. More lemony. Low throw.