fairnymph

In the bottle: Light gold oil. Honeydew melon sweetened with almost candy-like grapes. Sweet and fruity! Wet: Sweeter, less melon-fresh and heavier on the grapes. This is also a little tangy, though. And cantaloupe has joined the honeydew. Dry: Honeydew receding while cantaloupe amps. The grapes are softer now, more tangy like grapeskin, less candy-sweet. There is a hint of something sort of musty that I don't like - sea mosses? Later: I think the floral, which feels white to me and is very light, has emerged. This mostly cantaloupe, juicy and not too sweet. Very little grape or honeydew remains. Still a hint of that musty note. Summary: The florals and that musty sea moss note amp as the cantaloupe fades, though remains a major contributor. It's still a fresh, juicy scent, and even the tangy grapes seem to come back a bit with the melon lightening. Decent throw but fades rapidly I love melon but this one would be a slatherer, I prefer Earth Rat for melon, and that sea moss puts me off.

In the bottle: Dark yellow oil. Piney, fresh, watery, a little bit of soil. I smell clean greenery, a little mentholic wintergreen, and that hairsprayish snow. A bit sweet, but more from pine than pastries. Wet: Lighter, fresher - really like a freshwater aquatic, like melting snow over mossy rocks. A really lovely moss note, and I guess maybe the felwort? The pine is less, the sweetness is less, and that hint of wintergreen is gone. Still a tad piney/harshly snow-y, but bearably. Dry: I get the wintergreen again, but it's okay. It's a little greener in that way I know is buttercup - nice! I get that heady feel of the orchid but not too strongly. Actually, this reminds me quite a bit of Blue Moon 07. The cool, aquatic feel of the greenery and florals is very similar. But this has a bit of that unpleasant piney-snow, and a vague, faint sugary sweetness (though I wouldn't identify it as pastries). Summary: Faint greenery, cool water, the lab's chemically unpleasant snow note and...celery. Strange final drydown. Lower throw and poor longevity.

I think MP is unisex verging on masculine, with that cologney scent. I ADORE Galvanic Goggles, but it's much more musky and a much 'deeper' scent than MP as well as the resiny balsam, still, I think, worth a shot. And it's to me, much more distinctly masculine so your bro might like it even more, and still has that metallic edge and a lot of 'freshness'. I think it is the most delicious masculine scent I have ever smelled. Otherwise I think Sea of Glass layered over GG, or possibly over Phoenix Steamworks, might be worth trying. I am really glad I got two bottles of MP and only gave my ex ONE.

In the bottle: Extremely pale yellow oil. Fresh citrus - yuzu to me smells most like white grapefruit zest, very fresh and sour, but also another sort of orangey citrus note (mikan?), and another sort of fruity note too, sweeter. Wisps of blossom and tea. Wet: Yuzu reigns, still, but the other fruits are present and add lovely depth. I can smell the tea a bit more, a smooth almost piney note. The cherry blossom is still hiding mostly. Refreshing, unisex verging to feminine. Dry: Dries rapidly, becoming a bit sweeter, which somehow makes the tartness all the more delicious. It's definitely a tart-fruit medley, but the yuzu and mikan seem fused, and the mikan is a bit deeper of a note, almost figlike. The cherry blossom has emerged more but remains light; tea is constant. Later: I do believe some musk has emerged, and this has sweetened, though there is still a hefty dose of sour citrus. The fading citrus reveals more of the light but slightly heady cherry blossom. I adore the tea note in this - it's the best black tea note I've yet smelled - it's so smooth and resiny and distinct. Summary: Softens and sweetens and fades over time, so definitely one to slather, but my skin doesn't devour the citrus notes as it often does, though they fade first. This is so delightfully tangy, fruity, and a wee bit floral, all tied together by the bold, herbal black tea and some sweet musk. Citrus version of Fire Pig/Earth Rat. Good throw, decent lasting power. Bottle. Goddamn. TOO MANY GOOD BPALS.

In the bottle: Very dark orangey-red-amberish oil, thick. Dragon's blood, patchouli, vetiver. Dark and heavy! Wet: Vetiver and DB amp, patchouli lightens a wee bit. I swear to god I smell clove. Dry: Slow drying, musk emerging gradually. Red musk smells really herbal and a bit harsh, like strong sage. I don't think I like it. The vetiver is gritty, the dragon's blood a bit sickly sweet, the patchouli very dark and dirty. Later: Finally a tiny bit of cinnamon, Very very light. I still think there is clove in here. Actually, this has softened quite a bit; not as overwhelmingly dirty and harsh. Masculine-ish. Summary: Slightly yet sickly sweet, acrid and dark, dirty and rooty. All the notes are well balanced and distinct except the cinnamon which is extremely light, and then I also detect clove. Great throw, but fades noticeably, though I was quick to wash off. Yeah, 100% not my thing at all. I disliked every single note. Maybe this would be better on a man?

In the bottle: Light golden oil. Sharp and soapy rose. Wet: Same, but bit fresher, almost citrusy. However, exceedingly, nose-itchingly soapy. I presume that is the narcissus as I have never had any rose go soapy on me. Still rose-heavy on the whole. Dry: Whoa. That sort of fresh citrusy note has totally amped, it's sort of wet and green too, and still rather sharply soapy. Rose is still going strong, but this narcissus (I presume) is almost as strong, though the throw is more limited. Later: Narcissus is a strange flower (this is my first experience with it). I really like the citrusy and green aspects, but the acrid and soapy ones ruin it for me, and it is NOT a mild floral. Like rose, appropriately haughty. Summary: It's slightly soapy very strong rose from a distance, but within a few inches the sharp, sort of acidic and heady, citrusy and VERY soapy narcissus is much more apparent. Overall, the rose dominates, but the narcissus and I are not getting along. A very simple blend with very strong throw and lasting power, requiring scrubbing.

Breathtaking darkness, a vision of grace in shadow. In the bottle: Flowers and greenery. Definitely a lily note, but a very pure one. This is surprisingly fresh and clean light. Heavily floral, but not in dark manner. Wet: There's a weird plasticky note, leather maybe? Otherwise it's quite true to the bottle, perhaps a tad less green, but still very fresh and almost aquatic. Wet crushed stems and leaves sort of greenery.There's not that much complexity here, but the lily note shines strongly, like bright moonlight. Dry: While not drastically different, somehow, this is even better. Perhaps the lily has amped, or some musk has amped...there is a lovely light sweetness now. I still feel this is a very luminous blend, not dark or black, at all, but perhaps nocturnal, evoking that sort of peaceful quiet and solitude of the wee hours of the morning. Later: It sweetens, slightly, becoming a little less fresh, and little green. Still, hold wonderfully true and does not become powdery as so many lilies do. Definitely musk, probably black, which would explain the name. Summary: Sweet, clean, feminine lily and sexy musk. It seems to glow with a peaceful, pure white light; it evokes youthful virginity, on the verge of ripeness. While very unique and simple, it shares a general drydown and alluring yet innocent feel with Juliet. Though it suggest delicacy, it has good throw and great lasting power. Big bottle. Maybe two.

In the bottle: A deep golden oil. Flowers, leaves, spice and smoke. Slightly sweet, yes even a little musky. Planty, for lack of a better word, in sort of the same general way that Scorpio 07 is. It does have a lush, tropical feel. Wet: Sweeter, hotter. A somewhat sharp green note is growing, unfurling. The smoky-spicy note is gritty (much like in Brimstone) - suitably evoking the 'ash' sentiment. There is a soapy floral here, and a hefty dose of heady ylang-ylang. I suspect sandalwood is providing the heat. Dry: Dries slowly. I do think that soapy floral is jasmine, but it's bit overwhelmed by the ylang-ylang. The green note is gentler and fainter...if I had to take a wild stab, I'd say something like tea tea oil. That smoky darkness, I'd guess vetiver, stays low too. The musk has amped, and is lovely a back musk always is on me, but with the sweet ylang-ylang in concert, I'm a bit overwhelmed. Later: There's plumeria or frangipani in here - I always get these two confused - which adds to the tropical feel and at this point, makes the blend mostly flowers and musk and sandalwood. Greenery? Smoky vetiver? Gone. Summary: Sweet, tropical flowers with soapy jasmine and heady ylang ylang, dark sexy musk, and hot, dry sandalwood. Despite the dryness of the sandalwood, this feels more humid. Extremely evocative, but not my type of scent. Powerful throw and longevity.

In the bottle: HONEY and fruity orange blossom; I picture slices of ripe orange in pools of honey scented with blossom. Very sweet, almost candied. Wet: Possibly even sweeter, almost like bubblegum. Orange flavoured bubblegum, artificial and cloying. I'm beginning to suspect lotus and vanilla. Maybe there is a single rose petal, somewhere, drowning in the fake syrupiness? Despite the intense sweetness there's a dryness, that when I focus, is clearly sandalwood. Dry: Okay, so no vanilla, but I'm still betting on lotus as the cause of the overwhelmingly bubblegum note. A distinct root beer note - sarsparilla - has emerged. Otherwise, not much different from wet. Maybe three drowning rose petals now? Later: Amber, is that you? Again? Are you following me around today? Summary: Extremely sweet and cloying honey, bubblegum, root beer and dry sandalwood, with faint hints of orange and orange blossom. Eventually, powdery, possibly from amber. Strong throw. I imagine this would last forever too but I couldn't tolerate it for long before running to the sink.

In the bottle: Slightly powdery lilies, spicy carnation, a hint of sharp chrysanthemum. Purely floral, but complexly so. Wet: Less sharp and spicy, also less fresh; gentler, almost aquatically so. The carnation and chrysanthemum are more green-white and delicate, and the lilies less powdery. Dry: Dries within seconds, the lilies rapidly turning to powder and overwhelming the lovely c-florals. After a bit, the rose starts to come out, gradually - definitely white rose, which on me is a lighter rose, and also has a tendency to go powdery, being less 'lush' than other roses. Later: SO powdery, with that sort of sweet warmth that makes me think there's amber here too. The rose has gone sharp and sort of sour on me - bizarre! There's still a bit of the spicy carnation, but the light chrysanthemum has been thoroughly buried. Summary: Slightly soapy, intensely strong powdery lilies and a bit of amber, faint sour-sharp rose, with the tiniest kick of carnation far in the distance. Strong throw and lasting power. This I had to scrub at to remove and I still felt ill afterwards.

In the bottle: 2-layered almond, both nutty real almond and benzaldehyde-y almond extract, followed by delicious orange oil (slightly sweet, like candied peel), a hint of sharp-fresh neroli. Wet: The rose slowly begins to emerge, while the neroli soapens. Almond and orange notes still by far the strongest. Some dry, warm sandalwood. No spices. Dry: Almond much fainter, orange softened. The neroli has gone utterly soapy, and the rose has amped fully - it is a beautiful, lush rose. The sandalwood stays light. Later: After 30-40 minutes, the spices finally emerge, though they are light, with more nutmeg than clove coming through. The sandalwood has amped, and with the spices, give the blend a lot of heat. Rose and soapy neroli still powerful; only slight whisps of orange and almond. Summary: The almond and orange completely disappear after an hour, leaving behind a blend of rose (it's deep and a touch powdery), heavily soapy neroli (alas, I have yet to find neroli that doesn't do this), dry-hot sandalwood, and touch of light, warm spices. Decent throw but fades very rapidly. Not my thing at all, but a useful exercise as it confirms my suspicion that my skin devours almond (as well as lime, grapefruit, and orange).

In the bottle: Extremely strong, medicinal lavender, with peppermint just below. Very sharp and green; astringent. Wet: Lavender is a bit less, and for about a millisecond I detected some delicious lime, which then disappeared entirely. It's much more herbal; sage, thyme, and dandelion. A bit grassy. Still quite sharp, but with more depth and complexity. Dry: Dries quickly. A spicy herbal-floral, either carnation or nasturtium, has emerged; this reminds me greatly of Garden Path with Chickens and The Passionate Shepherd. The sage is a bit harsh; the dandelion lightly and pleasantly bitter. Lavender and mint are mere ghosts already. Green and herbal and also bit aquatic, almost soapy. Later: I think the mildly soapy aquatic note could be heather, as it has a tendency to go that way on me. The spicy floral and lavender fade, and the mint vanishes. Sage and thyme are much lighter, almost gone. I love how the dandelion dries down in this, very much like in Fairy Wine. Summary: A peppery floral over heather and dandelion, with mild lavender and possibly some ivy. Very herbal, and indeed quite green, but not quite what I would call fresh, though there is soapiness. Low throw and fades quickly. I like this quite a lot, but it's a bit too spicy and soapy for me, and I would have to slather. I prefer Passionate Shepherd as a green-herbal scent and Fairy Wine for dandelion drydrown.

Sniffed in imp: Almond extract, spicy clove and maybe some cinnamon, astringent-herbal bay, a touch of sweet rum. Warm and exotic; surprisingly less sweetly foody than I expected, but still definitely not my style.

Sniffed in imp: Bubblegum-sweet lotus, slightly soapy white flowers, powdery amber, orange citrus of some type - mandarin perhaps. Warm, golden, powdery floral. I can only imagine the bad things that would happen on my skin. :\

Sniffed in imp: A light golden brown oil. Cucumber (?!?), amber, and a faint whisp of rose. Aquatic, but also sort of dusty with incense and dried flowers. Sweetly musky. Definitely some beloved tea rose in there, but there are too many scary notes and sniffed it's too unappealing for me to test further. Amber and I really do not get along.

In the bottle: Amber, ripe fruit, green and white flowers. Sweet, a little green, but resiny and warm. It smells like expensive perfume that women who like deeper scents wear. Wet: Greener, sharper; also a little earthy and smoky - vetiver! The amber is very warm and golden, and there is another warm resiny scent. The fruit is lighter; yellow peach. A lily-like white floral is rapidly amping. Dry: There's a hint of soapy greenness and very faint jonquil, but otherwise the fresh and floral notes have vanished in minutes. Some heavy spice has emerged, spicy cinnamon - mingling with the now sweetly stronger peach, it reminds me of Jack. The amber has gone powdery, as usual, but only lightly so. The vetiver has softened, and I actually like it here, it's sexy and earthy and grounds the blend. Summary: Syrupy sweet peach and hot spicy cinnamon, with softer hints of lily-fresh jonquil, powdery warm amber, and earthy vetiver. Similar to both Jack and Katharina. Good throw and lasting power. This is not a blend for me.

In the bottle: Dry sandalwood, sharp white musk, sweet, ripe citrusy mandarin. The mango is weakest - it's there, and sweet and exotic, but not very distinct. Wet: Much sweet and fruitier! Now it reminds me greatly of Fae, that sweet and citrusy fruit-white musk combo being strongest. The mango is very sweet and ripe, the mandarin is beautifully bright and also quite sweet, not at all sour, though it does lend a slight tartness. The sandalwood has faded to the lightest note, while that white musk has amped even further. Dry: A spicy note has emerged in this, I do believe it's ginger, and it goes extremely well with the mango and mandarin and adds a sparkling freshness, as well as balancing the extreme dripping sweetness. Still very Fae-like, an exotic mango version! I am generally not a fan of 'dry' scents like sandalwood, and while it's still hanging around, it's light enough that it's actually not bothering me. MUSK! Yes, it's shouting, and I don't mind at all. Later: All the tartness from the mandarin has vanished, and the remnant juicy mandarin itself is quite light at this point. The mango, which to me is almost peachy in its extreme sweet fruitiness, and the white musk, those two are blaring away. The gingered spice is close to the skin like the mandarin note, and blends a bit with the dry sandalwood, giving this scent a 'hot' feel. Summary: Mandarin disappears, ginger amps (deliciously) and sandalwood returns more forcefully, making this an rather intriguing blend of sticky sweet mango,intense white musk and hot, spicy, dry wood. It's still very similar to Fae, but dry-spicy.; the former is enchanting, this more wickedly enthralling. Very sweet, powerful throw, and lasts forever (despite much washing). Too sweet, dry strong, and Fae fills the juicy sweet fruit niche better for me.

In the bottle: Sweet, delicate, fruity (pear-like) floral. Aquatic, gently green. Very feminine. Distinct calla and stargazer lilies. A honey-ed, heady floral note - maybe crocus? Wet: Sweeter, headier, a touch powdery. Those two lilies I know and the crocus stand out; the latter has amped considerably. Still, there is a fresh, clean feel, planty-green like new leaves - from googling, I'm betting it's snowdrop. There is a hint of a sharpish soapy note, probably the third lily; the scent is new to me. Dry: The mildly fruity-sweet and yet citrusy floral note, that's both freshly delicate and richly heady, reminds me of asiatic magnolias or linden absolute, but I think it's the crocus note blooming on my skin. The pear is amping too; it's juicy but not sticky, like just-ripened bartletts. Later: Oooh, a lovely smooth and sexy musk (black, I believe - my favourite!) is emerging; it's quite strong and rich. More lovely base notes appear too; deep, warm teak and sweet mossy benzoin, maybe even a bit of ti leaf. The flowers and fruit have almost completely receded after a few hours. Summary: This scent displays Beth's mastery so typically, commencing beautifully and morphing through multiple stages, all uniquely gorgeous individually. I've not been to be Prague, but I find this to be a very refined, complex, and elegant blend; absolutely feminine, luxurious, and intriguing. It dries down to mildly sweet and sexy woods, musk and resin, with faint hints of ripening pear and a blend of clean, heady, and delicate florals. While distinctly layered, all the notes harmonize in a very alluring manner. I am buying a HUGE bottle of this and my previously held desire to visit Eastern Europe has become almost fervent! I am also particularly fond of crocuses, because where I grew up in the Northeast, they lined a path along side our house and were always the first flowers to appear, signaling spring. As such they also nearly always bloomed near my birthday, providing a flash of joy on days that were usually cold, grey and melancholy.

In the bottle: Very pale mint green coloured oil. Whoa! Sharp, very sharp. Green, a little bitter, mentholic, astringent. Spicy too, almost. Biting. Eucalyptus extravaganza! Wet: Suddenly sweet; no longer bitter. Much gentler, though still quite mentholic, very green, and bracing. A touch of fruit, maybe berries, and cool, almost minty pine. Instead of smelling like wound-cleaning solution or Vick's, it's now a deep foresty blend, cool and wintry. That spicy hint comes from earthy patchouli, I believe, the lovely gentle sexy sort, but it's quite overwhelmed at this point. Dry: Very slow drying oil. Juniper is emerging distinctly from the sharp green notes, vying with eucalyptus for dominance, and adding its own particular sweetness (juniper is often a bit sweet on me). Those red berries, which together with the cool pine (not juniper, but pine pine) and mint notes recall Snow White - yes, I really think it's the same berry note - are amping too, and they are lovely and sweet, 'wild', juicy but herbaceously so, not at all fruit punch/supermarket type berries. Later: Wow, it's become dramatically woody, dusty and incensey, very different from the earlier stages. In addition to the patchouli, which remains a light note, I detect significant myrrh, some dusty warm sandalwood and strong, dry, hot cedar . The dry woody notes seem to be dominating at this point; I can still smell hints of juniper and mint if I strain, though. Berries, eucalyptus, and all sweetness have departed without a trace. Summary: A strong, capricious scent that initially promises medicinal eucalyptus, but when wet additionally reveals a backdrop of slightly sweet mixed evergreens, wintry berries and light, grounding patchouli. As the oil dries, juniper takes over, and the berries amp, turning the blend into a junipery cousin of Snow White. But after not even an hour, these foresty green notes fade to virtually nothing, and the sweet berries vanish completely. A surprise tactical force of warm cedar, dry sandalwood, and smoky myrrh attack and institute strict martial law for eternity. Ultimately, masculine. Strong throw. Clearly, this did not evoke a beautiful woman on my skin, nor did it recall nightshades in the least. Perhaps if that brief Snow White-type stage had persisted...to swaps you go!

In the bottle: Very, very 'green' green tea - like Japanese style, matcha or tamayokucha, not Chinese imo - and verbena. Very fresh, almost sharply so. Recalls Embalming Fluid and Phantasm. Wet: Oh, I so adore the green tea note in this! It's wonderfully smooth yet still so very GREEN, I can't describe it any other way, almost like inhaling matcha powder. The verbena is softer, and the blend has lost its sharp edge as result, and on the whole the scent is reminding me much more now of Tweedledum. Dry: Dries and morphs very quickly. That verbena dissipates rapidly; it's a light glimmer now, not the sharp frontal note it first was. The green tea absolutely takes control, and is simply divine, so very evocative of the actual stuff (though ironically the Japanese type!). Just as it dried, I very briefly I observed a flick of sweetly floral honeysuckle, but it was sadly only a tease. At this point, I'm getting a Spell of Amorous feel. Later: The verbena fades more and more, the honeysuckle never returns, and this turns almost into green tea single note. That indescribably unique smooth yet green, fresh, cool and herbal scent of Japanese green tea is stunningly delicious, I can't get enough of it! Summary: After 2-3 hours, this is almost completely gone - one of the most dismally short-lived oils I've tried. It had a moderate throw at first, but that faded with the verbena to a low throw, and now only with nose directly on skin can I smell anything at all. A faint whisper of Japanese green tea, with an even fainter ghostly whisper of verbena. Lovely, but far too fleeting on me.

In the bottle: Lovely, very delicate and feminine but not weak; I can detect each flower distinctly, as well as some magnolia - and yet the whole bouquet is beautifully balanced as a blend. It's lightly sweet, very floral, mildly powdery and only very slightly fruity - the pear is very faint though detectable, natural and not overly sweet. Wet: Sweeter, definitely amped sweet pea in particular, and also stargazer lily. There must be other lilies or other flowers not noted, as it's much more powdery as well. The honeysuckle has amped, but it's somewhat overpowered by the sweet pea, lilies, and what I'm sure is magnolia. That latter note becomes strong and heady on me typically and certainly now, but at least it is a very pleasant, extremely fragrant and almost citrusy magnolia. If I strain, I can sort of detect very faint pear. Dry: The magnolia has quieted; while it remains the strongest note, it's not overwhelming the others, and is absolutely the best magnolia note I've smelled in a BPAL blend; it doesn't lose that fresh, citrusy quality and has a beautifully elegant and romantic feel, especially combined with the similar qualities of the calla lily. The almost too-sweet sweet pea has faded dramatically, as has the unknown super powdery flower. Later: Stargazer lily persists as does honeysuckle, though the latter mingles so deeply it's hard to single out. Wonderfully, the heliotrope has amped, or perhaps been revealed by the strong flowers backing off, and is joyously bright. The pear too has returned, adding juicy, almost vanilla'ed sweetness. White musk, here sweet and cautiously sexy, binds everything together creating a feel of ultimate, feminine youth and beauty. Summary: Amazingly, the honeysuckle and sweet pea, fused seamlessly along with the juicy pear, amp so greatly that they just barely edges out magnolia as the foresmost floral. Only the faintest hint of powder from the SG lily remains. Full-bloom pear-infused honeysuckle and sweet pea, sweetly vanilla'ed white musk, crisp yet creamy magnolia, glorious heliotrope, and soft lilies. The notes harmonize so completely that I can make distinctions only with great difficulty. It's a sweet, fruity-floral glowing scent that evokes both youth and nobility. Alluringly girlish, utterly feminine. Fairly low throw, but great lasting power. It is on the sweet side for me, but I shall probably get a bottle of this and layer it with something fresh and green; possibly The Passionate Shepherd to his Love. I also agree that this is very classic and romantic as others have observed.

In the bottle: Crisp indeed! Clean, a little citrusy, a wee bit sweet. Aquatic. Wet: Green-white. Some flowers now, and light fruit, maybe honeydew or cucumber, and grapefruit pulp. Not at all sour or dry, but fresh and watery. Dry: While a very clean scent, to me it is not like linen really, or laundry - it does not evoke such things that strongly. A shower, perhaps. But it's much more complex on me than the description would suggest, with the gentle mildly sweet citrus, cool cucumber, and delicate florals. Later: In reading other reviews, I do totally believe those sweet and floral notes come from plumeria, and in sniffing one of my essential oils, linden is strongly present too. While it remains fresh and clean, it softens considerably as the floral notes amp, losing the citrusy crispness, but not the cool aquatic nature. Summary: Airy, luminous plumeria and linden, tinged with cucumber and the slightest whisp of something darker, I believe it's cypress. Soft, feminine, and serene; clean without being sterile. Like early morning in late spring, dew-laden, pure, and lovely but not too bright or glaring. I don't get any ozone, linen or soap/detergent at any point. It does recall Blue Moon 07. Light throw but decent lasting power. I am getting a bottle of this one, and, first S&S blend to work on me, as yesterday Kitsune-Tsuki was the first Diabolus blend to work on me. YAY!

In the bottle: Bright lemon, juicy red currant, rose, a hint of fragrant sandalwood. Wet: Fresh lemon juice and a bit of lemon verbena, but mostly the former - it's the strongest note now, but not overly. The rose is fainter, the sandalwood stronger, and quite dry and warm. Currant gone within seconds. Violet, pleasant and soft, and powdery wisteria emerging. Aquatic, but paradoxically dry as well from the wood. Dry: The rose has come out further as has the violet, both lovely notes that are mild but distinct. The jasmine, on the other hand, has made its dreadful powdery doomergence, added to the wisteria powder, gah! There's also a new weird, heady-sweet-cloying note, I'm guessing orris root, which mixes vilely with the lemon which has yet to abate. Later: The bizarre aquatic note combined with powdery flowers and that really dry, almost HOT sandalwood is jarring on my skin; these components are seriously not playing well together, but jostling about like malevolent toddlers. Summary: The aquatic fades enough to bring more peace to this blend, which amps primarily to rose, violet and powdery wisteria over slightly sweet heady orris and dusty warm sandalwood. Still, the lemon persists clashingly, and I'm anxious to wash this one off (arghh, it won't!). Powerful throw and evil longevity. I view this as a scent a senile, elderly woman would wear, the type of woman with 12 cats who pairs poorly knitted mismatched socks with corduroy culottes and a floral patterned iron-on sweatshirt, and hasn't dusted her house in an eon. Yeah so um....not really fitting with my memories of Venice, but then with so many notes my skin just HATES, not a big surprise.

Hmm, Vixen from Ars Amatoria smells a bit like Smut and a bit like Mme. Moriarty, too, - at least to me.

In the bottle: Really dark patchouli, fresh orange blossom, a hint of spicy ginger; in that order. A deep mahogany-coloured, syrupy oil. Wet: Very sweet! Dark musk, I believe, is responsible. The ginger is the fresh sort, not the dry spicy type, and the orange blossom is exotic, like the orange blossom water used in middle eastern cooking. The dark musk/patchouli blend is much like in Mme. Moriarty, or like Smut. Dry: Dries quickly, becoming a touch powdery (a dark amber perhaps?) and fading in potency dramatically - almost with in seconds. A hint of sassafras emerges, providing a light root beer note. The patchouli and ginger have become a soft shadows, and the orange blossom seems to have entirely departed. Later: A bitter note has emerged, slightly smoky...ahhhh, tobacco. I don't like it, though it's close to the skin. The patchouli and musk have come back strongly and even a bit of the ginger. This is now much more like the wet stage, without the orange blossom but with the new bitter note. A unisex scent that could work on a man quite well, I think. Summary: I admit I am shocked by how different this is on my skin compared to how it smelled in the bottle; it morphs in a way that really shows of a delicious blend of sweet, dark musk and earthy, warm patchouli. If the ginger and orange blossom stuck around, I might even want a bottle, but they evanesce so quickly, revealing the faint but still harshly bitter, slightly smoky, spicy and unpleasant tobacco. It's a very sweet oil, really too sweet without the fresher notes to temper it. Good throw.