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Showing results for tags 'Shungas 2018'.
Found 43 results
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A tumble of cherry blossoms falling into a pool of white musk and crushed strawberries. Ooh- this one is pretty! Very PINK, very GIRLY, but manages to walk that line and not be too twee. Its a dance with the notes holding each other in check- fresh, jammy strawberries, soft, floral cherry blossoms and a grounding, light musk. The strawberries are not too kool aid, the cherry blossoms are not too soapy. Just balanced enough to make this very wearable. I think you could do daytime office with this one if you wanted, brunch with friends, or even better, a spring picnic! This is like a more sophisticated version of something youd get at Victorias Secret or bath and body works. It would be a good entry scent for someone new to BPAL ETA: this is a bit younger or something than my usual deal but while I probably wont get a backup I am glad I bought a bottle
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White tea, honeycomb, vanilla orchid, and a drop of soft sandalwood. I was not fortunate enough to try the Vanilla Orchid Single Note, but from reading the reviews, I can tell it's the vanilla orchid that dominates this scent while wet. It's heady and fragrant with a touch of green: perfect for balmy spring evenings. The dominance of the orchid eventually settles down into something much creamier due to the chewy, waxy honeycomb. While I never get any woodsiness from the sandalwood, it's creaminess plus the soft vanilla are now able to shine through all of the floral power and stop it from it's soapy tendencies. I think this is what most people wanted Vanilla Orchid SN to be. Creamy (have I said that enough?) comforting, and evocative of twilight walks around my late spring garden. I'm wrapped in a sweater warmed by my body heat and enjoying the return of the spring. I adore it!
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Red currant and rice milk with almond blossom and white tea. In the bottle Juicy, tart red currant with the almond blossom note to keep it from getting overly fruity. We're off to a really good start. The tea isn't obvious but it's there. Wet on skin This softens almost immediately and is less tart, but more lush. I can actually smell something a bit like rice, which is delightful mixed in with the currant and almond blossom. Again, the tea is there but it takes a back seat. Dry on skin after 30 minutes This morphs from fruity to subtly floral as it dries, and the tea note becomes more prominent. I can detect each note, but the sum of them is so much more than their parts. Thoughts This is stunning. Will be ordering another nottle. The throw is average, so it won't overpower but it won't fade into the background either. Definitely a win if you like currant and tea!
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Orris root, French lavender, white sandalwood, pink peony, and white honey. I almost don’t want to review, as I’ve never been first before. Let me preface with this: I am not a lavender fan, and most everything that contains it gets passed on to someone who loves it. I only tested this as a skin moisturizer before bed last night, as that is the only time I can stomach lavender (for sleep). Luckily, the lavender is only featured for the first five minutes, at which point it fades into a smooth, sweet, powdery scent. I can barely tell which notes are which once it begins to quiet down on lavender—but even then, it is not too floral (in the sense that each note can be distinguished). This reminds me of the scent of a newborn for some reason. (I don’t have kids and am rarely around them, so take that as you will!) Although this isn’t my usual scent profile, I would likely use as a body moisturizer before sleep until I emptied the bottle.
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White lavender and blueberry juice with wild bergamot and Roman chamomile. Well, someone needs to review this lovely bath oil. This is lavender forward with blueberry in support. The bergamot isn't sharp, it keeps the blueberry in check. I'm not sure that I can pick out the chamomile, it blends in perfectly with the lavender. This is not as sweet as I anticipated but that is okay. It's a lovely herbal floral with a hint of the fruit. I like this so much that I wore it every night after showering since I received it. It isn't soporific and could be used day or night. I use the bath oils as post shower moisturizer. This one has good sillage but the scent isn't very long lasting. It does make the bathroom smell lovely afterwards though.
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Sign of Sekkusu hair gloss or as Puddin’ affectionately likes to call it, I’ve got your nose!!! Bourbon vanilla, cardamom, fossilized amber resin, blonde tobacco, tonka bean, and labdanum. This one has some strong throw! Immediately, I got hit by the resins and tobacco, but not in a smoky, overpowering way. The tonka and vanilla temper the heady resins with their sweetness, and I think the cardamom added a bit of spice. It was difficult to pick out notes because they blended so well. I sprayed this on before bed and could still smell it when I woke up about 9 hours later.
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Beeswax, white patchouli, and honey. Smells exactly as you would expect, except the patchouli is lighter than usual and does more to anchor, rather than overpower the scent. I like it, and I like all the ingredients, so this one is easy to wear and enjoy.
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Lovers at the Entrance to a House of Pleasure Spied on by a Kamuro Through the Hanging Curtain
mmcfa2 posted a topic in Lupercalia
White gardenia, oakmoss, champaca blossom, magnolia leaf, vanilla orchid, and tobacco absolute. This is really wonderful! The oakmoss, magnolia, and gardenia give a sophisticated lift to a base of creamy and sweet perfume. The tobacco makes it slightly golden and carries through the whole wearing. The champaca binds the florals together in a swirl. This is probably my very favorite of the whole luper series, and I can wear this for work, on a date, as a comfort scent. It is really really wonderful. My only sadness is that it does not linger into the next morning If you like white hothouse florals, but want to bring them to a more sophisticated level, this is your scent. all of the notes are identifiable, but blend well also. The oakmoss really makes it sparkle, lending substance to the florals that they do not have on their own. Second bottle ordered already of this and Snakes Kiss. Even if you are not generally a fan of florals, this is worth a try! -
Peach blossom and amber with almond cream and sweet musk. Sniff from the bottle: sweet musk veeeery much forward with generic floral undertone; smells ominously like nail polish remover. Please, don't let me amp that musk... Wet: The nail-polishy scent warms into a more pleasant white floral; I have never smelled a peach blossom, but I get the fruity undertone of peach blended with a bright springlike floral. The musk drifts above it definitely Up Front and Here To Be Counted. I can't tell if it's the amber swamping the almond, or the almond blurring the amber, but it has kind of a generically non-foody-but-sweet quality on me. There's nothing offensive here, but it's kind of a jangle to my nose. Drydown: Better. As the musk burns off, the light floral is still present over a golden creaminess. I think I might cellar this one for a while in the hopes of mellowing out that sweet musk, see if it plays more nicely with its friends. I think on someone who doesn't amp musk, it would be a lovely soft skin scent, but with the amber AND the almond AND the musk, on me it doesn't reach its full potential. Verdict: more pros than cons. Age and test again.
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White amber and sheer vanilla, orris butter, Italian bergamot, and narcissus. This sounded too intriguing to pass up but I have *no* idea what it'll smell like. Let's see, shall we? In The Bottle: I get the narcissus and the sheer vanilla in abundance as soon as I sniff. There's something about the narcissus that tugs at my heart, like it reminds me of an era I didn't get to live through but miss just the same. Wet On Skin: As the oil warms on my skin the orris butter starts to come out and balances the floral quite well. I like orris root, though it can be a bit overwhelmingly "dusty". Doing an orris butter for this eliminates the 'dust' aspect and helps round out the sweetness of the narcissus without overpowering it. Dry Down: I get just a peek of the vanilla at this point, joined by equally small -but present- roles by the amber and bergamot. Though I'd been hoping for more bergamot when I made my decision to get this scent, I think any more than a drop would be overkill, because it would clash with the orris too much. The fragrance is light with a low-medium throw. I don't think it's good for the remains of winter, because it's not strong enough to stand up to winter's ravages. But I look forward to favoring this once spring's first blush shows itself in the next month or two.
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Red orchid, dragon’s blood resin, blood orange, black lily, honey amber, and cacao. In The Bottle: This, in this stage, is honestly *way* more subdued than I anticipated. The honey is there, the blood orange is there and just a rind of the dragon's blood. It's very delicate. Wet On Skin: This is sort of a classic Lupercalia scent in that it's got the promise of an early spring as noted by the faint lily, and it's still very alluring, as the red orchid comes to the fore. Dry Down: This reminds me a bit of a Body Shop scent I wore AGES ago called Juba- it's delicately sweet and bright with both floral and citrus notes. It's a bit more "perfume-y" than I normally wear, but it's so lovely that I will gladly make an exception! Also, a side note: I admit I don't always see the direct connection between the chosen notes and the accompanying Shunga. With Cock Stamen, I *absolutely* see it in spades!
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A sea salt chypre with a hint of cucumber. This is so soothing. The salty note starts of a bit bracing but quickly is smoothed over by the cucumber. It is salty, but not in an intensely masculine cologne way and there is no sharp ozone. I'm having a really hard time describing this chypre. It's definitely soft aquatic, like a saltwater version of The Forgettable God with a touch of cucumber. It's like getting a waft of sea breeze while having your nose in a glass of cucumber water.
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Himalayan cedarwood, tonka bean, cherry blossom, white tea, and clove husk. This does smell like a breeze! The cedar and white tea play together to create the illusion of a breeze. The clove husk adds a bit of a lemony flair? This is a nice outdoorsy scent.
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Leather, black pepper, cassis, khus, and black amber. My first review! And the first review of this scent! Im truly honored. The leather comes through first, then dies back a little while still acting as backdrop. Its an older kind of leather, well worn - it reminds me of baseball gloves or saddles. The amber fills that feeling out, as well as what I think is the khus (which is apparently vetiver? But a different part of the plant?); it rounds the leather note out and puts me in mind of more masculine cologne, though it stops short of being too in your face manly. At the very end I get something peppery and slightly acidic - the latter of which I think is the cassis. Its got a subtle throw on my skin that oscillates between being close and unobtrusive but when I turn it suddenly makes itself very apparent. I feel very mature wearing it as well, though its a kind of mature that starts in a blazer and ends in a leather corset, if you catch my meaning.
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Mushroom musk, oakmoss, and rooibos leaf. Smells like a musk version of the lab's drier earth note. If you like the way they do dirt - I know some people go crazy for it - you really should get this one.
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Black fig and orange blossom with tonka, black vanilla, and a gust of spiced sandalwood incense. This is a gorgeous, light sandalwood blend. I'm hoping next use I pick up more of the fig and vanilla...but for now, upon first application, it's very light with just a hint of sandalwood. Perfect for work or when you'd like a lighter scent. So good!! <3
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Rice milk, white ginger, oakmoss, ti leaf, and cardamom pod. My label says vivid enjoyment of the memory of rapture which is a different thing entirely and slightly disappointing considering the art. But no matter, on to the scent. This is very chai tea on my skin, heavy on the green juicy ginger and cardamom. But it doesnt feel terribly edible to me. More like this is a morning shower scented by someone inspired by their ginger heavy chai tea with rice milk. Its incredibly bright and energizing but there are no citrus notes so doesnt do that bitter pithy thing that bright energizing scents usually do on my skin. Back in the day I had a ginger-heavy tea scented body spray that I loved, and this is definitely the closest Ive come to matching it. Delighted to have a bottle.
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White sandalwood, peach, and dried red fruits with benzoin, red ginger, and amber. This is nice! When I first tried it, fresh from the mail, the ginger & sandalwood were prominent with little fruit appearing but it has developed more with a little aging. Now I notice the peach & red fruits, too and with the amber & sandalwood, it has the feel of some oriental perfumes. It reminds me slightly of Portrait of a Young Woman With Unicorn though it doesn't have the vanilla or red musk.
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Caramelized white sandalwood, tonka bean, and cassis liqueur. In The Bottle: The caramelized sandalwood is the first thing- and it's quite a surprise! I expected there to be, well, a caramel note in here. But instead it's this gloriously smoky sandalwood, and I AM INTO IT. Wet On Skin: The sandalwood is still the dominant note, but there's something a bit...unsettling...under it. I can't put my finger on it, though. At least not yet. Because I'm well acquainted with tonic and it's not that. Perhaps it is the cassis, which I had to look up to find out is a liquor made from black currants! Dry Down: This is BEAUTIFUL. And also really original! The cassis settled down upon drying and the fragrance has become one of mystery and sweet sexiness. It's not quite a resin, and it's not quite wood, but it's lovely and has a dry sweetness and a sophistication that I suspect, as often happens with resin and wood components, that this will only get better with age. I *might* require a backup bottle
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Bamboo reeds and white chypre against a background of potted blossoms. Light floral blossoms, white tea chypre, and fresh bamboo. It's a very clean floral smell, very gender neutral. It actually would make a fantastic scent for any type of bath product. Medium throw and wear length.
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Kukui nut, dried mango, hay absolute, and brown sandalwood. This is absolutely lovely. Right away, I pick out the dried mango and get hit with a wave of nostalgia for eating dried mango slices when I was younger. I can't really pick out any of the other notes as they all seem to blend and take away the tartness that can sometimes overpower the nose with dried mango. I'm guessing that the hay and sandalwood temper everything with sweetness and the kukui nut grounds it. The scent is light and not remotely overpowering, so it shouldn't compete with any oils one might be wearing. Light throw, lasts a few hours. I'm really glad I got a bottle of this!
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Demonic black musk, inky myrrh, black coconut, champaca blossom, and smoky clove bud. Whoaheee! This is demonic for sure. Smoky, black, inky. Yup. Its all of that. Wet phase is a huge black musk and myrrh burn off. Like tire smoke. Whoa. Drydown is sweeter, more earthy, with the coconut finally appearing. Fans of Streets of Detroit and Black Temple Burlesque Troupe, Brown Jenkin..or anything black musk, should try this.
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A vibrant green chypre with orange blossom, pine needles, and violet leaf. Oh, my. This is 'sweet green' wet to my nose, and goes on with a jade-green smoothness, like a bunch of mosses, kissed with orange blossom. It's even a little cooling on the skin. Then, sitting present on the skin, pine needles emerge! It's a touch of fir. Dangerously close to a Yule moment for a bit, but instead of going full christmas tree mode, the pine needles remain present, under the glowy haze of orange blossom. I don't get any violet petals (it's all just violet leaf, I take it), which keeps this more 'noonday mountain fir' as opposed to 'Santa's Here!' Pretty gender neutral although I take it the pine does make it a bit more masculine. Straddles the line as the chypre and pine move it more 'masculine' but the orange blossom still flirts about to blur the strength of the green.
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Sweet amber and rosewood, wet oak beams, smoky vanilla husk, ambrette seed, and hinoki wood. I'm in heaven....this is (so far) simply a lovely rosewood amber with a slight bit of complex backdrop of the other notes. In the first few seconds it smells very much like baby-oil but that is very short. After that it just kind of smolders sweetly on my skin for hours. I'm not getting a lot of wood which is surprising. Nothing more to say, this just works for me!
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Polished tortoiseshell, ivory, and mahogany gleaming with amber cream. The notes in this one sold me instantly, it sounded expensive and definitely poked at my curiosity with notes like Tortoiseshell and Ivory. Fresh from the mail today, it does not disappoint! Its stunning and beautiful and definitely has that expensive polished mahogany ballroom vibe. It's more "feminine" than I had anticipated which was a pleasant surprise. There's a lovely creamy sweetness bursting from it that I would attribute to both a beautiful Amber Cream note and what I'm guessing to be the Ivory. The Ivory immediately reminds me of Signiour Dildo, this may be Narcissus? It has a sweet light floral quality that sings over a rich polished wood base. It's so goooood. Signiour Dildo's older richer finer aristocratic cousin at a Ball. Heaven.
