IXHV4

[kikithepirate]

COFFEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I honestly don't know how anyone could review this scent and NOT start it out like that. I mean, there is no questioning the notes here -- it's coffee, coffee, coffee. It's certainly sweetened up a bit, and definitely isn't the same faint or bitter coffee smells I've sniffed in other BPAL blends. It smells unmistakably like your favorite neighborhood java shop when you walk in during the morning rush. Other than the addition of sugar, this is pretty much a one-note-only scent.

 

What is that one note, you ask?

 

COFFEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Persephone76]

This stuff is made of WIN, WIN, WIN!!! This is honestly the first BPAL coffee scent ever that I can actually wear (most of em go dusty or rancid, this one just gets deeper and and richer). It's a very sexy, deep coffee with just enough sweetness on a deep, rich base that is difficult to describe (amber? it's subtle). Despite the prominence of the coffee, it's more gourmand than foody to my nose (though it's a bit of both). It reminds me a bit of Pinched and I think it could be worn by a man or woman (it's not masculine, but a guy could pull it off). 5 stars.

[CiCi]

Rich, sweet, Moroccan coffee!

[scrappy]

Smells just like walking down the coffee aisle in the grocery store. Deep, rich, sugar-sweetened coffee.

[midnight_aeval]

I let my husband smell it and asked what he thought (usually he says vanilla, rose, or coconut ) and he was like WHOA coffee, it's like the end of the aisle in the grocery store that has all the coffee beans! Ding ding, he got one right It's a pretty great, straight coffee scent. Not super sweet and dusty like Misk U, not bitter like Bah, but more like the Misk U v3 proto that was at a past Trunk Show minus the cinnamon toast note I like this one! (Me.. not a coffee drinker, but I could inhale the scent of a bag of coffee beans all day long)

[jillybean]

I am in love with this scent! It smells like walking into Starbuck's but with much more sweetness. Coffee, sugar, lots of cream and a hint of mocha. LOVE.

[SurrealReality]

Coffee, coffee, and lots of coffee.... a dark, rich coffee. It is sweetened up a bit though as I smell notes of cream and sugar as well. Even though this is lighter and sweeter than Bah, it's still a bit too dark for me

 

ETA 12/13/10

ok, ok.... so I gave this another try and found that it sweetens and lightens up a lot on my skin. I love it!

Edited December 14, 2010 by SurrealReality

[Venneh]

Got this as a tester in a recent order, can't WAIT to try it out. *bounce!* In the vial, this smells like a perfume version of the Jonathan's Coffee House Atmo Spray proto, and it's the same on my skin, with the deeper coffee taking precedence. Oh god, yum. Barring this going burnt like some coffee does to me, I might be adding this to my DISOs. Softens from the initial blast to a sugared coffee, very similar again to the JCH proto, and dear god, barring fail on the full skin test soon, MUST FIND.

Edited June 23, 2010 by Venneh

[ljaylh]

 

Ayup - coffee! My previous experiences with coffee-related BPALs hasn't been great - the two that come to mind are El Dia Reyes and Bah! - whilst I've loved the smell of the oil itself, on my skin they were both too much coffee - too strong, and with a brown sugar background that made them overly rich for me.

 

IXHV4 brings the same beautiful deep roasted coffee note that those previous blends had, but this time it's presented in a more mellow and creamy way that isn't getting up my nose at all. For comparisons, I'd put this one more in the same camp of coffee style that Pinched With Four Aces sits in - deep and dark, but not sweet or artificial. There is some sweetness here, but it's not the foody kind of sweetness. It has an exotic aroma about it - like the kind of coffee you find brewing in Jamaica or Morrocco but I cannot figure it out - something almost musky, and it feels like a 'red' note, it might be a spice of some kind (like a paprika or dried chili) or perhaps a splash of dark cacao, but it's just floating around the edges of the coffee so it's hard to pin down.

 

Overall, this is definitely for lovers of coffee smells - particularly if you love the dark roasted coffee smell or liqueurs like Tia Maria and Kahlúa. At one hour in, it's still going strong on my skin - the initial blast of COFFEEEEE has gone away and now it's developed a lovely creamy softness with a slightly spicy feel but the coffee is still there. This blend is more complex than just coffee alone.. I wish I could figure out what else is in here because it's quite delicious!

[edenssixthday]

IXHV4 - This is the scent of a cup of rich, dark-roasted coffee, sweetened with a teaspoon of sugar, and the slightest drizzle of cream to temper the heaviness of the roast. It is an awesome coffee scent and should be released. Now!

[zankoku_zen]

IXHV4 is definitely coffee - I get loads of roasted coffee. It's darker and less sweet than the one in Misk U, definitely lighter and sweeter than the one in Bah! I think it may have a drop of cream in it because there is just a tiny whiff of plastic to it. Strong, sweet, very unisex. I can see why this is so coveted, even if I don't find it personally wearable.

[Blood onmy hands]

I really like this proto and wish that something similar were available. I find this more wearable than both Miskatonic U (which is super-sweet and boozy on me) and Bah (which is very dark and has gotten more bitter and sour on me with age). This is like walking past a cofee shop and smelling warm coffee, sugar, and hints of creamy goodness <3. It's a very warm and comforting scent that I'd like to have more of...

[Ondine]

This is pretty delicious and on me a lot like Bah! Since this one is harder to find than Bah!, I'm glad they're fairly similar Delicious sweet coffee.

[cfrancesca]

I get creamy, slightly sweetened, roasted coffee. The creaminess goes slightly off on me, similar to what happened with Bah and Misk U, but not as bad. As it settles it starts to smell like roasted nuts.

[saralaughs]

COFFEE.

 

And MORE COFFEE. With sugar. Maybe two lumps, or three perhaps. Nicely sweetened with a hint of cream. Maybe hazelnut cream? And a hint of cocoa beans, but that really only heightens the scent of COFFEE. Beautiful and really strong and more complex as it dries. A bit of a musky sassafras note comes out into the drydown and mixes unbelievably well with the sugary coffee and bit of cream. Even more beautiful than when I first put it on.

Edited May 15, 2011 by saralaughs

[Gin]

I know IXHV4 is supposed to smell like coffee, but I still wasn't prepared. It's coffee all right. Hint of cream (hazelnut, maybe?), touch of sugar perhaps? Mayyyybe a hint of chocolate? I love coffee but can't drink it, so this is perfect for me.

[Penance]

Origin:

 

5mL bought on Etsy.

 

Preconceived notions:

 

Coffee. It seems that everyone is in agreement on this one. I used to hate the smell of coffee. It actually made me queasy, but I've learned to enjoy the Lab's coffee notes. I bought this one more or less on a whim, but since I've had good luck with coffee blends lately, I'm hoping it works for me.

 

First sniff:

 

Yep, that's coffee, alright. Not cheap, Dunkin' Donuts coffee, either. The good kind that you'd get in the coffee shop where all the knowledgeable locals go.

 

Wet on skin:

 

This is very similar to the coffee note in Miskatonic University v3. It's strong, rich and black with just a little bit of sugar to take the edge off. I don't get any cream from this.

 

Drydown:

 

Same as the wet stage. This is rich black coffee. It's very much like Miskatonic University v3 but without the cinnamon toast. I like this.

 

The bottom line:

 

Just as described. If you like the smell of coffee, you'll love IXHV4.

[boxinghelena]

Holy freaking COFFEE Batman! I normally stay away from coffee blends because although I love the smell of coffee( HATE the taste), I don't necessarily want to smell like coffee. I took a chance though just to try something new and it's not bad. I've had it on a while and the coffee smell is still pretty strong. I'm hoping it will morph into something I can wear.

~

[mxtine]

I've always been afraid to try coffee scents. I love the smell of coffee, but I wasn't sure I wanted to wear it.

 

When I opened the bottle to sniff, it cleared my head immediately. I've had a headache all day, and this smelled like freshly brewed, expensive, RICH coffee. The kind my Lebanese ex used to make, loaded with sugar. It's absolutely delightful! It also smells a lot like Kahlua, which I haven't tasted or smelled in years. There's some cream in here, but nothing that smells plasticky or goes rancid, and a bit of hazelnut. There has to be something else in here, grounding it and keeping it from smelling like "just coffee", maybe sassafras? It's so different than anything I have in my collection and I plan to cherish it.

[Chanter]

I got this as a frimp from another forumite, thank you!

 

To me, this one smells almost like a prototype version of Miskatonic University. The coffee and hazelnut are definitely there, mmm. I need to try this properly and see if there's dust in this one as well. If not, I'm going to adore this one.

[AmyO'Shields]

Yup. This is the nicest coffee blend I've ever smelled. There must be hazelnut in it...even just a touch. I wonder what this is a prototype for...and will it ever be released? I'm hoping that it will.

[LizziesLuck]

This starts out as super yummy nutty creamy GLORIOUS coffee on me, but then quickly turns "stale" and dusty, as some gourmand blends do on me. So sad! I will try another day, as sometimes I do just have off skin days, but I am not hopeful this will remain true on my skin.

 

It is AMAZING in the imp though - the nicest coffee scent from the Lab I have smelled, and I have tried as many as I can. If you love coffee and you get the chance to try this, you should. Seriously.