Venus Cloacina

[ellocentipede]

VENUS CLOACINA

Venus the Purifier

A magnificent white gardenia in full bloom, gilded by frankincense, sheer musk, and vanilla orchid.

The throw on this oil is phenomenal! When first applied, this was a musky gardenia with a strong, woody, resiny frankincense. At this point, it smelled how I imagine Billie Holiday would smell- feminine and powerful (and too powerful to suit me, alas), with a gardenia tucked behind her ear. Eventually the frankincense backed off and now I'm getting a lush and juicy gardenia-- as if I'd rubbed fresh blossoms all over my wrists. The scent is wafting all around me and is absolutely divine. I love gardenia, and this scent is gardenia perfection.

[Haltija]

I was super hesitant to try this one because gardenia and I have a love/hate relationship. Glad I did though! (:

 

Definitely a blast of gardenia when it's first on with a dash of vanilla keeping it from being too harsh, I like the sweetness this is bringing to the entire feel of the blend. This is just incredibly beautiful, wow! I am surprised I am liking it this much. The gardenia is lush and full and doesn't turn into anything soapy at all. Drying down and fully dry the frankincense has came forth and the softness of the woods keep everything in full balance. The first phrase that came to my mind when I smelled it was "Sophisticated beauty" and I think that's accurate. Like a classy woman from the 40's in a pant suit but still covered in jewelry with her makeup and hair on point.

Edited February 27, 2015 by Haltija

[quickdrawkiddo]

I'm surprised by how much I like this one! From the description I was worried it would be a really intense, heady floral, and I don't really do those. And it does go on as a pretty intense gardenia scent, but it dries down to a balanced, slightly perfume-y blend of gardenia, musk, and vanilla, with just a hint of incense.

Totally agree about the 40s style sophistication -- this is what you'd imagine your grandma wore back in the day For something that's not my usual style at all, I can totally see myself getting lots of wear out of this.

[zankoku_zen]

In your face gardenia, with a ton of vanilla orchid and a drop of frankincense. Honestly, gardenia just dominates this blend. So, if you're looking for a creamy, vanilla gardenia, here is your lady. Good throw, good wear length.

[Heather Perkins]

I got this one as my first foray into Lupercalia (Long time listener, first time caller). My usual scents tend more toward the spice-y, musky, but the frank made me hopeful. The main reason I went for this is, even though I have never done floral before BPAL, I had a gardenia bush outside my home when I was growing up, and scent nostalgia rules all.

 

Out of the bottle it's all gardenia. In your face.

Wet, it's still a punch of gardenia for me. Like wow.

Dry after an hour, still nothing but gardenia and really strong, maybe I've been avoiding florals because I amp them and subconsciously remember this. It does have a slightly different tint to it then from before, I think the frank is starting to show, or maybe the vanilla is trying to smooth it out.

2 hours later I am still throwing this really nicely, but now I am going to have to figure out how to do everything one handed because I want to keep my wrist under my nose. The gardenia finally softened to where I don't feel like I'm sitting in the middle of a bush, I just have a flower of it, and the vanilla orchid and the frankincense are combining really nicely into just a slightly sweet smooth tinge.

**Edit**it is officially 11 hours after I first put it on and the scent is still clinging to my wrist. This is the longest wearing scent of any perfume/oil I have ever tried. I am most pleased. /edit

 

This is really making me want to break out of my comfort zone and start trying new things because while the first hour is a bit punchy once it settles I am so very pleased. I think this might end up fighting Strawberry Moon '12 once Spring finally rolls around.

Edited March 6, 2015 by queenallie03

[RayneofCastamere]

You have no idea how happy I was to get this in the mail today!

 

In the bottle: Like the above reviewers have said, this is VERY much a gardenia scent.

 

Wet: Still a boom of gardenia. There's a hint of incense in there as well, likely the frankincense. Will come back in a bit to comment on the dry and settled down scents.

 

Dry: The frankincense is really showing up now. The vanilla orchid's there, but it acts more to smooth out the gardenia and frankincense than to stand out on it's own.

 

Very, very lovely stuff. I keep smelling my wrist!

Edited March 7, 2015 by RayneofCastamere

[alyelle]

In the imp: Gardenia ♥♥

 

Wet: Pure gardenia. Nothing else. It's like my grandmother's old gardenia plant, covered in blooms and dripping wet after a summer rain.

 

Dry: Still just gardenia. Only gardenia. I adore this and am buying a bottle immediately.

 

Life is around 5-6 hours, throw is quite strong but not overpowering.

 

Stars: ★★★★★

[theseagrows]

i love gardenia. i don't wear it often, but when i feel the urge to wear it and i do, it's perfect. first off i get the gardenia and sheer musk. there's something in this that seems almost kind of watery, yet not aquatic...hmm, maybe that's the "sheer" in the musk. it's not really reading as that musky to me. it's almost citrussy. this musk is drowning out the gardenia, which is surprising, since gardenia tends to be quite strong and linear usually, but here it's more in the background. this seems almost a bit soapy to me, and i think i sense the vanilla orchid more now. i don't know but i am not seeing this as a primarily gardenia scent, it's actually kind of drowned out by all the other notes.

[Magycmyste]

In the imp: I'm getting a very confused flower. Not bad, but a little cacophonous.

 

Wet on skin: The gardenia is nice here - almost smells like jasmine, given a slight edge by the frankincense, and softened by the sheer musk. There's almost a bit of sweetness from the vanilla orchid, but it's barely there.

 

Dried down: Dried down, the notes are blending together a little more harmoniously, so it's mostly the gardenia. Pretty. But it doesn't keep me sniffing for more.

 

Throw: Again, pretty mild. I'm not getting a whole lot of throw.

 

Verdict: *** 1/* This is nice, but it just doesn't seem all that special to me.

[Atrous]

That's one strong Gardenia!

But it doesn't bother me the way some strong florals can. Beautiful, deep, sweet, rich Gardenia.

As it dries down Frankincense and Orchid make their appearance to deepen the scent.

Sophisticated, sweet, floral, bright, and feminine. Medium throw and wear length.

I can't stop sniffing my wrist because its so amazing!

[LiberAmoris]

I love a good gardenia perfume, and Venus Cloacina is lovely. White, bright gardenia, underpinned by light musk, frank, and vanilla orchid. It's the epitome of a summer scent for me, the kind of perfume I'd wear on a night out in July or August. Gardenia can skew heavy, but this is a really beautiful and almost translucent take on it—not cloying or overwhelming in any way. At times, it smells a bit like moonflower, which is a nice surprise. Once fully dry, it's almost like a 'white flower musk'. Throw and wear length is good. Definitely a keeper!

[unxolve]

I love the smell of fresh, full gardenias, and was hoping this would be something like that...for me, no dice. Big, sharp, headachy mess. It was too much, and it was not nice, and I did not like it. I'm not sure if it was the frankincense or what. But nope. Nope nope nope nope. Actually hurt my sinuses to wear, and whenever I smelled my wrist I suffered pangs of regret. Sharp chemical astringant flower cloud of pain.

 

It is apparently doing something beautiful for everyone else out there, but for me the only oil I've had such a bad reaction to is Vital Fluid. This was Literally the Worst.

[lady_pandora]

In ancient Rome, Venus Cloacina was the goddess of the

sewers

. And that's precisely why I bought it. I decided recently that I wanted to start doing little rituals to her because of some recurring plumbing issues in my building, which my landlord has...not been very proactive in fixing when they crop up. I hemmed and hawed and then realized I was never going to get this kind of perfect synchronicity again, of someone actually making an oil named for this relatively obscure aspect. So, I basically bought this as a TAL, even though it's not meant as one. I've been using it on candles for the purpose.

 

But I also tested it for scent, and it's lovely! Like ellocentipede, I'm reminded of Billie Holiday a bit; I could imagine her having smelled like this when she sang. It's a beautiful, lush, soft gardenia. I imagine it glowing a pale greenish white. It's a "damp" scent; the only other gardenia oil I've worn recently is TAL White Light, whose other notes give it a kind of dryness. Not here--the dew is still on this bloom. The supporting notes are well blended and don't really stick out as individual notes. It doesn't morph a ton, just gradually becomes fainter, though I think I smell a little more of the vanilla on the drydown. Pretty, ladylike, great for a hot summer night.

[milo]

This smells like the Eight Petaled Lotus SN to me at first. This blend is lush, fresh and heady, like a jungle bloom with fruit in the background. Becomes dusty after awhile. I liked this at first, but I have my EPL that is pretty similar for some reason, and this one doesn't really smell like gardenia to me, and becomes dusty.

[maudlinrose]

I can smell it from two feet away in the bottle.

The resin is a nice base for the gardenia, very simple.

But WHOA gardenia induced headache. I think I will literally have to remove the bottle from the room.

Fortunately we are packing this one up and sending it off to a new home, where it will be loved.

[LizziesLuck]

Wet: Mmm, yep, that's some gardenia alright, and it's not shy about it! Heady and intoxicating. The musk is a nice touch. And surprisingly the orchid is holding its own, and is gorgeous. Luckily the Frank hasn't stomped all over everything. This is a beautiful (strong!) floral.

 

 

Dry: This is beautiful. A sweet, heady, tropical floral. I have the strong urge to layer it with coconut. My fave gardenia scent, by far. Could be because I love the orchid so much, and they're gorgeous together. The musk is subtle and understated, and the frank doesn't show up at all, which is fine by me. I love this, glad I took a chance on it.

[DiZZysTARdust]

in the bottle this is a little strange. it smells kind of minty, kind of musty, not too floral. going on it’s like i’m painting my wrist with hothouse gardenias. they just pop into bloom. the mintiness goes a touch plasticky then bam it’s gardenias. this all happens in the span of seconds. i like the morphing blends, some are slower, this one is faster. the gardenia is beautiful, floral with just a hint of greenery. the vanilla i think is what turns this into a perfume. the throw is fairly strong. i can smell myself as i’m moving around doing day to day stuff. it lasted for a little over two hours as gardenia dominant, then the frankincense came out much more strongly. turned vaguely metallic, gardenia infused frankincense. absolutely gorgeous.