The Silence of the Woods

[catwoman30]

Red soil and scattered pine needles, acorn husks and pine cones, burgundy pitch and oak leaves, drooping black cedar branches, woodmoss, and a cluster of pale, poisonous berries.

Wow...I've never been first to review a scent. I hate to give a partially negative review but this isn't what I was hoping for. In the bottle it smells like being in the woods but on the skin it was all dirt. I could barely smell any other notes.After about 15 minutes the soil dies down some and I get some pine and what I think might be the acorn husks and leaves.There is a smidge of the berries. Getting past the soil part is difficult (for me) but it does get better as it goes. I'm going to retest later and will update my review if needed. Others may have a completely different reaction to this. I'm eager to read other reviews.
ETA I should have explained that I can only take dirt notes in small quantities but honestly this is growing on me....☺
Note to self:do not try on heavier oils when you are just getting over the stomach flu and it's 90° outside.
I feel this will work better as a Fall/Winter scent. It's a bit overwhelming in the heat. Funny thing:I went outside after it rained today and the air smelled a lot like this oil! Edited August 20, 2016 by catwoman30

[lizardskin]

I was a little worried about this one at first because I've never tried any soil-heavy scents before, but it turned out to be perfect. This smells exactly like the kind of forest floor that's covered in pine cones and dead needles. At first the soil scent is most noticeable, but there's a slightly piney, sappy scent blended in, and something else that's either acorns or oak. The pine isn't overwhelming--it isn't a 'fresh' Christmas tree pine. I can't pick out the berries.

 

This really captures the feeling of the painting-- a late autumn/early winter type of forest, when everything but the pines has died back.

[zankoku_zen]

Dark woods, burgundy pitch (which I am assuming means WINE SAP), touch of berries. This is if someone dumped a ton of red wine on a forest floor before they just flung themselves down for a drunken nap. Woodsy, foresty and red wine for everyone.

 

DRUNK PARTY IN THE WOODS, ANYONE?

 

Great throw and wear length.

[Blood onmy hands]

Mulch-y, dead leaves and dirt scent with a slightly sour pine and green, damp moss and leaves type of undertone. The drydown has a dry, soft, warm woods scent on me, with hints of the dirt and pine. I don't dislike this, but I don't feel like I'd ever wear it either. It's more atmospheric to me. I'm not getting any fruit or berries.

[annemathematics]

in the bottle and wet, this is all about that thar DURT. big strong slushy DIRT.

 

then there's a trace of foresty smells and something aquatic-but-not-soapy. the second thing could indeed be a nice splash of wine for the burgundy.

then, POOF the berries appear! very nice and reminding me of the fantastic belladonna berries in Beautiful Death.

 

the drydown is a lovely mix of the berries, wine, soil and forest air. it doesn't scratch the itch for a heavily-foresty scent (those notes are very much in the background) but it is a lovely and nuanced scent that I am happy to reach for a lot.

 

it reminds me of a scent translation of the most beautiful gothy dark blood red silky-velvety fabric. dark, rich, every so slightly brooding, but beautiful and suggesting of a rich history. if the kids from crimson peak went camping...that kind of glam.

[mrsrevshamwow]

I haven't posted many reviews because I'm still so new at it. This scent is just perfect on me.

 

The dirt and pine are strong in this one when wet on my skin. I love Nosferatu, and this smells like a piney version of that. As it dries, a little bit of nuttiness comes out from the acorns and the pine cones (I guess?), with the sweet/sourness of the berries coming in at the last.

 

The throw is moderate because I'm a dabber not a slatherer, but the wear is quite long. It's a full bottle for me.

[renfair]

I bought this off someone on the FB BPAL Sales Madness Group, 3/4 of an original bottle. So it's had a little bit of time to age.

First Sniff Impression: Spicy dirt. A bit cologne-y. Assuming it will improve when on skin. Not an immediate fan of the smell right away, though it's intriguing, and I can't say that the description is inaccurate.

Wet in Vial: I can smell the soil and what must be the burgundy pitch straight away. It's a bitter spiciness, like a forest in another country I've never visited. There's some cedar but it's buried pretty deep under the soil, pitch, and burned leaves smell. Not sure if I like it because it's different, or simply because of the name and the unicorn, lol.

Drying Down on Skin: This really reminds me of something in particular in the woods, but I can't place it. It's a bitter, musky, slightly burned and decayed smell, like digging up the soil under a thick layer of old wet leaves and pine needles. I have no idea how they manage to make scents this specific!

Dry on Skin: Fully dry, the bitterness and spiciness mellows out to a more even blend of all the notes. It's actually rather pleasant now, not as shocking to the nose. I still don't know if I'd wear it, however. I'll check back in an hour or so. -- Hours later just this warm, spiciness remained. It was so nice! And there was even still the barest trace of it on my wrist the next morning. I'd love to revisit this one again soon.

Conclusion: Once the earthy notes faded a bit, the smell was much more tolerable, more like an actual scent one wants to wear rather than sniff to be transported to a deep, dank forest. But amazingly it didn't seem to have as much staying power as I would've expected, for all of the strong notes in it. Six or so hours later, just a very faint earth spiciness remains. But even that little bit was still very pleasant! I'm really happy with this purchase, not to mention the bottle is gorgeous!

[Coldfire]

Decant: dark pine and pitch
Wet on Me: a dark forest and pitch
Drying Down: getting more of the cedar now.
Dry: soft woods with the faint sweetness of berries. very nice!