Gothic
Category: Punk
Quantity: sample
Description:
GOTHIC
Dramatic and romantic. Moody, mysterious and morbid. Pale skin. Black and jewel-toned velvets mixed with lace and leather. Influenced by the supernatural and the creative. Black roses planted in graveyard dirt. Blood-red lips inhaling a sweet-clove cigarette. A crushed velvet choker cutting into smooth pale flesh. Beautifully dark and sweet.
Review:
In the bottle: I do smell a rose, and something herbal, mixed with clover. It’s almost lemony.
Wet: Yeah, I definitively smell clove, but it’s sweet and soft, with a background note of cigarette.
Dry: A mix of (black?) rose and clove. It’s dark, bitter, and mysterious.
Verdict: It’s too bad this one is not available anymore; it’s gender-neutral, not too feminine. However, I suppose it competed with the American Gothic collection. Thanks for the remaining sample, Gary!
Gosurori
Category: Anime & Manga
Quantity: sample
Description:
GOSURORI
GothLoli’s depict a demure, well-bred yet stylized blend of dark, brooding Gothic and cute, childlike Lolita…a throw-back to the genteel, prim and proper eras. Whether wearing Victorian, Rococo, or Edwardian, knee-length dresses, petticoats and crinolines, ribbons and lace, over-knee stockings, boots or Mary Janes, top hats and parasols, Gothic Lolita’s are in perfect style! Anime/Manga include Bizenghast , Rozen Maiden , and DOLL . Earl Grey, sugared rose petals, vanilla cream
Review:
In the bottle: Sweetened Earl Grey tea and rose. Or what you would get if you dropped a rose in your grand-father’s favourite tea… It smells good, actually.
Wet: It smells a bit more like rose once on skin, with a sweet creamy note (vanilla?).
Dry: Tea, rose, sugar, cream, and vanilla cupcakes… I think it’s got all the ingredients for a successful loli tea party!
Verdict: I had mixed feelings toward this one at first, because I’m not a fan of anime or manga, and yet I was curious enough to try it. It’s like an old woman’s perfume with added sugar, and it’s very elegant. I will certainly try some more from the Anime & Manga collection.
Fruit Judy
Category: Limited Edition
Quantity: bottle (2ml)
Description:
FRUIT JUDY
Fruit Judy is the companion blend to Flower Judy. All together, there are 21 notes, all fruit. A sweet and tangy mix of berries, citrus, and tropical delights!
This limited edition does not have a time limit, but rather a quantity limit. There are 50 2ml amber bottles (with screw-cap lids) available. These are not "shorties", but rather the tall thinner bottles for easier use. There is no formal recipe so this blend will never be recreated. Once they are gone, they're gone!
Review:
In the bottle: It’s a tutti-frutti! It’s not easy to identify the 21 fruit notes, but so far, I’m guessing apple, grape, banana, berries (strawberries, raspberries, etc.), and a few more I’m not so sure about.
Wet: Again, I’m guessing apple, berries, pear, banana, mango, pineapple… It’s sweet!
Dry: It turned a bit tangier, orange and citrus must have found their way through.
Verdict: What can I say… It’s a fruit salad! What’s interesting in this case is that those 21 fruit notes, once blended together, create something new. Everyone can tell it’s fruity, but no one can pinpoint a precise fruit note without hesitation. Personally, I can’t wait to wear this one next summer, although the bugs might fall in love with me…
Forbidden Desire
Category: American Gothic
Quantity: sample
Description:
FORBIDDEN DESIRE
Desire is a powerful creature, shape-shifting yet solid as the imp who visits you during the night. The urge grabs a hold of you. Your every impulse demands action. Consequences be damned, as damned as the doer of the deed. Lust takes control. Your thirst must be quenched. How sweet the taste of forbidden desire on your lips. Right or wrong, desire has won. White chocolate, vanilla bean, sugared musk
Review:
In the bottle: Chocolate, and maybe a little bit of spiced vanilla.
Wet: It’s a lot of chocolate… It smells like cake, probably because of the little note of vanilla.
Dry: Chocolate and sugar overload!
Verdict: I’ve tried to wear this one a few times, and every time I did, I found myself with an uncontrollable need to eat a chocolate bar, or a piece of chocolate cake. This can’t be good for my health! I understand why it’s called “forbidden desire”… This foody scent is just too foody for me, but I can imagine very easily why someone else would love it.
First Creation
Category: Unreleased Blends
Quantity: sample
Description:
FIRST CREATION
N/A
Review:
In the bottle: It’s very soft, a little bit floral, with something sweet, such as vanilla or honey.
Wet: It’s already more herbal, lemony, maybe even with a spicy background note, but I can’t find what it is.
Dry: Still soft, creamy, lemony, and floral. It’s a bit old-lady-ish, but it smells clean and soft.
Verdict: Yes, it’s a bit old-fashioned, but it smells good; and the ingredients are very mysterious!
Femme
Category: LGBT & More
Quantity: sample
Description:
FEMME
N/A
Review:
Ok, I’m going to look stupid, but I didn’t know the meaning of “femme”. In French, a femme is a woman, but I thought that was too broad. I searched for an expression with femme in it, and I found “femme fatale”, which was an interesting theme, of course, until I searched “femme” in Wikipedia and found out what it means. Well, at least I’ve learned something... On the other hand, a femme could also be a femme fatale, right? Anyway, let’s move on... The scent has no description, so this is going to be a challenge for my nose. I’m sure I’m going to be completely off the track with this one.
In the bottle: The first thing I think about is grape punch. It’s sweet and delicate, with a little something floral.
Wet: Now I have images of flower trees in bloom (maybe lilac?), and a fruit (peach?). Whatever it is, I still get delicate florals with something fruity and juicy.
Dry: This review is about to get worse... It reminds me of wine a little bit, but mostly of a fruit punch I used to drink when I was younger, which was made of grape, cassia, berries, and some other fruits I forgot. It’s not as floral as before, but it’s still sweet.
Verdict: I’m getting a retro pin-up feeling out of this one. It’s feminine, seductive, and very sexy!
Diamond
Category: Limited Edition (April 2009)
Quantity: 5ml bottle
Description:
DIAMOND
April's birthstone, Diamond is known as the stone of innocence and purity, and inspires matters of the heart. Diamond is said to encourage self-confidence and independence and counteract jealousy. Diamonds are energy amplifiers so be cautious: it amplifies negative as well as positive. Diamond purifies and detoxifies all of the body’s systems, rebalancing the metabolism, and building up stamina, strength and treating allergies and chronic conditions. White peach, champagne, white hibiscus, white amber
Review:
In the bottle: It smells white and clear. It reminds me of my mother’s garden, with fruit trees and hibiscus plants around every corner.
Wet: Mostly hibiscus and peach, with a little bit of champagne and amber.
Dry: Slightly less peach, and more champagne and amber.
Verdict: What a clear and fancy scent! I think I just found my new “special occasion” perfume.
Cursed Cameo
Category: Curio Shop
Quantity: sample
Description:
CURSED CAMEO
Don’t be fooled by its beauty, by its seemingly delicate nature! Well over one hundred years old, this cameo is a splendid piece of jewelry marred by a fearsome curse. Given to a scorned wife as pacification from her flagrantly cheating husband, the wife was rumored to have dispatched of each of her husband’s affairs with a chilling and cold-blooded fervor, all while wearing the cameo. Now the cameo is cursed to bring torment and discord to its wearer, keeping them forever miserable and alone. Well, yes, I don’t see why you can’t hold it. Only please refrain from putting it around your neck. We are not sure how swift-acting the curse is. Come to think of it, maybe it’s best if you didn’t hold it at all. One can never be too careful! White lily, iris, jasmine, magnolia, grapefruit, peach
Review:
In the bottle: It’s soft and feminine, in a graceful way. I can identify the notes of lily and magnolia.
Wet: Without any surprise, the flowers came out first.
Dry: As it dried, I started to notice something juicy and sweet, which I assume is the peach and grapefruit. It’s funny, because it leaves a little bit of an aftertaste, but maybe that’s the curse?
Verdict: I find it hard to write a review on this one because I’m completely addicted. If you like blends of flowers and fruits, you should try this one.
Chocolate Chai Muffin
Category: Mary Jo's Bakery
Quantity: sample
Description:
CHOCOLATE CHAI MUFFIN
A cakey, not-too-sweet, muffin flavored with chocolate powder and chai spices. This muffin is scrumptious!
Review:
In the bottle: Oh my! Spicy chocolate! Those warm, exotic spices seem delightful when mixed with the cocoa.
Wet: As soon as it touched my skin, it turned into bitter spices, with an subtle note of musk. There’s a little bit of chocolate behind, but it’s not as strong as in the bottle.
Dry: After a few minutes, it turned herbal; that’s weird. If you are familiar with the (fake) chocolate essence sold for soap-making, mix it with spicy herbs, and that’s what you get.
Verdict: Honestly, I feared that it would be the cousin of Forbidden Desire; but fortunately, it’s not as sweet, and its spiciness gives it a very sexy aspect.
Cannoli
Category: Mary Jo's Bakery
Quantity: sample
Description:
CANNOLI
A cannoli baked up right...Good Judy style! Creamy ricotta, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, chocolate chips, nuts and candied fruit all stuffed into a crispy baked shell. Sinful! Mama would be proud.
Review:
In the bottle: Another foody perfume... Sugar, vanilla, cream, chocolate, and something fruity in the background.
Wet: It really smells like pastry, with raisins, cinnamon, vanilla, ricotta or thick cream... It’s very sweet!
Dry: Now, I get the candied fruits, in a sugar-coated shell... However, the fruits smell like an artificial essence, that’s my only disappointment.
Verdict: Hum, this smells delicious! It might be a little bit too rich and decadent though...
Bread Pudding
Category: Mary Jo's Bakery
Quantity: sample
Description:
BREAD PUDDING
Warm bread soaked in milk and eggs and spices. Baked golden bubbly and served drenched in an ooey-gooey vanilla rum sauce. Delightfully rich and satisfying!
Review:
In the bottle: I smell a mix of bread, eggs, spices (especially cinnamon, yum!), vanilla, and a bit of rum.
Wet: This really smells like french toast (or “pain doré/pain perdu”; as usual, please forgive my french) with spices, and some sort of a rich vanilla sauce, with a strong sugar undernote.
Dry: Yeah, old bread or old cake soaked in a preparation of milk and eggs to remove dryness. It took some time, but I finally got some of the rum back. And as usual, the perfume turned sugary-sweet on me.
Verdict: Not bad; but maybe a little bit too “french toast”, the ressemblance is just too obvious for me. Other than that, it’s lovely, and so yummy that it makes me want to bake.
B
Category: LGBT & More
Quantity: sample
Description:
B
N/A
Review:
In the bottle: Citrus and... bergamot?
Wet: Yes, I do smell a sweet herb such as bergamot, as well as citrus or orange.
Dry: Now, I’m getting something floral, possibly honeysuckle.
Verdict: It’s golden, vibrant, and the citrus scent smells clean, of course. Overall, it’s a nice gender-neutral blend.
Atomic Cheesecake
Category: Starlite Oasis
Quantity: sample
Description:
ATOMIC CHEESECAKE
It’s all about the pinup. With their peek-a-boo poses and pouty lips, these blonde bombshells, buxom brunettes, and randy redheads are the ultimate art of seduction.
Pure, unadulterated cheesecake, vanilla bean, vanilla musk
Review:
In the bottle: It does smell like cheesecake! I smell cream cheese and vanilla.
Wet: It’s pretty much the same as in the bottle. It’s very creamy, rich, warm, and decadent. If it’s based on a real cheesecake, I want the recipe.
Dry: I smell the vanilla musk a little better, but it’s still a lot of cream cheese. Overall, it stays true from beginning to end.
Verdict: It smells delicious! It’s like a real cheesecake, served fresh and tender; it’s only missing the berry sauce.
Yules: The Nutcracker Acts 1 & 2: KLARA
Category: Limited Edition
Quantity: bottle
Description:
The Nutcracker Acts 1 & 2: KLARA
Honey dusting powder, mandarin, iris, ylang ylang, tea rose, and carnation.
Review:
In the bottle: Sweet, powdery and clean. I smell a strong note of honey.
Wet: Honey and mandarine, with a little bit of iris and carnation.
Dry: Tea rose and ylang-ylang come out strong... maybe a little bit too strong.
Verdict: I don’t know, it’s just missing something. It smells like a Lush soap, or baby powder. I would have liked something more unique than that.
More reviews: Limited Edition: Yules: The Nutcracker Acts 1 & 2: Klara
Yules: Snow White 2010
Category: Limited Edition
Quantity: bottle
Description:
SNOW WHITE 2010
A chilly, bright perfume: flurries of virgin snow, crisp winter wind and the faintest breath of night-blooming flowers.
Review:
In the bottle: So soft and delicate... I smell a bit of vanilla and sugar, but I’m not quite sure what else.
Wet: It smells sweet and floral, almost foody. It reminds me of Dana O’shee, only colder and crisper.
Dry: It turned into vanilla, coconut, mint, and almond, with a floral background.
Verdict: Overall, it’s lovely; however, I really got into it when I went outside. The cold winter air improves it somehow; it becomes even crisper afterwards.
More reviews: Limited Edition: Yules: Snow White 2010
Yules: Rose Red 2010
Category: Limited Edition
Quantity: bottle
Description:
ROSE RED 2010
The perfected winter rose, dew covered and freshly cut.
Review:
In the bottle: A velvety red rose, fresher than in a flower shop.
Wet: It’s a bit too strong at first, it’s annoying for my nostrils; however, it gets better after 10-15 minutes.
Dry: It’s much better now. It’s a delicate floral scent, feminine, romantic, and almost a sacred rose.
Verdict: For those who might be turned off by its initial strong throw, my advice would be to let it dry completely before judging it. It becomes subtle and almost sweet over time.
More reviews: Limited Edition: Yules: Rose Red 2010
Yules: Lick It Vigorously
Category: Limited Edition
Quantity: bottle
Description:
LICK IT VIGOROUSLY
What else could possibly be more lickable at Yuletide? This is a candy cane perfume, minty, sweet and sugared.
[Please don’t literally Lick It. I need no cheerful holiday lawsuits, thank you!]
Review:
In the bottle: Hmm, sweet mint... It’s very fresh, green, and maybe a little bit spicy.
Wet: A lot of sugar comes out as soon as it touches my skin! It smells like mint-flavoured candy, no doubt possible; it also feels very fresh... I might even say cold...
Dry: Strangely enough, it turned almost vanilla and floral on me (one day, I’d like to know what’s wrong with my skin chemistry); however, it’s still fresh, yet softer and more delicate.
Verdict: It’s a funny perfume, it really smells like a candy cane, sweet and minty, even though it turned soft on me.
More reviews: Limited Edition: Yules: Lick It Vigorously
The Unicorn
Category: Mad Tea Party
Quantity: sample
Description:
THE UNICORN
A misty, almost luminous perfume: wispy linden blossoms, white flowers, and a touch of sweet herbs.
Review:
In the bottle: A clean, fresh, and clear floral smell. It’s soft and light.
Wet: I get a sweet floral scent. I’m not accustomed to linden blossoms, so my first impression was something similar to lily of the valley, but I could be wrong.
Dry: It’s soft and faint. The herbs blend well together into a light, feminine scent. Unfortunately, it fades away very quickly.
Verdict: It’s lovely, but it doesn’t have much impact, which I think is really too bad because, otherwise, it would be the perfect blend for spring. On the other hand, someone who rarely ever wears perfume and wants to stay away from strong scents, would probably adore this.
More reviews: Mad Tea Party: The Unicorn
The Pool Of Tears
Category: Mad Tea Party
Quantity: sample
Description:
THE POOL OF TEARS
`I wish I hadn't cried so much!' said Alice, as she swam about, trying to find her way out. `I shall be punished for it now, I suppose, by being drowned in my own tears! That will be a queer thing, to be sure! However, everything is queer to-day.'
A sea of salty tears drowning out Alice's light floral perfume.
Review:
In the bottle: An aquatic, soft floral blend, with a hint of carnation.
Wet: It's very delicate on my skin, and still very floral, with carnation. It reminds me of Alice, but a bit more salty and aquatic.
Dry: Oops, it just turned bitter during dry-down. It seems temporary, but what remains afterwards smells like deodorant.
Verdict: It started o.k., but turned bad. Not a keeper.
More reviews: Mad Tea Party: The Pool Of Tears
Sleepy Hollow: Katrina Van Tassel
Category: Limited Edition
Quantity: 5ml bottle
Description:
KATRINA VAN TASSEL
… and though he had seen many spectres in his time, and been more than once beset by Satan in divers shapes, in his lonely perambulations, yet daylight put an end to all these evils; and he would have passed a pleasant life of it, in despite of the devil and all his works, if his path had not been crossed by a being that causes more perplexity to mortal man than ghosts, goblins, and the whole race of witches put together, and that was-a woman.
Among the musical disciples who assembled, one evening in each week, to receive his instructions in psalmody, was Katrina Van Tassel, the daughter and only child of a substantial Dutch farmer. She was a blooming lass of fresh eighteen; plump as a partridge; ripe and melting and rosy cheeked as one of her father's peaches, and universally famed, not merely for her beauty, but her vast expectations. She was withal a little of a coquette, as might be perceived even in her dress, which was a mixture of ancient and modern fashions, as most suited to set off her charms. She wore the ornaments of pure yellow gold, which her great-great-grandmother had brought over from Saardam, the tempting stomacher of the olden time; and withal a provokingly short petticoat, to display the prettiest foot and ankle in the country round.
White rose and honeyed cream.
Review:
In the bottle: It’s sweet, like Dana O’Shee, only with roses instead of sweet grains.
Wet: Mostly roses. Somehow, it reminds me of my grand-mother’s perfume; I want to snuggle up in my grandma’s blanket and sing lullabies.
Dry: It’s still rosy, but creamier. It’s very feminine and, without a doubt, a good girl’s perfume. The sweet cream scent lasts much longer than the rose scent though.
Verdict: I like it, but it’s missing a little something to be more than “my grand-mother’s perfume”. I’m happy with the bottle I have, but I wouldn’t buy another one.
More reviews: LE: Katrina Van Tassel
Rosalind
Category: Illyria
Quantity: sample
Description:
ROSALIND
Dew-covered berries and fresh green grasses with a faint breath of spring flowers.
Review:
In the bottle: It smells fresh, indeed! Sweet floral scents mixed with very faint berries.
Wet: Green grass, green grass, and more green grass. As for the flowers, could it be peony? Or something like it? It reminds me of Maiden, but rolling into grass.
Dry: Cut the lawn, roll onto it, that’s what it smells like... Fortunately, it fades away quickly.
Verdict: It’s not so great. I’m almost glad it’s discontinued.
More reviews: Illyria: Rosalind
Persephone
Category: Excolo
Quantity: sample
Description:
PERSEPHONE
Beautiful, radiant daughter of Demeter... her loveliness was so exquisite that even Hell itself could not resist her. Pomegranate and rose.
Review:
In the bottle: I smell mostly rose... ‘lots of it... I miss the juicy sweetness of the pomegranate.
Wet: I still get a lot of rose, but it’s already much sweeter, and fruity.
Dry: It is better, but... I still get so much rose! I don’t get that decadently juicy pomegranate other reviewers have smelled.
Verdict: Either Persephone loved the smell of roses beyond imagination, or this blend is still too fresh, and scents haven’t blended as much as they needed. Maybe I should let this one “age” for a few months, to see if it improves a little bit, it seems to work sometimes.
More reviews: Excolo: Persephone
Oblivion
Category: Sin & Salvation
Quantity: sample
Description:
OBLIVION
Salvation found in darkness beyond darkness, the blessed sleep of nothingness. Dark musk, wood spice, labdanum, patchouli, dark African woods, and saffron.
Review:
In the bottle: I know I’m not the only one who mentions the colour of this sample, but... It’s green! It’s spicy, musky; and yet, I smell a mix of wet wood and patchouli.
Wet: It’s still warm, spicy and woody, but with an herbal quality, from the patchouli and labdanum, with a note of saffron.
Dry: Suddenly, as it dried, it turned into peroxide (I’m not kidding), to come back to spicy patchouli. Of all the skin chemical reactions I’ve experienced so far, this is the most unusual...
Verdict: Well, at first, it reminded me of my father’s cologne when I was a kid; then, it turned into something medical, to finish as a spicy man’s cologne. Since it has such a strange reaction on my skin, I think I’ll leave the final verdict to men...
More reviews: Sin & Salvation: Oblivion
Marie
Category: Diabolus
Quantity: sample
Description:
MARIE
A blend of sinuous violet and elegant tea rose: the chosen scent of France's Demigoddess of Debauch: Marie Antoinette.
Review:
In the bottle: Mostly violet, and rose.
Wet: Apparently, my nose identifies the smell of violet very easily, and finds the rose a few minutes later. So far, it’s fresh and elegant, but a little bit soapy.
Dry: The first time I tried this one, in December, I thought it smelled like an old violet and rose potpourri (note: I had a cold and everything smelled the same). However, I can fully appreciate it today, and I have to admit Marie makes a nice transition from a sweet and fresh floral scent to a wicked violet.
Verdict: I’m growing fond of Marie, I might add it to my “maybe” list. It’s sensual, in a naughty way. On the other hand, if you don’t like violet, stay away from this one.
More reviews: Diabolus: Marie
Maiden
Category: Ars Amatoria
Quantity: sample
Description:
MAIDEN
A gentle vision of purity, goodness and virtue: white tea, carnation and Damask Rose.
Review:
In the bottle: This certainly smells soft and feminine! So far, it’s mostly a blend of flowers, but the white tea is a sweet touch.
Wet: Carnation, carnation, and more carnation, with a little bit of rose, and a tiny little bit of white tea.
Dry: It does stabilize during dry down, but it’s still a lot of carnation! There’s still a little bit of rose, and what I believe is a trace of white tea, but it’s very subtle.
Verdict: Overall, Maiden is a nice spring/summer scent, but you really have to love carnation to fully appreciate this one; therefore, it’s just not for me. I know white tea tends to be tasteless, but I expected more of it. But still, it’s a nice floral scent.
More reviews: Ars Amatoria: Maiden
