Trying to determine the base scents and combinations I am attracted to -- so I may better choose new flavors! Suggestions are most welcome.
Jólasveinar (Yule 2006) -- Wow! I smell good enough to eat! Love-love-love. The girls and Hubby likes, too.
Their scent is a mishmash of snow, dirt, Icelandic moss, marsh felwort, and the smushed petals of buttercups and moorland spotted orchids, with the barest hint of the scent of pilfered Christmas pastries.
The Peacock Queen (Yule)-- Rosy but one I can wear well; beautiful; doesn't last overly long but it makes me feel good.
In dramatic contrast to the soft innocence of Snow White and the dew-kissed freshness of her sister, Rose Red, this is a blood red, voluptuous rose, velvet-petaled, at the height of bloom. Haughty and imperious, vain, yet incomparably lovely to the eye, but thick with thorns of jealousy, pride and hatred.
Sol Invictus (Yule 2006) -- Very nice. Sultry, complicated light. Family OK with it.
A radiant blend of solar oils: golden amber, saffron, heliotrope, hibiscus, citron, frangipani, frankincense, tangerine, mock orange, and orange blossom.
Stormclouds Over The Midway Act IV: The Interlude -- Wine-colored storm clouds are gathering, and the scent of incense and ozone is thick in the wet air. Thunder-charged ozone, plum-colored incense smoke, opium tar, and wormwood.
Punkie Night (Halloweenie 2010)--I like this. Very pleasant. Corie loves it. May have to get a bottle. However, it gives Josie a headache. Bummer.
This is a light-hearted scent: apple orchards, bright cranberries, and a touch of warm cider.
A Howl in the Darkness (Halloweenie 2010) --Subtle pine and mint. I like. Family seems OK with it.
A scent evocative of a forest at midnight, with animalic brown musk, wild sage, Terebinth pine, black oak, and a chilly shock of terror personified by kunzea, cistus labdanum, verbena, juniper, metallic ozone, and white mint.
Odd Portents (Halloweenie 2010) --Spicy sensuality blended with a sweet, dark floral sensuality. I like. Josie likes a great deal (says it reminds her of the Penzeys Spices store). Hubby does not like. <sigh>
Black rose, olibanum, dark musk, myrrh, blackcurrant, lavender buds, bourbon geranium, and amber incense.
Clytie (BPAL Trading Post LE) -- This is a very nice scent I really enjoyed wearing all day. If I run across a bottle, I'll have to snap it up!
Great Loves and Tragedies of Ancient Greece - Excess of love begetting excess of grief: heliotrope, frankincense, muguet, osmanthus, and neroli.
Lotus Moon 2010
Soporose and lenitive: opium-laced golden lotus with rich amber, red sandalwood, pomegranate, frankincense, and rose otto.
Red Moon 2007
Our blend for this Moon mixes traditional lunar oils with the warmth of amber, Red musk, and heliotrope, the russet haze of dragon's blood resin, sunflower, and crushed orange peel, with a dusting of summertime herbs: chamomile, rue, elder flower and marigold.
Blood Moon 2008--Spicy sweet. But even this little bit of dragon's blood makes my nose stuffy.
The feral scent of the heat of the chase, deep woods, undulating musks, brushed by forest flora, swirled in the incense of the anointed cherub that covereth, and touched by blood-dimmed lunar oils.
Inganok Jewelers (Lupercalia 2010) --Oh, I like this one. Unusual. Nag Champa incense like in that little metaphysical shop during college where I would buy jewelry. After a while there is a distinct metallic edge. Hubby does not like.
Gleaming stone and silver.
Arkham (discontinued) --This smells really good but it seems to be more of a masculine scent to me. I still like it. If I could find a bottle, I'd be very pleased.
(Inspired by Lovecraft.) A scent seething with the perverse splendor of complete and utter madness. High-pitched, yet dark...subdued and deep, but tingling with frenzy: juniper, nutmeg and black cypress shocked by verbena and lavender.
http://www.bpal.org/topic/255-arkham/
Tabella (Forum Only LE 2008)
The voting tablet. Herbs and flowers that represent democracy, justice, leadership, and power: olive blossom, frankincense, tobacco flower, benzoin, Little John, bergamot, galangal, angelica, fig, sage, and ginger.
Aperotos Eros (Ars Amatoria) --In the imp, I don't like it. When I put it on, I did so w/o smelling the imp and I can't smell it on me. Added more. Nothing! Will try another day. Tried again -- I can't believe I couldn't smell this! It's a rather bitter smell. Seems more masculine -- funny that other reviewers say it's more feminine. I do get traces of the bergamot and fir which I like but myrrh won't stop butting in. And then takes over. Damn you, myrrh.
Unloving love: benzoin, Indian musk, massoia bark, myrrh, ambrette seed, galbanum, bergamot, and fir.
Defututa (Ars Amatoria) -- sexy scent; mmmm; Hubby OK with it.
Olive blossom, honey, smoky vanilla, cinnamon, jasmine, sandalwood, and champaca flower.
The Lady Of Shalott (Ars Amatoria) Very pleasant but nothing that zings me.
The scent of calm waters just before a raging storm, limned with achingly-beautiful blooms, an icy scent, but somehow warm, and mirror-bright: bold gardenia, crystalline musk, muguet, water blossoms, clear, slightly tart aquatic notes and a crush of white ginger.
Lorelei (Ars Amatoria)
A tragic heroine from German lore. In despair over a faithless lover, she threw herself into the Rhine. In death, she has become a siren that haunts that river to this day, luring sailors to their doom. Neroli, sandalwood, ylang ylang.
Muse (Ars Amatoria)
A light, invigorating floral and citrus blend. Tuberose, lotus and jasmine with a hint of lime.
Nefertiti (Ars Amatoria)
“The Beautiful One Is Come”. Egyptian iris and olibanum with red and white sandalwood, soft myrrh and a breath of North African herbs.
Rapture (Ars Amatoria)
Sensual ecstasy, the blinding red fire of the apex of sexual pleasure: Moroccan rose, Sumatran rose, mandarin, Egyptian myrrh, night-blooming jasmine, bergamot and neroli thrust into Arabian musk.
The Ghost (Ars Moriendi) --Extremely subtle. Can slather on and it still doesn't have much throw. What I can smell, smells good.
A thin, sinuous, creeping chill, the scent of glee-filled undeath: white iris, osmanthus, Calla lily, tomb-crawling ivy and a coffin spray of gladiolus, lisianthus and delphinium.
La Belle Dame Sans Merci (Bewitching Brews) --Tea rose (yikes) with a metallic edge at the end. Rather overwhelming. Nope.
A bewitching seductive scene, rife with mystery and foreboding.
Lightning (Bewitching Brews)--Need a bottle of this. Pleasing. Lasts all day. Made me feel good even after 5 hours in the emergency room with my daughter.
The electric tang of ozone, marine notes, and a drop of sharp rain.
Morgause (Bewitching Brews)
A bouquet of five night-blooming flowers deepened by dusky violet, purple fruits and the barest breath of medieval incenses.
The Raven (Bewitching Brews) --Oh, I love this. There is something in this that reminds me of my beloved Aunt Myra Nell. Hubby OK with it.
Sleek, dark, and ominous. Violet and neroli mingled with iris, white sandalwood and dark musk.
http://www.bpal.org/topic/511-the-raven/page__p__3451__hl__raven__fromsearch__1#entry3451
Poisoned Apple (Bewitching Brews) -- Very nice, complicated apple scent.
A perfect, lovely, gleaming red apple whose sweetness masks a swirl of narcotic opium, oleander, and hemlock.
Saint-Germain (Bewitching Brews) discont. 8/13/10 --OMG the perfect scent for a man. Lots of throw. Hubby hates, though.
"A man who knows everything and who never dies." He is a Hermetic Magician's hero for the ages, and his scent is an elegant, timeless, truly refined cologne, bold yet classic: gilded amber, hypnotic lavender, brash carnation and deep mosses.
Josie (The District)--A little too sweet and then turns sour.
Heady magnolia and honeyed peaches.
Djinn (Diabolus)--I can't decide. Definitely a novelty scent. Wet is an experience of pissed power. But the last stage of dry is so wonderful.
An ancient, free-willed race created from the essence of Fire, much as man was created from Earth. They prowled the land at night, vanishing with the first rays of dawn. Myths surrounding the Djinn paint them as many things: benevolent champions of mankind and slaves to mad sorcerers, malicious incubi / succubi and energy vampires, or malevolent harbingers of madness and disease. The Djinn are ruled by Iblis, the Prince of Darkness, who bears unspeakable contempt for man. The scent of black smoke, of crackling flames, and smoldering ashes.
Eos (Excolo)
The Rising Sun. She is Ostara, Easter, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of fertility and the dawn. She is a protector and friend to all children. Her scent is that of softly glowing skin, jasmine, buttercup and honeysuckle.
Oya (Excolo) --Lovely and subtle. May need a bottle of this!
Lady of the Wind. She is the wind that precedes the thunderstorm, and it is in this that She is seen as Shango’s companion and partner in battle, and without Oya, there is little that Shango can accomplish. She fans the fires of Shango’s blazes, and is the forked lightning that touches the treetops. Oya’s ofrenda is a Nigerian potion of love and war, sweetened by darkest plum. Oya winiwini! http://www.bpal.org/topic/14293-oya/
Persephone (Excolo) --Exactly as the reviews say: juicy pomegranite. But the rose is a tea-rose type to me. It is a beautiful combination but a bit too sweet for my tastes.
Beautiful, radiant daughter of Demeter...her loveliness was so exquisite that even Hell itself could not resist her. Pomegranate and rose.
Utrennyaya (Excolo) --I need a bottle. Mint that gives way to floral. Doesn't last, tho. But touch-ups are nice b/c you get the mint back!
The Zorya: Also called the Auroras. The Slavic Triple Goddesses of the Dawn, Sky and Light, who govern the paths of the day. The guard the constellation Ursa Minor from the chained Hound of Doomsday; should they ever fail in their duty, and the chain breaks, the universe will end.
"The Morning Star" -- Osmanthus, Damascus rose, violet, delphinium, white mint, palmarosa and white sandalwood.
Cordelia (Illyria) --Very floral; it's OK; then Josie got a headache off it.
The essence of faith, love and devotion: lilac, lemon, green tea, wisteria, osmanthus, white cedar, and Chinese musk.
Black Rose (Rappaccini's Garden) --Very mature rose. I like but this rose tends to amp and stick around. An evening scent.
Exquisitely melancholy. The background scent to an ancient exequies. Heavy, dark and floral: a blend of roses, with a touch of amber and musk.
Baghdad (Wanderlust) -- This is so spicy! I like! But what is messing around and making my eyes itch?!
Amber, saffron and bergamot with mandarin, nutmeg, Bulgar rose, musk and sandalwood.
Danube (Wanderlust)
Rhododendron and bellflower petals swirl through deep, cool, dark aquatic notes.
Machu Picchu (Wanderlust)--On the need-a-bottle list. Pleasing.
Sweet tropical fruits burst through deep, wet rainforest boughs, enormous steamy blossoms, over thin mountaintop breezes, mingled with the soft, rich golden scent of Peruvian amber.
Shanghai (Wanderlust)--BOUGHT A BOTTLE
The crisp, clean scent of green tea touched with lemon verbena and honeysuckle.
Silk Road (Wanderlust) --I may have to get a big bottle of this one. Very pleasant. Exotic/romantic impression to me. Nice throw; lasts pretty much all day. A note of clean patchouli that I like btw.
A panoply of cultural treasures, spanning the herbs, flowers, oils and balms of the Romans, the Byzantines, the Mediterranean, the Levant, Northern China, Eastern Europe, Iran, the Bulgar-Kypchak, Mesopotamia, the Crimean Peninsula, Anatolia, Antioch, and North Africa.
Venice (Wanderlust) --I think I like this. It does smell good, but it doesn't evoke an emotional connection. Oh, well.
A complex, voluptuous scent that captures the robust beauty of the Italian Renaissance: lemon, red currant, wisteria, red rose petals, heady jasmine, Florentine orris root, waterlily, red sandalwood, violet plum, and violet leaf.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OUTRIGHT "NO" OR JUST "MEH"
Wicked (Diabolus) --YUCK! I don't like this one at all from just the sniff from the imp. Don't even want to put this on. OK. Decided I can't just a perfume by the imp. There's an element here that reminds me of spiced apples. Definitely rose. But then it dries down to something I don't like. Jasmine? Too much myrrh? I'm thinking it's jasmine b/c I'm a little sneezy and myrrh hasn't done that to me before.
A paean to all the Wicked Queens, Evil Stepmothers, and other misunderstood villainesses throughout history and lore. Lends an aura of majesty, refinement, strength, and a deep, brooding malice. A sophisticated, womanly scent: rich myrrh and jasmine draped in the subtlest rose.
Highwayman (Bewitching Brews) I do not like vetiver and this is heavy vetiver!
Vetiver with gardenia, blood red rose, night-blooming jasmine, a dash of cinnamon and a faint hint of leather.
Katrina van Tassel - Sleepy Hollow (Halloweenies) --It's OK. I could wear it but it doesn't zing me. Rose note is nice. Maybe too much cream/sweet. But then later, I found I was really enjoying wearing it.
White rose and honeyed cream.
Mme. Moriarty, Misfortune Teller - Act II: Fiat Nox -- Unfortunately this is a no. I think I just don't like patchouli. Didn't effect Hubby. Either way, my youngest says "it's hard to cuddle you when you stink". Wow. Don't mince words, hon.
Red musk, vanilla bean, pomegranate, patchouli leaf and wild plum.
Samhain -- I liked; got lots of compliments; Josie liked; was ready to buy a whole bottle...but Hubby HATED.
Truly the scent of autumn itself -- damp woods, fir needle, and black patchouli with the gentlest touches of warm pumpkin, clove, nutmeg, allspice, sweet red apple and mullein.
Delirium --The rose is a tea rose. Ick!
apple, rose, lemon
Djinn --A perfect interpretation of the name. Hot, pissed-off, powerful fire that then slowly burns itself out.
http://www.bpal.org/topic/15688-santa-eul%26agrave%3Bria-des-riu/page__p__282156__hl__santa+ruis__fromsearch__1#entry282156
Saturnalia --Vetiver and violet. Gross!! I can't even smell the violet for the vetiver and if I do, I don't like it either.
Santa Eularia Des Riu --I like the citrus at first but then this dries down to nothing but jasmine. No.
http://www.bpal.org/topic/15688-santa-eul%26agrave%3Bria-des-riu/page__p__282156__hl__santa+ruis__fromsearch__1#entry282156
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--OTHER--
Lolita Lempicka Fleur Défendue "Forbidden Flower"
Notes: Absinth Flower, Strawberry Leaf, Mimosa Stem, Peony, Violet, Aniseed Flower, Almond Musk, Morello Cherry Musk.
Bvlgari Eau Parfumee White Tea
Notes: Artemisia Leaves, Ambrette, White Pepper, White Tea, Musk, Woody Amber.
Elizabeth Arden Provocative Interlude
"citrusy floriental"; California Redwood?
Top Notes: Wild Berries, Champagne
Middle Notes: Rose, Sunset Orchid, Mango Flower
Base Notes: Cashmere Musk, White Chocolate
Elizabeth Arden Provocative Woman
Top Notes: Quince, Water Lotus and Ginger
Middle Notes: Midnight Orchid, Papaya Blossom and Pink Freesia
Base Notes: White Sand, Red Amber and Hinoki Wood
Elizabeth Arden Mediterranean
Top Notes: Peach Nectar Sorbet, Sicilian Mandarin, Damask Plum
Middle Notes: Wisteria, Star Magnolia, Madagascar Orchid
Base Notes: Sandalwood, Musk, Amber
Liz by Liz Claiborne
Top Notes: mandarin, pear, yello mimosa, and melon
Middle Notes: purple hyacinth, honeysuckle, magnolia, and pink peony
Base Notes: pink peppercorns, heliotrope, amber, and vanilla
White Witch
by Parfums Jamaica
Smoking Plum by Violette Market
Smoky Lapsang Souchong black tea, sweet Mount Wuyi black plum, raw vanilla pods, and a hint of cedar and redwood, create a dreamy mid-afternoon mist of esoteric mysteries.
Channeling Spirits 2010 by Blooddrop
Great, great grandmamma clearly had a good bit left to say before she passed on. How lucky of her to get in a few last words! Black tea, faded soft blossoms, and a whisper of cool mint.
The Veil Between Two Worlds 2010 by Blooddrop
A beautiful, sheer blend sharing earthly and spiritual qualities, welcoming one to the other. Pale green herbs, sweetened lemon and white grapefruit, sweet pea flower, mushroom fairy rings and faint blonde tobacco.
updated 10/24/10
THE GOOD
opium
juniper
fir
moss
dirt
fern
dark(er) roses
lemon verbena
orange blossom
mock orange
mandarin
tangerine
plum
olive blossom
chamomile
neroli
sandalwood
violet
ginger
cinnamon
saffron
champagne
bourbon
lavender
honeysuckle
water lotus
amber
black tea
green tea
apples
pumpkin
heliotrope
THE BAD
jasmine (rare exceptions)
anise
tea rose
THE AMBIVALENT
In small enough notes, these can be really good. But as predominant notes, they are very bad.
vetiver (love/hate relationship)
frankincense
myrrh
patchouli
metallics
vanilla
honey
dragon's blood resin (makes me stuffy; too sweet generally)
nag champa
musk
water lilly
edited 11/7/10
Imps & Decants for Swap/Sale:
various fill levels and label conditions
If you want to swap, see my Wish List
Limited Editions
Black Moon (sniffie)
The Black Swan (decant; testable sniffie)
The East (sniffie)
Et Lux Fuit
The Steeple (sniffie)
Tetramorph (1/4 decant)
General Catalog
Apertos Eros
Black Rose
Cordelia
Crossroads
Danube (decant)
Dragon's Tears
Ether
Faustus
Ile De La Tortue
King of Hearts
La Belle Dame Sans Merci
Loralei
The Lotus Tree
Mag Mell
Midnight
Muse
Nyx
Pahoehoe (decant)
Persephone
Rapture
Rose Cross
Santa Eularia Des Riu
Veil
Volt (decant)
Volt (1/2 decant)
Wicked
Zephyr
Bottles for Swap/Sale:
Black Moon (1ml) $5.50
Others for Swap/Sale:
Blooddrop Merci 45 (bottle -1 decant) I smell hazelnut coffee and vanilla
Artemesia Lavender & Clove (1/2 sample)
Bottles:
Aeronwyn
Carnaval Diabolique
Devil's Night 2009
The East
Faiza the Black Mamba
Harvest Moon 2010
The Hell-Gate of Ireland 2009
Hexennacht 2008
Jolasveinar 2006
Jolasveinar 2007
Knecht Ruprecht 2006
Longing 2010 (x2)
Peacock Queen 2009
Shanghai
Smoky Moon 2009 (Tristesses de la Lune)
Sol Invictus 2006
The Steeple 2010 (1ml)
Stormclouds Over the Midway
Sugar Moon 2008
Tabella 2008
Whirling Wind Moon 2010
The Winter of Our Discontent 2006
Empty Bottles:
Night Thoughts 2008
Pumpkin V 2009
Imps/Decants:
#20 Love Oil
Anathema
Arkham
Baghdad
Belladonna
Bengal
Black Rose
Clytie (decant)
Come to Me
Djinn
Eos (2)
Et Lux Fuit 2006
The Ghost
A Howl in the Darkness 2010 (decant)
Inganok Jewelers 2010 (decant)
The Lady of Shalott
Leanan Sidhe
L'examen de Minuit
Lightning (decant)
Lotus Moon 2010 (decant)
Machu Picchu
Monster Bait: Underbed (sniffie; decant)
Morgause
Mourning Moon 2008 (decant)
Nefertiti
Nocnitsa
Odd Portents 2010 (decant)
Ogygia
Opium Poppy
Oya
Pain
The Phantom Wooer
Poisoned Apple
Pontarlier
Punkie Night 2010 (decant)
The Raven
Red Moon 2007 (decant)
The Red Queen
Saint-Germain
Scarecrow
Shanghai
Shoggoth
Silk Road
Stimulating Sassafras Strengthener
Tabella (decant)
The Temptation
Tin Foil Hat (sniffie)
Utrennyaya
Venice
Go here for stuff I've tried but I would rather see go to a loving home.
