SarahScent44

In the imp, this is definitely dry and desert-y. On my skin, though, it's completely incense. When it dries, incense and herbs - this just isn't my bag.

In the imp: ech, this is kind of herbaceous and over-strong. On my skin - still sharp and medicinal. It must be the galangal, along with the frankincense. When dry, it's all medicinal and herby - yeah, this is not for me.

In the imp, this is all flowers and earth - there are no herbs at all. The herbs come out on my skin; it smells slightly medicinal. When it dries, the flowers come out - but it's still not for me.

In the imp, this is a weird apple-ish scent - not quite apples, must be the cider. On my skin, there's the tartness of the cranberries over a woodsy, apple-y background. When it dries, there's something weird about this - I really thought I would like this, but there's something off, almost sour on my skin.

In the imp, this is peppermint candy. On the skin, this is clear, bright peppermint candy - just like those pastel dinner mints. When it dries, it's a sweet, light mint - nice, but not a WOW.

In the imp, this is all rose - beautiful. On my skin, it's rose with woodsy-ness. When it dries, it's a really nice rose - a living rose, sort of like Rose Red, only more intense.

In the imp, this is lime and citron. On my skin, citrus with the most gentle white musk - oh Lord, this is nice. Mmmm, I could wear this all day long; the citrus over just a hint of the musk and lilac. So, so, so pretty.

In the bottle, it's a thick, rich, sweet vanilla with an overtone of mint - like mint candy, not fresh mint. On my skin, the mint is stronger, but not overpowering, over a strong foundation of vanilla. There's something weird about the dry phase - but it's just a very subdued vanilla mint. This one is exactly as advertised.

In the imp, this is sweet, creamy coffee - with just a hint of whiskey. On my skin - mmmm, so nice - the coffee scent dominates, but it's all really lovely. This is going to be my Pinched methadone - when it dries, it's got the same delicious coffee scent, but instead of the tobacco, Misk U has a clean linen-y, paper-y scent that I really enjoy.

In the imp, this is smoke - sweet smoke & a hint of leather. On my skin, I'm getting a really unexpected cherry-ness from this, and the smoke has died way down; it's mostly linen now, with just a hint of leather. When it dries, the leather's even stronger, and it's the harsh, weird leather that I don't like. What a bummer.

I'm assuming I have the 2007 version - until I came to post this review, I didn't know there was a 2004 version! My decant isn't labeled with a year. In the imp, it's all light florals, backed by green tea and cucumber. On, it's more herbal - the florals are still there, but the sage, bay, and juniper have come out - lightly, but they're there. When it dries, clean and herbal - really lovely.

In the bottle, I smell neroil and lemon peel, but very subdued - underneath there's a hint of amber. On my skin, it's very bright and ... I wouldn't say cheery exactly, because to me that has a connotation of bouncy obnoxiousness, but content, smiling, happy with the world - small hint of the lemon peel with ylang ylang and heliotrope. When it dries, ... it's powder.

In the bottle, this is sickly sweet - all honey and I swear I smell vanilla. It's much nicer on my skin - there's the honeysuckle, and jasmine, but they're very subdued, not overwhelming. I've never had a scent where honey worked on my skin, but this is very nice. It's all honey when it's dry. Definitely glad I have a bottle.

My first imp of this came from the wonderful Tempest Teapot - although I'd heard all of the rave reviews, I was afraid, knowing how hard it is to find and how many people love it. In the imp, there's coffee, cinnamon, and something almost caramel-y. On my skin - OH MY GOD I'm screwed - sweet tobacco with cinnamon, just a hint of coffee. When it dries - MMMMMMM, tobacco, coffee, cinnamon deliciousness - I don't get woods, but I'm so happy I don't care. I'm totally screwed.

In the imp, I get the lemon flower and heliotrope - it's very light and clear. I get mostly lemon flower on my skin, and when it dries, it's a blend of vanilla, musk, and a hint of coconut. I like it!

In the imp, Xanthe is sugar, orange peel, just a hint of the guava - almost bubble-gummy. It still smells like orange-y bubble gum on my skin. When it dries, there's no more bubble gum - guava, sugar, with just a touch of pepper. Very interesting.

In the imp, this has the sharpness of lemongrass over sweet mint tea. The orange blossom comes out on my skin, undercut by the mint and honey. When it dries, it's a calm, subdued blend of tea and orange blossom - it's really lovely, but not for me.

In the imp, this is all smoke and fir. It's all fir on my skin, and when it dries, there's fir with just a hint of smoke. It's fine, but not what I had in mind.

In the imp, this is dark chocolate, all right. On my skin, it's a slightly bittersweet dark chocolate. It's the same when dry, as well. This is just as advertised, and not for me.

In the imp, Antonino starts with the sharpness of vetiver and lavender - light and refreshing. On my skin, it's mostly lemon verbena at first - very light and clear. Dry, it's all plum and fig - rich, sweet - with just the faintest backing of musk (depth, warmth) and lavender (light, a little sharp). Definitely a winner!

In the imp, I get sugar and flowers. On my skin, the incense is so light and nice, thanks to the sugar, with just a hint of flowers. When it dries, it's a really lovely mix of incense and flowers - usually I'm not a big fan if incense, but this would be very wearable for me.

In the imp - mmm, cardamom and cassis. On my skin, it's all cardamom, cassis, and cherry - this is SOOOO good. When it dries, the cherry comes out front, but the cardamom is so present and wonderful - I will need a bunch of this!

In the imp, I get smoke, and almond milk. On my skin, I get pine bark and a hint of patchouli. When it dries, it's mostly pine and smoke - I initially was disaappointed because I wanted sarsparilla-almond, but this is a really comforting, fatherly smell to me.

Earl Grey tea leaves, a white fougere, jasmine leaf, pearlescent white musk, and vanilla bean. In the imp, there's the traditional cologne-y fougere, wispy fruitiness of tea, and jasmine-leaf greenness. On my skin, the fougere is most prominent, backed by jasmine leaf. It's so strange - when it dries, it's very smoky; nothing at all what I'd expect from these notes.

In the imp, Vampire Tears is very sweet - I get the neroli, tea, and a hint of jasmine. The grapefruit comes out on my skin, backed by the tea (but very faintly). When it dries, the jasmine and the honeysuckle are most prominent; it ends up being a very sharp, traditional scent.