harlequin

Oh my goodness, this is even better than I hoped! I do pick up a bit of lemon in the bottle, but wearing it, it's a lovely, delicious vanilla tea... and I can actually pick out the tea in this ones.. the other tea blends I've tried I couldn't really. Before I put this one on, I'd actually just made a cup of tea (honey ginger, courtesy of the tea swap!).. I put this wonderful scent on and instantly was reminded that I had bought some vanilla-sugar on Sunday. Of course, I squee'd and had to scamper across the apartment and dump some in my tea.. It's good, but no where near as good as Dorian is... I want to lick my arm! Verdict: :heart::heart: Squee! Definitely an instant top ten right here!

In the vial: Oooh.. that's one strong drop of coffee in there! Hmm.. am I picking up that mystery note in Sacred Whore and Gluttony that makes me feel queasy...? I hope not. On: Well, the mystery note isn't in there now, thankfully...! The coffee smell is still most evident for awhile, but begins to fade after a few minutes. Hmm. I can smell the jasmine coming out now... interesting combination! After awhile: It stays pretty much the same.. i think i might be able to pick up the tiniest bit of mahogany peeking out, but it's hard to tell.. Verdict: I dunno that this reminds me of an exotic dancer or a german spy, but it's pretty!

This one stays pretty much the same wet and the entire time I have it on. There is just the tiniest hint of rose, and the mix of jasmine and myrrh is very interesting.. The jasmine, as usual, is soothing but the myrrh adds this interesting kick of spiciness to it. It definitely has two faces in one, as I imagine most of those wicked queens must have. Unless they're born into it, how else would they convince some prince/king to marry them? hehehe. It's a very nice "darker scent" this isn't *too* dark. I'd give it :heart: on the tabitha-o-meter. ETA: oooh, at the very end of this one's life, i thought I detected a tiny bit of apple.. how very snow white's [step]mom..

wow. um. to me, this smells nothing like the description in the imp and when it's wet. All I get from it then is a pretty strong patchouli scent.. (it's not woody, though) Once it begins to dry, it turns into a vaguely spicy floral mix, and then gets a creamy (with a hint of floral) smell.. the last stage is actually kind of cool, but what it has to go through to get there isn't really my cup of tea. Probably not the most helpful review, but other than saying "maybe that floral mix is peony", it smells very little like the description. *shrug* I definitely don't pick up any mandarin or white musk, either.

Oh my goodness, I am in total and absolute love. I'm sooo glad I got a 10ml bottle of this when I found out that it was being discontinued. I'd only smelled about 6 scents at that point and this wasn't one of them, but it sounded really good! My heart is absolutely going to break when this bottle is gone... In the bottle: Oh my goodness, this is sweet, and yet spicy at the same time. I actually got this bottle on Christmas Eve and tried it once then. I reopened it the other day and, oh my goodness gracious, it's even juicier than it ws then! Not any sweeter, just... juicier. amazing. On: Mmm.. the berry and carnation go back and forth as to which wants to be in control. Marvelous! After a while: and I mean a LONG while.. I think I can finally smell the amber and musk. This is such a long lasting scent, I'm so excited! It's not too heavy, which would normally mean it wouldn't last on me, but when I put this one on before going to bed, it was still there in the morning, and my reapplication lasted all day long, today! Verdict: :heart::heart: Carnivale actually ties Queen of Spades for my favorite scent ever! There will be much tears when it's gone. I'm sure the lab will be able to hear my cry of anguish all the way over in California.

in the vial.. uh. vetiver. yup. I think there's a trace of lavender too.. I'm very reluctant to even put this one on my skin. I couldn't really stand Seprent's kiss in the slightest and never even tried it on. i might be brave and put some of this on because it's got that other stuff in it, but i'm not really looking forward to it. vetiver smells like dill pickles to me.. and i don't like dill pickles. Okay.. here goes. *takes deep breath* Well, it mellows down pretty quick, at least. wow. it's so different than it smells in the imp. Probably not something I'd actually wear, but I could tolerate doing so if I had too. There's no way I can describe what the Vetiver turns into, but it's a big surprise, that's for sure. yeah. probably not a helpful review at all, but if it says anything.. it says "don't be afraid to at least put some on!"

In the Vial: Spicy, with a hint of sweet. That's about all I can really get out of it. Nothing specifically jumps out and says "here I am!". I think when I originally read the description I honed in on the Vanilla and Orange (thinking Orange fruit) and thought it would smell somewhat creamsicle like, but it definitely doesn't.. at least, yet... Wearing it: Ooh.. Now I'm getting the vanilla and orange blossom in alternated waves. It is different than I was imagining it'd be like, yet at the same time, it's not. Where the creamsicle idea is much more youthful, this is definitely related but much more grown up.. definitely much more sensual than innocent. After it's on for awhile, you can pick up that "bpal smell" hiding deep in there, but not enough to overpower this wonderful blend. Verdict: It's not enough to supplant my other favorites, but I definitely like this one alot!!

Well, I've never smelled actual absinthe, but my ex said that this smelled just like it in the vial. I'll have to take his word for it. on another unfortunate note, I don't think I've actually smelled a bunch of the things that are in this.. Wormwood, cardamon, and hyssop specifically. Wet, I can definitely smell the Mint and Lemon with an undercurrent of something slightly spicy. Not something typically boozy, but definitely heady and intoxicating! Liking it. As it dries, the mint fades away, predictably. (*sniff*) I think I remember reading that cardamon is cinnamon-like, and I can definitely smell that coming out now... and the Anise definitely... reminds me of cookies my grandmother made. ..and a little bit of the smell of black licorice, but not quite so strong as that. ETA: duh. it was Cassia that was cinnamon like.. cardamon was carnation like, i think? either way, it smells more cinnamonny. Verdict: Oh dear Green Fairy, come out and play any time!

Oh, I can't believe I haven't reviewed this one yet. In the vial: Total Bubbleyum right here. Big gobs of chewy pink bubble-popping bubblegum. yum! On: It stays the same for a couple minutes, and then the Lollies start to come out. Definitely smells like those Orange Saf-T-Pops, but with a bit of the same biting cherry I remember from Hearth. A couple minutes later: Oooh my! I'm actually getting something that smells like Root Beer Barrels now.. I guess it's from the Orange and Cherry mixing together. I loved those things.. well, I still do, actually! hehe Verdict: I really do love this one! (hence the icon in the sig. hehe) It makes me feel like frolicking around even more than I normally feel like it! It's sweet and delicious... just like me!

In the vial: Wow, the color on this one is DARK! which is interesting since the strongest smell i pick out is the peach. There is a bit of patchouli too, but thankfully it's not all that strong. On: Ooh. I think I'm liking this one more than I thought I would when I read it had patchouli. Actually, I'm kinda really liking it. From my experience with O and hollywood babylon, I can definitely pick out the amber undertones now.. It's kind of messing with the patchouli, actually.. calming it down, as it were. After a bit: The peach is all but gone, now.. I wish it hung around longer, but what's left still isn't bad. i like my fruity smells, though. I haven't yet gotten to the point where I can differentiate musks, though, so I'm at a loss as to if that's in there at all. Verdict: Oh, how I hate that my skin disappears the top notes so very quickly. the first stage of this is so lovely! the remainder isn't bad, but the first is soooo nice that it just leaves a bit of a *hrmph* of dissapointment when it's gone. ETA: erg. after having this one on for 5 hours, it's much more patchouli now.. definitely not diggin this phase, but if you haven't guessed, I'm not a big fan of patchouli.

I ordered an imp of this one with my massive yule/discontined order, and got an extra one as a freebie, too. That makes me very happy, because I like this one! I thought I reviewed it already, but apparently I didn't1 In the vial, this one has the scent of a fresh cut lemon ...citrusy and fruity, and definitely not cleaning product-like.. with the eucalyptus comin' up right behind it. Once it's on, the mint is more noticable, but my skin eats it up, so it isn't there for very long. The lemon and eucalyptus now have blended together and just sort of float there, very light and defintitely ethereal. Hopefully it won't carry me off to my death. I'd miss smelling like this. Verdict: Chilling and Wispy.

Wow. I put this one on before coming to work completely forgetting what was supposed to be in it. I was definitely picking up a dark mint scent from it, but other than that it was just... sharp, and somewhat herbal. Now that I know what's in it, that herbal smell is definitely lavender. It's amazing how once you know what something is, it smells somewhat different. what was just a sort of vague herbal is definitely now floral as well.. nifty. It's interesting, though, because for a little bit while I had it on, I swear I was picking up something peppery and biting, but a few minutes later, it was actually somewhat creamy.. though, as it turns out, that was right before it vanished completely. Verdict: It's interesting, but not something I see myself wearing. I've already come across a few scents that are kind of similar (or at least in the same neighborhood), that are just more "me"..

As one might expect, this one starts out smelling very aniseptic like. The lemon is very sharp at first, mixed with the musk and a hint of soothing. Being that top notes disappear quickly on me, the lemon fades down pretty fast and leaves a smooth scent behind in the musk and aloe. I think my nose has trouble picking out tea notes, but from time to time I do believe I can sense it peeking it's head out. Definitely a very fitting scent to be called Embalming Fluid.! Verdict: highly diggin' it. makes me want to go rent some Six Feet Under dvd's.

Oooh. this is verra nice! I haven't picked up any hazelnut from it at all when wearing it, but for me, that's not such a bad thing. The coconut kind of faded out too quick for me, but it was wonderful layering this on top of BBW Creamy Coconut lotion.. as far as the perfume itself goes, it starts out as musky coconut, then fades into a nice white musk with the tiniest hint of iris. Putting it on top of the lotion keeps the coconut smell lasting, which is all to the good!

I would definitely try emailing the lab again, in case your didn't go through to them, or theirs didn't go through to you. I'm sure they'd be more than willing to tell you what has things your allergic to in it, but they might also be able to suggest other things you might want to avoid, too. I just have to say I'm thankful that the only think i've ever really had a reaction to is Anesthesia Gas... it's not something you run across very often without knowing about it.

In the vial: smells exactly like what it says.. amber and (dragon's) blood! and just think. 3 months ago i had no idea what either of those smelled like. On: this takes on the warm insencey quality i've been getting from amber in other blends, but with a slight tang. pretty nice! kind of a "snuggle up under a warm blankey" feeling. After awhile: aww man, for some reason this turned somewhat sour... not the same sort of strong sour i've gotten from some of the wine/champagne blends, but sour none the less. Verdict: well, i was just testing this one out before sending it off in a swap.. don't think i'll miss it that much. it starts out so nice, though.

In the vial: Mmmm! Coconut-Minty goodness, with a bit of something zesty. On: This one's definitely got some tang behind the coconut and mint. I'm assuming that is the Lime people keep mentioning, but its difficult for me to say for sure. After a minute: Interesting. It's difficult to pick anything out now because there's this menthol effect happening. (It doesn't smell like menthol, but it's got the same sort of sinus clearing ka-bang at the moment) A bit later: It goes back to smelling like it did in the imp, but much more mellow and a bit more blended together. Verdict: I do like this one, it's certainly in the style of "me", but The Lovers is still my favorite tarot oil.

Wow. there's a whole lot of rose in this one. The leather doesn't come out on me at all. It usually has a rather distinctive bubblegum sort of scent on me, but nope. this one's definitely all rose. It's not the kind of powdery rose i get from crucible or courage, nor the most dewey rose in rose red.. this one is more like a giant cut rose, freshly plucked from the local grocery store. It's a nice scent, but those other two are more to my liking than this one, besides being rather similar to them.

In the vial: Slightly creamy ginger. yup. On: Yup. definitely ginger. This one is definitely light. I have to get my nose right up next to my wrist to smell it, but it's definitely ginger. I was hoping for creamy goodness, but nope. I ain't got it. Verdict: It's not a bad scent. I'll probably give it another go in warm weather, but it's not was I was hoping for. I've been mostly lucky, but you can't win them all, I guess.

Hmm. in the imp, this one smells like someone took a really weak glass of tea and sudsed it up with some liquid hand soap. On: Okay, it's still there, but the soapy smell is beginning to go away a bit and the tea smells a little stronger, with a little hint of apple. After awhile: This one is definitely interesting. that's the only way I can describe it. I think it's going to take some more wearing for me to decide whether I really like it or not. It's definitely light and clean, but I wish the tea was stronger, considering there are supposed to be 4 of them. ah well.

First sniff: The rose and carnation are definitely prominant. It changes from one whiff to the next as to which one is more noticeable. very cool! On: The same, but a bit more amplified. so far, so good! After a bit: Ooo. the flowers are blending together a bit more and I can smell the milk and honey making them creamier.. there's a bit of crispness at the same time though... definitely the effect of the bergamot, but the amount of that must be pretty small because it doesn't really have a bergamot smell.. Verdict: Absolutely gorgeous! This order definitely has great spring/summer scents in the form of the Mad Tea Party! I hadn't even made the connection that i'd ordered 3 imps from that category and they're all fabulous! Cheshire Cat, White Rabbit, and Alice... I love you guys! ETA: Ah! the reason I didn't remember that I'd orderd 3 MTP's is because I didn't! I thought I'd actually ordered Cheshire Cat, but I didn't. It was a freebie. I shall snuggle it even more, then!

First sniff: Hmm, I can hardly smell anything at all.. maybe a faint linen smell.. But then again, I think I'm a bit stuffy and this is definitely a light light scent. On: Oh yeah, it was the linen that i was smelling. I think I'm also picking up a bit of the tea and ginger now, too. After a few minutes: I think that the honey is coming out a tiny bit. It's slightly sweeter than it was before. As I said, this one is very light. What I can smell of it right now is really gorgeous! I can't wait to be able to give this one a try when my nose isn't stuffy and the weather is a bit warmer. *snuggles it*

In the bottle: Syrupy chocolate with a hint of rum, I think. not too bad. On: Hmm.. Mostly the same, but with what is either the fig or cubeb coming out a bit too. It reminds me of "something", but I can't figure out what.. After a couple minutes: uhp. there goes the chocolate. Verdict: This one is pretty nice, yeah. I was afraid after trying gluttony that this one would make me feel queasy, but it doesn't.. It's nothing spectacular on my skin, but it's very nice in the bottle.

In the imp: This one had what i thought was a lemony scent when I first sniffed it in the car, but that must actually be the grapefruit on top. I couldn't remember what was in it at the time, though, so my nose must've smelled citrus and immediately thought lemon. Now that I'm inside again, it does smell more like grapefruit, actually. On: Ooh, for a little bit this actually smelled a bit like like fruit loops! that actually seems apropriate for such a loopy cat. After awhile: The chamomile is much more noticeable now. It's kind of musky, but doesn't smell "dark" to me at all.. there's still a bit of a fruity undertone left.. Verdict: yup. likin it as much as I thought I might.. very light and lovely on me.

that's some good advice, there! oh. and I'll have to bump Cheshire Cat up to my Ok list.. I just got an imp of it.. mmm!