any_old_actress

OLD KATHMANDU: The scent of sacred incense swirling up the steep slopes to Swayambhunath Stupa. Saffron, blessed sandalwood, Himalayan cedar and the miraculous lotus of the Buddha with chiuri bark and Nepalese spices. FIRST SNIFF: cedar... WEARING IT: at first, this scent is pure cedar with sweet spices emerging in the background. it almost has a vicks vapo-rub quality to it. i can't detect any sandalwood, but as it dries the incense becomes more apparent. it reminds me of walking in the mountains, surrounded by evergreens and crisp, cool air and smelling smoke from a fire in the distance. VERDICT: not a scent i'd normally wear, but am glad to have tried it.

i crave september, what scents will tide me over for a few more months? i didn't like zombi and i don't want anything too foody. i want authentic, or close to it, autumn.

KWEKU ANANSI: I'll spare you one of my Anasi tales. Besides, I haven't decided which one to use on His scent description! Vetiver, dusty pepper, nutmeg, thyme and grass over a deep, mossy wooden core. FIRST SNIFF: the darkest pepper WEARING IT: this is a very thick smelling scent, there is nothing light and airy about it. i find it to be very dark and foreboding. it reminds me of opening the door to a really scary, creepy house and being totally unaware of what may lie in wait for you. vetiver and what i think is thyme make up the background, while the heart and soul of this dark scent is made up of pepper and dampened, dark woods. VERDICT: a heavy scent, that's a little too dark for me! would make for a lovely scent on a guy.

In the bottle: Wet pine needles & dirt. First application: Wet pine The dry down: Resins, sweet musk, creamy honey/vanilla and a dab of patchouli. This scent dries down so lovely I can't believe it. It's a sweet, clean and creamy scent. I love it!

First Sniff: Woah, this stuff is potent at first sniff. Apples and honey. Wearing It: Apples still, but the caramel starts to kick in making it sweet and candy-like. The apple remains really prominent, but it mellows slightly to a creamy, honey apple scent. This will be really nice in the fall Final Verdict: I like it!

First Sniff: Wood & figs Wearing It: Figs, musk and herbal notes. The fig really stands out on me at first and make the scent fresh, clean and sharp before it starts blending in with the amber. Unfortunately, it fades really fast! Final Verdict: Pretty, but doesn't last on me!

First Sniff: Wet cedar Wearing It: Dust, chocolate, cedar and amber. I find this similar to Velvet with a more woodsy undertone. Final Verdict: I totally love it and will be buying many more bottles of this!!

FIRST SNIFF: Maple and cake WEARING IT: The fig leaf, beeswax and amber really come out immediately on my skin, but there is still the overall scent of cake lingering. VERDICT: I love this scent, I'll be wearing it a lot!

First Sniff: Cinnamon and wood.... Wearing it: Cinnamon still, with black tea and wood and cloves. After a couple of hours this scent really mellows and is just beautiful. I really love Bengal and I find this scent is its much calmer, woodier cousin.

hmm...interesting. i don't get a whole lot of grapefruit personally, it's more sweet like red licorice with a hint of dusty floral, a drop of sadness and a splattering of the colour yellow.

This is the daughter of Snake Oil and Velvet! It has a soft, cocoa deliciousness that I can't get enough of!

FIRST SNIFF: clean laundry, vanilla, a hint of coconut. WEARING IT: this is SO lovely. it's similar to black pearl, but not as intense and WAY better in my opinion. it's smooth and milky, still smells faintly of clean laundry and lasts a really long time on me. definitely a keeper. VERDICT: i'm so getting a big bottle!!!

i think kumiho for air....that is such an airy scent to me, i need to order more, i miss it!

i would most definitely give chimera a try, i love it and i find it really gives that candy-cinnamon smell you're looking for. at least it does on me anyway!!!

FIRST SNIFF: really sweet floral WEARING IT: wow, did that change fast! as soon as it hit my wrist it changed into a sharp, green floral. very sharp, almost like dill. as it warms i'm still smelling dill but with a white, sweeter floral in the background. if this scent had a colour it would be white & green. VERDICT: if it smelled more like the initial sniff i may have liked it a little more. my nose can't get over the dill-like smell though.

FIRST SNIFF: minty! WEARING IT: fresh and clean. the mint is what really stands out in this scent. in the background i faintly smell the bourbon. as it dries, the two seem to twist together and make a really interesting scent. VERDICT: i think i may like this on my boyfriend more so than on me. the mint is really nice though.

FIRST SNIFF: wet & fruity WEARING IT: the lab's description of this is dead on. this is a very lush, wet and humid scent. i find it sweet and delicious, i'd like to drink it almost. i can't quite pinpoint one note but they all work together so well. manila is a tropical punch with ripened bananas thrown in the mix. VERDICT: really great, fun scent. nice for summer.

FIRST SNIFF: spice & amber WEARING IT: the musk comes out more now, it is a dark scent but not in an overbearing way. it's actually quite smoky and light on me. at first i didn't think it was something i was going to like, but it's growing on me. VERDICT: the more it dried, the more i liked it. very nice!

The Seventh Daughter, Daughter of the Oath. She was King David’s lover, and the mother of King Solomon. Her scent is breathtakingly lovely, exotic and powerfully sensual in its innocence: carnation, sensual plum, and Arabian musk. FIRST SNIFF: plum, musk WEARING IT: nice, sweet, with the tiniest hint of something fresh and green in the background. the plum and musk are definitely in the foreground of this scent. VERDICT: i probably won't buy a bottle, but it will be nice to use as a love potion

FIRST SNIFF: lush's celestial cream WEARING IT: a very light, pretty & addictive scent. there's a freshness to the floral note that is quite nice. i love that it isn't overpowering or too floral as florals tend to go soapy on me. it would be nice layered with a vanilla body butter. VERDICT: very nice, the imp will be much loved

FIRST SNIFF - pickles and wet wood WEARING IT - this is a dark, heavy, masculine scent. as it dries, i smell less pickles and more damp wood and smoke. for being a damp scent, it still feels very warm and safe to me. VERDICT - might be nice on a man, but not on me

FIRST SNIFF - lavender & citrus WEARING IT - i gave this a try before slathering my boyfriend with it and boy am i glad i did! it is SO nice. it's a bit salty yet the lavender, lime and citrusy bits blend so well together. very sophisticated, clean and gentleman like. VERDICT - i really liked this, i just hope kevin likes it as much!

FIRST SNIFF - cherry syrup WEARING IT - as it dries a more almond note comes to the surface but the cherry syrup smell still remains lurking in the background. it's a very deep scent, very juicy. VERDICT - overall a nice scent, but too strong on the cherry for my liking.

FIRST SNIFF - heavy and zoo-like WEARING IT - it smells like the poopy pavillions in a zoo. that's all i get, wish i could add more! VERDICT - another scent that just isn't for me.

FIRST SNIFF - wet, rotting wood. WEARING IT - i can really smell the vetiver and musks. it still has that heavy, damp, rotting wood scent. i find it to be very dark and not very appealing to my nose in the least. VERDICT - not for me.