scake

Urd. I really really like this one. I'm lucky in that the grape notes dig me. Wet, this one really has some strong grapey goodness. And the night-blooming cereus is right out on top along with it. I don't usually like the florals much, they shout on my skin. This one, even though it speaks loudly, doesn't shout. It blends with the muscadine and the two combined make for a gorgeous unusual scent -- they are well-suited to each other. All the way at the bottom is the patchouli and the nag champa, both of which I love. They are anchoring this juicy and flowery smell solidly to the earth. As it dries down the desert flowers and grapes tone down a lot, and I'm left with a wonderful headshop-with-an-edge. SO glad I got a 5ml of this one.

Oh, now THIS is interesting. Wet on my skin, I'm smelling strong leather, and what must be the myrrh, with musk down behind that. Definitely not for the frilly femmes, this. It's a bit masculine, which is something I like. There's a slight spiciness to it too, which may simply be that it's wet; might disappear as it dries. Throw is not extreme. Don't know what's up with my skin and 'throw' lately -- I don't seem to project any of these scents much, unless they dry down to soapiness and then they have throw like whoa. There's a bitter edge to it that I'm digging. Sweet and fruity often leaves me a bit cold. This is like... the Anti-fruit. The myrrh is very powerful in this. Myrrh must be producing the bitter edge I'm liking so much. Ye gods but this is a butch perfume! This is what you wear when you're going out hunting for a woman and you happen to be female. Unless you're female and you happen to be hunting for a male bottom. Either one works. In other words, this is spot-on for a dominatrix, or a very strong woman who's cruising for a hook-up. Still spicy, throw has increased. Warm and sexy. A little TOO sexy for daily wear for me, but definitely a keeper and a future big bottle. This is real good.

Just got a free serving of Fruitcake in my order. Thanks, Lab! First whiff on skin: spicy almonds. Damn, but this doesn't remind me of something... It's very light, subtle. Ooh, I got it! I'm getting spicy almonds and a cherry cordial smell now. Boozy cherries, drunken cherries. Candied fruits and nuts, drowning in brandy. How does she do it?? As it dries, it gets more redolent of cake! A warm spicy cake, laden with nuts and fruits and spices. Fruitcake to the max, though it's still pretty light, with almost no throw... and now it reminds me just a wee bit of Elegba. Yup, this is Voudoun fruitcake here, folks -- and this is no bad thing. I have an odd nose, though! It would be WONDERFUL in a diffuser, as a room scent. Thank you, thank you!

This was a free imp from the Lab. Thanks, Lab! Hmm. Wet on my skin -- salty soap. Very strong. Soapiness is very short-lived. I'm getting salty roses now. Roses drenched in tears, indeed. Drenched in salt tears. Very very slight hint of incense in the background. I'd like it to come up more. Drying down, it becomes this softer salty rose. The salt stays right out on top. I'm not a huge fan of salty food, so the salt in this... is odd, to me, as a scent. It's unusual. Not bad, but not me. Sure glad I had a chance to try it before it's gone for good. I don't think I'll shed any tears over its passing, though it is nice.

Probably just a vagary of my untrained nose, but this one comes on like roses for me. Wet, that's what I smell. As it dries down, more woods come through. Cedar, primarily. It's evocative of a new casket in the viewing room, adorned by flowers. Don't smell the occupant of the casket. Might be a good thing, that -- tribute to the embalmer's art. Very light, I have to bring it up close to my nose to smell it. Exactly as a shroud should be. A light wisp of cloth. It's not really me, but I am glad to have made its acquaintance before its interment in the hallowed ground of extinct BPAL oils. It's truly lovely, and is aptly named. Edit: Wow. So THAT's what they mean by soapy! Hmmm. Still not bad, even as soap. But, soap.

My first review. I'm not catching much cherry on my skin, wet. In the imp it was fairly evident, along with the bitterness of cloves. There's a terrific incensiness to this. I'm not picking notes out, so much as drinking it in as a whole. This bitterness up close, and farther out this warm, dry incense and spice. It's headshop, but not outrageous headshop. Reminds me somewhat of actual headshops I visited as a child in the 70s, the smell of them, surrounded by all the incense and bongs and all those tacky yet cool blacklight posters in the wild colors, on black velvet-flocked paper. There's something holding this away from a direct evocation of that, though. Maybe it's the dragon's blood resin. It's sweet as it dries down, but only just a bit; the bitterness is decreasing. It's almost coppery-tasting in the back of the throat as you sniff. Which would make sense as it's blood. Had this on for several hours now, and while it's gotten fainter, still get good whiffs from it. Makes me want Lestat to come and give me the Dark Gift. Heh. I like this one a LOT. It might someday make a 5ml purchase.