agnusdei

'Haloes' is such a fitting name for this blend, just smelling it feels like I'm inhaling a warm, golden glow. Usually I'm not the best at making associations between scents and imagery or states of mind, but Haloes positively emanates something comforting and ethereal, a kind of heavenly solace. This is a complex scent, one where I'm getting all the notes almost equally after dry-down instead of some of them jumping out more than others. It's sweet but not too sugary, dry and woodsy but still creamy and shimmering with warm floral. I can pick up smooth vanilla and tonka, sweet lily and juicy apricot and everything else. the oak shines especially well in this, it's sharp and earthy without getting that generic 'tree' smell that I tend to interpret as too pine-y. Overall a very unique blend that I don't think I'll be able to get enough of.

On my skin, Judith & Holofernes is almost completely honey carnation yumminess. There's a hint of dry wood from the sandalwood and a bit of magnolia in the floral note, but the prominent fragrance is by far a light and creamy honey and carnation blend. For me the honey here almost has the same quality as it does in White Rabbit, fresh and milky with the smallest touch of something that makes me think 'clean'. I do get some skin musk as well, but it acts as a facet of the carnation and honey, grounding them a bit and making them seem more like an extension of 'me' instead of something I just slathered on my arm. I was hoping J&H would be filled with delicious carnation and that's just what I got! I think it's safe to say I'll be needing a bottle or two of this.

The first thing that hit me when I sniffed the bottle was a strong booze-y tobacco scent with undertones of creamy vanilla. To be honest I was a tad apprehensive at this point because it was a bit sharper than I had anticipated, but of course that's not going to stop me from trying it out. For the first ten or so minutes of wear cognac and tobacco are the dominant notes, but once it dries and settles it morphs into something different and completely amazing. With the initial sharpness gone, vanilla comes to the foreground and takes over in the best way possible. Creamy and sugary, but still with a darker, smokier side to it thanks to the musk and incense. Everything is blended wonderfully and keeps the scent from going too far off in any one direction; the sweetness of the vanilla is balanced by the deep sultry mix of musk, tobacco and cognac, and the dry spiciness of the incense adds something almost wood-y. And the best part? The throw on Black Lace is crazy! I put it on after my bath this morning and for the rest of the day I felt like I was in my own little bubble of rich vanilla incense goodness. This scent also lasted quite a while, 7 hours after applying and not only has it not disappeared, it even has some of it's throw still. Considering that most smellies don't throw well or last too long on me, Black Lace is definitely something special.