VioletChaos

I ADORE clove, but it also has to be in the right context, lest it becomes either too cloying or too acrid. My hands-down all-time favorite clove scent has always been The Smiling Spider, but I've also been interested in more sandalwood-based scents this year, so I knew I needed to snag this one. The clove is definitely the lead note whilst in the bottle and through dry-down. The sandalwood reads as an afterthought- as I pull my wrist away from my face, I detect it in passing: "Oh! Hello!" and then it floats off again. I love the clove in this, but had been hoping for the sandalwood to make more of a presence. I'll keep it for the clove alone, but I'm also hoping that aging will bering the wood out of hiding a bit more.

The coconut in this is of the same variety as in Obatala, so if you liked the coconut note - soft, cool, not at all foodie- then you will likely adore it here as well. There's a sweetness to it that I had attributed to the tiare note in the HG that contained both and pikake, but I'm seeing now that it was the coconut all along. The orris, instead of reading as dusty as I've come to know it, has morphed into something more akin to gardenia, making this scent overall a cool, light floral. Beautiful, to be sure, but not really my scene, as I'd be hoping for more of a toasted, foodie coconut and a dry orrise to cut the sweetness. Off to the swaps with ye!

I'm not much of a florals person, when it comes to how I scent myself. I bought two bottles of this untested, however, because of what it *does*. So first, I will speak to how it has :worked: for me, having only fully worn it once. And how it has worked this far, has been LOVELY. I felt an almost immediate sense of self-love and confidence well up after application. It was an interesting shift: strong, but in the foundation of my being, like an energetic reminder that the space I occupy on this earth has been here all along. Like a reminder of the currency of my being, a sort of "Oh! THAT'S right!" kind of feeling. It reverberated all day- it effected my choice of clothing (I leaned more into snug, body-defining dress than usual), it effected how I held myself when walking down the street. It created a series of "a-ha!" moments about what I deserve as far as respect goes, for merely being human. As for the scent, it's less like a rose-y perfume and more like a rose-based essential oil blend (which is really more what it is). As a result, it layers well with a variety of other scents, so if you want the vibe and support but aren't keen on smelling floral, you can do things to shift it pretty dramatically. The day I tested, I layered on some amber paste and a bit of aged patchouli and it was *glorious* I am SO very glad that I have some, for whatever might befall me in the future.

Beeswax, sandalwood incense, ti leaf, roasted nuts, and bamboo. In The Bottle: Sweet, creamy beeswax (YUM) and a hint of the roasted nuts. NOMNOMNOM. Wet On Skin: The beeswax is definitely in the lead here, with the nuts adding a bit of salt. I'm not getting the greenery of bamboo or ti leaf, and I don't detect anysandawood at this stage, either. Dry Down: One of those scents that really stays true from bottle to dry down, this oil has a low throw, stays close to the skin (as many Shungas tend to do in my experience) and is quietly delectable. Beeswax from the lab tends to age extraordinarily well, and I'm excited to see where this goes, because it's already eminently wearable straight out of the mailbox!?

Sweet amber and golden honey, cream accord, blue lilac, and a drop of cardamom. In The Bottle: Lilac and cream, oh my oh my! Wet On Skin: The lilac is REALLY heavy! Frankly, at this stage it's verging on overwhelming me. Still, it's a lovely note, and I'm hoping it'll settle down some on the dry down. Dry Down: When I was a kid, there was a giant lilac bush that grew outside the neighbor's house on the corner. I loved waling by it in late spring, when the boughs were heavy with blooming cones of the sweet flower. This lilac is very similar in freshness to what I smelled during that time. As it dries, the honey, a light, sweet yellow honey, not the dark, rich ones in "O", is certainly here as well, with the equally pal amber rounding it out. If there's cream here, it's mostly afterthought, which is a bit of a shame, honestly, because the sweetness of the other notes on my skin could use something to damp them down a little. The cardamom, however, IS there, but can only be detected as I pull my arm away from my face. Tricky! In All: High throw- a little goes a long way! Very, very floral and sweet. I don't know if this is for me, but any floral fan would kill to have this for sure!

Chrysanthemum incense and red carnation. In The Bottle: Whoa, hello chrysanthemum incense! Carnation, of course, lending its special, sweet spiciness to the mix! Wet On Skin: The incense is definitely front and center. It reminds me quite a bit of the champa incense note, actually, even as it retains a hint of the mum-vibe. (also I accidentally got a little in my mouth when I was sniffing my finger. Don't eat it!!!) Dry Down: A light incense, but still a stronger note just the same. The spice of the carnation is here, but precious little else of the sweet flower remains. I am hoping this will come around with some aging, but regardless, it's a great addition to any incense lover's collection. At worst, I will later with some of the Spanish Carnation SN when I want more of that red beauty in the mix!

[No additional description provided.] In The Bottle: That's a whoooooole lotta labdanum! Wet On Skin: This is reading like a sweet labdanum single note. If it stays this way, I won't object- I wouldn't mind being in possession of such a thing. I can always layer it with "O" if this continues! Dry Down: The honey comes out a teeeeeny bit. But really, this is the Labdanum Show, with your host, Sweet Labdanum. This note, being the rich little minx that it is, ages quite well, and my long term experience of the Lab's various honey notes is the same. I wouldn't be surprised if the honey doesn't really shine in this until, like, six months from now. But even if it just lurks in the background, I'm satisfied with having a really good labdanum "single note" ☺️

With any luck, you won’t even remember the holiday season’s awkward family gatherings. In The Bottle: Rich brown sugar and butter. YUM! Wet On Skin: Yep, there's the whiskey! And it's REALLY whiskey. This isn't some cute "oh that's kinda boozy" note. This is straight up hard-drinkin' Jack. Dry Down: The whiskey mellows and the combination becomes, amazingly, like Snow White with vanilla extract added. In All: a lovely, soft skin scent- it's got very low throw, so you may have to slather- it seems to me like it's a good stand-alone daytime scent, but there's also potential to do some fun stuff with layering. so glad I got a bottle!

Flexibility, cooperation, expansiveness, and altruism: Chinese musk and five woods with newly budding bamboo shoots, hyssop, chamomile, pink clove, magnolia, walnut, and fig. in the bottle: a deep woodsy scent, but no particular wood that i can pick out at this stage. it seems very "brown" to me, an unusual comment from me about a scent, but there ya go. wet on skin: the woods step back and a winter fruit scent comes to the fore- i'm thinking christmas apples and a hint of brown sugar, but not in a foody way. hmmm... dry down: sweet and woodsy to the last, this oil is well-blended with no discernable notes peeking through. in all: a solid Winter-time oil, i feel that i'll get most use during the cold months as a scent, but will use it year round in rituals when i want to be closer to the element of the same name.

What hurrying human tides, or day or night! What passions, winnings, losses, ardors, swim thy waters! What whirls of evil, bliss and sorrow stem, thee! What curious questioning glancesglints of love! Leer, envy, scorn, contempt, hope, aspiration! Thou portalthou arenathou of the myriad long-drawn lines and groups! (Could but thy flagstones, curbs, facades tell their inimitable tales); Thy windows, rich and huge hotelsthy side- walks wide; Thou of the endless sliding, mincing, shuffling feet! Thou, like the parti-colored world itselflike infinite, teeming, mocking life! Thou visor'd, vast, unspeakable show and lesson! Sheer white patchouli, passionate red musk, caramelized vanilla, black opium poppy, and lilac. In The Bottle: Light patchouli, heavy red musk and a dash of opium. Wet On Skin: The patchouli becomes even lighter, more airy. This is NOT a hippy-vibe patch. This is something far more translucent. The lilac peeks through at this stage as well. Dry Down: The musk goes from a classic red to more of a warm brown, like in Small Brown Cat. The lilac adds a sweet undercurrent that keeps it from getting too heavy and dense. I get NO caramel or vanilla, unfortunately, but that could certainly come out after some aging, so I won't give up. In All: Medium throw, a snuggly scent for cooler temperatures. I shall certainly wear it in the coming months walking around my beloved hometown of NYC

I got a decant of this and am delighted to have even a tiny amount for emotional first aid. Scent-wise, I get mostly peppermint and a little of the frankincense. It's not as soothing as Security Blanket, but I can tell that this is going to be immensely helpful when I'm spiraling out and having a hard time grounding.

It's mildly medicinal in aroma, but also definitely comforting, which I think is helped by the lavender. I only put a tiny amount on to test, but it's been a stressful period for me and already I am noticing a shift. I will use this sparingly, as I was only able to secure a partial bottle (about 40%! Nothing to sneeze at!) but I'm so ridiculously grateful to have this as part of my arsenal toward emotional wellbeing. ❤️

[No additional description provided.] In The Bottle: Gorgeous, rich clove. Sometimes clove notes go slightly acrid or bitter for me, but this does neither. Here's hoping that aspect holds out! Wet On Skin: Glorious, glorious, glorious. Dry Down: This. Is. Wonderful. This exceeds my expectations by a considerable margin. I used to be in love with the Smiling Spider for its clove-y goodness, but even that was a little acrid on me. Wednesday's Child is Full of Woe is less so, I assume because the clove is sugared, though traces of the sharpness remain (don't get me wrong, I love the scent, but it's still there just the same.) This pure Indonesian Clove has all the rich spice and not a *hint* of that acrid / sharp / bitterness. It's wonderful. I am SO relived I got my bottle soon enough test, because I will *definitely* be needing a backup bottle or two!

VENUS LIBITINA Venus of the Undertakers Rose water, black cherry, cream accord, bourbon, and orris root. In The Bottle: Light but strong rosewater (definitely not rose- this is the water for sure) with cream and a little black cherry giving it some bite. Wet On Skin: The black cherry has faded. At this stage, it's reminding me quite a bit of Victorian Rose Milk- which is a GOOD thing, because that scent is really beautiful. Dry Down: Yes, this is straight up rosewater and cream on my skin. Orris tends to go a bit powdery on me and I detect none of that. I'm a bit sad to not get any of the bourbon, but the combination od those two main notes is really really lovely. In All: Medium throw. If you loved Victorian Rose Milk- or were sorry you missed out on it- get this while you can. It does not disappoint <3

Each order placed on Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Filler Whatever Sunday, or Cyber Monday will receive a sample-sized squirt of GOBLIN WORKSHOP. A unique atmosphere spray squirt from the Trading Post scent archives – no two will be the same!  So, I was very excited but also apprehensive about this Atmo version of the chaos scents. But now I am DELIGHTED because the squirt in question appears to be a kissing cousin to Cathouse, which just happens to be my all-time favorite BPTP Atmosphere Spray. So WOO HOO for me!!! Many years ago, when I first tried Cathouse, it was as a squirt and I fell deeply, instantly in love. I immediately got a full-sized bottle but when it arrived, it didn't smell quite the same ? (as it turned out, it just needed some proper aging to truly shine, so no more tears!) But I mention this because sniffing this here Chaos Squirt, I'm having a similar sensation of falling in love, and having it seem like it's kinda magical somehow. I used up my Cathouse squirt in record time since I knew I had a bottle on the way. But me and this Squirt, we're going to have a long and meaningful relationship together, because I know I need to make it last - well, forever, I guess. ❤️

Trust me when I say it would be embarrassing to tell you how long we posed in this position while we waiting for Brian, Jade and Beth to come downstairs, but sometimes the joke is THAT IMPORTANT! Sweet russet musk, auburn oudh, teakwood, and cement.  As someone who spends a great deal of time in the City Of Light, this was a scent I felt obligated to get, though in truth, I don't know if it's going to work on my skin. Lessee how it goes! In The Bottle: I'm getting something sweet and plummy right away. I'm assuming it's the russet musk, which I've never before encountered. It's really nice! Musks for me are very hit (red) or verrrrry miss (black musk, I'm looking at you!) This one is really, really good, sweet, light, but not a sheer musk like the whites tends to be. I'm intrigued! Wet On Skin: Warming my skin, the scent is staying much the same- and NO objections from me about it! I do love me some teakwood, and hopefully it'll appear, but honestly, if it doesn't, I'll feel just fine about that, too. Dry Down: The oudh is making a whispering appearance now, but that sweet, almost fruity musk is the star of this show. For long-time perfume fans, Betsey Johnson's very first perfume, which debuted in a perfect globe-shaped glass bottle in the early 90s, had a very similar feel, scent and vibe to this here scent. That was an early perfume obsession of mine, and I'm happy to have something similar with this lovely tribute to the building statuary of Paris ❤️

The Joys of Good Fortune A hymn to laughter, joy, and merriment: blood orange and champaca bubbling with blonde tobacco, osmanthus, sweet clove, and vanilla. In The Bottle: So, this is my second Fortuna review and what this, so far, has in common with Balnearis, is that, like the original Antique Lace and a few precious others, upon first sniff, I am instantly transported into a realm of exquisite ache for a time long gone. Call it nostalgia or reverie, but it's palpable, visceral and I want to hold onto it for as long as possible. This scent, in the bottle, is difficult to pinpoint, in terms of individual notes. Generally I can at least pick out one or two from a chorus. Instead, I am flooded with memory, of being a teenager in my boyfriend's bedroom, his parents blissfully unaware that we did not, in fact, sleep in separate rooms as we'd promised to. It's my Skin Musk and sweet, barely audible traces of his Polo cologne, and the flower corsage he gave to me at his school dance the night before, and traces of my rich Nature's Gate conditioner left in my hair and none of those things. It's heady and hopeful and slightly angsty. Wet On Skin: Now that it's had a chance to warm on my skin, the initial squeeze of my heart has relaxed and I can discern some actual notes! The rich tartness of the blood orange is there, less "orange-y" than its Mandarin or Sweet Orange counterparts, Blood Orange reads more adult. Definitely not sugary. The champaca is here, but thankfully not in the heavy-handed way champa notes tend to amp on my skin, making me smell like Super Hit incense (love that incense. don't want to smell like it all the time.) The clove and vanilla definitely bring this scent into a balance, so that it's rich, again, without being heavy. Imagine decadent floor-length velvet curtains in a drawing room- that have just been opened to allow bright sunlight to flood in. That's the balance here, between heavy and light. And there *is* a "bubbly" aspect as described in the original description (one of those "How does Beth DO that?!?" moment for sure) that helps to buoy the heavier notes of the scent. Dry Down: This is indeed an appropriate homage to joy and merriment, but an adult rendering for sure. More Bacchus, not, say the Easter Bunny. It's rich and it's a little sweet and it's joyous, like a dessert port. I'm going to Morocco next month and I suspect this will be a bottle to pack in my suitcase for the duration

Heart of the Lion is a perfume of recognition, accolades, and sovereignty. It amplifies charisma, courage, strength of spirit, and nobility of the soul, helps you to achieve your ambitions, and magnifies benevolent power. A dry, astringent, warming blend, it is perfect for warming others to you, reaching for promotions and acknowledgement of your achievements, dispelling despair and melancholy, and expanding the borders of your personal kingdom. This oil is your crown, scepter and orb; it is a radiant golden diadem of compassionate authority. Initial consecration of this perfume began on January 22, 2019 during the election in the hour of Jupiter, and it contains Egyptian frankincense essential oil (Boswellia serrata), mugwort essential oil (Artemisia alba), dry distilled fossilized amber oil (Oleum succinic), ylang ylang essential oil (Cananga odorata), white champa essential oil (Michelia alba), helichrysum, attar of oud, attar of Rosa damascena, golden vegetal musk, omubiri and frankincense resin, wild harvested Artemesia vulgaris. Each bottle contains garnet and citrine chips, and may contain plant material and resins. For this review, I'll be talking mainly about the scent and wear of this oil, but I will also make note of any particular feelings or occurrences that happen during the try-out. In The Bottle: *very* well blended. I'm getting whiffs of the resiny frankincense, the dry greenery of the mugwort and vegetal musk and the sweetness of the old and helichrysum. But it's not like I get strands of the individual notes here, it's just all part of a writhing stew that becomes greater than the sum of its parts. And that's *just in the bottle* Wet On Skin: As the oil warms on my skin, the vegetable musk seems to be gaining traction, coming to the forefront. I'm also noting something that reads ALMOST like geranium, which I suspect is the mugwort and damascus rose acting in collusion. The scent is very "green" in how its smells, which isn't a surprise, given the plant materials that make up the bulk of the blend. Dry Down: The scent definitely morphs a bit by the time it completely dries down and the color profile shifts from green to green-gold- again, appropriate, given the purposes of the oil! As with many of my favorite TAL and Lab Magick blends, once completely dry and settled in, the scent becomes more subtle. It's something I appreciate because I want my magickal working to often be my business alone, and having a scent be little more on the DL means I can layer other things on top of it, instead of having to concern myself with a random "oh, I need such and such blend to galvanize my dealing with the world and now I'm going to smell like camphor all day and that's the trade-off". Now that we're at the realized stage, the scent has become mild, dry and slightly sweet. It reminds me vaguely of the dessert and the mild plants that have adapted to growing in harsh places, like tumbleweeds. On an emotional level, I've noticed some feeling of bittersweet and melancholy rising to the top, which I think might be the the oil calling attention to those feelings that I've been carrying for weeks as this time of year marks the passing of a beloved family member. I think when I go visit his grave I shall anoint with this oil beforehand. In All: Low to medium throw- definitely start small and add more after you see how it'll react with your skin. A lovely oil that brings emotional clarity that I can see easily mixing with others to highlight feelings in rites and workings. A solid addition to any witch's toolbox!

I received #22 Frankincense as a frottle today (thanks, Lab!) so here's my take: In the bottle, it's a luscious thick sweet resin. The aging of this Frank has done it a world of good. Wet on my skin, I'm getting an undertone of something that's helping the frankincense stay on the sweeter side of things with none of the sharpness it can sometimes have. Dry down is the same lingering confusion I've had this whole time, because I'm usually really, really good at picking out individual notes. but then again, considering this bottle must've sat in the Lab for the last, oh, NINE YEARS, stewing in its own juices, I'd say I should be permitted my unknowableness concerning the exact breakdown of notes, suffice it to say that it's damn gorgeous and I will treasure this bottle for as long as any drops remain inside its amber depths. Thanks Lab!!!

There's coffee and tobacco fighting for the top spot immediately. The teak starts to come into play as soon as the oil warms up on my skin and makes it surprisingly masculine. Honestly? I kind of imagine this is what Don Draper would smell like: a damn sexy man's man. Dark, alluring and up to no good. I would NOT want my uncle to smell like this but I would absolutely be okay with a special friend smelling like this

In the bottle, it's a strange cacophony of cacao, lavender and white musk. Once it's warmed on my skin the cacao disappears and the lavender and musk seem to be a little more in alignment. At dry down, this becomes a predominantly white musk scent with the lavender bringing up the rear. It's clean and light as white musks tend to be. I can see choosing this on very warm spring and summer days and evenings.

I get no raspberries from this. However, what I *am* getting is a light, delightful strawberry candy with a little sugary vanilla cream plopped right on top. It's a super happy scent and very daytime wearable.

In the bottle: Coconut, cream, a little bit of wood. Wet on skin: the amber and coconut are doing something extraordinarily beautiful together, balancing each other so that this isn't a foodie scent but still retains both a sweet aspect and definitely recognizable coconut. Dry down: oh my. oh my oh my oh my. I always wanted to lover Obtala but couldn't do it because water notes of all kinds *despise* me. This is like if you took the coconut from Obatala and mixed it with Glowing Vulva, but replaced the teakwood with this sultry sandalwood. Still with me? If all the words I just wrote make you want this immediately, GET IT IMMEDIATELY. You will NOT be disappointed!

I am *also* getting a yogurt note! I think perhaps there's something in the mix that's maybe a little sour? But it's wonderful. As it dries, that aspect dissipates quickly, but a sweet plummy donut is what remains, and I am completely content with such an outcome! After full dry down, a little bit of the chestnut comes through at last and it a nice finish.

COFFEE!!! Also, vanilla ice-cream. This is a wonderful, well-balanced treat. The coffee note, to my nose, even has a sub-layer of chicory, which is often in French coffee. It might be a mind-trick on my part, but it certainly *smells* that way to me, and I'm totally delighted by the outcome of this tasty little scent!