VioletChaos
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Everything posted by VioletChaos
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I got this specifically to help with what is intended- rest, recuperation, and hopefully some nourishment for my depleted nervous system. I will admit, I was worried upon first sniff- in the bottle I got a hint of what I can only describe as "urinal cake". Luckily that passed very quickly. I got a 30-second HELLO! from the slang-ylang, then that, too, passed by. Now that it's settled, scent-wise I'm mostly getting chamomile, lavender and tangerine. But the important bit is what it's *meant* for, and in that regard, it's giving me what I had hoped for, which is rest down to the cellular level. I opted to put this on at bedtime, and while the scent doesn't make me sleepy (like, say, TKO sometimes does) it IS relaxing me for sure. A *perfect* blend to help those adrenals get some much-needed support!
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In the bottle, I most just get a sweet almond, reminiscent of the crunchy Italian almond cookies I have enjoyed since childhood. This is a good start. Wet on my skin, the scent shifts dramatically, the lemonade roaring out of the shadows, the tart tang very distinct. Dry Down: There is indeed something mineralic about this blend, as mentioned by the poster above. It doesn't strike me as salt-y (like table salt) but rather as the kind of salts that would have been used in preparations obtained from your local chemist 150 years ago, perhaps to help with your fainting spells. But never, ever, to ingest. In all, a delightfully poisonous concoction that I will wear when I'm in specific moods...or perhaps when I rewatch Six Feet Under
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Strangled on Midsummer’s Eve
VioletChaos replied to doomsday_disco's topic in The Edward Gorey House
In the bottle, I cannot separate out a single note. Instead I get an impression of the scene being described above, which in itself is a treat. It's rare for a scent to contain so many elements and I can't identify a one. But here we are. It's an intriguing scent, though, so I'm happy to see where we go together next... Wet on skin: I'm definitely getting the wisteria and some other "purple" notes, which I assume are some combination of the violet ribbon and the bruise-colored velvet, which is delightful! That strong, black tea is bringing up the rear, and "acrid" is definitely the word I'd use to describe the note- but it's not unpleasant, because it's the counter-balance to the sweetness in those purple notes. Dry Down: A bloom of purple flowers, and bruises, alongside a cup of over-steeped tea, all arranged prettily on thread-bare table linens that are still kept meticulously clean and pressed. I get no roses or water/rain notes, which is fine by me, as there's plenty going on here as-is. This scent is not precisely what I expected, but I'm pleased as punch with it just the same. This seems to be a general theme for me with the Gorey scents, and I look forward to the next installment of this collaboration! -
Golden Peach and Butterscotch Soda
VioletChaos replied to doomsday_disco's topic in Event Exclusive Oils
Years ago I was lucky enough to order a Chaos Theory directly from the Lab that wound up being a thick, pure butterscotch on me. It was, and remains a glorious concoction. (I kept it and still wear it sometimes with delight). I'd been hoping that this scent would be that, plus peach. Alas, that has not been the case. That said, it's a perfectly lovely scent that starts with very fresh under-ripe peach and a spicy combo that reminds me a bit of pumpkin spice and a little of chai, without the cardamom. The peach doesn't stay around long on me here, but it settles into a nice, autumnal spice blend that I will wear for daytime use on its own in the coming months and maybe I will try layering it with some Weenies to amp the spice factor there, too. Medium throw, with long staying power- dab sparingly until you know how it's going to take to your skin chemistry -
In the bottle and straight through dry-down I get that aldehyde note front and center, that several others mentioned. I'm quite picky about my florals but these were delicately soft and fleshy enough that I found myself huffing my arm repeatedly to try to get a handle on them. Yes, there is a powdery aspect, no it's not of the baby variety. As the scent settled into my skin reaching full dry-down I was able to SO clearly picture that ballroom scene, the exceptional poof of that white dress, the dream-like quality of the party and its costumed revelers. There's magic here. Low throw but exceptional staying power- even after washing up, the scent lingered for hours. I will be wearing this alone for sure, but I can also see layering it with something vanilla-bean forward or even with a soft sandalwood. Total keeper
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In the bottle: very light, very delicate and fresh lavender- this is NOT like essential oil or lavender cologne. This is literally the experience of being in a garden in early summer when the lavender is first starting to bloom. It's one of those startling experiences where I go "But how did Beth DO that?!?" With a deeper second and third sniff, I also get traces of violet. Again, extremely delicate. The fact that the term "tender" is used in the description is quite apt indeed. Wet on the skin: as it warms, those two main elements hold to their delicacies- there is no big blast of florals that occurs. The musk and spun sugar start to emerge at this point, but they are just as delicate and fine as the florals. Dry down: This is *heartbreakingly* beautiful. A scent that retains its tender delicacy throughout, it is a classic "skin scent" in that it stays verrrrry close indeed: the throw is exceedingly low, as it should be, so I would discourage from slathering even though that might be an impulse. Myrrh and I typically have a fraught relationship wherein it aggressively takes over and unfortunately smells something akin to wet, rotting cardboard. So I am simply delighted to report that no such thing has happened here- the only way I can tell it's even in the mix is that after wearing for a while, the scent has a very slight powdery undernote that becomes part of the mix. But this isn't baby powder of old lady-ish, it's just more of the soft vulnerability that makes this scent so stunningly gorgeous. In all: A floral scent for folks afraid of florals, a scent of longing and nostalgia for those that worship at the altar of the original Antique Lace for similar reasons, a gentle musk for those wary of the genre. I anticipate this scent is going to be wildly adored by many. ❤️
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Black Butterfly Moon: Vanilla-Infused Frankincense and Raspberry
VioletChaos replied to doomsday_disco's topic in Duets & Menage A Trois
In the bottle, the raspberry jumps directly in front of anything else. I think it's the same Raspberry that once was squirted into Sufigyot, and that's what I'd been hoping for, so we're off to a great start. Wet on skin, the frankincense starts to assert itself. Frank and I don't always get along, but the other notes in this blend gave me the courage to give it a try. So far, it's behaving itself admirably, acting more like an oudh than the normally astringent frankincense I'm accustomed to. As it goes to complete drydown, vanilla finally joins the party, but this isn't an overt, assertive vanilla. The fact that it's specifically listed as a frankincense that's been *infused* with vanilla is apt- the van here acts to soften and sweeten the frank, and the frank definitely keeps the vanilla from being foodie or even gourmand at all. with a low-medium throw, this scent is warm and stays close to the skin. I've not layered this yet, but I can see how this would be compelling when paired with some of its Butterfly playmates, but I also like the low-key oudh-y vibes it's giving all on its own. -
Black Butterfly Moon: Tuberose and Sparkling Blackberry Wine
VioletChaos replied to doomsday_disco's topic in Duets & Menage A Trois
In the bottle, I am immediately overcome with a kind of BPAL-induced nostalgia as I instantly recognize the "sparkling" note in this Duet as being the same as the one that lead the charge in all the New Years Champagne scents of Yesteryear. :sniffle: Wet on skin, the hard-candy aspect of the tuberose begins to emerge, but at this stage, that sparkling, boozy bit is still center stage. As it warms up and melds with my skin more thoroughly, hints of blackberry join the party, but it's a bit of a peek-a-boo, where I detect it and then it flits off again, and then returns. There's something I can't seem to quite pin down about this scent, and it's SO confounding, because it's another of these saucy Duets where it SEEMS like it should be a simple lil' thing, but it's NOT. Once we hit complete dry-down, I notice that the sparkling element has shifted into a really beautiful wintery incense note that reminds me of this witchy incense variety pack I was a little obsessed with in late adolescence, and I'm feeling very excited about the possibilities this scent has to offer in the coming months as the days shorten and the world gets ever more crisp with cold. Another winner from the Black Butterfly update! -
Black Butterfly Moon: Black Orchid and Crushed Berries Hair Gloss
VioletChaos replied to doomsday_disco's topic in Hair
Initial reaction: Oh my stars and garters! Of all the goodies that I procured from the Black Butterfly Moon update, this hair gloss was the one I was least sure about, but wanted to take a chance on, given how compelling all the other scents were in the lineup. I am VERY glad I did. For what, at first glance, is a two-note fragrance, I'll tell you right now: don't be fooled- because if you let it, this combination will take you on a very multi-faceted ride. It's a real morpher. When I first sniffed it in my hands, and then applied it to my hair, I got the candy-like quality of the berries right away. The black orchid was right behind, and it was reminding me is something....specific. Then it hit me: this was the combination of scents I encountered in every punky-gothy hybrid shop that existed in the 90s. Some magic combination of musky incense displays, spooooooky roll-on scents with names like "Night Queen" or "Eternally Yours", pancake makeup from the OG indie makeup brands and remnants of hairspray and clove smoke. But then it shifted again! After it had been in my hair about an hour, it settled into a sweetly deep woodsy scent (?!?!) and a few hours later, I found it had pivoted yet again! This time into a balsamic/tonka with hints of oudh echoing throughout. I've not yet paired it with any of its Butterfly partners yet, but I'm excited to see what this dynamic duo can do when it has more playmates to hang around with! -
Tobacco-threaded incense smoke, labdanum, red benzoin, and blackened vanilla. Proceeds from the sale of both of the Hymn to the Erinyes scents benefit RAINN, the United States largest anti-sexual violence organization. RAINN operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline, and provides programs to help survivors, prevent sexual violence, and ensure that offenders are brought to justice. In The Bottle: the tobacco dominates. It's the same tobacco note from Red Lantern, which I believe is the chewy "French" tobacco variety. Wet On Skin: As it starts to warm on my skin, I'm getting the labdanum, which is lovely and a primary motivator in picking up this scent. The incense element reads as sage smoke to me right now, but that might change with drying. Dry Down: Unfortunately, as sometimes happens with my skin chemistry, the tobacco seems to be all but obliterating any other notes. Tobacco can age well and mellow, so I'll hold onto this bottle for at least a little while, but I was really hoping that the vanilla and benzoin would have a presence in this. In All: really high throw- a tiny bit goes a loooong way, so definitely apply with caution until you know how it'll go on your skin. A must-have for those that adore tobacco notes.
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COMPARISON OF CELEBRATED BEAUTIES Vanilla cream, mimosa, and almond blossom. In The Bottle: Mostly almond. A tiny, tiny hint of cream. Tiny. Wet On Skin: More almond, a bit more cream. Almost as an afterthought, the mimosa. but it's literally as I move my hand away from my nose that I get a small whiff. Noting more. Dry Down: Oh THERE you are, mimosa! Wow, that certainly morphed. The mimosa has gone quite powdery on me, a thing that's happened between me and this note before. It *is* held in check by the appearance of the vanilla cream, giving it some density and toning down the floral so it's not quite so baby powder-y. At this point, the almond has disappeared from my skin entirely. In All: Low to medium throw- go easy, I could see this becoming too much if you slather. A sweet, soft springtime scent. I'm personally on the fence about how much I'll wear it, but the vanilla cream is really making me consider. I will wait to see how I feel once it's warmed up outside- this might be the perfect thing for an evening spring stroll.
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No joke! Greasy petrolatum, lanolin, and titanium dioxide accords smeared with vanilla cream. Please note: this product contains no clowns or clown-derived materia. I HAD to have this. But I can't imagine what this will smell like... In The Bottle: Sort of like vanilla Play Dough Wet On Skin: A soft, white sweet smell. Not even vanilla, exactly. Like marshmallow fluff, or sweet-scented stage fog. Dry Down: It's become almost a sweet light musk. It's incredibly unassuming, very sweet and charming. Not the chemical greasepaint I had feared. But it's honestly rather hard to describe. In All: low to medium throw, sweet and comforting. Much better than clowns!
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A venerable and well-respected bat, Ghost Face Bats can trace their ancestry to the late Pleistocene era. Sugared coconut meat, vanilla pods, condensed milk, white honey, and benzoin. In The Bottle: The soft, cuddly scent of sweet coconut mixed with benzoin and white honey. It's not foodie per se, just warm and snuggly. Wet On Skin: The benzoin comes to the front a bit more, but the vanilla pods are in the mix now too, giving the scent some depth. The fragrance moves further from gourmand at this point, and is reminding me a bit of Hod. Dry Down: The condensed milk finally joins the party and sweetens the mix just a bit. However, the scent retains what it basically had as traits from first sniff: warmth and cuddles. This is a perfect cold-weather scent, and I expect to get lots of wear out of it in the next 6 months!
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Did it turn out to be the batch, mis-labeling, or more aging required? I'm especially curious because I had this happen with the Cathouse Atmo spray years ago. I got a Goblin Squirt and it was SO magical, it literally influenced my dreams when I was sleeping. So of course I purchased a full size- only it didn't smell the same. And it did NOT sell the same as the Squirt until a full *year* later! I wound up buying a second bottle for backup before I was even halfway through the first just because of the exceptionally long age time required to get it how I wanted it to be.
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And truly I was afraid, I was most afraid, But even so, honoured still more That he should seek my hospitality From out the dark door of the secret earth. Snake Oil with sugar, honeycomb, and thick vanilla cream. This was the scent I was hands-down most excited about, so I have very high hopes indeed! In The Bottle: I get the clean, crisp, almost-lemony scent of the Lab's sugar note right out of the gate. This is the same sugar that was in Sugar Moon from...2008, I think? It still stands out, because I like the almost-citrus aspect of the note, which is a delightful surprise. There's also a touch of the honeycomb bringing up the rear. Not a heavy honey like "O", this is lighter- certainly more "comb" than not. Wet On Skin: THERE'S the vanilla cream! Hello there! The Snake Oil is emerging as well, making this scent a true delight. Dry Down: I am *smitten*. I had frankly been hoping for something similar to my beloved Kwamie Cotton, and here it is! If you missed out on Kwamie or adore its sweet comfort, this is for you. An, knowing how well SO ages, I am certain this is going to go from "smitten" to "passionate love affair"- it's merely a matter of time. Hoard-worthy!!!
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Little Lady Macbeth “Lady Macbeth should have Macbeth and the king just play rock paper scissors to see who gets to be king. And then whoever wins has to play against her and if she wins, she gets to be king.” – Lilith coming up with solutions as we begin reading the Scottish Play. A Lilith’ized take on our Lady Macbeth scent, wherein ambition, covetousness, and manipulation are transformed into fairmindedness, equity, and a willingness to sometimes leave things to chance: sugared red currant and honey cake. In The Bottle: those of us that have a special spot for the sugary currants in Crumpet Rebellion, you will be VERY happy with this. Wet On Skin: Yes, this is a close scent sister to Crumpet Rebellion for sure. But it's got a subtlety that CR doesn't quite have. The "honey" part of the cake I think is making this more like a lovely scone, less a full Rebellion Dry Down: The honey is coming out more now, but the currant is making it sophisticated, like a sexy honey dust. And who wouldn't like sexy honey dust? In All: for those who love, or missed out on Crumpet Rebellion, his wont disappoint. A flaky, lightly sweet scone scent. Perfect for wearing to weekend brunch or having tea in the afternoon ☺️
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"The remnants of a dream laying softly on your skin: somnambulant lavender and orchid incense suffused with red labdanum, champaca orchid, patchouli root, champignon, Italian bergamot, and white oakmoss." In the bottle, and when first applied, I mostly get a rather astringent lavender, some of the bergamot, and a touch of the white oakmoss bringing up the rear. But after the scent has had a few minutes to meld with the skin, it blooms into something far more warm and rich. It's not heavy, like a blanket, but more like a soft length of cashmere that one can wrap around themselves repeatedly, being left with a feeling of comfort, but not encumbered. The lavender becomes more of a supporting background note while the orchid incense and labdanum join the oakmoss to becomes the primary players. They all play so sweetly together, after another 15 or 20 minutes, the scent morphs further, so that notes become only part of the whole, impossible to pick out any longer as individuals. The oil has a low-to-medium throw and a sexiness that invites closer contact. A "skin" scent for sure, and so aptly named. In All: This might be one of my favorite Bloodmilk scents yet!
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THE FAINTING COUCH Lush velvet cushions and prim tea rose, a splash of rose water on a lace doily, strong black tea, a whiff of pomander, and an orris root sachet. i can't seem to actually find anything for this item, which i got as a free sample goblin squirt from the Trading Post in a recent order- not a review thread, and not even a listing on the Trading Post site itself! so, if a thread already exists, my apologies. i also hope that i *can* purchase some of this item, because it's beautiful. in the bottle it smells very strongly of sweet, cloying florals. that all changes once it becomes airborne. it turns into a fine mist of rose. beautiful, red, red rose. it reminds me very much of the original release of Peacock Queen, actually. that same wonderful deep, real red, red rose. it's SO nice, so real- this isn't a rose perfume, it's like having a bouquet of 2 dozen fresh roses sitting near by in a gorgeous vase. will this soon be released? is it listed someplace else? either way, i really hope i can get my hands on a larger size of this- soon! :wub2:
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In The Bottle, milk, mallow and white tea are all quite prominent, but in this surprisingly unobtrusive way, which really fits the mood of the painting it's based on right out of the gate. Wet On Skin: The iris and ambergris start to come out, but the whole things stays...hauntingly low-key. Which is a weird way to put it, but when I re-look at the artwork, it feels like an appropriate description for that, too, so I'm keeping it. Dry Down: It all evens out in the end. What I mean by that, is, following a period of morphing, where various notes came to the front then slipped behind again, once it sorted itself out, I can say that all notes are here and accounted for- something of a rarity, as usually something just disappears on me, or I amp something but lose something else. This one, I can pick out all the elements, and they all play nicely together. The scorched milk is a *little* bit out in front, but not massively. The iris and possibly the white tea pull it back and ground it, stop it from being a variation of Milk Moon (circa a billion years ago ) In All: a lovely skin scent with low throw that I will wear for cozy summer days when a thunderstorm sweeps through and I sit near an open window reading a book. ❤️
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I get the amber and honey in the bottle, with an afterthought of vanilla cream. Wet On Skin: As it starts to warm on the skin, the lemon moves to the front, and the honey creeps behind, with the amber bringing up the rear. Dry Down: This is great. I love citrus scents of all kinds, but finding a good lemon scent is something to treasure. I, too, tried White Honey Lemon Peel and Salt and agree that it was far more bracing. This is also less tart/intense than the lemon notes in my beloved Happy Baby In A Long Dress or in Spiritboard: YES, but I like it. Once it's fully settled in, it reflects the painting its based on brilliantly with a well-integrated skin musk, honey dust and mild, but persistent, lemon. I anticipate wearing this quite a bit in the coming summer months!
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In The Bottle: Honey dust and musk, alllllll daaaaaaay Wet On Skin: The amber starts to peek through, the honey takes a step back and the musk becomes more...syrupy? Like...there's no mention of maple syrup in the notes, and yet... Dry Down: I can see what other folks have mentioned about this being one of those "your skin, but better" kinds of scents. It's clearly a presence on me, and it's lovely, but it's also incredibly unobtrusive and strangely defying of description. Like, I know all those notes I picked out are in here still, but I don't think I could pick any out now, which is a testament to the incredibly well-blended nature of the fragrance. In All: Very low throw, as befits a "skin scent". I can see wearing this on a first date to amplify my own natural scent, and I can also see wearing this just for me, because there's something incredibly comfy and familiar here, like being entirely at ease in one's own skin. ❤️
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When I procure TAL, it is strictly for effect, so in that sense (scents?) it doesn't actually matter what it smells like, because that's not why I got it. That said? I LOVE HOW THIS SMELLS. It reminds me, nostalgically, of the early days of BPAL, at least one of my precious old scents (probably one of the Tarots?) has some of these notes in it. It is a bit of a morpheme, and the strong wintergreen vibes begin to wear off in the first few minutes, leaving behind a softer mix of licorice root (NOT black licorice, the actual root!) and the blood orange. I'm not feeling the endurance effect at present, but I only dabbed on the smallest drop for testing. With all the activity ahead for me over the next month, I will 100% be leaving this out and by my side for all extra activities!
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I went back and forth on getting a bottle of this because I ADORE all these notes...except the kush. Weed-forward scents tend to amplify on me to the point where I might get questionable looks from strangers on the train! However, the other notes were far too compelling to resist, so.... In The Bottle: Juicy blackberry and piecrust yummmmmmm! Wet On Skin: Same, but the piecrust is getting a bit more complex, and it's becoming more obvious that it's rye flour and not the standard, more ordinary pastry flour. Dry Down: The kush butter has in fact revealed itself, but it's not the disaster I feared with my skin chemistry! I recall Tom saying something about it adding a "green" note, I think, and that's an accurate assessment here- this is like sitting near a dense stand of trees in high summer, below a window, where a blackberry pie with a buttery crust has been set down to cool. It is all of those bits at once. In All: medium-low throw but with staying power. If you like pie crust scents, blackberry scents or gourmand scents more generally, definitely don't let that one note intimidate you- this is an absolute delight!
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In The Bottle: Very, very light strawberry cream -more reminiscent of a strawberry confection than of fresh fruit- plus hints of lotus and vanilla sugar. Wet On Skin: As the scent warms the duo of lotus and strawberry deepens, with the fruit losing a bit of its sugary aspect and the gentle waft of pink sandalwood making its first appearance. Dry Down: The sheer vanilla and mallow are reminding me of OLLA: Ava, so if that's a favorite scent for you, check this out for sure. The strawberry has faded into the lotus, so that they create a compelling unit but are not distinguishable as their former individual selves. Lychee finally shows up, lending a nice tang and keeping the scent from being too much of a single range. The sandalwood is there, but incredibly faint, almost an afterthought. In All: A lovely, very delicate scent that I anticipate getting alot of wear out of as we head toward a long warm summer. Throw is medium-low. I'm somewhat disappointed the sandalwood didn't come out more on me, but I plan to layer this scent with a little of my supply of sandalwood essential oil, as I have a feeling that will work as a fine alternative, at least until this perfume ages, and then the sandalwood might come back all on its own for me! ❤️❤️❤️
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In The Bottle: Strong lilac, light cream, maaaaaybe a slight edge of the musk. It's a bit overwhelming, not the floral I expected from, say, The Lilac Wood. Wet On Skin: The lilac grows softer and more powdery (not baby powder, no worries) and the elemi starts to make an appearance, helping to stave off the initial jolt of cloying floral. No violet yet, alas. Hopefully it shows up in drydown... Dry Down: Wow. It takes a while to get here, but it's definitely worth the wait. The lilac continues to fold itself into that "cream" aspect, the musk softens it further and the elemi brings a bit of spice, reminding me of a pink phlox note, and pulling it all together. In All: A spicy, sexy confection of medium-to-high throw, so apply sparingly until you see how it reacts with your chemistry. I was definitely worried when I sniffed it in the bottle, but I'm delighted with the final outcome! 🌸🌸 🌸