iiinterstate

This is nothing like what I expected, but honestly, if I HAD gotten what I expected (a heavy foody blend) I think I would have gotten tired of it quickly. Midway is definitely the foody essence of a carnival. I can pick out the cotton candy and funnel cake individually, but its not greasy and cloying like real carnival food. However, its every bit as delicious. I'm so so glad I procured two bottles of this one... I'll be wearing it a lot.

patchouli. patchouli. patchouli. currantcurrantcurrant patchouli. violet?

WELL HELLO POPPY I SEE YOU ARE FEELING CHIPPER TODAY. This smells like bright red blossoms. If I didn't know this was perfume, I would think I was smelling a flower somewhere in the room. At first its almost too much, but then the honey comes in and calms down the sharp poppy scent a bit. I don't get any acai but I'm discovering that that note doesn't often come out on my skin. Not quite the scent for me, but if you're a poppy fan, you'll LOVE this.

Wow, this is not what I expected (but in a good way). I don't generally like anise, but I took a risk here and I'm glad for it. First thing I notice is the leather note, which blends with the anise VERY well (I never would have put those two together in my mind) I also get the metallic notes that smell familiar from Phoenix Steamworks, only a bit heavier. I like it! I never thought oiled metal would smell so nice. ETA: Honestly, I might be trading in my PSteamworks for a bottle of this.

This is a really nice combination of ingredients. I don't know how else to put it. The mint is there without being toothpaste on me, and the ozone makes for a nice coolness. The florals and ginger are there but pretty mellow. Not sure I need a bottle yet given the fact that I have a million ozone blends already, but this is very pretty. And I like the color (it looks light green to me)

First impression: lemon and herbs. a few minutes later: lemon and herbs and....honey maybe? I think I amp lemon balm which is kind of a bummer, I was really interested in the complexity of this blend. I'll hold on to this imp for a little while and see how everything settles, then give it another shot.

OH. When I first put this on, all I could smell was teak and I was like "damn, wood fails me again." BUT NO. When will I learn that the Lab's tobacco note is almost ALWAYS amazing? Its vanilla and tobacco with a fabulous woody base. I'm so glad I waited for my imps to arrive before I placed my next order, because this is a must. and of COURSE this will age beautifully. edit a few days later: Okay, ever since I got this imp in the mail I've been reaching for it nonstop. Antikythera Mechanism is probably going to go down as one of my top 5 scents of all time. I bought a bottle. I think I'll need a couple more soon. This wonderful.

Its the best one I've come across so far, personally. I also tried Muse and the Mock Turtle's Lessons for their lime note, but Muse had too much jasmine in it for me, and the Mock Turtle had reaaaaallly short wearlength.

Earth and vanilla! Also beeswax, I haven't found a blend yet that hasn't been overpoweringly floral *Waits for No. 93 engine to arrive* The search for vanilla: -I THOUGHT I found the vanilla in Death Cap, but the amber that came out after a few hours was just too much for me. The beginning was dead on. -Black Lace is GORGEOUS but I really love it for the cognac. -Black Opal was really bland on me, and I can usually wear aquatics. -Snake Oil doesn't do it for me. I'm one of the few. The search for earth: -Zombi has rose in it which I just can't wear ever. -Ulalume was close but the earthy part wears off too quickly. -Again, Death Cap had a good beginning here (vanilla and dirt...mmmm) but the amber ruined it for me. *sigh* ultimates I HAVE found: Plum: Bordello Chocolate: Bliss Coconut: Obatala Cinnamon: The Lion (even though there isn't really any cinnamon in it, I know.) Incense: Midnight on the Midway Cognac: Black Lace as mentioned above. Tea Tweedledee Vetiver: Death Adder Lime: Shoggoth Leather: Perversion

Whoa! At first this smells like how I imagined Love's Philosophy SHOULD smell on me... rich and creamy. It doesn't take long for there to be a tiny bit of citrus hiding in there... lemon? No, grapefruit. Oh man, I want to eat this. It smells like a cookie frosted with vaguely fruity icing. As time goes on it becomes more fruity and less creamy. Delicious and totally not what I expected! I might have to track down a bottle of this. (why do I find myself saying this so often?)

Obatala gets me the most reaction, which is funny because its one of the ones I notice the least. Apparently when you enter the second floor suite of my office EVERYONE knows when I'm wearing it.

Omen is kinda bland on me. I'm starting to think the labs patchouli note just doesn't play nice with my skin. All patchouli with a little bit of earthy spice hiding in the back. I'd have to realllllly slather to get the full extent of the spice. I'll have to think on it some more. That undertone is so good. I wish I could beat the patchouli off with a stick and let the spice come out to play. ETA: 2 hours later Crap, I was way way way off. I thought I had washed this off after about an hour, but apparently I didn't get it all. I was sitting here internetting and wondered what that wonderful spicy smell was... Omen is time released fabulousness and I almost dismissed it entirely! Lesson learned. This is woody and spicy in a way I love, and I'm getting a bottle to age for fall.

Black Forest is the first pine blend I have ever really liked wearing. The ambergris really warms up the evergreen, but the musk keeps everything feeling pretty dark, so its true to the name. Not right for this time of year, but I'll remember it in the fall/winter months. If you are a lover of the pine, you should add this to your next order, seriously.

When first applied Moai was too volcanic for me. In fact, it smelled like Djinn in the drydown stage. Now it smells green and ashy at the same time, and its quite lovely! I might have to consider hunting down more of this... its so unusual. I'd definitely wear this on nights out in summertime.

Wood and green plants, but plants you'd find in the darkest part of an evergreen forest. Unisex, definitely, but very nice and...well...woodsy. The heather comes out after a few minutes, and its very nice. Overall though, not for me. I can see where other people would just love this though.

something went weird on me with Cobra Lily. At first I got a big ol' noseful of tangy orange, which promptly faded away into a bland, nondescript floral, which I'm sure was not supposed to happen. Damn.

YUM! This is the grapefruit i was hoping for in Schrodinger's Cat! So tart it clears my sinuses, but nicely grounded by the green tea. I'm not getting any of the ginger, but this is lovely just the same. Not sure if I need a bottle, but I'll try this when it gets hot out.

Hmmm. Starts out as a woody base, and then quickly dries down into heavy herbs with light florals just barely there. Shroud is nice, but nothing that makes me go off in search of a bottle.

This is my first TAL ever, and I'm shocked, honestly. First off, I could tell right away when I opened my imp (compliments of Czarina <3) that this is no perfume oil even though it smells lovely. I rubbed a bit on the palms of my hands and my third eye chakra, and almost instantly I got a physical feeling of lightness. It was like a head rush, and for a minute I thought I would have to lie down. I don't really feel like I need to go into the details of how I feel at this moment, but I will say that White Light is indeed powerful and effective. I think I need to carry this with me at all times as a much preferred alternative to Ativan.

I was kind of expecting this to smell like toothpaste, but I was pleasantly surprised. Lick it One More Time reminds me of butter mints, the soft melty ones. It will certainly clear your sinuses, but definitely smells like mint candy. The longer I let it sit, the more I enjoy it. Creamy and sugary without being cloying. Mmmm.

I managed to get my hands on a decant of Black Lace and I was sorta hoping I wouldn't like it even though it sounds so wonderful. Unfortunately for me and my bank account, it's wonderful. I can pick out every note, but its mostly soft vanilla and incense. Black Lace completely lives up to its hype. EDIT: 2009 version The newer blend has a much different feel to it... a lot of cognac and tobacco are coming out for me. Someone else compared it to Perversion and I can definitely relate to that. I'm waiting to see if it will morph into something like the soft vanilla I love in my original bottle. If not, I probably won't keep this one.

I love berries, and acai has not failed me here. The neroli keeps the fruitiness grounded but doesn't overpower. I think that might also be what's keeping SO's spice from overpowering the berry. I really like this blend a lot.

First impression: the fresh apple I loooooooved in Poisoned Apple! As it dries, the SO spices make it smell like delicious cider, and the fresh scent of the apple doesn't get lost in the spice. Yep, need this.

In spite of the dreaded vetiver, I had to try Death Adder for the coconut. And as I type this now, that's pretty much what I smell. Slightly spicy coconut. I picked up the vetiver a lot when it was still wet on my skin, and its still there, but as an earthy (and wonderful) base note. Oh my goodness. Do I truly like a vetiver blend? I really think I need to buy a bottle of this to see how it ages. There is potential for greatness.

Guava doesn't usually behave on me, but I had to try Xanthe anyway. So far so good! For a weeping clown, this blend sure is happy and light. Lots of fruit and a soft sweet smell that must be the spun sugar. I don't get any pepper at all. Later on: Instead of amping the hell out of guava like I usually do, the apple blossom is coming out now. This is so nice! Light and sugary without being overly foody. Not sure if I need a bottle yet, but I'm definitely giving some thought to it.