brsis

Initial thoughts: Now, I love aquatics... except this isn't an aquatic. Lotus is hot to trot, I do believe, mint doubly so... last thing I tried with juniper in it was Golden Priapus, which smelt like toilet duck. Oh dear. In the imp: After accidentally spattering it everywhere... ooooh, yummy sweet lotussy minty goodness! Oh this is GOOOOOOD! On the wrist, wet: Sweet, fresh, wet, glossy, slightly tangy mint goodness. Just a hint of astringency from the juniper. Sweet, almost vanilla'd lotus. That 'hint of mint' is fresh tangy goodness on my skin. Om nom nom. Twenty minutes later: This is less sweet on the dry down - the juniper comes forward much more strongly - but I actually like it just as much. This is very wet and fresh and bright, without actually being an aquatic - a nice summer's day scent, or a pick-me-up for when my usual spices and incenses are too heavy. Verdict: Keeper, and a bottle before too long. Tl;Dr: Fresh, wet, slightly astringent but with sweetness and crispness from the lotus and the mint.

Initial thoughts: Hmmm... This is probably just gonna be vetiver on me, alas. Which is a shame, because I'm definately more of an 'air' person than anything else. In the imp: Sweet, light, tangy vetiver - but vetiver all the same. On the wrist, wet: Bright, clean, nutty vetiver. Not unpleasant, actually, but possibly just a little too similar to a few other scents I've tried. Twenty minutes later: Sharp, biting vetiver. Not my thing at all. Verdict: Swaps pile you go. Tl;Dr: Vetiver with a sharp, airy edge.

Initial thoughts: Hmmm... I like the concept, but the notes just aren't thrilling me. I'll be intrigued to see what it does on my skin, but I'm not giddy with joy just yet. In the imp: Intriguing - the oil is dark, dark reddish brown, and that's what it smells like - dark, reddish brown. It's a little heavy on the musk and sandalwood for my liking on first sniff, but it's got a dark sort of charm. On the wrist, wet: Mmmm, this is rather appropriately named. It's quite feral and, at the risk of sounding like a complete weirdo, furry. A red, woody musk, with a spicy tingle from the sandalwood. I'm rather warming to this, providing it doesn't do anything crazy on the dry-down. Twenty minutes later: This is a fairly simple scent - as it would be, with those notes - soft and musky and feral. I tend to go for something louder and more elaborate, but there's no reason why I shouldn't wear this occasionally. Verdict: Keeping the imp - don't think I'll wear it often enough to warrant a bottle Tl;Dr: A soft, slightly sweet, slightly spicy, very feral musk.

Initial thoughts: I'm generally a little iffy on the Garden scents - I'm not actually a huge fan of 'plant' scents or single note florals, so those that're on my wishlist do not rank highly. Mind you, I've surprised myself with a few scents recently (And yes, Alecto, it's you I'm looking at) so I guess this could actually work. In the imp: ... either this is a mislabelled imp or that's the least accurate descriptive text I've come across so far. This is doing a damn good impression of runny honey, with some sweet, wet green grass underneath. On the wrist, wet: This is actually more like a sweet floral on - but a sweet green floral. It's greener but still not what I'd describe as a 'green' scent as such - not woody, nor rooty on my skin. Sweet crushed flower stems, that's what this smells like. I actually quite like it - it's a bit tropical, sweet and cheeky. Twenty minutes later: This has got more floral, not less - now it's a sweet, dusty pollen-like scent. It's a bit more respectable dry, but still an impish little scent - I'm almost expecting it to misbehave for the hell of it. This is really rather pleasant, although I don't know when I'm going to wear it. Verdict: Keeper, potentially a bottle but I'm not sure. Tl;Dr: Honey sweet, dusty pollen and a little wet green - impish and cheeky.

Initial thoughts: ... citrus. Ick. I'm not sure about this one - it's not something I ever would have picked for myself, and I'm pretty convinced I won't like it. But hey - try anything once. In the imp: Citrus! Very citrus. Herby. Hmmm... maybe some lavender? I can just about pick up on the orange blossom. Hmm, not initially unpleasant, although I'm dreading what it might do on my skin... On the wrist, wet: Oranges, lemons and limes. Oh... joy. This is being held just off going horridly sharp on me, but I'm not really a citruses person. There's a hint of floral in there, an almost-herbal touch... hmm, this is actually not unpleasant. It's behaving itself, it's certainly sunny... I still think the citrus might be a little too much for me, but I'll see what it does. Twenty minutes later: Herbal, yes. Even almost floral. Unfortunately - it's a whole damn whack of sweet citrus. It actually smells quite nice but... I don't like citrus. REALLY don't like citrus. I'm really not sure on this one. Verdict: Keeping the imp, just long enough to see what a full day's wear makes me think of it. Tl;Dr: Warm, slightly sharp herbs and orange blossom drenched in citrus.

Initial thoughts: ... this is gonna be ozone, I can tell. Still - aquatic scents work on me... sometimes... In the imp: Wet, clean, sharp and slightly sweet - almost like a watery fruit, not a watery floral. Reminds me a little of Titania or maybe The Ghost in the imp, but with less impact. I can't pick out any flowers I recognise. On the wrist, wet: A light, musky floral - White musk? China rain, maybe? - sharper and more clearly flowery than I expected. I'm not sure if I can pick out the 'slashing rain' although it is chucking it down outside... ... WAIT. THERE IS NO OZONE. Ozone turns to liquid hand soap in SECONDS on me. This is crazy. Either it's just not registering against other, more powerful notes or it's plain not there. Twenty minutes later: How... peculiar. D'you know what this reminds me of most? The plumeria note in Xiuhtecuhtli. It's not the same by a long shot, but it's got the same not-quite-there airy quality that hits you suddenly when you least expect it... But this is right at the other end of the scale - sharp where Xi was sweet, and instead of being blisteringly hot this is a cold smack of wind-blown rain. I have a feeling that on a hot day, I'm going to be dribbling over this. Verdict: Keeper - I may even consider it for the bottle stakes. Tl;Dr: A cold blast of winter air carrying a breath of sharp white florals.

Initial thoughts: A lot of people have been going nuts over this, so much so I was infected by the glee - even though, being a Brit with no access to rootbeer, I have no friggin' CLUE what sassafras smells like! In the imp: Sweet, but slightly bitter, slightly smoky, dried leaves - a kitchen cupboard brew that isn't exactly what you'd call edible at the end of it. On the wrist, wet: Slightly acrid in the up-your-nose tang of Vics, herby, a smoky tinge, and that slight natural sweetness. Very unusual. Twenty minutes later: Man, this is weird. It may be what rootbeer smells like - I wouldn't know - but it's catch-in-your-throat cloyingly sweet, still with an odd astringent tang, a sort of leafy cola... I think this one needs a full day test to see if I can live with it, once I've got over the weirditude. Verdict: Keeping the imp Tl;Dr: Tangy, sweet dried leaf cola residue

Initial thoughts: Hmm hmm hmm. This is an interesting one - I don't think I have a frame of reference for most of those florals, except that Calla lily was in Seraphim which... did not like me at all. I'm rather worried this will be a thin, sharp floral scent, which doesn't wear well on me. But I won't know until I try it! In the imp: Unexpectedly sweet, satiny white florals. It's got a slightly watery caste to it which I get from some florals. I can almost just sense the murky acrid ivy underneath it all. So far, so good - not as breathtakingly icy as Titania was in the vial, but it has some of the same cast to it. On the wrist, wet: Still white, but less satiny - sharper now. Very cold, very edgy... just barely sweet, a little muggy pollen, a breath of ivy. This isn't a 'pretty' floral, it's ghostly and austere, and I can definately understand the chill, creeping aspects of the text. Twenty minutes later: Unfortunately, this has been mostly drunk by my skin. It's still similar to the wet stage - airy, cold white florals - it's just a faint trace of crispness hovering over my skin. I prefer things with a bit more oomph, but this is certainly something I could wear occasionally. Verdict: Keeping the imp - no bottle in the forseable future. Tl;Dr: Chill, white florals drifting in a ghostly haze.

Initial thoughts: I was going to wear this to Expo, while cosplaying an insane evil scientist. I think it would have worked. Unfortunately my first ever order got insanely lost by the post office and this didn't arrive until much, much too late, but I'm still very curious about it. How exactly do you make industrial waste smell good? In the imp: Like that, obviously! Hmm... vetiver? Might be vetiver but it's playing very coy if it is. A metallic note, which isn't always a great idea on me - Mechanical Phoenix did not love me - and something that almost smells like cola. How bizarre. On the wrist, wet: Yeah, that's vetiver. Definately smoke and a metallic tang. Unexpectedly smooth - vetiver tends to be grainy or gritty on me - and low-key. Oddly hypnotic, too - I keep sniffing... Twenty minute later: And that's vetiver! It's all vetiver, actually - vetiver with a nose-tingling, throat-tickling acrid undertone. Now it's dried down I'm not nearly so taken with it - it's just another vetiver blend. Verdict: A swap, but a sad one Tl;Dr: Vetiver, metallics and a choking sweet smog - destined for someone else's skin chemistry.

Initial thoughts: This has the potential to become a really good, low-key work scent. I'm not expecting it to blow my socks off, exactly, but I'm really hoping it's going to turn out to be very wearable. In the imp: The oil is a lovely polished wood colour. Smell wise, it's a smooth vanilla'd wood with just a hint of tobacco leaf - not smoggy or heavy, but refined. On the wrist, wet: Again, very prominent vanilla, but the smooth, sweet teakwood is keeping it mature and earthed. Mmm, this is quite masculine - almost similar to Dee, but less potent, less cologne and leather. This is the kind of scent that you'd notice very favourably if, say, a rather attractive shop assistant in a very old, well established boutique was wearing it (Which is GOOD since I'm hoping this will turn out to be a great work scent!) Twenty minutes later: This is a very earthy, woody vanilla - no plastics or sickly sweetness here. This smells expensive - like one of those little old shops that have been there for hundreds of years where nothing costs less than a month's wages and the walls are all woodpanelled. Gentle, refined, sophisticated, but all the same a day time scent - I probably wouldn't wear this after six o'clock. It's a real skin hugger, though - very little throw - which means a scent I would otherwise be drooling over has been shuffled a little further down the list into the 'yeah, that's nice' catagory. Verdict: A bottle, one day, but not yet. Tl;Dr: Gentle woods smothered in creamy vanilla - expensive, refined and low-key.

Initial thoughts: ... AKA The God Of Difficult Names! I was so chuffed with myself when I learnt how to pronounce this. I'd have wanted this no matter what (I have a doll by this name) but I'm quite taken by the idea of an incense and tropical florals, as they're both high in my list of favourite notes. In the imp: I'm getting lots of sweet orange and a little cold floral and not a lot else. So far, not so good. I'm not an orange person (Hate the things, actually) On the wrist, wet: Well, less orange, which is good. It's still there being sweet and orangy in the background, but I might be able to live with this. There's also some weird jungle florals doing their thing - this isn't heady, hothouse stuff, this is hot and sharp and astringent. Not much incense yet, but this definately has the dry wafting quality of smoke. The words 'cold fury' are springing to mind. Twenty minutes later: Wow. This was really not what I was expecting. The sweet orange is still there - and it is a little sweet for my liking - but this is a hot, haughty, airy blend of tropical flowers and stinging bitter incense - not the thick, resinous kind I'm used to, but an incense none-the-less. It's quite light in touch but powerful - I can smell it's delicate sharpness from quite a distance and although it's very much a hot day scent, I'm rather taken by it even today in the pouring rain. Verdict: Keeper, and I think there's a bottle of this one day. Tl;Dr: Haughty, sharp tropical flowers, sweet dry orange and bitter incense. Light but pervasive.

Initial thoughts: Name it after a devil of any description = I happily try no matter what. Name it after Lucifer = I pounce like crazy thing. This... not sure what this is going to smell like. I think in my head I'm expecting a manly floral topnote similar to what I get from Wilde over a woody base like Dee. And now my mouth is watering because that sounds smexy good. I do amp vetiver, so I'm hoping it isn't going to dominate things too much. In the imp: This is a sharp, biting sandalwooded floral. It's not initially unpleasant, but there's something in it which triggers many memories of similar scents all of which didn't work on my skin. I don't have much luck with this kind of thing. On the wrist, wet: Again, sharp, perfumy florals. This smells very much like a traditional 'perfume' - very much like something my mother would wear, actually. The sandalwood is going right up my nose, ach. Twenty minutes later: Hmmm... am I going to get attacked if I say this smells veeeery similar to Seraphim? It's heavier, more grounded by the woods and without the white-hot blinding washing powder scent from the wisteria, but otherwise very similar. Only a lot nicer. I can't quite figure out what's going on with this one. I can't actually make up my mind - it may have to go back in the box for another test. Verdict: .... eh, I'll hang onto the imp and see what I think next time I wear it. Tl;Dr: Regal cologne with sharp florals.

Initial thoughts: There is a DAMN GOOD REASON why this was in my very first imp order (Which, okay, didn't turn up for a very long time >.> Damn Royal Mail >.>) I think I will actually cry buckets if it doesn't work on me. I REALLY want this to work on me. Concept wise, it should be right up there in the top five - notes wise, I'm really not sure what to expect. Something herbal and darkly sweet? In the imp: Burnt caramel, a hint of something almost tobacco (That's the nicotiana, then), sage, musk... this is definately diabolical. It's sweet, almost, but it's got a smoky darkness to it and a chill herbal edge. I've never come across something that smells that much like the description. On the wrist, wet: Mint. Blinding white freshly cut mint, with the sombreness of sage creeping in. The barest hint of musk and caramel. This is delicious, but it's very different from what I expected from sniffing the imp. Twenty minutes later: Mmmmmm... This is hypnotically good. Smoky, dark musk and caramel make this smoulder, while the herbs - much less discernable now, just a vague white herby haze - floats over the top, giving it a breathless edge. It's dark and langurous, which is what I normally look for in my sleep scents, but... I don't think I'm going to be wearing this to bed ^.^ Verdict: Keeper, and a bottle please. Tl;Dr: Smoulderingly dark and sweet caramel, nicotiana and musk, with a breathless murmur of herbs.

Initial thoughts: Another one from my first ever imp order - I'm now very, very unsure over how chocolate and alcohol behave on my skin, so I'm more tentative over this than I thought I would be. In the imp: The scent hits me straight away - booze. Alcohol! Sweet alcohol! Maybe even chocolate liqueurs. Urgh. This is making me naseaus straight off the bat (I'm allergic to alcohol) but I'll test it gingerly for the sake of science. On the wrist, wet: Now why does this smell like vetiver to me? I suppose it could be a sort of bitter chocolate. The alcohol is still making me queasy, and there's a sharpness to it I'm not sure I like. Hmm. I think I'm going to go lie down for a bit. Twenty minutes later: THIS. SMELLS. LIKE. VETIVER. It is completely, unmistakably, for some BIZARRE reason, EXACTLY like a vetiver blend on my skin. I can kinda get how it might be construed as cocoa and blood, but still. I like vetiver, but I have too many vetiver scents and this one has an ugly booze note lurking in there, making me feel ill. Definately a hands-down failure. Verdict: Swap Tl;Dr: Heavy on the booze, and suspiciously reminiscent of vetiver.

Initial thoughts: Another unexpected frimp. Although initially skeptical, I got quite excited about that list of notes (Grape, peach and pear! Sweet pea and snapdragon!) until I spotted the musk rose, which is liable to dominate the scent and make it unwearable for me (I HATE roses). That said, the last fruit-flower combination I tried which listed rose in a minor role was Crypt Queen, and that was lovely. There is yet hope. In the imp: Fresh, juicy white iced fruits and pastel flower petals. This smells like a cool bath or pool scented with fruit and flowers. I can pick out the pear, a little of the grape, what I'm tempted to say is the sweet pea - it's sweet and fresh and clean and crystal clear. Really nice, actually. On the wrist, wet: More floral on my skin - might be the rose kicking off - and also deeper, darker. It's still got that fresh fruit juice brightness - similar to the kick from Eris - but the flowers are gentler and more silky. A very girly scent so far, but with a hefty strength and decent throw to it. Twenty minutes later: This is like the lovechild of Eris and Crypt Queen. That's the best description I can give it. I do get the rose, almost, but it's held in check by the other florals. There's a fresh fruitiness underneath but I can't make out which one. This is girlier and gentler than Eris, but with more body and colour than Crypt Queen - it's flashy and flirty and very, very PINK. Verdict: Keeper, but I'm not sure how I feel about a bottle yet. Tl;Dr: Soft pink flirty florals and sweet, fresh dewy fruit; good throw.

Initial thoughts: This was an unexpected frimp, and I rather don't know what to expect - no fruit? No flowers? No spice? Where's my frame of reference? Vetiver is likely to be most prominent in this because it always is on me, but I could do with a 'green' vetiver for when my other vetivers don't suit. It might end up being too similar to things I already own... ah, decisions. In the imp: Well that's unexpected! It's sweet and wet and like juicy crushed leaves, with a hint of bitterness from the vetiver. I'm already dreading what this is going to do on my skin - I'd really love for it to stay just the way it is, but that never happens with vetiver. On the wrist, wet: More of the grainy almost-bitterness and a slight astringency, still the crushed leaves but they're darker, dryer. This has got the earthy cedarwood and the almost-smoky vetiver, but also the fresh juiciness of the leaves keeping it bright and light. Very promising. Twenty minutes later: Hmmmm. The fresh, wetness of it has died down, but the vetiver is still nowhere near as prominent as I would have expected. There's still the green, slightly sweet slightly astringent loveliness of those leaves. It's not very like a 'perfume' as such, but it's a fresh, simple scent I could happily wear to work. Very often. Verdict: I forsee a bottle of this in my future. Tl;Dr: Slightly sweet, slightly earthy, green, fresh and gentle; a calming scent.

Initial thoughts: Foooooood! Chocolate, cherries, cardamom, vanilla and caramel - nothing that shouldn't work on me provided the cherries behave themselves. Because, y'know - I need to smell like an enraged groundhog. In the bottle: Spicy cocoa and vanilla. Yummy. Very yummy. On the wrist, wet: Cardamom and powdery cocoa. Maybe a little caramel, or a little bitter vanilla? Not much in the way of cherry. Twenty minutes later: This is principally cardamom and and a little vanilla, with caramel undertones. It's slightly powdery, dusky and heavily spiced without being very sweet. The chocolate and cherry doesn't really make an appearance for me - this is all about the spice. It's pleasant, and definately worthy of a second test later in the month. Verdict: Keeper, for now. Tl;Dr: Dusty cardamom, bitter vanilla and a little thick caramel underneath.

Initial thoughts: Hmmmmmm. Sea air = ozone = not the best idea for me, HOWEVER I'm rather intrigued by the idea of a decent gunpowder/salt/wood/blood combination. And that dribble of Snake Oil is tempting - I hated Snake Oil with a passion but eventually concluded that if it wasn't like being punched in the sinuses it would potentially be somewhat pleasant. A heavily toned down version might be just the ticket. In the bottle: Soapy, salty ozone and lime. On the wrist, wet: More of same, with maybe some of the wood coming forward. I'm definately getting the salt and the lime, and to be fair, the soapyness of the ozone is fairly low key. This smells like, well, a tallship. Twenty minutes later: It's all ozone on me - maybe a little lime, a little wood, but I'm not an ozone person, alas. Verdict: Swap. Tl;Dr: A brisk, sea breeze over the deck of a tallship; ozone, salt, lime and wood.

Initial Thoughts: Okay, from that copy text this is either the perfect scent for me or the worst scent I could possibly choose (I collect dolls. Lots of dolls ^.^) Now, I'm really loving this apricot, caramel, brown sugar, hazelnut and butterscotch thing they've got going with this, but I am tentative on the patchouli in there. It has the potential to really ruin things for me. In the bottle: Ok, it's really bad that all I get from the bottle is the woods and the patchouli. Smells like a woody cologne. But I want fruit and sugar, dammit! On the wrist, wet: Woods and patchouli, with a bit of sweetness underneath. This isn't unpleasant - far from it, the patchouli is very well behaved - but it's not at all what I was expecting. Twenty minutes later: This is all woods and pungent patchouli on me - nary a hint of fruit or sugar. Dissapointing. Verdict: Swap Tl;Dr: Woody patchouli.

Initial Thoughts: Once upon a time I never would have considered this scent. But having discovered that I actually really, really love sugary, fruity, foody scents, I'm quite looking forward to it. Notes wise, I'm expecting the sweet creamy redness from Diary of a Lovestruck Teenage Cannibal without the sharp citrus or the florals. In the bottle: Licorise allsorts? I get licorise from things quite frequently when I shouldn't, but this is definately a heavy sweet rather than a sickly sweet. It smells pleasantly like red gummi bears. Mmmmm... On the wrist, wet: Wow. The oil is bright yellow - tumeric yellow - which gave me quite a shock as obviously, you can't pick it out in the amber bottles. Smell wise - no, I'm STILL getting the licorise allsorts! It's more 'allsorts' than 'licorise' though. Less fruity than I was expecting. Twenty minutes later: Well, more or less twenty minutes - I can't wait any longer, I've been getting wafts of gummibear goodness this whole time! This is settling down now - into something heavy and slightly overripe and darkly sweet. It's not the candy scent I was expecting at ALL, although it does still have some gummi bear qualities. It's dark and a bit vicious and just a little psychotic. Unfortunately, it's also rather sour and a little bit... hmmm. Off. Verdict: Swap, it can't replace Teenage Cannibal in my fruity sweet stakes. Tl;Dr: Psychotic, murderous red gummi bears, which sours on the dry-down.

Initial thoughts: Unf. I want. I want so bad it's not even funny. I've got my fingers crossed for something between Bakeneko and Jack without the sickly sweet peach. There is not, as far as I can tell, a single note in there that should ruin it for me. In the bottle: Pumpkin - a little sicklier than I expected - and cardamom, then the orange, then the ginger. This is as haughty and powerful as I've ever experienced baking. On the wrist, wet: Hmm... having only ever smelt pumpkin in Jack, I always assumed the sickliness in that was the peach. Now I think the pumpkin may be a contributing factor. But this has oodles of spice - ginger and cardamom - and a little grounding earthiness with the fig leaf and the amber. Oh man. Oh man oh man. Twenty minutes later: Dude. Srsly. This is like Jack - VERY much like Jack - but BETTER. It's less sickly without the peach, slightly spicier, slightly earthier, haughtier, regal - this lives up to it's namesake. It's Pumpkin Queen for a reason and that's what I feel like wearing it - Hallowe'en royalty. Verdict: Definately a keeper. Tl;Dr: The mother of all pumpkin pies; a less sickly, spicier, earthier Jack.

Initial thoughts: Here, I offer up the oldest and greatest prayer in a nutcase's inventory. Oh please, God, let this WORK. Pomegranate, raspberry, gardenia, plum, black pepper and blood accord = one of the greatest scents ever, concocted exactly for my preferences and skin chemistry. Rose, patchouli and rose musk = DEATH In the bottle: Primarily I'm getting the fruit - dark and juicy and barely sweet - grounded by gritty black patchouli and pepper. No trace of the rose or the gardenia, which is a shame. On the wrist, wet: Slightly sweet, fragrant, juicy - lots of the fruits, with a sweet heady floral over the top. I can actually pick out the rose and it's NOT dominating the hell out of everything. Oh god, please let this work in the drydown. It's so fresh and pink and yummeh. Twenty minutes later: Hallelueah! Finally, a rose scent I can wear! The pomegranate and the raspberry are really doing their thing - I don't get the gardenia, but then again I don't really get the rose either. Or the patchouli. I do get a little pepper. This is actually... pretty. If I had to sum it up in a colour, it would be rose petal pink. I am not a rose petal pink person. That said, I have very, VERY few light florals I can actually wear that smell this good on me and occasions will arise that need it. Verdict: Keeper, but I can probably afford to lose a few imps. Tl;Dr: A pretty, juicy blend of pomegranate, raspberry and soft pink florals. Low key and delicate.

Initial thoughts: Sniffed this at a friend's house, should have nabbed it there really - looking at those notes now I don't think I'm gonna get very far with this. Rose and ylang ylang is NOT a good combination for me. In the imp: Honeyed rose. Oh man. On the wrist, wet: Honeyed rose with a breath of apple blossom. Hmm... a bit floral for me, but not entirely unpleasant and the rose isn't exactly doing it's muggy thing right now. I don't dare have hope, but I have a hint of optimism. Twenty minutes later: Rose does it's muggy amping thing, as always. Not for me. Verdict: Swap Tl;Dr: Honeyed rose with a breath of apple blossom.

Initial Thoughts: I really hope this works just so I get to tell people I'm wearing Sacred Whore of Babylon. I have really odd tastes in names - I would be embarrased to tell anyone I was wearing De Sade or O, but this or Glowing Vulva or Harikata - go for it. In the imp: Spice and heavy, sultry sweetness and OH DEAR GOD IS THAT GARDENIA? Wow. Just... wow. WOW. I really hope this smells as good on. On the wrist, wet: Oh... oh, what happened? This doesn't smell the same at all. It smells heavy and sour and cloying. Damnit, what a dissapointment! Twenty minutes later: I do it for science and great justice! But alas, this just smells like a heavy, dirty version of Chimera on me. It's not something I'm going to wear on my skin - ever. Verdict: Keeping the imp for locket purposes. Tl;Dr: Spice and resins with a breath of sweet gardenia which unfortunately becomes just heavy resin on my skin.

Initial thoughts: The name of this one made me a bit iffy - I dread the day I have to tell someone what I'm wearing - but the notes sound like gold plated win. Amber, honey and vanilla are all top ten notes for me (Possibly even top fives). I'm hoping for a snuggly, sexy scent for when the incense blends are too heavy. In the imp: Black vanilla pods and expensive, dark French honey - the kind that looks like treacle and barely counts as sweet. Mwah. I like. This is dark and smoooooth and sultry. On the wrist, wet: The vanilla is coming forward a lot more strongly in the wet stage - a little more strongly than I'd like, actually. It's sweeter and lighter on the skin but still quite dark. Twenty minutes later: Hmmm... the vanilla is still a little strong and a little-too-bottled-vanilla-extract, but the amber and the honey are dark and smoky and goooood. I can imagine this being a good sleep scent. I've heard it compared to Harikata, which I personally don't see (Smell?) - if anything, this is more like a dark and sultry Tokyo Stomp. The vanillas do the same thing. This is definately something that could come in handy but I'll have to wear it again sometime to see in what capacity. Verdict: Keeping the imp for certain. Tl;Dr: Dark, sultry honey and amber, with a potent vanilla topnote that dominates.