brsis

Initial thoughts: If this doesn't love me, I may actually scream. It's the CLASSIC hallowe'en scent! It's got pumpkin, peach and spice, all of which I love! IT'S CALLED JACK, FOR PETE'S SAKE! In the imp: Peach, nutmeg and something fuller-bodied which is probably the pumpkin. I don't get much clove, which is a good start - my skin tends to amp clove juuuuust a little. On the wrist, wet: Nutmeg over something fruit-sweet and goooooooeeeeeeyyyy... A moment after I apply it, the nutmeg really goes wumpf! so it's hard to get close enough to smell the peach/pumpkin combo, but lets see how it does on the drydown. Fifteen minutes later: Oh... my... That's mellowed nicely and... ahem. Well. It's... it's like the best pumpkin pie. Ever. Spicy pumpkin with just a hint of buttery goodness, and the sweet juicyness of the peach. I believe I read somewhere that they did a study testing the affects of scent on penile blood flow (Don't ask me how they measured it) and pumpkin pie came out with a clear lead over any other. I didn't get how anyone could possibly consider pumpkin pie erotic. Now I do. I need a bottle of this, stat! Jack Skellington would be proud. Verdict: My kingdom for a bottle! Tl;Dr: The best pumpkin pie ever, with hot spiced peaches, being presented to you by the sexiest Pumpkin King (Or queen) you ever did see.

Initial thoughts: If I can stop thinking of Full Metal Alchemist long enough, I'll take a look at the notes. I know what I'm hoping for from this - a less fruity, darker version of Bakeneko. A beast for the days the kitteh doesn't quite suit my needs. It's that honeysuckle, though... lord only knows how it's going to behave itself... and what if I get the hot sweet cinnamon from Wrath instead of the yummy Christmas spice I associate with Bakeneko? Not to be disuaded, in the imp: Aw yeah. The right cinnamon. Ooh, and with some body underneath - this is a much more confident, sombre animal than Bakeneko, without the kitteh's playful ambivilence. It's got swagger. On the wrist, wet: I just managed to scrape out a drop or two to test, and boy am I glad. That cinnamon isn't behaving itself quite so well on my skin - in the wet stage at least, it's combining with the honeysuckle to give me something sweet and a tad overpowering - but this is sweet, and the myrrh and the copal - is that a kind of amber? (WIKIFU AHOY: No, but it IS tree resin and thus in the same ballpark) - is giving it some maturity and swagger. I think I like this. Fifteen minutes later: Mmm... okay, it IS noticably the same cinnamon from Bakeneko, but instead of being backed up by other spices to form a Christmas mix, it's melding with the honeysuckle to give me a sweeter, but not sugary, note. I'd still say it's closer to Bakeneko than Wrath, although admittedly I've only experienced Wrath at a Meet'n'Sniff (LOL that sounded wrong...) and the myrrh and copal is giving it quite a solid base to work from. The myrrh is very low key and the copal is like amber-lite without any of the powdery/musty/muggy atributes you sometimes get from amber. I only stuck like, half a drop of this on the back of my hand, and it's got really good throw. It's very sensual without being especially sexy, very comfortable and at ease - very cat-like in fact. It's like a big, tough, adorable tomcat all stretched out and snoozing on your bed. It is, in fact, exactly what I'd hoped for. Verdict: BOTTLE ME! Tl;Dr: Myrrh and copal form a low-key and solid base for luxuriantly laid back cinnamon and honeysuckle. EDIT: BUT WHY IS THE CINNAMON GONE??? I don't know what happened - one minute, yummy spice, and now... undetectable. It's just myrrh and copal with a hint of sweetness (Sweetness that makes the middle of my tongue burn, hot-spice style, but blame that on the synesthesia). I'd be willing to try another imp and give this another try, but unless it gives out more cinnamon next time, it's not going to be a keeper.

Initial Thoughts: FREESIA! GIMMEEEEE! What else... my first Neil Gaiman scent, which is a surprise (I would have sworn blind the first one I got my mitts on would have been Aziraphale, before the latest update, or possibly The Ifrit after it). Hmm, like mint, like thyme, LOVE jasmine tea, really rather loved the redcurrant note in Spell of Amorous Love... I think I may quite like this one. I'm hoping for a nice fresh herbal with some well behave freesia-esque florals over the top. In the imp: Yup, that's jasmine tea - it's a little more than just 'jasmine tea', to be honest, a bit more herbal, the floral side a bit more complex, but the overwhelming idea is of a really lovely jasmine mix tea. On the wrist, wet: Yeeeesssss... jasmine, freesia, some other light and sparkling, but thoroughly rain-drenched florals. It's becoming more aromatic as it begins to dry, so hopefully I'll be getting more of the herbs in a few minutes. Twenty minutes later: This is a very soft, herby floral. To be honest, it's a touch indistinct - which I blame partially on testing it alongside a very potent, astringent scent! - but it's very low-key and pretty. The kind of thing I might be able to wear to work, with generous reapplication. It's like walking past the door to a beautiful garden full of herbs, flowers in full bloom and rich, ripe fruits and just being able to smell what's on the other side... or like smelling the wind coming in from over the wall. Very apt, very evocative, but definately not a powerful or showy scent. Verdict: Keeper, and we'll see how fast I get through the imp as to if/when I order a bottle Tl;Dr: Like walking past the gate to an amazing smelling garden - gorgeously complex and beautiful, but only glimpsed in passing.

Initial thoughts: I'm a really sad geek in that my first thought to this was: "Well, yes, usually the highest order, unless you're counting the Zohar or Berith Menucha, which are admittedly a bit far over on the Kabbalah side of things to be properly compared to the pseudo-Dionysian heirarchy... although Isidore of Seville never could quite make up his mind on that one..." ... yeah, don't quiz me on Angelology, you'll be here all week. Moving swiftly onwards, I have mixed feeling on this. The Seraphim and I aren't on particularly close terms (As far as you can be on close terms with an order of angels) - I don't feel the same kind of empathy with them as I do the Cherubim or the Arch-Angels. Sandalwood tends to make me go 'meh' to things, and I don't adore frankincense the way I do some other incense resins, but I'm quite intrigued by the wisteria and calla lily. I'm thinking this is going to be quite light, but I hope it's distinct enough to keep up with my admittedly rather... exuberant tastes. In the imp: Okay, what the hell? Bubblegum? Another sniff and... nope, that's bubblegum. On the wrist wet: For science! That... smells totally different. Hmm... bit more like it. Sandalwood, I think, frankincense and what I think is the wisteria - the 'bubblegum' is, I believe, actually the calla lily which isn't coming through quite as strongly now. Lets see how it dries... Twenty minutes later: Hmm... nah, I don't like this. It's a sort of sharp, squeaky-clean floral which gives me a bit of a headache. It's not faint or weak, which is what I had feared, in fact it's quite potent - it's just really not the kind of thing I'd like to wear. Verdict: Swap pile, with no regrets Tl;Dr: A sharp, clean, floral with a light touch but potent throw and lasting power.

Initial thoughts: With the salons, I tend to go either on the art, or rarely I get swept away by JUST the right notes. This one didn't do either, and I haven't a clue why, because re-reading those notes - apart from the sake, which I'm still skeptical on, and if the cherry blossom in this actually turns out to be almond I'm going to be a tad tetchy - but red currant, plum blossom and green tea sounds like the BEST oriental combination I could have asked for. In the imp: Narry a hint of almond or alcohol twang! In fact, that's a sweet, juicy, fruity floral that's making me salivate just sniffing it. This is like being in a mixed orchard where some of the trees are fruiting while others are only in bloom (Not that that EVER happens in real life... curse you, seasons!). It's bright and joyous and run-down-the-street-barefooted exuberant. Quite appropriate, really. Never ceases to amaze me how Beth and the crew manage to capture the 'essence' of images into scents. On the wrist, wet: Red currant candy and sweet blossoms. This is quite headily floral - in fact it's downright girly - which is making me tentative even though I really quite like it. Twenty minutes later: This is definately fruity sweet, but the blossoms are VERY prominent and there's that barely detectable sake alcohol. It's light in tone, not in power, with a fairly hefty throw. I really, really like it, but it's not very 'me'. This is something I'd love to smell on a young woman, especially on a warm summer's day or at the beach, but I doubt I'll get much wear out of it. Verdict: I'll keep the imp, but a bottle is not in my future. Tl;Dr: A young woman's fragrance; sweet redcurrants and lots of heady flowering blossoms.

Initial Thoughts: If I can actually stop giggling long enough to actually think about it (God I hope someone asks me what I'm wearing! The only thing I'll have more from with than this is 'Glowing Vulva'!) I think I'm going to like this. Someone described it to me as quite light and outdoorsy, which I'm not always a fan of, but I do need some less impacting scents in my collection. Black tea and tonka are favourites, the moss note in Ligur was yummy, but I'm tentative on the rice wine. Alcohol scents can be a little bit hit or miss on me. In the imp: Are you sure that's black tea? Because to me, this smells like green tea and green, growing rice. It's a pale green scent, very fresh and growing, and very peaceful too. It has a real sense of joy about it, actually (Which is, y'know, somewhat appropriate...) On the wrist, wet: Bulgari? Wow, it must be the green sandalwood and the tea giving me that - it's been years since I've smelt Bulgari on somebody - but alas, it seems as though the sandalwood and the alcohol is giving this a definate 'commercial' twang. We'll see if they calm down. Twenty minutes later: Hmm... this is pleasant 'n' all, very green and fresh, but that alcohol twang is making it smell very much like a 'commercial' perfume - which I'm not fond of. This is nice, it just isn't for me - I guess I just don't do low key! Verdict: Into the swap pile you go Tl;Dr: Fresh, green and light, with a definate twang from the rice wine.

Initial thoughts: YAY MILK! I really like the milk note, and I'm hoping for a sweet milk scent for when Milk Moon is too fruity for my needs. In the imp: Have I got the right imp? Because this smells overwhelmingly of marzipan! Good thing I don't amp almond... On the wrist, wet: Still very almondy. I'm not really getting anything other than almond... and we are not best friends... Fifteen minutes later: Faint Bakewell tart. This had a lot of promise, but I don't think it's something I'm going to wear - or even layer. I don't get my beloved milk note at all - just day-old Bakewell tart. Not unpleasant, just... not me. Verdict: Swap pile Tl;Dr: Bakewell tart, heavier on the almond when wet. Not got great lasting power.

Initial Thoughts: Ambergris, leather, ivy, great! I know already that I really like those. Woods and grasses so far haven't done it so much for me, and ozone and I... disagree somewhat. I'm hoping for something cold and distant and slightly masculine from this (Most of my masculine scents are quite passionate, so I need a 'cold' one) In the imp: I hope I like it - I managed to get it all over my keyboard opening it! This is like a good men's cologne - there isn't much 'green' in this scent but I can detect grass and ivy. The ambergris is quite low-key, but I'm fond of it and good at picking it out. On the wrist, wet: My, that's hard to place. I think this is definately the woods and the grasses going into action... mmm, and the sandalwood too. The ozone is just starting to do it's soapy-clean thing - pity, really, for a bit there it was really quite pleasant. Fifteen minutes later: Manly soap. Alas, ozone does not love me - and unlike some other notes that I dislike, it seems it can't bring itself to fade into the background. I do kind-of get the grassy-ness and a bit of leather over the top, but this reminds me very much of Singing Moon in that the ozone just gives it too much... soap. Verdict: Swap pile Tl;Dr: Grassy leather, but prominent ozone which turns to soap.

Initial thoughts: PATCHOULIIIIIII... This one is a little *Ahem* adventurous for me, description/concept wise. I'm also skeptical that it's going to be too womanly. But, for science! In the imp: Cognac, honey and the florals go ooomph! strait away. I can detect the 'baseline' underneath - the myrrh, musk and patchouli, which ISN'T being it's patchouli self in the imp, hallelueah! - which makes this quite a full-bodied, well rounded scent. It is mature and feminine, but it's also quite sweet. On the wrist, wet: Hmm... I'd say that's the geranium and the cognac, backed up by the barest hint of patchouli, coming out to play. It's a bit sharp at the moment, but it's beginning to sweeten as it dries. Fifteen minutes later: It's still floral, which isn't upleasant, but it has that perfume-sharpness to it that I associate with alcohol. It's also slightly... soapy, which I'm going to blame principally on the florals and the musk. I'm not sure I dislike this, per se, but I don't think it's for me. It's a bit generic. Verdict: Swap pile, but at least I have proved I can wear patchouli scents without getting choked by the thing - this bodes well for the future! Tl;Dr: Honeyed, but not sweet, floral with a commercial perfume flair, probably due to the cognac and musk.

Initial thoughts:... there are no notes. How am I meant to have thoughts with no notes? Although WORD ON DA STREET is that this might be Wrath and White Rabbit mixed, so if I like it I KNOW WHAT TO DO! But to be honest, I don't really think I'm going to like it. I like unmuddled scents with a few notes (Like, five tops) the best, and this is probably just going to have too much going on. In the imp: Cinnamon Fisherman's Friends On the wrist, wet: Cinnamon and jasmine... uh oh, jasmine? Sometimes I have a reaction to something that COULD be jasmine. And wintergreen, still. Fifteen minutes later: That's actually mellowed, which DOES surprise me (The wet stage was OMG AWFUL). Cinnamon, but HOT cinnamon back up mostly likely by a musk to make something far removed from the clean, Christmassy little tingle in Bakeneko. And I DO get the bubblegum feel that some people mentioned - the vanilla reacting with something, maybe? Maybe Dragon's Blood... so far the only Dragon's Blood scent I've tried drowned it completely, so I can't say for certain. No itching or irritation, although I'm tempted to think it still does smell like jasmine. This is a happy, bright bubbly scent quite unlike anything else in my collection, and d'you know - I think I actually quite like it! Verdict: It's a keeper, although we'll have to see if I ever get bottles of Wrath and the White Rabbit if I try mixing them Tl;Dr: Cinnamon bubblegum! In a good way!

Initial thoughts: Wow, this is discontinued? I think I got it mixed up with another scent on my wishlist... I almost hope I don't like it now, so I don't end up wanting a bottle! Ahathoor, unless I'm much mistaken (I might be a theology buff, but my mythology is not so good) is one of the unusual arcane or temple names for Hathor, the ox-headed goddess (A cursory search on Wikipedia tentatively backs this up). She's not a goddess I'm particularly familiar with, so I still don't really know what to expect! In the imp: Low key spice (No cinnamon or clove, but something spicy), and a few others that are familiar to me, but I can't put my finger on them. Frankincense? Balsam? Beeswax, even. I have a feeling there's a floral in there as well, but it's not a sweet or a heady floral... it's not my beloved narcissus, but it's in the same ballpark, if you get my drift. I'd almost be inclined to say eucalyptus, but it's doing a damn good job of hiding under the other notes if it is. On the wrist, wet: WOAH. WHAT THE HELL IS THAT? I really, REALLY can't place this at all and it's disconcerting. Damn my puny floral recognition skills! It also really, strongly reminds me of something - a semi-medicinal balm of some kind, maybe a beeswax lip balm... ... ... not CAMPHOR? How bizarre. I have to go look up the reviews on this on the drydown... see if I can ID any of this weirdness. Fifteen minutes and some surfing later: Okay, from surfing the reviews I've come to a few conclusions... The general consensus with this is that the spicy note is actually carnation (Bleedin' 'enry - really? If this is so - not being a fan of florals, I'm only vaguely aware what half of them smell like - then I might have to seriously rethink some perfumes I turned down for containing carnation) and one or two people ID'd the hint of citrus as heliotrope, which I'm more that prepared to go for - I know what citrus does on my skin with disturbing consistancy, and this doesn't do it, so I'd guess if there IS any grapefruit or lemon in this it's INCREDIBLY minor. I'm still on my frankincense balm theory, but now that the basic 'idea' of carnation and heliotrope have been explained to me, I can spot 'em too. So what do I actually think? Well... I'm not actually all that sure. Having grown up with a mother into kitchen medicine, the 'balm' aspect of this is giving me a definate medicinal feel to it. HOWEVER, it isn't in any way actually unpleasant. The florals-that-aren't-really-very-floral, now I can pick up on them, is giving it a pleasant, outdoorsy feel. I feel odd describing them as 'floral' even though they're flowers, because to me a floral should be pink or white in tone, whereas these two are, scent wise, the colour of castoline (Sort of pale amberish ochre?) D'you know what this is, actually? Motherly. This is sitting in the kitchen on a hot summers day with the door to the garden wide open, while some motherly apparition in a gingham dress tends to your scraped knees. This makes me feel like a little kid at the height of summer. I guess Hathor must be a mother goddess. It doesn't have heat, it just has light - and not blinding light, either, just brightness and clarity of colour. Verdict: Keeper Tl;Dr: Like being a kid on a perfect summer's day. Frankincense balm, carnation and heliotrope, probably.

Initial thoughts: If this doesn't work on me, it'll be a bleedin' miracle. It's got myrrh. It's named after an afterlife god. It's an Excolo scent (That section LOVES ME). That does, however, mean that it's up against stiff competition. In the imp: Mmm... that's more herbal than I was expecting, but a sweet, dry kind of herbal. It's almost reminiscent of over-ripe fruit (I know it sounds weird, but to me, the two scents are the same colour). And of course, there's the myrrh. It's got no incense to it, though, which does surprise me - I was expecting incense from the resins and herbs, but this smells more like an apothecary's cupboard. It's an old scent, if that makes any sense - like something that's accumulated over a long time. A VERY long time. On the wrist (Uh, bicep?), wet: There's a potent, bitter herb in there that immediately comes to the forefront. I can just detect the myrrh underneath, but that herb really needs to calm down a little. Good thing it seems like it's already fading. Fifteen minutes later: There's that almost fruit-like note back - this distinctly reminds me of dried apple! The myrrh has softened right to the back of the scent and the herbs are quite prevelant, but it's lost some of the 'interest' it had in the bottle. This smells less like an apothecary's cupboard and more like one of his unguents - probably the balsam and storax at work. I think I'd like this one more in my hair or on a scent locket, but it's certainly wearable. Verdict: Keeper, but not sold on a bottle yet. Tl;Dr: Dry, sweet herbal ointment with a hint of apple. Old, patient and unreadable.

Initial thoughts: ... okay, I really like leather notes, but still... I don't think I would have bought this, or ever admitted to buying this, but I know I'm going to like it. In the imp: Ouch. I was expecting, y'know - the smell you get when you walk into a tackshop, but that is just... brutal. Black leather. Black WHIP leather. It's also incredibly strong, so I think I may have to be very sparing with it. On the wrist, wet: Man, I never realised how much the tobacco and other notes in my other favourite leather scents mellow out this stuff. Ouch. That's almost violent. Fifteen minutes later: Mwah hah hah hah hah. Okay, this is something I would probably want to layer (Maybe with Baron Samedi - oh god, that would be an.. interesting day) but man, there's a good reason leather migrated into the bedroom. All other qualities aside, it smells like sex incarnate. Rich, smoky, tanned leather gooodness. Very manly, but all the same (Maybe this is just me ) I'd really LIKE smelling this on a woman. I'd be slightly terrified of her, but all the same. Verdict: Unf unf. I mean, keeper, and a bottle if it layers as well as I think it might. Tl;Dr: SEX

Initial thoughts: LOL LIMEWIRE! Ahem. I had to have this the moment I saw the name. Notes wise, ambergris + leather + tobacco = Awesome. Palm + Date + Lime = tentative yay? I haven't tried out lime yet, and citrus is a touch... odd on me. The rest I have no firm opinion on. In the bottle: Oh my. I don't get any of the notes I can recognise - not surprising, as they tend to be baseline notes rather than topnotes, which are what I tend to pick up on in the bottle. Instead, I get the palm and what I think is the pandanus grass, a hint of sandalwood, musk, a green wood, and a little tingle of lime. Mmm... I kinda like it, but... hmmm... On the wrist, wet: Mmm, yes, that is a lot grassier/palmier than I was expecting! The 'red' aspects of the scent - the musk and the sandalwood - are also quite prominent. It's almost a little bit... uh oh, does this smell like soap to you? Fifteen minutes later: Noooooooooo... Prominent lime, yes - that's my skin chemistry doing the citrus thing on me. Something a bit palmly, maybe? But I still can't get away from the overwhelming SOAP. I'm going to give this a bit longer, because certainly some notes take a good half an hour to 'bloom' on my skin, but I'm sorely dissapointed. Quite some time later: I shouldn't have bothered. The baseline notes that I know work really well on me are almost invisible, and the sort of barely-green palm and grass over the top just gives me soap. Oh no. Verdict: Swap pile, reluctantly Tl;Dr: Faint, soapy palm and the barest hint of the richer under-notes.

Initial thoughts: I liked the name and the concept more than anything, but it's a pretty safe bet I'll like the fragrance as well because I tend to be a shoe-in for resins. Amber is good, tonka is a relative of the vanilla family, I believe, of which I'm rather fond - benzoin has certainly never given me any trouble. I'm hoping for something rich and resinous and slightly sweet. In the bottle: Rich, smoggy amber, with a lighter, sweeter, ever-so-slightly floral undertone. It most certainly is golden, but the amber makes it quite heady. On the wrist, wet: Amber again, but mellower. This is indeed a resinous scent. And now there's something sharper and higher pitched coming out - it's almost citrus except that it behaves nothing like citrus does on my skin. This is actually a lot like a good amber perfume that you'd buy from one of the big perfume houses - nice and rich. Some time later: On the drydown, this is lovely. The sharper note, whatever it was, fades away after fifteen minutes or so and you're left with gorgeous rich, golden amber incense, that has none of the smoky, smoggy or musty qualities I often associate with 'incense' scents. For the first few hours, this has some of the qualities I associate with Herr Drosselmeyer, my other Yuletide scent, despite sharing no common notes - it smells of warmth. Verdict: Definately a keeper, but something I will wear more in the autumn and winter than right now. Tl;Dr: Clean, golden amber incense. Decent staying power and throw.

Initial thoughts: I love Hastur and Ligur. I really do. I would have wanted this even if the notes had been listed as sulphur and old socks. As it is, I'm not sure exactly what those notes are, but I have a sneaky suspicion that we're looking at woods, mosses and resins, or possibly unusual herbs. In the imp: Dry and woody, but with interesting overtones. Mmmm... On the wrist, wet: Still woody, but there's something... can't really place it... it isn't green, but it's mossy and dark and wet. I'm very, very intrigued by this. Some time later: Oh, I like this! It reminds me of something and I can't quite place what. It's not wet, per se, but soggy is a pretty apt description. It's got some tang without being spicy, an almost medicinal edge which isn't unpleasant at all... Mossy without being green, oily but not exactly herbal, and almost more of a 'loom' than a 'lurk'. I wish I knew the notes better to be able to pick them out, but as it is, I think this is an excellent masculine scent for days when you don't want to be bothered by small fry. EDIT: CHRIST ON A BIKE. IT ISN'T. IT IS! I figured out what it reminds me of. Fig rolls. There's no fig in it, it doesn't smell like fig, it's just that dark, almost fermented not-quite-sweetness. Verdict: Bottle when the imp runs out. Tl;Dr: Soggy, black moss with unusual oily, almost medicinal tang. For all your manly demon needs. EDITED AGAIN: I wore this to the cinema, and after an hour or so I was wondering why it smelt of vetiver. Ahah! BECAUSE IT HAS VETIVER IN IT! On the long-term drydown, the mossy, soggier parts of the scent recede and the myrrh and the vetiver go to town. I imagine if you hated myrrh and vetiver - like my mother does - you'll hate this. I loved it.

Initial thoughts: Mostly I was attracted by the name and the ginger in this scent, but we used to have orange blossom in the garden and it smells divine. I'm really hoping the patchouli doesn't mess it up for me. In the imp: ... Patchouli >.> Okay, I can almost smell something floral and spicy on top of that, and the patchouli isn't overwhelming like the black stuff can be, but I think it's because I really know what patchouli smells like (And I'm really iffy on the stuff) On the wrist, wet: Aaaaand that's patchouli. Yay. I think for a minute there I... no, wait, that's just the patchouli. It tends to smell rather burnt and unpleasant on my skin which is giving this a smoky-headiness I wasn't really after. Fifteen minutes later: This might as well be a patchouli single note on me. It's nothing compared to what Snake Oil did on me, but still - I don't like patchouli. Verdict: Swap pile, alas Tl;Dr: Patchouli haters, stay well away. EDIT: Okay, I guess this is why you should always give scents a chance ^.^ Fifteen minutes is far too short a dry-down for this - I left it on and after about half an hour to forty-five minutes (Patchouli loves me - I dislike it intensely) I was looking at something MUCH more managable. The ginger is still lurking in the background, but the orange blossom has come to the fore and it's actually now quite sweet and delicious, with only a vague undertone of patchouli bitter smokiness. I have learnt my lesson about patchouli blends, methinks - these babies need TIME! Verdict: Upgraded to a keeper, but unsure on a bottle as of yet. The long dry-down is offputting. Revised Tl;Dr: Patchouli haters stay away for the first hour. After that, now you're talking!

Initial thoughts: Having discovered I really, really love fruit scents, I was looking for something a bit more low key than Shango or Teenage Cannibal. This might just fit the bill. In the imp: Mmm... soapy herbal, amber, and then the apple - quite a sharp, tart apple it is too, a far cry from the bright red juicy thing in Shango. Not liking or disliking particularly at this point. On the wrist, wet: Oh, now that's more like it! Tart yellow apple, wet muted herbs (Nothing heavy here) with some underlying body which might be coming from the amber. I definately approve - I'm at a loss as to when I would actually wear it, but I like it a lot. Fifteen minutes later: The apple's dried a little but it's still prominent. The herbs are dry and musty, and I just get the amber. This is indeed low key (Quite a skin-hugger), but still noticably a fruit scent. I'm really quite keen on this as a well behaved day-time scent - it's not flashy or immediately obvious like some of my fruit favourites, but it's a quietly vibrant and assertive little scent. It's got energy and flair (And is a little bit sexy) while remaining distinctly under the radar. I can see myself getting a lot of use out of this one. Verdict: Keeper, and a bottle when the imp runs out. Tl;Dr: Dry herbs and tart apple strengthened by the amber. Mature and low key, but with energy and personality.

Seems like Royal Mail are being... well, Royal Mail. (I swear, the only appropriate use for that smiley is for talking about the postal service...) Haven't had parcel OR a card - not that they'd have a reason to use a 'while you were out' card with us, since my mother works from home and is always here to pick up parcels. On Monday, I open a can of wuppass on their red short-wearing backsides

Mine usually takes around five days to a week (to Liverpool), but I have heard of them taking longer - plus we've had a bank holiday so that's a day to add on, too. I'd say 12 days is a long time *consoles*, but not over-long. ... woah. I've been waiting since the 7th for mine... I wasn't worrying, but I might start now... Ajila's 15-day rule seems reasonable... so I'll leave it until Friday before I panic. Our postman doesn't bother to turn up when it rains, so that's probably why I haven't got it yet ;.;

... Ogun's ofrenda is heavy and dark cigar tobacco, gin and juniper, melon, chili pepper and a touch of honey. Initial thoughts: Tobacco works nicely on me - well, I like it, at least - and I've had good experiences with the melon note from I Married A Vampire and the chili pepper note from Shango. It's the gin and juniper that worries me. I picked this out of a pile of swap sniffies, so it must have attracted my addled nose somehow. In the imp: Mwah. Sweet, tangy honeydew melon with a dark, rich undertone. It's very fresh, but it's got depth and attitude - like Shango, I think this is going to be a fairly butch fruit smell. Yummeh. On the wrist, wet: MELON! MELON! MEEELLOOOOON! Melon with a chili pepper edge, wow. Bright and tangy and a bit spicy, uwah uwah uwah! This is GORGEOUS. It's a yellow honeydew melon rather than the sharp green melon from I Married A Vampire. Twenty minutes later: The melon calms down after a while, and is tempered by rich dark tobacco and honey. The gin and juniper, which I was so scared of, don't really manifest themselves. This is actually fairly unisex rather than OMG manly, and rather cooler and more refined. Ogun is Hakkai to Shango's Goku, and a rather welcome addition to the gang, I think. Verdict: Bottle, pwease. Tl;Dr: Fresh honeydew melon with a chili pepper tingle, calmed by dark tobacco and honey.

Initial thoughts: Milk, honey, fig, pomegranate and dates? Christ, I want to EAT it, not WEAR IT. In the imp: Sweet grape juice. Don't really get the other notes, actually, but it's very yummy as it is. On the wrist, wet: Champagne, honey and a hint of watery sweet fruit. Nice - really nice - but where's the milk? Fifteen minutes later: Okay, there's a bit of creamyness, and the tang of the grapes has settled a little. I can't pick out individual notes so well, it's just a nice blend - a bit like a really interesting milk and champagne cocktail. This is very sweet and tasty, actually - a comfort scent without the dark, sleepy feel I usually associate with comfort scents. This one is warm and light. Verdict: Keeper, possibly for stuffed bunny scenting as well as wearing, and, since my imp decided to be an hero and I only have about a quarter of the decant left, probably a bottle. Tl;Dr: Sweet, tasty honeyed cream and champagne, with a hint of fruit. Comfort scent.

Initial Thoughts: I picked this one up from a swap pile based on imp-sniffing, and thus must kinda like it. Can't actually remember what I thought at the time, but I think the sharp fruitiness must have been what attracted me. In the imp: Yep. Wet, fruity, sharp and yet not citrus. Actually, I think I get pineapple and maybe mango? I also get the floral undertone, making it a very cold, slightly odd scent. On the wrist, wet: Wet, sharp, strong mimosa with a bit of... well, the fresh wet almost sweetness of tropical fruit without actually smelling like tropical fruit salad at all. That's most pleasant. Fifteen minutes later: Still largely the mimosa, with a fresh fruit undertone, only less wet. This has hardly morphed at all, and although it's got a respectable throw, it's also very light and bright. Even though it's very definately a girly perfume that I don't know I'll want to wear often, I'm very pleased with it. Verdict: Keeper, and a bottle if I find I go through it at a respectable rate. Tl;Dr: Light and feminine, but persistent mimosa with a fresh fruity undertone, good throw.

Initial thoughts: If that smells anything like it actually should... whoah MOMMA. In the Imp: Wood? Maybe. Ivy? Quite possibly. Actually, this smells like... ... Black pepper. On the wrist, wet: Pepper and wood. The pepper's not so strong, actually (Thank you, skin! Finally, you drink a scent I'm not so keen on!) There's a greeny tinge there that might be the moss. Twenty minutes later: Peppery wood still, but with a rich dark undertone of ivy. Yummeh. Verdict: Keeper and possibly one to look out for in the bottle stakes, depending on how quick I get through the imp. Tl;Dr: Peppery woodyness, with ivy on the drydown.

Initial thoughts: Grass, meadowsweet, thistle... this sounds like it's going to smell like lying in an overgrown, dry, seaward paddock. In other words - potentially utterly amazing. In the imp: I can pick up the ozone, which I guess is the Atlantic spray... and it's salty. Also kinda herbal, but not herby - more like dry green growing things on the cliffs over the sea. On the wrist, wet: Salty sea spray and ozone. It's intriguing, but I want more herbs, dammit! Twenty minutes later: Salty yes, and I'm getting that kind of dry greenery I smelt in the imp. It's just... it's not wowing me. It's nice and mysterious and a bit wild, but there's this undertone I get with 'wind' notes, which is... soap. Verdict: I'll wear the rest of the imp and muse over a bottle, but I don't see one in my future unless it pretty much falls in my lap. Tl;Dr: Dry clifftop vegetation lashed with salt spray, mysterious and dark, but with undertones of soapy clean.