donnatron

While I'm reasonably certain that this is not something that we're going to experience, The High Priest Not to Be Described smells like the downfall of an ancient empire. The incense and blood musk mingle together to smell like bloody sacrificial altars, the herbs smell crushed under foot and the leather tinged with some of the metallic scent from the blood musk evoke conquistadors running through the town square laying waste to everything in their path in the name of God and country. It's definitely an interesting, frenetic scent. A bit specific, perhaps, but sometimes we need a bit of utter chaos in our lives. Keeps it interesting.

Thanatopsis it is! This is awesome, usually my specific scent quests lead me on frustrating journeys into the sales forum for long gone LEs. It's never a GC!

So I've been on a red musk kick for a while now and now pine has joined red musk as one of my Holy Grail scents. Does anyone know if there's a BPAL out there that combines red musk and a pine scent? I've pulled a few up with the search engine but are there any more that I may not be able to pull up by keyword alone?

Bottle: Musty sage tinged with some grapefruit and a bright herbal green scent. Wet: Dragon's blood! I thought I smelled you! And you brought your friend leather! It's so good to see you---OMG WHERE DID ALL THIS FRUIT COME FROM??? Grapefruit! Melon! Citrus of many varieties! Hello! The wet stage is very bright and clean and fresh. It reminds me a lot of 51 but there's a bit of a darker quality, even to the sparkling notes. The black musk starts to assert itself and dominates a bit on the drydown. Dry: Gorgeous. It blends together really well and I get the bright top notes--the melon is dominant--and a touch of the darker notes. The dragon's blood elegantly blends the two. The black musk sort of settles down and creates a bit of a connection between the opposite scents as well. This is a bit effervescent and fruity but there's definitely a hint of smokiness and corruption to it. It reminds me a lot of Dragon's Hide, although this is a more daytime friendly version. Throw: Good. Overall: I don't actually know how or why I own this bottle. But I do and it's pretty awesome. I think it's an interesting blend and it will be interesting to track how it changes as it ages. Very fun and spritely, good for a man or a woman and fun to try just to see what your chemistry winds up doing with it.

Bottle: Patchouli with a woody greeness in the background. Wet: The patchouli flares up and dominates the blend. A blend of resins in the background sort of warms but doesn't come out. The black musk warms and lends a very soft, fuzzy skin quality. Dry: Monstrous and bloodthirsty are the perfect descriptions for this scent. I kind of want to bite things. When dry this is a sweet, spicy patchouli with the musk overlaying it. It's slightly tinged with cypress wood, the olive leaf is present in a bit of oily greeness, and the myrrh is deadly sexy. I smell a bit like I'm on the prowl. For what, I don't know, but it's dark, mysterious, unisex and very commanding. Throw: Moderate. Overall: A perfectly dark and sinister resin blend. I don't wear it a lot because it's very much mood and season oriented, but when the mood strikes, it's absolutley perfect. It's already aging beautifully and it's just going to get better and better. Definitely pick some up if you're a fan of dark, evocative resins.

The Carnival has a few oustanding red musk recs: Mme. Moriarty Misfortune Teller Red musk, vanilla bean, pomegranate, patchouli leaf and wild plum. This one is amazing. The red musk and vanilla play perfectly together, the pomegranate is AWESOME, the plum is sweet and juicy and the patchouli adds a subtle grounding aspect. Plus it lasts forever and lingers on as this sweet red musk/vanilla dominated scent. The Grindhouse Florentine iris, red musk, mimosa, magnolia, Damascus rose, clove, and vanilla bean This shares a lot of characteristics with Mme. Moriarty, but I find the two quite different. This one is definitely very wicked--it perfectly encapsulates that sort of "den of iniquity" feeling that the Grindhouse invokes. It's a great red musk if you want something sensual but don't do patchouli. Marianne Red musk, bergamot, black currant, mimosa, orchid, patchouli, and lotus root. Raunchy. There's really no way around it. This perfume will have its way with you. In the GC impables, there are plenty of lovely red musks as well: The Great Sword of War Sin and Salvation Mandarin, tonka, saffron, black tea, cocoa, tobacco leaf, sanguine red musk and five classical herbs of conflict. This one is really complex and when fresh it's sort of masculine but it ages into a really sublime red musk just touched by the other ingredients. Kabuki Ars Amatoria cherry, red musk, and star anise. The cherry really brightens this and the anise adds an interesting edge. I think this is one of the sexiest perfumes in the GC. Mania Excolo white musk collides with a howl of red musk, with sharp white grapefruit and pale strawberry leaf. I'm a bit iffy on this one, since the notes are so different from the ones you like, but it might work in your favour. The Dodo Mad Tea Party Red musk, lemon peel, sugar cane, cassia, white sandalwood, mango, and agarwood. Sweet, sugary and spicy red musk. This one is beautiful. Hollywood Babylon Wanderlust Egyptian amber and heliotrope, infused with the sweetness of strawberry and vanilla - dragged into debauch by lusty red musk and a dribble of black cherry. Sweet, sweet, swet, SWEEEEEEET red musk. The cherry and strawberry might help this pop for you. If you're a big Snake Oil fan, you can also try the Snake Pit from the Carnival. I haven't tried them all, but the ones I have tried certainly bring their own twists to the Snake Oil formula.

I'm doing tarot at a party tonight so naturally it's Mme. Moriarty. And I just sent myself on a Mme. Moriarty bender because every time I wear it after having not touched it for awhile I become obsessed with smelling like Mme. Moriarty. Guess anothe back up bottle better hitch a ride with my Yule order.

There are a few caramel/butterscotch scents. In the GC there's: Bien Loin D'ici Ars Amatoria red musk, benzoin, caramel accord, golden honey, and spiced Moroccan unguents. The red musk makes it a bit incense-like but the sweetness really shines through in this one. Gluttony Sin and Salvation Dark chocolate, vanilla, buttercream, and hops with pralines, hazelnut, toffee and caramel. Indulgent and foody. This is one of the classics among foody lovers on the forums. Grog Bewitching Brews This be the scent of pirate rum! It's a buttered rum. A lot of people get straight up butterscotch from it. Drink Me Mad Tea Party However, this bottle was not marked 'poison,' so Alice ventured to taste it, and finding it very nice, (it had, in fact, a sort of mixed flavour of cherry-tart, custard, pine-apple, roast turkey, toffee, and hot buttered toast,) she very soon finished it off. This one is pretty chemistry dependent, but a lot of people get a straight up butterscotch out of it. Hellcat Diabolus hazelnut, buttercream, honey mead, rum and sweet almond. A bit of a nutty caramel/creamy scent. There are several LEs with caramel. Agrat-Bat-Mahlaht Carnival Diabolique Amber, cream accord, white honey, apple blossom, skin musk, caramel, and teak. The easiest caramel LE to find. Red Lantern Lupercalie Golden amber, blonde tobacco, Sudanese black coconut, rich caramel, black currant, white opium and delphinium laced with a sensual blend of Asian spice. I see bottles of it floating around every once in awhile. This one is POTENT. Serious caramel/coconut mixed with the rest of the scents.

Imp: Sort of soft and candy like. Reminds me a bit of Tweedledee (or Tweedledum? Who knows!) Wet: Definitely getting the fruit. The mandarin and mango sort of intertwine to create a... well, it smells like Crystal Lite. I like Crystal Lite on the occasion, but it's really not my bag. On the plus side, white musk sometimes smells like unscented deodorant on my skin and I can't even smell it here. Dry: Pretty. Soft and citrusy. Very, very sweet. I can definitely smell the mandarin dominating the scent. It's very dewy and close to the skin. Definitely getting a candy/edible vibe. Throw: Minimal. It's personal. Overall: I'm not much of a citrus girl as it is. This will probably wind up dumped into a cotton ball and shoved into an air vent in my car. And it would make a great air freshener so that's a good use for it. Definitely an interesting way to inform my passengers about all the diverse varietals of zombies.

Do you have any Hexennacht 08 on hand? The combo of skin musk, pine, incense and the touch of smoke and flora make it smell like you've just been up to some very naughty things in the woods. Plus it's got a hint of sweetness that makes it a bit innocent. I cannot overemphasize how AWESOME Hex 08 is. Otherwise, go for sweet and sexy. Maybe Lolita, Jailbait or Euphronsyne? Les Bijoux, Eos and Brides of Dracula all have a sort of post-coital-lingering-traces-of-perfume-on-slick-skin quality to them.

Bottle: Overwhelming sweet. Like, knock you down, drag you out SWEET. I'm mainly getting caramel and coconut with the slightest hint of tobacco. Wet: The caramel amps up to SUPERSWEET and then catches a hint of sourness. The blondewood vaguely asserts itself and at this point Red Lantern reminds me a LOT of Miskatonic U. It's sweet, gooey but has a bit of extra oomph that makes it more sophisticated than Misk U. Dry: Some of my beloved opium peeks out and this settles down into a pretty unique blend. The coconut adds husky sweetness, the currant sort of twines through as a base note (unusual--usually currant is like "HI! HOW ARE YOU! CAPSLOCK YEY!") and the caramel settles into a sweet skin scent. There's a hint of spice, the opium unfurls into a beautiful haze, and all the elements really work together to create a heady, spicey, womanly borderline foody scent. What I really like about this combo is although it's sweet and has a definite caramel macchiato feel to it, it's still a bit refined and elegant. I don't really know where I can wear this, though. It seems a bit too elegant for every day wear, but it's too foody to really wear to an elegant evening out. It's a humdinger. Throw: Tons. Apply with caution. Overall: I like it. It's not my favourite but I also have skin that finds the sweetness in a blend and amps it up to near unbearable levels. I'm glad to have it, I have the 08 version so I'm interested to see how it will age, but I'm also not hankering after another bottle any time soon.

Bottle: Murky vetiver softened by a hint of fruit. Wet: Lunar Eclipse goes VETIVER! SUPER VETIVER! It's dark and earthy and a bit powdery at this stage. The violet leaf is definitely present and I can smell a hint of the frankincense and tea. There's a fruitiness coming from the currant/fruit gum combo. Dry: I've been having good luck with patience lately. A lot of scents I've given fifteen minutes before they get the heave ho. The semi dry stage of Lunar Eclipse is okay, but it's still predominantly vetiver. Fully dry it is exquisite. The red musk warms up lending a soft skin-like quality and the fruit gums and currants give it a bit of anise quality without overpowering like Kabuki can. The vetiver calms down to a subtle earthiness and the tea lends a balancing and refreshing quality. I get the faintest hint of tobacco but ultimately this is so complex and well blended that I'm not really pulling out a lot of individual notes. In the drydown the most dominant scent is the red musk softly sweetened by currant with a noticeable vetiver kick. It reminds me a bit of Midnight Kiss but lacks the lush sweetness of Midnight Kiss. It's a bit drier, more refined and lot more elegant. Throw: Good. It's noticeable and interesting without knocking you over. Overall: I've been sitting on my bottle of Lunar Eclipse for awhile. It's definitely going to age like a charm and is a very beautiful, unusual scent. It's a strong, confident, almost magical blend and I really feel like I walk a little taller and hold eye contact a little longer when I wear it. Definitely try it if a little floats your way because I get a sense that the older the bottles get, the more sought after Lunar Eclipse is going to get.

What better event to break out a much loved perfume than a wedding? If you want to wear it just because it's special, go for Venom. If you want the protective veil of Bloodlust, wear Bloodlust. However, is your sister having a long church ceremony or any other event where you'll be in close quarters with a lot of other people? Because both are pretty potent scents and if they have a lot of throw, it may not be the most pleasant experience for those around you. Definitely apply your perfume after any sort of serious close counters ceremony. "Little black dress" to me says modern, elegant, unfussy and a little carefree (and with that I officially started sounding like some sort of weird W channel perfume shill). So with that in mind: Intrigue Bewitching Brews Black palm, with cocoa, fig and shadowy wooded notes. A bit film noire femme fatale. It's dark and brooding and if you're in a mingling cocktail setting, it's not going to be too heady for everyone around you. Golden Priapus Ars Amatoria vanilla and amber with juniper, rosewood and white pine. The base is warm and creamy while the woods give it a bit of bite and interest. Psyche Ars Amatoria Bulgar rose, Chinese white musk, lavender, orchid and frankincense. Psyche sumultaneously smells like it was custom blended and like it's one of the oldest, most classical perfumes in the world. It's breathtakingly gorgeous and perfectly timeless. Regan Illyria A deceptively sweet orchid vanille with a faint trace of stephanotis Regan kind of reminds me of the nice counterpart to O's naughtiness. It has that same honey sweetness but it's a bit more refined and very elegant while still being slightly playful.

Imp: Red musk and sour honey. Wet: The musk amps up and I get a hint of benzoin before it disappears. Mainly musk, warming honey and a light spice. Dry: The initial drydown on this is always so funky that I have never actually made it through to the dry stage. But then I dumped a bottle of water on my desk and this got a chance to dry down while I was dealing with that. Dry this is... weird. I like it and then I don't like it. It smells like sweet, warm red musk touched with a strange incense note. The benzoin and the honey have sort of melded together and are sulking around in the background. It's strange and interesting but I'm not sure if I really like the smell of it on me. Throw: Good. Overall: I usually like red musk blends and I'm pretty sure I like this. It's just completely outside of my comfort zone and makes me feel a bit like I'm playing dress up or trying to be someone that I clearly am not. I think I'll keep the imp and drag it out to test every once in awhile, but it's pretty unlikely than anyone other than me will ever smell this on me.

Do you have any O on hand? If it works on your skin you can layer it with Brides of Dracula--it will really help the skin musk and honey in that blend pop. Florence might work if you want something that suggests the time period. Or if you want that womanly just-clawed-my-way-out-of-my-grave scent (something that I never would have thought I'd said before joining these forums) you could try Zombi or Penny Dreadful. Ululame might also capture that vampiric "earthiness" and it has a touch of aquatic, so it's in your comfort zone. If you're more tactile and want something that blends with the fabrics in your costume, I think that a cool, distant floral like Veil might perfectly capture the aloofness.

I'm having sort of the same quarter life crisis, Salem. Just graduated from a small, tightly knit faculty, out in the big, scary world and my company is undergoing restructuring that might have me moving to another country. Life is scary Anyway, because I'm a Stalky McGee I scrolled through some of your posts to see what your tastes are and it looks like we have pretty similar scent preferences. So: Aunt Caroline's Joy Mojo It's kind of a "Duh" but it's a really happy, fresh bubblegummy scent and it's just... cheerful. If you're comfortable with the Conjure Bag it has a ton of great pick me up scents and the metaphysical aspects are either great placebos or Beth is one hell of a magician. Blood Countess This one just puts a smile on my face. It's a bit darker and more melancholy than Midwinter's Eve, but it's a gorgeous plum over some smokey florals. It makes me feel womanly and pretty and like I can go out and punch life in the face and it would still buy me a drink afterwards. Lolita It's sort of glittering and pink in the initial stage and then it dries down to a gorgeous honeysuckle tinged verbena. I'm pretty sure that verbena is considered a natural anti-depressant, so that's a yay. Queen Alice This is a bit deeper than the other recommendations, but it's the equivalent of pulling your favourite wooly sweater out of the closet on the first cold day of autumn. Wine and treacle and cider and perhaps a sand note. There's a touch of amber and carnation as well and it's perfectly balanced--warm and cozy without being too foody or floral. Love this one. Of course, you just need to find one that you associate with a good memory and then you're back in that place every time you put it on. Whatever's going on, just always keep it in perspective and enjoy the good things. Cheers!

I coudln't find an exact top/middle/base note list for Givenchy, but I did find the notes: cinnamon, patchouli, musk and amber. So it's a woodsy, softly spicy scent with a touch of sensuality from the musk and amber. A few suggestions: Umbra Bewitching Brews East African black patchouli, cedarwood, vetiver and a dribble of cinnamon. I haven't tried this, but I get a sense from the vetiver and cedar, it's not going to have the same skin hugging warmth that the original perfume would have. Is woodsy and spicy. Bloodlust Diabolus Dragon's blood essence, heavy red musk, Indonesian patchouli and swarthy vetiver with a drop of cinnamon. I think this one might be a really good bet. The red musk is warm and skin like, the patchouli and cinnamon are both present and the vetiver will add more depth to the woodsiness. The dragon's blood will either add a bit more resin/spice or a slightly floral quality depending on her skin chemistry. Sin Sin and Salvation amber, sandalwood, black patchouli and cinnamon Lacks the musk but has a lot of the same qualities as Givenchy. May not be as sweet. War Good Omens Red ginger, black spices, patchouli, honeysuckle, and three blood-soaked red musks It's a bit savoury and the ginger is quite prominant. If you come across a decant, she might like it. Lust Sin and Salvation red musk, patchouli, ylang ylang and myrrh. Myrhh adds a spicy quality you would get from the cinnamon and the red musk/patchouli combo is drop dead gorgeous. For Emeraude, I found the notes were: jasmine, orange, and other citrus florals. Ending with spices and sandalwood. Jasmine can be problematic in an oil versus a spray, but it's one of my very favourite notes in the BPAL catalogue. Some suggestions: New Orleans Wanderlust Sweet honeysuckle and jasmine with a hint of lemon and spice The lemon gives it a citrus-y quality and it's overall just a beautiful, womanly scent. Ave Maria Gratia Plena Ars Amatoria Rosewood with Sicilian lemon peel, red Mysore sandalwood, pale musks, sweet mountain sage and a dusting of lily, night-blooming jasmine and orris. Complex and light. The jasmine isn't at the forefront but if you amp jasmine, that's probably a good thing. Namaste Bewitching Brews Sandalwood, jasmine, rose, patchouli, cedarwood and lemongrass. It might be a bit headshoppy/hippie-ish, but it's fresh and natural and sweetened considerably by the presence of jasmine and rose. The Obsidian Widow Steamworks Pinot noir, dark myrrh, red sandalwood, black patchouli, night-blooming jasmine, and attar of rose. I'm wearing this today and it's an exquisite jasmine blend. It's a bit darker and murkier than the Coty scent, but the jasmine really comes through to the forefront and creates a sweet and slightly naughty top note. For Xia Xiang, I found the notes: Gardenia, Jasmine, Lily of the Valley (Muguet), Tangerine, Vanilla. I immediately thought of: Belle Epoque Bewitching Brews sweet opium, Lily of the Valley, vanilla, mandarin and red sandalwood[/b] The opium can be proeblematic--it has a burned out candle smell which some people love and some people hate--but this is almost spot on for notes and feeling. Kubla Khan Bewitching Brews serpentine opium smoke and amber tobacco, golden sandalwood, champaca, tea leaf, sugared lily, ginger, rich hay absolute, leather, dark vanilla, mandarin, peru balsam, and Moroccan jasmine. More complex than the original scent, but definitely falls into the floriental category, although it may not be as crisp. Peitho Excolo Lusty myrtle and jasmine with red sandalwood, stargazer lily, and clove over an opulent, rich bed of warm musk and bourbon vanilla. Again, I think it's less crisp than the original scent, but it captures that warm senuality with the floral/vanilla blend. Hopefully that helps you both. It definitley helped me pass some time with an empty inbox

Bottle: Sweet pine and fir. Almost sugary sweet. Wet: The evergreen notes go WHOOSH and I am a Christmas tree for a few moments. Then it starts to calm down as the amber warms to my skin and the skin musk (is it skin musk? Whatever that "glistening skin" note is, there's definitely a touch of that buttercup smoothness that comes with skin musk) comes out to play. There's a hint of smokiness but not to the point where I smell like I've been at a bonfire. Dry: I bought Hexennacht on a lark because I thought it would be nice to have on hand as a fresh, fun wintery scent. Instead it turns out to be one of the most mind bendingly inappropriate scents in my collection. It's not overtly sexual or flirtatious, but when I'm wearing it I get the feeling that I smell like a very idealized version of hot sex beneath the stars. It's got a slick, panting lascivious feeling from the amber and the skin scent and the evergreens just add a strange, sexy snow-covered-forest-clearing feeling. It's very sensual and very naughty but has a coquettish "Who, me?" quality as well. Throw: The sweet evergreen scent has decent throw. The musk and amber stay close to the skin. Overall: I didn't expect to like this as much as I did and it wound up taking a long time to grow on me. It's an incredibly sexy scent without smelling earthy or dirty and it doesn't have the same indulgent heaviness I get from some of the most sensual red musk and honey blends. It's crisp, a little naughty, a little outdoorsy and incredibly sexy all around. It's a unisex blend and definitely worth a try if it comes your way.

Bottle: I've been waffling on Obsidian Widow for a while now. When I got into BPAL I was lucky enough to get a decant of the original Black Widow and it was gorgeous. So I've had the bottle and I've opened it and then put it back and sort of toyed with rather than really worn it. It's decidedly different from Black Widow, but it's also quite fresh and all the elements are more distinct. I get a strong heady whiff of wine and rose with a base of spicy sandalwood touched with patchouli. Wet: This is STRONG. I put it on and it takes no prisoners. The wine amps up to an almost ungodly level, the patchouli charges over everything in its path and the rose and jasmine are just sitting there like "What just happened?" Dry: It takes a while to burn down. But when it does, it leaves a beautiful, soft, deep scent. The rose and jasmine mingle to create a perfect floral blend--thankfully neither stomps on the other. The wine lends a soft red sweetness and the pathouli blends with the sandalwood and myrrh to create a gorgeous smokey-woody base. It's very heady and womanly and sensual on my skin. I can see how this would work on a man or how it would be an exercise in skin chemistry. I feel a little femme fatale and sultry. This is definitely a heartbreaker's perfume. Throw: Everywhere. After it burns down a bit it's more manageable, but I feel like a bit of a jerk for wearing it to the office today. Overall: This is a beautiful evening or special occasion scent. It can work for daytime and definitely has a nice floral edge that makes it acceptable, but it's just so strong that I feel a bit uncomfortable being so like, "HI DO YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT I SMELL LIKE?" at the office. Overall it's a deeply beautiful and evocative scent. Is it a perfect replication of Black Widow? No. But it is its own perfume and it's beautiful in its own way. It will be an exceptional ager and I can't wait to see what my bottle will smell like come the first anniversary of the Steampunk scents. I'm so happy to have this be part of the general catalogue.

If you're willing to hunt down decants/bottles there are a few nice LE florals that range from reasonably popular to downright abundant: Privilege: It's everywhere. There's a nice sweetness to this from the vanilla and it dries down to a clean, borderline foody floral. It's a very "white" floral but has a good throw and long lasting power. Lady Luck Blues: Similar to Privilege but with a bit more "oomph." Tonka, benzoin and vanilla lend a really great resinous/vanilla base and the black plum shines along with the rest of the florals. It smells a bit debauched but in a vintage way. There's a touch of honey in here, too, which might work well if you like O. Poisson d'Avril: A perfect springtime blend. A bit of a sugared edge but ultimately just a beautiful fresh bouquet of flowers with a bit of candy sweetness lurking underneath. From the GC impables: Kali: Red florals swirled over a darker, more wicked base of chocolate, wine and tobacco. Tiger Lily: Perfect blend of fresh, clean lilies with a sweet swirl of skin-hugging honey. Eden: It reminds me a lot of the Hanging Gardens but with a sweeter fig and more of a foody quality. Sweet and soft and feminine. A bit juicy. Mata Hari: You have to let it completely dry down. SRSLY. Because it's kind of weird and gross while wet but when it's dry it's a perfect blend of florals swirled with vanilla, fig and a touch of coffee. Love Me: No notes listed but I get a bit of honeysuckle/jasmine with lotus (I am a lotus amper and I can wear this one quite happily) and some sort of wood and musk base. The Queen of Hearts: The cherry gives it a bit of sweetness and the lilies are amazing in this one.

Normally I am the queen of impable recs, but I really have to push Midnight Kiss (red musk, cocoa absolute, Nepalese amber, red sandalwood, aged patchouli, nicotiana, and blood wine). It walks the fine line between masculine/feminine/foody/woody and the blood wine might help to tone down the patchouli. It's a really great scent and it's still available from the lab (I think. Someone else may have to direct you to the link). Otherwise it wasn't exactly a huge hit with a lot of purchasers and it's fairly common on the swaps page. Velvet might work for him depending on what his skin amps. On me it has the bitter edge of a chocolate-dipped espresso bean and if he amps the sandalwood it could easily smell masculine on his chemistry.

Bottle: Sort of dry and sour. Definitely getting whiffs of the honey and not necessarily that semen smell that other people describe but there is a sense of carnality to it. Wet: I love honey but honey consistantly takes a while to warm up to me. The honey goes sour and I can smell the amber and vanilla sort of warming to my skin. I wait it out. Dry: It comes around. It smells sort of like a soft, sticky sweet honey over clean skin. I think it's very sexy but not necessarily "I must have you now!" sexy. It's actually kind of weirdly friendly-sexy. It's that moment in the movie where the lead character's object of affection squeezes by him in a crowd close enough for him to inhale her perfume and she winks at him or squeezes his hand before disappearing back into the crowd. It's flirty and seems more like the scent of longing than the scent of passion. Throw: Close to the skin. Which is good. Some scents should be bold but this is a bit too... carnal to be a strong scent. Overall: I wear O a lot more than I thought I would. I usually wind up mixing it with lotion for an all over honey scent since that cuts the initial sour smell quite a bit and leaves me with a perfect, soft skin scent. It's girly, sexy and definitely deserves the hype.

While not sweet, I am going to admit that some of these might require a bit of confidence in ones machismo, regardless of gender. Desire Ars Amatoria bittersweet neroli, black patchouli and black musk, gilded by apple, bergamot, blood red rose, teak, and vanilla. The vanilla is more of an accent on a patchouli-black musk combo with florals. It's more of a masculine/unisex scent even with the florals. Kubla Khan Bewitching Brews Through sunlit caves of ice, roses unfurl amidst dancing waves of serpentine opium smoke and amber tobacco, golden sandalwood, champaca, tea leaf, sugared lily, ginger, rich hay absolute, leather, dark vanilla, mandarin, peru balsam, and Moroccan jasmine. The biggest problem with this is that it's not strictly a vanilla scent. To my nose it's mostly mandarin, tobacco and leather, but the vanilla is definitely present and is bolstered a bit by the peru balsam. Siren Ars Amatoria White ginger, jasmine, and a touch of vanilla and apricot. Maybe a bit weird for the name, but the ginger is savoury enough that it keeps the scent from being too ridiculously sweet. Lyonesse Wanderlust Golden vanilla and gilded musk, stargazer lily, white sandalwood, grey amber, elemi, orris root, ambergris and sea moss. The aquatics really tone down the foody quality of the blend and the lily is pretty subdued. An interesting scent and different on everyone.

Imp: Kind of weird. I get a faint hint of lilies under a bit of sourness. Wet: The honey goes super sour. I get frowny but also hold out because honey has a tendency to be very surprising on my chemistry. I definitely smell the liliies--very fresh and green. They smell more like a white Easter lily to me, but that may just be from association. Dry: Oh my goodness. This is so beautiful. It's a soft, delicate true lily scent with a beautiful skin warmed sweetness. It reminds me a lot of my beloved Brides of Dracula although less complex and less overtly sexual. This is really fresh and soft and girly--I'd wear this on a first date or anywhere where I want to feel feminine and flirty without being too forward. Throw: Good. Definitely a few inches from the skin. The lilies throw more than the honey. Overall: I really like this. It was a frimp (natch) and I've always vaguely wanted to try it and have never really cared enough to bother. This is a beautiful, bottle-worthy fragrance. Definitely give it a try if you like sweet, simple florals or if--like me--you're panicking about what will happen when you eventually run out of Brides of Dracula.

Namaste has an interesting lemongrass/patchouli vibe with some other woods and florals. Croquet is more of a pink grapefruit scent with some florals and a whisper of patchouli.