malaliath

In Bottle: Straight up mulled wine, and it's beautiful. I love this. It's darkly fruity. I can sense the zip of the citrus peel at the back of my nose. Wet, On Skin: The spices pop out of the wine here for me. The wine is more in the background but still very evident and sweet. The vanilla vibes warmth. Dry, On Skin: The wine has come back out to play and is perfectly balanced with the spices. This is the *perfect* blend, evoking all sorts of festive feelings. Later: The only downside to this one is that it starts out very strong on me but fades pretty fast. Three hours later and it is undetectable on my skin. But it's so, SO gorgeous I won't mind reapplying!!

In Bottle: *Fresh* incense. I don't know if I can describe it any better than that! It is like incense that has been rolled in freshly cleaned laundry. Wet, On Skin: Whoa! Completely different. The ozone really takes hold of the frankincense and they come screaming out together Strangely (?). It is really reminding me of All Souls right now, but heavier on the frankincense. There's a red currant vibe there that I was completely not expecting. Dry, On Skin: That juicy red currant (whatever that was!) is fading now and ozone is hanging farrrrrr into the background. The resins are really humming now. I smell like Midnight Mass and my favourite crystal shop all rolled together, and that is pretty much my ideal state of being. *laughs* What's great is that although these resins are sweetish on me, it is definitely incense that is lit and burning ... there's a slight smokiness to it. Love. I'm getting less frankincense and more Nag Champa now, which I adore. Later: Nag Champa in the best way. Good throw and wear length. Love!!

In Bottle: The linden blossom is what I smell the most. There is a soft, papery woodsiness present as well, which I am guessing is the papyrus and the coffin wood. The orris is what I think is providing the softness. Wet, On Skin: This is extremely clean-smelling - the linden blossom really sings here. The orris keeps it soft The woods are definitely in the background in this stage. I am not getting any of the dry tea leaf. This is really fresh. Dry, On Skin: Soft, fresh laundry. I'm trying to experiment with more florals and the linden blossom is definitely working for me...it's so clean and not heavy at all. I am hoping some of that soft papery woodsiness returns as this dries down more. Later: I finally smell the tea - it's like a lemon iced tea. There is a light wood element underneath which is lovely. This does fade pretty quickly on me, but it's a really nice, fresh choice for warm days.

In Bottle: It's definitely vanilla, a dark, creamy vanilla, and the zing of the blueberry bubblegum hits my nose after. It makes my mouth water. Wet, On Skin: Boom! I amp the vanilla forth. The blueberry gum is dark and swirls underneath, it's definitely a blueberry GUM. I can almost taste it. Dry, On Skin: The vanilla has softened everything and it is really (REALLY) sweet. I get crazy throw with this (my daughter walked into the room I was in and wanted to know what I was wearing!) It's INCREDIBLY sweet on me and my mouth is watering. The way the vanilla is playing makes me think of curling up in soft pyjamas. Later: The scent is soft and cozy; the more cloying sweetness is gone and it's just fluffy warm blueberry vanilla. It's a scent that is lovely for the warmer weather, but I feel it would work just as well for a winter's evening, tucked under a blanket with a book.

In Imp: Damp, wet, moonlit grasses. This is really evocative of being on a coast. We used to go to Newfoundland in the summer when my husband’s grandparents were still alive, and this reminds me of a particular night we spent there. I’m getting the meadowsweet for sure, but there’s something damp and loamy in there too. Wet, On Skin: I am getting flickers of the fire in the distance, but they’re very far away indeed, and the atmosphere is far too wet to sense any sort of real heat/dry sensation from the fires. Dry, On Skin: There’s a storm looming. There’s a sense of heavy mossiness. The fires and smoke are closer now. This is really lovely, in a sea spray/smoky/grassy way. There’s a saltiness here which I sense is the sea spray. Later: There was a brief period where this wanted to turn into baby powder on me, but it passed! Now it smells very much like my grandmother, in the best, most heart-rendering way. It has become a misty floral with just a hint of the softest smoke. This is special and lovely.

The Fruit of Paradise 2009 In Imp: Very red fruit. Interestingly, to me it smells like red berries that have been heated. There's a very distinctive warmth to this for me. Wet, On Skin: There's almost something woodsy in this as an undercurrent. It's a sharp, wet wood, with mashed up warmed berries on top. Dry, On Skin: Ruby red fruit and incense. I really like this! Later: It's mild and lovely. I will really enjoy my half-imp of this.

In Imp: Caramel swirled over red musk. Dirty patchouli underneath. Wet, On Skin: Mmm! Thankfully the caramel has died down and the musks and patchouli are out to play. They're dancing, it's not competitive at all...this is quite intense and sexy. Dry, On Skin: Something wants to go to baby powder. Huh. Usually sandalwood is the baby powder culprit on me, but I'm vaguely wondering if it's the way the vanilla is playing with the musk. Later: It's sexy. It's a bit reminiscent of Tombstone on me without the sassafrass. I like it quite a bit. I will probably put a bottle on my wishlist.

Lick It Till It's Sticky In Imp: Sugary, drippy, cold candy cane. Wet, On Skin: The candy cane fell in the mud. Someone is crying about it. Dry, On Skin: The candy cane has spent the winter submerged under the slush and muddy earth, and has emerged into the sleet. It is dirty and inedible. There is almost a faint tinge of mildew... Later: It is a dirty candy cane grasped in the mouldering flesh of someone lying beneath the sodden ground. This scent is made of Doom. Evocative though!

Snow White 2009 In Imp: Um, burning old lady perfume made from plastic? I don't even really want to put it on, but I've been surprised before, so... Wet, On Skin: Almond extract drizzled over burning cherries. What on earth is with all the burning? Dry, On Skin: Coconut coming out dimly through the almond. And yes, the coconut is also burning. Oh MY!! Wham, Play-Doh. Whoa. Whoa. Later: Complete Play-Doh. Wet Play-Doh, at that. Off to swap pile. I was quite excited about this blend. Oh well!

Confections spun of hazelnuts, honey, elderberries, and bilberries with a dusting of hay and a bit of carrot. In Imp: This smells strongly of honey and hazelnut. It has the potential to be great or not so great on my skin. I'm not sure about the honey; I don't like the smell of honey it its pure form and am unsure as to what it will be like as a scent. Wet, On Skin: All heavy honey and hazelnut. It's a pleasing enough smell, but I don't know if I like it as a perfume. During drydown, the hay and berries hover in the background, threatening to break through. I like the berries; they give a juicyness to the allover scent. The hay is a very true hay as well. Dry, On Skin: The honey has calmed down, thankfully. The hay and berries are at the forefront now. The berries smell like red berries to me. There's almost something incensey swirling underneath. It's fading fast though... Later: It fades incredibly fast but it's sweet and gentle berries at this point on my wrist. I kind of enjoy this one! I am not sure it's bottle-worthy but I will definitely use my imp.

Evening Cicadas and Red Peppers I had to try this - my husband's screen name for various things is Cicada. In Imp: Whoa. Why am I getting nothing but cherry cough candies from this? Cough candies being sucked by someone who has just eaten red peppers, that is. Wet, On Skin: Wow! There's more red pepper and spicy red leaves. I'm even getting a bit of the ice. Dry, On Skin: It's morphing and becoming a watery, floral mess. Later: The musks are creeping back out. There's a fine line being trod upon here...this is very similar in a lot of ways as Summer's Last Will and Testament on me. I like my imp, but this isn't bottle-worthy for me.

Snow-Flakes 2009 In Vial: Sharp and green; minty but with an herbal undertone. Wet, On Skin: Pretty much the same as it was in the vial. It's cold and sparkly. Dry, On Skin: I'm getting a touch of pine. There's a crispiness to the scent as it dries down. Like another reviewer said, I am almost getting some strange echo of dill. It's interesting, but I sense it's probably too cold to be bottle-worthy for me. Later: It is indeed wintry. Too cold for me though ... I'll probably enjoy my imp, but this won't be a bottle purchase for me.

CREEPY 2009 IN IMP: Buttery. Very buttery, and foody, and crunchy-sweet. WET, ON SKIN: Apple! Apple has come out, juicy and red, and it has buttery crunchy toffee on top. No coconut here, but I imagine the rum is what is giving me the buttery sense. DRY, ON SKIN: Spices are swirling out around it now, but it’s still juicy, appley, toffee-ish and crunchy. LATER: I love it. I smell like a gorgeous caramel apple. My husband is not a foodie at all but he is not averse to it…I may also see what it does as a room scent … grabbing a bottle.

BITE ME IN IMP: Alcoholic roses? Roses? Where are they coming from? Wow, I'm surprised too, but I'm glad to read others got roses from this. WET, ON SKIN: I recoil. I am amping an almond ROSE to the extreme. Rose, blahhh, how I hate you. DRY, ON SKIN: I am fighting to not run and wash this off right away. Unfortunately I have never been put off of a BPAL scent this strongly before. But – I really, really hate rose, and it doesn’t help that I amp it to a sickening extreme. A burning plastic rose, at that. LATER: I have to get this off me. Is it odd that I feel guilty when I can’t love a scent even a little? …. this will be off to the swap pile. (Wow. Okay, I just scrubbed with soap and water and I can STILL smell this on me, big time. The throw on this is crazy.)

LAMBS-WOOL IN IMP: I just died gloriously, a little. Apples and spices and creaminess, ohhhh my!! Fall coziness in a bottle. WET, ON SKIN: Perhaps a little Yankee Candle…? I still have my nose attached to my wrist though. I kind of want to take a bite. Goldeny ale. Ciderish! I love, love, love. It’s appley baking and spices and cider all mashed in a pot. DRY, ON SKIN: I think I got a sense of the milk. It’s very creamy and balancing; sort of mellows the tangy ale a bit, and the mashed apples and spices are only drizzled in milk, not drowning in it. LATER: Husband is unsure as he isn’t much for the foody scents, but I can’t stop smelling myself. Soooo a bottle it is. He is interested in it as a room scent, for sure, and I know that I’ll definitely be wearing it.

IN IMP: As so many others have said, this is a fresh, tart green apple...not a red one, to my nose. Someone has taken a bite out of it and the juice is flowing forth. It's making my mouth water! WET, ON SKIN: Ooooh. Initially all I get is the same freshly-bitten green apple....but there's definitely darkness beginning to swirl underneath. I am loving this so much. Like, as in, it's already bottle-worthy, and I'm hoping that as it dries it only gets darker and better. DRY, ON SKIN: Mmmm. This reminds me of this lovely apple incense that I have. It seems to be fading fast, but I also didn't put too much on. I really, really, love this. LATER: It's definitely a fast fader, but I don't like my perfumes heavy anyway. I don't mind if it's nestled there in the crook of my arm or the hollow of my neck ... when my husband finds it, will he dare take a bite of this poisoned apple? LOL ... I love this and it's definitely going on my bottle wish list.

I bought this unsniffed based on the description and ... some breath of intuition. In Bottle: There's a frostiness to this...frosted geranium leaves. Is this the breath of winter wind? Wet, On Skin: Wow, citrus! I'm getting a strong orange/lemon from this. There's still the tickle of frost in my nose. The florals are very reminiscent of a special ravine-type park I used to spend hours in during my formative years. The orange has given over to lemon. Sharp geranium frosty lemon during initial drydown. Dry, On Skin: Lemony dishwashing liquid with a bite. I hope as it continues to dry the myrhh and amber start to warm things up...after about 10 minutes something warm, I think the amber, begins to glow through. It really balances out the lemon...very evocative of warm, late summer nights. Later: After about 20 minutes, we are getting warmer. Amber. Amber infused with myrhh over sun-heated geraniums and marigolds, with a twist of lemon. After 30 minutes, I experience a very brief powdery stage but it passes quickly. Final Stages: Sun-baked earth cooling off as autumn creeps in. A lovely, glowing scent, very evocative of its name. I will enjoy my bottle!

Dance of Death - frimp from lab! IN BOTTLE: Very dry indeed. I'm getting almost pure orris from this, with a hint of patchouli in the background. WET, ON SKIN: More of the same bone-dry orris with the patchouli softly lurking underneath. There's something very sharp about this scent but it has the potential to work on me when dry, I think. DRY, ON SKIN: There's a bit of glowing resin going on here ... myrhh. The orris is dying down to let the warm myrhh shine through, accented by the patchouli (but the patchouli is still soft). It's very evocative and does indeed conjure up an image of dry skeletons smoked through with myrrh incense. LATER: I like this much more than I thought I would. The orris has died down and a lovely earthy myrhh/patchouli blend is out now, but it's a bit tooooo dark and dirty to be sensual. Still, a lovely dark fragrance that I imagine would also smell good on a male. I'll keep my imp.

Seance IN BOTTLE: Wet wood with roses. There's a salty quality to it but it's mired down under heavy dead roses...wet, dead roses. I like the tone of the wet wood. WET, ON SKIN: A wet forest floor laden heavily with sodden bark. The dead wet roses are still lying there. There's a spicy astringency to this that I believe must be the hazel. That astringency is keeping the scent from softening down. DRY, ON SKIN: The hazel has died down, allowing the softness of this scent to come through. The wood is still damp and the rosewood is just that, rosewood. It's a pleasant change from the heavy wetness of the dead roses. I don't think this scent suits me very well - it's not what I'd normally wear - but I could see myself pulling it out for solitary times of nostalgia. LATER: It's still a very nostalgic scent, but decidedly powdery and old-ladyish on me. I could see pulling it out and putting it on when I'm in a Victorian mood (which does indeed happen!) so I'll keep my imp.

Plunder In Imp: I'm getting a "clean tea" sensation from the bottle, with a dry, spicy aftersmell. The initial "clean" scent is very green. The sandalwood is very balancing. Wet, on skin: A fisherman has stolen me and rolled me in spices, and he's standing over me all sea-infused. A couple of seconds go by and the saltiness fades. The spices smell like they're wrapped in wet, green leaves. I wonder why this doesn't smell dry and spicy on me? Dry, on skin: Ahhhh. Dry at last. Cinnamon and cassia in the dusty forefront - peppercorn tingling in the background. The sandalwood is steady, earthy base. Later: Spices mellowed by warm sandalwood, which brings down the dust levels and makes me think of warm spiced wood. Verdict: I love it. Bottle-worthy.

In Imp: Patchouli, patchouli,patchouli...spicy ginger, some (rather cloying smelling) sweetness which I think must be the orange blossom. Not sure about this one. The cloying smell threatens to make my head ache. Wet, on skin: Patchouli. Syrup covered orange blossoms. The spiciness of the ginger pokes through a bit, but this scent smells incredibly muddled and heavy on me wet. Head pounds. Dry, on skin: Smoky patchouli with a sweet undercurrent. It's rather heady. I'm almost getting a sickly heavy vanilla from this. Later: The scent is just...muddy. The patchouli has died down. There's an element of cheap old lady perfume happening here, and I'm not happy about it. The ginger gets amped from time to time - almost like a pulse, it's very strange! - and that is the element that might save it from the swap pile. Verdict: I'm really undecided. There's a huge sickly element to Vixen on my skin, and it's one that seems to be a bit headache-inducing. I like it better when the ginger tries to take over, but the orange blossoms underneath seem to exude some sort of syrupy sweetness that muddles everything and the patchouli isn't bringing it back to earth. As others have said, it is reminiscent of a dirty version of Snake Oil. The imp may or may not go to the swap pile.

Danse Macabre - Frimp from lab! In Bottle: Frankincense incense swirling under dark, wet cypress. No hazelnut sliver coming through. Wet, on skin PINE. Pine Sol pine. Very antiseptic. EEEE, I am being remind of a freshly cleaned outhouse. Dry, on skin: Pine Sol on warm earth. Where did the frankincense go? Later: Ohhh. There’s the oakmoss – and it’s a touch – just a TOUCH – powdery. Very little throw on me, but there's a funereal gentleness about the scent now. When dry on me it's pure oakmoss and perhaps the very tracest bit of frankincense. The astringent pine is nowhere to be found. It seems to be fading very fast. Verdict: I too am curious to know what this will smell like on my husband. I can see myself using this before a meditation or something solitary.

Zombi In imp: Interesting! I am not usually a huge rose fan and bought the imp after reading several reviews stating that this is not your typical rose. I am inclined to agree – this rose is dry and dusty, and the earth smells like parched dirt after you’ve given it a trickle of water. It reminds me of the old cemetery I grew up near, which is possibly one of my favourite places. Underneath it all, the mossiness lurks. I am intrigued! Wet, on skin: So neat. Dry roses are not reminiscent of old ladies at all. I feel a sense of nostalgia for a time I never knew. I feel vaguely Edwardian. Dry, on skin: What is happening here? The roses have been resurrected …now they’re bold roses in full bloom – wet roses at that. The scent is mature, not a sickly rose, but still not my cup of tea. My husband remarks that I now smell like an old lady. There is no dirt and I am amping a vibrant rose to the extreme. Later: The mosses are playing a little bit more now, but the roses have died down to wet, mushed-up petals in a mud puddle. And it’s raining. Conclusion: This scent isn’t really for me. I love the initial stages though. I may try this as a room scent to see what it’s like.

In bottle: Darker and more syrupy than I expected. I smell the amber more than the patchouli. I worry it will go boozy on me. On skin, wet: Heyyyyy! I am having a total flashback to a candle I had in high school. It was a peach jar candle but I had stored it with some patchouli candles. Gosh, this scent is right on! On skin, dry: The darkness is lifting and the sunny side of the peach is beaming through. It's definitely cooked peaches with an amber syrup on me. Love it. Later: The play of the sultry amber and patchouli and the sweetness of the peaches did lovely naughty-but-nice things on my skin and my husband loved it. Conclusion: I think this is very likely bottle-worthy!