mgrazulis

In the imp: a beautiful meadow, richly green and floral Wet: Sleek and mysterious orchid, sweet apple blossom, and fragrant red clover. Dry: The clover goes down a bit, with a bright applelike crispness and orchid headiness. Verdict: A fav!! This is a deep herbal floral on me. Not at all soft or weak. I can truly see how these flowers and herbs are sacred to a Goddess of War, despite how gentle they seem individually. Collectively, the scent is wild and fiercely Celtic. This isn't a harsh scent at all, just very "in your face". If you are not a floral person, this may be one you would like. Not frilly at all!!!

In the bottle: deep frankencense, myrrh and sweet honeyed fruit cakes. I am tempted to drink it! Wet: smells of celebration, the cakiness moves down for the wine and olive The wine is the strongest note with the smoky frankincense. The myrrh adds richness to the lingering buttery wine-soaked cake. The olive leaf there for a touch of oily green. Dry: The myrrh gives this a ceremonial note. Wine-soaked offerings. Still slightly sugared over the wine and myrrh. Fruited cake soaked in wine. Later the powdery incense sets in, followed by raisins and grapes. I was petrified this would be extra foody, but it’s actually more of a wine-soaked cake. The wine is very strong here, especially at first.. It is very unusual and incredibly ancient in feel. I find it a comforting scent and festive. I am enamored of the wine-myrrh note at the base of this scent.

In the imp: Myrrh, sweet almonds. Wet on skin: a softer warm, almond smell, bit of vanilla. A pleasant close aroma. Dry on skin: Soft sensual. Still traces of vanilla, almond, ylang ylang and myrrh, all blended together. Smells similar to baby powder for a short time, then it deepens into a spicier, skin glowing scent like skin close-up with a touch of gold. Verdict: Comforting, soft, sweet smell with a hint of ylang ylang, and a deep note of myrrh. The aroma of warmed up skin. More of a mood scent...

In the imp: resiny vanilla and spices Wet: Violets, clove, spices, light incense, heavy on the clove near end of wetness Dry: The violet sinks down a bit, the tonka and spices more forward. This is not grandma's violet scent at all! Smoky, spicy! Violets and tonka--magically harmonious!! It's wonderful to smell darkened, decadent violets spiced up with clove. As it wears on it gets a creaminess from the vanilla. I don't think of myself as a violet fan, but this is one that could win me over.

isisonearth and I discussed how different our senses of smell on Temple Of Dreams are earlier today! I love how we each have an keenly unique sense of smell! From the imp: Bright, sharp lavender with some herbalness in the background. Wet: Clove breaks through the lavenderDry: At first this is all lavender, but as it dries it becomes more interesting and complex. The drydown is spicy lavender,clove and sandalwood. Verdict: I love this! It is a beautiful and calming oil that helps calm me down at bedtime! DH thinks it is too sharp....for me it is a soothing herbal smell. As a very light sleeper, I find it easier to stay asleep wearing a few drops of the oil on the breastbone.Sweet dreams!

In the imp: apple, banana, pineapple, a dark musk. Wet on skin: crisp apple and sugary pomegranate with ripened bananas, coconut, skewered and seasoned with chilli pepper. Dry on skin: Intense fruits!!! First note is tangy, crisp apple with pomegranate and pineapple, with a little hint of banana underneath, a little coconut, and a definite warm pepper note. I'm getting a bolt of musk in there that has a resinous quality that grounds all the peppered tropical fruits. Later: the scent is quite smooth! On my skin, the pomegranate wins out over the banana, the heaviness of head-on sharper fruits dissipates, leaving a blended warmth from the chili and musk. The coconut all but disappears. Verdict: This is deep, intense fruit with a jolt of crackling chilli pepper. A sunny day with a thunderstorm looming. Sultry and tropical, the heat of the chili pepper threatening to penetrate the blended sweetness of humid tropical air. Not what I would pick for myself to wear, but a great sensory experience!! After 3 hours: Now I am getting a ritual incensy note similar to Tezcatlipoca!

I had to do some searching on orris. Its scent is said to be reminiscent of the smell of violets. This unique smell only wins over time in the drying process. After the drying process the root is ground, dissolved in water and then distilled. One ton of iris root produces two kilos of extremely expensive essential oil. The scent then is marvelous and incomparable, as powerful as it is subtle. It has been described as tenaciously flowery, heavy and woody. (from Fabienne Pavia's Lunivers des Parfums) In the imp: candy-like grapefruit Wet: still mostly grapefruit, less sweetness, bergamot Dry: this sweetens again once it dries. Amber, plum and violet-like orris mellow the zingy grapefruit. Very bright and tangy. Later: the grapefruit is more of a backdrop now. A plummy rich scent with a hint of orris. It's just barely sugary. It's very lovely. Hmmmm, this is a bit happy for a Fury!! Verdict: Zesty, happy! I'm not sure how this suits the concept of the fragrance. Seems like it is missing some petulance. Regardless, I like the scent. Citrus blends from the lab are refreshing. Hours later: The scent of Megaera is now all but gone...just a powdery sweetness. Off to apply again! The imp I have was only about half full, so I'll save the rest for another time. I like this, but I don't think it will be one that I would like a full 5ml bottle. If it had more edge, maybe so. It's refreshing, but the long lasting citrus and freshness of Bpal F5 is more suited for me.

In the imp: sweet fruity wine, dark and thick Wet: Sweet incense and swirling roses Dry: Dark and musky rose. The myrrh and wine have a figlike throw, but upon smelling my wrist, I get musky incense. The rose is almost herbal and dry and not particularly sweet. The black musk is almost feral, but it is lifted nicely by the wine. Still this is dangerously sexy scent and evocative of Lilith. There is a hint of danger. a woman who could turn on you in a heartbeat and laugh about it. The scent is commanding and sinister. I like this scent very much. As it wears on, the myrrh gentles the impact of the wine and musk and gives it some earthiness.

In the bottle: strong crisp white frangipani, moonflowers Wet: same cool white flowers and night blooming jasmine Dry: On me this is all white flowers. The frangipani lures you in at first. Potent and powerful. Once dry the flowers meld together nicely with dewy juicy moonflowers. Jasmine adds a bit dreamy creaminess--it's not loud jasmine at all. Very lanquid and powerful, lots of energy. After an hour, all of the flowers have cooled down and I am left with a beaming moonflower note glistening in the night air. The frangipani that was so strongly sweet is well beneath.

I love so many of the lunar oils, and I had high hopes for Gibbous Moon. I was not disappointed. In the bottle, cool refreshing cucumber and crisp chilly white and blue flowers. Wet on the skin, salty Irish moss emerges beside sweet hyacinth. The drydown is glorious! A wispy poke of ginger coupled with woody orris, all bathed in dewy moonlight. This is ethereal, soothing and dreamy.

Although she's no longer available...my favorite aquatic is Aeaea. I love the smell of the ocean breeze with the juniper berries!

In the imp: jasmine, intense myrrh Wet: jasmine, myrrh with a fresh rose throw Drydown: Darkly floral, sharp and resinous yet ethereal. The myrrh adds a bit of a magic and smoke. After a while, it sweetens more with the rose. Dusty and summery floral. At this stage, it reminds me a lot of Lush's Flying Fox with a hint of rose. After an hour: This has morphed down into a very gentle scent, all the sharpness is gone, just a hint of lingering resin; the jasmine and rose are mingled, their sweetness replacing the dust.

I was not the least familiar with some of these so I had to do a little background check! Motia is more usually called palmarosa, and is a species of lemongrass. Massoia is derived from the bark of an Indoneisan laurel, and is described as having a creamy or buttery coconut smell with undertones of fruit. Calamus, also called sweet flag, is a kind of fleshy rush whose leaves and rootstock yield a sweet-smelling, possibly lemon-scented oil. When I smell Black Moon, it does not smell dark to me at all. It's subtle and quiet, but not dark. The notes are quite difficult to distinguish especially with a head full of allergies. I definitely smell the pear and cucumber. The florals are cool and pale and fleshy. I also detect a creamy, thick note with a hint of nuttiness, which must be the massoia; loving that!. This is cool and white, delicate. Out front is the orchid with the jonquil, very light and pure. It has a distinctly herbal undertone, though not particularly lemony. The cucumber and pear keep this from being dry. The musk, too, is very light and delicate. Visions of a moonless night, lit and brilliant with stars! This has a secretive, luminous quality; very subtle and witchy!!!

I was apprehensive about the vetiver being a dominant note and fearing warp speed ampage, but the other notes sounded lovely, so I dabbed it on. What an intriquing yet mournful scent! In the imp: very dark colored. Opening it--patchouli and musk, a bit of lemon. Very resiny.Wet: Lots of herbs, almost overpowering. They are mysterious, dark. Dry: Gorgeous! Mostly the vetiver, thyme and herbs; and the patchouli is back. Very melancholic, beautiful. The musk gives it a dreamy feel, preventing the vetiver from totally taking over. Another unusual fragrance. I'm going to cherish. it.

In our paean to all the mysteries surrounding this enigmatic number, there are thirteen lucky and unlucky components, including white chocolate, dark chocolate, apple blossom, honeysuckle, frankincense, allspice, nutmeg, black tea, tonka, and sandalwood. When I open the bottle and take a whiff I get that gorgeous white and dark chocolate, I know I'm in for a smell sensation!! The mix of both is incredible and buttery. On my skin, the chocolates deepen with the warmth from the tonka and spices and the woodiness from the incenses. The apple is only there for a peek, no honeysuckle for my skin. They are there somewhere in the sweetness, but not out forward. The black tea and chocolates are a wonderful wake-up!!! This is not particularly a foody scent on me--much more like chocolately incense. I'll be huffing this one for a long time!! I can afford this much more than I can afford trips to Schokolad!!!! Gorgeous....

A few years ago, one of my clients sent me a thank you bouquet of stargazer lilies...exquisite red, pink and white lilies, petals turned upward....the aroma was like no other and lasted so very long. In the imp: dark sweet florals, rich and resinous Wet: the florals are bright, sharp Dry: the depth of the lily is out front, along with the sweetness from the gladiola and iris. A smoky background from the copal, labdanum and a vanilla note from the tonka give this an incense-like musky crackle. After a few minutes, the sharpness tones down and all of the scents unite into a sweet, dark and sophisticated blend. The stargazer lily is still the highlight of this blend on me. The iris and heliotrope give this a powdery smoothness. Very fascinating...I love how this morphs. It starts out dark, brightens sharply, then becomes a very light shimmery blend. It is somber, enlightening and elegant.

In the imp: earthy musk, sage, green woods Wet: musk gets sweeter with delicious heather, but still the musk is still strong. Woods are darkened, spicy almost masculine. Dry: VERY sensual musk, the dusty sage against the green moss is like a walk in a dark forest--dreamlike...almost lilke there are dark flowers blooming somewhere undiscovered. Wonderful unisex fragrance! I love it--but I can see it worn on DH as well. The moss note is really wonderful.

In the imp: orange blossom, mint, lavender Wet: cypress, more orange blossom Dry: orange blossom, passion flower, geramium are foreward with lavender back. Cypress is holding this together well subtly and keeps the sharp herbals from dominating. It gives a layer of silvery cool and peace. The geramium and orange blossom are a bit incensey. I don't get much mint or lavender on me with this. Verdict: I like this Muse. Ultimately, she is very peaceful, a gentle repose after a good cry, the weight of sadness lifted. I like how the oil echoes the process of creative response to a tragedy. It is sharp at first, then the drydown is cathartic. Another discontinued imp that will hold a treasured spot...

In the imp: Lemon, carnation, honeysuckle Wet: light musk, almost peppery poppy Dry: Light dry blended floral Verdict: White musk and I get along well! I love the creamy texture from it after it's on for 30 minutes. The florals are still dry, but they float in the white musk. Each of the notes has "equal time" in this scent. Very feminine and subtle. Although this is a discontinued scent, it remains a treasure in my imp box.

The temperature here has been 100 degrees+ since Saturday! When I reached for this imp this morning, I had hopes for something cool to refresh me. I was not disappointed! In the imp: mint drizzled pear Wet: green tea, citrus and yes, electric mints! Dry: Invigorating blue mints, gentle mosses, musty ambergris. Very ozone, like a light in a forest. Energetic and minty cool! Verdict: Instant energy for the skin--unusual for perfume. I'm no scientist, but this almost has an aquatic feel to it. Just a hint of powder after a couple of hours. Great for summer. My imp is going with me today!!!

I suppose we should call this review "Plutoid" now, LOL!! In the bottle: cedar, chilly air, mint, dried grass Wet: becomes aquatic, bit of musk Dry: Beautiful, icy forest; softly herbal but with an edge Verdict: Strangely unusual. It is more masculine than others, but there is a sweetness to the dried sweet grass that is delicate and dry. It is intense, unworldly and dark. It starts off sharp, but blends down sweet. Reminds me that winter will eventually be back--a cooling thought for a hot, humid summer day. I'm glad I found this one on eBay. I think it will layer nicely with BPAL's Persephone scent Fruit of Paradise... Edited to add--after 3 hours, this gets even better! Very woodsy, but dark and sorrowful. A great lingering throw!!!

Cocoa and fig have become my favorite notes! In the imp: smoky cocoa and fig Wet on skin: dried figs dipped in cocoa powder, light aroma ofcedar chips Drydown: Incensy, the cocoa and fig lay beneath the wood. There is some green in here, could be the palm, but it is merely detectible on me Verdict: A dark exotic blend, images of brown, smoky textures, cocoa and fig without sugary sweetness. A bit earthy, but mostly smoldering and sexy. The woods give it edge. This is beautiful on me at each stage. A very noir scent, think Lauren Bacall in The Big Sleep!

In the bottle: seagrass and berries Wet: woodsy and just a hint of sweet greenflowers Dry: dry balmy cedar for a nice sharp edge bathed in creamy aloe What a surprise!! I don't get anything dark and electric!! So much for descriptions! This is cool and smooth. Watery, salty and clean. A wonderful blue sea scent with soft florals...nice touch of berry, and of course, I would love it--it's a limited edition, LOL!!! Luckily I have an "heir" bottle coming to me, now I need a "spare"!

In the imp: Salty sweetness, juniper, deep blue water Wet on skin: slightly medicinal, almost apple-like, and overpowering Drydown: Gorgeous lotus with minty buttery aroma, cool, sweet and dark. The lotus dominated for about 15 minutes and I wondered if I cound handle it. But the three notes blend into a nice balance. Verdict: The impression of this is not the menacing undertow of the ocean that sucks you uncontrollably out to sea, but the sweet captivating lure of letting yourself be taken out to sea. The saltiness is gone, and you're taken in by its sweet ride.

In the imp: crispy green herbs, prickly pear cactus Wet on the skin: coriander, sage, hyssop. None seem to dominate--they just sing together in a layer of dusty poppy. Drydown: Juicy and natural--like agave nectar spiced up awith a light hit of mint, the resinous epazote weed creeping in the backdrop adds a layer similar to anise. Verdict: This is such a beautiful natural aroma. The scent itself if beautiful with the herbs, cactus and poppy. An extremely light, herbal floral on my skin. Softens very nicely. Reminds me of a beautiful red flower perched atop a succulent cactus pod, blooming in the dry arid Sonora desert washed in grey green sages. Honestly, this smells like nothing I have ever experienced, but has the feel of the desert Southwest. I would definitely use this as a daytime fragrance here in hot humid Texas. I have a lot of affection for this wonderful creation of Beth's!!! I can see a full bottle coming on!