gingersnapp

At first, this smelled very similar to Black Phoenix on me. It was an extremely sweet cherry almond scent, but with a bit of "grittiness" to it, like there was sugar granules all over the place. Now that it's dried down quite a bit, it smells more.... dirty? Literally. There's a dusty dirtiness to it. But it's also still very sweet. And a touch boozy. Maybe that's what the "dirt" is? Either way, it's very interesting and playful. I'm glad I got to try it.

This is sweet, but also... dry? I thought it would be a sticky juicy sweet, what with the caramel and coconut, but it's actually probably much more tolerable this way. This is also one of the only blends with coconut that doesn't turn into Banana Boat SPF 4 on me, so I'm pleased about that. The caramel and coconut are smooth, creamy sweetness in the foreground, but again, keep in mind that it is a dry scent. Not sticky. I am also getting a dry dusty spice smell. This isn't really what I expected from this blend, but it is very nice nonetheless.

WHOA is this a strong one. I applied the slightest bit to my wrist and after a second it was like getting smacked in the face with a big fat bouquet. Initially, I got the apple peel... a dirty, potent fruity smell. But right now, about ten minutes after applying, it is a pure, strong jasmine. Maybe a little myrrh keeping it from being entirely floral, but it is 99.9999999% jasmine on me. I really wanted to keep smelling the apple peel. That was very unique. And I really wanted to be able to smell the sandalwood, myrtle, quince, citron, thyme and musk. But no. Jasmine. And only jasmine. Forever and ever amen. Stupid jasmine.

MMmmm..... white roses. Very soft and delicate, with a mildly spicy undertone from the resins. This has not gone to powder on me like rose sometimes does. It still smells like a big fat bloom. Not the tiny, closed buds. These roses would be gorgeous when given. Utterly romantic and feminine.

This started out crisp and brightly floral, a very bright white scent. As it dried, my old friend lily took over as it always does, and this has softened considerably into a delicate and powdery floral. I think it's the white musk that is giving me the impression of "powder," or perhaps the frankincense. This is very calm and very beautiful. I don't know how or why, but this gives the impression of nighttime as opposed to daytime. Serene and delicate, like shadows from the moon. Just lovely!

Hominahominahomina. Sweaty dusty musky musk. It's almost powdery, but in an "I've been rolling around in the dirt" kind of way. There's a definite sweetness to it at some points, but mostly it's just a deep, groin-tugging raw patchouli and musk blend. Verrah verrah hott.

At first, I could smell similarities to Snake Oil. It was smooth and spicy and liquid sex in a bottle. But as it's dried, there came this sickly sweet rancid fruit smell, and I don't know what that is. I'm hoping this mellows and morphs as it continues to dry. Either that or I just need to age it a little bit. I'm not ready to give up on this blend just yet.

This is a delicate fruity floral. I can't tell what is what, but it is just soft and pretty and very appropriate for springtime.

This was citrus, and slightly herbal. But it faded very quickly, and I don't really recall much else. It was a dry scent, and I got a dusty parchment smell out of it, but looking at the list of the notes in the blend, there's no parchment... that's Clio. Maybe the labels on those imps got switched? Either way, it's dry and dusty and orange-y, but no throw and no staying power. No mint, no lavender, and no almonds.

... Her scent is the warm, dry parchment of scrolls, lavender for critical thought and analysis, the solidity of heavy woods, ornery patchouli and glib benzoin, and superstar-splashed orange and amber. This is a creamy citrus blend. I can't quite put my finger on what this smells like exactly, but I feel like I've smelled it before. Like I said, it's citrus, first and foremost. But I'm not really sure what the creamy is. The amber? The lavender? There's a hint of spiciness, so maybe the amber? I don't really think any of the lavender is coming through. As for the parchment smell, I definitely got that in Calliope for some reason, but not in Clio. I'm not picking up the woods or the patchouli or benzoin. This is nice, though. And fairly calming. I guess that must be the lavender.

Mmmm, this is deliciously masculine. But not in an "I'm a big brute who will kick your ass!!!" kind of way, but in a sleek and manipulative while looking like a fashion model kind of way. Very musky, but delicately so, if that can be possible. I bought this for the carnation, mostly, but don't really get much more out of it than the faint spicy throw that just seems to build right into that musk. Of course, the cedar is there too, and it's dry and woodsy and sweet. I can't individually identify the sage, lavender, vanilla or leather, but I'm sure there in there making this blend as posh and tricky as it is. I really love this, and would love to smell it on my husband, if he'd ever let me put oils on him.

When I first put this on, there was a spark of Christmas Tree and I thought, well, I guess the juniper is going to dominate this blend. However, two of the strongest and most dominant scents with my skin chemistry are duking it out and neither one seems to be winning - the lily and the juniper. It's a very strong floral with a piney undertone. And there is definitely that feeling of coldness. Nicely done.

The amber is still creamy and golden like other ambers I've worn, but for some reason the black musk is making it powder. I smell like grandma.

This is a very sharp astringent floral on me. I made the mistake of over-applying it and I was smothering in the scent for the first half hour or so. It's still a bit overpowering, but I imagine it will fade a bit more in time. This is the perfect time of year for me to try out the voodoo qualities. I'm an accountant and this is tax season, so my job is stressful and exhausting. Plus, it's winter in Michigan and, even though we are having a relatively mild and snow-free season so far, it's grey and overcast almost every single day. Life without sunshine has been bringing me down. I haven't felt the uplifting, depression-relieving qualities yet, and I'm not sure about the good luck. But I'll report back on that later if / when anything happens.

I was a bit nervous about applying this oil after reading how many people had irritation issues from the cinnamon. Normally, I'm fine as far as that is concerned; Eclipse is the only blend that's ever casued welts / hives on my skin after applying it. Mercury is fine... no irritation as of yet. When I first put it on, the cinnamon seemed hard and ballsy to me, like in Three Witches (the resurrected version) and I was sure that I would need to age Mercury a little bit as well so that it would mellow and learn to play a bit more nicely with the other notes. However, as it has dried, the cinnamon has softened and become a bit more foody. The lavender, or whatever that gentle floral note is, has come a bit more into the forefront, but neither note is really dominating the other at this point... they are actually a very harmonious blend. This makes me feel calmer every time I smell it. It actually has a lot of similar properties of Quietude, which is my go-to blend for falling asleep at night.

Whew.... that is some strong jasmine! I can detect a little bit of the lotus everyone else is describing just underneath it all, but this is a very determined but somehow also aquatic jasmine. Powerful!

Mmmmm.... honey honey honey honey honey honey honey. That is all that I smelled when I applied to my skin. And I'm not complaining because I LOVE honey. As it dried, it became more herbal and a bit creamier. That vanilla musk was a gorgeous addition to the blend. This is a fun, sweet blend. I'm so glad I tried it.

This is spring in a bottle. And I look out my window at the snow / rain mix and want to cry. It goes on very strong... a brisk tea scent with an underlying spiciness. As it dries, it mellows considerably and also gets quite creamy. It's green and herbal and bright and yet soothing at the same time. Very beautiful, very spring.

Oh my my, oh hell yes. This is the scent I was looking for without even knowing I was looking for it. This is the smell of my years as a card-carrying Goth, going out of my way to unnerve my parents and co-workers and anyone else I could get to pay attention to me, DJing until 4:00 in the morning, smoking cloves, fake hair, lots of eyeliner, fishnets, boots that make you a foot taller from the platform alone, incense, KMFDM with the knob at 11, and a fog machine that never quits. When I first put it on, it's a lush smoky blend of plum and champa, with the musk and patchouli swirling around on the bottom, much like the aforementioned fog machine. As it dries (and hours later) this is THE champa incense I used to burn in the club because I loved it so much at my favorite off-the-beaten-path clothing store in downtown Detroit. RIP, Showtime, you were loved. Anyway, this is smoky and dirty and downright sexy. And it lasts forever too. I put a very small amount from the cap on the top of my hand last night to test it and it lasted through sleep, a rough workout, and a shower this morning. Mmm. MMMMM! HELL YEAH!

The rose is heady and sensual and strong, not a delicate, pretty or wimpy little rose. The cinnamon lingers softly in the background, adding a little bit of spicy depth. But the rose... this blend is all about the rose. And I really love rose. So this one works for me.

In the imp and after first applying it, this IS a Cosmopolitan. Light with bubbly citrus and a splash of cranberry in some juniper gin. However, my skin loooooooooves juniper and it absorbed every other note until that was all that's left. And now the juniper is turning soapy. Sadness. It really was a fun, bright cranberry blend.

MMMmmmm, this is soft and beautiful. The mosses are sweet and light, and the most dominant of the notes in the blend. There is a dry spiciness also, perhaps the woods. This is just undescribably beautiful. Like standing in the middle of a quiet forest, with little beams of sunlight peaking through the tree tops. Utterly tranquil and gorgeous.

MMmmmmmm... oakmoss. One of my favorite notes, and here it is in all its earthy glory. It blends so beautifully with the patchouli. I don't get much of the heliotrope or copal, and I'm kind of glad of that because heliotrope usually turns into soap on my skin. This is a very sensual, earthy smell. Rich and deep and heady.

This is a very soft blend without a whole lot of throw, and it appears to be a quick fader on me. I'm getting the peony most of all, and I'd say the white musk and pepper are in the background spicing it up a little bit. A very little bit, as this is mostly floral and not really much else. I don't know. I just don't get much out of this blend.

This is sweet and punchy. I'm not too familiar with apricot brandy, but it definitely has a boozy undertone to it. Very fun and outspoken, this is rowdy and cheerful and uplifting. Much like, I'm guessing, apricot brandy.