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This can be called a Dorian variation, but I do find that they have their differences. The drydown is softer and more fluid. At times, this blend comes off a bit more perfumy to me. This is the same kind of results I had when trying Usher. I will say that I am quite pleased with the blend overall. Perhaps, I just over-applied this morning. Who knows? I can pick up similarities in the drydown to Cheshire Cat, surprisingly enough. The musk is soft and lingers all day. I love the way the vanilla and musk wrap around the edge from the Earl Gray's bergamot. It's quite fantastic.

Initially, this starts off like Dorian with added smoke on me. I wouldn't say it's musky - more slight lemony creamy over a deep layer of smoke. My skin amps tobacco and smoke of any kind so that is predominantly the note of this blend for me. The apricot flower lends a sweetness that is rounded out with just the barest touch of coconut. I don't smell the coconut, per se - but I can pick up the creaminess it is lending to this blend. Drydown is mostly vanilla smoke with light coconut cream for me. It is rather light wearing. Some people will have to reapply to take advantage of those citrus cream top notes. I tried reapplying and got more smoke. This was my first try of the CD line and I'd say we are definitely off to a great start.

This is a very powerful and reliable magical oil blend. I have been amazed at how well it has worked with just a little bit of intent and focus. Scent wise it is heavy on vetiver. There is a sweet cherry-esque vibe to it - but you can defnitely tell that this isn't meant to be a perfume oil. It's not unpleasant at all when wearing, but I could definitely see how wearing too much could overdo it. It's interesting though. I typically now put a little PB on the back of my neck and on a necklace I often wear at least once a week. Sometimes, I will also dab a bit to my heart and hands as well. The latest.: I annointed my neck and necklace yesterday morning. I didn't have any real specific focus other than "a little good fortune/good luck" would be great today. I have been thinking about how horrible my computer at work is for quite a while, but it's been months since I expressed my displeasure to the powers that be. Imagine my surprise when I saw a sexy, fire-engine red Voodoo machine with see through case sitting on our IT person's desk. Damn this machine is sexy! Top of the line - ALL the bells and whistles. I assumed that it was the IT guy's new computer. I found out later that it is meant to be mine! One of our board members donated it to me. IT guy just has to format and move all my stuff over. That machine is going to look hot on my desk! To give you even more info about how PB has worked for me, I am copying my first three experiences from the TAL Reports community as well - these are even bigger displays of fortune: This was my first real experience with any of the TALs. I bought a bottle from a forumite. Who couldn't use more good fortune and prosperity? I haven't had much experience with rituals so I did a very low-level meditation deal. Basically, I just inhaled and applied the oil thinking of things that indicate prosperity to me - an influx of money, having good spirits, being able to spend some time with my husband, being stress free. I have used this 3 times now. Here are my results: First time, I didn't have any specifics in mind. More of a general "I welcome showers of good fortune from the universe". I felt less stressed, more grounded. I also found that I had good energy at work. Mostly, I felt calm and collected. I did some good work and had a great evening with my hubby. He was supposed to work, but decided spending time with me would be better. That usually doesn't happen! I felt that everything was real subtle and could have been taken as coincidence at first. Second time - This time I wanted a bit of good fortune in terms of work. Mainly, a bit of recognition and some much needed income for my department. I applied this and meditated before going to bed. The next morning, I was surprised to find that my department helped gain the company nearly 30K in new revenue. Considering that at least one client had already decided on someone else to develop their website, getting this deal was really surprising. They came back simply for the prospect of working with my department - and - they decided to let us do the website after all. Another client who is especially enamoured threw 3 new projects our way based on the work I'm currently doing for them. All in all, very positive. ETA: I also gained a productivity bonus and a small raise as a result of this. I consider it PB related as well since I was wearing it the days I ofund out about both. Last time: I was all about the money. My husband does many hours of side-work each week. He has three main "clients" - but what they really are are big 'ol moochers. He helps them out doing all manner of computer things for them (setting up their entire IT infrastructures) and not one of them pays him anything. This has been a major point of argument between us. His time is valueable. There have been entire weekends when the only time I got to see him was 3-4 hours, and that was just for meals because he has to eat some time. If your goal of side work is to bring home some extra money to help with the bills, you better bring home some money, damnit! I am quite pleased to say that after 2 years of doing work for one person, and things coming to a head about being used - my hubby brought home a $5k check last night! The funny thing is that the guy had written the check on Friday - my husband didn't even have a heart to heart with him until Monday. I was floored.

Harvest Moon '06 is quite a nice departure from the deep, dark visit at last year's harvest. This blend blooms with the scent of rich, red apples - tart and juicy - with a overlayer of sweet cherry with a whiff of pomegrante. The wet stage is all fruit and sweetness. As it dries, we take a trip into a more pastoral setting with wafts of wheat and unusual woods. All along, there is the musky sweetness of the sorghum lending a hand to the beautiful bounty of the Asian notes of bamboo, tea, rice flower and a creamy touch of rice milk. All in all, this is a very wearable and enjoyable blend. I do agree that it has similarities to Hungry Ghost Moon. I for one am happy about that sincee HGM is one of my all time favorite lunacy blends. Here's to Beth's artistic vision. With great appreciation for branching out and visiting the Asian moons and their influences this year.

Initially, in the imp and at first on skin, this reminds me so much of Al-Araaf. There's a honeyed sweetness at first. Comparing the note lists, I don't see where the the two should cross paths. Afterwards, I am left with frankincense. This point in the blend leads with force of sweet incense until I'm left with a delicate sweetness. I think this is presenting as the copal. I find this scent very comforting. It's alluring - soft, powdery - but with prescence. It's rather conflicting to my senses. But, it is another stunner from The Salon. This reminds me of the sweet scent left behind on the wood of a box used to hold years of incense. It's not heavy or cloying. Just there upon the skin. If your skin amps frankincense, be prepared for a nice initial blast before it settles into a nice roundness of ylang-ylang tempered with sweet herbals and copal.

Wet, the orange blossom is apparent. I was so worried about it because this note has a history of turning really foul on my skin. In this blends, however, it was wonderfully grounded. With the sweetness of benzion, the orange really gave my nose a treat. As this dried, I got a nice mellow scent, almost mournful, with decent throw. Some part of it did amp up on my as the day wore on. I'm pretty sure that was the white tea. My nose wasn't quite sophistocated enough to pick out the more exotic ingredients. Surprisingly, the vetiver lent a understated smoky feel that I actually enjoyed. I continue testing the Salon scents and as always, continue to be blown away by the complex art in what Beth has given us with this new category.

Leather isn't overwhelming, but I can detect during all stages of the scent. Surprised that the black musk is only noticable when wet. This particular note translates very weirdly on my skin (black musk in Samhain '05 = whiff of Vapo-Rub!) Patchouli gives it staying power, but it's very understated. I can detect the incensy champaca flower that I like so much in Hellion. The white pepper adds that little extra something to spice it up a wee bit. Surprised at how close this one sits to the skin. Can relate to the reference to King of Clubs. I need to test it some more, but initial thoughts are that I like it.

Dragon's blood isn't too overwhelming. I can detect the bamboo (very Holiday Moon-esque) and the light tea. The touch of sweetness has to be the cherry. Dry, it is mostly tea and bamboo - the dragon's blood just lends it a slightly floral note. I'm suprised that I didn't get more sandelwood. It seems to have faded pretty fast on my skin. All in all, I think this is another winner.

Another winner! I agree with others that have mentioned a note that is extremely similar to the Snake Oil/Snake Charmer vein. This starts off all cake, ala Beaver Moon without the heaviness. As it warms, the beautiful currants come out. I don't find it overly sweet. So, this is just about right. There is a sweet vanilla musk component that lasts all day on my skin. Top notes: sweet vanilla cake with just a slight lemony twist, deepened by a earthy berriness that stays close and finishes with an aged vanilla musk.

Snake Oil also has awesome sillage and sticking power for me as well. I also find that Dorian, Dana O Shee, Scherazade, Hymn to Persephine, and Black Opal do as well. I'm sure there are others. A lot is detemined by which notes your skin eats up and which sit on your skin for generous wafting. For me, iris gives massive sillage, so much so that I can hardly wear it.

This is very warm and comforing. I can feel the heat of the savannah. It's amber with a spicy undertone. Perhaps, cinnamon although I don't get any of the usual burn that cinnamon often brings. There is a creaminess to the spice. So, I am also leaning towards something more exotic: saffron maybe. I get a warm musk on drydown that sweetens and becomes just a touch foody. Fans of Jacob's Ladder maybe find similarity to this at the basic level.

Bordello and Katharina - the 2 best flirty scents in my book. Maybe March Hare - it's spicy and unique, a great conversation starter.

I find Dorian to be Antique Lace with the addition of a sophistocated musk. I think Bastet is much darker amber with more depth.

This is the lovely soil of Queen of Clubs minus the fruitness. Quite beautiful and comforting - just like Mother Earth - except when one is being prematurely buried alive, I would imagine.

I can agree to a certain extent that Usher is Dorian-esque. However, I must say that this is Dorian stripped down bare & naked until barely a shred of his soul is left. Initially, it is a very light. I love the tea leaf and mint combination. The mint is barely a breath, but you can pick it out of the note lineup. I also got wisps of the mandarin. This note gives it some "lift" on the skin. I wish that it had stayed in that stage for longer. At first, I would classify this as gender-neutral. However, it gets more masculine as the day wears on. The musk is there. It is present. As long as it's on my skin, it is faint. On my shirt, however, it's amping like crazy. I don't find the musk and fougere as comforting as Dorian. There is a certain quality of "subdued madness" to this blend. Not quite so in your face and vain as Dorian. But not as comforting and sweet either. I do like it, but there are times when I feel as if I've washed in one of those weird little soaps that teeter between masculine and feminine - not woody, not floral, not sweet, not heady and rich, or overly soapy - but not light and refreshing either. Recommended to people that like aquatics with light musk and prefer their scents to on the gender-neutral side. It is fainter and drier and not quite as lush as I consider Dorain to be - but still nice in it's own right.

This is a sunny green scent. At times, I got a harsh green-ness that I wasn't quite sure about. But, I stuck it out and ultimately determined that I could wear this blend. As others have pointed out, the lemon balm is noticeable. I found that it disappeared quickly and then the dry, greenness took over. I can only assume that this was the orris and the rosemary/sage blending together. I found this somewhat reminescent of Sol - although this is sweeter (honeysuckle) and has a few interesting surprises to make it more distinct. It drys to a sweet powder with a slight incense feel to it. I think more testing is necessary, but currently I think it is a keeper.

On my skin, this was a muted crystalline floral. It seemed to have some elements in common with Utremmyaya from the Zorya collection. It must be the osmanthus. As it settles on the skin, I can detect the lilly, but only if I press my nose to my wrist. Mostly, it ends up as a slighty dampened musk/frankincense scent. It is chilly and serene, with noticable "twinkling" effect from the musk. I can see making this a bedtime, fresh from the bath kind of scent. Throw is moderate. Longevity is medium to low.

More professions of love for teh Smut! Before hitting the club, Snake Charmer has a quick tryst with Sin. Then quickly rushes to meet up with Elegba at the club. On the way home she finishes the night off pressed up against the wall in a back alley with her favorite f**k buddy, Snake Oil. Oh, yeah....what a night that was! You're going to get boozy rum, sugary sweet fruit, a splash of warm spice, full on sensual assault from red musk, with a drive by from patchouli and maybe a wave from Sed non Satiata. The word of the day...smut. Truly another fantastic Beth creation. P.S. I would sign my name in blood on a petition for this to join the General Catalog lineup.

Truly springtime in a bottle. The lunar oils in this are pale and luminous. They ground a bevy of pale exotic blossoms that burst out into bloom on the skin. There's nothing haughty or overstated here. This is light, clean pink & green florals. This is feminine and gentle. I love the plum blossom paired with the Chinese musk. A breathtaking pairing. The first two lunacy blends of 2006 have both been hits in my book. I can't wait to see what other lovely treasures Beth has in store for us this year.

At first, this is exotic woodsy spice - along the vein of Morocco perhaps - but it softens up to a honey sandalwood scent. It has a particularly "waxy" or candle-like feel on my skin. I can't really explain that oddity. The throw is medium -to- low as it sticks mostly to the skin. I didn't pick up too many of the florals. I could tell they were there, but nothing struck me as identifiable. It is balanced and complex. There is a slight smokiness and incense feel in the bottom notes. A nice complement to both Red Lantern and Smut. This is their quieter, sexy cousin.

This is honeyed-patchouli musk. It is woodsy with muted greenery. Surprisingly, it's not as heavy as I thought it would be. It is gender-neutral, but does swing a bit closer to the masculine side. I don't really know what to think of this blend just yet. I never knew patchouli could be so sweet and so earthy sensual at the same time. It would smell damn sexy on a guy. There is something primal and pulsating in this scent. Sexually-charged for sure. The one image I keep getting in my mind was of a down and dirty romp in the forest - pressed between a very virile man and a tree - the smell of crushed leaves, wet earth, and clinging moss permeating my senses. Seems like a reasonable fantasy to me.

Who would have thought church could smell so sexy? Sweet incensy resins with just a subtle hint of wood twisting and turning like a tendril of smoke in the air. Until it settles down upon my skin, all snug, cozy and full of peace like a sinner stepping from the confessional. I am so glad that I took a chance on this stellar Yule offering. If we are so lucky to see this again next year, I'll be first in line to buy a new bottle.

This is a citrus spice tea. The citrus is fairly well-behaved for me. You can tell it's there. You can tell it's citrus, but you can't necessarily tell which citrus it is. Sometimes, it's orange. Sometimes lemon. And I swear, even once or twice it came through a a wee bit of grapefruit for me. Very strange indeed. The spice isn't overwhelming. It is somewhat cardamon or coriander-like to my nose, but it's not too much. Something in this blend does throw off a slight herbal vibe to my nose. Just slightly. Overall, this is creamy, a bit spicy, and unique. I can't think of anything else that is like it. I also think that it morphs and changes. I'd suggest that you try it more than once just to be sure. It is a bit mood enhancing. It's hard to be a depressed moping mess with such an uplifting scent wafting around. It's not all bright and shiny, but wearing it did give me a brighter outlook and a sunny disposition....at least for the day.

This is a sweet and fruity scent. More grounded and refined than some of the other bright fruity scents that I've liked (Agalea, Katharina). There is a definitely boozy undertone to it, but it's not in your face. More of a fruity red wine spilled on a lace tablecloth. My skin picks up the burgandy wine and plum the most. Faintly, I get the barest wisps of amaretto - but not so much as to be able to identify it without sniffing my skin up close. I can see the association with cathouses and loose women. This makes me want to grab my man and push his face into my ample bosom as I throw back my head laughing with unbridled delight. All in all it's been a delightful, fiendish romp - and don't forget to leave my money on the table, dar'lin.

A celebration of three years of decadence, determination, death and rebirth. Red musk, tonka, Chinese cassia, mandarin, patchouli, benzoin, wild plum and tobacco. Initially, I wasn't too sure if I could handle this when sniffing from the bottle. It had a spicy, strong undertone to it that I didn't find pleasant. From the notes, it appeared that this should work on my skin, so I gave it a test drive. A bit darker than I expected. It seems a bit discordant at first. There is an undertone that I'm not entirely keen on. I am hoping that it goes away once dry. This is spicy - in a non-traditionally spicy way. It has a pronounced deep cinnamon-esque scent - different from the cassia and cinnamon I've encountered before. This seems dark and gritty to me. I wonder if that might be the patchouli doing this. Otherwise, I can't pick up a single twinge of the patchouli at all in this. Usually, red musk is one of my favorite notes. I can sense it here, but it feels different to me. I wonder if it's the slight citrus twist that's keeping it cool and unsweetened on my skin. I will agree with the Blood Moon comparisons. This is lighter without the deep musk of Blood Moon - and the cinnamon is less in-your-face. On the drydown, I am left with a slight - and I do mean ever so slight - vanilla feel. Thank you tonka. But primarily, the lingering aftereffects are musky plum covered tobacco. This is probably the first blend that tobacco has come out to play for me. Overall, I am glad to have a bottle of this. I don't know if it will go into my regular rotation. It feels like a "special occasion" scent to me. Perfect for a seduction or when I need an extra boost of feminine wiles to get what I want.