cranberry

In the imp: vetiver, red musk On the skin: a bit powdery. I smell mainly vetiver, patchouli, plus the powder of black musk. The vetiver and patchouli are the strongest. Dark, woody, nice. I'm glad that I got to try this.

In the imp: rose, mainly rose. On the skin: rose initially. This is a really pretty scent and I’m glad to try it. There’s an underlying rose smell, but it smells like there could be a touch of vanilla and musk. There’s a similarity here to Lucretia. I also smell some of the typical voodoo oils.

Only a sniffer courtesy of the Discontinued Swap Circle, but in the imp it smells mainly of violet and lavender. I like what I’m smelling and I would love to try this and see what it does on the skin.

In the imp: mainly I smell bergamot and lemon verbena. On the skin: this is a pretty light scent. Initially I smell mainly lemon verbena with bergamot in the background. I smell a bit of the jasmine but it’s real light. This is a nice, herbal scent along the line of classic colognes. After it’s been on a while it takes a somewhat powdery character.

In the imp: mainly I smell lotus (bubble-gum), pear/fruit On the skin: Initially, the lotus dominates. Smells pretty good, like really good bubble gum. There’s a warmth to this that I’m attributing to the heliotrope. There’s also a fruity element. I’m not smelling the white wine at all. This was one of my contributions to the Discontinued Sniffing Circle and I know that it’s a pretty old imp, probably 18 months or so, so that could be contributing. To characterize this scent, I would call it a bubbly, happy, fruity scent. It wears well and lasts for a long time, even through a couple of handwashings. It’s not something I’d reach for often but if another imp came my way I’d probably pull it out every once in a while.

This scent was a complete surprise for me. I never really looked at the notes nor ever really wanted to try it. Trying this through the discontinued sniffing circle was a complete surprise for me. (the Circle started before CC was resurrected.) Once on the skin, it’s fruity smelling. I’m having a hard time picking out notes. After it’s been on a while, I think the chamomile comes out and melds with the musk. It actually reminds me of my memory of Satan and Death with Sin Intervening. There’s an element in here that almost smells a bit yeasty, which is really interesting. It only lasted for a couple minutes but while it was there, quite unexpected. I can smell the lavender, chamomile, the grapefruit adds a bit of tartness and the currant adds a touch of fruitiness but is not overpowering like current or fig can sometimes do to a blend. After it’s been on a for a while, the currant really comes out and is the dominant scent. It’s got good staying power and has lasted through several handwashings. I would characterize this as a mildly fruity, lavender blend initially going to a fruity blend over time. Based on the name and my general conception of it as a grapefruit blend, I wasn’t expecting this at all.

In the imp: Lavender. Lavender. Lavender. On the skin, it’s still strongly lavender. There’s a touch of the same amber that’s in Haunted or in Bruja (which I just tried so it’s fresh in my mind and memory). There is a slight woody smell to this, maybe a sandalwood or cedar. After it’s been on a bit, this is fantastic! Amber, lavender and wood. I love all of these elements. This is a warm, slightly woody, slightly herbal scent. The amber seems to be strongest, followed by woods. The lavender and possibly other herbs are in the background now, making themselves known every so often. I haven’t tried any of the other zodiac scents but I adore this one. Even though this is not my star sign, I would get this if it were available. (thanks DC sniffing circle!)

Whoa, verbena! Wow – that is strong (in the imp). Once applied, the verbena remains at the forefront. Around the edges though I can detect a bit of sage and begamont. This is a wonderful, crisp, refreshing scent. It reminds me a strong wind (in spirit, not in smell). I only put a little bit of this on, so that may be part of it, but it’s been about 20 minutes and I can hardly smell it now. There’s a trace of the verbena and that’s about it. Dang, I was liking this scent a lot; it’s too bad it lasted such a short time. It's so crisp, clean and refreshing.

In the imp I smell warm amber. Myrrh adds a dusty note. Once applied, it smells pretty much as it did in the imp – golden amber touched by myrrh. This actually reminds me a bit of Haunted but not as dry. I can smell the lilac faintly but it’s not as overpowering as it is in some of the other blends where it’s used. This is actually quite lovely, and that’s the correct term. Pretty, but ladylike and proper. A touch reserved. I was thinking this was the same amber that’s in the Lion, or Coyote, because it wasn’t turning to powder, but this is the amber that’s in Haunted. It’s reacting how Haunted did on my skin – turning slightly powdery, like baby powder. Despite the powder, I still like the scent but it does remind me of Haunted. It also reminds me a bit of O. Regardless, I’m thrilled to have gotten to try this, but I don’t need to hunt down more, which is good, as this is so hard to come by now.

Tried this through the discontinued scent circle. In the imp: musks. It’s a dark, rich-smelling scent On the skin, wet: musks, a bit of floral – roses mainly. This is a musky, resiny, rich scent. Dry: the dark musks are coming out and becoming a bit powdery. Oh yes, it’s strongly powder with a hint of rose. Overall: I got none of the patchouli, civet, dragon’s blood, myrrh or ylang ylang. Just musk and rose. It was good to try this but I won’t be hunting this one down.

Motivated to try my imp by the GC Swap. In the imp: mainly almond with a bit of spice far in the background. On the skin, wet: whoa! Almond! Overpowering almond. Cherry-type almond. On the skin, dry: after it’s been on a bit, the almond tempers and other scents come out. I think that’s heliotrope, plus a bit of spice. This stage of the scent is wonderful. Its slightly sweet, creamy with a bit of spice. My skin has turned a bit red where I applied this. It could be because I just did the dishes and the heat has my pores open. Overall: I really like this scent, or as it dries that is. The beginning is strong, but the drydown is glorious. Warm and creamy, It does have a similarity with Morocco but I wouldn't have noticed it had it not been pointed out. I don't know about a bottle but I'll definitely keep all the imps that come my way.

Eclipse - Bewitching Brews Notes: bitter almond, vanilla, frankincense, heliotrope, cinnamon Motivated to try my imp by the GC Swap. In the imp: mainly almond with a bit of spice far in the background. On the skin, wet: whoa! Almond! Overpowering almond. Cherry-type almond. On the skin, dry: after it’s been on a bit, the almond tempers and other scents come out. I think that’s heliotrope, plus a bit of spice. This stage of the scent is wonderful. Its slightly sweet, creamy with a bit of spice. My skin has turned a bit red where I applied this. It could be because I just did the dishes and the heat has my pores open. Overall: I really like this scent, or as it dries that is. The beginning is strong, but the drydown is glorious. Warm and creamy, It does have a similarity with Morocco but I wouldn't have noticed it had it not been pointed out. I don't know about a bottle but I'll definitely keep all the imps that come my way.

Libertine – Love Potions Notes: rosewood, chamomile, bergamot, violet, red sandalwood, primrose, arabian musk In the Imp: chamomile and rosewood On the Skin, wet: this reminds me of my beloved Sleepy Moon. Must be the chamomile. This is a bit more herbal but I’m liking this. Dry: After it’s been on a bit, it’s predominantly rosewood, the chamomile is still here, with touches of primrose and violet. It’s not so much Sleepy Moon but I still like this. The sandalwood and musk support the herbs and rosewood. Overall: This is a soft, clean scent, understated and natural. It would smell good on a man or a woman and is perfect for those time when you want to smell good without the scent being overpowering or in your face.

Motivated to try my imp by the GC Swap. In the Imp: chamomile and rosewood On the Skin, wet: this reminds me of my beloved Sleepy Moon. Must be the chamomile. This is a bit more herbal but I’m liking this. Dry: After it’s been on a bit, it’s predominantly rosewood, the chamomile is still here, with touches of primrose and violet. It’s not so much Sleepy Moon but I still like this. The sandalwood and musk support the herbs and rosewood. Overall: This is a soft, clean scent, understated and natural. It would smell good on a man or a woman and is perfect for those time when you want to smell good without the scent being overpowering or in your face.

Pink Owl 2 Aeval - reviewed Carnal** - reviewed Hecate - reviewed Morocco** - reviewed O** - reviewed Red Queen** - reviewed R'Lyeh - reviewed wheew! lots of imps to try! 7-12-06: woohoo! I'm on a sniffing roll. this one is ready to go to spacekitty too! 7-14-06: finally made it to the PO. 8-6-06: finally all reviewed!

Red Queen - Mad Tea Party Notes: mahogany, woods, black cherries, currant Motivated to try my imp by the GC Swap. In the imp: cherries On the skin, wet: cherries. Red cherries. On the skin, dry: the woods come out. There’s cherries and wood. A little later, the currants are more prominent and the cherries not as much so. The mahogany reminds me of cedar. Dry, I like this scent quite a lot. Overall, it was great to try this again and I always enjoy it when I do. I don’t need a bottle but I’ll keep my imp.

Motivated to try my imp by the GC Swap. In the imp: cherries On the skin, wet: cherries. Red cherries. On the skin, dry: the woods come out. There’s cherries and wood. A little later, the currants are more prominent and the cherries not as much so. The mahogany reminds me of cedar. Dry, I like this scent quite a lot. Overall, it was great to try this again and I always enjoy it when I do. I don’t need a bottle but I’ll keep my imp.

The first thing I smell is orange blossom and surprisingly enough, orange. Something tangy and fruity. I didn’t think there was orange in here so it must be some of the other ingredients that I don’t recognize (there a slew of them). After it’s been on a minute or two, there’s something almost doughy in here. So now it’s orange blossom, orange, and raw dough. It smells like raw flour and eggs mainly. Now the benzoin comes out. There’s still elements of fruit and flower. The dough element is almost gone by now, but not quite. After it’s been on for a while, it’s a warm, resinous scent. I like this scent at this stage. Wow, this is wonderful. Warm, resinous, slightly spicy, slightly sweet. Overall, this was an interesting scent. The dough scent was fleeting but it sure was a strange 20-30 minutes while it was present. The ending is wonderful, but maybe not enough to get past the beginning.

In the imp: lavender On the skin: Wet, this is not lavender at all like I expected. Instead, this is all soft, sweet florals. I can’t pick out any notes, identifying florals has never been a strong point. Some of the other reviews say this strong on moonflower. I don’t know what it is but I like it and I’ll keep my eye open for other moonflower scents. I never thought I was one for white florals but this is really pretty. I’ve always gone for leather, vanilla, resins, wood, incense and musk. So, even if you think Bat-Woman may not be your thing, give it a shot. You might be surprised. It is indeed airy and brings to mind a cool, dark night, glittering stars and an open sky.

Morocco - Wanderlust Notes: musk, carnation, red sandalwood, cassia This is simply the best smell. Ever. Warm, musky, creamy, spicy. Flippin fantastic. This is one GC I hope never goes discontinued. The main notes I can smell here are a warm musk and smooth, rich, creamy sandalwood. I think it’s the sandalwood that mainly provides the creaminess and richness to this scent, but the carnation and spices add depth and complement the other elements beautifully. This is a classic, classic scent that fits anywhere but is beautiful and sexy at the same time. It stays close but all the better. This is olfactory velvet.

This is simply the best smell. Ever. Warm, musky, creamy, spicy. Flippin fantastic. This is one GC I hope never goes discontinued. The main notes I can smell here are a warm musk and smooth, rich, creamy sandalwood. I think it’s the sandalwood that mainly provides the creaminess and richness to this scent, but the carnation and spices add depth and complement the other elements beautifully. This is a classic, classic scent that fits anywhere but is beautiful and sexy at the same time. It stays close but all the better. This is olfactory velvet.

Inspired to try my imp by the GC swap. In the imp: artificial rose On the skin, wet: artificial rose, something a little deeper? I can't put my finger on it. On the skin, dry: it’s drying down to a standard tea rose scent. It reminds me of when I was a child and smelling different sprays/perfumes in stores, especially this one where it had all sorts of British products. It seems fairly authentic and singular. Overall: I love the smell of real roses, but other than that, I generally don’t care for rose scents, with Rose Red the exception. This was good, but not for me.

CTIII CDXXXIX (439) In the bottle, this smells like herbs, mainly lavender and maybe a touch of sage. It smells almost juicy, kinda strange because I’ve never associated that with herbs before but there you go. On the skin, it’s still strongly lavender. There’s sandalwood there now, bucking it out with the lavender, plus what smells like iris as a supporting note in the background. I think cedar too, backing up the sandalwood. I think there might be a touch of grapefruit of yazu in here – it has that tang and I think that’s why it smells “juicy”. It’s still refreshing and crisp. I think this would smell really good on a guy. The cedar and sandalwood end the scent strongly, sticking around. Perfect for summer and some similarities with Hungry Ghost Moon (but much more woody).

In the imp, this smells like herbs, resins and amber. On the skin, wet: mainly saffron, myrrh, resins. This smells golden brown. On the skin, dry: Now woods are coming out. As are more resins, amber, musk. I like this stage of the scent, this is really pretty. It’s rich, seductive, slinky, and warm. It is absolutely beautiful. The more I wear it, the more I like it. It is a fairly faint smelling oil. It doesn’t have much throw at all, but what is here is just gorgeous. Damn, this does smell a bit like Snake Charmer. This is easily becoming my favorite of the Salons that I’ve tried so far. This is an amazing scent and one day I will need a bottle of this.

Wow, this is a complex scent. I think it’s going to take a wearing or two to get this scent. **Later, after a couple wearings** In the imp, it’s very soft, slightly floral. Once applied, the mandarin, iris, and violet make the initial appearance, soon followed by woods and what I’m thinking is the vanilla musk. This is such a complex scent, I’ve worn it a few times and still having a hard time describing it. This is soft, sweet, and slightly off putting to my nose. I think it’s the mandarin and sage in combination with the vanilla musk. As it wears, the sweetness of the vanilla musk comes out. It ends powdery, with the violets and iris dominating. I like this scent, but I’m not sure how much I’ll wear it. I’m glad that I have an imp, but I am glad I didn’t get a bottle.