Aredhel

Rating (on skin): 1/5 Summarised in one word: Musky. In the imp: Lavender! There's a bit of amber lurking far below, but the most striking note is lavender, in the imp. On skin, wet: Deep, musky amber. Strangely, my skin isn't picking up the lavender, a very rare thing! This is a very "red" scent, and it reminds me of what The Living Flame would perhaps smell like, were it heavier on the musk, and less floral. On skin, dry: Wow, this is heavy musk. It's kind of overwhelming, actually. The throw is intense! It lasts for hours. Conclusion: Not a fan. I was hoping that the amber would be the dominant note, but the musk took charge, and that was that.

Rating (on skin): 2/5 Summarised in a word or two: Strawberry heartbreak! In the imp: Strawberries and thick cream. Very sweet. On skin, wet: Strawberries and green tea. The green tea reminds me of the tea in Bewitched. Actually, this whole blend reminds me of a crisper Bewitched. I can sense the ylang-ylang peeking out, but so far, it hasn't taken over as it usually does. On skin, dry: Alas, strawberries and ylang-ylang. My skin amps up ylang-ylang the same way it amps up rose, so intensely that other notes struggle to be sniffed! How sad, for a scent that started out so nicely. Conclusion: I had two bottles of this a few months back, but for some reason, I never posted a review. I had hoped my skin chemistry had changed, but alas, it hasn't. I would love this, if I could get the ylang-ylang to co-operate.

2004 Version Rating (on skin): 2/5 Summarised in a word or two: Confusing. In the imp/bottle: Thick incense and strong, wilting rose. This strikes me as a very sad scent. On skin, wet: This is... strangely foody! I can't figure out what it is, but it's very rich and creamy, almost buttery. There is, of course, also the very strong rose, as my skin amps up rose like you won't believe, and the incense. A very strange, but pleasant, scent. On skin, dry: Only a very slight change from wet, as it continues to warm up and take on a very interesting, slightly-sugary quality. The rose also becomes more and more prominant, until I have to strain to catch anything else. Conclusion: This scent confuses me. One moment it seems foody, then incensey, then spicy, then floral, then sweet, then all five! It's intriguing, but is ruined by the rose.

Rating (on skin): 2/5 Summarised in a word or two: Citrusy pine needle. In the imp/bottle: Fresh, crisp pine needle. On skin, wet: Citrusy pine? How strange. On skin, dry: No change from wet. The mental image I get is of oranges growing on pine trees. Conclusion: In a care I once had, I kept some air fresheners (the tree-shaped kind), mostly Forest Pine and Fresh Orange in a plastic bag in my glove box. Whenever I'd pull one out, a scent very, very close to this would hit me. It brings back some interesting memories, but I don't think I'll buy this if it's in the Yule 05 collection. Pity, I wanted to love it!

Rating (on skin): 5/5 Summarised in one word: Egg Nog! In the imp: Brandy and nutmeg with a bit of cream. If I didn't know that BPAL oils don't taste as lovely as they smell... On skin, wet: Nutmeg and cream with a dash of sugar. I don't get much brandy from this, which I'm glad of, since I've never much cared for booze notes. On skin, dry: This stays generally true to its wet stage, and only gets a bit sweeter and somehow 'thicker.' Throw/strength: This has a strong throw, and lasts about five hours before needing re-application. Conclusion: A perfect Egg Nog. I love creamy/spicy scents like this, and this is a perfect example of it.

Rating (on skin): 1/5 Summarised in a word or two: Cold pine. In the imp/bottle: Strong, strong lavender; lavender that jumps out of the imps and pokes you in the face. There's also an herbal undertone to this (eucalyptus, maybe?). Not what I expected at all. On skin, wet: Lavender and eucalyptus, and perhaps pine? On skin, dry: The eucalyptus gets stronger, and there's another herbal note, I think, that I can't place. Sage? Lavender is still the dominant note. Conclusion: Very strong, with an intense throw. After the lavender began to give me a headache, I attempted to wash this off, but it decided to cling to my skin for dear life. Several hours later, it's still faintly there. Why can't it ever be the scents I like that have the amazing staying power?

Rating (on skin): 2/5 Summarised in a word or two: Spicy floral. In the imp: Rich, sweet wine and crisp, Hesperides-esque apples. On skin, wet: Very nice! Sugared apples, sweet wine and plums, with a very light spice. There also seems to be something cinnamon-like in this, but it may not be cinnamon itself. After a few minutes it becomes sweeter, more floral. On skin, dry: The apples, wine and plums fade, leaving a sugar-spice red floral. This reminds me of The Living Flame a bit. I had a bad feeling this would turn floral on me, just as it has. It reminds me of very early autumn, before the leaves change. Conclusion: Nice enough, but, as with Living Flame, this is too floral for me.

Rating (on skin): 4/5 Summarised in a word or two: Festive! In the imp/bottle: Sweet, very faint almond. On skin, wet: Ooh, clove! Clove with just the faintest hint of almond. Sweet and spicy, this one. While wet, this one reminds me of French Creole, only rummy! The almond continues to fade, leaving a spicy clove that I simply adore and a soft, yet surpisingly deep rum. On skin, dry: I do so love clove, and it blends so beautifully with the rum. This, for some reason, reminds me of a warm house on a cold (but snowless), dark November evening. A very comforting spice scent. Festive. Conclusion: As much as I love this, it's a fleeting scent, and it's completely gone within two hours.

Rating (on skin): 1/5 Summarised in a word or two: Celery? In the imp/bottle: Cinnamon, perhaps cloves and... something aquatic and green. Hmm. On skin, wet: Cinnamon and... celery? Musk? Peanuts? It smells most like celery, and it's very strange! The cinnamon is very warm. I think this might be gorgeous, but for the celery. On skin, dry: A slight change from wet, in that it became a bit more earthy. Still that strange green note, though. Conclusion: My skin handled the cinnamon without incident (as always), but that strange note ruined the blend for me. I have no SO at the moment (and no desire for one), so I won't be testing this one's Voodoo properties any time soon.

Rating (on skin): 0/5 Summarised in a word or two: Flowery powder. In the imp/bottle: I'm not adept at picking out floral notes, as I don't generally care for floral blends, so I can't pick out anything from this, save for the lilies. I do know that whatever I smell, I like! On skin, wet: I still can't pick out anything but the lilies, but this becomes very powdery as soon as it touches my skin -- a strong floral powder that, while not unpleasant, isn't something I really care for personally. I do finally recognise the other prominent note, and it's narcissus, a note that I don't seem to have a good history with. On skin, dry: Something in this turns unpleasant, and it begins to remind me of the public bathrooms at beaches or swimming pools: a strong floral barely covering something wet and rancid. Conclusion: I'm not terribly suprised that this doesn't work out for me; floral blends almost never do.

Rating (on skin): 1/5 Summarised in a word or two: Lemony aftershave. In the imp/bottle: A very strong, biting lavender-lemon scent. On skin, wet: This smells like... rotting lemon peel and a strong aftershave. June Gloom meets Jolly Roger, almost. Strange. On skin, dry: I'm not digging this in the least. I get no leather, anise or tonka -- nothing but lemon and lavender, and something strangely aquatic. Conclusion: All I can think of is an aftershave, or a high-end men's cologne. Definitely not for me.

Rating (on skin): 2/5 Summarised in a word or two: Surprisingly floral. In the imp: Earthy cinnamon. The moss, I'm guessing. Herbal, but oddly sweet. On skin, wet: Floral woods, emphasis on the floral. Not quite what I was hoping for (a wood/cinnamon scent, specifically). On skin, dry: Becomes incresingly floral, until I notice nothing but soft, mossy flowers. That is, until an hour later,when it becomes spicy florals, and then promptly disappears. Conclusion: Not bad. Not what I was expecting, but not bad. Not me, however.

Rating (on skin): 2/5 Summarised in a word or two: Red Hots! In the imp/bottle: Hellooo almond! Very strong almond and nothing but. On skin, wet: Heavy, thick almond and cinnamon. The cinnamon quickly becomes the dominant note, but the almond sticks around. It's an intense, heavy scent. On skin, dry: A mixed bag of red hot candy and candied almonds. It's hot, but cloyingly sweet. It definitely warms my skin, but doesn't burn. Conclusion: After this, I think it's safe to say that my skin can handle cinnamon. I adore cinnamon, but this is too sweet and fake for my liking.

Rating (on skin): 4/5 Summarised in a word or two: Ritzy. In the imp: Something that may be vanilla, musk, something powdery and... stone? I swear, I smell something vaguely like a dry, but clean, stone. Odd. On skin, wet: What may or may not be vanilla is intriguing me. Combined with the musk, the vanilla-esque scent is very... dry. I'm not sure that's the best word to describe it, but it's not a bad thing. On skin, dry: Earthy, dark, and very sexy. It's very musky, and warm, and deep, and very rich. It's kind of... classy. Ritzy. Conclusion: Black Opal, to me, was an acquired taste, so to speak. I didn't like it much at first, but the more I sniffed and tested, the more I've come to like, appreciate, and eventually love it. It's beautiful, but in its own, very unique way.

Edit: Trying this again on 10 June '06. Rating (on skin): 4/5 Summarised in a word or two: Plastic! In the imp: Musk, sweet honey and cinnamon! Sharp, but lovely. On skin, wet: Vanilla? Something creamy and very much like vanilla, as well as rich honey, musk and strong cinnamon. This really does remind me of good chai! Ten times better than the first time I tried it. On skin, dry: Very cinnamon-y and peppery, but with that rich, sweet undercurrent of honey and musk. With such a strong honey element, it reminds me of spicy O. It's almost addictive, again, much like a favourite chai. There's a chai I'm particularly fond of from a local tea bar. It's made primarily of black tea (duh), cinnamon, pepper, cardamom, allspice and ginger. I always drop in a tablespoon of organic honey, about a quarter teapsoon of brown sugar and a drizzle of vanilla soy milk. It's perfect. This smells very much like it, emphasis on the pepper. It gets progressively sweeter as times goes on, and the honey that much stronger. I really, really like it. Problem is, the pepper burns my nose a bit, and on a strong whiff, I'm tempted to sneeze. Conclusion: Damn it, I'm torn. I like it quite a bit, but the burning/sneezing bit isn't good. Hmm. Regardless, this is not a Summer-Weather scent. I'll revisit this in August or September. If it doesn't actually make me sneeze, I'll probably throw a bottle in with my Stocking Up For Winter order.

Rating (on skin): 1/5 Summarised in a word or two: Odd. In the imp/bottle: Incense and patchouli with a hint of peach and clove. On skin, wet: Orange, peach, clove and thick incense. There's an odd, almost burnt quality to this, which is probably the incense. The orange and peach make for an odd sweet-citrus combination. Odd, but not unpleasant, burnt incense aside. On skin, dry: Cloying orange and clove beneath a thick coating of sharp, pungent patchouli. It's almost astringent. Burnt fruit in a head shop... on fire. Conclusion: This turned wonky when I first tried it, and did so again, though in a different way, when I tried it in May of '06. I keep wanting to love Al-Shairan, but he's a stubborn bastard of a scent.

Grants courage under extreme conditions, helps overcome fear of death, and strengthens the fortitude of artists and businessmen, enabling them to further their goals. Rating (on skin): 2/5 Rating (efficacy): N/A Summarised in a word or two: Herbal. In the imp/bottle: A sharp herbal note that I can't place. This strikes me as both 'green' and 'red', oddly enough. On skin, wet: Something herbal atop a warm but watery Dragon's Blood. Dragon's Blood is usually very beautiful (and spicy!) on me, but this is an exception, which may be due to that herbal note. After a few minutes, the jasmine appears. From then on, it's a very strange scent. On skin, dry: Not much of a change from wet. After about an hour, it's a slightly-spicy (the Dragon's Blood), herbal jasmine, for the most part. It's a very sharp scent, not soft or comforting at all. Conclusion: The scent really matches the title for me. It's not a bad scent, but it's not something I'd like to smell like, really. As for its Voodoo efficacy, I can't really report anything of note -- I've never been afraid of death, and I'm not an artist or businessman, nor am I in "extreme conditions," so perhaps its Voodoo properties are wasted on me.

Rating (on skin): 2/5 Rating (efficacy): N/A Summarised in a word or two: Grape. In the imp/bottle: A sweet, chilled grape and something soft and creamy. On skin, wet: This is a very close-to-the-skin scent already. It's faint, and I have to put my nose very close to my wrist to get a sniff of anything. On skin, dry: There continued to be something there for a few hours -- I can smell it! -- but it's certainly not what it started out as. This has a very weak throw, and sticks around for about three hours before disappearing completely. Conclusion: As a scent, this is nice, but has no staying power. I can't speak to is efficacy, as I tested this purely as a perfume.

Rating (on skin): 1/5 Rating (efficacy): N/A Summarised in a word or two: Very floral. In the imp/bottle: A very light, breezy, but very strong floral. Not my cup of tea so far. On skin, wet: A strong floral, with a fresh-fruit undertone. On skin, dry: This starts giving me a headache after about twenty minutes. Something in it strikes me as rose, but I may be way off. Whatever it is, it's not lifting my spirit by giving me a headache. It does, as most scents I don't care for are wont to, have a very strong, and lingering throw. It lasts for hours. Conclusion: Obviously, not for me as a scent. I can't speak to its efficacy, as I tested this purely as a perfume.

Rating (on skin): 3/5 Rating (efficacy): N/A Summarised in a word or two: Cinnamon! In the imp/bottle: A sweet, fruity cinnamon. Very nice! On skin, wet: This reminds me of cinnamon gum -- fruity, and spicy in a sweet way. On skin, dry: Herbal, cinnamony gum. Conclusion: As a scent, the cinnamon is beautiful. I can't speak to its efficacy, as I tested and wore this purely as a perfume, with no thought given to its Voodoo properties.

Rating (on skin): 2/5 Summarised in a word or two: Minty lavender. In the imp/bottle: Mmmm, minty fresh! Sharp, acrid pennyroyal tempered only slightly by cool lavender. On skin, wet: Such a strange mint, pennyroyal. Very rarely do I sniff a mint that isn't cold. Pennyroyal (on me, anyway) tends to be a very warm mint. The lavender balances it nicely, keeping it just this side of intolerable sharpness. On skin, dry: There is a certain bottle of disinfectant at work that smells almost exactly like this, and I don't much like either of them. A pity, too, as I've come to love mint and pennyroyal lately. I'm not a big fan of lavender most of the time, so I'll blame that. Conclusion: Not my thing. Anyone who enjoys lavender might love this, as, in the end, this becomes mostly lavender on me.

Rating (on skin): 4/5 Summarised in a word or two: Foody! In the imp/bottle: Oh...my. Oh, my. I'm not big on foody scents, but this is divine. This smells like a big bowl of thick, creamy chocolate, warm, spiced vanilla and syrupy caramel. On skin, wet: I have candles that smell exactly like this (though certainly not called Gluttony!). Already, though, the chocolate is becoming dry and dusty. The vanilla has disappeared, though the hazelnut has appeared in its place, and the caramel is tagging along behind everything else. On skin, dry: This is a very "busy" scent; by that, I mean it has several notes all wandering around at the same time. Slightly confusing, but divinely so. My only issue with this blend so far is the chocolate, which has become, as most chocolate/cocoa notes are wont to do on me, dry, dusty and chalky. A fate worse than death for this blend. Conclusion: I am very disappointed by the way my skin treats this oil. In the vial, I'm tempted to drink the oil; on my skin, it's another story entirely. I tested this twice more, and got the same result.

Rating (on skin): 0/5 Summarised in a word or two: Rose! In the imp/bottle: Rose and lavender, both very strong. On skin, wet: Both rose and lavender love to dominant blends on my skin, so they've edged out everything else. I don't like either of them together, and I don't like them together. On skin, dry: Incensey (frakincense) rose. Very heavy and dark, as rose tends to become on my skin. Conclusion: Rosy, so not for me. Another victim of Rose Super-Amplification Syndrome.

Rating (on skin): 2/5 Summarised in a word or two: Lavender. In the imp: Very refined. Lavender and dark mosses. On skin, wet: Something in this reminds me of... lime? Huh. There's also the heavy, but not overbearing, lavender, the mosses, and that deep amber beneath it all. On skin, dry: The lavender becomes stronger, and the amber weaker. This doesn't last terribly long, gone by the fourth hour. Conclusion: Yes, this strikes me as the scent of a very intelligent, refined and perhaps British man. It also seems a scent for en resistant to wearing "that smelly stuff." As I'm neither a refined British man, nor resistant to BPAL, it's not something I'd wear.

Rating (on skin): 1/5 Summarised in a word or two: Rose! In the imp/bottle: Soft pink roses at the very beginning of spring. On skin, wet: A dry, faintly spicy rose. A very warm, very rich, almost seductive rose. On skin, dry: Light, unassuming, powdery. Wistful innocence indeed, this brings to mind both virgins and whores. Quite confusing, but interestingly so. Conclusion: This is nothing but rose, and is, then, not for me. Had it been a bit heavier on the spices, I might have done well with it.