crebbsgirl

Let me first say that lilac musk is freaking gorgeous!!! This is wonderful! The tonka and benzoin lending a vanillic sweetness. The wood violet adds a bit of sharpness here, but is rounded out beautifully by the musk and resins. The lime didn't come our for me. The only think that ruined this was the blackberry leaf. It just doesn't like my skin and turns to funk.

As someone who has trouble with Dorian I must say this is positively scrumptious!! Dorian can go weird and musty on my skin occasionally, but this is like Dorian without the funk. The vanilla bean and tea are very much similar to Dorian. The white musk adds a nice depth, and the jasmine leaf is pretty faint. It's very comforting, along the same lines as Wulric.

HELLOOOOOO red musk! This smacks you right in the face when I first apply. The mimosa adds a little sharpness here, and as it dries, the black currant and the orchid come out beautifully, working together to soften the musk. The patchouli adds a little earthy depth. Honestly, I thought it was nice, but not overly amazing - until my husband came home. Of the over 500 blends I've tried, nothing elicited a reaction like this. He made a beeline for me from across the house and started huffing my wrists, asking what I was wearing. Apparently, he really enjoyed it. Of course, we discover this NOW after she's been d/c'd. Damn.

Coconut was REALLY predominant here. The iris didn't really come out for me, and the hazelnut was barely a hint. The musk was really nice, blending beautifully with the coconut to provide a little bit of depth. This was nice, but it wasn't overly interesting for me. This faded pretty fast on me too. It didn't even make it to lunch.

Wet, this was creamy shea with coconut. As it dries, it seems to get airier. It lightens considerably, and the milk doesn't go sour on my skin like it has in the past. This is very beachy smelling. It's light and clean, but not really my kind of scent.

Pomegranate and I are not friends scent wise. I really love the seeds, but clearly the scent does not like my skin. This was entirely too fruity for me. It started off on my skin along the same vein as The Red Queen, but the fruit quickly took over. The mahogany made a very brief appearance in the wet stages and quickly disappeared.

This was a smoky plum on my skin, with fig and coconut close behind. It was very sweet, and a little fruity on me. Not something I would normally wear, as I don't like to smell like fruit. The lavender came out in very minute quantities. In fact, I really had to search it out here.

This was ALL DB all the time on my skin. Thick and heady, with cherry adding an almost oppressive sweetness. The myrrh provided a little reprieve but overall this was a very assaulting scent on me. I didn't much care for it. The clove was barely present here.

I love reading other people's impressions of this. I was gifted with a little bet to test, so here are my thoughts: Wet I get a touch of vetiver, and as it dries, there is a spice component (I would agree with the caraway assessment) and I also think opoponax. It's a dry resinous spice blend I think. I also don't get anything resembling eucalyptus. There is a bit of an earthy hint to it.

Ok, so I get the comparison to Gypsy Queen. However, there's no rose here. This is a spicy sweet smoky incense blend. I'm getting cloves and a hint of red musk, and tobacco. This is a little powdery on my skin, but not overly so. I'm not getting champaca here, and my skin amps the hell out of it. I think there's patchouli and myrrh in here too. Overall, I am reminded of Schwarzer Mond crossed with Gypsy Queen (minus the flowers). It's awesome.

The lemon and coconut are at the forefront during the wet stages here. This is bright. As it settles, the heliotrope comes out and adds a golden floral vibe. The musk is very faint, but adds a bit of depth to the blend. Overall this is pretty sunny, with an edge.

This was a very grassy herbal blend on me. Sharp but fresh. The fig and ginger never made an appearance on my skin, but the sharpness did mellow out after a couple of hours. Overall, a little too "green" for me.

The combination of leather, citrus and lavender always smells of MAN to me, so I freely admit to having preconceived scent notions about this blend. And as I suspected, this one is just too masculine for me. Having said that, this is a truly magnificent blend. The leather is smooth, and provides an awesome accompaniment to the lavender and lemon. The anise isn't overly sharp here, as I was worried about. I think on my fiance this would be swoon-worthy. On me, there's a juxtaposition that's just unsettling.

GAH, why does ylang ylang hate me so? I really wanted to like this in all of its figgy patchouli goodness. And clove! How can I forget you old friend? Unfortunately, that spiteful $#@% ylang ylang has to drive her flowery amping wedge between us. Fine ylang ylang. You win. I just don't want to fight anymore.

This starts out predominantly leather on my skin but then patchouli really blossoms after a couple of minutes and there is a hint of cocoa. It seems similar in vibe to Sin. After awhile, the leather comes to the forefront again. The incense is pretty faint here, more of an undercurrent than anything else. It really reminds me of something, but I can't put my finger on it. All in all, it's a nice blend, but not a standout for me.

Playdoh. All playdoh all the time.

Alright, I was sent a sniffie of this and I managed to extract a tiny bit of oil to try. Honestly, I am not a foodie person, so this was NOT up my alley. I agree with some forumites who have stated a similarity between this and Wezwanie/Hold. There isn't as much hazelnut here, but definitely cocoa. Musk underscores this blend, but all in all, I smell like musky brownies. Not for me, although I am really glad I got to try it.

On me, this is VERY similar to The Caterpillar (carnation, bergamot, neroli and incense being shared notes). Except for the rose component, the two are almost indistinguishable on my skin. Incense-y and dark, with a faint citrus vibe and the floral spice of carnation. Given that I amp rose, or turn it to ammonia, I prefer The Caterpillar.

This one went to baby powder on me pretty quickly. It's beautiful soft flowers and herbs in the bottle. On my skin, not nearly as enticing.

Heady floral here. The opium/poppy is smoky, dark and prominent, calling to mind Mum Moon and Sleepy Moon. Soporific. As it dries, a softer creamy edge comes out, tempering this nicely. I'll have to retest this one I think. It was nice, but a little too perfume-y for me on the outset.

A phenomenally powerful attractant. Sexual and commanding in the extreme. JASMINE!!!!!! And greenery. Whoo-boy, jasmine and I do not get along. I had to wash this off. Loud and screaming jasmine on my skin.

Huh... pez candy. As it settles the greenery comes out, but it's sweet greens. Like, candy and greens.

This went very perfumey on me. Not something I would be reaching for often. It's very dry, and something is reminiscent of The Lion on my skin. Powdery, heady, almost dusty.

Evil incarnate. Revel in your dark side with this romantically cruel scent. Contains red patchouli and vetivert. Ok, so I've never had a problem with vetiver. In fact, some of my favourite blends contain it. That being said, the minute this touched my skin, I finally understood what people were talking about when they said "smoky bacon" in regards to vetiver. Gods this is foul on me!

There was something quite sharp here at first. An initial blast of vetiver with a hint of lemon I think. As it dries, I must say this bears a striking resemblance to Mole (WItW) on my skin, but Mole's more masculine cousin. I could swear I smell moss in here. It wears pretty close on the skin, and I like it, but I think I would LOVE it on my guy.