maika

In the bottle, I smell berries, with just a hint of cardamom peeking through Wet, the berry note is still there, but is less obvious. It's more obvious that this has snake oil in it now, but I'm also getting hints of neroli as well. This is gorgeous, I'm so glad I took a chance and bought a bottle. Dry...this is beautiful. It's not overtly obvious that it's a Snake Oil variant, yet it has enough of its notes coming through that it's obvious...and I know that makes no sense at all, but it's what my nose is telling me. Ultimately, this is deep and rich and gorgeous...and if I can bear to put it away to age, I think it could only get better than it already is.

In the imp, this mostly smells of honey, but honey with a kick. This is good... Wet, the cedar predominates, but I can sense the myrrh there as well Dry, the amber and musk are vaguely there...I don't get any carnation...but the resiny, incense-y thing that this turns into is beautiful. All that said, I'm not entirely sure I could wear this too often, but I'm keeping my imp, and am contemplating another bottle.

In the imp, obviously this is lily...but this is a totally different lily than that in something like Tiger Lily...this truly lives up to it's name. Wet, this is deep and rich. It is quite cold, which suggests shadow to me...it's more complex than just the lily flower though, I'm getting a sense of leaves, and even a hint of earth. As it's drying, I'm losing the greenery and earth, but the floral note is deepening. This? Is stunning. I usually associate lilies with funerals, but this is not at all funereal...and yet, it seems almost melancholy...but mine is not to question these things, it is, instead to adore them, and order me a whole lot more pronto!

In the imp, jasmine...and I adore jasmine. There's also a very resinous note, which is obviously the myrrh...on third sniff, I can just make out the rose as well. Wet, this is rose...but a deep rose, like the deepest, reddest possible rose. The jasmine is there too. This is gorgeous. Dry, this is to die for. Rich and floral, with the bite of the myrrh to pull it all together, and make it more than just a random floral...all these ingredients blend together so beautifully, and now I smell amazing. Will definitely be needing more of this.

In the imp, all I can smell is the red wine. Wet, something almost spicy...the sandalwood, I think. And the ivy is there too. This so far is very promising. Dry, the ozone is obvious, and the leather is creeping in underneath. This is amazing! It's haunting, and it's as sad as the description suggests...but it's totally compelling. Ultimately, while it says it's gender neutral, on me it's quite masculine - leather, wine, etc...but it's not so full-on that I don't want to wear it. It's definitely got the potential to grow on me.

In the imp, this is very woody. I can't smell the rose at all. Wet, still woody, but an almond note is coming out, it even reminds me of Snake Oil. Dry, now I smell the rose...very softly, in the background. The labdanum is I think responsible for the almondy note I was getting, and it's still just there, but the woods are just smooth and balanced and beautiful. I smell wonderful!!! Definitely one to hunt for more of.

In the imp, I smell incense alone. Wet, more incense, along with a salty note. This, so far is gorgeous. Dry, this is quite funereal, but not depressing. It fits the description well, and I like it perhaps more than it's safe for me to do so, given that it is discontinued. It's driving me crazy though, because it's reminding me of something, but I can't think of just what...but other than that, definitely a keeper, if only for special occasions. Can't go using it up too quickly, right?

In the imp, a soft mint. Wet, soft mint and orange blossom...but they complement each other beautifully! Dry, I can smell the tobacco and the musk. The orange blossom is still there, along with a deep spice not - obviously the cumin and cloves. The mint has disappeared though...for which I'm not entirely disappointed about, but given that the last things I tried with any mint in them made me smell like I had slathered myself in liniment means that I guess that feeling isn't totally misplaced. Overall though, this is gorgeous! I was expecting a much more masculine scent from this and it's not, just deep and warm and balanced and gorgeous! Very gender neutral.

In the imp, I can smell everything! Most predominant though, is the musk, and the patchouli leaf, which gives a tobacco note to it. Wet, the patchouli is most obvious, along with the pomegranate. Dry, it almost dances on me. I get whiffs of everything at different times, although all the notes are working on me. This is definitely not just a keeper, but an I need more!

In the imp, jasmine and that's about it. It's all good though, because I adore jasmine. Wet, jasmine, violets and vanilla. Again, all notes I love. I can't see this one being a problem. Dry, the musk comes out, while the jasmine and vanilla stay. The violets flit in and out, sometimes I smell them, sometimes I don't. But again, all notes that I love, and notes that work well together, so I'm not complaining. Plus, it brought me a huge string of compliments while I was wearing it...from my daughter and my parents, to the waitress who brought us dinner, to the ticket guy at the concert I went to later that evening. This lasted hours and is gorgeous...I will need more of this!

In the imp, intensely creamy vanilla. This is like really good quality vanilla icecream. Wet, vanilla and saffron. Ths is good - while I don't do foody, conversely, I adore vanilla. And so far, this is sweet and pure and good. Dry, the saffron is the most detectable note. The cream and vanilla are still there, but the saffron is what lifts this from being just another vanilla scent. But the icecream smell is there too. Not really effectively describable, because the idea of saffron icecream doesn't cake sense to me, and really it isn't. It's saffron and icecream simultaneously, and yet not...for example, right now, the icecream is most obvious, but a minute ago it was the saffron. I'm really enjoying this. I think I'm going to have to hunt some more of this down as an indulging myself scent. I couldn't wear it every day, but I can see where it could fit for me. It's weird though...this is vanilla, saffron and cream, and yet it's not the slightest bit foody- which in itself makes no sense either, given that it's also reminding me of icecream...And that? Makes me ridiculously happy!

In the bottle, tarts and pineapple. Interesting. Wet, fruity something. The cherries from the tart I think - juicy and sweet! Oh, and something that smells like a cross between juicy fruit chewing gum and children's chewable vitamins. I don't think this is going to like me... Dry, this is chewable vitamins and nothing else. Lesson learned - foody is not my friend!

In the bottle, vanilla mint...this is what I would have loved Lick It Again to smell like. Food notes, but not foody per se. My fingers are crossed that this works for me! Wet, minty, but more spearmint then peppermint. I'm also getting a liniment type note from this. It's like there is eucalyptus in here as well. Dry...sadly, this still smells like liniment on me. Damn! I wanted to like this...but apparently mint doesn't like me. Gah! Off to swap/sell I think!

In the imp, pure coconut Wet, it's sweet and musky, almost candylike, but in a rose undertoned, turkish delight kind of a way...and even saying that, not foody, but almost maternal - very comforting. Dry, it's coconut. But the rose seems to be floating underneath it, so while I normally don't like coconut on me I'm enjoying this. It's reminding me of something...I just wish I could work out what. Actually, I think I've worked it out...it smells exactly like coconut ice on me...and I used to make that with my mother when I was little, no wonder I thought of it being maternal and comforting. It's morphing again though...the coconut is dissapating, in favour of something that smells like lilies. That in itself doesn't make much sense given the scent notes, but that's what my skin is giving me. Ultimately though, the coconut is getting stronger, (even after I said it was fading...it was obviously only teasing) so it's getting a little too foody for me. I can't smell the sandalwood at all, so unless that makes an appearance this is not really going to work for me. I do think it's very pretty though.

In the imp, very minty, but the vanilla is also there, along with the familiar spices, leaving me with the impression of a mint chocolate. This could be interesting... Wet, the mint is still there. But it's just more mint chocolate then it was before. Dry, spicy mint chocolate. Interesting, but a little too foody for me, I'm afraid.

In the bottle, sweet, almost boozy vanilla. And while I don't normally go for uber-foody, I am a sucker for vanilla, so here goes... Wet, the mint is coming out. Very candy cane indeed. Dry, only mint, I'm afraid. Still, it's nearly the time of year that I can get away with smelling of candy canes...and alternatively, it would make an amazing room scent. Mint is always cooling though, so in the middle of an Australian summer I might find it perfect then!

In the imp, all I smell is mint. Toothpaste style mint. Wet, still minty, but the juniper is coming out, the end result being something that smells like liniment. This is not promising...please settle! Dry, sadly, I still smell like liniment. Definitely not meant for me. Off to swaps.

In the imp, this is interesting...it's basically sweet and comforting. Not what I expected at all. Wet, the myrrh is obvious now. This is closer to what I was originally expecting. Dry, this is deep and ancient smelling...I can smell old wood, and loads of spices, but they're dry, and almost acrid. This is not a bad thing though. It's not at all what it was either in the imp or wet. This is coming across as being very masculine. It's not really me, but I do know just the person I want to try it out on.

In the imp, musk and cloves. Sweet and spicy. Wet, honey and cinnamon. This is lush, I love it at this point. Dry, all the spices come together with the honey...and I smell like Chai. This is not a bad thing though...it's freezing cold here, and all of a sudden I feel warm again. Definitely a keeper!

... Her scent is a bounty of golden honeyed almonds and a whisper of African and Middle Eastern spices. In the imp, honey, almonds and saffron. Utterly gorgeous! Wet, the almond becomes more intense, but the spices are out too, so they balance out beautifully. Dry...the spices overpower everything. Sadly it's not working on me, which is a shame, because I wanted to love it. Off to swaps.

In the imp, all I can smell are lilacs... Wet, the lilac settles back, and blends with the tuberose. I think I like this. Dry, still no violets, and the tuberose is deepening. This is gorgeous though...definitely not light by any stretch of the imagination, but not overpowering or forbidding either. Shallow as I am, my mind is racing to the perfect outfit to wear with this...it's screaming boots, fishnets, a hobble skirt, and something black velvet on top. Oh yes! I do believe this is going to the top of my must buy list! Oooh (this is a work in progress, I keep adding to it as my day progresses) the violets are here, and now, it's absolutely perfect! Definitely must order now!

In the imp, very fresh, and definitely a marine note, but it's making me sneeze uncontrollably, so sadly, this experiment is over. Off to swaps already...

In the imp, musk with a hint of rose. Very deep and very beautiful. Wet, it's all about the myrrh, but that in itself isn't a bad thing. The ylang ylang jumps out almost as quickly too. Dry, this is warm, and rich and beautiful. The myrrh and musk are there, but not as heavy as they would ordinarily be...the rose and ylang ylang seem to be drifting over them and softening them. Sadly though, it's turning powdery and old-ladyish on me...so off to swaps with this, I think.

In the imp...honeycomb. This could be a worry, I don't tend to do well with heavily foody scents. Will try it on though.. Wet, oooh...the honeycomb is totally gone, now I smell oranges...and something else...of course, apricots. Dry, I can smell the ylang ylang, and I love ylang ylang. This is lovely, but still just a tad too foody for me. I will keep the imp though, and try it again, somehow though, it's just not me.

In the imp, I smell the peaches and nutmeg and cloves...which when combined smell almost like caramel. Wet, the pumpkin comes out, but combined with the cloves, it becomes very dark...dark, and almost repellent, but that just adds to my interest - I think that combination of scents could very easily become cloying, but the darkness prevents that. Dry, the almost repellent note disappears very quickly, leaving the pumpkin and peach almost dancing around each other, but with the spices wafting through underneath. I do like this, but it's a little too foody for me to want to wear too often...but I do know a nearly 12 year old who would be beyond thrilled if a full size bottle made it's way into her birthday gifts...I will have to get organised so that it can happen.