arabella

First Impression: Airy, green, medicinal, dry - mostly poppies. Dries down to: The acai berries add a brightness and tone down the poppies. It's very fresh and the honey is just a nuance. Gets better with time. Additional Comments: I'm very pleasantly surprised that I can't detect much of the honey which usually amps up horribly on me. This is lovely - a gorgeous summer evening scent. Rating: 4 out of 5

First Impression: Oily Fruit. Dries down to: This settles down very quickly. The oiliness tones down, the tea steps forward and it turns into an exotic but very faint, fruity tea blend. Additional comments: The red currant is more prominent than the blueberry on me. I can't detect the spices nor the vanilla but they must be what's keeping the benzoin in check. In the middle stage, I feel as if I dribbled juice while eating fruit but can't find it to clean it up - it's just a faint, muddled mess. Finally, it becomes more crisp - I'm guessing from the ginger and musk - and the notes come together. It's okay but nothing special. I like some fruity scents but this is more of a generic tea with fruit sauce. Rating: 2 out of 5.

First Impression: Sweet with a hint of wood. Dries down to: A very soft, slightly sweet scent that stays close to the skin. Additional Comments: I don't get any apple blossom at all and, thankfully, the honey is beautifully contained by the amber, teak and musk. Honey, normally, amps up horribly on my skin and was the reason I hesitated to get this "lady" but I'm glad I did. After the first few minutes, it's almost impossible to pick out any individual notes as they all blend and become a soft, warm veil around me - a great blend for daily wear as it won't offend anyone. It does, however, fade very quickly on me. Rating: 2.5 out of 5.

Moonflower, Madonna lily, orris, white ginger, cucumber, hyacinth, and Irish moss. First Impression: Hyacinth. Dries down to: A slightly spicy yet watery floral. Additional Comments: This is a gorgeous summer blend. With time, it becomes sweeter and softer - absolutely lovely. I do wish it lasted longer, though. Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

First Impression: Sweet mint. Dries down to: Stays the same except for the vanilla becoming more obvious. Additional Comments: This is a lovely summer scent. Refreshing without being too 'cold' as some mints can be. It only lasts a couple of hours, so I'll have to carry it with me on days I wear it. Rating: 4 out of 5.

First Impression: Sweet, nutty wood. Dries down to: Patchouli emerges almost immediately and the sweetness tones down considerably. Additional Comments: I had hoped for more apricot but didn't get it at all. On the other hand, the sweet notes, which normally scream on me, are held in check by the woods. The hazelnut is the predominant note and lays like a creamy veil over everything else. It's not what I'd hoped for but it'll be okay once in a while. Probably more as a room scent as it's a bit too masculine for me to wear. Rating: 2.5 out of 5

First Impression: Rose. Dries down to: Sweet rose. Additional Comments: Hope - Rose usually amps up incredibly on me. The sugar in here makes this one of the few rose blends that actually work on me. A very pleasant surprise. Rating: 4 out of 5.

First Impression: Violets Dries down to: Sweet. Additional Comments: This doesn't quite live up to my expectations. I love violets but I can't get past the "musty" note in the early stages. Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

First Impression: Apple strudel. Dries down to: Apple squares. Additional Comments: I have no idea where I'm getting the apple from but that's definitely what I'm picking up from this combination of florals and cream. 'Zarita, the Apple-Head Doll' is pretty enough but that's all. Rating: 3 out of 5.

First Impression: Resin and cinnamon. Dries down to: Stays cinnamony. Additional Comments: Myrrh isn't a favorite of mine and I'm surprised the smoke isn't showing up at all. This is strongly cinnamon and not much else. Rating: 2 out of 5.

First Impression: Fizzy fruit. Dries down to: Initially, I get a burst of blueberry; then, it settles down to papaya and lemongrass with a spritz of gin. Additional Comments: I really thought the blueberry would dominate this blend but, on me, it's just a whisper. It's not what I expected but I really like it. It'll be especially refreshing in the summer. Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

First Impression: Hot chocolate with vanilla. Dries down to: A melted chocolate bar. Additional Comments: I like the early chocolate-y stages. After a while, the other notes, although never individually distinguishable, smother the chocolate and it all turns muddy. Rating: 2.5 out of 5.

First Impression: Lemon. Dries down to: Creamy, lemon flowers. Additional Comments: This is barely there, lemon foam. Rating: 2.5 out of 5.

First Impression: Sharp, biting opium. Dries down to: Tones down somewhat. Additional Comments: I think it's the wet tobacco providing the sharp edge. It's reminiscent of a "men's only club" whiskey and pipe tobacco - very masculine. I expected Tiresias to be wet and this one to be dry, based on the notes, but they're the opposite. Rating: 2 out of 5.

First Impression: Very spicy wood. Dries down to: A dry masculine scent. Additional Comments: Hints of black currant, tobacco and caramel appear intermittently. The spicy dryness must come from the cinnamon leaf, patchouli and sandalwood. I detect no muguet whatsoever. It's interesting but not what I want my man to smell like. Rating: 2 out of 5.