melrose

At first, lemon sours - specifically those candies (from Brach's, I think) with the coase coating of sugar. I'm meh about this stage. Upon drydown, the heliotrope comes to the fore, and this develops a nasty undertone. Far drydown - straight up Playdoh. Oh, well, it's just as well - pretty hard for a 57-year-old to pull off a scent called Lolita!

I loves me some leather, and it loves me back. This smells freakin' GORGEOUS on me - leather with a touch of sweet spice. If only it had throw or lasting power. I must think of some way to make it last, because I slathered. This may be in my top ten.

Bathroom cleaner plus a cheap, stinky candle burning to try to cover it up - Gah.

Sweet, but a strong, strange undertone - the ambergris? Not sure. It's okay, but not bottle-worthy. I think it smelled fine on me, but a family friend said I smelled like ''a two-bit whore covered in rat feces'' - which seems a bit harsh.

In bottle, and on, wet: Dead-on jasmine, and I love it. There's no fake sweetness here. Drydown: Something evil this way comes. I can't explain, but it's quite harsh. Far drydown: Beautiful again, but no throw or staying power.

Hmmm, maybe I'll have to try the layering Schmoozy mentioned. I love both these notes, but together on my skin, the scent disappears quickly, no matter how much I slather.

First on: nice, interesting, very masculine. Drydown: musty old man. Not for me.

Soft and sweet, but fades faster than the speed of light. I guess my skin likes to drink ylang ylang and myrhh.

From beginning to end, it's herbs on top of a smoky undercurrent. Pleasant, but fades quickly. I'm quite surprised that I didn't morph the rose to high heaven, as usually happens. From Magdalene, I didn't get even a hint of rose. Not bottle-worthy on me.

On, wet: My nose is thoroughly confused - the notes blend so well that all I can say is it's spicy with just a hint of sweetness underneath. It dries down to baby powder, though, so it's a no-go for me.

In the imp, it smells like the original version of my beloved Heaven Sent - before it was reformulated to smell like bug spray. I have high hopes! On, wet: the lemon takes over, although there's a faint hint of Heaven Sent underneath - very nice. Near drydown: Uh-oh, powder and baby spit-up. Far drydown: No such thing. Thankfully, everything dissipated.

Gluttony smells like a cake that's beginning to turn moldy. Not for me, but for those of you whose skin chemistries get along with Gluttony, it has incredible staying power.

So yummy in the bottle - even though it's way sweet, it smells natural and pure. On, another story - first on, wet, it's all nuts with an undercurrent of very sweet aquatics - it gave me an instant headache. Mid drydown - soft and powdery, with rotting fruit underneath. Far drydown - body odor. Fortunately, it's quite faint now. A definite no way.

First on, really strong! The apricot and patchouli (which is smoky on me right now) are separate, competing notes - no blending going on at all. Near drydown: It's settled down - the apricot and patchouli are blending - I still get smoke, but I think I would enjoy some other note than apricot with it. Far drydown: Now you're talking! Smoke and dirt with a hint of sweetness - what a yummy surprise ending.

When first on, it's sweet, spicy, and smoky, but there's a weird note underneath. This is not a bad first impression, since I hate nutmeg and sassafrass. Once in a great while, BPALs amp the notes I want amped. Near drydown: I get along quite well with myrrh, and this keeps getting better. Now it smells like Old Spice with lots of smoke added, and a bit of spice/sweet. Far drydown: Crap, here comes the nutmeg. This is a no for me; I would have loved it had the middle stage hung around.

In vial, and on, wet: Did I fall into a vat of cleaning fluid? Instant, raging headache. Near drydown: Pretty much the same thing, just a touch softer. Far drydown: Something interesting (probably the bay) is trying to come out from far, far underneath the stormy waves of pine scent. Nero will have to fiddle with someone else.

Peach candy while it lasts, which is a very short time indeed.

Huh - this is different, in a really good way. Usually, fruits amp to high heaven on me, and I'm not a big fruit fan. This doesn't smell like amber, but like muted smoke - fascinating, but hard to describe. Nonetheless, me likey.

First on: MINT! - crystal clear and ice-cold! Fantastic for this uber-hot June in Houston. Drydown: soft, pretty, a hint of mint, but sweet as well. It's subtle, but lovely.

At first, butterscotch and fruit that's beginning to rot - most unpleasant. Later, sweet and fresh. Drydown - baby powder, honey, and rose. Okay, but not bottle-worthy.

Very strong, sharp herbs when first on, with just a hint of the amber underneath - I'm a big amber fan and excited for the drydown . . . . . . which never came. It disappeared entirely within 20 minutes.

In imp, and on, wet: bubblegum, gardenia and motor oil - could that be the lotus? It smells great, even the motor oil part. Drydown: soft and sweet, which is not at all my thing, but this smells so fresh and natural. I'll reallyenjoy the imp.

In imp and on, wet: fresh, breezy flowers - pretty much the opposite feeling of the name. Drydown: The flowers have mostly faded. I'm left with spices and a hint of something sweet, but I can't describe it further - it's gorgeous, though. Bottleworthy.

In imp and on, wet: crunchy brown sugar, like the top of creme brulee, with a hint of something darker - I am in mad love with this. Near drydown: Oh, for the love of God, it's turning into baby vomit. I hate my stupid skin chemistry. Far drydown: Lovely, with just a touch of play-doh. This has great lasting power - just don't know if I can make it through that baby vomit part.

A lovely, mysterious incense with a top note of banana - I do believe I love it, which surprises me, as I am NOT into fruity scents. This one may even be in my top 10.