ReikoSazanami

In imp: A definite hit of aftershave come first, but there’s something almost fruity or citrusy behind it. Wet on skin: Lemon! Where did that come from? I’m guessing it’s the embalming fluid, but the scent right now resembles lemon candies, strangely enough. There’s also a menthol and mint scent behind it, likely made of whatever the aftershave notes are blended from. Drydown: The candy scent has backed down, leaving a strange blend of sharp notes behind. It’s almost herbal, but the tang that the lemon scent originally gave it now lends a chemical smell to the blend. The aftershave has come back as well. Overall: In its entirety, the scent delivers exactly what its description sells us. Though it could be interpreted as a masculine scent, I find it to be more unisex, at least with my personal chemistry. All in all, I don’t mind it, but also don’t know if I would buy more than an imp.

In imp: At first I thought this was my imp of Herbert West! It smells like men’s cologne or aftershave, maybe with a menthol note. Wet on skin: Soapy, almost like Irish Spring. There isn’t anything particularly dark about this blend, at least not yet. Though the description says a “drop” of lemon rind, at the moment it is nearly overpowering. Drydown: The very clean scent is still there, but I can smell the sandalwood notes coming through. As it settles, it turns to a soapy incense on me. Overall: Wispy is a good description of the scent, and the lab was right to describe it in that way. The vetiver has peeked through near the end, making the blend pleasant once it has settled down. It’s a little too clean for me personally, but not a bad scent overall.

First off, this was a free bottle (Frottle?) from the Trading Post after there was a mix-up with an order that was lost. Thank you, Puddin' and the labbies that packed this in with the wonderful little pouch I ordered! In imp: Eep! It’s almost a gaggy candle scent, very heavy on the sweet and creamy notes. Even though it says boysenberry syrup, I smell maple in there, too. Concentrated breakfast. Wet on skin: The candle scent is still around, but the berries have come out, too. And to be perfectly honest, from a good distance away, it DOES smell like pancakes with butter and syrup. It’s bizarre. I also have to keep the dog and cat away from my wrists; they’ll lunge and attempt to lick it off it I don’t. Drydown: Sticky-sweet syrup. Non-foodie scent lovers beware, you WILL smell like fresh pancakes and syrup. The cakes and butter have faded, and the scent is sticking much closer to my skin at this point and not jumping out into people’s faces. The scent reminds me of a country crafts store somehow. Overall: To be honest, I would not have given this 5ml a second glance normally, but it was an extra tucked into a late package. The funny part? I actually wear it! It’s perfect for these chilly, bleak fall college days when I need something warm and comforting without dipping into my favorite fuzzy musks or incense blends. This little bottle is staying with me!

It's kind of an odd choice, but Nocnitsa reminds me immediately of winter pines. It could be that I amp the crap out of pine, but I even mentioned that I would keep it for winter and holidays. Others may amp the moss and dirt notes, though.

I didn't see it listed, but Bayou went crazy-honeysuckle on me...and I'm allergic to it! D: Maybe it's right up this thread's alley, I couldn't stand the stuff, but someone else may like it!

In imp: Dish detergent, ironically the “sea breeze” variety, and a little nip of floral. Wet on skin: More detergent, sadly. There’s a little bit of the sea spray I loved in Jolly Roger, but not very much. The floral note is slowly dissipating, at least, but this is a bright and happy scent. I wanted deep-down gloom! Drydown: Dryer sheets and Irish Spring soap. That sea breeze I loved in Jolly Roger is nowhere to be found. Overall: Floral and soap is all I got from this blend, despite my high hopes. I’ll try to again sometime, maybe in a scent locket, but my skin makes is smell like I just took a nice shower. Pleasant, but not at all what I wanted.

In imp: Soft and warm, with a bit of a musky bite. Maybe a hint of sandalwood as well. Fenris Wolf’s relaxed second-cousin. Wet on skin: A very light musk and soft incense. I don’t smell the doeskin, grasses or woods yet, but the amber is showing up plain as day. Drydown: There are the dry grasses! And the woods and doeskin as well. It’s lightly leathery and outdoorsy, but has enough musk now to keep my interest, and the amber is gorgeous in this blend. It’s nicely warm and sun-lit without being hot. Overall: The woods, grasses and doeskin counterbalance the musk and amber in such a beautiful way. It’s not too dry, either, I keep getting just a little splash of something wet. 5mls, please!

In imp: Dark, brooding incense notes and a prickliness along the top that goes straight into the sinuses. Wet on skin: There’s a definite masculine muskiness under all that incense and resin, and what smells like rich spices as well. The ozone truly comes in flashes, especially when you’re close in studying the other notes. I keep thinking I smell cinnamon. Drydown: Now there’s a bit of dust and smoke. The ozone is less prevalent than it was earlier, but the incenses are still sharp and biting. The spices are less rich now as well. Overall: A puzzling scent. I’m not used to this deep of an incense, and it was definitely an experience. It’s a bit soapy after awhile, but retains a certain sharpness. Just not quite my thing, though I try most everything at least twice.

In imp: Pungent and a bit stinky. The vetiver and black musk are at the forefront. Wet on skin: Smoky and very black, with the scents muddling together. There are some dark fruits underneath there, but they haven’t surfaced. The musk is right near the top. Drydown: I have no idea what I’m actually smelling, but the ingredients are pretty exotic. The black musk and vetiver have taken over, making a very smoky and dark blend. Overall: Gritty and strange. It suits the Lovecraft line perfectly, but I’m not sure if it’s for me. It stays close to the skin and has a throw of only a few inches. I’ll keep it, since a deep, creepy scent can be fun sometimes.

In imp: Mildew and rocks, and something very dry and stale. Wet on skin: It almost smells metallic, which is rather bizarre. I’m not getting fungus or dirt at all, but more of the tang of ozone. Very strange. Drydown: There it is! There’s this faded whiteness that I can’t quite place. Metallic soil and rocks, mildew and mushrooms. The ozone is still there. It’s still strange, but likeable. Overall: It’s a keeper. I’m not sure what it is, but there’s some subtlety of this blend that I really like. I could stand for more soil, but this is nice as it is.

In imp: Fruity, musky and smoky all at the same time. There’s an underlying scent of cherries. Wet on skin: Smoke and fruit! And some hints of incense starting to rear their heads. The resin is coming out as well, making sure that this is a draconic blend. The musk is coming out, and something in this blend has the same spicy tang I found in Wrath. Drydown: Eep. My skin’s a bit red and itchy from something in this blend, but I like how it smells! The fruitiness has flown away, leaving smoke and musk intermingled with incense and resin. Very powerful, and surprisingly androgenus. I smell cinnamon, but it’s not among the notes. Overall: I’m sad at my skin’s reaction, but I may use it in my hair or on clothing. I love the heaviness of the notes and how nicely they mingle. Whatever blood musk is, it’s sexy as hell.

In imp: Sweet dragon’s blood with an undercurrent of leather. Reminds me of a much-subdued Wrath. Wet on skin: Lots and lots of incensey dragon’s blood with just a hint of smokiness. The leather is beginning to peek through, the same one I smelled in De Sade. Drydown: Yep, that is BPAL dragon’s blood all the way. It’s like I actually have the incense burning in my room, and the leather makes me think that I have a good friend nearby that I can curl up with. Very homey, but just a little bit mischievious. Overall: Incense on the go. Maybe not a scent I would wear too often, but one for when I’m feeling homesick or lonely. “Protective” was a perfect description of the scent. Very comforting.

In imp: Springtime in a bottle! I smell green grassy notes and tiny fresh flowers. Lovely. Wet on skin: This is a pleasantly herbal mix, lots of greens. The description is spot-on; it’s summers in the hills and sparse woods amplified. Drydown: It’s still fresh and green and not at all overpowering. There are some florals mixed in, but not enough to bother me. It’s overall a feminine smell, which surprised me upon testing it. Overall: A nice spring scent, I love how genuine and green it smells. The softness from the floral notes is just enough to take it above and beyond just a grassy scent. Definitely one for the top ten and bottle list.

In imp: Very strong florals, the kind that cling around your head in a hazy cloud. There’s a hint of decay underneath; someone needs to make sure those plants are still alive. Wet on skin: The same cloying floral notes…I hope that isn’t honeysuckle, it wreaks havoc with me. I feel like I’m in a funeral parlor with way too many flowers around. Drydown: Nooooo, it IS honeysuckle. It’s all I can smell, no lovely trees or swamp or even Spanish moss! Even if it’s not exactly that, whatever is growing with the hothouse blooms is something like that and making my sinuses ache. Overall: On the right person it could be lovely, but not on me. I was hoping for swamp and instead got a punch to the face of sickly flowers. This imp’s going into the “friends can test it, but keep it AWAY!” pile.

In imp: Green and fresh with something sweet hidden within. Wet on skin: Yikes, it’s starting to smell like window cleaner or some other chemical! I’m not getting green grass or tea at all, just something highly artificial. As it dries, something else is surfacing and taking away the chemical bite. Though thinking on it, that ginger or fig could be to blame for my impressions of cleaners. Drydown: Like in the imp, it is green and sweet with a pleasant mustiness underneath. The throw seems fairly weak, good for when I need a light scent, but it stays so close to the skin that I barely notice it. Overall: It’s a nice fresh and clean scent, but not quite up my alley. I need something a little less light and airy, and the herbal notes are hardly there in my case. I smell a bit like soap, actually. A pleasant green, but not what I’m looking for.