Amoraexcena
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Everything posted by Amoraexcena
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I love this! Gorgeous lightly-sweet resins supported by my beloved ambergris. I can smell a touch of gentle floral (I wouldn't recognize it as immortelle without the notes) in the bottle, but on my skin it disappears. As previous reviewers have noted, it doesn't have too much throw, but occasionally I'm getting lovely whiffs of comforting, sacred-yet-absolutely-wearable resins+ambergris. I imagine a venerable priestess of the old gods to wear this. Or maybe Professor McGonagall. Demure, mindful, grounded, mature, everything feels very deliberate and calculated, but in a kind way. I'm sure it's going to age superbly as well. Backup-worthy!
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+1 on the FLOOOOOF! This is one adorable kitty. It's a lovely creamy coconut smoothie made of coconut cream, cool coconut water, and topped with a generous dusting of fluffy coconut-confectioner's-sugar. I definitely have wanted a simple, layer-able coconut scent just like this one for a long time. I'm looking forward to layering it with The Star and Obatala to add a little more fun, youthful, fresh coconut to them.
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Dead Leaves, Nag Champa, Tunisian Patchouli, and Vanilla Bean Hair Gloss
Amoraexcena replied to Jenjin's topic in Hair
This is heavy on the dead, dried leaves full of the bitterness of neroli. Everything in this evokes death and darkness. The incense is dark and serious. The patchouli is dark, dirty, and no-nonsense. I can't detect any of the vanilla bean, which would have been a welcome respite from all this bitter darkness. I really wanted to find a dead leaves scent that works for me, but I think I'll have to take a break after this one. It just matches my mood post-Trump-election a little too much. What I want right now is hopeful, beautiful sweetness that lifts me out of this dark fog. I was hoping for a Sugared Lace-esque sweet incense scent, and this is absolutely not that. I will say that neroli-fans will probably like this. Alas, it's not for me. -
I was a tad wary about this one - anything soapy likes to SCREECH on my skin - but this stays freshly-washed cotton sheets, without turning into cheap soap. I'm so glad. The vanilla-marshmallow-incense quietly supports the cotton sheets. I love this, but also it makes me wish I had a scent where the roles are reversed - more of the vanilla-marshmallow-incense and the cotton sheets plays support. I'd love for the ghost of Stekk to visit these sheets next year 😆 Regardless, really lovely scent. Something I'd 100% wear right after finishing my chores and I want to feel fresh, clean, and accomplished.
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Oh man I LOVE this. I have several sweet lavender scents (Paper Phoenix, TKO) and airy lavender scents (Air and the Ether), but I don't have something quite like this - darkened lavender. The labdanum reminds me of the note in La Lugubre Gondola, a rich, sticky, dark amber with a bit of cola-like spices. For me it evokes a comfortingly heavy blanket in a darkened bedroom. The blanket carries a wisp of scent from the last time you washed it. I bet this is going to age wonderfully, just like LLG has. I adore this labdanum note💜
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I'm a big fan of BPAL's ambergris note, and I sadly missed out on the Single Note when it came out. Happily, this one is very heavy on the ambergris, and exactly what I was hoping for. This accord is fresh and juicy, salty, and a little sweet. It's hard to tell where the ambergris ends and the lichen begins, but I think I detect a bit of oakmossy, subtle woody-plantiness. Definitely wearable on its own, though it's got pretty quiet throw. I have the Salt and Sand hair gloss on to test, and while that one isn't my thing (too soapy-aquatic), it definitely is improved with this Sturgeon Moon perfume accompanying it!
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A soft and somnambulent lavendar paired with ethereal amber and just a touch of light ambergris. I think of a pale little wisps who come to snuggle against your skin, dusting it with magic ether and leaving a memory of a cool sensation. It's joined TKO, To a Wreath of Snow, Go To Sleep Darlings, and Paper Phoenix in my sleep rotation! I hope they bring this back sometime so I can restock. Lovely blend.
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This one's a big morpher on me, unfortunately not in the best of ways. In the bottle I get a lovely gentle lavender with just a touch of airy sweetness. Immediately on my skin, the caramelized tobacco and cognac amp up and almost completely smothers the lavender. I like those notes, though I mourn a little for the lavender, so if it stayed there I wouldn't be too sad - but unfortunately, soon after it dries, the smoke poofs into the forefront and stomps all over everything else. It reminds me a little of how the smoke note in Liz behaved on my skin. It's like the cognac was set on fire and left to burn a little too long. I'm pretty sure this is a skin chemistry fail, so I'll be sure to test it in a scent locket before letting it go.
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Very pretty, reminiscent of De Vos Unicorn with the gentle mallow-vanilla combo. This one leans a little less floral, more sugary vanilla than DVU. I don't detect much resin or woods from this, maybe a touch in the far drydown. If the Unicorn wandered from its field of flowers, and into the little patch of vanilla orchids, lovingly cared for by elvish gardeners, this is what you'd get.
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On my skin, this is the rain-soaked, adventure-loving half-sister to They Shut Me Up in Prose. Less demure and approachable but no less beautiful - hauntingly so, in fact. She has sirens or nymphs or mermaids in her blood. Maybe all three. As folks before have said, this is a gorgeous, gently sweet rain-and-vanilla that feels like a cross between Sea of Glass and They Shut Me Up in Prose, with a dash of Zorya P. I'm glad I got two bottles blind, and thank you to previous reviewers for convincing me to!
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Deer Moon: Golden Tobacco and Beeswax
Amoraexcena replied to doomsday_disco's topic in Duets & Menage A Trois
Another beautiful duet! I got this one mostly because I wanted to confirm that I can wear the BPAL beeswax note (I sadly can't wear most of their honey notes, they tend to go cloyingly sweet on my skin). As LavenderCoffee says, it's a warm, sophisticated-perfume-tobacco with a quite realistic, slightly earthy, gently sweet beeswax. Success! I can definitely wear beeswax 😍 I bought it together with Wanton Airs, Bodiless Airs, thinking they'd pair quite well together. They ABSOLUTELY do. They're both beautiful in their own right, but wonderful layered. I see a lot of fun layering experiments with this one in the near future - I can see this going well with some of my favourite Hair Glosses - IBT and Palo Santo and Patchouli, definitely. I'm so glad I got this, and might spring for another bottle before the Deer Moon Lunacy wanes. -
I saw this on sale, and read doomsday_disco's review, and had to get it. I'm surprised it's not more popular (or maybe it is and I'm just out of the loop). The cognac makes it a bit like a Lace or Pediophobia. It's a golden lace - like golden hour sunbeams streaming through lace curtains, warming some ripe sweet citrus in a wooden bowl. Somehow nostalgic and classic in feel. The bergamot adds a lovely brightness but fades relatively quickly on my skin, so I think I'll try it in a scent locket as well. Really beautiful from start to finish. I'm really glad I was able to grab a bottle!
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I'm on a bit of a lavender kick, and I'm really glad I got this one. A gently herbal-floral lavender paired with the old cool-toned Dorian with a bit of extra vanilla. This really makes me miss the Lilith updates. Just gorgeous and perfect as a sleep scent. Goodnight💜
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I'm also getting more of a strawberry hard candy or strawberry syrup vibe from this, and only a smidge of milk or marshmallow - but, it layers really well with Stekk for a proper strawberry milkshake scent! So I'm quite happy. A sweet, youthful, cheerful strawberry milkshake. I won't need more than one bottle, but it's a fun occasional pick-me-up scent, maybe for when I'm hanging out with my neices/nephews.
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Pink Moon: Marshmallow and Candyfloss Hair Gloss
Amoraexcena replied to doomsday_disco's topic in Hair
I've been around for long enough that I generally know which BPAL notes work on me and which don't, so it's rare nowadays for me not to like something that I blind-bought (especially with HGs, I can't recall any HG I disliked). Unfortunately, this is one of those rare occurances. I was hoping for a lovely, floofy sweet puff of a scent like Stekk, but what I got was a similar experience to doomsday_disco - sickly-sweet and powdery children's vitamins in a chemical-y pink, vaguely cherries/berries flavour. I don't get much marshmallow at all except for maybe a barely-there vanillic undertone, this is really all about that artificial-flavouring pink sugar. I tried layering it with Pink Moon, but it's still definitely not my thing - the chemical-fruit-sweetness just becomes amplified. Definitely a bit bummed about this one. I'll let it sit and age for a bit, but likely will end up going to a new home. -
This scent is a lightning bolt of memory for me. It smells like the Church of Santiago Tlatelolco in Mexico City. My partner at the time brought me to the Tlatelolco Archaeological Site with some friends, knowing my adoration for all things ruins and history and archaeology. I wasn't expecting the horrifying, sacreligious chimera of a Church - it was clearly made from stolen materials of the temples of the conquered indigenous people. I could practically hear the echoes of the wrath of the old gods and the screams of their worshippers. It was a stark, shocking reminder of the blasphemous destruction wrought by Spanish colonialist evangelism. It gave me chills, in the middle of a hot Mexican summer. When I cautiously entered the Church after exploring the rest of the ruins, I was struck with discordance - the imposing, supposed-to-inspire-awe, ostentacious high ceilings and detailed oil paintings and gold filigree of Catholic tastes, juxtaposed to the rather calming scent of frankincense and cracked stone and dust. I left the accursed place burning with rage, mad at myself for liking the scent of it, trying not to show my turmoil of emotions to my friends or partner, who I appreciated very much for bringing me there. I needed to see it. This is the scent of heavy church resins and colonial gold, failing to completely mask the desecrated dust of precious ancient relics.
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Exactly as advertised! It's a sweet, gently spiced marron creme dessert with vanilla whip and caramel drizzle. Very pleasant and comforting, though I feel it suits an autumn or winter vibe more than spring. I want cool weather, a nice warm mug of black tea, a cozy throw blanket, a good book, and a candle with this. With raindrops pattering against the windowsill. In the far drydown, the cashmere part peeks through a bit more, making it a little less foody and a little more gourmand. It's raining and quite cool today in Vancouver so it's perfect.
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Surprisingly, this is quite floral on my skin - I wonder if this memorial garland has some unlisted flowers in it? I echo the similarity with Paper Phoenix (though I do like that one better, it's sweeter, with that lovely relaxing lavendar and fun pink pepper) and Tea Leaves, Vanilla Bean, and Incense Smoke. My partner thought I had a rose scent on. I don't get rose from this, but if I was smelling this without a note list, I'd guess lily of the valley or something along those lines. Cat at the Table is also somewhat similar, but that one reads a little more citrus-fruity to me. I'm not sure where I'm getting that impression (that one has no listed fruit notes), but anyway - they're all scent-cousins. The cool-toned tea blend family. In the late drydown I get a bit more vanillic/benzoin sweetness, which I enjoy. I'm not getting any of the smokiness I was worried about from the lapsang souchong, which is a relief. I'm going to let this one age a bit and see where it goes!
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Skin chemistry is so interesting! I get basically the opposite experience of Little Bird - it opens as spicy, sugary clove with a sweet golden amber that leans musky. On my skin, this smooths out as it dries, becoming a golden-brown haze of clove-infused syrup - no powder here! I love sweet amber, so I'm layering it with the recent IBT perfume and it's really pretty together. I like clove, but I'm finding I like it in small doses, and Constellation is almost sweet clove single note on me. Between this and Vampire Milk, I think I've satisfied the clove quota in my collection. While this isn't what I thought Constellations smell like, it's very nice. I would expect a green witch's kitchen to be scented like this!
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It's so hard to follow up to ghoulnextdoor's beautiful, evocative reviews, but I'll do my best! On my skin, this scent is in the same family as the floral-dark incense blends I love so much, like Sugared Lace, Black Lace, and Midnight on the Midway - but a mature, dignified, powerful witch-queen version. It's less sweet than the others, more resin-forward, and the frankincense gives it a stateliness. This is the scent for the silver-crowned, midnight-robed witch-queen that not only has her own ritual altar, but many altars dedicated to her. This is going to age beautifully, just as the witch-queen does.
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My experience with this one is quite different from other reviewers. On me, there is very little effervescence or sparkle - it's full-throated oak-barrel-aged cognac with a bit of sweet and tangy fruit notes and thick, sticky tobacco, with a hint of vanilla seeping through in the late drydown. Of course, this bottle is aged now, but I don't remember it ever having much fizzle on my skin. I'd say this is the most "gentlemen's salon" type of scent I own. It's quite lovely, but not really "me." Debating whether to keep my bottle or not... It's interesting, but I could count the number of times I've reached for this over the years, on one hand. I feel like I should let it free and go to someone who loves it, considering its rarity nowadays. OTOH, I'm a hoarder AND I have a soft spot for Laces... it's hard letting them go. Maybe I'll keep it for another ten years and see how I feel then 😅
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I really love Banshee Beat, and this chewy, approachable patchouli is definitely reminiscent of it. However...the honey is the kind that amps on my skin. BPAL's quintessential honey note: an infernal honey with heat, made from hot pepper flowers grown in Purgatory, cared for by fire imps. It's got attitude, power, and adds a distinct edge to the scent, dangerously sweet, and quite sexy. It's wiping out any trace of vanilla for me. I'm a bigger fan of the more gentle honey dust or white honey notes - this one is a little too intimidating for me to get a full bottle of. BB stays as my favourite patch/vanilla, but I'm glad I finally got to try this one! I can see it work really well for folks who like that powerful honey note + patchouli.
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It's the scent of a promising young courtesan, about to make her big debut. She whispers and teases and lightly brushes your face with elegant fingers, leaving a trace of her scent on you. You can't help but fall for her. Your skin but better, lightly sweet, pink bokeh sparkles. You know Twilight vampires? Like their shimmery skin, during a golden-pink sunset. Creamy, gently sweet floral, and grounded with a hint of teak. It's a soft scent, very slather-able. Good thing I got 4 bottles!
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Tea Leaves, Vanilla Bean, and Incense Smoke
Amoraexcena replied to Seajewel's topic in Duets & Menage A Trois
Definitely reminiscent of my beloved Paper Phoenix, without the lavender. At first it's very much a sweet tea-and-lemon scent, with a bit of vanilla bean and incense smoke in the drydown. My favourite ménage à trois is Vanilla Bean, Marshmallow & Benzoin, and this is a close second. Super glad I got it. I think vanilla bean is overtaking bourbon vanilla as my top vanilla variety lately. It's just the perfect amount of non-cloying sweetness and blends seamlessly with other notes. -
Upon first application, the palo santo wood dominates, swirled with incense smoke. The woodsmoke dissipates within ~30 min or so, the ash blown gently away, revealing sweet, golden resin treasures embraced with a soft patchouli (not dirty on my hair/to my nose). This drydown stage is to die for. I think it can layer well with pretty much anything at this point, but I especially like this with other sweet smoky scents like Liz, or golden-resin scents like Haloes, L'Estate, IBT, Flickering Lights, Tattered Lace, and Hesoid's Phoenix.