devilot

In the Vial: Weird, it smells more like rose to me. And a green sort of plum. Wet: Still not getting the classically spicy carnation, still sort of a fresh rosey scent. And now the plum shifts from green to the purpley plum we're all so familiar with. Drydown: Soooo faint. WTF is up with my skin chemistry today? Either that, or Bathsheba really does NOT want to be detectable on me. Verdict: Well, what I am able to smell, smells great. For you know, all of twenty seconds. I'm really not sure if my skin chemistry is acting up, or if this blend just won't work with me. A real pity as I really really like the way this smells. If I ever wanted to wear this, I think I'd have to dump an entire imp on each wrist. Sigh. ETA: Woohoo! The musk has come out finally! The musk decided to appear and it's gorgeous. It also helps to make this blend a bit more noticeable, but ultimately, I wanna be able to smell a perfume on me without having to walk around w/ my nose glued to my wrist.

In the Vial: Smells like cinnamony (?) vetiver. Ick. Wet: Still smoky. Drydown: Yeah, I'm thinking this is still really smoky. Verdict: Not much more to add. Really smoky. That's it. I'm... not a big fan of this blend at all.

In the Vial: Cologney. Floral. Herbal somehow. Wet: I wouldn't be able to name individual notes without reading the lab description; but once the notes are listed, I can better pick out what my nose is smelling. Bergamot, jasmine for sure, and thyme. The patchouli doesn't seem to be noticeable at all (and I'm not a fan of patch). I can't seem to pick up the other notes (no sweet tonka bean, no moss, or lavender). Drydown: Still very very cologney. Man cologne. Ugh. Verdict: Thing is, I don't think I'd like this on a man, either, it just comes across as such a generic men's cologne. ETA: Lavender and something slightly creamy (tonka bean) comes out way later. It helps to mellow out the blend overall, but I'm still not wild for Wilde.

In the Vial: Milky, a confusingly sweetly thick yet somehow sour milk. And something else that comes across sharply. Mebbe I'm smelling the tea? Oh wait, rereading the notes, the thickly sweet note would be, duh, honey. Wet: Sweet honey and sharp tea. And something that's tickling my nose. Uh oh. Probably the white pepper? Drydown: The milk's not all that noticeable now. Definitely the honey and tea are most prominent. Think the pepper is still tickling my nose. And I think I'm getting a hint of the vanilla + clean linen a la Antique Lace. Verdict: This is a "nice" blend. It's just a bit plain to my nose and on my skin. I think I'd prefer Antique Lace or Mouse's Sad & Long Tale, or even layering them w/ Dorian (or the recently discon'd Severin) to get the tea aspects. Definitely nice, but not enough for me to get a 5ml, and wouldn't mind passing this imp on, either.

In the Vial: Strong banana! Dirt! And something dirtier than dirt. *nose wrinkles* Patchouli? Is that you? Wet: Again, super strong banana. And dirt. Cold, damp, dirt. Drydown: The two very separate banana and dirt notes seem to have blended together more now, but they're definitely still noticeable. Verdict: I typically hate bananas. The fruit, the smell, the taste, all of it. And I really hate dirt scents. But somehow, this blend really works. And I thought so. Various people thought it smelled great on me. Until I let my mom sniff it. Her nose winkled and she said it just smelled like medicine. Now I can't get that association outta my head. Sigh.

In the Bottle: Yes, I bought a bottle from the lab, unsniffed because I'm desperate to find "my" tobacco blend. This smells like wood. Super strong, slap you around wood. And vanilla. Mmm. Vanilla. Wet: So it softens a tiny bit, but overall? Still very woody on me. Polished, shiny wood. With a hint of vanilla. Ooh, a little spiciness. Methinks tobacco is saying hello! Drydown: Balderdash. The tobacco is way too fleeting, or just too delicate to compete with the WOOOOOOD. Verdict: I wanted so badly to love this. Love vanilla, love tobacco, and can hang w/ wood, but in this blend? The wood is just too much. Maybe if this were aged? But alas, I'm too broke to hang onto a full bottle of something that's not working for me right now.

Another here who detects a similarity to Huesos de Santos, another blend I love. Cake note here without a doubt! And something that to my nose, is a bit orangey (hence the others' references to citrus). While wet, PX117 seems like a mix of Huesos + Velvet Unicorn. In the dry-down though, it differs; the sugaryness fades away and I'm left with marshmallow on my skin. I actually really like it in all its stages, though prefer the scent while wet. Still, am so so glad I got this blend. I'm actually surprised this hasn't gotten more rave reviews, 'cause I know that this also sold out early on.

Wet, I'm pretty sure I'm getting black patchouli from this. This is such a dark and powerful seeming blend (pretty poignant since Osiris is often thought of as a god of death, right?). Quite a while later, the note that I'm associating as patchouli mellows down to a spicy woodsy sort of scent. This is a gorgeous, dark, and very regal sort of scent. ETA: OMGOMGOMG! Yes! edenssixthday hit the nail on the head in her post here, in the dry-down, there is something in Osiris that is reminiscent of Glowing Vulva! *swoons*

Really brief review from me for this scent as I tested it after a full night of sniffing at Cobwebs/ DD. In the bottle: Lots o' leather. Wet: SHARP! Talk about lime, they're not kidding when they say there's lime in this sucker! Quickly morphs back into mainly leather (note that my skin amps leather like no other). Drydown: Lime has mellowed a bit, it's no longer socking me in the face, just bitch-slapping me. Still predominantly leather, leather, leather. Something "else" subtly peeks through at times; don't think it's the pepper or the metal, so maybe it's 'hellfire?' Not sure what that is. Verdict: I'm so relieved I got to try this at DD. I don't need a decant, much less a bottle. It's fun, and I'm super glad I got to try it, but yes, a blend I can do without. I don't think I've yet to try a BPAL blend w/ lime in it that I like. How funny. And I can't do blends w/ predominant leather notes simply because of how much my skin amps leather. But I loooooove the lab's leather note. Just don't like it if it covers everything else up.

In the Vial: Thinking my sniffer is broken-- I get "fruity swimming pool" when I sniff the imp. Wet: Fruity! Sweet. Let's see what the notes say... I'm not sure what copal smells like, but yes, I definitely get the plumeria (*swoon* HI) and the sweet orange. Drydown: How does Beth do this?! Just minutes later, the fruitiness mellows (but is still present) and just whispy hints of a lone incense stick smoking gently in a fruity tropical locale. It really does smell a tad smoky w/ that backdrop of fruit! Amazing! Verdict: I'm actually not much of a fruity person but this is such an interesting blend! I can't help but to keep sniffing my wrist because it's just so... cool! Smoky incense wafting about a fruity jungle. How?! How does she do this? Not a bottle blend for me and probably won't keep the imp, either, as I'm not into fruity or smoky and it's only been 15 minutes and I can barely detect it on my skin now.

In the Vial: YUM! I smell the vanilla that's in Antique Lace (one of my all time faves). I also smell something slightly floral. Wet: Definitely still get the vanilla and something sharper (is it the amber or sandalwood). Drydown: Still vanilla, but not as deliciously sweet as when wet. The ambers and sandalwood (not sure exactly which) but something turns this blend v powdery on my skin. Verdict: This is gorgeous, don't get me wrong, but it's just so similar to Antique Lace on my skin and to my allergy-stuffed nose. Since I've got a bottle of AL, I don't feel compelled at this point to get Mouse's Long and Sad Tale despite how yummy it smells.

In the Vial: Sweet, creamy sugar, or sugary cream. After having tried Love's Philosophy, I think I can detect saffron here, even in the vial. Wet: Ah, the buttery rum appears! *licks lips* Yes, I still smell the saffron but definitely the buttery rum is jostling for attention. Drydown: Mm, sandalwood regally floats into the room. Her mere presence causes the balance to shift and the garrulous sugary crowd now settles into a sweet and quiet murmur. Still buttery, but aside from the buttery aspect, most of the notes are now seamlessly interwoven into one creamy soothing blend. Verdict: I see why this is so sought after. I love it, I do. But just knowing I'll never have even a partial bottle encourages me to use these two decants as swap fodder for something else that I might love yet be more attainable. Or hell, just so that others can experience this much-loved blend, too. I'm so glad I got to try this, and so glad that it isn't my ultimate HG. Hm, okay... 20 minutes later, there's just something "vanilla-like" there. And barely. I have to huff and huff and huff my wrist. Guess that makes me even more glad. Doesn't wanna stick around on my skin, then phooey! Be gone with you you delicious temptress!

In the Bottle: Dark purple fruit-- yes plum, yes wine, and something sinister, reminiscent of patchouli but not quite as earthy. Wet: Deliciously juicy and dark. Definitely in the same family as Snake Charmer and Mme. Moriarty to my nose. Drydown: Bummer, I'm getting the same shift as sprocket21, which is to say, as this blend dries, it grows powdery and perfumey. Verdict: I might not usually mind the shift to powder, but it's not something I love enough to warrant a bottle. Why did my skin and nose change? This was so perfect when I got it from the lab.

In the Bottle: Juicy little slices of mandarin. Rose. Wet: Mandarin is still prominent. Something else that come across as sharply floral, not really rose-- I wonder if it's the poppy? I have no idea what poppy or opoponax smell like. A smidgeon of creamy vanilla. Drydown: Mm, hint of violet. I love violet when it's not too powdery or worse, dusty, and so far it's behaving in this blend. Again, the mandarin is still noticeable. The musks have entered the equation-- not prominently, just enough to mellow out that way-too-sharp floral from the wet stage. Verdict: This is actually quite nice, but I was really really hoping for more vanilla and cream, and more musk. A bit less mandarin. And less floral. I like this, but not enough to justify a full bottle. I bet a decant would suffice. *ponders*

In the Vial: Smells figgy and earthy (in a subtle patchouli way). Mm, rich, plummy fig. Wet: I know it's not listed, but I swear I smell patchouli! But despite being a patchouli amper/ hater, I really like the earthiness and subtle way it shows itself in this blend. Still a sweet fig, this is a very rich and "purply" fruity blend so far. To the point that it seems syrupy. Perhaps a bit too thick. Drydown: I think the florals are peeking as it's getting, for lack of a better word, "perfumey." Still very sweet and fruity. WHOA! Rose is definitely in the house. And it is certainly a "dry rose" as listed in the lab notes. And then there's the gardenia. Verdict: What an interesting, morphing blend on me. I loved it at first, then it got a bit too cough syrupy. Then it was nice to get some floral until it went into crazy floral mode. Now, it's just nice, but I dunno if I can handle that entire shift and morph every time I decided to wear this blend. Think I'll pass, but might eventually come 'round to loving it. Who know?

Blood orange, King mandarin, nectarine, patchouli, violet, ylang ylang, and amber. In the Bottle: Mandarin and a whisper patchouli is what my sniffer picks up. Wet: Peppery? I'm getting pepper from this. Not sure which note is to "blame," perhaps the ylang ylang? Still got the orangey tang, I think that the mandarin is stronger as it's not quite as sweet and juicy as blood orange typically is. And as per usual, my skin amps patchouli-- it's not too bad here, though. Just more noticeable wet on the skin, than in the bottle. Drydown: Yes, the floral ylang ylang has taken front and center stage. I'm really not a fan of ylang ylang, 'm afraid. I get a hint of violet's "dustiness" and maybe the amber is there, but it's pushed to the back since the bright citrus and the punch-you-in-the-face ylang ylang are so aggressive. Verdict: It's actually quite nice, but I just know I won't do this bottle justice. (Plus, it does remind me of the BPTP's Ignis massage oil which I love and use.) Away it goes!

In the Vial: Dragon's blood and vetiver. Without a doubt. Second sniff-- there we go, now I can smell the red musk. Wet: Ugh. Apparently, I amp my enemy, vetiver, ick. Again, lotsa vetiver, sticky sweet dragon's blood is prominent as well as the darker but still sticky sweet red musk. Drydown: Ah, finally a shift. The patch crept slowly forward. Oooooh, me likey the patchouli in this blend (and I tend to amp and dislike patchouli but not here). And nice little tinge of cinnamon. I am not a fan of cinnamon or cardamom, but here? Competing with such strong notes the light hand w/ the cinnamon adds just a nice little kick to this blend. Freshens it up and keeps it from falling into a sticky depth. Verdict: I was pretty scared off by the vetiver and I'm noticing after several red musk containing blends, that I dislike red musk wet, but really warm up to it as it dries down on me. All in all, I'm really enjoying Bloodlust. Loving this odd frimp type thing I received of this, but doubt I'll be buying a bottle any time soon. I think I prefer Scherezade to this, but this is quite nice and surprisingly so.

In the Vial: CITRUS! Fruity. But something sweet. (Looking at the notes, I can't figure out what smells so sweet to me-- freesia? I dunno!) Wet: Sharp and fruity. Definitely get the mandarin and loads of honeydew. Smells very green on me now. Perhaps the green musk? A very clean scent. Drydown: A little less soapy clean, now, and softer. Probably the musks softening the rest of the blend. I think I can get the subtleness of neroli now, just a hint, though. Wish there were more neroli. Verdict: A nice, clean, citrusy green scent. But nothing I'm in love with.

In the Vial: I can detect the myrrh and frankincense and the cypress. VERY SHARP. (Not sure I know what saffron by itself smells like but guesstimating from Love's Philosophy, I'd say I can catch the slightest hint of saffron here, and yes to the cardamom.) Wet: Resins & woods. Sort of disappointingly "cologney." Drydown: Wowwie wow wow wow! Talk about morphing! All the sharpness of the woods that I didn't like (like cypress and the way frankincense can sometimes be sharp) have mellowed super quickly. Now it's soft, very soft. I'm thinking the white sandalwood and amber + red musk (though to my nose it doesn't smell like red musk, just 'musky') have probably been the Heroes of Mellowing in this blend. Verdict: Insanely strong throw for the first five minutes. Then? Super light throw (at least in the drydown which is what really matters). Started off very disappointing but now smells like a sophisticated grown-up and somehow complex 'baby powder' on me. But in a good way. I'm not fond of some of the lab's other blends that have gone powdery on me, but there's something more sensual, more raw, more papow about this blend's powderiness. Yum. Definitely gonna hang onto this decant for now.

Definitely agree with others-- very reminiscent of Sugar Skull (but to me, also other such syrupy dark blends like Midnight Kiss). I do get a hint of the Snake Oil which makes it a bit more unique. This is delicious but I'm afraid I'll have to be blasphemous now... I wonder if I couldn't replicate something close to this by layering good ol' SO with one of those sugary sweet blends? And if so, I'm starting to think maybe this imp of Anaconda could find a better home elsewhere. *strokes chin thoughtfully*

In the Vial: Citrusy. Sweet/ foodie. (Ah, the 'citrus' is in fact pineapple and the sweetness can probably be explained by the toffee + buttered toast.) Wet: Sweet toffee still w/ the tang of the pineapple. Overall, feeling buttery and foodie. Drydown: Still predominantly foodie, but for some reason, I'm getting something else now. Almost aquatic. Weird, I wonder what I'm smelling! Verdict: Not ready for a 5ml, I still prefer other foodie blends more (Eat Me, Beaver'versary, Pancake Breakfast), but it'd be nice to keep a sniffie of Drink Me around to see how it would age and whether or not I'd like it more then.

In the Vial: Spicy vetiver? *shudders* (Seems my nose is confusing red musk for vetiver, or vetiver is an unlisted note. ) Wet: Lots and lots of red musk. Just a hint of the spices; I'm not sure what saffron smells like, so I don't know if my nose can detect it or not. Drydown: Still loads of red musk, but the spices have become more noticeable again, though it's all more well-blended than sniffing it outta the vial or wet. I vastly prefer this stage-- when the notes blend together more. Ick, it's getting slightly dusty. I'm really really not a fan of dusty scents. Ten minutes or so later, it's getting creamier which I like. I wonder if Dorian would layer well w/ this! ETA: twenty minutes later this is delicious! Yes, still very reminiscent of Mme. Moriarty, yet softer, creamier somehow. And a great GC substitute for whenever the CD acts leave town for good. Verdict: I was pretty turned off by the vial scent and then the oil wet on my skin, but now that it's had time to work w/ my skin chemistry, I'm finding that it's a pretty nice blend. I think there are other blends w/ red musk that I prefer more (Mme. Moriarty comes to mind), and I don't like how it gets slightly dusty on me. No 5ml for now, but I'll definitely hang onto this imp for the time being.

In the Vial: Sharp, lemon, janitorial cleaning solution lemon. Wet: Methinks it's the jasmine, but there's something unnerving about it now. Drydown: Still tons of lemon (verbena) and jasmine. Ick. Verdict: This isn't the blend for me. Never big on lemon scents and apparently, not the biggest fan of the lab's jasmine note. Ah well, tons more oils to try out! Off to the swaps pile.

In the Vial: Whoa CAKE! And then wine. Honey. Whoa. Wet: How bizarre! Definitely a honey-soaked cake note, but then the odd tang of wine (that smells more like the lab's champagne note to my nose). Drydown: The super sweet, honey-soaked cake is now getting spicy. Gingerbready. The wine ("champagne") note is still discernible, though on my skin, fades away before the cake does and changes the cake note into a still sweet, but slightly grapey cake. Verdict: All in all, a really interesting blend. I'm tempted to hang onto this imp just because of how odd I find it. But I suppose I wouldn't be too upset if I wound up swapping this away.

In the Vial: Sharp yet fruity. Not a happy bright colored fruit, something darker. (Ah, looking at the notes, I think I smell the rose as being sharp and probably the other florals, too. And the black plum and wild berry being darker fruit.) Wet: More of the fruit comes out on the skin versus in the vial, which I prefer. Still floral. Oddly enough, it smells almost grapey to me. Drydown: The fruit brightens and gets sharper. The florals mellow a bit and blend together more. The blend overall gets less sharp, which I'm grateful for. Ooh, the berry comes out a bit more and it lends a sweetness that the blend really needed. About fifteen minutes later, the rose is more noticeable as its own note now. Verdict: All together, quite nice. No 5ml for me, and I'm not even sure I'll hang onto the imp. It's turning a bit craft-store potpourri on me now. Quite rough in the vial and wet, but the drydown is softer and blends together more. Those afraid of the more perfumey florals will want to steer clear!