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Oriental 245 This one breaks my head a little - there's something that smells like green musk, a touch of orchid, maybe even a blush orange blossom. This one has a green planty musk whiff at the very end of the drydown.

Floral #56 This one is creamy, with a kick of lime. I swear, I've smelled this before. For me, this is classic white florals, with a touch of almond maybe? Clean, fresh, classic.

So Esbat IS a moonflower scent. But its the moonflower that grows in a gothic cementery. I get the aquatic moss, a hint of herbals, moonflower and some other white floral. It does a fair bit of metamorphosis from wet to the drydown - like the elements themselves creep, twine, and bloom. At one point after immediately applying some of the florals were super white and aggressive. I let it do its thing since while it wasn't altogether pleasant, there were enough elements that I hoped would shine through. After an hour, it smells like moonflowers growing on moldering cemetery grave patches, overgrown with weeds, moss and other plant life.

You know, I never knew what the Phoenix looked like. I am also enjoying the outdoor shots!

This scent was a frimp with the BPTP T-Shirt Goblin Grab Bag of 2015. First of, the name is hilarious. This one is a soft, white floral with some jasmine sambac, and some lemon. I think there's some vanilla musk in there as well. It smells clean, fresh, and floral. And the name is just spectacularly hilarious.

DESIRE BONBON Belgian chocolate with neroli, black patchouli and black musk, gilded by apple, bergamot, blood red rose, teak, and vanilla. Oh man, I get orange chocolate (hi neroli!) with musky black patch, and hints of rose and vanilla. I got a whiff of apple on wet, but that was short lived. This one again puts me in mind o f the Lurid Bonbon. Somehow, all of the elements are oddly discordant to me. It sort of smells like the crime scene for a Valentine's day murder. Strewn chocolates, charred Vday cards, and a woman's perfume all over a bedroom.

I think the most ethereal blend I ever tried had to be the Evening Star. Some of the lunacies are pretty ethereal...

I'm surprised at how much I enjoyed this. It was darkly sophisticated frankincense and myrrh, with a brush of roses and vanilla. It's dark, feminine, and would work perfectly for a date night. Bust this out when you want some romance.

Peacock Queen BO is like the perfume - a deeply regal red rose. It's sophisticated, queenly and deeply majestic. If you like roses and like to get your power tiara on, or ever dreamed of being like Charlize Theron in the Snow White and Huntsman movie, give this a whirl.

I got a whiff of lavender, but a fair amount of anise/black licorice. I wore this yesterday for an all-staff retreat. I find large groups stressful, and trying to build a safe space/be vulnerable when certain team members don't value that work and/or think it's not "work" is damaging. Inevitably, we had the "this is stupid, why are we wasting our time" moment, but it didn't affect me as much as I thought. mr. zee_zee also had to work late yesterday, and because of where I was, I was able to turn that into an opportunity for "me time" instead of fretting. I think I might try this out while driving

This is for the Shill prototype from the Cobwebby event. I really get the salt note in this prototype - its aquatic salty with a hint of popcorn. The released version was heavier in the butter and popcorn. This one is light and salty.

My day is not complete without some nathanielhebert bottle photography. Thank you!

Seventh in the series, and hopefully the last type of post around this: CT LVI (56): Minty, cloves, and a hint of vanilla. This smells like a smokier version of Snowblind actually. Previously reviewed here. CT XX (20) from etsy II: This smells like something familiar - and kinda out of the Carnival Diabolique line, more along the lines of Stormclouds Around the Midway. Sort of sugary incense, plum, hints of ozone. CT XIII (13) from etsy I: Honey, almond, and a whiff of cherry. CT VI (6) from etsy I: Again, smells familiar. White florals, perhaps gardenia? This smells like a classic white floral perfume. I can't put my finger on it.

Candy apple and a touch of honey. This is a sweet, red apple blend.

Sixth in the series of Chaos HG testers CT XCIV (94): Pear, hints of stone, riesling wine. This smells like a vineyard in Germany - golden sun, golden grapes, pear groves. It's very golden and absolutely stunning. Previously reviewed here CT XV (15) from etsy I: This one smells like citron and white musk. Hints of lemon verbena. It's soft, clean, and springy. CT VII (7) from etsy I: There's a note in here that I don't like that goes all powdery on me. It smells like gin and talc - or drunk grandma. I mean if that's whats you're going for. CT XVII (17) from etsy I: Boozy, cool, touch of gardenia. CT XII (12) from etsy II: Strawberries, strawberry candy and just a dash of grenadine. This smells like the love child between Velvet Pink Kitty and Strawberry Moon.

This one is creamy milk chocolate, hint of coconut and shea. This one is definitely a milk chocolate blend though!

Fifth in the series of CT HG testers CT LIII: Definitely cakey. I think there's some ginger in there and a touch of lemon blossom. It's spicy, cakey, buttery. Previously reviewed here CT XLII (42): This one smells a little like Snake Oil, but more powdery. It's got some blue musk in there, and a touch of moonflower. The oil itself has some reddish globules that are much heavier that sink to the bottom, so I imagine that it needs a good shake in larger quantities. Previously reviewed here CT LVII (57): Definitely planty green! It smells like Karme and Planting Moon - which means fresh greenery, squash blossoms, and tomato leaf. I love me some tomato leaf. It just smells SO fresh. Previously reviewed here CT XXXVI (36): So this one is white musk and clean florals. It ends up smelling like powdery talc to me. So very clean? Previously reviewed here CT LXXXI (81): Another gourmand one. This one has some orange zest, some allspice, and I think a tiny bit of brandy? It sort of reminds me to a better version of BPAL's Fruitcake. Previously reviewed here CT XVI (16) from etsy I: This one is a creamy white floral. Old fashioned. Clean. It actually makes me think of Nivea Cream. CT XIII (13) from etsy II: Grapefruit and yuzu. This one is a bright citrus, and almost purely citrus. I definitely think there's some yuzu in there. Good throw. CT XVII (17) from etsy I: Another creamy white floral, more clean. Perhaps a touch of linden blossom? CT VIII (8) from etsy II: Lump of Coal is that you? This smells like cocoa, chocolate, and cocoa powder. It dries to a more Boomslangy-type chocolate.

VENUS CALLIPYGE Venus With the Pretty Bottom Iris root, carnation, and grandiflorum jasmine with violet leaf, muguet, and peach blossom. Iris, carnation and jasmine. This smells like powdery iris, spicy carnation, and a whiff of jasmine and violet leaf. This smells like a grand dame of grandmother perfumes. And I mean this in the best way possible. This is Lady Violet Crawley of Downtown Abbey. Unapologetically floral, grand, and you can just feel it rooted in tradition. A force unto herself. The other analogy I have to offer is that this is the floral perfume of a crone. Think of Grandma Hempstock in Neil Gaiman's Ocean at the End of the Lane. Old, female, powerful. If my grandmother was still alive, I'd get her a bottle of this. It would be the type of scent she appreciates wearing for herself.

Okay, I admit that I've had some Mercury just kicking about, which I picked up on a bit of a whim and a bit of curiosity around the planetary blends. I enjoyed Venus, and have been thinking about Sol actually. I had no real intent when I picked this up to wear, other than a general curiosity of what it would bring. In general, the idea of Mercury's energy around thinking and communication were what I was most curious about. Oddly, I think this was prompted by a psychology book I'm reading called "Thinking Fast and Slow". I'm about to go on a two week trip abroad and I think this may be good to use today and tomorrow (as the pre-travel and travel days). Scent wise - its pleasant. I think there's some woods in there, touch of citrus, perhaps lavender. I don't think its cinnamon, but there's definitely a spice there. It feels like a weird mix of air, with some earth thrown in. It feels vibe-wise lighter than Venus, which wasn't precisely heavy either.

Fourth in a series of CT HG testers. I think I'm halfway through. I think. CT CV (105): Gardenia and amber. Perhaps there's some violet in there, but I apparently can find any gardenia in any blend. Because, gardenia. Previously reviewed here CT LVIII (58): Rose Red is that you? I swear this is either Rose Red or Peacock Queen (bear in mind, I haven't smelled either of them in years). On wet, you definitely get more of that dew note. I don't really get any incense from this. Just lush red roses. Previously reviewed here CT XLIV (44): Ginger and something brightly fruity along with a soft citrusy white floral. This actually reminds me to a softer version of Baobhan Sith, actually. Previously reviewed here CT XCVIII (98): Spicy allspice and tobacco. Warm, spicy, tobacco and something chewy. A slightly more floral Ms. Flemming's Gingerbread House version? Previously reviewed here CT XIX (19) from etsy II: Bubblegum and watermelon fruit. Sugar candyfloss. Yup candyfloss and bubblegum. Honestly it reminds me to Candy Phoenix, but with a tinge of white florals. CT X (10) from etsy I: Why does this smell like guava to me? Fruity tropical. This one smells like it could be an Atomic Luau Lounge blend. I think I smell ambergris and some other aquatic. CT XVIII (17) from etsy I: vetiver, powder and something sweet. This is a sweet powdery blend with edges of smokiness.

Mattie! You surprise me so so much. So yes to the bright champagne fizz, vanilla and touches of ambergris which all makes you turn into.... VANILLA COKE. But like a vanilla coke perfume. I am utterly flabbergasted by you. Seriously. I mean, I'm not a foodie person and yet, I sort of am beguiled by your vanilla coke charms. Off to find a partial.

Kate, you and I were never ever going to work out. You've got that same gunpowder note as in Gun Moll, which is dark and peppery. And one of my least favorite florals, ever, gardenia. So on wet, this smells like wet wool and gunpowder (so perhaps oddly apropos for anyone dreaming of the Gabaldon's Highlander series), which dry to deeply Southern belle gardenia - rich and sultry and very in your face - while still having some gunpowder drooling in the background. At this point in the game, you sort of remind me to Interview with a Vampire, very Southern, deadly, and in general so in your face about... well, everything. If you enjoy gardenias and don't like them to be subtle or safe, try this.

This one is a very pretty floral - its a light restrained bergamot gilded jasmine with vanilla. It's got a subtle peach overlay lending some sweetness and brightness to it. It reminds me to a peach version of Ava, actually. But alas, I have Ava so I don't need Jennie Rogers.

So for me, Madam Lou is heady cedarwood, honey and hints of florals. I don't get a ton of almond from this, but rather a muskiness with an edge of the bright almond on wet. In general though, this is dominated by woods, musk, and honey. It's a grown up honey blend. Good throw and good wear length.

I get brown leather and salty caramel. It's dark, dangerous and if you love leather and/or heavy caramel notes, go for it. This is just too much for me. ETA: Tried this again this morning, and I got more musk, but its essentially brown leather + salty caramel + musk. It's very sultry, just not for me.