zankoku_zen

Ditto on the similarities to Uncertain Horror or Scattered Gloom, Lunar Eclipse, Penumbra, On Darkness. For my money, this is a very dark, dark blend. It's got musk (I wanna say black, as it is kinda stinky and sweaty), patchouli, benzoin, perhaps a touch of amber and patchouli. I get hints of licorice here and there, which would also explain the color as it is a dark brown, like Uncertain Horror. Perhaps also a touch of dust? But yeah, a DARK, sweaty musk blend.

Oh man... this is totally a Tiki blend. Coconut and lush tropical flowers, I am thinking hawaiian ginger and definitely gardenia. And yes, possibly that Monoi tiare mentioned. Overall, not my kind of blend AT ALL.

Eve is definitely warm golden delicious apples and honey. On wet, it's a very strong, springy green kind of apple but it warms up quickly. It's almost got a 'baked apple' feel to it. There's definitely something floral lurking in the background, and I would guess white rose as this does have a passing similarity to the White Rose blend. I am thinking this has a touch of brown sugar to it, perhaps molasses. For me this is White Rose + APPLES + honey.

Set reminds me to Ifrit - it's this sandy, gritty, HOT blend. Sandstone, sand, and glaring light. It's definitely got some vetiver, red musk, my guess some saffron and I am almost willing to peg the light floral touch is wisteria (although its possibly lilac). As it dries, it becomes a much more heavy red musk/dark floral sort of blend. I can see fans of the Ifrit and heavily sultry floral blends loving this.

This smelled almost salty out of the imp. It's got a very strong air/aquatic component (not necessarily ozone). And yes, I get some woods and something that does remind me to the Castle (more like stone, rather than anything else). There's something vaguely sweet in here, and slightly green, like a light brushing of Host of Air. It also kinda reminds me to Prague and I wonder if it doesn't have crocus or tulip in it. But yes, "restrained" is something that comes to mind. Mildly aquatic, sort of fresh, cool water. Those are really the impressions I get.

On wet, this is a very lush, very green floral. Think green like in the Green Party and/or Host of Air. It's a big bouquet of flowers, and I do believe there are tulips and lilies in this. And on the drydown, the rose comes to dominate the blend. What a prima donna. On me, finally dry, smells like really expensive, really nice rose SOAP. Grr.

This on me is a rich, warm sandalwood blend. I get, especially on wet, the hints of camphor that others have noted. However, on the drydown, the coconut definitely starts to emerge. It's more like the husk of the coconut, the blend is also slightly musky. It might also have a hint of patchouli. It puts me in mind of Goblin, the GC blend.

Copper starts as a warm, golden metallic blend with a hint of lemon/lime. But as it dries, I get something warmer and I'm guessing it has perhaps some saffron and/or patchouli in it. There's something vaguely savory about this blend, and the 'spicy' part of it makes me think of Chintamani-Dhupa in vibe. I wish it had kept being metallic, but I agree with the impression of this being like a warm red rock earth/sand.

Construct has the same clear, resonant metallic note as Android and Torture Queen. It's the clear crispness of the metal in Android, but it's closer to the metallic note found in Torture Queen. I think this has both a hint of clary sage and gardenia, as it's got a slight creamy quality that is the same as aged TQ. Mmm. I love it, but then again, I very much enjoy clear metallic blends.

I definitely get the clove and cardamom, and perhaps a touch of cassia. This probably has a touch of vanilla, and amber, and my guess would have been sandalwood as well, as it goes a little powdery but that could be either the amber and/or cassia. I'm leaning more toward it having sandalwood, as the powderiness is the same kind I experience with Jingu-Kogo. As it dries, I do get a little bit more of sweetness, and I can see how honey could be a component. But on me, it's definitely the clove and cardamom I smell. ETA: Tried it again. Definitely with the clove, cinnamon, cardamom assessment, and this time I can definitely smell the black pepper. I think I'd love it more if it wasn't for the black pepper. Also, it needs to be just slightly sweeter for my tastes.

This one is definitely green, fruit banana (very light on the banana aspect - in fact, didn't recognize it as a banana until I came to review it) and greenery. Fruity and fresh. As it has dried, something muskier has come out underneath, almost slightly bitter. I liked it on wet, but definitely not on the drydown.

This one definitely has dirt, and another component... that makes me think benzoin (I could be entirely wrong) because it's warm and slightly musky and kinda makes me think of turpentine. I just know I've tried blends before that have had this component and it always ends up in warm, slightly musky and odd reminiscent of turpentine. Yeah. So not for me.

This one is a sweet, and surprisingly wearable blend. It does remind me a little of 13 as it's a smooth chocolate plus hints of peanut butter and other sweet things.

This one is a softly lemon herbal. Kinda like a Ricola cough drop. It doesn't last long. I am however, going to actually use it in the throat chakra and see what it does.

Wisteria and pomegranate are the most prominent notes. Somehow on me it kinda smells like some sort of bathroom cleanser. GRRR.

Perhaps a TAL would also be helpful? I find Anthelion and Radiance of Ra might be appropriate.

Ah Giallo, at the beginning I caught a swirl of things but one of them was citrus + tobacco. You had me very excited at this point. However, as you dried, I get more of the amber and flowers. Thankfully jasmine makes a very late appearance, but overall, this is a dark, potent floral. It kinda reminds me to Mystery, vibe-wise.

I definitely get the pine on this. It is especially wicked strong on wet. It's spicier than usual, and as it has more of a musky base. As it dries, I get the leather and slight metallic tang to it. This smells like running around dark woods with your sword unsheathed wearing leather pants. Enemies beware!

Definitely smell the menthol on wet, and as it dries, it's this green plant + patchouli blend. I find this blend to be very dark and medicinal.

I only had a teensy bit to test - and I do believe it has freesia and some fruit in it because it was bright and fruity when I first swabbed it on. In fact, if I had more this would probably have a long throw on me. I am guessing: freesia, perhaps peach and lotus, maybe lily and apple. It's actually kinda pretty. And very much what I would see a young girl wearing.

This one was definitely an incensey sort of blend, but I did get ALOT of sandalwood out of it, especially on wet. I'm thinking it has both a touch of amber and perhaps a little orris. It strikes me as a 'dusty' and 'dry' sort of incense, as opposed to the rich, smoking kind.

Okay, this definitely has menthol/eucalyptus in it, as it dries, I get more of the cherries and cinnamon. Perhaps a touch of almond. But in general, this is a cinnamon + dragon's blood blend. The oil itself is RED. On the drydown, I believe I smell some sandalwood. Meh.

No basil or galangal, which were two of the notes I was most excited about. This is really an herbal dragon's blood, less spicy and floral than it is most of the time... but still dragon's blood resin.

This one smells like a cherry icee! Definitely get cherries, lotus, perhaps a hint of almond and a hint of jasmine. As it dries, I definitely get more of the almond/jasmine going on. On wet, it was very 'watery' and very cherry. Interesting, but not for me.

This one definitely has vetiver and it BLOOMED on my skin. It's a very masculine and strong smoky blend. I think it has vetiver, cinnamon, leather and maybe some dragon's blood in it. Overall, it smells chaotic and smoky.