frecklestars

In the bottle: bright red scent, although it's unfortunately reminiscent of a nasty sharp cherry cough syrup. I think the honey is what's making it too sweet, and the acai berry makes it sharp/tart. there's a delicate tart-but-sweet floral underneath the cough syrup that I assume is the poppy, because I know I like poppies, but it's overwhelmed by the cough syrup vibe. On my skin: the poppy comes out more on my skin, which is nice, but it's still kinda like a cough syrup. the sharpness turns a bit green and fresh, like you bit into a pine needle or a stalk of strongly flavored grass, which grows stronger as it wears on. it's almost soapy. I quite like the green-ness of it, mixed with the honey, but that cough syrup phase isn't redeemable. Last thoughts: the unfortunate cough syrup stage of this doesn't go over well with me. it's bright and red and a little sweet, turning to a fresh green later.

In the bottle: very ripe and juicy honeydew! and I don't know why honeydew smells like the ocean, but it does. the grape juices are sticky purple-green and the sea mosses are also juicy. it's very juicy, almost too much so. it's like the moon on the ocean. I don't think it's floral at all, it's purely fruity to me. and it's not like an ozone ocean either; it's a juicy sweet one, almost tropical. On my skin: it's less juicy on the skin, which is probably good because it's almost overpoweringly juicy in the bottle. the sea mosses also come out more on me, which makes it a lot more like ocean. it dries to a honeydew-ocean grass blend. Last thoughts: the mysteriously juicy ocean that it lovely under the moonlight. this is so wonderful as a honeydew blend, even if it's not the perfect ozone ocean blend like Lightning.

In the bottle: a very musky (but not bitter or icky) rose with hints of several handfuls of spices. it's mostly that musky rose though, which reminds me of kissing the back of a woman's neck. (which probably sounds nuts.) it's a warm rose and quite femme-y. On my skin: starts out lightly spiced and only a little musky, then quickly transforms into a musky rose. the spices aren't overpowering or even particularly spicey. really nice balance. for when you want to smell like a rose, but not uber sweet and rosey. settles to a nicely spiced rose when fully dry. Last thoughts: I love the rich balance of the velvety rose and the musk that's not overly musky. this is a really rich rose that isn't overpoweringly floral.

In the bottle: rose and lettuce, a bit of the ethereal breath of angel's trumpet. this is quite delicate, a green floral. sweet but not death-by-sugar. it's very dreamy, and makes me think of clouds of long hair drifting in a breeze (this is also possibly b/c of the name). On my skin: the lettuce and rose stay nicely mixed. it's a little stronger on my skin than it is in the bottle, but not in a bad way. still dreamy, and green, like sitting in a garden and being overwhelmed. it's a bit grassy, rather like A Blade of Grass (from Halloweenies 2008). I think of orris as overly strong, but there's nothing like that in here thankfully. Last thoughts: gardens and dreams, sweetly green. it makes me want to chew on grass stems and bask in the spring sun.

In the bottle: lemons (or maybe limes) and a clear water, like some lovely summer cocktail. it smells very refreshing, like it's meant for summer. very citrus, which could turn sour on some people, but I'm hoping this one will just stay cool and collected on my skin. *fingers crossed* here's hoping! On my skin: light green, more lemons and limes, and a waterfall of clear-as-a-bell spring water. it's just so refreshing. the citrus-like atmosphere of it sort of reminds me of the clear green notes in The Dormouse (from Mad Tea Party), but less herbal. this is very watery and only a little bit sweet. unfortunately has a tendency to turn a bit soapy as it dries. Last thoughts: slightly frustrated by the vague description in the catalog (I wanna know what notes work on me!), but I'm SO glad I tried this one! seems perfect for summer and long hot days with no breeze.

In the bottle: hibiscus and white ginger and something a little like candy (maybe the orchids?). it's very sweet, so much so that I'm a little afraid of this on my skin. it's rich though, and there's just enough coconut (though that's not listed as an ingredient) to make me yearn for Hawaii again. this puts me in the mood for summer and warm oceans and rainforests. On my skin: it's so much more complex on my skin than it is in the bottle! moon flowers, and something that reminds me of gardenia, and still getting a whiff of coconut. not in a bad way though. this is tropical and wild, lushness on my skin. it's rich dense flowers, without being SCREAMING FLORALS. I love the thick sweetness. it's like some sort of dessert without being a foodie scent. Last thoughts: absolutely kicking myself for not even trying this one before it was discontinued! I guess I was too afraid of smelling like I'd bathed in cheapo tanning lotions or bad tropical perfumes, but this blend is anything but that. so lush and sweet and dense. absolutely adore the complexities in this one.

A profound symbol of an individual’s personal initiatic process, spiritual refinement and evolution, synthesis, grace found as a result of trial and suffering, and the alchemical process by which we transform the raw essence of our souls through light in extension. This is a holy oil, a representation of the triumph of spirit over matter: purest rose with sacred frankincense. In the bottle: I do not like frankincense, will never like frankincense. it smells like a smoker's car to me - musty nasty never fresh. and there is nothing but frankincense from the second I open the bottle. if the roses are there, they've all been strangled by rot. On my skin: at least the roses make an appearance on my skin, however drowned out by nasty they are. the frankincense is just too much for these poor souls. the roses lend at least a little sweetness, but it's still primarily frankincense. Last thoughts: musty rotting ick. no more frankincense for me, ever!

In the bottle: very wary of this one, before I even open it. it's all the things that usually make my skin/nose go into screaming seizures. if it doesn't work, thank the goddess it was a freebie! *deep breath of courage* WOOEEE STRONG STRONG musky civet-y stink! cut with opium smokiness but _still_. no way will my skin enjoy this (nor my nose). On my skin: very musky! I appreciate the richness that opium brings to it, but can't stand the musk or the civet. it's possible heady is the right word; it certainly gives me a headache. just can't do it - had to wash it off. Last thoughts: do not over-apply; you will single-handedly become a biological weapon.

In the bottle: I definitely catch the lime first, followed by jasmine and tuberose (both of which have a tendency to turn powdery on me - damn!). maybe a bit of watery lotus as well. the main floral scent is actually tuberose, closely followed by jasmine. nice, but not watery enough for my taste. smells a little generic, at least in the bottle. On my skin: starts out like laundry detergent from hell, but quickly settles into jasmine with lotus and that hint of lime. the tuberose mostly stays off my skin, which is nice. I wish the bite of lime were stronger; I think it would've kept the jasmine from being overwhelmingly floral-powder. *le sigh* does turn powdery as time goes on (predictable, but still - damn!). Last thoughts: alternative-esque florals, because of that teensy squish of lime that keeps it a little tart, but it's not alternative enough for me (plus that awful powder after-effect).

In the bottle: the raspberry leaps out of the bottle immediately, and it's decidedly a raspberry liquor rather than just raspberry. raspberry and gin make an interestingly refreshing combination. mango is in the background, being its sweet and very tropical fruity self. On my skin: raspberry(!) and gin again. maybe a hint of cranberry juice's bite, but it's minimal. the mango is still in the background and that's where it stays. bit of a minty after-scent, but maybe that's from the gin. it goes progressively more towards the gin/juniper as it dries, making it refreshing rather than fruity. Last thoughts: the raspberry liquor and juniper-ness of the gin make for an interesting and actually pretty ok combination, but it's more like a house scent spray than a perfume (at least for me). don't hate it nearly as much as the others I've tried from this collection, but I'm still unable to wear it without gagging a little.

In the bottle: black narcissus and a bit of a very dark vanilla. almost reminds me of the sweetness of anise - unexpected sweetness and not overly sugary, you know? the orange blossoms don't work for me in this, as they create this odd sugary aspect that doesn't work with the other two notes. oh I hope I hope I hope the orange blossoms stay silent on my skin! I know they don't get along. On my skin: interestingly dark floral, slightly puzzling. the vanilla makes it sweet, but not too much (again, that anise sort of sweetness). it's a dark floral, there's just no other way to describe it. not bright-happy-girly-floral that most people expect. absolutely sexy, though a little strong, and sensuous. while it's interesting, the orange blossom shows through a little too much for my skin to handle. continues to warm and sweeten as it wears on. Last thoughts: definitely warm and sensual, a dark floral. surprising, but not for me.

In the bottle: heavily floral! I mostly smell gardenia and maybe a bit of heliotrope, but definitely the rich white creaminess of gardenia. thick, like humid summer nights. there's something in here that smells like smarties candies as well, which is strange. though I remember the same effect in another scent that had stephanotis in it, so maybe it's that? I think it was something from Mad Tea Party, but danged if I can remember the name! On my skin: gardenia! a bundle, a bouquet, a bed of them! very dramatic in its floral aspect, but also very sweet and SUPERGIRLY. dries to smarties candies, very powder-sweet. I think the strong florals keep it from being _too_ much like baby powder, but it's definitely not my thing. fairly traditional floral, kind of generic. Last thoughts: candylike florals. great if you like that kind of thing, pretty icky if you (like me) don't.

In the bottle: grapes and pears, peaches and roses, a bundle of sweet peas and snapdragons! this is icy fruits and slightly cool florals at its' very yummy best! sweet but not cloying. I love the creative combination. it's refreshing and lovely for humid summer days (o hai Massachusetts!) On my skin: starts out extremely juicy, as peaches and pears, a splash of white grape juice. and roses, oh the roses! rich just-before-they-overbloom ones in pink edged with white. rich like a bed I could sleep forever on. I adore this combination so much! ergh, and I know I'm blathering, but it's really lovely, being so sweet and refreshing without being nasty-sweet or overly girly. dries to mostly peaches/pears/sweet pea. Last thoughts: seems like a nice warm weather perfume because it feels sweetly cool, like good iced tea. it reminds me of moons and warm humid springs. very elegant and not overpowering. dewy.

In the bottle: vanilla and musk, a bit of lilies and sandalwood. the vanilla makes it quite sweet, which is nice because maybe it means the sandalwood won't take over (which does horrid things on my skin). it's deep and mysterious, a place that only locals would be welcome. not for tourists or stranger; you have to be invited. On my skin: turns almost exclusively to musk and sandalwood on my skin, though there is a sweet cloud of vanilla layered over everything. the sandalwood keeps coming out, along with something that's a bit spicier. I adore the vanilla, but the sandalwood and musk ruin its' sweet girlishness for me. Last thoughts: just too strong for me to wear. I really really like the vanilla in it though, so if anyone knows of something that smells like just the vanilla in this one, pass your suggestions along please!

In the bottle: joyful silly irreverent melon! how charmingly adorable. I love this one right out of the bottle for its' silly melon (honeydew primarily, but also hints of cantaloupe) and hints of lime. it's just so...joyous! in a "let's throw a tea party and all switch hats and wear torn dresses" sort of way. On my skin: slices of juicy melon dipped in champagne. the lime rind and lemon balm arrive at the tea party at the same time, dressed identically and fooling no one. they make a pleasing citrus-squish though, so no one asks them to leave. there's something a bit furry skulking under the table, but it's a friendly sort of beast, so everyone lets it stay. dries to melon sprinkled with lemon balm and a little leftover champagne. if the green tea is there at all, it's a juicy sweet one. Last thoughts: the melon in this is very similar to the juicy wonderfulness found in Yemaya. this is basically a sweeter, slightly tart, more irreverent version of it I think.

In the bottle: wispy and a bit of herbs at the end. I wouldn't say they're sweet though, more dry and green, sort of like sage. this is a very dry scent, bordering on chilly. it's not particularly flowery either, which is nice for those who shy away from florals. On my skin: wispy is indeed the word that comes to mind, softens to a pleasant blend of white flowers combined with herbs. again not particularly sweet, just wispy. indistinct. maybe a bit mysterious, but not in that "dark clubs and smoky rooms" kind of way. more like wandering through woods filled with a thick mist, picking flowers. Last thoughts: it's a little lonely, mournful. not overly floral and a very faint scent - you'd have to reapply often I'd imagine. a little too shy for me.

In the bottle: this is very clean, bordering on soapy. there's something slightly sharp that I can't put my finger on (the resins?), and maybe something like tree roots. or flower roots I suppose. I actually don't think it's very ethereal at all; smells much more based in corporeality. *shrug* maybe it's just me. On my skin: becomes more ethereal once it hits my skin, with the "translucent blooms" being most prominent. it reminds me a little bit of lotus or maybe lilies. it turns chilly as it dries, a bit like Snow White, and makes me shiver a bit, like a chill oozing down your spine. bit creepy really. turns powdery as it dries. Last thoughts: frankly, it makes me think of bubbles. blowing them, popping them, watching them drift on a lazy breeze. who knows why. maybe it's the soapy lightness.

In the bottle: definitely heavy on the grapefruit, like someone sprinkled a generous amount of sugar on the rind and then stuck it in the oven for a bit. I might catch the white tea and ginger, but really this smells like all grapefruit to me. it's sweet, but not in a fake-sugar way. nice and warm. On my skin: definitely nothing but grapefruit on me when it starts off, and it's the bitter bite of the rind. gradually dips into more sugar, and changes to add a bit of the apple blossom. if white tea and ginger make an appearance at all, it's definitely on the dry-down. Last thoughts: smells like a delicious treat for warm weather. just not quite my thing - I'm not enough of a grapefruit girl to wear this more than once.

In the bottle: lemon and moss, with a bit of the tea leaf. it's very herbal, a light pale green, maybe a bit shy. it reminds me of old ruins, churches without roofs, musty and silent castles, that sort of thing. quite mysterious and also surprisingly un-girly. it's fresh and pleasant, a bit like The Dormouse from Mad Tea Party in its' herbals. On my skin: lemon and quite a bit of ginger figure most prominently on me. a variety of crushed herbs are hot on their heels. it's very fresh, but is a bit more akin to cleaning products than I'd like. blame it on the lemon. it dries to a sweetly pleasant herbal, but I definitely like The Dormouse better for light green herbals that are full of life. Last thoughts: fine, but also not quite making the cut for me. I do like the mossiness, which is something The Dormouse doesn't have, but it's not enough to win me over.

In the bottle: it smells strongly of myrrh in the bottle, and the jasmine and rose are both overpowered. it's a little sharp, a little powdery. I actually don't think it smells very floral in the bottle, so I find it a bit strange considering how it smells on my skin. On my skin: the jasmine and rose are surprisingly clear in this, neither overpowering the other. the jasmine is quite sharp, but the rose keeps it from being crazy-strong. the myrrh all but disappears, leaving a faint warmth in the background. it's lovely and traditional and surprisingly simple. Last thoughts: jasmine is usually too powdery for me, so this is a surprise. it's a bit traditional, but there are days where I want to feel like a Regency girl reading Jane Austen in a garden.

In the bottle: plums! tart and sweet, just the way I like them. especially the crunch and tartness of the skins. I also catch whiffs of jasmine in this, and maybe orchids. the musk is in the background and is just the barest hint of a lightly smoky incense. it's really richly juicy and a little mischievous. On my skin: it turns into plums and orchids on my skin, stays very rich. it's less tart, maybe more floral on my skin. I'm surprised how juicy it stays though, while also being rich and a little sensuous. also very mischievous, lightly wicked. foxes really are the perfect image for this scent. the musk lets it fade to a pleasant incense. Last thoughts: I adore this scent so much! and I was lucky - it was a freebie Beth included with one of my very first orders. musk and I have a bad record, but this was absolutely lovely.

In the bottle: very summery! tons of herbs, growing among patches of a very juicy grass. ivy, certainly, and some climbing roses. this is yard clippings, an armful, and rolling down hills at top speed. reminiscent of gardens without being straight florals. it's a very fresh scent that I imagine some people might think smelled like detergent or soap, but to me just smells like warm weather and bare feet. On my skin: grass is never too strong for me, so I slather it on and go! more ivy and grass, herbs, and daisies. this is mostly plain flowers, though they smell wonderful. not traditional florals, but not dry either. this is things that are alive and grow and stretch in the sun. the peppery nasturtium tones nicely with the juicy fresh growing-ness of the rest of it. Last thoughts: juicy grass and gardens, armfuls of fresh clippings. who could resist such a garden?

In the bottle: smells a little bit like "death by sugar and coconuts". extreme sweetness, candy, and a playfulness that is probably the apple blossoms and also the mango. very springy and flirty to the point of ridiculousness. which is really endearing. like a 4 year old in heels, costume jewelry, and a big hat, batting her eyes at the camera. surprisingly innocent. On my skin: on me, this one changes almost completely from how it smells in the bottle. the cucumber and freesia come out, with lavender to cut the sugar. it's very juicy and an interesting mix. sort of nonsensical like some of the Mad Tea Party collection (tweedledee comes to mind, as does twinkle twinkle little bat). I adore the juiciness and freesia reminds me of my quest in high school for the perfect freesia scent. it also has a little bit of rose. when dry (or drier). I love how it seems to cycle through all the ingredients at one point or another. Last thoughts: largely sweet and juicy with a hint of tartness. very girly but it doesn't overwhelm me like others might. I think it's engaging and pinch-your-cheeks kind of cute.

In the bottle: one of the first scents I ordered and also one of the biggest disappointments. I smell precisely none of the ingredients mentioned, except maybe a very nasty ginger. really, it smells like melted plastic to me. I keep trying it, have aged it, etc, and it remains absolutely disgusting. very disappointing! On my skin: turns a little more gingery on me once it's on, and I maybe catch hints of a vanilla, but mostly it's still just melted plastic. no apricot, no jasmine, no nothing good. stays an icky artificial plastic-filled gooey gross almost-ginger. except I love ginger. I do not love this in any way. Last thoughts: thoroughly convinced this one was mislabeled. willing to try again (and again, b/c I'm so in love with the description), but it is only disgusting on me right now. just icky ginger.

In the bottle: I know this is supposed to smell like a tropical garden (and people have recommended it as a sub for Hi'Iaka), but all I smell is nasty alcoholic limeade. with powdery palm-trees and lemonade. NOT good, in other words. it's very artificial lemon-lime and kind of reminds me of fruity jellybeans. but the LIMES!? I just don't get it. On my skin: more alcoholic limeade, more powdery lemonade. I guess maybe I kind of get a hint of the tropic humidity, and maybe some jungle blossoms, but really it's still primarily a cocktail. and a particularly slutty one at that. Last thoughts: reminds me of the Atomic Luau Lounge, which is NOT a good thing for me!