fairestrocza

In the Imp: light orris, and only a hint of coconut (yay!)… the other scent must be the blood musk Wet on Skin: very faint; orris with a slight tang While Drying: This is more appealing than I thought it would be. I love orris, but coconut is often a deal-breaker note for me. After a Little While: Very faint, slightly dusty. This is a nice scent, but there are other orris blends that I prefer, and this is so faint, it hardly seems worth wearing. Later: This is turning slightly sour. I prefer orris blends with a touch of sweetness. The throw has increased, and is mainly orris. I prefer the wafting scent to the skin-close scent. Blood Pearl earns a 3/5 on my skin.

In the Imp: interesting... sweet, slightly lemony Wet on Skin: reminds me of furniture polish, but in a good way While Drying: lemony, sweet, with a touch of a spice I can't quite place, but I think it is something I associate with eastern/indian food After a Little While: This is interesting, but feels a little bit disjointed. It seems to be a combination of lemon, savory spices, and a boozy note - maybe white wine? Later: The spices remind me of Khrysopelex. The lemon scent is less prominent now. The wine has gone a bit too sweet, and there is a musky note at the base now. Some time later, I am left with a nice, powdery-sweet scent. I like this late late phase better than the earlier stages. Final Thoughts: On my friend, and briefly on me, Cairo was straight up lemonheads candy. Cairo earns a 2.5/5 on my skin.

In the Imp: intense, lemony, awesome, almost effervescent Wet on Skin: lemony, similar to the imp scent While Drying: This smells lemony, over a base of amber and musk. If I work at it, I can detect the cedar. After a Little While: The saffron becomes more noticeable as it dries, but the lemony note (the litsea cubeba, I think) is still the most prominent. I like the way the two scents blend together. Lemon candy. Later: The sweetness dies down after a while, and the scent becomes more sophisticated - a lovely, warm, golden scent. Sniffing close, this scent reminds me of the sticker books I got as a child - the ones where you had to lick the back of the stickers and place them within dotted lines in the pictures... an oddly comforting scent. Final Thoughts: This was one of those happy surprise frimps that started to impress the moment I opened the imp. I'm not sure I'll wear it enough to warrant a full bottle, but the imp will be well loved. Fascinum earns a 4/5 on my skin.

In the Imp: dusty violets Wet on Skin: Sweet orris tainted by icky violets. I can't detect sandalwood or lavender. The heavy florals swamp the good notes. While Drying: heady florals - not my style After a Little While: This dried down to pure violets (not orris, just the actual violets), maybe a touch sweeter than violets usually are, but violets hate me. Veil earns a 2/5 on my skin.

In the Imp: interesting… brown, woody Wet on Skin: Amber and sandalwood are definitely there, but there is something else edging in - maybe the sedge? It smells green and vegetative. While Drying: an orgy of smells all battling for dominance After a Little While: Something is a bit off, here. I also smell amber and something floral-like. Later: Uninspiring. I am left with a vague hint of amber and sandalwood, but there are better versions of both out there in BPALland. The Little Sparrow earns a 2.5/5 on my skin.

In the Imp: yup, it’s a floral Wet on Skin: lilies dominant; a touch of pear and sweetness While Drying: I'm getting the weird, sour muskiness that I often get from lilies, with a vague touch of soapiness underneath. After a Little While: Hmm… this is improving with time… the lilies are dying down to a tolerable level, and the other flowers are taking over (this is a definite improvement). Later: The drydown is surprisingly lovely, but I'm not sure I want to weather the lily-storm to get here. Juliet is a warm, gentle scent. Juliet earns a 3/5 on my skin.

In the Imp: Damn. Jasmine and waterlily are prominent. Wet on Skin: Not as bad as in the imp, but jasmine and waterlily are still the main focus. I can faintly detect a bit of lemon. While Drying: No orris or sandalwood to be found. May be starting to trigger a headache. After a Little While: Starting to get a bit soapy too… must be the roses. Final Thoughts: I should have known this one wouldn't work on my skin - too many Doom notes. I had hopes that the orris or red sandalwood might save it, but they were nowhere to be seen. Venice earns a 2/5 on my skin.

In the Imp: a light, white floral Wet on Skin: juicy jonquil, subtle white rose While Drying: a lovely, light, fresh flower smell After a Little While: Ever so slightly soapy, but one of the better florals I've come across. Later: I love the wet stage. Not as keen on the dry down. L'Ecole des Filles earns a 3.5/5 on my skin.

In the Bottle: brown sugar and molasses Wet on Skin: sweet and a touch smokey, with a lemony edge and a hint of the sweet aspect of clove While Drying: The clove here is much more gentle than in other blends I've tried. After a Little While: I smell clove with a hint of brown sugar in the background. Although the clove is gentle, it is still taking over as the dominant note on my skin. Later: This is ok, but not outstanding. I wonder if I'd feel this one more in the winter. There is a cold-weather-cookies aspect to it. Final Thoughts: As much as I love the smell of actual cloves, and baked goods with cloves, I think I need to accept that I just don't like the way clove smells on my skin. It isn't terrible, but it just lacks the wow factor on me. On the plus side, the brown sugar behaves well in this blend. Spicebush Swallowtail earns a 3.5/5 on my skin.

In the Decant: amber and pumpkin Wet on Skin: Something is reading as a bit of a green smell (not a dominant smell, but noticeable). This is a very dense, weighty blend. While Drying: I can pick up just a hint of the ginger After a Little While: This scent is less oppressive with a little time. The Boy says it smells like vegan cookies, and I can see where he is getting that. The sugar cane must be there in the background, but this isn't an overly sweet scent. Second test: The Boy says it smells like bakers chocolate (?). The green smell is more prominent this time around... and a weird muskiness that comes and goes. Later: I am liking this more and more as time passes. The ginger has picked up, but it is a soft ginger, and blends well with the pumpkin, which has tamed a bit. The amber is in the background at this point. The sugar cane picks up after a while too. Second test: Waxy pumpkin spice. I think I like the waxy note - I think it is the warm amber blending with one of the other notes. Final Thoughts: The throw is significant in the beginning, and dies down considerably by the time it gets to the scent that I like. Unfortunate. Nice, but not outstanding. Second test: I think I like it a bit more this time around, but still not enough to justify a bottle purchase. Monarch earns a 3.5/5 on my skin. updated to add notes from a second round of skin testing

In the Imp: juicy and green Wet on Skin: delicate slightly sweet floral While Drying: there is an edge to this that is almost spicy After a Little While: This seems to bounce around a bit, periodically emphasizing the stem-like note, or the sweetness, or the freshness. Later: After a while there is a slightly sour note underneath it all. After an hour, the scent is so faint I can barely notice it even with my nose pressed to my wrists. The boy says he can still smell it, and likes it more now that he did earlier. Hmm, I seem to be a bit stuffed up... maybe I am reacting to something in this? I'll need to test it again. Final Thoughts: Fits in my mental grouping of Szepasszony, Area 51, & Baobhan Sith (similar feel/mood). The Unicorn earns a 3.5/5 on my skin.

In the Bottle: smells like perfumed hand lotion Wet on Skin: more perfumey than I would have expected While Drying: The lotus is prominent, giving the blend a watery feel. After a Little While: Starts to develop a bit of spiciness. Heavier on the red bush & fruit side of the equation, with little to no vanilla, myrrh or amber. Unveiled earns a 3/5 on my skin.

In the Imp: sweet, heady lily Wet on Skin: the scent hangs in the back of my throat... cloying While Drying: Cloying lily, with something almost foody beneath it - I think it is cardamom, but it smells more like the spice than any of the scents that actually list cardamom as a note. An odd scent. After a Little While: This became soapy the first time I tested it, but was not as soapy the second time around. A distinct sugar note emerged briefly, as well as a lemony note that might be part of the herbal note I noticed earlier (maybe not cardamom after all). Later: This has decent throw - enough to give me a headache. Lilies don't like my skin. Voodoo Lily earns a 2.5/5 on my skin.

In the Bottle: Aptly named. Smells like Fall. The first time I sniffed this, it was a bit perfumey for my taste, but I like it more now. Very smooth. I smell leaves and sweetness. Wet on Skin: I smell a touch of galangal (slightly camphory), and some sweetness and mustiness. Mellow. While Drying: This gives an almost-foody impression, but the apple is indistinct, and I can't pick out any nuts. After a Little While: Calm and mellow, like taking a stroll in early Fall during light-jacket weather. Low to medium throw, with the spiciness dominating the wafting scent. Later: slightly spicy, slightly musty, slightly sweet, with a slightly watery note behind it To Autumn earns a 3.5/5 on my skin.

In the Imp: frankincense with an undercurrent of neroli Wet on Skin: sweet neroli lightly covering frankincense and sandalwood While Drying: sweetness fades back and it gets a bit more spicy After a Little While: warm, spicy wood Later: After a few hours, I can only smell this right up close to my skin, but the lingering scent is beautiful, warm and spicy. Titus Andrinicus earns a 3.5/5 (would be 4/5 with more throw or staying power)

In the Imp: spicy / gingery / sweet Wet on Skin: A strong ginger scent. My friend smells baby powder. Second test: sweet, a bit musty. While Drying: This reminds me a bit of Alice. I'm starting to pick up some of the baby powder that my friend noticed (probably the honey). After a Little While: This is going a bit funky. The ginger adds a nice touch of spiciness, but I think the milk and honey combo is disagreeing with my skin in this blend. Later: The funk has gone away. I can pick out the milk now, and a hint of ginger. The honey is very faint. This faded quite fast. Final Thoughts: I tested a ~2-3 year old imp. I'd be interested in comparing this with a fresh imp, though I'm not a huge fan of the way most milk scents have turned out on my skin. Sudha Segara earns a 2.5/5 on my skin.

In the Imp: First impression - spicy… followed by public bathroom cleaner. Wet on Skin: similar to imp While Drying: A bit heavy and cloying. The bathroom cleaner smell is dying back, but still noticable. I've had similar problems with other mediterranean spice blends… I wish I could identify the specific note responsible for the doom. After a Little While: Nicer after it dries. Lightly spicy with a hint of sweetness. A little bit potpurri-ish. The Boy says it smells like uncut grass. Later: An uninspiring floral with a hint of spice. Not my style. Final Thoughts: I tested this from the dregs of a very old imp - if I have the chance, I'll try it again with a new imp and see how it compares. Silk Road earns a 2.5/5 on my skin.

In the Imp: flowery & watery Wet on Skin: A spicy almost rosy smell, with the distinct aquatic note behind it. Second test: definitely an aquatic, with a floral element - maybe hyacinth? jonquil? one of those thick-juicy-stem types. While Drying: The Boy says 'old lady,' and recognizes it, but doesn't like it. Spicy gives way to slightly soapy. The water aspect is still prominent. Second test: not as bad as Stormhold, but definitely doing the bar soap impression. After a Little While: Soapy,soapy,soapy,soapy - even if it turned amazing after this point, I won't ever want to wait through the old-lady-perfume-soap-doom stage to get there… Finding a baby wipe to remove this. Second test: yup, definitely not my scent. Soapy aquatic. Must remove. The Sea Foams Blood earns a 2/5 on my skin.

In the Imp: clean (slightly soapy?), lilac and clover, green (like fleshy, juicy stems) Wet on Skin: It has that clean/slightly soapy feel - the apple blossom? While Drying: This is similar in feel to blends like Baobhan Sith and Szepasszony, but I like both of those much more than this. The Boy says Phanton Queen smells like the fragrance from hotel bath bars. After a Little While: Fairly light, low throw. The slight soapiness is sticking around. Phantom Queen earns a 2/5 on my skin.

In the Imp: The first time I sniffed this, it smelled medicinal. The second time around, it makes me think of something that should be served in a martini glass, possibly with sugar on the rim… A Turtletini. Wet on Skin: Sweet and slightly tart. I'm not getting any mint, but this is a fairly old imp, so that isn't surprising. Apple, vodka and lime seem to be the main players. I do detect a slight floral note, but I would consider this neither a floral nor an aquatic blend. While Drying: There is something about the Mad Tea Party line that always seems to come through, lending a buoyant, light hearted feel to most of them. This one is no exception. After a Little While: The brighter aspects of this scent have died down, and I am getting a scent that reminds me oddly of The White Rabbit or some other tea scent. Final Thoughts: This had a pretty rapid fade on me. It might be due to the age of the imp (probably 2 to 3 years old). I'd be interested in comparing this with a fresh imp. The Mock Turtle's Lessons earns a 3/5 on my skin.

In the Imp: deliciously evergreen, woodsy and bright Wet on Skin: eucalyptus and juniper While Drying: Loup Garou is similar to Jabberwocky, minus the citrus note. In LG, the animalistic note is more warm and fuzzy, less feral than in Jabberwocky. After a Little While: The eucalyptus here stands out a bit more than in Jabberwocky or Hemlock. I'll have to see how this develops - I keep sniffing and expecting (and missing) Jabberwocky's gingery bite. The juniper has died back in favor of the cypress Later: With time this mellows a bit. Gorgeous. The drydown is a bit warmer in feel than Jabberwocky or Hemlock. Final Thoughts: Of the three similar blends I own, LG's eucalyptus smells the most medicinal, at least during the wet stages, and I prefer the added dimension of the citrus notes in Jabberwocky and Hemlock. I'll keep this imp, but a bottle would be too much. I have bottles of the other two, and I'll wear them more often, even though I love the final stage of Loup Garou. Loup Garou earns a 4/5 on my skin.

In the Imp: leathery cologne Wet on Skin: cologne; uninspiring While Drying: No florals are apparent, unless they are part of a fougere-type cologne base. I definitely don't smell any rose or orange blossom. This is one of the better leather notes on me, but I'm not a huge fan of leather. After a Little While: This is a man-on-a-date scent. It smells like freshly showered, freshly shaved, man wearing cologne, and possibly wearing a leather hat. Not terrible, but not for me. The Boy was not a fan of the scent either. Les Infortunes de la Vertu earns a 2.5/5 on my skin. (the imp tested was at least 3 years old)

In the Bottle: Sweet apples, something slightly flowery & dark apples. Revisiting this several months later, apple is still the most prominent note. I can pick out the apple blossom, and a bare hint of hyacinth. The DB blends into the other floral notes, and I am not detecting the white musk. (The bottle is several years old) Wet on Skin: Apples. This is all about the apples. The other notes lend support, but juicy apples and apple blossom are the stars. While Drying: Apples turning soapy. Revisiting this months later: the soapiness is there if I look for it, but no longer strikes me as a significant factor. I think it is just the floral aspects asserting themselves over the apple scent. After a Little While: Soapy, then mellows. Retested: apples balanced with florals. The hyacinth is more noticeable than it was in earlier stages. The white musk was recognizable while drying, but now I think it is just adding a bit of freshness to the feel of the scent. The DB is present, but not overwhelming. Later: I like the lingering scent better than the first hour or so. Retesting: Major appley throw, over a base of DB that is more noticeable sniffing close to the skin. Lasts a good long time. Good apple scent. Ladon earns a 3.5/5 on my skin.

In the Imp: sweet red musk and cherry Wet on Skin: very sweet, with a touch of spice which must be the amber While Drying: There is a hint of Cherry Chapstick, but not as much as I remember from the first test. After a Little While: The throw is lovely red musk with a hint of cherry. The skin-close scent is spicy cherry chapstick (or is that strawberry? It is the note from Aunt Caroline's Joy Mojo, in any case). Later: My attitude toward HB wavers between love and like as the wafting scent changes from red musk to cherry and the amber appears and disappears. Many hours after application, the scent is skin close and reminds me of those hard strawberry candies with the soft centers. (The strawberry candy scent lingers forever). Final Thoughts: There are other red musk scents I like better (like Smut, Fenris Wolf, etc.). I like this much more this time around, but the cherry/strawberry is a little too fruity-sweet for me, and the chapstick scent is a bit annoying. I think I would prefer this with a touch more of the amber. But I can't stop marveling over the lovliness of the red musk, and as long as I don't sniff close to my skin, the chapstick doesn't intrude. If my experience with the chapstick aspect of ACJM holds true, I suspect that HB is far superior aged than fresh (this imp is at least 3 years old). Hollywood Babylon earns a 3.5/5 on my skin. It would be a 4 if not for the chapstick.

In the Imp: soft and slightly sweet Wet on Skin: This is beautiful on the skin - spicy and slightly sweet. While Drying: Haunted is more poignant than foreboding. After a Little While: Musk appears, and this turns a little sour (I didn't notice this as much the second time I tested this). There is an elusive citrus scent that peeks in and out. Later: Mostly a spicy amber at this stage. Very nice. (Seems like the same amber from Tamora). Final Thoughts: I'm interested in seeing how this ages. Haunted earns a 4/5 on my skin.