ResinManiac

Lovely red red rose backed up by an obscure, tangy, dignified resin. I have to moderate how much I apply (when first I apply) to placate some of that resin's strength. I'm sure as I clock up the hours wearing this, it will morph into even greater beauty. The mental pic I'm left with is a bouquet of roses gilded with shimmering gold, perhaps some golden leaves on the stems, carried in the arms of a regal High Queen of the Realm. A scent that boldly proclaims, "I'm here to run the show and be gorgeous while doing it." :wub2:

"One night an old beggar woman came to the castle offering a single Rose in return for shelter from the bitter cold. Repulsed by her haggard appearance, the prince sneered at the gift, and turned the old woman away. She warned him not to be deceived by appearances, for Beauty is Found Within. And when he dismissed her again, the old woman's ugliness melted away to reveal a beautiful enchantress. The prince tried to apologize, but it was too late, for she had seen that there was no love in his heart...as punishment she transformed him into a hideous Beast and put a powerful spell on the castle and all who lived there." This scent is truly a gift for someone like me who has always been obsessed by that magical Rose in the movie...a glowing pink aura, unearthly beautiful floating there under the bell jar, falling petals marking the passage of time... The kid in me rejoices! I've always wanted that Rose and now I have it! Man hunters wearing this should always keep the tale's central message foremost in their minds. "If he could learn to love another, and earn her love in return by the time the last petal fell, then the spell would be broken! If not, he would be doomed to remain a Beast for all time."

Current 2011 scent: Boy am I glad this isn't quite so astringent as last year's version, last time I tried this it smelled of burning cherries on me. In this I can luxuriate in the wonderful Frank & Myrrh and other great incenses mixed together. Another big win and money well spent.

Tried this just the other night and was pleasantly surprised! The fir is not at all heavy handed in this and the champaca/musk/papyrus/amber combination comes together to create a incensy brightness, like an actual light aura. What I mean to say is this scent GLOWS like lights on a tree or like the proverbial stars it's meant to evoke. Wonderfully beautiful, me likey

I don't really like dirt very much but I'm obligated to try every frimp, so here it goes: Bottle- Like Deep In Earth, just more rosy. Throw- I don't get any mosses at all, just an old ladyish rose. Drydown- Pretty in a way, but not in my way. I just don't have a thing for dirt/patchouli.

First Sniff: Straight up, no nonsense, pure cherry. Wearing: Cherry muzzled by soft anise breezes, it becomes like smelling a quiet, pleasant puff of temple air. Drydown: It really tames what for me would otherwise be a really gnarly red musk note. Pretty, but I don't think it's for me.

First Sniff: Lemony high end guy's cologne. Wearing: It's like a guy just walked off the beach/basketball court into the room. A beach/basketball court not in this country. Vaguely cheap sunblock vibes here... Final Thoughts: When last I mentioned I liked colognes I meant on the men in my life, but not on me!! This shouldn't be worn by anyone with a preponderance of estrogen in their system.

First sniff: Teeny tiny tea rose (hooray for alliteration!) Wearing: I really don't get even a hint of the sinister from this at all. In fact if this scent were an animal it would be an adorable baby kitten with the hugest eyes and gigantic pink ribbon around its neck. Much later, the scent's character hasn't changed. But now I'm reminded of a scene from the old war flick, The Great Escape wherein the Nazi POW guard asks the captive British CO what he's growing in his garden (he's getting rid of excess soil from secret tunnel digging in actuality) and he answers evasively, "The English have always been fond of gardening."

Classic men's cologne, just the way I like it, with that spicy sweet musky scent I lust after. I wish my dates would wear this!! This is that well built, tall dark and handsome swain dressed in a very flattering uniform coming over to ask for a dance. This is the strong and gentle arms we all wish would...you know.

Alas I am NOT a foodie. Upon first dab I smelt strong chocolate syrup and then, poof, chocolate dust gone rancid. Not a winner in my books.

If this is a preview of the afterlife, like the poem indicates, then it's the sleep of the blessed dead we have here. Your Great Reward. Ahhhhh. Deep clouds of lavender and sweet whiffs of vanilla dominate the land of the shades, a carelessly happy, deeply hidden jasmine adds it's calming and mood improving essence to the blend. Every once in a while I'm able to catch the ghost of white melon as well. All in all the perfect worry neutralizer/sleep aid! The kind of scent that makes the Ancestors smile.

From a slight test on the arm of a comfy chair-- I smell...Autumn! I think this is because my nose catches the ginger most acutely. It smells just like one of those BBW Fall candles. Here's to hoping it evolves with age more into the intriguing, mysterious marketplace I had in mind.

Patientia has a smooth wooden feel to it, like something you'd find in a Buddhist temple. And it has a slight grassy note, like a late summer field coming from it as well. Finally, the sage in it makes this blend the best for scrubbing away some seriously bad juju, if you should find yourself feeling hexed.

Opened the imp on a meh kinda night and instantly felt happier and at peace. Later on discovered a wonderful song so reminiscent of my childhood, definitely a future bottle contender! Also definitely some major rose action here.

Upon application I get the strong sense of...the only phrase I can come up with is Egyptian carrots. But this is a good thing, a very good thing! After a while it settles into a delicate, pleasant bright aura, french in the best way. Commercially. Overall, a stellar blend and quite bottle worthy.