mistressfizz

Sniff: Oranges and flowers, faint and sweet Wet: Very pretty, lots of citrus but not that fake cleaner citrus you often smell in other products. This is fresh and real, fruity and tart and sweet, overlaid with light florals and just a hint of amber warmth. I don't really get vanilla from this, but it does have a creamy, luscious tone that is rich and delicate at the same time. Dry: The gardenia and spices are stronger now. The citrus fades, it's more like a little splash of orange juice. There's a faint trace of powder and warm musk, but mostly this dries to spicy florals, very elegant and enticing.

Sniff: Heady strong florals, a blast of wisteria Wet: More wisteria - fresh, bright, flowery. Slightly sweet cherry blossoms in the background, but mostly overpowered by the wisteria. This is very pretty and feminine. It's not as heady as I initially thought. It's smells very much like a spring perfume, clean and soft, with a faint aquatic note. Dry: Soapy floral, the sakura comes out stronger now. This is surprisingly not powdery and stays clean and pretty the whole day.

Sniff: Hello, red musk! There's fruit in there somewhere, but I'm getting mostly a dark, maroon muskiness Wet: Now the berries come out to play! Sweet and tart, but not in a foodie or girly manner. This isn't just fruit, but also the vines and leaves and dirt of that fruit, mixed with something dusty and dark. I don't get any alcohol at all, but there's a brandy flavor that does balance the sweetness, providing a warm, earthy base. Dry: A lush berry musk with a hint of dirt, slightly powdery and soft. I really like the mix of musk and sweetness here, it's a little too powerful for everyday wear, but something I would wear to a club or night out.

In honor of the cooler weather around me, I broke out my bar of SGA soap. It's mostly white with about a 1/2 inch band on top of dark red, almost purple, and a dusting of shimmer. Straight out of the package, it smells very sharp, almost ozone. Holding the bar up to my nose, I don't really get much apple, more of a high pitched musk. Wet, the apples start to come out, very crisp and light and ghostly, mixed with sheer musk and just a tiny hint of peppermint. The overall effect is of apples and ice, very refreshing yet chilly at the same time. This is classic Villainess soap and feels exactly like any of their other bars. It is relatively soft yet dense, with a silky, creamy texture that slides on the skin once wet. It has medium lather. It does a good job on oily skin like mine, but I could see it being a bit too strong for dry skin. The scent doesn't last very long afterwards, but it's wonderful while in the shower.

Mist and mellow fruitfulness: mist-swirled, moss-covered bark and dry red leaves, apple pulp and knotty galangal, with poppy juice and nutmeat. Sniff: Mossy, earthy, green Wet: A sweetness emerges that is fruity and almost like vanilla. Now I'm getting leaves and smoke in the background. There's apple, but it's not crisp or tart. This is warm and spicy, more like baked apples than fresh ones. Dry: This dries soft and almost buttery, with the apples fading into a more woodsy blend. This is comforting and very seasonal. > Edit to add scent decription.

Sniff: Very alcoholic! I definitely get sharp booze notes mixed with smoke and tobacco. Wet: It's not as strong as expected! Surprisingly light and I have to slather quite a bit on my wrist to really catch more of the scent. Alcohol is dominant, it's crisp and almost like ozone. A hint of vanilla creeps in, and it's the plastic play-doh kind of vanilla, sharp and acrid, not foodie. Dry: The alcohol burns off in a few hours and I'm left with a dusty, muted musk. Close on the skin, it's dry and gummy, almost sickly sour. But from a distance, it throws off a lovely earthy cigar, which is nice. Nothing really bad about this, but it's also not something I really like.

Sniff: Orange and golden, with a dash of citrus Wet: Orange creamsicle in a bottle! Sweet vanilla, swirled with orange and lemon, a hint of herbs and sharp florals. Has a very "summer" feel, bright and warm. I can detect just a hint of amber and something earthy, almost like a dusting of patchouli. Dry: Vanilla musk and floral powder. Pleasant, but not as good as the yummy wet phase. Probably not one of my favorite blends, but I do love the bottle art!

Sniff: Musky and dark, with a backdrop of chemicals and smoke Wet: Tobacco comes out strong, the leather is high pitched and sharp. Overall, this is very much a dark cologne. There's something slightly sweet, almost like sweat or skin musk. I think that might be the oppoponax, it does have a faintly resinous trace. Dry: The leather disappears. The tobacco settles down. Now it's powdery amber with a swirl of smoke. It doesn't smell bad, but it's not amazing either. A decent blend, but probably not something I'd frequently wear.

Sniff: Oh, heavenly! This smells like a brand new leather purse or shoes. It's shiny and polished and patent. Wet: More of the same. Yum! This is pretty much all leather. I get just a tiny smidge of woodsy flavor, but mostly this is synthetic and hot, almost like vinyl or PVC, but without the plastic. It's rich and luscious, it screams diva and sexy. Dry: Stays pretty true, it gets a little softer, but mainly it's red hot leather all the way! Definitely a keeper for me!

Sniff: Very light, chemical and sharp Wet: Faint, very little throw. The sharpness increases into something like high pitched cedar or pine. I'm also getting the sour note others have mentioned; it's not pleasant. I don't really detect any leather, just a chemical twang that's not very nice. Dry: The sour note intensifies. This dries sharp and sweaty, it doesn't work on me at all. Which is sad, because I normally love leather blends and I usually like sandalwood as well. But this combination of the two is fail on my skin

Sniff: A big whiff of purple and white flowers! Wet: Rich and strong florals, mainly orchid and narcissus. There's also a clarity from the grapefruit and thyme. I definitely sense the warmth of amber mixed with the flowers. This is almost heady, but it manages to keep a certain freshness that allows it to sit lightly on the skin. Dry: The flowers stay strong, with just a hint of pleasant powder. It's gotten warmer and more earthy. This is so charming and pretty, a beautiful mixture of white and purple swirled with gold.

Snake Oil with four mints, bergamot, and green tea. Sniff: A blast of bergamont and mint! Wet: Very much green tea with the citrus bite of bergamont. The mint is not menthol or overtly strong, it's a soft herbal peppermint, very green and fresh. I can detect the snake oil in here, through a hint of spices and earthiness. This is very bright and playful. Dry: Tea and gentle vanilla! Fresh and lovely, the tea provides a slightly dark base upon which herbs and spices are stacked. Very yummy and light!

Snake Oil with red mandarin, myrrh, and almond. Sniff: Sweet almond oil, something earthy and resinous beneath Wet: A spicy, high pitched almond, sweet and creamy. It reminds me of a fruit cake. It has a tart and buttery base, with a sugary, nutty, alcoholic glaze. But somehow it doesn't smell extremely foodie. I don't want to gobble this up. It's more atmospheric - I think the snake oil and incense prevent it from turning into pure cake. Dry: Myrrh totally takes over. It has eaten the fruit cake and pooped out a dusty soft incense with hints of spice and sweetness. It's very pleasant in this phase, I'm just sad the other components don't last. > edit to add scent description.

Sniff: Oh, I am in love! A golden warm resin with a hint of herbs, soft and creamy Wet: This is a desert caravan, traveling along dusty cliffs and dunes, filled with exotic spices and dried woods and rich incense. It's light (well, relatively speaking - for Snake Oil, it's light!) with a warmth like amber and just the right touch of vanilla sweetness. Dry: Pretty much the same gorgeous desert blend, flush with sunlight and sand. The incense is a tad dustier, the orris lends an earthy vibe, and the vanilla a bit stronger, but it retains a mysterious beauty. This is hazy, hypnotic and very evocative. So far, my favorite snake pit blend!

Sniff: Chocolate with something slightly tangy. Wet: A milk chocolate bar swirled with spices! I'm normally not a fan of the lab's chocolate note, but this one might actually work?! This is warm and dusty, the cocoa is more bitter than sweet and there's something quite earthy about it. Dry: Resinous and spicy vanilla, with a toasted cream note that's almost like caramel. Unfortunately there's just a hint of the odd sour note that my skin does to chocolate. If it weren't for that, this would be pure heaven. Even with that odd note, it's still pleasant and delicious. Just not something I could wear all the time. Alas, Boomslang, you are almost the chocolate blend that could....

Sniff: Tart apples! Wet: Definitely apples, crispy and juicy. A hint of citrus. But the fruit is overwhelmed by florals, especially the gardenia. A very bright and vivid scent. Dry: It's spicy fruit potpourri and burnt plastic! It's actually not bad, just a little weird on my skin. I really like the fruit and florals, but something acrid is sneaking around in there and pushing this slightly off balance. I think this would make a good room scent. Edit for spelling fail!

Sniff: Surprisingly light with a pleasant sage bite Wet: Smells almost like a pastry to me. There's something buttery and warm, just a tad spicy, mixed with the sage. I also get hints of grass and musk - I think that's from the leather. This is very subtle, not too strong, and quite comforting. Dry: Dusty and softly herbal with a hint of vanilla and spices. The sandalwood and leather play real nice with the snake oil, creating a delicious blend that's gentle and exciting at the same time.

Sniff: Spicy patchouli, something sharp and almost herbal, like sage. Not what I was expecting! Wet: The sharpness wears off. Now I'm getting a dusty resin with bursts of sweetness. I also get smoke and darkness lurking underneath, probably the vetiver. The coconut is faint; I think it is softening the blend as a whole. Overall, I'm getting a dry, desert vibe here, musty and shadowy. Dry: The coconut is stronger now, but has turned sour and gummy on me. Unfortunately it's gone to plastic and play-doh. I love the wet phase, but the drydown is a total bummer

Sniff: Slightly sweet honey Wet: A strong floral component emerges from a honey base. There's just a hint of sweetness. The vanilla is not very potent. It's very light with good throw, gentle and a warmth very much like amber. Dry: Turns powdery and musky, stays light. Unfortunately this is yet another honey blend I can't wear - it has turned sour and ruins the pretty floral musk.

Sniff: Light rose, soft and floral, very pretty! Wet: A complex and rich floral blend, elegant and delicate. There's definitely rose in here, warm and gentle, with a creamy base and the barest hint of sweet fruit. This is soft and dreamy, like waking up in a spring garden. Dry: Still floral, but now there's a hint of smoke and resin. Mainly, she stays light and soft, a very classic and feminine scent.

This is for the 2011 version. Sniff: Warm and resiny, a bit spicy Wet: A flowery smell emerges that's sour and dolorous. Kind of like a funeral bouquet, but this one is laid upon overturned earth and sickly sweet woods. This is rich and dark, quite heady with strong throw. I don't get patchouli outright; I think right now the resin and whatever plants are in here are drowning it out. Dry: A musky, deep resin. Still expecting the patchouli to appear, but it seems to have melted into dust. Maybe the fact that it's already aged is the reason why? I wonder how many years "antique" refers to. The wet phase is a little off on me, but the drydown is pleasant enough. I'm not totally in love but I think I'd wear this more in the winter, since it's so dark.

Sniff: Whoa, not what I was expecting! I get menthol(?!) mixed with bubblegum and a distinctly sour note as well. Very strange. Wet: The menthol becomes more herbal and now it smells like heavy mossy, wet earth. Not aquatic, but a darker, dirtier kind of wet. It's spiked with creamy pear and sugary powder. An odd combination of earthy wet notes alternating with light fruity ones. Sometimes those types of notes work well together, but the balance doesn't seem to be struck here. It ends up kind of muddled and strange. Dry: Well, it does settle on drydown. The herbal sharpness and sugary notes go away. Every now and then, I get a whiff of juicy pear mixed with ferns and jungle blooms, but it's mostly tropical musk, humid and soft, layered with damp florals and wet earth. It's pretty in this phase, but not worth going through the confusion in the beginning.

Sniff: Warm tobacco, resiny, a hint of sweet. I can tell I'm going to like this! Wet: Surprisingly light, dusty and soft. The vanilla is not overtly sweet, it mixes with the fruits to keep the heavier components from taking over. I find this extremely well blended - no particular notes pop out too much, which is amazing considering there are some strong elements here. I keep waiting for the incense or patchouli to smack around the other notes, but they are behaving very nicely, grounding the scent just right. There's a core of delicious musk wrapped in warm woods, dirt and smoke, then sprinkled with light sugar. Dry: Doesn't morph much on me - it stays soft and beautiful, becomes a bit more musky. This is definitely romantic, in a warm gentle way. It doesn't scream "sex" to me so much as it does "sexuality" - it's not throw someone into bed and ravage them, but more like a slow tease.

The solace of shadows: blackberry and blackcurrant with Nepalese amber, kewda attar, and a deep, rich, sweet dark musk. Sniff: Mossy and earthy, slightly fruity Wet: Very faint, not much throw at all. Soft and sweet. The sweetness is not sugary, but more like myrrh, a warm floral kind of sweet. I get hints of dirt and dark green as well. The berry isn't overwhelming, it plays surprisingly well with the heavier notes. Dry: Ah, now this is where Luna Negra turns to pure love on me. Dries to a beautiful dusky musk. It's not dark in a sinister way, but a gentle, peaceful darkness. There's a shimmering quality to it (I guess this is where some people are getting the alcoholic sangria note). I can imagine a quiet summer night, sitting outside sharing a bowl of fresh berries with a friend, basking in the warmth and comfort of the day just passed. So lovely. Edit to add scent description.

Sniff: Definitely dark and heavy. I'm getting a rubbery sweet note, like cherries and vinyl. It's not bad, just unexpected. Wet: Ah, here are the woods! Rich, dense resin, like heavy velvet drapes. This isn't church incense, it's too dirty and musky, has too much tobacco smoke flavor to be sacred. There is definitely a sweetness but I can't exactly identify it as plum. It smells almost like almonds or cloves, sharp and buttery rather than sugary. I think there's some myrrh in there too. Dry: Delicious musk mixed with warm powdery sweetness and dark woods. Every now and then, I get a whiff of that vinyl note and oddly enough, it's growing on me. It only adds to the persona of the blend, dark and seductive. I don't think I could wear this often, as it's so dramatic and heavy. But I do like it very much!