mistressfizz

Sniff: Rose!!! Powdery soft rose. Wet: Lots and lots of florals, dominated by rose. I do get a spike of something sharp, I think that’s the lavender. This is very much a late summer garden, but a shadowy corner of that garden. While the flowers are strong, they aren’t quite bright and fresh. They are slightly muddled, bordering on sour and almost becoming heavy. Sometimes I catch a whiff of something like cotton or linen. Dry: This dries a tad soapy, but pleasantly so. Now the soft incense and warm amber come into play, taming the flowers and creating a wonderfully feminine and elegant blend. I will definitely treasure this bottle!

Sniff: Dense and floral, definitely getting some strong gardenia Wet: Mmmm, this is very pretty and dreamy. The florals soften and become warm and humid, with a hint of incense. I can imagine the curl of distant torches floating in the air, behind a beach bordered with luscious tropical blooms. Dry: Soft amber, flush with white florals. Lightens over time, so the florals aren't quite as heavy as the wet phase.

Sniff: White florals! This is definitely in-your-face flowers, mostly lily Wet: Heavy, heavy floral. Just a tiny bit aquatic, with hints of green stems. This is not a bright, fresh blend - it's strong and somber, with a reserved, almost cold elegance. I keep picturing a lonely vase in an empty room, sunlight streaming through the window but not providing any warmth. The lilies are strongest, but I also get whiffs of the sweeter blooms as well. Dry: I was worried this would turn to soap, but the flowers hold up on me! It actually smells like dried flowers - a little musty and faint, but still wafting everytime you move. It has medium throw and fades in just 2 hours. This is beautiful, but it's so melancholy, I can't wear it as an everyday scent.

Sniff: Hello, cologne! Sharp and spicy. I'm not sure what that is - the rosewood maybe? There might be some sandalwood in here too. Wet: There’s a hint of woods, but mainly this is still sharp cologne. I’m not sure I dig the high-pitched tone. Dry: Ah, now that’s the stuff! This morphs from screaming astringent top note to a warmth that is like amber mixed with brown musk. The leather is very subtle, just a soft supporting note. This definitely has a masculine feel, very traditional and clean. I really don’t like the beginning phase, but once it dries down, it’s quite pleasant.

Sniff: A woodsy resiny base with hints of citrus and pine. I immediately get an image of frost dusting the ground and inky night sky. Wet: This is very well blended! Grounded and herbal, without any sharpness. I don't quite know how to describe it, except as magical and mystical, a deep core of earth overlaid with seasonal berries and pine. It definitely evokes mystery and secret things in the night. Dry: Settles to a soft red musk, mingled with patchouli and highlighted by herbs. A rich, warm darkness underneath a cool, white exterior. I waited a long time to try this one, and now I wish I had sooner! This is all sorts of love on me.

Sniff: Even though vanilla isn't listed in the notes, this is spicy vanilla at first whiff! Wet: Still getting a hint of vanilla, but now the coconut comes out to play. It's spicy and sweet, but actually not very foody. It's oily and sticky, more like coconut lotion or butter. It reminds me a bit of Red Lantern, but sugary and without the languid sexiness. This is more playful than sultry. This is also different from Harigata II, where the coconut is lofty and bright. Elegba is thicker and creamy. Dry: All that delicious coconut dries into plastic play-dough, which rum has a history of doing on me It's musty and weird and makes my nose wrinkle. Alas for skin chemistry!

Sniff: Very faint and bright, high pitched Wet: Shimmery but not metallic, a sharp crystal musk. The high note isn't exactly like cologne, but very close. It's slightly aquatic. There's just a tiny hint of dirty, mossy, green tones. Dry: The sharpness burns off and now I get a slightly sweet, nutty finish over a base of dusty musk. I'm not getting the "fuzzy" factor but I definitely agree there's something a bit weird here. I was hoping for more of the "dirty" notes to rise up, like the anise and tonka, but they aren't very apparent in this blend. It's not bad, but not exactly working for me either.

Sniff: Fuzzy brown leather! Wet: Soft and velvety, this is supple deerskin in a fresh spring meadow. The leather smells very natural and it's nicely blended with the herbs and flowers. Surprising clean and light, without being airy or soapy. Dry: Doesn't change much when dry. This continues to be furry soft leather mixed with fresh grassy field. I agree that it's very comforting and cozy, a lovely unisex scent. No wonder this one was the first to sell out on PI's website!

Sniff: soft vanilla, something crisp and fresh underneath Wet: I'm not good at detecting most individual flowers (except rose and jasmine, which scream out at me) but I can sense strong white florals here, mixed with sweet vanilla. This reminds me a lot of MB: BiggerCritters, just replacing the jasmine with something almost like a sharp white musk. Dry: muted vanilla and florals. Very faint. Pretty, but kind of generic.

Sniff: Not very aquatic at all! Light incense and dusty. Wet: Oh, wow! This smells exactly like clay baking in the desert sun. There's definitely something ancient and dry, and the incense is not church incense, but more natural and green, soft and muted. This is actually quite refreshing without being too bright. The aquatic notes are not high pitched, but instead hint at sandy, peaceful, dark depths. Dry: This dries to a beautiful warm and creamy musk, like a light amber, with a swirl of incense and old stone. Definitely evocative and I find myself wanting to reach for it again and again.

Sniff: High pitched herbal note. No pine or evergreen for me, it's more harsh and bitter. Wet: Drat, I had high hopes for Elf, but this is all sharp cologne on me, with a medicinal streak that makes my nose itch. I was hoping for woods and berries, but instead this smells like cheap gin. Dry: Well, it calms down after a few hours into a powdery, herbal amber. Unfortunately my skin is turning the honey into something sour and overall this leaves a rather unpleasant impression. I wouldn't give up on it for layering, though, it's just not a good standalone scent for me.

Sniff: Fresh vanilla and cigarettes, surprisingly soft Wet: Oh, this is gorgeous! Soft florals and vanilla that isn't too sweet, wrapped in a haze of smoke and leather. The cigarette smell I first detected has faded into something wispy and dry. This is a dreamy, sexy scent, womanly with just a hint of aggression. Dry: Yum, this dries into smokey vanilla musk and a trace of floral powder. The leather isn't very apparent, but I think it lends a warm undercurrent. It's not too strong, with medium throw, and lasted all night. This is really beautiful and I'm so glad I have a bottle!

Sniff: Faint, light scent, slightly herbal Wet: Soft pine and woods, serene and peaceful. A little sharp at first, but that dies down. Reminds me of branches dappled with sunlight, mossy bark, and crisp air. Dry: The pine blends into the background and now I'm getting more dirt and ferns, like a forest floor. The woodsy note dominates. I love how the Lab can evoke a sense of place and this blend definitely has that quality. This is a mountain forest in a bottle, rich with plants and the scuttling of furry things underfoot.

Sniff: Ooof, I am punched in the face with leather! (Or more appropriately: sneak attacked in the face by leather!) Very strong and worn leather, natural and brown. Wet: This is surprisingly animalistic. It smells almost furry and has a woodsy, fertile undercurrent. It's really potent, and doesn't have the chemical note that leather scents often do. Dry: This settles down in an hour or so to a beautiful, soft leather musk. It still smells very organic and reminds me of wild beasts, but it's tempered by soft woods and a hint of green. This seems more like a Ranger in personality than a Rogue scent (though I haven't tried Ranger yet, so maybe I'm mistaken). Either way, it's very pleasant once it dries and quite comforting.

I have a soft spot for Halflings (my first D&D character was one!) so even though I usually don't like foodie scents, I just had to try this one. Sniff: Thick and mealy, a little buttery Wet: Interesting, there's a sweet note, like raisins. A bit of spice too. It's porridge and pie crust! Dry: I'm getting a hint of plastic as well. But otherwise it stays pretty much the same on drydown. I'd prefer this as a room scent - it's yummy but not quite right on my skin.

Sniff: Bright and herbal. Can't pick out any individual notes. Wet: It smells like...vegetables. I don't know how else to describe this. Not any one particular vegetable, just a general leafy salad smell. This is definitely a new one for me! It's rather pleasant and fresh. Dry: Oak dominates on the drydown. A nice, soft oak - the other components help round it off. This is light with moderate throw. It doesn't seem to be a fully bloomed fragrance on its own, and will definitely benefit from layering.

This is the first scent from Rappaccini's Garden that I've properly tested and reviewed. I don't know if I'll have much luck with this series, but here goes! Sniff: Dewy and green. Very wet, but not a high aquatic note, more like a grassy dampness. Wet: Herbal notes start to come out over the wet green. It's almost like a weak menthol. Dry: Wow, this fades quickly! It stays herbal and green until the end, but within an hour, it's gone. Very refreshing during the wet phase, but I guess to keep it that way, I would need to continually reapply.

Sniff: Faint, light leather, with a sharp tang Wet: Weird, there's something citrus, almost lemon here, though I don't see those in the official notes. The leather is definitely cool and light, with an artificial chemical note. It does have an overall metallic tone. I don't smell any vanilla at all. Dry: Not a very strong scent, with little or no throw. It becomes less sharp over time and leaves a pleasant light musk, with a hint of incense and leather.

Sniff: Light and sharp, but I can't detect any specific notes. Wet: Sweet cherry with a rosy base. I get some of that "cough syrup" smell as well, but thankfully it's not terribly strong. No apparent lavendar, but there's a slightly bitter edge which might be it. Dry: Floral powder and musk. A faintly sour note keeps cropping up as well. I think this is a nice scent, but not really my thing.

Totally agree with these previous recommendations: Phantom Xiuhtecuhtli Medea Two of my favorite floral incense scents are discontinued, but you might find something in swaps/sales: Marae: Vanilla orchid, Monoi tiare, gardenia, and light incense. All Saints: Monastic frankincense and myrrh, Damascus rose, Russian gardenia, cassia, and lily of the valley wafting on a chill Autumn wind. From the CD - Blasphemare Reliquary: Ethiopian myrrh, Damascus rose, boswellia, galbanum, and copal. Eshe: Embalming herbs, black myrrh, white sandalwood, black orchid, paperwhites, tomb dust, and Moroccan jasmine. (the above were both very incensey on me, but balanced out with a pretty floral sweetness) I also like: Eros: Myrrh, lilac, and honey wine with crimson tea leaf and sweet resins. Arcana: Frankincense, rosemary, lavender, neroli, and verbena.

Sniff: Yup, there's rose. Not at all dewy or fresh, but a dirty, smoky rose. Wet: Dark, black rose, with cigarettes wafting in the background. I can't detect any leather at all. Dry: Dries to a powdery rose that is just a bit soapy and simmers. While this is a nice dark rose blend, there are others I prefer. The aforementioned Spellbound comes to mind, as do London, Phantom, Blasphemare Reliquary, and Whip.

Sniff: Sweet incense, almost cloying. Wet: Hi, rose! This bursts into a floral bouquet mixed with sweet myrrh and dry incense. This reminds me a lot of Hymn, but the floral component is stronger and sweeter. Dry: This fades quickly on me. It becomes soapy incense and powdery amber, which I'm not really liking. Normally I do well with florals, and I love incense blends, but this particular combination of the two just isn't working for me.

Sniff: Resin! And more resin! Wet: Dragon's blood and olibanum are really prominent. Instead of a lofty, solemn incense like Cathedral, this is earthy and woodsy, full of roots and greens. I don't get much of a pine scent at all. Dry: Stays pretty much the same, a soft dark resin with hints of dirt and wood. Definitely close kin to Arcana, a solid incense blend for those who dig that kind of smell (like I do!)

I’m so excited to have snagged this one! I fell in love with a tester and finally got my grubby hands on a bottle. Sniff: Exactly as advertised! Black leather, slightly sweet and smoky tobacco, the chemical high of machine oil, a metallic tang of rust, and gritty gruff musk. Wet: Ah, more of the same. I adore leather notes and this is my favorite so far. It’s not as raw as Rogue or DeSade, and lacks the woodsy undertones of Olisbos, Spanked, The Traveller. I find it stronger than leather blends which are cut with lighter ingredients (such as Perversion, Dee, the Riders, Whip). And while manly, this doesn’t have the sophistication of Robotic Scarab or Quincey Morris, which I consider to be “gentlemanly” leather. So, what is this exactly? To me, it’s the leather jacket of a smoker who’s been working with cars all day. And it really turns me on. Dry: Several hours and still going. The throw is pretty strong. The high pitched chemical and rust notes have died down and now it’s pure dark musky leather with just a hint of oil. I imagine this is what Constantine from Hellblazer smells like, after a walk through the slums of London. I love how evocative this is and will definitely be hoarding my bottle and looking for more!

Sniff: Is my nose broken? I get a horrible chemical smell, like windex. I have no idea what is causing this. Whatever it is, it's high pitched and sharp and nasty. Wet: I'm still getting "chemical cleaner" from this. Since I'm not familiar with beeswax or urban musk, perhaps these are the culprits? I can detect hints of spicy sandalwood and a lightness from the tea, but I just can't get past that bathroom cleaner smell. Dry: The sharpness dies down and it does smell a bit warmer, a bit woodsy. But underneath is still an acrid musk. While not entirely unpleasant, this is definitely not for me. Both my nose and my skin don't play well with whatever is in Half-Elf.