kashmira

Oman frankincense, cistus labdanum, white sandalwood, and liquidambar. On me, the frankincense starts off very strong and almost single note-like, but soon the sandalwood and labdanum start to come out. This blend, once dry, really becomes a beautiful, slightly woody, incense type blend with medium throw. This makes it a pleasure to sniff, but it doesn't overwhelm a room. Overall, for those who love resin-incense type blends, In Templum Dei will not disappoint.

Uncompromising idealism, haunted romanticism, fatal ennui, and a heady amount of scandal and vice: red roses and pale carnation with a draught of laudanum, smears of opium tar, a hint of absinthe, and mercury ointment. Wet, this starts out with a medicinal, almost bitter smell that quickly morphs into red rose and laudanum. As it dries on my skin, the carnation takes a front seat and tends to be very assertive. It pretty much stays all carnation all the time, though eventually a bit of the opium tar peeks through. To my nose, overall this has a "high pitched" floral scent which isn't necessarily to my taste. On the plus side, it has a ton of throw and lasts for hours. Interestingly enough, I tend to get a lot of compliments from women on this scent, but my husband and guy friends all find it somewhat 'meh.'

17-year aged black patchouli, champaca flower, cardamom bud, green coriander, Haitian vetiver, red vegetal musk, black pepper, night-blooming jasmine, and leather. Funnel of Love starts out of the gate smelling very strongly of patchouli, cardamon,and pepper. As it dries, it becomes sweeter and richer, as the leather and musk begin to warm up. Eventually, a hint of jasmine and champaca flower do pop up, but overall, this is a much heavier, much more "earthy" type of scent. It is a scent that means business and is fairly assertive. I admit I was a bit wary of Funnel of Love as it had a few notes that could possibly go wonky on me, but it has very pleasantly surprised me!

Brown leather, dusted by the spices of his many voyages: cardamom, red sandalwood, sweet clove, white mastic, mandrake powder, and galangal. This scent is definitely fitting for a dashing, mysterious adventurer! The leather note in the bottle is definitely a new-ish brown leather -- not quite worn in, but still fairly smooth. However, once on my skin, this scent transforms into a melange of roots and spices as well as what seems to be campfire smoke. I suspect it is the red sandalwood that is coming across as this note. The leather is still there in the background, but overall the spices really dominate. To my nose, this one almost smells like I wore a new-ish brown leather jacket around a campfire and sniffed said jacket the day after.

Child of Aphrodite and Ares, Hedylogos is the God of Sweet Talk and Flattery. His gilded words are perfumed with honeyed rose and the quicksilver scent of mastic and olibanum. Ah rose, how I love thee! In the bottle, I mostly detect rose with a small amount of sweetness. On my skin, it is all rose, all the time. I recognise this rose note from some other blends -- it seems to be of the Bulgarian rose variety, rather than the 'haughty rose' of Peacock Queen or 'fresh cut rose' of Rose Red. I don't detect much olibanum or honey, but past experience with these notes tells me I need to give this one a few months in the dark box for them to make their presence known. Overall, this is a wonderful addition to the GC catalogue!

A kiss of fire and frankincense: exquisite Hojari frankincense painted with red benzoin, Ceylon cinnamon, blood rose, pimento, and jasmine hedoine. Frankincense and rose are 2 of my favourite notes, so when I read the description for this one, I definitely needed a bottle. In the bottle, a strong resin-y scent is most prominent. Wet on my skin, the frankincense dominates and for a brief time, it seems as though it is the only note present. After about 20 minutes, the rose takes over and beats the frankincense until it abdicates its resinous throne. There is a secondary note that peeks up in the drydown that I believe is jasmine hedione -- it doesn't scream true jasmine to my nose, but does seem to be in the same family. I can't detect any cinnamon or pimento, but perhaps with some aging, they might make their presence known as well. Overall this is more a pretty floral on my skin rather than a resin-heavy blend. It is very nice and light and seems perfect for those wanting a fresh spring scent.

Sugar upon sugar, honey upon honey: white cane sugar and honey absolute. This is one time when the scent description and the actual oil do seem a bit different from one another. I was expecting a super sweet honey scent, similar to O, except 100x sweeter. Instead, in the bottle, I smell sweet lemon oil -- bright citrus-y lemon+ sugar. On my skin, it goes straight to lemon with an undertone that to my mind seems chalky, waxy(I perceive scents in texture/colour). The more I sniff it, the more I realise this oils smells like the lemon part of Fruit Loops. Overall, I like this one and can see this being quite nice for warmer temperatures, though the disparity between the scent description and the actual notes did take me by surprise.

A report from the land of dreams: honeyed patchouli, Madagascan black pepper, fossilized amber oil, beeswax absolute, massoia bark, Egyptian myrrh, and a thin thread of blood-red saffron. Wow, this one is a morpher, but really gorgeous! In the bottle, I mostly smell amber and honey. On my skin, it starts off sweet, but quickly dries down to a woody, almost earthy type scent. After a little bit, the myrrh and saffron eventually peek out, which on my skin, softens out the wood/earth notes. To me, this smells mysterious, exotic and very much perfect for a Clive Barker themed scent. This one is definitely a keeper!

It was the Yuletide, that men call Christmas though they know in their hearts it is older than Bethlehem and Babylon, older than Memphis and mankind. It was the Yuletide, and I had come at last to the ancient sea town where my people had dwelt and kept festival in the elder time when festival was forbidden; where also they had commanded their sons to keep festival once every century, that the memory of primal secrets might not be forgotten. Corrupt incense twinging through the huddled roofs of Kingsport on winter solstice night. To my nose, this has a salty, almost cold aquatic note to it, with ominous incense running through it. While it does turn a bit soap-like on my skin, it is not an unpleasant scent. Instead, it is strangely reminiscent of a perfume I used to wear a long time ago, but it has a darker edge to it. This perfume almost seems to have up a forlorn, secretive energy to it: it has not forgotten the rituals from elder times.

Red musk and belladonna blossom for Hel’s red rooster, amber and copal for Gullinkambir, and pimento-soaked red clove for Fialar. Of all the Ragnarok scents, this is the one I was most interested in trying. In the bottle, I smell a deep, herbal-root smell with a tinge of clove. On my skin, the clove is at the forefront, with some amber and perhaps belladonna in the background. As it settles on my skin, the clove starts to slowly recede to the background, letting copal be more noticeable. Overall, though, the clove is mostly dominant on my skin, which is nice. The red musk doesn't come out until much later in the drydown and even then, it is not as strong as it normally is. After the initial blast of clove, this tends to be a 'sticks close to my skin' scent and doesn't seem to have a huge amount of throw. Overall, I definitely like this one, though I hope with time the clove settles a bit.

Love and Time and Sin: red rose, Saturnian opoponax, and red musk. The red musk is mostly dominant when wet, but once dry, the opoponax comes out and takes over. There is a hint of rose, but for once, it is not taking over the entire scent as it usually does. Overall, this stays pretty much resinous on my skin, though whiffs of red roses and red musk come out every so often. To me, this combination of scents is very deep and sophisticated, mournful and sexy. It captures the essence of deep ardent love that has come and left; now only the memories and scars from those passionate days and nights remain. While this one isn't quite as complex note-wise as some other Luper scents, it does reflect the title of the poem perfectly. This one is definitely a keeper in my book.

Unholy incense drifting through mazelike streets: dragon’s blood resin, black frankincense, sickly-sweet cardamom, cassia, and myrrh. This is a most interesting scent. At first sniff when sprayed in a room, I mostly smell cardamon and cinnamon. But when sprayed against linen(I sprayed it on the sheets), the heaviness of dragon's blood, myrrh and frankincense gives the atmosphere spray a depth that I didn't first notice. It might just be my imagination, but I almost catch a mild whiff of aquatic notes, making me think of a tall foreboding church by the seaside, looming large against the blackened night.

A goblin’y take on Smut! Smutty Goblin Musk sweetened with sugar and tonka, and woozy with dark booze notes. I simply couldn't wait to try this straight out of the mailbox. This, by far and large, is one of the most fantastic HG scents I have ever tried. To me, it is like the best brown sugary parts of Sugar Skull decided to have a romp in bed with the best musk(and non grapey) notes of Smut. It's slightly boozy and I'm so overcome with joy that I'm feeling kinda woozy! I'm thrilled to pieces with this HG.

Sado-masochistic holiday cheer: whip leather, cardamom, patchouli and bourbon. This complements the Spanked perfume and candle that I own. Gorgeous leather meets cardamon to make this a warm, red scent -- it conjures images of a newly spanked bottom. The patchouli and bourbon notes are on the edges of the scent, curious onlookers to the scene they just witnessed. This is the perfect spray for any room, though perhaps it is most fitting in the dungeon.

Unfailing golden arrows dipped in lust: shimmering amber and copal with red musk, red patchouli, beeswax, hay sugar, and a drop of Turkish rose. I love any excuse to take a long hot highly scented bath. Lust bath salts are a perfect way to ensure I have a fabulous bath! My bath salts in the jar were deeply scented. Mostly in the jar I noticed red musk and patchouli, but once they were sprinkled in the bath, the other notes (mainly amber and copal) also scented the entire bathroom. I used two small palm-full amounts and there is still plenty more in the jar. Also, I was pleased to find that the bath salts dissolved very quickly in the water, which allowed me to enjoy the bath even faster. My skin was left lightly scented as well as perfectly soft and smooth.

Leather, thick black fur, yeti musk, red roses, and a waft of opium smoke. This spray is simply gorgeous. I sprayed this on my pillow and oh goodness, it is amazing. At first sniff, I notice a nice strong musk but given a little time on fabric, the rose and leather come out. However, they are very well balanced and the notes blend marvelously. To my nose, it is fairly strong, so a few squirts will definitely go a long way, Even my husband who doesn't like too many strong room scents approves of this one. I daresay it is almost the perfect complement to my beloved Eldritch Dark. I am thoroughly in love with this scent.

Whips, chains, goblin-sized leather harnesses, and Excitable Goblin Musk! Of all the atmosphere sprays, this was one that I was most looking forward to trying. It did not disappoint, though it has taken me by surprise. The leather in this one is similar to what one might find in an upscale riding stable -- it is polished, gleaming brown leather, not the black harsh leather like I was expecting. Underneath of the leather, I get a smell which reminds me of hemp rope, which can have a hay-like smell. I don't smell any metal thus far, but there is definitely a funky musk lurking in the middle of all of these notes. The notes all come together and are quite nice. I can see this spray being popular with people who want something very different from your "typical" atmosphere spray.

The last lamenting kiss: velvet red rose absolute with sweet myrrh, amber honey, and red sandalwood. The scent reminds me of a heavy-lidded beauty, face upturned, lips poised to provide one final kiss.. Wet on my skin, the amber and myrrh are most prominent. Once dry, the sandalwood and rose decide to take over, with the luscious rose mostly dominating. Over all this one is truly lovely. I'm very glad I have a bottle.

Very, very naughty: red musk, leather, bourbon vanilla, and red patchouli. Glop is a super moisturizing blend of several oils including shea butter(that's the more common name for the Latin name Butyrospermum parkii) and rice bran oil. In the jar, it has the consistency of face creme, so do be careful if you put a finger in there -- you might end up using more than you anticipate. Once applied, it leaves the skin very very smooth and uber moisturized. The best part, though, is the seductive scent of red musk and leather that wafts everywhere. The patchouli and bourbon vanilla aren't quite as prevalent to my nose, but perhaps with a bit of time, they might become more noticeable. I must say I am very happy with this Glop. I might just brave the Inquisition again to get another jar.

Oman frankincense with unpeeled Ginger rhizome and Italian bergamot. I love the spicy warm scent of ginger and the mysterious 'otherworldly' smell of frankincense. Coupled together, the 2 scents + wonderful cozy bergamot make for a lovely candle that helps fight the chill during the fall and winter months. It has a fairly decent throw -- I can smell it about 5 feet away, but it is not overpowering, though. It is a perfect addition to my fireplace where I burn all of my candles and helps make these winter days a little bit brighter.

Bulgarian rose, ambrette seed absolute, saffron, white pear, oudh, and a touch of oakmoss. This oil has changed over the months that I've had it. When I first received it, it was strong Bulgarian rose with very little of the other notes present. Several months later, there is something sharp and green that stomps all over the rose. I think it is the oak moss, but it is a little difficult to tell. Eventually, the rose comes back after 20 minutes or so, but it is not as strong as it was originally. Overall, I like this bath oil, but as a rose lover, I prefer the oil fresh rather than aged.

Luxuriate in a pool of lavish, sinful indulgence while you hatch your next malicious scheme: black patchouli, sharp green tea, raw tobacco leaf, a dribble of orange blossom, and caramelized sugar. I tend to amp sugar notes and this oil isn't any different. On my skin, this is all carmelized sugar and tobacco, with just a hint of patchouli and green tea. It is going to be simply perfect for those nights that I want to spend scheming in my bathtub

This soothing, nurturing healing blend assists in the cleansing, purification, and reconciling of emotional and psychological injuries. It allows you to release some of the pain, sorrow, and resentment that you have accumulated while gently soothing your spirit during the process. It can be used on white candles in a ritual setting, and can be used to anoint your chakras. I've been using this oil for the last couple of months. Overall, scent wise to my nose it is mostly bergamot and grapefruit with the geranium and cypress offering a nice complement. On the first whiff, the overall impression of this oil is a calming and soothing one, yet it also has an invigorating edge to it. I would call it the spiritual equivalent of a wise, sympathetic friend -- it exudes sympathy, confidence, kindness, a gentle push in the direction of finding healing and yet, it also can offer (to those who need it to heal) a slight 'kick to the posterior' that is sometimes necessary to get us back to where we need to be. I've been using it both on my head and solar plexus chakras as well as on white candles and my Absolution bag. Long story short, I've been put through the emotional wringer this year. The oil has helped me heal after some very difficult times and continues to help me find my emotional equilibrium. I've been able to find forgiveness for those who have hurt me and have been able to move on from the pain. This oil was soothing and nurturing to my soul, yet at the same time it also gave me a tender nudge that said, "it's okay to let go, you need to move on." I highly recommend this oil for anyone who is looking to heal from emotional and psychological trauma.

White Peach and Incense HG+Temple Viper work rather well together.

Today I'm wearing Silkybat+Wicked Matriarch+Feed Me and Fill me with Pleasure