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In vial: Green lavender, resins. Wet: A burst of ozone, not tingly as it usually ends up on me, but very bright & clean. Dry: ...A very very faint tang of copper? But other than that, nothing. If I hadn't just seen myself slather this on, I would think I hadn't applied any! Verdict: Seeing as how it hit my skin & went poof, I don't really have a verdict! How odd.

In vial: Fleshy ivory slivers of sugared coconut. Wet: A thick scent that registers as incense to my nose, but which my brain recognizes as shea. Almost caramelized, very intense. Dry: Coconut, watery but still strangely deep. Verdict: I have reason to believe the 1/5 full imp I have is quite aged, so that may be why it is so intense and thick on me. It is actually rather intimidating! I love coconut, but have discovered that shea is a stomach turner for me. I had the same reaction to Ochosi- the shea has a sickeningly sweet & bilious twang to it that I cannot bear. Thankfully there are other coconut blends I can enjoy, such as Black Pearl and Ashlultum.

In vial: Iris, filmy and light, with a faint trace of herbaceousness. Wet: More soft iris, nondescript myrrh. Dry: Is that sandalwood? Maybe not. Usually sandalwood is the first thing I notice in blends that have it, but not in this case! It does smell rather generic, as someone else said. Verdict: I was surprised at how light & calm this blend is - serene & clean come to mind.

In vial: I recognize sweet pea instantly! Pink and frilly, as it always seems to me. Wet: Flowery, a tinge of green. Dry: Sweet pea dominates, lightening as time passes. Verdict: I never really got tonka like I hoped, and the sweet pea was just too much for me. Girly, but not what I wanted.

A decadent, deep perfume, lusty and luxuriant. The scent evokes images of velvet-lined Old West cathouses, tightly laced corsets, rustling petticoats and coquettish snarls of pleasure. Bawdy plum with amaretto, burgundy wine and black currant. In vial: Starburst! The red ones. Wet: Starburst- juicy, tart, sweet n' sticky! Dry: A mellower version of... Starburst. Verdict: I'm afraid I just can't get anything more than the psycho Starburst association. Every time I've tested it, that is the only thing my brain understands this blend to be. Grr. Should be wonderful for those who like fruity scents!

In vial: Lemony, anise-y leather. Wet: Lavender joins in, adding a little depth. Does remind of cologne. Dry: Not much change from wet- lavender with licorice, leather and lemon. Verdict: Lemon disagrees with my skin quite violently, no difference here. Though not for me, this will be good for those who like masculine scents, especially lighter ones. Excellent for summer, I'd think.

In vial: Red, bloody and spicy. Wet: Fainter than I expected from the vial! Dragon's Blood, slightly soapy, and a touch of musk.. maybe red? Dry: It never seemed to strengthen once it dried- the musk's spiciness faded and for some reason the DB was soapy the whole time! Something weird in my chemistry, perhaps, though usually DB goes sweet, almost fruity on me. Verdict: My curiosity is satisfied as far as DB + musk is concerned. I feel pretty neutral about this blend, so Dragon's Hide remains my favorite from the Ars Draconis set!

In vial: Thick, cloying, almost medicinal. Wet: The unique powdery feel I usually get from opium shows up, dusky but nice. Dry: Dusty, dark resins with a touch of bitter labdanum stay on my skin, close and sweet. Verdict: The throw is good, but the overall 'feel' just clashes with my personality too harshly for me to wear this perfume. If you're looking for a blend that is sensuous, dangerous and a bit unsettling, give this a try!

In vial: Vetiver, screaming bloody murder! Wet: This reminds me very much of the vetiver in Orc- very substantial, stern & no-nonsense. Dry: A peek of leather, then back to business with vetiver robbing the scent blind. Verdict: I was disappointed that the florals never showed up, but their constitution just wasn't any match for the vetiver. Oh well.

In bottle: Slightly herbal florals- shrubby lilacs & a prick of dry hyssop. Wet: Coconut, not tropical in the least. These are delicately pulpy shreds of coconut in pale macarons, saccharine and lacy. Absolute armfuls of fragrant lilacs abound. Dry: The lilacs & coconut recede to just an aura, gently present. Shadowy vanilla tea and tonka form a glossy gossamer base. Soft musk keeps this scent lingering with a breath of warmth for hours. Verdict: I have been looking for a coconut scent that I can wear often without becoming jaded- and this is it. Not reminiscent of sunblock in the least. It is close to the skin, gorgeously sweet, and just slinky enough to put a twinkle in my eye when I wear it. Perfection.

In vial: Herbal, faint tang of unripened plums. Wet: Green fields of wildflowers, much less floral than I expected. Dry: The flowers have faded, allowing a stain of juicy plum to come out. Light, gently sweetened by cream. Verdict: Unfortunately my nose recognizes most plum scents as generic-holiday-candle-smell. Prunella is pretty, sweet & light, but the candle association gets me every time.

In bottle: Tangy! That was unexpected. Wet: Vanilla tea, but not the smooth version in Dorian; this is slightly bitter & biting from the cognac maybe- melancholy indeed. Dry: Pale frankincense, sweet & subtle. Dry wisps of coconut bark and woodmoss, earthy and dusty. I actually really like that combo- it's pretty and soft. I think I can detect a small bit of opium tar, adding just an edge of smoky depth. After a time I am left with a sweet, sheer, resinous (frankincense) tea scent. Verdict: I have loved all the Lace scents, they are just so beautiful and evocative. Tattered Lace is no exception; I am curious to see what notes will emerge with time, but this has real promise even straight out of the mailbox!

In vial: Smells just like the ocean! Wet: Salty, plummy & a softly foamy. Dry: The briny kelp forms a lovely base, with a blossomy, juicy green tea current above it. I like this more than any other aquatic I've tried! Verdict: Just gorgeous as it's wet/drying but ultimately it fades too fast on me, becoming almost soapy after a bit. If it had more musk, I think this would be my perfect aquatic blend! It is soooooo close!

I was the lucky, lucky recipient of a tester set of all 16 RPG scents, and so I feel it my duty to share my layering findings here. By my rough calculations, there are at least 155 different combinations if you stick to the general race-class-alignment way of doing things. I needed to pare it down so I didn't feel overwhelmed or get stuck trying combos for the next 3 months. So I made a little character sheet, giving each blend a corresponding name from Lord of the Rings. It has been a blast trying these out! (Not to offend you hardcore LOTR buffs, this was just for fun so don't be too picky about my combos- I decided on them based on my perception/knowledge of the characters. For example, in Elrond/Arwen/Aragorn's cases, they actually do have half-elf lineage, hence my selection, etc) Anyway, I will be adding more character combos as I think of them- but here's what I have so far. My fave combos are starred! Neutral Dwarf Fighter - Gimli (sweet & sour leather?! hmmm) Good Half-Elf Paladin - Arwen (not as thrilling as I had hoped- sugary sandalwood) Good Elf Rogue** - Legolas (pale, soft berry-stained leather) Lawful Good Elf - Galadriel (haven't tried yet) Lawful Half-Elf Cleric - Elrond (the dusty golden scent of ancient magic) Lawful Good Half-Elf Ranger - Aragorn (evergreems, clean & woodsy) Lawful Halfling - Sam (tart, green strawberries) Good Halfling - Frodo (vaguely soapy, with rich honey undertones) Chaotic Halfling** - Merry (creamy, lightly spiced porridge) Neutral Halfling* - Pippin (smells exactly like what I hoped Lilith's Tea Party would be, but wasn't on me) Chaotic Good Mage - Gandalf (haven't tried yet) Chaotic Evil Mage** - Saruman (deep purple, black & green, spicy resined plums) Chaotic Neutral Fighter - Boromir (haven't tried yet) Good Paladin - Eowyn (haven't tried yet)

In vial: Dark and grassy. Wet: Thick black opium tar, and a smoky aura of malevolent vegetation. It actually reminds me of a few blends I've tried from Rappaccini's Garden. Dry: A touch of black plum and faint green tea with a sheen of aquatic ambergris. Verdict: Oh, this is bad. In a good way of course... but oh so bad. It is mostly an herby almost aquatic on me, which is a little unnerving. It brings to mind a cauldron filled with venomous ingredients & evil intentions. I can't keep a mischevious grin off of my face when I smell it- hmmm..

In vial: Sweet, light. Wet: White honey, syrupy thin and flecked with specks of vanilla. Dry: A wafting cloud of acacia & fluffy vanilla musk, dusted with powdery sugar cane. Verdict: It sounds like this would be unbearably sweet, but it is not tooth-aching in the least! I had to jog my memory about acacia- it's that African tree, you know the one- turns out it's used to make incense. I don't know if that's what's in here, or the acacia blossoms- but I was thrilled to be able to smell a clean, light, light, light smokiness in the blend. It could be mistaken for powder because it is a great deal lighter/sweeter than any other incense blend I've smelled. I feel like an angel would naturally be surrounded by this scent. Cue hallelujah chorus!

In vial: Spicy musk. Wet: A tingle in my nose from the wasabi, and the soft warmth of heliotrope. Dry: Piney mastic pipes in, clear and sharp. It seems almost lemony, but that could be the rooibos, I'm not familiar enough with it to know other than that it's a kind of tea. As time goes on, the musks re-emerge, along with the shock of wasabi. Verdict: I was more excited to try Chaotic than any of the other RPGs- and I am so happy with it! I am realizing that I love heliotrope, and here it adds the sweetest hint of herby vanilla creaminess to the blend. It's like a spicy, slightly resinous & musky tea with lemon and wasabi. Sounds odd, but is oddly delicious!

In vial: Bitter oak. Wet: Fig leaves, broad and velvety. Stalks of tart rhubarb growing in a well-manicured garden. Dry: The chamomile is soothing, gentle and calm- perhaps gathered into bundles, arranged neatly to dry. Verdict: I was nervous about the bitterness in the imp, but it softened significantly on my skin. It feels very proper and well behaved. Fresh, with the slightest bit of herby astringency and a light base of clean oak. It is not sweet at all, which is actually really nice. It brings to mind a garden behind a white picket fence, with a clothesline of starched ivory tablecloths blowing gently in a warm breeze. Simple and lovely!

In vial: Blushing musk. Wet: Almost ozone-like, it's so sharp at first. It rapidly settles into a familiar, comforting skin scent. At times it reminds me of something I've smelled in commercial perfumes, though I couldn't say what it is. I think the comfort factor kicks in because it reminds me of my mom. Dry: It may be a skin scent, but it is skin with a racing pulse, flushed with color. Just enough sweetness to keep it warm. Verdict: Now that I think about it, I am pretty certain the familiar element I'm getting is tuberose. It's gorgeous, elegant and soft, but totally unexpected. That must be the 'flawless' component, and the florals other reviewers got. It's not as 'neutral' as I expected, but who would wear something like that anyway? True neutral would basically be a vial of water. I like this blend, but then again, I am a fan of florals in general. One thing I like about Neutral's final stage is that it sinks into my skin in such a way that it almost doesn't seem like I'm wearing perfume- It feels like that's just the way my skin smells. Really well done!

In vial: Leather, black and thin. Wet: The leather amps, but seems less harsh, softer than at first. A few green strands of hemp add grassy fiberousness, twining seamlessly. Dry: The leather is starting to seem waxy or oily, maybe that is the rosin. It doesn't change the scent a whole lot, but it is noticable and really good, actually. Not really piney on me, more like unsweetened beeswax. Verdict: This scent is a loner- lone leather, just about. The rosin & hemp add just enough to keep me interested in yet another leather scent. In conclusion, leather lovers, look no further than the RPG line- which has six fantastic & unique leather blends for your enjoyment!

In vial: Wood and dry cocoa powder. Wet: Dark laquered wood, scattered with cocoa beans. Dry, rustling black palm leaves in the shadows. Dry: The fig really comes into play, with rich brown and blush skin, sugary sweet and firm. The sharp palm has dissapated, leaving a smooth wood base with just a hint of cocoa. Verdict: I'm afraid I'm just partial to sweeter scents- Intrigue is fascinating, but for a wood/chocolate scent I much prefer How Doth the Little Crocodile. This would be perfect for those who want a chocolate scent that's raw and not foody. ETA: Upon a second test after a few weeks of aging/settling, I must say- it has deepened into an absolute gem of a scent. I adore how the black palm has smoothed out even more, the perfect platform for the gentle stickiness of the fig. And the cocoa- when I sniff that glorious dark dustiness, how my pupils dilate & my pulse quickens! I am caught in the web of Intrigue and don't ever want out.

In vial: A shady thicket of evergreens in a larger forested area. Wet: Fresh pine needles, sappy bark & green undergrowth. The scent of buckskin wafts by, perhaps from a silent pair of tanned boots creeping towards their quarry. Dry: Breezes blowing through the branches, airy & green. Verdict: I'm not a fan of pine most days, today is no exception. A wonderfully fitting tribute to the ranger class, but not something I'd enjoy wearing personally. Ends up an Irish Spring clone after a few hours, which is sort of eh.

In vial: Resinous spice. Wet: Dried lumps of dusty solid frankincense, kept in an earthenware jar. Nearby is a crock of herby basalm, soothing and healing. Dry: The resins I recognized swirled with the others into a haze, overpowering any hint of dragon's blood for awhile. Eventually the sweetness made its way through, blending well with the spice. Verdict: I imagine a mage's desk, covered in jars and pots of exotic mystical elements and agents. It is rather intoxicating, I love the way it smells right on my skin- the sweetness doesn't seem to carry into the throw as well as the spice does. I keep saying this, but I can't wait to try layering with these blends!

In vial: Leather & sharp white musk. Wet: The leather does indeed seem white- very soft and protective. Truly a shield, I can't smell anything else. Maybe a just tiny glimmer of armor. Dry: As it wears on, the leather breaks in to allow the bourbon vanilla to shine, thin and clear. With the white musk reappearing, it reminds me of a vanilla soda more than a creamy vanilla. Don't get me wrong, it's really not foody at all, I just didn't know how to describe it otherwise. It's really beautiful, and the frankincense peeks in every so often to add the barest trace of sparkling golden sweetness. Verdict: Pure of heart and full of righteous strength. Not a lot of throw, but that doesn't diminish my enjoyment of it. The vanilla/frankincense combo to my nose seems to be the same pair as in Red Lace- but this would be the white version naturally, and is much more discreet even with the leather. Utterly, utterly gorgeous.

In vial: Leather, supple and well-cared for. Wet: This is very natural, warm leather to my nose. Warmed by body heat under lithe chain mail armor. Dry: Still mostly leather, a faint gleam of metallic armor remains. A bit of musk, close to the skin. Never got any blood, thank goodness. Verdict: This is gooooood leather. It never went wonky like Orc did on me, so extra points granted. It's the scent of a defender of honor, a knight in shining armor *cue girlish sigh*. My prince won't touch bpal, alas. I shall furtively wear & dream.