DeCuvieri

I was certain based on the components that this was going to be my end all, be all scent. Sadly I think "candle-y" is a fitting descriptor because after the pomegranate burns out in the drydown this blend is straight-up mulberry, very reminiscent of these overpriced pillar candles we sold at the Target store where I worked. More disappointing is how I never get any sort of mint, and there's not enough myrrh to curb the plasticky mulberry swallowing up my skin. I don't have much hope for age improving upon this one, so I'll be passing it along shortly.

Sniffing it out of the imp, BAM! Grapefruit. I hope this could be an alternative to the fast-fading Cheshire Cat for me. ...Alas, no. Almost immediately upon application we get a super strong, pink bathroom soap smell. Cheap, perfumed soap that lasts all day and does not morph in the least bit. This decant is going off to swaps.

Priala is very, very different. A part of me feels like I need to acquire a full bottle, but I can't think of many situations when I would actually wear this. I will say if the cinnamon is putting you off because you're afraid it's going to be foody, don't let it. This is the dry, burnt cinnamon that smells nothing like Christmas cookies. Think less Saw-Scaled Viper, more Sin. If it's the smoke that's got you worried, I can safely assure you that this scent is feminine. I feel like people who enjoy the Steamworks line but feel some scents were too manly or aperfume will really like Priala. That said... Priala is a gritty ash, crumbling bits of charred cinnamon with wisps of sweetened smoke still wafting off it. Normally myrrh ruins a scent for me, but it really works here and brings across the phoenix image perfectly. Priala is just sweet enough to wear comfortably (and I mean that as BARELY sweet at all), but for me it's a special occasion scent. I'll probably exhaust my partial this fall and not miss it come springtime because it's so dry and warm. I love this, it works on me, but Priala has a very distinctive and loud personality that keeps her from being a staple scent for me.

I really, really wanted to like Zombi because most BPAL florals go plasticky on me, and rose seems to be the only thing that works. Plus, ask any of my friends or look around in my personal space and it'll become obvious that I have a thing for zombies. Unfortunately I find this blend to be so harsh that I can't really see myself wearing it. There's almost a chemical quality that persists well into the dry down. The dirt and rose would be so lovely without the 'cleaner' trait ruining things. It's much the same problem I had with Embalming Fluid. I'll hang on to my imp and hope that I come around, but I can't say I'm overly fond of Zombi of right now.

This is harsh on application, but the drydown evens out into a whorl of soft florals dusted by musty sandalwood. It's very faint with no throw whatsoever, and it's not me at all.

This is just the perfect amount of sweet coconut for my skin (since I amp up sweetness), it's creamy and very smooth. Unfortunately it has virtually no throw even after first applied, and within a few hours my chemistry just swallows it up. It's nice, but I'll be passing this one on.

As a lover of red musk, pomegranate, and mango, I knew I had to have at least a bottle of this before testing. Wet: Fresh on the skin it's mango, hedged faintly by the sharp thyme. It reminds me of Shango without the overpowering apple-banana combo, so if the mango in that didn't work for you (Some feel it smells plasticky or fake) that would be a good indicator if Io is a good idea to try out Io or not. Dry: On the dry down the mango fades on me, leaving a sweet compliment to the blackberry and pomegranate. It's not sickly sweet or sugary like many berry blends tend to be on my skin, and I can detect the purple sage sort of wavering in the background. This is so lush and juicy, the perfect Spring/Summer scent. Throw/Longevity: Excellent. I do lose some of the throw after an hour when applied on the skin, but in my hair Io lasts pretty much all day. My only complaint about this one is I never really smell the red musk or cranberry (At least not what I recognize as the Lab's cranberry note as used in Lampades), but I'm willing to bet that this blend will mature beautifully in time and bring those out. Definite winner for me.

I think I picked this up from saralaughs by mistake because I had it confused with Hellfire. Never in this universe nor in any neighboring parallels would I have bought this based on the description as I hate foody blends, and that's precisely what Hellcat is. I amp up sweet notes to an unbearable degree, so within minutes rum is so maple syrup-y and almond so cakey that I can't stand to let it stay. It's almost the exact same problem I had with Perversion but worse, and I had to take the dish soap to it early on. Probably suitable for somebody who likes sweet or boozy oils, but if you don't then avoid Hellcat like a dark alley.

Have to second this. And I'm sure Moriarty smells great year-round, but I feel it's most fitting for summer and early fall especially. I've been in the habit of putting Shango and Io in my hair over the course of this blistering hot summer. Shango for those 100+ degree days, Io for everything else.

I don't know if it's me or maybe the imp I got was wonky, but Inferno was not strong on my skin at all. The almond lasted maybe fifteen minutes before it went powdery, and all I got from the dry down after a half hour was the fainting dusting of cinnamon that you could only smell if you buried your nose in my neck. I'm giving this one the side-eye and tossing it in the swaps since I already have a cinnamon blend that works.

Sandalwood completely thwarts Rakshasa for me. It smells strongly of patchouli-laced incense sticks, and even if I had been able to smell the rose it wouldn't have helped. It was strong and had great throw that probably would have lasted all day had I not washed it off, so for somebody who likes sandalwood this blend is probably worth a try. For me though it didn't work at all.

As with trumpette above, my love-affair with Lampades was initially very exciting, particularly since I don't do berry scents. But Lampades has enough spice and ginger to satiate even me, so I was thrilled to find a summertime scent that worked. I immediately put in for a 5ml. Sadly, the contents of my 5ml is nothing like that of the imp after the initial application. The dry down is reminiscent of cherry chapstick most days. I save it now for when it's fall and cooler out as that seems to alleviate the problem, but the throw is nowhere near as potent. Still, putting it in lotion or using it in an oil warmer produces very nice results, so this little set-back isn't enough for me to trade away my 5ml anytime soon.

I don't really care for myrrh all that much, but when I tested Bastet I knew I had to have a bottle. It's just amazing. First thing I notice is it's a much thinner oil than most of those I use. It actually runs in tiny amounts - almost the consistency of water - and a little goes a long way, so be forewarned. Wet on the skin there's a really sharp spiciness which I attribute to the saffron, sweetened by the soft and gorgeous lotus. I really enjoy this stage of the scent and wouldn't mind if it stopped right here, but what it morphs into is equally as nice. Dry the lotus switches places with the longer-lasting cardamom, and this is where the almond and amber take over. It's not either too foody or floral (I hate foody and floral). The saffron is still present even hours later, though you pretty much have to press your nose to it to get more than a hint of it. The almond adds a sweetness that isn't cloying at all, and after a few minutes this turns into a subtle, sexy scent that lasts nearly all day. In all I love this blend and it's netted me some great compliments.

I don't smell any cinnamon or pepper in this at all. Just a straight-up shot of dragon's blood. And as far as blends go, this one is pretty light for the whole "Wrath" concept. It's got pretty good staying power, but if you have any other oil with dragon's blood in it you just as well pass on this.

Pretty much what the last few reviews said: In the bottle there's a lot of red wine and chocolate, but the chocolate vanishes so fast on the skin that you'd never know it was there. Once it dries Kali is a generic honeyed floral perfume, a little soapy and a lot department-store label. I get no hints at all of the deity behind the blend, and it's pretty disappointing.