doomsday_disco

In the imp: I am mostly getting the musk, Bulgar rose, bergamot, and resins, with a bit of nutmeg. Wet: The rose is the strongest note, followed by the musk. The bergamot, saffron, and nutmeg have emerged, but they are not as strong as the rose and musk notes. Then, the resins appear. I'm getting more sandalwood than amber from this. Dry: The rose, musk, and amber notes are now the main players on my skin, but I'm still getting some of the citrus and spices. After a while, the rose calms down, so that it's a musky amber scent with soft Bulgarian rose and saffron. Verdict: Musky rose scents are not my jam. I was hoping for more of the citrus and saffron! It's nice after it has been dry for a while, but it's still not one I would end up reaching for. But I'm glad I got to try it.

In the imp: Lots of dragon's blood accompanied by black pepper, cinnamon, and clove. I am not really looking forward to the combination of dragon's blood and pepper on my skin, but here goes. Wet: Alas, the dragon's blood and black pepper are the strongest notes on my skin, followed by the cinnamon. The cinnamon is pretty strong itself, but it has not overtaken the dragon's blood or black pepper. After a little bit, I do get the clove, but it isn't as strong as the other notes. The scent is really warm on my skin, but it hasn't started burning yet. Dry: The cherry-floral of the dragon's blood combined with the spices is really bad on my skin. At one point, it smelled like a spicy cough syrup. Now, it's mainly the heady floral of dragon's blood with some black pepper and cinnamon. Verdict: Not for me. But on a positive note, at least it didn't leave any welts?

In the imp: I'm mainly getting the red musk, with some of the chypre, patchouli, and red currant in the background. Wet: The red musk is the dominant note, but I'm also getting the chypre and the currant. After a few minutes, I start to get a bit of the bergamot and vanilla bean. The red musk and currant are the dominant notes, so this is surprisingly fruity on me. Dry: The red currant is now the dominant note on me, and it's the same red currant found in Eat Me. But I'm still getting a fair amount of red musk. The bergamot note is a little more noticeable in this stage of the scent, but the chypre seems to be content to linger in the background. Oddly enough, I haven't gotten any patchouli yet. The combination of the currant and vanilla bean are making me think of Eat Me, with less vanilla and without the cake. After a while, I do get some incense-y chypre and soft patchouli in the background, but I have to press my nose really close to my wrist to smell it. Verdict: Red musk and I are usually enemies, but oddly enough, it works for me here. I was expecting this to be a heavier scent with notes like chypre and patchouli, but my skin chemistry seemed to run away with the sweeter notes. I don't think I'd reach for this over a scent like Eat Me, but this was a pleasant surprise. If you're normally averse to red musk, like me, don't be afraid to give this one a try!

In the bottle: Lots of lavender, bergamot, and peppermint. Wet: I get lots of lavender and peppermint at first, but then the bergamot note quickly rises to the front of the scent, so that it's bergamot-dominant on me, but the peppermint and lavender are pretty strong themselves. I'm not getting any of the mandrake at this time. Dry: The bergamot note continues to be the strongest note on me, followed by the peppermint and lavender. I have a tea with peppermint, lavender, and bergamot in it, and this scent makes me think of an herbal Earl Grey. After a few hours, the mandrake finally appears, and the combination of the bergamot and mandrake is really odd on me. I have tried this for a few days as a sleep scent, but I always fall sleep before I can evaluate the scent after it has been dry for a while, so I hadn't experienced this phase before. The next morning, it ends up being a very faint herbal bergamot scent. Verdict: I am surprised that this is so strong on the bergamot on me! It seems like most reviewers mostly got the lavender and peppermint. This being so bergamot-forward must be a result of my skin chemistry. I had smelled this at a con a few years ago and didn't end up buying a bottle (but a friend of mine did), and I decided to randomly buy a bottle with my Luper order because I recently read and loved Neverwhere, and I wanted one of the scents in my collection. I think it could work well as a sleep scent, for those that are calmed by lavender and peppermint, or manage to fall asleep before the bergamot really takes over. I'm happy to have my bottle, but I don't think I'd wear it as a perfume during the day because of the odd bergamot and mandrake phase.

2018 version. In the bottle: When this first arrived, I got the cherry-almond aspect some reviewers have described from this with fresh Snake Oil. Now, after it has had several days to settle, it smells like Snake Oil snuggled into a black leather jacket. Wet: Soft black leather intertwined with Snake Oil. The black leather note is stronger than the Snake Oil on me, although it isn't sharp or chemically on me, I hope the vanilla of the Snake Oil comes out and sweetens this a little bit. Dry: Fortunately, the vanilla does come out during the dry phase, helping to tame the black leather note, and the vanilla and leather combo, backed by Snake Oil's spices, is amazing. Verdict: I wasn't sure about this at first, but once dry, it's a cozy, soft, well-worn leather and Snake Oil scent that I'm sure will only get better with age.

In the imp: Brown musk, amber, and a bit of rose. Wet: The brown musk note reigns, followed by the amber. Then the rose note emerges. After a while, the oak bark note pops up, and as usual, it's a bit sharp and cologne-y on me. Hopefully the other notes will keep it in check, as I was really enjoying it until the oak decided it wanted to play a role. Dry: Now the moss has emerged, and the oak has calmed down. The brown musk and amber still reign, followed by the rose, moss, and a bit of oak. Verdict: I really enjoy the brown musk and amber in this, although it does smell rather powdery on me in the end. And I'm glad that the other notes ended up keeping the oak in check. It's not something that I'd probably reach for, given that I generally enjoy amber paired with something sweeter, like vanilla, but it does make me want to seek out more brown musk scents. I'm glad I got to try this!

In the imp: I smell all of the notes in the order that they appear: ylang ylang, clove, red patchouli, and myrrh. Wet: First, I'm hit with a blast of clove, but then the ylang ylang quickly rises up to join it. Then the patchouli and myrrh emerge. The myrrh is definitely a dark myrrh, not a soft one, and the combo of the ylang ylang and myrrh are somewhat sharp on me, with an extra bite from the clove. The red patchouli, while present, is Dry: The ylang ylang has calmed down significantly and is no longer playing a major role. Now it is mostly a clove and patchouli scent, darkened by the myrrh in the background. The clove is the dominant note. Verdict: I really like the prominence of the clove in this, especially during the dry stage, but alas, the wet stage was too sharp on me for my liking. I think I'll keep the imp just because of the clove, but I doubt I'd reach for it over something like Wednesday's Child is Full of Woe, which has plenty of sugared clove and no phase I dislike. That clove, tho!

In the imp: I can smell all of the notes in the imp, but the coconut meat and shea butter are the strongest, followed by the milk and the cool water. Wet: The coconut meat is the strongest note, but I'm getting lots of shea butter, too, and I can also smell the milk and cool water. After a few minutes, I start getting more shea butter and milk, but the coconut meat still reigns. Dry: Coconut and shea butter accompanied by milk and cool water. The scent is now staying really close to the skin. Verdict: This one smells really pleasant, but it also makes me think of popular liquid hand soaps. It doesn't smell soapy, but the fragrance is one that I would expect to be found in such a product. That said, I'd recommend this for fans of coconut, and I could see this being really nice to wear while it's summer. Although I think it is pleasant, I just don't think I'd end up reaching for it.

In the imp: Volcanic gas, black musk, and a sweet floral that I first thought might be lotus, but now I am not so sure. In any case, it is a sweet, tropical bloom! Wet: At first, I am hit with the sulphuric volcanic gas and black musk, but then the sweet, heady tropical blooms take over. Dry: The sweet tropical blooms continue to dominate the scent, with the black musk lingering right behind them, and just a hint of the volcanic gas if you sniff close to the skin. Verdict: More pleasant than I thought I would be, but musky florals aren't really my thing, and these blooms are too sweet and heady for me.

In the imp: Dandelions and grass, with a little bit of tobacco in the background! I'm kicking myself for not trying this before because of the booze, because I love the dandelions. Wet: I'm greeted with a blast of dandelion, and dandelion seems to be content to remain as the dominant note, because I'm not getting a lot of booze, hemp, or tobacco from this. I am getting the weeds, though. There's a bit of booze and tobacco, but they're lingering in the background. Dry: Lots of dandelions among tufts of weeds, with a bit of hemp and tobacco, and a touch of booze. After a while, I do get more of the sweet booze from this. At first, I thought it was rum, but now, I think it is the Lab's wine note. I'm surprised that it took this long to come out, as I generally amp that note! It ends up being a red wine and weedy dandelion scent on me. After a few hours of wear, the dandelion reasserts itself, and now I think I'm getting dandelion with the hops. Verdict: I absolutely adore dandelions, and this is a dandelion-dominant scent on me. I don't love it as much as Venus Verticordia, Dandelions and Concrete, or Wild Dandelion SN, but I do enjoy it. I'll be hanging onto my imp. If I reach for it enough, I'll consider getting a bottle (I say, knowing that Roadhouse has been out of stock for a long time, and not wanting to fall in love with something that would be hard to find).

In the imp: I'm getting salt, rose-infused amber, and some hay from the imp. Wet: Lots of salt and rose-infused amber! I believe the rose component is a pink rose. Then the straw note emerges, but it is not as strong as the rose-infused amber, and the amber itself is starting to gain strength. I think it's a golden amber note. Dry: This is now a primarily salty pink rose-infused amber and hay scent. Verdict: I generally dislike the combination of rose + resins, but this one is actually nicer than I was anticipating, probably because of the use of a golden amber instead of a darker resin, along with the straw. It kind of reminds me of a saltier Jacob's Ladder, but with perhaps more rose. I don't think I'd ever reach for this, but I'm really glad I got to try it.

In the bottle: Ah, I can already tell that this is amazing from the bottle. I'm getting a lovely, cool lavender and ambergris, with the amber in the background. Wet: The soft lavender and ambergris reign, while the amber continues to lurk in the background. I would say that this is like a nighttime version of Good Morning, London (which I already use as a sleep scent), but the lavender and amber in this are much softer. Or maybe it's like Good Morning, London and Waiting had a baby. I am loving this. Dry: The lavender and ambergris are still the stars of the show, with the ambergris note becoming stronger over time. The pale amber seems to be content with its background role, although it does become a little stronger after a few hours of wear. Verdict: As a lavender lover, I am so happy I grabbed a bottle of this, as I'm really enjoying the combination of the ambergris and the lavender. I may end up buying a back-up before it goes away.

I have tried this before, but I never took the time to actually review it. Now I'm reviewing two imps, one fresh, and one aged. The aged imp is golden, while the fresh imp is darker (more orange in color). In the fresh imp: Sweet beeswax with perhaps a wisp of smoke in the background. In the aged imp: It also smells like sweet beeswax, but I feel like the aged version is smoother. Wet stage (fresh imp): Sweet beeswax! The fresh version is sweeter than the aged imp. Wet stage (aged imp): The sweet beeswax note reigns here as well, but I do get more of a blown-out candle vibe from this imp, and I'm reminded of BPTP's Candlelight atmo (which I adore). Dry stage (fresh imp): This remains as a lovely, sweet beeswax scent. It stays close to the skin. Dry stage (aged imp): I am definitely still getting more of the wisps of smoke from the candles in the aged version, very reminiscent of Candlelight, but the sweet beeswax is also the star here. Verdict: The only reason I never upgraded to a bottle was because I already have (Not So) Penitent (Mini) Magdalene for a beeswax scent. I will continue holding onto my imps, though, because this scent is wonderful.

In the imp: Juicy golden apples, bitter herbs, and the leaves of the apple trees themselves. Wet: This is an apple orchard, with the golden apples still on the trees. I can smell the juicy, golden apples, the tree bark, and the green leaves. Leaf notes can be problematic for me, but they aren't causing problems for me here. I also think there are some herbs present in this scent, making me reevaluate this being an apple orchard... now, it has more of a garden feel. Dry: I'm getting more of the tree bark than I did during the wet phase, but the golden apple note is still a main player – just not as strong as before, and it has lost its juicy quality. After a while, all that remains is a bit of sweetness from the apple (which no longer smells apple-y) and a smoky resin (must be the ash, but I'm reminded of myrrh). Verdict: I like that this featured a golden apple note and didn't end up being too sweet, but ultimately, the dry phase with the smoky resin and a bit of sweetness from the apple isn't really me. I'm glad I got to try it, though!

In the bottle: When this first arrived, it mostly smelled like fresh Snake Oil. After a few days of settling, I am getting a lemon-y sugar note from the bottle (perhaps the same one from Sweets to the Sweet) as well as some vanilla cream over the Snake Oil. Wet: This smells like sugared, lemon-infused vanilla cream backed by the warmth of Snake Oil's spices. As the scent dries down, the lemon aspect calms down a bit, the honeycomb begins to emerge, and the sugarcane becomes warmer. Dry: The vanilla cream is a lot stronger now, and so is the sugarcane. I'm now wondering if the lemon is an aspect of the sugar or the honeycomb, or if there's secretly a white tea note in this that's given me that impression. The lemon is not as prominent as it had been during the wet stage of the scent, but it's still present, especially in the crooks of my elbows. On my wrists, it's mostly vanilla cream and sugarcane with a soft Snake Oil base. In the crooks of my elbows, I get more of the honeycomb, sugarcane, and Snake Oil (with far less vanilla). Verdict: I really wasn't expecting the lemon-y aspect of this scent, but I enjoy this (especially the sugared vanilla cream on my wrists during the dry stage)! I don't think I need to stock up on this one, but I am happy that I bought a bottle.

In the bottle: When this first arrived, it was very intense on the rose. After a few days of settling, the rose note still dominates, but it isn't as strong as it was when it first arrived. At first I thought it was tea rose, but now it smells like sugared pink rose. Wet: The pink rose note is the strongest note on my skin, but the cotton candy and vanilla notes are helping to tame it, and the pink rose becomes softer and more candied over time. Dry: This is still a predominantly pink rose scent. I do get more of the cotton candy and vanilla sugar on my wrists than I do in the crooks of my elbows; the crooks of my elbows containing mostly pink rose. I prefer the scent on my wrists. I actually think The Best Lies is sweeter than this one, with its sugar-swept honey and rose. After many hours of wear, the sugary notes become more prominent, but by that point, the scent stays really close to the skin. Verdict: I like this, but I was hoping for more of the cotton candy and vanilla sugar than I ended up getting on my skin. I'm going to let this one age a little and revisit it and see how it goes. I already have so many sweet rose scents as it is, and if I were looking to add a bottle of another one to my collection, I think I'd choose The Best Lies over this one. But this is a nice, sugared pink rose scent... it's just not as sweet as I was hoping it would be.

I, too, received a King Cake trinket! Thank you so much, Labbies! In the bottle: I could smell this one from the outside of the bottle. I'm getting a lot of the almond and cream cheese glaze in the bottle, as well as the sugars adorning the cake. I have never had King Cake or visited New Orleans, but this reminds me of a delicious pastry ring or kringle. It smells delicious! Wet: The cream cheese glaze, sugar, and almond notes reign, with the soft brioche cake in the background. Ugh, it smells amazing! I am in a cloud of sugary glaze, and I want this cake in my life! Dry: The sugary, cream cheese glaze is the most prominent note, and it really is a glaze, and not thick frosting. I am also getting a lot more of the brioche cake during this phase of the scent, which I agree is adding a sweet, toasty warmth to the scent (but it doesn't smell like toast)! It's actually rather waffle-like. Verdict: If you think you have enough cake scents and you don't need another one, you are mistaken. King Cake is amazing, and it's different from any of the other cake scents I've tried from the Lab before. I may end up needing another bottle. *edited to add* King Cake is one of the longest lasting perfume oils that I own. When I go to shower the next morning, I am thrown into a cloud of King Cake. This one has some serious staying power.

In the imp: Champagne, grapefruit, and mint, with some floral notes lurking in the background. Wet: The white champagne note is the strongest note, followed by the grapefruit. But it doesn't smell like Shade, which has a sweeter grapefruit note (pink grapefruit). After a few minutes, the mint and lotus poke out. As the scent dries, the crystalline blooms emerge. Dry: The champagne note still reigns with the bitter grapefruit and some mint. The mint has a strong cooling effect on my arm, but it actually isn't that strong as far as its scent is concerned, and the sweet lotus note has gained strength during this phase, along with the crystalline blooms. I tend to amp champagne, so I'm not surprised that it has been the main player the whole time. It's a bright scent, with a bit of sweetness from the lotus. After a few hours, it is a very light champagne and floral scent. Verdict: I was looking forward to the grapefruit and mint, but the champagne in this is too strong for me, and none of the other notes are pairing well enough with it on my skin to make me enjoy it. I'm also not very fond of lotus, and that note ends up being stronger than I like during the dry phase, so this one isn't really my cup of tea.

I tested this one at a Con, but when I saw that this was leftover from a decant circle, I had to get a decant so I could do a proper test. Boober is my favorite Fraggle. In the decant: Super realistic freshly washed laundry, linden blossom, and soap bubbles! Truly the scent of Boober. Wet: The fresh laundry and linden blossom notes jump out to me first. It's a very clean, floral scent. I'm not getting any of the vanilla at this point, but I hope it ends up appearing at some point! Dry: It continues to smell of freshly laundered clothes and linden blossom. I'm not getting any vanilla at all from this, sadly. But it does fit Boober perfectly, and it really does smell like laundry. Verdict: I don't think that I would choose to wear such a clean scent as a perfume, but I'm going to hang onto my decant because I love Boober, and because it might be great to scent some laundry with some time.

In the decant: Soft dry soil (at least, it is drier than other soil scents I've smelled from the Lab), possibly some powdery orris, and radish dust. Wet: Soft soil (it doesn't smell like wet, freshly upturned earth to me), something soft and powdery (which I still think may be orris, probably representing the crystals), and peppery radishes. The peppery radish note is very realistic and seems to be getting stronger over time, backed by the soft soil note. Dry: The radishes are still peppery, but not as strong as they were before. I'm getting more of the soft soil now, accompanied by whatever that powdery note is. (I'm still thinking orris.) After a while, the powdery note (yeah, I'm going with orris root) takes over the soil note, resulting in a slightly pepper-y, dirt-mingled powder. Verdict: The radish note in this is very realistic! But the dirt note is not one of my favorites from the Lab, and I am not fond of the powdery note that must be representing the glittering crystals. I guess smelling like Doozers is not meant to be, but I'm really glad that I got to try it.

In the imp: LEMON LIKE WHOA. I'm getting lots of lemongrass and lemon verbena, backed by the white musk. I can't detect the grapefruit in the imp, sadly. I hope it makes an appearance on my skin! Wet: This smells like candied lemon peel on me at first. Dry: During this phase, it's still a lemon party (with the lemongrass being stronger than the lemon verbena now), but I do get a hint of grapefruit. After some time, the white musk note asserts itself, making this a clean, lemongrass scent. Verdict: Aww, I was hoping for more grapefruit! I liked the lemon candy phase, but I did not enjoy the dry phase nearly as much. This would make a great warm weather scent, but I don't think that I want to smell this strongly of lemon.

In the decant: The blood orange, champaca, and tobacco notes stand out to me the most, with just a hint of clove. Wet: The blood orange and champaca notes are currently the main players, with the tobacco lingering behind the champaca note. I'm getting a lot more clove on my skin than I did in the imp, but it isn't strong by any means, and then the vanilla note emerges, adding some creaminess to the orange note. I am not good at picking out osmanthus, so I can't really comment on that note. Dry: The blood orange note is still present, but it is fainter than before. The champaca and tobacco are the stars of the show now, and I think I am smelling the fruity-floral osmanthus now, but I am not positive. The sweet clove, while noticeable, is really just a hint, and the vanilla note continues to add a creamy sweetness to the scent. After a while, the scent becomes really faint and stays close to the skin with a really soft champaca note backed by vanilla. Verdict: I like this, but I don't think I like it enough to get a bottle. I already have Eastern Comma, which has orange and tobacco, and I don't reach enough for that one, although I do think the champaca in this is lovely. I think the clove and vanilla would need to be stronger in order for me to enjoy this more.

In the imp: The wisteria, musk, and cedar are the strongest notes in my imp, followed by the green tea and lemon. Wet: On my skin, the lilac, lemon, and green tea notes leap out to me first, but then the wisteria quickly rushes in and takes the center stage. After a few minutes, the musk and cedar notes join in. It mostly smells like a musky, somewhat soapy floral (lots of lilac and wisteria) scent on me, with a splash of cedar and citrus. Dry: This dries down to a musky, lemony, lilac and wisteria scent, with a bit of cedar and clean green tea. Verdict: I'm surprised it veered out of soap territory (and that the cedar wasn't stronger). This one isn't really something I'd reach for, but I'm glad I got to try it.

Sniffing from the bottle, I am hit with a blast of SUPER CANDY SWEET. This may be the sweetest hair gloss I've ever smelled. I have been putting off testing this one after spraying it on a paper towel, where the scent ended up being so strong that it had to be banished to another part of the room (and was still going strong days later). But today, I will put my fears aside and apply it to my hair. In the bottle, it is still super sweet, creamy apricot candy. The marshmallow note is not the fresh marshmallow with powder on the outside of it like Apple Marshmallow HG. Rather, it's more like apricot-infused marshmallow fluff mingling with the Lab's french vanilla note. In my hands and on my wet hair, the french vanilla note stands out the most. I can see why LizziesLuck compared it to cream soda, as the Lab's french vanilla note does have that kind of vibe. The apricot is present and seems to become more so over time, but the french vanilla note is still the most prominent note. The marshmallow note isn't distinctly marshmallow, but it does add to the candy sweetness of the scent. This scent is so strong that I'm worried it will give me a headache. After a few hours, it does calm down somewhat. The apricot note is stronger and the french vanilla is no longer declaring its presence to the world, and the creamy marshmallow is more distinct. The next day, I usually test the hair gloss on my dry hair, usually using one or two sprays. I did not do that with this one for fear of being overwhelmed with the scent all day, but I could still smell the hair gloss I had applied the day before when the wind hit my hair, and it smelled really nice. Ultimately, this is just too sweet and strong for me, at least, during the first few hours. And I only used two sprays. I think I'll have to put this one up for swaps. But if you like sweet, fruity, candy scents, this should be up your alley. *edit* I just wanted to add this, as testament to the strength of this hair gloss: I just washed my hair, applied purple pigment to it, and let it sit in my hair for a while before rinsing it, and I COULD STILL SMELL DRAGON MLERM IN MY HAIR AFTER I GOT OUT OF THE SHOWER. I had only used two sprays of the hair gloss on Sunday. This is some strong stuff.

In the decant: I'm getting far more blackberry leaf and cranberry than I get from straight-up Jersey Devil! These are the strongest notes in the imp, with the tomato leaf, cedar, and pine lurking behind them, sweetened by the snow note. Wet: This is fruit dominant on me, with the blackberry leaf being particularly strong, and the cranberry isn't far behind. I only got a hint of the fruity notes in the GC scent, so I'm surprised by how much stronger they are in this version. After a few minutes, the cedar, tomato leaf, and pine pitch poke out, but I am not being hit with a blast of pine like I was when I tried the GC. I'm actually getting more cedar than pine. Curiously enough, the sweet snow note isn't playing a big role here and isn't as distinct as it was in scents like Frostbitten Dorian and Frostbitten Snake Oil. It just seems to be sweetening the scent. Dry: This is still really strong on the blackberry leaf and cranberry notes, with still more blackberry leaf than cranberry on me. The pine is stronger than the cedar now, but the pine, cedar, and tomato leaf continue to reside in the background. I'm still not getting the sweet snow note as a distinct note. It just seems to be making the berry notes even sweeter. Verdict: I was hoping for snow-covered forest, but alas, this is way too fruity on me.