sabrebabe

In the bottle: Mmmm, warm musk, red sandalwood and just a touch of spicy carnation. Very masculine. Very nice. On me: okay, there’s the cassia, on top of the nice warm musk. It’s a bit sweet, definitely losing it’s masculinity. Lost the sandalwood, but picking up a smidge of the carnation. Dry: Oh dear, it’s gone very, very sweet. Cloyingly sweet, with no sign of any of the spices or the sandalwood. Just honey-sweet and carnation. Or maybe cassia. No, wait, there’s just a tiny hint of clove. Teeny, even. Have to put my nose on my arm to smell it, though. But the sweetness is almost sickening. Later: Okay, this has gone seriously sweet. Too sweet for my liking. I loved this initially, but it’s too much. Like slathering honey and cotton candy with a dash of vanilla on my skin kind of sweet. Imp goes into the trade pile.

In the bottle: Wow, I can smell the musk, honey and all the spices blending all at once! Still a bit honey sweet and musk rich. Very heady. On my skin: lots and lots of rich spices, a little peppery bite, smoothed over with honey and just a smidge of musk. Dry: rich, spicy honey. Musk is fading a little into the background, but it’s still there. Again, still very heady. Must watch out for bees. Later: Still sweet, spicy musk. Scent seems to have stabilized. It’s nice enough, I’m not sure if I want to use it as a pefume or not. Very nice for bedtime, though. I shall keep the imp and play with it for a while longer.

in the bottle: Sandalwood and spices, just a hint of cedar. Very much like incense, like walking into a headshop. On me: Ah, there’s the cedar, coming in strong, followed by the sandalwood. Some spiciness going on as a backnote. Dry: lotus is coming through now, mixing in with the sandalwood, but the cedar is disappearing. Still some spices, but they’re changing around. It’s gone sweet. Later: cedar has come back to play, mixing well with the sweet lotus. Sandalwood and spices still holding steady. I like this scent, but on me, it’s a bit…odd. I’m not sure if I like it as a perfume. I certainly like it as a room spray or incense. Will use up the imp and decide later.

in the bottle: dirt, dry leather, slight patchouli. It morphs, even in the bottle (imp) and on the wand are two different scents. Very difficult to nail down. On the skin: dirt, dry leaves, loam and leather gently touched with patchouli. Quickly morphing into green wood and deep forest oak, fresh-cut timber. Dry: Oh, something very dark and eathry has just moved in. I can still smell the patchouli-oak smell, but now it’s gone very, well, Dark. And very earthy. Not just dirt anymore, but deep underground soil and loam and rich earth earthy. And a bit creepy. In a shadowy, Something’s-Watching/Stalking-Me creepy way. Still no hint of the apricot, I think the patchouli killed it it. And buried the body out back in the woods somewhere. Later: Back to dirt and leather. And Darkness. Patchouli must still be hiding the body of the apricot. This is very, very masculine. Wonder how this would smell on a man? It would be my luck he’d pick up all the fruity notes. But I do like this dark, woody leathery smell. Not enough to buy a whole bottle, but I could make do with another imp of this!

In the bottle: Wine and dragon’s blood on top, quickly followed by something warm and spicy (the mulled part of the wine perhaps?). A very warm scent, and definitely masculine. It’s hard to pinpoint the specific scents, they are all blended very well! On me: Spices! And woods! And I caught just a hint of juniper, but everything is still blending so very well. And wow, I don’t have to stick my nose on my arm to smell Tintagel. It’s wafting all over the place. Oh yes, the woods are definitely coming through now. Very rich, heady and warm. Late night celebratory revel in the lodge. Dry: Still warm and heady, leather is coming through now and blending in with the spiced wine, woods, juniper and dragon’s blood. Just the smallest hint of bayberry, if I concentrate. (I *love* bayberry!) Later: Mulled spices. Lots and lots of mulled wine and spices, with just the barest hint of leather. I don’t want to try anymore imps today, I just want to roll around naked in Tintagel (sadly, I only have one small imp)! This is a keeper and on the Buy A Bottle list!

In the bottle: Dragon’s blood, myrrh and clove. Light, not heavy scent, but slightly rich. Hint of sweetness. On me: Ack! Cherries! Okay, the cherries are falling back and letting more of the dragon’s blood through now, with just a hint of the myrrh and cloves. Got the light bite of the cloves. Dry: Hmm, the scent is very light now, no hint of anything other than cloves lightly blended with dragon’s blood. But I have to put my nose right on my arm to detect anything. Still pleasant, not headshop-y at all. Later: Okay, it’s gaining strength, only in the clove and dragon’s blood. Cherry and myrrh have gone on vacation. That’s okay, I don’t care much for fruity scents. This *does* make me think of something bloody, though. Much later: gone light and powdery, no longer “bloody”. Nice non-gender scent, could be either male of female. I think I’m going to hang on to the imp. Not sure if I’d buy a bottle, though.

in the bottle: Yep, it’s Dragon’s blood resin, but there’s a strong floral in there as well. Jasmine, I think. Or lilac. Maybe even violets. Very heady. On the skin: Lilacs! Lots and lots of lilacs, no doubt about that! DB has receded for the moment. Later: still lilacs, no dragon’s blood. Much later: still lilacs, looks like dragon’s blood has left the building. On the plus side, it’s a very lovely lilac. On the down side, it’s supposed to be Dragons’ blood… Well, I do like it. But do I keep it? Will think on this one some more later.

In the bottle: woody, resin (dragon’s blood?) and musk. Strong and heady. Slightly spicy. On the skin: Old World rose comes into play, but gently, not heavy. Still musky and very heady. Slight woodiness Rosewood perhaps? Dry: Lilacs (jasmine?) are now in play, but the florals are not sweet. Deep and shadowy, heady and rich. Slightest hint of pine(?) in the background. Later: spice is starting to come through now, gently, but I can feel the bite of cinnamon (?), cloves(?) now. Still roses and lilacs, but everything is balancing perfectly and adjusting to each new scent as it arrives. Dragon’s blood resin smell I picked up in the beginning is gone, but not forgotten. It must still be in the background, tempering the florals with something masculine. This is a very comforting scent. Much later: mmmm a little powdery, but not much. And the cloves are blending very nicely with the florals and resin. It’s still very heady. And rich. This is a keeper!

In the bottle: Dark, cooked florals. Definitely the black poppy and hibiscus with a touch of carnation. Very dark and bitter. On the skin: Ack! Aggressive spicy strawberries and angry poppies! Definitely a spicy wood as well. Hibiscus hanging back and waiting… Dry: Strawberry lipgloss and bubblegum. Girly middle school sleepover with no sleeping and lots of giggling. Much later: Still strong strawberry bubblegum, but now I’m getting Barbie pink plastic scent. Sorry, gotta wash this off! Into the Trade pile!

in the bottle: ROSE! Old world, English garden-style roses on a hot sultry day kind of rose. My kind of rose, actually. Heady, not delicate or girly-sweet. This is a mature rose. On the skin: I have no idea what it did, but it just got a clove-y smell, slightly woody and is fading fast. All the florals have disappeared. Dry: okay, the rose has returned, but it’s the only scent detectable. And it’s a slightly tainted rose, a little bitter. Not good on my skin, sadly. I really like the initial Old World Rose scent it had in the imp. Much later: okay, the bitterness has finally fades and all that’s left is the original Old World rose smell that was in the imp. Very faint, though. It's just not lasting very long. This might be pretty good in a massage oil, if the scent stayed true. Possibly a lotion. Trade pile.

in the bottle: late fall apples, very ripe. Some sweet caramel candies off to the side. Not quite cider-ish, more like a rich mulled apple cider, in big oak casks. On the skin: an herbal autumn apple cider. And apples rotting on the ground, too. Slight sticky sweetness of apples rotting. Apple cider in oak casks, sitting outdoors, slowly going bad. Dry: ah, there is the twilight mist, if it’s supposed to smell like evening flowers. Much later: Smells like the Halloween department at the store. Okay for decorations, but not so much on me. In fact, if I could take this scent off of me and put it into a room spray, I would! Not so good as a perfume on me though. And I do love me some Halloween goodness! Imp goes into the Trade pile.

In the bottle: Very herbal and clean and green. I’ve smelled this in hotel rooms! Thyme, maybe? Wintergreen? Mint? Very strong and clear scent. Cool and dry, fresh and crisp, woodsy without actually being *in* the forest. Out in the clearing, maybe. On the skin: okay, now I smell like a Very Clean hotel room, very strong initial greens. It’s not bad at all. Very, very, very green and herbal, just like the sign says. And I do like my green herbals! Dry: oh, there’s all the lovely, lovely woods! Cedar, maybe? I’m liking it even more! A nice walk in the meadows in late spring; everything’s green and growing and the breeze is warm and the woods are greening (you get the idea). A nice warm, clean scent. (This is sooo going in the car!) Okay, I can’t stop sniffing this one! It’s making me smile! Much later: this has mellowed into a very nice, clean-smelling man smell. With cedar finally coming through with the other woods and more herbs! Very decadent and smoothly sultry. Yes, it’s very masculine, freshly showered and dripping wet with a towel still wrapped ‘round his hips. I need to put some of this on my husband and see if it smells as good on him. I have an odd skin chemistry, I do very well with men’s scents. Not so good with women’s scents. ::checks boobs:: yep, they’re still there. Guess I’m just odd. But I’m definitely buying a bottle of this, whether or not it smells good on hubby. It smells damn good on me!

I should mention right off, that when I say bottle, I mean imp vial. In the bottle: STRONG! Clear, astringent(?), sparkley and golden light. Serious amber and white pine. Fresh air, no, more like a strong cool breeze on a hot day. Just a slight hint of juniper as a back note behind the pine. On the skin: Ah, there’s the rosewood. Rosewood and pine, amber is taking a break at the moment. Dry: sweet, light, airy, all amber now, no hint of either of the woods. Much later: now it’s gone all powdery amber on me, much like a scented talcum powder my mother used to have. Very pretty, but not me. Into the trade pile.

In the bottle: sweet, heady not quite floral. Definitely the patchouli and the orange blossom. Not smelling the ginger. On the skin wet: Lots of patchouli, lost the floral, though. Still no ginger. Almost pure patchouli, but not *strongly*. Almost like a light incense. Headshop fare, definitely. Dry: the patchouli has finally mellowed and I’m getting a nice balance with the floral. It smells very feminine without being “girly”. No, she’s all grown up and knows it! There’s a nice sultry feel to it. 30 minutes: someone has added cream to the mix. It still smells like a nice balance, but creamy, like a very thick body butter should be. Still not bad, just…odd. In fact, this would be a *perfect* scent for a body butter! ::makes note:: Much later: gone rather faint and creamy sweet, and certainly “not me”, but this would make an absolutely decadent shower gel or body butter. In fact, if there was such a thing, I’d go ahead and use it! But as a perfume, I’m going to pass on it. Into the Trade pile!

in the bottle: Woody, dank, musty, strong resin-y. Like fresh compost and old forest floor. Actually, I like it! On the skin: Oh, now I smell fresh-cut wood, like in my grandfather’s woodshop! There’s still some green wood, though, freshly cut and set to dry; mostly pine, I think. I definitely like this one! Later: 20 minutes: Oh, now I smell green growing things deep in the woods, maybe woodland violets and ferns. Still fresh-cut wood, too. But now it’s hardwoods. Oak most likely. Still a very good scent. Much later: Oh! Now I smell Christmas! Bayberry, maybe? More florals are coming through now, but the fresh-cut wood is still there, in the dark forest late at night, waiting… a few hours later: Christmas in Southern Germany! Lots of green forest, bayberry, wood smoke from the chimneys and fresh-made sweets for the holidays! This is a VERY pleasant memory for me and it works well on my finicky skin! Buying a bottle!

In the bottle: definitely the deep red rose and red wine hit first, in that order. I can even feel the “bite” of the wine in my nose. No sign of the dragon’s blood. On the skin wet: oh, there’s the dragon’s blood. Lightly, though, still overpowered by the wine and the rose. Dry: The rose has won out over the wine for strength, and the dragon’s blood seems to have disappeared completely. 20 minutes: slightly soapy rose smell, but it’s all gone now. In fact, all I have left is a very light hint of rose soap. Very nice overall scent in the beginning, but there’s nothing to show for it. I am verklempt. This was such a lovely one in the beginning. Into the Trade pile for you.

in the bottle: like I’ve face-planted in the dirt. On the skin: oh, lovely! Slightly sweet, lots and lots and lots of woodland smells, all wood and decaying leaves and bark and loam and rich dark greenery. Seriously long skin life, had to wash off the next day! This one is definitely a keeper. In fact, I'm going to have to buy a bottle of this. I live up in the northwoods, surrounded by forest, and this is damn close to what it smells like in late spring and in early fall! It works well on my skin and it's a happy smell for me (why yes, I *do* like dirt and loam and decaying leaves!).

in the bottle: I smell the civet and red musk. Very rich and heady, slightly sweet, with something dry in the background. This has potential! On the skin: okay, something *very* sweet, dry and…floral? Has appeared- like a very old violet or a vintage rose. Not bad, but I’m suddenly reminded of being an old boudoir, waiting for someone to arrive…just waiting. 20 minutes: oh my! I can smell the decadent debauchery now! Smells of old boudoir with red glass lamps and lots of soft, well-worn bedsheets and way too many velvet and satin pillows. And an old victrola in the background. Very sultry. Sweet, without being nauseating. I’m sure there’s a Persian cat in there somewhere, lounging in what’s left of the evening sun. Much later: Ah! There’s the floral very light, delicate, yet very much *there*. They’re *everywhere*, but they’re not overpowering the heady sensual musk and civet- which have both calmed down and are now lounging about with the cat. Fluffing the pillows now and waiting for the gentle knock at the door… Overall, very heady, warm, sultry, incense and headshop-type of smell. Good match for my skin! Finally, something I can wear and enjoy! ::keeps sniffing:: And make a note to buy a bottle.

In the bottle: weird, slightly sweet, slightly woody. This has potential! On the skin: rancid like dead animal/old meat. Oh dear... Later: more sweetly rancid. Not good. Much, much later (after washing repeatedly with rubbing alcohol): very light sweet scent, like something Gramma Mac would have worn. Not bad now, but just not me. Into the trade pile. I have the weirdest skin...

Lilith! A nice dark scent! I like dark... In bottle, lots of red wine, something else, not an attention-grabber. On the skin wet: roses! I smell roses! Not heavy, with a hint of red wine and smidge of musk. Dry: suddenly settles down into something rich and sensuous. Rose and musk blend and the wine-y smell dissipates. Ever so slight hint of myrrh, smells delicately feminine and naughty. Not nearly as Dark as it should be though. Flirtatious, definitely. Later: okay, now it’s gone flowery and powdery. 2 hours later, the scent is nearly gone. Still very faint, light, flowery and slightly powdery. Like something my grandmother wore, but not a “granny perfume”. It’s a happy memory scent, but it’s just not “me”. Into the Trade pile. I"m sad to see her go, but perhaps someone else can do her justice.

Wow, I think this is my first review! Sadly, it isn't a happy one. In the bottle: very light, slightly dusky, gently musky. Wet: rich, sugary, a little bit of sweet musk. Too much cream in the tea, perhaps? definitely sugary now, vanilla perhaps? Dry: Oi! The vanilla is really overpowering now and I can’t smell anything else. I smell like a cookie. Sadly, I don’t care for Vanilla. I had high hopes for this one. This one goes into the trade pile. My skin amps up vanilla like crazy, but I *hate* vanilla. Unless it's in cookies, but I don't want to smell like a cookie!