maribouquet

All our family friend wanted for Christmas was Diorissimo, which I've since learned has been discontinued. I'm on a hunt to find remaining bottles, and more importantly, locate a BPAL that is similar. I haven't smelled Diorissimo, but it's described as having jasmine, lily of the valley and ylang ylang. Another site says it also has rose geranium and sandalwood. Or amarayllis, muguet and something called boronia? Thoughts? Recommendations? *apparently not discontinued! But only available at Saks. How odd.

First on this is a creamy orange that reminds me of The Sun tarot oil, which I enjoy very much. Sorry to say that 20 minutes on my skin turns Ravenous into a bloated, funkified patchouli. Not for me, but I'm glad I got to try it.

Well, it's been 4 months since I first tried Harvest Moon. It was one of my first BPALs and after more experience I think I can take a shot at a review that is more than just, "Apples!" At first I get, yes, apple, but also the tang of pomegranate, raw cane sugar and fuzzy, fibrous sage. On my skin, the green tea comes out to play, and I think that may be crysthanthemum? - this has a good foot or so of throw. This is lovely, not oversweet...All the notes blend on the same plane, so I get a complex scent that does not come across as particularly thick or layered, but rather enveloping and deceptively, simply soothing. For a while the sage is a bit too prominent on me, but the drydown is a warm, slightly carmel & wheaty apple. Lovely. So comforting...also divine as a room scent.

At first this is loads and loads of yummy pine...and then the musk/juniper does something funky and I smell like an old man. An old, musky lumberjack. ETA 2/14/07 - Tried it again. The musk is dark and a bit sweet, drawing the pine and juniper into an earthy, organically sexy scent. And then the musk turns me into an old man again. OLD MAN, WTF.

In the imp and wet this is a strong almond scent that quickly morphs into a spicy, mild rum. The bay leaf turns to rubber on me (). I smell the same warm, carnation-like note that I got from Santo Domingo, and I think I can detect a hint of the sassafras. Interesting but not for me, I think.

This is awesome! Just like the description says: spiced rum, salt-soaked wood, sultry, rough, warm. Too bad the rum is making my head hurt. Argh, matey.

At first I smell the bay rum, but it fades in about ten minutes which is fine by me -- boozy smells tend to give me a headache. Then Santo Domingo is a gorgeously soft floral -- sort of like a combo of Alice and Eos, only without the honey/milk/jasmine sour smell I get from them. This is really nice. Not sure if I want a bottle, but I'd recommend it to those who like Alice or Eos, and/or had troubles with either of those two. eta: lies! I think there may be jasmine or something similar in here, because after an hour this has turned a bit sour on me. Still wearable, but not my favorite.

At first this is sassafras city (root beer!) and cedar. After an hour or so the vanilla comes out and warms it all up with a tender touch. This is a bit too masculine and woody for my tastes, but such a fascinating, unique blend. I would love to smell this on a guy. It's delicious & evocative: dust, trailrides, horsehair, the lip of a canteen, wicked cowboy grins, woodsmoke, the stars over Colorado...

At first this is ROSE ROSE ROSE! But dries down into a soft, sweet rose. And a hint of something spicy...nutmeg? I think it's too tea rose for me, but it suits my image of classic, wicked London to a T.

Oh, I really like this. It reminds me of Phantom Calliope without the cherry or patchouli. For once amber behaves itself on me, and I get a gentle verbena with a touch of sweetness, grass and sage. Warm without being cloying, fresh yet subtle, bright but not harsh. Just lovely. It fades awfully fast on me, though. Not sure if I will purchase, but I'm sorely tempted.

Blood Pearl is soft coconut and the violet tang of orris. After about ten minutes it melds into a sweetened orris with a slight woody note that I suspect may be the blood musk. Ten minutes more gives me a little less sweetness and a bit more musk. Very pretty, with reserves of vitality like a banked fire. It's tropical without being overtly coconut, and puts me in mind of an island siesta: soft bed, shades down, breeze passing through. Or a nap after a good scrub in the shower after a long morning at the beach. Dries down to a light skin-skimming scent. I enjoy it, but I don't think I'll wear it much, so it's off to swaps.

I'm glad I got to try this, but I confess that it smells like burnt rubber on me. Sadly not a smell that is super conducive to sleeping/sleep related feelings.

A sweet vanilla musk blend with a soft layer of sandalwood. I can appreciate that it is well done, but oh no I am never going to be able to wear this. It is too similar to the cologne that the janitor in my office building wears douses himself with. Oh janitor, you have ruined Lyonesse for me! Wah. *edited for html

Mmm...I love this. (Thanks urraca!) It must be the Chinese musk that puts me in mind of Queen Mab, another sweet, creamy floral that I adore. At first I smell mostly that and the plum blossom, but as Budding Moon dries a bit, the peony emerges, airy and light, a perfect complement to the lush, almost foody sweetness that the other notes provide. I can't identify white ginger or lotus root, but I am having a lovely time seeking them. My only gripe is that this - like many of the more ethereal blends I like so much - disappears fairly quickly on me. So I tend to use it as a bath oil, which is heaven.

First on this is orange and apricot on me, which gradually dries down to a warm, musky apricot. But I don't really like it -- the apricot warmth is a little too close to amber for my comfort. Meh. It's not for me. Would agree with those who've said Kathatina:apricot::Fae:peach. So if you like Fae I bet you would enjoy Katharina, especially if you like apricot.

This didn't work on me at all, I think due to the ylang ylang, which started out almost green, like cut stems. Combined with the rose and my chemistry it turned into something burnt flower smelling and super unpleasant.

Ladon - beautiful, golden apple. And also Harvest Moon 2006. Mmm.

Sorry to say this goes to powder on me. Sweet, sexy powder, but powder nonetheless.

Ooh, I really like this! Clean, but with a gravitas that reads as masculine to me, a note I can't identify that I think is also in Ozymandias - this is a "dry" aquatic on me - clean yet stately, light yet intimidating. I looooove you, Cthulu! I'm giving this imp to my brother, but will have to get some more just for myself.

I get lemon and coconut, similar to Carnival Diabolique, only a bit sweeter and untempered. Too sweet on me, I'm afraid - I am going to blame the white amber. Very smooth, though. Poor penguins!

*shakes fist* Curse you, jasmine! I think star jasmine is the jasmine that goes least sour on me...it's not as ruinous here as jasmine can be for me. I smell the cherry blossom, light and gorgeous, and can pick up the teak as well - I think I like it. (Not to take away from its individuality, but this puts me in mind of a lighter, feminine relative of Herr Drosselmeyer...) I am sure this would be very pretty on another, but sadly doesn't quite work for me. I do love cherry, though. *sigh* I'm very glad I got to try this, and will give it a few more attempts before sending it to the swaps.

After striking out with so many snow blends, Cloister Graveyard In the Snow has restored my faith. This is lovely and contemplative (and so very much what I'd hoped Snow-Flakes would be for me, and then more.) The ozone is there, cold and snowy, touched with mint and sweetly, mournfully grounded by frankincense and the pale musks. I really like this, and it is such a beautiful expression of the emotions I feel from the painting. Lovely, lovely, lovely.

This is such a pretty, sweet golden apple, which I love. I'm sorry to say that the dragon's blood peeks out with the weird camphor-like note it tends to give me, and makes Ladon not work the way I want it too.

imp: grape cordial wet: slightly 'musky', plummy wine dry: the lilac comes out to play and is very pretty, but is quickly squashed by whatever is turning icky on me -- j'accuse, cognac! J'accuse! A very interesting, and yes - purple! - blend, but sadly not for me.

imp: orange *swoons* wet: mmm, orange dry: orange This stays a true orange on me, with a grounding undertone of the white musk coming up in the drydown. I really like it.