aiobhan

Oriental # 12 -- In bottle: I'm having a hard time discerning this. I feel like there's a sandalwood type scent, as well as seething vaguely bright and almost berry-like but not quite. Warmed on skin: Spicy, a little dry, and that bright note has come across as lemon verbena or maybe lemongrass, but not at all green. It's very citrusy and spicy without being foody. Dry, after some time: Defnitely lemon verbena, but not green or herbal. The dryness has faded a little, and the spice is helping balance the citrus notes. The spice has to be something like light ginger. Overall thoughts: This is a scent that would be great for oriental lovers who want something light and fresh and cheerful - but not too green or sweet - for summer. --- CT: Oriental #49 - In Bottle: Whoa. Very dark and heavy - like a musk/vetiver or something. Warmed on skin: Sweeter. Maybe vetiver with something else, something kind of warm/sweet but not foody or sugary (coconut? beeswax? not super sweet). I'm having a hell of a time recognizing scents in this, not going to lie. It's very dark and rich. Maybe opium. It's definitely more masculine. After a while: It's like a less-sweet, more dark Red Lantern. I'm picking up something that's maybe dark coconut (not foody), musk, vetiver, and something that brings the scent way down (leather? dark opium? something like that!). It's not very sweet, but deep and warm, and pretty rich. Overall thoughts: This one's a no for me because it's not sweet enough, but would be excellent for those who like darker scents. It really is like if someone turned the brightness and sweetness of Red Lantern waaaaaaaay down.

Gourmand # 8 -- In bottle: Milk chocolate and something nutty that isn't almond or peanut. Not too sweet, a little dark, very warm. Wet on skin: The milk chocolate note is taking a back seat to warm nuttiness. It smells like a snickers bar tastes. OH! It has a similar feel as Bah!, but without the darkness of coffee and with more of a nutty/macadamia scent. Dry, after some time: The milk chocolate is more milk/cream than cocoa. The nuttiness is definitely from macadamia. It's lightly sweet without being sugary, creamy, and very warm. Overall thoughts: I really do like this. I may keep it. Usually scents like this don't stay long on my skin, but this one seems to be holding out. It smells like a macadamia cookie and very creamy, melted-milk-chocolate hot cocoa.

Initial application: Very peppery from what, I assume, are the woods and the patchouli mixing together. Warmed: Some sweetness is coming through from the fig, and some warmth from the amber. The woods and vetiver are keeping this scent very dark and dry, though. After a while: Oh god, it's so gorgeous. Dark, warm, and just a little sweet. It would make an excellent sultry evening or deep winter scent. Now I want my husband to try it!

I didn't think I'd like it, but I DO SO MUCH. The pear is strong, but after drying and warming a little, my skin takes the pear and lemon and they turn into an almost baked-pears smell, with the musk darkening the pear's crispness just enough to keep me from smelling too "green".

Apricots and cream! Wet and dry, those are the notes that I get strongest. Dry, it becomes a lot more soft, and the cardamom keeps it from being cloyingly sweet.

Wet, it smells like a coconut cream pie, but not heavy or too sweet. Dry, the coconut mellows a little and the vanilla warms. It's super creamy! But, strangely, not buttery in the slightest. Warmed up after a while, my skin LOVES it. I smell like warm vanilla cream with just a touch of coconut and sugar. UGH SO GOOD.

APPARENTLY my skin amps the ginger and the lily, not any of the other scents. In the bottle it was woodsy, spicy vanilla. On my skin, it is ginger and lily, with some apricot in the background. It smells like fancy, expensive soap. Still, I do not want to smell like soap. Sigh. Maybe I'll keep the decant and re-test at a later date.

I don't know what's going on with this on me, but it's turned super sour. Like... it smells like sour greens and plasticky vanilla. So disappointed.

Wet it is all sweet vanilla sandalwood and pink pepper. The oudh is faintly there in the background. As it warms, it gets a little richer and darker. The labdanum and sandalwood keep the pink pepper and vanilla top notes from being too overpowering. I think I need a bottle of this. It actually reminds me a lot of Diptyque's Duelle perfume, which I love.

So I smell like a sexy Christmas cookie. Sin is lovely, but it never warms on me exactly as I expect it to. Gingerbread Sin? Perfect. Spicy and sweet - even a little buttery! - golden and warm from the amber, with a little woodsy note floating behind the spices from the patchouli. I love it and it smells just like I would imagine I should at Christmas time.

I'm reviewing this based on what happened to my husband - this was one of his purchases! ---- First off, in the bottle it's very woodsy. Almost dry, actually, despite the amber and neroli - probably due to the cardamom. The cedar is very prevalent. Initially after application, the amber was starting to bring some of the sharpness down while also warming up the deeper wood notes. The spiciness kept things interesting. After a while it was amber-woods, with a top note of neroli and cardamom, and the galbanum was a lovely dark bottom note, almost like balsamic vinegar that's been cooked down into a sweet syrup. I loved it on my husband - it was super sexy!

Initially it was mostly amber, musk, and roses. There was a touch of darkness - probably the vetver - and a dribble of fruitiness. It warmed to sweet vanilla and heady amber with roses, but the musk, patchouli, and vetiver kept the roses from going haywire on my skin (which usually happens). The pomegranate rind and violet leaf were there in the background, but faintly. My skin tends to amp amber in the best way, so it took precedence. The other notes gave it a sweetness, richness, and spiciness though which was gorgeous. Finally something with a floral that I actually like!

Initial application: Dark, sweet orange and tangerine. Tobacco is sharp (as it is wont to do on me) but not - for the first time - overwhelming. No Amber as of yet. Some spicy patchouli. After a while: TOBACCO NO! It's getting too strong for my tastes. The patchouli is coming out more as well, but it is definitely dominated by orange/tangerine. An hour or so later: spicy dark orange. I think this is nice but I feel like it would work much better on my husband.

It smells pretty much exactly like pralines. A little nutty, very warm, sweet. The powdered sugar keeps the sweetness from being caramel-y. It lasted on me for a few hours, and had a delicate throw. It's a pretty scent, but not one I feel the need to invest in by buying a bottle. I'd LOVE to see this as a candle, though!

This is a beautiful scent, but very cologne-y. Initially the leaves are very vegetal - which I don't like, personally - but they sort of faded away and left behind some lovely sweetness from the red currant and ambergris. I wish the resin or the berry notes were stronger, because right now it's pretty but just too floral for me for most of the drydown because of the leaves (and there's no real florals!). I do like, it though! I might need to revisit it one day when I'm feeling adventurous since it truly is lovely.

I've found that the only floral-inclusive scent I'm enjoying is Mouse's Long and Sad Tale. Thus far, anyway. I think that's because it's amber-heavy, warm, and the floral is very subtle and delicate. I'm trying some Ligeia decants that have florals in them though, so stay tuned!

Initially, it is very dark-chocolate and coffee, and there's a little bit of whiskey/Irish cream. After it warms up a bit it's SUPER creamy, sweet, and cozy. The mocha takes a back seat and it smells more like heavily-creamed, sweetened coffee. I love this scent. LOVE. The coffee note is not as pronounced as the one in Pumpkin Latte, but it keeps the Irish cream/chocolate from being overwhelming. So far this is the only BPAL with a chocolate note that I can wear!

Wet: The lab's tobacco notes always go acrid on me. It's very sharp and there's a hint of coffee. Nothing else as of yet. Dry: It's still all sharp, tobacco-y shisha. Literally no other notes are present. Ugh. I hate it when this happens. Will update review after a few hours if anything changes.

This scent is everything I want in a perfume. Dark, warm, sweet, soft, and cozy. On me, the three notes blend seamlessly and change very little, just warming up and encompassing me in a cozy cocoon of amber, dark vanilla, and oudh. I love it so much.

I didn't get coffee at all from Reyes, but I get a very prevalent coffee note from Pumpkin Latte. After a while it smells almost identical to how I would smell after a day of work when I was a barista. I'm going to try to get my hands on Bah! and Mornings in NOLA, though. I think I need them in my life.

I did actually try and enjoy Mouse's Long and Sad Tale, so apparently I can handle soft, sweet florals like sweet pea, as long as they don't get too herbaceous or bright. I have an imp of Knave of Hearts somewhere. I love pie, so maybe I'll give it a try! I passed on Venustas because of the florals, but maybe I'll try to get my hands on a decant. I love the other notes listed. So many smells, so little money.

I bought this knowing it might be too tobacco-y for me. Wet it's really pungent and sharp on the tobacco note. I tested it in the crook of my arm, and initially it was all tobacco. After a while a SUPER dark vanilla came through, and a very delicate orangey scent started to appear from the myrrh. Still, to my nose, the tobacco was so sharp it really overwhelmed the other notes. My husband was certain it wasn't that strong, though. I feel like I can let Question Mark age a bit and hopefully the tobacco will mellow out a bit and I'll like it more.

Wet it's very sweet and spicy, like true pumpkin pie filling. Once it dries and warms up, it's very reminiscent of Pumpkin Latte. It's creamy and sweet, with the cardamom and spices giving it that baked-goods smell. The pumpkin is warm and gentle, which is perfect for me since I don't actually like pumpkin very much. This is a lovely spicy, sweet, foodie scent that is perfect for fall and winter!

It's all patchouli and honey on me. That's all. Patchouli and honey. Wet, dry, warmed... and I'm just DEPRESSED about it. I'm sure it will work better for someone else. Sigh. So saaaaaaaad.

You're right, it does! That's part of the reason why I included that I generally " I love warm, soft, cozy scents" - thankfully I'm also pretty curious about what people's favorite subtle florals are in general.