waternight

In the imp: Rose, but with a gritty undertone Wet: Wow. The description is spot on. This is a lovely rose, not overpowering, that is grounded and earthy and dry. The combination of rose and dirt is... way more amazing than I ever could have imagined. Dry: Pretty much the same - not a huge morpher. This is so addicting, I really can't stop huffing my arm. This is definitely a 5 ml purchase.

In the bottle: Pumpkin, like all the other members of the Patch. Wet: There's that base note of pumpkin, with some light fruits dancing around on top. The other notes start light and unobtrusive in this one. In one stage, I'm very much smelling the tea, though I don't really get the jasmine. Dry: This is pumpkin with a light grape note. It's very pleasant, but not my favorite. I will probably wear this one again, but I won't reach for it everyday. ADDED Feb. 21: In the bottle: Pumpkin. Just pumpkin. Not getting any of the other notes. Wet: A sweet juicy pear note blossoms through the pumpkin base, followed by the grapes. The grapes smell very true to the fruit - not boozy, not candy-sweet, not grape juice. Just grapes. However, the combination of the pear and the grapes is very fruity-sweet, but in a good way. The tea note is an afterthought, wafting around on top of everything, but I don't smell any jasmine. A bit later, the fruit backs off and the tea comes forward, making this pumpkin with tea floating on top. Even later, the pear returns and blends with the tea, before the grapes reappear a bit further in. Dry: For a bit, it takes on a slightly plasticky smell, which isn't necessarily bad. Luckily, however, the plastic smell fades. The pumpkin lightens up as well, and while it's still very much there, it's more of a warm base to the fruits, which amp back up.

In the bottle: Mainly pumpkin. A little bit of something dry and planty. Wet: The pumpkin base is strong, like all the members of the Patch, but a slightly floral note is floating on top, dry and crackling and sharp and green and delicious. It's a little bit light, natural floral, a little bit herbal, a whole lot wonderful. It tames the rich creaminess of the pumpkin and prevents the blend from being foody. Dry: Oh, heaven. This is so good. All the notes blend perfectly, no single one sticks out, and the result is pure awesomeness.

In the imp: Heavy, creamy, pumpkin and vanilla. If I really inhale deeply, I can smell the citrus notes underneath. Wet: First on, it's all pumpkin and vanilla, but after a few seconds, the citruses come out - first the lemon rind and the verbena, sharp and light, followed by the orange, sweet and a bit heavier. Then the ginger appears, and HOLY CRAP is it good. I think I have a new favorite note! Unbelievably sexy and spicy. Dry: This is a smooth pumpkin/vanilla blend with a hefty kick of the sexiest ginger you've ever encountered. There are stars in my eyes. My pulse is quick. I'm SO in love.

In the bottle: Very fruity with a rose undertone. I get the pepper at the back of my throat if I huff it deeply. Wet/Drydown: Bubble gum – with pepper on it! Weird. The pepper fades almost instantly, and the fruits slowly beat the bubble gum smell into submission. I’m starting to get the rose and the musk, which blend beautifully together, but the fruits are still majorly in charge here. The bubble gum smell has faded, but it’s not going away. To be fair, the pepper is here not as a note in its own right, but as a little kick that prevents this from being too smooth. Dry: The bubble gum smell is mostly faded, but this is still way too candyish for me.

In the imp: Deep, rich, heady rose. The rose of a mature woman, not a girl. I really couldn’t tell you what narcissus smells like, but there is a slightly spicy something in here as well, so I’m guessing that’s it. Wet/Drydown: Smells sweeter first on the skin than it was in the imp; a little less spicy and heady, but still primarily rose. Ah, but the spice and headiness returns! I do get a sort of haughty feel from this blend. Mmm, I’m loving the floral-spiciness! Ok, the spiciness is less prominent again, though it’s still there if I really huff at my arm. Dry: It dries down to a very sweet rose scent. It’s pretty, but I have other rose blends that I like more. This one isn’t exciting enough for me to keep around.

2007 version In the bottle: Very sweet herbal that smells kind of tobacco-y. Is that mullein? Wet: Mainly mullein with a background of damp woods, but it's not "woody". Then the spices come roaring out, especially the clove. After a minute, the apple creeps in and flirts with my nose, the little tease. I occasionally get a faint whiff of patchouli. After about 5 minutes the pumpkin appears, creamy and delicious. Dry: This settles into an absolutely edible "spice-apple-cider-and-pumpkin" scent. It really does smell like I'm hanging out at a harvest festival held in an apple orchard, eating a piece of pumpkin pie. Absolutely delicious. After several hours, this smells a bit like Anubis. But that's ok, because I adore Anubis. This is definitely a winner.

In the imp: Fresh, sharp, crisp. Wet: First on, it's a smooth blend of lavender and carnation, with a hint of amber rounding the scent out. The mosses show up as a fresh "green" note. Very lovely and fresh. Clean and biting. Dry: Doesn't morph much from the wet stage. This has a strong lavender note, but the carnation keeps it from being too sharp. This is much in the same family as Casanova. I adore Casanova, and this is too similar for me to spring for a bottle, as nice as it is.

In the bottle: Sweet resins. I'm thinking black musk and amber, which does not bode well. Wet: BABY POWDER LIKE WOAH. Dry: After a few hours, the crazy strong baby powder scent fades into a generic sweet musky scent. Hunter Moon, you are not for me.

In the imp: Very dry and woodsy, but a sharp, crackling woodsy. Most woods go creamy on me, but this one stays dry and prickly and I love it. I also smell frankincense. Wet: The cypress really blossoms on my skin, blending with the frankincense. The result is fricking gorgeous and addicting. It's dry, woody, and sharp, and NOT sweet (I tend to amp sweet notes), and I need a bottle. Dry: Same as wet, but a bit softer. LOVE.

In the bottle: Rose and dark red fruits. Wet: First on, the black cherry blossoms. It blends seamlessly with the rose. A bit of spicy kick reminds me that carnation is present as well, and the honey lends a light sweetness that counters the heavier notes. I momentarily get a whiff of fig, but it disappears in a flash (which makes me sad, since I'm obsessed with the Lab's fig note). In the wet stage, this blend makes me think "RED". Dry: Libra settles down to a lovely, gentle rose/carnation/dark-red-fruit blend. Yuuuuummy.

In the imp: The merlot is the strongest note, but it's not uber-boozy. There's something sweet too. Wet: This is primarily merlot and leather, with a vaguely herbal-floral undertone. After a bit, the musk comes out. It stays close to the skin and is dead sexy. Dry: Pretty much the same as the late wet stage - merlot, leather, and musk. Rowr.

In the imp: Sweet, rich, and heavy, but very well-blended. It's difficult for me to pick out any individual notes. Wet: The cocoa blossoms on my skin, really dark. In a way, it's a non-foody chocolate, though it almost smells like honeyed cocoa. I do get the myrrh, but I get it not as an individual note, more of a deep undertone. The sandalwood doesn't stick out, which is sad, as I adore sandalwood. I'm really loving the wet stage - it reminds me of Anubis, all deep and resiny and sweet and sticky, without being TOO sweet or foody. Dry: Unfortunately, as this dries, the delicious cocoa fades and is taken over by the myrrh. I was afraid this would happen - myrrh tends to take over a blend on me. I'm not ready to give up on Velvet though - the wet stage really is evocative of "velvet", and it's so gorgeous and sexy. I'll give it a second chance.

Oh, heed that call. Seriously. The Lurid Library is all musk on me, and it's glorious. It's similar to Smut, but minus the sugar and booze.

In the imp: Raspberry is the dominant note, with a backup of earthy neroli and a hint of juicy orange. Wet: Not gonna lie - Akuma smells like a Flinstone's vitamin on me. It takes on a dusty, musty scent that overlays the fruit, and it's not pleasant. Dry: Yup. Dusty Flinstone's vitamin. Not for me.

In the bottle: Fresh and green. Woodsy, the crispness of sap, and just a hint of pine. Wet: Less green, more woods. Treeeees! The pine note is more of a feeling rather than your standard "pine" scent. Dry: Loses the crispness. This goes pretty much warm creamy woods on me. I love it, but it's very much like Dragon's Bone. I think I'll keep this one for a room scent.

In the bottle: Ack. Smells like generic perfume. Wet/Drydown: Thank god, it smells nothing like it does in the bottle. It's a light yet rich musk. I don't really get incense. The paper quality is "white floral" for a few minutes, then it disappears. Dry: Musk, musk, musk. On me, this blend is in the same family as Smut, but not nearly as boozy or sugary - it's what I wanted Smut to be. Sexy, rich, and wonderful. ADDED Feb. 20: This must have red musk in it, because my chemistry is reacting the exact same way as it does to red musk. Which is, OW. I was excited for The Lurid Library, but it's off to swaps. ::sigh::

In the imp: Like everyone else... lavender and lemon. Wet/Drydown: The lavender and lemon are both strong. This isn't lemon fruit though, it's more of a lemongrass scent, only not quite as dry or herbaceous as I want lemongrass to be. There's a thick, almost sugary cast to the lemon in this, which I'm not loving so much. However, it doesn't offend me, so whatever. Dry: The same, but softer. I've tried this and Baku of the Somnium blends, and they're both strong scents that don't morph much at all from wet to dry.

In the imp: Lavender and another strong herbal note. Wet/Drydown: As soon as I put this on, a very strong anise/fennel note blossomed on my skin. It didn't obliterate the lavender note, oh no. They were both strongly present. It doesn't smell bad, per se, but I'm not a fan of anise. However, with the addition of the lavender note, which I love, it doesn't offend me, so I left it on. Dry: The intense anise softened, and instead of smelling like crazy licorice, Baku dry smells faintly of sasparilla. I never get the eucalyptus that so many people smell in this one. All in all, it's a very, very herbal blend. I'd definitely wear it to bed, but that's about it.

Mostly, aquatics don't agree with me. With two exceptions: Tempest and Kumari Kandam. Both are amazing. Tempest is a cleaner, crisper, fresher aquatic, whereas KK is a deeper, sexier one.

Give Aureus a try. It's very patchouli/cedar on me, and fabulous.

Asphodel! It's in RG, and to me, it smells exactly like lilacs. Absolutely gorgeous. It's not as long-lasting on me, so I have to reapply, but it's so natural and fresh and lovely that it's definitely worth it. Searching for the ultimate fig blend! I've tried Gomorrah and Eden, both of which I love. Gomorrah was more figgy than Eden. How do the other fig blends compare? I find myself obsessed with the Lab's fig note and must have more.

In the imp: Incense! Yummy, head-shoppy incense. This is really mostly incense in the imp, but if I really whuff at it I can catch an undertone of jasmine. Yum. Wet/Drydown: On me, it’s herbal incense, which surprises me because of all the floral notes in this one. Becoming more floral though – a dry floral. Jasmine… possibly some bergamot and neroli. Thankfully, the vetiver is thus far behaving. Mmm… this is a bouquet of dry, herbally floral notes wafting through fabulous incense. Absolutely intoxicating. Dry: The florals sweeten up a bit and the dryness backs off. Dry, this is predominantly sweeter florals and less incense. It’s nice, but I wish it stayed in the heavy incense/dry florals stage.

In the imp: Booze and almonds. Wet/Drydown: Incredibly similar to how it smells in the imp, though the booze aspect is kicking it up a notch. Still, it’s not 100% pure booze – there’s almond in this, as well as possibly a hint of clove or nutmeg. It smells like I’m cooking some kind of pastry with a lot of rum poured in. Huh – now this is strange; I swear there’s an edge of vetiver in this blend, turning this from just boozy pastry to EVIL boozy pastry. Dry: The vetiver amps, which I’m not a fan of. This is like the dirty, evil twin of Port-au-Prince.

In the imp: Very light. First whiff reminds me a lot of Tempest, but underneath that sweet aquatic is a surprisingly fresh herbal note, almost like basil. Wet/Drydown: First on, very similar to Tempest, but without Tempest’s saltiness. It’s a light, sweet aquatic, but again, there’s a fresh herbal note underneath the dominant aquatic. It’s almost… anise? If it is anise, it’s incredibly light and unobtrusive. There’s also a light grassy note underneath the aquatic as well, and the barest hint of salt. Huh, now there’s a tangy citrus note, but it’s not a sweet citrus…grapefruit rind, perhaps. And the salt is a bit stronger now. I have to say, I’m liking it more the longer it’s on my skin. Thank God this isn’t going too sweet. As it dries, it’s taking on a dusty, dusky quality that is rather nice, even if the strength is fading a bit. Dry: The tang and salt have gentled, leaving this a soft, dusty aquatic with edges of salty citrus. I enjoy this blend, but it does seem to be more of a mood scent rather than an everyday scent. I do like that it doesn’t go crazy sweet on me as so many blends do, though. I’ll keep it around, but I don’t know how often I’ll reach for it.