Trix

Very foody, almost reminds me of Cockaigne (...pancakes?), but something warm and cozy to it. Kind of sad that my decant wasn't full, because I would like to wear this more (would also like to save it for winter-proper), but I don't know if I want it enough to buy a whole bottle.

2015 version In the imp: Oh, wow, that is OCTOBER! Same leaf note I recognize from Magnificent Autumn, but dustier, dryer, with a cold breeze under it. THAT'S what October smelled like back when we had seasons! Perfect! On me: ...aaaand all of five seconds later, it morphs into my Maw-maw's perfume. And stays that way. That sharp, unpleasant, old-lady-ish scent. I never even knew it was a perfume as a kid, it was just what all the back rooms in Maw-maw's house smelled like. Like old things and having to watch yourself around them. *sigh* so much for that.

I got a sniff of this at NYCC and immediately picked up a bottle. Chocolate? Woodsmoke? YES! Two of my favorite things! But... Ah, dang. The chocolate turns kind of plasticky on me, and the woodsmoke is nowhere to be found. Alas, alas. I will give it another chance or three. But it's not the scent I fell in love with. (Then again, it was so HARD to tell just what scents I was falling in love with at NYCC. SO MANY THINGS TO SNIFF!)

Oh noooo, I'm sad. I think I may be broken, because this one just didn't work for me. In the imp it had that same sappy leaf smell as Magnificent Autumn, which is a bit strong for me, but on MA it dies down to something smokey and soft. So I had high hopes for this. Alas, it just turns into department store perfume. More specifically, it smells exactly like walking through the perfume section of Dillards at Christmastime. Sharp and not...not bad, not really. But mature and not in a fun way? It's the perfume ladies at church wear. After about an hour I had to rinse it a bit, because it was strong. Still there when I put my wrist to my nose, and it still smells like a perfume counter. Ah well.

I was a little worried putting it on. Like Robin Goodfellow (which I also love), this one starts out a bit like a sharp men's cologne on me. But then it warms up. And "warm" is the word for it. Warm like dust on a calm summer day, with a woodfire burning the next field over. Something soft and sweet that kinda makes me think of those smudge bundles (never actually bought one--too hard to verify where they're from around here). A tiny, soft hint of suede, like a pair of dusty boots. Warm, golden brown, very very soft, and just a little bit wild underneath. I love this. I keep sniffing my wrist. It doesn't last quiet as long as Robin Goodfellow does on me, but hints of it stay throughout most of the work day. This might be my second skin scent. I need a bottle. Stat.

In the imp, it smells exactly like the Texas Renaissance Festival. Specifically, the incense kiosk (you know the one). It's uncanny how much this smells like the Ren Fest, that comforting cacophony of leathers, spices, and sunbaked dirt. It mellows out a bit on my skin, but also leaves me feeling like I kind of need a shower. Not that it's stinky or that I dislike it. But it so perfectly evokes the feeling of sweaty, dusty exhaustion after a day traipsing around The Kingdom. Definitely a good blend for autumn, or maybe for those days when I wish it was.

PURSE. LEATHER PURSE. That high-end department store my mom used to go to when I was a kid, with that sharp leather smell. You can practically hear it squeaking. My brain interprets that as a little older than I feel, since I never went into a store like that on my own. Not getting the metal, musk, or blood though. Just leather. On its own, not so much my thing, but I can't wait to get some alignment/race blends to layer this with.

In the Imp: Straaaaaaaaaawwwwberrries! Summertime and light strawberries and just a little tickle of bubbles in your nose. Probably not a scent for the season, but oh in springtime, it would be grand! Wet: Huh. Not all that strong. Still strawberries. Dry: DISASTER! Somehow that lovely scent of a light, fruity dessert turned to soap. And not nice soap. Gas station bathroom soap. Alas! I'll have to try it again, I think. Or maybe wait until spring and use it in my waxwarmer. Siiiiigh, and this was the one out of my latest package that I fell in love with at the first sniff. Really thought it would be my light and girl scent.

I've got a deep-seated interest in all things Puck-related. When I saw that bpal had a Robin Goodfellow oil, I had to try it, as a matter of principle, even though I'd placed my order the night before. They were kind enough to include it as a frimp, and oh. Oh. Sniffing the imp was the exact smell of the wet woods behind my mom's house, where I used to play. Perfectly evocative of its namesake. Wet it's a sharp green smell, almost too much like a man's cologne, but it quickly dries down into something I love. It's weird, because I usually prefer sweet foody scents, but there's something gently woodsy to this. It's aaalmost, but not quite, the disappointing dryer sheets I get from Glasgow, but cozier, greener, more natural. I keep using this imp. Still not sure if it would be an every day scent (though once work starts up again this week, it might be a nice comforting one), but I love applying it a little before bed or nap time. Cozy, green (but not Too green), and lovely. Probably need a whole bottle soon.

I'm a little sad, because out of everything I ordered, I had the highest hopes for Misk U. I work in a university library and I thought this would be the perfect work scent. Alas, it's just...coffee. Nice, hazelnutty coffee that slowly but surely gains a waxy, hazelnut-coffee-candle-like scent on me. The oak I was hoping for and the rustling paper are no-shows, drowned out by the coffee. I think I'll keep the imp and hope that age brings out the bookish notes.

When I worked at Bath and Body, there was only one fragrance that I actually liked--their seasonal Pumpkin Pie one. They had a sugar scrub that was just mind-numbingly gorgeous and I bought two bottles of it, but still wish I'd bought all of them, since they discontinued it right then (and have gone on having lousy scents that give me a headache ever since). I still have most of that lotion, but the lotion never quite had the warm cozy smell (and it's a greasy sort of lotion). But this. Oh my. This is the first imp I tried from my first ever order, and the second I opened it up, it just smells exactly like that sugar scrub. Wet, it's very much the same, but it doesn't have much throw at all--I keep needing to put my wrist to my nose to get it. But I keep doing just that, because each sniff shorts my brain with happiness for a second. It is starting to morph into a bit of a popouri smell, which I hope it doesn't. I should wait for the drydown to do a full review, but something tells me by that time, it'll be gone. Still, it's a cuddly scent--I can see applying this to encourage some neck nuzzling. Edit: Oh, there are the peaches. Oh my, that's lovely. Just wish it was a little stronger, but maybe I'll slather a bit more next time.