Falathwen

The concept of this blend intrigued me so much that I had to try it…I was curious about a recipe so old and strange. I seem to recall that rose oil and neroli oil were treasured long ago (and now), but I was wondering how and why the rosemary entered her recipe, though I personally love the deep scent of it. In the bottle, the orange is sweet, but wet on my skin it is initially bitter. The rosemary is quite apparent, which is a good thing, but its greenness seems to argue for a while with the rose making it go rather sour. I was tempted to wash this blend off, but I waited for it to dry down. Fortunately, it gentled as it dried; the three powerful notes blended more and more. It did feel medieval and powerful! It was also moderately lasting. A few hours later it had faded to a powdery note, which seems to be typical of rose blends on my skin.

A forum member kindly decanted an imp of this blend for me to try after reading how sorry I was when I discovered a passion for carnation blends after it was discontinued. Many thanks. Wet, this was blackberries on me. Tart and ripe…it reminded me strongly of a favorite herbal tea blend I drank in college. Just like that tea, this gave a sense of warmth and brightness much welcomed on a sleety winter day. The heliotrope, carnation, and musk are in the background rounding out and deepening the scent nicely, but not strong enough to stand out individually. After a bit, the amber comes in. On me, amber is always strongly sweet and powdery…not unpleasant but sometimes overpowering. It threatened to overpower this blend, but the tart berries kept it in check. This stage was strong and sweet…a bit like fruit loops. As it dried down, the amber and berries continued to be equally prominent, though I catch hints of the other notes. This is a very cheerful blend and lasts a long while. I would get more when this imp was gone if it were not discontinued. As it is, I shall try to use it sparingly when I need cheering up

Witchhazel works like a charm for me.

This was a freebie from the lab which I tried first, attracted both by the bright color and by the fabulous reviews I had read about it. Sadly, I think I am one of the people whose skin chemistry argues with Dragon’s Blood resin. I also had a mild allergic reaction to this one…itchy eyes and sneezing . I sometimes get that from O, so I am guessing it is the amber. On me this was both sweet and sour…and very strong. When wet, it was rather fruity (and my husband said it smelled a bit like clover to him.) As it dried it was still sweet-sour but also began to turn soapy…a very good soap, but soap nonetheless. The final note was pure amber, which is always a sweet powder note on me. I would like to give Dragon’s Blood another try - in a different blend. Edited to add that I just had a chance to see how strange skin chemistry can be. A friend of mine gave this a try and on her this blend was absolutely gorgeous, just as others have described. It was rich, warm, sweet but not cloying. Of course I gave it to her.

This was a generous freebie from the lab. It is a strong, wonderfully summery scent. When first applied, the fruit notes came out almost exactly in the order listed - very juicy and sweet . The rose came out softly in the background with the iris, to my relief, since those notes can sometimes be overpowering on my skin. This dried down and faded slowly but without changing much, except that the light musk lingered longest. This scent was a lot like Persephone on me, for obvious reasons, but is more complex and sweet. It made me feel like one of the figures in a painting of the seasons - this scent is the ample figure of summer, with flowers in her hair and fruits of all kind in her arms.

This was a freebie from the lab - one which I never would have chosen myself partly because of the name and partly for the tobacco note, though the rest of the notes were irresistable to me... I am so glad that they sent it. It was one of those rare scents that evoked for me not just one image but a whole scene as it unfolded. First, a winter-cold evergreen forest but with an acrid tang as if something had been recently burning. This seemed appropriate to this ancient Eastern European war lord. As it dries down, the scene shifts indoors to a hall. A mid-winter feast is offered -drink warm with orange and clove, food spiced with cumin- by a host whose scent is musky and dark. Dracula’s legend evoked to perfection - I need to go read the book again.

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are grey." This was a freebie from the ever-generous lab. On me, it was one of those instantly amazing scents - very warm, bright and sweet. I have a hard time placing all the notes individually. If I had to compare it to another blend, it would be Morocco, but with citrus. Wet, it was like a orange creamsicle and as it dried down it was warmer and drier but still sweet a little spicy...I agree that there is probably carnation here.

I was so horrified by the description of this one that when it arrived as a freebie I tried it with much trepidation, even though I knew from the notes that it would certainly not be a charnel house scent. Sometimes I am a bit too influenced by words! For instance, this blend was well worth trying. Wet, it is very licoricey, my husband immediately took a liking to it when he sniffed my wrist. As it dried the woodsy notes came up…more bark and earth than green. Then I began to notice a bitter note, which smelled like, well, cat pee, so I assume that I am one of those folks who do not enjoy civet.

I tried this blend as a freebie. I am discovering that even though I like the scent of gardenia as a flower, I can not abide being surrounded by it. I do love the darker scent in this, which I think might be myrrh, but on my skin the gardenia and the other notes are strange bedfellows. It was a powerful, almost stomach-turning scent, both intensely sweet and dark.

This was a freebie, and for the name alone I wanted to love it. To me, thinking of angels brings to mind C.S. Lewis saying how he disliked the prettifying of the Hosts and how there was probably a good reason that the first thing an angel often said in ancient stories was "Do not be afraid!" Sadly, this blend does not capture that. It is very deftly combined. No note overpowers the others. In the end, though, I have to agree word for word with Shriekingviolet: "On me this smells like a typical women's department store perfume. Not in that it smells alcohol-y, but in that several of these notes (the rose, lily & white sandalwood) are a common combination that you'd find in department store fragrances. I'm getting particular Estee Lauder vibes here…and the woody/incense notes aren't warming me up to this one as they help add to the scent's aura of classic polished lady's perfume. Which isn't my style at all."

This was a freebie offered by the lab. I had no idea what oude was, so I looked it up. Apparently it is a resinous-turpinoid scent which one person described as "the fragrance of God in India." Well, that was intriguing! I tried it on my husband first, because he likes woodsy scents and hazelnut. On him, it was a wonderful blend with cypress and frankincense dominant - spicy and woodsy. Unfortunately it faded quickly - he quipped that that seemed appropriate, since the point of the Danse Macabre was that nothing lasts. On me, Danse Macabre lasted much longer and was stronger, but still amazingly gentle for a blend with cypress, which usually seems very powerful on my skin.

This was a freebie from the ever generous lab. I tried it out on my husband first, since I was already trying another scent. On him it was strongly orange when wet, then the patchouli came out in a surprisingly light blend with the carnation. Lovely. The orange was more the scent of herb tea with orange peel than fresh fruit…possibly because of a "darkening" effect of the ambergris and patchouli? On me, the patchouli was stronger and made the orange rather murky when wet. Fortunately, as it dried down the carnation came in and the blend was spicy, fruity and sweet. This stage lasted a long while.

Sherezade is a subtle and dry scent on me...very warm. It is indeed somewhat like the scent of sand (though the scent of sand to me also has the tang of Atlantic salt.) I can pick out soemthing like tumeric which is possibly the saffron, but the rest of the spices are eluding me. Sherezade is the first blend which really seemed like a "second skin" scent on me, that is, a scent that is close to your own, but better. It remains close to my body. I ordered Sherezade and was given Old Morocco as a freebie, so I was able to do a sniff test right away. I agree with what has already been said comparing them, but I actually prefer Old Morocco because the spicy sweet carnation blends so beautifully and really rounds out the scent on me.

This was a another generous freebie from the lab. I am learning a lot from the freebies about what works and does not work on my skin. Wet: Regan turned into Baby Powder…very strong. Dry: Baby Powder with a hint of a floral coming out from time to time. Puzzling. It is not unpleasant, but not what I would have expected from other reviews.

These notes are certainly playing devilishly together on my skin…sometimes fighting and sometimes going off to play separately. The summer fruit note was dominant first. On me it is more like peach juice than fresh peach. Next a warm powdery sweetness comes forward which I believe is the amber and musk. The patchouli was shy in this blend, but lent a woodsy note. I liked parts of this blend, but it did not come together comfortably. I continue to prefer March Hare for a blend of fruity warmth.

This was an interesting freebie from the lab. I have done a bit of yoga, but not formally. Since I was only vaguely familiar with the chakra system, I looked root chakra ups up with a google search and was amazed with how directly this relates to chronic issues of both myself and my husband. I am not sure how "releasing energy" works, but it would be nice if this is somehow helpful. Chakra One - Associations Color - red Physical Location - base of the spine Purposes - kinesthetic feelings, movement Spiritual Lesson - material world lessons Physical Dysfunctions- lower back pain, sciatica, varicose veins, rectal tumors, depression, immune related disorders Mental and Emotional Issues - survival, self esteem, social order, security, family Information Stored Inside Root Chakra - familial beliefs, superstitions, loyalty, instincts, physical pleasure or pain, touch Area of Body Governed- spinal column, kidneys, legs, feet, rectum, immune system As for the scent itself, I can pick out both patchouli and vetiver…and perhaps something else in the background. There is both wood and citrus in this scent. It is not a tree smell though, more of the scent of a hall with polished wood flooring. It seemed more like an annointing oil or medicinal oil rather than a perfume. I found it focusing and calming. It is warming, but not cozy. As it dried down more and more it smelled remarkably like the wool yarn I have been knitting a scarf with. I love that smell and liked this oil quite well, regardless of whether it has an effect on any particular health issues.

This is a perfect scent to wear on a chill gray day because it is so bright and warm. I can not pick out any of the notes individual because none seems to stand over another. Even though this is complex, it is not too heavy and remains remarkably consistent compared to shape-shifter blends like Caterpillar. The musk in this is the gentlest I have tried. I feel both comfortable and comforted wearing this and am so grateful to have received it as a freebie, because I would never have picked it out on my own.

Sudha is the ginger scent I have been longing for - my chemistry apparently LOVES milk based scents. This is as creamy, warm, sweet, as Dana O'Shee but with a real bite of freshly cut ginger. As soon as I put this on I thought - "I really wish there were a sea of this because I would dive in." I want to eat this, drink this, and bathe in it. Wow. As it dries it mellows, but remains consistent on me and lingers a long while.

I am not sure of my opinion about this one. It is more heavy than I would typically prefer, but I am happy to have a chance to try it as a freebie from the lab. Caterpillar is so rich and drowsy. I feel about as confused as Alice trying to figure it out. Jasmine stood out, and I can sense that the others are there, but can only name them from the description. I just asked my husband to bring me a carnation so that I can refresh my scent memory for that, since I remember being very fond of them, but remembering scents is like trying to remember a dream.

I tried this at bedtime (before reading these reviews - it seemed appropriate) but I think it would also be lovely in the summer…or when I am craving summer. It made me think of going to bed "by day" as a child on summer evenings when the windows are open and you are growing drowsy but peacefully assured of many days of vacation ahead. I loved how the lavender and jasmine blended. I had a harder time picking out the other notes. It is amazingly well-balanced.

This blend is bracing when wet…like walking outdoors on a bright day. It is equally green and sweet - like blossoming trees or fresh moss underfoot. I was a bit worried that the rose would be strong, since I have learned to be cautious of that, but I actually do not notice it except as a lovely deep part of the sweetness. As the blend dries down, I do notice the bark and clover scents others mentioned, but also I noticed a faint echo of the sea in this…I am not sure what brought it out, but I love that

This is definitely a "warm and wild" scent, as the other reviewed stated. I bought this for my husband and also tried it myself. On first sniff it is like a powerful incense and reminds me of Cathedral because it is so richly woodsy and resiny , but the dry down is considerably different - much edgier. It is incredibly long lasting, probably because of the amber. I woke up this morning with a faint and lovely hint of it still on my wrists

I do not get a sense of the sea from this, but it is full of tropical languor. It is indeed a deceptively gently scent…the coconut tempted me to slather, but then I realized how intense this scent really is. The iris makes this almost too elegant for daily wear on me. On my skin, this blend faded rather quickly to powdery sweetness, but it remained true on my clothing far longer.

Wet: This was surprisingly fruity and sweet at first sniff, almost like a cough syrup. Fortunately, it dried down rather quickly. I could immediately pick out the vanilla and jasmine, but was searching for the ginger. After looking at the reviews, I decided to try a sniff test and went out to the kitchen to cut a piece of fresh ginger root. Yes…that is definitely the scent underneath the others. It was interesting to me that I could not pick it out, because I had thought I "knew" the scent of ginger. Unfortunately, while I adore each of the notes in this blend individually, they were overpoweringly sweet on me all together. I will find a good home for this one.

I agree that this smells like caramel apples and is a very memory provoking scent. It makes me think of the Yeats poem about "the golden apples of the sun." I am going to try layering this with Samhain to bring out the apple note of that blend more strongly.