artisjok

Plummy! And decidedly floral. The morga (jasmine) is obvious to begin, then mingles into the ume blossoms and is less distinct. The white honey makes the scent sweet, candy-like, but doesn’t scream “honey” (thankfully for me). Sniffing closely I can detect the clove incense, and I hope it emerges more with age. After it dries down, the lavender brings a drier herbal layer, yes to “gentle”, and I’m really jamming. Super pleased with this one! A pretty purple Spring fling.

At first, 8th Grade reminds me of a cocoa version of And Sing, And Sing, with sugary tuberose being most prominent floral. As tuberose tones down her song, I get more complexity some plum (skin) and the lavender and jasmine stepping up and pushing tuberose to the side. A fleeting moment of indole, then smoothing out. Jasmine ends up being the main act wrapping itself in the cocoa and sugar, with everything else just adding their whispers along the edges. I think tolu balsam sneaks in late in the show, but it’s lingers in the shadows and is hard for me to catch. I didn’t fully appreciate this when it was released, but I’m loving it now in my floral phase of life!

I’ve been on a mission to collect all the Alice variants, so I was pleased to find this one. Unfortunately, the pomegranate seems to skew this one into a weird territory. The tartness with the carnation just doesn’t want to play well on my skin & I almost get a musty incense experience….. I do sense the honey in the drydown a bit, and I think I smelled rose when I first applied. As much as I want all the outfits of Alice, does it make sense to keep one that doesn’t fit? Not sure. I might try it on a different day and see if vibes better.

Recently had a bunch of purple hyacinths in my kitchen vase, so I’m pleased to be able to identify them in this blend! My first time smelling them in person, so I wouldn’t have had a reference before. Not my favorite floral, but I’m appreciating them at the moment. The roses are definitely there, and the beeswax gives a waxy sweetness to the blend. Later in the wear, I get more lilac and it feels fresher and more my style. I am surprise to be lacking the leaves & cypress, though I feel like they somehow give atmosphere to the scent without being obvious…. I can see there being marble present in the same way. It works well for the imagery of kneeling before a grave, lighting a candle, and offering flowers and prayers on a cool, yet sunny Autumn day. This isn’t something I would have been interested in even a year ago, but I’ve evolved into a multi-floral devotee very quickly. As the weather drops and the wind howls outside, I’m making soup and lighting candles, answering the children’s questions and whispering to my ancestors. This scent is a perfect accompaniment.

Sinister Restlessness brings a vision of a darkened room, with only the last glimmers of sunlight filtering through the windows, reflected off of nearby buildings. On the center table a wooden bowl with a clove-studded orange catches the burnished gold light. An incense stick burns somewhere near, smoke sensually writhing about the darkening space. In the shadows lurks a presence, circling around the edges of the room, impatiently. Darkness slowly closes its fist about the room, savoringly. The last moments of peace whittle away, and Night is unleashed.

Keep an eye on the Shunga collection when they release soon (within the Lupers, the lab’s Valentine collection) There might be a good one or so in there! And there will be decanters, if you don’t want to blind bottle.

Starting off as a Snow White-heavy scent with a touch of leather peeking from her skirts, the dry down is a delightfully balanced combination of the SW, leather, and sandalwood. It’s somewhat dry from the White Rider contribution, but sweetened perfectly by Snow White’s coconut-y almond-touched florals. It’s, dare I say, demure and something I could see a snow queen wearing out on a ride through the winter countryside. Very pleased with this iteration!

Okay, it’s so interesting seeing the variations in experiences with Cats & Sparrows. On me, it’s basically is a cooked apple (no spices) was drizzled in caramel and then interpreted as amber…. I don’t know how to feel about it yet. In the drydown, the cedarwood shows up, reminding me of the blonde woods in Aziraphale.

Happy October 1st! While it’s not really “Fall” in Texas (ever), I can’t help but want to dive into my seasonally appropriate October scents. Today, Rite of Passage seemed perfect to start off the month. Definitely pumpkin spicy on me! Not really pumpkin, but maybe there is some of it in the sugared sludge that’s just begging to be added to a tasty coffee. The powdered vanilla concoction that is actually paired with this pumpkin spice is quite decadent in its crowd-pleasing way. No bitter coffee here, or even a touch of roasty aroma on me. Just a sweet tooth’s dream! This scent has great heft! Rare on me, and I’m thoroughly enjoying the experience. Will have to try with a coffee heavy scent, now that my hormones are actually letting me enjoy the note.

The dead love decadence. This is a lush brocade of resinous libations: milk and honey, ribbons of wine twining through with its tangy berry tones. Or maybe that tang the glint of gold that is sparkling within, giving an extra source of light in the dark of the underworld. The myrrh smoke that blesses the offering keeps the mood level and smooths edges. The fatty goat milk has a particularly central role. It’s honeyed cream satisfying far beyond the initial act and into the night.

Coffee Cream Pie is worth a try, even though it’s got the chocolate you’re trying to avoid. It’s the strongest coffee note that I’ve found on my skin, which most often drinks the coffee in a matter of minutes. Plus, it’s currently available, so easier to find. Otherwise, send out a search team for Black Coffee mentioned above, or maybe Black Coffee & Old Books, if leather is okay with you.

So glad I decided to follow my curiosity & blind bottle this one! It’s simultaneously dirty, clean, sweet, spicy, musky and just overall throbbing. Despite being so much, it’s not complicated. It’s just genius. Plus, if you’re a Tom Robbins fan, this scent scratches an itch that has been longing… “The beet is the murderer returned to the scene of the crime. The beet is what happens when the cherry finishes with the carrot. The beet is the ancient ancestor of the autumn moon, bearded, buried, all but fossilized; the dark green sails of the grounded moon-boat stitched with veins of primordial plasma; the kite string that once connected the moon to the Earth now a muddy whisker drilling desperately for rubies.”

Loving this Wayfaring Stranger! I’m getting strong parallel to Quintessence of Dust, yet that one was a bit nauseating on me. This is just as strong, but somehow the coconut is making it oh so delectable. I’m not usually a coconut fan. It’s giving coconut incense vibes, like I adore in Death Cap, plus ancient chapel-turned grungy dive bar, local beeswax candle-making devotee still a constant attendee. A mash up of experiences finding refuge in each other.

Summertime Rogue vibes! Skin musk usually bullies all other notes on my skin, but leather has set some strong boundaries on it, harnessed and leashed it. Still, the fruits aren’t too strong on me with these two powerhouse notes~ more like the smell of fruity lip gloss on whispering lips, or a fruit’s juice remnants on warm skin, fruit long devoured. I am a longtime lover of the Lab’s leather, and this one feels especially apt for the warmer months and bright-colored clothing.

Yule Cat is a good one! Not sure how much of the civet vs. other musk comes through. I enjoyed it. Malevolent musk, a drop of infernal civet, vetiver, club moss, birch, goosefoot, and rowan. Edit: Oh no! I just saw your vetiver aversion.