artisjok

Gravedigger is a grungy tobacco wonder. The tobacco is strongest on me, entwined in leather and soil and a touch of spice from the bay rum, I’m thinking. The patchouli must be roughing it up some more, yet not obvious to me now. The drydown brings some of the vanilla smoothness to the mix and softens the whole masculine vibe. I feel like this is really great for the concept. I like it well enough, though I have been enjoying smoother and sweeter tobaccos more recently. So glad I finally snagged this decant, and will be content with this amount.

Dragonsplaining is a very dry woodsy scent. Masculine. Cedar and a tame, yet strong, patchouli dance around each other, with an almost sweetness coming through in the drydown and a light curl of smoke. It’s not something I really feel I’d reach for, though it’s not funky or too smoky.

I’m in the same boat as deceitfuldescender with The Golden Hour. It’s obviously a gorgeous scent, thick amber and vanilla, yet way too perfumey for my tastes. The drydown tones it down some, yet not enough. When I wear it, I just feel like I’m trying to put on a persona that does not mesh with my natural state. I’d like to smell this on someone else one day... haha

Ginny is black pepper and smoke and I think the amber, the combo reminding me of a leather scent. A touch of the tobacco flower peeks out. Something about it is going a bit plastic, and, on one wrist, also reminding me of those lunch meats that are edged in pepper... ermmm.. not what I expected to be thinking of at all! Sorry, Ginny. Looks like you aren’t the gal for me. Oh, and I got the cinnamon note after late drydown.

I’ve been wanting a violet blend that worked for me, and I know the Lab can make any note work with their magic. I had tried a little of FUSR before I swapped for a bottle, and remember it being alright, but didn’t impress me terribly. The other notes still had me curious for another try..... Tart violet and gritty patch & resins. One test I applied lightly, and the violet melded back into the darkness and it was a smooth woodsy scent. The second wear, I slathered more, and the violet would not quit. I’m just not a fan of violet... *sigh* I Sit and I Sew and TAL Peace are the most enjoyable blends with the flower that I have tried. May be the combo with lavender works best. Glad to have tried it!

I’m also getting the mint ice cream vibe from Green Lovebird! It’s chilly, thick, and creamy. The mint flees quickly from me (normal) and the spun sugar comes floating in, lightening the heavy creamy vibe and taking center stage. I think I can detect a touch of pistachio after a while... It’s a cute scent. I hope I can make the mint last longer on my skin, or I might try the scent locket tactic.

La Femme de Satan looks like my ideal sexy time scent. Unfortunately, it’s such a skin-close scent, I can barely pick out any notes other than red musk! *sigh* I’m going to have to roll the oil well before applying next time, in hopes that doing so will bring out more complexity & strength.

Glad to finally have a decant to test! I’ve been lusting after this scent for a while... Sadly, it’s not my style. I get a slightly fruity candy. There is some carnation while wet, but it dissipates quickly. The late drydown is a little sweet yet musty musk. Not a huge fan of fruit candy scents, and I felt a little queasy while the amount of slathering I did....

A fresh green figgy scent, wrapped in silk, with wooden undercurrents and a touch of vanilla. It’s definitely hitting the spot for me. I’ve been craving good fig scents, and this is a lovely refined addition to my atmosphere sprays. Very much fits with the Shunga line, too. I can see this being the scent of an elegant courtesan’s room. The windows thrown open to let in the breeze, and the neighbor fig tree singing its sweet fruity song to her beauty as she reclines on silken sheets. Stunning fig compilation! A perfume oil version would have me on my knees.

Looks like Autumn Overlooked My Knitting is a wooly one, too! Haven’t tried it personally, yet looks delish.

Superior Vena Cava starts off smelling like red musk and a powdery chypre. Powder might be ambergris... Then, tuberous starts blooming and just dominates the whole conversation. A bold, yet cushioned (musk) tuberose, sweetened by subtle beeswax.

Unicorn and Ram is a favorite cozy of mine.

I’m getting the tea and cookies vibe from Government Officials, though it is a much more profoundly sensual ritual than a typical tea and cookies. Spiced and warm and clothing dropping to the floor in elegant comfort. Black tea is primary, tangled up in tonka-clove goodness. The currant doesn’t jump out at me, though I can sense it. Like looking at currant-studded cookies, and smelling their chewy yumminess before actually biting. Same with vetiver. Very low-key for Vetiver! A delish interpretation of a black tea scent~

Three Rounds is primarily gardenia on me, brightened by the lemon flower (and probably frankincense) and musk-touched. I wish the frankincense was a lot stronger, and maybe getting some of that hellfire would be interesting, but it’s a enough pretty floral. Gardenia-lovers should give it a try. I’m also missing the infernal & diabolical parts, but maybe it’s got a sly way on enticing one to the dark side...

Red Amber oudh then oudh red amber into Oudh (red amber?) This is a lovely woodsy oudh, a tiny bit musty or something slightly funk (not poo), and I think it’s the amber that keeps it in line. On me, the amber is rich and strong to begin, then it melds toe-to-toe with oudh, and finally oudh remains with an assumption of amber. It’s kind of perfumey, warm, and sensual. I’m so enjoying it! If I didn’t already have a really great oudh SN, I’d hunt a bottle down.

Love this color! I was going to grab a bottle of the Laura polish for my light purple fix, but when I saw Baku for sale on the forum I jumped. The dark blue specks are great, and it’s not overly sparkly. Prettiful!!

Dark powdery and scorched, Men Will Fall just doesn’t resonate with me for the most part of its life span (a long one). After a good amount of time, the scorched smell gives way to resinous sweetness. I like this stage better, though I don’t think it’s a scent for me overall. Loved the scent list in theory! Wish the lavender was stronger and not blackened, and less powdery. Glad to finally try it!

Die Jungfrau is fig-forward, with a lavender/chamomile backdrop and an herbal mossy green carpet. The lemon balm wafts around the fig in celebration. The fig exudes a sugary smile of contentment, glad to be in the garden spotlight. This is a cheerful scent to me and seems very appropriate for the hot summer days.

Yeah, this is a good one. Warm cozy fur lounging in citrusy amber beams of light that shine through surrounding green herbs. Not herby in a kitchen way, at all, more like an beloved forest glen. Some fragrant tobacco being rolled in the comfort and ease of a bountiful existence. I’m transported to another time, where the light has a subtlety darker, yet more golden tone, and the sense of high magic and sensuality emanates from my being. I feel like its a powerful day. I’m either just coming from a ritual, or preparing myself for the night to come, and gathering up necessary herbs and flowers as I walk familiar paths. There are mountainous hills around me and life is both simple and thrumming with deep delicious meaning. This really paints a specific scene to me. It feels like it could work as a kind of TAL to elevate my consciousness in a more earthy connected and anciently-informed perspective. So witchy.

Heavy leather and white sandalwood grinding against each other, with vetiver dancing wickedly around them. It’s a sharper than I expected, maybe because I’m not getting much bourbon vanilla. Everything melts into a softer scent with time... I see the vanilla peeking out, though it stays subtly in the background. The vetiver tang becomes the most obvious note. I think the scent is too dry for my tastes. Sandalwood is often that way for me, so I’m not too surprised.... It’s a great cowboy-type scent, and I could see it being fabulously badass on someone else! Happy to have finally gotten the chance to try this leather. This has massive wear length on me!

I’m getting more of the experience Roogna describes from Doc Constantine than anyone else. It’s fruity/citrusy, a little powdery.... no leather/smoke/tree to be found The note list sounds like a dream, and my nose disagrees completely with the interpretation my skin gives. Bummer!

Rendezvous started out very... off. I was surprised to get a harsh chemical smell when I slathered it on Weird! Thank goodness, it quickly shifted and I get the sugary musky hay that I was looking forward to enjoying. It’s delicate and wistful and comforting. Sadly, it fades to an extremely close skin scent very fast, but I’m still scraping my arm with my nose to get that last impression. It seems the creamy rick milk is holding on the longest. Gorgeous, yet almost too delicate. Editing to say, though soft, the drydown does linger far longer than I expected!

Smug Yale is such a cheering scent! A powdery, snuggly vanilla wrapped up with a humid fresh green grass. I love it in sunny days when I’m outside, or on day’s when I’m stuck inside longing to get out. Contrary to some above experiences, I get excellent throw and wear length, and that’s somewhat unusual for me. Smug Yale is smug because it smells simply divine and is a beacon of carefree joy for all who get a whiff on the breeze~

Challenge of the Ascetic is a breath of clear air in a calm fresh space. On my skin, it’s a translucent pale green over the translucent gold of frankincense, like a multi-layered stained glass window. It does go somewhat powdery for me pretty quickly, through retains its meditative tone. It’s unfortunate, because I can see the beauty and the calming effect, and I also don’t really like to wear powdery scents. Bummer... maybe aging will shift the effect. The label art is so sweet, and the notes sounded delightful, I was close to blind-bottling. Now that I got a tester, I’d only get a bottle if I find it discounted. A low partial bottle would be even better for me, so I can enjoy the picture and sniff the bottle. Definitely similar to the Monk RPG scent.