AraliaShine

Yuzu over the top! Cherry blossoms for... days?! I am no match for the bold Aizen-Myoo. I leave her to be revered by those who are delightfully thralled by her charms.

Iris pallida is the image this calls to my mind. Her soft bluish-purple petals and white-green variegated leaves that shine with the palest gold when the sun touches them. Overall, this is a calm, soothing scent, but its reserve seems to accentuate the gorgeous way it warms on the skin. Demure, yet enticing. Lofty as dust motes, but possessing a rich buttery undertone. The violet tones seem to sparkle up high while the orris grounds and rounds out this smooth, welcoming comfort fragrance. Having been far too close to a couple of major wildfires myself, as well as a former resident of the area affected, I was doubly glad to purchase this SN, knowing that much needed funds would go towards recovery. Minimally powdery on my skin and lasts a loong time.

You had me at lilac, violet, and orris, but there's more to this one than just some pastel lavender-tinted fluff! Osmanthus, to my nose, is a very rounded note imparting both a fruity warmth and an almost resinous richness and depth. The way it floats in and out (zeldaZ4 nailed it!) of this scent is what makes Mokey well, Mokey. On the surface, this sweet, carefree, blue-purple hued soft floral is easy to wear, playful and spring-like. Childish? Perhaps. Yet there's an aura of effortless calm about her too. Mokey's comfortable being in the moment. The seasons are changing/ paint is drying/ radishes are growing/ Doozers are building --at the exact pace that they are supposed to be doing those things. Sense of wonder intact, she regards her surroundings with a contented sigh.

There's an (appropriate) darkness to this incense blend especially when first applied that I'd have to guess is a smoky opium. For a brief period it felt slightly herbal (hyssop?) with a touch of anise maybe, but definitely purple. Drying down, it lightens and brightens a bit. I get more frankincense, but subdued from becoming sharp or lemony by a smooth yet salt-rimed champaca. The resins are heavy, chewy, insidious and scheming. It's perfect and I'm so glad I went for a bottle. Applied lightly and still going strong several hours later...

(Frimp with a recent order) I do like the smell of dirt. The opening of Zombi works well on my skin. Rich, loamy soil and a juicy (greenish?) sweetness were calling to me while this one was wet. Initially, I was inclined to respond. Sure, nibble on my brain. I only use a portion of it and not terribly efficiently at that! I put the brakes on when the dusty rose emerged more as the scent began to dry down. That's a much less compelling note for me. So, only half-enamored with your earthy mossy delights, I think I'll keep my grey matter in my noggin. For now.

Pristine. White tea that would be comfortable with a fan and some white kid gloves, tarrying not in order to be on time for a garden party. Delicate china cups, sipped from pinky finger out and served with light, airy honeyed-vanilla confections that leave no crumb on tablecloth or napkin. This one's a bit too perfect for me; I found myself waiting for the mud splatters or grass stains. Nevertheless, it is lovely, evoking early spring as the first buds begin to unfurl.

Intrigued by the notes and description, I added on a decant of this one. Citrus dominant fragrances aren't something I'm usually drawn to, but I am loving oak moss recently and wanted to give this a try. Yep. This bitter marmalade is really not my jam. I can see how the chypre works to ground the zesty citrus notes, so in that sense it's nicely balanced, just overall too sharp for me. Didn't pick up on lavender or clove; will wait a while and retest, but will probably end up finding this vial a more loving home.

Wet, the Caterpillar delivers a one-two punch of florals and incense. The jasmine strikes first with a dizzying head shot that is closely followed up by a solid body blow of appropriately 'head-shoppy' incense. I'm glad I applied sparingly, as this one could be a heavy hitter if you're not cautious. If you manage to keep to your feet through the opening barrage, you'll find them on a substantial grounding of patch, moss and vetiver. I'm getting the feeling that this one's gonna go the distance. The mid and dry down are where I actually begin to enjoy this scent. Initially, it's a bit duck and cover, but as it settles on my skin, other nuances begin to peep through. A dark clove-spiced carnation and a sharp, bright citrus float by, softened by a powdery iris. Hours later, I find myself looking for that stick of really good incense that I must've brushed against my wrist before misplacing. Gotta remember to pick up some more of that! Jasmine plays fair on my skin and I'm a sucker for a rich, complex incense blend, so, yeah, I'd get in the ring with the Caterpillar again.

Strong butterscotch hard candy. Not getting any alcohol either. I agree with the butter rum lifesavers, werthers, and yellow cellophane wrapped butterscotch candies from my grandma's candy dish. Nostalgic, foodie and unabashedly sweet. Later in the dry down, sniffed close to the skin, I get a green-dye fruityness. Candied lime peel? I sense some of this green fruit in Sugar Skull bath oil, but the butterscotch in Grog is still going so strong I can't be certain. I occasionally like something this sugary, especially without the toothache or the calories, but I expect this imp will last me a long time!

In the bottle: all orchid, nary a vanilla bean Wet: a subtly sweet floral with an underpinning of crushed waxy greenery As it warms on my skin, the orchid scent lifts up and wafts start to become a bit more heady while still remaining clean. No trace of overblown jasmine here-- not a whiff of the indolic. A very regal , reined-in, fresh white to creamy yellow tropical flower aroma prevails with only the faintest touch of sweetness. The initial green scent is now only noticeable close to the skin. Dry, this matures into an elegant, crisp floral that edges towards but never quite reaches soapiness on my skin. Waxy, thick petals shimmer as they bounce the hazy sunshine back at you, not wilting a bit, their aroma barely hinting at the rich vanilla to come. I visualize an almost white bloom with a pale butter-yellow sheen at its center. While not my usual choice, Vanilla Orchid SN will be a show-stopping special occasion fragrance all by herself. I look forward to trying some layering and pairings with some of my sweeter hair glosses. Pickled Vanilla Orchid, anyone?

When I first feel the scratchiness of a sore throat starting, I have this concoction I make: I brew a pot of green tea, quite strong, with slices of fresh ginger and a healthy dash of chai spice. Piping hot in a mug with as much lemon and honey as the situation calls for, it seems to help. At least it often makes me feel less blergh, which is pretty much the point. Ordinarily, I'm not much of a fan of anything pumpkin spiced. However, I had the feeling that this scent might resemble my go-to elixir. It's pretty close. There's a touch more cinnamon in this (no skin reaction, though, even on the inside of my wrist.) There's also a slight buttery/ browned toastyness that might resemble a roasted pumpkin seed or three. Replace that with ginger steam, and you'd have my 'beat down the winter blahs' beverage in a perfume oil. I'm strangely comforted by this Embalming Fluid. Ha! Glad I got a bottle.

Rupture/(rapture?) manages to be invigorating and comforting at the same time. Wet, the ginger delivers a fresh bite , much like the crisp sting of a really good ginger beer (which I adore!) Drying down, I get some creaminess from the rice milk to accompany the cardamom and smooth it out. Later, there's some texture from the oakmoss and green from the ti leaf, for the opening notes to cling to and soften beautifully into a lingering skin scent. While I could see myself wearing this in any season, it's one of the rare blends I'll still make grabby hands for when the days get hot & muggy. There's a similar cozy vibe here to Pumpkin Spice Enbalming Fluid (which reminds me of a green tea concoction I make when I'm feeling icky), but Vivid Enjoyment is paler and brighter while still managing to be both sweet and sharp without the honey and lemon I'd add to my mug. Plus that zing-zi-zinziber opening steals the show! Tried a decant for love of ginger and curiosity about the rice milk note-- satisfied on both counts. Definitely going on the full bottle list!

When my recent order arrived, there were two scents that had me swooning just from the initial bottle sniff. This was one of them, so I was excited to try it after it had a chance to settle a bit. Once on the skin, Bergelmir took me on a journey. Wet, deep blue (leaning towards indigo) spruce, slightly sweetened (is that you, lavender?) combines gloriously with a slice of chill and is tempered by a hint of smoke. This stage is fairly brief, contemplative, bordering on broody. I felt dark clouds gathering at dusk over a velvety thick evergreen woods. There's just time to make a dash for a cozy little cabin as sleet begins to streak down. Crossing the threshold, a tasty, warm (and a touch waxy) berry scent takes over. Let's say someone has been thickening bumbleberry pie filling in a copper pot atop a softly glowing wood stove. The wafts are mouthwatering and the forest and weather outside are left behind.The clouds keep looming and the sky keeps spitting ice into the treeline, but that's all happening on the other side of the candlelit window pane. Indoors, all is snug and delicious!

Caramelized sandalwood, check. Cassis, check. Tonka, check. I should this, but ( gotta watch out for what comes after the 'but' ) underlying it all is a sharp, serrated, green-tinged edge that I'm on the fence about. I can't guess what it is unless maybe it's my nose interpreting the liqueur component of the cassis portion? (I was getting straight Ribena.) The green's not as biting as wormwood/absinthe, more along the lines of the green cognac I've noticed in a couple of other blends. I does mellow as it dries down, but remains unsettling in the opening. Will retry after awhile hoping for less mysterious green teeth and more smooth, sweet sandalwood. Not really sensing any smokiness yet either, although I would love to.

I expected this scent to be a winner for me because, separately, all the notes are. Sweet pea was the only exception if it appeared too up front and cloying. Not to fear, she's twined in the fence well behind the lilac, who is the star here. That said, I'm particular about lilac. For me, it's reminiscent of homecomings. Every place I've ever called home has had lilac hedges or at least a bush or three. I'm not enamored with the pinker/redder lilac varieties, or the way it can lean into cherry territory (as in many dragon's blood blends). But a true-blue lilac supported by blueberry & tobacco, dusted by orris and edged with sage... Yes! Really well blended, florals take the lead and hold it, then soften a bit in the dry stages cozying up to a powdery orris and graced with occasional wafts of sweet blueberry. Very springlike, but this will get a lot of love from me throughout the year. It captures the essence of turning off of the pavement, onto a gravel lane-- the contentment of heading back again to a place you've (always?) known and one where you'll always feel welcome.

Picked up a decant of this primarily for the 'crystalline azure musk.' More floral than I was expecting-- boatloads of flowers drifting downstream. Gonna let this one settle and reach for it again when I'm feeling spring-y. (Current weather has me reaching for comfort scents and Yules.)

For what it's worth, my nose lumps almond together with cherry on the olfactory register. Where one is listed, I often smell both. Source: Frimp with recent order Wet: Oof! --the dark, gooey filling of a chocolate-covered cherry cordial spilling at me, oh noes! Drying down: Mellowing out, thankfully! On my skin. this goes through a powdery stage where it reminds me of a baby powder deodorant product I used to avoid in the girls' locker room back in the aerosol spray days. End result: After all that, I actually find myself enjoying the subtle, warm, spiced vanilla dusting that lingers on my skin. Growing up, my little sister used to have a thing for Stella D'oro breakfast treats (she called them "S cookies"). It's as if she borrowed my favourite flannel shirt for a covert cupboard raid and later when I found it and put it on there were still some almondy crumbs clinging to my sleeve. Cherry/almond are not notes that I usually enjoy, so I doubt I'd have ever sought this one out. I don't pick up any bitterness and get no skin sensitivity to the cinnamon. All in alI, I'd be tempted to call this a shadowy, drier sibling of Dana O'Shee. If that's your thing, give this one a sniff. ETA: in the late drydown I got more of the frankincense which makes this one even more likeable, for me.

In a hot bath, the 'snow' aspect of this seems to float just above the surface, like the fog that forms in an ice rink when outside temperatures/humidity are a bit too high. Afterwards, what remains on the skin is a delicately clove-touched carnation. Simply divine! There's a rich warmth and tactile comfort to this that I can't quite pin down and can't seem to get enough of. Can't find me? Don't send out a search party just yet, I'm probably still in the tub!

Admittedly, I went a little crazy for the puppers. I'm okay with that-- more so each time the wind blows my hair across my face, or I'm sitting still indoors wondering what that delicious smell is and realize that it's wafts from the hair gloss I applied this morning. Pickle is everything I was hoping for: an airy, creamy vanilla coconut with only the tiniest hint of floral. There really is a poofy quality to it that does resemble the feel of a marshmallow, but could also be a hint of atmospheric- like a gentle touch of ozone. Either way, my head is in a lovely sweet cloud of weightless macaroony bliss. This one is gentle and will complement many of my new found favourite scents. Pickle is bound to get a lot of love both while I'm longing for the warmth to return and after it arrives.

Decadent and comforting, this blend hits so many of my sweet spots, I hardly know where to begin. What I keep coming back to is an intoxicating richness that Lizzie mentioned, almost buttery in effect. I suspect it's the smokiness of the birch tar in concert with the terebinth resin and amber. It hits me as bottomless golden depths and I can't huff enough! Throw in that gorgeous tobacco note and delicious bubbling brown sugar, and you've got nearly all the cozy goodness I'm craving on bleak, chill winter days. Occasional hints of warm spice and drips of piney sap lend a crispness that keep it from becoming too sweet or leaning too gourmand, but for me it's all about basking in that (oh so rich!) glow of a well-stoked wood stove, relaxing and enjoying fine yet simple things. It's pretty linear and long lasting on my skin and while only the caramel sweetness reads feminine, I'd love to smell this on anyone, anywhere! Seconding the bedtime fave vibe, and adding that this is one I'm wanting to snuggle up to/ with. Of course, if I'm going to be sharing, a backup merits serious consideration.

I put this on for comfort, warmth (& anti static) on a chilly day; it didn't disappoint! Upon spritzing, I was getting a slightly toasted/nutty rich creaminess. Later when I undid my braid by the fire, it was all honey-sweetened hay. Delicious and pairs beautifully with Canis Major. I suspect it will complement any honey scent. Come hither, Snake's Kiss and Womb Furie, have I got a hair gloss for you!

In the bottle: Oh! It does smell blue. How the devil does she do that?! Initial reaction: This takes me to a deep, deep reflecting pool tucked away in a hollow between trees in a witch's herb garden. Initially I sense moisture from the cucumber (and lettuce leaf?), herbs and nighttime florals surrounding, and a grounding of soft green woods. My overall impression is of being draped in a midnight blue velvet cloak and gazing at reflected moon and starlight (elemi?) in calm waters. If you could use a perfume oil for scrying, this would be it. After a full wear: The moderate throw of this reads as primarily pale floral with accompanying green (tea) leaves silvered with dew and smoothed by a bit of silken iris powder. I got lovely wafts of this throughout the day and from under my jacket when I went outside. The feeling of blue depths was more prevalent closer to the skin and in the opening. The dry down is soothing and gleams softly feminine. Beautiful and contemplative, you could wear this anywhere. Do use caution if daydreaming at your own private oasis might be frowned upon at work or in class. Overcast skies are clearing here... I just might catch a glimpse!

I do a 5 Thieves essential oil blend for soaps 'n' stuff and Plunder looks to be the closest BPAL. I haven't had a chance to sniff it yet; it's currently out of stock. Wrath, however, I have an imp of and it shares 3 of my main players and a similar feel (if you're up for adding the pink rogue, Dragon's Blood, to your band). I like the make up of your favourite. Thieves drink Florida water