Gwydion

In bottle: They are not kidding about the wood or the polish. The heavy woods and black tea together make a heady combination, with the scent of fresh polish rendering it entirely unfoody despite the hint of vanilla. No for the faint of heart. Wet: A little less extreme on the skin. I would have guessed there was musk, but it's not listed. The black tea adds a warmth like firelight to the polished floor and furniture. The vanilla is understated, but pleasant. Dry: Soft Woods.

In bottle: Apple dominant, with that crisp apple note I particularly like, gentled by strawberry cream, with soft sweet funnel cake. Wet: Rich apples, with soft strawberry support. The cream and funnel cakes form a canvass on which the fruit can be beautifully displayed Dry: Apple tinged with strawberry.

In bottle: Very foody and does indeed make one think of pink, silver, and snow as well as cookies. It is light and silly, and inviting. The pink cotton candy note is reminiscent of the pink marshmallow note from some of the Summer fragrances years ago. It blends shocking well with the cinnamon cookies, which I would not have predicted. The white chocolate snow goes along just fine. I think the perfumey edge is likely the tinsel reminding one this is not for eating. Wet: Vaguely nutty on the skin. The pink cotton candy and the white chocolate snow ally in a whole new way. I think it's the cookies lending that touch of nuts. Certainly, the cookies give the whole thing a body and richness it wouldn't have otherwise. The snow has a powdery feel. Dry: Sweet soft, powdery white chocolate.

In bottle: A cool, pale, lavender dominant scent. The oudh adds a touch of green wood, the amber resin lends a gentle a grounding and bridge to the musk. There real is an inky feel to the musk. Wet: Still lavender dominent, but sexier on the skin as the amber and musk warm. The oudh is understated, but really lovely with the lavander, and combined wth the touch of ink it all makes one think of a love poem just finished with a sprig of lavender attached for effect. Dry: Mostly the inky musk.

In bottle: Unusual and reminiscent of a garden in early spring. The tea leaf and lemongrass lend it an herbal, mint, and savoury weight vaguely resembling a certain Thai style soup I am fond of. The floral and sweet elements balance beautifully with the herbal. It is delicate and lovely and a pale green sort of scent. Wet: Even more herbal on the skin. I didn't expect to like this, but I really do. It's more complex than ingredients might suggest and unexpected. As it warms the mint comes out more, suggesting early spring chill. It's a lovely mint note, but possibly a little too strong on me. Dry: Soft savoury tea leaf green.

Lilith was incredibly disappointed that she wasnt allowed to touch the Egyptian funerary texts at the British Museum. Myrrh and papyrus reed with a smear of vanilla cream frosting. In bottle: Sweet resin. The vanilla cream is strong and sugary and surprisingly well suited to myrrh and papyrus. I was not expecting it to be nearly this foody, but it really works. Wet: The reediness of the papyrus comes out more on the skin and the myrrh warms on the skin, while the vanilla cream softens. given a few minutes ad the resin wins dominence with the papyrus support. The foody elements really do sweetens and soften, but step into the background to let the other elements shine. Dry: Sexy resin.

In bottle: Leather and red licorice dominant. Sexy and smooth and liquory. Wet: Rather more chalky on the skin, but the red licorice and leather still stand out. Still very cowboy, but not nearly as sexy as the musk is de-emphasized. Dry: Sweetened leather. That red licorice note has surprising staying power.

In bottle: Extremely fruity. Red fruit supported by dark chocolate and a wee kick of pepper. Wet: Really unusual. The Red Fruit expand in depth and complexity on the skin. I don't think I've smelled a fruit blend this rich before. The chocolate remains in gentle support. The pepper is a tad stronger adding a pleasant edge. Dry: Fast fading Chocolate.

In bottle: Heaven. This is a perfect mix of dark chocolate and whiskey sweetened by caramel, the touch of cardamom adding depth. I wish I had a whole bottle. Wet: More whiskey on the skin. The dark chocolate is lovely support. The caramel and cardamom really come into their own as it warms. Sweeter on the skin than in the bottle. Dry: Sweetened dark chocolate and a touch of whiskey.

In bottle: Patchouli dominant, with that particular smoothness of a really mature patchouli, pleasantly supported by oakmoss and a touch of leather. The tar and cedar add a woodsy sharpness. The vanilla, tobacco, and tonka are understated, but gentle the more jagged edges. Wet: Warmer and softer in feel on the skin. The tonka comes into its own as it twines with the patchouli. The leather really finds it's feet and challenges the patchouli. In the bottle it's all about the patch, but on the skin it becomes about the leather. Once things settle, the more subtle elements reassert and add a depth and complexity. It is significantly more androgynous on the skin. Dry: Oakmoss and aged patchouli.

Sweet vanillas, thick chocolates, burnt caramels, and spun sugars. I don't know the bottle number as it was a gift. In bottle: It's definitely foody, but has a cologne sort of feel to it. It's maybe an amber base with a hit of musk supporting a sweet, strangely familiar foody fragrance. I'd guess vanilla sugar and whipped cream with a kiss of maybe shortbread, but I couldn't swear to it. Wet: The Lab's cream note is strongest with the base blending pleasantly into the background. The sugary vanilla is subtle but present. I really like this and wish I had a bottle rather than a quarter of an imp. Dry: Sweet cream with a hint of amber.

#63 In bottle: A lovely and unusual men's cologne. It seems to have a strong classic fougere base with a sharp, foresty edge to it. Masculine without going overboard and reminiscent of colognes popular in my youth while retaining it's individuality. Wet: Gentler on the skin. It contains a touch of mint that suggest a man just in from an afternoon in the woods after the first snow. Dry: Softer with wear but retains it's fundamental sex appeal.

In bottle: Very, Very amber dominant with lilac support. It's a classic sexy women's fragrance, with a touch of honey and cream to lend it an unexpected softer edge. Wet: More balanced on the skin, Still amber dominant with the floral element bridging the more foodie touches. he lilac comes into it's own as it warms. Dry: Soft, sweetened Amber.

In bottle: A softer, older apple, supported by tobacco, in a setting of well blended florals. Wet: More floral on the skin, with the apple and flowers blending perfectly together. The tobacco adds a touch of earthiness. Dry: Fastfading to vaguely floral tobacco.

In bottle: This is a softer sweeter version of apple. The apple is dominant, but the brown sugar cookies are strong and blend well with the caramel and cinnamon. Wet: Deliciously rich on my skin. The apple is crisper, the cookie richer and more complex. Beautifully blended, very Autumn carnival. Dry:

In Bottle: Oh Gods! I wish I had a bottle of this. Rich Dark chocolate with just enough smoke to add complexity without overwhelming. Wet: Still dark chocolate dominant, but the smoke is much stronger. It's not the vetiverish smoke that is often used for this effect, but a cleaner sort of wood smoke. It really like the way the wood plays with the chocolate. I can't stop sniffing it. Yum. Dry: Mostly woodsmoke.

In Bottle: I would think there is mint in this from the scent, but it's not listed. The trees are extremely strong, the warmth of the deciduous woods and the sharpness of the evergreen form something very realistically forest when blended with the earthiness. Very first snow in the forest. Wet: Still very minty, and my skin seems to throw the balance off. The Mint wins, supported by he deciduous woods, the pine retreating into a mere hint. Dry: The mint is gone leaving a lovely woody scent.

In Bottle: Apple Blossom dominant, softened and enriched by cream, caramel, and honey, grounded by musk and teak. The amber and musk lend a hint of sexiness. Wet: The apple is more clearly floral. The cream and teak blend to add a hint of the sinister. the honey, amber, and musk really bring the sex appeal as it warms, and soon overtake the apple to become the strongest impression. Dry: Mostly teak and musk.

In bottle: Way more conventional perfumey than one would expect from the description. The neroli is dominant with a touch of spice from the carnation. The driftwood reminds me of a softer, wetter sandalwood, very sexy. the other sea based elements are a gentle canvass on with the brighter elements are displayed. Well constructed and surprisingly feminine. Wet: Far more aquatic with the neroli providing an intriguing tang. Closer to androgynous now, a rich sexy classic aquatic with an unexpected brightness and subtlety. Dry: Driftwood with a soft aquatic.

Green sandalwood, rice wine, black tea, tonka, and moss. In bottle: yum. Tea, moss and green sandalwood with the other elements present, but softer. I was not previously familiar with green sandalwood, but it is enough like the regular to pick out, just. It does indeed smell green and woody and gentler than normal sandal wood. The black tea and tonka sweeten it, the moss adds to the feel of it. I am imagining a monastery garden with moss covered wood. I am thinking of tea ceremony in a garden glistening from recent rain. It is not floral at all. I am thinking of plants though, and wood and rain, and a sense of mono no aware. This is beautifully blended stuff. Wet: I am definitely in love. This is slyly sexual, rather like the naughty monks of the concept. This stuff is amazing on my skin. I just keep sniffing it. Dry: vaguely citrusey, but not in a bad way. Since it's not actual citrus, my skin doesn't amplify it, but there is a pleasant tang as the scent evolves. If I've somehow missed someone else starting this thread or have messed up the format, I apologize. I've never started a review thread before.

Coconut, balsam, lemongrass, anise, vanilla orchid, mimosa. In bottles: This is really different. The coconut and balsam combine worth the lemongrass to create an effect I’m having trouble describing. It’s sort of tart and warm and toasty at the same time. The orchids and mimosa form a second strong faction, which goes really well with the balsam, which ties the factions together. The anise is soft and fun with the lemongrass. Wet: Lemongrass is now strongest, as my skin amps it. It is too strong really, though the coconut, balsam, and anise, try hard to hold firm. The flowers fade into a soft fuzzy background. It’s not bad even still, but there’s just too much lemongrass with my chemistry. Dry: Very pretty on the dry down. The lemongrass stays strongest, but calms down. Balsam is a strong second, with a touch of coconut and a kiss of florals.

Thirteen (13) A fortune's wheel of thirteen lucky and unlucky herbs, spun around a rich, dark core of pure cacao: allspice berries, cascara sagrada, ladybug beans, cinnamon, catnip, sweet clove, cumin, huckleberry leaves and fruit, master root, copal negro, sarsaparilla, nutmeg, and green rice. In bottle: I am not familiar with some of the elements, so this review will not be as precise as I like. It is cocoa dominant with the green rice in support. Saspirilla and huckleberry are tied for second is second. The saparilla stands alone, but the huckleberry plays with the chocolate and it's leaves bridge to the garden faction. Third would be the spice block that mostly supports the chocolate but which also bridges to the herbal and garden element. The allspice help bridge chocolate and huckleberry particularly. I am guessing that the ladybug beans are dominant there, but don't quote me as I've never smelled a ladybug bean. It's just that the note smells like fresh bean plants. The copal smoothes the transition between elements, soft, but ubiquitous and blending well with everything. It's interesting and complex, with the chocolate, spices, and sarsaparilla saying food, and the rest saying garden. It works and makes me thing of the act of trick or treating, tromping past Autumn gardens while carrying a bag full of candy. Wet: More perfumey on the skin. The cocoa stays dominant, but the copal pops into second, still tying things together, but prominent now rather than understated. I'd call sarsaparilla third, then spices in forth, with the huckleberries working as a bridge between chocolate, spices, and sarsaparilla. The garden/herbal faction is soft, but pervasive. It's more foodie in affect and less carrying candy through other people's gardens. Dry: Surprisingly sweet rice, copal, and gentle sarsaparilla. I'm thinking I'm picking up allspice berries and a kiss of cocoa too.

HERMES, draw near, and to my pray'r incline, Angel of Jove, and Maia's son divine; Studious of contests, ruler of mankind, With heart almighty, and a prudent mind. Celestial messenger, of various skill, Whose pow'rful arts could watchful Argus kill: With winged feet, 'tis thine thro' air to course, O friend of man, and prophet of discourse: Great life-supporter, to rejoice is thine, In arts gymnastic, and in fraud divine: With pow'r endu'd all language to explain, Of care the loos'ner, and the source of gain. Whose hand contains of blameless peace the rod, Corucian, blessed, profitable God; Of various speech, whose aid in works we find, And in necessities to mortals kind: Dire weapon of the tongue, which men revere, Be present, Hermes, and thy suppliant hear; Assist my works, conclude my life with peace, Give graceful speech, and me memory's increase. A blessing of wit, opportunity, and skill: yellow sandalwood, bergamot, gum mastic, gum Arabic, lavender, lemongrass, angelica root, and anise. In bottle: Lemon grass dominant, like whoa, with a strong presence from the gums and the bergamot. The lavender supports the lemon grass; the angelica supports the gum. The bergamot winds through everything, dancing with all the notes. Sandalwood is a soft canvas to paint the other scents on. The anise is very understated. Wet: Lemon grass! Lots and lots of it. The gums, bergamot, lavender, and angelica are still discernible, but this is mostly about the lemon grass. It's really disappointing. Dry: Lemon grass and a bit of sandalwood mostly.

JUPITERIAN PHOENIX O Jove much-honor'd, Jove supremely great, To thee our holy rites we consecrate, Our pray'rs and expiations, king divine, For all things round thy head exalted shine. The earth is thine, and mountains swelling high, The sea profound, and all within the sky. Saturnian king, descending from above, Magnanimous, commanding, sceptred Jove; All-parent, principle and end of all, Whose pow'r almighty, shakes this earthly ball; Ev'n Nature trembles at thy mighty nod, Loud-sounding, arm'd with light'ning, thund'ring God. Source of abundance, purifying king, O various-form'd from whom all natures spring; Propitious hear my pray'r, give blameless health, With peace divine, and necessary wealth. A blessing of optimism, prosperity, and sound judgment: sarsaparilla, juniper berries, Himalayan cedar, Terebinth pine, sweet clove, green tea, nutmeg, and hyssop. In bottle: Strongly woody with the pine and cedars doing lovely things together. Hyssop, juniper, and sarsaparilla form a second tier of support. I am not fond of juniper, and it's definitely noticeable here, but it blends well. Green tea is acting as a sort of glue, tying thing together. The spice is soft, but lovely with the other notes, particularly the woods and the tea. It makes me think of the unlaquered interior of a wooden box used to store pungent seasoning and tea. It's lovely in a 19th century sort of way. Wet: even better on the skin as the warmth brings out the individual qualities of the components. Pine is now dominant over the cedar with the hyssop moving into second. Cedar is third, juniper, clove, tea, and sarsaparilla are forth. I'm loving this. Dry: Woody goodness with hyssop support, and a hint here and there of the rest. Lovely.

POMEGRANATE III Pomegranate, Tamil Nadu sandalwood, lavender, tamarind, hazelnut, Atlas cedarwood, sugar date, bitter clove, and Arabian myrrh. In bottle: This is sharp and dry and definitely Autumnal. The cederwood evokes wooden barrels. This is pleasantly bitter, yet sweet and spicy. Each element adds a special spin to the whole. The hazelnut is the least distinct, but all elements add to the special old time general store in autumn feel of this. I’m particularly impressed by the way the tamarind, lavender, and clove play with each other in this, but it’s all lovely and all unexpected. Wet: The myrrh is less friendly on my skin and the cedar sharper, but the strengthening of the pomegranate, date, and tamarind help it find a new balance with my natural skin chemistry. It’s still not as lovely as it was in the bottle, but it’s trying very hard. Dry: cloved pomegranate mostly, with hints of the others, enough to retain interest. It’s a bit desiccated, but it still works.