ShadowEtienne

This one is pleasant but not exciting and not really for me on my skin. It's cinnamon and creaminess and a touch of something fruity-floral. Too foody for my tastes and not really lending itself towards inspiration or motivation.

On wet, I thought for a moment this might be it, the scent where myrrh works on me. It was lovely lilac and tea and a touch of something resinous. As it dried down, the sticky sweet yet sharply bitter thing that myrrh likes to do on my skin slowly crept forward overtaking the more pleasant notes. This will get passed along to someone who will appreciate it more.

I'm taking a stab at this because it's been sitting here for a while, but I'm not familiar with the original perfume. Could you tell us a little more about what it smells like to you and what you like about the smell? It looks like the listed notes of the perfume that you are talking about are: citrus, ginger, red apple, juniper, tamarind, cannabis, geranium, freesia, tonka bean, cedarwood, musk, vetiver, and frankincense. That's a lot of notes, and I don't know how much each is noticeable and important to you (thus why your take on the scent is important). I'm sticking to general catalogue things that you could get an imp (sample) of first to see if it worked for you, especially since it looks like you're trying to replace something that you're running out of. These are not so much meant to be dupes as things that seem like they might have a relevant and similar vibe: - Azathoth (A Picnic in Arkham): tangerine, saffron, vetiver, black amber and cedarwood. - Tweedledee (Mad Tea Party): Kumquat, white pepper, white tea and orange blossom. - Oberon (Illyria): Orchid, white musk, and bergamot wafting over juniper berries, with a gentle touch of soft, earthy patchouli. - Aizen-Myoo (Excolo): Yuzu, kaki, and mikan with cherry blossom and black tea. - Shango (Excolo): red apples, banana, chili pepper, coconut, pineapple, pomegranate and sugar cane. - Baobhan-Sith (Diabolus): Grapefruit, white tea, apple blossom and ginger. - Zephyr (Bewitching Brews): Lemon, lemon verbena, neroli, white musk, white florals, white sandalwood, China musk, bergamot and a drop of vanilla. - Desire (Ars Amatoria): bittersweet neroli, black patchouli and black musk, gilded by apple, bergamot, blood red rose, teak, and vanilla. - Les Bijoux (Ars Amatoria): Skin musk and honey, blood-red rose, orange blossom, white peach, red apple, frankincense and myrrh. I can't speak for all of these directly (though Aizen-Myoo is one of my favorites), but they seemed like starting places based on the descriptions I could find of the perfume you mentioned. Folks might be able to help you more accurately with a little more info about your perspective on the scent.

I was fortunate to be able to pick up a bottle of this from a wonderful forumite in an order. The Lunar New Year blends and tea containing blends are both among my favorite and this has elements that reminded me of both, so I was very excited for it. It is beautiful on my skin! On me, both wet and dried down, the predominant notes are a soft sweet-spicy resinous dragon's blood, cherry blossom, and a very fresh tea. The bamboo is there softly in the background, and I'm not really getting sandalwood at all. There's a beautiful balance of freshness and resins and florals, that just smells delightful. It's a very comforting scent to me!

When this went on, it was extremely MINT! Specifically the sort of medicinal mint scent I associate with tiger balm. Now, this is a scent that I actively like and find soothing, but if it stayed there, I'd have been keeping this as a sleep scent. Fortunately about 15 minutes after application, the mint mellows and the citrus shows up on my skin. The grapefruit and the lime, specifically zest forward on both, seem to be the predominant notes on my skin of the citrus. They balance out the mint, but keep the scent fairly sharp and fresh. I'm definitely glad to have this, and I still definitely find it a soothing sort of smell. Of the listed uses, this definitely is an unwind and get rid of stress scent for me. It makes my exhaustion less jangling and would actually make it easier for me to sleep well as opposed to fitfully. I'm not sure restful was what was being aimed for, but that's where it's landed for me.

I was uncertain about Cthulhu from the description and even more from the reviews here. I'd been contemplating it for some time, and someone kindly gifted me a free imp as part of a forum order. Aquatics generally seem to behave well on my skin, and this seems to be another case of that. This scent is something very specific to my brain: being on the Mendoncino (Northern California) coast in an early summer storm. This is a vivid scent memory of walking on the Mendocino Headlands as a summer storm blew in back when I was in high school and went out there in the summers: sea spray and that ozonic storm smell and flowers blooming in amongst the sea grasses that blanket the headlands. There's the smell of seaweed in the ocean air, but not the way it gets weird when on the shore too long. This is a beautiful scent on my skin, though I'll have to be in the right mood to wear it. Coming back to this review to add: right mood to wear it is apparently very broad. This has become one of my most reached for scents and one of the GC scents that I've upgraded to a full bottle of. UPDATE with an original Springtime in Arkham bottle (2024/04/17) A wonderful forumite reached out to me with a bottle of the original Springtime in Arkham Cthulhu which I purchased. If this is how Cthulhu ages in general I am overjoyed. It's much the same scent, but there is something deeper, darker, richer and more vivid about it. There's a greater anticipation of the storm, the clouds are darker, it feels stronger somehow.

I got this as a free imp added on to a forum order. I'm really glad to have gotten a chance to try it! I was nervous about the ozone, so ordering it was not high on my priority list, so I'm glad it landed in my path. Aquatics usually seem to behave pretty well on my skin, and this is no exception. Lightning smells like a storm, but also flowers that have had petals knocked off in heavy rain. I think that there might be a wee bit of lily in this, and it reminds me of a brighter sharper Sea of Glass. Lovely scent that I'm glad to add to my collection and might need a bottle of eventually.

Brisingamen is confusing on my skin, and while I like parts of it, I don't think that it was meant for me. There's definitely amber in this, but it's a muddled sort of amber on my skin. I think that some of the amber notes are working and some aren't, but it's just a little too much amber all around. I love the myrtle and apple blossom notes hanging out right behind the amber, and I wish that they would take the lead on this scent. They're a delicate floral and herbal combination that works nicely together. The carnation is nowhere to be found on my skin. Overall, I think this one just isn't playing nice with my skin, and I'll pass it along to someone who it works better for.

This is one I likely never would have tried if it had not been gifted to me in a forum order as an added on imp. There are some folks in my circle of BPAL enjoying friends who have it, but foody and I are rarely friends, and there are so many other things to sniff and test. I'm really glad I got to sample this though! Miraculously on my skin, it's not food, though it does smell like a lovely drink (this is an important distinction for me). It's still a little sweet for my tastes, but I could see wearing it from time to time, and I could see some really lovely layering with it. On me, it settles into a lovely homemade blackcurrant and rose syrup mixed with something a little fizzy and a little creamy. Its sweet and rich, but there's nothing giving me pastry, more like cream Italian soda. This is fascinating!

On my skin, the citrus in this is very much the oils of the peels, lemon and bergamot both. They're gently mingling with the floral of the neroli, in a way that definitely shows the continuum of different citrus (fruit and flower). The herbal sage is a notable component that I'm realizing is a note I really like! It's a fresh warm herbal backed by the resinous elements from the amber and labdanum. It blends so nicely with the floral citrus. In general, herbal-floral-citrus is a hit for me, and this is certainly not an exception to that. I currently have a decant from a friend, may need to upgrade that to a bottle at some point.

I'd been hoping to get a chance to try this before ordering a full bottle and a friend had a decant that she passed along to me. I tested it lightly at a sniff things party and enjoyed it, and today, I'm giving it a proper wear test. "Green" scents (leaves, grass, lettuce, and such, but not a lot of specific herbs) haven't historically been my friend, amping to the point that they cover up all other scents. Dandelion and purslane don't seem to be doing that to me, so I'm excited! This is a fresh, green but not overpoweringly so, aquatic and specifically that lovely just had the first rain in a while petrichor scent. I don't know that I could specifically identify what purslane smells like (in fact a cursory search indicates to me that a lot of the plants in that family don't really have a distinct aroma). This smells so much like going for a walk along a nearby trail during a first rain in a while, fresh and green and a little sweet a little bitter in the greenery, but not unpleasantly bitter. I do like that this scent calls to mind the rain itself as well as just the petrichor for me. I'm going to be seriously considering a full bottle of this, and I'm also excited to try layering this with some florals!

This is bright and soothing at the same time. The grapefruit is light and tart and crisp, and it mingles beautifully with the floral waft of apple blossoms. The white tea note is warm and soft, with floral and mineral elements that keep everything smooth and together. The ginger is a sweeter, gentler fresh ginger. Everything in here comes together to something floral and airy and calming. Its definitely in line with some of my favorite scents, but I'm not sure if this is going to eventually be a bottle scent for me or not. It will definitely be worth future wearing and considering from the imp.

A lovely tea-floral-citrus combo is very much my jam pretty much always, so it's not really a surprise this is a hit. I'd not originally just gone for a bottle because champaca is one of my hit and miss floral notes as to whether it is beautiful or musty on my skin, but here it's playing nice. I am likely going to have to go in for a bottle before the Lupers go away. On my skin, the blood orange is definitely the most fragrant note. It is just peeled and dripping fragrant juices onto fingers and tables. There is a gentle waft of the champaca blossom under it making it more floral and keeping the sweetness of this blood orange from getting sticky, instead staying aromatically airy and tart. The tea is a lovely warm note supporting it all, distinct but calm and supportive. I'd say this is a warmer scent than either Aizen-Myoo or Night-Gaunt, but if you like either of those, you will likely enjoy this but also find it distinct enough to be worth your while.

Like all of the Lunar New Year scents, this is deeply evocative of the lacquer trays of dried and candied fruits that my foster family would put out for Chinese New Year. There are floral wafts and gentle additions of resins that help to ground the scent, but overall, it's a very citrus forward, tart fruity blend. This is definitely a more fruit forward year, quite similar to Fire Monkey for me. The sticky rice cakes aren't as present here as they are in Water Rabbit, but they do help soften some of the notes that might be too sharp otherwise, they're just a subtle background element. I really do love this one!

Mint, mint, mint, and more mint! Fresh and herbal and dewy like it's still on the plant first thing in the morning in the garden. There are so many layers to this mint, and I am here for it because I love mint. I was nervous about the cucumber. I don't like cucumber as a scent because I'm slightly allergic to it (raw) as a food. Here though, the note may be what is lending that slightly aquatic note to the overall scent, but it's not sitting there smelling like a cucumber, much to my relief. The pepper is very quietly there, just a hint of sharpness that really adds depth to scent. I'm excited about the partial decant that I got of this as a gift, and honestly, may consider trying to pick up more if I see it floating around.

Well, truth in naming for me. It smells like cucumber that has just been cut into and is getting its juice everywhere. This is unfortunate because I'm slightly allergic to raw cucumber, and the scent does not come with good associations for me. I could see it being a fresh and lovely scent for someone else. Fortunately, this was a gifted imp, not one that I picked out myself. This will get passed along to someone who will enjoy it more.

I got a bottle of 2012 Punkie Night in a forum order. I was a little tentative sniffing the bottle because most of what I was getting was just sour. Figured it would open up on the skin, and I was delighted with where it went. This is loudly cranberry on me. The lightly spiced cider note hangs out in the background supporting tart bright cranberry and blending it complexity and depth. It's a rich and very fall smell, so I might not wear it much in the coming months, but I'm excited to have it once weather starts getting crisper.

This is a lovely floral, jasmine forward on me which is what I'd hoped for. I love the green tea note in here and the gentle backing of the wood note from the cypress. The other flowers aren't super distinct on me, but they add depth to the floral note.

On my skin, this is indeed very similar to Metal Tiger, but slightly better because it is slightly more fruit and floral forward and slightly less herbaceous (I credit the hemp not for the herbaceous element in both probably). Like all of the Lunar New Year scents, this is a lacquer bowl of Lunar New Year treats with wafts of blossoms drifting in among the scents. There is the hint of resins from the dragon blood and that faint herbal element. I am thrilled to have a bottle of this now, and I'm really pleased with how strong and present the citrus is.

Of the LNY scents I've tried in comparison to Fire Pig: - Earth Rat is sweeter and has a candied melon element to the scent - Metal Tiger has a hemp note that gives it a grassier/woodier element, it's kind of drier (haven't tried Metal Rabbit yet, but has the hemp note as well, so I suspect it will be similar) - Water Dragon is one that is divisive! I love it, but it has a strong biter-herbal-citrus note that seems to remind some folks of the candles for warding off bugs - Water Snake is gentler/mellower than Fire Pig, but likely to be appealing for many of the same reasons and notes - Wood Horse (along with Fire Monkey that my sister mentioned above) is one of the closest to Fire Pig for me - Wooden Goat has a stronger peach note that makes it sweeter and more fruity - Fire Monkey is probably the closest match to Fire Pig for me - Water Rabbit has a lot of commonalities with Water Snake for me, and while mellower than Fire Pig probably also going to be something someone who likes Fire Pig would like. Haven't Tried: Metal Rabbit (hemp note is going to take this a direction), Fire Cock (suspect this one is going to line up nicely in the close to Fire Pig set), Earth Dog (has patchouli and that makes me nervous), Earth Ox (this has a tobacco note so I can't try this one), Metal Rat (another one with the melon note), Water Tiger (don't know how similar this one will be).

I was very dubious of this in the description, but it was acquired as a very very full frimp in a group order. The fullness is relevant because I got some on my fingers as I was opening it for a curiosity sniff. In the imp, it was baffling but fine? But the scent on my fingers opened up leaving a note that reminded me of the incredible apple wood note from Birnam Wood. So I decided to take it home and give it a longer test. On my skin, the foremost note is that apple wood sweetness enhanced with a backing of honey. There's something earthy or loamy in the background which I suspect comes from that fermented mushroom, but it's not prominent. There's also a hint of a sort of savory fruitiness which might be the pumpkin rind note. This is definitely all about the apple wood/rootstock on my skin, and I'm happy about it.

Like standing in a clearing in the woods, specifically a mixed deciduous and evergreen wood a little up into the mountains or hills in late autumn on a dry day (where it's been dry for at least a few days because nothing smells damp). There's a good mix of trees, but they're all layering over each other, and the green herbal smells of the underbrush are mingled in with them. There is no one tree or herb that is yelling to be heard, but the overall blend is very evocative of a place.

The jasmine in this is blooming gloriously at night, filling the garden with sweet and rich scent. The honeysuckle is a softer note in harmony, sweetening it and adding its own richness. Juicy wild plums and citrus fruits bring sweet fresh tartness too this, like they have just been cut and peeled to provide an evening's refreshment in this lush garden. Orris and benzoin give a soft earthy and resinous backdrop to the scent, grounding it in its garden and making the scent feel like it is in a real place and not some dream garden. This is rich and beautiful and one of my favorite jasmines I have tried yet!

Peach and moss can be iffy notes on me; and ambergris, incense, and pomegranate are still kind of unknowns that have not been consistent in my small sampling. Cardamom is however my favorite spice, so I came in hoping that this would work but dubious. I have lucked out! Peach and pomegranate combine to make a tart, fruity, juce-like layer on which the rest of the scent seems to drift. The incense and moss team up for a green and lightly smoky note that keep the scent from going sickly sweet. The ambergris is a quiet soft creamy element that smooths over any rough edges from the rest of the notes. The star of the show on my skin, to my delight, is a toasty, sweet and smoky cardamom. Every other note is supporting it and really making it shine. I think this is the best possible outcome I could have from these scent notes.

The verbena is fairly forward on me, and it is definitely a lemony verbena. It's well balanced and backed by a warm resinous wood (probably the olibanum and sandalwood) and a smoky wisteria (probably that would be wisteria plus incense). The ambergris isn't particularly noticeable on me, but there is a sort of creaminess to the blending of the scent that I can probably attribute to it. I'd describe the overall effect as being a citrusy herbal backed with resinous and floral notes. I like it and am glad I took a small risk on it skin chemistry wise because these aren't notes that always work well for me.