Nimthiriel

Initial impression: Almondy, mildly nutty, with a delicious background of very light spices. Mmm. First on: Fruit, spice and incense in a joyful serenade to light. ^^ Dry: After about 10 mins, it's a soft and tender scent – light incense smoke, and the tiniest hint of spices and something else in the background. Another 20 mins later, it's still soft, but a little exotic – subtle, professional, sensual. Finally: Haven't got a clue what to use this for, but... Keeping it for now.

Initial impression: Soapy, of a tropical variety. First on: On my skin, it's mainly msk at first. Musk and... something like melon. Dry: After about 10 mins, it's much more fruity and varied – very yummy. Another 20 mins later, it's a ”skin-like” musk that disappears very quickly. Finally: No throw on me. And I had such high hopes of this one...

Initial impression: Woah! It really smells like thick smoke... First on: Husky and gray is right – it really is brimstone in liquid form. Makes me think of volcanoes. Or fires. Or both. Dry: Holy crap, this is strong stuff! I only used a drop, and I had to open my window – it really does smell like heavy, almost choking, smoke. After 10 mins, it's a bit more perfume-like, but still very much a thick and toxic smoke of sorts. Finally: Strong stuff, and interesting to try! Passing it on, though.

Initial impression: A soft but rich chocolate scent. Mmm. First on: Deep, rich chocolate, with a milky and sweet background. Yum! Dry: After about 30 mins, it reminds me of a doll I had as a kid – she had a tray of chocolate cupcakes that were always supposed to smell freshly baked, and they smelled like this. Faked, a bit plastic, but chocolate-like. Finally: I think I'd like to hang on to this based on the doll nostalgia it induces in me.

Initial impression: Surprisingly floral in the vial... What the hell? First on: It's anything but floral once it hits my skin – it's ”dark” and ”thick” in nature. I'm a little charmed... Dry: After about 10 mins, it's a resinous scent, darkened by something like patchouli. Mmm. Dark and beautiful, this one. An hour later, it's still a dark, hot, glorious scent. Like a scorching desert wind mixed with incense. Finally: Keeping, most certainly. It makes me think of Set, I think... It doesn't appear ”sharp” to me, just – dark and powerful.

White geranium, calla lily, cedarwood and black orchid. A gentle floral bouquet masks a sinister and black-hearted core. Initial impression: It smells like a floral soap to me. First on: Guh, all green. But wait, there is orchid in the background – and I love orchids! Dry: It's become a strangely ”sharp” mix of florals to me after about 10 mins. It mellows out after a while, to a very pleasant and gentle scent. Finally: Don't like florals, but it was rather pleasant. Passing it on.

Initial impression: Mm, literally liquid gingerbread. I'm getting hungry! First on: Still a lush, perfect gingerbread. Delicious, it is. Dry: After about 10 mins, it smells more like wine – or mulled wine, for that matter – than gingerbread to me. An hour after application, it's a soft gingerbread scent – mild and soothing. Finally: Totally a keeper. Glorious scent.

Initial impression: It's very floral and citrusy. Hmm. I have my reservations about this one! First on: It smells like... dirt. Dirty roots, and flowers. It makes me think of gardening, not unholy unions. Dry: After about 10 mins, it's considerably sexier – it's very faint, and primarily it's neroli and clove on me. Very yummy, though rather innocent. Finally: Not a keeper, for me. Passing it on!

Initial impression: Honey and amber form a sort of sticky, sweet and skin-like scent – quite yummy, somehow. First on: The honey is overwhelming at first. Honey, honey, honey! Nothing else. Dry: After about 20 mins, it mainly smells like beewax candles. Not honey in itself, just... beewax. An hour later, it's a very soft scent of vanilla with the tiniest hint of honey to it. Finally: I'm not sure about this one. I wanted to love it, I wanted it to totally sex me up. But it didn't. Hmm. I really don't know if I'm keeping this one...

Initial impression: I'm prejudiced from the very beginning, as I know I don't like roses. In the vial, this smells like regular potpourri, but I mean that in a nice way, I think. First on: ”Cool” potpourri – it's all lilac and jasmine and other florals that always make me think of cool summer nights. Dry: After about 20 mins, it's still a soft potpourri type scent – it reminds me of dried flowers and the essential oils in my mother's boutique. It's very pleasant and calming, actually. Finally: I liked it, actually, even though I find roses evil in perfumes. It's a very timid scent. I'm not one for florals though, so I think I shall pass it on, but it was worth trying.

Initial impression: Warm honey and beautiful tonka – ahh, fantastic! Fabulous! First on: Tonka, with a bit of stingy jasmine and something sweet (honey, I'd guess). Dry: After 20 mins, it's a soft floral with the lightest touches of warmth and sweetness to it. Aww, I hope my skin doesn't eat this scent... An hour or so later, it's warm and pleasant, but very faint. Finally: I'm torn... It's pretty, but has NO throw on me. :/

Initial impression: Mainly gardenia, but with a dark background – patchouli? First on: All roses and gardenia, guh. Dry: After 10 mins, it's a heavy floral. It doesn't go bleh on me, but I'm not big on the florals overall. 20 mins later, the amber and patchouli are coming through more, warming the scent nicely. Finally: A very, very pleasant scent, but I'm not much of a floral person. Passing it on.

Initial impression: Sharp and earthy! Floral but dirty. First on: It sort of smells a bit like... rotten fruit? Dry: After 10 mins, it's a heavy patchouli with something like cat-pee in the background. Not a huge hit with my skin chemistry, this one. Finally: Passing it on!

Initial impression: Intensely floral, but not to the point where my nose itches, at least! First on: Green, green, green – guh. Dry: After 10 mins, it's a heavy floral, without any very distinctive notes. Another half an hour later, it has mellowed to a more resin-like scent, with florals in the background. Finally: An okay scent, but not my style. Passing it on!

Initial impression: I don't do florals, but it smells quite nice in the vial – tonka with jasmine. First on: Mm, heavy on the tonka so far – I like that! Grapefruit is definitely playing in the background. Dry: After 10 mins, it's a vibrant mix of grapefruit and intense florals – makes my nose itch. Another half an hour later, it has mellowed quite nicely, and it's not super floral anymore. Finally: I'm torn. I don't do florals, but it works better than most I've tried – I sort of like it. Maybe I'll keep it as an emo scent (ceaseless longing and all that).

Initial impression: Pineapple, spice and apples – an intriguing mix I must get to know better! First on: Straight on, it's all apples on me. Peculiar! I didn't imagine I'd amp that fruit so much. Dry: After 10 mins, it's a bit more varied, but it reminds me a bit too much of potpourri, or soap. Hope it clears up! Finally: It didn't, really. It remains potpourri, which disappoints me so. I had such high hopes for it!

Initial impression: A soft floral, but not the kind that makes my nose prickle, luckily. First on: Wet, it smells like my mother's opium perfume, but with something playing in the background, not sure what. Dry: After 15 mins, it's still a light floral with the softest hint of myrrh. I crave more pomegranate. Another half-hour later, the myrrh has taken over, and the florals stay in the background. Much more pleasant! Finally: I don't love it, but it is my sign, so I think I shall keep it for birthday or generic Aquarian uses, heh. It's a nice scent, if not very spectacular to me.

Initial impression: Heh, smells like lemon fairy liquid to me. First on: Bright citrus in a weird combination with soothing lavender – how appropriate! Dry: After 10 mins, it's harder to define – all I can tell you is that it's calming and buzzing all at once! Another half-hour later, it's faded a lot and gone soapy on me – aww. Finally: Fun to try! Passing it on to the boyfriend just for the name.

Initial impression: It smells oddly... like a fresh floral and citrus, and metal. I'm intrigued! First on: It smells slightly like cologne and cool metal on me – how strange! Dry: After 10 mins, it really does remind me of the scent of greasy metal – I'm impressed. 20-30 mins later, ”mechanical” is the only appropriate word for this scent. Amazing. Finally: I'm impressed. By default, this goes to the boyfriend, but damn, it's almost a keeper for me personally! But no, it was intended as a gift.

Initial impression: It's nearly boozy in its wet state, and a riot of sweetness, without feeling very foody. First on: A strange mix of fruity sweetness and something more... oily in the background. Olive oil? Not sure. I'm not overly thrilled at this point. Dry: After 10 mins, it's disgustingly boozy on me, the way rum usually is. Guh, no, this has to be washed off. Finally: Dang, this really just mutated on me. A shame... Swapping/selling.

Initial impression: Mm, it really smells like hot chocolate! With the slightest hint of coffee. First on: Rich chocolate, milk, and a light sweetener. This is... orgasmic. Dry: After 10 mins, it's mostly coffee on me, which is a bit of a disappointment. Half an hour later, it's all coffee and sugar – no cinnamon, no chocolate anything. Finally: I loved this in its wet state, but alas, the drydown coffee turned out to be oh so headache-inducing. Swapping.

Initial impression: Boozy – and exactly like egg nog! First on: The rum is quickly trying to mutate on my skin into the sickening smell it always does on me. Please behave, rum! Dry: Dried, it's gone from icky boozy to the peculiar smell of wet socks on me. Finally: I wanted to love this one. Doh! Swapping/selling.

In the vial: It reminds me of Lilith (heavy on the wine), but with a chocolate-like background. I’m slightly enchanted now! Wet: It’s all cocoa (oh gods, the delicious chocolate!) with splashes of red wine, patchouli and sandalwood. It’s so good, it’s maddening! Dry: It has softened now and it’s not nearly as strong – gentle musk and amber, with a hint of wine and patchouli. Finally: It’s not nearly as delicious once it’s dry, but I’ll hang on to it purely for the wonderful wet stage.

In the vial: Snake oil and fruit – something like lime and guava! Wet: It’s fresh and fantastic! I’m delighted at this point – it really does remind me of the guava in Nocturne Alchemy’s Sobek oil. It’s delicious. Dry: After 10-20 mins, it’s gone more rough and salty. Maybe it’s the gunpowder, wood and “sea air” in combination. 40+ mins after application, it has mellowed out quite a lot, and it’s barely noticeable. Finally: A few hours later, it’s rich and incensy, very masculine, with a light splash of sea water. It’s a scent I’ll let my boyfriend try, mwahahaha!

In the vial: I can hardly smell anything in the vial – some very soft floral, then nothing. I expected to be attacked by a scent o’ pirates! Wet: Fresh on my skin, it’s still incredibly soft – a whispering floral, and the tiniest hint of leather and possibly tobacco. Dry: After 10-20 mins, it’s still so soft I fear it has just… vanished. I can smell date, though – yay! There’s an almost creamy note lingering in the background, too. 40+ mins after application, it’s still subtle, but it’s warmer, sweeter, and a touch more exotic. Finally: It took me an hour to like it, but I enjoy it now that it’s all warm and exotic. It’s a bit too subtle for me (my skin eats the scent almost immediately), but I think I’ll see how it ages… Keeping, for now.