Nimthiriel

Initial impression: Mmm, smells like patchouli! Patchouli and amber, possibly. First on: Patchouli with a sweet background, almost like honey. Dry: 20-30 mins after application, it's mainly patchouli with something in the background. I can't tell what, though. Finally: I'm a sucker for patchouli, so I might hang on to this.

Initial impression: A soft, not-quite-floral scent... It's difficult to define. First on: Gentle, fresh aloe, with the occasional flash of something more aquatic. Dry: After about 10 mins, it's aloe and – yay, snowdrop! It's definately snowdrops, one of my favourite flowers. No berries, cedar or cypress, however. 20-30 mins after application, it's still a very soft and lovely aloe/snowdrop blend – cool and fresh, without being off-putting or in-your-face. Finally: I really didn't think I'd like this one this much – but oh, I do! Keeping, as a scent for summer days by the sea.

Initial impression: It's intensely floral and sweet in the vial, and it reminds me of mother's opium perfume. First on: Wet, it's still a heavy floral. Guh, please, less floral? Dry: After about 10 mins, it's still super-floral. Something more smokey lurks far in the background, but the florals are too overpowering. 20-30 mins after application, it's still floral to the extreme, and nothing else comes through. Finally: Gah, I wanted to love this one! Why must you be so floral? Parting with this one...

Initial impression: In the vial, it's stingy florals with something rotting in the background – peculiar. First on: It's a wild mix of notes at this point, and I can't make anything out specifically, but it's full of... withering or decomposing leaves, and it's not a cold scent at this stage – it's as if I've taken shelter in a pile of partially wet autumn leaves and its all warm and comforting and safe. Dry: 20-30 mins after application, it's warm and slightly spicy – probably the amber and saffron. It's still a ”comforting” type of smell. Finally: Mm, a keeper – a comforting and lovely autumn blend, not nearly as morbid as the title suggests.

Initial impression: It's soft and sweet and a tiny bit foody – it's pleasant and comforting. First on: Soft spices, warmth, comfort... it's a lovely scent right now. It's like I can't pick out the notes, but I get feelings from it. Good ones! Dry: After about 10 mins, it smells like red wine, oddly enough. Red wine and a little bit of foody spices. 20-30 mins after application, it's a pleasant and (still) comforting blend of wine and foody spices. I don't seem to be getting any of the notes themselves, just an overall impression of goodness. Finally: I like it. I was hoping for a bit more of the patchouli, but I'm not complaining – it's a lovely scent. I'll probably hang on to it, although I don't know what to use it for.

Dry, cold autumn wind. A rustle of red leaves, a touch of smoke and sap in the air. Initial impression: It smells a bit like wet grass – nearly aquatic, green, cool. First on: Prickly green, but also something oddly... crisp and dry, like dried autumn leaves. Dry: After about 10 mins, it smells like cologne, mixed with smoke and something else. 20-30 mins after application, it's like a slightly spicy, smokey cologne – how annoying, I wanted to love this one, but I can't. It's too... heavy on the cologne. It doesn't suit me. Finally: Drat, I'm going to end up letting this one go.

Initial impression: Strong patchouli! I love it, naturally. First on: Wow, this stains my skin! Yummy scent though – patchouli softened by ylang ylang. Dry: After about 10 mins, the staining is gone, and the scent is very feminine and sexual – patchouli girlified by the softness of the ylang ylang and the hint of myrrh. I can't specifically pick out any musk. 20-30 mins after application, it has softened a lot, but it's still warm, sexy and feminine in a very... raw way. Rawr! Finally: A keeper, at least for the moment. Yay for patchouli!

Initial impression: Sweet plum mixed with citrus and a light-yet-fresh floral. Oddly pleasing, really! First on: Currant and jasmine and lemon-that-goes-toilet-cleaner. Hmm. Dry: After about 10 mins, it's wet plum, with a slight touch of jasmine, but I'm not really getting anything else. Wait, maybe the slightest whisper of roses. 20-30 mins after application, it's turned mostly into dried roses and other dry potpourri. Finally: A nice scent, lovely to try, but it went a bit ”old lady” on me during the dry-down. Maybe it'll work better for someone else. Swapping.

Initial impression: Mmm, boozy and sweet, rich almonds! A beautiful and sensual scent. First on: The scent immediately gets warmer – almonds mix with strong hazelnut and a smell more like beer than proper honey mead. Dry: After about 10 mins, it's gone very ugh – the nuttyness of Judith Victorious meets the booze of Grog, both nightmares on my skin. This is gentler, a little sweeter, and not as disgusting, but it's really not for me at this point. 20-30 mins after application, it's softening, but it's still not doing well with my chemistry. Sad but true. Finally: Blasted skin chemistry! Swapping this one.

Initial impression: Stingy spices! Is that basil? Something like it, and maybe ginger. First on: It definately smells like dry ginger now, with hints of basil in the background. Very firey! Dry: After about 10 mins, it smells dry, hot, scorching, smoldering – ginger and basil, but intense. Woah! Fitting the description. 20-30 mins after application, it's a lot milder, but still fitting of the description. Finally: Fascinating to try! Not to me, but it was a cool experience. Or a hot one, I should say.

Initial impression: It does smell oddly smoky, yet floral. Hmm! First on: It's sort of smoky and nutty, so it reminds me of hazel or chestnuts. Dry: After about 10 mins, it's almost a little spicy, as well as nutty. 20-30 mins after application, it's faded entirely. Finally: No throw on me, and I didn't care much for what I sniffed. Swapping!

Initial impression: Mmm, dark and glorious! A very ”juicy” scent. First on: The amber is dominant in its wet state, with juicy fruits in the background. Dry: After about 10 mins, it has a great throw, and the scent has gone a bit more powedery yet balanced. Actually, it smells very much like unlit incense sticks right now. 20-30 mins after application, it's still towards the incense-like end of the spectrum, but I like it. Dark, soft and absolutely glorious! Finally: Keeper – I haven't got a clue what to use it for, but I love it.

Initial impression: I'm a little shocked at the first sniff – rotting fruit and stingy florals. :/ First on: For some reason, it now smells like banana peel and flowers. Dry: After about 10 mins, it's a floral soap. Ugh. 20-30 mins after application, the lovely frangipani really comes out. The rest is pretty much absent though. Finally: It turned into a nice floral after all, but floral ain't for me - swapping!

Initial impression: It smells like a dark-yet-light floral – fluidly undefinable. First on: Wet, it's all soapy roses to me. Guh. Dry: After about 10 mins, it's a very solemn rose. I can't pick out the musk and amber per se, but the overall impression is a ”sad” rose scent. 20-30 mins after application, the rose has gone soapy again. :/ Finally: I already knew roses and musk wouldn't bode well. Swapping!

Initial impression: In the vial, this is the gentlest whisper of jasmine – it's like a ghostly bouquet of white flowers. First on: Straight on my skin, the jasmine grows bolder, and there are other florals playing in the background as well. Dry: After about 10 mins, it's soft and cool – like a breezy summer night under the stars. How beautiful. The musk is warming the scent a little, too. 20-30 mins after application, it's a skin-close scent of light florals. It's very pleasant, but a tad too delicate for my taste. Beautiful, though! Finally: Swapping, but I was very glad to try it.

Initial impression: Like Tempest, I get the impression of a freshly split apple – the very scent of the juice when you cut it in two. Yummy and fresh! First on: The apple freshness almost goes a little citrus on my skin – indeed electric, cool and light. Dry: After about 10 mins, it's really citrusy on me. And boy, it has some throw! 20-30 mins after application, it has softened to a more pleasant scent – very fresh, rainy and, yes, electric! Finally: The boyfriend will love this.

Initial impression: So, I decided to see what the hype was all about – in the vial, this smells rich, warm and exotic. There's no other way of describing it! First on: While wet, the vanilla takes the backseat and the exotic spices in the Indonesian oils comes out to play. Yummy! Dry: After about 10 mins, this has gone a tiny hint play-dough on me. Dangit, I hope it clears up. 20-30 mins after application, it remains play-dough, with hints of spice. I'm a little heart-broken that this didn't work out. Finally: Too bad, so sad – I'm swapping this one. Oh well, at least I don't have to crave any Snake Pit scents now!

Initial impression: Mmm! In the vial, it's all almonds – all almond cookies, actually. I'm getting hungry. First on: It's still heavy on the almonds, but with a dry and spicy background. Dry: After about 10 mins, the almonds are more subdued and the exotic spices really come out nicely – and much less dryly than before. 20-30 mins after application, it has become more refined, royal and feminine – a very queenly scent! The almond is barely there at all now, and even the spice is very mild. I'm thinking this has no throw on me... Finally: This had a lot of promise, but it had no throw, so... swapping, me thinks.

Initial impression: It smells pure alright, but not like incense. Just... perfumy. First on: Wet, the generic perfume goes a little bit smokier, but not by much. Dry: After about 10 mins, it's a wonderful incense scent that has a slightly soapy base to it. 20-30 mins after application, the soapyness is gone and it's all wonderful incense smoke. Yum! Finally: Knew I'd love it. Keeper.

Initial impression: At first sniff, I get patchouli with something green in it. Hmm, I wonder what this might bring! First on: Wet, it smells exactly like carrots and wet soil - peculiar! Dry: After about 10 mins, it's as strange as ”dry orange” - it's a dry scent, powdery, but there's orange in it. Mm, and amber. Soft, warm amber! 20-30 mins after application, it's a really great blend for its theme – dry, sophisticated. And not too bad on the citrus, thank goodness. Finally: Keeping.

Initial impression: It smells like sea water – but sweetened, with a bubblegum hint to it. First on: Immediately on, it smells sweet and warm, like skin... Not piratey at all. Dry: After about 10 mins, it's a bit more masculine. Strong musk, salty and woody notes – yum! It's still not nearly as ”manly” as I'd thought it might be. 20-30 mins after application, the scent is all gone. o_O No throw at all. Finally: Swapping - darn!

Initial impression: It is fresh! Fresh, crisp, and – fruity! Like a newly split pear or melon, just not as sweet. First on: Now it smells like a freshly cut apple – it smells like the natural juicy ”flesh” of an apple. Mmmm. Or like apple peel – this is so cool. Dry: After about 10 mins, the fruityness has gone a little citrus on me, but it's still a very crisp scent. 20-30 mins after application, it smells exactly like aftershave, heh. I think the boyfriend will enjoy it, though! Finally: Once again, not me ”me” scent, but I got it for the boyfriend to try. A fascinating scent overall!

Initial impression: Tangy and clear is right – and it does smell like rain! Dark rain, the kind you get in a winter or autumn rainstorm. First on: Wet, it smells like wet rocks, wet soil, and decomposing leaves – a very cold autumn scent. Dry: After about 10 mins, it's only really describable as ”dark rain” - it's a really masculine, dark-yet-fresh scent. I think this would smell wicked on my boyfriend (whom I actually bought this for). 20-30 mins after application, the vetiver takes over on my skin, destroying the rainy freshness. How sad – hopefully the boyfriend's skin chemistry is better! Finally: An interesting scent, in short. Not for me, but then again, I bought it for someone else.

Initial impression: Mm, this smells like the green Thai spice we use for our favourite spicy dish at home! Dark, lush and strong. First on: Wet, it retains its dry spicy nature, and it's making me hungry because of my Thai food reference! On another note, this spreads like crazy – the drop on my hand has formed a giant wet patch on my skin, heh. Random! Dry: After about 10 mins, there's a slightly soapy background quality to it (ugh), but now I can smell the honeysuckle. If the soap goes away, this could be a winner. 20-30 mins after application, the soapyness has faded a bit more, and the honeysuckle really dominates. I wonder where all the spice went? Finally: The spice does return a little after a few hours. Hmm. I'll keep this and see if it ages well, I think. I'm not ready to give up on it yet!

Initial impression: I've been looking forward to trying this! *pets my precious decant* In the vial, it's a complex blend of cocoa powder, clove, orchid and peach – what a bewildering scent! First on: On my skin, it immediately goes 90% clove, with a dash of starfruit and the slightest hint of cocoa. I hope the clove will die down a bit, because it'd be awfully annoying if it ruined it for me. Dry: After about 10 mins, the scent is a complex harmony of a little cocoa powder, ginger, orchid and clove. It tries to morph into icky ”green scent” on my skin, but it's behaving for the moment. 20-30 mins after application, it has gone much more chocolatey – yay! Chocolate, warm peaches, sweet honey, glorious vanilla, stingy spices... Ahh. I enjoy this. Not as much as I'd hoped, but I like it! Finally: I'm holding on to this, I think. I'm very glad I got to try it!