aClearInferno

Hunger.

.First Impression

Cocoa, with a hint of orange. Like a chocolate orange! Warm on the skin.

.Laters

The orange just peeks out, with a little clove, spice, or maybe incense. Something almost smoky.

.Last

Hot. This is definately a strong, "I'm hot, so come hither" scent. Me likey.

Vinland.

.First Impression

Something almost sickly-sweet, like the nauseous-grape note I got from the Black Tower. A little tangy.

.Laters

Turns magic on the skin. The nasty note is gone! Soft flowers, a little heady, but they remind me of Dublin. Intoxicating, yet relaxing. A little earthy, a little green. The tangy note is somewhat orange or lavender. Or clean soap. Or fallen leaves.

.Last

Comfy. Really reminds me of fall, so probably a good scent to aid autumn-nostalgia.

Brown Jenkins.

.First Impression

Wow. The scent completely eludes description, and it's irritatingly familiar. A little sharp and clear, almost flowery, something like unscented suntan lotion. Very attractive and comforting.

.Laters

Slightly sweet on the skin, growing cedar-y. Husky and woody (probably the orris), warm and dry.

.Last

Brown Jenkins is my little buddy. I wear him on the days that I'm afraid to meet (job interviews, presentation days, etc.).

The Bow and Crown of Conquest.

.First Impression

Woods, and something husky and almost nutty, like hazelnut. Way, way in the background, a hint of chocolate mint.

.Laters

Intoxicating and seductive, warm and pleasant. The woods continue, and the slightest coconut note peeks out on the skin.

.Last

Well, evil sure smells great. Definitely one of my tops. Pretty much good for any day.

The Black Tower.

.First Impression

Ack! <gag> Something like chocolate grape. Rancid grape. And rot. Sharp, vinegar-y, super-unpleasant.

.Laters

Nasty grape-ish note slowly fading, wooded/incense notes underneath. Quiet. Warm, spicy, smoky, and woody, like the heated boards in a sauna.

.Last

Much much better dry, actually one of my old favorites. Soothing for a long day that starts out bad.

Dee.

.First Impression

Incense, something almost chocolate-y/vanilla-y (probably the tonka), and a little cedar. Slightly sharp, warm, and musky/masculine.

.Laters

The chocolate-y/vanilla-y something is creamy on the skin, and the musk/incense carries a teensy licorice feel. Cedar/woods note grows as it dries.

.Last

Dee was one of my early favorites, and no one has been able to dethrone him yet. Best for inspired days (a "writing" day for me), when some deep thinking is in order.

The big one for me is the ultimate castle scent. One without pine, and without dragon's blood, and without food notes. I want stone and wood and tapestries. Problem is myrrh is such a good note for that, but my stupid skin won't play very nicely with myrrh.

 

Ultimate librarian scent. (Aziraphale's the closest, and I adore it - but I'd just love one LIKE that, but with extra musk, and a touch of pipe smoke. Just a touch.)

 

Ultimate woodlands scent. (one without pine, with more dirt, mushrooms, mulch and light wild-flowers)

 

Ultimate warrior scent. (with no dragon's blood. I want salt, leather, steel and sweaty musk.)

And I'm with you on the ultimate vanilla and berry scent. Tart wild berries.

I'm also dying for a castle scent. When you find it, I'll arm-wrestle you for it...

As for librarian, have you tried Clio or Dee? They've both got a nice parchment note that reminds me of books...

Woodsy scents that I've tried and loved are Fenris Wolf, Odin, and Tristran (the first two are a bit more woody than green, but they're wonderful all the same). You might like Arkham (the Lovecraft Arkham), although it turned to rubber on me.

I've also just ordered Yggdrasil, which I have high hopes for.

And for warrior, I'd go with The Bloody Sword or Bed of Nails (or even The Cracked Bell), since they have a nice iron feel to them...probably wouldn't hurt to mix in a smoke scent too, like Agnes Nutter or Djinn, for that "after-battle" feel.

Tristran.

.First Impression

Woodsy, dusty, and green, with a nice rose touch. This is how Arkham should've been. Rose sticks to the skin with something a little sharp (possibly the mint).

.Laters

Rose hangs in there, supported by a very green, somewhat mossy, foresty scent.

.Last

Very fresh, uplifting, almost innocent. Tristran to a T. Best for cool, rainy days and crisp, late autumn.

Jabberwocky.

.First impression

Eucalyptus, overpowering in the bottle and on the skin. Very strong, very potent menthol.

.Laters

Eucalyptus softens only slightly, letting in just a hint of very Christmas-y pine. The brute strength is dizzying, beginning to induce nausea.

.Last

Fades very reluctantly, a powerful force that lingers long after its assumed disappearance. Too strong for me. Best for wintery, cold days.

The Cracked Bell 2005.

.First impression

Light and airy in the imp, almost like ozone. Something sharp, cold steel and aftershave. Very soft incense on the skin, barest touch of faint flowers.

.Laters

Incense turns slightly smoky (lit by charcoal embers), reminiscent of a church funeral mass. Ozone/rain feel persists, with warm spice underneath. A hint of copper or possibly iron.

.Last

Beautiful. A warm, dense incense, still with a hidden, almost flowery scent. Best for quiet, cold days, for meditation and mourning.

Faustus.

.First impression

Flowers in the bottle, with a sharp touch of spice. Warm incense (most likely the frankincense) on the skin, replaced again by violet. Invigorating to the point of nausea, like being woken far too early in the morning.

.Laters

Frankincense wins, soft spice and powdery cinnamon; reminiscent of Christmas mulling spices or possibly sappy pine bark.

.Last

A bit too energetic for me, although later on makes a good meditation scent. Gets the limbs moving, so best for cold, dreary days.

Phantom Queen.

.First impression

Initally soft, very flowery (probably the orchid) out of the bottle; pretty, but not my tea. Stays very orchid-y on the skin.

.Laters

Flowers begin to fade, giving way to sweet undertones, suspiciously apple. <raises eyebrow>

Apple holds, crisp and fresh but not overpowering. Soft flowers still somewhere in the background, almost with a hint of lilac.

.Last

Not something I would name after the Morrigan.

Childlike (or possibly innocent), gentle, very feminine. Best for calm, rainy days.