mansku11

The absence of light: motia attar, black orchid, mugwort, English pear, cucumber, blue lotus, jonquil, massoia, calamus and crystal musk. Yes! I'm so glad someone else made the Sand & Sable comparison, because I got this a while back as a frimp but didn't try it 'til now, and that's exactly what it smells like on me! I also liked Sand & Sable when I was young, and this is kind of like a more mature and a bit more complex version of it. Wearing it today and quite enjoying it.

I was all set to buy a bottle (or more) of this after I first applied it. Most fruity scents are death on me, but this starts out as an utterly fantastic juicy citrus on top of sexy, sexy, musk. I think it's musk; smells like it on me and amps WAY up. Very bright and sweet but also a bit sinister and scary; layers of awesomeness. Alas, like the rest of the DD scents this time around, this one turns to yuck on my skin once it dries. Pretty quickly, this goes dry, powdery, plastic-like, and totally unlike what it was when wet. I don't think I've had any scent ever do such a weird turnaround on me. I'll let it sit for bit, and maybe it will improve enough to justify the bottle. I am pretty devastated about this one.

This begins as a really nice and realistic jelly doughnut scent on my skin. I was crossing my fingers for it because I love zombie flicks and this seemed like a fairly different sort of foodie scent that would actually work on me. Strangely, a lot of the Dark Delicacies scents are failing me on the drydown. This one turns into a weird Christmassy-smelling disaster on me, very strong and while not unpleasant, this kind of smells like a Christmas candle, one of the ones meant vaguely to smell like baked goods. For some reason there's a spicy bit in here that even my boyfriend with the untrained nose remarked smelled like "Thanksgiving". The red jelly isn't cranberry jelly, is it? Oh, well.

I thought I was crazy. I get exactly that same weird, kind of gross smell; and it REALLY amps up to the point of obliterating everything else. I really wanted to like this one, and it smells awesome in the bottle, like rich, golden incense. Maybe the fact that I amp that note says something about me!!!

Cockaigne, how you break my heart! I’ve been wanting to try this one for a while, as really all the Wanderlust blends intrigue me. Then I was frimped this by a generous forumite. In bottle and wet, this is to die for! Sweet honeyed cakes with a slight spiciness and what must be the wine darkening it up. A luxurious and mysterious scent that is surprisingly regal for being foody. It’s like some forgotten dessert concoction from the classical world. I’ve realized, however, that honey notes do not love me. Once this dries, it pretty much becomes a weird single-note honey. Gone is the glory and the mystery; honey killed it all! It turns into an oddly sharp, dry-smelling honey. Maybe I should just re-apply constantly…but the throw would probably kill those around me. I’ll give it another chance, maybe try it in a scent locket, but my high hopes for this one are a bit dashed.

I’ve been wanting Diwali but didn’t manage to get it at Yule; now I’ve finally snagged a bottle. In the bottle: I was expecting this to be headier/stronger. I’m just getting vaguely exotic sweets and spices; it doesn't knock my socks off. Wet on skin: When first applied, I get really pungent woods, and woods are my note of death. They really, really do not like me. However, Diwali morphs quickly and the spices soften up the woods to make a scent that smells like good curry. My heart starts beating again! Dry on skin: As it dries, the florals seem to come out as well as the various sweet things. I seem to smell the raisins most of all; I was hoping for more coconut, but this is nice and unexpected. This stage is so startlingly different from the first! Overall: This is the first BPAL I’ve tried that morphs so drastically! I don’t know whether that works for me, but it’s definitely worth some more tries. I bet it will age well.