Search the Community
Showing results for tags 'Bards of Ireland'.
Found 10 results
-
Grief and rage battering upon the waves: salt-crusted clove stem, flayed kelp, juniper, and white patchouli. Do I have to be first? Alright fine. The moment I unwrapped the bottle, I smell something salty and a little creepy and I haven't even opened the bottle. Promising already. ITB: Salt, kelp and juniper are the main notes jumping out at me. There's a bit of heat in the back of my nose that must be the clove, and I'm not getting anything distinctly patchouli, but I expect it's contributing to the deep feel of this perfume. Wet: The clove is much more apparent now, but it still maintains that salty seaweed sort of vibe. It really is amazing to be how salty this perfume smells, but not in a foody way. The clove has a bit of an orange feel to it, somewhat like cloved oranges in potpourri, and it keeps this scent from being gloomy. The juniper is present, but very much a background note, and I still can't get anything distinctly patchouli from this, though I expect the throw and slightly dirty vibe I'm getting are the patch in the background. Drying: The clove is much sharper, and the complexity of the blend has faded back a bit. I'd say most of what I'm getting is the clove and salt, with a bit of muskiness from what seems like the seaweed. Throw at this stage is all clove all the time. Dry: Oh this is just stunning. This has dried down into an aquatic without the aquatic note, and the salt and seaweed combo I loved from the wet stage is the prominent player now. I think I can pick out the earthy feeling of patchouli now, but it's still very much a background note. Don't let it scare you, because my skin amps patchouli to high heaven and I can only find a smidge of it in this blend. The clove is almost entirely gone, leaving just a trace of the orange warmth. This really was everything I had hoped it would be. The clove's warmth keeps the blend from feeling gloomy, and it has a sharp aquatic feeling without the aquatic note that often goes commercial perfume on me. It's bold enough for winter, but the dry stage especially has a very delicate feeling about it that I think I'll enjoy in the summer too. I get a really wonderful North Atlantic feel from this, and I think this is the closest I've come to pinning down a scent for the craggy seasides of my childhood summers.
-
Drawn away by the spirits, never to be seen again: an eerie veil of vanilla musk twirled with tuberose, Siamese red benzoin, cassis flower, Irish moss, white sandalwood, plum nectar, violet leaf, and apple petals. This is very pretty. I tried this on as soon as I received my bottle because I was so excited for it! On my skin, I'm smelling fae spices similar to those in Lady Una (which is one of my favorites), soft honey like benzoin, lush green moss and purple fruits. Sweet and spicy, mossy plums. Overall it is very mild and it does have an unearthly, ethereal feel to it. Very glad I got a bottle. If you like Lady Una, The Witch Queen, or Kitsune-Tsuki which all have similar plummy/vanilla vibes you'll likely enjoy this very much.
-
Impassioned patriotism cloaked in the guise of a love song: golden frankincense gilding pine pitch, sun-touched amber, and oakmoss resinoid. This scent is sex in a pine forest...for serious. When it's still wet on the skin, something about this reminds me of the earthy element in blood musk (minus the red) if that makes sense; however, this scent is far from red. The initial impression I get is dark green pine pitch with a resinous, earthy richness that reminds me of blood musk. As it dries, the frankincense shares the stage perfectly with the pine pitch and the two combine seamlessly. Golden amber does this thing that reminds me of body sweat (in a good way) and gives the blend a second-skin quality - which is quite a feat with a note like pine pitch. The oakmoss is barely detectable by my nose, but it serves as a reminder that this scent corresponds to a place. It grounds the other notes from taking on too much of a persona and instead makes me call to mind a location. Overall, this is gorgeous and will be taking a place in my collection. It is forest-like and resinous...and it really does remind me of gettin it on in a golden pine forest.
-
Out of the mid-wood's twilight Into the meadow's dawn, Ivory limbed and brown-eyed, Flashes my Faun! He skips through the copses singing, And his shadow dances along, And I know not which I should follow, Shadow or song! O Hunter, snare me his shadow! O Nightingale, catch me his strain! Else moonstruck with music and madness I track him in vain! - Oscar Wilde A wild, passion-inflamed skin musk with black pine pitch, brown leather, black clove, copal, white sage, oakmoss, patchouli, and saffron. In The Forest is a deep, dark, resinous, mysterious scent. It borders on the extremely masculine side. My first reaction was that the pine pitch was over powering. Next was that the brown leather smelled like new shoe leather. Strong and gaining power even when the sage and oakmoss make their very meek appearance. The patchouli and clove only adds more strength and spice to this already potent mix. All in all, this is just too masculine for me. I love all the notes but I am afraid that this combination will only get stronger with age. I will pass this one to my son who will no doubt love it.
-
THE LITTLE BIRD Traditional Little bird! O little bird! I wonder at what thou doest, Thou singing merry far from me, I in sadness all alone! Little bird! O little bird! I wonder at how thou art Thou high on the tips of branching boughs, I on the ground a-creeping! Little bird! O little bird! Thou art music far away, Like the tender croon of the mother loved In the kindly sleep of death. Night air, wild jostaberry, melancholy thistle, meadowgrass, marsh marigold, and butterwort. I'm first? Yikes! Okay, fresh out of the bottle, The Little Bird smells cool, bright and fresh - I definitely get the grass note, and the 'night air' reminds me a lot of Wolf Moon. The flowers are green and wild - not too sweet - but quite tame and subdued. The marigold comes up in the drydown. This blend does not have a lot of throw on me, nor is it particularly long-lasting...and it's soapy. I like this one. It smells happy - like Spring.
-
Up the airy mountain Down the rushy glen, We dare n't go a-hunting, For fear of little men; Wee folk, good folk, Trooping all together; Green jacket, red cap, And white owl's feather. Down along the rocky shore Some make their home, They live on crispy pancakes Of yellow tide-foam; Some in the reeds Of the black mountain-lake, With frogs for their watch-dogs, All night awake. High on the hill-top The old King sits; He is now so old and gray He's nigh lost his wits. With a bridge of white mist Columbkill he crosses, On his stately journeys From Slieveleague to Rosses; Or going up with music, On cold starry nights, To sup with the Queen, Of the gay Northern Lights. They stole little Bridget For seven years long; When she came down again Her friends were all gone. They took her lightly back Between the night and morrow; They thought she was fast asleep, But she was dead with sorrow. They have kept her ever since Deep within the lake, On a bed of flag leaves, Watching till she wake. By the craggy hill-side, Through the mosses bare, They have planted thorn trees For pleasure here and there. Is any man so daring As dig them up in spite? He shall find the thornies set In his bed at night. Up the airy mountain Down the rushy glen, We dare n't go a-hunting, For fear of little men; Wee folk, good folk, Trooping all together; Green jacket, red cap, And white owl's feather. - William Allingham Supping with the Queen of the Fae: apple blossom, white clover, huckleberry wine, dandelion sap, milkweed, primrose, thyme, pink moss, thorny thistles, and opium pod. Wet, this is a very soft scent floral, with a touch of sweet, fragrant apple blossom. It isn't cloying but is is very close to the skin. I like how the light floral mingles gently with the thyme, thistles, and moss. You know it's there but not one scent overpowers and takes over, everything blends perfectly with each other. After wearing it for an hour or so the resiny musk really starts to blend beautifully with the sweetness of all the other components and turns this into a glorious mixture.
-
When thou art hidden fears throng into my heart: I am as one who has found a treasure of gold Whom the stars watch And the winds threaten And swords wait in the dark. Or can the dream break, Curithir, into the cold dawn? Do not even the angels tremble gazing on us? For only within God's Dún such joy can live. Come let us dream, love, that we sail to the west And in enchanted islands are free of the sun And the cold blind eyes of the years that pass unheeding sorrow. O by the sweetness of love and joy like the piercing of spears I have known the vain life that dies beaten back to the sod, And the moan of all impotent things cries in my heart; For that which can wither the budding trees can wither love. O Curithir hast thou bidden the birds to sing of thee? They have awoken me to the grey sweet skies And the out-breathed light stealing over the stars. There is no bird whose song is not of thy love No laughter of sudden dawn winds whose joy thou art not – O that the world could know thou lovest me, Curithir! - Moireen Fox An hour of love, all-too-fleeting, set against the tumble and crash of the somber seaside: honeysuckle, ivy, white moss, and salty spray. When wet, this is so pretty-soft honeysuckle with really crisp greens, like I just broke a sprig of ivy right off the ground. The green was so sharp and had almost a sweetish sap smell to it. It was quite lovely mixed with the honeysuckle. Imagine being out in your garden early in the morning and picking a bouquet of honeysuckles and greenery for the table. You arrange them in the vase but before you wash up you notice an enticing fragrance-it's coming from you! Unfortunately, my skin ate this one right up and after an hour I couldn't smell anything. I really love this too. Is it worth carrying it around with me and reapplying? You betcha!
-
THE HARP OF CNOC I'CHOSGAIR Gofraidh Fion O Dalaigh Harp of Cnoc I'Chosgair, you who bring sleep to eyes long sleepless; sweet subtle, plangent, glad, cooling grave. Excellent instrument with smooth gentle curve, trilling under red fingers, musician that has charmed us, red, lion-like of full melody. You who lure the bird from the flock, you who refresh the mind, brown spotted one of sweet words, ardent, wondrous, passionate. You who heal every wounded warrior, joy and allurement to women, familiar guide over the dark blue water, mystic sweet sounding music. You who silence every instrument of music, yourself a sweet plaintive instrument, dweller among the Race of Conn, instrument yellow-brown and firm. The one darling of sages, restless, smooth, sweet of tune, crimson star above the Fairy Hills, breast jewel of High Kings. Sweet tender flowers, brown harp of Diarmaid, shape not unloved by hosts, voice of cuckoos in May! I have not heard music ever such as your frame makes since the time of the Fairy People, fair brown many coloured bough, gentle, powerful, glorious. Sound of the calm wave on the beach, pure shadowing tree of pure music, carousals are drunk in your company, voice of the swan over shining streams. Cry of the Fairy Women from the Fairy Hill of Ler, no melody can match you, every house is sweet stringed through your guidance, you the pinnacle of harp music. Gilded amber, tiare, golden sandalwood, vanilla, cardamom, and tagetes. I’ve been on the look out for a nice spicy creamy scent for the warmer months and when I saw the notes for the Harp, I decided to order a bottle unsniffed. This impulsive action has turned out to be one of my more rewarding risks. In the bottle, I get a creamy floral (probably the tiare), vanilla, and a very faint green note. This green note is vaguely herbal and leafy and probably comes from the tagetes (marigold) note. Wet, it’s almost the same except I think I get a touch of sandalwood. Once the drydown begins, I get tiare, vanilla, and the cardamom begins to emerge. It’s not strong, so if you dislike spices fear not! It hangs in the background, rounding out the scent. The marigold gets a bit stronger than I would like but it isn’t offensive and it doesn’t overtake the scent, almost fading away once dry. After the drydown, I’m left with a creamy golden vanilla with a hint of cardamom that adds a bit of spice and the barest hint of marigold (I have to stick my nose against my skin to pick it up). This is absolutely gorgeous! It is in the same family as The Girl and Okayaki and would appeal to mainstream perfume fans while remaining uniquely BPAL. It stays pretty close to the skin, which I prefer to oils with a massive throw, but it’s still going strong after two and half hours of wear. I know it sounds strange, but if the perfect golden harp had a scent, it would definitely be this. For the first time since Snow White, I’m contemplating a back up bottle. It’s that beautiful. Edited to add: Oh lord. I had no idea I was first. I hope the review proves helpful!
-
THE TRAVELLER Oliver Goldsmith Vain, very vain, my weary search to find That bliss which only centres in the mind: Why have I stray'd from pleasure and repose, To seek a good each government bestows? In every government, though terrors reign, Though tyrant kings, or tyrant laws restrain, How small, of all that human hearts endure, That part which laws or kings can cause or cure! Still to ourselves in every place consign'd, Our own felicity we make or find: With secret course, which no loud storms annoy, Glides the smooth current of domestic joy. The lifted axe, the agonizing wheel, Luke's iron crown, and Damien's bed of steel, To men remote from power but rarely known, Leave reason, faith, and conscience, all our own. A wanderer, poised at the point where three great countries meet, ruminating on government, nationalism, religion, and personal character: boot leather, pipe tobacco, and the dust of soft resins, herbs, and soil-flecked gravel picked on long, solitary travels. Since Meliai turned masculine, I thought wth I'll try dh's Traveller also. LOL In the bottle: LEATHER! Wet on the skin: Holy sh!t this has some throw. A little goes a looong way. It's still mostly leather, but this is one of the richest leather notes I've ever smelled. Honestly, it's just incredible and fits the description perfectly. Beneath the leather I can smell the herbs and tobacco and just a general feel of the outdoors. It's incredible and unlike anything I've smelled before. Drying down: It just gets better and better. Everything just blends together more and becomes more complex. I am beginning to get a bit of the gravel now as well, I think. This traveller is damn sexy. I will be slathering (well, maybe not slathering, it's quite strong) dh as soon as he walks in the door. It's easily one of my favorite oils that I've tried in a long time. It really does tell a story and paints a very vivid image.
-
Strings in the earth and air Make music sweet; Strings by the river where The willows meet. There's music along the river For Love wanders there, Pale flowers on his mantle, Dark leaves on his hair. All softly playing, With head to the music bent, And fingers straying Upon an instrument. - James Joyce White sage, white musk, honey myrtle, galbanum, lilac, and everlasting flower. In the bottle and when first applied I can smell citrus. This is from the honey myrtle. Is is light, fresh and soft, surrounded by an equally soft ethereal musk. I can smell more sage and musk with the honey myrtle than I can smell lilac (which is normally very fragrant) although it could be my skin chemistry. I have been wearing it for an hour now and it is still as strong as when I first tried it. Everlasting flower (according to wiki) is any number of flowers that can be used in dried bouquets. But again, I smell a fresh, crisp citrus with sweet, warm honey and musk, not powdery in the least. I am not disappointed in the least. I am not big on florals so this is a wonderful addition to my Spring and Summer collection.
