Statius’ Phoenix

[LizziesLuck]

Isis, once stalled in Phoroneus’ caves, now queen of Pharos and a deity of the breathless East, welcome with sound of many a sistrum the Mareotic bark, and gently with thine own hand lead the peerless youth, on whom the Latian prince hath bestowed the standards of the East and the bridling of the cohorts of Palestine, through festal gate and sacred haven and the cities of thy land. Under thy protection may he learn whence comes the fruitful license of marshy Nile, why the waters abate and are hemmed within the banks that the Cecropian bird has coated with clay, why Memphis is jealous, why the shore of Therapnean Canopus makes wanton revel, why the warden of Lethe guards the Pharian shrines, why vile beasts are held equal to mighty gods; what altars the long-lived Phoenix prepares for his own death, what fields Apis, adored by trembling shepherds, deigns to graze, and in what waters of Nile he bathes.

Pomegranate root, honey, white cedar, and frankincense.

The Lab mistakenly sent me a bottle of this instead of one of the Yules I ordered. I generally don't like wood in scents (though occasionally I am surprised and do) so I likely never would have tried this otherwise.

In the bottle: Sweet. A bit dusty. I can pick out something fruity and hints of wood.
Wet: Holy cedar! I smell like a tree. It's actually really nice, and if I wanted to smell like a tree I would love it. There's an earthiness and a spiciness to it. It's very warm, nowhere near as sweet as in the bottle, and I'm not getting any fruitiness now.
Dry: The cedar subsides, but is still prominent. It's sweet, and some of the initial fruitiness returns, which is unexpected, as I didn't think pomegranate root would be fruity, but I think that's what I'm smelling. I don't get any of the Frank. Overall, this is quite nice. It does eventually get a bit dusty. I am still undecided whether it's something I would wear, but I think it's worthy of a full-day test. It's not very strong, not a lot of throw, but I only tested a very small amount.

[Psuke]

Decant

 

In the bottle this is mostly sweet - honey sweet, with a bit woodiness. After dry down the frankincense comes more into play, and there is just a hint of fruit, but it's mostly rich honey sweet. Which is just fine with me - I love my honeys. This definitely deserves a place in my honey scent collection.

[JazzieCazzie]

My concern with this going in was how much the pomegranate would come into play.

 

IMP: Fruity, indeed, and very sweet but neither one to a fault.

 

WET: The predominant note when wet is actually the honey, not the pomegranate. I love Beth's honey note but tend to have problems when something is TOO sweet on me. However, the sweet factor (mostly honey but some pom in there as well I suspect) is so perfectly balanced by the frankincense and cedar while it's wet that it's just a great combination.

 

DRY: As I feared, once dry, the two sweet notes really overpower the wood/resin.

 

OVERALL: This is actually an absolutely GORGEOUS scent, just brilliant, but on me as a perfume with my body chemistry I couldn't wear it because the sweetness would overpower me. However, if this was made as a bath oil, I would buy it by the gallon.

[zankoku_zen]

Juicy pom, sweet honey and frankincense. This one is a smooth, sweet well blended pom/resin blend. Not too fruity, not too sweet, not too dark. Just sort of the perfect amalgalm of all three. Low throw, good wear length.

 

Pom, sweet, resins.

[Little Bird]

I'm into honey lately, and I love honey mixed with frankincense, but the pomegranate and dusty/powdery undertone ruin this one for me. I was hoping that pomegranate root wouldn't be so fruity, but it still smells like sweet tarts candy on my skin. Tart, fake-fruit, sweet honey, dry wood, and a dusty/powdery feel overall.