Exalted Sol: Confidence

[zankoku_zen]

This is an oil that gilds one’s outlook with all the assurance and conviction of a yellow star in its prime, banishing shadows of doubt. This oil assists in affirming faith in oneself and one’s place in the cosmos.

 

Frankincense essential oil and tears (Boswellia sacra), safflower (Carthamus tinctorius), vanilla absolute and bean (Vanilla planifolia), bay leaf from the TAL garden (Laurus nobilis), rue essential oil, leaf, and flower from the TAL garden (Ruta graveolens), benzoin absolute and resin (Styrax benzoin), rosemary from the TAL garden (Rosmarinus officinalis), clove bud and essential oil (Syzygium aromaticum), balm of gilead (Populus balsamifera), beeswax absolute (Cera alba), cinquefoil (Potentilla recta), and sweet orange essential oil and peel from the TAL garden (Citrus sinensis).

[quantquill]

Reviewing this as a scent and my mental image of its confidence-boosting properties, since I didn't wear it in public.

 

Received a 5ml as part of a swap, and ended up waiting about 3 months before trying it. I'm reviewing it based on my experiences without looking at the notes, and then concluding with some comments on the notes. 8-)

 

In the bottle: Golden, floral fruit (peach or mandarin leaning). Delicious. Can't wait to skin test!

 

Wet: (Tried on my left arm only; small amount on back of wrist, front of wrist, back of hand). "Gold" but also a bit sour, heavier florals than expected, and cedar chips. Hm. That's really not what I expected from the bottle sniff.

 

After 5 minutes: Cedar is gone. Getting incensy floral (a bit like geranium). Still a bit of sour lingering, the way sandalwood can occasionally go sour on me. Does this have sandalwood in it? I'm wary of sandalwood after a few hurtful experiences, but I bought this back when I was exploring scent notes. Where's that fruit? I love that citrussy yum from the bottle. 😥

 

Walked around the house to get away from the "scent cloud" where I applied it and clear out the ol' nose. Got distracted making coffee and petting kittehz. 

 

After 30 minutes: Most of the heavy floral is gone, leaving a headiness that reminds me still of geranium mixed with sunflower. A hint of sharpness, like orange peel without sweetness. But I can also pick out frankincense (love frank! it's in half my collection) and maybe some myrrh? Or other similar type of churchy incense. Wow this blended down. Okay, what's in it?

 

Thoughts about scent vs listed notes: Wow, I definitely identify frank and orange peel (and orange in the bottle), but the rest are a mystery, since I don't know them individually and this is blended into a nearly seamless whole. Where's the geranium coming from? Is that the combo of rosemary with safflower and rue?

 

I'm so ignorant of what flowers smell like since I don't tend to like florals. There seem to be a lot, but looking at the notes reminds me why I chose to try this one -- hoping for dominance from clove, frank, orange, rosemary, vanilla and benzoin.  And there were no reviews, so I took a chance. 

 

So this review may hopefully help anyone else considering this purely for the fragrance. 

 

About the intent (exalted confidence):  I can *definitely* see how this would inspire big-ovary energy. It makes a statement.

 

I picture a 40 year old woman in a navy skirt and white blouse, no jewelry, a hint of cleavage showing, hair up in a bun, discrete makeup with lips more red than pink, wire-rimmed glasses where the wire picks up a rainbow sheen in the harsh light, at the Atlanta headquarters for an interview. She's riding the elevator to the 10th floor to meet with the heads of marketing, HR,  and operations about her application to run the Chicago office. The elevator cab has half a dozen men and one other woman. They're all silent, the only sounds rustling of cloth as the men keep glancing at her, taking in the briefcase and cleavage, trying not to look like they're looking. She wears a small, confident smile, chin up, looking at the doors but aware of the attention. As the other woman exits on the 9th floor, she leans close and whispers, "good luck!" 

 

(This isn't really a "me" perfume, because as an extrovert, I don't ride elevators in silence... I'm saying "hi" to everyone, smiling, commenting on someone's beautiful scarf or great tie, asking if anyone else is getting off at the 10th floor. Also, I'm nearly old enough to be this interviewee's mother, but if I did have a daughter or niece her age, going for a big promotion of an interview, I'd have bought this for her.)