Spectral Evidence
Category: American Gothic
Quantity: sample
Description:
SPECTRAL EVIDENCE
In the Old Manse, life lingers, quiet and unassuming yet screaming to be heard. Whispered in a whiff of perfume, a lingering scent of flowers wafts where nobody stood. A shimmering shape lends a glimpse of something that once was. Remembered as visions from a dream, the pieces fit together and the story unfolds. Are you listening? Someone’s trying to tell you something. Lilac, violet, peony, shimmering air
Review:
In the bottle: How incredibly soft! It’s light and floral, mostly lilac and peony, with a little bit of sweet violet.
Wet: It smells like a spring day, or a garden of fresh, delicate lilac, violet and peony. It’s adorable!
Dry: As soon as it started to dry, it turned soapy; and then, it disappeared... Too bad.
Verdict: I’m disappointed by the limited throw of this perfume; however, it might still be a good idea for my soap-making hobby.
Dana O'Shee
Category: Bewitching Brews
Quantity: sample
Description:
DANA O'SHEE
In Irish folklore the Dana O'Shee are a fae, elven people that live in a realm of beauty, their nobility akin to our that own Age of Chivalry, eternally beautiful and eternally young. They surround themselves with the pleasures of the Arts, they live for the hunt, and to this day can be seen riding in procession through the Irish countryside at twilight, led by their King and Queen. However, the Dana O'Shee are not benevolent creatures, despite what their unearthly beauty may imply. They are vengeful and treacherous and possess a streak of mischievous malice, and many have whispered that their true home lies deep in the shadowed groves of the Realm of the Dead. Hearing even a single chord of their otherworldly music leaves one stunned and lost to the mortal realms for ever, finding themselves prey to the Dana O'Shee's hunt or enslaved in their Court as servants or playthings. Offerings of milk, honey and sweet grains were made to placate these creatures, and it is that the basis of the scent created in their name.
Review:
In the bottle: At first, it’s mostly creamy honey, with a sweet cereal scent (oat?). I do smell a cherry or wild berry scent as well; but I wonder if I’m not hallucinating it, because it’s far behind.
Wet: Wow, this is sweet and delicious, with a touch of almond. It smells like it’s almost edible.
Dry: It’s still sweet, and it still smells like honey; but it’s much softer.
Verdict: I love it! I love foody scents, and Dana O’Shee seems perfect for all those occasions when a strong perfume might be overwhelming. I will probably buy a bottle of this one.
More reviews: Bewitching Brews: Dana O'Shee
Shoujo
Category: Anime & Manga
Quantity: sample
Description:
SHOUJO
Shoujo is all things girly! Images of fairy tales, summer romances, slumber parties, whispered secrets, giggles, best friends, boys, flowers, and those sugary sweet and innocent teenage years. Fushigi Yugi, Ayashi no Ceres, and anything from CLAMP offer Shoujo at its finest! Apricot, sugar cane, candy hearts, white florals.
Review:
In the bottle: It smells like apricot-flavoured candy, mixed with something floral, or a very sweet and fruity herbal tea.
Wet: Hmm, it’s juicy like a fresh fruit, as if you were biting into a delicious apricot. It’s still very surgary sweet, but the flowers balance the candy a little bit.
Dry: It’s so soft and lovely! I can still identify the powdery candy hearts; but overall, it’s a very peaceful blend.
Verdict: It’s soft, delicate, feminine, refreshing, and absolutely perfect for summer. I like it, although I’m afraid that it might be a little bit too young for me… but I do love it, so it’s on my “maybe” list.
Femme
Category: LGBT & More
Quantity: sample
Description:
FEMME
N/A
Review:
Ok, I’m going to look stupid, but I didn’t know the meaning of “femme”. In French, a femme is a woman, but I thought that was too broad. I searched for an expression with femme in it, and I found “femme fatale”, which was an interesting theme, of course, until I searched “femme” in Wikipedia and found out what it means. Well, at least I’ve learned something... On the other hand, a femme could also be a femme fatale, right? Anyway, let’s move on... The scent has no description, so this is going to be a challenge for my nose. I’m sure I’m going to be completely off the track with this one.
In the bottle: The first thing I think about is grape punch. It’s sweet and delicate, with a little something floral.
Wet: Now I have images of flower trees in bloom (maybe lilac?), and a fruit (peach?). Whatever it is, I still get delicate florals with something fruity and juicy.
Dry: This review is about to get worse... It reminds me of wine a little bit, but mostly of a fruit punch I used to drink when I was younger, which was made of grape, cassia, berries, and some other fruits I forgot. It’s not as floral as before, but it’s still sweet.
Verdict: I’m getting a retro pin-up feeling out of this one. It’s feminine, seductive, and very sexy!
Persephone
Category: Excolo
Quantity: sample
Description:
PERSEPHONE
Beautiful, radiant daughter of Demeter... her loveliness was so exquisite that even Hell itself could not resist her. Pomegranate and rose.
Review:
In the bottle: I smell mostly rose... ‘lots of it... I miss the juicy sweetness of the pomegranate.
Wet: I still get a lot of rose, but it’s already much sweeter, and fruity.
Dry: It is better, but... I still get so much rose! I don’t get that decadently juicy pomegranate other reviewers have smelled.
Verdict: Either Persephone loved the smell of roses beyond imagination, or this blend is still too fresh, and scents haven’t blended as much as they needed. Maybe I should let this one “age” for a few months, to see if it improves a little bit, it seems to work sometimes.
More reviews: Excolo: Persephone
Key Lime Pie
Category: Mary Jo's Bakery
Quantity: sample
Description:
KEY LIME PIE
A southern Florida treat loved by all. Fresh, tart key limes blended with sugar, egg yolks and sweetened condensed milk, all poured into a lightly baked graham cracker crust. This one will make your teeth ache!
Review:
In the bottle: An intense smell of sugary graham crust.
Wet: Sugar, cream (or milk), egg, and graham. The lime is very subtle.
Dry: Overall, it doesn’t have much throw, and the lime note quickly fades away.
Verdict: It’s sweet and creamy, but not for me. Another one in the “future soap” box...
Yules: Lick It Vigorously
Category: Limited Edition
Quantity: bottle
Description:
LICK IT VIGOROUSLY
What else could possibly be more lickable at Yuletide? This is a candy cane perfume, minty, sweet and sugared.
[Please don’t literally Lick It. I need no cheerful holiday lawsuits, thank you!]
Review:
In the bottle: Hmm, sweet mint... It’s very fresh, green, and maybe a little bit spicy.
Wet: A lot of sugar comes out as soon as it touches my skin! It smells like mint-flavoured candy, no doubt possible; it also feels very fresh... I might even say cold...
Dry: Strangely enough, it turned almost vanilla and floral on me (one day, I’d like to know what’s wrong with my skin chemistry); however, it’s still fresh, yet softer and more delicate.
Verdict: It’s a funny perfume, it really smells like a candy cane, sweet and minty, even though it turned soft on me.
More reviews: Limited Edition: Yules: Lick It Vigorously
Uke
Category: Anime & Manga
Quantity: sample
Description:
UKE
Whatever flavor, shy or outgoing, Ukes are the younger, more androgynous (even feminine) counterpart in the Boy Love anime genre of Yaoi. Fiercely loyal to their Seme, Ukes can be slightly annoying, but always cute in their devotion. Sexy and hot! Vanilla musk, cotton candy, cherry, cream
Review:
In the bottle: It smells like cherry cupcakes! I smell cherry, vanilla, sugar, and milk, in that order.
Wet: Indeed, it smells like Betty Crocker’s cherry cupcake mix… It’s drying into a mix of candied vanilla musk and cherry cream.
Dry: Now that it’s completely dry, I smell musky vanilla, and less sugar. The cherry note is also less intense.
Verdict: I love this one, it’s so yummy! What? It’s for boys? Who cares! It smells delicious and sweet.
Yules: Rose Red 2010
Category: Limited Edition
Quantity: bottle
Description:
ROSE RED 2010
The perfected winter rose, dew covered and freshly cut.
Review:
In the bottle: A velvety red rose, fresher than in a flower shop.
Wet: It’s a bit too strong at first, it’s annoying for my nostrils; however, it gets better after 10-15 minutes.
Dry: It’s much better now. It’s a delicate floral scent, feminine, romantic, and almost a sacred rose.
Verdict: For those who might be turned off by its initial strong throw, my advice would be to let it dry completely before judging it. It becomes subtle and almost sweet over time.
More reviews: Limited Edition: Yules: Rose Red 2010
Herbert West
Category: Picnic in Arkham
Quantity: sample
Description:
HERBERT WEST
Of Herbert West, who was my friend in college and in after life, I can speak only with extreme terror. This terror is not due altogether to the sinister manner of his recent disappearance, but was engendered by the whole nature of his life-work, and first gained its acute form more than seventeen years ago, when we were in the third year of our course at the Miskatonic University Medical School in Arkham. While he was with me, the wonder and diabolism of his experiments fascinated me utterly, and I was his closest companion. Now that he is gone and the spell is broken, the actual fear is greater. Memories and possibilities are ever more hideous than realities.
Aftershave, embalming fluid, and splatterings from a panoply of reanimation reagents.
Review:
In the bottle: Indeed, aftershave and citrus (or lemon). It’s definitively for men, but I’m curious enough to try it on.
Wet: Still a good dose of aftershave, lemon, as well as tea and/or something herbal and fresh.
Dry: Not so much aftershave anymore, but a refreshing lemony herbal scent.
Verdict: I don’t doubt this would smell different on a man (my skin chemistry tends to make everything turn sweet); however, whenever a perfume changes during drydown, a part of my brain says “make soap!” This psychological problem aside, I really liked it, the smell is clean and clear, and not as sinister as I thought it would be.
More reviews: Picnic in Arkham: Herbert West
Lava Rocket
Category: Starlite Oasis
Quantity: sample
Description:
LAVA ROCKET
Turn it on. Warm it up. Watch it erupt. Get ready for blast off baby! Cassia, clove, black pepper, molten musk, orange lava
Review:
In the bottle: I smell cassia, pepper, clove, and a little bit of musk. So far, it’s alright.
Wet: Hmm, spicy! I get clove and pepper first, then musk.
Dry: Now it’s just old musk...
Verdict: No, not my thing, it’s just too oldish, and maybe a little bit too masculine for me.
Ostara
Category: Limited Edition (March 2009)
Quantity: 5ml bottle
Description:
OSTARA
Ostara, or Eostre, is the Goddess of Renewal, from which the name
Easter evolved. In celebration of the movement toward the rising sun (East),
Ostara embodies renewal, rebirth, and fertility. Wild strawberry,
honeysuckle, rice flower, spring rain
Review:
In the bottle: Sweet, honeyed strawberry, with a floral touch underneath.
Wet: So far, the strawberry and florals mix well. The rice flower and spring rain are very subtle, of course, but I did not expect anything else.
Dry: Well, I have to admit this is lovely. It’s sweet, but not too sweet. Because it’s fruity, it might work fine on a young girl.
Verdict: If it was only the strawberry, this perfume would be way too sweet, but the flowers offer just the right balance between serious and playful. It’s a youthful, yummy scent, but it won’t turn you diabetic.
Lolita
Category: Ars Amatoria
Quantity: sample
Description:
LOLITA
Bright, sweet and youthful, but swelling with a poisonous sexuality. Glittering heliotrope, honeysuckle, orange blossom and lemon verbena.
Review:
In the bottle: It smells like lemony soap. It’s quite sweet actually.
Wet: I don’t know… Flowers and herbs bathing in lemon juice? On me, it’s a bitter-sweet poison, with a soapy scent underneath.
Dry: Probably my strangest association so far: do you remember the nasty old neighbour of your childhood, who used to burst open every ball that had the unfortunate luck of falling on her yard? Well, it smells like her.
Verdict: Poor Lolita… She fell into the claws of a pedophile and must have started to hate the world afterwards, or at least that’s what her perfume suggests. Honestly, if I get another sample of this one for free, I’ll throw it down the drain. (Note: I hate to waste, so I'll try to turn the sample I have into soap, or something like that.)
More reviews: Ars Amatoria: Lolita
Alice
Category: Mad Tea Party
Quantity: sample
Description:
ALICE
Curiouser and curiouser. Milk and honey with rose, carnation and bergamot.
Review:
In the bottle: It’s sweet and flowery. What I smell the most is a mix of milk and honey.
Wet: Initially, Alice is sweetened milk and flowers. I do smell a bit of carnation and bergamot, but not so much rose.
Dry: It’s still sweet and creamy flowers, but a tiny bit spicy (now that’s curious!). There is a little bit of rose hidden underneath the carnation, but it’s really not as strong as I thought it would be from the description.
Verdict: Alice is young and fresh, with a nice feminine touch. Because it reminds me of something edible (tea and cakes, how appropriate…), it’s tempting to describe it as the cousin of Dana O’Shee; or Katrina Van Tassel made better, thanks to carnation and bergamot. Either way, I like it, it will be perfect for spring.
More reviews: Mad Tea Party: Alice
B
Category: LGBT & More
Quantity: sample
Description:
B
N/A
Review:
In the bottle: Citrus and... bergamot?
Wet: Yes, I do smell a sweet herb such as bergamot, as well as citrus or orange.
Dry: Now, I’m getting something floral, possibly honeysuckle.
Verdict: It’s golden, vibrant, and the citrus scent smells clean, of course. Overall, it’s a nice gender-neutral blend.
Woobie
Category: In The Mood
Quantity: sample
Description:
WOOBIE
Every little one (and many of us larger ones) knows the comfort and security (as well as juju) a well-worn woobie can evoke. A woobie can be anything from a favorite blanket to a favorite pair of socks. Good Judy’s Woobie evokes the comfort and security (and the juju) of your favorite woobie. Warm, comforting, and soothing, Woobie surrounds you in a peaceful, secure aroma. Benzoin, vanilla 10x, styrax, labdamnum
Review:
In the bottle: Benzoin, vanilla, and spices.
Wet: The perfume is dark brown, and when I first applied it, it actually left a brown mark on my skin. Fortunately, I rubbed the area with my finger, and the mark disappeared; but still, this is one dark perfume! I smell the vanilla even more than before; but overall, it’s very soft and sweet (well, I guess that’s the point). Appart, from the warm vanilla feeling, it doesn’t smell that much, no matter how much I put on.
Dry: It’s still raw vanilla and benzoin for me. In fact, it makes me think of a vanilla cake on sleeping pills... weird image...
Verdict: Hey Sigg, have you ever thought of turning this one into a soap? I’m sure it could work for bath & relaxation products.
Marie
Category: Diabolus
Quantity: sample
Description:
MARIE
A blend of sinuous violet and elegant tea rose: the chosen scent of France's Demigoddess of Debauch: Marie Antoinette.
Review:
In the bottle: Mostly violet, and rose.
Wet: Apparently, my nose identifies the smell of violet very easily, and finds the rose a few minutes later. So far, it’s fresh and elegant, but a little bit soapy.
Dry: The first time I tried this one, in December, I thought it smelled like an old violet and rose potpourri (note: I had a cold and everything smelled the same). However, I can fully appreciate it today, and I have to admit Marie makes a nice transition from a sweet and fresh floral scent to a wicked violet.
Verdict: I’m growing fond of Marie, I might add it to my “maybe” list. It’s sensual, in a naughty way. On the other hand, if you don’t like violet, stay away from this one.
More reviews: Diabolus: Marie
Lucy's Kiss
Category: Ars Amatoria
Quantity: sample
Description:
LUCY'S KISS
Created to represent the essence of Bram Stoker's tragic heroine, Lucy Westenra. Seductive, wanton and deadly, but underscored with a soft, wistful innocense. The gentle scent of rose and a blend of Victorian spices
Review:
In the bottle: It’s a delicate rose, with a touch of sour spices.
Wet: At first, it’s a bittersweet rose; it’s soft and vulnerable. However, don’t be fooled by it, for it quickly turns into a spicy blend. Interesting…
Dry: Still spicy, with a bitter rose underneath. Hours later, the rose is completely gone, and all that remains is the sour blend of spices. I still can’t figure out which spices are in it though.
Verdict: I have to admit this one is interesting. It respects its concept from beginning to end. However, those spices annoy me after a while, so it’s probably not for me.
More reviews: Ars Amatoria: Lucy's Kiss
Maiden
Category: Ars Amatoria
Quantity: sample
Description:
MAIDEN
A gentle vision of purity, goodness and virtue: white tea, carnation and Damask Rose.
Review:
In the bottle: This certainly smells soft and feminine! So far, it’s mostly a blend of flowers, but the white tea is a sweet touch.
Wet: Carnation, carnation, and more carnation, with a little bit of rose, and a tiny little bit of white tea.
Dry: It does stabilize during dry down, but it’s still a lot of carnation! There’s still a little bit of rose, and what I believe is a trace of white tea, but it’s very subtle.
Verdict: Overall, Maiden is a nice spring/summer scent, but you really have to love carnation to fully appreciate this one; therefore, it’s just not for me. I know white tea tends to be tasteless, but I expected more of it. But still, it’s a nice floral scent.
More reviews: Ars Amatoria: Maiden
Forbidden Desire
Category: American Gothic
Quantity: sample
Description:
FORBIDDEN DESIRE
Desire is a powerful creature, shape-shifting yet solid as the imp who visits you during the night. The urge grabs a hold of you. Your every impulse demands action. Consequences be damned, as damned as the doer of the deed. Lust takes control. Your thirst must be quenched. How sweet the taste of forbidden desire on your lips. Right or wrong, desire has won. White chocolate, vanilla bean, sugared musk
Review:
In the bottle: Chocolate, and maybe a little bit of spiced vanilla.
Wet: It’s a lot of chocolate… It smells like cake, probably because of the little note of vanilla.
Dry: Chocolate and sugar overload!
Verdict: I’ve tried to wear this one a few times, and every time I did, I found myself with an uncontrollable need to eat a chocolate bar, or a piece of chocolate cake. This can’t be good for my health! I understand why it’s called “forbidden desire”… This foody scent is just too foody for me, but I can imagine very easily why someone else would love it.
Jolt
Category: In The Mood
Quantity: sample
Description:
JOLT
Wake up! Get revved and ready to go go go! Cuban coffee, black tea, double shot of espresso, spices
Review:
In the bottle: It’s spicy; I identify clove and pepper.
Wet: More clove! There’s some dark, maybe even black, coffee behind it.
Dry: Finally, I get the black coffee and black tea, but it’s still very spicy.
Verdict: Overall, it’s masculine-neutral; interesting, but just not my thing.
Honey Patch
Category: Resinate
Quantity: sample
Description:
HONEY PATCH
In the wild, unadulterated lands of the free, grows the honey patchouli tree. Earthy, warm, and golden. Patchouli and two sweet golden honeys.
Review:
In the bottle: Honeyed, sweetened patchouli; yet, the patchouli is quite strong.
Wet: What a sweet honey! I can’t decide if it’s herbal or floral (maybe both?), but I can smell the honey very well, and I can almost imagine its texture. Yum.
Dry: The patchouli comes out as it dries, but it keeps a good balance with the honey.
Verdict: This perfume has a little bit of a borderline personality, always on the edge between honey and patchouli. Honestly, patchouli isn’t my thing, so my enthusiasm was limited from the start. However, I have to admit that this blend is interesting.
The Unicorn
Category: Mad Tea Party
Quantity: sample
Description:
THE UNICORN
A misty, almost luminous perfume: wispy linden blossoms, white flowers, and a touch of sweet herbs.
Review:
In the bottle: A clean, fresh, and clear floral smell. It’s soft and light.
Wet: I get a sweet floral scent. I’m not accustomed to linden blossoms, so my first impression was something similar to lily of the valley, but I could be wrong.
Dry: It’s soft and faint. The herbs blend well together into a light, feminine scent. Unfortunately, it fades away very quickly.
Verdict: It’s lovely, but it doesn’t have much impact, which I think is really too bad because, otherwise, it would be the perfect blend for spring. On the other hand, someone who rarely ever wears perfume and wants to stay away from strong scents, would probably adore this.
More reviews: Mad Tea Party: The Unicorn
Diamond
Category: Limited Edition (April 2009)
Quantity: 5ml bottle
Description:
DIAMOND
April's birthstone, Diamond is known as the stone of innocence and purity, and inspires matters of the heart. Diamond is said to encourage self-confidence and independence and counteract jealousy. Diamonds are energy amplifiers so be cautious: it amplifies negative as well as positive. Diamond purifies and detoxifies all of the body’s systems, rebalancing the metabolism, and building up stamina, strength and treating allergies and chronic conditions. White peach, champagne, white hibiscus, white amber
Review:
In the bottle: It smells white and clear. It reminds me of my mother’s garden, with fruit trees and hibiscus plants around every corner.
Wet: Mostly hibiscus and peach, with a little bit of champagne and amber.
Dry: Slightly less peach, and more champagne and amber.
Verdict: What a clear and fancy scent! I think I just found my new “special occasion” perfume.
Fruit Judy
Category: Limited Edition
Quantity: bottle (2ml)
Description:
FRUIT JUDY
Fruit Judy is the companion blend to Flower Judy. All together, there are 21 notes, all fruit. A sweet and tangy mix of berries, citrus, and tropical delights!
This limited edition does not have a time limit, but rather a quantity limit. There are 50 2ml amber bottles (with screw-cap lids) available. These are not "shorties", but rather the tall thinner bottles for easier use. There is no formal recipe so this blend will never be recreated. Once they are gone, they're gone!
Review:
In the bottle: It’s a tutti-frutti! It’s not easy to identify the 21 fruit notes, but so far, I’m guessing apple, grape, banana, berries (strawberries, raspberries, etc.), and a few more I’m not so sure about.
Wet: Again, I’m guessing apple, berries, pear, banana, mango, pineapple… It’s sweet!
Dry: It turned a bit tangier, orange and citrus must have found their way through.
Verdict: What can I say… It’s a fruit salad! What’s interesting in this case is that those 21 fruit notes, once blended together, create something new. Everyone can tell it’s fruity, but no one can pinpoint a precise fruit note without hesitation. Personally, I can’t wait to wear this one next summer, although the bugs might fall in love with me…
