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- Today
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Ancient and unhurried, warm and resinous incense smoke curls through a palace that has stood since before the dawn of history. Amber sparkling like Byzantine beadwork, poppy petals, sweet frankincense smoke swirling into ornamental flourishes, feathery white orris. Gilded with ancient tales, this perfume dries into something akin to the inside of a forgotten reliquary box: sacred objects, old wood, petals pressed flat by the weight of centuries.
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Among the many botanical curiosities that populate the traditions of Hoodoo, folk magic, and conjure, few possess the quiet majesty and enduring reputation of Queen Elizabeth Root. Known botanically as Iris germanica and commonly referred to as orris root when used in perfumery and herbalism, this humble rhizome has long been regarded as a potent spiritual ally. Beneath its unassuming exterior lies a symbol of feminine sovereignty: a root associated with love, authority, charisma, and the cultivation of personal power. The dried root itself offers a small lesson in patience and transformation. Hard and unyielding when whole, Queen Elizabeth Root does not readily reveal its fragrance. Once cut, grated, or pulverized, it releases the soft violet-like sweetness that has made orris root prized in perfumery for centuries. Within Hoodoo and related folk traditions, Queen Elizabeth Root is revered for its association with attraction and magnetism. It is most frequently worked by those seeking to draw love, deepen romantic attention, or cultivate passionate connections. Yet its influence extends beyond the sphere of romance. The root is also valued as a charm for increasing charisma and popularity, encouraging eloquence in communication, and strengthening one’s authority in relationships or negotiations. It is believed to help its bearer command respect and secure favorable outcomes in situations where influence and presence matter. Because of these qualities, Queen Elizabeth Root has traditionally been regarded as an emblem of feminine power. Carried as a talisman, it is said to enhance personal magnetism and reinforce one’s ability to shape the circumstances of one’s life. In folklore, the root is sometimes linked with figures such as Queen Jezebel, another symbol of commanding presence and irresistible allure. Beyond matters of love and influence, Queen Elizabeth Root is also associated with inner perception. Some traditions hold that it may aid in prophetic dreaming or support divinatory work, subtly opening the mind to intuition and symbolic insight. In this role the root becomes not merely an instrument of outward magnetism but also a key to inward awareness, encouraging the practitioner to listen more carefully to the quiet language of dreams and omens. The iris plant itself has long carried associations with nobility and elegance; its flowers appear in royal heraldry and classical gardens alike. In sorcerous lore, this regal imagery becomes concentrated in the root. To carry it is, in a sense, to carry a fragment of symbolic sovereignty: a reminder that presence, dignity, and charm are forms of power that can be cultivated and consciously directed. Thus Queen Elizabeth Root occupies a distinctive place within the landscape of folk magic. It is not a tool of aggression or coercion but one of magnetism and influence, working through attraction rather than force.
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On initial application, this blend is reminiscent of pear jelly belly beans. So far the blend is sweet and ever so lightly green. Will report back with more deets as this wears
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In the bottle and upon application I get all deep roots, all the time. It reminds me a bit of valerian root, actually. As it warms and blends with my skin chemistry, I get those tendrils of orchid in the mix, but this isn't an orchid-forward scent. It's very much "root first, orchid distant 3rd". As I stated elsewhere, my purpose in obtaining oils from this line are for root working purposes, so scent is secondary. I'm an artist and craftsperson, which is why I snagged this, and in that regard, I have full confidence in how well it'll boost those energies. The scent itself is quite subtle, with exceptionally low throw (still, mileage varies, so test before slathering!). I see wearing / anointing / utilizing this really for its magick properties mostly. If I *do* choose to wear it, I will likely layer it with something else that has a little more aromatic presence. But it's unassuming enough that layering options are nearly endless.
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In the bottle and when initially applied, I mostly get something quite soft and round in feeling and scent. Based on the description and above review, I was not expecting this at all, but here we are. Shortly after application, as the scent warms and blooms I have a most peculiar association- that of a house-made Samhain incense that I used to always pick up from a witchy shop in the East Village called Enchantments. I've NO idea what is in their incense, but the resemblance- though fleeting- is truly uncanny. As the spicy-incense-y vibe begins to fade, it is replaced by a fresh resurgence of the "soft, round" scent I experienced initially. I'm generally very good at picking out individual notes but here they are so well blended that I am unable to get much beyond "gently peppered; vaguely floral". Since I anticipated getting the At The Root scents really to boost by own footwork, fragrance is far less important to be than intent. I feel strength and well-being from the small amount I've anointed myself with, so as far as I'm concerned, this bottle is exactly right. ❤️
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Terrible Moon: White Sandalwood and Cacao Lotion
VioletChaos replied to doomsday_disco's topic in Lotion
I get equal parts of sandalwood and cacao but neither are what I was expecting. The scent is, indeed, quite bone dry as already mentioned. So much so that when first applied there's something akin to a cologne undernote that I found a bit jarring the first time I applied this. But that evaporates pretty quickly and the duo settle more into themselves. This scent like some other recent releases with cocoa or vanilla notes is in no way foodie, so if that is your whole jam, you might not be into this without forewarning. That said, I have found this scent to be an absolute delight on its own terms. In fact, I've taken to putting it on just before bed both to moisturize my skin (as with all of the Lab's lotions, this one absorbs and moisturizes with ease, and I only require a small amount, so I forsee this bottle lasting months!) and also to act as my bedtime fragrance. It's present in its scent but not overpowering so that it would keep me awake. I could also see putting this lotion on after, say, a day at the beach, and that it would likely mix beautifully with remnants of SPF cream, saltwater and sun. -
Coyote Moon: Cacao Dust and Ashes
VioletChaos replied to doomsday_disco's topic in Duets & Menage A Trois
In the bottle and when first applied, the cacao reads almost exactly like the creamy confection that is Bliss: all milk chocolate, all the time. But pretty quickly upon warming and merging with my skin, it starts to shift. I honestly had no idea what to expect from an "ash" note, and after reading doomsdays's review it makes sense that it would be related to embers in a fire, but when I ordered it, I was just thinking "I've never experienced an ash note, so I really need to know what that would be like!". As with the other Coyote Moon duet I tried (Vanilla Incense and Tonka Bean), this is a study in contrasts and also in wiping out preconceived expectations. As with that Duet, one of the most immediate things to take note of is this: whatever your experience with gourmands, toss those out entirely, because that will NOT be present here. In the same way that a child will be deeply disappointed by taking a bite of baker's chocolate, so too should you forget everything you know about chocolate scents. all final vestiges of Bliss vanish and are replaced by another bone-dry version of a typically sweet note. The ash swoops in acting very much like the dying embers of a campfire, and the combination of the two feels like sitting in the desert at midnight, tendrils of a remaining smoke from the camp riding a soft breeze of creosote and moonlight. low to medium throw, I will wear this in the ensuing months on breezy summer eves and layered with woodsy scents for hotter summer days. ❤️ -
Coyote Moon: Vanilla Incense and Roasted Tonka Bean
VioletChaos replied to doomsday_disco's topic in Duets & Menage A Trois
I didn't get Coyote Moon itself but the idea of a vanilla and tonka scent was too compelling to pass up, and I'm glad I didn't. The vanilla is definitely a "dry" one- gourmand fans are likely to be disappointed if they're hoping for something skin to frosting or cake. But if you can take this vanilla on its own terms, it can very much appreciated. I agree with the previous review that there's nothing head-shop-y about the incense note here. It really does remind me of exactly what it says it is- a bone-dry vanilla that is neither powdery in its dryness nor sweet in its vanilla. The tonka here is a treat. I love Tonya's ability to smell vanilla-like, resinous and like sweet grass all at the same time, and it accomplishes all three here in the mix. It's got a slight cologne vibe in the bottle and for about an hour after application but then it settles fully into being a nice, understated, slightly sweet but also groundedly earthy scent that lasts all day. Low to medium throw and a good scent for this looking to broaden their vanilla horizons. -
What a pretty rose! There is definitely some dirt here, but there is also so much lovely rose happening. The scent mostly stays quite close to my skin, but I do get gentle wafts of it occasionally and go, "Wow that's gorgeous. What did I put on?" it is not sweet or fluffy, and I definitely get a dusty quality which I love and fits so well with the concept of a dried rose 🥰 this only has a skiff of dirt at any given time for me, rather than fistfuls, but I have Graveyard Dirt Redux to bump that up with a fun layering opportunity if I desire. Feels a tad cold, so nice.
- Yesterday
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The very floral honey is for sure the strongest scent note and the tea while present is very meek and only shows itself well into the dry down but it’s lovely very similar to the tea note in London fog cream pie which is amazing. And while I don’t know that I get boba I do get a hint of a molasses-y smell that kind of reminds me of the brown sugar syrup that boba typically lives in.
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This is all about the spice for me, aggressive fall spices in there, cinnamon for sure maybe nutmeg as well. I don’t get any fig but the cream is putting in work to temper it so it’s not just a fall yankee candle smell. Its sweet and the honey isn’t floral which is what I was afraid of but the spice is much more the forefront than I would have preferred.
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Super fresh super pretty, it’s mostly a bright crisp apple and something with a bit of depth to it, I want to say it’s the patchouli but whatever is it’s very subtle and almost woodsy. It reminds me of a very fancy high end shampoo, this would be amazing as a hair gloss.
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Pulling this out in 2026, I am in love! It is a perfect white musk with a gorgeous vanilla overlay. I am guess the vanilla has come out with age. Funnily enough, I get none of the mint others have mentioned, but instead pick up a light floral heliotrope.
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struggling to articulate anything different than what is already in the description: "sharp green opening ✅ that quickly settles into dry soil ✅, resin, and a faint sweetness ✅ reminiscent of sap and old wood. There is a subtle heat to it, peppery ✅ without being hot, and a clean bitterness ✅ that reads as clarifying rather than harsh." not really a scent that projects much, but still has its own sort of presence.
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Beaver Moon: Coconut Cream & Guava
VioletChaos replied to doomsday_disco's topic in Duets & Menage A Trois
I think my experience was a bit more balanced than either of the above folks. In the bottle and definitely when first applied the guava comes out in full force. As it warmed up, it got even stronger, almost to the point of it being like a Guava Single Note. After drydown, it settled down a bit, but in a way where it came into balance with, instead of dominating, the coconut cream. The coconut in this scent is delicate and soft- this is not overtly food-y, not does it veer into suntan lotion territory, nor is it the "cool" coconut note of, say, Obatala. Saying it's a coconut *cream* is actually very accurate as it really gets to the vibe of it in the blend. In all: a low throw, close-to-the-skin scent, gently tropical without being "HI I'M FRUIT SALAD", this is a delicate daytime scent perfect for warm weather (or dreaming of the same). I anticipate getting a lot of wear out of this over the summer! 🥥❤️ -
"O lady, my heart" indeed! she really had me at rose resin, but every single other note enhances and complements it perfectly. not too much of any one thing: touch of fig, sprig of thyme, dab of orris, drop of olive, smudge of myrrh. to the point that it's almost not a rose scent, it's a poem. soft and subtle and lovely.
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I wanted to try all the new Inspiration category scents so I just snagged imps of each one. I don't always love red musk or orangey scents tho, so I wasn't anticipating swooning so hard for this! it reminds me of a shunga from 2024 that I love (Hallway of a Train Station) but the sparkling mandarin takes the place of lilac cologne, making it sufficiently different to covet, slightly more summer appropriate, and irresistibly sniffable! if smoky plum with a pop sounds good to you, I recommend giving this one a try.
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this one is as it's written-smoky frankincense. i definitely get something stony as well. i get the cedar but no beeswax. a very churchy incense indeed. i need to re-try in cold weather to get the full effect though, but it's a nice smoky incense.
- Last week
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Ylang ylang and moonflower are a real match made in heaven, they're bringing out the best in each other, and the stargazer lily is a graceful addition. Overall, it's a nectarous nocturnal floral with a sweetly spicy edge to contrast with the lunar glow. These spice-like and skin-warm and eerie ghostly qualities mingle under a fine honeyed glaze that quietly meets the sun-baked earth, a bit dry and crumbly, a little bit reminiscent of some sun-dried desert plants. Flower Moon nimbly side-steps all the pitfalls some of the more controversial notes can bring - there's nothing over-ripe about the ylang, nothing funky going on with the honey, nothing mushroomy about the earth. The perfume is such a lovely match for the label art, a reminder about the hidden world of bats as pollinators, fuzzy velvety little fairies nuzzling into glamorous night-blooming flowers. The earth and balsamic dark amber merge into an enticing, complex incense accord that lingers long after the finely defined florals dissipate into an ambiguous moonlit glow. Somehow this is simultaneously very "natural" and very "perfumey," which I love. Gorgeous!
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I'm sorry for even writing this. I really thought this was going to be a winner and it was great in the vial. But something unholy happened on skin and that funky note others are mentioned turned to, let's say, butyric acid. Just a little, under the surface, making you keep sniffing and wondering if you're losing your mind and then NOPE no you're indeed smelling that.
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Definitely a subtler, more delicate scent on me. I get a lot of agave, which is a thinner, sharper sort of sweetness than the lab's lush and perfumed honey note, and some pale, cool-toned florals, I think primarily ylang-ylang. As it dries I get the dry earth in the background gradually taking up more space. I don't know how bpal gets the sun-baked quality but it feels distinct to me, with the dirt note dusty with that warm heat from the sun and a light herbal quality. The dustiness of this almost makes it feel like it should be tickling my nose, and the sharpness edges on uncomfortable for me. It's a sophisticated, complex scent that I find really interesting, but not precisely pleasant to wear; I was hoping for a lot more florals than I got on this one.
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This--is truly a high quality scent. I normally pause at buying ambers because it usually isn't my vibe at all, but I love lemony gourmands and had to try this. When I first opened the bottle, I immediately get a whuff of a golden, nearly soapy scent that reminds me so much of my grandmother's chestnut-leaf scented soaps (these soaps are I was only ever able to find in family-run pharmacies in Spain. I've no idea what they're called or what's in the actual soap, but they do give a golden, slightly herbal smell). This note then accompanies thick, golden honey (not the acidic acacia types, but like rawberry/manuka like honey), and I can then smell frothy vanilla cream, and a zesty, sweet lemon peel scent. This is how I pictured Chanel No. 5 would smell when I was a kid. It smells vintage, pretty, but it also smells like a pot of frothy Bon Maman mousse with near-caramelly honey. A perfume that nails its theme and makes you want to take a trip to St. Severin street.
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Bury me in spooky cereal!! Dry, pumpkin spicy goodness with a whiff of sweet cocoa underneath. The milk note is the drydown. This doesn’t have a serious throw to it, it’s more like if you sit near or hug someone that they will most likely notice you smell like some childhood favorite breakfast cereal that they can’t quite indentify. I bet it will age beautifully!
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This is a delicious smoky cloud of cacao, mascarpone and vanilla. The fig syrup showed up in the beginning but afterwards left the party. Very good... contemplating a bottle
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Carnation petals, not overly potent, just the right amount. I can also detect a woody spicy backbone.
