VioletChaos

I reviewed the 2016 version shortly after it came out but earlier this year I won a bottle of the 2007 version from the Lab in one of their eBay auctions, so I feel like there's reason enough to do a second, separate review.

I'll start off by saying I am absolutely one of the BPAListas that favors well-aged Snake Oil over the fresh stuff. And I truly mean the older, the better: I've got several bottles that have been quietly aging for years while I verrrrry slowly make my way through my precious 2006 10mL bottle - at this point, closing in on 20 years? It's like liquid GOLD. 

So it should be unsurprising that I am quite enthusiastic about having snagged this 2007 bottle of Saw Scaled Viper, because of COURSE, the SO is a big part of the equation.

As with the 2016 iteration, the dominate of the other notes is cassia here, too- and I'm just as pleased about it. I sometimes feel like cassia is an unsung hero of spice notes, sometimes overshadowed by the familiarity we all have with clove and cinnamon. But whereas those notes can often be so strong as to have a ring of acridity in them, cassia is all smooth, rounded edges, and it's really beautiful. If you've ever spent anytime in the deep South (of the US) and had the pleasure of smelling the pods of white magnolia trees in autumn, you'll be familiar with the scent, as the two are incredibly similar, even though they come from completely different plant species.
There is cinnamon here, too- sure- and wisps of the ginger as well, in the deep, deep background. But the dance between that cassia and the Snake really are the main love story of this scent, no matter what year / formula you're talking about.

I keep both the 2007 and 2016 versions side by side as I find they have qualities different enough that I prefer one over the other during any given mood. What they have in common though, is being favorites of the Snake Pit for me. ❤️ 

**Note, this is a kind of tandem review as I received this and the Samhain lotion at the same time, and tested both on the same day.**

This is (along with Samhain) my first foray into the exciting new world of Black Phoenix's body lotions! I chose Snake Oil because it's one of my long-time go-to fragrances (GC *OR* LE), so I figured whatever the outcome, I will find a way to use it!

The lotion is a lovely texture- fluffy, thick and verrrry moisturizing. As this is an initial test, I went sparingly, not knowing about the absorption rate and also wanting to see how heavily fragranced it would be. In both aspects, I'm glad I was reserved in application: a little goes a long way! Comparing the two (Snake Oil and Samhain), Samhain had the higher fragrance-to-product ratio, but Snake was no slouch, so definitely go extra sparing with application until you see how both absorptions go for you. The skin on my hands is fairly dry, especially a few minutes after washing them, which is when I conducted this test, and the soothing and absorption I experienced was perfect: it did the trick, absorbed completely and evenly, and left no greasy or sticky residue- very impressive!

The scent left behind is heavy enough that you might want to be mindful about coordination if you're applying a perfume in addition to. I'm not entirely sure about other types of scented products such as hair gloss or bath oil (especially if you're one of the folks that uses the Lab's bath oil as a post-shower body oil) so I'd say do your due diligence, especially if scent clashing is something that bothers you  

In all: another spectacular product from the Lab! I don't know how long shelf life will be yet, and I definitely have questions about that, especially since I'm one of those people that like some scents -Samhain and Snake Oil among them-  to be as aged as possible. I don't anticipate that these lotions can hang around for years, but who knows what exciting changes might happen in the next month or two? Then again, the more stabilized the base, the more static the fragrance might be as well 🧐 
Regardless, the Lab, as usual, has created a superior product, and I'm delighted to have a new way to wear some of my favorite scents from them!

This is (along with the recently released Snake Oil) my first foray into the exciting new world of Black Phoenix's body lotions! I chose Samhain  because it's one of my all-time favorite autumnal fragrances, so I figured whatever the outcome, I will find a way to use it!

The lotion is a lovely texture- fluffy, thick and verrrry moisturizing. As this is an initial test, I went sparingly, not knowing about the absorption rate and also wanting to see how heavily fragranced it would be. In both aspects, I'm glad I was reserved in application: a little goes a long way! Compared with the Snake Oil lotion, I'd say Samhain has a higher fragrance-to-product ratio, so definitely go extra sparing with application until you see how both absorptions go for you. The skin on my hands is fairly dry, especially a few minutes after washing them, which is when I conducted this test, and the soothing and absorption I experienced was perfect: it did the trick, absorbed completely and evenly, and left no greasy or sticky residue- very impressive!

The scent left behind is heavy enough that you'll want to be mindful about coordination if you're applying a perfume in addition to. I'm not entirely sure about other types of scented products such as hair gloss or bath oil (especially if you're one of the folks that uses the Lab's bath oil as a post-shower body oil) so I'd say do your due diligence, especially if scent clashing is something that bothers you  

In all: another spectacular product from the Lab! I don't know how long shelf life will be yet, and I definitely have questions about that, especially since I'm one of those people that like some scents -Samhain and Snake Oil among them-  to be as aged as possible. I don't anticipate that these lotions can hang around for years, but who knows what exciting changes might happen in the next month or two? Then again, the more stabilized the base, the more static the fragrance might be as well 🧐 
Regardless, the Lab, as usual, has created a superior product, and I'm delighted to have a new way to wear some of my favorite scents from them!

This is the 2025 re-release.

Samhain is always pure autumnal love for me. Frequently apple scents are iffy for me, but Samhain is always true and I love pulling my well-aged, well-loved perfume out each fall. 

The atmosphere was a gamble for me, as the aging of my bottle is part of why I love it so. But I tested it today, just a few days out of the mailbox and it's great- just two poofs in my living room, and the whole is well-scented. It's been a few hours and it's still going, but it's not overpowering. As with my all-time favorite Cathouse, I *do* suspect that some aging will do this atmo some good as well. I will be sparing in my poofs now, because I'm betting I'll enjoy it even more later!

A far juicier peach than I was expecting coming off of last year's Peach and Red Bean Paste HG. That said, I was into it from first sniff. Way back (decades, in the pre-Lab-exisiting era of the halcyon 1990s) the Body Shop had a peach perfume that I wore obsessively. It smelled like canned peaches packed in syrup. 

This hair gloss has a similar quality, though I'd say the peach is fresher and amps even more than that long-ago fragrance. It's ;lasted all day and pair nicely with several scents I tested (one a light sugary musk, the other a dark, spicy autumnal confection). 

I will put this in my cold-weather rotation on days that I need a bit more brightness and sparkle in my dreary day!

In the bottle I get mostly the nice, buttery pumpkin that shows up here and there in the autumnal / Weenie profile. Once on my skin, the scent warms and opens, revealing a delicate blend of those beloved fall spices. "Delicate" being the operative word here. I agree with doomsday about this being a good option for those looking for a pumpkin spice scent that's not heavily spiced. 
It's also just a lovely, fairly fresh, pumpkin scent. 

I was surprised because I have the Peach Brandy of yesteryear, which has its boozy moments, and I was anticipating a similar outcome here, but that doesn't materialize for me. I'm not mad about it, because this really is a lovely, imminently wearable autumnal scent. Low throw, delicate, but definitely of the season. 

I mean, it's all right there in the name

This is EXACTLY what I was hoping for- a straight-up rootbeer float. The rootbeer / sarsaparilla note does NOT disappoint, and the ice cream makes it soft and creamy and yummy, and keeps the rootbeer from being sharp or acrid.  Eventually a bit of pumpkin *does* reveal itself, but I wouldn't call this a "pumpkin scent". I agree with the above assessment that this is a great scent for sliding from late summer into early fall, but I will also definitely be wearing this over the winter when I want a sweet and warming daytime scent to cuddle into. 🎃

I'm...just not sure about this one. at least, not yet. 

I love Dorian. I love Snake Oil. And I love love LOVE Graveyard Dirt. 

But.

I guess this moss note is throwing a big ol' monkey wrench into the proceedings and I don't know what to make of it.

I am not one of the folks that tested or used the atmosphere iteration of this scent last year, so this is a brand new experience to me. Because I have such love for three of the four listed elements, this seemed like an obvious choice for me, but the moss here seems to be doing this thing where it's amping a black musk bit that is...not amazing with my skin chemistry.

It's also possible that the moss and the Snake itself are having some complications for me, as I am definitely one of those people for whom there is no such thing as "too aged" when it comes to Snake Oil. The fresher, the sadder it is for me, and that's just how it is. (I am currently slowly working my way through a gloriously aged 10mL bottle dating back to 2006, with several from 2010 aging softly in the wings, so that should give you an idea concerning the gravity of what I'm speaking about here).

There's something here, baffling, that also reminds me of the disquiet that I both love and feel repelled by in the American Gods scent, Laura. Write it off on some weird undertone from the dirt note if you wish, but I could slather myself in Graveyard Dirt all day and never get the strange bit that's marking both of these blends.

In all, I will absolutely keep this scent- I know my chemistry well enough to figure the Snake just needs an extra long rest, if nothing else, to make this wearable for me. Hopefully, in the process, the rest will sort itself out.

In the bottle, the wet greenery is the only thing present. Normally, "wetness" can be an issue for me- water notes tend to register as heavy cologne to my nose. But here, at this stage, it really smells like being outside after a rain, breathing in the damp grass and leafy trees. How lovely!

Wet on skin: as it warms up on me, the honeysuckle comes into the mix, lending a delicate-but-unmissed floral touch. The honeysuckle was one of the reasons I was eager to try this scent, so I'm glad to see it showing up now.

Dry down: finally, the blackberry joins the party! I'm relieved, as this note was the OTHER reason I was so interested in trying this scent. The grass and green are still present but the honeysuckle, if it's here at all, is so far in the background as to be just part of the atmosphere, but nothing that could be picked out of a lineup as a contributor. It's a very interesting and deeply unsettling scent, reminding me of that part of autumn when the weather has turned but tendrils of late summer continue to hang around (leaves starting to mulch, and yes, the last of the blackberries juuuust starting to turn on the bramble). 

The story on which this scent was based is a long-time favorite of mine and I think this scent beautifully captures the specificity of a gilded cage: there can be beauty, sure, but don't ever, ever forget the sinister undertow. 

There is a specific red wine note that I've loved from the Lab since I first encountered it with Glüwein all the Way Back When. It starts off slightly grape-y but finishes a bit more boozy, and it's a welcome addition where I find it. I believe this is that note. I say "believe" and not "for sure" because the dragon's note is pulling it sideways in unexpected ways, amping the grape aspect of the wine a bit, and subsequently tamping down the booze edge 🤷‍♀️ 
As a Duet, as the prior poster stated, it's a "what you see (...smell?) is what you get kind of situation: a very balanced, two note perfume. As *just* a duet, if you like either or both of these notes, you'll find a satisfying balanced little daytime blend waiting for you here. As a layering piece, you will find it adds some nice, unusual new interpretations for the primary Moon it's affiliated with. I also procured the Duet of Clove and Sweet Incense and I played around a little with *just* the two Duets and NOT the Blood Moon at all, and here, too, there were some nice surprises to be found, as the spice and the sweet all play well together there, too. 

In all, some lovely variations to be had, and probably some nice twists to come as both of these notes lend themselves well to aging. 

In the bottle, it's a balance between the two notes equally, and it stays that way through the warming-up-on-the-skin phase as well. The incense here is indeed a sweet alternative to what I normally think of as an incense note- this is NOT a hippy-headshot vibe at all, and I also don't get the alternate, which is church-y. This is neither. Upon full drydown, it's a very well-blended mix of the spice from the clove with a mildly sweet incense-y melange. Surprisingly delicate, and quite low throw. Many Duets are things that I lean toward wearing on their own. This might be the first time I've encountered one where I feel strongly that this scent really is best in service as a layering device for the primary Moon it's affiliated with, as it bumps up those aspects nicely but doesn't overpower.

Also, and this is specific to my personal skin chemistry, clove as a note, requires a fair amount of backup in order to not become flat and one dimensional and a little harsh. The duet dries down a bit flat because it's only the two notes, and my chemistry requires more. I've had to turn away more than a few clove-forward scents for this reason, alas. But paired with its intended Moon, it does precisely what it's supposed to, so I'm totally pleased to have it! This is also a good time of year to have options to boost a cozy-spice factor on other scents, and I will definitely have some fun playing around with this scent's layering possibilities in a number of ways!

I am a huge, HUGE fan of the original 2005 Blood Moon. HUUUUGE. And I know that the notes are mostly quite different in this blend as compared to my beloved from twenty years ago. But I grabbed this because I am hoping that there's a similar mood or vibe with this incarnation. But as with the previous poster, I, too, am a person for whom black musk tends to amp so dramatically as to blot out all other notes (and the sun itself!) so I have my trepidations about it as well. Let's see where we land, shall we?

In the bottle, it's the clove that I get immediately. I have a complicated relationship with clove because when it's good, it's so, so, SO good, but when it's not, it can be very acrid and sharp. In the bottle, it's a perfect shot of spice, and I believe there's a little of the sweetness from the pomegranate present that could be helping with that, but of course, we're still very early in this process...

Wet on skin: upon application, the clove starts to die down almost immediately, and the black musk is starting to step forward at the exact same time. Pomm is holding her own, but not in any front-leaning capacity- the note continues to be more of a background sweetness, so for those hoping for more, if your chemistry is similar to mine, know that this might be all there is. At this stage there's no hint of patch or tobacco or dragon's blood, alas. 

Dry Down: This may be the first time in my nearly-two-decade history of BPAL fandom where I've got a real winner in a black musk scent. It helps that it remains in check by that beautiful clove. The pomm (and likely dragon's blood, which has its own sweetness) are definitely background players, keeping this scent from being too sharp or intense. But the that spicy clove remains the star. If you're a fan of Thorns Clove Cigarette (or sad you missed out on it) then I'd say snag this immediately. It's very wearable, surprisingly soft in the throw given the composition- a great, warming daytime scent as the weather grows ever more cold.

In All, a total keeper and, as I'd hoped, a nice similar vibe to my beloved OG Blood Moon 🦇 ❤️ 

I am unsurprised in some ways that I'm the first to review- mushrooms and brains are not everyone's cup of tea for a perfume!- but what about the ink and the grave loam??? 

Welp, let's just see what happens.

In the bottle, I'm getting that gorgeous turned-earth, loamy-loam that some of us adore from Penny Dreadful and Graveyard Dirt. There's also a sweet plant-y smell in the mix that isn't quite floral, and I'm betting it's the Spanish Moss. We are off to a great start!

Wet on skin, the sharp, slightly chemical scent of the ink starts to come through. This is my first encounter with the tattoo ink note from the Lab, but I am one of the fans of the original Indian Ink single note they released many years ago, and I'd say at least at this stage, this ink is a close cousin of that old one, and I'm delighted. I think I'm also getting little hints of the mushrooms, which are adding a nice extra layer to all the earthy bits here.

Upon dry down, the moss and ink are melding into a rather cologne-y combo. Normally, I can find that to be off-putting, but the loam and mushrooms are holding everything in balance and it's turned into what I can only describe as a great counterpart to Penny Dreadful. When I first tried out Miss Dreadful 18 years (!!!!) ago, I thought she had a chocolate note in her. I no longer think that- I think there was something rich and sultry lurking in the noir perfume of the scent that read that way to be for a time. I mention this because I think that Penny wound up being a bit more on the femme-side of the scent spectrum, though not by much, and that rich, almost-choco-aspect held the balance. Here, I think that moss-ink combination are doing the same, right across the line, making this scent a slightly masculine-leaning version of a scent with similar bones. If you *really* wanna gender it up, you might conclude these to be brother-sister counterparts.

Of course, there's DNA in both scents that can *also* be found in the American Gods scent, Laura, and it's NOT the loam that joins the three but Laura's formaldehyde-glycerine-lanolin combo (sweet-but-chemical) that I think is actually the element that creates the kinship amongst the three.

For me, this makes Zombie Flash a welcome addition to a verrrry specific part of the Lab's perfumed family tree, and I am super delighted to welcome it aboard ❤️ 

I am definitely smitten! (This review speaks only to the scent, and not the properties of the hair gloss base, so all I'll say about that part, is that I adore the Lab's glosses, they work wonders for my very long, thin, multi-textured hair, especially during the cold half of the year, so I welcome any chance to accumulate more scent varieties!)

Upon initial sniff, I had a feeling of whatever the equivalent of déjà vu is in the scent realm. I realized that something, or things, about this fragrance reminded me of a long-ago version of the Lab's classic Egg Nog. Upon closer inspection / meditation of this hair gloss, I determined that part of the spice profile coupled with this particular version of vanilla (which to my nose reads as vanilla bean), are the elements that brought to mind that Yule of yesteryear.

But what was *really* interesting is that, in the same way when you think you see a friend from across the street, and then you get up close and you realize "oh, that's not who I thought it was at ALL", this brioche doesn't bare more than an actual passing resemblance to Egg Nog, actually.

What it *really* smells like is the gorgeous, creamy interior of thick, beautifully done french toast. The kind that has a rich egg batter that lends itself to a custardy finish. I get that vanilla bean, and a delicate but ever-present array of autumnal spices and a buttery hint of the pumpkin. I don't get the brioche per se, but I'm definitely NOT disappointed by any of this. 

Yummy, delicately sweet, definitely gourmand- It's the "fall flavor" scent I didn't know I was missing. ❤️❤️❤️ 

 

2 hours ago, doomsday_disco said:

@twilighteyes Are you planning on running Krampusnacht this year? If so, I think this is the time for that since the packages usually have to go out around Thanksgiving (or maybe earlier this year since Thanksgiving is so late -- but that would make it a shotgun swap)!

If not, I was wondering about possibly doing a Yule Folklore swap, where one could have their choice between Krampus, Yule Cat, etc. Then the swap packages could go out in December instead of November.

A Yule Folklore swap sounds fun! Any chance it would be open to internationals??? 

With the coffee and tobacco, I was expecting something in line with Pinched with Four Aces. I also felt mildly concerned about the leather, as that frequently amps on me to the exclusion of all others. 

Instead, this is most carnation.

In the bottle there's some promise of the other notes. But once applied, there's really just carnation on me, with a verrrrry delicate melange of the other notes doing deep background work. I have -and adore!- Spanish Carnation SN, so I like this scent and can also tell that *something* else is going on here than just the carnation. But it's more like Spanish Carnation is a fresh cut flower and this is more like that same flower several weeks later after it's dried but still has quite a bit of scent.

I concur that this could be a relative of Violet and Vanilla Chiffon, though perhaps more like a first or second cousin rather than a sister

In the bottle and when first applied, this is straight up violet flower in all its glory.  It gets through warming and over to dry down pretty quickly, which makes sense as a duet, as there are less moving parts that must arrange themselves. This is still mostly violet as mentioned in the previous review. The hay doesn't read as hay in this blend to me, which is a surprise, as normally hay amps at least somewhat with my skin, typically.  No, what's interesting here is that the hay only adds a slight touch of sweetness, making this violet less of a direct flower and more of a soft floral essence.

Honestly, the thing this scent reminds me the most of is my very first Violet BPAL love, Faith, from Carnivale Diabolique, that sweet, sugared violet confection. This scent is like Faith grown up. Whereas Faith was very much about the interplay of the SUGAR with the violet, here is the same violet note, but the sweetness, though present, is scaled way, way back. It's like running into a childhood friend years later- you can still see the second grader in there, beneath the refined bones of adulthood.

I am *delighted* to add this to my collection of violet fragrances 💜

I got this as a frottle from the Lab and double thanks- both for sending me a treat with my order and also sending something I might not have tried but am glad I did!

In the bottle and when first applied this is straight up summer salad on me- literally it smells like the cucumber salads I devoured as a kid, fresh cucumber from our backyard doused in a generous portion of Italian vinaigrette.  YUM!

Once it's had a chance to warm and really go through dry down, the lime mellows considerably (this was what read as "salad dressing" in earlier states) and the freesia comes out, balancing the cucumber in equal measure. 

A very light, fresh scent, I would recommend this for warm weather daytime wear for sure, and for those that need their food or florals to be on the delicate side of things. 😃

Huh. Given the notes I was anticipating a delicately rich melange of summer confections, plus pumpkin.

Instead, from start to finish this is largely fresh, pulpy pumpkin. After extended wear, I get whispers of tiare, but it's really in the background, just adding a little faint balance that prevents this from just being straight up pumpkin squash on me. 

I don't mind it- it's a light, fresh, pumpkin scent, which is a nice twist out of all the scents out there that are less about the squash and far more about the spice components. Still, I was hoping for the suntan lotion parts. I'll age it more and see how it does, but maybe this is also just a pumpkin flesh scent for me 🤷‍♀️

2025 version.
In the bottle: a sweet incense of indeterminate origin. Although it's early, I am already leaning in and wondering how I never picked this up before!

Wet on skin: The amber and dark musk are distinguishing themselves a bit from the pack at this stage. I am continuing to marvel at the fact I overlooked this scent previously- it's SO lovely.

Dry Down: This extremely well-blended scent is one of those that it's quite hard to pick out individual parts. I read the notes again and again throughout this testing, because I kept forgetting what, exactly was in here. And I go, "oh yeah, fruit, I can see that"- but I definitely wouldn't go "oh that's for sure blackberry / currant that I'm smelling". Same with the amber, same with all the notes. I can squint and say, "Oh, yes, I think I get that" but really, it's a cloud of rich, deep, incense-y, musky-sweet essence that defies a more pinpoint description.

In all, a surprisingly low-throw scent, all things considered. Dark musks tend to require a longer-than-average aging time for me personally, given my particular skin chemistry, but there's enough to go on here that I can already tell that when the time is right I am going to be slathering this dreamy concoction every chance I get, but especially on frigid nights and biting days when I need a little extra comfort to pull around me and dream in.

In the bottle, all the listed notes are present and accounted for in a frothy, rich, decadent mess that I am instantly smitten with. 

I agree with the prior post that all remain accounted for in the final drydown...I just wish it was anywhere near as strong as the warm, gooey WHOOMPH! I get from first sniff upon opening. That said, there's a way where this scent feels like a bit of a BPAL throwback to the ways Beth and Co used to do some of the olde-timey foodie scents. It doesn't remind me of any one in particular, more that sense of "This is a classic BPAL cake-rich scent!". It's very warm and cozy, and it makes me want to pull on a big sweater and cuddle up with a book. I imagine I will do just that whilst wearing this lovely daytime scent over the ensuing cold months, in fact! Medium throw and a nice base scent, I could also see layering this with either resins (to punch up the drama) or a decadent gourmand (to heighten and extend the foodie aspect). It's also a great daytime scent on its own that would be friendly in a host of environments. 

Yummy! 😋
 

I am thirding that this scent is a morpher to be sure! Even so, the vibe remains the same throughout the journey, which is what I was hoping for. I'm not always friends with florals OR with myrrh, but I just had a feeling that this would be an exception, and I was right. At its heart BBM is a dark, juicy, vampish, goth-girl scent. I picture my 19-year-old self, with meticulously applied eyeliner, having a fun night of drama and dancing at a club in L.A. with all my friends...but also the remnants clinging to my skin when I crawl into bed just before dawn, cozying up for sleep and gorgeous, gothy dreams. 🦇

The tuberose and black orchid are definitely the stars throughout,  but this isn't a straight floral scent- the myrrh and vanilla provide a grounded-ness to the scent, with the other listed notes coming in for visits, leaving, and coming back, repeatedly. 

Not only was this a blind-buy, but I was so certain it would be grand that I got a backup to boot- and I'm glad I did, as I know this will get even better with age.

Definitely a morpher, but well worth the wait. In the bottle I guess I was mostly getting tea and maybe a hair of the white patchouli, because the scent seemed so clean, as to be almost acrid. It was startling because of all those deep notes. It needed a solid 15 minutes to settle into itself, but oh my, this scent is dead sexy in the final analysis. It's extremely well-blended, so that I can't really pick out individual notes, though the vibes of the amber, tonka and vetiver are definitely all playing their parts. The patch, tea and vanilla husk are adding an ever-so-slight perfume quality to the scent, but not so much that they're undoing the undernotes. Instead it's creating a very compelling high-low scent, where I'm able to perceive the tippy-top and the lowest bottom simultaneously when I'm directly sniffing it, but the two layers form a soft cloud of scent when I pull my arm further away. 
  Because of that dichotomy, this is both a low AND medium throw scent. I would dab gently, at least to start, because I think that multi-layer aspect is quite unusual and I'd want to keep it, if possible.

In any case, this is SO gorgeous and I'm really glad I snagged a bottle
 

I tried several Dragons this year that weren't *quite* my thing. But Caput? I'm all in! In the bottle I get something that is fruity and that smells like light black cherries- it's clearly a mix of the fig and black currant.

It stays that way for a while but once it's fully dry it becomes a *stellar* melange of spicy clove and rich resins (the patch and red musk, I presume). While I don't get the Mme Moriarty feels that the previous poster got (Moriarty is one of my top-5 ride or die scents, so I have my own associations with her) I can see how there's a similar vibe in terms of being a dark, wintery kind of scent. Clove can amp on me, but luckily it's letting other notes shine through, even as it adds a heavy spice to the proceedings. Given the density of the notes, I anticipate that this is only going to get better with age, and I'm VERY glad I have a whole bottle to add to my personal dragon hoard  

As others have said, very fresh, very bright, very green. In the bottle, I get a lot of the lime, but unfortunately for me, that dissipates almost instantly after application (this is is me-thing: I cannot hold citrus scents, alas. And it always makes me sad  ). It's a summery, outdoorsy scent. I was hoping for more of the vegetal musks to be present for me, but largely, I smell like aloe vera and cucumber. 🤷‍♀️ 
I gave it to my partner, who is delighted by it, so no loss