VioletChaos

In The Bottle: A very sheer, very light white musk with an equally sheer, very light vanilla. Nothing else yet!

Wet On Skin: The vanilla/musk combination reminds me ever-so-slightly of how that combo showed up in Pink Wig Spray which, to be sure, is one of my all-time favorites. It's not the *same* but it's definitely the same *family*, which is good enough for me!

Dry Down: No roses, no elemi and really, no coconut. On me, this is purely vanilla and light musk. It *also* reminds me a bit of OLLA Ava, and if you liked Ava or Pink Wig Spray, you should definitely check this out. Sweet, lovely and as the previous poster said, floofy - it's crinoline and lace in a bottle to be sure! ❤️ 

For this review, I'll be talking mainly about the scent and wear of this oil, but I will also make note of any particular feelings or occurrences that happen during the try-out.

In The Bottle: *very* well blended. I'm getting whiffs of the resiny frankincense, the dry greenery of the mugwort and vegetal musk and the sweetness of the old and helichrysum. But it's not like I get strands of the individual notes here, it's just all part of a writhing stew that becomes greater than the sum of its parts. And that's *just in the bottle*
 

Wet On Skin: As the oil warms on my skin, the vegetable musk seems to be gaining traction, coming to the forefront. I'm also noting something that reads ALMOST like geranium, which I suspect is the mugwort and damascus rose acting in collusion. The scent is very "green" in how its smells, which isn't a surprise, given the plant materials that make up the bulk of the blend.

Dry Down: The scent definitely morphs a bit by the time it completely dries down and the color profile shifts from green to green-gold- again, appropriate, given the purposes of the oil! As with many of my favorite TAL and Lab Magick blends, once completely dry and settled in, the scent becomes more subtle. It's something I appreciate because I want my magickal working to often be my business alone, and having a scent be little more on the DL means I can layer other things on top of it, instead of having to concern myself with a random "oh, I need such and such blend to galvanize my dealing with the world and now I'm going to smell like camphor all day and that's the trade-off".

Now that we're at the realized stage, the scent has become mild, dry and slightly sweet. It reminds me vaguely of the dessert and the mild plants that have adapted to growing in harsh places, like tumbleweeds. On an emotional level, I've noticed some feeling of bittersweet and melancholy rising to the top, which I think might be the the oil calling attention to those feelings that I've been carrying for weeks as this time of year marks the passing of a beloved family member. I think when I go visit his grave I shall anoint with this oil beforehand.

In All: Low to medium throw- definitely start small and add more after you see how it'll react with your skin. A lovely oil that brings emotional clarity that I can see easily mixing with others to highlight feelings in rites and workings. A solid addition to any witch's toolbox!



NOTE: My initial reviews of this new batch of St Expedite oils will be based on two things, scent / wear and also energetic impressions. I will either update with magickal workings and outcomes here, later or I will post my reflections and findings in one of the TAL-specific groups.

In The Bottle: So, first of all, the mica is both far brighter and "chunkier" than the other two oils from this release, which makes sense to me. There's something very reassuring and cheerful about the display, like the liquid is letting you know instantly that you can have confidence it's going to help you with your money issues. I'm getting amber and some pine resin immediately, with a bit of the citrus Clementine bringing up the rear. I generally do NOT like evergreens in my fragrances, period, but this is so well-blended that it doesn't give me a "floor cleaner" vibe most others do, but rather, being in a lush, wintery forest laden with goodies hidden in or glistening on the surface of, snow.

Wet On Skin: A tiny bit of the bright gold mica came out, leaving just a cute trace on my wrist and I am completely delighted by it! The amber comes out more strongly as the oil warms on my skin, which I welcome, since real, fossilized tree resin is one of my all-time favorites, both to wear and to keep on my altar. So all the amber boxes are getting checked right here!

Dry Down: Fully dry, this scent is almost entirely amber now, but with an edge of that myrtle cutting through the sweetness. If you wanted to punch up the earthy-abundance-energy hit, I'd probably toss a little bit of oakmoss into the mix, or a minuscule dab of patch, but this cheery abundance-draw blend is great all on its own for sure. Love! ❤️ 



NOTE: My initial reviews of this new batch of St Expedite oils will be based on two things, scent / wear and also energetic impressions. I will either update with magickal workings and outcomes here, later or I will post my reflections and findings in one of the TAL-specific groups.

In The Bottle: A root-y blast of ginger followed by a dribble of very delicate vanilla. (this, so far, does not appear to be the same rich, pound cake-y vanilla in St Expedite Fast Luck)

Wet On Skin: I'm still getting almost entirely ginger root. It's definitely a bit sweeter than my direct experience with pure, single finer root essential oil, and I assume that the patchouli and vanilla are responsible for the softening of edges here, though they're like backup singers here to strengthen only the voice of the lead- I would NOT say at this point that i can actually pull out either of those supporting notes; this is really a ginger scent, first and foremost.

Dry Down: The ginger has become sweeter still with drying. There's something that's incredibly cozy about this scent, but not in a soft sweater kind of way, but in the way that  one might see a family of hibernating furry animals in a winter forest, nesting in their soft earth, pine needles and leaves, noses buried in each other's fluffy tails.

This oil is a *comfort*. One that implies strength, a solid shoulder to cry on, a trusted ally that will fight FOR you while you take a much-needed rest. I could see utilizing this when my energies are flagging and I would also layer this with some of my own well--aged patchouli to bolster intentions of speedy delivery in regard to all monetary, bodily or otherwise earth-energy-centric matters. ❤️ 

NOTE: My initial reviews of this new batch of St Expedite oils will be based on two things, scent / wear and also energetic impressions. I will either update with magickal workings and outcomes here, later or I will post my reflections and findings in one of the TAL-specific groups.

In The Bottle: Sweet vanilla and a hint of a baker's cinnamon (meaning, light and sweet, as opposed to an acrid or sharp variety)

Wet On Skin: A continued delectable vanilla. It reminds me ever so slightly of the dense sweet vanilla in Love's Philosophy but the vanilla bean powder keeps this from becoming "just a foodie" vanilla. The cinnamon continues its supporting role, lending a depth that further keeps this from being a pedestrian vanilla. The combination is also reminding me of the Egg Nog scent of Yules past. But again, it's different somehow as well.

Dry Down: Although it doesn't show on the skin, the bottle is thick with shimmering mica and the look and experience of this oil lends the weight of its divine purposes. There's nothing showy about this oil or its scent in the "Las Vegas bling bling " style (meaning, it's not a false glimmering). Rather, there's something that feels wonder-ous, glory-ous, adorational, about it all. The scent stays relatively true from bottle to dry down, with a nice, medium throw- a little goes quite a ways so resist the urge to be heavy-handed, unless that's a specific and important part of intent in your workings. I find that the mere application and settling in of this oil on my skin is imbuing a sense of hope to me at a time when i desperately need some. 

I anticipate getting and giving alot of love in regard to the universe and St. Expedite in conjunction with this oil. ❤️ 

 

In The Bottle: I am hit immediately with a bright light pink rose that instantly brings me back to summertime in childhood, wearing my grandmother's rose perfume and rollers king up and down the street. It's an *ache* it's so intensely real. So that's the first thing. After a second bottles sniff, I get an edge of the granulated sugar in the background. I've no complaints!

Wet On Skin: Warming up, this is becoming more like Victorian Rose Milk v.1, of which I am a fan, and which is to say the sugar has become slightly creamy and the rose has become slightly more "fresh"- I can smell a hint of the green stem in this mix now.

Dry Down: This is all fresh rose and a hint of sweet cream on me. I'm sad I'm getting no orange blossom in the mix. I'll likely hold on to it and see how it settles, in about a month.

In The Bottle: The very-beloved gingerbread note that the Lab used in their Gingerbread Snake. Which is to say- delicious!

Wet On Skin: Mostly still the spicy, sugary gingerbread I know and adore.

Dry Down: This is more or less a Gingerbread Single Note on me. I really, really love that note (as I've already stated!) so while I'm a bit sad that the patchouli never showed up for me, I know this is going to age fabulously. And if it stays a true SN, I'll simply use some of my own well-aged patch to layer with it!  

 

As someone who spends a great deal of time in the City Of Light, this was a scent I felt obligated to get, though in truth, I don't know if it's going to work on my skin. Lessee how it goes!

In The Bottle: I'm getting something sweet and plummy right away. I'm assuming it's the russet musk, which I've never before encountered. It's really nice! Musks for me are very hit (red) or verrrrry miss (black musk, I'm looking at you!) This one is really, really good, sweet, light, but not a sheer musk like the whites tends to be. I'm intrigued! 

Wet On Skin: Warming my skin, the scent is staying much the same- and NO objections from me about it! I do love me some teakwood, and hopefully it'll appear, but honestly, if it doesn't, I'll feel just fine about that, too.

Dry Down: The oudh is making a whispering appearance now, but that sweet, almost fruity musk is the star of this show. For long-time perfume fans, Betsey Johnson's very first perfume, which debuted in a perfect globe-shaped glass bottle in the early 90s, had a very similar feel, scent and vibe to this here scent. That was an early perfume obsession of mine, and I'm happy to have something similar with this lovely tribute to the building statuary of Paris ❤️ 

 

In The Bottle: Pure rich deep jasmine. The kind I've found almost exclusively in small Indian markets. Lovely!

Wet On Skin: More of the same. Oudh notes are usually pretty strong on me, so I'm still hopeful that something will turn when fully dry...

Dry Down: Still mainly a rich, heady jasmine, the oudh has, in fact, joined the party, though in a surprisingly subtle performance (subtle comparatively for oudh, I mean). The effect is very much like entering an ancient, abandoned temple. I envision a place once grand, now grandly dilapidated, but still, those who pilgrimage to see it are left in a state of quiet awe. 

I'm not much of a florals kind of person. that said, there's enough going on here that i will hold on to my bottle to see how aging deepens the scent and I can easily see layering this with some heady down-and-dirty patchouli and something *magical* being born.



In The Bottle: Pretty much only the sugar-spun vanilla, reminiscent of the stained fabric in the always-glorious Black Lace. It definitely seems right at home amongst other Laces in that regard.

Wet On Skin: The thorny roses are starting to come out. I'm not a huge florals fan, I can be quite picky. At this stage, the sugary vanilla and roses are keeping each other in balance, even as they stay separate entities (which is to say, this is not the Sugared Rose note of the Carnivale's Hope.)

Dry Down: Through to this stage, it's mostly a dark, rosy, sugary vanilla, with just a touch of incense to ground it. I like it! I don't wear my small selection of florals often, but this sets to mind a certain kind of day, one that involves long, heavy velvet skirts, copious amounts of smeared red lipstick and listening to any album made by the Cure prior to 1990, all whilst walking about dejectedly on a gloomy winter (or autumnal) afternoon  



In The Bottle: a very, very gauzy white musk and an even fainter vanilla silk. the whole experience sniffing in the bottle is that of a dream, it's so light and wispy.

Wet On Skin: The lightness of the scent continues in that it has very low throw, even as it warms on my skin. Joining the silk and white musk I get a hint of something slightly sharp, such as ambrette seed, although that's not listed in the notes. It might be the agarwood. 

Dry Down: The scent remains very soft and slow throw- try it by small increments at first, but i anticipate this one will require slathering to really get the full force of it. It's extremely well blended, so although I can detect ghosts of benzoin and clove husk now, I wouldn't say that either note dominates, but rather that it's all supporting roles for all players involved. I get no leather at all, which is unusual because my skin generally amps that note, so it might again be a testament to how thoroughly it's been blended.
 

In All: A moody scent appropriate for this coldest time of the year, but definitely something that I'd wear for daytime- it lacks a total intensity but I think that's a good thing, because not all heavy scents should be reserved for nighttime uses  

So, I actually reviewed the first iteration of this scent way back when in 2014 when it came round the first time. I'm going to copy and paste here below, and then post my review of this 2018 version underneath and see how it compares!

2014 Version:

In The Bottle: YUM. I wasn't sure what to expect from the suet note, but having grown up with a bird-watching grandmother, I have plenty of background in the scent, owing to the frequency with which it's mixed with birdseed. Here, in the bottle, there's a smoky/fatty thing going on that adds something singularly rich and delicious to the sweeter, lighter, somehow fruity notes of the rest.

Wet On Skin: Yup, still lots o' suet and, though not specifically listed in the notes, there's quite a bit of fruit going on round these parts. Again, there's a lovely balance here, I don't object in the least! 

Dry Down: Ahhh, *there's* the baked-sweets aspect I was waiting for! Like the Puddins of Trading Post yesteryear, there's a rather specific...'pudding' note that's present in here. I get no custard, sadly, but it's sugary and a bit buttery and, with the mystery fruits and the suet, it's making me incredibly sad that I can't eat my own hand. 

In All: Low throw, a nice, spicy-sweet food scent, for all the foodie-lovers out there. If you liked the TP's Puddin scents, get this- you won't be disappointed.

2018 Version:
In The Bottle: I'm getting the custard first and foremost. The suet isn't present at this stage, but I'm unconcerned. I still have no idea what those "13 ingredients" are, but as with the 2014 version, there is something that reads as "mystery fruit" in the mix. 

Wet On Skin: As it warms up, I'm getting some of that rich treacle and a tiny bit of the smoky suet. Honestly, I wish the suet was more dominant in this scent, there's something intensely satisfying about wearing something that smells like mutton fat (buuuuuut maybe that's just me  )

Dry Down: The suet *does* come out a bit more now that it's dried, and you shouldn't be alarmed by that! It doesn't come across as meat fat, it simply adds an incredibly rich density to this scent- everything here is rich and decadent and delicious. I'm not getting the "baked goods" thing that happened with the earlier release. Generally this scent seems to be a kissing cousin of the iteration but they were wise to name this scent a "redux", because while similar, it's absolutely its own thing this time around, and I LIKE IT.
 

So, I've thus far loved all incarnations of the Sufganiyot scents AND I love blueberry, so I'm RATHER excited to give this one a whirl!

In The Bottle: Why, yes, that IS rather a large bloop of blueberry! It's definitely of the "blueberry jam" variety and not a fresh blueberry. I get a teeeeeeeny edge of fried dough, just off the end. My mouth is already starting to water!

Wet On Skin: The blueberry is SO strong that it's nearly verging on becoming grape hubba bubba bubblegum. Nearly- but not quite! It's a very sugary fruit for sure. The fried dough has left, though I'm hoping that's temporary.

Dry Down: Hmmm. This is less blueberry donut and more blueberries and custard. I can tell that the fried dough is trying- really trying! -to come on out, and it's possible that the bottle just needs more time to rest or age. I like it in that it fills the hole (no pun intended) that I had for a good blueberry jam scent, but it's lacking the fruit-fried-dough combination that I consider the hallmark of the other Sufganiyot scents. I'll give it a change to shift over the next month, but I might trade my backup bottle away...

ETA: It's about 35 minutes later and at LAST, the fried dough has arrived! I honestly don't know if it's just a matter of needing to read / age more or what, but whatever the cause, this Blueberry has become a true Sufganiyot at last- yaaaaaayyyyyyy!!!!

Disclosure: I purchased 2 bottles of this scent blind because even if this smelled like bottled poo, the meaning behind it is so important in this political climate that I wouldn't even care. That said, it happens to contain a number of notes I tend to love, and I'm hoping it's going to be a knockout  

In The Bottle: Toffee, chewy caramel and bourbon vanilla. It's warm, sweet and very cozy. I'm falling in love already!

Wet On Skin: Oh, my. The above are cut through by the emergence of the clove and oudh, colluding to pull the scent out of merely being a sweet-n-sticky food treat and moving it into a higher plain- more depth, more spice, a rounding out.

Dry Down: While I get no patch or coffee, all the other notes are at the party, clove taking a slight lead at this stage, making this a warm and inviting cold-weather scent. It doers exactly as it has set out to do: the fires of love, warmth and inclusion ring true and deep with this scent, reminding us that it is community that keeps the cold hard world at bay. Thank you Beth, for bringing such a visceral reminder into the universe, your love is so strong in the fa ce of oppression that it brings tears to my eyes presently. ❤️❤️❤️ 

[No additional description provided.]

In The Bottle: The same slightly-lemon ginger-y gingerbread I got from another in this series, with coffee bean and smoked vanilla. As with that scent, the only thing I get from first sniff in the bottle is the gingerbread and no supporting characters.

Wet On Skin: INTERESTING. Rather than the death-cologne version of oudh that sometimes happens with my skin or the yummy incense version, I get neither- instead I'm getting a death of spice that's adding to the gingerbread whilst taking away its foodie aspect.

Dry Down: This reminds me *strongly* of one of the really old Tree of Life / Kabala scents from around 2005 or 2006. It's definitely not Hod but I'm not sure which one it's reminding me of. There's something that reads as intense and meaningful and spiritual about this, though, which is sometimes an aspect of oudh that gets overlooked I think. It feels like there's a reverence that it carries, something that I'm going to reach for during this long, cold winter ahead on grey days when I need to remember that winter is a necessary time of contemplation. Beautiful and deep, like Frost's vision of a winter forest at nightfall.

[No additional description provided.]

In The Bottle: This one is sweet, rich, slightly creamy and just a hair spicy upon first sniff. The lavender is definitely present, but not at the forefront.

Wet On Skin: Lavender sugar is most of what's happening here, I can't say I'm really getting the gingerbread much, but this isn't the same as the lavender sugar I experience with TKO, let's say. I think the gingerbread is softening the lavender somehow, though it's not exactly foodie, though it IS slightly sugary.

Dry Down: That has, in fact, become a daytime-wearable version of TKO. I get no gingerbread (the inverse of Gingerbread, Coffebean and Smoked Vanilla- so perplexing!) just a lovely, soft sugary lavender. Very comforting, this is a scent easily work during the day and I anticipate reaching for it to mix with some similarly comforting scents, like the 2017 re-release of Antique Lace.

Lovely! ❤️ 

[No additional description provided.]

In The Bottle: Mostly gingerbread, with a little of that extra-lemony aspect that fresh ginger frequently has.

Wet On Skin: The gingerbread is, like, REAL gingerbread. I'm getting the lemon, the cake, the spice, the sharpness. It's really different than my previous experiences of the gingerbread single note (like, say, in Gingerbread Snake Oil). I'm liking it- but I also hope that the coffee and vanilla come out to play soon! 

Dry Down: Astoundingly, I am getting ZERO coffee from this. Which is odd, because coffee notes usually sit well on my skin -they don't amp, but they are *very* present. The vanilla has finally made an appearance, but I'm not getting the smoked aspect, either- this is more like gingerbread with a little dollop of vanilla cream plooped right on top. It's delicious, and I'm betting will get better with age, but it's not the scent that I thought it was going to be. If you're hoping for a coffee-heavy scent, check out some of the other 2018 Yule offerings, cause you might be sad about that with this one.

 

So, I was very excited but also apprehensive about this Atmo version of the chaos scents. But now I am DELIGHTED because the squirt in question appears to be a kissing cousin to Cathouse, which just happens to be my all-time favorite BPTP Atmosphere Spray. So WOO HOO for me!!! 

 Many years ago, when I first tried Cathouse, it was as a squirt and I fell deeply, instantly in love. I immediately got a full-sized bottle but when it arrived, it didn't smell quite the same 😢   (as it turned out, it just needed some proper aging to truly shine, so no more tears!)

But I mention this because sniffing this here Chaos Squirt, I'm having a similar sensation of falling in love, and having it seem like it's kinda magical somehow.

I used up my Cathouse squirt in record time since I knew I had a bottle on the way. But me and this Squirt, we're going to have a long and meaningful relationship together, because I know I need to make it last - well, forever, I guess. ❤️ 

In The Bottle: The sweet, smoky scent of the roaring fireplace and the rich smell of the mahogany. A nice start!

Wet On Skin: I'm not getting the chai *exactly* but a general warm, resiny spice is what the scent has shifted to. It's very cozy and rich, perfect for a cold, cold winter. I hope it holds!

Dry Down: Staying true from application onward, this scent is warm, smoky-sweet and cozy- everything it promises to be, and I'm sure will only get better with age!

PS for those interested, the book I received was Positive by David Wellington, which apparently is about zombies, pirates and death cults, among other things. Thanks, Puddin'!   

In The Imp: A good, pure lavender. This isn't a sugared or cologne-y lavender, this is more like clean essential oil lavender.

Wet On Skin: The vanilla comes into play, sweetening the lavender quite a bit, and it goes from being that almost-medicinal to a little more of the sugary lavender encountered in True Love or Day Break- two lavender scents I adore, so I'm happy with the direction this is taking!

Dry Down: The scent stays mostly true from wet to dry down, with the exception that I'm getting the *slightest* edge of sage in the mix now, giving this scent something that feels bittersweet, somehow, like cherishing joy in the midst of acknowledging the hard time all around us.

Which seems perfectly apt for what this scent is all about ❤️ 

In The Bottle: I get the cacao right out of the gate, with a bite of the chili pepper coming in at the end. YUM!

Wet On Skin: The clove and the vanilla are coming into play now, making this smell very much like spicy Mexican hot chocolate- a trend that I very much hope continues through to drying down!

Dry Down: Yup, all spicy cacao, clllllll the time! This is precisely what I had hoped for! The cacao is very much the same nice, dry one found in my most beloved Cacao Pod, and is paired here with a lovely, rich deep array of spicy goodness. It's basically Cacao Pod plus Mexican hot chocolate spices, and I am FULLY onboard! ❤️ 

In The Bottle: Mostly I'm getting the softness of the buttermilk, which is nice to have out in front. There's usually a bit of a 'tang' to the goats milk note, and I'm not getting any of that, nor do I smell butter at this stage.

Wet On Skin: The butter is starting to peek out but honestly, this is still mostly buttermilk. It's slightly sweet without being foodie, and that "soft" aspect remains.

Dry Down: The goats milk finally shows up, but it much much more faint than I'm used to experiencing with this note. It's definitely in a supportive role. The butter is now co-host with the buttermilk making this a lovely skin scent for all ages.

In All: This is comforting and yummy without being overbearing. Low throw and a good 'gateway' scent for those that are normally wary of foodie or gourmand scents. As a butter note fan, I am especially excited to see how this ages!

I love Snake Oil. I love Vanilla. There was no way I was going to pass this up.

In The Bottle: Snake Oil and DELICIOUS DOLLOP OF BUTTERY VANILLA right on top!

Wet On Skin: I can see where the "cream soda" vibe would be , but to my nose, it keeps shifting away and more towards a french vanilla- AND I LIKE IT.

Dry Down: The vanilla becomes a bit more subtle and integrated. I'm definitely one of the masses that isn't a huge fan of fresh Snake Oil- I like my SO WELL aged (i.e. at least a year, and preferably more) o I will say that I'm super delighted to have snagged some, and I'm *especially* excited to re-visit this scent 12 months from now when it's had a chance to 'cook' a little more!

I really wanted to like Lemon Scented Sticky Bat, but it never worked on me. Variations on the theme, like Happy Baby In A Long Dress and Spirit Board: YES, on the other hand, are amongst my favorite scents, especially during the summer months, so I was willing to risk it on a bottle of this Snake Oil Lemon Bomb.

And it does NOT disappoint!

In the bottle, I get a sweet citrus note, reminiscent to the old Strawberry Shortcake Lemon Meringue dolls from 30 years ago. Once applied, the citrus shifts and mellows and the scent, as others said, and becomes a perfect, lighter Snake Oil, that I think will be a great summer addition- can't wait to see how it ages!

In The Bottle: Quite sweet and warm and foodie, almost custard-y.

Wet On Skin: The leather starts to come out a bit as the scent warms up, but it's relatively mild compared to what leather usually does on my skin. Hopefully it stays put! Also getting a chewy, tobacco-like note, even though that's not listed in the mix. Maybe it's the champaca?

Dry Down: Oh, this is goooooood. As it dries, it loses lots of the food aspect that was present in the bottle at first sniff. The rich notes are mingling with each other to create something heady and sweet without being overpowering. It's GORGEOUS. I can't wait to see how it ages! Beautiful scent for an amazing cause. <3