mgrazulis

In the imp: buttercream Wet on skin: French vanilla, saffron Drydown: a hint of mint, smidge exotic with the saffron layered with vanilla drenched cream. This is a fairly straightforward scent but with the saffron and mint, it is quite luxurious, almost intoxicating The saffron and mint seem to ground it keeping from being too foody. The throw is nice, too. I'm not getting the plastic vanilla candle smell that others mention. Hours later: Wow! This has really lasted all day long. Most vanilla amps up on me. This stayed very mellow. Although this gourmand type scent is wonderful, I don't see myself running to the imp box for this one. It's a very likable fragrance. Just not high on my 'to wear' list!

In the imp: Very strong tea and pepper!!!! Wet on the skin: sweet honey, more tea and a hint of vanilla Drydown: A milky background mingles with ginger and vanilla. As the black tea fades, touch of lemon comes to the top, sweet and sour. Sadly, the pepper is gone. I wished it had come out on me more. I think it would have given a biting edge to what otherwise can be described as a clean fresh gently spiced floral. Verdict: after an hour, the vanilla amps up and the overall scent has taken a slightly sour milk turn. This might be very lovely with someone else's body chemistry. Will check back in later in the day to update after a few more hours. After 3 hours: the sour note has disappeared and the vanilla "rabbit" is tame. I was afraid that I wouldn't like this one. However, it has grown on me! Like a book, the opening pages drew me in. After a few pages, the interest grew until something unpleaseant happened. Happily, as the plot continued to unfold, the resolution was better than I expected. Right now, I am happy to have an imp of this. I look forward to trying more from Mad Tea Party.

Eternal desire, unquenchable passion: red musk, cocoa absolute, Nepalese amber, red sandalwood, aged patchouli, nicotiana, and blood wine. In the imp: cocoa, sandalwood, musk Wet: spice, incense, cocoa underneath wine Dry: patchouli, nicotiana (tobacco flower--this scared me in the notes, but it's not offensive and quite pleasing, although it adds a sinister touch to the Kiss!) very much like Tezcatlipoca without the leather. Berry wine notes on the outside. Musky, warm and seductive, very full-bodied! Dark and hypnotic. Quite a morpher. It's not a favorite of mine, but I am lured in with the cocoa, musk and patchouli. I actually like how this turned out. I nuzzled it all day long. The imp will stay with me for now.

In the imp: sunny amber, verbena Wet: mingled citrus, grass, ginger Dry: Fresh and green, like wet grasses after a soft rain shower. Lemony sage comes out in the backdrop. This is very clean and cheerful. The grasses soften and the ginger mellows. Verdict: This works well for me. Very understated, no sharpness. I get the impression of golden greens and yellows, glistening with dew from rain. After a couple of hours it becomes creamy. I'm sure I will treasure my imp and wear it on days when I need an uplift!

In the imp: Iris, sweet herbs and myrrh Wet: olibanun (Arabic for frankinsense), soft and earthy sandalwod, more green herbs Dry: soft green watery air emerges. The florals have gone beneath. Becomes tranquil. Very regal, reminescent of BPAL's Cairo. Verdict: On me this is not so much floral as it is warm and sensual, like an earthy embrace. Excellent blend and suits the concept. This is not overly perfumey at all. Regal and sedate. The sandalwoods and incenses are gentle and not smokey. 5 hours later: Scent is almost gone. I don't mind applying again. Don't know that I would want a full bottle, but I will treasure my imp!

In the vial: antique rose petals, rosewood Wet: same but with a bit more woods Drydown: Just lovely! The hazel heats up this blend up with a gentle, spicy accord Verdict: Wow! Everything blends so nicely and warms up on the skin. This is not a traditional rose scent at all. This is a dried rose that has aged. Wonderful mood scent. The rosewood note is entrancing and the nutty hazel is cozy and peaceful. Brings to mind distant memories of those we love who have gone before us. Fading, but still detectable. I would love a bottle of this!

In the imp: earthy green dark fig Wet: a spicy almond cream note gives the fig a different dimension Dry: Intoxicating and very sensual and thankfully, not foody at all!! Verdict: A wonderful mellow summer scent! There is an amberness and cream to the fig that is very voluptuous! LOVE it!!

In the imp: dark rich spiced cocoa Wet on skin: patchouli, incense, amber and wood Dry: I'm not getting the leather yet--but the drydown is gorgeous! Sexy, sultry chocolate and incense. The chocolate is subdued and the overall scent is wonderfully balanced, earthy and strong. A bit peppery. Could be a fantastic masculine scent...but that wouldn't stop me from wearing it. I would like to smell this on DH. 2 hours later: Woo-hoo!! Leather kicked in, mixed with the wood and smoke. Although this is chococlaty goodness for a while---it's gone. A bit too smoky in this stage for my asthma. I will give to DH to try!

In the bottle: spicy, aquatic, sweet flowers Wet on skin: resinous frankincense, water lily Dry on skin: white musk blends beautifully--the crispness of the flowers is gone, leaving a deep blue cool bath licking the warm of the musk. This is understated--like a cooling gentle powdered breeze on a summer evening, luminous water lilies floating in a pool shrouded in moonlight . Wonderful!!

In the imp: spicy clean herbal lavender and delphinium Wet on skin: star jasmine, bloom of rose awash in delicate musk Dry: jasmine and rose fade into the background, the lavender never overpowers. Very dignified, a bit mysterious Verdict: All in all this is a very soothing scent, yet potent scent. Lavender has therapeutic effects on me--very relaxing. All the spices are gentle and light. I think that I would like a scent with a bit more substance to it than this one for wearing during the day. But this would be a nice one to wear at bedtime to help Mr.Sandman along! 2 hours later: Wow! This really changed into a lovely light floral. The musk finally kicked in and wed with the star jasmine. Wonderful aroma. I keep sniffing the wrists.

In the imp: Violet, bergamot Wet on skin: sandalwood begins to peek through sweet herbs Dry: Warms nicely--the Arabian musk pushing the primrose through, the chamomile and rosewood still giving it a bit of green This is a great concoction!!! I'm seeing Johnny Depp as the Earl of Sandwich, dousing his hanky and linens in this. Very aristocratic with an edge! The musk keeps this from being just so prim and proper. Just a hair of decadence!

In the imp: vibrant juicy oranges Wet on skin: lemon verbena, a bit of anise, honeysuckle Drydown: bubbly lemon and orange in a backdrop of heliotrope, sexy and clean, light and breezy Verdict: a wonderful light floral citrus blend for summer. Innocent with hint of naughtiness. I would savor this for a hot humid summer day. I don't wear halter tops and short shorts any more, but this reminds me of those days when I could, wearing my hair up in a ponytail, flaunting my new pink lipstick.

In the vial: yummy, exotic, strong ,dark cocoa and rum Wet on skin: smokey spiced wine, toasty cherry resin, dark spices and coffee Dry: Aromatic, dry, vivid and insistent cocoa underneath wine. The rum more of a backdrop. Fascinating interplay. And deep beneath it is a smokey incense, not foody at all!. Just a mere hint of musk for warmth. Verdict: This is magical! Reminds me of Tita de la Garza in Like Water for Chocolate. No ordinary cocoa is this--it has the salt of tears and years of passion, hundred years old mystical recipes that transform the lives of those who partake of them. Not the food itself, but the essence of Tita. Unusual!!! Although DH has seen hundereds of rabbits en masse romping through the Santa Elena foothills. I'm not sure I want to know how that would smell!!! But this is just divine.

Add me to fans of this scent: In the imp: honey, milk and oatmeal!! Wet: A wee bit of green, almond and vanilla Dry: Very innocent, light and creamy, full of comfort Verdict: This oh-so-gentle scent is gorgeous and not at all as foody as it sounds. I feel enveloped in cozy comfort. Something about the grains in this one saves it from being overly almond and sweet. This one is destined to be a classic in my BPAL collection. ADDED July 24: In the imp: honey, milk and oatmeal!! Wet: A wee bit of green and almond and vanilla Dry: Very innocent, light and creamy, full of comfort Verdict: This oh-so-gentle scent is gorgeous and not at all as foody as it sounds. This is what I wanted HAEE's Celtic Cross to smell like!! Very soothing...

In the imp: soft, very soft green herbs, misty flowers Wet on skin: Pale pastel flowers creep out in damp night air Dry: Wispy wildflowers, nothing sharp --creamy dew, a dusting of marshmallows, great throw! Impression: Becomes rich with flowers over time. Definitely a "fae" scent that gets better on my skin by the minute. Beautiful and haunting, almost mystical. Have no idea what the flowers but the aroma is strong and gorgeous, yet soft. A delicious waft! Like a walk in a magical meadow...

A most interesting scent!! Sniffing it in the vial, I almost put it down. Like others, I smelled strong, astringent Vaporub . I am delighted that I did apply it! Wet: the fig steps into a woody earthy arena with a hint of cardamon and patchouli Dry:Wow what a changeling! Astonishingly complex, heaven and earth blended together, bright and ethereal. This is unique...defies categorization. Even after a few hours, I am grabbing my wrists. Just lovely!

In the vial: strong smell, something that I don't recognize--very earthy, possibly black narcissus and a strong spice. Even a bit of tobacco. I'm not getting vanilla from the spice that I smell from the vial. Wet: sweet and orangey and a bit of musk Dry: here comes the vanilla...now it does smell edible, warm but not overly floral. I'm still getting that tobacco note--ugh!! This one may not me for me--I may try it again later. The tobacco note makes me queasy. This one changes quite a bit from wet to dry.