misfitroxy

Sniffing directly from the imp, this strikes me as a very clean, masculine fragrance. Like one of those “Mountain Spring” type scents marketed at manly men who want to smell nice. Out of the imp it goes straight to rose (which is a happy development by my estimation). This is a powerful rose, though. Sadly a bit more synthetic than the rose blends I’m used to, but not unpleasant. I’m starting to smell the leather which is actually making the floral pine-y on me. After letting it dry and “sink in” for a while, I’m sad to report that this is more soapy than I can stand. Not drastically so, and it might be wearable for certain occasions, but it just doesn’t strike me as a scent that I’d choose to represent me. Win some and lose some, I guess.

Wet, all I get from this is cherry syrup. Not necessarily a medicinal kind of syrup but more like the ones you find in gourmet coffee shops. Ultra sweet with the slightest bit of a kick behind it. On my skin, it’s cherry candy to the extreme. Though it quickly darkens into something less sticky. This scent is all crimson to me. I think the plum and amaretto are a perfect combination (I’m not normally a fan of almond-esque scents but the fruit really helps balance and control the nuttiness). Bordello makes me think of holiday candies (or the kind of sweets I associate with the Winter holiday season where you have the hard fruit lozenges with a burst of syrup in the middle). But there’s something deep and complex underneath it that makes this a more grown-up kind of blend as opposed to a lollipop sort of tartness. I’d be curious to see how this would mix with one of the Lab’s spicy oils. I know this is a keeper even if I wouldn’t have too much occasion to wear it. But it’s distinctive and fun and totally delicious.

Wet, this is almost an aquatic rose with something like amber lingering in the background. On my skin, it turns to light, white roses – very girlie and sweet. It’s a fresh and innocent kind of floral, absolutely true to its description and namesake. As it deepens, the spices emerge slightly. They aren’t overt, though. More like something you’d expect to find in an old-fashioned scented talcum powder. The floral remains clean and refrains from becoming either heavy or cloying. All in all, it’s great to wear as an unassuming rose blend during the spring or general daytime. I’m pleased with the imp and might be inclined to order more in the future.

Wet in the imp, I’m taken aback by how much this resembles the smell of an overly ripe green apple’s skin drenched in honey. I can literally see the liquid oozing off the crispy, waxy-shiny surface. Yummy. Once on, a kind of powdery sweetness comes to the foreground. Almost like a rich vanilla dusting powder. The apple’s still there, augmenting the sweetness and making it juicy tart instead of candy-like. This is the summer scent to end all summer scents. It’s bottled golden sunsets and adventures in orchards. I’m inspired to run through endless fields and make angels in the grass. I couldn’t love this more if I tried. Definitely bottle worthy. It makes me feel innocent and light-hearted and gloriously in tune with nature’s elements. An instant favorite.

The imp smells both fruity and incense-y. It’s familiar, but I can’t quite put my finger on it (though others have mentioned childhood candies, like grape bubble gum. It's not exactly that to me, but not far off). While wet on my skin, it’s very juicy with a hint of dust underneath. The dragon’s blood resin is the strongest note, but it’s sweet without being sickening. As it dries, I get a bit of the rose peeking through. They’re very soft and more powdery but this blends well with the resin. I’m reminded greatly of Persephone, only I think Blood Rose is the more wearable of the two on me, as Persephone’s florals went soapy after a while. Blood Rose’s seem to remain more true rose. It’s not intensely strong, though I would call the fragrance itself bold (or “robust”, as the Lab deems it). I don’t get much of the wine scent from this. Just a dark rose with slightly sugared petals. This is a very unique woman’s oil. A tad flirty while remaining mysterious, soft yet sweet and cloaked in intrigue. I’ll definitely keep this one around.

Straight from the imp I can only describe this as a kind of woody musk with definite dirt undertones. On my wrist it really starts to smell of wet soil although it’s rather pine-like too, almost to the point of being lemony. Curiously, it quickly turns synthetic on me and is reminding me of ammonia mixed with something sweet, as when a cleanser tries to mask its active ingredient(s) with perfume-y scents. That artificial sharpness morphs into... well, I hate to even type this but I’m reminded of a fresh compost heap (or manure pile) that’s been covered up with a dash of potpourri. It’s fading really quickly which might be a blessing. And I was looking forward to this one. ::pout:: Before I write it off completely, though, I must say that after fully drying, the rose takes over and turns Zombi into a fresh wet-rose floral. It’s not really my kind of rose, but it’s a lot more pleasant than what I was experiencing several minutes ago. I might have to test this one again before I make a final decision either way. It's definitely provoking a whole bunch of different impressions unlike any I've experienced in the past.

From the imp, this is pure milk chocolate heaven. But a darker milk chocolate, like Green & Black’s organic. MMM. Wet on my wrist the incense blends start to come through. But they’re not overpowering the chocolate just making it spicy and rich. This is an overtly warm scent. It’s turning slightly woody the longer I leave it on, giving me impressions of damp mahogany. I’m really enjoying the oil’s complexity. I can’t really imagine an occasion where I would wear this other than to ward off chocolate cravings. It’s everything the description says, though – soft, sensual, and something you want to wrap yourself up in to ward off the nasties. Totally lush.

The imp smells very wet and perfume-y to me with a sweetness lingering in the background. Definitely nice. After I’ve put it on my wrist, the various elements in the oil all blend together but none of them really stand out to me. I can pick out a bit of the berry (and maybe a hint of the dragon’s blood resin) and a floral which must be from the orris (it’s absolutely not a rose scent by far). Everything strikes me as very feminine and it’s a nice mix of scents. However, I find this to be a very traditional-smelling feminine fragrance. It’s exactly what I’d expect to smell if I walked up to any random department store perfume counter and took a whiff of the first bottle I grabbed. Undoubtedly, it’s my chemistry that’s rendering this somewhat one-dimensional as I have full faith in the Lab’s alchemist abilities to create unique and complex blends. I’m sad that I’m missing out n the smoke and even the rose. The oil is very Spring-like in my eyes and perfect for the ultimate girlie-girl-turned-woman. It’s just too floral for my personal tastes. Though I might save the imp to test it again at a later date to rule out any wonky body reactions.

While wet in the imp, this is very lemon-y with just a bit of floral. Almost cleanser-like, which makes me rather hesitant to put it on. Still, I must proceed. Once on my skin, the grapefruit is the most prominent element. This is quickly joined by a light, blossom-like scent which I guess is the apple blossom, naturally. ;} As it warms, the ginger stands out more turning everything just the slightest bit spicy. I’m getting an almost dusty tone to this the more I smell it. Not so much the scent itself as my nose’s reaction, I guess. It’s literally like sniffing something covered in dust. Not that this is terrible by any means, just an odd reaction that I’m noticing. The grapefruit is almost totally gone now. I think the blend's going soapy on me, and I can’t say I’m totally enthralled with what remains. Just not something my skin is meant to wear, I guess. Though I’ll definitely use the imp for burning as I think it would really brighten up a room, especially in the summer.

Once popping the cap on the imp, I instantly exclaimed “Ooh!” at this. I’m getting a lovely almost aquatic spice that’s reminding me of nutmeg or something similarly food-y (glancing over the reviews now, I see that this is a consensus for most first whiffs of Hamadryad). On my wrist, I start to pick up more cinnamon, but as others have noted, it’s a “smooth” cinnamon, very sweet instead of sharp. An aquatic kind of floral is coming to light now but it merely balances the spice instead of replacing it entirely. It is very cool, very wintry. But I don’t see it as out of place for any time of the year. I was worried that the woodsy part would turn dark or musky on me, but it’s more like the mosses mentioned in the description. In terms of a color, I see a pastel mint green. It’s earthy and comforting and playfully breezy. I’m definitely a fan and will be getting my hands on more of this in the future. ETA - After a few hours (once the spice dissipates), this turns into an almost exact replica of Anais Anais by Cacharel on me. I've always loved that scent, but more because it was what my mother wore when I was a little girl so I associate it with her. Wearing it myself seems a tad too strange. But it's comforting, so I might still purchase this in bottle form. Until then, I'll experiment with scent lockets to see if I can keep the blend from changing so radically. Again, not a bad morph, just a tad too personally nostalgic for me.

The imp smells very sweet and musky. Not at all heavy, and almost honey-like. On my skin, I instantly pick up on the rose, but it’s unlike the rose notes I’m used to. Still almost honey-like, sticky. Not nearly as dark as I anticipated. But it’s not powdery either. I think my skin is eating it too, as it’s fading very fast. There’s a very slight touch of spice (more of the oriental kind than cinnamon or the like) that comes through which must be the musk (unless it's the amber. I'm not well versed in the difference yet). This pleases me, as my skin normally turns musk into an overpowering, heady sort of scent that blocks out all other components. The rose that lingers is indeed a darker rose than most. But it’s sweet and light enough to be a daytime scent on me. The amber increases as it dries, turning this into a more “mature” scent, but still nothing near imposing or overwhelming. I see this as an ideal date scent as it’s subtly sexy and slightly mysterious (especially when compared to more traditional rose perfumes). While it’s not something I’d choose to wear all the time, I’ll definitely break it out for special occasions or times when I’m feeling both naughty and flirty.

The imp smells very herbal to me, almost medicinal and slightly like perfumer’s alcohol, strangely enough. It’s much warmer on my wrist and the alcohol goes away (fortunately!). I definitely pick up the jasmine that others mentioned. That’s the strongest note for me. But it does have a kind of inexplicable spiciness behind it. I haven’t yet tried anything that contains Dragon’s Blood, so I don’t know if that’s what I’m picking up on or not. It’s warm and sweet and floral without being overtly feminine. I don’t really know if I’d be able to wear it or not despite the fact that I like the scent, though I’m curious to test its voodoo properties. I’ll have to allow it to sit a while longer to see if it’s going to challenge my allergies as whiter flowers have a tendency to do. As it fades, it becomes sweeter, almost to the degree of candy. I really enjoy this blend. And I’m surprised by how unassuming it is. While it starts off rather assertive, it fades gently and slowly. It’s so hard to place, scent-wise, yet very comforting. I’m definitely glad I have it on hand (literally ).

Wet, this strikes me as very lemon fruity. Not in a sharp or artificial way. Just clean and juicy. Once it dries down on my wrist, it becomes very light. The tanginess sticks around briefly but eventually softens. The crushed berry tartness is still evident, though, just more subtle and sweet. I think the comparison to blood oranges is dead on. Over time, it’s not changing too much. It’s a very bright blend, almost like sniffing pith/citrus zest. I don’t detect anything alcoholic, though it is more complex than a straightforward fruit blend. I think this will be fabulous for summer. And I might just need a bottle for burning as well as wearing because it’s a great pick-me-up.

The scent initially smells very juicy and fruity with just a touch of rose. When applied to my skin, it takes on a kind of tropical punch smell. It’s definitely not unpleasant, just unexpected. As it dries, the rose steps through ultra strong. But I love roses, so I’m not complaining. It is a very wet rose, like petals after a heavy rain or a very freshly cut bouquet (of garden, not hot house roses). It stays fruity and sweet though the floral is trying to go a touch soapy on me (noooo!). I like the blending of scents that it arrives at, but I think wearing it in a scent locket would help it to better maintain its original sweetness, as the result is a pretty strong, dusky rose. I’m definitely glad that I have this, though I don’t see myself wearing it on a daily basis because I think my chemistry morphs it too much. Still, it’s feminine and rather flirty. An all-around girlie girl oil.

Wet in the imp I get a very dark, almost woodsy chocolate. An ultra-rich kind of devil’s food cake mix flavor coupled with just a hint of spice. This morphs to cherries on my skin but definitely those of an almost alcoholic nature - maraschino with cocoa powder lingering. It’s indulgent but not grossly so. Any woodsy scent that pops out of this on me is a deep, damp kind of wood. The slight bit of fizz that it carries does cause me to think of cherry cola, as others have noted. But on a whole, it’s much more intense than that. There is a kind of iridescence to this blend that brings all sorts of colors to mind. Though a deep red velvet seems most appropriate. It fades fairly quickly on my skin, so I’m tempted to try it out as a room scent. But I enjoy catching whiffs of it when my wrist passes my face and will definitely pull this out from time to time as I find it enjoyable and oh-so-wearable.

The imp smells of a honeyed floral to me. Sticky and wet and very pleasant all-around. My skin doesn’t seem to want to allow it to stay in that state, though. It instantly pulls the white flower(s) to the forefront and grabs on to dear life. I maybe smell of bit of licorice, which I don’t particularly care for sadly enough. As it warms, it turns a bit spicy. But I can’t get beyond the florals. They’re not a favorite perfume for me (or my allergies) and I don’t really see this morphing enough to where they’d be wearable. Overall, the blend is heady yet light enough for everyday wear. It would be gorgeous on someone else, I’m sure, but isn’t meant for me.

I just tested out Lampades today and was struck with how much it reminds me of Hunter Moon. Not as rich, fruit-wise, and lacking in the "animalistic" undertones. But it develops the same smoky sweetness on my skin. There's more of an incense-y headiness to Lampades and I find that it fades much more quickly than Hunter Moon. But since I can buy unlimited bottles of it (at least for the moment barring any crazy discontinuations), I have the luxury of liberally reapplying if necessary.

Oh my [deity of choice]. I think I may have found it. Not an exact replica, but something non-LE to use as a daily wear oil in place of my beloved Hunter Moon. Joy! While wet in the imp, it’s both tangy and smoky, maybe even herbal. Initially my skin takes the incense and runs with it. But it’s not an overbearing, heavy incense smell, just a light musk more like sandalwood. The tangy bits of the cranberry emerge and I think they help give the oil its wine-like effect that I’ve come to associate with HM. The spice from the ginger adds to the complexity of the scent in the most subtle of ways, acting more as a black pepper note that’s almost dusty instead of the brightness one normally finds with ginger scents. The only downside I’m detecting so far is that my skin appears to be eating it. It’s fading faster and faster as I sit with it until I’m just getting the slightest sweet smoke aroma when I check back. Just means I’ll need to order a bit ole bottle for lots of reapplications, right?

After popping the cap on the imp, I got a kind of lemony scent from this. A sharp, dry note that I can’t quite put my finger on. It’s not citrus necessarily, just somewhat sterile. Almost like that you find in a kitchen cleanser. My skin doesn’t seem to think much better of it either, sadly. I get a bit of rose, but the powdery kind that doesn’t please me all that much. I think somehow the blend of rose with ylang ylang is what’s causing those cleaning product associations to emerge, as together they smell soapy on me. As the oil warms on my wrist, it turns more floral and less harshly chemical. But it’s still nowhere near wearable. I expected a bit more apple (or even a hint of it!) but I guess my skin has other ideas. I appreciate how light the scent is and think it would be something I’d compliment on someone else on if they were wearing it. However, it just isn’t working with my particular chemistry.

In the imp, it’s very almond-y with a greenish kind of floral note. After applying it to my skin, the almond fades completely. I get a little of the creamy, milk-like effect but it quickly turns powdery on me. The rose, honey, and bergamot are completely lost on my nose even after sitting with it for several hours. The carnation is the brightest note that I can detect, but unfortunately not a flower I agree with all that well. This absolutely strikes me as a scent for a little girl anxious to join the grown ups, so Beth is spot on in that regard. As for working with my chemistry, it’s simply not meant to be.

In the imp this is very herbal and fresh smelling. Almost like a crisp green apple as it's cut into wedges. Once wet on my skin, the saturated dirt scent came through super strong. Though not the least bit offensive to my rather darkly-inclined brain. Just very different than anything I've worn before. Once the dirt smell began to calm down, the wine (I guess it would be) came through. However, it's a totally different kind of wine scent than what I'm used to (mainly the one in Hunter Moon). It actually smells like vanilla on me. My mind keeps returning to an impression of vanilla dirt like a child's backyard "baking" experiment bottled and capped. After a while, the sweetness becomes the most prominent out of all the elements in Nosferatu, with floral notes joining the "vanilla"/wine and that background of rich peat. Sadly, it's fading rather fast. That just means I need a big bottle for frequent reapplication purposes, right? I don't see myself wearing this on anything close to a regular basis. But it's something unique to bring out for days when I'm feeling extra Aquarian and defiant of any and all things mainstream (including fragrances). It also makes for a nice spooky-meets-girly scent, which delights any and all of my goth parts to no end. ;}

In the imp, I definitely got a big whiff o' jasmine. And on my skin, it's not straying far from that initial impression. Though I can detect the rose now. I like the way the two florals blend together. They create a distinctly "mature" fragrance. Definitely something I'd expect on someone more old-fashioned leaning, as I envision women in pearls sitting down to tea in oversized ornate hats and pastel suits. This is surprising, as my skin normally grabs hold of musks like nothing else. But I'm simply not receiving any darker tones from this in the least. I might try layering this with something overtly spicy to see if I can vamp it up a tad. Overall, it's pleasant just not love worthy on me.

In the bottle, I smelled a kind of honeyed rum sweetness that I wasn't expecting (from other reviews, I figured it would be more musky, or potentially smoky). On my skin, the rose musk is what catches me over and over. Each time I pass my wrist by my face, I get the image of a dark bouquet (the addition of the tulip and lotus makes the blend of florals complex and rich by my estimation). The sweetness remains but compliments the floral instead of causing it to become too heady. It's definitely a "woman's" scent. Very adult and sensual. But sweet enough to not be overly harsh. It remains inviting and approachable, yet with a warning that the wearer is not one to mess with. I can't personally see myself wearing it excessively often, as it's a deeper floral than the kind of tend to favor. But maybe for special events in the future. Or times when I'm feeling particularly powerful and seductive.

In the bottle, it struck me as spicy cherries, oddly enough. I couldn't remember what was in Harlot until it started to dry on my skin and I caught the rose notes. Now that it's settled, neither the cinnamon nor the roses seem to be trying to push the other out. They are equally present but not overwhelmingly so. The rose is much more powdery than the kind I normally favor. And sadly, the cinnamon doesn't detract from that enough to make this something I think I'd choose to wear on any kind of a regular basis. As others have noted, the cinnamon strikes me as the kind you'd find in gum where it's sweet enough to not be stingy. And I think that's what keeps it from being a true floral rose on me. It might be nice for a scent locket, as I find the scent more than pleasant and am glad I have the imp to play around with. But it's just not ME.

From the imp, I couldn't exactly tell one note from another. I got the clean, fresh scent that others described but nothing popped out. On my wrist - Woah. Let me repeat that with a tad more emphasis - WoAH! Starts off vanilla sweet but not the least bit artificial (I loathe artificial vanilla scents and they're nasty culprits for giving me sinus headaches). I can't say I'm detecting the tea necessarily, but the light musks come through. I have to agree with everyone else that this is a truly gender neutral blend, though the sweetness keeps it on the proper side of feminine for me. ;} Now that I've sat with it for a while, I believe the tea is starting to peek through. It reminds me of a white tea, though, which is rather unassuming scent-wise. And my skin is warming the musks and making them more prominent (which is a very normal reaction, but fortunately doesn't eliminate the other notes in the process as it's want to do with other blends). I can't stop smelling my wrist. As many fellow reviewers have noted, this scent is sexy without being overpowering. Slightly naughty (even perverse) but innocent at the same time. Wilde is grinning and raising a suggestive eyebrow somewhere for certain. I have a feeling this will be my first 10ml purchase.