galahad

In The Bottle Spicey and gingery. Smells like gingernuts in the imp On Application Buttery ginger. Not fresh ginger but dried ginger powder. Yum Dry Down The buttery note dies back about 10 minutes into the drydown to leave an awesome ginger cookie scent. I've been slathered in Pickled Imp today which is all cinnamon cookie so it's nice to smell the difference. This doesn't have the vanilla in it so it dries down to a dry dusty ginger. Really awesome. Rating (0-5) 4.5

In The Bottle Floral and slightly fruity. The flowers are creamy and lush - just how I like them. On Application Earthy tropical flowers Dry Down This is a cool scent...the cool after a warm day. Surprisingly woody. Beautiful but very soft and ephemeral Rating (0-5) 3

In The Bottle Wine. I also get a bit of honey On Application Spiced wine. Oddly medicinal Dry Down Mothballs, honey and wine. Awful Rating (0-5) 0

In The Bottle Green herbal floral On Application Rose with apple Dry Down The rose amps up but has a clean soapy underpinning. Too rosey for me. Rating (0-5) 1.5

In The Bottle Faintly floral and almost fruity On Application Dusty rose and lily Dry Down There is something kind of musky taking the sharpmess of the flowers away from this and making it pleasant enough for me.....until about 20 minutes in the drydown and the lily takes over and makes it all horrible high floral. Rating (0-5) 1.5

In The Bottle Really nice in the bottle like candied violets On Application Violet and ylang ylang Dry Down The ylang ylang pulls back a little leaving a scent that is a little generic and a little air-fresher like. No grave loam but it is kind of dusty. I kind of like it but it isn't something I would wear. Rating (0-5) 3

In The Bottle Patchouli and jasmine. Not a good combination for me to start with On Application As above but more patchouli than jasmine Dry Down 5 mins into the drydown this picks up an earthiness which improves things. This is so not me. Smells like some dim and dank crafty store with old incense. Rating (0-5) 1

In The Bottle Rosewood and lavender On Application Rosewood and musk Dry Down This is an odd scent. The rose is barely detectable, the rosewood is dry and woody and the lavender spikes through every now and then. 5 minutes into the drydown and it's gone. I like it but it needs to have more staying power. Rating (0-5) 3

In The Bottle Musky violet and lilac On Application As above but with some ylang ylang Dry Down This is surprisingly deep. I was expecting something thin and sharp. Throughout the drydown the violet stays strong, which I am happy about, and the ylang ylang is kept in check, which I am doubly happy about. The mint doesn't make an obvious appearance but it does keep the blend coolish although this is definitely not a cold scent. I like it but don't love it. Rating (0-5) 3.5

Devilish temptation, as sweet as sin: blood orange, neroli, and raspberry. In The Bottle Fruity neroli On Application As above Dry Down The raspberry comes through a couple of minutes into the drydown. Fruity but not sweet. Doesn't really do it for me. Rating (0-5) 1

In The Bottle Vetiver and wookds On Application Sandalwood and florals Dry Down All jasmine. Not for me. Rating (0-5) 0

In The Bottle Light, slightly green and very slightly floral On Application Herbal and cool. A little bit more floral Dry Down A cool floral. I a a bit disappointed in this one as the florals are a little too much. Will try again. Rating (0-5) 3

In The Bottle Vanillary cinnamon and clove On Application Quite strong cinnamon and vanilla with the clove just spiking through Dry Down I so get the references to spiced cookies with this blend. The spices are initially quite strong and agressive but the vanilla helps to keep everything relatively calm eventually. Doesn't really morph - just stays spicey sweetness. I like. Rating (0-5) 5

In The Bottle Faint violet and almost lilac On Application The musk starts to come through pretty quickly combining oddly wth the violet Dry Down This is dark, slick and oily which pretty much fits the concept but I find it unsettling. I think without the sandalwood I would enjoy this more. I will give it another chance after aging. Rating (0-5) 2

In The Bottle Rich cocoa and teak On Application Sweet, rich and dark cocoa Dry Down Unlike some of the other snakes I have tried, the snake oil is obvious from the start giving the cocoa a nice spiciness and sweetness. This is creamy and rich but the teak adds an element of balance. I got this bottle as a mistake (was supposed to be 2 banded sea snake bottles but I got 2 of these instead) but I really like this blend. Reminds me of Wulric the Wolfman without the mintiness. Rating (0-5) 5

In The Bottle A complex blend but I can pick out the honeysuckle On Application Starts off with quite strong honeysuckle and quickly changes to a lovely soft herbal and musk Dry Down The lavender makes an early appearance to give a little sharpness and then the amber starts to sweeten things up. So far, while I can detect the orchid it's not doing anything nasty. About 5 minutes into the drydown this becomes cooler, lighter and more herbal (the salvia coming to the fore). This is really beautiful and an amazing morpher. Rating (0-5) 5

In The Bottle Kumquat with a touch of grapefruit. I am suprised as i thought the yuzu and grapefruit would leap out of theimp. On Application Glorious yuzu! Slightly sweetened by the kumquat Dry Down The flowers add an interesting backing to this scent as it dries down - almost honey-like (honeysuckle?). I've got Baobhan Sith on one arm and this on another. Interesting to compare. Night Gaunt is warmer and fruitier. So far I have loved the yuzu and the grapefruit blends from the lab and this is no exception. Rating (0-5) 5

In The Bottle Strong grapefruit wiht some apple blossom. I love grapefruit and (yuzu)! On Application Nice grapefruit. So far I love but grapefruit is ephemeral on my skin. Dry Down The lusciousness of the grapefruit fades a little aboout 5 minutes into the drydown to allow the tea and apple blossom to shine leaving a fresh, clean scent. And then it comes back bringing the ginger with it! Gorgeous fresh summer scent that is going on my bottle wishlist. Rating (0-5) 5

In The Bottle Patchouli and apricot. An interesting and quite pleasant combination On Application Very earthy with a touch of the sweet, acidic apricot Dry Down The apricot disappears pretty quickly leaving the dusty, lovely patchouli. I like it but there may be better patchouli blends out there that I haven't tried. Rating (0-5) 3

In The Bottle I get all notes in the bottle. Ginger is the most prominent. On Application Cassia and ginger most strongly. Not overly fond of the cassia at this stage. Dry Down A really spicey blend. The cassia takes a while to let the other notes show through. Becomes much more pleasant once the cinnamon and snake oil peek out. His did make my skin slightly red and itchy and I don;t have sensitive skin. This will be great aged 6 months or so, Rating (0-5) 4.5

The Bull of Minos, guardian of the Labyrinth in Knossos. A deep, swarthy black musk dusted by a dark, resinous blend of sacred bisabol myrrh, atramentous benzoin, tsori, balsam, and galbanum. In The Bottle Resinous, slightly sweet (I suspect form the benzoin which has a vanillary scent). I was expecting it to be thick and dark and dry but it isn't in the bottle. On Application Quite a thin, waxy oil on application. Beautiful musk with a slightly aromatic herbal background Dry Down Goes powdery but lovely on drydown. Certainly dustier and drier than I expected from the bottle. This was a free bottle with my latest order. I am assuming freshly made so this should be fanstastic when it ages. Rating (0-5) 5

In The Bottle Sweet lavender and vanilla On Application Lavender, sweet and rounded out by what I think is vanilla Dry Down I love lavender and I love lavender with vanilla. This is gorgeous. I must try it next time I am having difficulty sleeping. A definite bottle for me Rating (0-5) 5

In The Bottle Slightly fruity and spicey honey On Application Light fruity honey Dry Down I am surprised at how light and airy this is. Not cloying at all. The honey becomes stronger and sweter as this dries down further. Really, really nice. Rating (0-5) 4

In The Bottle Patchouli and sandalwood On Application Woody patchouli Dry Down Dry, musty and woody. The cardamom adds an odd note for me. This is interesting but doesn't really appeal to me. Rating (0-5) 3

In The Bottle I have been trying to figure out what the scent in this is that I really, really know and love. And it's basil! Should have looked at the listing of notes. On Application Pine and basil. Not as strong as I expected Dry Down This has the freshness of pine and the spiciness of basil, cumin and clove. An interesting blend. I think I am loving it. Rating 4.5