galahad

In The Bottle Buttercream and toffee On Application Buttercream and hazelnut Dry Down As I have mentioned in previous reviews, the caramels and toffees tend to smell rancid on my skin so I was wary of trying this. The hazelnut is really prominent initially with the buttery toffee and caramel. 5 minutes in there is a spiciness that I can't pick from the list of notes, perhaps the dark chocolate? The buttery elements are being kept from going rancid which is a blessing however this is a too sweet and foody for me. Rating (0-5) 2

In The Bottle Cranberry, pine and occasional bursts of tomato leaf On Application Tart cranberry with a background of pine. Dry Down The cedar comes out to play not long into the drydown to tone down the cranberry a little. I think the tomato leaf, which can be detected just at the edges of this scent, and the pine give this a wildness that is invigorating and prevents this from becoming fruity candy. Kind of goes scented eraser on me after 20 minutes or so (which is a pleasant fragrance) but occasionally the cranberry rears it's head. I like it! Rating (0-5) 4.5

In The Bottle Mint and tobacco with a touch of caramel On Application Caramel and mint. I was afraid to put this on as the caramel, butterscotch scents turn rancid on my skin. Dry Down I can catch the sage as it dries down on top of the carmel and mint. Unusual. 5 minutes in the mint is really amping which is a good thing. The caramel is smelling rancid and almost like maple syrup. 20 minutes in and the whole thing becomes drier with the nicotiana taking centre stage. At the moment not a keeper but will give it another go. Rating (0-5) 2.5

In The Bottle Spicey and musky On Application Very resinous and potent. Not a lot of sweetness. Dry Down The earthy fig pokes through in the early stages and the blend starts to sweeten as it settles and warms. This may a bit too strong for me. Will have to give it another go but at this stage ths isn't for me. Rating (0-5) 3

In The Bottle Fir, musk and orange On Application The fir is at the forefront with a little minty kick and orange. Dry Down This gets quite a lot spicier as it dries down. The fir and the orange is a strange mix, but one that I quite like. What originally started off as warm and spicey gets all cool mint and fir after 10 minutes and then the clove and cumin kick in to heat things up a bit. Very complex and a great morpher for me. I like very much. Rating (0-5) 4

In The Bottle Rich, herby and woody On Application As above. Definitely "feels" wet to me. Complex and disturbing. Dry Down Quite minty to me. This has such a cool, dark quality to it. Starts to sweeten up 5 minutes into the drydown. The winey note comes though about 10 minutes into the progression. Man, this is cold - I am getting goosebumps! I am seriously getting very cold here. I keep looking to see where the hell that cold draught is coming from. Very spicy, woodsy, minty, winey. Complex as hell. I love it! Rating (0-5) 4.5

In The Bottle Soft sandalwood On Application I think there is some jasmine in this blend and something rounder and sweet. I am a bit suprised as had no clue from the vial. Dry Down This is so unusual and soft. Definitely woods - cedar and sandalwood - and something keeping it sweet. Minilux mentioned in her review that she was getting conflicting images of a woodshaop and a banana split - I so get that. I like it but it is so soft and elusive. Rating (0-5) 3

In The Bottle Cold! Sweet and very slightly floral. On Application Ozone and saltwater but sweetish. Doesn't have the bitterness of some of the pirate scents....yet Dry Down Aaahh....reallly perfumey fresh floral. Very disappointed but I can't win them all. I will give it another go but don't think this will work for me. Rating (0-5) 1

In The Bottle Soft dry amber and musk. Warm and gentle On Application Strange. Seems to play hide and seek. When it's there it is very nice, if a little too powder sweet. Dry Down There is a sharp dryness to this which is totally evocative of the concept. This started off seeming a fairly feminine blend to me but as it dries becomes more masculine (all subjective, I know). The powder sweet amber gives way to the woods, making this drier and dustier. What started off as being somwhat disappointing has now rocketed to one of my favourites. Rating (0-5) 4.5

In The Bottle Thick aromatic herbs and clove On Application Wow...sweetens up but is dry and dusty which I like Dry Down Gets very, very spicey and musty. At no stage do I get the black currant. This is a very mysterious blend to me - from a distance so spicey (cinnamon, clove, etc) but closer sniff aromatic herbs (sage, rosemary, etc). I like it. Rating (0-5) 4

In The Bottle Lavender and lime On Application Quite sharp and astringent. Quite strongly lavender with a sweetness beneath. Dry Down I almost get anise in the initial stages of drydown. 10 minutes in and I am really starting to like this more. It was initially a bit fragmented but has now blended to a sweet colgney floral - not startling but pleasant. Rating (0-5) 3.5

In The Bottle Smells exactly like Davidhoff Cool Water in the imp - fresh with a bubblegum base. On Application Cologney warm lavender and aromatic herbs Dry Down This is beautiful and sensually masculine. Still very much like Cool Water which I like but has a more sophisticated edge as it dries down further. The lavender pops up to say hello every now and then and then pulls it's head back in. This is a stunner and perfect for summer. Rating (0-5) 5

In The Bottle I'm a little scared to put this on. On Application The chocolate comes to the fore pretty quickly. The cherry is more almond at this stage. Dry Down I don't like what the orange blossom does to this oil. The chocolate peeps out every now and then. I don't really get much cherry. Rating (0-5) 2

In The Bottle Mint and lavender. Cool and crisp On Application Very green and crisp. Moist, sharp and bitter Dry Down This stays nice and herby green on me all the way through. The mint is no longer evident and the overall effect is wild, weedy, sappy green - hemlock, dandelion and green grass. Rating (0-5) 4

In The Bottle Cherry and chocolate for me On Application As above the with the chocolate coming to the fore. Very dark and cloying. Dry Down It has taken 10 minutes for this to tone down enough for my sinuses to get a break. I am really getting the honey now and a touch of the wine. Feral musk is right! I am thinking I will like this when it starts to behave. 20 minutes in and this is now a smooth honey, vanilla and clove scent with a touch of wine. This will be too sweet and cloying for me to wear. Rating (0-5) 3

In The Bottle Moss and ozone - fresh and bright On Application Warm, airy mint Dry Down This initially switches constantly for me between light and warm to cool and airy but dries down very quickly to a hand cream smell. Not unpleasant but a bit disappointing considering the opening. Rating (0-5) 3

In The Bottle Leather and incense On Application Woody leather. Dry and worn. Dry Down I can smell rosemary on initial application, with rich woods and incense. This is a fantastic scent of cologne, old polished wood and soft incense. Awesome! Rating (0-5) 5

In The Bottle Dark fruit and herbs On Application Yes...pomegranate and musky amber Dry Down This is quite tart under the amber powdery sweetness. Dries down to a slightly fuity, incensey and powdery scent. Rating (0-5) 3

In The Bottle Almost nothing except what seems to be black pepper catching at the back of my throat On Application A touch of currant joins the spicey black pepper note. Dry Down This is soft and powdery. There is a bit of a kick which is fleetingly obvious (the ozone?) Overall impression is of strongly scented baby powder. Pleasant but not me. Rating (0-5) 2

In The Bottle Ylang ylang On Application Ylang ylang Dry Down Ylang ylang plus ylang ylang and then some more ylang ylang on top. Ugh! Rating (0-5) 0

In The Bottle A touch of cocoa with something drier and deeper On Application Very dry cocoa with a woody note. Dry Down Very definitely not foody which is a nice surprise. This is so dry and woody with a touch of sweetness. Intriguing, indeed. Rating (0-5) 4

In The Bottle Aromatic herbs - lemon verbena to the fore On Application Lemon verbena with something musky rounding it out. Dry Down Buttery, lemon at first. Actually the buttery note smells kind of rancid. Lemon scents don't do anything for me. This is a miss. Rating (0-5) 0

In The Bottle Tobacco and musk but a but more sparkly On Application The rums peeks through 5 minutes into the drydown. Dry Down I have been trying to find a scent reminiscent of my father's pipe tobacco which was sweet, vanillary with rum. This comes very close in the drydown and then turns very, very spicey. This goes through a very smokey, burning stage before softening out to rum, coconut and spice. Lovely Rating (0-5) 4.5

In The Bottle A touch of earth and rose with something else in there to round it out On Application Dirt and forals including rose and night blooming flowers Dry Down This is the first time I can pick out the wine note in a blend and I like it! I am not really sure about this - I love the dirt and wine but the rose undercurrent is not to my liking. As long as it doesn't come to the fore, this will be OK. That's better, this finally dries down to dirt and wine. A must have. Rating (0-5) 4.5 Full Wear Test Fantastic. Just needs a bit of a touch up part way through the day. Love the earthy scent which seems to last for ages on me and really love the winey note. The rose is bearable. Another bottle! I managed to spill the imp in my office, so I am going to be experiencing this one for a while.

In The Bottle Rich wood and eucalyptus On Application Very dry and sweet - the woods and the vanilla. Dry Down Smokey, woody and sweet. This is so unsual but the whole thing reminds me of something at the edge of my memory - incense and the afterglow of sex, perhaps? Yes, love it! Rating (0-5) 4.5