angelicruin

I smell this and think of sticky cotton candy stuck to leaves of grass. Definitely makes me think of the county fair when I wear it.

More than any other note, I get a creamy lavender scent on my skin. I love the released version of New Orleans and I am finding this proto version to be different, yet still very lovely on my skin.

Plum and red musk. I'm one of those who likes this proto version better than the released version on me. Smells amazing in my SGA locket too.

Lots of cherries and brandy in this one. So much better on me than the prior Berry Moon a couple years back. Red musk is not at all overpowering (can sometimes be on my skin type). Overall, I this lunacy scent.

This is a spicy honey tobacco on my skin. The orange blossom note is very subtle on my skin.

This is heavy bourbon vanilla on me with a green herbal undertone. Think this one will age wonderfully.

I get almost all vetiver right after application. It does soften as it dries and I begin to pick up the mallow/vanilla-like note. Definite woodsy undertone on my skin as well. This one had a lot of potential, but is just not behaving with my skin. Even dry, I still pick up more smoke & vetiver than I like in my fragrances.

I definitely agree with the Sangria references. This blend's blackberry note is bold and strong mixed with a dark sweet musk. The scent has that dark feel to it without being harsh. LOVE this one!

Rebel Queen of the Iceni, she led an uprising of the tribes against the Roman Empire. After Claudius’ conquest of the area, the Iceni voluntarily allied themselves to Rome, though Rome was not a gentle parent state. The Romans conquered much of Brittania, desecrated the sacred groves at Mona, and slaughtered the druids. When Boadicea’s husband, Prasutagus, died, his will was ignored and his massive financial debt to Rome was called in forcefully. Iceni was annexed as though it was a conquered territory, property and estates were seized, both tribal nobility and the common folk were enslaved. When Boadicea objected to the treatment of her lands and her people, she was flogged, and her children were grievously injured. Boadicea took her vengeance. Under the leadership of Boadicea, the Iceni and Trinovantes united with their neighbors and the surviving druids of Mona to instigate a rebellion. They cut a swath of furious destruction. Her warriors slaughtered Legionary forces, and destroyed Camulodunum, Londinium, and Verulamium -- so scorching the earth beneath Londinium that the scar is still visible beneath modern London. Fig, neroli, amber, vanilla, patchouli, pine needle, and vetiver. Inside the bottle, I'm smelling mostly amber, vanilla, and patchouli. On the skin, it's very much the same notes I sniffed from the bottle, except I'm also getting the fig note now as well. Those who are scared of vetiver scents, don't automatically dismiss this one. I usually amp vetiver on my skin, but this is one of those rare blends containing vetiver that I don't get any vetiver note on my skin. Just this beautiful creamy amber resinous patchouli blend.

This starts out like fizzy citrus candy on my skin. As it settles down, I pick up the geranium note, which always goes soapy on me. I can barely detect the red musk in this blend. In the end, all I really can smell is soap, so I have to pass on this one.

This is a lovely delicate blend of coconut, carnation, and pear on my skin overlayed with incense. Very soft and feminine.

Wet on my skin, I get a fruity lime skittles scent mixed with a note resembling pink pepper. The lime note disappears quickly and like prior reviewer I begin to smell anise/licorice, which I love. Dry, it's pink pepper and anise on my skin. This is a keeper for me.

I echo this review. Just an amazing scent on my skin. And a small dab of it goes a long way. Incredible throw on my skin.

My impressions of this blend are of it being a soft, creamy citrus musk, but I also pick up a tea note within it as well. This also has long staying power on my skin. Even hours after application I can smell it close to my skin. I love this particular blend and am glad I took a chance on it based on the earlier reviews.

Wet on my skin, it's dirt and grass. After it is on my skin for a few minutes, I begin to pick up the leather note, which is a very dry leather on me. Dries down to a dusty leather & earth scent on my skin. As for the lemon candy, I'm not really getting any of that.

This smells like mint and absinthe on me. Not really picking up the chocolate note. I love the Lab's absinthe scents and this one does not disappoint.

This one has lots of creamy blueberry and lemon in it. Smells yummy on my skin.

Fizzy champagne and white cake on me. Not at all overwhelming on me. Light and effervescent and it lasts a long while on my skin.

Without even looking at the notes, I knew there was chocolate and orris root in this one immediately. The coconut note is very light as are the floral notes. Dries down to a chocolate woodsy scent. Nice, but not anything I will need to buy a bottle of.

I admit to being curious enough about this one to ask my Trunk Show angel to pick up a bottle. The released version smells so amazing on me. The prototype has a definite cologne vibe to it after initial application. There is a sharpness to it that makes me think there is vetiver in this prototype, but it's not heavily dominated by it. I think the dark musk note is in there as well. Once dry it is a much-softened musk that stays very close to the skin.

I'm getting very heavy cream cheese frosting and spices...lots of spices. When I sniff my wrist I imagine it's a piece of frosted carrot cake.

I agree with Midnight Aeval's review above. Sniffing the bottle it is really juicy smelling, but once applied to my skin, I get more of a green herbalish scent with wafts of strawberry. There is a floral edge to it, but nothing I can specifically identify. As it dries, I get less green and more of a soft strawberry and skin musk.

This is probably my favorite of the Courtesan series. A soft, creamy vanilla with delicate floral notes and, as Heavenlyrabbit said above, fresh strawberry.

I can certainly see why the initial reviews from the Will Calls described this as cotton candy. It definitely has that spun sugar vibe to it. A light, very sugary vanilla musk with just a hint of underlying floral note underneath.

This goes on me as spicy bittersweet cocoa. I think I can pick out a bit of the black pepper note, but I'm not getting any of the caraway, mustard, or paprika notes.