SophieCedar

You know, I'm reviewing this phoenix last because Baruch's Phoenix is the most complex and morph-y. I needed some time to see the full spectrum. Starts off cedar strong. Like so much it masked all other notes. It bloomed to a thin fig and bitter almond, then turned the corner to resinville. Drydown smells like warm sweet candlewax due to the date and honey mixed with resin and cedar. Honestly? Perplexing and intriguing, I'd regret not buying a bottle.

Oooh boy... don't hit me but this smells a bit like Calvin Klein's Euphoria. Mind you that's one of the very few commercial perfumes I can stand... so win! Saffron and me don't always agree. It tends to turn to burning rubber on my skin if not blended with just the right notes. Anyways... Its the saffron that shines here. This really showcases what saffron can do and how much of a unique keystone it can be in a perfume. Sweet plum and pomegranate with warm gorgeous saffron and just the right blend of resins. Bottle for sure.

OMG this is the unexpected win of the group. I thought for sure something in Tacitus' Phoenix was gonna go wrong on me..but I was wrong instead. Warm incense-y amber and clove with touches of orange peel. this is reminding me of LUSH's Icon for some reason. Yes, actually, its exactly that. Icon freaks rejoice!

Ok... so when I saw the description for Herodotus' Phoenix, I messaged a bpal friend saying "WIN FOR TEAM RESIN!" Not disappointed. This is a delicious combination for resin freaks like me. I dare say almost edible. Honestly its making my mouth water. Go figure. Anyways, warm middle depth myrrh mixed with an almost floral combination of frankincense and copal. If you like the incense notes of Dia de los Muertos, I would say try this.

This is a LOVELY scent, but something in here is going a little flat on my skin. I think the cassia bark and myrrh are doing a confuse-a-nose on me. Overall pretty and warms nicely in a honey/resin way. Reminds of a few shunga base notes.

Swwwwweeet mother of jeebus I need 100 bottles. Heady rich deep vanilla with a syrupy dessert wine/cordial top note from the bourbon vanilla and oudh melding. Warmth not to be paralleled from the type of amber chosen. It comes across like skin musk but sweeter and deeper. Made of pure win.

Ooh! Non-burny cinnamon! 1st YAY! Deep frankincense and its the predominant note. 2nd YAY! the cinnamon is dry and woody, not the overly sweet baking type. 3rd YAY! I'll be getting a bottle.

I do love this scent. Its a little too similar to Hope and Fear Set Free (which I've been ab.so.lute.ly hoarding) for me to decide if I need a bottle. I'm sure I'll cave at some point. The rose is very subtle. I can pick up on the amber and balsam too. I would recommend this to someone who maybe thought the frankincense in Hope and Fear was too strong. This is much smoother.

This is gonna be a little analytical but I'm sure you can deal with it... I preface this with the solid fact that I'm a former theater tech nerd. (set building and stage management as well as everything behind-the-scenes in between..) Grand Guignol Thanatos is from the patron's perspective. In the bottle and wet, I got all excited because it smelled like musty costumes, dank corners, cake makeup, and drafty dressingrooms. I absolutely swooned! Dry, its the faint wafting scent of the formerly mentioned notes perceived from audience seats, mixed with patrons' mindfully and dramatically chosen colognes and perfumes. As well as the *never warm* but atmospherically seductive intermission lobby. I do see a YSL Opium similarity with addition of the scent of soft velvet or velveteen seats (that stuff that holds a lot of dust and smells lovely) I love this in a completely different way than I had anticipated. Oh and ps/eta: The bottle art is AWESOME. Favorite bottle art ever. One huge reason I wouldn't consider swapping/selling this lovely scent. ETA March 2014: This smells much sweeter now that the seasons have changed a bit. Syrupy sweet Schwarzer Mond is what I've dubbed it, in my memory bank. Frikkin awesome. Hoard worthy.

Gun Moll is a signature scent for me as well. It goes on a bit powdery.. but seductive and dark, like opium. The drydown and lingering scent is Oh. My. for sure. Dry but sweet, red, resinous, dark florals and fruits. This is eyesrollingintobackofhead good. Love the way it lingers on my clothing! If you thought Red Lantern was a bit too sweet, give this a shot.

For anyone wondering how this aged... its GLORIOUS. If you love fig scents this is a must-have. The green edge and the nutmeg settled down. Its this warm, syrupy, chewy fig and myrrh scent with a touch of creamy spicy carnation. The green tea just keeps it from going flat and into straightup "brown" scent territory, I would say.

Sampaguita is so beautiful. Its very sweet and the best way I can describe it is: like jasmine, ylang ylang, green tea, and tiny bit of vanilla bean tea had a baby. Honestly it reminds me of Urban Outfitters circa early to mid-1990's, when they had all that incense, tapestries, and Suns Eye oils. Interesting thing is, it smells markedly different close up. Hypnotic and intriguing.

I was gonna recommed: Burning Vulva and The Soldier but someone else beat me to it.

I totally agree with suggestions for Eat Me and Detestable Putrescence. Cockaigne is great. Comes across as maple syrupy to me. If you're looking for that light pink note for blending purposes, I would suggest finding Pink Phoenix. It pops up on the forum sales page occasionally. It smells like My Little Ponies and Strawberry Shortcake dolls to me Now this might be harder to find, but: Golletes is pretty awesome. Sweet sugary pink foody goodness. Also you might like Beaver Moon 2010. Sweet sugary sticky creamy! On the HTF impossible side..but I have to say it...: Cake Smash

I was hoping the carnation and milk notes would have more power over the pumpkin spices..but alas. This one is not really my bff.. I amp spices terribly. Oops. Stupid skin!

Don't take this the wrong way, but the drydown smells like a comforting grandmother or aunt right after they apply their Oil of Olay... Relieved they don't stink of cigarettes and bad breath. Mystified by these secret Lady Potions that make me feel like everything's gonna be ok and growing up should be something to look forward to. Then you finally hit puberty and its all sugar flowers and Love's Baby Soft...you remember that mysterious feminine scent but can't help being a total over-obvious gimme attention geek about perfume.. instead of a sophisticated THIS. Anyways, yes, I thought this would be more spooky, but pleasantly surprised. I bet if I skip getting a bottle I'll regret it. It translates as white and warm matte gold colors and smells like a warm hug.

This one has me the most perplexed. I cannot for the life of me figure out if I like maple boughs. Its cool, brown, green, red, and a touch of ozone.

This blend is full of not too spicy win. light pumpkin blended with dorian. Cute and a bit festive. I like it very much!

Completely evokes night air and pomegranates, for me. Sweet, broody, benevolent to the skin chemistry. Nice but fades quickly.

You know.. every time there's pumpkin scents, I freak for them and without fail realize the lab's pumpkin note is too spicy for my skin. This is an exception to the rule. The cinnamon etc spices are toned down, making this a wonderful sophisticated blend of Morocco and pumpkin. Just a warmer Morocco, if that's possible. Full of win!

Its SO alrighty. The pumpkin is spicy..and I amp spices.. so I'll just have to pass this to the hubby. He'll slather himself in it

You know, I got a ton of butter + sugar and a bit of marzipan. Its cute and I'm on the fence about getting a bottle. Drydown is all sugary buttercream with a pink note in the background for no reason. The pumpkin is very muted and not too spicy. Win!

Smells exactly like Honey Pumpkin Stout soap from last year. Its nice but I amp spices. Will use this as an atmo spray/drop in a candle.

You know, this comes across as warm musk and a touch of thin dry grass. Its not really overtly cologney or nature/earth reminiscent. Its my surprise like of the weenie pack.

This translates as warm and musky sandalwood to me. I initially thought there was brown musk in it but surprised to see the only slightly relevant note is ambergris. Overall, warm, creamy, woody, musky awesomeness. Well-rounded and calming. Its a hit...it only took a couple years for me to realize it.